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Category: Balkans

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: PM call with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine: 20 May 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    PM call with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine: 20 May 2025

    The Prime Minister spoke to President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy this evening.

    The Prime Minister spoke to President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, this evening.

    The leaders began by reflecting on their meeting in Tirana, Albania, on Friday before discussing the UK’s latest package of sanctions on Russian military, energy and financial sectors announced today.

    It was vital to keep the pressure on Russia while they continued their illegal invasion of Ukraine, the leaders agreed.

    Looking ahead to further peace talks, the Prime Minister reiterated the UK’s support for Ukraine and said he was steadfast in his commitment to helping Ukraine secure a just and lasting peace.

    The leaders agreed to stay in close touch.

    Updates to this page

    Published 20 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: ESET Research APT Report: Russian cyberattacks in Ukraine intensify; Sandworm unleashes new destructive wiper

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • ESET has released its latest advanced persistent threat (APT) report.
    • Russian APT groups intensified attacks against Ukraine and the EU, exploiting zero-day vulnerabilities and deploying wipers.
    • China-aligned groups like Mustang Panda and DigitalRecyclers continued their espionage campaigns targeting the EU government and maritime sectors.
    • North Korea-aligned groups expanded their financially motivated campaigns using fake job listings and social engineering.

    BRATISLAVA, Slovakia, May 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ESET Research has released its latest APT Activity Report, which highlights activities of select APT groups that were documented by ESET researchers from October 2024 through March 2025. During the monitored period, Russia-aligned threat actors, notably Sednit and Gamaredon, maintained aggressive campaigns primarily targeting Ukraine and EU countries. Ukraine was subjected to the greatest intensity of cyberattacks against the country’s critical infrastructure and governmental institutions. The Russia-aligned Sandworm group intensified destructive operations against Ukrainian energy companies, deploying a new wiper named ZEROLOT. China-aligned threat actors continued engaging in persistent espionage campaigns with a focus on European organizations.

    Gamaredon remained the most prolific actor targeting Ukraine, enhancing malware obfuscation and introducing PteroBox, a file stealer leveraging Dropbox. “The infamous Sandworm group concentrated heavily on compromising Ukrainian energy infrastructure. In recent cases, it deployed the ZEROLOT wiper in Ukraine. For this, the attackers abused Active Directory Group Policy in the affected organizations,” says ESET Director of Threat Research Jean-Ian Boutin.

    Sednit refined its exploitation of cross-site scripting vulnerabilities in webmail services, expanding Operation RoundPress from Roundcube to include Horde, MDaemon, and Zimbra. ESET discovered that the group successfully leveraged a zero-day vulnerability in MDaemon Email Server (CVE-2024-11182) against Ukrainian companies. Several Sednit attacks against defense companies located in Bulgaria and Ukraine used spearphishing email campaigns as a lure. Another Russia-aligned group, RomCom, demonstrated advanced capabilities by deploying zero-day exploits against Mozilla Firefox (CVE 2024 9680) and Microsoft Windows (CVE 2024 49039).

    In Asia, China-aligned APT groups continued their campaigns against governmental and academic institutions. At the same time, North Korea-aligned threat actors significantly increased their operations directed at South Korea, placing particular emphasis on individuals, private companies, embassies, and diplomatic personnel. Mustang Panda remained the most active, targeting governmental institutions and maritime transportation companies via Korplug loaders and malicious USB drives. DigitalRecyclers continued targeting EU governmental entities, employing the KMA VPN anonymization network and deploying the RClient, HydroRShell, and GiftBox backdoors. PerplexedGoblin used its new espionage backdoor, which ESET named NanoSlate, against a Central European government entity, while Webworm targeted a Serbian government organization using SoftEther VPN, emphasizing the continued popularity of this tool among China-aligned groups.

    Elsewhere in Asia, North Korea-aligned threat actors were particularly active in financially motivated campaigns. DeceptiveDevelopment significantly broadened its targeting, using fake job listings primarily within the cryptocurrency, blockchain, and finance sectors. The group employed innovative social engineering techniques to distribute the multiplatform WeaselStore malware. The Bybit cryptocurrency theft, attributed by the FBI to TraderTraitor APT group, involved a supply-chain compromise of Safe{Wallet} that caused losses of approximately USD 1.5 billion. Meanwhile, other North Korea-aligned groups saw fluctuations in their operational tempo: In early 2025, Kimsuky and Konni returned to their usual activity levels after a noticeable decline at the end of 2024, shifting their targeting away from English-speaking think tanks, NGOs, and North Korea experts to focus primarily on South Korean entities and diplomatic personnel; and Andariel resurfaced, after a year of inactivity, with a sophisticated attack against a South Korean industrial software company.

    Iran-aligned APT groups maintained their primary focus on the Middle East region, predominantly targeting governmental organizations and entities within the manufacturing and engineering sectors in Israel. Additionally, ESET observed a significant global uptick in cyberattacks against technology companies, largely attributed to increased activity by North Korea-aligned DeceptiveDevelopment.

    “The highlighted operations are representative of the broader threat landscape that we investigated during this period. They illustrate the key trends and developments, and contain only a small fraction of the cybersecurity intelligence data provided to customers of ESET APT reports,” adds Boutin.

    Intelligence shared in the private reports is primarily based on proprietary ESET telemetry data and has been verified by ESET researchers, who prepare in-depth technical reports and frequent activity updates detailing activities of specific APT groups. These threat intelligence analyses, known as ESET APT Reports PREMIUM, assist organizations tasked with protecting citizens, critical national infrastructure, and high-value assets from criminal and nation-state-directed cyberattacks. More information about ESET APT Reports PREMIUM and its delivery of high-quality, actionable tactical and strategic cybersecurity threat intelligence is available at the ESET Threat Intelligence page.

    Make sure to follow ESET Research on Twitter (today known as X), BlueSky, and Mastodon for the latest news from ESET Research.

    About ESET

    ESET® provides cutting-edge digital security to prevent attacks before they happen. By combining the power of AI and human expertise, ESET stays ahead of emerging global cyberthreats, both known and unknown — securing businesses, critical infrastructure, and individuals. Whether it’s endpoint, cloud, or mobile protection, our AI-native, cloud-first solutions and services remain highly effective and easy to use. ESET technology includes robust detection and response, ultra-secure encryption, and multifactor authentication. With 24/7 real-time defense and strong local support, we keep users safe and businesses running without interruption. The ever-evolving digital landscape demands a progressive approach to security: ESET is committed to world-class research and powerful threat intelligence, backed by R&D centers and a strong global partner network. For more information, visit www.eset.com or follow our social media, podcasts and blogs.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at:
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/916569c8-b3c1-41ce-bc7a-dfd407156187

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: ESET Research uncovers Operation RoundPress: Russia-aligned Sednit targets entities linked to the Ukraine war to steal confidential data

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • ESET researchers uncovered the Operation RoundPress espionage campaign, with Russia-aligned Sednit group most likely behind it.
    • In Operation RoundPress, the compromise vector is a spearphishing email leveraging an XSS vulnerability to inject malicious JavaScript code into the victim’s webmail page. It targets Roundcube, Horde, MDaemon, and Zimbra webmail software.
    • Most victims are governmental entities and defense companies in Eastern Europe, although ESET has observed governments in Africa, Europe, and South America being targeted as well.
    • The payloads are able to steal webmail credentials, and exfiltrate contacts and email messages from the victim’s mailbox.
    • Additionally, SpyPress.MDAEMON is able to set up a bypass for two-factor authentication.

    MONTREAL and BRATISLAVA, Slovakia, May 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ESET researchers have uncovered a Russia-aligned espionage operation, which ESET named RoundPress, targeting webmail servers via XSS vulnerabilities. Behind it is most likely the Russia-aligned Sednit (also known as Fancy Bear or APT28) cyberespionage group, holding the ultimate goal of stealing confidential data from specific email accounts. Most of the targets are related to the current war in Ukraine; they are either Ukrainian governmental entities or defense companies in Bulgaria and Romania. Notably, some of these defense companies are producing Soviet-era weapons to be sent to Ukraine. Other targets include African, EU, and South American governments.

    “Last year, we observed different XSS vulnerabilities being used to target additional webmail software: Horde, MDaemon, and Zimbra. Sednit also started to use a more recent vulnerability in Roundcube, CVE-2023-43770. The MDaemon vulnerability — CVE-2024-11182, now patched — was a zero day, most likely discovered by Sednit, while the ones for Horde, Roundcube, and Zimbra were already known and patched,” says ESET researcher Matthieu Faou, who discovered and investigated Operation RoundPress. Sednit sends these XSS exploits by email; the exploits lead to the execution of malicious JavaScript code in the context of the webmail client web page running in a browser window. Therefore, only data accessible from the target’s account can be read and exfiltrated.

    In order for the exploit to work, the target must be convinced to open the email message in the vulnerable webmail portal. This means that the email needs to bypass any spam filtering, and the subject line needs to be convincing enough to entice the target into reading the email message — abusing well-known news media such as Ukrainian news outlet Kyiv Post or Bulgarian news portal News.bg. Among the headlines used as spearphishing were: “SBU arrested a banker who worked for enemy military intelligence in Kharkiv” and “Putin seeks Trump’s acceptance of Russian conditions in bilateral relations”.

    The attackers unleash JavaScript payloads SpyPress.HORDE, SpyPress.MDAEMON, SpyPress.ROUNDCUBE, and SpyPress.ZIMBRA upon the targets. Those are capable of credential stealing; exfiltration of the address book, contacts, and log-in history; and exfiltration of email messages. SpyPress.MDAEMON is able to set up a bypass for two-factor authentication protection; it exfiltrates the two-factor authentication secret and creates an app password, which enables the attackers to access the mailbox from a mail application.

    “Over the past two years, webmail servers such as Roundcube and Zimbra have been a major target for several espionage groups, including Sednit, GreenCube, and Winter Vivern. Because many organizations don’t keep their webmail servers up to date, and because the vulnerabilities can be triggered remotely by sending an email message, it is very convenient for attackers to target such servers for email theft,” explains Faou.

    The Sednit group — also known as APT28, Fancy Bear, Forest Blizzard, or Sofacy — has been operating since at least 2004. The U.S. Department of Justice named the group as one of those responsible for the Democratic National Committee (DNC) hack just before the 2016 U.S. elections and linked the group to the GRU. The group is also presumed to be behind the hacking of global television network TV5Monde, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) email leak, and many other incidents.

    For a more detailed analysis and technical breakdown of Sednit’s tools used in Operation RoundPress, check out the latest ESET Research blogpost “Operation RoundPress” on WeLiveSecurity.com. Make sure to follow ESET Research on Twitter (today known as X), BlueSky, and Mastodon for the latest news from ESET Research.

