Category: DJF

  • MIL-OSI Europe: EIB triples financing for banks to provide liquidity to SMEs in the supply chain of Europe’s defence industry, signs first deal with Deutsche Bank

    Source: European Investment Bank

    • EIB increases intermediated loans and guarantees available for key defence-industry segment to €3 billion from €1 billion.
    • Move to support small and medium-sized businesses that serve major European defence manufacturers in partnership with commercial banks across EU.
    • First agreement with Deutsche Bank to enable €1 billion financing for defence research, as well as military and police infrastructure.

    The European Investment Bank (EIB) is tripling to €3 billion the intermediated financing available to Europe’s defence-industry suppliers in a fresh move to bolster security on the continent. The EIB is also triggering the new facility through an inaugural agreement with Deutsche Bank, providing long-term liquidity earmarked for security and defence investment projects.

    The EIB’s increase in intermediated financing targets small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that are a pillar of Europe’s defence industrial base. The EIB is providing a €500 million loan to Deutsche Bank, in a partnership that will enable €1 billion in financing and working capital for SMEs throughout the European Union security and defence supply chain, as well as military and police infrastructure such as training facilities for military personnel.

    The new partnership was unveiled at the European Defence and Security Summit in Brussels today by EIB Group President Nadia Calviño. It will support improved access to finance for security and defence projects, addressing the urgent need for investment in innovation, supply chain resilience, and strategic autonomy amid increased geopolitical uncertainty. 

    “Strengthening Europe’s security and defence is central to our mission,” said President Nadia Calviño. “We’re scaling up financing to record levels, and through intermediated lending and partnerships with banks across the EU, we ensure that SMEs in the defence supply chain have access to the financing they need.”

    “With this framework loan, Deutsche Bank will be able to deploy capital to clients at all stages of the supply chain throughout Europe, where it is most needed,” said Fabrizio Campelli, Deutsche Bank’s Head of Corporate Bank and Investment Bank and Member of the Management Board of Deutsche Bank AG. “It will support the comprehensive efforts our bank is deploying to advise and finance the sector at this crucial moment for Europe. Deutsche Bank is honoured to be the first European bank to partner with the EIB under its Pan-EU Security & Defence Lending scheme. The message is clear: we stand ready to reinforce the resilience of Europe’s security and defence.”

    The threefold increase in the EIB’s  €1 billion “Pan-European Security and Defence Lending Envelope” approved in December 2024 reflects exceptionally strong interest by commercial banks across Europe in leveraging the EIB’s resources, freeing up liquidity to support investments in the sector. The defence financing cooperation with Deutsche Bank is the first with a commercial bank under the EIB’s expanded lending scheme, with further partnerships currently due to follow shortly.

    It follows the agreement announced last week between the EIB and the national promotional institutions of France, Germany, Italy, Poland and Spain on a pan-European approach to strengthening European security and defence. Ther EIB and the five long term investors – Caisse des Depôts, Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW), Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP), Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego (BGK) and Instituto de Crédito Oficial (ICO) – agreed to work together on areas of investment and on potential joint financing in sectors such as research and development, industrial capacity, and infrastructure.

    The EU has more than 2,500 SMEs that are essential suppliers for major defence manufacturers such as Airbus, Thales, Rheinmetall and Leonardo. The SMEs provide key components, technologies and services, underpinning jobs, innovation and growth in the sector.

    The boost in potential EIB lending to defence SMEs is meant to help them counter traditional funding obstacles that larger companies in Europe are generally spared. The move also covers Mid-Caps, another segment of the EU defence industry that has faced financing hurdles on the market.  

    Background information

    About the EIB   

    The European Investment Bank (ElB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by its Member States. The EIB finances investments in eight core priorities that support EU policy objectives: climate action and the environment, digitalisation and technological innovation, security and defence, cohesion, agriculture and the bioeconomy, social infrastructure, the capital markets union and a stronger Europe in a more peaceful and prosperous world.  

    The EIB Group, which also includes the European Investment Fund (EIF), signed nearly €89 billion in new financing for over 900 high-impact projects in 2024, boosting Europe’s competitiveness and security.    The EIB Group stepped up its support to Europe’s security and defence industry in 2024 by enlarging the scope of projects eligible for financing and setting up a one-stop shop to streamline processes, doubling investment to €1 billion. The EIB Group expects to multiply this amount in 2025 to new record.

    The Board of Directors in March approved a series of additional measures to further contribute to European peace and included peace and security as a cross-cutting Public Policy Goal to finance large-scale strategic projects in areas such as land-border protection, military mobility, critical infrastructure, military transport, space, cybersecurity, anti-jamming technologies, radar systems, military equipment and facilities, drones, bio-hazard and seabed infrastructure protection, critical raw materials and research. 

    In addition to financing, the EIB offers advisory services that help public and private partners develop and implement high-quality, investment-ready projects. In 2024 alone, EIB advisory teams helped mobilise over €200 billion of investment across Europe and beyond.

    High-quality, up-to-date photos of the organisation’s headquarters for media use are available here

    About Deutsche Bank

    Deutsche Bank provides retail and private banking, corporate and transaction banking, lending, asset and wealth management products and services as well as focused investment banking to private individuals, small and medium-sized companies, corporations, governments and institutional investors. Deutsche Bank is the leading bank in Germany with strong European roots and a global network.

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: At a Glance – Strengthening rural areas in the EU through cohesion policy – 11-06-2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Rural areas are home to 25 % of people in Europe and occupy 83 % of the EU’s territory. They face a number of economic, social, demographic and structural challenges that hinder their economic growth and development. With the appropriate policy and financial tools, rural areas will be able to explore their full potential and move to a situation of sustainable long-term growth. In June, Parliament is due to consider an own-initiative report on strengthening rural areas through cohesion policy.

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: At a Glance – The United Kingdom’s accession to the Hague Judgments Convention – 11-06-2025

    Source: European Parliament

    During Parliament’s June plenary session, MEPs will pose oral questions to the Commission on the UK’s accession to the 2019 Hague Judgments Convention and will vote on a resolution on this issue. The convention aims to facilitate the recognition and enforcement of court decisions in civil and commercial matters among its parties.

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: At a Glance – Commission’s fifth rule of law report – 11-06-2025

    Source: European Parliament

    In July 2024, the Commission adopted its fifth annual rule of law report, covering all Member States plus four candidate countries. The Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) has tabled a motion for a resolution on the report, highlighting progress and identifying areas for possible further improvement.

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: At a Glance – 2023 and 2024 Commission reports on Moldova – 11-06-2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Moldova submitted its membership application in 2022 and began EU accession negotiations in 2024. The country is progressing steadily on its European path, despite being targeted by Russian interference campaigns. Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) adopted its report on the 2023 and 2024 Commission reports on Moldova on 13 May 2025. A debate and vote on the report are due to be held in plenary in June 2025.

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: At a Glance – 2023 and 2024 Commission reports on Montenegro – 11-06-2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Montenegro began EU accession negotiations in 2012. In April 2023, after securing 59 % of votes in a presidential election run-off, Montenegro’s pro-European former Economy Minister Jakov Milatović declared victory over the incumbent, Milo Đukanović, who had been president or prime minister for more than three decades. The current Prime Minister, Milojko Spajić, leader of the political party ‘Europe Now!’, took office in October 2023. The European Commission’s latest report notes that the government has accelerated preparations on EU accession. Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) adopted its report on the 2023 and 2024 Commission reports on Montenegro on 13 May 2025. A debate and vote on the report are due to be held in plenary in June.

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: At a Glance – Revision of the Child Sexual Abuse Directive – 11-06-2025

    Source: European Parliament

    In February 2024, the European Commission submitted a proposal for a recast of Directive 2011/93/EU on combating child sexual abuse. The recast directive would include measures to harmonise definitions of and punishments for crimes, both online and offline, broadening the current scope of the offences, ensuring more effective investigation and prosecution, and strengthening the protection of victims. The European Parliament is set to vote on its negotiating mandate on the legislative proposal during the June plenary session.

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: EU strengthens cooperation on migration and border management with Bosnia and Herzegovina

    Source: European Commission

    European Commission Press release Brussels, 11 Jun 2025 Today, the European Union and Bosnia and Herzegovina strengthen migration and border management cooperation by signing a new Status agreement between the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) and the authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Latest news – 19 June 2025 – in camera meeting – Delegation to the Africa-EU Parliamentary Assembly

    Source: European Parliament

    On Thursday, 19 June 2025, 09.30-11.30, the DAFR delegation will hold an Ordinary meeting in Strasbourg (room: WEISS N1.3). It will be an in camera meeting (restricted to Members/Substitute Members of the DAFR delegation and the political group advisors).

