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Category: Europe

  • MIL-OSI Europe: In-Depth Analysis – US tariffs: economic, financial and monetary repercussions – 17-07-2025

    Source: European Parliament

    This briefing assesses the economic, financial, and monetary implications of the tariffs announced by the Trump administration for the EU. Starting with an overview of US measures and EU countermeasures, it analyses the impact on the EU economy across sectors and member states, explains monetary policy challenges for the ECB, and discusses strategic options for European policymakers. As the situation evolves rapidly, the assessment provided in this briefing reflects information available as of 15 July 2025, with updates to follow as developments unfold.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Press release – Danish Presidency debriefs EP committees on priorities

    Source: European Parliament

    Denmark holds the Presidency of the Council until the end of 2025. This text will be updated regularly as the hearings take place.

    Agriculture and Rural Development Committee

    On 15 July, Jacob Jensen, Minister for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, said that the Presidency will focus on easing the administrative burden for farmers while continuing to promote the green transition and animal welfare. Concluding the current negotiations on the common agricultural policy (CAP) simplification package and starting discussions on the post-2027 CAP will also be priorities.

    Several MEPs called for fair conditions between farmers inside and outside the EU in connection with the Mercosur Agreement and animal welfare. They asked how the presidency will help guarantee the EU’s protein and fertiliser self-sufficiency and support organic farmers. Others raised the issue of ensuring that the green transition does not compromise the agriculture sector’s sustainability.

    Regional Development Committee

    On 15 July, Danish Minister for European Affairs Marie Bjerre argued that cohesion policy should continue to play a crucial role in the EU budget, as the Presidency works on proposals for the next multiannual financial framework (MFF). She said that funding should also support competitiveness and be flexible in the face of unexpected events. Ms Bjerre highlighted the need to strengthen rule of law conditionality in the allocation of EU funds.

    MEPs agreed on the need to modernise cohesion policy and make it more flexible, but asked for the Presidency’s support in defending the policy’s core purpose – reducing inequalities between regions – and the role of regions and local authorities.

    Legal Affairs Committee

    On 15 July, Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard stressed the need to boost EU competitiveness but also to protect common values while advancing the green and digital transition. He committed to make progress on draft bills on the protection of adults and insolvency, while promoting rules on parenthood.

    Morten Bødskov, Minister of Industry, Business and Financial Affairs, will strive to simplify existing rules for the benefit of EU businesses in the upcoming negotiations on sustainability reporting and due diligence obligations. Mr Bødskov also intends to advance the patent package and the “28th regime” initiative (a single set of EU rules to support innovation).

    MEPs inquired about plans to strengthen the rule of law, fight illegal migration and improve licensing, considering the planned withdrawal of the proposal on standard essential patents. They also asked for work to move ahead on the special tribunal for the crime of aggression, for measures to ensure that simplification does not lead to deregulation, and for efforts to balance rights and copyright in the context of new technologies.

    Foreign Affairs Committee

    On 15 July, European Affairs Minister Marie Bjerre said that the Presidency wants to advance EU accession negotiations with all candidate countries. She also added that the EU must act more independently to ensure its security. The dialogue with Türkiye will continue, but its accession negotiations will remain on hold.

    MEPs called for more support for some candidate countries on their EU path. They also enquired on possible new strategic partners for the EU, given recent developments in relations with the US, and called for the deepening of relations with Latin America. They also asked what steps the Presidency intends to take to help the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

    Environment, Climate Change and Food Safety Committee

    On 15 July, Jacob Jensen, Minister for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, highlighted the need to simplify EU legislation for farmers and food producers, and to promote innovation through tools such as new genomic techniques, on which the Presidency aims to strike a deal with Parliament. He stressed the importance of making the EU’s agri-food sector more competitive while maintaining high standards of sustainability and food safety. Other priorities include an EU strategy for plant-based proteins, animal welfare, and action to tackle antimicrobial resistance.

    MEPs raised questions about the future of the CAP, demanding greater fairness, increased support for smaller farms, and clear targets for pesticide reduction. MEPs also enquired about trade agreements, such as with Mercosur, and a possible ban on PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances).

    Lars Aagaard, Minister for Climate, Energy and Utilities, stressed the importance of reaching an agreement on the EU 2040 climate target, to offer clear guidance for climate action, investment, and industrial competitiveness. He underlined the need for an agreement before the COP30 in Brazil on 10–21 November 2025, to show EU leadership and unity.

    Some MEPs raised concerns about energy affordability and the social impact of the new emissions trading system, while others stressed excessive flexibility would undermine the 2040 target.

    Civil liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee

    On 15 July, Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard said the Presidency would prioritise work on the fight against serious cross-border and organised crime, action to improve victims’ rights, and police cooperation to counter migrant smuggling. The Presidency will also advance work on the directive and regulation to combat child sexual abuse.

    Torsten Schack Pedersen, Minister for Resilience and Preparedness, called for implementation of the “Preparedness Union” strategy to strengthen EU security, resilience and preparedness. The Presidency will advance work on the reformed EU civil protection mechanism, the stockpiling strategy and measures to protect critical infrastructure.

    MEPs asked the Presidency about progress on the directives on combating corruption and victims’ rights. According to the Justice Minister, work on both will continue promptly as a priority. MEPs and the Ministers also discussed law enforcement access to data, and measures against terrorism and online radicalisation.

    Kaare Dybvad, Minister for Immigration and Integration, emphasised the need to implement the Asylum and Migration Pact in full. The Presidency will work on proposals on safe third countries, safe countries of origin and a common approach to returns. He also mentioned the possibility of developing external partnerships and possible return hubs in third countries, stressing the need to uphold international law and human rights. Other priorities are action to combat migrant smuggling and the EU talent pool.

    On Migration and Asylum Pact implementation, MEPs asked about the solidarity platform, protection of human dignity, and cooperation with third countries. The minister replied that priority should be given to people in need of refugee status. Economic migrants must use legal channels, and those with no right to stay need to be returned to their home countries.

    Marie Bjerre, Minister for European Affairs, said the Presidency aimed to strengthen the link between respect for EU values and access to EU funds, enhance the Council’s rule of law dialogues, and support tools such as the Commission’s rule of law report. It will also work to reinforce the conditionality mechanism in the next long-term budget, by increasing funding for it and ensuring more automatic application.

    Some MEPs raised concerns about the situation in Hungary, and called for a stronger conditionality mechanism and better protection of media freedom and civil society. Others called for clarity on the definition of rule of law, and raised the issues of spyware use against journalists and the situation in Gaza.

    Employment and Social Affairs Committee

    On 15 July, Employment Minister Ane Halsboe-Jørgensen stressed that the Presidency would focus on investing in skills, fair labour mobility, strengthening social dialogue, and occupational health. She aims to advance the revision of the Carcinogens and Mutagens Directive (CMRD) and the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers. Minister for Social Affairs and Housing Sophie Hæstorp Andersen highlighted the need to improve independent living for persons with disabilities and to improve access to sustainable and affordable housing.

    MEPs highlighted the lack of legislative proposals in social areas and voiced concern about the future of the European Social Fund+. They stressed the need to strengthen the European Labour Authority, and addressed the working conditions of non-EU nationals, the lack of skilled workers, and the migration of qualified workers. Others asked for action on employment rights for persons with disabilities, the coordination of social security systems, and the European Child Guarantee.

    Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee

    On 15 July, Caroline Stage Olsen, Digital Affairs Minister, emphasised the need for action to boost investment and cut red tape. Special attention will be given to protecting minors online through firm Digital Services Act enforcement, new age verification rules and action to tackle addictive design. She supported postponing elements of the AI Act to give business, especially smaller companies, more time to comply.

    Morten Bødskov, Minister for Industry, Business and Financial Affairs, stressed the Presidency’s intention to tackle customs challenges, unfair competition, slow growth and job loss. The minister also expressed strong support for the green transition and the need to advance work on simplification packages and regulatory burden reduction targets.

    MEPs asked about the Presidency’s plans to work on e-commerce, the posting of workers, attracting talent and the “28th regime” (a single set of EU rules to support innovation). They also enquired about digital policy loopholes and the Digital Fairness Act, and the need to advance negotiations on the late payments regulation and the European defence industrial strategy.

    Development Committee

    On 15 July, Foreign Affairs Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen called for a stronger Team Europe approach, given the widening gap between humanitarian needs and the resources available. Presidency priorities include the Global Gateway, the Samoa Agreement, the EU-African Union (AU) Summit, human rights and the sustainable development goals. The Presidency will champion external action in negotiations on the next long-term EU budget.

    MEPs stressed the importance of development aid and the need to make sure foreign investment upholds human rights, while also voicing concern over irregular migration. They called for a broader EU presence at the next EU-AU Summit, and asked about the Presidency’s plan for the UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development.

    Public Health Committee

    On 16 July, Sophie Løhde, Danish Minister for Interior and Health, highlighted the need to strengthen EU preparedness through efficient medical countermeasures, ensure better access to medicines, and address antimicrobial resistance. She shared the Presidency’s commitment to finalising the Council’s position on the critical medicines act, hoping an agreement with Parliament could be reached on the pharmaceutical package by the end of the year.

    MEPs quizzed the minister on medicine affordability, rare diseases, and healthcare workforce shortages. Some called for a greater focus on women’s health, action against PFAS contamination, and improved EU coordination of health and military crisis preparedness.

    Constitutional Affairs Committee

    On 16 July, European Affairs Minister Marie Bjerre said the Presidency priorities were to advance a merit-based EU accession process and uphold the rule of law. She also highlighted the need to reinforce democratic resilience, for instance through the Commission’s Democracy Shield and improved transparency of foreign interests. The Presidency is also committed to strengthening interinstitutional cooperation and pursuing institutional reforms within the existing treaty framework.

    MEPs raised questions on the link between internal EU reforms and future accessions, the use of qualified majority voting to overcome institutional deadlocks, the right of inquiry, and electoral reform. Bjerre replied that the lack of consensus among member states on possible treaty changes made that a less feasible path.

    Security and Defence Committee

    On 16 July, Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said that one of the priorities was to continue to support Ukraine politically, militarily and financially, and work on integrating the Ukrainian defence industry into the EU one. This includes paving the way for Ukrainian companies to set up facilities in the rest of Europe. He also mentioned the need for Europe to be able to defend itself by 2030 by increasing its defence readiness and production, and freeing up defence financing.

    MEPs questioned the minister on a range of topics, including the use of frozen Russian state assets to support Ukraine’s reconstruction, a dedicated European defence fund, removing hurdles to support the Ukrainian defence industry, and the pros and cons of non-EU country access to EU defence funds.

    Fisheries Committee

    On 16 July, Jacob Jensen, Minister for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, said the Presidency would prioritise the green transition, simplification, including for the Ocean Pact, and better regulation of fisheries. They will also focus on fishing opportunities in the Mediterranean and Baltic Sea for 2026 to allow fishers to plan early.

    MEPs highlighted fleet renewal, the Baltic Sea’s herring situation and the MFF’s role in achieving sustainability, simplification, and climate goals. They expressed concern over the 24-metre fleet renewal restriction and called for specific funding mechanisms for the Ocean Pact. Finally, they welcomed the focus on 2026 fishing quotas and sustainability objectives.

    Transport and Tourism Committee

    Boosting competitiveness, easing the administrative burden, ensuring a green transition in transport and tourism, but also military mobility, are the main drivers of Danish presidency, said Thomas Danielsen, Minister of Transport on 16 July. He hoped to start talks with MEPs on passenger rights and rules on counting CO2 emissions, as well as to finish negotiations on railway capacity infrastructure. Morten Bødskov, Minister of Business, Industry and Financial Services, added the Presidency perspective on shipping transport and upcoming EU ports and maritime industry strategies.

    The majority of transport committee MEPs welcomed the Presidency priorities, the ambition to reach a Council position on weights and dimensions rules, while some questioned the focus on the green transition. On passenger rights, MEPs were frustrated with the Council decision to force into a tight deadline to reach a deal on future rules, and asked the minister not to forget the multimodal part of the package.

    Women’s Rights and Gender Equality Committee

    On 16 July, Minister for Environment and Gender Equality, Magnus Heunicke, outlined priorities including combating gender-based violence, promoting equal opportunities by involving men and boys, and strengthening LGBTQI equality amid rising hate and harassment. He announced that a Council meeting on 17 October would focus on equality and non-discrimination.

    MEPs raised concerns about the absence of an EU-wide consent-based definition of rape, the lack of progress on the revision of the Victims’ Rights Directive, the under-representation of women in government, and the stalled horizontal anti-discrimination directive. In response, Heunicke confirmed that there would be a discussion on a consent-based rape definition, and that finalising the Victims’ Rights Directive negotiations was a priority.

