Source: Europol
On 20 and 21 February 2025, experts from law enforcement authorities, academia and non-governmental organisations gathered at Europol headquarters for the first ‘Fundamental Rights at the Heart of Policing’ conference, organised by Europol’s Fundamental Rights Officer.Over 130 participants from 25 EU Member States and 11 non-EU countries joined the event, as well as representatives from the EU Fundamental Rights Agency…
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
MANALAPAN, N.J., Feb. 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As tax season approaches, millions of Americans find themselves overwhelmed with stress—especially those who owe more to the IRS than they can afford to pay. Navicore Solutions provides support, education and personal finance advice to those struggling with looming tax debt.
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navicoresolutions.org
Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA
Important to start my visit to Japan at Kashiwazaki-Kariwa NPP, one of the world’s largest nuclear sites.
With @IAEAorg’s involvement, major safety and security improvements have been made. Once restarted, it will be a significant part of 🇯🇵’s electricity supply. pic.twitter.com/PA0sMcmywU— Rafael MarianoGrossi (@rafaelmgrossi) February 18, 2025
During the Director General’s visit to Kashiwazaki Kariwa, Japan’s largest nuclear power plant, he viewed improvements in safety response and secure access facilities, as well as enhanced seismic and tsunami proofing.
There he met with TEPCO President Tomoaki Kobayakawa and Site Vice President Takeyuki Inagaki, a former IAEA safety officer who was working at the Fukushima Daiichi plant when it was struck by the tsunami in 2011.
“Needless to say, it was the most bitter experience in my life with many lessons learned that needed to be reflected,” said Mr Inagaki. “Now as Site Vice President of the Kashiwazaki Kariwa station, I am determined to never let such an accident happen again.”
After viewing the improvements at the station, the Director General spoke to local media, and said he was “very satisfied with the progress” he had seen.
“Nuclear safety and security are an everyday effort. One by one all the recommendations made by IAEA experts have been duly and correctly addressed here.”
During his trip, the Director General also joined an ongoing IAEA effort to monitor marine radioactivity near the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station. On a boat off the coast in front of the station, Mr Grossi worked with scientists from the People’s Republic of China, the Republic of Korea, and Switzerland, to collect seawater samples together.
The samples will be now be analysed by the IAEA laboratories in Monaco, and national laboratories in Japan and the participating countries, each members of the IAEA’s Analytical Laboratories for the Measurement of Environmental Radioactivity (ALMERA) network, chosen to ensure a high level of proficiency.
Read more about the Director General’s sampling trip and the additional measures aim to facilitate broader participation in the monitoring of the ALPS-treated water being released from the station.
“Through these efforts, third parties can independently verify that water discharge levels are, and will continue to be, in strict compliance and consistent with international safety standards,” said Director General Grossi.
ALPS-treated water release: watch as @RafaelMGrossi and experts from China, South Korea and Switzerland collect seawater samples near Fukushima Daiichi NPP.
Samples will be independently analysed by IAEA, as well as labs in Japan and today’s participating countries. pic.twitter.com/pBPe4H3Y6F— IAEA – International Atomic Energy Agency ⚛️ (@iaeaorg) February 19, 2025
Additional remediation efforts being managed by Japan in the region are focused on soil removal and recycling, another area where the IAEA is providing safety guidance.
“In this area, the presence of the IAEA is as intense and systematic as in other areas in the decommissioning effort,” said Mr Grossi.
Read more about the IAEA’s safety review of Japan’s plan for the managed recycling and the final disposal of removed soil and radioactive waste around the Fukushima Daiichi site.
During his trip the Director General also met with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and other key political leaders, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Takeshi Iwaya, the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Yoji Muto, and the Minister of Environment Keiichiro Asao.
Honored to meet @JPN_PMO Prime Minister @shigeruishiba and exchange on progress of Fukushima Daiichi ALPS treated water release, 🇯🇵’s plans to use nuclear energy, and its commitment to non-proliferation and the NPT.
Strong cooperation with @IAEAorg continues across the board. pic.twitter.com/5hVZaj1sMX
— Rafael MarianoGrossi (@rafaelmgrossi) February 20, 2025
Mr Grossi also had an extended meeting and joint press conference with Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, where they discussed their strong cooperation, and Japanese support to IAEA work, including non-proliferation worldwide, nuclear safety and security in Ukraine, cancer care through the Rays of Hope initiative, food security and more.
On his final day in the country the Director General strengthened IAEA cooperation with the Japanese private sector, by signing a practical arrangement with the Sumitomo Corporation and addressing the Japanese business federation, Keidanren. Read more about the meetings with industry here.
The Director General also signed practical arrangements on cooperation for IAEA educational and training activities with Sophia University and engaged with students and faculty members on IAEA contributions to global issues.
During his visit to Tokyo, Rafael Mariano Grossi also met with Japan Atomic Energy Agency President Masanori Koguchi and signed practical arrangements on cooperation for both nuclear power and non-power applications.
View images from the Director General’s entire trip.
Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA
An IAEA team of experts visited the candidate site of Ghana’s first nuclear power plant during a Site and External Events Design Review Service mission. (Photo: Nuclear Power Ghana)
An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team of experts has concluded an eight-day safety review of Ghana’s site selection process for its first nuclear power plant (NPP). Ghana is pursuing the introduction of nuclear power to increase its low carbon power production to meet energy demand, tackle climate change and increase energy security and diversity.
The Site and External Events Design Review Service (SEED) mission, which took place between 14 to 21 February, reviewed Ghana’s adherence to IAEA guidance on site selection. The SEED mission was the first of its kind to Ghana.
Ghana has successfully completed the site selection process and identified the candidate site and an alternative site for its first NPP. The next stage following site selection is the characterization stage of the site evaluation process.
The SEED mission was carried out at the request of the Government of Ghana and hosted by Nuclear Power Ghana (NPG), under the purview of the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition.
The team comprised four experts from Pakistan, Türkiye, the United Kingdom and the United States, as well as one IAEA staff. They reviewed the site selection report, together with the siting process, siting criteria, data collection process and application of the management system for siting activities. The team also visited and observed the candidate site in the Western Region and the alternative site in the Central Region. In addition to the SEED review mission, the IAEA provided a SEED Capacity Building Workshop to support site evaluation. During the workshop, external experts and participants engaged in discussions that will contribute to future progress in the site evaluation process.
“We confirmed that both the implementing organization and the management system are well-designed with the support of the government and that the Site Approval Report has been systematically and thoroughly prepared. Ghana followed the IAEA safety standards while performing the site selection process,” said mission team leader Kazuyuki Nagasawa, Senior Nuclear Safety Officer at the IAEA.
The team provided recommendations to improve the quality and optimize the site selection process, aiming to select the most favourable site. This optimization seeks to minimize the potential of the selected site being found to be unsuitable during the site characterization stage. The factors for consideration include the susceptibility to earthquakes, flooding and extreme weather events, as well as the feasibility of the emergency plan.
As a good practice, the team noted that within NPG, leadership and management for safety have been functioning well since the beginning of the siting process.
“We acknowledge with deep appreciation the IAEA SEED mission’s technical assistance in assessing our site selection. This mission is of great importance to our nuclear power programme, as it ensures that our decisions are guided by international best practices for safe and secure development of nuclear power infrastructure. The relevance of the mission extends beyond technical assessment, reinforcing our commitment to transparency, regulatory preparedness and sustainable nuclear energy development” said Stephen Yamoah, Executive Director of NPG.
NPG will continue to receive ongoing technical assistance from the IAEA, while advancing the site approval process in accordance with the IAEA Specific Safety Guide on Site Survey and Site Selection for Nuclear Installations.
The final SEED mission report will be delivered to the Government of Ghana within three months.
About Site and External Events Design Review Service (SEED) missions
SEED missions are expert review missions that assist countries going through different stages in the development of a nuclear power programme. The service offers a choice of modules in which to focus the review, such as site selection, site assessment and design of structures, systems and components, taking into consideration site specific external and internal hazards.
In the case of site selection review, SEED missions assess the appropriate consideration of the safety issues in the site selection process.
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Iowa Chuck Grassley
WASHINGTON – Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) joined Senate Republicans in voting to pass a budget resolution that builds on President Trump’s electoral mandate to restore fiscal sanity, authorize robust resources to secure the southern border and greenlight domestic energy production.
“After four years of being crushed by the Biden-Harris administration’s and congressional Democrats’ reckless spending, Iowans gave President Trump a mandate to right our fiscal ship and end the chaos at the southern border. By passing this budget resolution, Senate Republicans have taken a significant step forward to help deliver on the President’s agenda and improve the quality of life for all Americans. Together, Congress will send President Trump a strong package of Republican solutions that will get our country back on track, secure our border, unleash American energy and grow our economy,” Grassley said.
The Senate-Passed Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Resolution Paves the Way to:
Begin restoring fiscal sanity by fully paying for investments in border security, national security and domestic energy production up front
Secure the border by providing funding to:
Finish the wall and upgrade border technologies
Ensure dangerous criminals are not released into the United States by increasing the number of detention beds
Boost the number of ICE officers, Border Patrol agents, Assistant U.S. Attorneys and immigration judges
Invest in state and local law enforcement to bolster cooperation with federal law enforcement efforts
Unleash American energy production and stop the Biden-Harris administration’s natural gas tax (methane emissions fee)
Strengthen the military by providing critical Department of Defense funding to deter conflict and ensure America’s security, including to:
Maintain military readiness to defend American interests globally
Grow the Navy and strengthen the U.S. industrial base to restore maritime dominance
Build an integrated air and missile defense
Overhaul and strengthen America’s nuclear defense posture
-30-
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator Ted Budd (R-North Carolina)
Washington, D.C. — Last night, the Disaster Loan Accountability and Reform Act was approved by the Senate Small Business Committee with bipartisan support and sent to the Senate floor for consideration.
The bill is led by Senator Ted Budd (R-NC), Chair Joni Ernst (R-IA), Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Senator Tim Scott (R-SC).
The legislation strengthens oversight, financial safeguards, and transparency within the Small Business Administration’s disaster loan account.
Key provisions include:
Senator Budd said in a statement:
“As we learn the lessons from Hurricane Helene and the federal response, it’s imperative that we improve disaster response in a fiscally responsible way. My bill adds much-needed accountability, transparency, and oversight to SBA’s disaster loan account. I thank my colleagues for joining this effort to help those in need, while protecting the integrity of taxpayer dollars.”
Chair Ernst said:
“SBA’s mismanagement resulted in the disaster loan program running out of money for 66 days last year. This unacceptable failure left disaster victims across the country out in the cold. By advancing this legislation, the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship is ensuring that more Americans in need can get critical relief as soon as possible after disaster strikes.”
Senator Tillis said:
“Small businesses across Western North Carolina were hit hard by Hurricane Helene, and it’s our responsibility to ensure they have the resources to recover and rebuild. This legislation will enhance oversight, tighten financial controls, and eliminate wasteful spending by instituting clear reporting and budgeting standards. It’s essential that we not only support our small businesses during times of crisis, but also uphold the highest levels of accountability to ensure those resources are available when urgently needed.”
Senator Tim Scott said:
“Far too long have government agencies gone unchecked when dealing with taxpayer dollars. The Disaster Loan Accountability and Reform Act will implement the necessary measures to ensure that hard-earned tax dollars are used in the American people’s best interest and that Congress has a say in any financial decision from the Small Business Administration. I am grateful for Senator Budd’s efforts on this legislation.”
Source: Government of Canada regional news (2)
“Today I have posted an open letter to the federal minister of transport and internal trade, urging her and her federal colleagues to take action and advance investments in interprovincial mega-infrastructure projects that will ensure Canada is competitive and successful.
“Canada has been stuck in a situation where it cannot complete nation-building projects like the Canadian Pacific Railway that was completed in 1885, or the Trans Canada Highway that was completed in the 1960s. With the uncertainty of U.S. tariffs looming over our country and province, Canada needs to take bold action to revitalize the productivity and competitiveness of its economy – going east to west and not always relying on north-south trade. There’s no better time than right now to politically de-risk these projects.
“In a federal leadership vacuum, Alberta has worked to advance economic corridors across Canada. In April 2023, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba signed an agreement to collaborate on joint trade infrastructure networks meant to boost trade and economic growth across the Prairies. Alberta also signed a similar economic corridor agreement with the Northwest Territories in July 2024.
“Through our collaboration with neighbouring jurisdictions, we will spur the development of economic corridors by reducing regulatory delays and attracting investment. We recognize the importance of working with Indigenous communities on the development of major infrastructure projects, which will be key to our success in these endeavors.
“However, provinces and territories cannot do this alone. The federal government must play its part to advance the economic corridors that we need from coast to coast to coast to support our economic future. It is time for immediate action.
“To move forward expeditiously, I propose the establishment of a federal/provincial/territorial working group. This working group would be tasked with creating a common position on addressing the economic threats facing Canada, and the need for mitigating trade and trade-enabling infrastructure.