    The meeting will not be webstreamed.

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Concerns over the way in which the Green Deal is being implemented – P-002242/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Priority question for written answer  P-002242/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Daniel Obajtek (ECR)

    Media reports indicate that Prime Minister Donald Tusk has been allowed to make statements that call the Green Deal into question. This would be deemed unacceptable from other leaders yet Ursula von der Leyen has deliberately not objected so as not to undermine Tusk. In addition, the publication of a CO₂ emissions reduction report that would portray Poland unfavourably has been postponed, despite the fact that it was meant to be announced in Q1.

    • 1.Was the report postponed for political reasons?
    • 2.Does the Commission apply the same standards to all Member State leaders?
    • 3.What mechanisms are in place to tackle political favouritism?

    Submitted: 4.6.2025

    Last updated: 11 June 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: At a Glance – Implementation report on the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) – 11-06-2025

    Source: European Parliament

    During the June plenary session, Parliament is due to discuss the joint report of the Committees on Budgets (BUDG) and Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) on the implementation of the RRF, which lays out Parliament’s views on the RRF′s progress so far, proposes improvements for its remaining lifetime, and draws lessons for possible future performance-based budgetary instruments.

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: At a Glance – Research for PECH Committee – Labelling of plant-based seafood substitutes – Scope and issues at stake – 10-06-2025

    Source: European Parliament

    This study focuses on the recent development of the market for plant-based seafood substitutes and the challenges that it has generated for the EU fisheries sector in terms of labelling. The study shows that potentially non-compliant marketing strategies indeed exist on a large scale, and provides an overview of national initiatives to tackle such issues. Finally, it proposes some adjustments to the current EU legal framework, to ensure that the labelling of novel products provides accurate information to consumers.

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Hearings – Public hearing “Artificial intelligence for sustainable fisheries operations” – 24-06-2025 – Committee on Fisheries

    Source: European Parliament

    Digital tools for sustainable fisheries © Image used under the license from Adobe Stock

    On Tuesday, 24 June 2025, the Committee on Fisheries will hold a public hearing entitled “Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable Fisheries”. The speakers will give concrete examples of recent developments and innovative projects, as well as upcoming challenges and possibilities.

    They will showcase new technologies and how more data can be gathered, processed and analysed, including identification of species throughout fishing, processing and marketing activities, and give an overview of the industrial and scientific ecosystem needed to keep strategic control over the data and their use. The speakers will also present their findings on how artificial intelligence can contribute to better fisheries management, monitoring and control and achieve a more sustainable sector, both at European and international level.

    MIL OSI Europe News

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Western Cape Government condemns latest Langa shootings

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    The Western Cape Government (WCG) has condemned the recent Langa shootings that claimed the lives of two people and left another person injured.

    Reports indicate that Monday’s fatalities are connected to the ongoing taxi violence, which is having a widespread impact across the Cape Town Metro area.

    “The provincial government appeals to anyone with information to come forward and assist in ensuring those responsible are arrested,” the statement read. 

    Meanwhile, the Western Cape MEC for Mobility, Isaac Sileku, expressed has since deep concern about the incident. 
    “More lives have been lost to criminality. We cannot allow this to continue. These killings are robbing families of loved ones and placing the entire mini-bus taxi industry, as well as the communities it serves, under threat,” he said. 

    He has since called on all the role players to remain calm and allow the law to take its course. 

    “We must never accept violence to resolve disputes. Protecting lives and ensuring safety across the public transport network remains central to our mission.”

    The WCG has since stated that the response to this ongoing violence is coordinated across departments.

    MEC for Police Oversight and Community Safety, Anroux Marais, has also condemned the killings while also urging all stakeholders to engage in constructive dialogue. 

    “Violence is not the answer. We will not tolerate these acts of violence. I urge the SAPS [South African Police Service] to deal decisively with those responsible for this violence,” Marais said.

    In addition, the MEC confirmed that SAPS investigations are ongoing and that law enforcement presence in affected areas has been intensified. 

    Additional police resources, including the City of Cape Town Law Enforcement and Provincial Traffic, have also been deployed. 
    The provincial government announced that high-density patrols are being conducted along key routes between Somerset West and Mfuleni to stabilise the situation and prevent any further violence.

    In addition, an urgent Mini-Bus Task Team meeting has been scheduled for Thursday, 12 June 2025, to bring together key stakeholders to find solutions through dialogue and coordinated action.

    The Department of Mobility, in close collaboration with safety and law enforcement agencies, said it remains focused on fostering peaceful resolutions and ensuring that public transport remains safe, reliable, and dignified for all who depend on it.

    “We extend our sincere condolences to the families and loved ones of those affected by these acts of violence. The Western Cape Government stands united in its efforts to restore peace and safeguard every commuter, operator, and transport worker in our province.” – SAnews.gov.za
     

    MIL OSI Africa

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Tzaneen dam wall project revised completion for 2026

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has announced a revised completion date for the raising of Tzaneen Dam Wall project, which was initially scheduled for March 2025.

    In a statement on Wednesday, the department announced that the new target for the project completion is March 2026.

    The Tzaneen Dam Wall Raising project, which is part of the Groot Letaba River Water Augmentation Project (GLeWaP), was resumed on 06 June 2023.

    The project includes raising the dam wall by 3 metres, which will significantly increase the dam’s storage capacity to meet the growing water demands and improve water security in the Limpopo Province.

    Once completed, the additional water supply is expected to benefit households, agricultural and industrial sectors the region.

    According to the department, the project is currently 46% complete.

    Anthony Bhasopo from the department’s Water Resource Infrastructure Development unit, expressed satisfaction with the progress and reaffirmed the department’s commitment to deliver the project within the revised timeframe.

    While acknowledging some unforeseen incidents that hampered with progress to complete the project within the stipulated timeline, Bhasopo said the department has made strides since the beginning of the project in 2023.

    “We have progressed well and achieved significant milestones of the project, and we are confident that the revised timeline will be met. This project will ensure that the objective to meet the projected growing primary water requirements for the next 20 years in the region, is finally realised,” Bhasopo said.

    The construction project that has been carried out includes the demolition of the upper section of the existing ogee spillway, construction of a new labyrinth spillway to increase discharge capacity, strengthening of the earthfill embankments for improved dam stability, realignment of the permanent access road downstream of the dam, and additional supporting and safety-related works.

    The components that have been completed, or are in progress are as follows:
    •    Temporary fencing around the site.
    •    Temporary access road from Deerpark and river diversion pipeline.
    •    Realignment of the permanent access road, which is 20 % complete. 
    •    Embankment strengthening, which is 36% complete.
    •    Tongue wall construction, which is 19 % complete.
    •    Labyrinth spillway construction, which is 11% complete.

    “The project enabled 241 people to be employed, which includes the main contractor and sub-contractors. Females count to 76, and the youth count to 108,” Bhasopo said.

    Originally completed in 1977, the Tzaneen Dam features a mass concrete gravity spillway flanked by earthfill embankments. The existing ogee-type spillway, which is 91.44 metres long with a crest level of 723.90 metres above sea level (masl), will be replaced by a more efficient labyrinth spillway.

    The non-overspill crest currently measures 1,063.5 metres at 730.60 masl, with protective interlocking concrete blocks on both the upstream and downstream embankment faces.

    The dam’s current gross storage capacity is 157.3 million cubic metres (m3), and the project will increase the total storage capacity by 35.7 million m3. After the completion of the project, the new capacity will be 193 million m3. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Appendix cancer rising among younger generation – new study

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Justin Stebbing, Professor of Biomedical Sciences, Anglia Ruskin University

    sasirin pamai/Shutterstock.com

    Appendix cancer is a condition that, until recently, was so rare that most people never gave it a second thought. For decades, it was the kind of disease that doctors might encounter only once or twice in a career, and it was almost always found in older adults.

    But now a surprising and concerning trend is emerging: appendix cancer is being diagnosed more often, and it’s increasingly affecting people in their 30s, 40s and even younger. This shift has left many experts puzzled and searching for answers.

    The appendix is a small, finger-shaped pouch attached to the large intestine. Its purpose in the body is still debated, but it’s best known for causing appendicitis, a painful inflammation that often requires emergency surgery. What’s less well known is that cancer can develop in the appendix, usually without any warning signs.

    A new study, published in Annals of Internal Medicine, has shown that the number of appendix cancer cases has increased dramatically among people born after the 1970s. In fact, the incidence has tripled or even quadrupled in younger generations compared with those born in the 1940s.


