Category: Transport

MIL-OSI Global: Sustainable economic growth in South Africa will come from renewables, not coal: what our model shows

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Andrew Phiri, Associate Professor of Economics, Nelson Mandela University

Coal fired power stations produce 85% of South Africa’s electricity, making the country the biggest producer of harmful greenhouse-gas emissions in Africa. To move away from coal and meet its commitment to reaching net zero emissions by 2050, South Africa needs to dramatically increase production of renewable energy. New research by economics associate professor Andrew Phiri looked at the relationship between renewable and non-renewable energy consumption and GDP growth in South Africa to find out which energy source is most compatible with economic development.

Non-renewables, renewables and economic growth: what’s there to know?

We set out to discover whether renewable energy in South Africa, such as wind or solar power, supports sustainable economic growth. We also wanted to find out if renewables can replace non-renewable energy as a source and enabler of economic growth.

Together with student Tsepiso Sesoai, I did research comparing the impact of renewable and non-renewable energy on economic growth in South Africa.

South Africa currently faces a dual challenge when it comes to energy. It is heavily dependent on non-renewable energy (coal), which also worsens global warming and speeds up climate change. But it desperately needs to grow the economy at a faster rate, given very high unemployment, poverty and inequality.

It’s therefore important to find out whether South Africa would be able to make a smooth transition from non-renewable energy to cleaner energy, and grow the economy at the same time.

Past studies have looked into the role of energy in South Africa’s economic growth, but their methods have provided only limited information about whether South Africa can make a smooth transition from dirty to clean energy.

Read more:
African economic expansion need not threaten global carbon targets: study points out the path to green growth

To get a deeper understanding, we conducted a modelling exercise. We used an analytical tool called “continuous complex wavelets” to see how renewable and non-renewable energy influences growth over time.

Our model shows that an increased supply and higher consumption of non-renewable energy causes long-term economic growth over 10-15 year cycles. Renewables, at best, have short-term growth effects over six months to one year.

After 2000, there was a very sharp increase of almost 25% in the use of renewable energy throughout the decade. According to our model, this sharp increase was enough to have an impact on economic growth over the short term but not over the long term.

This is because South African energy regulators have not adopted strong enough measures for renewable energy to enable long-term growth. They have not funded the mass rollout of renewable energy, or connected renewables to the national grid. We found that renewables can only sustain growth over six to 12 month cycles whereas policymakers work towards longer cycles such as the 2030 and 2050 sustainable development goals.

Economic growth and coal consumption: what did you find?

In 2003, the government started taking climate change seriously with the release of the White Paper on Renewable Energy. The government started intentionally trying to increase the use of renewable energy while decreasing the use of dirty energy, such as coal. Before this, South Africa’s economic growth was heavily driven by coal consumption.

Renewable energy saw its biggest surge after the 2010 launch of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme. This opened competitive bidding for renewable energy providers to supply electricity to the grid.

The transition to renewable energy had begun. But coal-fired power, while declining, remained the main source of electricity.

In 2019 carbon taxes were formally introduced. This resulted in a further slowdown in consumption of non-renewable energy. The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021 coincided with severe power cuts. These two events combined caused a general slowdown in non-renewable and renewable energy use, and in economic growth.

At this point, the drop in coal consumption was actively dragging down the economy. This in turn reduced society’s income, as measured by the gross national product. And because incomes were constrained, fewer private households purchased renewable energy systems. People didn’t spend on solar panels.

What do your findings mean?

Our research suggests that relying on non-renewable energy, like coal, won’t lead to long-term growth for South Africa. This is because non-renewables are not a reliable source of energy, as shown by loadshedding.

Our research further suggests that renewable energy policies, subsidies and programmes made some positive short-term impacts on economic growth, measured as gross domestic product.

Overall, our findings highlight that policymakers have treated renewables as a “nice-to-have” gesture for humanity, instead of a key driver of long-term economic growth.

This has led to weak policies, poor regulation, and under-investment in renewable energy. These have held the sector back from making a bigger contribution to economic growth.

Read more:
Africa doesn’t have a choice between economic growth and protecting the environment: how they can go hand in hand

For example, the government has not taken renewables seriously enough to include them in the power grid. This has largely limited the use of renewable energy to private homes and businesses. Coal-fired electricity from the country’s power utility, Eskom, is still cheaper for households than leaving the grid and purchasing their own renewable energy infrastructure (solar energy systems). The government has not funded the infrastructure needed to unlock South Africa’s vast renewable energy potential.

The planet is at a critical state with global warming. The government should urgently set up policies and actions to overcome the barriers to using renewable energy. Only then will renewable energy have a permanent, positive influence on economic growth.

South Africa has huge potential in renewables like solar, wind and biomass, thanks to its diverse geography. Yet, when people think about moving away from coal, they worry about job losses in the coal industry. But historically, energy transitions have never been instant. African countries that embraced the change early on reaped the benefits. They became more industrialised and prosperous.

The South African government must act now if it wants to use renewable energy to drive future economic growth and stay ahead in the global shift to clean energy. Climate change affects us deeply. But it also presents a chance for Africa to leap ahead technologically.

Andrew Phiri 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. Sustainable economic growth in South Africa will come from renewables, not coal: what our model shows – https://theconversation.com/sustainable-economic-growth-in-south-africa-will-come-from-renewables-not-coal-what-our-model-shows-239339

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

February 13, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Sir David Amess Prevent Learning Review
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

The Security Minister updated on the Prevent learning review – jointly commissioned with Counter Terrorism Policing following the murder of Sir David Amess.
With permission, Madame Deputy Speaker, I will make a statement on the publication of the Prevent learning review into the perpetrator of the attack that tragically killed Sir David Amess on 15 October 2021.

Sir David Amess was a beloved member of this House.

A hugely respected parliamentarian, his popularity extended right across the political divide.

To win and keep the respect of those outside one’s own party is, as we all know, a rare accomplishment.

Over nearly 40 years of service in this place, Sir David fought every day for his constituents.

He advanced numerous causes with compassion, persistence and skill and members on all sides of the House knew him as warm, respectful and always fair parliamentarian.

His legacy lives on, not least in Southend, which now has the city status he campaigned so determinedly for. He will never be forgotten.

And the motto on Sir David’s memorial shield behind us states, ‘His Light Remains’.

While this House lost a valued member on that terrible day, Sir David’s wife and children lost a loving husband and a devoted father. They are in our thoughts and prayers – today and always.

Together with the Home Secretary, who spoke with Sir David’s family recently, I recognise the courage and persistence they have shown in seeking the answers they deserve.

As the House will know, it was a heinous act of violence on 15 October 2021 that took Sir David away from those who knew and loved him.

The killer, Ali Harbi Ali – I won’t say his name again – was convicted of murder in April 2022 and received a whole life sentence.

The judge said that this was a ‘murder that struck at the heart of our democracy’ and had ‘no doubt whatsoever’ that the nature of this case meant that the perpetrator ‘must be kept in prison for the rest of his life’.

The perpetrator had previously been referred to the Prevent programme and subsequently to the specialist Channel programme between 2014 and 2016, between 5 and 7 years before the attack took place.

Immediately after the attack, a Prevent learning review was jointly commissioned by the Home Office and Counter Terrorism Policing to examine what happened in the case and see whether lessons needed rapidly to be learned. It was completed in February 2022.

Last week, I made a statement to the House on the government’s publication of the Prevent learning review concerning the perpetrator of the abhorrent attack in Southport.

Today, we are taking a further step to enable public scrutiny of Prevent, and in recognition of the seriousness of the attack on Sir David, by publishing the Prevent learning review conducted in this case too.

The perpetrator of the attack on Sir David became known to Prevent in October 2014 when he was referred by his school after teachers identified a change in his behaviour.

The case was adopted by the Channel multi-agency early intervention programme in November 2014. An intervention provider who specialised in tackling Islamist extremism was assigned to work with him.

The perpetrator was exited from Channel in April 2015, after his terrorism risk was assessed as “low”.

A twelve-month post-exit police review in 2016 also found no terrorism concerns. The case was closed to Prevent at that point.

There were no further Prevent referrals in the 5 years between the case being closed and the attack.

The Prevent learning review examined how Prevent dealt with the perpetrator’s risk, and how far the improvements made to Prevent since he was referred 7 years prior, would have impacted his management.

The review considered both the handling of the case at the time, and also the changes that had been made to Prevent since the referral in 2014. It examined how far those changes addressed any problems identified, and then made a series of recommendations.

The reviewer found that “from the material reviewed, the assessment in terms of the perpetrator’s vulnerabilities was problematic and this ultimately led to questionable decision making and sub-optimal handling of the case during the time he was engaged with Prevent and Channel’. It identified that the vulnerability assessment framework was not followed with the perpetrator’s symptoms being prioritised over addressing the underlying causes of his vulnerabilities. The reviewer ultimately found that while Prevent policy and guidance at the time was mostly followed, the case was exited from Prevent too quickly.

The reviewer identified 6 issues, namely that:

the support given did not tackle all the vulnerabilities identified

record keeping was problematic and the rationale for certain decisions was not explicit

responsibilities between police and the local authority were blurred

the tool used for identifying an individual’s vulnerability to radicalisation was outdated

the school that made the referral to Prevent should have been involved in discussions to help determine risk and appropriate support

the tasking of the intervention provider was problematic, with a miscommunication leading to only one session being provided instead of two

The reviewer then examined how far changes in the Prevent programme since 2016 had addressed these issues.

The reviewer recognised the significant changes that had been made to Prevent since the perpetrator was managed.

In particular, the introduction of the statutory Prevent and Channel duties under the Counter Terrorism and Security Act 2015.

The reviewer concluded that over the intervening period there have been considerable changes to policy and guidance for both the police and the wider Prevent arena including Channel.

Whilst a number of the issues in the perpetrator’s case would most likely not be repeated today there were still a number of areas which could be considered as requiring further work in order to mitigate against future failures.

The reviewer made 4 recommendations for action to further strengthen Prevent. These were to:

improve the referral process

strengthen the initial intelligence assessment process

update the tool used to identify vulnerability to being drawn into terrorism

not reduce data retention periods

Since the report, the Home Office and Counter Terrorism Policing have fully implemented all 4 recommendations.

First, a single national referral form was launched, to encourage a consistent approach to referrals, building this into new training packages and mandating its use via statutory guidance.

Second, training has been delivered to police staff to strengthen the initial intelligence check stage, ensuring their understanding of Prevent is robust.

Third, a new Prevent Assessment Framework was rolled out in September 2024. This replaces the tools previously used to assess all referrals and cases in the Prevent system.

Fourth, data retention periods were fully reviewed in 2023. A joint decision was taken by the Home Office and Counter Terrorism Policing to maintain retention review periods at 6 years or 6 years after the 12-month review for Channel cases.

In addition to the publication of the Prevent learning review, we recognise the significant concerns that remain over the way in which Prevent dealt with the perpetrator – as well as the need to ensure that the recommendations it suggested for improving the scheme have properly been implemented.

Last week I set out to the House a series of new reforms instituted by this government to strengthen the Prevent programme, recognising the vital work done by officers across the country to keep people safe. That included the creation of a new independent Prevent commissioner.

I can today inform the House that the Home Secretary has asked the Prevent Commissioner to review the Prevent programme’s interactions with the perpetrator in this case and ensure the implementation of relevant recommendations. We will ensure that the Amess family have the support they need to engage with the Prevent Commissioner in this work, so that they can have confidence that it will get to the truth about any failings in the scheme.

Madame Deputy Speaker, 2 further important issues have been raised which are relevant to this case – local policing, and members’ security,

On local policing, concerns have been raised by the Amess family about the way in which Essex Police handled this case.

A complaint has been made, and referred back to the local force by the IOPC for consideration. That process must be allowed to follow its course. However, I can inform the House that the Home Secretary has written to the Chief Constable and Police and Crime Commissioner of Essex Police asking them to set out how the investigation will be conducted, and to be kept updated as the investigation progresses.

Secondly, on Members’ security. This is something the Home Secretary and I care deeply about, and I know that it is a matter to which Mr Speaker attaches the utmost importance, as will all members right across this House.

A review of security measures for MPs commissioned under the previous government has concluded, and all the recommendations have been implemented.

We must ensure that the learnings from this case have been properly implemented and I want to take this opportunity to thank Mr Speaker for his continued leadership on these matters – the Speaker’s Conference is considering what reforms are necessary to further improve MPs safety and security – this is another important step.

The Leader of the House, Home Secretary and myself look forward to working closely with the Speaker and all members to ensure the facts of Sir David’s murder are properly considered as part of the Speaker’s Conference work and that the Parliamentary Security Department implements the recommendations of the review it conducted in the aftermath of Sir David’s death.

I am also grateful to previous Home Secretaries and security ministers for their efforts in this area.

Our democracy is precious, and this government will defend it against any and all threats.

Not least, through the Defending Democracy Taskforce, where we are mounting a whole-of-government response to combat such threats including ensuring elected representatives can perform their duties safely and without fear.

Before I finish, I will pay tribute once more to Sir David.

He was a giant of this House and we miss him dearly.

In all that he did, Sir David epitomised public service at its best. It is beyond a tragedy that we can no longer seek his advice or rely on his wisdom.

We can, though, follow his example and devote ourselves every day to the task of building a better and safer Britain.

That is our shared challenge, Mr Speaker, and under this government, nothing will matter more.

I commend this statement to the House.

Updates to this page

Published 12 February 2025
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
February 13, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Tariffs on Canadian Steel and Aluminum Would Be a Gut Punch to Workers

Source: US GOIAM Union

Brian Bryant, International President of the 600,000-member IAM Union, and David Chartrand, IAM Canadian General Vice President, issued the following statement regarding President Trump’s announcement of a 25% tariff on all steel and aluminum imports into the United States:

“A 25% tariff on Canadian steel and aluminum imports would be a gut punch to workers on both sides of the border. It will lead to job losses, higher consumer prices, and broken supply chains vital to industries like automotive, aerospace and defense.

“These proposed tariffs will not protect or grow American jobs – it will destroy them. The U.S. and Canadian economies are linked at the hip. Slapping a 25% tariff on these critical materials from Canada would put our national security at risk.

“Many of our members in aerospace and defense depend on parts and materials flowing freely between the U.S. and Canada. These tariffs will throw a wrench into the whole system, putting thousands of IAM Union and other jobs at risk. Our union doesn’t oppose tariffs, but we are advocates for strategic tariffs that protect domestic manufacturing and enhance national security.

“Instead of fighting with our closest ally, we should collaborate with Canada to take on real threats like China and Mexico. Unfair trade practices by China and Mexico have decimated the American aluminum industry, not Canada. We need cooperation, not conflict, to build a strong North American manufacturing sector.

“We urge President Trump to pull all stakeholders – government, business, and labor – together to forge a comprehensive strategy to protect and grow critical manufacturing in the United States and Canada.”

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers is one of North America’s largest and most diverse industrial trade unions, representing approximately 600,000 active and retired members in the aerospace, defense, airlines, railroad, transit, healthcare, automotive, and other industries.

goIAM.org | @MachinistsUnion

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MIL OSI USA News –

February 13, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Two Individuals Charged In Connection With Fentanyl Distribution

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

NEWARK, N.J. – Two individuals have been charged in connection with possessing distribution quantities of fentanyl, and one of the individuals has additionally been charged with possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, U.S. Attorney Vikas Khanna announced.