    Map of operation RoundPress targets, according to ESET telemetry

    About ESET

    ESET® provides cutting-edge digital security to prevent attacks before they happen. By combining the power of AI and human expertise, ESET stays ahead of emerging global cyberthreats, both known and unknown — securing businesses, critical infrastructure, and individuals. Whether it’s endpoint, cloud, or mobile protection, our AI-native, cloud-first solutions and services remain highly effective and easy to use. ESET technology includes robust detection and response, ultra-secure encryption, and multifactor authentication. With 24/7 real-time defense and strong local support, we keep users safe and businesses running without interruption. The ever-evolving digital landscape demands a progressive approach to security: ESET is committed to world-class research and powerful threat intelligence, backed by R&D centers and a strong global partner network. For more information, visit www.eset.com or follow our social media, podcasts and blogs.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/eee3ee68-80dc-4136-a11d-6f498092f7d1

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 20 May 2025 Note for Media Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly – Daily update: 20 May 2025

    Source: World Health Organisation

    World Health Assembly adopts historic Pandemic Agreement to make the world more equitable and safer from future pandemics

    • Agreement’s adoption follows three years of intensive negotiation launched due to gaps and inequities identified in national and global COVID-19 response.
    • Agreement boosts global collaboration to ensure stronger, more equitable response to future pandemics.
    • Next steps include negotiations on Pathogen Access and Benefits Sharing system.

    Member States of the World Health Organization (WHO) today formally adopted by consensus the world’s first Pandemic Agreement. The landmark decision by the Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly culminates more than three years of intensive negotiations launched by governments in response to the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and driven by the goal of making the world safer from – and more equitable in response to – future pandemics.

    Related documents

    A78/10 Add.1, Outcome of informal consultations of Member States, Draft resolution on the WHO Pandemic Agreement

    World Health Assembly commits to historic 20% increase in Assessed Contributions (membership fees), approves WHO’s Base Programme Budget for 2026–2027 of US $4.2 billion

    Delegates at the Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly (WHA78) approved the base programme budget of US$ 4.2 billion for 2026–2027, the first to be fully developed based on the Fourteenth General Programme of Work, 2025–2028 (GPW 14), the global health strategy for the next four years. GPW 14 prioritizes advancing health equity and strengthening health systems resilience. 

    The budget presented to WHA78 committee A was decreased from the initial US$ 5.3 billion presented to the executive board in February given the challenging financial context. While decreasing some regional budgets and headquarters budgets, Member States agreed to try to preserve country level budgets to the extent possible. The budget will allocate resources to enhance technical cooperation, foster partnerships and support the achievement of national and global health targets. The proposed programme budget 2026–2027 also reaffirms the indispensable role of multilateralism in addressing today’s complex and interconnected health challenges. 

    Member States also approved the gradual second 20% increase of the assessed contributions (AC), or membership fees which had been previously adopted by the Member State Working Group on sustainable financing. This ensures that WHO funding is not only predictable, but also resilient and flexible, which is critical given the rapidly changing financial landscape. 

    Member States also had the opportunity to review the implementation of governance reform. In a time of geopolitical tension and rising inequalities, WHO remains a vital platform for cooperation, solidarity and coordination in global health

    World leaders pledged significant contributions to the WHO Investment Round at a high-level pledging event Tuesday evening, another key step in WHO’s journey to sustainable financing. 

    Related documents

    A78/6, Proposed programme budget 2026–2027 (Corrigendum 1) (Add.1)

    A78/37, Report of the Programme, Budget and Administration Committee of the
    Executive Board to the Seventy-eighth World Health Assembly

    A78/INF./8, General Programme of Work, 2025–2028: baselines and
    targets for outcome and output indicators

    A78/4, Consolidated report by the Director-General

    A78/5, Governance reform (Add.1)

    A78/39, Governance reform, Process of handling and investigating potential allegations against WHO Directors-General

    High Level Segment and Director-General Awards

    During the high-level segment, delegates heard from H.E. João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, President of Angola and Chairperson of the African Union; H.E. Andrej Plenković, Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia; and H.E. Liu Guozhong, Vice Premier of the People’s Republic of China. Video statements were made by a number of world leaders across the globe.

    Egyptian opera singer Farrah El-Dibany and Soprano singers Elaine Vidal and Eunice Miller of the Philippines performed at the Health Assembly on Tuesday morning.

    The Director-General also presented Global Health Leader’s awards to Professor Sir Brian Greenwood and Professor Awa Marie Coll Seck for their pivotal work in malaria control and beyond. 

    The Assembly started on Monday 19 May 2025 under the theme “One World for Health”.

    The election of officials took place on Monday morning. Dr Teodoro Herbosa of the Philippines became the President of the Health Assembly. The elected Vice-Presidents are Dr Jalila bint Al Sayyed Jawad Hassan of Bahrain, Dr Sayedur Rahman of Bangladesh, Mr Jaime Hernán Urrego Rodríguez of Colombia, Dr Judit Bidlo of Hungary and Dr Louise Mapleh Kpoto Liberia.

    H.E. Elisabeth Baume-Schneider, Federal Councilor of the Swiss Confederation, addressed the Health Assembly on behalf of the host country.

    Dr Tedros Adhanom Gebreyesus, WHO Director-General, delivered his report to the Assembly.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: IMF Executive Board Concludes the Fourth Review of Kosovo’s Stand-By and Resilience and Sustainability Facility Arrangements

    Source: IMF – News in Russian

    May 20, 2025

    • The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund completed the Fourth and final review of Kosovo’s Stand-By and Resilience and Sustainability Facility Arrangements. The completion of the review makes available SDR 13.352 million (€16.08 million) under the SBA and SDR 7.744 million (€9.32 million) under the RSF.
    • The objectives of both programs have been successfully achieved. The economy has maintained healthy growth, inflation has notably decelerated, fiscal buffers have been rebuilt, and reforms have accelerated.
    • Building on the progress made under the programs, the authorities should continue with prudent fiscal policies, strengthen the fiscal framework, and advance structural reforms in the fiscal and financial sectors.

    Washington, DC: The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Fourth and final review of Kosovo’s Stand-By and Resilience and Sustainability Facility Arrangements. The authorities have consented to the publication of the staff report and associated documents. The completion of the review makes available SDR 13.352 million (€16.08 million) under the SBA and SDR 7.744 million (€9.32 million) under the RSF. This will bring the total disbursements under the RSF to SDR 61.95 million (€74.61 million). The SBA, which so far has been treated as precautionary by the authorities, amounts to SDR 80.122 million (€96.50 million).

    Kosovo’s economic performance continues to be strong. In 2024, growth was 4.4 percent, driven by household consumption, supported by strong private credit and rising wages. Inflation decelerated sharply, reaching an average of 1.6 percent in 2024 down from 4.9 percent in 2022. The external current account deficit widened to 9 percent of GDP, as increases in consumption and investment led to higher imports; growth of remittances slowed. In 2025, despite heightened external uncertainty from rising trade tensions, growth is expected to remain strong at 4 percent, with inflation stabilizing at 2¼ percent.

    Program implementation under both arrangements has been strong. All quantitative performance criteria for end-December 2024 were met. All indicative targets for end-December 2024 and for end-March 2025 were also met. Two structural benchmarks for this review—implementation of a cash forecasting function within the Treasury and the development of a roadmap for adopting the Supervisory Review and Evaluation Process to assess bank risk profiles—were implemented. The remaining RSF reform measure to launch an auction for the construction and operation of the wind power plant has also been implemented.

    Following the Executive Board’s discussion, Bo Li, IMF Deputy Managing Director and Acting Chair, issued the following statement:

    “The Kosovo authorities have successfully implemented a Stand-By Arrangement and an Arrangement under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility. The SBA supported the authorities’ economic program to reduce inflation and sustain strong growth, while safeguarding the economy against adverse shocks. The RSF supported the authorities’ ambitious climate reform agenda.

    “Prudent fiscal policies under the SBA, anchored in the authorities’ rules-based fiscal framework, helped deliver low deficits and debt. In 2025, fiscal policy will aim to sustain growth amid heightened uncertainty, strengthen buffers against future shocks and continue addressing large developmental needs. An ongoing review of the fiscal framework seeks to align it with EU norms while supporting Kosovo’s developmental objectives and maintaining fiscal discipline.

    “The structural fiscal agenda has considerably advanced under the SBA. Revenue mobilization has improved through broadening the tax base, leading to higher tax collection. Public financial management reforms have enhanced capacity to assess fiscal risks, improved the quality of fiscal reporting, and increased fiscal transparency. Strengthening the public investment management system will help to further boost execution rates of public investment.

    “The Central Bank of Kosovo (CBK) has been driving forward critical reforms to enhance governance and institutional quality, develop the financial sector and strengthen resilience. The banking sector continues to expand rapidly providing vital support to economic activity while maintaining strong capitalization, liquidity, and profitability. The CBK is strengthening its ability to monitor risks related to rapid private sector credit growth.

    “Reform measures implemented under the RSF have been instrumental in advancing the authorities’ ambitious strategic energy goals, including expanding renewable generation capacity, reducing pollution, improving energy efficiency, and enhancing regional cooperation. The authorities remain committed to making continued and meaningful progress across all these areas.”

    Kosovo: Selected Economic Indicators, 2022–25

    Population: 1.6 million (2024)

    Nominal GDP per capita (2024): € 6,497

    Gini index: 0.29 (2017)

    Poverty rate: 19.8% (2018)

    Quota (current): SDR 82.6 million

    Main products and exports: Minerals, base metals, agricultural products, tourism.

    2022

    2023

    2024

    2025

    Act.

    Act.

    Prel.

    Proj.

    Output

       Real GDP growth (percent)

    4.3

    4.1

    4.4

    4.0

    Employment

       Unemployment rate (percent)

    12.6

    10.9

    …

    …

    Prices

       Consumer prices (period average, percent)

    11.6

    4.9

    1.6

    2.3

       GDP deflator

    7.2

    4.6

    2.0

    3.8

    General government finances (percent of GDP)

       Revenue and grants

    28.1

    29.5

    30.0

    29.8

       Expenditure

    28.8

    29.8

    30.3

    31.9

       Overall balance, excluding IFI- and privatization-financed capital projects (Fiscal rule definition)

    -0.5

    -0.1

    -0.1

    -1.6

       Overall balance

    -0.7

    -0.2

    -0.3

    -2.1

       Total public debt

    20.0

    17.5

    16.9

    18.3

       Stock of government bank balance

    3.9

    2.8

    3.1

    3.4

    Money and credit

       Non-performing loans (percent of total loans)

    1.9

    1.9

    1.8

    …

       Credit to the private sector (eop, percent change)

    16.0

    12.9

    18.3

    15.8

       Effective bank lending rate (eop, percent)

    6.3

    6.3

    5.9

    …

    Balance of payments (percent of GDP)

       Current account balance

    -10.3

    -7.6

    -9.0

    -8.3

       Remittance inflows

    13.7

    13.8

    13.1

    12.6

       Net foreign direct investment

    -6.8

    -6.9

    -6.1

    -7.5

       External debt

    38.6

    39.8

    41.1

    42.4

    Sources: Kosovo authorities and IMF staff estimates.
                   