    International Trade Committee

    On 16 July, Minister for Foreign Affairs Lars Løkke Rasmussen named agreements on the revised general scheme of preferences (GSP) and the foreign investment screening review as being among his priorities. The phasing-out of Russian gas imports and ratification of the trade agreement with Mercosur are also high on the agenda. The Presidency will also work to negotiate a new trade relationship with the US, while being prepared for other scenarios.

    MEPs welcomed the priorities, particularly on concluding the Mercosur Agreement, phasing out Russian gas imports and concluding the revision of the GSP. Some MEPs also questioned the Presidency on how EU-Israel trade relations should evolve given the humanitarian situation in the Middle East.

    Culture and Education Committee

    On 16 July, Mattias Tesfaye, Minister for Education and Youth, said that Presidency wanted to make vocational education and training more attractive, ensure learning mobility, and focus on how the digitalisation affects learning outcomes. The Presidency will also prioritise negotiations on the next generation of Erasmus+ and on the European education area.

    Many MEPs expressed their concerns about the future of the Erasmus+ programme and enquired about the protection of children online, recognition of competences, and the safety of young students in the workplace.

    Jakob Engel-Schmidt, Minister for Culture, Media and Sports Policy, highlighted the need to prohibit the use of images, voice and other personal features in deepfakes or lifelike imitations. The EU Copyright Regulation should be updated to address the challenges posed by artificial intelligence to the cultural and creative sectors, either by guaranteeing fair remuneration for rights holders or by achieving the best possible conditions for licensing agreements. In sport, the Presidency promises to do more to uphold democratic values and integrity in the awarding of international sports events.

    MEPs asked for measures to help EU countries implement the European Media Freedom Act and highlighted the revision of the Audiovisual Media Services Directive. MEPs also raised issues such as protecting heritage against natural disasters and gender equality programmes in sport.

    Industry, Research and Energy Committee

    On 16 July, Caroline Stage Olsson, Minister for Digital Affairs, outlined two priorities: enhancing digital competitiveness and protecting minors online. She advocated for reducing the administrative burden on business and for strategic investment for a more sovereign Europe. She also highlighted work on enforcing the Digital Services Act (DSA), stricter regulations for age verification and data protection, and the establishment of a competitiveness fund.

    Some MEPs stressed the need to reduce dependency on non-European tech companies and to balance regulation with simplification, to foster innovation while protecting consumers. Questions were asked about the impact of the DSA on free speech and privacy, and about investment in less connected regions.

    Troels Lund Poulsen, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister, outlined four priorities: enhancing Europe’s defence capabilities, supporting Ukraine, fostering cooperation with NATO and strengthening the EU’s defence against hybrid threats. He also stressed the importance of the European defence industry programme (EDIP) to this end.

    Torsten Schack Pedersen, Minister for Resilience and Preparedness, focused on cybersecurity and highlighted three priorities: strengthening EU cyber resilience, framing a robust EU response to cyber crises, and simplifying the EU cyber legislation framework.

    MEPs enquired about the creation of a unified European defence market, the standardisation of defence products, and the need for joint procurement to enhance defence capabilities. Questions also focused on Baltic Sea security and measures to counter potential sabotage. Concerns were voiced about Europe’s dependency on non-European defence suppliers.

    Lars Aagaard, Minister for Climate, Energy and Utilities, emphasised the importance of a secure, clean and affordable energy supply, as well as of a stronger energy sector, focusing on renewable and clean energy produced locally. He called for an approach that would balance environmental protection with economic competitiveness and for Europe to phase out its dependency on Russian energy.

    Morten Bødskov, Minister for Industry, Business and Financial Affairs focused on competitiveness and highlighted the need for increased investment in green technologies and new critical technologies such as life sciences, artificial intelligence, biotech, and quantum. Mr Bødskov also stressed the need to simplify regulations to foster innovation and growth.

    MEPs stressed the need for a more efficient regulatory environment to foster innovation and competitiveness. They expressed concerns about high energy prices and highlighted the importance of investing in clean energy technologies and infrastructure to achieve energy security and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Several MEPs questioned the balance between environmental protection and economic competitiveness, and called for a more pragmatic approach to regulation that would not stifle innovation and growth.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: News 07/15/2025 Blackburn, Thune, Kelly Call on USICAO to Raise Mandatory Commercial Pilot Retirement Age

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), and U.S. Senator Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) sent a letter to U.S Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. Mission to the International Civil Aviation Organization (USICAO) Chargé d’Affaires Anthony Clare urging them to support ICAO’s effort to raise the mandatory commercial pilotretirement age. This would reduce the pilot shortage and increase safety by ensuring the most qualified and experienced pilots are on the flight deck.

    As the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) seeks to dominate international organizations around the world, the United States must not allow our adversary to lead international aviation standards, build goodwill with our allies, or gain a competitive advantage over the U.S.

    Global Data Confirms Experienced Pilots Have Less Accidents than Junior Pilots 

    During the 14th Air Navigation Conference held last year from August 26th to September 6th, the ICAO advanced formal action directed at raising or even eliminating the institution’srecommended pilot retirement age of 65 years. This initiative—led by Canada, Australia, Brazil, Japan, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the International Air Transport Association— makes it increasingly likely that the international community will move to increase the suggested retirement age in the near future. Such a move would be consistent with data from around the world, which confirm that experienced pilots have fewer accidents than junior pilots. Therefore, it would stand to reason that raising or eliminating the pilot retirement age—coupled with the existing rigorous technical and medical testing that pilots undergo—would result in a reductionof accidents by closing the experience gap and retaining the greatest level of experience our passengers expect on the flight deck. In fact, many countries around the world already allow pilots above the age of 65 to fly and have been doing so without compromising safety.”

    Senator Blackburn Has Led the Effort to Raise the Mandatory Commercial Pilot Retirement Age 

    “Last Congress, in the Senate Commerce Committee, Senator Blackburn led several of her colleagues in an amendment to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorizationwhich would have raised the mandatory commercial pilot retirement age from 65 to 67. This amendment did not alter any other qualification to become a commercial pilot and was widely supported by industry.”

    USICAO Must Not Cede Its Leadership Role to China by Sitting on the Sidelines of this Debate

    “The United States is one of ICAO’s largest member states and one of 36 states that make up the ICAO Council. The USICAO is tasked with improving the safety, security, and sustainability of civil aviation in the U.S., and, as such, has an obligation to advocate for changes to international standards to benefit American consumers and our dominance in the skies. Therefore, the USICAO should not spend this debate sitting on the sidelines. As I know you understand, if the United States cedes our leadership role in this space on the international stage, China—who is presently and actively joining our partners to advocate for raising the pilot retirement age—will gladly fill that void.”

    Click here to read the full letter. 

    RELATED

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: News 07/17/2025 Blackburn Statement on Senate Passing $9 Billion Rescissions Package to Cut Wasteful Government Spending

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) released the following statement after the Senate passed the Rescissions Act of 2025 to cut $9 billion of wasteful government spending. With America’s national debt now sitting at $37 trillion after four years of reckless, far-left spending under the Biden administration, the rescissions package is an important step to restoring fiscal sanity.

    “The American people gave us a mandate to stop reckless spending and get our national debt under control,” said Senator Blackburn. “For years, American taxpayers have been bankrolling biased public media, foreign spending that undermines our values, and other outrageous things like electric buses in Rwanda and climate programs in Mexico. The rescissions package that Senate Republicans just passed eliminates billions in wasteful spending, and it is an important step toward restoring fiscal sanity and economic security.”

    THE RESCISSIONS ACT OF 2025

    Below are highlights of the billions in wasteful government spending the rescissions package will cut: 

    • Reckless spending on biased public media:

    o    Eliminates nearly $1.1 billion for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the organization that funnels taxpayer dollars into a politically biased media system, including NPR and PBS, that has pushed left-wing ideology on the taxpayers’ dime for years. Click here for a list of examples of left-wing bias at NPR and PBS.

    • Foreign spending on programs that undermines American values and interests:
      • $3.9 million for strengthening integrity, equality, and democracy for LGBTQI+ population of the Western Balkans;
      • $2.5 million to teach children how to make environmentally friendly “reproductive health” decision;
      • $2.4 million to make aid more considerate of “sexual orientation and gender identity;”
      • $2.1 million for “climate resilience” in Asia, Latin America, and Africa;
      • $750,000 to “Yemen Community Resilience;” and
      • $500,000 for a gender equality and empowerment hub.
    • Funding to international organizations that work against American interests:
      • $135 million for the corrupt World Health Organization, which covered for Communist China throughout the COVID pandemic;
      • $33 million for the UN Population Fund, whose funding has gone towards providing tampons for transgender individuals in Bangladesh, a campaign to promote LGBTQ ideology in Rio de Janeiro, and “third-gender” community centers in Southeast Asia; 
      • $8 million for the UN Human Rights Council, which supports dictators and repressive regimes while demonizing our ally, Israel.
    • Funding for outrageous projects at the expense of American taxpayers:
      • $21 million for wind farms in Ukraine;
      • $18 million to improve gender diversity in the Mexican street lighting industry;
      • $6 million for “Net Zero Cities” in Mexico;
      • $4.4 million for the “Melanesian Youth Climate Corps;”
      • $4 million for “sedentary migrants” in Colombia;
      • $3 million for an Iraqi version of Sesame Street; 
      • $3 million for sexual reproductive health in Venezuela;
      • $2.4 million to make aid more considerate of “sexual orientation and gender identity;”
      • $1 million for voter ID in Haiti;
      • $500,000 for electric buses in Rwanda; and
      • $500,000 for Peruvian biodiversity.

    RELATED

    Click here for bill text.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: VIDEO: Ricketts Fights to Protect America

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Pete Ricketts (Nebraska)
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, during his weekly press call with Nebraska media, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) discussed the One Big Beautiful Bill and his work to protect America.
    Watch the video here.
    “Lasting prosperity depends on lasting security,” said Ricketts.  “No nation can thrive without secure borders and a strong military.  The One Big Beautiful Bill is the strongest national security and border security package in American history.  This bill protects the good life in Nebraska.”
    TRANSCRIPT:
    Senator Ricketts: “Thank you for joining our press call today. 
    “Lasting prosperity depends on lasting security.
    “No nation can thrive without secure borders and a strong military.  
    “The One Big Beautiful Bill is the strongest national security and border security package in American history.  
    “This bill protects the good life in Nebraska.
    “Under the Biden Administration every state was a border state. 
    “Illegal immigration has real consequences for every state, including Nebraska.  
    “We have seen the flow of fentanyl, the rise of human trafficking, and its terrible consequences on Nebraskans.
    “We have lost young lives like Taryn Lee Griffith.
    “This bill gives law enforcement the tools to fight back and protect our communities while restoring the rule of law.   
    “Nebraska families deserve a federal government that secures our border and enforces the law.  
    “President Biden oversaw 10.5 million illegal border encounters.  
    “We are still seeing the effects of the Biden Border Crisis in Nebraska.  
    “Just last week, authorities arrested two members of the violent MS-13 gang in Omaha.  
    “The One Big Beautiful Bill responds with a historic investment in border security.  
    “It includes $46.5 billion to complete the border wall system, including roads, fiber, sensors, and cameras.  
    “It provides $10 billion in grants to reimburse states for the costs of Biden’s federal failure.  
    “Another $6.1 billion goes to cutting-edge surveillance tools that will give Border Patrol agents better eyes on the ground.  
    “The bill also creates jobs by providing funding for the hiring of 16,000 new immigration and customs agents while expanding detention capacity to end catch-and-release.
    “The security threats we face do not stop at our borders, we must also deter foreign adversaries and threats.
    “Nebraska’s airmen, missile programs, and military bases help defend our country every day.  
    “We are proud to host key parts of America’s defense infrastructure, and we understand the importance of peace through strength.
    “The One Big Beautiful Bill includes over a $150 billion dollar in investment in America’s defense, making it clear to Communist China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea that we will meet any threats with force and resolve.   
    “It strengthens the Defense Production Act, so our military supply chains remain resilient and ready for any challenge. 
    “It includes $25 billion for the Golden Dome, a layered missile defense shield that will protect Americans from evolving threats.  
    “It provides $29 billion for shipbuilding and expanding the maritime industrial base, that includes funds for a Virginia-class submarine, two destroyers, new oilers, and unmanned surface vehicles.
    “Our Coast Guard will be bolstered, to be able to counter drug and human trafficking as well as deter adversaries in the Arctic.
    “This is through funding for 17 new icebreakers, 21 new cutters, and more than 40 helicopters and 6 new planes.
    “There’s funding for the advanced X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle, developing the B-21 bomber fleet, ramping up munitions production, and applying artificial intelligence to the battlefield.
    “Through these investments, we are demonstrating peace through strength. 
    “The bill also helps reverse dangerous recruitment trends in our military.  
    “Under President Trump, we are seeing record-breaking recruitment numbers.  
    “We are renewing the warrior spirit.  
    “That is good news for America’s readiness and morale.  
    “It’s bad news for America’s adversaries.
    “For Nebraska, the bill brings real investment.  
    “It includes $2.5 billion for risk reduction activities tied to the Sentinel ICBM program, which will be partly based in Western Nebraska.  
    “It also includes $168 million to accelerate production of the Survivable Airborne Operations Center, also known as SAOC, at Offutt Air Force Base.  
    “These investments will mean more jobs, more innovation, and a stronger defense posture right here in Nebraska.
    “The One Big Beautiful Bill keeps America secure and protects Nebraskans.  
    “It honors the brave women and men who serve in uniform, defend our borders, and operate from bases across the state.  
    “As President Trump responds to rising global threats and reverses Biden’s open border policies, this bill gives our nation the resources to act.  
    “The One Big Beautiful Bill protects Nebraska and protects America.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: At the 1st All-Russian Festival of Student Families, Vladimir Stroev spoke about demographic support measures at the State University of Management

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Official website of the State –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    On July 17, 2025, the 1st All-Russian Festival of Student Families started at the Bauman Moscow State Technical University, in which the rector of the State University of Management Vladimir Stroev took part.