Pablo Suruy Hernandez, 41, of Guatemala, and Giovanni Guzman, 41, of El Salvador, were charged by complaint with one count of conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, and one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl. Hernandez is also charged with one count of possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. Hernandez and Guzman appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stacey D. Adams in Newark federal court on February 10, 2025, and were detained.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

In January 2025, law enforcement officials received information that Hernandez was engaged in narcotics trafficking in New Jersey. On January 16, 2025, Hernandez met with a confidential source to discuss the potential purchase of firearms, fentanyl, and cocaine. On January 21, 2025, Hernandez sold a defaced firearm to the confidential source. On February 7, 2025, Hernandez and Guzman met with the confidential source to sell 100,000 fentanyl pills. Along with the seizure of approximately eleven kilograms of fentanyl, law enforcement also recovered approximately $65,000 during a lawfully executed search of Hernandez’s residence.

The fentanyl conspiracy and distribution counts carry a mandatory minimum penalty of 10 years in prison, maximum potential penalty of life in prison, and a $10 million fine. The possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number carries a maximum penalty of 5 years in prison and a fine of not more than $250,000.

Acting U.S. Attorney Khanna credited the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) New York Division’s Special Agent in Charge Frank Tarentino, and the work of New York Drug Enforcement Task Force Group T-42, which is comprised of Special Agents from the DEA and Task Force Officers from the New York City Police Department (NYPD) and the New York State Police (NYSP).

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ingrid Eicher of the Office’s Criminal Division in Newark.

The charges and allegations contained in the complaint are merely accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

###

MIL Security OSI –

February 13, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Application window for Connect Me grant scheme opens soon12 February 2025 Local charities and organisations will be able to apply for grants from the Government of Jersey of up to £5,000 from Monday 3 March to Friday 4 April. The Connect Me: Connecting Our Communities… Read more
Source: Channel Islands – Jersey

12 February 2025

Local charities and organisations will be able to apply for grants from the Government of Jersey of up to £5,000 from Monday 3 March to Friday 4 April.

The Connect Me: Connecting Our Communities Grant Scheme aims to build a more connected and healthier community by providing funding for projects that promote participation in arts, culture and physical activities.

Since its start in 2022, the scheme has supported 159 different projects, benefitting over 40,000 Islanders. The scheme fosters collaboration between local charities and helps create a sense of community by increasing the wellbeing of Islanders through arts and physical activities.

Organisations that have previously benefited from the scheme include; CYPES – Jersey Youth Choir, The Shelter Trust – Walking Football and EYECAN – Accessible Swimming for All.

Each project will be evaluated by a panel based on the objective outlined below:
- to engage a large cross section of the Jersey community in arts and/or physical activity aimed at enhancing sustainable wellbeing over the next two years
- to increase participation in the arts and/or physical activity across the whole population
- to provide a means for Government to progress towards the delivery of the strategic objectives outlined in:
- Common Strategic Policy
- Government Plan
- Arts Strategy
- Heritage Strategy
- Inspiring an Active Jersey Strategy
- Cancer Strategy
- Disability Strategy
- Dementia Strategy or any other health and wellbeing related strategies and policies
- to stimulate the creative economy by providing coordinated work for creatives and arts practitioners
- to cooperate with other organisations, where possible, in delivery of the project
- new applicants will have precedence over repeat projects supported.
Organisations that have received funding from the Connect Me scheme are also showcased on Elemental, an online social prescribing platform. Elemental allows healthcare professionals to refer patients to community programs and services that can help them improve their health and wellbeing. Islanders also have the flexibility to self-refer or seek assistance from a link worker.

Applicants can apply via the online application form.

For further information or if you have any questions regarding the application please email connectme@gov.je.
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
February 13, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Vicksburg Man Sentenced to Five Years in Prison for Possessing a Firearm as a Convicted Felon

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

Jackson, Miss. – A Vicksburg man was sentenced to 60 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.

According to court documents, Marquette Cornell McCroy, 43, was found in possession of a firearm in Vicksburg following a traffic stop. McCroy, who was the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle, had previously been convicted of a felony and was therefore prohibited from possessing firearms. McCroy threw the firearm on the ground as he attempted to flee the vehicle on foot.

McCroy was indicted by a federal grand jury and he pled guilty on October 3, 2024.

Acting U.S. Attorney Patrick A. Lemon and Special Agent in Charge Robert Eikhoff of the Federal Bureau of Investigation made the announcement.

The Vicksburg Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Bert Carraway prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

MIL Security OSI –

February 13, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: LA flash flood watch: Rain on wildfire burn scars can trigger destructive debris flows − a geologist explains how

Source: The Conversation – USA – By Jen Pierce, Professor of Geosciences, Boise State University

A debris flow channel in a severely burned watershed in Idaho. Amirhossein Montazeri/Boise State University, CC BY-ND

As the Los Angeles area begins cleaning up from devastating wildfires, city officials and emergency managers are worried about what could come next. The National Weather Service issued a flash flood watch for the region for Feb. 13, 2025, when the heaviest rain from an atmospheric river is forecast.

Rain on burned hillslopes can trigger dangerous floods and debris flows. Those debris flows can move with the speed of a freight train, picking up or destroying anything in their path. They can move tons of sediment during a single storm, as Montecito, just up the coast from Los Angeles, saw in 2018.

What causes debris flows, sometimes called mudflows, and why are they so common and dangerous after a fire? I am a geologist whose research focuses on pyrogeomorphology, which is how fire affects the land. Here’s what we know.

How debris flows begin

When severe fires burn hillslopes, the high heat from the fires, sometimes exceeding 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit (538 degrees Celsius), completely destroys trees, shrubs, grass and structures, leaving behind a moonscape of gray ash. Not only that, the heat of the fire actually burns and damages the soil, creating a water-repellent, or hydrophobic, layer.

What once was a vegetated hillslope, with leaves and trees to intercept rain and spongy soils to absorb water, is transformed into a barren landscape covered with ash, and burned soil where water cannot soak in.

Illustrations show how fire can change the soil and landscape.
National Weather Service

When rain does fall on a burned area like this, water mixes with the ash, rocks and sediment to form a slurry. This slurry of debris then pours downhill in small gullies called rills, which then converge to form bigger and bigger rills, creating a torrent of sediment, water and debris rushing downhill. All this debris and water can transform small streams and usually dry gullies into a danger zone.

Because the concentration of sediment is so high, especially when there is a large amount of ash and clay, debris flows behave more like a slurry of wet cement than a normal stream. This fluid can pick up and move large boulders, cars, trees and other debris rapidly downhill.

A firefighter walks through knee-deep mud while checking for victims after a debris flow hit Montecito, Calif., in January 2018.
Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

In January 2018, a few weeks after the Thomas fire burned through the hills above Montecito, a storm triggered debris flows that killed 23 people and damaged at least 400 homes.

What controls size and timing of debris flows

The geography of the land, burn severity, storm intensity and soil characteristics all play important roles in if, when and where debris flows occur.

Fire and debris flow scientists with the U.S. Geological Survey use these variables to create models to predict the likelihood and possible hazards from postfire debris flows. They are already developing maps to help residents, emergency managers and city officials prepare and predict postfire debris flows in 2025 burn areas in Los Angeles.

The U.S. Geological Survey modeled debris flow risks after the Palisades Fire near Los Angeles. The map shows some of the highest-risk areas if hit by 15 minutes of rain falling at just under 1 inch (24 millimeters) per hour.
USGS

Some of the triggers of debris flows are literally part of the landscape.

For example, the slope angle in a watershed and the amount of clay in the soil are important. Watersheds with gentle slopes – generally less than about 23 degrees – and a lack of clay and silt-sized particles are unlikely to produce debris flows.

Other key factors that contribute to postfire debris flows relate to the proportion of the watershed that is severely burned and the intensity and duration of the rainstorm event.

Early important research in the field of pyrogeomorphology demonstrated that while large, intense storms are more likely to cause large, intense debris flows, even small rainstorms can produce debris flows in burned areas.

Debris flows are becoming more common

A whopping 21.8 million Americans live within 3 miles of where a fire burned during the past two decades, and that population more than doubled from 2000 to 2019. A recent study from central and northern California indicates that nearly all the observed increases in area burned by wildfires in recent decades are due to human-caused climate change.

The warming climate is also increasing the likelihood of more extreme downpours. The amount of moisture the atmosphere can hold increases by about 7% per degree Celsius of warming, leading to more intense downpours, particularly from ocean storms. In California, scientists project increases in rainfall intensity of 18% will result in an overall 110% increase in the probability of major debris flows.

Jon Frye, of Santa Barbara Public Works, shows what happened in the January 2018 Montecito debris flow and why the risks to downslope communities would continue for several years. Source: County of Santa Barbara, 2018.

Studies using models of fire, climate and erosion rates estimate that the amount of sediment flowing downhill after fires will increase by more than 10% in nine out of every 10 watersheds in the western U.S.

Even without rain, debris on fire-damaged slopes can be unstable. A small slide in Pacific Palisades shortly after a fire burned through the area split a home in two. A phenomenon called “dry ravel” is a dominant form of hillslope erosion following wildfires in chaparral environments in Southern California

Preparing for debris flow risks

Research on charcoal pieces from ancient debris flows has shown fires and erosion have shaped Earth’s landscape for at least thousands of years. However, the rising risk of wildfires near populated areas and the potential for increasingly intense downpours mean a greater risk of damaging and potentially deadly debris flows.

As their populations expand, community planners need to be aware of those risks and prepare.

This article, originally published Jan. 23, 2025, has been updated with a flash flood watch issued.

Jen Pierce receives funding from the National Science Foundation and is the chair of the Quaternary Geology and Geomorphology division of the Geological Society of America.

– ref. LA flash flood watch: Rain on wildfire burn scars can trigger destructive debris flows − a geologist explains how – https://theconversation.com/la-flash-flood-watch-rain-on-wildfire-burn-scars-can-trigger-destructive-debris-flows-a-geologist-explains-how-247770

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

February 13, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: Toolbox for enhancing digital and sustainable trade facilitation along transit corridors
Source: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe

The purpose of this project is to develop a policy recommendation that assists UN Member States in enhancing digital and sustainable trade facilitation along transit corridors.

The first phase will focus on scoping the project deliverables, gathering insights into the persistent challenges and inefficiencies in soft trade infrastructure that hinder seamless transit procedures and data exchange along corridors, particularly impacting trade competitiveness for landlocked developing countries. It will also develop implementation guidelines for the UN/CEFACT Package of Standards for Data Exchange, which supports the digital transformation of cross-border trade which will be tested in a pilot (a real-world scenario), ensuring their effectiveness and relevance.

In today’s global trade landscape, competitiveness relies on seamless connectivity across multiple domains, including transport, logistics, telecom, and IT. This initiative will build on the UNECE UN/CEFACT Package of Standards for data exchange along supply chains, given the increasing importance of UNECE UN/CEFACT tools in managing the complexities of data transfer across transport modes.

Agenda:
- Context & Background
- Recap of the past High-level policy dialogues:
  a) 30th UNECE- UN/CEFACT Plenary in Geneva (July 2024)
  b) 43rd UNECE- UN/CEFACT Forum in Rome ( December 2024)
- Structure of the policy recommendation & deliverables:
  i) Policy recommendation
  ii) Implementation guidelines for the UN/CEFACT Package of Standards for Data Exchange
  iii) Pilot projects
- Brainstorming the scope of the policy recommendation
- Sharing some publications/readings ahead of the next meeting to scope further
For more information contact the Project Lead Ms. Nogaye Diagne with Ms. Ludovica Poponcini in copy

MIL OSI United Nations News –
February 13, 2025

MIL-OSI: Form 8.3 – [LEARNING TECHNOLOGIES GROUP PLC – 11 02 2025] – (CGWL)

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

FORM 8.3

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

1. KEY INFORMATION

(a) Full name of discloser:	CANACCORD GENUITY WEALTH LIMITED (for Discretionary clients)
(b) Owner or controller of interests and short positions disclosed, if different from 1(a): The naming of nominee or vehicle companies is insufficient. For a trust, the trustee(s), settlor and beneficiaries must be named.	N/A
(c) Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates: Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree	LEARNING TECHNOLOGIES GROUP PLC
(d) If an exempt fund manager connected with an offeror/offeree, state this and specify identity of offeror/offeree:	N/A
(e) Date position held/dealing undertaken: For an opening position disclosure, state the latest practicable date prior to the disclosure	04 FEBRUARY 2025
(f) In addition to the company in 1(c) above, is the discloser making disclosures in respect of any other party to the offer? If it is a cash offer or possible cash offer, state “N/A”	N/A

2. POSITIONS OF THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE

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

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

Class of relevant security:	0.375p ORDINARY
	Interests		Short positions
	Number	%	Number	%
(1) Relevant securities owned and/or controlled:	9,641,106	1.2166
(2) Cash-settled derivatives:
(3) Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell:
TOTAL:	9,641,106	1.2166

All interests and all short positions should be disclosed.

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

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

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

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

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

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

(a) Purchases and sales

Class of relevant security	Purchase/sale	Number of securities	Price per unit
0.375p ORDINARY	SALE	3,620	99.2p

(b) Cash-settled derivative transactions

Class of relevant security	Product description e.g. CFD	Nature of dealing e.g. opening/closing a long/short position, increasing/reducing a long/short position	Number of reference securities	Price per unit
NONE

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

(i) Writing, selling, purchasing or varying

Class of relevant security	Product description e.g. call option	Writing, purchasing, selling, varying etc.	Number of securities to which option relates	Exercise price per unit	Type e.g. American, European etc.	Expiry date	Option money paid/ received per unit
NONE

(ii) Exercise

Class of relevant security

Product description
e.g. call option

Exercising/ exercised against

Number of securities

Exercise price per unit

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

Class of relevant security	Nature of dealing e.g. subscription, conversion	Details	Price per unit (if applicable)
NONE

4. OTHER INFORMATION

(a) Indemnity and other dealing arrangements

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

NONE

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

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

NONE

(c) Attachments

Is a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions) attached?

Date of disclosure:	12 FEBRUARY 2025
Contact name:	MARK ELLIOTT
Telephone number:	01253 376539

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

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

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

The MIL Network –

February 13, 2025

MIL-OSI: Form 8.3 – [CRIMSON TIDE PLC – Opening Disclosure – 11 02 2025] – (CGAML)

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

FORM 8.3

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

1. KEY INFORMATION

(a) Full name of discloser:	CANACCORD GENUITY ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED (for Discretionary clients)
(b) Owner or controller of interests and short positions disclosed, if different from 1(a): The naming of nominee or vehicle companies is insufficient. For a trust, the trustee(s), settlor and beneficiaries must be named.	N/A
(c) Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates: Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree	CRIMSON TIDE PLC
(d) If an exempt fund manager connected with an offeror/offeree, state this and specify identity of offeror/offeree:	N/A
(e) Date position held/dealing undertaken: For an opening position disclosure, state the latest practicable date prior to the disclosure	11 FEBRUARY 2025
(f) In addition to the company in 1(c) above, is the discloser making disclosures in respect of any other party to the offer? If it is a cash offer or possible cash offer, state “N/A”	NO

2. POSITIONS OF THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE

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

Class of relevant security:	10p ORDINARY
	Interests		Short positions
	Number	%	Number	%
(1) Relevant securities owned and/or controlled:	720,000	10.9508
(2) Cash-settled derivatives:
(3) Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell:
TOTAL:	720,000	10.9508

All interests and all short positions should be disclosed.