“We ask the federal government to join us in a new approach to infrastructure development that ensures Canada is productive and competitive for generations to come and generates the wealth that ensures our quality of life is second to none.”
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime Alerts (b)
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A Springfield, Illinois, man, Derrick Bailey, 44, was sentenced on January 30, 2025, by Senior U.S. District Judge Sue Myerscough to 180 months in prison, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release, for his role in a wide-spread drug conspiracy involving a Springfield street gang, Boss Playas, lasting from approximately May 2020 through November 2020.
At the sentencing hearing, Bailey was held accountable for trafficking over 10 kilograms of cocaine as a member of the conspiracy. Also during the hearing, Judge Myerscough noted that the group of conspirators were responsible for distributing large amounts of controlled substances in the Springfield area, which had a negative effect on the community.
Co-defendants in the case have received the following sentences of imprisonment: Denziel Witherspoon, 240 months; James Cooper, 180 months; Christopher Wallace 120 months; Isadore Montgomery, 120 months; Rashaud Brown, 84 months; Paul Davis, 40 months; and Taylor Cockrell, 36 months. Additional defendants Dorothy Jackson, Shelton Witherspoon, Lavar Maney, Haley Riley, and Haylee Vaughn have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.
Bailey was indicted on December 15, 2020, and pleaded guilty on September 18, 2024. He has remained in the custody of the United States Marshal since his arrest on December 1, 2020.
The statutory penalties for the most serious charge of conviction include up to life in prison, up to a $20,000,000 fine, and up to a life term of supervised release.
This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration; Federal Bureau of Investigation, Springfield Field Office; Illinois State Police; and Springfield Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Z. Weir represented the government in the prosecution.
The case against Bailey was part of an investigation of the Springfield-based Boss Playas street gang and was part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) investigation. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level drug traffickers, money launderers, gangs, and transnational criminal organizations that threaten the United States by using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach that leverages the strengths of federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies against criminal networks. Additional information about the OCDETF Program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.
Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
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Call for applications for the 2025 Challenge Science Prize has begun
The new season of the National Prize in the field of future technologies “Challenge” has begun. At the Future Technologies Forum, the start of accepting applications for the prize in 2025 was announced.
You can submit an application on the website premiyavyzov.rf until May 21.
The prize fund for the Challenge award will increase in 2025 and amount to 60 million rubles.
“I am very pleased to announce the start of the third season of the Vyzov Prize. This scientific prize has been a success in previous years. It is gratifying to note the great interest of the international scientific community, since researchers from 33 countries applied to participate. Scientific achievements in the international nomination and many other initiatives have proven their effectiveness. I am confident that in the next, third season of the Vyzov scientific prize, we will see new scientific names and their breakthrough discoveries,” said Dmitry Chernyshenko, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Vyzov Foundation for the Development of Scientific and Cultural Relations.
The National Prize in the field of future technologies “Challenge” is awarded for science-intensive developments that have significant potential to change people’s lives for the better and have a practical implementation horizon of up to 10 years.
“We are happy to open the third season of the Vyzov Prize, which has burst into the scientific world and very quickly taken a leading position there. Many people ask what the secret of this prize is, which in just two years has become extremely popular both in Russia and even in other countries. And the secret is very simple: the work of the scientific committee, which is built on the principles of absolute impartiality and high competence. Scientific prizes make sense only if they are honest. However, the same applies to science,” emphasized the chairman of the scientific committee of the Vyzov Prize, Artem Oganov.
The Vyzov Prize has five nominations: Perspective (awarded to young scientists under 35), Engineering Solution (for an important invention or creation of a new technology), Breakthrough (for research that has made it possible to solve an important scientific or technological problem), Discovery (a nomination for foreign scientists and Russians living abroad), and Scientist of the Year (for total personal contribution to changing the landscape of science).
“We see growing interest in the Vyzov Prize. This speaks to the high appreciation of the prize by the scientific community. This year, we expect an increase in the number of applications and expansion of geography. The culmination of this season will be the “Week with Vyzov” project in December. After the final press conference, at which we will announce the names of the 2025 laureates, the laureates of previous years will give lectures at leading scientific centers in Moscow. And the spectacular finale will be the gala ceremony of the Vyzov Prize, which, as has become traditional, will be held in the Moscow Manege on December 19,” said Leonid Shlyakhover, President of the Vyzov Foundation for the Development of Scientific and Cultural Relations and General Producer of the Vyzov Prize Ceremony.
The organizer and founder of the award is the Vyzov Foundation for the Development of Scientific and Cultural Relations. The co-founder is Gazprombank. The partners are the Rosatom State Corporation, the Roscongress Foundation, and the Moscow Government.
“The National Challenge Award is one of the significant tools for supporting advanced scientific developments. Last year, one of the award winners was Evgeny Antipov with a project in the field of batteries for electric transport. The development of such technologies is of strategic importance for Moscow, because it is a step towards an environmentally friendly and energy-efficient city of the future. We are confident that support for science and innovation will help us implement the best developments in the urban environment and improve the quality of life of Muscovites. This is why Moscow has been consistently increasing the funding for the award: if in 2023 the amount of support was 50 million rubles, then this year it has increased to 60 million rubles,” said Anatoly Garbuzov, Minister of the Moscow Government and Head of the Department of Investment and Industrial Policy.
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.
Source: United Nations MIL OSI
In the nearly three years since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, the country’s people have endured continuous attacks, “psychological terror…displacement and hardship”, top UN aid coordinator Matthias Schmale said on Friday.
Briefing from Ukrainian capital Kyiv after another night of “air sirens and more loud explosions”, Mr. Schmale noted that the crisis began in 2014, with Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea. “So, all children that were born since – all children up to the age of 11 – have never experienced their country at peace,” he said.
According to the UN aid coordination office, OCHA, 2024 saw a 30 per cent increase in civilian casualties compared to 2023. “The humanitarian situation is worsening, especially in frontline areas,” it said in an update, highlighting that a full 36 per cent of Ukraine’s population – 12.7 million people – needs humanitarian aid this year.
“There are very strong pushes by the armed forces of the Russian Federation along the front line and evacuations are ongoing,” Mr. Schmale explained. “We are supporting people with essential goods, including cash assistance, as they are on the move to transit centres, collective sites and wherever they end up being.”
Speaking from Zaporizhzhia in southeast Ukraine, Toby Fricker from the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said that more than 2,520 children have been killed or injured since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion.
“The real number is likely far higher and it’s getting worse”, said Mr. Fricker, chief of communication in Ukraine. “There was a more than 50 per cent increase in child casualties in 2024 compared to 2023 and what we see is no place is safe: schools, maternity wards, children’s hospitals, all have been affected by attacks.”
Underscoring the essential role played by women in Ukraine “beyond the battlefield”, UN Women Geneva Director Sofia Calltorp explained that “there is another story unfolding, and that is the story of all those women and girls who are bearing the brunt of this war.”
In 2024, the number of people killed and injured in Ukraine increased by 30 per cent, Ms. Calltorp noted. “Of them, 800 women lost their lives and more than 3,700 women were injured last year in Ukraine. We also know that the vast majority of Ukrainian refugees and displaced persons are women, and 6.7 million women are in need of lifesaving humanitarian assistance.”
Responding to questions about the impact of the US funding freeze on humanitarian work, Ukraine Humanitarian Coordinator Mr. Schmale expressed “hope that US funding will become part of the equation. Last year, it made up 30 per cent of what we spent on the humanitarian side, 10 per cent on the development side.”
The UN’s top aid official in Ukraine added: “We are of course worried about the funding freezes; as we all know, it’s not the end of the day yet, there are a lot of discussions going on. We have some of our partners, including within the UN, that have received some exemptions from the general freeze of funding, but so far, no money has been flowing as a result of those exemptions.”
In addition to repeated attacks on energy infrastructure across Ukraine, other public facilities have also been targeted, with 780 health centres and more than 1,600 schools damaged or destroyed, according to the UN World Health Organization (WHO).
“In Odessa this week we saw a health clinic providing care for 40,000 children and a kindergarten serving 250 of the youngest children were severely damaged in an attack,” said Dr Jarno Harbicht, WHO Country Representative for Ukraine. “When a children’s hospital is hit, a school shelled or electric grid destroyed, children suffer even when they survive.”
The mental stress faced by millions of Ukrainians because of the war is real and debilitating, the WHO official continued: “Imagine a young mother in Kharkiv region in Ukraine, her days interrupted by air raid sirens and her nights haunted by drones. Each day is a struggle balancing her children’s safety with their anxiety that has become her constant companion.”
The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission (HRMMU) has confirmed the killing of more than 12,654 civilian men, women, girls, and boys since the full-scale Russian invasion on 24 February 2022, with nearly 30,000 injured. Eighty-four per cent of the casualties happened in territory controlled by the Ukrainian government and 16 per cent in territory occupied by Russia.
“Three years of full-scale conflict in Ukraine have wrought persistent and escalating human rights violations and breaches of international humanitarian law,” said Danielle Bell, Chief of HRMMU. “As the civilian toll grows heavier, the human rights of all those affected must remain at the forefront of any negotiations for sustainable peace.”
The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission (HRMMU) has confirmed the killing of more than 12,654 civilian men, women, girls, and boys since the full-scale Russian invasion on 24 February 2022, with nearly 30,000 injured. Eighty-four per cent of the casualties happened in territory controlled by the Ukrainian government and 16 per cent in territory occupied by Russia.
“Three years of full-scale conflict in Ukraine have wrought persistent and escalating human rights violations and breaches of international humanitarian law,” said Danielle Bell, Chief of HRMMU. “As the civilian toll grows heavier, the human rights of all those affected must remain at the forefront of any negotiations for sustainable peace.”
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Christopher Featherstone, Associate Lecturer, Department of Politics, University of York
Plans for the UK and other European countries to send troops to Ukraine are in their very early stages. But the UK prime minister, Keir Starmer, will already be thinking about how such a move could play out at home. Sending UK troops abroad, even on a “peacekeeping” mission, always has the potential to spark huge public debate.
This is the first time the government has considered deploying military forces in 11 years, when the Cameron government debated intervening in Syria alongside the US Obama administration in 2014. Since then, the UK has not seriously considered deploying troops overseas.
In the intervening years, the Chilcot inquiry found that the UK’s decision to join the invasion of Iraq was made prematurely, before all peaceful options were exhausted.
This, along with the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, may well have decreased UK public support for military interventions.
When polled in 2021, the British public were unconvinced about involvement in Afghanistan, with 53% thinking that two decades of war in Afghanistan didn’t achieve anything. Worse, 62% think that the conflict either didn’t improve the lives of ordinary Afghans, or made their lives worse.
The picture, for now, is a bit different on deploying troops to Ukraine as peacekeepers. Of those polled in mid-January, 58% either strongly or somewhat support deploying UK troops as peacekeepers. Among Labour voters, support is higher at 66%, with Tory voters (67%) and Lib Dem voters (70%) showing similar levels of support.
Reform voters show far less support (44%), potentially building more of a split between Reform and the other mainstream parties. This division may increase polarisation, and could make it even harder for Starmer to slow the rise of Reform’s challenge to Labour’s voter base.
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Starmer will draw comfort from the limited opposition to deploying peacekeepers. Only 15% of Labour voters somewhat or strongly oppose deploying UK troops as peacekeepers, below the national average of 21%.
But looking at history, we can see how changeable public support can be when it comes to war. In 2003, 54% of those polled supported the US and UK invasion of Iraq.
Despite this, there were voluble public protests against the invasion. In February 2003, an estimated 1 million people marched through London.
The 12-week initial campaign went well, so this continued level of support is not surprising. However, when people looked back at the war in 2015, only 37% thought it had been a good idea.
Only eight years later, in 2023, this had fallen further to 23%. Meanwhile one in five thought Tony Blair should be tried as a war criminal for his decision.
Starmer will need to ensure that the public understand what his government sees as the need for UK troops to serve as peacekeepers in Ukraine – and he will need to do so honestly. Much of the criticism Blair received over Iraq stemmed from accusations he wasn’t “straight” and that he “overstated” the case for UK involvement in Iraq.
Read more:
Iraq war 20 years on: the British government has never fully learned from Tony Blair’s mistakes
The Iraq inquiry report also found the military was ill-equipped at the time of the invasion. There are similar concerns now about the readiness of the British army.
Starmer will be aware of the importance of parliamentary support for military action. When Cameron sought support for military intervention in Syria, Ed Miliband as leader of the Labour Party was crucial in the vote against this deployment.
In contrast, when Blair won parliamentary support for invading Iraq, opposition from within the Labour party was so strong that Blair only won because of support from Tory MPs. Starmer will watch the responses in parliament from Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, the Lib Dems and SNP.
At the time of writing, Badenoch hasn’t commented on the idea of sending troops to Ukraine. She has, however, rejected Donald Trump’s attacks that Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky is a dictator.