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    While the overall numbers are still small (appendix cancer affects just a handful of people per million each year) the rapid rise is striking. Even more notable is that about one in three cases now occurs in adults under 50, a much higher proportion than seen in other types of gastrointestinal cancers.

    So, what’s behind this surge? No one knows for sure, but one of the first suspects is the dramatic change in lifestyle and environment over the past several decades. Obesity rates have soared since the 1970s, and being overweight is a known risk factor for many cancers, including those of the digestive system.

    At the same time, diets have shifted toward more processed foods, sugary drinks, and red or processed meats, all of which have been linked to increased cancer risk in other parts of the gut.

    Physical activity has also declined, with more people spending long hours sitting at desks or in front of screens.

    Another possibility is that we are being exposed to new environmental factors that previous generations didn’t face. The industrialisation of food production, the widespread use of plastics and chemicals, and changes in water quality might all play a role. However, the evidence is still in its early stages.

    Hard to detect

    What makes appendix cancer especially challenging is how difficult it is to detect. Unlike colon cancer, which can sometimes be found early through screening colonoscopies, appendix cancer usually flies under the radar.

    The symptoms, if they appear at all, are vague and easy to dismiss. People might experience mild abdominal pain, bloating or changes in bowel habits, which are common complaints for many benign conditions. As a result, most cases are only discovered after surgery for suspected appendicitis, when it’s often too late for early intervention.

    Despite the rise in cases, there is no routine screening test for appendix cancer. The disease is simply too rare to justify widespread screening, and the appendix can be difficult to visualise with standard imaging or endoscopy. This means that both patients and doctors need to be extra vigilant.

    If someone experiences persistent or unusual abdominal symptoms, especially if they’re under 50, it’s important not to ignore them. Early investigation and prompt treatment can make a significant difference in outcomes.

    The increase in appendix cancer among younger adults is part of a broader trend seen in other gastrointestinal cancers, such as those of the colon and stomach. These cancers, too, are being diagnosed more often in people under 50, suggesting that shared risk factors may be at work.

    The reasons for this shift are complex and probably involve a mix of genetics, lifestyle, environment and perhaps even changes in our gut microbiome – the bacteria in our intestines that live with us.

    Over the past few decades, antibiotics have been used more frequently, both in medicine and in agriculture. This widespread use can alter the balance of bacteria in our guts, which might influence cancer risk. Some recent research suggests that early-life exposure to antibiotics could have long-term effects on the digestive system, but more studies are needed to confirm this link.

    Could early-life exposure to antibiotics have something to do with the rise in appendix cancer?
    luchschenF/Shutterstock.com

    For now, the best advice is to focus on prevention and awareness. Maintaining a healthy weight, eating a balanced diet rich in fruit, vegetables and whole grains, and staying physically active are all steps that can lower the risk of many types of cancer.

    Avoiding tobacco and limiting alcohol intake are also important. While these measures can’t guarantee protection against appendix cancer, they are proven strategies for overall health.

    Researchers are working hard to unravel the mystery of why appendix cancer is rising so rapidly among younger generations. Understanding the causes will be crucial for developing better ways to prevent, detect and treat this rare but increasingly important disease.

    In the meantime, raising awareness among healthcare providers and the public is essential. By recognising the signs and taking action when symptoms arise, we can improve the chances of catching appendix cancer early and giving patients the best possible outcomes.

    The story of appendix cancer’s rise is a reminder that even rare diseases can become more common when our environment and lifestyles change. It’s also a call to action for further research and for all of us to pay attention to our bodies, seek medical advice when something feels off, and support efforts to understand and combat this puzzling trend.

    Justin Stebbing does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    ref. Appendix cancer rising among younger generation – new study – https://theconversation.com/appendix-cancer-rising-among-younger-generation-new-study-258607

    MIL OSI Analysis

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: A traffic-light system for dogwalkers could protect breeding birds, seal pups and other wildlife

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Sarah Crowley, Senior Lecturer in Human and Animal Geography, University of Exeter

    Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock

    Like millions of people, we have experienced the physical and mental health benefits, as well as the simple enjoyment, of a daily dog walk. However, amid the UK’s growing population of dogs (around 13.5 million at the latest estimate), recent reports have highlighted growing concern about how dogs affect wildlife and ecosystems.

    Potential issues include disturbance or active chasing of wildlife, spreading of diseases and parasites, and water pollution from flea and tick treatments.

    By collaborating with more than 40 organisations from the Wildlife Trusts to the Dogs Trust, we have created a new guide to explain and help manage the effects of dog walking on biodiversity, based on current evidence.

    The Renew programme, a research collaboration between the University of Exeter and the National Trust, takes a “people in nature” approach to address complex challenges like this. We reviewed the existing scientific literature and mapped the relationship between current dog densities and England’s protected habitats.

    We found that dog walking can have negative environmental consequences including substantial effects of disturbance, pollution and disease in some places.


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    We then discussed these findings in workshops with specialists in dog behaviour, biodiversity conservation and land management. We explored what dog walkers and landowners can do to minimise the disturbance of wildlife and ecosystems, while still enabling public access to natural spaces for people and their dogs.

    One of our key findings was that different organisations and landowners take very different approaches to managing dog walking on their sites, which is inconsistent and can be confusing for dog walkers. There are also multiple voluntary codes for responsible dog walking, including the countryside code, the Kennel Club’s canine code, the National Trust’s canine code, and Forestry England’s dog code.

    While these codes often share central principles, they differ in specific guidance and level of detail. To address this, land managers could take a more standardised approach to managing dog walking – based on a shared code for dog walkers, and different zones of access for land managers.

    A green pawprint sign would indicate where dogs don’t have to be kept on leads.
    Soloviova Liudmyla/Shutterstock

    We recommend such a zoning approach should employ a traffic-light system, highlighted by coloured pawprints. Green zones would welcome dogs without restriction and ideally provide dog-friendly facilities.

    Amber zones would require “paws on paths” (that is, keeping dogs on marked trails) and, in the presence of livestock, dogs on leads. Red zones would indicate sensitive sites in which dogs aren’t allowed, such as areas of lowland heath where birds nest on the ground or beaches where young seal pups are resting.

    Zone colours might change depending on the time of year – this is already common on beaches, which often have seasonal dog restrictions. As long as the signage is clear, our idea is that wherever a dog walker finds themselves, they will know what is expected of them.

    More zones, less disturbance

    Some organisations and sites, including Dorset Dogs and the Holkham Hall estate in Norfolk, already use zoning approaches to reduce incidences of wildlife disturbance. But as was recently demonstrated by the legal battle over wild camping on Dartmoor, public access to land is a sensitive topic in the UK. Restrictions meet resistance because they can impinge on what for many is considered a basic freedom – to access the outdoors with one’s dog.

    Consequently, meaningful engagement with dog owners and local communities when designing zoning is vital. Perhaps counterintuitively, simply increasing restrictions on access to land may actually exacerbate disturbance from dog walking, as people, dogs and protected areas become crowded together in the same landscapes.

    A zoning approach that also involves creating new green pawprint zones for off-lead dog walking, where access elsewhere is restricted, would ensure that no access to wild places is lost overall.

    The effects of dog walking on the environment are linked to broader social and cultural factors, including people’s knowledge and skills when it comes to managing their dogs’ behaviour. But other factors include the availability of facilities such as dog poo bins, and the widespread use of “spot-on” flea and tick treatments – pesticides that are applied directly to the fur and can contaminate the environment more than medication given orally.

    In our Paws for Thought workshops, the research team found that emphasising how the health of people, animals and ecosystems are all interconnected resonated with our participants more than focusing on wildlife protection alone.

    Dogs are vital companions for many of us – but unfortunately, their presence and behaviour can cause problems for other species. Rather than demonising dogs and their owners as environmental threats, collaborative, evidence-based approaches can help create accessible spaces for people, dogs and wildlife.


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    Sarah Crowley works at the University of Exeter and receives funding from the UKRI as part of the Renew programme.

    David Bavin receives funding from UKRI and National Trust.

    Professor Matthew Heard receives funding from UKRI and National Trust.

    ref. A traffic-light system for dogwalkers could protect breeding birds, seal pups and other wildlife – https://theconversation.com/a-traffic-light-system-for-dogwalkers-could-protect-breeding-birds-seal-pups-and-other-wildlife-258035

    MIL OSI Analysis

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: South Korea is finally reckoning with its decades-long foreign adoption scandal

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Youngeun Koo, Assistant Professor, Centre for East and South-East Asian Studies, Lund University

    Kim Tak-un was four years old when he was adopted by a Swedish family in 1974. Originally from South Korea, Tak-un had lived with his single father, a labourer who moved frequently for work. One day in the summer of 1974, while staying with his aunt, Tak-un wandered outside and disappeared.