    IMF Communications Department
    MEDIA RELATIONS

    PRESS OFFICER: Camila Perez

    Phone: +1 202 623-7100Email: MEDIA@IMF.org

    https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2025/05/19/pr25154-kosovo-imf-concludes-4th-review-of-kosovos-stand-by-and-rsf-arrangements

    MIL OSI

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why do protestors use disruptive, confrontational tactics? New research shows they’re not just a last resort

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Mete Sefa Uysal, Lecturer in Social & Political Psychology, University of Exeter

    HJBC/Shutterstock

    Public protests are on the rise globally, from climate marches and university occupations to roadblocks and mass political demonstrations. These actions may sometimes include confrontational tactics such as civil disobedience, disruption and, at times, violent resistance.

    At Columbia University in the US, for instance, pro-Palestine student protests recently captured global attention for their tactics. They ranged from non-confrontational actions such as gatherings and sit-ins to campus encampments and occupations aimed at disrupting daily activities, which eventually led to confrontations with police.

    Actions like these often spark debate. Are activists acting strategically, or simply reacting out of desperation and rage? Our new research sheds light on this question. Contrary to popular belief, people do not only turn to confrontational protest because they are desperate or lack political alternatives.

    Confrontational protests are frequently portrayed negatively. They are often associated with extremism, disorder, or desperation. So it’s long been a mystery why people choose such confrontational forms of protest, especially given more conventional options like petitions or authorised rallies offer broader public support and visibility.

    Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

    In our surveys of 3,833 people across three countries – Germany, Turkey and the UK – we found that people choose confrontational action when they believe it is effective and legitimate for achieving their group’s political goals.

    That said, in some protests, confrontational tactics may emerge spontaneously as a self-defence, driven by immediate threats. But it is not simply an emotional outburst or a last resort: it can be a strategic choice.

    This challenges a widely discussed idea in social and political psychology called the “nothing-to-lose” hypothesis. According to this view, people are driven to confrontational protest when they see non-confrontational action (such as voting, petitioning, or authorised marches) as ineffective. This is often because they have little political trust or are oppressed. Our studies ultimately tested this hypothesis.

    We found that most people rated non-confrontational actions as more effective than confrontational ones. But they still saw confrontational tactics as worthwhile if they also seemed effective and justifiable.

    Interestingly, we discovered that low political trust – a lack of belief that the political system works fairly – did not predict confrontational protest. In fact, it was only weakly linked to perceived effectiveness and legitimacy of such tactics.

    While previous theories suggested that people with nothing to lose would be the ones most drawn to radical action, our findings paint a more complex picture. People don’t necessarily need to lose all faith in the political system before considering disruptive protest. Rather, they judge whether a specific tactic will advance their cause and align with their collective moral values.

    Just Stop Oil protestors with hands glued to the frame of da Vinci’s The Last Supper.
    wikipedia, CC BY-SA

    We also found that when people think that protests are more likely to be met with state violence, they are more likely to view confrontational tactics as legitimate and effective. In other words, when crowds foresee push-back, they recalibrate their strategies rather than withdrawing altogether from activism.

    Constructive disruption

    This research matters now more than ever. From climate movement and pro-Palestine rallies in many countries to anti-government and pro-democracy protests in the US, Turkey, Serbia and Argentina, we are witnessing a global wave of protest crowds.

    Understanding what drives people to disruptive and confrontational actions can help both policymakers and the public make sense of protest in today’s divided world. This may be a better option than moralising about good versus bad forms of protests, which serves to silence and criminalise disruptive and confrontational actions.

    The former UK home secretary Suella Braverman labelled climate protesters “extremists” and pro-Palestinian protests “hate marches”. She also proposed harsher crackdowns. But such an approach is only likely to make the protests more disruptive.

    Similarly, several government responses to UK parliamentary reports on protest policing distinguish “right to peaceful protest” from any kind of disruptive and confrontational activism. They also highlight that the legal definition of “serious disruption” has been widened.

    But viewing all disruptive protests as being outside of legal boundaries is likely to create pushback among activists and limit the potential constructive social influence of such protests.

    We argue that it’s time to rethink how we talk about confrontational and disruptive protests. Rather than viewing them as irrational, extreme or born of despair, we should understand it as part of a wider repertoire of political action.

    Here, labelling a set of protests through binary, moralised terms can lead to overlooking and silencing a crucial and effective protest strategy: constructive disruption. Constructive disruption relies on carefully balancing non-violent but disruptive actions. This can apply pressure for change while signalling positive intent that encourages a conciliatory response to protest.

    As a group of social psychologists recently showed, constructive disruption could generate support even among those who are most resistant.

    If we recognise that such tactics are often grounded in a sense of justice and strategic reasoning, we can move away from moralistic judgements and toward democratic dialogue by better engaging with the underlying demands that drive them.

    As protest movements continue to shape political life around the world, we believe it’s time to take their strategies seriously – not just their slogans.

    Mete Sefa Uysal received funding from the International Society of Political Psychology Scholar Under Threat Fund for a part of this study.

    John Drury and Yasemin Gülsüm Acar do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Why do protestors use disruptive, confrontational tactics? New research shows they’re not just a last resort – https://theconversation.com/why-do-protestors-use-disruptive-confrontational-tactics-new-research-shows-theyre-not-just-a-last-resort-256716

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI: Cyabra Report Uncovers Coordinated Disinformation Campaign Targeting Portugal’s 2025 Elections, Featured on CNN

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Cyabra has entered into a business combination agreement with Trailblazer Merger Corp. (TBMC)

    New York, NY, May 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —  Cyabra Strategy Ltd. (“Cyabra”), a leading AI platform for real-time disinformation detection, has released a new investigation into coordinated manipulation campaigns aimed at swaying public opinion in the weeks ahead of Portugal’s general election. The findings, based on a comprehensive analysis of social media activity between April 14 and May 14, expose how fake profiles and bot networks are reshaping Portugal’s political discourse and voter sentiment in real time.

    Cyabra’s report – “Fake Voices, Real Votes” – has been widely featured by CNN Portugal in a series of articles highlighting how inauthentic profiles attempted to hijack online conversations to boost the far-right Chega party while discrediting its rivals:

    Exclusive: 58% of Chega’s support on X is fake, new investigation shows
    Cyabra: This was the company that discovered the existence of fake Chega profiles that spread misinformation on social media

    “What’s happening in Portugal is a masterclass in modern influence operations,” said Dan Brahmy, CEO & Co-founder of Cyabra. “This is a deliberate, strategic campaign to undermine democratic institutions, sway public opinion, and manipulate voters during a critical election. We’re proud that CNN is helping shine a light on these threats.”

    Key Findings from the Report:

    • 58% of the accounts commenting on Chega’s official X account were fake, creating the illusion of overwhelming public support.
    • 49% of profiles commenting on posts from the Socialist (PS) and Social Democratic (PSD) parties were also fake, launching coordinated attacks against opposition leaders while promoting Chega in the same threads.
    • Fake profiles amplified false narratives about Socialist leader Pedro Nuno Santos and malicious attacks on PSD’s Luís Montenegro, spreading conspiracy theories, economic discontent, and anti-immigration rhetoric.
    • Many fake accounts engaged in cross-campaign promotion, simultaneously attacking rival parties and praising Chega—further evidence of a coordinated effort.

    This is the latest in Cyabra’s global work supporting election protection. In 2024 alone – the biggest election year in history – Cyabra supported 19 democracies to monitor and safeguard their elections.

    Cyabra has entered into a business combination agreement with Trailblazer Merger Corporation I (NASDAQ: TBMC), a blank-check special-purpose acquisition company.

    Cyabra partnered with Global Vector Group.

    About Cyabra
    Cyabra is a real-time AI-powered platform that uncovers and analyzes online disinformation and misinformation by uncovering fake profiles, harmful narratives, and GenAI content across social media and digital news channels. Cyabra’s AI solutions protect corporations and governments against brand reputation risks, election manipulation, foreign interference, and other online threats. Cyabra’s platform leverages proprietary algorithms and NLP solutions, gathering and analyzing publicly available data to provide clear, actionable insights and real-time alerts that inform critical decision-making. Cyabra uncovers the good, bad, and fake online.

    For more information, visit www.cyabra.com.

    Media Contact:
    Jill Burkes
    Jill@cyabra.com
    Signal Contact: Jillabra.24

    Investor Relations Contact:
    Miri Segal
    MS-IR
    msegal@ms-ir.com 

    About Trailblazer
    Trailblazer is a blank check company formed for the purpose of entering into a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, recapitalization, reorganization, or other similar business combination with one or more businesses or entities. For more information, visit: www.trailblazermergercorp.com

    Forward-Looking Statements
    This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws with respect to certain products and services that are the subject of a proposed transaction (the “Business Combination”) between Trailblazer and Cyabra. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this press release, including statements regarding Cyabra’s business strategy, products and services, research and development costs, plans and objectives of management for future operations, and future results of current and anticipated product offerings, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words “believe,” “project,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “intend,” “strategy,” “future,” “opportunity,” “plan,” “may,” “should,” “will,” “would,” “will be,” “will continue,” “will likely result,” and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including, but not limited to, the following risks relating to the proposed transaction: the ability to complete the Business Combination or, if Trailblazer does not consummate such Business Combination, any other

    initial business combination; expectations regarding Cyabra’s strategies and future financial performance, including its future business plans or objectives, prospective performance and opportunities and competitors, revenues, products and services, pricing, operating expenses, market trends, liquidity, cash flows and uses of cash, capital expenditures, and Cyabra’s ability to invest in growth initiatives and pursue acquisition opportunities; the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the Business Combination Agreement; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against Trailblazer or Cyabra following announcement of the Business Combination Agreement and the transactions contemplated therein; the inability to complete the proposed Business Combination due to, among other things, the failure to obtain Trailblazer stockholder approval; the risk that the announcement and consummation of the proposed Business Combination disrupts Cyabra’s current operations and future plans; the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the proposed Business Combination; unexpected costs related to the proposed Business Combination; the amount of any redemptions by existing holders of Trailblazer’s common stock being greater than expected; limited liquidity and trading of Trailblazer’s securities; geopolitical risk and changes in applicable laws or regulations; the size of the addressable markets for Cyabra’s products and services; the possibility that Trailblazer and/or Cyabra may be adversely affected by other economic, business, and/or competitive factors; the ability to obtain and/or maintain the listing of the combined company’s common stock on Nasdaq following the Business Combination; operational risk; and the risks that the consummation of the proposed Business Combination is substantially delayed or does not occur.

    Important Information for Investors and Stockholders
    In connection with the Business Combination, Trailblazer Holdings, Inc., a subsidiary of Trailblazer (“Holdings”) has filed a registration statement on Form S-4 (the “Registration Statement”) with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), which includes a preliminary proxy statement/prospectus, and certain other related documents, which will be both the proxy statement to be distributed to holders of shares of Trailblazer’s common stock in connection with its solicitation of proxies for the vote by its stockholders with respect to the Business Combination and other matters as may be described in the Registration Statement, as well as the prospectus of Holdings relating to the offer and sale of its securities to be issued in the Business Combination. . After the Registration Statement is declared effective, the proxy statement/prospectus will be sent to all Trailblazer stockholders so that they may vote on the Business Combination.