Comments from former prime minister Boris Johnson that Trump accusing Ukraine of starting the war was the same as claiming that “America attacked Japan at Pearl Harbor” may help build cross-party support.
The most important challenge to Starmer’s plans could come from the Treasury rather than the Tories. Proposals reportedly involve 30,000 British and European troops.
The number of troops that the UK would contribute to this joint force is unclear. However, the cost will be the prime focus for the chancellor of the exchequer, Rachel Reeves.
Reeves has committed to increasing defence spending to 2.5% of GDP (up from 2.3%), but the timeline for this has not been set out. Starmer is under pressure to increase it even further, but any increase will be financially difficult given the state of Britain’s finances.
This might help Starmer on his trip to Washington next week. Trump will be less likely to criticise Starmer if the PM can show that he is listening to Trump’s demands for Nato countries to increase their military spending.
But crucially, while increased spending to enable this deployment may improve UK-US relations, it could also make things difficult with voters, who could have to endure tax rises or further cuts to public spending.
Badenoch has said that failing to increase defence spending “is not peacemaking, it is weakness”. This suggests that the cost of intervention will be a key point of contention for the Tory leader.
Deploying UK troops to Ukraine may be a defining part of Starmer’s foreign policy. Increasing military spending and showing that the UK will help bear the cost of peacekeeping in Ukraine may also help set the tone of Starmer’s relationship with Trump.
However, politically, the consequences of deploying UK troops to Ukraine could spark numerous domestic challenges. While Labour voters appear to support the proposal now, there is likely to be opposition from at least some Reform voters – something Starmer doesn’t need more of right now. The financial costs will also put even more pressure on Labour’s spending plans, and could build division between PM and chancellor.
Christopher Featherstone does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
– ref. Will the UK send troops to Ukraine? The challenges facing Starmer’s plan – https://theconversation.com/will-the-uk-send-troops-to-ukraine-the-challenges-facing-starmers-plan-250330
Source: American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Union
WASHINGTON – AFSCME President Lee Saunders released the following statement after the Senate passed a budget reconciliation package, beginning the process to cut essential public services for communities nationwide:
“This budget is inhumane. If cuts to essential services are enacted, children in public schools will go hungry. Retirees who depend on Medicaid and Medicare will lose health care. Families on SNAP will have to choose between groceries and rent. Emergency calls will go delayed or unanswered. Lifesaving public services will again come to a screeching halt, all so billionaires can hoard even more wealth.
“On average, 33% of state budgets depend on the federal government. Deep cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, SNAP or other programs will force states, cities and towns to significantly cut the services they provide and slash public service worker jobs. Clearly, these anti-worker senators do not work for us; they work for the wealthy who they plan to hand trillions of dollars in tax cuts while depriving vulnerable Americans of food and health care.
“AFSCME’s 1.4 million members, the public service workers who keep our communities running, will mobilize the full strength of our union to urge members of Congress to abandon these destructive budgets. And we will keep fighting to ensure that there is always someone there to answer 911 calls, pick up your child from school, ensure your roads are safe to drive on and protect public services for future generations.”
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI Crime News (b)
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A former official with the Taney County Health Department pleaded guilty in federal court today to a scheme to embezzle approximately $260,000 from the agency.
Hugo Ricardo Huacuz, 51, waived his right to a grand jury and pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge David P. Rush to a five-count federal information. Huacuz pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud, two counts of stealing federal funds, one count of money laundering and one count of aggravated identity theft.
Huacuz was the chief operating officer and the chief financial officer of the Taney County Health Department until he resigned on Nov. 14, 2023. Huacuz had been employed by the health department since 2011.
By pleading guilty today, Huacuz admitted that he stole from the Taney County Health Department in a scheme that lasted from March 23, 2022, to Nov. 14, 2023. Huacuz caused the health department to write checks to Argon Investments, LLC, a company organized by Huacuz and his wife. Huacuz forged the signatures of health department members, using their identities without their permission. Huacuz caused the health department to issue 15 checks totaling approximately $259,000, which were deposited into the bank account of Argon Investments.
Huacuz used the stolen funds for personal expenses charged to his personal credit card, including automobile insurance, maintenance, repair and parts; restaurants; home construction items; gasoline; airline tickets and travel, including to Chicago, Illinois, New York State, San Diego, California, College Station, Texas, Nashville, Tennessee, Las Vegas, Nevada, and Portland, Oregon; utilities; dry cleaning; clothing; dental and medical care; and payments to the Missouri Secretary of State’s office for Argon’s LLC fees.
Health board members were not aware of the existence of Argon Investments or that any checks had been issued to Argon Investments. In order to conceal his scheme from the board, Huacuz caused these checks to be coded as payments to Sanofi Pasteur, Inc., a multinational pharmaceutical company. Huacuz falsely reported to the health department’s board that some of the checks written to Argon Investments were for items purchased from Sanofi, and created false invoices from Sanofi purportedly for the purchase of pharmaceutical and medical items, including COVID-19 testing kits.
In November 2023, the director of the Taney County Health Department received information concerning Huacuz’s job performance. The information stated that Huacuz was frequently absent from his job and that he had other businesses he was operating independent from his job at the health department. After reviewing the information, the director met with Huacuz on Nov. 13, 2023, and placed him on administrative leave. Huacuz went to the bank immediately afterward and withdrew more than $24,000 from the Argon bank account, leaving a balance of $100 in the account.
Under the terms of today’s plea agreement, Huacuz agrees that he embezzled at least $258,976 and, at the very least, this amount is subject to forfeiture and restitution. The government will recommend a sentence of no more than four years and six months in federal prison without parole while Huacuz will seek a sentence of three years in federal prison without parole. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.
This case is being prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Randall D. Eggert. It was investigated by the Department of Health and Human Services and the FBI.
Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation FBI Crime News (b)
AUSTIN, Texas – An Indian national was sentenced in a federal court in Austin today to 97 months in prison for conspiracy to commit money laundering.
According to court documents, Moinuddin Mohammed, 34, engaged in a conspiracy to launder proceeds of a scheme to defraud elderly victims out of hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and gold. Mohammed was a courier who picked up the cash and gold from vulnerable elderly people. The international conspiracy originated from India and involved the impersonation of government officials in order to convince the victims to turn over millions of dollars from their retirement and savings accounts.
Multiple victims were contacted by a person claiming to be the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Texas, who told the victims that they were under investigation or at risk of financial loss. The victims were told that they would need to deposit cash, gold or other items of financial value in order to resolve the investigation or prevent the loss. One victim was defrauded of more than $300,000, another was defrauded of approximately $151,500, and a third victim lost a total of approximately $470,000 to the fraud scheme. Nationwide, investigators identified 21 victims who lost a total of nearly $6 million to the scheme.
In addition to his imprisonment, Mohamed will pay full restitution in the approximate amount of $960,000, forfeits $20,000 in cash that was seized by investigators, and forfeits a money judgement in the amount of $16,000.
“The significant sentence of this courier for an international fraud scheme sends a strong message that we will investigate and prosecute those at every level of the organization,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas. “Mohammed illegally used the likeness of government officials to prey on and victimize the vulnerable, elderly people in our community, and fraudsters like him will be held accountable.”
“Mohammed targeted some of our most vulnerable elderly citizens in an effort to line his own pockets and the pockets of foreign fraudsters,” said Special Agent in Charge Aaron Tapp for the FBI’s San Antonio Field Office. “The FBI continues to see an uptick in financial scams targeting our elderly population and we work every day to bring awareness to our victims and justice to those who perpetuate these devastating schemes. We want to thank our U.S. Attorney’s Office for aggressively pursuing justice for those who fell victim to this scammer. Cases like this are a priority for the FBI and we encourage anyone who has been a victim of a financial scam to contact your local FBI office or go to www.IC3.gov. We also encourage the public to review the FBI’s last report on Elder Fraud to educate yourselves and protect those you love.”
The FBI investigated the case.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Keith Henneke prosecuted the case.
###
Source: City of Stoke-on-Trent
New bus routes being introduced in Stoke-on-Trent will make it easier for people to get to shops, hospitals, visitor attractions and key employment sites.
The changes affect 14 services, being phased in from Sunday 23 February, and will help to meet the ongoing demand from passengers for more evening and weekend services.
They are being introduced as part of Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) which is transforming the local transport network.
The new journeys include brand-new services 500 and 501 which link Stoke-on-Trent Railway Station, Hanley Bus Station, Festival Park, Etruria Valley and Wolstanton Retail Park.
Another brand-new service, service 27A, links Bentilee, Anchor Road and Longton to Trentham Lakes and Radial Park in Stoke, while service 40 has been extended on Saturdays to include the World of Wedgwood in Barlaston.
Councillor Finlay Gordon-McCusker, cabinet member for transport, infrastructure and regeneration at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “We’re bringing buses back. We’re making them work for working people, getting them to and from work, connecting them to family and friends and making everyday life easier.
“Local people have told us they need better connections to jobs, shops, and hospitals – and we’ve listened. That’s why we’re introducing new and improved routes linking places like Etruria Valley, Trentham Lakes, Festival Park, Wolstanton Retail Park, Haywood Hospital and the World of Wedgwood.
“Here in Stoke-on-Trent, we are leading the nation in the bus revolution. In just 12 months, we’ve improved 28 services across all six towns, providing more evening and weekend buses, creating new routes where they’re needed most and making sure no community is left behind. And people are seeing the difference. They’re telling us they’re noticing more buses on the roads, running later than they have in years.
“This is about getting the basics right – buses that turn up on time, go where people need them while supporting jobs, families and our local economy. We are determined that everyone – from students to pensioners – feels the benefits of our Bus Service Improvement Programme.”
Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s Bus Service Improvement Plan is being funded by £31.6 million of funding from the Department for Transport (DfT).
In December, following extensive lobbying efforts by councillors and local MPs, the city council was awarded additional government funding of almost £10 million to continue with its efforts to improve the local bus network and build on the success of the scheme in the coming years.
The new routes, which will operate until at least March 2026, are:
• Service 2 (Hanley – Birches Head) – new evening services Monday to Saturday, operated by First Potteries.
• Service 5 (Hanley – Abbey Hulton) – new early morning buses from Abbey Hulton into Hanley, Monday to Saturday, along with new evening services, all operated by First Potteries.
• Service 7A (Hanley – High Lane – Fegg Hayes) – new evening service along High Lane, serving Haywood Hospital, Monday to Saturday, operated by First Potteries.
• Service 8 (Hanley – Norton – Ball Green) – new late evening services to Ball Green, Monday to Friday, operated by First Potteries.
• Service 9 (Fegg Hayes – Bradeley – Hanley – Newcastle) – new evening service along Chell Heath Road, Monday to Saturday, and a new Sunday daytime service along Chell Heath Road, operated by First Potteries.
• Service 23 (Hanley – Blurton – Newstead) – new late evening services to Blurton, Monday to Saturday, operated by First Potteries.
• Service 27A (Bentilee – Longton – Trentham Lakes) – new service running at shift-change times, every day of the week, operated by D&G Bus.
• Service 36 / 36A (Meir – Longton – Hanley – Tunstall – Kidsgrove) – new Sunday evening service, operated by First Potteries.
• Service 38 / 39 (Hanley – Festival Park – Newcastle) – new late evening service every day, operated by First Potteries.
• Service 40 (Hanley – Mount Pleasant – Longton – Wedgwood) – new Saturday daytime service for Mount Pleasant, also providing a new link to World of Wedgwood, operated by First Potteries.
• Service 501– new link to Wolstanton Retail Park and the Etruria Valley development site from Stoke and Hanley, Monday to Saturday, operated by First Potteries.
Source: City of Leicester
THE city council is to buy a block of former student flats to provide much-needed temporary accommodation for single people and couples who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
The purchase of the building on York Street will bring 134 self-contained units into the council’s ownership, and will save the council £2.6m a year on the rent it currently pays to other landlords in the city.
The building will help to accommodate many of the single people in the city who are classed as having priority need, and are currently in bed and breakfast or hotel accommodation.
Built in 2019, the seven-storey building comprises of 132 self-contained, ensuite bedsits, and two one- bedroomed flats which are wheelchair accessible with large wet rooms. All of the units have fitted kitchens with integral appliances and fitted furniture. The building also has onsite laundry facilities and bike storage.
Chris Burgin, the council’s director of housing said: “We don’t want people to be in unsuitable B&B accommodation for any length of time, but with increasing numbers of people facing homelessness we have few options available to us.
“This building will provide good quality units with cooking and washing facilities which are not available in hotels and B&Bs, and will house people for between three and 18 months before they move on to permanent accommodation.”
The council has set aside £45m to increase the supply of good quality council accommodation including family housing in the city.
Deputy city mayor Cllr Elly Cutkelvin said: “The purchase of the Yoho building is a small part of our plans to ensure that no-one has to stay in unsuitable temporary accommodation without access to the facilities they need.