    The plenary session of the Festival turned out to be very representative: Chairperson of the Federation Council Valentina Matviyenko, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko, Minister of Science and Higher Education Valery Falkov, Chairperson of the Federation Council Committee on Science, Education and Culture Liliya Gumerova, Chairperson of the State Council Commission on the “Family” Direction, Head of the Republic of Mordovia Artem Zdunov.

    Valentina Matviyenko said that on the eve of the Festival, the Federation Council approved a law that significantly increases the average amount of maternity benefits for women studying at universities, organizations of additional professional education, and scientific organizations, as well as a law that enshrines the concept of a “student family” in the legal field.

    Dmitry Chernyshenko noted that on the initiative of Valentina Matvienko, a draft standard for family policy in universities was developed. In accordance with it, it will be necessary to standardize family blocks in dormitories, providing for a separate kitchen, mother and child rooms. These standards have become mandatory for competitive selection in world-class campuses under construction.

    Valery Falkov said that in order to increase awareness of support measures, universities have launched a “single window” format for young families, mothers and fathers with children. In addition, work is underway with the Russian Ministry of Digital Development and Communications and the Analytical Center of the Government of the Russian Federation to create a Navigator of support measures for student families on the State Services portal.

    Participants of the plenary session familiarized themselves with stands with information about how higher education institutions help young families. Five universities were represented at the stands, including the State University of Management. Rector of the State University of Management Vladimir Stroyev spoke about measures to support young families and projects being implemented, in particular about the educational and enlightening course for students “Architecture of Relationships” and the 2nd International Scientific Conference “Family in Modern Russian Society” held in the spring.

    “The State University of Management will significantly expand its support measures for student families in 2025. Today, we have more than 100 students with children. We have 2 mother-and-child rooms for them, and in the 4th quarter of this year, we plan to open 2 more such rooms, including as part of the construction of a new student coworking space. The total amount of payments provided for families with children is growing every year. Among other support measures, there is a special remote work program for pregnant employees in the first 3 months, an adaptation system for returning to work after maternity leave, and the possibility of remote work for family teachers,” said Vladimir Stroyev.

    Photos taken from the websites of the Federation Council of Russia and the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation.

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: As Trump’s Chaos Jeopardizes America’s Farmers, Duckworth Discusses Agriculture Priorities with Illinois Corn Growers and Illinois Soybean Association

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth

    July 17, 2025

    [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) yesterday met with leaders and members from the Illinois Corn Growers and the Illinois Soybean Producers to discuss their shared priorities to grow Illinois’s agriculture industry and support our farmers. Duckworth and the members discussed the importance of supporting our family farmers by expanding the biofuels market, increasing agricultural exports and improving farm safety net programs as Donald Trump continues to threaten critical federal agricultural programs. Photos from yesterday’s meeting with the Illinois Corn Growers can be found on the Senator’s website. Photos from yesterday’s meeting with the Illinois Soybean Producers can be found on the Senator’s website.

    “America has always depended on our nation’s farmers to grow the food and fuel we need, and I’m proud to advocate for them on both the national and international stage,” Duckworth said. “The work of Illinois’s farmers is so important to the strength of our state and our nation, and I will continue to do everything I can to support the Illinois Corn Growers, the Illinois Soybean Association and our farmers across the state at the federal level.”

    In the Senate, Duckworth has been a leader in supporting biofuels, including expansion of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and permanent authority to use E15 fuel year-round. Duckworth, the founding co-chair of the Senate Sustainable Aviation Fuel Caucus, helped introduce the bipartisan Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2025, the Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act and the bipartisan Next Generations Fuel Act to allow the year-round, nationwide sale of ethanol blends higher than 10 percent. Duckworth additionally helped introduce the bipartisan Home Front Energy Independence Act to ban Russian oil and expand use and production of biofuel that’s grown in the American heartland, while providing American families with a less expensive option to fuel their vehicles. Previously, she introduced the SAF Accuracy Act and helped introduce the Farm to Fly Act and to help accelerate the production and development of SAF.

    As a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Duckworth has been an advocate for Illinois agriculture across the globe and helped secure significant wins for Illinois and American agriculture. After Duckworth’s visit in 2023, Japan announced a regulatory change that will lead to an increase in imports from U.S. biofuel producers, supporting our farmers and growing Illinois’s economy, and following a prior trip to Taiwan in 2022, she helped secure a commitment from Taiwan to purchase an estimated $2.6 billion of our Illinois’s corn and soybeans.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: As Trump’s Chaos Jeopardizes America’s Farmers, Duckworth Discusses Agriculture Priorities with Illinois Corn Growers and Illinois Soybean Association

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth

    July 17, 2025

    [WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) yesterday met with leaders and members from the Illinois Corn Growers and the Illinois Soybean Producers to discuss their shared priorities to grow Illinois’s agriculture industry and support our farmers. Duckworth and the members discussed the importance of supporting our family farmers by expanding the biofuels market, increasing agricultural exports and improving farm safety net programs as Donald Trump continues to threaten critical federal agricultural programs. Photos from yesterday’s meeting with the Illinois Corn Growers can be found on the Senator’s website. Photos from yesterday’s meeting with the Illinois Soybean Producers can be found on the Senator’s website.

    “America has always depended on our nation’s farmers to grow the food and fuel we need, and I’m proud to advocate for them on both the national and international stage,” Duckworth said. “The work of Illinois’s farmers is so important to the strength of our state and our nation, and I will continue to do everything I can to support the Illinois Corn Growers, the Illinois Soybean Association and our farmers across the state at the federal level.”

    In the Senate, Duckworth has been a leader in supporting biofuels, including expansion of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and permanent authority to use E15 fuel year-round. Duckworth, the founding co-chair of the Senate Sustainable Aviation Fuel Caucus, helped introduce the bipartisan Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act of 2025, the Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act and the bipartisan Next Generations Fuel Act to allow the year-round, nationwide sale of ethanol blends higher than 10 percent. Duckworth additionally helped introduce the bipartisan Home Front Energy Independence Act to ban Russian oil and expand use and production of biofuel that’s grown in the American heartland, while providing American families with a less expensive option to fuel their vehicles. Previously, she introduced the SAF Accuracy Act and helped introduce the Farm to Fly Act and to help accelerate the production and development of SAF.

    As a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Duckworth has been an advocate for Illinois agriculture across the globe and helped secure significant wins for Illinois and American agriculture. After Duckworth’s visit in 2023, Japan announced a regulatory change that will lead to an increase in imports from U.S. biofuel producers, supporting our farmers and growing Illinois’s economy, and following a prior trip to Taiwan in 2022, she helped secure a commitment from Taiwan to purchase an estimated $2.6 billion of our Illinois’s corn and soybeans.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senator Coons statement on Senate passage of recissions package

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Delaware Christopher Coons

    WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) released the following statement after the Senate passed a rescissions package that cut roughly $9 billion from federal spending. The bill passed 51-48, with every Democrat opposing the bill: 

    “Tonight, Republicans in the Senate voted to further weaken our nation’s reputation as a good and reliable partner.

    “This is not about tackling our national debt. After all, it’s a drop in the bucket compared to the trillions of dollars in tax breaks for the wealthy and increased debt that these same Republican senators passed just days ago. Cutting foreign aid and disaster assistance leaves people in dire situations across the world to fend for themselves or walk into the arms of China, Russia, and terrorists who seek to exploit them.

    “For decades, when the world cried out in pain America answered, because it was right, and because it made us safer. These cuts fly in the face of Jesus’ call to love our neighbors as ourselves. They fly in the face of national security experts who say that these investments make us a more respected and stronger country. They fly in the face of human decency.

    “As I said on the floor of the Senate earlier, the passage of this bill and its cruel cuts to foreign assistance would make Jesus weep.”

    Senator Coons is a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Reform spent just £5.5m on the 2024 election, while Labour’s majority cost £30m – new data

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Sam Power, Lecturer in Politics, University of Bristol

    The 2024 election was the most expensive in British political history, new figures confirm. Across parties, candidates and third parties, a whopping £94.5 million was spent. This compares with £72.6 million in 2019, which was a record high.

    Some parties got a fantastic return on their investment. Others, to put it mildly, didn’t. I wouldn’t let those in charge of Conservative party coffers run your household, for example. They spent £23.9 million in 2024 to record their worst electoral showing in recent history.

    Given that they won, Labour will consider the £30.1 million they spent on a huge – but shallow – majority money well spent. It is also easily the most they’ve ever spent on an election (although spending limits have recently been increased).

    The real winners in 2024 though, certainly in terms of bang for their respective bucks, are Reform and the Lib Dems, both of which only spent around £5.5 million. To put that in direct context, the Lib Dems spent £14.4 million in 2019 for a far poorer result.

    Want more politics coverage from academic experts? Every week, we bring you informed analysis of developments in government and fact check the claims being made.

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    This also means that Reform entered parliament for the first time, won five seats and came second in 98 others on a relatively shoestring budget. They laid the groundwork for completely upending the British political system while only spending a fraction of what the established parties did.

    A striking thing about the Reform spending is quite how much they used traditional media. Although they have a reputation for social media success, they spent £900,000 advertising with the Mail Online, Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday and the Telegraph – and £300,000 advertising with The Sun. In fact, at a time when we talk of the power of data-driven microtargeting on social networks, it seems they spent £2.2 million (40% of their total expenditure) on what we would understand as “traditional” media advertising.

    Money does not reflect reality

    These elections were fought under different rules and significantly higher spending limits than in previous contests. In 2023, the Conservatives raised how much parties could spend by 80%, to bring it in line with inflation (the prior spending limit was set in the year 2000). This meant parties could spend just over £34m in 2024 – but only Labour came close to this limit.

    It’s clear, looking at these figures, that the money spent does not reflect political reality. The two traditional parties continue to spend far more than others, but the results from 2024 make a mockery of the spending limits currently in place.

    Spending limits are implemented by those regulating money in politics to prevent money playing an outsize role. It is supposed to level the playing field in the same way that wage caps in certain sports intend to.

    But if only two parties can even get close to the spending limit, with others fighting for scraps – albeit much more effectively – what is the need for the limit to be so high? And, as Reform and the Liberal Democrats have shown, a party can get its message out very well without coming anywhere near the spending limit.

    Perhaps, given concerns about the rising power of mega-donors in UK politics – especially after Elon Musk’s threat of a £70 million donation to Reform – we should be thinking more carefully about limiting donations in UK politics. The financial story of the 2024 election, at least from a first glance, is one of complete profligacy from Labour and the Conservatives.

    The wrong reforms ahead

    On the same day as these figures were released, the government announced major reforms for the next election. These include votes at 16 and new rules on donations. My view, however, is that these reforms represent about the least ambitious approach one could take if the stated aim (which it apparently is) is the restoration of public trust. They wouldn’t, for example, prevent Musk from donating £70 million through X if he so pleased.

    Spending limits are no longer fit for purpose. Instead, limits on donations are the only game in town. At the very least, corporate donations should be tied to profits in the UK – but above and beyond this, a cap of £1 million to £2 million should be on the table.

    Recent experience from the US has shown how quickly an unregulated system can turn into an oligarchy. In 2024, the top 0.01% of donors accounted for over 50% of all money candidates raised. Many donors bankrolled parties to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars, crowding out everything else. At least one of those donors went on to run a (quasi) government department.