    INVESTORS AND STOCKHOLDERS OF TRAILBLAZER ARE URGED TO READ CAREFULLY THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT, PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS, AND OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED OR TO BE FILED WITH THE SEC WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE, AS THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE BUSINESS COMBINATION AND THE PARTIES INVOLVED.

    Trailblazer stockholders are currently able to obtain copies of the preliminary proxy

    statement/prospectus and other documents filed with the SEC that are incorporated by reference therein, and will be able to obtain the definitive proxy statement/prospectus and other documents filed with the SEC that will be incorporated by reference therein, once available, in all cases without charge, at the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov, or by directing a request to: Trailblazer at 510 Madison Avenue, Suite 1401, New York, NY 10022, Telephone: 646-747-9618.

    Participants in the Solicitation
    Cyabra, Trailblazer, and their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed participants in the solicitation of proxies from Trailblazer stockholders regarding the proposed Business Combination. Information about Trailblazer’s directors and executive officers and their ownership of Trailblazer’s securities is set forth in the proxy statement/prospectus pertaining to the proposed Business Combination.

    No Offer or Solicitation
    This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, or a solicitation of any vote or approval. No sale of securities shall occur in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful before registration or qualification under applicable laws.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 20 May 2025 News release Croatia donates sculpture to WHO

    Source: World Health Organisation

    The World Health Organization (WHO) today welcomed the donation of a sculpture from the government of the Republic of Croatia in a ceremony held at WHO headquarters in Geneva. The bronze sculpture, Shape of Space, created by celebrated Croatian artist Ivan Kožarić, pays tribute to health workers around the world. It also honours Dr Andrija Štampar, the first President of the World Health Assembly (WHA), and a founding figure in modern public health.

    The initiative to install the sculpture was launched by Croatia in 2021, during the International Year of Health and Care Workers, which recognized the essential role of health and care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Speaking at the unveiling, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus welcomed the sculpture as a powerful symbol of solidarity and resilience. “This donation reflects our shared commitment to honouring the courage and dedication of health workers, and to carrying forward the vision of Dr Štampar, who believed that health is a fundamental human right.”

    The ceremony was attended by Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, WHO senior leadership, Member State representatives, and invited guests. In his address, Prime Minister Plenković emphasized Dr Štampar’s global impact and the sculpture’s message: “Open and flowing in form, Shape of Space embodies the compassion and protection that health workers provide. It stands here as a beacon of international cooperation and shared values.”

    The sculpture, which is more than 2.5 metres tall and is situated at the main entrance of the WHO building, will serve as a lasting symbol of the contributions of health and care workers everywhere, and of the Republic of Croatia’s commitment to the global health community.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI: Ambiq and CardioMedive Deliver Unified Medical Cardiac Care Solution

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    AUSTIN, Texas, May 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Ambiq®, a technology leader in ultra-low-power solutions for edge AI, announced a strategic partnership with CardioMedive, an award-winning health technology innovator, to revolutionize cardiovascular care with the Medive – an advanced modular health monitoring platform powered by the Apollo510.

    Breakthrough Technical Innovations

    • Ultra-low power Apollo510 MCU employs the Subthreshold Power Optimized Technology (SPOT®) platform to deliver unparalleled energy efficiency for high-performance edge AI
    • Modular plug-and-play scalable architecture tailored to patient needs, no more managing separate devices. It integrates clinical-grade 1 lead multi-parameter patch, 3/5/12-lead ECGs, blood pressure, SpO2, temperature, respiration, digital stethoscope, and comprehensive remote examination capabilities
    • Multi-week battery life ensures continuous health data capture in a lightweight, unobtrusive design
    • Dual SDIO interfaces handle high-throughput Wi-Fi and eMMC storage simultaneously, enabling seamless connectivity without performance comprises

    Transforming Healthcare Access Through Edge AI
    The Medive uses AI-driven analytics to deliver hospital-grade cardiovascular insights in diverse settings, from clinics to patients’ homes. By leveraging the Apollo510’s powerful edge computing capabilities for on-device inferencing, Medive enables immediate anomaly detection, real-time patient alerts, and predictive insights, drastically reducing the latency issues associated with cloud-based communications. The Apollo510 dual SDIO architecture enables Medive to run high-throughput Wi-Fi and eMMC Storage simultaneously, delivering fast performance and seamless connectivity with zero trade-offs. The Medive was selected as the “Medical Innovation of the Year” winner by the Romanian Healthcare Awards for advancing remote cardiovascular patient monitoring.

    “CardioMedive is transforming all phases of the patient’s journey for both in-home and hospital care,” says Fumihide Esaka, CEO of Ambiq. “We are proud to power such an important digital health innovation that makes effective prevention, diagnosis, and disease management more accessible using our ultra-low power solutions.”

    Ion Mocanu, CEO & Co-founder of CardioMedive, added, “Our partnership with Ambiq has been instrumental in creating a truly groundbreaking platform that addresses critical healthcare challenges. The Apollo510’s exceptional processing power, peripherals and energy efficiency have enabled us to design a solution that not only meets today’s needs but is future proofed for tomorrow’s healthcare innovations.”

    Comprehensive Health Monitoring
    Patients using Medive can monitor a wide range of vital health metrics, including ECG, blood pressure, and SpO₂, while also conducting specialized examinations using modules for stethoscope exams, spirometry, otoscopy, thermal imaging for diabetes-related complications, breast cancer screening, and more.

    Availability
    CardioMedive is on track for commercial launch in Q3 2026, beginning in Europe and the U.K., with phased expansion to the U.S., Canada, and Asia-Pacific markets in 2027. Learn more about the Medive here.

    About Ambiq

    Our mission is to enable intelligence (artificial intelligence (AI) and beyond) everywhere by delivering the lowest power semiconductor solutions. We enable our customers to deliver artificial intelligence compute at the edge where power consumption challenges are the most profound. Our technology innovations, built on the patented and proprietary subthreshold power optimized technology (SPOT), fundamentally deliver a multi-fold improvement in power consumption over traditional semiconductor designs. We’ve powered over 270 million devices today. For more information, visit www.ambiq.com.

    About CardioMedive

    CardioMedive is a health technology company redefining how cardiovascular care is delivered — through a modular, AI-enabled monitoring platform that adapts to patients’ needs at home, in clinics, or anywhere in between. Combining medical-grade accuracy with user-friendly design, CardioMedive empowers providers, patients, and digital health platforms to detect, manage, and respond to heart health anomalies. Visit www.cardiomedive.eu to learn more or inquire about global partnerships.

    Contact
    Charlene Wan 
    VP of Marketing, and Investor Relations 
    cwan@ambiq.com 
    +1.512.879.2850

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/795afc79-ce72-41fc-8b22-537b49141328

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Lufthansa Group: Winter flight schedule published and now available for booking

    Source: Lufthansa Group

    Lufthansa Group’s passenger airlines, including Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, SWISS, Brussels Airlines, Eurowings and Discover Airlines, have published their winter flight schedules for 2025/26. The winter flight schedule begins on October 26, 2025. All destinations can be booked now.

    “A stable, punctual, and reliable flight schedule for all Lufthansa Group airlines for the winter, especially for the Christmas holidays, is our top priority. Our employees at the airports will ensure that everything runs smoothly. In addition, with the expansion of the Allegris offering at Lufthansa Airlines, we are bringing a significant upgrade in the premium segment to many core markets,” said Dieter Vranckx, Chief Commercial Officer Lufthansa Group.

    Winter flight schedule highlights for Lufthansa:

    For the 2025/2026 winter flight schedule, Lufthansa will offer additional long-haul flights whereby passengers can enjoy the new Allegris cabin in all classes: Economy, Premium Economy, Business, and First Class. Starting October 26, the new aircraft, with state-of-the-art cabin interiors, will fly daily from Munich to New York (John F. Kennedy and New Jersey-Newark), Chicago, Miami, Shanghai, Cape Town and Tokyo. In addition, Bengaluru in India will be served three times a week. This is the largest number of Allegris destinations operating simultaneously since its debut. Passengers already booked with these flights can now look forward to the Allegris seat.

    Ten A350-900s with the new cabin interior are already flying for Lufthansa in the winter schedule. More than half a million passengers in all classes have now enjoyed the new seats with extremely high satisfaction rates of nearly 100 percent. This year, Lufthansa also plans to introduce Allegris in Frankfurt with the Boeing 787-9 and the retrofitting of its existing fleet, starting with the Boeing 747-8.

    More news from Lufthansa: due to high demand, flights from Frankfurt to Bydgoszcz (Poland) and from Munich to Oradea (Romania) will continue next winter. These connections were added to the flight schedule in summer 2025. The winter season Airbus A380 destinations from Munich have also been confirmed: A380 enthusiasts can look forward to flights to Los Angeles, San Francisco, Bangkok andDelhi with the A380, which is extremely popular with guests and crew alike.

    Further news from Lufthansa Group Airlines:

    Austrian Airlines will add Amsterdam as a fourth destination from Innsbruck this winter, in addition to its existing connections to Brussels, Warsaw, and Copenhagen. Austrian Airlines is also expanding its service from Vienna to Bangkok: up to two daily connections are now on the flight schedule. From October 26, 2025, Austrian Airlines will now fly to Linate Airport instead of Malpensa for all flights to Milan. This change was made by taking over the corresponding slots from ITA Airways, which, like Austrian Airlines, has been part of the Lufthansa Group since the beginning of the year. Linate Airport is much closer to Milan, significantly reducing the travel time to the city center for passengers.

    SWISS is expanding its service to the Polish city of Krakow. In addition, the destinations Cluj-Napoca (Romania) and Košice (Slovakia), which were served for the first time last winter, will continue to be served from Zurich. The long-haul destination Washington D.C. (USA) will also continue from Zurich this winter. From Geneva, SWISS is focusing on connections to and from the UK, Ireland, and Scandinavia – especially for winter sports travelers planning a vacation in Switzerland.

    Brussels Airlines is continuing to expand its services from Brussels to Africa. Lomé (Togo), Dakar (Senegal), Conakry (Guinea), Monrovia (Liberia), Accra (Ghana), and Freetown (Sierra Leone) will all receive additional weekly connections. Brussels Airlines is thus strengthening its role as the “Africa expert” within the Lufthansa Group.

    Eurowings, Germany’s largest leisure airline will connect Berlin with Abu Dhabi with three non-stop flights per week beginning in November 2025. After Dubai and Jeddah, this will be the third long-distance route for the German capital within a short space of time. The Berlin service to the booming metropolis of Dubai will also be expanded: Eurowings will fly to Dubai up to eleven times a week (instead of the previous seven times a week). Eurowings is also providing a real winter highlight in Lower Saxony: With the inaugural flight on November 4, there will be three direct flights a week from Hanover to Dubai. The third new destination will be reached from Baden-Württemberg: Eurowings will connect Stuttgart with Jeddah in Saudi Arabia twice a week going forward. The program to Egypt is also being expanded: In the new winter flight schedule 25/26, Eurowings will be flying to Marsa Alam from Cologne, Hamburg and Berlin.