“It is also part of our wider plan to provide 1,500 new affordable homes for the city by 2027, and deliver more than 1,600 new properties. All of these properties will go to those most in need.”
The cost of the purchase will be made public once the commercial deal has been finalised.
Source: Office of United States Attorneys
NEWARK, N.J. – Yesterday, a complaint was unsealed charging an Arizona man for his role in a conspiracy to misappropriate government funds used to support low-income individuals with HIV, Acting U.S. Attorney Vikas Khanna announced.
Brent Lee, 51, of Phoenix, Arizona, was charged by complaint with one count of bank fraud conspiracy and one count of theft of government funds. Lee appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Deborah M. Fine in the District of Arizona.
According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:
In January 2023, a municipality in Hudson County, New Jersey, issued five checks totaling approximately $1M to a nonprofit charitable organization. The funds for four of the checks originated from a federal grant program that funds a comprehensive system of primary medical care, medications, and essential support for low-income people with HIV. Yet, as alleged in today’s complaint, the nonprofit organization never received the checks.
Instead, as alleged, in February and March 2023, Lee conspired with others to use a fraudulent business entity to misappropriate nearly all of the funds derived from the checks. In February 2023, Lee filed articles of incorporation in Wyoming for a business entity with a name nearly identical to the nonprofit’s, and opened a bank account for that entity. From February to March 2023, the checks were deposited into that account, and Lee paid himself, a family member, and various other individuals nearly all the proceeds via cash withdrawals, cashier’s checks, and wire transfers. As a result, the bank recorded a loss of approximately $1M.
The charge of bank fraud conspiracy carries a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison and a maximum fine of $1,000,000, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense, whichever is greatest. The charge of theft of government funds carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss from the offense.
Acting U.S. Attorney Khanna credited special agents and members of the FBI’s Public Corruption and Civil Rights Unit in Newark, under the direction of Acting Special Agent in Charge Terence G. Reilly, and the New Jersey Field Office of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of the Inspector General, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Naomi Gruchacz, with the investigation leading to the charges and arrest.
The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael A. Hardin of the U.S. Attorney’s Opioid Abuse Prevention and Enforcement Unit in Newark.
The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
###
Defense Counsel: Jazmin Alagha, Esq.
Source: Office of United States Attorneys
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Peter J. Strauss, 46, of Hilton Head, South Carolina, has been sentenced to nine months in federal prison for knowingly transferring, and aiding and abetting the transfer of, $3 million to prevent the lawful seizure of the funds.
Evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Strauss directed and aided and abetted the transfer of $3 million for Jeff and Paulette Carpoff following the execution of federal search and seizure warrants in California. Strauss directed the transfer of $3 million from an account in the Bahamas to his trust account, thereafter, combining the funds for his personal use.
Jeff and Paulette Carpoff owned and operated DC Solar Solutions, Inc. and DC Solar Distribution, Inc. (DC Solar), California corporations that designed, manufactured, and leased renewable energy products, specializing predominantly in the production of mobile solar generators.
On Dec. 18, 2018, the FBI and other federal law enforcement agencies executed numerous search warrants on the businesses associated with DC Solar, as well as the personal residences of Jeff and Paulette Carpoff. Several seizure warrants were also executed on bank accounts and assets associated with DC Solar and its principals. The search warrants were conducted in conjunction with a large-scale investigation regarding an investment fraud and money laundering scheme being operated by the principals of DC Solar.
Following the execution of search and seizure warrants related to an investigation into the Carpoffs’ company, Strauss received $11 million from the Carpoffs. On Dec. 19, 2018, the first $5 million was transferred into Strauss’ trust account and thereafter distributed to various criminal defense attorneys and bankruptcy counsel and to Carpoffs’ captive insurance funds, managed by Strauss’ captive insurance management company. Thereafter, on Dec. 28, 2018, Strauss received an additional $3 million, largely used to pay for the Carpoffs’ captive insurance fund premiums. Finally, on Jan. 15, 2019, the Carpoffs wired Strauss $3 million into Strauss’ trust account. The combined funds in Strauss’ trust account were completely spent over the next few months.
Jeff Carpoff pleaded guilty in California to money laundering and wire fraud in January 2020 and was sentenced to 30 years in prison. In November 2021, Paulette Carpoff pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States and money laundering. Paulette was sentenced to 11 years and three months.
Strauss pleaded guilty in November 2023 to removal of property to prevent seizure, admitting that by the time of the $3 million transfer in January 2019, he knowingly transferred and aided and abetted the transfer of funds from Carpoff to prevent and impair the government’s lawful authority to take the property into its custody and control.
United States District Richard M. Gergel sentenced Strauss to nine months imprisonment, to be followed by a two-year term of court-ordered supervision. There is no parole in the federal system. Strauss was ordered to pay $2.7 million in restitution, which Strauss previously paid in compliance with the terms of his plea agreement.
This case was investigated by the FBI Columbia Field Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Limehouse prosecuted the case.
###
Source: US State of California
Hearing scheduled for 7 AM PT today at John Joseph Moakley Courthouse in Boston; register to listen online here
OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today joined a coalition of 16 attorneys general in issuing a joint statement ahead of a court hearing in Commonwealth of Massachusetts v. National Institutes of Health (NIH). At today’s hearing, the plaintiffs will seek an extension of its Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) against the Trump Administration’s unlawful cuts to funds that support cutting-edge medical and public health research at universities and research institutions across the country.
Attorney General Bonta joins the attorneys general of Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Vermont and Washington in issuing the following statement:
“The Trump Administration’s attempt to cut research funding at thousands of research institution across the country is not only unlawful; it undermines public health, our economy and our competitiveness. There are laws in place that protect this funding, and the President cannot simply toss those laws aside.
“This research funding covers expenses that facilitate critical components of biomedical research, such as lab, faculty, infrastructure and utility costs. Without it, lifesaving and life-extending research, including clinical trials, would be significantly compromised. These cuts would have a devastating impact on universities around the country, many of which are at the forefront of groundbreaking research efforts – while also training future generations of researchers and innovators. They would force many universities to redirect funds and ultimately reduce research activities. Research funded by the National Institutes of Health has furthered our understanding of medical conditions and found new treatments for adult and childhood cancer, ALS, Parkinson’s Disease, heart disease, PTSD, and more.
“Attorneys general are not just fighting for the rule of law; we are fighting for our loved ones, our friends and our neighbors, and we will not allow President Trump to play politics with our public health. We are heartened that less than six hours after filing our lawsuit, the Court recognized the devastating impacts of this directive and granted an emergency temporary restraining order preventing the Administration from implementing these unlawful cuts. Today, we urge the Court to continue to block these funding cuts as we keep fighting this reckless abuse of power.”
On February 10, Attorney General Bonta joined a coalition of 22 attorneys general in filing a lawsuit against the Trump Administration, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the NIH in the U.S. District Court for Massachusetts challenging the Trump Administration’s attempt to unilaterally cut “indirect cost” reimbursements at every research institution throughout the country. Less than six hours after the attorneys general filed their lawsuit, the court issued a temporary restraining order against the NIH, barring it from cutting billions in funding for biomedical and public health research.
In filing the lawsuit, Attorney General Bonta joined the attorneys general of Arizona, Connecticut, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin.
Source: World Economic Forum (video statements)
An estimated 50 million people are victims of modern slavery today, hidden in supply chains and industries worldwide. Data fragmentation and limited measurement continue to hinder efforts to address this crisis effectively.
How can innovative data-sharing partnerships drive accountability to eradicate forced labour and modern slavery?
This session marks the launch of the Global Data Partnership Against Forced Labour.
Speakers: John Schultz, Amy Pope, Brandon Daniels, Ishaan Tharoor, Ashif Shaikh
The 55th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum will provide a crucial space to focus on the fundamental principles driving trust, including transparency, consistency and accountability.
This Annual Meeting will welcome over 100 governments, all major international organizations, 1000 Forum’s Partners, as well as civil society leaders, experts, youth representatives, social entrepreneurs, and news outlets.
The World Economic Forum is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. The Forum engages the foremost political, business, cultural and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. We believe that progress happens by bringing together people from all walks of life who have the drive and the influence to make positive change.
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#Davos2025 #WorldEconomicForum #wef25
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Washington State Patty Murray
ICYMI: Senator Murray on Senate Republicans’ Pro-Billionaire Budget Resolution, Trump and Musk’s Devastating Funding Freeze and Mass Firings
ICYMI: Senator Murray Leads Entire Democratic Caucus in Raising Alarm Over Trump Admin Pushing Illegal Indiscriminate Funding Cuts to NIH, Derailing Lifesaving Research
ICYMI: Senator Murray Statement on Meeting with NIH Nominee Jay Bhattacharya
Washington, D.C. — Today on the Senate floor, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and a senior member and former Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, put forward an amendment to Senate Republicans’ budget resolution that would reverse massive, arbitrary cuts to lifesaving research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that Donald Trump and Elon Musk tried to make earlier this month by setting the maximum reimbursement rate for indirect costs to 15 percent.
Republicans blocked Murray’s amendment.
Importantly, the Trump administration’s move to change the indirect costs rate is illegal—Congress’ bipartisan Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Bill prohibits modifications to NIH’s indirect costs. The policy is currently temporarily blocked in the courts. Last week, Murray led the entire Senate Democratic caucus in sending a letter to Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. expressing alarm over the funding cuts and other recent moves by the Trump administration that threaten to undermine America’s biomedical research infrastructure and set us back generations.
MURRAY AMENDMENT #880: Senator Murray offered an amendment to reverse the Trump Administration’s indiscriminate cut to biomedical research and the lifesaving work supported by the NIH at research institutions across the country. Murray offered an identical amendment at the Senate Budget Committee markup last week—which no Republican spoke in opposition to during debate, but every Republican voted against.
Senator Murray said on the Senate floor when offering her amendment, #880:
“The Trump administration is working to destroy medical research as we know it with an illegal, unrealistic cap on the NIH reimbursement rate for indirect costs. That would mean: cancer researchers laid off, lifesaving clinical trials cancelled, and more. It’s also violates bipartisan appropriations law. I should know, I helped author that provision. And Republicans should know—they worked with me to pass it.”
Earlier today, Murray delivered a lengthy speech on the Senate floor where she laid out in detail how Republicans’ budget resolution is a blueprint for deep, painful cuts to programs like Medicaid and SNAP that help working families—all in service of passing more tax giveaways for billionaires. Murray also underscored how the Trump administration’s lawless mass firings and funding freeze is hurting people and jeopardizing critical services in every part of the country, and why a clean full-year CR is not an acceptable solution to government funding.
Last week at the Senate Budget Committee mark up of Senate Republicans’ Budget resolution, Senator Murray, a senior member and former chair of the committee, put forward six amendments to steer Republicans toward a bipartisan approach to spending, affirm Congress’ power of the purse, reverse cuts to NIH, deliver transparency into the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), and more. Republicans unanimously opposed every amendment Murray and other Democrats offered. In her opening remarks, Murray also called for Elon Musk to come before the Committee to discuss his already in-motion efforts to decimate programs people count on.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, Feb. 21 — China is stepping up work in its Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) rotating presidency role, and is committed to hosting a summit featuring friendship, solidarity and fruitful results, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Friday.
“China is working intensively to fulfill its duty as the SCO chair, … and will work with all parties to lead the SCO into a new stage of high-quality development featuring greater solidarity, coordination, dynamism and productiveness,” Guo said.
Since taking over the presidency of the SCO in July 2024, China has worked to promote deeper SCO cooperation in politics, security, trade, cultural and people-to-people exchange, and mechanism building, among other fields, he said.
According to the spokesperson, China has hosted the meeting of the Council of the Regional Anti-terrorist Structure of the SCO, the meeting of the border defense leaders of the SCO, and the joint anti-terrorism drill to further promote security cooperation and mutual trust among member states.
Additionally, China has organized the SCO Countries Worker Skills Contest, the e-commerce live streaming event, and the SCO Countries Publishing Industry Conference to deepen and solidify practical cooperation. China has also hosted the SCO Think Tank forum, the Youth Campus, the SCO Kunming Marathon, and the SCO Women’s Forum to strengthen understanding and friendship among people of various nations, Guo added.
With a focus on the SCO Year of Sustainable Development, China hosted training programs in such fields as green development, poverty reduction, environmental information sharing, and green low-carbon technology, Guo said.
In the next phase, besides ministerial meetings in various fields, China will host a variety of events, including the SCO political parties forum, roundtable dialogue on global governance, the Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition, the SCO Film Festival, Television Festival, and Art Festival, he said.
The SCO Summit will be the culmination of the events this year, as leaders of SCO member states will gather in China again to discuss future development and cooperation, Guo said.
Source: Scotland – City of Aberdeen
The Fairer Aberdeen Fund marked 10 years of supporting organisations to tackle poverty and deprivation across the city in a showcase event today (Friday 21 February).