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

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

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

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

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

(a) Purchases and sales

Class of relevant security	Purchase/sale	Number of securities	Price per unit
None

(b) Cash-settled derivative transactions

Class of relevant security	Product description e.g. CFD	Nature of dealing e.g. opening/closing a long/short position, increasing/reducing a long/short position	Number of reference securities	Price per unit
NONE

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

(i) Writing, selling, purchasing or varying

Class of relevant security	Product description e.g. call option	Writing, purchasing, selling, varying etc.	Number of securities to which option relates	Exercise price per unit	Type e.g. American, European etc.	Expiry date	Option money paid/ received per unit
NONE

(ii) Exercise

Class of relevant security

Product description
e.g. call option

Exercising/ exercised against

Number of securities

Exercise price per unit

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

Class of relevant security	Nature of dealing e.g. subscription, conversion	Details	Price per unit (if applicable)
NONE

4. OTHER INFORMATION

(a) Indemnity and other dealing arrangements

NONE

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

NONE

(c) Attachments

Is a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions) attached?

Date of disclosure:	12 FEBRUARY 2025
Contact name:	MARK ELLIOTT
Telephone number:	01253 376539

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

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

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

The MIL Network –

February 13, 2025

MIL-OSI: LeddarTech Reports Fiscal First Quarter 2025 Financial Results

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

QUEBEC CITY, Canada, Feb. 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — LeddarTech^® Holdings Inc. (“LeddarTech”) (Nasdaq: LDTC), an automotive software company that provides patented disruptive AI-based low-level sensor fusion and perception software technology, LeddarVision™, today provided a corporate update and announced financial results for the fiscal first quarter ended December 31, 2024.

“2025 is off to a very exciting start for LeddarTech, as we continue to make substantial progress on our strategic plan. In fiscal Q1, we announced our collaboration and license agreement with Texas Instruments (“TI”), a premier semiconductor partner in the automotive space. Following that, we recently announced our first OEM design win from a major commercial vehicle OEM,” said Frantz Saintellemy, President and CEO of LeddarTech. “These commercial successes demonstrate strong validation by industry leaders of our products and are accelerating interest from potential customers and partners across the ADAS and AD landscape, building on our already substantial pipeline of opportunities.”

Recent Business and Technology Highlights

Announced first OEM design win for LeddarVision. One of the world’s leading commercial vehicle OEMs has selected LeddarTech as the fusion and perception software supplier for their advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) program for 2028 model year vehicles. We expect to start generating engineering services revenue this fiscal year (FY2025).
Received US$8 million advanced royalty payments from TI. In January, LeddarTech received the second advanced royalty payment of US$3 million as part of its collaboration and license agreement with TI. This is in addition to the US$5 million received in December 2024.
Raised US$11.3 million under a standby equity purchase agreement (SEPA). In January, LeddarTech raised US$1.1 million (CA$1.4 million) by selling 600,000 shares at an average price of US$1.76. This is in addition to the US$10.2 million (CA$14.4 million) raised in fiscal Q1 2025 by selling 6.6 million shares at an average price of US$1.55 per share.
Conducted successful CES participation. LeddarTech completed a strong showing at the 2025 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), including the successful demonstration of LeddarVision Surround (LVS-2⁺) software utilizing TI TDA4VH-Q1 processor.
Announced listing transfer to Nasdaq Capital Market. Via this transfer, LeddarTech had cured the Nasdaq deficiencies and met the applicable listing standards.
Received ISO/IEC 27001 certification. LeddarTech proudly announced that the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) have awarded LeddarTech ISO/IEC 27001 certification, a key requirement for automotive customers.

Customer Traction and Development

LeddarTech has a robust pipeline of over 30 active opportunities with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and Tier 1 automotive suppliers to support consumer demands for improved safety features and satisfy upcoming regulatory deadlines.

During 2025, LeddarTech will continue to develop two new, revenue-generating products that are designed to accelerate revenue and adoption of LeddarVision. More information will be shared on these products when available.

Fiscal First Quarter 2025 Financial Highlights¹

Revenue: Revenue from continuing operations for the fiscal first quarter of 2025, ending December 31, 2024, was $51,900, compared to $52,000 in the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2023. Revenue excludes our discontinued modules and components business.

Net loss: Net loss for the fiscal first quarter of 2025, ending December 31, 2024, was $27.0 million, compared to a net loss of $61.5 million in the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2023, representing a 56% decrease, primarily due to transaction costs that were incurred in fiscal Q1, 2024 and did not reoccur in 2025.

EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA²: EBITDA loss for the fiscal first quarter of 2025, ending December 31, 2024, was $22.1 million, compared to a $60.3 million loss in the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2023, representing a 63% decrease, primarily due to transaction costs that were incurred in fiscal Q1, 2024 and did not reoccur in 2025. Adjusted EBITDA loss for the fiscal first quarter of 2025, ending December 31, 2024, was $11.1 million, compared to adjusted EBITDA loss of $8.6 million in the fiscal quarter ending December 31, 2023, representing a 11% increase, primarily due to a change in the amount of capitalized development costs.

Continuing operations	Q1-2025	Q1-2024
Revenues	$51,878	$52,000
Loss from operations	(13,218,705)	(63,912,986)
Finance costs, net	13,746,884	(2,422,558)
Loss before income taxes	(27,012,529)	(61,490,428)
Net loss and comprehensive loss	(27,012,664)	(61,490,428)
Net loss and comprehensive loss attributable to Shareholders of the Company	(27,012,664)	(61,188,116)
Loss per share
Net loss per share (basic and diluted) (in dollars)	(0.86)	(17.06)
Weighted average common shares outstanding (basic and diluted)	31,483,617	3,587,572
EBITDA (loss)	(22,059,095)	(60,290,981)
Adjusted EBITDA (loss)	(11,143,209)	(8,572,571)

The following table sets forth a reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA and EBITDA to net loss reported in accordance with IFRS for the three months ended December 31, 2024 and 2023.

	Q1-2025	Q1-2024
Net loss from continued operations	($27,012,664)	($61,490,428)
Deferred income taxes	135	–
Depreciation of property and equipment	170,977	189,639
Depreciation of right-of-use assets	112,822	108,365
Amortization of intangible assets	165,134	137,112
Interest expenses	4,504,501	764,330
EBITDA loss from continuing operations	(22,059,095)	(60,290,981)

Foreign exchange loss (gain)	3,635,140	(67,715)
Loss (gain) on revaluation of financial instruments carried at fair value	5,602,056	(2,963,283)
Gain on lease modification	–	(166,661)
Stock-based compensation	1,678,690	(5,985,250)
Listing expense	–	59,139,572
Transaction costs	–	1,761,747
Adjusted EBITDA loss from continuing operations	(11,143,209)	(8,572,571)

Balance Sheet and Liquidity³

As of December 31, 2024, LeddarTech’s consolidated cash and cash equivalents balance totaled $17.7 million, compared to $5.3 million on September 30, 2024. Subsequent to the end of the quarter, the Company raised approximately $5.9 million, using a recent exchange rate of 1.43 Canadian dollars per US dollar. This included a US$3 million advance royalty payment from Texas Instruments and US$1.1 million from the sale of stock issuance under our standby equity purchase agreement or SEPA. LeddarTech’s cash balance as of Monday, February 10, 2025, was approximately $15.9 million.

Non-IFRS Financial Measures

A non-IFRS financial measure is a financial measure used to depict our historical or expected future financial performance, financial position or cash flow and, with respect to its composition, either excludes an amount that is included in, or includes an amount that is excluded from, the composition of the most directly comparable financial measure disclosed in Company’s consolidated primary financial statements.

In Q2-2024, the Company started to use two new non-IFRS financial measures because we believe these non-IFRS financial measures are reflective of our ongoing operating results and provide readers with an understanding of management’s perspective on and analysis of our performance.

Below are descriptions of the non-IFRS financial measures that we use to explain our results and reconciliations to the most directly comparable IFRS financial measures.

EBITDA (loss) is calculated as net earnings (loss) before interest expenses (income), deferred income taxes, depreciation of property and equipment, depreciation of right-of-use assets and amortization of intangible assets.

EBITDA (loss) should not be considered an alternative to net loss in measuring performance or used as a measure of cash flow.

Adjusted EBITDA (loss) is calculated as EBITDA (loss), adjusted for foreign exchange gain (loss), loss (gain) on revaluation of financial instruments carried at fair value, gain or loss on lease modification, share‐based compensation, listing expense, transaction costs, restructuring costs and impairment loss on intangible assets.

About LeddarTech

A global software company founded in 2007 and headquartered in Quebec City with additional R&D centers in Montreal and Tel Aviv, Israel, LeddarTech develops and provides comprehensive AI-based low-level sensor fusion and perception software solutions that enable the deployment of ADAS, autonomous driving (AD) and parking applications. LeddarTech’s automotive-grade software applies advanced AI and computer vision algorithms to generate accurate 3D models of the environment to achieve better decision making and safer navigation. This high-performance, scalable, cost-effective technology is available to OEMs and Tier 1-2 suppliers to efficiently implement automotive and off-road vehicle ADAS solutions.

LeddarTech is responsible for several remote-sensing innovations, with over 170 patent applications (87 granted) that enhance ADAS, AD and parking capabilities. Better awareness around the vehicle is critical in making global mobility safer, more efficient, sustainable and affordable: this is what drives LeddarTech to seek to become the most widely adopted sensor fusion and perception software solution.

Additional information about LeddarTech is accessible at www.leddartech.com and on LinkedIn, Twitter (X), Facebook and YouTube.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this Press Release may be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (which forward-looking statements also include forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws), including, but not limited to, statements relating to LeddarTech’s selection by the OEM referred to above, anticipated strategy, future operations, prospects, objectives and financial projections and other financial metrics and ability to comply with Nasdaq Capital Market listing standards in the future. Forward-looking statements generally include statements that are predictive in nature and depend upon or refer to future events or conditions, and include words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “would,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “likely,” “believe,” “estimate,” “project,” “intend” and other similar expressions among others. Statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on current beliefs and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties and are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results could differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement as a result of various factors, including, without limitation, our ability to continue to maintain compliance with Nasdaq continued listing standards following our transfer to the Nasdaq Capital Market, as well as: (i) the risk that LeddarTech and the OEM referred to above are unable to agree to final terms in definitive agreements; (ii) the volume of future orders (if any) from this OEM, actual revenue derived from expected orders, and timing of revenue, if any; (iii) our ability to timely access sufficient capital and financing on favorable terms or at all; (iv) our ability to maintain compliance with our debt covenants, including our ability to enter into any forbearance agreements, waivers or amendments with, or obtain other relief from, our lenders as needed; (v) our ability to execute on our business model, achieve design wins and generate meaningful revenue; (vi) our ability to successfully commercialize our product offering at scale, whether through the collaboration agreement with Texas Instruments, a collaboration with a Tier 2 supplier or otherwise; (vii) changes in our strategy, future operations, financial position, estimated revenues and losses, projected costs and plans; (viii) changes in general economic and/or industry-specific conditions; (ix) our ability to retain, attract and hire key personnel; (x) potential adverse changes to relationships with our customers, employees, suppliers or other parties; (xi) legislative, regulatory and economic developments; (xii) the outcome of any known and unknown litigation and regulatory proceedings; (xiii) unpredictability and severity of catastrophic events, including, but not limited to, acts of terrorism, outbreak of war or hostilities and any epidemic, pandemic or disease outbreak, as well as management’s response to any of the aforementioned factors; and (xiv) other risk factors as detailed from time to time in LeddarTech’s reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including the risk factors contained in LeddarTech’s Form 20-F filed with the SEC. The foregoing list of important factors is not exhaustive. Except as required by applicable law, LeddarTech does not undertake any obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statement, or to make any other forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contact:
Chris Stewart, Chief Financial Officer, LeddarTech Holdings Inc.

Tel.: + 1-514-427-0858, chris.stewart@leddartech.com

Leddar, LeddarTech, LeddarVision, LeddarSP, VAYADrive, VayaVision and related logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of LeddarTech Holdings Inc. and its subsidiaries. All other brands, product names and marks are or may be trademarks or registered trademarks used to identify products or services of their respective owners.

LeddarTech Holdings Inc. is a public company listed on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol “LDTC.”

¹ All amounts in Canadian dollars except where otherwise noted.

² EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA are non-IFRS measures and are presented by the Company as they are used to assess operating performance. These non-IFRS measures do not have standardized meanings under IFRS and are not likely comparable to similarly designated measures reported by other corporations. The reader is cautioned that these measures are being reported in order to complement, and not replace, the analysis of financial results in accordance with IFRS. See “Non-IFRS Financial Measures” below.

³ All amounts in Canadian dollars except where otherwise noted.

The MIL Network –

February 13, 2025

MIL-OSI Russia: The career guidance project “Smolny School” has been launched

Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

On February 7, the Committee for Civil Service and Personnel Policy of the St. Petersburg Governor’s Administration launched the career guidance project “Smolny School”. Polytechnic University is one of the partner universities.

“Smolny School” is a new project aimed at building a career path for high school students based on the “school — university — Smolny” model. The main goal is to attract schoolchildren’s interest in the state civil service, and to help graduates with career guidance. The partners are gymnasiums and schools of St. Petersburg, five key universities, and executive authorities: the Committee for Civil Service and Personnel Policy of the St. Petersburg Governor’s Administration, the Committee for Youth Policy and Interaction with Public Organizations, the Archives Committee of St. Petersburg, and the Corporate University of the City Administration. The project participants will be able not only to attend career guidance events at universities, but also to get acquainted with the executive authorities of St. Petersburg, their professions and specialties, and to immerse themselves in their activities. The defense of their final projects will take place in Smolny in May.

At the opening of the project, the Vice-Governor of Saint Petersburg Valery Moskalenko and the Chairman of the Committee for Civil Service and Personnel Policy of the Administration of the Governor of Saint Petersburg Andrey Mikhailov delivered welcoming remarks. Representatives of educational institutions and universities that are partners of the project — SPbGEU, Herzen State Pedagogical University, Polytechnic University, HSE University, and RANEPA — also took part in the event.

This is part of a large systemic work that we are doing to attract young, talented and motivated guys who are determined to bring benefit to our beloved city to the civil service of St. Petersburg. We have attracted our leading universities to the project so that high school students who see themselves in the civil service can learn what areas and training programs prepare specialists for work in government bodies. I am sure that the Smolny School project will make its contribution to this work, – emphasized Valery Moskalenko.

More than 80 schoolchildren from different districts of St. Petersburg who have demonstrated high academic performance and achievements in federal and regional competitions will participate in the project.

This career guidance project will help high school students build a career trajectory along the path “school – university – Smolny”. It is important for school graduates not only to choose the right future profession and enter a university in their specialty, but also to decide on the further direction of their professional growth and development. We are waiting for our wonderful guys in 5-6 years for joint fruitful work for the benefit of St. Petersburg and its residents, – noted the project manager Sergey Svechnikov.

The project was developed and formed by representatives of the Higher School of Public Administration of the Institute of Mechanics and Technology, as well as those responsible for working with applicants at the institute.

One of the key partners of the project is the Polytechnic University, which will use its platform to allow high school students motivated to work in public service to learn about the areas and programs of study that prepare specialists to work in city government bodies.

Thus, the project participants will be introduced to SPbPU as part of career guidance events in an interactive form. The children will have excursions around the Polytechnic University, master classes from leading IPMEiT teachers in the field of lawmaking, lean manufacturing, marketing, data analysis, etc.

I am proud that my colleagues from the Higher School of Public Administration took an active part in the formation of the Smolny School project. Many thanks to the city administration, which once again demonstrates its openness. It is ready to form not only its personnel reserve, but also a reserve for the future. For schoolchildren, this is a great opportunity to get acquainted with both government bodies and universities. I hope that the project will bring them closer to one of the most significant decisions in life. After all, making the right choice is an art, – shared the director of IPMEiT Vladimir Shchepinin.

The Smolny School project is being implemented within the framework of interaction plan Committee on Civil Service and Personnel Policy of the Administration of the Governor of St. Petersburg and SPbPU.

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

MIL OSI Russia News –

February 13, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: The cost of transporting coal to the U.S. electric power sector fell slightly in 2023
Source: US Energy Information Administration

In-brief analysis

February 12, 2025

We released new data on the U.S. electric power sector’s coal transportation costs. The release incorporates final data for 2023 from Form EIA-923, which we collect from electric power plant owners and operators. The data release based on our Form EIA-923 includes tables with costs, in nominal and real (2023) dollars, across regions, states, and modes of transportation. These transportation rates are calculated as a weighted average of the difference between the commodity cost and total delivered cost of coal shipments to plants in the electric power sector. In addition, the rates are based on the primary transport mode that a plant’s owner or operator selects, but they may include other secondary or tertiary modes.

Data highlights
- After accounting for inflation, the average transportation cost for coal in the United States declined from $19.29 per ton in 2022 to $18.77 per ton in 2023 (in 2023 dollars). In nominal terms, it rose from $18.69 in 2022 to $18.77 in 2023.
- The nominal average cost of transporting coal by railroad and waterway increased slightly in 2023, while the average cost of transporting coal by truck declined slightly.
- On a regional basis, a mix of marginal increases and decreases in nominal prices existed across modes of transport and across states and coal supply basins. Overall, the average cost of rail transport increased in the Illinois Basin and in Appalachia. The cost decreased in the Western region. By truck and waterway, average costs decreased in Appalachia but increased in the Illinois Basin.
- Price changes in real terms were more sizable in a few cases. For example:
- The overall volume of coal transport decreased across all modes of transport in 2023 compared with 2022.
Principal contributor: Jonathan Church

MIL OSI USA News –
February 13, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Humanities Fellow Studying Literature from Black Power Era and its Reception in France

Source: US State of Connecticut

When Grégory Pierrot talks about growing up in northeastern France near Luxembourg and Germany, he uses the word “American” at least a half dozen times.

“I’ve had a long personal relationship with American culture,” he says, describing how as a boy he’d listen to American music and write down as many words as he could catch to translate into French, so he could figure out what was being said.

Now an associate professor of English at UConn Stamford who teaches African American literature, Pierrot says he’s been a student of American culture – its literature, music, and history – since he was a teenager, even as his methods have turned more intellectual.

His latest project for Rot Bo Krik, “It was Nation Time: Fictions of African American Revolution,” which looks at African American literature during the Black Power era and how readers of French translations received the works, might be the best way to encapsulate all that has intrigued him since his youth.

“I’m very interested in the way literature, music, and film – all those things that may seem less serious than politics or unrelated to it – actually convey most of what people think they know about a given moment or given political period,” Pierrot says. “Ideas are conveyed in those texts, in those songs, and in those films, and they have much more of an impact on us than scholarly studies or political speeches even.”

Pierrot says the French, even though an ocean away, are fascinated by what happened in America in the mid-1960s to 1970s, those volatile years after Jackie Robinson and Rosa Parks when the Civil Rights and Voting Rights acts took effect, the Black Panthers took rise, and Martin Luther King Jr. took his last breath.

Writers including John A. Williams, best known for “The Man Who Cried I Am”; Chester Himes, who wrote a series of “Harlem Detective” novels; and Sam Greenlee, author of “The Spook Who Sat by the Door” told fictionalized but compelling accounts of what being Black in the United States was like.

“This is such a fraught moment in American history, with fraught ideas in American politics,” Pierrot says. “This idea of a ‘Black Revolution,’ while it wasn’t greatly popular, it was in the air. So, when novels like these came out everybody would be talking about them.”

Through the years, for instance, Williams’ novel “Sons of Darkness, Sons of Light,” which imagined the outset of such a revolution, and his “Captain Blackman,” which traces Black soldiers’ contributions to the Army, have been forgotten – along with so many other works, even as those stories echo in the events of today.

“It’s shocking just how much the plots in these novels often sound like they could have been written yesterday,” Pierrot says. “In quite a few of these, either the premise or one of the important events in the plot has to do with young African American boys being shot by police for no reason. Others have to do with the rise of extreme right-wing politics. To that extent, they are very much of this moment.”

Of course, France and the U.S. have been connected since long before the American Revolution gave this country its independence from Britain, and France gifted the Statue of Liberty to celebrate a century of liberty.

France has been the place where African Americans, particularly artists, have fled when wanting or needing to escape racism in North America, Pierrot explains, as France, perhaps infamously, prides itself as being a place where racism doesn’t exist.

“Racism in France was different enough than what was happening in the U.S. that it felt like relief for African Americans who still get treated very differently than other members of the African diaspora in France,” Pierrot says. “Historically, to put it simply, it’s often been easier to be African American than to be Black and French in France.”

In research for the project, funded as part of a year-long fellowship from the UConn Humanities Institute, Pierrot says that even though he’s built a career absorbed in the literature of this period, he found himself fascinated recently by Malcolm X’s connection to France, which remains largely unknown among citizens there despite pop culture references to him.

In the 10 years before the Black activist was assassinated in 1965, despite his growth in the U.S. as a name known around the dinner table, he was mentioned only a handful of times in the French newspaper of record.

Malcolm X traveled to Paris in November 1964 to deliver a speech and attempted to visit a second time in February 1965 but was stopped by French customs at the border and blocked from entry, Pierrot says. Three weeks later he was killed and only then did the French public start hearing about him.

“The novels from this time, even though they’re works of fiction, are historical artifacts. They give us a view of that moment that we may have forgotten,” he explains.

“We all have a sense of the 1960s based on the media – films, books, and music – that we consume,” he continues. “There was flower power and Woodstock, but that’s not all the 1960s were. It was a violent time. There were assassinations left and right and wars around the world. The texts I study offer elements of American history that many people do not know or do not quite remember.”

MIL OSI USA News –

February 13, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: UConn Waterbury Poised for Expansion with New Building’s Imminent Opening

Source: US State of Connecticut

UConn Waterbury’s local footprint is growing significantly with the expansion of several of its academic, research, and administrative operations into a historic building adjacent to the downtown campus.

The six-story building at 36 N. Main St. has undergone extensive renovation by Green Hub Development III, LLC., which is leasing about 26,300 square feet to UConn to expand the University’s offerings in nursing, allied health, and other programs.

UConn has been moving equipment and furnishings into the building and started using some of the space already over the winter, with the rest to be occupied starting later this month.

They include clinic-style nursing and health care simulation rooms, research facilities, study lounges, office and administrative space, a spacious former banquet room, and other areas suitable for maker space, incubator studios, classes, and large gatherings.

UConn’s plan to expand its nursing education programs into the building is particularly noteworthy given the high demand in that profession, both statewide and specifically in Waterbury and the Naugatuck Valley region.

“UConn Waterbury’s expansion into this historic space is an investment in our students, faculty, and the greater community,” says Fumiko Hoeft, UConn Waterbury’s campus dean and chief administrative officer, and a neuroscientist and UConn professor of psychological sciences.

The Odd Fellows Building at 36 N. Main St. in Waterbury sits around the corner from the UConn Waterbury campus on Jan. 27, 2025. About 26,300 square feet of the building’s interior was recently renovated to provide additional space for various programs at UConn Waterbury. (Sydney Herdle/UConn Photo)

“With the new facilities, we are strengthening our role as an educational and economic driver in the Naugatuck Valley,” she says. “We are honored to be part of this building’s next chapter. Its transformation aligns with our commitment to innovation, workforce development, and community partnerships.”

The growth of UConn Waterbury’s campus and academic offerings complements the UConn Strategic Plan, which includes ensuring that the campuses in Waterbury, Hartford, Stamford, and Avery Point offer signature programs that are destinations within UConn.

“The spirit of every UConn campus is unique, and we are looking closely at their academic offerings and facilities to best build on those strengths and opportunities, in alignment with our university-wide strategic plan,” says Anne D’Alleva, UConn’s provost and executive vice president for academic affairs.

“At UConn Waterbury, the new space fits perfectly with that vision,” she adds. “Our academic programs and research will grow and thrive there, and further underscore UConn’s role as a core element of this richly diverse, innovative city and region.”

UConn’s Board of Trustees approved the expansion plans in 2023, which are part of a larger commitment to strengthen the University’s presence and partnerships in the Naugatuck Valley.

They include UConn’s deep involvement in the Waterbury Promise scholarship program, under which many dozens of Waterbury graduates are attending the University; and the establishment and growth of the allied health sciences major on the campus.

UConn Waterbury also prides itself on providing a tight-knit community that serves students’ individual needs while ensuring they can access world-class UConn programs in undergraduate and graduate-level fields that lead to strong, satisfying career paths.

“The demand for skilled professionals is higher than ever. UConn Waterbury’s expansion directly aligns with our mission to prepare students for high-demand careers, ensuring that our regional workforce remains strong and competitive,” says Cathy Awwad, president and chief executive officer of the Northwest Regional Workforce Investment Board (NRWIB).

UConn Waterbury’s new space in the building at 36 N. Main St. will also be ideal for serving current students while also advancing community partnerships with schools, the City of Waterbury, the regional business community, and other groups.

The six-story building, originally built for the local chapter of the International Order of Odd Fellows social group, is in a prime downtown location and dates to 1895.

Its renovation was funded through a state grant to the City of Waterbury along with Green Hub’s private funding. It was modernized for today’s needs while retaining key elements of its history, including Venetian Gothic exterior features overlooking the Waterbury Green and the ornate ceiling in its former banquet hall.

“This project has been years in the making, and seeing it come to life is a testament to UConn’s commitment to Waterbury and the region,” says former Waterbury Mayor Neil O’Leary, who was deeply involved in the project and other partnerships with the University during and after his time in office.

“This expansion is more than just a physical footprint; it’s an investment in the next generation of healthcare professionals, entrepreneurs, and community leaders,” he says.

The building is around the corner from UConn Waterbury’s East Main Street location, with easy access between the back courtyard of the campus and an entrance to the newly leased space.

It will house clinical simulation spaces, clinical and cognitive neuroscience research dry and wet laboratories, a maker space, and an incubator studio.

It will also provide resources for humanities and social sciences, including the HACER Lab, a hub for humanistic inquiry, research, and pedagogy developed in collaboration with Waterbury students and community partners, the Ideas + Impact initiative and other learning communities focused on social impact, sustainability, and health-related projects.

These facilities will be used by programs in nursing, allied health, psychological sciences, urban and community studies, humanities and social sciences, business, and community partnerships.

Additionally, it will serve as the home for the Haskins Global Literacy Hub, a newly formed partnership between Yale, UConn Global Affairs, and UConn Waterbury focused on promoting education and conducting cutting-edge research to enhance literacy globally.

A large nursing simulation lab with equipment sits on the fifth floor of the Odd Fellows Building in Waterbury on Jan. 27, 2025. About 26,300 square feet of the building’s interior was recently renovated to provide additional space for various programs at UConn Waterbury. (Sydney Herdle/UConn Photo)

“Having UConn expand in downtown Waterbury strengthens our local economy, creates new opportunities for students, and enhances the city’s reputation as a center for education and innovation. This project is a great example of how partnerships between the city, state, and private sector can drive meaningful change,” Waterbury Mayor Paul Pernerewski says.

Programs and activities in the space will also advance UConn Waterbury’s connections with local schools and others as a location for community events.

For instance, on a recent morning, scores of local high school students visited UConn Waterbury for the kickoff of the Waterbury Robotics Institute to be based at the campus. The initiative, a collaboration with First Robotics, will bring students from the city’s high schools and middle schools to campus to work on projects with their peers, UConn students, and UConn faculty mentors.

They were among the first to use the newly leased space at 36 N. Main St., with several of the student groups testing and demonstrating their robots in the large collaborative learning room on the building’s second floor.

“This expansion will have a lasting impact not only on UConn students, but also on Waterbury’s middle and high schoolers who aspire to pursue careers in healthcare, technology, business, and other growing fields,” says Waterbury Public Schools Interim Superintendent Darren Schwartz.

“The increased access to cutting-edge learning spaces and mentorship opportunities will strengthen our student college and career readiness,” he says.

The Odd Fellows Building has a rich history in the City of Waterbury, and its restoration and use by UConn carries strong emotional and economic significance to the area.

Built at a cost of $100,000 and said to be among the finest of its time in the region, the building’s opening in 1895 drew more than 5,000 members of the group from around the East Coast and was featured in the New York Times.

In fact, the opening was marked by a parade and the event was so important to the city that all factories and schools were closed for the day, and all business shut down at noon, according to another Times article.

A clothing store occupied the first floor for about its first five years in addition to the meeting rooms and social spaces used by the Odd Fellows and others on the higher floors. Later, the popular Grieve, Bissett & Holland department store was in the building from 1902 until the mid-1960s.

The structure had been unused for more than 15 years before the renovation.

“Restoring this landmark building and giving it a new purpose has been incredibly rewarding,” says Joe Gramando, Green Hub’s managing partner. “UConn’s presence here ensures that this space will remain a vibrant part of Waterbury’s future, serving students, researchers, and the broader community for years to come.”

MIL OSI USA News –

February 13, 2025
MIL-OSI: BigCommerce Strengthens Leadership Team with New Chief Revenue and Chief Marketing Officers

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — BigCommerce (Nasdaq: BIGC), a leading provider of open, composable commerce solutions for B2C and B2B brands and retailers, today announced the additions of Rob Walter as its chief revenue officer and Michelle Suzuki as company’s chief marketing officer.

Walter is a seasoned revenue leader with 20 years of ecommerce experience leading sales and go-to-market teams at successful companies including Salesforce, Ebay, ChannelAdviser and Amplience.

Suzuki brings more than 25 years of experience scaling and transforming high-growth companies, including renowned technology companies such as EMC, Ancestry and Ivanti.

“These additions strengthen BigCommerce’s senior leadership team and reflect our commitment to investing in top talent to help us achieve our goals across BigCommerce, Feedonomics and Makeswift,” said Travis Hess, CEO of BigCommerce. “Their experience and expertise will be huge contributors to the success of the company as we refocus on reigniting growth and improving shareholder value.”

Walter is an accomplished revenue growth and go-to-market executive with a proven track record of scaling teams, driving innovation and achieving exceptional revenue outcomes across the technology and retail sectors. With over two decades of leadership experience in sales, marketing, customer success and professional services, Walter has been instrumental in the growth and success of globally recognized organizations.

He previously spent six years as chief revenue officer at Amplience, a leading CMS provider and most recently at OroCommerce, a B2B ecommerce solution provider. At both companies Walter led strategy and oversaw sales, marketing, customer success and professional services operations. Under his leadership, Amplience and OroCommerce experienced significant growth.

“Ecommerce businesses today need to reach their customers in new and dynamic ways,” Walter said. “BigCommerce offers brands and retailers the flexibility to customize and meet their customers wherever they may be, and I look forward to working with our current customers and new ones to help them reach their goals.”

As CMO of BigCommerce, Suzuki defines strategy and builds high-performing teams responsible for demand generation, customer marketing, partner marketing, digital marketing, content, communications, social media and global regional marketing.

Previously, Suzuki was CMO at Glassbox, where she led strategy and oversaw a comprehensive suite of marketing functions including brand strategy, digital transformation, demand generation, content marketing, marketing operations, customer engagement, communications/social media and product marketing. Previously, she was senior vice president of global marketing at Instructure, where she was instrumental in transforming the company’s international regions into rapid-growth SaaS businesses. In 2021, she helped lead the company to a successful $3 billion IPO. She has extensive M&A experience—diligence, acquisition and integration—having completed more than 10 transactions in her career.

“I pride myself on being a data-centric growth marketer who harnesses the combination of creativity, content and data to connect with and delight customers through high-value, customized experiences,” she said. “I’m excited to join BigCommerce at this important time to help lead its return to fast growth and long-term success.”

About BigCommerce

BigCommerce (Nasdaq: BIGC) is a leading open SaaS and composable ecommerce platform that empowers brands, retailers, manufacturers and distributors of all sizes to build, innovate and grow their businesses online. BigCommerce provides its customers sophisticated professional-grade functionality, customization and performance with simplicity and ease-of-use. Tens of thousands of B2C and B2B companies across 150 countries and numerous industries rely on BigCommerce, including Coldwater Creek, Harvey Nichols, King Arthur Baking Co., MKM Building Supplies, United Aqua Group and Uplift Desk. For more information, please visit www.bigcommerce.com or follow us on X and LinkedIn.

BigCommerce® is a registered trademark of BigCommerce Pty. Ltd. Third-party trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners.

Media Contact:
Brad Hem
pr@bigcommerce.com

The MIL Network –

February 13, 2025
MIL-OSI: Willis appoints Guy Donahue as Cross Industry Midwest Property Broking Leader

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

NEW YORK, Feb. 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Willis, a WTW business (NASDAQ: WTW), has announced the appointment of Guy Donahue as Cross Industry Midwest Property Broking Leader within Corporate Risk and Broking North America (CRB NA). In this role, Donahue will be responsible for driving strategic initiatives, fostering client relationships, and leading property broking efforts across diverse industries in the Midwest region.

Bringing more than two decades of experience in large and complex commercial property insurance broking, Donahue has worked extensively across industries such as mining, semiconductors, automotive manufacturing, and pulp and paper. He specializes in developing customized risk financing strategies that help clients manage costs and maximize value. His expertise in global insurance markets—including the U.S., Bermuda, London, and Europe—has enabled him to secure optimal terms for complex property programs.

Prior to joining Willis, Donahue was Senior Account Manager and Unit Manager for Midwest Property at Lockton Companies, where he led the client growth strategy, managed a diverse portfolio, and oversaw a team of 11 brokers handling more than 45 accounts. Earlier in his career, he served as Senior Vice President, Property Client Advisor at Marsh, where he led a team responsible for complex property programs.

Scott Pizzi, Head of Property Broking for CRB NA at Willis, commented: “Guy’s deep industry expertise and proven leadership make him a strong addition to our team. His ability to navigate complex risk landscapes and deliver tailored solutions will be instrumental as we strengthen our property broking capabilities in the Midwest.”

Donahue joined WTW on February 3, 2025 and reports to Scott Pizzi.

About WTW

At WTW (NASDAQ: WTW), we provide data-driven, insight-led solutions in the areas of people, risk and capital. Leveraging the global view and local expertise of our colleagues serving 140 countries and markets, we help organizations sharpen their strategy, enhance organizational resilience, motivate their workforce and maximize performance.

Working shoulder to shoulder with our clients, we uncover opportunities for sustainable success—and provide perspective that moves you. Learn more at wtwco.com.

Media contacts

Douglas Menelly
Douglas.Menelly@wtwco.com | +1 (516) 972 0380

Arnelle Sullivan
Arnelle.Sullivan@wtwco.com | +1 (718) 208-0474

The MIL Network –

February 13, 2025
MIL-OSI: Uni-Fuels Awarded International Sustainability and Carbon Certifications, Reinforcing Commitment to Sustainable Marine Fuel Trading

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

SINGAPORE, Feb. 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Uni-Fuels Holdings Limited (NASDAQ: UFG), (“Uni-Fuels” or the “Company”), a global provider of marine fuel solutions headquartered in Singapore, today announced that the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary, Uni-Fuels Pte Ltd (“Uni-Fuels Singapore”), has received both ISCC EU and ISCC PLUS certifications from the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC), a globally recognized independent multi-stakeholder initiative and leading certification system supporting sustainable, fully traceable, deforestation-free and climate-friendly supply chains. These certifications highlight the Company’s commitment to sustainability and compliance with European Union (EU) regulations aimed at reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the maritime industry.

The ISCC certifications ensure that the biofuels traded by Uni-Fuels Singapore meet the requirements of the EU’s Renewable Energy Directive (RED II), including the provision of Proof of Sustainability (PoS). This important documentation ensures biofuels are sustainably sourced and produced, enabling full traceability from feedstock to final product.

As the maritime sector moves toward greater decarbonization, it is essential for biofuel suppliers to demonstrate compliance with regulatory standards, including the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) and FuelEU Maritime. PoS documentation ensures biofuels can be counted toward emissions reduction targets, as opposed to being treated as fossil fuels.

Uni-Fuels Vice President, Operations Tan Guan Kai commented, “Achieving ISCC certifications demonstrates our commitment to supporting the global transition to cleaner fuels. With Proof of Sustainability documentation, we provide our customers with the assurance that the biofuels they rely on are responsibly produced and fully compliant with evolving regulations.”

The PoS framework, combined with the ISCC EU and ISCC PLUS certifications, ensures customers that the biofuels they use are responsibly sourced, traceable, and produced with sustainability in mind. These certifications provide both regulatory compliance and enhanced transparency, helping to build trust in the biofuel market.

About Uni-Fuels Holdings Limited

Uni-Fuels is a fast-growing global provider of marine fuel solutions, helping shipping companies optimize fuel procurement across all markets and time zones. Founded in 2021, Uni-Fuels has evolved from modest beginnings into a dynamic, forward-thinking company. Backed by a passionate team and a growing presence across multiple locations, it has forged trusted partnerships with customers, supporting them in achieving their operational objectives with confidence, from shore to shore.

For more information, visit www.uni-fuels.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding the completion and timing of closing of the offering and the intended use of the proceeds. You can identify forward-looking statements by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. These statements may include words such as “anticipate”, “estimate”, “expect”, “project”, “plan”, “intend”, “believe”, “may”, “will”, “should”, “can have”, “likely” and other words and terms of similar meaning. Forward-looking statements represent Uni-Fuels’ current expectations regarding future events and are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those implied by the forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to uncertainties and risks including, but not limited to, the uncertainties related to market conditions and the completion of the initial public offering on the anticipated terms or at all, and other factors discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of the registration statement filed with the SEC. For these reasons, among others, investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements in this press release. Additional factors are discussed in the Company’s filings with the SEC, which are available for review at www.sec.gov. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly revise these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date hereof.

Contact Information

For Investor Relations:

Uni-Fuels Holdings Ltd
Email: investors@uni-fuels.com

Skyline Corporate Communications Group, LLC
Email: info@skylineccg.com

The MIL Network –

February 13, 2025
MIL-OSI: Inuvo Launches Self-Serve IntentKey Platform: A Revolutionary Interface for AI-Powered Audience Modeling
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

LITTLE ROCK, Ark., Feb. 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Inuvo, Inc. (NYSE American: INUV), a leading provider of intelligent advertising technology, today announced the launch of the IntentKey Platform, an advanced AI agent specifically designed for audience modeling using Inuvo’s proprietary IntentKey AI. Designed to address the challenges of modern advertising—including signal loss, privacy regulations, and the growing need for real-time insights—the Platform empowers marketers to build, refine, and activate audience models instantly, paving the way for smarter, more effective campaigns.

The IntentKey Platform opens significant market opportunities within the advertising technology sector, a market valued at over $200 billion and poised for growth as the obsolescence of cookies and consumer data significantly impacts media spending. This positions Inuvo to capture substantial market share with its unique AI technology and proven ability to deliver advertising performance that significantly surpasses incumbent behavioral targeting media solutions.

The IntentKey Platform is a purpose-built AI designed to meet the needs of both independent marketers and large-scale enterprises. Key features include:
- Instant Audience Models: Define and refine audience targets in seconds.
- Real-Time Updates: Audience models that adapt to trends every five minutes.
- Flexible Activation: Audience models activated through your DSP of choice or managed as a service by Inuvo.
- Enhanced Audience Insights: Immediate access to AI-generated demographics including age, gender, income, marital status, education, sentiment, and geography.
The Platform is available now for marketers and agencies with two use cases:
- Self-Service: As part of the launch, Inuvo has opened a self-serve capability that enables marketers and agencies to gain hands-on control to independently build and activate custom audience models directly through their preferred demand-side platform (DSP).
- Managed Service: For clients seeking expert campaign management, the Platform provides visibility into the audience models and insights driving success, with Inuvo’s team delivering full-service optimization and tailored reporting.
“Marketers are facing a daunting challenge: delivering better performance in a world where consumer privacy is paramount, cookies are disappearing, and costs are rising, all of which reduce return on ad spend. At the same time, the shift toward adaptive, AI-driven agents is replacing the traditional SaaS tools marketers have relied on for years. The IntentKey Platform addresses these issues head-on, offering real-time audience insights and dynamic models that evolve with today’s fast-changing advertising landscape,” said Amir Bahkshaie, Senior VP of Inuvo.

The IntentKey Platform leverages ethically designed large-language-modeling to address signal loss without relying on cookies or personal identifiers. By analyzing content from the open web, it builds real-time audience models that continuously evolve, delivering actionable insights while maintaining privacy compliance. This innovation reinforces Inuvo’s leadership in AI-powered advertising, offering unparalleled transparency, flexibility, and precision to help marketers create smarter, more effective campaigns.

As featured in an AdExchanger exclusive, the IntentKey Platform is redefining audience targeting with real-time AI-driven modeling that eliminates reliance on cookies or personal data, highlighting success stories:
- James & James, a premium furniture brand, used IntentKey to dramatically improve media efficiency and audience precision while uncovering new product opportunities:
  “If we see a wood species trending, we may incorporate it into our lines because people want this type of wood.” — Tristan Cameron, CMO, James & James
- Emerald Ebikes, an internal Inuvo initiative to better understand client pain points, proved IntentKey’s effectiveness by using AI-generated audience models to drive sales—with no additional targeting data.
  “We actually reach users—they come to the site. We’re not using anything else, and they’re buying our product because of our targeting.” — Amir Bahkshaie, SVP, Inuvo
To learn more about the IntentKey Platform, book a demo, and start activating AI-powered audiences today., visit www.inuvo.com/IntentKeyPlatform.

About Inuvo

Inuvo®, Inc. (NYSE American: INUV) is a market leader in Artificial Intelligence built for advertising. Its IntentKey AI solution is a first-of-its-kind proprietary and patented technology capable of identifying and actioning to the reasons why consumers are interested in products, services, or brands, not who those consumers are. To learn more, visit www.inuvo.com.

Safe Harbor / Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding Inuvo’s quarter-end financial close process and preparation of financial statements for the quarter that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause results to be materially different than expectations. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially, including, without limitation risks detailed from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), and represent our views only as of the date they are made and should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any subsequent date. You are urged to carefully review and consider any cautionary statements and other disclosures, including the statements made under the heading “Risk Factors” in Inuvo, Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 as filed on February 29, 2024, and our other filings with the SEC. Additionally, forward looking statements are subject to certain risks, trends, and uncertainties including the continued impact of Covid-19 on Inuvo’s business and operations. Inuvo cannot provide assurances that the assumptions upon which these forward-looking statements are based will prove to have been correct. Should one of these risks materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements, and investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are current only as of this date. Inuvo does not intend to update or revise any forward-looking statements made herein or any other forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Inuvo further expressly disclaims any written or oral statements made by a third-party regarding the subject matter of this press release. The information which appears on our websites and our social media platforms is not part of this press release.

Inuvo Company Contact:
Katie Cooper
Director of Marketing
katie.cooper@inuvo.com

Investor Relations :
David Waldman / Natalya Rudman
Crescendo Communications, LLC
Tel: (212) 671-1020
inuv@crescendo-ir.com

The MIL Network –
February 13, 2025

MIL-OSI: Form 8.3 – [ALLIANCE PHARMA PLC – 11 02 2025] – (CGWL)

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

FORM 8.3

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

1. KEY INFORMATION

(a) Full name of discloser:	CANACCORD GENUITY WEALTH LIMITED (for Discretionary clients)
(b) Owner or controller of interests and short positions disclosed, if different from 1(a): The naming of nominee or vehicle companies is insufficient. For a trust, the trustee(s), settlor and beneficiaries must be named.	N/A
(c) Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates: Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree	ALLIANCE PHARMA PLC
(d) If an exempt fund manager connected with an offeror/offeree, state this and specify identity of offeror/offeree:	N/A
(e) Date position held/dealing undertaken: For an opening position disclosure, state the latest practicable date prior to the disclosure	11 FEBRUARY 2025
(f) In addition to the company in 1(c) above, is the discloser making disclosures in respect of any other party to the offer? If it is a cash offer or possible cash offer, state “N/A”	N/A

2. POSITIONS OF THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE

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

Class of relevant security:	1p ORDINARY
	Interests		Short positions
	Number	%	Number	%
(1) Relevant securities owned and/or controlled:	12,253,082	2.2667
(2) Cash-settled derivatives:
(3) Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell:
TOTAL:	12,253,082	2.2667

All interests and all short positions should be disclosed.

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

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

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

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

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

(a) Purchases and sales

Class of relevant security	Purchase/sale	Number of securities	Price per unit
1p ORDINARY	SALE	2,200	61.326p

(b) Cash-settled derivative transactions

Class of relevant security	Product description e.g. CFD	Nature of dealing e.g. opening/closing a long/short position, increasing/reducing a long/short position	Number of reference securities	Price per unit
NONE

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

(i) Writing, selling, purchasing or varying

Class of relevant security	Product description e.g. call option	Writing, purchasing, selling, varying etc.	Number of securities to which option relates	Exercise price per unit	Type e.g. American, European etc.	Expiry date	Option money paid/ received per unit
NONE

(ii) Exercise

Class of relevant security

Product description
e.g. call option

Exercising/ exercised against

Number of securities

Exercise price per unit

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

Class of relevant security	Nature of dealing e.g. subscription, conversion	Details	Price per unit (if applicable)
NONE

4. OTHER INFORMATION

(a) Indemnity and other dealing arrangements

NONE

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

NONE

(c) Attachments

Is a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions) attached?

Date of disclosure:	12 FEBRUARY 2025
Contact name:	MARK ELLIOTT
Telephone number:	01253 376539

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

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

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

The MIL Network –

February 13, 2025

MIL-OSI China: China establishes over 30,000 smart factories: ministry

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

BEIJING, Feb. 12 — China has built over 30,000 basic-level smart factories as part of a nationwide push to accelerate industrial digitalization and intelligent upgrading, according to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT).

The initiative, under the smart factory gradient cultivation action, has also seen the creation of 1,200 advanced-level and 230 excellence-level smart factories. This achievement highlights the significant progress that has been made in reshaping the country’s manufacturing landscape, according to the ministry.

The 230 excellence-level factories, distributed across all 31 provincial regions in China and covering over 80 percent of manufacturing sectors, have carried out nearly 2,000 advanced scenarios, including smart warehousing, AI-powered quality inspections, and digital research and development, said MIIT.

On average, these factories are 28.4 percent shorter in product development cycles, 22.3 percent higher in production efficiency, 50.2 percent lower in defect rates and 20.4 percent lower in carbon emissions, said the ministry.

MIIT, alongside five other state agencies, jointly launched a smart factory gradient cultivation action last year and classified smart factories into four tiers based on technological maturity and integration depth, including the basic-level, the advanced-level, the excellence-level and the pioneer-level.

For instance, basic-level smart factories are required to develop foundational capabilities in digitization and networking. This involves deploying the necessary smart manufacturing equipment, industrial software, and systems centered around typical scenarios of smart manufacturing. By doing so, they can achieve real-time data collection, automation of key production processes, enhance the informatization of production and operational management, and utilize intelligence exploration in certain aspects.

Moving forward, MIIT will expand excellence-level smart factory promotion and prepare to launch pioneer-level cultivation, aiming to further promote the expansion, deeper integration, and elevated evolution of intelligent manufacturing, it said.

MIL OSI China News –

February 13, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Holiday Activity and Food Programme agreed in Preston for 2025/2026
Source: City of Preston

Following the Full Council meeting on 30 January, Preston City Council agreed to accept funding of up to £600,000 to deliver the Holiday Activity and Food programme (HAF) in Preston.

The HAF programme is an initiative funded by the Department for Education for the delivery of food, along with activities for children aged between 5 – 19 years, during the school holidays.

A competitive grant application process for providers wishing to deliver elements of the programme from April 2025 will now be put into place.

The programme provides healthy meals, enriching activities, and free childcare places to children from low-income families, benefiting their health, wellbeing and learning. It is primarily aimed at children in receipt of benefits related free school meals but is not exclusively for them and successful providers will be able to use up to 15% of their funding to provide free or subsidised holiday club places for children who are not in receipt of benefits, but those who the local authority believe could benefit from the initiative.

Councillor Zafar Coupland, Cabinet member for Health and Wellbeing, said:

“As a result of this programme, the children attending the activities and accessing the food programme will benefit from being active and eating healthily during the school holidays and will have a greater knowledge of health and nutrition to help them in the future.

“This is a very important initiative, and I hope the children and young people who take part in the engaging and enriching activities take advantage of the support available in developing resilience, character and wellbeing.”

More information
- The expansion of the programme year-on-year has meant a total of 5.4 million HAF days provided between Christmas 2022, Easter and Summer 2023. For several years, local authority areas across Lancashire have been allocated Department of Education funding from Lancashire County Council to provide a funded HAF programme. Since 2022, the HAF programme has provided 10.7 million HAF days to children and young people in this country.
- With a new contract period under negotiation to start in April 2025, there is an opportunity for Preston City Council to manage the HAF programme in-house to build on the work done previously by an external agency. This would enable the provision of further opportunities for providers due to an increase in capacity and skills at the Council. Lancashire County Council would now prefer a direct award to Preston City Council for simplicity.
- This funding is for one year only and ends on 31 March 2026.
- Full details on this funding can be found in the Council HAF report – January 2025
- Preston City Council actively applies and prioritises the principles of Community Wealth Building wherever applicable and appropriate. Community Wealth Building is an approach which aims to ensure the economic system builds wealth and prosperity for everyone.
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
February 13, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New Council homes completed in Kinross

Source: Scotland – City of Perth

The new houses for affordable social rent at Kepitknow Crescent have been bought by the Council at the development built by Persimmon Homes.

The four 3-bed and two 2-bed homes were handed over to the Council today (February 12th) during a visit by Housing and Social Wellbeing Convener, Councillor Tom McEwan.

The properties were purchased ‘off the shelf’ from the developer. They have been built to the highest standard, with energy efficiency measures included which will keep tenants’ bills as low as possible and reduce the carbon footprint of the development.

All of the houses have spaces included that can be used for a home office, reflecting the requirements of modern living.

Councillor McEwan said: “As a Council we are committed to increasing the number of homes for affordable social rent right across Perth and Kinross, and we are doing this in a number of ways.

“Our programme of building new Council homes has provided an additional 500 houses and flats since 2012. Our innovative scheme to buy-back ex-Council properties has seen hundreds of new properties added to our housing stock, and we also work hard to bring empty properties back into use as Council housing.

“Another way to boost affordable social housing numbers is to buy homes “off the shelf” from developers, like we have done here in Kinross. We have invested £1.4m in the homes on this modern new development and is fantastic to see them completed and keys being handed over to tenants. The houses, built to a very high specification, will provide us with valuable affordable housing for tenants in an area of high demand.”

James MacKay, Persimmon North Scotland Managing Director, said: “We are pleased to be working with Perth and Kinross Council to deliver high-quality, affordable homes for local people.

“Collaboration is crucial to increasing housing supply and we’re committed to working closely with our partners to deliver the homes that people need.”

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

February 13, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Dmitry Chernyshenko: More than 90 thousand schoolchildren and students took part in the competition “Science. Territory of Heroes”

Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

Welcome speech by Dmitry Chernyshenko to the participants of the popular science competition “Science. Territory of Heroes”

16 hours ago

The final of the popular science competition “Science. Territory of Heroes” for schoolchildren and students from all over the country took place at the National Center “Russia”. Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko addressed the participants with a welcoming speech.

The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized the advantages of the profession of a scientist and spoke about the opportunities it opens up for young people.

“The profession of a scientist in Russia is becoming increasingly popular and prestigious. Our scientists are real superheroes! We are in fifth place in the world in terms of the number of people engaged in research and development. Almost every second scientist in Russia is under 40 years old. The competition “Science. Territory of Heroes” is also gaining popularity. More than 90 thousand schoolchildren and students from all over the country have already become its participants. By involving tens of thousands of young researchers in the scientific field, we are solving one of the main tasks of the Decade of Science and Technology announced by President Vladimir Putin,” said Dmitry Chernyshenko.

Participants in the final of the popular science competition “Science. Territory of Heroes”

He added that the country’s future will depend on talented youth. The government will continue to support young people and create conditions so that the path in science is not so difficult and leads to success.

The head of the Ministry of Education and Science, Valery Falkov, congratulated the winners of the competition and noted that today more and more young people want to connect their lives with science.

“All necessary conditions are being created for scientific creativity in our universities and scientific organizations, including the opening of youth laboratories, the updating of the equipment base, and serious grant support. I would like to separately note the strengthening of cooperation between universities, research institutes and the real sector of the economy,” the minister added.

This year, 10 talented children from all over the country competed in the final duel – from Zavolzhye to Chelyabinsk Oblast. Young researchers answered scientific questions, talked to young scientists and famous popularizers of science, including Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Professor of the Institute of Laser and Plasma Technologies of the National Research Nuclear University “MEPhI” Vladimir Reshetov, Ambassador of the project – biologist Ilya Gomyranov.

Third place went to Andrey Khokhlov from Michurinsk, second place went to Timofey Kovalev from Pskov. First place was awarded to Alexander Valov from Klin.

They received additional points for admission to the Bauman Moscow State Technical University, as well as awards from the competition partner companies. Rosatom State Corporation provided three winners with the opportunity to undergo career consultations, the purpose of which is to help build an individual professional path. Beeline awarded one winner with a grant of 200 thousand rubles for conducting research work and improving competencies in the chosen field. The remaining finalists received gift certificates and prizes from the competition partners, and also took part in an interactive tour of the Sber office.

The winners of the competition will receive individual internships at the country’s leading scientific centers: the Far Eastern Federal University, the Interuniversity Student Campus of the Eurasian World-Class Scientific and Educational Center, and the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research. There, the students will gain unique experience in scientific research, study the areas in which they plan to develop in the future, and meet practicing scientists from the scientific field that interests them.

The competition “Science. Territory of Heroes” is held annually within the framework of national projects of Russia and is part of the “Science of Winning” initiative of the Decade of Science and Technology.

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

MIL OSI Russia News –

February 13, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Nurses and Corpsmen enhance multidisciplinary skills at Naval Hospital Bremerton

Source: United States Navy (Medical)

Critical multidisciplinary skill sustainment training included a little faux assistance at Naval Hospital Bremerton, February 11, 2025.

As Navy Nurse Corps officers, civilian registered nurses and hospital corpsmen filed into NHB’s Skills Fair, amongst the training modules designed to refresh their proficiency levels reclined a Mr. [mannequin] Smith.

Mr. Smith was acknowledged as a 43-year old bedridden patient who had been in the hospital for the past four days, suffering from a chest injury caused by a car accident. His lung had a compressed injury resulting in a chest tube for hemothorax. There were other apparent health complications, including medication management and patient-safety needs.

Nurse Corps officers assigned to the main hospital, from the branch health clinics located on Naval Base Kitsap and Naval Base Everett, civilian registered nurses and hospital corpsmen
were tasked to determine what was wrong with Mr. Smith, as well as detect any errors which could compromise patient care and patient safety within the inpatient room setting.

“This is getting nursing back to nursing,” said Lt. Essie Gutierrez, Directorate of Health Services division officer who organized the event. “We can touch, we can feel, we can do hands-on training. We hope that skills someone hasn’t used in a while get refreshed, so they get more confident in being able to use their skills.

According to Gutierrez, Navy Nurse Corps officers are required to be able to handle their duties when called upon and must perform a minimum of 144 hours per year of clinical sustainment competency. Joint collaboration with Madigan Army Medical Center is a viable option, but not everyone can afford to take the time away from their current responsibilities.

“Our chief nursing officer decided to do a skills fair here. It is incumbent upon us, even without an inpatient unit, to ensure we have our clinical sustainment in our hospital by setting up these training modules,” Gutierrez said.

The mannequin Mr. Smith was part of the “What’s Wrong with the Room” training module. A lengthy list of mistakes was reported by the nurses and corpsmen, which included noting that the patient bed was too high, and the patient had no way to relieve himself. The patient also had no visible identification, lacked nonskid socks, and had an infection bleeding around a chest tube. There was also medication left on a side table by the inpatient bed and more.

“The What’s Wrong with the Room, is great because it encompasses medication administration, errors with the patient and errors with the inpatient room setting which we just don’t get here,” remarked Gutierrez.

The other training scenarios included a Wound Care module, which featured such instruction as burn wound care, wound cleaning and irrigation of traumatic wound(s), and dealing with pressure injuries.

The Airway module went over oxygen therapy with nasal cannula and oxygen mask, cervical collar management and electrocardiogram use.

The Lines and Specimen Collection module discussed such needs as urinary catheter use, blood product administration and intravenous therapy.

The Postmortem Care module covered grief support, operational stress control and peer debriefing.

Each participant was provided a passport, designed as a guide for each of the five training modules. Upon completion of each instructional session, their passport would be stamped as having completed that module.

Gutierrez affirmed that Nurse Corps officer clinical sustainment is vital for mission readiness and is in keeping with the Navy surgeon general’s priority of being a ready medical force able to support a medically ready force. “Having our corpsmen taking part to improve their knowledge base and any other staff is a plus,” she said.

The two-day event was tailored to provide critical multidisciplinary skill sustainment training which nurses in an ambulatory care setting like NHB might not use as much as they used to.

One module at a time.

MIL Security OSI –

February 13, 2025

MIL-OSI: Bitdeer Announces January 2025 Production and Operations Update

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

– First trial batch of SEALMINER A2 air cooled rigs have been delivered to our datacenters and are running smoothly.

– Completed acquisition of 101 MW site and gas-fired power plant project in Alberta to deliver the industry’s first fully vertically-integrated Bitcoin mining site.

SINGAPORE, Feb. 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitdeer Technologies Group (NASDAQ: BTDR) (“Bitdeer” or the “Company”), a world-leading technology company for blockchain and high-performance computing, today announced its unaudited mining and operations updates for January 2025.

Operational Update

Self-mined Bitcoin: 126 Bitcoins, down from the previous month due to temporary curtailments at our Bhutan site related to higher seasonal electricity prices.
Mining Rig Manufacturing and R&D:
- SEALMINER A1:
  - Mass production of approximately 3.7 EH/s of mining rigs remains on track with 0.4 EH/s powered on, 0.5 EH/s delivered for installation, 0.4 EH/s in-transit to datacenters and 2.4 EH/s in production. The manufacture of SEALMINER A1 is now expected to be completed at end of February or early March 2025.
- SEALMINER A2:
  - Production of approximately 35 EH/s of mining rigs through October 2025, delayed by approximately one month due to 6.4 magnitude earthquake that struck Taiwan on January 21, 2025.
  - First trial batch of air cooled rigs have been delivered to our mining datacenters for testing and are running stably.
  - ~29,000 units (~7 EH/s out of the 35 EH/s) of SEALMINER A2s allocated for external sales are expected to begin shipment in March through Q2 2025.
- SEALMINER A3:
  - SEAL03 initial tape-out sample wafers with an expected chip efficiency of approximately 10 J/TH are expected in Q1 2025.
- SEALMINER A4:
  - SEAL04 R&D remains on track to achieve an expected chip efficiency of approximately 5 J/TH with anticipated initial tape-out in Q3 2025.
- The Bureau of Industry and Security (“BIS”) of the U.S. Department of Commerce published a rule entitled “Implementation of Additional Due Diligence Measures for Advanced Computing Integrated Circuits”, in January 2025 (the “BIS Rules”). Based on preliminary review, the Company does not expect that the application of the BIS Rules will have any impact on the delivery of SEAL chips, as the outsourced semiconductor assembly and test (“OSAT”) companies for SEAL chips are Approved “OSAT” companies under BIS regulations.
HPC/AI:
- Discussions are ongoing with multiple development partners and potential end users for select large scale sites in U.S. for HPC/AI.
- Bitdeer AI Cloud, powered by NVIDIA DGX SuperPOD with H100, saw its average utilization rate drop to ~60% in January 2025 due to an initial shift toward R&D in model inference and AI Agents. In the short term, some DGX H100 systems will be allocated to deploying open-source models like DeepSeek, Llama, and Qwen, enhancing API support for AI Agents, optimizing platform services, and advancing related R&D.
Hosting:
- Client-hosted machines increased by 2,000 units and overall hashrate increased by 0.5 EH/s as customers are replacing older mining rigs with high efficiency ones.
Infrastructure:
- Tydal, Norway, 40 MW phase 1 expansion has completed installation of transformers, with delivery and installation of electrical equipment currently in progress. The energization application has entered into the fast track for final regulatory approval.
- Rockdale, Texas, USA, 100 MW hydro-cooling conversion is on track for phased completion during Q1 2025.
- Clarington Phase 2, Ohio, USA, 304 MW is still pending approval and in negotiation with the landlord.
- Jigmeling, Bhutan, 500 MW construction is on track with the primary substation expected to be completed by Q1 2025.
- Fox Creek, Alberta, 101 MW gas-fired power plant and 99 MW datacenter of capacity for Bitcoin mining planned for energization in Q4 2026.
Financing:
- Successfully executed a $17M supply chain financing facility with a 10.2% interest rate with a Singapore financial institution and completed the drawdown of facility in January 2025.

Management Commentary

“Our strategic acquisition of the 101 MW site near Fox Creek, Alberta and gas-fired power plant project marks a significant step in our strategy to become a fully-vertically integrated Bitcoin miner,” stated Matt Kong, Chief Business Officer of Bitdeer. “By combining our own power generation, SEALMINER mining machines and opportunistic grid participation, we believe this site will set a new benchmark for industry unit economics.”

Mr. Kong continued, “In terms of our ASICs roadmap, mass production of our SEALMINER A1s remain on schedule. SEALMINER A2s were slightly impacted by the 6.4 magnitude earthquake in Taiwan on January 21, 2025, and its mass production in H2 is expected to delay about one month. However, the first trial batch of SEALMINER A2 air cooled models have been delivered to our own datacenters for testing and are running smoothly. Further, we expect the initial tape-out sample wafers of our SEAL03 chip to be ready in March for testing. SEAL03 is expected to be the most advanced and energy-efficient Bitcoin mining chip on the market and represents a significant achievement for Bitdeer and the industry.”

Production and Operations Summary

Metrics	Jan 2025	Dec 2024	Nov 2024
Total hash rate under management¹(EH/s)	22.4	21.6	20.7
– Proprietary hash rate	9.2	8.9	8.8
• Self-mining	8.7	8.5	8.2
• Cloud Hash Rate	0.0	0.0	0.2
• Delivered but not hashing	0.5	0.4	0.4
– Hosting	13.2	12.7	11.9
Mining machines under management	179,000	175,000	178,000
– Self-owned²	87,000	85,000	86,000
– Hosted	92,000	90,000	92,000
Bitcoins mined (self-mining only)	126	145	150
Bitcoin held³	724	594	443

¹Total hash rate under management as of January 31, 2025 across the Company’s three primary business lines: Self-mining, Cloud Hash Rate, and Hosting.

Self-mining refers to cryptocurrency mining for the Company’s own account, which allows it to directly capture the high appreciation potential of cryptocurrency.
Cloud Hash Rate offers hash rate subscription plans and shares mining income with customers under certain arrangements. The Cloud Hash Rate stated above reflects the contracted hash rate with customers at month-end.
Hosting encompasses a one-stop mining machine hosting solution including deployment, maintenance, and management services for efficient cryptocurrency mining.

²Self-owned mining machines are for the Company’s self-mining business and Cloud Hash Rate business.
³Bitcoins held do not include the Bitcoins from deposits of the customers.

Infrastructure Construction Update

Rockdale, Texas – 100 MW Hydro-cooling conversion to be energized in phases in Q1 2025:

Cooling system will be delivered and installed in phases in Q1 2025.
Planning for phased energization by March 2025.

Tydal, Norway – 175 MW site expansion anticipated to be fully energized by mid-2025:

Installation of the transformers has been completed, with the delivery and installation of electrical equipment currently in progress. Additionally, the procurement and delivery of containers and hydro-cooling systems are underway, and drainage systems construction is ongoing.
Tydal, Norway Phase 1 40 MW expansion pending regulatory approval. Energization of the full 175 MW site is expected to occur no later than mid-2025, subject to regulatory approval.

Massillon, Ohio – 221 MW site construction has begun ahead of schedule:

Substation construction is underway and is expected to be completed in Q3 2025.
Building design is completed and construction has begun earlier than expected, estimated to be completed in phases between Q3 and Q4 2025.
Estimated energization timeline remains on track for mid-to-late 2025.

Clarington Phase 2, Ohio – 304 MW is still pending approval and in negotiation with the landlord.

Jigmeling, Bhutan – 500 MW site is progressing well, with the following key milestones achieved:

Construction of transformer and container foundations in progress and will be completed in phases, with the last phase expected by the end of February 2025.
132kv/140MW and 220kv/360MW substation designs are completed with construction anticipated to be finished by the end of Q1 2025.
Orders for the procurement of transformers and electrical equipment have been placed, with delivery and installation work to be completed in phases over Q1 and Q2 2025.
Procurement and delivery of containers and hydro-cooling systems are in progress, with completion expected in phases by the end of Q1 2025.

Fox Creek, Alberta – 101 MW site acquired in Alberta sits on 19 acres is fully licensed and permitted:

Acquisition includes all permits and licenses to construct an on-site natural gas power plant, as well as approval for a 99 MW grid interconnection with Alberta Electric System Operator (“AESO”).
Bitdeer will develop and construct the power plant in partnership with a leading Engineering, Procurement and Construction (“EPC”) company and is expected to be energized by Q4 2026.

Site / Location	Capacity (MW)	Status	Timing⁴
Electrical capacity
– Rockdale, Texas	563	Online	Completed
– Knoxville, Tennessee	86	Online	Completed
– Wenatchee, Washington	13	Online	Completed
– Molde, Norway	84	Online	Completed
– Tydal, Norway	50	Online	Completed
– Gedu, Bhutan	100	Online	Completed
Total electrical capacity	895⁵
Pipeline capacity
– Tydal, Norway Phase 1	40	In progress	Pending Regulatory Approval
– Tydal, Norway Phase 2	135	In progress	Mid 2025
– Massillon, Ohio	221	In progress	Mid-to-late 2025
– Clarington, Ohio Phase 1	266	In progress	Q3 2025
– Clarington, Ohio Phase 2	304	Pending approval	Estimate 2026
– Jigmeling, Bhutan	500	In progress	Mid-to-late 2025
– Rockdale, Texas	179	In planning	Estimate 2026
– Alberta, Canada	99	In planning	Q4 2026
Total pipeline capacity	1,744
Total global electrical capacity	2,639

⁴ Indicative timing. All timing references are to calendar quarters and years.
⁵ Figures may not add up due to rounding.

Upcoming Conferences and Events

March 11 – 12, 2025: Cantor Global Technology Conference in New York City
March 16 – 18, 2025: 37th Annual ROTH Growth Conference in Dana Point, California

About Bitdeer Technologies Group

Bitdeer is a world-leading technology company for blockchain and high-performance computing. Bitdeer is committed to providing comprehensive computing solutions for its customers. The Company handles complex processes involved in computing such as equipment procurement, transport logistics, datacenter design and construction, equipment management, and daily operations. The Company also offers advanced cloud capabilities to customers with high demand for artificial intelligence. Headquartered in Singapore, Bitdeer has deployed datacenters in the United States, Norway, and Bhutan. To learn more, visit https://ir.bitdeer.com/ or follow Bitdeer on X @ BitdeerOfficial and LinkedIn @ Bitdeer Group.

Investors and others should note that Bitdeer may announce material information using its website and/or on its accounts on social media platforms, including X, formerly known as Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Therefore, Bitdeer encourages investors and others to review the information it posts on the social media and other communication channels listed on its website.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release about future expectations, plans, and prospects, as well as any other statements regarding matters that are not historical facts, may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words “anticipate,” “look forward to,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including factors discussed in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in Bitdeer’s annual report on Form 20-F, as well as discussions of potential risks, uncertainties, and other important factors in Bitdeer’s subsequent filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof. Bitdeer specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether due to new information, future events, or otherwise. Readers should not rely upon the information on this page as current or accurate after its publication date.

For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

Investor Relations
Orange Group
Yujia Zhai
bitdeerIR@orangegroupadvisors.com

Public Relations
BlocksBridge Consulting
Nishant Sharma
bitdeer@blocksbridge.com

The MIL Network –

February 13, 2025

MIL-OSI: P10 Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Earnings Results

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

DALLAS, Feb. 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — P10, Inc. (NYSE: PX) (the “Company”), a leading private markets solutions provider, today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2024.

Fourth Quarter 2024 Financial Highlights

Revenue: $85 million, a 35% increase year over year.
Fee-Related Revenue: $85 million, a 37% increase year over year.
Fee-Paying Assets Under Management: $25.7 billion, a 10% increase year over year.
GAAP Net Income (Loss): $5.7 million compared to $(1.9) million in the prior year.
Adjusted EBITDA: $42.9 million, a 40% increase year over year.
Fee-Related Earnings: $42.7 million, a 39% increase year over year.
Adjusted Net Income: $35.3 million, a 39% increase year over year.
Fully Diluted GAAP EPS: $0.05 compared to $(0.01) in the prior year.
Fully Diluted ANI per share: $0.30, a 44% increase year over year.

Fiscal Year End 2024 Financial Highlights

Revenue: $296.4 million, a 23% increase year over year.
Fee-Related Revenue: $291.3 million, a 23% increase year over year.
GAAP Net Income (Loss): $19.7 million, compared to $(7.8) million in the prior year.
Adjusted EBITDA: $144.5 million, a 17% increase year over year.
Fee-Related Earnings: $142.1 million, a 15% increase year over year.
Adjusted Net Income: $120.2 million, an 18% increase year over year.
Fully Diluted GAAP EPS: $0.16, compared to $(0.06) in the prior year.
Fully Diluted ANI per share: $1.00, a 22% increase year over year.

A presentation of the quarterly financials may be accessed here and is available on the Company’s website.

“P10 delivered record financial performance in the fourth quarter, capping off a remarkable year. Our investment strategies carried momentum in the fourth quarter, achieving $905 million in gross new fee-paying AUM. We also exceeded our 2024 fundraising guidance by over a billion dollars and delivered strong growth across our platform,” said Luke Sarsfield, P10 Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “Over the course of 2024, we executed on all strategic priorities outlined at the start of the year, which included optimizing our leadership team, driving increased organic growth, reaccelerating our M&A engine, generating operational efficiencies and enhancing our transparency. The Company is well positioned for an exciting 2025 and to meet or exceed the long-term financial guidance we provided at our inaugural Investor Day in September 2024.”

Stock Repurchase Program

In the fourth quarter, the Company repurchased approximately 815,327 shares at an average price of $12.72 per share. In 2024, the Company repurchased approximately 6,641,827 shares at an average price of $8.88 per share, for a total of $59.1 million in the year. The repurchase activity left approximately $3.5 million available under the repurchase authorization at the end of the fourth quarter. This week, the Board of Directors authorized an additional $40 million under the share repurchase program which brings the total available under the plan to approximately $43.5 million.

Declaration of Dividend

The Board of Directors of the Company has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.035 per share on Class A and Class B common stock, payable on March 20^th, 2025, to the holders of record as of the close of business on February 28^th, 2025.

Conference Call Details

The Company will host a conference call at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday, February 12, 2025. All participants must register prior to joining the event.

To join and view the live webcast, please register here.
To join by telephone, please register here.

For those unable to participate in the live event, a replay will be made available on P10’s investor relations page at www.p10alts.com.

About P10

P10 is a leading multi-asset class private markets solutions provider in the alternative asset management industry. P10’s mission is to provide its investors differentiated access to a broad set of investment solutions that address their diverse investment needs within private markets. As of December 31, 2024, P10’s products have a global investor base of more than 3,800 investors across 50 states, 60 countries, and six continents, which includes some of the world’s largest pension funds, endowments, foundations, corporate pensions, and financial institutions. Visit www.p10alts.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Some of the statements in this release may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “will,” “expect,” “believe,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan” and similar expressions are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements discuss management’s current expectations and projections relating to our financial position, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance, and business. The inclusion of any forward-looking information in this release should not be regarded as a representation that the future plans, estimates, or expectations contemplated will be achieved. Forward-looking statements reflect management’s current plans, estimates, and expectations, and are inherently uncertain. All forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other important factors that may cause actual results to be materially different, including risks relating to: global and domestic market and business conditions; successful execution of business and growth strategies and regulatory factors relevant to our business; changes in our tax status; our ability to maintain our fee structure; our ability to attract and retain key employees; our ability to manage our obligations under our debt agreements; our ability to make acquisitions and successfully integrate the businesses we acquire, including our pending acquisition of Qualitas Funds SGEIC, S.A.; assumptions relating to our operations, financial results, financial condition, business prospects and growth strategy; the impacts of emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning; and our ability to manage the effects of events outside of our control. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. For more information regarding these risks and uncertainties as well as additional risks that we face, you should refer to the “Risk Factors” included in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 13, 2024, and in our subsequent reports filed from time to time with the SEC. The forward-looking statements included in this release are made only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information or future events, except as otherwise required by law.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures by P10

The non-GAAP financial measures contained in this press release (including, without limitation, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin, Fee-Related Revenue (“FRR”), Fee-Related Earnings (“FRE”), Fee-Related Earnings Margin, Adjusted Net Income (“ANI”) and, Fully Diluted ANI per share are not GAAP measures of the Company’s financial performance or liquidity and should not be considered as alternatives to net income (loss) as a measure of financial performance or cash flows from operations as measures of liquidity, or any other performance measure derived in accordance with GAAP. A reconciliation of such non-GAAP measures to their most directly comparable GAAP measure is included later in this press release. The Company believes the presentation of these non-GAAP measures provide useful additional information to investors because it provides better comparability of ongoing operating performance to prior periods. It is reasonable to expect that one or more excluded items will occur in future periods, but the amounts recognized can vary significantly from period to period. These non-GAAP measures should not be considered substitutes for net income or cash flows from operating, investing, or financing activities. You are encouraged to evaluate each adjustment to non-GAAP financial measures and the reasons management considers it appropriate for supplemental analysis. Our presentation of these measures should not be construed as an inference that our future results will be unaffected by unusual or non-recurring items.

Key Financial & Operating Metrics

Fee-paying assets under management reflects the assets from which we earn management and advisory fees. Our vehicles typically earn management and advisory fees based on committed capital, and in certain cases, net invested capital, depending on the fee terms. Management and advisory fees based on committed capital are not affected by market appreciation or depreciation.

P10 Investor Contact:
info@p10alts.com

P10 Media Contact:
Josh Clarkson
Taylor Donahue
jclarkson@prosek.com


Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures


(Dollars in thousands except share and per share amounts)	Three Months Ended				Twelve Months Ended				% Change
(Dollars in thousands except share and per share amounts)	December 31, 2024		December 31, 2023		December 31, 2024		December 31, 2023		Q4’24 vs Q4’23	YTD’24 vs YTD’23
GAAP Net Income/(Loss)	$ 5,701		$ (1,893	)	$ 19,667		$ (7,772	)	N/A	N/A
Adjustments:
Depreciation & amortization	6,902		7,945		28,314		31,472		-13%	-10%
Interest expense, net	6,927		5,792		25,510		21,872		20%	17%
Income tax expense	1,967		1,826		8,698		4,632		8%	88%
Non-recurring expenses	10,388		3,204		17,520		13,874		224%	26%
Non-cash stock based compensation	4,999		5,252		22,480		21,519		-5%	4%
Non-cash stock based compensation – acquisitions	2,414		779		7,971		8,674		210%	-8%
Non-cash stock based compensation – CEO transition	–		4,225		–		6,331		-100%	-100%
Earn out related compensation	3,597		3,597		14,312		22,992		0%	-38%
Adjusted EBITDA	$ 42,895		$ 30,727		$ 144,472		$ 123,594		40%	17%
Less:
Cash interest expense	(6,497	)	(5,049	)	(21,727	)	(20,100	)	29%	8%
Cash income taxes, net of taxes related to acquisitions	(1,101	)	(206	)	(2,538	)	(1,539	)	434%	65%
Adjusted Net Income	$ 35,297		$ 25,472		$ 120,208		$ 101,955		39%	18%

Fully Diluted ANI per Share
Shares outstanding	111,333		116,299		112,549		116,104		-4%	-3%
Fully Diluted Shares outstanding	119,286		124,163		120,375		124,063		-4%	-3%
ANI per share	$0.32		$0.22		$1.07		$0.88		45%	22%
Fully Diluted ANI per share⁽¹⁾	$0.30		$0.21		$1.00		$0.82		44%	22%

Adjusted EBITDA Margin
Total Revenues	$ 85,014		$ 63,067		$ 296,448		$ 241,734		35%	23%
Adjusted EBITDA	42,895		30,727		144,472		123,594		40%	17%
Adjusted EBITDA Margin	50	%	49	%	49	%	51	%	N/A	N/A

Fee-Related Revenue
Total Revenues	$ 85,014		$ 63,067		$ 296,448		$ 241,734		35%	23%
Adjustments:
Non-Fee Related Revenue	13		(1,126	)	(5,179	)	(4,730	)	-101%	9%
Fee-Related Revenue	$ 85,027		$ 61,941		$ 291,269		$ 237,004		37%	23%

Fee-Related Earnings
GAAP Net Income/(Loss)	$ 5,701		$ (1,893	)	$ 19,667		$ (7,772	)	N/A	N/A
Adjustments	37,194		32,620		124,805		131,366		14%	-5%
Adjusted EBITDA	$ 42,895		$ 30,727		$ 144,472		$ 123,594		40%	17%
Less:
Non-Fee Related Income	(173	)	(87	)	(2,354	)	(497	)	99%	374%
Fee-Related Earnings	$ 42,722		$ 30,640		$ 142,118		$ 123,097		39%	15%
Fee-Related Earnings Margin	50	%	49	%	49	%	52	%	N/A	N/A

^{(1) Fully Diluted ANI per share calculations include the total of all shares of common stock, stock options under the treasury stock method, restricted stock awards, and the redeemable non-controlling interests of P10 Intermediate converted to Class A stock as of each period presented.}

Notes to Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Above is a calculation of our unaudited non-GAAP financial measures. These are not measures of financial performance under GAAP and should not be construed as a substitute for the most directly comparable GAAP measures, which are reconciled in the table above. These measures have limitations as analytical tools, and when assessing our operating performance, you should not consider these measures in isolation or as a substitute for GAAP measures. Other companies may calculate these measures differently than we do, limiting their usefulness as a comparative measure.

We use Adjusted Net Income, or ANI, as well as Adjusted EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization), Adjusted EBITDA Margin, Fee-Related Revenues, Fee-Related Earnings and Fee-Related Earnings Margin to provide additional measures of profitability. We use the measures to assess our performance relative to our intended strategies, expected patterns of profitability, and budgets, and use the results of that assessment to adjust our future activities to the extent we deem necessary. ANI reflects an estimate of our cash flows generated by our core operations. ANI is calculated as Adjusted EBITDA, less actual cash paid for interest and federal and state income taxes.

In order to compute Adjusted EBITDA, we adjust our GAAP Net Income for the following items:

Expenses that typically do not require us to pay them in cash in the current period (such as depreciation, amortization and stock-based compensation);
The cost of financing our business;
One-time expenses related to restructuring of the management team including placement/search fees;
Expenses related to the debt refinance completed in August 2024;
Acquisition-related expenses which reflects the actual costs incurred during the period for the acquisition of new businesses, which primarily consists of fees for professional services including legal, accounting, and advisory, as well as bonuses paid to employees directly related to the acquisition; and
The effects of income taxes.

Fee-Related Revenues is calculated as Total Revenues less any incentive fees.

Fee-Related Earnings is a non-GAAP performance measure used to monitor our baseline earnings less any incentive fee revenue and excluding any incentive fee-related expenses.

Fee-Related Earnings Margin is calculated as Fee-Related Earnings divided by Fee-Related Revenues.

Adjusted Net Income reflects net cash paid for federal and state income taxes and cash interest expense.

Adjusted EBITDA Margin is calculated as Adjusted EBITDA divided by total GAAP revenues. We use Adjusted EBITDA Margin to provide an additional measure of profitability.

The MIL Network –

February 13, 2025

MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ2: Members of public being lured to overseas to engage in illegal work

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

LCQ2: Members of public being lured to overseas to engage in illegal work
LCQ2: Members of public being lured to overseas to engage in illegal work
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Following is a question by the Hon Yung Hoi-yan and a reply by the Acting Secretary for Security, Mr Michael Cheuk, in the Legislative Council today (February 12): Question: It has been reported that recently, a number of cases have occurred involving members of the public suspected of being lured to Southeast Asian countries and detained to engage in illegal work (cases of luring and detention). In this connection, will the Government inform this Council: (1) of the number of suspected cases of luring and detention received by the Government in each month of the past two years, as well as the following information on each case: the countries involved; the respective numbers of persons who were lured and successfully rescued; the longest period of detention; the respective numbers of persons arrested, prosecuted and successfully convicted in the cases concerned; and the penalties imposed on the convicted persons; (2) as it has been reported that the Security Bureau dedicated task force met with officials of the relevant law enforcement agencies in Thailand earlier on to exchange views on further strengthening co-operation in combating cross-border crimes, such as telecommunications and online frauds as well as human trafficking, of the Government’s plans in place to enhance collaboration with other law enforcement agencies in the region, including co-operation in law enforcement and exchange of information; and (3) given that the modus operandi of fraudsters is changing constantly, whether the Government has plans to enhance publicity and education work focusing on the fraudsters’ latest modus operandi, so that members of the public will step up the protection for themselves and stay vigilant; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that? Reply: President, The Security Bureau (SB) has always attached great importance to cases where Hong Kong residents are suspected of being lured to Southeast Asian countries and detained to engage in illegal work, and has established a dedicated task force in August 2022 to co-ordinate follow-up work on the cases by relevant law enforcement agencies (LEAs), including the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF) and the Immigration Department (ImmD), with a view to providing all practicable assistance to assistance seekers. Since the second quarter of 2024, there have been signs of a resurgence in the situation where Hong Kong residents are suspected of being lured to Southeast Asian countries and detained to engage in illegal work. In view of recent developments, I led the dedicated task force comprising members from the SB, the HKPF and the ImmD to Bangkok, Thailand last month. The dedicated task force met with senior officials including the Minister of Justice (MoJ) of Thailand, Mr Tawee Sodsong, who is a member of the Anti-Trafficking-in-Persons Committee chaired by the Prime Minister of Thailand, and the heads of the enforcement departments under the MoJ, as well as the Royal Thai Police, to further follow up on related cases. The dedicated task force reflected the situation regarding relevant request-for-assistance cases, exchanged intelligence and discussed strengthening collaboration, with a view to assisting safe and early return of assistance seekers to Hong Kong as soon as possible. The Thailand authorities demonstrated great importance to the assistance cases and offered positive feedback. Moreover, the Thailand authorities expressed that they would further strengthen the prevention and combat of transnational crimes, and exchanged views on further strengthening co-operation and communication, as well as jointly combating cross-border crimes such as telecommunications, online fraud and human trafficking. Members of the dedicated task force were sent again to Thailand by the SB in late January 2025 to co-ordinate with various units, and held meetings with the Deputy Commissioner of the Immigration Bureau of the Royal Thai Police, Mr Phanthana Nutchanart, and the Director of Special Investigation and the Director of Human Trafficking under the MoJ of Thailand, with a view to arranging the return of the rescued Hong Kong residents as soon as possible. They will continue to actively assist and follow up on all relevant request-for-assistance cases of Hong Kong residents who have yet to return, striving for their return to Hong Kong as soon as possible. My reply to the various parts of the question raised by the Hon Yung Hoi-yan is as follows: (1) From 2023 to January 2025, the LEAs have received a total of 28 request-for-assistance cases (each case involves one victim) in relation to Hong Kong residents alleged to have been detained in Southeast Asian countries and not being able to leave. Among them, 19 have already returned to Hong Kong. As for the remaining nine persons, we believe that eight are in Myanmar while one is in Cambodia. The dedicated task force will continue to follow up and provide appropriate and practicable assistance to the assistance seekers or their families. The monthly breakdown of the number of request-for-assistance cases received by the LEAs, the countries involved, and the number of persons who have returned to Hong Kong are at Annex. As regards Hong Kong, from 2023 to January 2025, the HKPF arrested a total of 11 persons in connection with this type of job scam cases where victims were lured to Southeast Asian countries and detained to engage in illegal work, for offences such as conspiracy to defraud, money laundering and obtaining property by deception. Besides, during the same period, two persons, who were arrested in 2022, were charged with conspiracy to defraud and convicted, and sentenced to 36 months’ and 56 months’ imprisonment respectively. (2) After I led the dedicated task force comprising members from the SB, the HKPF and the ImmD to Bangkok, Thailand to meet with Thai authorities last month, the dedicated task force has established direct contacts with relevant Thai authorities to enhance future communication and exchange of intelligence, with a view to following up on the cases more effectively. Moreover, the ImmD will continue to maintain close contact with the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Chinese diplomatic and consular missions there to actively follow up on the cases. Meanwhile, the Secretary for Security also met with the Consuls-General of Thailand, Myanmar and Cambodia in Hong Kong in mid-January 2025 to exchange views, share information and discuss strengthening future follow-up work. The SB received positive feedback from the Consuls-General during the meetings with all parties expressing hope to assist more assistance seekers in returning to Hong Kong safely as soon as possible. (3) Since 2022, the HKPF has noticed the modus operandi of the scams and started broadcasting anti-fraud videos through various channels and platforms to remind residents of the prevalent modus operandi of scams and to exercise caution in order to avoid those scams. In view of the recent cases, the Government will continue to strengthen publicity, including promotion on social media platforms, distributing the “anti-scam” leaflets to travellers heading to Thailand, Myanmar and Cambodia at the departure level of the Hong Kong International Airport, and through media reports, etc. In light of cases where the suspects met the victims in bars and entertainment establishments, the HKPF has also sent officers to distribute leaflets in various bar districts and entertainment establishments. Moreover, in view of recent developments and having regard to the latest situation of relevant countries, the SB raised the Outbound Travel Alert (OTA) level for south-eastern regions of Myanmar on January 17, 2025, including Myawaddy district, Hpapun district, Hpa-An district and Kawkareik district, to red, while maintaining an amber OTA for the rest of the country. The SB also updated the OTA webpage on the same day regarding supplementary information for Cambodia with a view to reminding residents to exercise caution and beware of overseas job scams. Besides, the SB has put on alerts on overseas job scams under the Other Travel Information section of the OTA webpage, urging residents to pay extra attention to online recruitment advertisements or comments and exercise due caution against claims of ways to earn money quickly and jobs offering extraordinarily high remuneration without specific requirements for academic qualification or working experience. Thank you, President.

Ends/Wednesday, February 12, 2025Issued at HKT 12:45

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MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

February 13, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: India takes part in the 63rd session of the Commission for Social Development at New York

Source: Government of India

India takes part in the 63rd session of the Commission for Social Development at New York

Smt. Savitri Thakur , Minister of State for Women and Child Development delivers India’s statement at the Ministerial Forum, addressing the priority theme: “Strengthening Solidarity and Social Cohesion”

India has embraced “Women-led development,” ensuring women are key players in shaping the development trajectory : Smt.Thakur

India has launched large-scale programs to bridge the gender digital divide, promoting digital and financial literacy, especially in rural areas empowering millions of women entrepreneurs

Posted On: 12 FEB 2025 9:25AM by PIB Delhi

India took part in the 63^rdsession of the Commission for Social Development (CSoCD), held from February 10 to 14, 2025 at New York ,USA . This participation was led by Smt. Savitri Thakur, the Minister of State for the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India (GoI). This session aimed to encourage discussions and collaborations on pressing social development challenges, with an emphasis on advancing inclusive social policies and fostering global social well-being. The session witnessed the participation from 49 Countries including Ministers from 16 countries like France, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, etc.

India’s involvement includes active participation in key discussions. On Tuesday, February 11, 2025, Smt. Savitri Thakur delivered India’s statement at the Ministerial Forum, addressing the priority theme: “Strengthening Solidarity and Social Cohesion.”

India expressed its appreciation to the Commission for its leadership in discussing the importance of strengthening solidarity and social cohesion to ensure no one is left behind. Since the 1995 Copenhagen Summit on Social Development, India has made significant progress in addressing poverty, malnutrition, and universal healthcare, while also pioneering digital public infrastructure for sustainable development. By aligning with global best practices and developing indigenous solutions, India has become a model for the Global South.

While addressing the Session, the Minister highlighted that India is driven by the vision of “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas” (Development for All), with a focus on inclusivity. Through initiatives like the JAM TRINITY (Jan Dhan, Aadhar, Mobile), India has achieved financial inclusion for disadvantaged communities, especially women, persons with disabilities, and the elderly. The country has also embraced “Women-led development,” ensuring women are key players in shaping the development trajectory.

She said that India has launched large-scale programs to bridge the gender digital divide, promoting digital and financial literacy, especially in rural areas. This has empowered millions of women entrepreneurs, from start-ups to scalable businesses.

As India works toward accelerating progress on the 2030 Agenda for development, increasing women’s workforce participation is a key priority. India’s robust social protection model includes 26 weeks of paid maternity leave, maternity benefits for 37.5 million mothers, a network of One Stop Centres, and an integrated National Women’s Helpline. Additionally, India’s early childhood care, nutrition, and education initiatives benefit over 100 million children, mothers, and adolescent girls.

#IndiaAtUN

Hon’ble MoS Smt. Savitri Thakur @savitrii4bjp delivered India’s national statement at the 63rd CSoc-D session.

Highlighted the success achieved by India in social development, poverty eradication and access to healthcare through leveraging technology, initiative of… pic.twitter.com/69x1B7rFcl

— India at UN, NY (@IndiaUNNewYork) February 11, 2025

India supported the resolution on the priority theme and is progressing with the concept of saturation in social protection to ensure the delivery of essential services to the poorest populations, addressing multidimensional poverty.

India’s rights-based approach to universal health coverage, including reproductive health, and the provision of clean cooking fuel, safe drinking water, sanitation, and affordable housing has transformed the lives of women and marginalized communities. Over 40 million homes have been built for the poor, with women as either sole or joint owners.

Nearly 100 million women have been linked with self-help groups (SHGs), contributing to economic transformation and grassroots leadership.

In conclusion, India is fully committed to accelerating global progress and supporting the Commission’s efforts toward a just world for all.

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SS/MS

(Release ID: 2102077) Visitor Counter : 67

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

February 13, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Raksha Mantri holds bilateral meetings on Day 2 of Aero India 2025

Source: Government of India (2)

Posted On: 11 FEB 2025 10:30PM by PIB Delhi

On the sidelines of Aero India 2025, Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh held bilateral meetings with Minister of Defence of Armenia Mr Suren Papikyan, Minister of Defence, Malawi Ms Monica Changanamuno and Minister of the Armed Forces of Madagascar Lt Gen Sahivelo Lala Monja Delphin in Bengaluru on February 11, 2025.

The meeting of Raksha Mantri and the Armenian Defence Minister provided both sides with an opportunity to discuss matters related to bilateral defence cooperation. Both leaders acknowledged the growing significance of defence ties between both nations which are progressing well with multi-pronged approach on Military and Military-Technical Cooperation. They discussed increasing bilateral training cooperation and possibilities of joint ventures between defence industries of both countries. Towards enhancing interoperability Armenia’s inclusion as an observer in the Joint India-Central Asia Army exercise was decided between both leaders.

During the meeting with the Minister of Defence, Malawi, both leaders had wide-ranging discussions on ways to further strengthen bilateral defence relations and enhance cooperation in areas of training, military courses and capacity building of the Armed Forces. Both sides also agreed to expedite signing of Memorandum of Understanding on Defence Cooperation to foster mutual understanding and enhance strategic interests.

During the meeting with Minister of the Armed Forces of Madagascar, both sides held comprehensive discussions on the matters of bilateral defence cooperation and maritime domain. They also discussed the possibilities for expanding bilateral defence cooperation, particularly early conclusion of an agreement for promoting Maritime Security in the Indian Ocean Region and cooperation in capacity building of Defence Forces.

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SR/Savvy

(Release ID: 2102076) Visitor Counter : 46

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

February 13, 2025

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More information

India takes part in the 63rd session of the Commission for Social Development at New YorkSmt. Savitri Thakur , Minister of State for Women and Child Development delivers India’s statement at the Ministerial Forum, addressing the priority theme: “Strengthening Solidarity and Social Cohesion”

India takes part in the 63rd session of the Commission for Social Development at New York

Smt. Savitri Thakur , Minister of State for Women and Child Development delivers India’s statement at the Ministerial Forum, addressing the priority theme: “Strengthening Solidarity and Social Cohesion”