    Discover Airlines is adding another highlight to its route network: starting in winter 2025/26, the leisure-focused airline will fly non-stop from Frankfurt to the Seychelles for the first time. This is a first for the Lufthansa Group: no airline in the group has ever flown to the island paradise before. Flights to Punta Cana, in the Dominican Republic, are also on the schedule – the only direct connection from Munich to the popular Caribbean vacation destination. Discover Airlines is also adding Alta in Norway to its schedule from Frankfurt for the first time.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Illegal Alien from Romania Pleads Guilty in South Florida to Laundering Proceeds of Online Auction Fraud Scheme

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    MIAMI – Giuliano Orlando Costin Sandu, 32, a Romanian national illegally present in the U.S., has pleaded guilty to a concealment money laundering scheme operating out of South Florida.

    In plea documents and statements made during a hearing in federal court in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., Sandu admitted to laundering the illegal proceeds of a nationwide online auction fraud scheme that targeted U.S. citizens who were duped into believing they were purchasing expensive cars, boats, and tractors through online auction platforms. In fact, the ads and auctions were all part of an elaborate online scam that tricked victims into wiring money to one of several accounts opened by Sandu in South Florida. Sandu used several shell companies, false identities, and fake identity documents, including a counterfeit Czech passport, to open the accounts and conceal his identity.

    Once the money was deposited into Sandu’s accounts, he would quickly withdraw large amounts of cash, often from multiple accounts in various branches on the same day, in order to prevent recoupment and conceal the nature, location, and ultimate control of the fraud proceeds. Sandu admitted to laundering over three quarters of a million dollars between late 2023 and early 2024.

    Sandu was arrested at a local bank branch in April of this year as he attempted to open new bank accounts using a new fake identity with additional false identification documents.

    Sandu’s sentencing hearing is set for August 15 at 1:30 p.m. before U.S. District Judge William P. Dimitrouleas. He faces up to 20 years in federal prison.

    U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida and acting Special Agent in Charge José R. Figueroa of Homeland Securities Investigations (HSI), Miami Field Office, made the announcement.

    HSI’s Miami and Salt Lake City, Utah, Field Offices investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jon Juenger is prosecuting it.

    Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 24-cr-20262.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Second man charged as part of investigation into series of fires in north London

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    A man has been charged with conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life following a series of fires in north London.

    Stanislav Carpiuc, 26 (15.07.98) of Romford, a Romanian national, [B] has been charged with –

    • conspiring together with Roman Lavrynovych and others unknown to damage by fire property belonging to another,
    • intending to damage the property,
    • intending to endanger the life or another or being reckless as to whether the life of another would thereby be endangered.

    Carpiuc is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 20 May at 10:00hrs.

    The charge, which was authorised by the Crown Prosecution Service, relates to a period from Thursday, 17 April to Tuesday, 13 May this year, in which three incidents took place – a vehicle fire in NW5 on Thursday, 8 May, a fire at the entrance of a property in N7 on Sunday, 11 May and a fire at a residential address in NW5 in the early hours of Monday, 12 May.

    All have connections with a high-profile public figure, and therefore officers from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command led the investigation into the fires.

    Carpiuc was arrested on Saturday, 17 May at London Luton Airport by counter terrorism officers from the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit.

    He was held in police custody after a warrant of further detention was obtained.

    As part of the same investigation, Roman Lavrynovych 21 (06.02.04), of Sydenham, a Ukrainian national [A] was charged with three counts of arson with intent to endanger life.

    He appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 16 May and was remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey on 6 June

    A 34-year-old [C] was arrested on Monday, 19 May, in the Chelsea area, SW3, on suspicion of conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life.

    He remains in police custody.

    Anyone with information that could assist the investigation should call police on 101 quoting CAD 441/12 May.

    We would ask the public to remain vigilant and if they see or hear anything that doesn’t look or feel right, then to report it to police – either by calling police, in confidence, on 0800 789 321 or via www.gov.uk/ACT

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Societe Generale launches a new global employee share ownership programme

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SOCIETE GENERALE LAUNCHES A NEW GLOBAL EMPLOYEE SHARE OWNERSHIP PROGRAMME

    Press release

    Paris, 20 May 2025

    Societe Generale confirms the launch of a new global employee share ownership programme allowing eligible employees and retired former employees of the Group to subscribe for a capital increase reserved for them on preferential terms. The subscription period for the share offer will take place from 2 to 16 June (inclusive).

    The settlement-delivery of the shares should take place on 24 July 2025.

    The terms of this transaction are described in the information document provided below.

    This transaction implements the 27th resolution of the General Meeting held on 22 May 2024. The principle of this operation, approved by the Board of Directors on 5 February 2025, was made public in page 15 of the Board of Directors’ report on the resolutions submitted to the General Meeting of 20 May 2025 and, before that, in the table of financial authorisations provided in section 3.1.7 of the Universal Registration Document dated 12 March 2025 which has been updated, on pages 58 to 59 of the Convening Brochure, relating to the General Meeting of 20 May 2025, which was published on 14 April 2025.

    Employee share ownership is a long-term collective commitment mechanism regularly implemented within Societe Generale to involve employees in the development of the company and to enable them to benefit from long-term value creation.

    The 2025 programme is the 32nd offered by the Group.

    Press contacts:
    Jean-Baptiste Froville_+33 1 58 98 68 00_ jean-baptiste.froville@socgen.com
    Fanny Rouby_+33 1 57 29 11 12_ fanny.rouby@socgen.com

    20 May 2025

    INFORMATION DOCUMENT

    PROVIDED FOR EMPLOYEES AND RETIRED FORMER EMPLOYEES
    OF THE SOCIETE GENERALE GROUP
    PERTAINING TO A CAPITAL INCREASE IN CASH TARGETING A MAXIMUM OF 12,044,800 SHARES RESERVED FOR ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES AND RETIRED FORMER EMPLOYEES PARTICIPATING IN SOCIETE GENERALE GROUP COMPANY
    OR GROUP SAVINGS PLANS

    2025 GROUP EMPLOYEE SHARE OWNERSHIP PROGRAMME (2025 GESOP)

    This information document is available at Societe Generale’s administrative office (17 cours Valmy – 92972 Paris-La Défense Cedex), on its website and its intranet site, and was covered by a press release dated 20 May 2025.

    This document is prepared in accordance with the prospectus publication exemptions provided for in Article 1.4°(i) and Article 1.5°(h) of Prospectus Regulation (EU) No. 2017/1129. It constitutes the document required to meet the conditions for exemption from publication of a prospectus as defined by said Prospectus Regulation, directly applicable in the domestic law of each Member State of the European Union.

    MAIN CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CAPITAL INCREASE IN CASH RESERVED FOR ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES AND RETIRED FORMER EMPLOYEES PARTICIPATING IN SOCIETE GENERALE GROUP COMPANY OR GROUP SAVINGS PLANS

    ISSUER Societe Generale,

    French public limited company (société anonyme),

    Share capital: EUR 1,000,395,971.25

    Registered office: 29, boulevard Haussmann – 75009 PARIS

    Paris Trade and Companies Register No. 552 120 222

    Euronext Paris – Compartment A

    Ordinary share ISIN code: FR0000130809

    Share admitted to Deferred Settlement Service
    Securities offered The maximum overall nominal amount of the capital increase is set at EUR 15,056,000, corresponding to the issue of 12,044,800 shares available for subscription in cash.

    The capital increase is sub-divided into two (2) tranches using separate investment vehicles, respectively accessible to separate entities or groups of entities.

    The Societe Generale shares to be issued will be of the same class and will be equivalent to Societe Generale shares already admitted to trading on Euronext Paris (Compartment A).
    Reasons for the offer The 2025 Group Employee Share Ownership Programme falls within the scope of the Societe Generale Group employee share ownership policy, both in France and internationally, allowing beneficiaries to become involved in the Group’s operations by participating, through this investment, in the development of Societe Generale, by expressing their voting rights and participating in the General Meeting.
    Terms of subscription The shares will be available for subscription through employee mutual fund (“FCPE”) in France and directly via the acquisition of registered shares outside France.

    Method for determining the subscription price

    The subscription price of EUR 35.76 is equal to the arithmetic average of the 20 (twenty) volume-weighted average prices recorded each day on the Euronext Paris regulated stock market at the end of each of the 20 (twenty) trading sessions preceding the morning of 19 May 2025 (date of the decision of the Chief Executive Officer, setting the subscription period and the subscription price and acting on the sub-delegation of the Board of Directors at its meeting of 5 February 2025 using the authorization granted to the Board by the twenty-seven resolution of the Combined General Meeting of 22 May 2024), with the application of a 20% discount.

    Duration of subscription period

    The subscription period will begin on Monday 2nd June 2025 at 10:00 a.m. (Paris time) and will end on Monday 16th June 2025 at 11:59 p.m. (Paris time).
      Terms of subscription for shares

    The first (1st) tranche is subscribed through the Employee Mutual Funds under Company or Group Savings Plans. The second (2nd) tranche is directly subscribed by employees under the International Group Savings Plan.

    Beneficiaries of the offer

    This offer is reserved for employees with seniority of at least three (3) months, holding an employment contract in effect at the end of the subscription period, broken down as follows:

    • for the 1st tranche, the beneficiaries of the Societe Generale Company Savings Plan and the Group Savings Plan;
    • for the 2nd tranche, the beneficiaries of the International Group Savings Plan.
      As regards the first tranche, former employees having left their company after retiring, with this category including pre-retirees, and having retained assets in the Company or Group Savings Plans, may also take part in this reserved capital increase.
      Subscription limit

    In accordance with Article L. 3332-10 of the French Labour Code, the total amount of payments made by Beneficiaries (including payments into other Savings Plans) may not exceed 25% of their gross annual remuneration received during the year of subscription or, for Beneficiaries whose employment contract is suspended and who received no remuneration for the year of subscription, 25% of the annual limit provided for in Article L. 241-3 of the French Social Security Code. At its meeting of 5 February 2025, the Board of Directors decided that the total amount of a given Beneficiary’s individual subscription (which may consist of a voluntary payment, including the transfer of available assets, as well as the net amounts of profit-sharing and employer matching contribution (not applicable to retirees)) may not exceed EUR 20,000.

    Employer matching contribution

    Employer matching contribution rules are specific to each Company or Group Savings Plan and each participating entity.
    Transaction timetable Subscription will be open from Monday 2nd June 2025 at 10:00 a.m. (Paris time) to Monday 16th June 2025 at 11:59 p.m. (Paris time). The capital increase is scheduled for 24 July 2025.
    Listing of new shares Listing market

    Societe Generale shares are listed on Euronext Paris (deferred settlement service, continuous trading group A, ISIN code FR0000130809).
      Listing of new shares

    The listing of the new shares on Euronext Paris will be requested immediately after the completion of the capital increase (the listing should be effective on or around 29 July 2025).
    General information on new shares subject to a request for admission to trading Rights attached to shares issued

    As soon as they are created, the new shares will be subject to all the provisions of the Issuer’s Articles of Association and will bear dividends rights as of 1 January 2025. As a result, they will be fully assimilated with the existing shares and will entitle the shareholders of a public limited company to the associated legal prerogatives. In particular, they will entitle shareholders to ownership of the company’s assets and the liquidation surplus, in a proportion equal to the percentage of share capital they represent. Similarly, the dividend is distributed to shareholders in proportion to their shareholding.