    Local police considered him abandoned and referred him to an adoption agency, which arranged his adoption to Sweden within five months. When his father realised his son was missing, he searched everywhere, only to discover – too late – that Tak-un had already been sent overseas. Devastated, he demanded Tak-un’s return. When the adoption agency failed to respond, he went public with the story.

    In March 2025, South Korea’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission released initial findings from its investigation into the country’s 72-year-old international adoption programme. The full report is expected in the next few weeks as the investigation is now completed.

    Based on more than 360 cases submitted by Korean adoptees from 11 countries, the commission uncovered widespread human rights violations, including falsified documents, lack of parental consent, and cases of child switching – shaking up adoptees and their families.


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    Since the end of the Korean War (1950–1953), South Korea has sent over 200,000 children abroad, becoming the world’s largest country for adoption, even as it grew into an advanced economy.

    Existing studies have shown that international adoption from South Korea began as a response to the large number of mixed-heritage children born to Korean mothers and US soldiers during the war.

    It is estimated that thousands of such children were born, and South Korea’s first president, Syngman Rhee, ordered their overseas placement on the grounds that they were “unfit” for a nation imagined as ethnically homogeneous.

    However, international adoption did not end once this perceived “emergency” was over. From the mid-1960s onward, it expanded to include children from other vulnerable backgrounds, including those affected by poverty, family breakdown, and out-of-wedlock births. This, and the role of international adoption, is explored in my upcoming book.

    This was closely tied to the policies pursued by South Korea’s military regimes. The most important figure was Park Chung Hee, a military general who came to power through a 1961 coup and ruled until his assassination in 1979.

    His regime prioritised rapid economic growth, relegating social welfare to the lowest priority. Childcare was treated as an individual, not a state, responsibility. As I point out in my earlier research, public systems to categorise and care for children – whether abandoned, lost, or runaway – were extremely limited, and authorities largely placed the burden on parents to retrieve their separated children. This is probably why, after only cursory checks, authorities referred Tak-un to an adoption agency.

    Tak-un’s case attracted media attention in Sweden as well. However, in an interview with Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter, the Swedish national board of health and welfare – which oversaw the Korean adoption programme – dismissed the claims, stating they were “99 percent certain” the story was false and insisting that Korean social workers had followed proper procedures.

    The trust that Swedish authorities placed in South Korean adoption procedures may have been because of the way the Korean social workers presented their work. As the first generation of Koreans trained in US-style professional social work, they framed international adoption as being about the child, the importance of a family, and emotional wellbeing.

    The research for my upcoming book shows that while they may have genuinely believed in international adoption as a valid form of child welfare, there were also practical reasons why this happened. With virtually no public funding for child welfare, many saw international adoption – where adoptive parents covered the costs of care – as an ideal way to apply their training.

    In interviews with me, now-retired social workers acknowledged flaws in South Korea’s broader child welfare system, such as the inability to verify a child’s true status. Yet, without public resources to build a reliable system or prioritise family reunification, they often treated international adoption as a first, rather than a last, resort.

    Moreover, the prevailing belief at the time that “normal” middle-class families offered the most stable environment for a child’s development provided further moral justification for sending children abroad.

    Western authorities often interpreted Korean social workers’ professionalism as evidence of shared liberal child welfare values and placed strong trust in their procedures. When serious flaws surfaced – as in Tak-un’s case – they were frequently dismissed as exceptions rather than signs of deeper systemic problems.

    Even when the facts were confirmed in 1975, Swedish authorities still refused to return the child. The Swedish consul-general in Seoul at the time, Lars Berg, argued that it was in Tak-un’s “best interest” to remain in Sweden, rather than be sent back to “an uncertain fate of the father without work and residence”.

    This reflected, in part, Sweden’s domestic realities: like many western societies at the time, Sweden faced a shortage of adoptable children, and international adoption had become an important way to meet the wishes of prospective parents.

    In the early 1970s, nearly half of all internationally adopted children arriving in Sweden came from South Korea. Which meant that when issues like Tak-un’s emerged, Swedish authorities prioritised the rights of adoptive parents, framing their defence in the language of child welfare.

    Sweden’s Adoption Commission has just released its own report on June 2, examining the country’s international adoption practices, including those involving South Korea. Echoing my research findings, it recommended an end to allowing Swedes to adopt children from abroad.

    So, what became of Tak-un? Ultimately, South Korean officials acquiesced to the Swedish authorities, and the Korean adoption agency was cleared of any wrongdoing. Tak-un never returned. The last trace in the archives is his birth father’s plea to hear from him.

    I located Tak-un, who now goes by his Swedish name and lives in a small town in Sweden. Despite attempts to reach him, he didn’t respond. It remains uncertain whether his father’s message ever reached him or if he knows anything about his early life in Korea.

    This silence is not merely personal. A system that claimed to act for the child’s welfare instead routinely erased adopted children’s pasts, ignored their birth families and decided their futures for them. Tak-un’s story isn’t just a painful exception – it is a haunting reminder of what was lost in the name of care.

    This project has been supported by funding from the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service), the Korea Foundation, the Academy of Korean Studies, the Kyujanggak Institute for Korean Studies at Seoul National University, the Clarke Chambers Travel Fellowship at the University of Minnesota, and the Presbyterian Historical Society Research Fellowship.

    ref. South Korea is finally reckoning with its decades-long foreign adoption scandal – https://theconversation.com/south-korea-is-finally-reckoning-with-its-decades-long-foreign-adoption-scandal-255135

    MIL OSI Analysis

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: How I uncovered a potential ancient Rome wine scam

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Conor Trainor, Ad Astra Research Fellow / Assistant Professor, University College Dublin

    Dan Henson/Shutterstock

    Before artificial sweeteners, people satisfied their cravings for sweetness with natural products, including honey or dried fruit. Raisin wines, made by drying grapes before fermentation, were particularly popular. Historical records show these wines, some known as passum, were enjoyed in the Roman Empire and throughout medieval Europe. The most famous of raisin wine of the period was Malmsey, with varities of this type produced across the Mediterranean.

    Today, the popularity of raisin wines has declined, although some still are held in very high esteem. The best-known of these are Italy’s appassimento (literally “withering”) wines, such as Amarone. High-quality modern raisin wines from the Veneto region of Italy are left to dry for three months before being pressed and undergoing fermentation, a time-consuming process.

    Ancient sources describe similar techniques for producing raisin wines. Columella, a Roman agricultural writer, noted that drying and fermentation together took at least a month. The Roman author, Pliny the Elder, mentioned a process in which grapes were partially dried on the vine, then further dried on racks before being pressed eight days later.

    For the past ten years, I have been studying the process of how this wine was created at the archaeological site of Knossos in Crete. While famous for its earlier, Minoan, remains, Crete was renowned throughout the Roman empire for producing high-end sweet raisin wine, which was traded far and wide.


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    High-quality raisin wines required patience and time but it seems as if Knossos’s wine producers might not have been following these traditional methods.

    What my archaeological investigations of a wine production site, as well as at wine shipping container (amphora) production sites at Knossos, is that Cretan wine-producers may have been deceiving their Roman-era customers with a knock-off version of passum.

    Crete’s winemaking legacy

    Remains of a wine production facility in Knossos present a picture of winemaking practices a generation or so before the Romans conquered Crete. More intriguingly, ongoing studies of excavated Roman-era pottery kilns revealed a repeated pattern of four key artefacts being produced in one region of Knossos: amphorae for transporting wine, amphora stands for filling them, large ceramic mixing bowls, and ceramic beehives.

    Crete, the largest Greek island, has been producing wine for thousands of years. Archaeological evidence from Myrtos suggests winemaking as early as 2170 BCE. Its strategic location between Greece and North Africa made it a valuable asset and in 67 BCE, after a brutal three-year campaign, the Romans conquered the island.

    Following the conquest, Crete’s economy underwent major changes. The Romans established a colony at Knossos, transformed the governance system, and significantly expanded wine production. Rural activity surged, and archaeologists have found large numbers of amphorae (clay jars used for transporting wine) suggesting that Cretan wine was exported in huge quantities.