    Finally, it should also be noted that it is over a year after the election, and only now is the lid being lifted on what was spent during it. This is a significant (and unnecessary) failure in a system that holds transparency as its foundational ideal.

    The Electoral Commission should be empowered to implement semi-automated AI tools of analysis, to move us closer to the ideal of real-time analysis of election spending (and any potential violations therein).

    The 2024 figures show how much the landscape has changed. In the forthcoming elections bill, Labour need to meet the challenges where they actually are, not where they want them to be, if they are serious about restoring trust in politics.

    Sam Power receives funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and the Economic and Social Research Council.

    – ref. Reform spent just £5.5m on the 2024 election, while Labour’s majority cost £30m – new data – https://theconversation.com/reform-spent-just-5-5m-on-the-2024-election-while-labours-majority-cost-30m-new-data-261341

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Will Donald Trump get Vladimir Putin (before Maga gets Trump)?

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Jonathan Este, Senior International Affairs Editor, Associate Editor

    This article was first published in The Conversation UK’s World Affairs Briefing email newsletter. Sign up to receive weekly analysis of the latest developments in international relations, direct to your inbox.

    You know when the Kremlin is worried about something – it starts talking about nuclear weapons. And so it was, just two days after Donald Trump revealed he had decided to lift his administration’s pause on the supply of US-made weapons to Ukraine, that Vladimir Putin’s spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, raised Russia’s nuclear doctrine. In response to a handy question from a friendly reporter as to whether Russia’s nuclear doctrine was still active, Peskov said: “Russia’s nuclear doctrine remains in effect, and thus, all its provisions continue to apply.”

    By saying “all its provisions”, he was emphasising the changes made in December last year which significantly lowered the bar for Russia to use its nuclear deterrent. It states that Russia “reserves the right to employ nuclear weapons” in response to nuclear weapons or “other types of weapons of mass destruction” against itself or its allies.

    Whether Putin and his team consider the sorts of weapons the US is prepared to allow Ukraine to use against Russia as weapons of mass destruction is not clear as yet. The US president specifically said that a fresh supply of Patriot systems was already en route to Ukraine from Germany. But he also hinted that other more offensive weapons could also be in the mix. And in a July 4 phone call he is reported to have asked the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, whether he could hit Moscow or St Petersburg, to which Zelensky replied: “Absolutely. We can if you give us the weapons.”

    Trump is reported to have gone on to say that it was important to “make [Russians] feel the pain”.

    At the beginning of the week, the US president was also keen for Russia to feel the economic pain of indirect sanctions, with 100% tariffs promised against any country buying Russia’s oil. Could this be a turning point?

    Sign up to receive our weekly World Affairs Briefing newsletter from The Conversation UK. Every Thursday we’ll bring you expert analysis of the big stories in international relations.

    Interesting question, says David Dunn. Dunn, professor of international relations at the University of Birmingham, says Trump’s decision – if he follows through with it – pretty much brings the US back in line with its policy under the Biden administration. Particularly now that Trump appears to have ruled out, for the time being, allowing Ukraine to use long-range offensive missiles against targets in Moscow.

    As Dunn points out, there’s no sense that Trump has changed his overall tack on what he is looking for from Putin: a ceasefire, rather than, as Biden repeatedly insisted, a settlement that respects Ukrainian sovereignty and restores the land occupied illegally by Russian troops.

    Meanwhile the economic pain he promised to inflict on Russia has been scheduled to begin in 50 days. This – as many commentators have been quick to point out – has irresistible echoes of his off-again, on-again tariff regime. So will these sanctions actually happen?



    Read more:
    What Trump’s decision to send more weapons to Ukraine will mean for the war

    The Russian stock market certainly wasn’t that worried. Shortly after trump made his announcement, the Moscow stock exchange increased by 2.7% and the rouble strengthened. Oil markets also appear to have relaxed, suggesting traders see no imminent risks. Maybe this is another case of “Taco” (Trump always chickens out)?

    Patrick O’Shea, an international relations and global governance specialist at the University of Glasgow, believes that the markets’ reaction is more than just indifference to what Trump was threatening. It was relief.

    “Trump’s threat isn’t just non-credible, the positive market reaction in Russia suggests it is a gift for Moscow,” O’Shea writes. “The 50-day ultimatum is seen not as a deadline but as a reprieve, meaning nearly two months of guaranteed inaction from the US.”

    What has not been widely reported in the UK is that a bipartisan bill making its way through the US congress would have been far more punitive that anything Trump is threatening. Now this has been paused pending Trump’s initiative in 50 days’ time.



    Read more:
    Why Russia is not taking Trump’s threats seriously

    Back in Europe, meanwhile, Ukraine’s allies got together in Rome last weekend to discuss what will be needed to rebuild the war-torn country and how to raise the necessary funds. Stefan Wolff was watching proceedings and believes that while countries in the “coalition of the willing” are ready to open their coffers to help Ukraine get back on its feet, the funds so far pledged will not touch the sides.

    Ukraine’s allies at the conference have pledged more than €10 billion (£8.7 billion). But, Wolff – an expert in international relations at the University of Birmingham who has contributed regular analysis of the war in Ukraine – points out that this sum looks minuscule alongside the World Bank’s latest assessment that Ukraine will need at least US$524 billion (£388 billion) over the next decade to fund its recovery.

    There have been some fairly upbeat forecasts about Ukraine’s potential for growth. The IMF forecasts growth for Ukraine of between 2% and 3% for 2025, which is likely to grow to over 4% in 2026 and 2027. But it cautions that this will not happen without considerable overseas support. And an end to the war. Neither is certain anytime soon.



    Read more:
    Over €10 billion has now been pledged for Ukraine’s recovery. It’s nowhere near enough

    Maga moves – but will Trump take responsiblity?

    To Washington, where the US president is having what would probably count as the worst week of his second administration so far. Large sections of his faithful Maga base are in almost open revolt at his seeming reluctance to release what have become known as the “Epstein files”. You may remember he littered his election campaign last year with dark hints about the revelations the files must surely contain about the possible involvement of the rich and powerful in child-sex exploitation. But this week he essentially said it was old news, which was “pretty boring”, adding that “I think, really, only pretty bad people, including fake news, want to keep something like that going.”

    This is not only at odds with what he spent much of 2024 saying. It also flies in the face of what his own attorney general, Pam Bondi, said in February when she said Epstein’s client list was “sitting on [her] desk right now to review”. Now of course, the justice department says there is no list. This is not what much of his base wants to hear.

    Rob Dover, an intelligence specialist at the University of Hull who has researched conspiracy theories and the people who obsess about them, says this is a dangerous moment for the Trump presidency. He points to Maga unrest over Trump’s decision to bomb Iran and to resume military aid to Ukraine, both of which appear to contradict his pledge to keep the US out of foreign conflicts. Trump’s “big beautiful bill”, which has cut medicaid and other benefits to the poorest people in the US, will also inflict hurt on many is his base. Even his recent musing that he agrees with his health secretary’s questionable assertion that Coca-Cola should be made with sugar cane not corn syrup to “make America healthy again” is sure to anger corn farmers in the Midwest, another core Trump constituency.

    “Maga is not a uniform group in belief or action. But if Trump loses either the loyalty of some or they refuse to flex their beliefs as they have done before, it will be politically dangerous for him,” Dover concludes.



    Read more:
    Trump’s changing stance on Epstein files is testing the loyalty of his Maga base

    Trouble brewing in Bosnia

    I had the great good fortune to visit Sarajevo in December last year where I spent a few days exploring, taking a walking tour of the old town and a wider tour of the whole city which took us across the notional border with the Republika Srpska, one of the two main constituent parts of the state of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

    Sarajevo: a beautiful but troubled city.
    Julian Nyča via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-NC-SA

    The country was created by the Dayton accord, bringing an end to the ethnic conflict in the mid-1990s that saw whole populations displaced as ethnic Serbs and Croats sought to create new pure mini-states by expelling mainly Muslim Bosniaks.

    When visiting, I felt a pervading sense that the two parts of the new country sit uncomfortably next to each other – and in recent months the friction has intensified considerably. Birte Julia Gippert of the University of Liverpool, who has researched extensively the conflict in the Balkans and the attempts to bring peace to the region, explains how the situation has become so tense.



    Read more:
    Bosnia and Herzegovina in crisis as Bosnian-Serb president rallies for secession

    Why is Israel bombing Syria?

    Conflict in Syria escalated again this week, with Israeli warplanes launching airstrikes against government buildings in Damascus this week. A Netanyahu government minister, Amichai Chikli, referred to Syria’s leader, Ahmed al-Shara, as “a terrorist, a barbaric murderer who should be eliminated without delay”.

    Mixed up in all this is sectarian fighting in southern Syria was has been going on sporadically since al-Shara took power at the end of last year. But, as Ali Mamouri of Deakin University explains, Israel wants to see the emergence of a federal Syria, which the new regime has ruled out. It also want to retain influence in the region and secure its northern border with Syria.

    While a ceasefire is in place for now, Mamouri sees the situation as extremely fragile with further clashes “not only possible but highly probable”.

    World Affairs Briefing from The Conversation UK is available as a weekly email newsletter. Click here to get updates directly in your inbox.

    – ref. Will Donald Trump get Vladimir Putin (before Maga gets Trump)? – https://theconversation.com/will-donald-trump-get-vladimir-putin-before-maga-gets-trump-261416

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Peng Liyuan Attends 2025 China-US Youth Friendship Event “Connect with Gulin”

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    BEIJING, July 17 (Xinhua) — Peng Liyuan, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping, attended and delivered a speech at the 2025 China-US Youth Friendship Event “Connecting with Gulin” at the China People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries on Thursday.

    Peng Liyuan watched a video about the China-US Youth Choir Week “Connecting with Gulin” with Chinese and foreign guests. Elin MacInnis, coordinator of the American organization “Friends of Gulin,” and Luca Berrone, a friend of President Xi Jinping from the US state of Iowa, shared stories about Gulin, as well as their experiences in people-to-people exchanges and regional cooperation between China and the US. They expressed deep feelings for China, thanked President Xi Jinping for his attention to the youth of both countries, and vowed to make new contributions to promoting China-US friendship.

    Representatives of American youth shared joyful impressions of their trip to China. They expressed their desire to become ambassadors of friendship between the USA and China of the new generation and continuers of the exciting stories of friendship between the two countries.

    In her speech, Peng Liyuan noted that the century-long “Gulin story” and the deep 40-year friendship between President Xi Jinping and old friends from Iowa have become the embodiment of friendship between the Chinese and American people.

    Although the two countries have different histories, cultures and languages, the Chinese and Americans love their families, are kind, friendly, hardworking and practical, which means they are quite capable of becoming good friends and partners, the wife of the Chinese president emphasized.

    According to Peng Liyuan, in the more than a year since President Xi Jinping put forward the initiative to invite 50,000 American youth to China for exchanges and studies over the next five years, many young Americans have already visited China. They have personally experienced the real China, made new friends, and are writing new pages in the annals of Sino-American friendship.

    Stressing that young people are the future of the country and the future of friendship, Peng Liyuan called on young people to be the successors of China-US friendship, advocate for peace and friendship, build bridges of friendship between the two countries, and bring youthful energy to the bright future of China and the US.

    Before the event, Peng Liyuan met with E. McInnis and L. Barrone, expressing her gratitude to them for their long-standing dedication to the cause of China-US friendship and calling on them to make active contributions to strengthening exchanges and mutual understanding between the peoples of the two countries. –0–

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • Iceland to launch negotiations on security, defence partnership with EU

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Iceland will launch talks on a security and defence partnership with the European Union, Icelandic Prime Minister Kristrun Frostadottir said on Thursday at a joint press conference with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Keflavik.

    Frostadottir said she was hoping to conclude talks by the end of the year.

    “This is very important for us to show that we can have cooperation on critical infrastructure, civil protection, any sort of dual use defence investment and this also includes hybrid and cyber threats,” she said.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI Video: Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Iceland

    Source: European Commission (video statements)

    On 17 July 2025 Commission President Ursula von der Leyen travels to Iceland.
    Discussing in a press point with the Icelandic Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadottir.

    Follow live events and access media content here:
    https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/

    Stay updated — follow us on X: https://x.com/EC_AVService

    Follow us on:
    -X: https://twitter.com/EU_Commission
    -Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/europeancommission/
    -Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EuropeanCommission
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    -Medium: https://medium.com/@EuropeanCommission

    Check our website: http://ec.europa.eu/

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6jiuKfKNVo

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Russia views China as a priority partner in the international arena — Russian Foreign Ministry

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    Moscow, July 17 /Xinhua/ — Russia views China as a priority partner in the international arena, and the two countries’ approaches to key international issues coincide or are close, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said in response to a question from a Xinhua correspondent on Thursday.