Those attending the showcase event were able to hear from projects which have benefited from funding on how they have supported individuals and communities, and watch a selection of short films on the work that they have been carrying out.
Councillor Alex McLellan, Convener of Finance and Resources Committee, who is also Chair of the Fairer Aberdeen Board, said: “There is so much positive work being done by the Fairer Aberdeen Funded organisations across Aberdeen to support people and families.
“Our Fairer Aberdeen funded partners are dealing are helping people struggling wtih the cost-of-living crisis 10 years on from the start of the fund, highlighting that poverty remains a huge issue in our city.”
Over the last year, 38 initiatives were delivered across the city by 26 voluntary and third sector organisations, that have supported over 50,000 people to access support for employability, financial inclusion, family support, youth work, mental health, learning and volunteering.
The keynote speaker for the event was Ruth Boyle, Policy and Campaign Manager at The Poverty Alliance, and featured talks from Cameron McCready, CEO of Homestart Aberdeen and Graeme Kinghorn, CEO of Mental Health Aberdeen, who highlighted their work tackling social isolation and improving mental health across the city.
Cameron McCready, CEO of Homestart Aberdeen said: “Poverty in Aberdeen affects families in many ways, from financial insecurity to social isolation. With the support of FAF, we’ve been able to provide early intervention services that strengthen family wellbeing and build stronger, more connected communities.”
Graham Kinghorn, CEO of Mental Health Aberdeen said: “The Fairer Aberdeen Fund is vital in tackling poverty and inequality, supporting essential services from mental health to financial advice and employability. Continued investment is crucial to strengthening communities and improving lives.”
Organisations supported by the Fund have included Station House Media Unit (SHMU), Community Food Initiatives North East (CFINE) and Pathways.
The Fairer Aberdeen Fund is allocated by Aberdeen City Council and is dispersed by the Fairer Aberdeen Board to third sector organisations, charities and voluntary groups.
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
ATHENS, Greece, Feb. 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — STEALTHGAS INC. (NASDAQ: GASS), a ship-owning company serving the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) sector of the international shipping industry, announced today its unaudited financial and operating results for the fourth quarter and twelve months ended December 31, 2024.
OPERATIONAL AND FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
Fourth Quarter 2024 Results1:
Twelve months 2024 Results:
As of December 31, 2024, cash and cash equivalents (including restricted cash) amounted to $84.5 million and total debt amounted to $84.9 million.
1 EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted EPS are non-GAAP measures. Refer to the reconciliation of these measures to the most directly comparable financial measure in accordance with GAAP set forth later in this release.
Fleet Update Since Previous Announcement
The Company announced the conclusion of the following chartering arrangements (of three or more months duration):
As of February 2025, the Company has total contracted revenues of approximately $200 million.
As of February 2025, the Company has circa 70% of fleet days secured under period contracts and contracted revenues of approximately $107 million for the remainder of the year.
On January 21, 2025, the previously announced sale of the Gas Shuriken was concluded and the vessel was delivered to its new owners.
Share Repurchase Program Increase
Today the Board of Directors authorized a $5 million increase to the existing $25 million common stock repurchase program for a total aggregate amount of $30 million. Shares of common stock may be purchased, from time to time, in open market or privately negotiated transactions, at times and prices that are considered to be appropriate by the Company, and the program may be suspended or discontinued at any time. As of the date hereof, the Company has repurchased an aggregate of approximately $19.4 million.
CEO Harry Vafias Commented
It is with great pride that we announce today for the third consecutive year record annual profits. After a successful fourth quarter we concluded 2024 reporting net income of $70 million for the year, a 35% increase, far outpacing the underlying market improvement for our vessels. We are delivering on our strategic priorities, modernizing the fleet, securing revenues and de-risking the business, aiming to bring strong value to StealthGas shareholders. We can now say we are net debt free, after having further reduced our debt in the current quarter. We are close to completing our deleverage that will bring a long term advantage to the fleet and the Company is in a solid footing. As successful as we have been we are established in the shipping markets long enough not to forget that we operate in a volatile sector where fortunes can be made and lost quite rapidly. We are optimistic for the future albeit evermore cautiously not least because the current global geopolitics that can have a strong influence on shipping markets are for the time being quite opaque with too many developing situations. Finally, in order to give further value back to our shareholders, we are renewing our share repurchases and increasing up to $10.5 million the amount available to us for this task.
Conference Call details:
On February 21, 2025 at 10:00 am ET, the company’s management will host a conference call to discuss the results and the company’s operations and outlook.
Conference call participants should pre-register using the below link to receive the dial-in numbers and a personal PIN, which are required to access the conference call.
https://register.vevent.com/register/BIa607c71e1abf4ac08816dfc43bd8d733
Slides and audio webcast:
There will also be a live and then archived webcast of the conference call, through the STEALTHGAS INC. website (www.stealthgas.com). Participants to the live webcast should register on the website approximately 10 minutes prior to the start of the webcast.
About STEALTHGAS INC.
StealthGas Inc. is a ship-owning company serving the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) sector of the international shipping industry. StealthGas Inc. has a fleet of 31 LPG carriers, including three Joint Venture vessels in the water. These LPG vessels have a total capacity of 349,170 cubic meters (cbm). StealthGas Inc.’s shares are listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market and trade under the symbol “GASS.”
Visit our website at www.stealthgas.com
Forward-Looking Statements
Matters discussed in this release may constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and financial performance and may include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance and underlying assumptions and other statements, which are other than statements of historical facts. The forward-looking statements in this release are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions, including without limitation, management’s examination of historical operating trends, data contained in our records and other data available from third parties. Although STEALTHGAS INC. believes that these assumptions were reasonable when made, because these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies which are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond our control, STEALTHGAS INC. cannot assure you that it will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or projections. Important factors that, in our view, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include the strength of world economies and currencies, general market conditions, including changes in charter hire rates and vessel values, charter counterparty performance, changes in demand that may affect attitudes of time charterers to scheduled and unscheduled drydockings, shipyard performance, changes in STEALTHGAS INC’s operating expenses, including bunker prices, drydocking and insurance costs, ability to obtain financing and comply with covenants in our financing arrangements, actions taken by regulatory authorities, potential liability from pending or future litigation, domestic and international political conditions, the conflict in Ukraine and related sanctions, the conflict in Israel and Gaza, potential disruption of shipping routes due to ongoing attacks by Houthis in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden or accidents and political events or acts by terrorists.
Risks and uncertainties are further described in reports filed by STEALTHGAS INC. with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Fleet List
For information on our fleet and further information:
Visit our website at www.stealthgas.com
Fleet Data:
The following key indicators highlight the Company’s operating performance during the periods ended December 31, 2023 and 2024.
| FLEET DATA | Q4 2023 | Q4 2024 | 12M 2023 | 12M 2024 | ||||
| Average number of vessels (1) | 27.0 | 27.6 | 29.3 | 27.2 | ||||
| Period end number of owned vessels in fleet | 27 | 28 | 27 | 28 | ||||
| Total calendar days for fleet (2) | 2,484 | 2,542 | 10,698 | 9,944 | ||||
| Total voyage days for fleet (3) | 2,441 | 2,446 | 10,566 | 9,677 | ||||
| Fleet utilization (4) | 98.3 | % | 96.2 | % | 98.8 | % | 97.3 | % |
| Total charter days for fleet (5) | 2,207 | 2,265 | 9,544 | 8,930 | ||||
| Total spot market days for fleet (6) | 234 | 181 | 1,022 | 747 | ||||
| Fleet operational utilization (7) | 96.8 | % | 95.0 | % | 96.6 | % | 95.4 | % |
1) Average number of vessels is the number of owned vessels that constituted our fleet for the relevant period, as measured by the sum of the number of days each vessel was a part of our fleet during the period divided by the number of calendar days in that period.
2) Total calendar days for fleet are the total days the vessels we operated were in our possession for the relevant period including off-hire days associated with major repairs, drydockings or special or intermediate surveys.
3) Total voyage days for fleet reflect the total days the vessels we operated were in our possession for the relevant period net of off-hire days associated with major repairs, drydockings or special or intermediate surveys.
4) Fleet utilization is the percentage of time that our vessels were available for revenue generating voyage days, and is determined by dividing voyage days by fleet calendar days for the relevant period.
5) Total charter days for fleet are the number of voyage days the vessels operated on time or bareboat charters for the relevant period.
6) Total spot market charter days for fleet are the number of voyage days the vessels operated on spot market charters for the relevant period.
7) Fleet operational utilization is the percentage of time that our vessels generated revenue, and is determined by dividing voyage days excluding commercially idle days by fleet calendar days for the relevant period.
Reconciliation of Adjusted Net Income, EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EPS:
Adjusted net income represents net income before loss/gain on derivatives excluding swap interest paid/received, impairment loss, net gain/loss on sale of vessels and share based compensation. EBITDA represents net income before interest and finance costs, interest income and depreciation. Adjusted EBITDA represents net income before interest and finance costs, interest income, depreciation, impairment loss, net gain/loss on sale of vessels, share based compensation and loss/gain on derivatives.
Adjusted EPS represents Adjusted net income divided by the weighted average number of shares.
EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income and adjusted EPS are included herein because they are a basis, upon which we and our investors assess our financial performance. They allow us to present our performance from period to period on a comparable basis and provide investors with a means of better evaluating and understanding our operating performance.
EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income and adjusted EPS are not recognized measurements under U.S. GAAP. Our calculation of EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income and adjusted EPS may not be comparable to that reported by other companies in the shipping or other industries. In evaluating Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted net income and Adjusted EPS, you should be aware that in the future we may incur expenses that are the same as or similar to some of the adjustments in this presentation.