    A double voting right, in proportion to the capital represented, is allocated to all fully paid-up shares registered in the name of the same shareholder, for at least two years, as well as to new registered shares granted free of charge to a shareholder, in the event of a capital increase through the incorporation of reserves, profits or issue premiums, in respect of shares entitled thereto.

    In accordance with Article L. 214-165 II, paragraph 3, of the French Monetary and Financial Code, the voting rights attached to Societe Generale shares subscribed via the FCPE will be exclusively exercised individually by the unitholders of said FCPE and, for fractional units, by the supervisory board of said FCPE.

    In the event of a public purchase or exchange offer, the supervisory board of the FCPE decide, based on the relative majority of the votes cast, whether or not to tender Societe Generale shares to the offer. If there is no relative majority, the decision is put to the vote of the unitholders, who decide based on the relative majority of the votes cast.

    Marketability of shares

    No clauses in the Articles of Association limit the free marketability of the shares comprising Societe Generale’s capital.

    Only the rules below governing the unavailability of shares under a Company or Group Savings Plan will limit the marketability of said shares.
    Unavailability Shares held directly by the Beneficiaries and units of the employee mutual fund, as applicable, will be unavailable for a period of 5 years, barring cases of early release subject to the conditions applicable to the Company or Group Savings Plan in question. As regards the 2nd tranche, in some countries, depending on local legislation, some cases of early release will not be open to employees.
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    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI China: EPC summit ends in multiple challenges

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

    Attendees chat during the 6th European Political Community (EPC) Summit in Tirana, Albania, May 16, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Amid rising political and economic pressures, the sixth summit of the European Political Community (EPC) concluded in Tirana on Friday with few substantive results.

    Themed “New Europe in a new world: unity – cooperation – joint action,” the summit marked the EPC’s first gathering in the Western Balkans. Yet, despite mounting calls for solidarity, deep divisions and growing anxieties were difficult to settle.

    Around 50 national and regional leaders, as well as heads of European Union (EU) and international institutions, gathered in the Albanian capital, facing an array of unresolved issues ranging from enlargement fatigue and economic headwinds to migration dilemmas and pressing security concerns.

    Strategic anxiety

    Launched by French President Emmanuel Macron in May 2022, the EPC was intended to serve as a platform for policy coordination and political dialogue among European countries.

    Three years on, however, that vision appears increasingly strained.

    As transatlantic divisions deepen, particularly over the Ukraine conflict, European nations are increasingly grappling with the implications of a diminished American commitment.

    Agathe Demarais, a senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, said that Europe is not a priority for the United States. “I don’t think that in any field — be it trade or defense or anything else,” she said.

    Faruk Boric, a political analyst from Bosnia and Herzegovina, said that for many years, the EU had followed the United States in terms of external politics. “But nowadays you can see that (U.S. President Donald) Trump is trying to make America great again without the EU,” he said.

    Europe’s economic concerns are also growing as a new wave of U.S. tariffs poses a serious challenge to sustaining growth and enhancing competitiveness. Negotiations between the EU and the United States on related issues have yet to yield a breakthrough.

    The EU is currently facing a 25 percent U.S. import tariff on steel, aluminum and automobiles, along with a 10 percent baseline duty on nearly all other goods. In April, Washington announced a 20 percent “reciprocal tariff” on EU products, which was later postponed for 90 days.

    Migration remains another intractable issue. The EU faces both illegal migration flows and labor shortages, creating both political and logistical strain. Recent discussions have broadened to include legal migration pathways, cooperation with countries of origin and transit, and managing so-called “weaponized” migration.

    Divisions persist among EPC-participating countries on migration-related issues. There is no consensus over the proposal of offshore deportation centers or to provide greater facilitation for admitting more young migrants.

    More symbolic than substantive

    Now in its sixth edition, the EPC still lacks a permanent secretariat, formal declarations or binding commitments. While it provides a flexible platform for dialogue, critics argue that a loose structure limits its political impact.

    “The EPC has become little more than a photo-op of unity,” said He Zhigao, associate researcher with the Institute of European Studies under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. “It can neither replace the EU nor NATO. It offers no real public goods like security guarantees or economic aid, and it lacks the power to advance meaningful EU enlargement.”

    Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, who co-chaired the meeting, called for a broader vision for the EPC beyond defense. “Why not imagine an EPC of education, science, and artificial intelligence and transnational lines beyond weaponry? A terrain of interconnected sources of knowledge, research and innovation, where Non-EU or Not-Yet-EU territories can become new frontiers for investments, free from bureaucracy, regulations and fiscal burdens…” he said.

    Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni emphasized at the summit Europe’s responsibility to pursue unity despite diversity, noting that Western Balkan countries “must have a clear perspective for integration.”

    However, no concrete steps toward accession were taken during the summit, once again leaving candidate countries in a state of waiting.

    With no non-EU country volunteering to host the 2026 summit, doubts about the EPC’s long-term viability continue to grow. As the European Policy Centre warned, “without reform, the EPC risks becoming irrelevant.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: PRESS RELEASE: Congressional Croatian Caucus Co-Chairs Barragán and Joyce Host Prime Minister Plenković and Ambassador Šimunović to Strengthen U.S.-Croatia Relations

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44)

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    May 9, 2025

    Contact: Jin.Choi@mail.house.gov

    Congressional Croatian Caucus Co-Chairs Barragán and Joyce Host Prime Minister Plenković and Ambassador Šimunović to Strengthen U.S.-Croatia Relations

    Washington D.C. — On Wednesday, Co-Chairs of the Congressional Croatian Caucus, Representatives Nanette Barragán (D-CA) and Dave Joyce (R-OH), hosted Prime Minister Andrej Plenković of Croatia and Croatia’s Ambassador to the U.S. Pjer Šimunović, to discuss how to best strengthen the diplomatic, economic, and cultural ties between the U.S. and Croatia. This was then followed by a reception to celebrate the re-launch of the Congressional Croatian Caucus for the 119th Congress. Vice-Chairs Ted Lieu (D-CA) and Claudia Tenney (R-NY) were also in attendance. 

    “In California’s 44th District, we’re proud to call ourselves home to one of the largest and most vibrant Croatian communities in the country. I welcome every opportunity to strengthen the ties between our two nations — through trade, security, and shared values.  By working together, we can increase collaboration across areas of shared interest and build a stronger future for both our countries,”said Rep. Barragán. 

    In the 118th Congress, the Caucus led a letter to the Senate urging ratification of the U.S.-Croatia Treaty for the Avoidance of Double Taxation, to further deepen the economic partnership between the U.S. and Croatia. The Caucus will continue to advocate for ratification in the 119th Congress. 

    Photos from the event can be found here.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Russia initiates WTO dispute regarding EU’s carbon border adjustment and emissions trading

    Source: WTO

    Headline: Russia initiates WTO dispute regarding EU’s carbon border adjustment and emissions trading

    Russia refers to Regulation (EU) 2023/956, establishing the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, as well as delegated and implementing acts and other related documents, and to Directive 2003/87/EC establishing a scheme for greenhouse gas emissions allowances trading within the EU. Russia claims the measures  are inconsistent with the EU’s obligations under various provisions of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) 1994; the Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures; the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures; and the Protocols of WTO Accession of Bulgaria, Croatia, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
    Further information is available in document WT/DS639/1.
    What is a request for consultations?
    The request for consultations formally initiates a dispute in the WTO. Consultations give the parties an opportunity to discuss the matter and to find a satisfactory solution without proceeding further with litigation. After 60 days, if consultations have failed to resolve the dispute, the complainant may request adjudication by a panel.

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    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Briefing – Outcome of the European Political Community meeting in Tirana, Albania, on 16 May 2025 – 19-05-2025

    Source: European Parliament

    On 16 May 2025, over 40 European leaders gathered for the sixth meeting of the European Political Community (EPC). This was the first EPC meeting to take place in the Western Balkans. The evening before the EPC, there was an informal dinner between EU and Western Balkan leaders, which had been preceded by a week of visits by the European Council President to the Western Balkan capitals. The summit comes days after parliamentary elections in Albania (held on 11 May), which incumbent Prime Minister Edi Rama won on a pro-EU mandate. The overarching theme for the summit was ‘New Europe in a new world: Unity – cooperation – joint action’, with a strong emphasis on support for Ukraine, as well as three roundtable topics: security and democratic resilience; competitiveness; and mobility, migration and youth. Similarly to previous EPC meetings, no concrete deliverables or joint statements on behalf of all the leaders were published at the end of the summit. However, a coordinating team for the EPC was announced during Rama’s press conference with Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, as leader of the country which will be hosting the next EPC meeting. The coordinating team will operate under the office of the European Council President.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Carbon dioxide storage in Prinos – E-001877/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001877/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Maria Zacharia (NI)

    In January 2025, the Commission announced that it would invest EUR 1.25 billion in cross-border infrastructure from the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF). Among the projects selected for funding was the carbon dioxide (CO2) storage project in Prinos (13.11-EL-W-M-24-Prinos CO2).

    The project will be implemented in a natural/geological oil reservoir system, with a total area of 256.86 km2, and be located in marine, undersea and land-based sites a short distance off the coasts of Kavala and Thasos. It also includes the maritime transport of CO2 from Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Greece and Italy. In accordance with Directive 2001/42/EC, a Strategic Environmental Impact Assessment should thus have been prepared first and, in particular, neighbouring countries should have received advance information under Article 7, which was not the case.

    In addition, the proposed project falls within the scope of the Seveso Directive (Directive 2012/18/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 4 July 2012), meaning that a safety report and emergency plans should have been drawn up. However, the project was submitted for an environmental impact assessment consultation on 25 November 2024, which was completed at a later stage and which does not even contain an adequate assessment of the geological risks present in an undersea area basically on top of the Anatolian fault line.

    Was the Commission aware of this when it included the project in the CEF, and had an adequate risk assessment been carried out?

    Submitted: 12.5.2025

    Last updated: 19 May 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – The list of so-called ‘safe third countries’ and the intensity of expulsions – E-001869/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001869/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Kostas Papadakis (NI)

    The Commission’s communication on ‘accelerating the implementation’ of certain provisions of the ‘Pact on Migration and Asylum’ response package signals the acceleration and escalation of the repression and expulsion of people uprooted by imperialist wars. There are two aspects to the proposal: the implementation of pretextual fast-track border procedures enabling the immediate rejection of asylum applications made by people coming from countries with an acceptance rate lower than 20 %, and the creation of a list naming seven countries as potential ‘safe third countries’.