    Romans bought so much Cretan wine partly because of shipping routes. Grain shipments that helped feed the people of Rome frequently stopped at Crete en route from Alexandria to Italy, allowing merchants to load additional cargo. But demand was also driven by the reputation of Cretan raisin wine, which was considered a luxury product, much like Italy’s appassimento wines today. Beyond taste, it was also valued for supposed medicinal properties. The Roman army physician Pedanius Dioscorides wrote in his famous five-volume medical work Materia Medica that the wine cured headaches, expelled worms and even promoted fertility.

    The sudden rise in demand for sweet Cretan wine in Rome and on the Bay of Naples in the early days of empire may have encouraged winemakers to speed up production.

    Pliny the Elder described one shortcut for making raisin wine – boiling grape juice in large pots. However, the mixing basins found at Knossos show no evidence of heating. This suggests another possibility: adding honey to wine before packaging. The beehives, excavated from Roman-era pottery kilns and identifiable by their rough interior surfaces designed for honeycomb attachment, hint at a connection between winemaking and honey. Similar discoveries at other Greek sites suggest that honey and wine may have been mixed before shipping.

    This method would have been quicker and cheaper than drying grapes for weeks. But if Cretan producers were substituting honey for traditional drying techniques, was this truly raisin wine? And, were Roman consumers aware? The vast quantities of Cretan wine imported into Rome suggest that buyers weren’t too concerned either way. Based on the sheer volume of now-empty wine amphoras from Crete that have been found in archaeological sites in Rome, I suspect that the populous of Rome likely cared less about authenticity than we do today.

    Conor Trainor receives funding from University College Dublin, the British School at Athens, and previously for this research, the University of Warwick.

    ref. How I uncovered a potential ancient Rome wine scam – https://theconversation.com/how-i-uncovered-a-potential-ancient-rome-wine-scam-258215

    MIL OSI Analysis

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: No packaging, no problem? The potential drawbacks of bulk groceries

    Source: The Conversation – France – By Fanny Reniou, Maître de conférences HDR, Université de Rennes 1 – Université de Rennes

    High-income professionals over the age of 50 make up 70% of all consumers of bulk products.
    DCStudio/Shutterstock

    The bulk distribution model has been in the news again lately, with well-known brands such as The Laughing Cow making their way into French supermarkets. Stakeholders in the bulk sector are seeking to introduce innovations in order to expand and democratise the concept. But is the bulk model such a clear-cut approach to consuming in a sustainable way?

    Bulk can be described as a consumer practice with a lower impact on the environment, since it involves the sale of products with no packaging, plastic or unnecessary waste and the use of reusable containers by consumers. In this type of distribution, predetermined manufacturer packaging becomes a thing of the past.

    In this model, distributors and consumers take on the task of packaging the product themselves to ensure the continuity of the multiple logistical and marketing functions that packaging usually fulfils. Unaccustomed to this new role, stakeholders in the bulk sector may make mistakes or act in ways that run counter to the environmental benefits that are generally expected to result from this practice.

    Contrary to the usually positive discourse on bulk products, our research points to the perverse and harmful effects of bulk distribution. When bulk stakeholders are left to “cope with” this new task of packaging products, can bulk still be described as ecologically sound?

    A new approach to packaging

    Packaging has always played a key role. It performs multiple functions that are essential for product distribution and consumption:

    • Logistical functions to preserve, protect and store the product: packaging helps to limit damage and loss, particularly during transport.

    • Marketing functions for product or brand recognition, which is achieved by distinctive colours or shapes to create on-shelf appeal. Packaging also has a positioning function, visually conveying a particular range level, as well as an informative function, serving as a medium for communicating a number of key elements such as composition, best-before date, etc.

    • Environmental functions, such as limiting the size of packaging and promoting certain types of materials – in particular recycled and recyclable materials.

    In the bulk market, it is up to consumers and distributors to fulfil these various functions in their own way: they may give them greater or lesser importance, giving priority to some over others. Insofar as manufacturers no longer offer predetermined packaging for their products, consumers and distributors have to take on this task jointly.

    Assimilation or accommodation

    Our study of how consumers and retailers appropriate these packaging functions used a variety of data: 54 interviews with bulk aisle and store managers and consumers of bulk products, as well as 190 Instagram posts and 428 photos taken in people’s homes and in stores.

    The study shows that there are two modes of appropriating packaging functions:

    • by assimilation – when individuals find ways to imitate typical packaging and its attributes

    • by accommodation – when they imagine new packaging and new ways of working with it

    Bulk packaging can lead to hygiene problems if consumers reuse packaging for a new purpose.
    GaldricPS/Shutterstock

    Some consumers reuse industrial packaging, such as egg cartons and detergent cans, because of their proven practicality. But packaging may also mirror its owners’ identity. Some packaging is cobbled together, while other packaging is carefully chosen with an emphasis on certain materials like wax, a fabric popular in West Africa and used for reusable bags.



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    Once packaging disappears, so does relevant information

    Appropriating the functions of packaging is not always easy. There is a “dark side” to bulk, with possible harmful effects on health or the environment, and social exclusion. Bulk can lead, for example, to hygiene-related problems or misinformation when consumers fail to label their jars correctly, or use packaging for another purpose. For example, using a glass juice bottle to store detergent can be hazardous if a household member is unaware of its contents.

    Bulk shopping can also appear exclusive for people with less culinary education. (High-income professionals over the age of 50 make up 70% of all consumers of bulk products.) Once the packaging disappears, so does the relevant information. Some consumers actually do need packaging to recognize, store and know how to cook a product. Without this information, products may end up in the garbage can!

    Our study also shows the ambivalence of the so-called “environmental function” of bulk shopping – the initial idea being that bulk should reduce the amount of waste generated by packaging. In fact, this function is not always fulfilled, as many consumers tend to buy a great deal of containers along with other items, such as labels, pens and so on, to customise them.

    Some consumers’ priority is not so much to reuse old packaging, but to buy new storage containers, which are often manufactured in faraway lands! The result is the production of massive amounts of waste – the exact opposite of the original purpose of the bulk trade.

    Lack of consumer guidance

    After a period of strong growth, the bulk sector went through a difficult period during the Covid-19 pandemic, leading to closures for many specialist stores in France, according to a first survey on bulk and on reuse. In supermarkets though, some retailers invested to make their bulk aisles more attractive – though in the absence of any effective guidance, consumers failed to make them their own. Bulk aisles have become just one among a host of other aisles.

    Things seem to be improving however, and innovation is on the rise. In France, 58% of the members of the “Bulk and Reuse Network” (réseau Vrac et réemploi) reported an increase in daily traffic between January and May 2023 compared with 2022.

    Distributors need to adapt to changing regulations. These stipulate that, by 2030, stores of over 400 m2 will have to devote 20% of their FMCG (Fast-Moving Consumer Goods) sales areas to bulk sales. Moreover, bulk sales made their official entry into French legislation with the law on the fight against waste and the circular economy (loi relative à la lutte contre le gaspillage et à l’économie circulaire) published in the French official gazette on February 11, 2020.

    In this context, it is all the more necessary and urgent to support bulk stakeholders, so that they can successfully adopt the practice and develop it further.

    Fanny Reniou has received funding from Biocoop as part of a research partnership.

    Elisa Robert-Monnot has received funding from Biocoop as part of a research partnership and collaboration.

    Sarah Lasri ne travaille pas, ne conseille pas, ne possède pas de parts, ne reçoit pas de fonds d’une organisation qui pourrait tirer profit de cet article, et n’a déclaré aucune autre affiliation que son organisme de recherche.

    ref. No packaging, no problem? The potential drawbacks of bulk groceries – https://theconversation.com/no-packaging-no-problem-the-potential-drawbacks-of-bulk-groceries-258305

    MIL OSI Analysis

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Outbreaks of Koi herpesvirus (KHV) disease in 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Outbreaks of Koi herpesvirus (KHV) disease in 2025

    The Fish Health Inspectorate (FHI) have found Koi herpesvirus (KHV) disease in fish at the following sites in England and Wales

    KHV is a serious viral disease of fish and is a listed disease in the United Kingdom. It affects all varieties of common and ornamental carp species (Cyprinus carpio) and can result in large scale mortalities. Fish with KHV disease may show the following signs, especially when water temperatures are between 16 to 28 °C:

    • necrotic (white or brown) patches on the gills

    • rough patches on the skin and sloughing mucous

    • sunken eyes

    You must contact the FHI if you suspect an outbreak of KHV. This includes fish with the above signs, or deaths of carp or carp hybrids.

    There is no risk to public health.

    Sites with KHV disease must undergo a formal monitoring programme immediately following the outbreak. The FHI visit these sites to look for evidence of disease and to inspect compliance with the conditions of the statutory controls in place.