| (Expressed in United States Dollars, except number of shares) |
Fourth Quarter Ended December 31st, |
Twelve months Periods Ended December 31st, |
||||||
| 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | |||||
| Net Income – Adjusted Net Income | ||||||||
| Net income | 8,889,046 | 14,198,527 | 51,936,829 | 69,862,177 | ||||
| Plus/(Less) loss/(gain) on derivatives | 255,736 | — | (237,618 | ) | (99,286 | ) | ||
| (Less)/Plus swap interest (paid)/received | 216,432 | — | 1,027,127 | 208,127 | ||||
| (Less)/Plus (gain)/loss on sale of vessels, net | — | — | (7,645,781 | ) | (46,384 | ) | ||
| Plus impairment loss | — | — | 2,816,873 | — | ||||
| Plus share based compensation | 940,216 | 2,206,295 | 2,589,405 | 7,326,807 | ||||
| Adjusted Net Income | 10,301,430 | 16,404,822 | 50,486,835 | 77,251,441 | ||||
| Net income – EBITDA | ||||||||
| Net income | 8,889,046 | 14,198,527 | 51,936,829 | 69,862,177 | ||||
| Plus interest and finance costs | 2,344,430 | 1,425,886 | 9,956,712 | 9,062,562 | ||||
| Less interest income | (952,287 | ) | (1,052,786 | ) | (3,712,239 | ) | (3,416,221 | ) |
| Plus depreciation | 5,565,955 | 6,598,549 | 23,707,797 | 26,076,687 | ||||
| EBITDA | 15,847,144 | 21,170,176 | 81,889,099 | 101,585,205 | ||||
| Net income – Adjusted EBITDA | ||||||||
| Net income | 8,889,046 | 14,198,527 | 51,936,829 | 69,862,177 | ||||
| Plus/(Less) loss/(gain) on derivatives | 255,736 | — | (237,618 | ) | (99,286 | ) | ||
| (Less)/Plus (gain)/loss on sale of vessels, net | — | — | (7,645,781 | ) | (46,384 | ) | ||
| Plus impairment loss | — | — | 2,816,873 | — | ||||
| Plus share based compensation | 940,216 | 2,206,295 | 2,589,405 | 7,326,807 | ||||
| Plus interest and finance costs | 2,344,430 | 1,425,886 | 9,956,712 | 9,062,562 | ||||
| Less interest income | (952,287 | ) | (1,052,786 | ) | (3,712,239 | ) | (3,416,221 | ) |
| Plus depreciation | 5,565,955 | 6,598,549 | 23,707,797 | 26,076,687 | ||||
| Adjusted EBITDA | 17,043,096 | 23,376,471 | 79,411,978 | 108,766,342 | ||||
| EPS – Adjusted EPS | ||||||||
| Net income | 8,889,046 | 14,198,527 | 51,936,829 | 69,862,177 | ||||
| Adjusted net income | 10,301,430 | 16,404,822 | 50,486,835 | 77,251,441 | ||||
| Weighted average number of shares, basic | 35,300,965 | 35,345,251 | 37,166,449 | 35,237,059 | ||||
| EPS – Basic | 0.25 | 0.38 | 1.38 | 1.91 | ||||
| Adjusted EPS – Basic | 0.29 | 0.44 | 1.34 | 2.11 | ||||
| StealthGas Inc. Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Expressed in United States Dollars, except for number of shares) |
|||||||||||
| Quarters Ended December 31, |
Twelve month Periods Ended December 31, |
||||||||||
| 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | 2024 | ||||||||
| Revenues | |||||||||||
| Revenues | 34,139,248 | 43,467,117 | 143,527,769 | 167,262,185 | |||||||
| Expenses | |||||||||||
| Voyage expenses | 2,878,732 | 2,679,927 | 11,429,716 | 9,594,880 | |||||||
| Voyage expenses – related party | 426,108 | 535,991 | 1,779,488 | 2,063,228 | |||||||
| Vessels’ operating expenses | 12,690,873 | 13,404,725 | 52,206,248 | 48,961,137 | |||||||
| Vessels’ operating expenses – related party | 207,500 | 212,500 | 911,250 | 875,002 | |||||||
| Drydocking costs | 27,696 | 1,855,672 | 2,641,706 | 5,312,614 | |||||||
| Management fees – related party | 1,048,800 | 1,089,040 | 4,531,920 | 4,258,240 | |||||||
| General and administrative expenses | 1,657,671 | 3,010,733 | 5,331,029 | 10,309,693 | |||||||
| Depreciation | 5,565,955 | 6,598,549 | 23,707,797 | 26,076,687 | |||||||
| Impairment loss | — | — | 2,816,873 | — | |||||||
| Net gain on sale of vessels | — | — | (7,645,781 | ) | (46,384 | ) | |||||
| Total expenses | 24,503,335 | 29,387,137 | 97,710,246 | 107,405,097 | |||||||
| Income from operations | 9,635,913 | 14,079,980 | 45,817,523 | 59,857,088 | |||||||
| Other (expenses)/income | |||||||||||
| Interest and finance costs | (2,344,430 | ) | (1,425,886 | ) | (9,956,712 | ) | (9,062,562 | ) | |||
| (Loss)/gain on derivatives | (255,736 | ) | — | 237,618 | 99,286 | ||||||
| Interest income | 952,287 | 1,052,786 | 3,712,239 | 3,416,221 | |||||||
| Foreign exchange (loss)/gain | (27,829 | ) | 25,598 | (190,722 | ) | (70,692 | ) | ||||
| Other expenses, net | (1,675,708 | ) | (347,502 | ) | (6,197,577 | ) | (5,617,747 | ) | |||
| Income before equity in earnings of investees | 7,960,205 | 13,732,478 | 39,619,946 | 54,239,341 | |||||||
| Equity earnings in joint ventures | 928,841 | 466,049 | 12,316,883 | 15,622,836 | |||||||
| Net Income | 8,889,046 | 14,198,527 | 51,936,829 | 69,862,177 | |||||||
| Earnings per share | |||||||||||
| – Basic | 0.25 | 0.38 | 1.38 | 1.91 | |||||||
| – Diluted | 0.25 | 0.38 | 1.37 | 1.90 | |||||||
| Weighted average number of shares | |||||||||||
| – Basic | 35,300,965 | 35,345,251 | 37,166,449 | 35,237,059 | |||||||
| – Diluted | 35,430,883 | 35,409,350 | 37,236,951 | 35,333,160 | |||||||
| StealthGas Inc. Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Expressed in United States Dollars) |
|||||
| December 31, | December 31, | ||||
| 2023 | 2024 | ||||
| Assets | |||||
| Current assets | |||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | 77,202,843 | 80,653,398 | |||
| Trade and other receivables | 4,506,741 | 6,156,300 | |||
| Other current assets | 130,589 | 193,265 | |||
| Claims receivable | 55,475 | 55,475 | |||
| Inventories | 1,979,683 | 3,891,147 | |||
| Advances and prepayments | 1,409,418 | 733,190 | |||
| Restricted cash | 659,137 | — | |||
| Assets held for sale | 34,879,925 | — | |||
| Fair value of derivatives | — | 387,630 | |||
| Total current assets | 120,823,811 | 92,070,405 | |||
| Non current assets | |||||
| Advances for vessel acquisitions | 23,414,570 | — | |||
| Operating lease right-of-use assets | 99,379 | — | |||
| Vessels, net | 504,295,083 | 608,214,416 | |||
| Other receivables | 48,040 | 370,053 | |||
| Restricted cash | 5,893,721 | 3,867,752 | |||
| Investments in joint ventures | 39,671,603 | 27,717,238 | |||
| Deferred finance charges | 1,105,790 | — | |||
| Fair value of derivatives | 1,858,677 | — | |||
| Total non current assets | 576,386,863 | 640,169,459 | |||
| Total assets | 697,210,674 | 732,239,864 | |||
| Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity | |||||
| Current liabilities | |||||
| Payable to related parties | 955,567 | 388,130 | |||
| Trade accounts payable | 9,953,137 | 10,994,434 | |||
| Accrued liabilities | 5,681,144 | 4,922,587 | |||
| Operating lease liabilities | 71,173 | — | |||
| Deferred income | 5,386,126 | 4,304,667 | |||
| Current portion of long-term debt | 16,624,473 | 23,333,814 | |||
| Total current liabilities | 38,671,620 | 43,943,632 | |||
| Non current liabilities | |||||
| Operating lease liabilities | 28,206 | — | |||
| Deferred income | 1,928,712 | 213,563 | |||
| Long-term debt | 106,918,176 | 61,555,855 | |||
| Total non current liabilities | 108,875,094 | 61,769,418 | |||
| Total liabilities | 147,546,713 | 105,713,050 | |||
| Commitments and contingencies | |||||
| Stockholders’ equity | |||||
| Capital stock | 453,434 | 370,414 | |||
| Treasury stock | (44,453,836 | ) | — | ||
| Additional paid-in capital | 446,938,868 | 409,912,934 | |||
| Retained earnings | 145,993,681 | 215,855,858 | |||
| Accumulated other comprehensive income | 731,814 | 387,608 | |||
| Total stockholders’ equity | 549,663,961 | 626,526,814 | |||
| Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity | 697,210,674 | 732,239,864 | |||
| StealthGas Inc. Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Expressed in United States Dollars) |
|||||
| Twelve month Periods Ended December 31, |
|||||
| 2023 | 2024 | ||||
| Cash flows from operating activities | |||||
| Net income for the year | 51,936,829 | 69,862,177 | |||
| Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash | |||||
| provided by operating activities: | |||||
| Depreciation | 23,707,797 | 26,076,687 | |||
| Amortization of deferred finance charges | 1,345,941 | 711,378 | |||
| Amortization of operating lease right-of-use assets | 99,379 | 99,379 | |||
| Share based compensation | 2,589,405 | 7,326,807 | |||
| Change in fair value of derivatives | 789,509 | 108,841 | |||
| Proceeds from disposal of interest rate swaps | — | 1,018,000 | |||
| Equity earnings in joint ventures | (12,316,883 | ) | (15,622,836 | ) | |
| Dividends received from joint ventures | 14,589,215 | 20,570,036 | |||
| Impairment loss | 2,816,873 | — | |||
| Gain on sale of vessels | (7,645,781 | ) | (46,384 | ) | |
| Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | |||||
| (Increase)/decrease in | |||||
| Trade and other receivables | 238,627 | (1,971,610 | ) | ||
| Other current assets | 139,925 | (62,676 | ) | ||
| Inventories | 1,365,189 | (1,664,736 | ) | ||
| Changes in operating lease liabilities | (99,379 | ) | (99,379 | ) | |
| Advances and prepayments | (728,005 | ) | 676,228 | ||
| Increase/(decrease) in | |||||
| Balances with related parties | (1,532,943 | ) | (555,589 | ) | |
| Trade accounts payable | (1,813,377 | ) | 628,898 | ||
| Accrued liabilities | (100,515 | ) | (758,558 | ) | |
| Deferred income | 2,058,409 | (2,796,608 | ) | ||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | 77,440,215 | 103,500,055 | |||
| Cash flows from investing activities | |||||
| Insurance proceeds | 126,666 | — | |||
| Proceeds from sale of vessels, net | 80,109,781 | 34,679,584 | |||
| Acquisition and improvements of vessels | (85,201 | ) | (106,169,013 | ) | |
| Maturity of short term investments | 26,500,000 | — | |||
| Return of investments from joint ventures | 4,688,785 | 7,007,164 | |||
| Net cash provided by/(used in) investing activities | 111,340,031 | (64,482,265 | ) | ||
| Cash flows from financing activities | |||||
| Proceeds from exercise of stock options | 747,500 | 356,250 | |||
| Stock repurchase | (19,080,455 | ) | (338,176 | ) | |
| Deferred finance charges paid | (988,166 | ) | (22,167 | ) | |
| Advances from joint ventures | 11,847 | — | |||
| Advances to joint ventures | — | (11,847 | ) | ||
| Loan repayments | (154,870,215 | ) | (108,236,401 | ) | |
| Proceeds from long-term debt | — | 70,000,000 | |||
| Net cash used in financing activities | (174,179,489 | ) | (38,252,341 | ) | |
| Net increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash | 14,600,757 | 765,449 | |||
| Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period | 69,154,944 | 83,755,701 | |||
| Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of year | 83,755,701 | 84,521,150 | |||
| Cash breakdown | |||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | 77,202,843 | 80,653,398 | |||
| Restricted cash, current | 659,137 | — | |||
| Restricted cash, non current | 5,893,721 | 3,867,752 | |||
| Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash shown in the statements of cash flows | 83,755,701 | 84,521,150 | |||
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
RESTON, Va., Feb. 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — SADA, An Insight company, a leading services and solutions Google Cloud consultancy driving transformative change for its customers, has received five Google Public Sector Partner Expertise Badges in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI and ML), Data Analytics, Maps & Geospatial, Security, and Work Transformation.
In 2024, SADA achieved significant milestones in these badge areas, demonstrating its commitment to driving impactful results for public sector organizations. These accomplishments include helping state governments centralize and modernize online services with cloud-native applications, enhancing digital infrastructure for executive offices, optimizing government technology ecosystems, and supporting cutting-edge research capabilities.
Notably, SADA helped the Chicopee Police Department (CPD) to modernize its operations and enhance public safety. By implementing Google Workspace, SADA helped CPD reduce paperwork, achieve 100% compliance with CJIS standards, streamline communication, and enable real-time alerts, ultimately freeing up officers to focus on core policing activities and better serve their community. This success story highlights SADA’s ability to use Google Cloud’s technology to help drive meaningful change in the public sector.
SADA is being recognized for its proven delivery capabilities within these five solution areas across Google Public Sector. These achievements underscore SADA’s commitment to helping public sector organizations modernize their operations, enhance citizen services, improve their security posture, and transform how they work. SADA’s expertise in these key areas translates to tangible benefits for organizations, including:
“These Google Public Sector Partner Expertise badges validate our team’s dedication to providing cutting-edge solutions that address the unique challenges faced by public sector organizations and the meaningful outcomes we’re helping drive for those organizations who are committed to serving their constituents,” said Michelle Ambrose, SVP Strategic Partnerships and International GTM at SADA.
SADA will share how it has helped the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development spearhead a groundbreaking digital transformation to enhance services for employers and job seekers in an upcoming session at Google Cloud Next, which will take place April 9-11 in Las Vegas, NV. To learn more and register for the event, visit sada.com/next.
About SADA, An Insight company
SADA, An Insight company, is a market leader in professional services and an award-winning solutions provider of Google Cloud. Since 2000, SADA has been committed to helping customers in healthcare, media, entertainment, retail, manufacturing, and the public sector solve their most complex challenges so they can focus on achieving their boldest ambitions. With offices in North America, India, and Armenia providing sales and customer support teams, SADA is positioned to meet customers where they are in their digital transformation journey. SADA is a 7x Google Cloud Partner of the Year award winner with 11 Google Cloud Specializations and was recognized as a Niche Player in the 2023 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Public Cloud IT Transformation Services. Learn more at www.sada.com.
Media Contact
Stephanie Krivacek
press@sada.com
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Katrin Schreiter, Senior Lecturer in German and History, King’s College London
At a time of political tension in Germany, the Bauhaus – arguably one of most influential architecture, art and design schools in the world – has become the target of far-right attacks.
Hans-Thomas Tillschneider, a member of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) and a member of the regional parliament of Saxony-Anhalt in eastern Germany, has blamed his area’s economic problems on Bauhaus modernism.
His unlikely diagnosis came in response to the regional conservative CDU government’s “think modern” campaign, which seeks to attract investment into the area and cites the Bauhaus movement as an example of locally grown excellence.
Tillschneider asserts that for the area’s economic stagnation to be resolved “we do not need to think modern, we need to think conservatively.” He rejects Bauhaus ideas as diffused with communist ideology. With these attacks, Tillschneider has started a quasi-re-enactment of a historical culture war over German national identity and social anxieties.