    Can the Commission therefore answer the following:

    • 1.What view does it take of the fact that ‘accelerated border asylum procedures’ will lead to the non-individualised and pretextual examination of asylum applications with blanket rejections, and thus expulsions, in breach of the Geneva Convention relating to the Status of Refugees?
    • 2.What view does it take of the fact that, since the list of ‘safe third countries’ is ‘dynamic’ and will be revised, this opens the door, based on the provisions of the ‘Pact on Migration and Asylum’, to returns and deportations to countries that are even at war, to supposedly ‘safe’ areas thereof?
    • 3.What view does it take of the fact that the list of ‘safe third countries’, together with the legal possibility of setting up concentration camps in third countries, promotes the brutality of banishing people uprooted by war and other causes to countries with which they have no connection and their detention in deplorable conditions, as is the case with the Italy-Albania agreement?

    Submitted: 12.5.2025

    Last updated: 19 May 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: At a Glance – “Nomination for a Member of the European Court of Auditors: Croatia – 19-05-2025

    Source: European Parliament

    This note describes the treaty provisions and appointment procedure for ECA members at EU level. In addition, it provides information on the national nomination procedure for the ECA member in Croatia and the country’s candidate.

    Source : © European Union, 2025 – EP

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Joint donor statement on humanitarian aid to Gaza

    Source: Government of Canada News

    May 19, 2025 – Ottawa, Ontario – Global Affairs Canada

    The foreign ministers of Australia, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom, as well as the the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, the EU Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management and the EU Commissioner for the Mediterranean, today issued the following statement:

    “Whilst we acknowledge indications of a limited restart of aid, Israel blocked humanitarian aid entering Gaza for over two months. Food, medicines and essential supplies are exhausted. The population faces starvation. Gaza’s people must receive the aid they desperately need.

    “Prior to the aid block, the UN and humanitarian NGOs delivered aid into Gaza, working with great courage, at the risk of their lives and in the face of major access challenges imposed by Israel. These organisations subscribe to upholding humanitarian principles, operating independently, with neutrality, impartiality and humanity. They have the logistical capacity, expertise and operational coverage to deliver assistance across Gaza to those who need it most.

    “Israel’s security cabinet has reportedly approved a new model for delivering aid into Gaza, which the UN and our humanitarian partners cannot support. They are clear that they will not participate in any arrangement that does not fully respect the humanitarian principles. Humanitarian principles matter for every conflict around the world and should be applied consistently in every warzone. The UN has raised concerns that the proposed model cannot deliver aid effectively, at the speed and scale required. It places beneficiaries and aid workers at risk, undermines the role and independence of the UN and our trusted partners, and links humanitarian aid to political and military objectives. Humanitarian aid should never be politicised, and Palestinian territory must not be reduced nor subjected to any demographic change.

    “As humanitarian donors, we have two straightforward messages for the Government of Israel: allow a full resumption of aid into Gaza immediately and enable the UN and humanitarian organizations to work independently and impartially to save lives, reduce suffering and maintain dignity. We remain committed to meeting the acute needs we see in Gaza. We also reiterate our firm message that Hamas must immediately release all remaining hostages and allow humanitarian assistance to be distributed without interference. It is our firm conviction that an immediate return to a ceasefire and working towards the implementation of a two-state solution are the only way to bring peace and security to Israelis and Palestinians and ensure long-term stability for the whole region.”

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: A meeting of the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly Council was held in Bishkek

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    BISHKEK, May 19 (Xinhua) — A meeting of the Council of the Parliamentary Assembly (PA) of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) was held in the capital of Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek, on Monday, the press service of the Kyrgyz parliament reported.

    The heads of parliaments of Kyrgyzstan Nurlanbek Turgunbek uulu, Russia Vyacheslav Volodin, Kazakhstan Erlan Koshanov, Tajikistan Faizali Idizoda and Belarus Igor Sergeenko took part in the work of the CSTO PA Council meeting. The Chairman of the Security Committee of the National Assembly of Serbia Milovan Dretsun was present as an observer.

    The parliamentary leaders of the CSTO member states heard information from CSTO Secretary General Imangali Tasmagambetov on the implementation of the decisions taken in November 2024 at the session of the CSTO Collective Security Council and the measures taken to counter challenges and threats to collective security. The CSTO Secretary General noted that the adopted historic agreement on the state border between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan is an important step that will further strengthen ties within the CSTO.

    Discussing issues on ensuring the sustainability and stability of the socio-political situation in the territory of the CSTO member states, the heads of parliamentary delegations emphasized that the agreements reached between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan on the peaceful settlement of border issues reflect the principles of friendship, unity of fraternal peoples and good neighborliness, on which interaction within the CSTO is developing.

    The heads of parliament also heard information on the participation of representatives of the CSTO PA in international election observation in CSTO member states and on the coordination of actions in international parliamentary organizations. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Joint donor statement on humanitarian aid to Gaza 

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Joint donor statement on humanitarian aid to Gaza 

    Joint statement on behalf of 25 humanitarian partners on aid to Gaza and the proposal for a new aid delivery model.

    Joint statement:

    “Whilst we acknowledge indications of a limited restart of aid, Israel blocked humanitarian aid entering Gaza for over two months. Food, medicines and essential supplies are exhausted. The population faces starvation. Gaza’s people must receive the aid they desperately need.  

    “Prior to the aid block, the UN and humanitarian NGOs delivered aid into Gaza, working with great courage, at the risk of their lives and in the face of major access challenges imposed by Israel. These organisations subscribe to upholding humanitarian principles, operating independently, with neutrality, impartiality and humanity. They have the logistical capacity, expertise and operational coverage to deliver assistance across Gaza to those who need it most.  

    “Israel’s security cabinet has reportedly approved a new model for delivering aid into Gaza, which the UN and our humanitarian partners cannot support. They are clear that they will not participate in any arrangement that does not fully respect the humanitarian principles. Humanitarian principles matter for every conflict around the world and should be applied consistently in every warzone. The UN has raised concerns that the proposed model cannot deliver aid effectively, at the speed and scale required. It places beneficiaries and aid workers at risk, undermines the role and independence of the UN and our trusted partners, and links humanitarian aid to political and military objectives.  Humanitarian aid should never be politicised, and Palestinian territory must not be reduced nor subjected to any demographic change.  

    “As humanitarian donors, we have two straightforward messages for the Government of Israel: allow a full resumption of aid into Gaza immediately and enable the UN and humanitarian organisations to work independently and impartially to save lives, reduce suffering and maintain dignity. We remain committed to meeting the acute needs we see in Gaza. We also reiterate our firm message that Hamas must immediately release all remaining hostages and allow humanitarian assistance to be distributed without interference. It is our firm conviction that an immediate return to a ceasefire and working towards the implementation of a two-state solution are the only way to bring peace and security to Israelis and Palestinians and ensure long-term stability for the whole region.”

    This statement has been signed by:

    • The Foreign Ministers of Australia, Canada, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the UK. 

    • The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, the EU Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management and the EU Commissioner for the Mediterranean.

    Media enquiries

    Email newsdesk@fcdo.gov.uk

    Telephone 020 7008 3100

    Email the FCDO Newsdesk (monitored 24 hours a day) in the first instance, and we will respond as soon as possible.

    Updates to this page

    Published 19 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Westminster Council recognises Prince Charles Cinema as an Asset of Community Value | Westminster City Council

    Source: City of Westminster

    Westminster City Council has recognised the importance of the Prince Charles Cinema to the local area by making it an asset of community value.   

    The Prince Charles Cinema is one of the last independent cinemas operating in the West End and has been a staple in the area since opening in 1962.   

     A letter announcing the news from the council states how the cinema supports local filmmakers by providing platform for independent works and hosting film festivals.  

     It has also been a hosting venue for the BFI London Film Festival since 2016, and also participated in festivals from China, Czechia, the Philippines, Poland, Romania and Ukraine. including a partnership with the National Film & Television School.  

     The cinema is known for its eclectic programming, which includes cult classics, independent films, and international cinema and attracts over 250,000 visitors annually. In January 2025 alone, 155 films featured in its programme, a figure that far outstrips the choice offered by any other cinema in the country.  

     Cllr Geoff Barraclough, Westminster City Council Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Development, said:       

    “The Prince Charles isn’t just a cinema—it’s a cultural landmark and a meeting place for film lovers of all kinds. Designating the Prince Charles as an asset of community value helps protect that spirit and keeps the reels turning for the next generation. We’re proud to back a venue that brings so much life, character, and cinematic adventure to the West End.” 

    Cllr Ryan Jude, Westminster City Council Cabinet Member for Climate, Ecology and Culture, said:  

     “This iconic cinema has long been a treasured part of our cultural landscape, championing independent voices, global stories, and community spirt. With its unique programming and support for local filmmakers, it plays a crucial role in nurturing creativity, diversity, and culture in the heart of Westminster.” 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: InvestHK forges economic ties with multiple emerging markets through outreach to Eastern Europe, Africa, and the Middle East (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    ​Invest Hong Kong (InvestHK) announced today (May 19) that the Director-General of Investment Promotion and leadership team have completed multiple duty visits to emerging markets in Eastern Europe, Africa, and the Middle East this month, actively promoting Hong Kong’s business advantages and opportunities in overseas markets and fostering mutual co-operation. The team participated in various events, met with government organisations, chambers of commerce, business leaders, and company representatives, to deepen exchange in economic and trade between Hong Kong and these places. During the visit to the Middle East, as witnessed by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, and local leaders, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed to strengthen economic and trade ties and promote deeper business collaboration between the two regions.

    Director-General of Investment Promotion, Ms Alpha Lau, Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion Mr Charles Ng, Acting Associate Director-General of Investment Promotion Ms Loretta Lee, and sector team heads visited Türkiye, Hungary, Egypt, Côte d’Ivoire, Morocco, Qatar, Kuwait, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Oman, and Romania, actively promoting Hong Kong’s business advantages and opportunities. They emphasised Hong Kong’s advantages of connecting the country with the world under “one country, two systems,” and sought to actively expanding into emerging markets, deepen international exchanges and co-operation, and demonstrate the synergistic power of the complementary strengths between the city and the Mainland.

         Mr Lee led a business delegation to Qatar and Kuwait from May 11 to 14, Ms Loretta Lee was part of the delegation. Witnessed by the Chief Executive, three MoUs were signed with the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Qatar Businessmen Association, and the Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority, further strengthening collaborative relationships.

    Ms Alpha Lau visited emerging markets along the Belt and Road initiative including Istanbul, Türkiye; Budapest, Hungary; and Cairo, Egypt, from May 10 to 20, meeting with external economic relations committees, export promotion agencies, investment promotion agencies, chambers of commerce, financial services organisations and strategic enterprises, to promote Hong Kong’s business advantages and opportunities and the advantages of raising capital through Hong Kong. She spoke at multiple business seminars co-organised by chambers of commerce, business associations, and external economic relations committees, expanding networks and seeking new business opportunities for Hong Kong and hosted two media roundtable discussions to tell the good stories of Hong Kong.
     