    “We view each other as priority partners in the international arena, and the approaches of Moscow and Beijing to fundamental issues of the modern world order and key international problems coincide or are close,” she said.

    As M. Zakharova noted, the Russian-Chinese link is the main stabilizing factor in world affairs. “In conditions when the adherents of unilateralism in international relations are trying to maintain their positions, we advocate the promotion of a fair multipolar world order based on the countries of the Global South,” the Russian diplomat emphasized, adding that an important step on this path is the construction of a space of equal and indivisible security in Eurasia.

    The official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry noted that Russia and China fruitfully cooperate in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, BRICS, the Group of Twenty (G20), the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and other international formats. “We are strengthening cooperation between our countries and the countries of the Global South and East in the UN,” she added.

    According to M. Zakharova, one of the key goals of cooperation between Moscow and Beijing is to promote the reform of international architecture with a view to increasing the role of the world majority countries in the decision-making process on issues on the global agenda.

    She also recalled that the Russian foreign policy concept sets out the goal of concentrating creative efforts on those geographic vectors that have obvious prospects in terms of expanding mutually beneficial international cooperation. These, as the official representative emphasized, include the states of the Global South and East. “Many of them are noticeably raising their voices in world affairs, pursuing independent policies based on national interests,” M. Zakharova noted. –0–

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Breaking: Slovenia Declares Two Israeli Ministers Personae Non Grata

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    LJUBLJANA, July 17 (Xinhua) — The Slovenian government on Thursday declared Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich personae non gratae, claiming that the two far-right ministers are inciting violence and gross violations of Palestinian rights with their “genocidal” statements. –0–

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Poland recalls ambassador to Hungary over asylum dispute

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    BUDAPEST/WARSAW, July 17 (Xinhua) — Poland has officially recalled its ambassador to Hungary, the Polish Foreign Ministry confirmed on Thursday.

    Polish Foreign Ministry spokesman Pawel Wronski told the Polish Press Agency that the mission of Ambassador to Hungary Sebastian Kenczyk officially ended on July 15. “There is currently a temporary chargé d’affaires in Budapest,” Wronski said, signaling a reduction in the level of Poland’s diplomatic presence in Hungary.

    Warsaw described the decision as a response to a “hostile act against the Republic of Poland,” referring to Hungary’s decision to grant political asylum to former Polish Deputy Justice Minister Marcin Romanowski.

    Hungarian Foreign Affairs and Trade Ministry State Secretary Levente Magyar acknowledged the downgrade in diplomatic relations in a statement on Wednesday, expressing regret over the developments but calling them temporary.

    “This unfortunate step is the result of a gradual deterioration in our political ties – an unprecedented case in the history of our relations with any partner in Central Europe,” L. Magyar noted.

    The current case highlights the growing political rift between two countries that once closely aligned their positions on many EU policy issues. –0–

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Slovenia Declares Two Israeli Ministers Personae Non Grata

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    LJUBLJANA, July 17 (Xinhua) — The Slovenian government on Thursday declared Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich personae non gratae, claiming that the two far-right ministers are inciting violence and gross violations of Palestinian rights with their “genocidal” statements.

    Slovenian Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon noted that Slovenia was the first EU member state to take such measures against two Israeli ministers.

    The decision came after EU foreign ministers failed to reach a consensus on joint action against Israel during a meeting in Brussels on July 15.

    Slovenia, which officially recognized the State of Palestine in June 2024, criticizes Israel’s intense military operations in the Gaza Strip. Ljubljana calls on the Jewish state to immediately stop the offensive and allow rapid and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza. –0–

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Germany announces €10 million euro investment in Africa’s development

    Source: Government of South Africa

    Germany announces €10 million euro investment in Africa’s development

    German Vice-Chancellor Lars Klingbeil has announced that Germany will provide an initial contribution of €10 million towards the Group of Twenty (G20) Compact for Africa initiative, which promotes private investment in Africa.

    “This is not only a strategic investment, it is one that can boost the growth, create business opportunities and reduce pressure on public budgets in important Member States,” Klingbeil said on Thursday in Durban during the G20 Finance Track Meeting. 

    Established under the German G20 Presidency in 2017, the initiative’s primary objective is to increase attractiveness of private investment through substantial improvements of the macro, business and financing frameworks.

    Under the G20 Finance Track, the Compact for Africa is governed through the G20 Africa Advisory Group (AAG), co-chaired by Germany and South Africa. 

    The African Development Bank Group, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the World Bank Group coordinate the initiative. 

    “To help these partners, with the support of the Compact with Africa, Germany will provide an initial contribution of €10 million to the World Bank’s Trust Fund this year.

    “We are convinced that this is a worthwhile investment and we will be pleased to see other G20 members to join us, therefore, we call on all G20 partners to consider making their own contribution to the World Bank Trust Fund to help ensure the Compact’s long term success.

    “Only through our joint efforts we can truly unlock the potential of the Compact with Africa and make a lasting impact for the benefit of our African partners and the global community,” Germany’s Vice-Chancellor said.

    According to Klingbeil, Compact members have higher levels of foreign direct investments.

    “It is important to recognise the initiative’s full potential impact is still emerging, partly due to unexpected external challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic and global uncertainties.

    “This highlights the necessities for continued political and financial commitment to unlock the Compact’s full potential for sustainable and inclusive growth across Africa,” he said.

    The German Vice-Chancellor emphasised that Germany’s new government wants to deepen its engagement with South African partners.

    “We will continue to provide strong support with the Compact but more generally we also want to engage in new thinking about development partnerships.

    “The German government has committed itself to establish a new North-South Commission to set up an international forum where experts from politics, civil society, business and research can meet on a regular basis to search for new and efficient solutions. I envision the independent experts from relevant areas from all parts of the world coming together on a regular basis,” he said.

    The new German government agreed to establish a new North-South Commission to jointly suggest new North-South policies for a multipolar world.

    Klingbeil stressed the importance of the Global North and Global South working together on equal footing while also highlighting the need for equitable partnerships and mutual respect between developed and developing nations. 

    “It’s important that we don’t have a platform where the North is telling the South what to do. We have to come together on the same level to find common answers to address the challenges we are facing in the world.

    “At the same time, we will continue to make use of the existing instruments of the G20 Compact with Africa is one of them, it’s dynamic and results driven initiative that demonstrates the power of partnerships and peer to peer learning,” Klingbeil said.

    Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana indicated that the Compact for Africa has grown into a dynamic initiative that has mobilised over $191 million dollars in private capital, supported by the development of bankable projects and improved access to services for over 13.5 million people.

    “It has also fostered a peer learning network among participating countries supported by institutions like the African Centre for Economic Research and provided a structured framework for reform through regular monitoring and technical assistance.

    “As we look ahead, the success of the Compact with Africa will depend on our collective commitment. We must ensure that this initiative remains country-owned, reform driven and result orientated,” the Minister said.

    Godongwana called on governments, multilateral institutions and the private sector to create enabling conditions for sustainable development and inclusive growth.

    “Africa’s development trajectory is at a crossroad, while the continent is rich in opportunity, it continues to face significant challenges ranging from infrastructure deficit and climate vulnerability to constrained fiscal space and limited access to long term private capital

    “In this context, the compact with Africa initiative remains a promising platform for fostering reformed driven investment partnership between African countries and the private sector,” he said.

    South Africa assumed the G20 Presidency on 1 December 2024, which runs to 30 November 2025, under the theme: “Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability”. – SAnews.gov.za

    nosihle

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI USA: RELEASE: Senate Approves $9 Billion in DOGE Cut Savings for Taxpayers

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator MarkWayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma)

    Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) released the following statement on this morning’s passage of S.Amdt.2853 to H.R.4, Rescissions Act of 2025. The package targets $9 billion in taxpayer-funded public broadcasting and wasteful foreign aid:

    “This is the first step in the right direction to claw back wasteful spending and programs identified by DOGE. Oklahomans sent me to Washington to fight for them and ensure their hard-earned tax dollars are being used responsibly,” said Senator Mullin. “We have a lot of work left to do and we’re just getting started. President Trump and Senate Republicans will continue to work tirelessly to deliver for the American people.”

    Below are just 10 of the cuts made by President Trump’s 2025 Rescissions Act:

    1. $1.1 Billion for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting
    2. $500,000 for electric buses in Rwanda
    3. $6 million for “Net Zero Cities” in Mexico
    4. $8,000 for promoting vegan food in Zambia
    5. $3.3 million for civic engagement in Zimbabwe
    6. $3 million for Iraqi Sesame Street
    7. $1 million for Voter ID in Haiti
    8. $18 million to improve gender diversity in the Mexican street lighting industry
    9. $21 million on wind farms in Ukraine
    10. $882,000 to fund social media mentorship in Serbia and Belarus 

    NOTE: This first recissions package targeted one tenth of one percent of the federal budget. For additional information on S.Amdt.2853 to H.R.4, click here.

    Senator Mullin provided timely updates throughout the rescissions process in a series of social media posts, including here and here. If you missed Senator Mullin’s behind-the-scenes tours of the U.S. Capitol which he recorded last night between votes on the floor, follow @SenMullin on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a big threat to women’s health, but it’s still under-recognized, under-diagnosed and under-treated

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Jamie Benham, Endocrinologist & Assistant Professor, Departments of Medicine and Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary

    Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a hormonal imbalance that affects ovaries, periods and fertility in about one in 10 Canadian women. Different from ovarian cysts, PCOS is associated with infertility, pregnancy complications, heart disease and a general decreased quality of life, and yet fewer than half of those affected even know they have it.

    This under-recognition and under-diagnosis is a significant problem, because a recent Canadian study suggests these women are 20 to 40 per cent more likely to experience negative health outcomes during their lifetime than the general population, including hypertension (high blood pressure), kidney disease, gastrointestinal disease, eating disorders, depression and anxiety.

    Heart disease risk

    The Canadian researchers also found obesity, dyslipidemia (abnormal levels of fat in your blood) and Type 2 diabetes to be two to three times more common for women with PCOS. And most importantly, cardiovascular disease, which causes heart failure and stroke, was not only 30 to 50 per cent more likely, but occurred three to four years earlier than average in women with PCOS.

    Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, so when PCOS symptoms are missed and untreated, women’s health is at risk.

    Women with PCOS are more likely to experience negative health outcomes.
    (Photo: Colourbox.com)

    High cost

    There is undoubtedly a personal cost to individual women, both physically and mentally, and living with PCOS can be a significant financial, health-care and work-life burden for many women, too, which may disproportionately affect those in lower socioeconomic groups.

    These experiences are further compounded by a system failure to properly diagnose and manage their symptoms. Women report doctors ignoring or dismissing their concerns, not believing them and struggling to make a diagnosis. In fact, a large international survey reported it can take several months, and even several years, before women are diagnosed.

    Common PCOS symptoms

    PCOS symptoms can vary between different women, but it is important to discuss the possibility of PCOS with your doctor, because careful management and/or treatment can help protect against developing more serious related health issues. Common symptoms include:

    • Irregular periods
    • Excess body hair, called hirsutism (usually darker hair on the face, arms, chest or abdomen)
    • Thinning or loss of hair (like excess body hair, this is caused by high levels of male hormones, or androgens)
    • Acne and/or oily skin
    • Weight gain

    Managing and treating PCOS

    Despite PCOS first being diagnosed almost a century ago, there is no single test to confirm whether a woman has it, and there is no cure. If your doctor suspects you may have PCOS, they may order blood work to check your hormone levels and an ultrasound to check your ovaries.

    Unlike ovarian cysts, which are fluid-filled sacs that develop on or inside an ovary and can be painful, polycystic ovaries are enlarged, with multiple follicles that can be seen on ultrasound.

    PCOS is a chronic condition that needs lifelong management.
    (Photo: Colourbox.com)

    If PCOS is diagnosed, further testing for cholesterol and glucose levels is likely in order to manage heart disease and diabetes risk.

    Researchers also suggest ways women with PCOS can help manage their condition, which include:

    PCOS research underway

    Despite the current problems, improvement is possible, and there have been sustained efforts in recent years — all over the world — to advocate for women with this condition and invest in PCOS research.

    In 2023, an International PCOS Guideline, led from Australia, was published. It recommends an individualized approach to PCOS treatment, including lifestyle modifications (for example, healthy eating and exercising), medical management to treat symptoms and regular checkups to provide support and screen for related complications.

    In Canada, the province of Alberta recently launched a much-needed clinical pathway to recognize, treat and advocate for PCOS that could be adopted more widely.