    Confirmed designation

    If a notifiable disease is confirmed, FHI places controls to limit the spread of disease (these are known as confirmed designations). The following conditions are applied under disease controls:

    • No person may, without the previous consent in writing of the FHI, move any aquatic animal including eggs, and gametes, into, out of or within a confirmed designation area.

    • Disposal of dead aquatic animals, including eggs and gametes, must be by an approved method for disposal of Category 2 animal-by-product waste in compliance with local Environmental Health department requirements

    • Notify the Fish Health Inspectorate immediately should mortalities re-occur or spread to other waters/facilities within the designated area.

    • Notify the FHI in advance of all intended physical changes to sites within the designated area – such as site boundaries, number or size of waters, use of the site. FHI written permission will be required beforehand for all such changes.

    • All requests for consents required under this Confirmed Designation Notice must be submitted to the FHI with a minimum of 5 working days’ notice.

    New outbreaks

    When laboratory testing confirms KHV disease at a site, the FHI place statutory controls to limit the spread of the disease. These controls restrict movement of aquatic animals.

    Disease controls have been applied at:

    Diseases controls lifted at:

    You can:

    Background

    Koi herpesvirus disease (KHV) is a listed disease under The Aquatic Animal Health (England and Wales) Regulations 2009. KHV outbreaks have been subject to statutory controls in the UK since 2007. The UK maintains a surveillance programme for this disease.

    When the FHI confirm an outbreak, they take steps to control and, wherever possible, remove the disease. This may involve movement controls on susceptible species in the affected area, enhanced biosecurity, culling of fish, and cleaning and disinfecting of the premises.

    Once statutory controls are in place the site operators must write to the FHI to get permission to move live fish into, out of, or within the designated area, and to make material changes to the site or site activities. This also applies to fish eggs and gametes.

    Updates to this page

    Published 11 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Housing placed at the heart of Cabinet

    Source: Scottish Government

    First Minister announces changes to Ministerial team.

    Tackling the housing emergency will be at the heart of the Scottish Cabinet, First Minister John Swinney has announced.

    Màiri McAllan has been appointed as Cabinet Secretary for Housing upon her return to government from maternity leave. Ms McAllan has responsibility for all aspects of housing policy, including heat in buildings.

    This appointment will ensure government action is focused on tackling the housing emergency and providing energy efficient homes for the future – helping stimulate economic growth, deliver Net Zero commitments and tackle child poverty.  

    Gillian Martin has been appointed as Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy, having held the portfolio during Ms McAllan’s maternity leave.

    Following the death of Christina McKelvie in March, Maree Todd will become Minister for Drugs and Alcohol Policy, while retaining her existing responsibility for Sport. Tom Arthur has been appointed as Minister for Social Care and Mental Wellbeing.

    Housing Minister Paul McLennan has requested to leave the Scottish Government and he does so today. Acting Minister for Climate Action Alasdair Allan will leave Government at the end of this week, having indicated that he only wished to serve on an interim basis.

    Excluding the Law Officers, the overall size of government reduces to 23, down from 27 in May 2024.

    First Minister John Swinney said:

    “Scotland’s strengths lie in our people, our communities and our resolve to leave a better future, and better country for the next generation. As First Minister, I am firmly focused on leading a government that unlocks the potential for every person in Scotland to thrive.

    “I have made changes to the Cabinet which will further enable us to realise that potential. Màiri McAllan has been tasked with tackling the housing emergency, including ensuring we have energy efficient homes to help bring down bills and tackle the climate emergency. These are two of the biggest challenges facing people across the country and I want them to know they have a government firmly on their side and focused on delivering real change.

    “Following the sad passing of Christina McKelvie, I have asked Maree Todd to take on responsibility for Drugs and Alcohol Policy. This government has shown it is not afraid to take bold measures to prevent harm and death, and we must redouble our efforts.

    “I want to thank Paul McLennan and Alasdair Allan for the service they have provided to me, the government and to the people of Scotland. They both held two very important Ministerial appointments in housing and climate action and have helped to drive forward progress in tackling two issues which are central to Scotland’s long-term success as a nation.” 

    Background

    The changes mean the Scottish Cabinet now consists of twelve, the majority of whom are women. Further changes mean the Ministerial team reduces to eleven, from fourteen.

    The Scottish Cabinet is as follows:

    • First Minister John Swinney
    • Deputy First Minister, with responsibility for Economy and Gaelic, Kate Forbes
    • Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government Shona Robison
    • Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills Jenny Gilruth
    • Cabinet Secretary for Justice and Home Affairs Angela Constance
    • Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice Shirley-Anne Somerville
    • Cabinet Secretary for Transport Fiona Hyslop
    • Cabinet Secretary for Housing Màiri McAllan
    • Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy Gillian Martin
    • Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands Mairi Gougeon 
    • Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care Neil Gray
    • Cabinet Secretary for Constitution External Affairs and Culture Angus Robertson

    Màiri McAllan has been on maternity since 1 July 2024. Gillian Martin was acting Cabinet Secretary Net Zero and Energy, with Alasdair Allan temporarily assuming responsibility for Climate Action. Màiri McAllan maternity cover – gov.scot

    Christina McKelvie, Minister for Drugs and Alcohol Policy, passed away in March 2025.  First Minister pays tribute to Christina McKelvie MSP – gov.scot

    Tom Arthur was previously Minister for Employment and Investment. His investment responsibilities will be assumed by Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes, while Richard Lochhead’s extended responsibilities see him become Minister for Business and Employment.

    Paul McLennan has left government today. Alasdair Allan will leave his post at end of this week.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Trading Standards seize illegal tobacco and vapes in Tunstall

    Source: City of Stoke-on-Trent

    Published: Wednesday, 11th June 2025

    Illegal tobacco and vapes worth £25,000 have been taken off Stoke-on-Trent streets as part of a national operation and the council mission to reclaim our streets.

    Trading Standards officers raided four premises on Tunstall High Street and were accompanied by Staffordshire Police and a Wagtails UK Tobacco Detection Dog and handler.

    In total, 20,000 cigarettes, 6.5kg of hand rolling tobacco, 650 vapes and 22 tubs of shisha were seized.

    The raids took place as part of Operation Cece, a National Trading Standards initiative in partnership with HMRC, which is aimed at tackling the supply of illegal tobacco.

    This activity also follows the introduction of the ban on single use vapes, which came into force on Sunday 1 June.

    Councillor Amjid Wazir, cabinet member for city pride, enforcement and sustainability at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “Our Trading Standards officers continue to work to protect our communities and get these illegal products off our streets. Illegal tobacco and vapes often exploit vulnerable workers and undermine legitimate business.

    “This work is part of the council’s commitment to creating a cleaner, greener and safer city for all and you will face serious consequences if you choose to sell illegal products.”

    Anyone who wants to report a similar issue to Trading Standards can call the Trading Standards Hotline 01782 238444 or visit stoke.gov.uk.

    Businesses can find advice and guidance on the ban on single use vapes here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/single-use-vapes-ban

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Carers portal launched offering around the clock instant online support

    Source: City of Stoke-on-Trent

    Published: Wednesday, 11th June 2025

    A new 24/7 online portal is launched today to provide the city’s valued community of carers a range of instant support, information and advice.

    The portal, which is being launched during National Carers Week, can be reached at www.stoke.gov.uk/helpforcarers.

    It includes:

    • News and events for carers
    • Help with carer assessments
    • Advice on supporting clients to access financial support
    • A community directory of useful local organisations
    • Equipment and adaptations
    • Information on health from autism and learning disabilities through to mental health support, local facilities
    • Housing advice: private rents, councils and social housing
    • Out and about: public transport, accessible toilets and changing, sports and activities.
    • Money and legal: paying for care and support, benefits, power of attorney.

    This is the third portal launched by the council’s Adult Social Care team in the last few months – both the Bettercare Support portal and Professional Portal are also available 24/7 to make accessing services, support and signposting better than ever before.

    The aim of all three is to help people lead the most independent lives they possibly can by tapping into the right amount of support, whatever their circumstances.

    In addition, a new Finance Portal that will enable people to quickly see if they are likely to be eligible to have support funded, will also be available in the next few weeks.

    Councillor Duncan Walker, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and All-Age Commissioning at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “Our carers are often unsung heroes, of all ages, many unpaid looking after relatives or other loved ones, and deserve all the support we can offer.

    “The services available at the click of a button through this new portal are aimed at just that – helping them to access all the advice they need along with a range of organisations who can support them.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Chancellor announces record investment to rebuild National Health Service

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3

    News story

    Chancellor announces record investment to rebuild National Health Service

    The Chancellor has today (Wednesday 11 June) announced a record £29 billion investment to get the NHS back on its feet and fit for the future.

    • Rachel Reeves announces record £29 billion funding boost to get the NHS back on its feet and fit for the future.
    • New investment includes up to £10 billion on technology and digital transformation, GP training to deliver millions more appointments and rolling out mental health support to all schools.
    • Reeves tells the House of Commons: “There’s no strong economy without a strong NHS.”

    New investment announced at the Spending Review will enable the NHS to deliver on the government’s Plan for Change to cut waiting lists, improve patient care and modernise services.

    Up to £10 billion allocated towards technology and digital transformation, thousands more GPs to be trained and funding allocated to deliver an additional 700,000 urgent NHS dentist appointments a year.

    The funding boost came as the Chancellor unveiled a Spending Review to deliver Britain’s renewal, with record investment in the country’s security, health and economy.

    Security

    The Chancellor confirmed a £11 billion real-terms increase in defence spending over the spending review period, backing our Armed Forces, creating British jobs in British industries, and prioritising the security of Britain when it is most needed.

    Today’s funding will provide the Ministry of Defence with the resources and capital necessary to start delivering the Strategic Defence Review, rebuilding the armed forces and investing heavily in UK intelligence capabilities. This includes £15 billion for a nuclear sovereign warhead programme, supporting over 9,000 jobs in the UK, £7 billion of infrastructure funding for a once-in-a-generation renewal of military accommodation, and £6 billion for munitions, investing in supply chains and factories in the UK and generating over 1,000 jobs and export potential. 

    At least £280 million a year will also be invested into border security by 2028-29, including into the Border Security Command, to tackle people-smuggling gangs running small boats. Funding of at least £400 million a year by 2028-29 will speed up the process of asylum processing, increase appeals capacity and continue asylum returns alongside ending the costly use of hotels for accommodation.

    Police spending power will see an average 2.3% real terms increase over the Spending Review period as the government puts police back on the beat in communities across England and Wales, supporting the government’s Plan for Change commitment to put an additional 13,000 police officers, PCSOs and special constables into neighbourhood roles.

    Growth

    Roads, infrastructure and towns outside of London and the South East will receive investment to ensure Britain’s renewal is one that is truly national. Revisions to the Treasury’s Green Book announced by the Chancellor mark a new approach to appraisal in the public sector, one which will enable the more effective assessment of place-based interventions. 

    The Chancellor announced £15.6 billion funding in total by 2031-32 for local transport projects in England’s city regions and £2.3 billion from 2026-27 to 2029-30 for local transport improvements outside of these nine regions, improving everyday journeys for all. The Chancellor announced a further £2.5 billion to connect Oxford and Cambridge through the continued delivery of East-West Rail and confirmed she will set out plans to take forward work on Northern Powerhouse Rail in the coming weeks.

    Funding announced today will deliver upgrades to Cardiff Central station, reduce journey times between Manchester and Leeds through continued investment in the TransPennine Route Upgrade, and progress the delivery of Midlands Rail Hub, enhancing connections from Birmingham across the West Midlands and to other regions.

    The Chancellor also confirmed the biggest boost to social and affordable housing in a generation, confirming £39 billion of investment over ten years through a new Affordable Homes Programme, turbocharging the Plan for Change commitment to get the country building and deliver the 1.5 million homes Britain needs.

    This significant settlement represents the first time in living memory that the government has set out a programme that provides ten years of certainty – giving the sector the confidence to deliver for now and for the future of housing in Britain and turning the tide on the housing crisis in this country.

    Today’s Spending Review also supports the development of home-grown, clean power to deliver energy security by committing £14.2 billion for Britain’s first state-funded nuclear power station since 1988 in Sizewell C, providing over £2.5 billion for one of Europe’s first Small Modular Reactor programmes and allocating £9.4 billion to UK carbon capture and storage over the Spending Review period – all while supporting Britain’s acceleration to net zero and driving growth.

    The Chancellor also confirmed additional funding for up to 350 communities, especially those in deprived areas, through Plans for Neighbourhoods – giving new long-term regeneration funding and supporting councils in their fightback against graffiti and fly-tipping across Britain.

    The government will also establish a Growth Mission Fund to expedite local projects that are important for growth but have been forgotten, such as Southport Pier, Kirkcaldy’s seafront and High Street, and a new sports quarter in Peterborough.

    In the coming weeks, the government will release its Infrastructure and Industrial Strategies – providing the certainty and stability sectors need to invest and work to drive our growth mission.

    Devolved nations

    The devolved administrations will receive their largest real terms settlements since devolution began in 1998, enabling them to deliver on local priorities that matter most to communities.

    The Scottish Government will receive an average extra £2.9 billion across the duration of this Spending Review through the operation of the Barnett formula. In recognition of Scotland’s unique needs, they will have 20% more to spend per individual than comparable UK Government spending for people in the rest of the UK.

    The Welsh Government will benefit from an average extra £1.6 billion over the Spending Review period through the Barnett formula to deliver against the priorities of working people in Wales, and 20% more to spend per individual than comparable UK Government does for people in the rest of the UK.

    The Northern Ireland Executive will receive an average extra £1.2 billion through the Barnett formula, 24% more to spend per person than the comparable UK Government spending in the rest of the UK, reflecting Northern Ireland’s unique circumstances.

    These record settlements are made possible by the tough but necessary decisions taken in the October Budget.

    Updates to this page

    Published 11 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI Russia: GUU attracted the St. Petersburg Federal Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences to develop a unified system for forecasting processes in agribusiness

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –

    On June 11, 2025, a delegation from the State University of Management visited the St. Petersburg Federal Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences (SPb FRC RAS).

    The working tour of the scientific team of the State University of Management continues in Saint Petersburg. Earlier we reported on meetings with the management of the Leningrad Region Committee for Transport and the BGTU “VOENMEKH”.

    The State University of Management was represented at the meeting by Vice-Rector Maria Karelina, Chief Researcher of the Scientific Research Coordination Department Alexey Terentyev (a leading scientist in the field of developing decision-making models under uncertainty), Director of the Engineering Project Management Center Vladimir Filatov, Researcher of the Center Dmitry Rybakov and Junior Researcher of the Reverse Engineering Laboratory Nikita Akinshin.

    Scientists and specialists of the State University of Management visited the Laboratory of Information Technologies in Systems Analysis and Modeling. The laboratory works on the development, research and implementation of methodological, methodological and technological foundations for the automation and intellectualization of processes of complex modeling of complex systems at various stages of their life cycle, and also conducts scientific research in the following areas:

    Integrated modeling of the functioning of complex technical objects (STO); Planning the functioning of STO; Parallel structural and functional synthesis of STO; Data analysis; Development of automated systems for intelligent monitoring and management of the life cycle of STO; Development of digital twins based on information and analytical support.

    During the visit, a joint meeting was held with scientists from the St. Petersburg Federal Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences – leading researcher Stanislav Mikoni and young scientist of the research center Andrey Zakharov. The parties discussed the development of joint R&D in the field of digital twins, unmanned vehicles and predictive analytics. A special vector of joint work was defined as interaction within the framework of the implementation of a large scientific project by research teams of the State University of Management and the St. Petersburg Federal Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences in order to create a unified system that predicts technological and economic processes in agribusiness.

    The joint meeting of representatives of the State University of Management and the St. Petersburg Federal Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences took place within the framework of the signed agreement – in May, the rector of the State University of Management Vladimir Stroyev and the director of the St. Petersburg Federal Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences Andrey Ronzhin signed an agreement on cooperation in the educational and scientific spheres.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Rosneft employees celebrate Russia Day

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Rosneft – Rosneft – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    Rosneft employees organized patriotic events to mark one of the main state holidays – Russia Day. Oil workers organize volunteer, environmental and sports initiatives, creative events and Days of National Cultures.

    In Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug-Yugra, Samotlorneftegaz volunteers organized an intellectual quiz called “Russia is a Generous Soul”. Participants demonstrated excellent knowledge of the country’s history and geography, biographies of statesmen and outstanding scientists, literary and artistic figures. The drawing master class “Soul of Russia”, which was organized as part of the volunteer project “Creative Mentor”, aroused great interest. Participants painted landscapes of their native places on canvas, most of them dedicated their works to the nature of the Samotlor field, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary.

    Workers and veterans of RN-Nyaganneftegaz took part in the “Round Dance of Friendship”. Hundreds of oil workers in national costumes, holding hands, walked along the central street of the city of Nyagan, demonstrating the unity and ethnocultural diversity of the peoples living in the region.

    In the Tyumen region, in one of the largest parks in Tyumen, employees of RN-Uvatneftegaz ran five kilometers with the Russian flag. Not only oil workers took part in the race, but also their relatives, who also decided to express a sense of pride in their country.

    In Yamal, young specialists from ROSPAN International held a charity event called “Goodness Fair” on the eve of the holiday. They presented hand-made products. The proceeds were used to purchase everything necessary for the wards of the Novy Urengoy Society of Disabled People.

    Employees of SevKomNeftegaz and activists of the youth Movement of the First held a bike quest in Gubkinsky. Moving along the city streets, the teams completed tasks related to the history and culture of Russia.

    Volunteers from Kharampurneftegaz introduced the team to the national traditions of our country and the cuisines of the peoples living in it – Russian dishes and tea drinking traditions, customs of the Turkic peoples with a tasting of traditional echpochmak, chak-chak, kystybay.

    In Krasnoyarsk Krai, oil workers from RN-Vankor organized a photo exhibition about the achievements of the largest oil-producing enterprise in the region. The exhibition clearly demonstrates the enterprise’s contribution to the development of the region, talks about the development of a large-scale oil-producing production complex in the north of the region, environmental initiatives and the preservation of biodiversity in the territory of presence, volunteer and patriotic events.

    Achinsk Oil Refinery held a bike ride through the iconic patriotic places of the city of Achinsk. The column with the Russian tricolor included young specialists of the plant, students of the sponsored Oil and Gas Technical School and activists of the All-Russian “Movement of the First”.

    In the Irkutsk Region, the Angarsk Petrochemical Company held a patriotic event among children vacationing in a summer camp at the corporate sanatorium “Rodnik”. More than 100 children recited poems about the Motherland and sang the Russian anthem. In a mass flash mob, children lined up in the colors of the Russian tricolor and performed a fiery dance to the song “Mother Earth”. The organizers of the event also told the children about the symbols of unity and independence of our country.

    Members of the running club of the Rosneft Research and Design Institute in Tomsk took part in the city’s patriotic race. In the relay, the athletes passed a ribbon in the colors of the Russian tricolor.

    On Sakhalin, Sakhalinmorneftegaz-Shelf employees celebrated Russia Day with a family sports festival and a mini-football tournament. Children participated in interactive master classes prepared for them by the company’s volunteers. The celebration ended with a mass action with the Russian flag.

    In the Samara Region, volunteers from the Syzran Oil Refinery, together with school graduates, planted 80 birches in school gardens. Young trees decorated the territory of School No. 28. Last year, for the first time in 70 years of operation, the building underwent major repairs as part of the Cooperation Agreement between PJSC NK Rosneft and the Government of the Samara Region.

    Volunteers of the Novokuibyshevsk Oil Refinery together with the Russian Society “Knowledge” held a series of intellectual video lectures on the technological leadership of our country in the children’s health camp named after Yuri Gagarin. The children learned about the main successes and achievements of Russian industry, science, medicine, agriculture, sports, culture and education. The plant workers in an interactive format introduced the children to the history of the enterprise, with the biographies of the plant’s builders who made a significant contribution to the development of the oil industry.

    Orenburgneft held a master class on creating drawings about the Motherland in the Orenburg Region. A professional artist helped participants depict a field of blooming sunflowers on canvas – a symbol of the steppe region. In the reading club of the city of Buzuluk, literature lovers held a discussion about artistic techniques for expressing love for the Motherland using the example of great works of Russian classics.

    In the Ryazan region, employees of the Ryazan Oil Refining Company took part in the quiz “Experts of Russia”. They answered questions on history, geography, as well as the culture and traditions of Russia.

    In the Saratov Region, volunteers from the Saratov Oil Refinery organized a sports and patriotic festival for students in grades 3-4 of the Aviator Gymnasium. The children were told about the state symbols and history of the country. The plant workers also held a master class in football. Football players from the plant team, winner of the qualifying round of the XX Summer Sports Games Rosneft and winner of the Romantsev Cup, taught the children how to act as a single team in various sports. At the end of the festival, all participants were presented with memorable souvenirs in the colors of the Russian tricolor.

    About a hundred employees of NK Rosneft-Stavropol climbed 1,400 meters and unfurled the Russian flag on the top of Mount Beshtau, the highest point in the Caucasian Mineral Waters. The oil workers also organized a festival of “Cuisines of the Peoples of Russia” with the study of recipes and tasting of dishes from different regions.

    The employees of RN-Chernozemye organized a festival of national cultures with folk costumes, a photo zone, performance of patriotic and folk songs, and dishes from the cuisine of different nations. White doves were released into the sky, symbolizing peace, freedom, and prosperity of Russia.

    Festive events and activities united thousands of oil workers, representatives of different faiths and nationalities in different regions, and became a symbol of the unity of the peoples of our country.

    Department of Information and Advertising of PJSC NK Rosneft June 11, 2025

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

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI China: China activates emergency response to flooding as this year’s first typhoon approaches

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

    China activates emergency response to flooding as this year’s first typhoon approaches

    BEIJING, June 11 — China’s Ministry of Water Resources on Wednesday issued a Level-IV emergency response to flooding in southern and southeastern regions, following a tropical depression over the South China Sea that had grown into this year’s first typhoon in the morning.

    The center of Typhoon Wutip (Butterfly) was located near Yongxing Dao in the city of Sansha in China’s southernmost island province of Hainan, at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, according to the ministry.

    Strong rain caused by the approaching Typhoon Wutip will hit China’s regions including Hainan, Guangxi, Guangdong, Hunan, Jiangxi, and Fujian from Thursday to Sunday, and the water levels of some medium and minor rivers in the regions are projected to exceed warning thresholds, the ministry said.

    The ministry emphasized the importance of preventing floods in small and medium-sized rivers, as well as mountain torrents in the affected areas, to ensure the safety of people’s lives and property.

    The ministry has dispatched two teams to Hainan and Guangdong to aid flood prevention work.

    China has a four-tier emergency response system for flood control, with Level I being the most severe.

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI China: 5.8-magnitude quake hits waters off Taiwan: CENC

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

    A 5.8-magnitude earthquake jolted waters off the Taitung County, Taiwan, at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC).

    The epicenter was monitored at 23.33 degrees north latitude and 121.72 degrees east longitude. The earthquake struck at a depth of 20 km, the center said. 

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese vice premier urges US to resolve trade disputes with China through dialogue, cooperation

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

    The United States should resolve trade disputes with China through equal dialogue and mutually beneficial cooperation, Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng has said.

    China reiterates that the United States should work with China to honor their words with actions, and demonstrate sincerity in keeping commitments and concrete efforts to implement consensus, so as to jointly safeguard the hard-won outcomes of dialogue, He said.

    He made the remarks during the first meeting of the China-U.S. economic and trade consultation mechanism held in London from Monday to Tuesday with U.S. lead person Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.

    During the talks, the two sides held candid and in-depth talks, and thoroughly exchanged views on economic and trade issues of mutual concern.

    The two sides reached principled agreement on implementing the important consensus reached by the two heads of state during their phone call on June 5 and the framework of measures to consolidate the outcomes of the economic and trade talks in Geneva, and made new progress in addressing each other’s economic and trade concerns.

    Calling the meeting an important consultation held under the guidance of the strategic consensus reached by the two heads of state on June 5, He said that China’s position on China-U.S. economic and trade issues is clear and consistent.

    Noting that the essence of China-U.S. economic and trade relations lies in mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, the vice premier said cooperation between China and the United States in the economic and trade field benefits both sides, while confrontation harms both.

    There are no winners in trade wars, He said, adding that China does not seek conflict but will not be intimidated by one.

    He urged the United States to resolve trade disputes with China through equal dialogue and mutually beneficial cooperation, adding that while China is sincere in pursuing economic and trade consultations, it also has its principles.

    Next, the two sides should, in accordance with the important consensus and requirements reached by the two heads of state during their phone call, make better use of the China-U.S. economic and trade consultation mechanism, and work to enhance consensus, reduce misunderstanding and strengthen cooperation, He said.

    The two sides should maintain communication and consultation, and promote the steady and sustained growth of China-U.S. economic and trade relations, so as to inject more certainty and stability into the world economy, He added.

    The U.S. side said that the meeting had achieved positive outcomes and further stabilized bilateral economic and trade relations, adding that the U.S. side would walk in the same direction as China in accordance with the requirements of the phone call between the two heads of state to jointly implement the consensus reached at this meeting. Enditem

    MIL OSI China News