    Mr Ng visited Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, and Casablanca, Morocco, from May 11 to 16. In Côte d’Ivoire, Mr Ng spoke at a CEO Forum and engaged with chambers of commerce and industry to highlight Hong Kong’s role as a super-connector in the Belt and Road Initiative. In Morocco, he met with various financial institutions and professional associations to emphasise Hong Kong’s robust financial markets and innovation ecosystem. Mr Ng also met with local media to promote Hong Kong’s business advantages.
     
    Global Head of Financial Services, FinTech & Sustainability at InvestHK, Mr King Leung met with representatives from local financial institutions in Oman, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi to discuss opportunities for digital and technological collaboration between the two regions. The Head of Consumer Products, Ms Angelica Leung met with retail and luxury brand leaders in Bucharest, tapping into emerging markets like Romania and demonstrating why Hong Kong is the ideal location to set up a regional headquarters to thrive across the region’s retail and luxury sectors.
     
    Ms Lau said, “In addition to reaching out to traditional markets, InvestHK is also strengthening economic ties with emerging markets to create more collaboration opportunities. Amid unprecedented global economic challenges and the reshaping of global supply chains, overseas enterprises are keen to expand their presence in Asia. InvestHK will align with the Belt and Road Initiative and the trend of collaborating with the ‘Global South’, deepen international exchanges and collaboration, actively promote cross-border investment, capital market cooperation, and technological innovation exchanges, and assist enterprises in establishing and expanding their business in Hong Kong and the wider region.”

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Competitive Romanian presidential run-off, but campaign marred by hostile rhetoric and inauthentic behaviour online, international observers say

    Source: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe – OSCE

    Headline: Competitive Romanian presidential run-off, but campaign marred by hostile rhetoric and inauthentic behaviour online, international observers say

    Competitive Romanian presidential run-off, but campaign marred by hostile rhetoric and inauthentic behaviour online, international observers say | OSCE
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    Home Newsroom News and press releases Competitive Romanian presidential run-off, but campaign marred by hostile rhetoric and inauthentic behaviour online, international observers say

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • Portugal’s far-right wins record support as centre-right falls short of majority

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (2)

    ortugal’s far-right Chega won a record vote share in Sunday’s snap election and was vying to become the main opposition party as the ruling centre-right Democratic Alliance (AD) again fell short of a majority needed to end a long period of instability.

    Prime Minister Luis Montenegro – whose grouping won the most seats – said the election result was a vote of confidence in his party. However, with votes from abroad still to be counted Chega could supplant the centre-left Socialists as leader of the opposition, ending five decades of dominance by the country’s two major parties.

    “We’ve done what no other party has ever achieved in Portugal. We can safely declare in front of all the country today that bipartisanship in Portugal is over,” Chega leader Andre Ventura told a crowd of jubilant supporters in Lisbon.

    “Nothing will be as it was,” he said, highlighting the fact that the continued rise of Chega, which he founded just six years ago, proved most opinion polls wrong.

    Chega gained 8 seats for a total of 58 in the 230-seat parliament, winning a record 1.34 million votes, or 22.6%.

    Montenegro, whose AD won 89 seats – up nine from the previous election – and 32.1% of the vote, has refused to make any deals with Chega and said he would form a new minority government.

    Chega, which has allied with Europe’s hard-right, anti-immigration parties, such as Marine le Pen’s Rassemblement National in France and Germany’s AfD, has proposed tougher sentences for criminals, including chemical castration for repeat rapists, and called for an end to “open doors” immigration. It has also accused mainstream parties of perpetuating corruption.

    Continued political instability could delay structural reforms and major projects in Portugal, including lithium mining in the north, and potentially compromise the efficient deployment of EU funds and the long-delayed privatization of TAP airline.

    The election, the third in as many years, was called one year into an AD minority government’s term after Montenegro failed to win a vote of confidence in March when the opposition questioned his integrity over dealings of his family’s consultancy firm. He has denied any wrongdoing.

    “The Portuguese don’t want any more snap elections, they want a four-year legislature,” Montenegro said as his supporters chanted “Let Luis work,” his campaign slogan.

    Voters appeared to punish the Socialists for their role in bringing down Montenegro’s government with the party falling to 58 seats from 78, prompting leader Pedro Nuno Santos to say he would step down.

    In Lisbon, some residents were worried about what Chega’s surge could mean for Portugal’s democracy, comparing the party to U.S. President Donald Trump’s government.

    Chega’s Ventura, who was hospitalised during the campaign after collapsing on stage with an esophageal spasm, said his health issues would not hold him back.

    “There are moments in life during which God says, just stop a little bit,” he said. “This time I am not going to listen. I am not going to stop until I become the prime minister of Portugal.”

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI Europe: OSCE strengthens Montenegro’s border security with training on arms and human trafficking

    Source: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe – OSCE

    Headline: OSCE strengthens Montenegro’s border security with training on arms and human trafficking

    Participants in an OSCE training for Montenegrin border and criminal police officers on combating arms and human trafficking, Bar, 13 May 2025. (OSCE/Katerina Koci) Photo details

    The OSCE is helping strengthen Montenegro’s ability to combat arms and human trafficking through targeted training for border and criminal police officers. From 13 to 16 May in Bar, Montenegro, the OSCE Transnational Threats Department (TNTD), in close co-ordination with the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, trained 15 officers from Montenegro’s Police Directorate as part of its ongoing support for border security and management.
    The course marked another deployment of the OSCE-led Mobile Training Team (MTT). It brought together expert trainers from the national police forces of North Macedonia and Tunisia, the OSCE Forum for Security and Co-operation, and INTERPOL’s I-Force Project as well as national experts from the Ministry of the Interior, the criminal police and the Forensic Centre of Montenegro, along with representatives from the US Embassy including the Director of its Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs.
    “This course is part of our long-standing support to participating States in strengthening border security in a human right-based way. Montenegro’s location, bordering the Schengen area, places it at a crucial juncture in the regional and European security landscape: a place where threats can be intercepted, co-operation can begin, and resilience is built,” highlighted Siv-Katrine Leirtroe, Head of TNTD’s Border Security and Management Unit.
    Participants took part in hands-on scenario-based exercises, real-life operational case studies and theoretical sessions tailored to Montenegro’s context. The training focused on detecting and responding to indicators of trafficking in human beings using a victim-centred approach. The segment on arms trafficking furthermore explored Montenegro’s national profile and regional trafficking trends, introducing international tools such as INTERPOL’s iARMS database. The course promoted stronger interagency co-operation and emphasized human rights principles as well as gender- and age-sensitive approaches in border security controls.
    “For Montenegro, the fight against trafficking in weapons and human beings is a key priority in safeguarding national and regional security. Only through co-ordinated efforts, information exchange, and continuous training can we effectively respond to threats that undermine the rule of law and the safety of our citizens,” said Predrag Savovic, Senior Police Inspector, Head of the Small Arms and Light Weapons Commission of Montenegro. 
    This training course is part of the OSCE extrabudgetary project “Training and Deployment of OSCE Mobile Training Team to Better Address Challenges in Identifying the Cross-Border Movement of Foreign Terrorist Fighters and Other Cross-Border Crimes in the OSCE Area–Phase II”, funded by Germany and the United States.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Man who fled abroad found guilty of manslaughter

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    A man who fled abroad following the fatal stabbing of a teenager in Finsbury Park has been convicted of manslaughter.

    After a six-week trial at Isleworth Crown Court, Kevin Peraj, 23, was found guilty on Friday, 16 May of killing 19-year-old Ahmed Habib under joint enterprise.

    He was brought to justice following a detailed Metropolitan Police investigation, which included reviewing hundreds of hours of CCTV and extensive enquiries within the UK and abroad.

    Detective Inspector Brett Hagen, who led the investigation, said: “I would like to pay my respects to Ahmed’s family, I am, once again, very sorry for your loss. I hope this result, and that Peraj will now face the consequences of his actions, brings some small comfort.

    “Our investigation into the events of that day continues as at least one other man was involved in the attack.

    “I am keen to hear from anyone who may have any information, no matter how small. Please think back to when this happened and come forward if you have any information that may help our investigation.”

    Detectives launched an investigation after receiving reports at about 02:50hrs on Thursday, 11 July 2024 of two men injured in a car in Stroud Green Road, at the junction of Tollington Park, N4.

    Officers, London Ambulance Service and medics from London’s Air Ambulance all attended and found Ahmed, the driver, suffering from stab injuries. Despite the best efforts of the emergency services, he sadly dead at the scene. The injuries of the second man, aged 21, in the car were not life-threatening.

    Detectives established the two men sustained their injuries in Seven Sisters Road close to Yonge Park before driving to Stroud Green Road where the car came to a stop.

    After reviewing many hours of footage, detectives found CCTV that captured Peraj approaching the vehicle and attacking the passenger in the car.

    In an attempt to escape police, on the night of the murder Peraj tried to flee the country. He made his way to Heathrow Airport, but was too late and missed his flight.

    Instead he left the UK via the Eurotunnel and headed to Albania.

    Quick time enquiries had led officers to identify Peraj, [8.7.01] of Islip Street, NW5. He contacted police after a warrant was issued at his family address and was arrested upon his return to the UK on Tuesday, 16 July.

    He was interviewed and charged with murder the following day under joint enterprise, before his conviction for manslaughter. The motive for the attack remains unclear.

    Peraj will be sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court on Friday, 1 August.

    Officers believe Peraj was acting with another man – anyone with information asked to call 101 or ‘X’ @MetCC and give reference 873/11July2024.

    You can also provide information anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Compliance of Slovenia’s Hospitality Act (ZGos-1) with European law and notification to the Commission – E-001802/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001802/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Matej Tonin (PPE), Romana Tomc (PPE), Milan Zver (PPE), Zala Tomašič (PPE), Branko Grims (PPE)

    On 14 March 2025, the Slovenian Government tabled a draft Hospitality Act (ZGos-1), which introduces excessively restrictive measures for providers of short-term rental accommodation nationwide. A number of stakeholders and academics have already expressed serious concerns to the Slovenian Government about whether the measures are proportional, justified and non-discriminatory, as well as about a possible interference with the freedom to provide services in the EU.

    I would therefore be grateful if the following points could be clarified:

    • 1.Notification to the Commission: Have the Slovenian authorities complied with their obligation to notify the draft Hospitality Act to the Commission as required by EU law (TRIS notification procedure), and what would be the consequences of the Slovenian authorities failing to notify the draft law to the Commission?
    • 2.Compliance with European law: Are the measures on short-term letting proposed in the Hospitality Act in line with the provisions of the Services Directive, in particular with regard to the principles of proportionality, non-discrimination and necessity? Has the Commission already carried out an assessment of whether the proposed restrictions are justified and appropriate for achieving public interest objectives such as accessibility of housing and restricting excessive tourism, without unduly affecting providers of short-term rentals?

    These questions are key to ensuring and implementing EU law, respecting fundamental freedoms within the EU and to the functioning of the Slovenian state in accordance with the applicable EU legal framework. Thank you for a timely reply and for any clarifications that may be provided on this matter.

    Submitted: 5.5.2025

    Last updated: 19 May 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –