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18 Sep 14. Afghanistan: OP HERRICK. From 1 Jan 06 to 31 Aug 14, 2,187 personnel were Wounded in Action and 7,335 were aeromedically evacuated. During August 2014 four personnel were Wounded in Action and 43 were aeromedically evacuated. (Def Stats, 18 Sep 14.)
The ‘final chapter’ of combat air operations in Afghanistan was marked when IX(B) Squadron handed over to 31 Squadron. Both Squadrons fly Tornado aircraft from RAF Marham in Norfolk. (RAF, 15 Sep 14.)
Comment: The UK’s Ambassador to the UN issued a statement (18 Sep 14) to the Security Council’s Quarterly Debate on Afghanistan. The Ambassador concentrated in four issues: the NATO Summit (4/5 Sep 14); the electoral process; the next steps for Afghanistan and the role of the UN and the international community. The Ambassador also noted that Afghan Forces “are now heading 99% of combat operations across Afghanistan and are proving increasingly effective”. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 14/37, 22 Sep 14)
17 Sep 14. Sierra Leone: Combating Ebola. The Foreign Secretary announced (17 Sep 14) further support to tackle Ebola in West Africa, including the
provision of 700 treatment beds in Sierra Leone. British military personnel are working with the Government of Sierra Leone to identify sites for the additional beds and to provide engineering, logistics and planning expertise to support its wider efforts. The pledge of 700 treatment beds includes the delivery of a 62-bed treatment centre near Freetown, which is being constructed and operated by British military and humanitarian experts.
Comment: The Department for International Development advised (19 Sep 14) that 60 volunteers are being tested with a potentially life-saving vaccine. The trials are conducted on healthy people to see whether they suffer any side effects and if the inoculation generates a good immune response. 10,000 doses of the drug are being manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline in the hope that it will be approved for use. (Source: DNA DEFENCE NEWS ANALYSIS, Issue 14/37, 22 Sep 14)
21 Sep 14. Arms fair organiser for sale. A London company that runs a string of controversial arms fairs has been put up for sale for about £200m. Clarion Events is Britain’s largest independent exhibitions group and organises trade shows across the financial, gambling, retail and transport sectors. But its most high-profile work is with the defence industry, for which it operates the DSEI, ITEC and LAAD exhibitions, which have long been targeted by anti-war campaigners. The buyout firm Veronis Suhler Stevenson, which has controlled Clarion since 2008, is seeking offers of about £200m, sources said. It is thought the events organiser generates turnover of £200m and underlying profits of £25m. Arma Partners, a small investment adviser, has been hired to run the auction. City sources said Britain’s two listed events organisers, UBM and Informa, are unlikely to bid for Clarion because of its indirect involvement in the arms business. Last week UBM revealed it was in talks to acquire its US rival Advanstar for as much as $900m (£550m). Defence fairs proved too hot to handle for the media conglomerate Reed Elsevier, which sold them in 2008 after they had been picketed by pressure groups such as the Campaign Against Arms Trade. (Source: The Sunday Times)
BATTLESPACE Comment: Since the downturn in defence spending and the loss of one major show there have been rumblings about the sale of Clarion by Veronis Suhler Stevenson for a couple of years. Clarion attempted to diversify into niche events to allow the DSEI to operate in intervening years which would give better cashflow, they had discussions with the Editor about purchasing the Owning the Night Event in 2011. Havi