Founded in 1919 by architect Walter Gropius in the German city of Weimar, the Bauhaus and its staff shared a programme of material utopianism. This was expressed via an explorative workshop concept that departed from traditional modes of teaching.
Such avant-garde practices moved the Bauhaus politically to the left, which would make it vulnerable to ideological attack throughout the Weimar republic, Germany’s first (and failed) democracy.
In the contentious debate about national identity that followed the end of the monarchy in 1918, Bauhaus artists inhabited an uncomfortable position between two schools of thought among the educated elite.
One side had opened up to modern aesthetics (such as impressionism and expressionism). The other – the conservatives – instead embraced an artistic nationalism that had manifested with German unification in 1871.
They saw “true art” as coming from the people and in turn educating them as loyal citizens. Aesthetically, conservatives found these values expressed in Weimar classicism. Curiously, given the emphasis on art by the people, this was a rather exclusive, high-brow form of literature, theatre and visual arts.
Bauhaus ideas, instead, were anti-bourgeois, avant-garde and experimental, while at the same time postulating the importance of creating art for everyone to access and enjoy. Such democratisation of style, however, was difficult to achieve, and most of what the Bauhaus produced remained unaffordable to the masses. Nevertheless, these clashing visions politicised culture during the interwar years.
In 1925, the school had to move from Weimar to Dessau (in Saxony-Anhalt) after it lost its funding. This was the fallout of a dispute with the conservative political parties that ruled the city at the time.
In Dessau, the Bauhaus teachers built a school building that followed their modern aesthetic principles. Despite repeated attempts by Gropius to depoliticise the Bauhaus by pointing to its aesthetic pluralism, internal debates about the place of architecture in society and politics continued.
The point of contention was the concept of “New Objectivity” (Neue Sachlichkeit) which found expression in Neues Bauen: modularised construction which introduced the industrialised pre-fabrication of building parts in a turn away from traditional crafts.
Eventually, Gropius left the Bauhaus and in his place came the openly socialist architect Hannes Meyer. After taking over as director in 1928, he repoliticised the school and moved it back to the left.
In the heated political climate of the late Weimar republic, the Bauhaus encountered a new existential threat. When the Nazis took over in local elections in 1931, they requested the destruction of the Bauhaus school.
The Bauhaus moved again in 1932, this time to Berlin, where it continued as a private institution to avoid renewed conflict with the ever more powerful Nazis. Nevertheless, when Adolf Hitler seized power in early 1933, the school and its staff became victims of the Nazis’ anti-socialist measures.
The Bauhaus school closed on July 20 1933 and its staff dispersed, often to faraway places. Many went to the United States, where they continued in the legacy of the “Bauhaus spirit” by joining the international modernism movement that became the defining Western aesthetic in the 1950s.
Although the artistic influences and expressions had remained diverse throughout the lifetime of the school, postwar discourse has streamlined it to simple geometric shapes, a preference for the colours white, blue, red and yellow, and an emphasis on horizontal lines and perspectives.
The Nazis had labelled Bauhaus aesthetics as “degenerate”. In the cold war era, the socialist East German government called out Bauhaus modernism and its disciples as cosmopolitan in the pejorative sense.
They were accused of abandoning German national heritage for the sake of international “formalism”, elevating form – as pertaining to function – over cultural content. Tillschneider has put it even more provocatively: “They denied man’s connection to land and his cultural roots”. While a huge interpretative overstretch, these statements do not come as a surprise.
This year marks the centennial of the move to Dessau, where the school building still stands proudly as a Unesco world heritage site. Tillschneider used this moment to perpetuate the culture war that the AfD has become known for over the past decade.
He is equating the CDU to an oversimplified depiction of the Bauhaus legacy – one that is anti-crafts, anti-bourgeois and internationalist – he implies his political rivals are against German tradition and culture. These are the nativist sentiments that fuel the AfD. It is a strategy of cheap wins at the expense of the electorate’s anxieties about Germany’s cultural and national identity.
Katrin Schreiter does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
– ref. Why Germany’s far right hates the Bauhaus movement – https://theconversation.com/why-germanys-far-right-hates-the-bauhaus-movement-250416
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Léonie de Jonge, Professor of Research on Far-Right Extremism, Institute for Research on Far-Right Extremism (IRex), University of Tübingen
In the weeks ahead of the German election, the far-right party Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) consistently polled around 20%. For the first time, the AfD poses a challenge to mainstream parties’ longstanding strategy of isolating the far right.
The rise of the AfD is striking, given the country’s history of authoritarianism and National Socialism during the 1930s and 1940s. For decades, far-right movements were generally stigmatised and treated as pariahs. Political elites, mainstream parties, the media and civil society effectively marginalised the far right and limited its electoral prospects.
The AfD’s breakthrough in the 2017 federal election shattered this status quo. Winning 12.6% of the vote and securing 94 Bundestag seats, it became Germany’s third-largest party — unlocking viable political space to the right of the centre-right party CDU/CSU for the first time in the postwar era.
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The AfD was founded in 2013 by disaffected CDU members. This included economics professors Bernd Lucke and Joachim Starbatty, and conservative journalists Konrad Adam and Alexander Gauland. It began as a single-issue, anti-euro party advocating Germany’s exit from the Eurozone.
Dubbed a “party of professors”, it gained credibility through the support of academics and former mainstream politicians, lending it an “unusual gravitas” for a protest party. While nativist elements were arguably present from the start, the AfD was not initially conceived as a far-right party.
When it first ran for the Bundestag in 2013, its four-page manifesto focused exclusively on dissolving the Eurozone. At the time, the party advocated political asylum for the persecuted and avoided harsh anti-immigrant or anti-Islam rhetoric, cultivating more of a “bourgeois” image.
This helped the AfD build what political scientist Elisabeth Ivarsflaten has called a reputational shield — a legacy used to deflect social stigma and accusations of extremism.
Initially, the AfD distanced itself from far-right parties in neighbouring countries. However, successive leadership changes between 2015 and 2017 saw the party adopt a more hardline position, particularly on immigration, Islam and national identity. By 2016, its platform had largely aligned with those of populist radical right parties elsewhere.
Today, the party can unequivocally be classified as far right. This umbrella term captures the growing links between “(populist) radical right” (illiberal-democratic) and “extreme right” (anti-democratic) parties and movements. Ideologically, the far right is characterised by nativism and authoritarianism.
Nativism is a xenophobic form of nationalism, which holds that non-native elements form a threat to the homogeneous nation-state. In Germany, nativism carries a historical legacy. “Völkisch nationalism” was one of the core ideas of the 19th and early 20th centuries that was broadly adopted by National Socialism to justify deportations and, ultimately, the Holocaust.
Völkisch ideology is based on the essentialist idea that the German people are inextricably connected to the soil. Thus, other people cannot be part of the völkisch community.
The AfD has evolved into a far-right party by continuously radicalising its positions. It acted like a Trojan horse, importing völkisch nationalist ideology into the parliamentary and public arena, which used to be blocked by the gatekeeping mechanisms of German democracy.
The AfD carved out a niche for itself by advocating stricter anti-immigration policies. This came in response to the so-called “refugee crisis”, when then-Chancellor Angela Merkel welcomed more than a million asylum seekers into Germany. At its campaign kickoff rally in January 2025, AfD’s chancellor candidate Alice Weidel vowed to implement “large-scale repatriations” (or “remigration”) of immigrants.
The party advocates a return to a blood-based citizenship, insisting that, with very few exceptions for well-assimilated migrants, citizenship can only be determined by ancestry and bloodline rather than birthright.
Additionally, the party upholds the white, nuclear family as an ideal and has pledged to dismiss university professors accused of promoting “leftist, woke gender ideology”. The party also calls for the immediate lifting of sanctions against Russia and opposes weapons deliveries to Ukraine.
In recent years, the party has embraced the far-right strategy of flooding the media and public discourse with controversy, misinformation and inflammatory rhetoric, to dominate attention and transgress traditional political norms.
A striking example is former AfD-leader Alexander Gauland’s 2018 claim that the 12 years of Nazi rule were “mere bird shit in over 1,000 years of successful German history”. With this remark, he sought to reframe modern Germany as a continuation of its pre-1933 history, while downplaying the significance of the Nazi era.
Until recently, the far right was consistently excluded by mainstream political parties. It was a founding myth of the old Federal Republic of Germany that democratic forces do not cooperate with the far right. At least on the parliamentary level, this worked quite well as a part of Germany’s “militant democracy”.
However, the political firewall — the Brandmauer — has started to crumble. The AfD has since celebrated the election of its first mayors at the local level.
The success of the AfD has especially been fuelled by the narrative of a “refugee crisis” in Germany. Harsh political rhetoric about migration has contributed to the party’s electoral success, as well as mainstream adoption of some of its positions.
Oddly enough, the AfD is especially successful in rural, remote areas with low levels of migration. It is weak in more globalised, university-oriented urban areas.
Ahead of the 2025 elections, Friedrich Merz, the lead candidate of the CDU, broke a longstanding political taboo when his proposal to tighten asylum policies narrowly passed in the Bundestag with backing from the AfD. Meanwhile, German media have increasingly treated AfD representatives as legitimate political contenders.
Once marginalised in political debates, they are now regularly invited to talk shows. And they have received international legitimacy from figures such as US vice-president J.D. Vance, and X owner Elon Musk.
This election may give an indication of how far the AfD’s normalisation will go and how it will affect Germany’s political future. Beyond electoral success, the main question will be to what extent mainstream parties will incorporate far-right ideas in their political agenda.
What is already clear, however, is that the political landscape has shifted. The boundaries that once kept the far right at the margins are no longer as firm as they once were
The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
– ref. What is the AfD? Germany’s far-right party, explained – https://theconversation.com/what-is-the-afd-germanys-far-right-party-explained-250218
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Peter Bloom, Professor of Management, University of Essex
Amid rising tensions around the world, the UK government faces pressure to increase defence spending. External threats and uncertainty over the nature of peace talks with Russia over Ukraine have been in the spotlight. But there are also broader political and economic interests shaping these decisions.
The UK prime minister, Keir Starmer, must navigate commitments to Nato, expectations from allies and the influence of the defence industry. All the while, the squeeze on domestic spending and public scepticism loom large.
The UK’s total military spending for 2024-2025 is expected to be £64.4 billion, with a rise to £67.7 billion in 2025-26. This is equal to 2.3% of the entire UK economy (GDP). It would continue the trend of making the UK one of the highest military spenders in Europe. But it’s still not enough as far as the US president, Donald Trump, is concerned.
In 2023-2024, the UK’s Ministry of Defence spent its budget across several key areas. Around one-third went towards investment in things such as equipment, infrastructure and technology. Another big area of spending was personnel costs, accounting for around one-fifth of the spend.
In recent years, UK military spending has fluctuated, reflecting a balance between modernisation, deterrence and operational readiness. One of the most significant areas of investment has been in the UK’s nuclear deterrent (Trident).
At the same time, cyber defence has become a growing focus, with £1.9 billion allocated to counter threats such as increased cyber attacks and misinformation campaigns from foreign governments and political extremists. The UK has also committed to expanding its next-generation air capabilities.
Britain’s recent escalation in defence investment mirrors a global surge in military spending. In 2024, worldwide defence expenditures reached an unprecedented US$2.46 trillion (£1.95 trillion), marking a 7.4% real-term increase from the previous year.
This trend is particularly pronounced in Europe, where nations are bolstering their military capabilities in response to geopolitical tensions such as the war in Ukraine. Germany’s defence budget experienced a significant 23.2% real-term growth, making the country the world’s fourth-largest defence spender.
In the UK, Labour has pledged to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP, aligning with Nato expectations. It also serves as a response to concerns about the country’s military readiness. This could require several billion pounds more annually, raising questions about how this would be funded.
Publicly, the party presents this commitment as a necessary investment in the UK’s global standing and ability to deter aggression. However, you can argue that there is more at play.
Starmer’s government inherited a complex set of geopolitical challenges, from European security concerns to the UK’s international relationships post-Brexit. Nato commitments remain a significant driver of defence spending, particularly as European allies anticipate shifts in US foreign policy under the second Trump presidency.
The UK must also respond to regional tensions beyond Europe, due to its military alliances in the Indo-Pacific and its arms trade relationships with Middle Eastern states.
Domestically, Labour’s commitment to raising defence spending is not just about security – it is also a political calculation. Starmer wants to dispel any perceptions that Labour is weak on defence.
However, it comes at a time of fiscal constraint. Any new defence commitments must compete with demands for public investment in healthcare, education and infrastructure. Without additional taxation or significant budget cuts, Labour may struggle to meet its defence spending targets without compromising other commitments.
Beyond geopolitical necessity, increased military spending benefits the UK’s powerful military-industrial complex (the relationship between the country’s military and its defence industry). Major defence contractors such as BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce and Lockheed Martin UK secure billions in government contracts.
The so-called “revolving door” between government and defence firms frequently sees former military officials and politicians taking on lucrative roles in private-sector defence companies.
The cross-party consensus on expanding Britain’s defence industry, now embraced by trade unions and political commentators, reflects a narrow vision of economic security that overlooks more sustainable alternatives.
The sector’s 200,000 jobs are frequently claimed to justify increased military spending. But investment in renewable energy infrastructure and domestic energy production could both boost employment and address fundamental security challenges exposed by the Ukraine crisis.
The reliance on foreign energy sources can be weaponised by adversarial states, as reflected in the continued reliance of EU countries on Russia for their energy needs. By investing in domestic renewable energy infrastructure, the UK can insulate itself from geopolitical energy threats. Stable energy supplies can underpin both economic resilience and military readiness.
But there is a disconnect between strong government protection for arms manufacturers and relatively limited support for green technology development. This, even as climate change poses an escalating threat to national stability.
Labour faces a difficult balancing act. Increasing defence spending helps solidify the party’s credibility on national security. But domestically, it risks alienating voters who favour investment in social welfare over military expansion.
Additionally, higher military expenditure could make tax hikes or borrowing necessary. Both pose political hazards. And there is a real risk that increased spending will disproportionately benefit corporate defence giants rather than the public.
Internationally, Starmer aims to signal Britain’s continued reliability as a Nato ally amid uncertainties about the US commitment to European security. This positioning becomes especially significant given the UK’s post-Brexit need to demonstrate its global relevance and military capability.
Labour’s drive to increase defence spending is also shaped by economic imperatives that extend beyond immediate security needs. The party faces pressure to expand a major sector of British manufacturing. At stake are not just defence capabilities but jobs, regional development and industrial strategy.
The government now finds itself caught between competing pressures. The commitment to military expansion reflects not just geopolitical imperatives but also domestic political calculations and economic concerns, which appear to be equally influential. And it raises fundamental questions about how national security priorities are truly determined in an era of multiple challenges.
Peter Bloom does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
– ref. Why Keir Starmer may gamble on increasing Britain’s defence spending – https://theconversation.com/why-keir-starmer-may-gamble-on-increasing-britains-defence-spending-250447
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Jane Wright, Commissioning Editor, Arts & Culture, The Conversation UK
Anyone familiar with Scotland will know the weather is at best mercurial, and at worst wet, grey and what we call “dreich” – a good Scottish word meaning drab. For an artist in the early 20th century suffering not just miserable weather but a cultural landscape of joyless, soul-sucking Presbyterianism, escaping to the sunlit uplands of the Parisian avant garde, where artists were experimenting wildly with new ideas and techniques, would have been deeply attractive.
Into this vivid world of colour and possibility stepped four Scottish artists who embraced everything this exciting new art scene had to offer, and in doing so, changed Scotland’s art forever. Inspired by the post-impressionist works of Van Gogh, Matisse, Cezanne and Derain, they often painted outdoors, revelling in nature, creating exceptional artworks that explored light, shape and colour.
Samuel John Peploe experimented with Cezanne-like geometric forms, while John Duncan Fergusson took on fauvist influences. George Leslie Hunter focused on blocks of colour, and Francis Campbell Boileau Cadell explored bold shapes and impressionistic compositions.
Together they became known as the “Scottish colourists”, and their work is being celebrated at a new exhibition at the Dovecot in Edinburgh. As our reviewer Blane Savage points out, each brought back to Scotland new approaches to art that were reflected in their subsequent work. Take Peploe’s Green Sea, Iona from 1925, which perfectly captures the mesmerising colours of a Hebridean shoreline. Radiant and vibrant, here was art to lift even the dreichest Presbyterian Scot’s heart.
The Scottish Colourists: Radical Perspectives is on at the Dovecot Studios in Edinburgh until June 28.
Read more:
Scottish colourists exhibition: the painters who stood shoulder to shoulder with Matisse and Cezanne
Just as the Scottish colourists loved a nice vase of voluptuous blooms, the new Saatchi Gallery exhibition on the subject, named simply Flowers, explores the place of flora in contemporary art, as well as its wider cultural influence.
Reviewer Judith Brocklehurst describes the show as resembling a “supersized florist”, filled with bunches of blooms and hanging arrangements of dried flowers. The exhibition offers a wide perspective: from sculpture finding inspiration in Van Gogh’s Sunflowers, to William Morris’s much-loved floral designs, to the digital recreation of 17th-century Dutch paintings, and contemporary photography and video installations too.
This richly imaginative and engaging exhibition celebrating the importance of flora in our lives is well worth an hour of your time if you’re in London.
Flowers – Flora in Contemporary Art and Culture is on display at London’s Saatchi Gallery until May 5 2025.
Highly recommended cinema this week is the Japanese film Cottontail, a gentle and touching story about a middle-aged man grieving the loss of his wife after a long illness. Honouring her dying wish, he takes her ashes to be scattered in the Lake District in the north of England – a place that had special significance for her.
Woven through the tale is the man’s complicated relationship with his son, whom he has neglected for his career. Struggling to connect, they embark on the journey together, each dealing with their own grief and sense of loss. Chao Fang, an expert in ageing, death and dying, found this delicate film’s portrayal of grief realistic and relatable, and the journey to find peace by reconciling the past and present both absorbing and affecting.
Cottontail is in select cinemas now.
The Oscar-nominated I’m Still Here, released today, sees director Walter Salles adapt Marcelo Rubens Paiva’s autobiographical novel of the same name. The film follows the grief of a family whose husband and father is disappeared by the regime of Brazilian dictator Emílio Garrastazu Médici in the early 1970s. The film is carried by a memorable performance from actress Fernanda Torres who plays Eunice, the wife of missing left-wing politician Rubens.
Relating the story from Eunice’s perspective as she desperately searches for her husband, the film details the breakdown of her relationship with her eldest daughters as they all seek to deal with their devastating loss and uncertain future. Professor of film Belén Vidal describes the film as a “clear-cut tribute to the ‘feminine’ politics of resistance”. Sad, moving and bittersweet in its conclusion, I’m Still Here, appropriately, lingers long after the credits have rolled.
I’m Still Here is in cinemas now.
Read more:
I’m Still Here: a vibrant testament to female resilience that mourns Brazil’s dark past
Often real life is stranger than anything created for our screens. Based on the true story of Australian wellness influencer Belle Gibson, Apple Cider Vinegar follows the story of a social media darling documenting her “journey” as she rejects conventional medicine for alternative therapies to treat a rare form of brain cancer. But in 2015, Gibson was exposed as a financial fraud – and worse, was revealed as never having had cancer. The internet, understandably, went wild. But how was she able to perpetrate such an audacious and complex deception?
Apple Cider Vinegar dramatises Gibson’s story, documenting her meteoric rise to fame and her dramatic downfall, detailing some of the psychological issues that influenced her deceit. But, as sociology professor Stephanie Baker indicates, this shocking story also illustrates a wider point about the conditions that enable frauds like Gibson to gain credibility and influence online. Truly fascinating stuff, it once again reveals how the virtual nature of the internet deludes people when it comes to online behaviour, accountability and getting away with it.
Apple Cider Vinegar is now streaming on Netflix.
Read more:
Apple Cider Vinegar: how social media gave rise to fraudulent wellness influencers like Belle Gibson
– ref. An explosion of colour and the downfall of an Instagram darling: what to see and watch this week – https://theconversation.com/an-explosion-of-colour-and-the-downfall-of-an-instagram-darling-what-to-see-and-watch-this-week-250437
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Evelyn Polacek Kery, PhD Researcher in Social Work & Social Care, School of Education & Social Work, University of Sussex
When three former PayPal employees, Steve Chen, Chad Hurley and Jawed Karim, registered the domain www.youtube.com 20 years ago, they wanted to create an online dating site based around videos of users. In 2016, Chen told the SXSW conference: “We thought dating would be the obvious choice.”
But despite offering to pay users to upload videos of themselves, nobody came forward. When their concept failed, they hatched a new idea for the same domain: “OK, forget the dating aspect, let’s just open it up to any video,” said Chen.
What followed was revolutionary. Having started as a small project, YouTube rapidly grew into one of the most influential platforms in media history, reshaping journalism, media, entertainment and social interactions.
Its first-ever video, “Me at the Zoo” – featuring Karim casually describing the elephants at San Diego Zoo – set the tone for democratised content creation, and also the type of content that would become so significant for YouTube: vlogging – where people communicate their own blog-style entries on video, often delivered direct to camera.
The simplicity of uploading and sharing any type of video, combined with the potential of online content going viral, made the platform an instant hit.
In October 2006, just over a year after the video platform’s launch, Google acquired YouTube for US$1.65 billion (£1.3 billion) – a move that proved one of the most significant tech acquisitions in history. The platform embarked on monetising its growing library of content via online advertising, not only generating huge profits for Google but also providing content creators with a share.
The increasing profits prompted content creators to deliver better content.
Whereas traditional media outlets such as television controlled video production and distribution, YouTube suddenly allowed anyone with a camera to share their voice. This shift led to the rise of independent creators, from beauty vloggers and gamers to educators and activists.
And so the platform has given birth to an entirely new profession: the YouTuber. Early pioneers built massive audiences, inspiring a new wave of content creators who could earn a living through ad revenue, sponsorships and crowdfunding.
In the UK in 2010, for example, a group of young content creators nicknamed “Brit Crew” became popular on YouTube. They were relatable, fun to watch, and uploaded videos regularly.
Today, the highest-paid YouTuber worldwide, according to Forbes magazine, is MrBeast, with more than 360 million subscribers and 10 billion views. In reality, MrBeast is Jimmy Donaldson, a content creator and businessman from Greenville, North Carolina. But the views his videos attract are still nowhere near the most-watched YouTube video of all time, “Baby Shark”, with 15 billion views.
Donaldson has often talked about understanding YouTube metrics and its algorithm as a key component to his success. He particularly pays attention to a measure known as “retention rate”, noting where viewers stop watching to improve his future videos. He says the algorithm prioritises things that are difficult to accomplish, such as getting high retention rates on a long video, over simply getting a large number of views.
MrBeast is emblematic of the rise of influencers on YouTube: content creators with lots of followers who look to them for inspiration and lifestyle tips. Established companies and brands have sought to develop partnerships with key influencers in order to promote products and services to their often huge global audiences.
Overall, detailed audience numbers for YouTube are difficult to come by. However, Statista reports that the platform now has more than 2.5 billion active monthly users.
YouTube also plays a critical role in modern journalism. The platform, along with others such as Facebook and Twitter-X, has allowed citizen journalists to document events in real time, from protests and social movements to natural disasters and political uprisings – especially since YouTube introduced live streaming in 2011.
During major global events such as the Arab Spring and Black Lives Matter protests, influential coverage emerged from people capturing and sharing their footage on YouTube. This shift has challenged traditional news media, which now often relies on user-generated content as a key source of reporting.
Similarly, some major world events are streamed live on YouTube, from election coverage to the Olympics to the Glastonbury music festival. There has also been growth in the popularity of video podcasts on the platform – one of the most popular, the Joe Rogan Experience, attracts millions of views per episode.
Despite its success, YouTube has faced significant challenges. The rapid spread of hate speech, misinformation and conspiracy theories has led the platform to implement stricter content moderation policies. In recent years, YouTube says there has been a substantial drop in the number of videos that violate its policies as a result, although some experts say these numbers can be interpreted in different ways.
YouTube also continues to face controversies over its data collection, and how its algorithms reinforce conspiracy “rabbit holes”.
Regulation has become a pressing concern. Governments worldwide are scrutinising YouTube for its role in spreading harmful content. Many countries are discussing how to better protect children online: in the UK, YouTube is the most popular website or app among younger users, used by nearly nine in ten children aged 3-17. (Officially, YouTube does not allow children below the age of 13 to use the platform without supervision, but there are clearly many ways around this for younger users.)
There is a also drive among regulators to ensure fair competition in the digital marketplace, given YouTube’s dominant position.
As YouTube enters its third decade, AI could become a powerful tool for creators – from speeding up the process of adding effects to videos, to creating video content from scratch. YouTube will also face continued competition from short-form video platforms such as TikTok and Instagram.
In my opinion, the growing demand for high-quality, authentic content will shape YouTube’s future. The platform needs to focus on protecting and empowering its creators and their diversity, while nurturing its existing community.
One thing is clear: YouTube has transformed the way we both consume and create media. From its humble beginnings to becoming a cultural phenomenon, YouTube’s 20-year journey is a testament to the power of digital platforms and social media in shaping modern society. Whether it continues growing or evolves into something entirely new, its impact on global culture is undeniable.
Evelyn Polacek Kery works for the Guardian and is a judge at the Press Awards 2025.
– ref. YouTube was born from a failed dating site – 20 years on, the world’s biggest video platform faces new challenges – https://theconversation.com/youtube-was-born-from-a-failed-dating-site-20-years-on-the-worlds-biggest-video-platform-faces-new-challenges-250164