    At the University of Calgary, Dr. Jamie Benham, one of the authors of this story, leads EMBRACE (Endocrine, Metabolic and Reproductive Advancements), a new women’s health research lab where a team of clinical researchers is focusing on reproductive disorders across the whole of a woman’s life system, including PCOS and gestational diabetes.

    This work, supporting patients’ PCOS care, includes a current online needs-assessment survey, and focus groups beginning later this year, to inform the development of a co-designed patient tool to support PCOS management.

    Patient engagement

    With such a huge demand for answers, the EMBRACE team works closely with a PCOS Patient Advisory Council, chaired by Robyn Vettese, another author of this story, to uncover complex connections between hormones and health, promote screening, find solutions and provide answers. Importantly, the lab’s research questions come directly from clinic patients, and the answers the lab finds go back to those patients and are then shared more widely.

    Other recent PCOS advocacy events include Dr. Benham’s presentation at the inaugural Sex, Gender and Women’s Health Research Hub’s Women’s Health Symposium event in Calgary, and her interview with the Libin Cardiovascular Institute.

    PCOS awareness

    Another exciting research program in Alberta is PCOS Together. Researchers with this group are working to establish methods that will detect early disease risk in all women with PCOS, as well as clinical interventions that will help prevent disease in high-risk women.

    Similar organizations exist in the United Kingdom and Australia, including Verity PCOS, a volunteer-based charity, and Ask PCOS, a researcher- and clinician-led organization. Both organizations provide a wealth of information online.

    This is a critical (albeit often overlooked) area of women’s health that needs greater awareness and attention so that we can improve and save women’s lives.

    Jamie Benham receives funding from the M.S.I. Foundation, Diabetes Canada, and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

    Robyn Vettese receives funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

    Pauline McDonagh Hull 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. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a big threat to women’s health, but it’s still under-recognized, under-diagnosed and under-treated – https://theconversation.com/polycystic-ovary-syndrome-pcos-is-a-big-threat-to-womens-health-but-its-still-under-recognized-under-diagnosed-and-under-treated-259602

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Elbows down? Why Mark Carney seems to keep caving to Donald Trump

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Sam Routley, PhD Candidate, Political Science, Western University

    Prime Minister Mark Carney has suggested a new trade deal with the United States is now most likely to include tariffs. There is, in his own words, “not a lot of evidence right now” that the Donald Trump administration is willing to stand down from imposing levies on Canadian imports.

    In making this acknowledgement, Carney has backed down from his previous insistence that Canada would “fight to bring these tariffs to an end.”

    But rather than continuing to retaliate with tariffs of its own, the government has begun to confess that such a tactic may be a losing battle.

    Carney has instead announced Canada will restrict the tariff-free import of cheap, foreign steel to help domestic manufacturers reeling from American tariffs.

    In the wake of the federal government’s recent concession on the Digital Services Tax levied against big American tech companies, it’s another indicator that — unlike the hawkish “elbows up” rhetoric used throughout the federal election campaign — the Canadian government has taken on a more conciliatory tone in advance of the Aug. 1 deadline for a new economic and security deal between Canada and the U.S..

    Dual purposes

    The timing of Carney’s comments can be interpreted two ways.

    Their first and primary purpose is about message control and the need to manage expectations. In announcing this now, the government is not only better able to keep its justification for conceding to Trump at the forefront of media narratives, but it can also prepare Canadians for any further potential concessions in the course of trade negotiations.

    The fact that these comments were made prior to a cabinet meeting could be seen as Carney’s attempt to isolate any cabinet ministers who may still favour a more aggressive stance.

    More substantively, however, the pivot is also a reflection of the realities of both Canada’s actual position vis-à-vis the U.S. and the pragmatism needed to accomplish real trade agreements.



    Read more:
    U.S. tariff threat: How it will impact different products and industries

    Although Trump is unpredictable, it increasingly seems that levies on imports are among his genuinely held and signature policy commitments. As Carney noted, the administration’s recent trade deals with both the United Kingdom and Vietnam included tariffs. And, despite the president’s talk of annexing Canada, Carney’s new stance suggests a more reasonable, albeit very costly, deal is possible — even amid Trump’s bluster.

    Still, for all the attention they’ve received, tariffs are only part of the ongoing negotiations on the economic and security deal.

    What does Trump want?

    The U.S. administration, for example, continues to justify higher tariff threats not just for economic purposes, but ostensibly to counter the illegal drug trade.

    The fact that the Canadian government has already allotted $1 billion to border defence makes it difficult to assess what would satisfy American negotiators.

    More broadly, Trump has expressed a desire to push Canada for changes in security, supply management of the dairy industry, fresh water use and access to rare earth minerals, among others.



    Read more:
    Zombie water apocalypse: Is Trump’s rhetoric over Canada’s water science-fiction or reality?

    Regardless of how the trade talks proceed in the coming weeks, though, the domestic consequences for Carney will be determined by how willing Canadians are to continue trusting and supporting him.

    On the one hand, his comments that tariff-free trade deals with the U.S. aren’t realistic could be costly given the fact that more than two-thirds of Canadians continue to favour a hard-line stance with little to no concessions on key files.

    This could result in voters viewing Carney as weak and shifting their support to other leaders. No incumbent stands to benefit from the detrimental effects on economic growth, investments and employment rate Trump’s tariffs will cause.

    But support also depends on Carney’s legitimacy. He could maintain public support despite the fact that, on paper, they oppose his actions. Taking a “hard” versus “soft” line in negotiations is itself an ambiguous and fluid set of designations.

    A major reason why Canadians elected Carney is because they viewed him as having sound personal judgment and the skill set to deal with Trump. This is why, rather than challenging the value of the decision to compromise on tariffs, the Conservatives and other opponents have focused on conveying him as an unreliable and dishonest leader.

    What’s ahead for federal politics?

    At this point, polls suggest that Canadians are generally split down the middle on Carney. While around 50 per cent of Canadians are supportive, the other half remain divided between those strongly opposed and those with a more ambiguous position.

    Could Carney win over the support of those with an unambiguous view? It seems unlikely. Leaders are the usually the most impactful when they enter office. And while rally-around-the-flag effects are real, they are short-lived. That means the long-term challenge for Carney remains maintaining the support of the voters that brought him to power.



    Read more:
    How Canadian nationalism is evolving with the times — and will continue to do so

    The Canada-U.S. relationship will continue to develop in a dynamic and unpredictable fashion, even if the economic and security deal is reached soon.

    After voters dramatically consolidated around the Liberals and Conservatives in the 2025 election, the most important question for federal Canadian politics moving forward in this shifting global environment is which electoral coalition will endure.

    Carney seeks to preserve trust, while the Conservatives search for a compelling alternative. Who will come out on top in the Trump 2.0 era?

    Sam Routley 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. Elbows down? Why Mark Carney seems to keep caving to Donald Trump – https://theconversation.com/elbows-down-why-mark-carney-seems-to-keep-caving-to-donald-trump-261304

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI: Coface SA: Coface agrees to acquire Novertur International SA (business-monitor.ch), enhancing its Business Information offer in Switzerland

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Coface agrees to acquire Novertur International SA (business-monitor.ch), enhancing its Business Information offer in Switzerland

    Paris, 17 July 2025 – 18.30

    Coface announces the signing of an agreement to acquire 100% of Novertur International SA.

    Novertur International SA, a Swiss startup based in Lausanne, has developed strong digital expertise in managing data on Swiss companies, which it distributes through its platform business-monitor.ch. Launched in 2016, the platform has become a key tool for SMEs and large companies in Switzerland for risk management and B2B prospecting. It offers simple, fast and reliable access to up-to-date information on more than 730,000 active Swiss businesses.

    The technological innovations developed by Novertur International SA – particularly in data structuring and user experience – combined with Coface’s expertise in credit risk, will significantly strengthen Coface’s Business Information offering in Switzerland.

    This acquisition strengthens the Group’s data, technical capabilities and expertise, in full alignment with its strategic plan Power the Core, which aims to enhance its high value-added services while strengthening its local presence.

    Florent Schlaeppi, CEO and Founder of business-monitor.ch, commented:

    “From day one, we designed business-monitor.ch to be intuitive, fast, and useful for anyone analyzing companies. Joining Coface is a tremendous opportunity to take our mission to the next level by putting our technology at the service of a global player in business risk.”

    Christian Moins, Country Manager Coface Switzerland, commented:

    “We are particularly excited to welcome the Business Monitor team to Coface. The acquisition of Business Monitor demonstrates Coface’s ambition to establish itself as a key player in Business Information. This transaction significantly strengthens our position in the Swiss market, making Coface an even more attractive partner for its clients. “

    The completion of the acquisition remains subject to the usual closing conditions.

    CONTACTS

    ANALYSTS / INVESTORS
    Thomas JACQUET: +33 1 49 02 12 58 – thomas.jacquet@coface.com
    Rina ANDRIAMIADANTSOA: +33 1 49 02 15 85 – rina.andriamiadantsoa@coface.com

    MEDIA RELATIONS
    Saphia GAOUAOUI: +33 1 49 02 14 91 – saphia.gaouaoui@coface.com
    Adrien BILLET: +33 1 49 02 23 63 – adrien.billet@coface.com

    FINANCIAL CALENDAR 2025
    (subject to change)
    H1-2025 results: 31 July 2025 (after market close)
    9M-2025 results: 3 November 2025 (after market close)

    FINANCIAL INFORMATION
    This press release, as well as COFACE SA’s integral regulatory information, can be found on the Group’s website: http://www.coface.com/Investors

    For regulated information on Alternative Performance Measures (APM), please refer to our Interim Financial Report for H1-2024 and our 2024 Universal Registration Document (see part 3.7 “Key financial performance indicators”).

    Regulated documents posted by COFACE SA have been secured and authenticated with the blockchain technology by Wiztrust.
    You can check the authenticity on the website www.wiztrust.com.
     

    COFACE: FOR TRADE
    As a global leading player in trade credit risk management for more than 75 years, Coface helps companies grow and navigate in an uncertain and volatile environment.
    Whatever their size, location or sector, Coface provides 100,000 clients across some 200 markets with a full range of solutions: Trade Credit Insurance, Business Information, Debt Collection, Single Risk insurance, Surety Bonds, Factoring.
    Every day, Coface leverages its unique expertise and cutting-edge technology to make trade happen, in both domestic and export markets.
    In 2024, Coface employed ~5,236 people and registered a turnover of €1.84 billion.

    www.coface.com

    COFACE SA is quoted in Compartment A of Euronext Paris
    Code ISIN: FR0010667147 / Ticker: COFA

    DISCLAIMER – Certain declarations featured in this press release may contain forecasts that notably relate to future events, trends, projects or targets. By nature, these forecasts include identified or unidentified risks and uncertainties, and may be affected by many factors likely to give rise to a significant discrepancy between the real results and those stated in these declarations. Please refer to chapter 5 “Main risk factors and their management within the Group” of the Coface Group’s 2024 Universal Registration Document filed with AMF on 3 April 2025 under the number D.25-0227 in order to obtain a description of certain major factors, risks and uncertainties likely to influence the Coface Group’s businesses. The Coface Group disclaims any intention or obligation to publish an update of these forecasts, or provide new information on future events or any other circumstance.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Bosnia and Herzegovina in crisis as Bosnian-Serb president rallies for secession

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Birte Julia Gippert, Reader in International Relations, University of Liverpool

    The country of Bosnia and Herzegovina is embroiled in a crisis that may affect its political future and the stability of the western Balkans. Recent events in the bitterly divided country read a little like a spy novel. But the tensions that threaten three decades of tenuous peace since the region was torn apart by ethnic strife in the 1990s are only too real.

    On February 26, 300 armed Hungarian police officers in civilian clothes crossed into Republika Srpska without approval from the Sarajevo state government. Republika Srpska is one of the two territorial entities that make up Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Hungarian police were there, ostensibly, to train local police.

    But they were reportedly sent to be ready to extract Republika Srpska president, Milorad Dodik, who had the same day been convicted by a Bosnian court for “separatist actions”. These included suspending rulings of the Bosnian constitutional court and refusing to publish decisions by the Bosnian high representative, which prevents them from becoming law in contravention of Bosnia’s constitution.

    He was sentenced to 12 months in prison and handed a six-year ban from all political activities. Within days of the verdict, Dodik reacted by banning all Bosnian state prosecutorial, police and court institutions from Republika Srpska, in what the Bosnian constitutional court ruled was a move to “effectively abolish state authority over part of its territory”.

    In March, Bosnia’s state court issued an arrest warrant against Dodik for ignoring a court summons over his alleged secessionist activity. In April, the Bosnian state investigation and protection agency, Sipa, attempted to arrest him in East Sarajevo, which is part of Republika Srpska.

    An armed stand-off followed between Sipa officers and local police. Eventually the Sipa officers withdrew.

    So it came as a surprise for many when Dodik and his lawyer attended a scheduled hearing for his case on July 4. The court duly lifted its arrest warrant pending further proceedings with a requirement that he report in on a periodical basis.

    Two days later, despite only being on conditional release, Dodik restated his claim for the unification of Republika Srpska with Serbia, saying: “Bosnia and Herzegovina is not a state of Serbs but only a temporary refuge.”

    The burden of history

    The state of Bosnia and Herzegovina emerged from the horrors of the Yugoslav wars in the 1990s. The country’s political form was part of the 1995 Dayton peace agreement, which was both a peace deal and a state-building blueprint.

    To accommodate, rather than solve, the tensions between the three main ethnic groups – Bosniak Muslims, Serbs and Croats – the state was divided into two entities: the Serb-majority Republika Srpska and the Bosniak-Croat Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

    Both parts of the country hold considerable autonomous powers, but are bridged by the weak federal political institutions. Like many power-sharing deals, Dayton ended the fighting but failed to build an integrated state.

    The two entities guard their autonomy fiercely. Attempts by the European Union to push for constitutional changes to pave the way to closer relations with the Bosnian state, for example by reforming the country’s police force, have been rebuffed by nationalist politicians.

    The Republika Srpska has been vocal in defence of its autonomous rights. And the most prominent voice among them has been Dodik, who consistently portrays Republika Srpska as a bulwark for Serbs against a hostile Bosnian-majority state imposing its will.

    Serbs only account for about 30% of the total population of Bosnia, and clearly chafe at the power-sharing arrangement. Ever since the Dayton accords brought a halt to the fighting, Serb nationalist politicians have toyed with the idea of a “Greater Serbia”.

    This encompasses Serbs living in Serbia, Republika Srpska and Serbia’s breakaway province in Kosovo. Dodik’s statement from July 6 has stirred up these sentiments once more, almost to the day on the anniversary of the first-ever pan-Serbian assembly held in Belgrade on June 8 2024 and co-hosted by Dodik and and the Serbian president, Aleksandar Vučić.

    At a crossroads

    Bosnia is at a crossroads. Internally divided in whether populations see their future in their past, retaining a semi-autocratic, ethno-nationalist government, or whether they see their future as a democratic, accountable and multiethnic state. The former, of course, would look to – and remain within the sphere of influence of – Russia. The latter prefer to look westward for their future.

    Bosnia, like its neighbours, is an EU candidate country. It began accession negotiations in March 2024, but many of the reforms required to meet EU accession criteria clash with Bosnia’s constitution.

    Among other things, this restricts who can join the tripartite federal presidency and the House of Peoples, the upper-chamber of the federal parliament, excluding Jews, Roma and other minorities. This would have to change for Bosnia to join.

    But the Bosnian constitution is anchored in the Dayton peace agreement, so nationalist politicians threaten that constitutional reform will endanger Bosnia’s peace and integrity.

    Embracing constitutional reforms to fulfil EU entry requirements is risky for nationalist politicians as it undercuts their ethnic powerbase. However, turning fully away from the EU, and possibly towards Russia, carries a hefty price-tag in foregone direct financial support and economic integration. So far, Dodik and Vučić have managed to somewhat balance these seemingly contradictory courses of action. However, they are facing increasing headwinds.

    Both the ongoing Serbian protests and recent polls from Bosnia showing that 70% of Bosnians (but only 50% of Bosnian Serbs) want to join the EU, question whether this course remains viable. With increased popular calls for democracy, accountability and fair elections, the recent actions by Dodik and his allies may be a reaction to these demands, rather than a separate agenda.

    An old elite desperately clinging to power? Given the political fragility of Bosnia, reform appears inevitable. But the choice is a contested one.

    One way the country breaks into its constituent parts along ethnic lines. The other prospect is that Bosnia embraces reform and progresses to become a democratic multi-ethnic state with a European future. Either way may spell turbulent times ahead.

    Birte Julia Gippert 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. Bosnia and Herzegovina in crisis as Bosnian-Serb president rallies for secession – https://theconversation.com/bosnia-and-herzegovina-in-crisis-as-bosnian-serb-president-rallies-for-secession-260618

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Hundreds of new jobs created by Sheffield manufacturing investment

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    Hundreds of new jobs created by Sheffield manufacturing investment

    Hundreds of high skilled jobs are to be created in Sheffield after Walsin Lihwa (WL) announced a major investment that boosts the UK’s steel industry and advanced manufacturing sector.

    • Vote of confidence in UK steel and manufacturing as Taiwanese investor Walsin Lihwa brings new capabilities to the UK and expands its aerospace and energy materials portfolio.
    • Hundreds of well-paid and skilled jobs to be created, delivering on the Government’s Plan for Change for economic growth and higher living standards.
    • Investment Minister, Baroness Gustafsson, visited Sheffield site today to celebrate investment.

    Hundreds of high skilled jobs are to be created in Sheffield after Taiwanese advanced manufacturing company Walsin Lihwa (WL) announced a major investment that boosts the UK’s steel industry and advanced manufacturing sector.

    The positive news will create over 200 jobs by 2028 in a first phase, and marks the first step towards the company’s plans for a major presence in the UK, with further job creation and investment expected from WL in South Yorkshire and the UK in the coming years.

    The investment from WL will establish a new superalloy forging facility and plans for a research and development centre and come through an upgrade of its existing Special Melted Products (SMP) factory in Sheffield, which will be focused on producing speciality steel and nickel parts for aerospace jet engines and energy industry products.

    Delivering on the government’s economic growth mission at the heart of the Plan for Change, the investment will create good, well-paid jobs for local workers, with average salaries expected to be over £40,000 a year.

    The news follows Deloitte’s latest survey of finance officers which has found the UK is the joint top location for investment in the world and data out this week from Make UK and BDO which finds that manufacturing in the UK has recovered to 2019, pre-pandemic, levels in every region.

    The investment is a major boost to the government’s modern Industrial Strategy which launched last month and had identified opportunities in growth-driving sectors like this as priorities for government support. A vote of confidence in South Yorkshire’s world-class strengths in advanced manufacturing, clean energy and defence, it will back the growth corridor across the northern city regions.

    Notably the investment will introduce new melting and superalloy forging capabilities – a new strategic manufacturing capability to the UK – which will reduce domestic producers’, such as Rolls Royce, reliance on imports.

    These capabilities will aid the UK’s aspirations in aerospace, steel, nuclear and defence as set out in the modern Industrial Strategy, contribute resilience towards supply shocks and will help grow Sheffield’s manufacturing sector, which was valued at £1.4bn in 2023.

    Minister for Investment Baroness Gustafsson CBE said:

    Our modern Industrial Strategy is all about having more high paid jobs in the industries of the future, in communities right around the UK. This investment is a major vote of confidence in Sheffield’s world-class manufacturing sector and couldn’t match our ambitions better.

    Our Steel Strategy later this year will set out further support we will take to boost the steel sector and encourage investments like this, and we look forward to hearing from Walsin Lihwa about their ambitious UK growth plans, delivering on our Plan for Change.

    Once the forging facility is established, WL have also set out plans to set up a research and development centre in the UK in a next phase later in the decade, focused on strengthening the company’s capabilities in materials and digital technology innovation and contributing to a growing aerospace and defence cluster in South Yorkshire.

    The centre will generate hundreds of new well-paid jobs and apprenticeships, with a range of future-proof skills and expertise in manufacturing operations, welding, melting, metallurgy, engineering, machining, material science, data analytics, and other high value career opportunities.

    The Investment Minister, Baroness Gustafsson, attended the site today with WL’s Chairman, Yu-Lon Chiao, to celebrate the investment and to hear more about the company’s plans for UK growth.

    Walsin Lihwa Chairman, Yu-Lon Chiao, said:

    The United Kingdom possesses a vast market in aerospace, energy, and nuclear power sectors that is unparalleled by Taiwan. This investment marks a significant milestone in SMP’s development and underscores Walsin Lihwa’s firm determination for global expansion strategy. 

    Looking ahead, we plan to establish an R&D centre in the UK to further strengthen our capabilities in materials and digital technology innovation, while deepening our collaborative ties with the European market to jointly promote industrial upgrading and sustainable development.

    Gareth Stace, Director-General, UK Steel, said:

    The substantial investment that Special Melted Products is making in expanding its capability and capacity is tremendous news for local people, and UK plc.  This is sign of trust in British steelmaking and manufacturing, pushing forward valuable investment plans and establishing skilled careers.  Special Melted Products plans mean we are onshoring supply chains for industry giants like Rolls Royce, meaning investment goes directly back into UK jobs and the economy.

    South Yorkshire’s Mayor, Oliver Coppard said:

    Walsin Lihwa choosing to invest in SMP and build their new research and development centre in South Yorkshire is a huge vote of confidence in our region’s talent, innovation and expertise, and the advanced manufacturing ecosystem we’re creating here. 

    I promised to build a bigger and better economy in South Yorkshire, creating good jobs in the industries of the future. So I’m proud my office has been able to provide support that has helped to unlock this major investment, offering new jobs and opportunities, and bolstering our world leading steel industry. 

    We have always been known for our strengths in cutting-edge manufacturing technologies and industrial excellence. Walsin Lihwa’s investment builds on our legacy, reaffirming South Yorkshire’s place at the heart of UK high-value manufacturing and innovation.

    Cllr Tom Hunt, Leader of Sheffield City Council, said:

    This significant investment in Sheffield’s advanced manufacturing sector is a major milestone for our city and strengthens our global reputation for innovation and excellence.

    The investment is a strong sign of recognition in our city’s capabilities, talent, and ambition. It will create new high-quality local jobs and training opportunities as next generation technologies are developed in Sheffield. We look forward to continuing to work closely with Walsin and Special Melted Products long into the future.

    Notes to editors:

    • Advanced Manufacturing, Clean Energy and Defence are three of eight growth-driving sectors in the UK Government’s modern Industrial Strategy: a 10-year plan to make it quicker and easier for businesses to invest in the UK, provide them with certainty and stability to make long term decisions and ensure they benefit from the UK’s openness to the world.
    • Information on recent government actions to support the steel sector can be found here.
    • You can find all our recent and upcoming announcements relating to the Steel Strategy on our GOV.UK Collection page
    • Deloitte’s latest survey of UK Chief Financial Officers can be found here.
    • Make UK and BDO’s annual Regional Manufacturing Outlook report can be found here.
    • Walsin Lihwa will confirm the total investment figure in the coming weeks.

    Updates to this page

    Published 17 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Engines of AI primed to accelerate new breakthroughs, economic growth, and transform the UK into an AI maker

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    Engines of AI primed to accelerate new breakthroughs, economic growth, and transform the UK into an AI maker

    The government’s new Compute Roadmap will harness AI to deliver on the UK’s national priorities under the Plan for Change.

    New Compute Roadmap to boost AI breakthroughs.

    • UK to develop new medical cures and tools to cut emissions by delivering the processing power needed to fuel AI on British shores.  
    • Projects supporting the government’s Plan for Change – particularly on economic growth and building a better NHS will be prioritised access, with the UK’s most powerful supercomputer coming online from today. 
    • Edinburgh also set to become the first National Supercomputing Centre, while Scotland and Wales are poised for billions in private investment and thousands of new jobs as future sites of AI Growth Zones. 

    Artificial Intelligence will be used to deliver the UK’s national priorities under  the government’s Plan for Change and position the country as an AI maker rather than an AI taker – accelerating economic growth and transforming public services, as a new strategy looks to bolster the country’s compute capacity to power new breakthroughs in AI.  

    Businesses and researchers use compute – essentially the computer chips that process huge amounts of data – to train and build AI models or process prompts and questions through AI to discover everything from new drugs which treat and beat diseases to new tools to tackle climate change. Demand for cutting-edge compute power is already expected to surge by 5.7x between now and 2035, with the government taking vital steps to ensure the UK can stay ahead of the curve as the technology develops.  

    Published today (Thursday 17 July), the Compute Roadmap will deliver on the £1 billion set aside in the Spending Review to increase the UK’s compute infrastructure – allowing us to drive forward AI development on our own terms to ensure the technology can deliver for the British people. This will mean reducing our reliance on foreign computing power to deliver the transformations which will improve public services and help to fix the foundations of the economy. The Roadmap also builds on the ambition of the 10-year infrastructure strategy and the Modern Industrial Strategy to put the government’s vision into action – increasing investment and growing the industries of the future.

    Compute is the raw processing power that drives AI’s development. Without enough power, we cannot deliver the breakthroughs to treat and beat diseases, make industries cleaner and greener, or find new ways to fight climate change. To help deliver on these shared national priorities, we will expand the UK’s AI Research Resource (AIRR) twenty-fold over the next 5 years. The system, delivered in partnership with UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), Nvidia, HPE,  Dell Technologies and Intel, brings together the country’s most powerful supercomputers – Isambard-AI based in Bristol and Dawn in Cambridge.  

    The Technology Secretary flicked the switch on the Isambard supercomputer at its formal launch in Bristol today, meaning the AI Research Resource (AIRR) is now fully up and running - transforming the UK’s public compute capacity by being able to process in one second what it would take then entire global population 80 years to achieve. When the AIRR’s planned expansion is complete in the coming years, it will be vastly more powerful than the world’s current leading supercomputers. 

    University College London researchers are already using Isambard to line up pioneering AI tools which could revolutionise NHS cancer screening. Using prostate cancer as its initial test case, they are harnessing the system to develop one of the first scalable AI models dedicated to medical imaging – using AI to analyse MRI scans and identify patients in need of treatment sooner.  

    Secretary of State for Science, Innovation, and Technology Peter Kyle said:  

    Britain has top of the class talent in AI and our plan will put a rocket under our brilliant researchers, scientists, and engineers – giving them the tools they need to make Britain the best place to do their work.

    This will mean we can harness the technology in Britain to transform our public services, drive growth, and unlock new opportunities for every community in the country.

    Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, said:

    We are harnessing the power of AI to transform our public services, drive innovation and fuel economic growth that puts money in people’s pockets.

    As technology advances, our Plan for Change is ensuring we are ahead of the curve, expanding our sovereign AI capabilities so we can make scientific breakthroughs, equip businesses with new tools for growth, and create new jobs across the country.

    The AIRR will see the UK’s compute capacity increase to 420 AI exaFLOP by 2030 – the equivalent of one billion people spending 13,316 years doing what the full AIRR will do in one second. That means all one billion people would have needed to start calculating more than 8,000 years before Stonehenge was built, without taking a break. Projects that matter most to the UK and align with national priorities will be prioritised access to the AIRR to help deliver the Plan for Change - as well as those which will have a real-world impact and deliver breakthroughs that change lives and grow the economy. 

    Researchers at the University of Liverpool meanwhile have been using Isambard to develop their EIMCRYSTAL system. Their model harnesses AI to speed up the discovery of new chemical reactions for use in industry, sifting through 68 million chemical combinations to find new solutions which will decarbonise British industry to make it greener, cleaner, and more sustainable. Isambard is already supporting other areas of highly ambitious AI research. The Sovereign AI Unit has launched an early pilot supporting academic researchers in AI for biosciences, foundational AI research, and advanced materials. These will be some of the most compute-intensive training runs that academics have carried out on UK infrastructure. 

    Working alongside the AI Research Resource, a network of National Supercomputing Centres will also be set up across the country – with the first based in Edinburgh, the future home of the UK’s most powerful research supercomputer. These will work as dedicated centres of expertise, connecting users not only with access to cutting-edge processing power, but catalysing greater collaboration between industry, academia, and researchers. They will help to build stronger links with existing talent in their regions – giving all areas of the country a supporting role in the UK’s ability to be an AI maker.  

    To further support the UK’s AI sovereignty ambitions, the Sovereign AI Unit has been established in the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology, backed with £500 million of funding. Strengthening the UK’s domestic AI capabilities, including by developing the UK’s compute ecosystem, will be a key focus for the unit. 

    The strategy set out today and the work of the Sovereign AI Unit will ensure the UK can roll out the next generation of champions in compute technology – sparking the creating of leaders in a range of fields to put British innovation and expertise on the map. 

    Today’s Compute Roadmap also puts Scotland and Wales in the frame to benefit from billions in private investment and thousands of new jobs as future homes to AI Growth Zones. These dedicated AI hotbeds offer accelerated planning permissions to speed up the roll-out of data centres, which will be powered by responsible and cutting-edge energy sources like small modular reactors (SMRs). 

    AI Growth Zones will not only deliver the infrastructure we need but also support the technology’s evolution in a range of other areas. These will include R&D and Innovation Platforms, Adoption Testbeds and taking on a role as skills and talent hubs which will give people the tools they need to develop, use, and work with the technology. Further details of where these Growth Zones will be based in Wales and Scotland will be confirmed in due course.   

    Capitalising on the ambition of today’s announcements, the Technology Secretary is also launching a dedicated AI for Science strategy. This will set out the clear steps the government will take forward to cement the UK’s position as a global leader in AI-enabled science breakthroughs, explore ways to boost adoption of the technology across the science sector and spark new commercial opportunities created by AI for science. 

    An expert group of senior academics, industry leaders and representatives of science institutions will advise on the strategy:

    • Alison Noble CBE FRS, Vice-President of the Royal Society and Professor of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Oxford.
    • Antony Rowstron, Chief Technical Officer at the Advanced Research and Invention Agency.
    • Charlotte Deane, Executive Chair of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and Professor of Structural Bioinformatics at the University of Oxford.
    • Chris Bishop, FRS FREng FRSE and Technical Fellow, Microsoft Research AI for Science.
    • Pushmeet Kohli, VP, Science and Strategic Initiatives, Google DeepMind.

    Published in the Autumn, the strategy will help to accelerate the pace of scientific discovery through AI, maximising its potential to drive innovation and growth.  

    The roadmap set out today lays the groundwork for a golden age for British AI – supporting innovation, growth, and new opportunities in all sectors of the economy. It is a plan which delivers certainty to researchers, industry, and investors alike, cementing the UK’s position as a world leader in artificial intelligence.  

    Reaction to today’s announcements

    On the Compute Roadmap

    Josh Payne, CEO, Nscale said:

    Nscale strongly welcomes the UK Government’s compute roadmap.

    As the only full stack sovereign AI infrastructure provider in the UK, we are delighted that the Government recognises the importance of sovereign capability in this area.

    We look forward to working with the Government and our partners to deliver this ambitious agenda.

    Professor Sir Peter Mathieson, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Edinburgh said:

    To be named the UK’s first national supercomputing centre is a significant recognition of the University of Edinburgh’s longstanding leadership in advanced computing. For more than thirty years, we have hosted the UK’s national supercomputer and further developed our globally respected expertise in computer science and artificial intelligence.         The new designation as the first national supercomputing centre will provide new opportunities for research and innovation across the UK, attracting further investment and talent. We look forward to working alongside the UK government and partners to bring this ambitious plan to life.

    Carolyn Dawson OBE, CEO of Founders Forum Group and Tech Nation:  

    We know the UK’s AI ecosystem is brimming with talent and ambition, but to lead globally, we must anchor this ambition in cutting-edge, sovereign compute infrastructure.

    Bold investment in compute power is exactly what’s required to accelerate innovation and secure a leading role for Britain in the global AI race. By bringing together world-class supercomputers in partnership with industry leaders like Nvidia and Intel, and expanding access through National Supercomputing Centres and AI Growth Zones in Scotland and Wales, this roadmap demonstrates the UK’s ambition to shape the future of AI.

    Julian David OBE, CEO of techUK, said: 

    This ambitious roadmap, underpinned by actions with dates for delivery, shows that the UK Government is serious in its ambition to deliver innovative and real-world impact through transformative AI, compute and cloud technologies.

    We are particularly encouraged to see alignment between compute recommendations and AI Growth Zones – a vital move to better connect expertise, support UK innovators, and maximise the value of UK research and innovation. 

    While there are still certain aspects to be explored, such as how these Growth Zones will develop the testbeds and platforms to help the most innovative emerging tech businesses grow and scale, techUK remains committed to working with government and our members to build on this ambition to power the next generation of AI.

    Walter Goodwin, founder and CEO of Fractile, said: 

     >I wholeheartedly welcome the Compute Roadmap. The Roadmap is a joined up strategy that will both drive an immediate expansion of AI compute capacity in the UK, but further will ultimately see pull-through of breakthrough AI compute platforms being built by UK semiconductor companies, like Fractile’s AI accelerators, into widespread commercial deployment. > > This will close the loop on sustainable sovereign compute capacity and ensure the UK will be an AI compute maker, not just a taker.

    On the AI for Science Strategy

    Dr Antony Rowstron, CTO of ARIA, said:

    I’ve built my career at the intersection of computing and science, and seen firsthand how the right technological leap can redefine what’s possible. AI represents just such a leap – a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to transform the speed of research and invention.

    I’m looking forward to bringing that experience, and my perspective from ARIA, to help put the UK at the forefront of this revolution.

    Chris Bishop, FRS FREng FRSE and Technical Fellow, Microsoft Research AI for Science said: 

    I personally believe that scientific discovery represents the most important and promising opportunity for AI in our generation. The consequences are far-reaching, from the discovery of life-saving drugs to the efficient design of sustainable materials.

    I am therefore delighted to participate, alongside other leading experts, in the new government strategic advisory panel on AI for Science. Together, I know that we will ensure that the UK remains at the forefront of AI development, in an area that is key to the future success of our society.

    Pushmeet Kohli, VP, Science and Strategic Initiatives, Google DeepMind said:  

    Science can help us address some of humanity’s greatest challenges, from climate change to disease.

    I’m excited to collaborate with the UK government and other industry leaders, experts and academics to help the nation leverage AI to accelerate scientific progress, and build upon the UK’s strong history of scientific leadership.

    Professor Alison Noble, Vice-President of the Royal Society, said:  

    The Royal Society welcomes the government’s commitments to growing the UK’s computing power and AI research resources. Today’s launch of the government’s AI for Science Strategy is an important step to advance the responsible use of AI across scientific disciplines. 

    From drug discovery to robot-assisted laboratories, AI is already reshaping how science is done and enabling new discoveries that were previously out of reach. To fully realise its benefits, we must ensure that advances in speed and scale do not come at the expense of rigour, transparency, or trust.

    By embedding principles of openness, reproducibility, and collaboration, this strategy could help ensure AI-based science has a strong foundation.

    Charlotte Deane, Executive Chair of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and Professor of Structural Bioinformatics at the University of Oxford said: 

    AI will completely change the way research is done, from the way we ask questions to the questions we can ask. It has the power to transform so many areas across science and innovation, and we need to ensure that the UK is at the forefront of this change.

    It is an exciting time to be involved in driving the potential of AI in science and for me an honour to be part of trying to make this change happen.

    DSIT media enquiries

    Email press@dsit.gov.uk

    Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 6pm 020 7215 3000

    Updates to this page

    Published 17 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Devolution plans move forward 17 July 2025 Devolution plans move forward

    Source: Aisle of Wight

    Plans to create a new Mayoral County Combined Authority (MCCA) for the region have reached a new stage, following confirmation from the government that it will proceed with the necessary legislation.

    Southampton City Council, Portsmouth City Council, Hampshire County Council, and the Isle of Wight Council are working closely with government on the legislative framework that will underpin the new powers to formally establish the new MCCA.

    The aim is to transfer certain powers and funding to the local level, focusing on areas such as transport, housing, infrastructure, and economic development.

    If agreed by the authorities and then approved by Parliament, elections for the new Mayor will take place in May 2026.

    Today’s (Thursday) announcement follows the introduction of the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill to Parliament last week.

    The government’s Devolution Priority Programme aims to create Mayoral Strategic Authorities across the country.

    These bodies would take on responsibilities currently managed by national departments, while existing local councils would continue to deliver day-to-day services.

    The Isle of Wight was included in the fast-track phase of the programme earlier this year.

    It is important to note that the creation of a Mayoral County Combined Authority is not the same as Local Government Reorganisation (LGR), which is a separate process currently running in parallel.

    The proposed MCCA would not replace or merge existing councils. Instead, it would operate as a strategic regional body, led by a directly elected Mayor, with new powers and funding devolved from central government.

    Local councils, including the Isle of Wight Council, would continue to deliver local services as they do now.

    Council leader, Councillor Phil Jordan, said: “I welcome the announcement from government on devolution. They have set out their approach to what they see as opportunities of additional funding and transfer of powers from Westminster heralding a new approach to localised services and decision making.

    “Working with our area partners, and this includes on crucial cross-Solent travel issues, we are committed to improving the community that is the Isle of Wight.

    “The councils involved continue to work together, as well as with government, in moving forward to understand the legal and procedural steps.”

    Isle of Wight councillors will have the opportunity to review and consider any proposed devolution arrangement later in the year.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Security: NATO Deputy Secretary General discusses a stronger and fairer NATO, and deterring aggression, at LANDEURO symposium

    Source: NATO

    On Thursday (17 July 2025), NATO Deputy Secretary General Radmila Shekerinska addressed the LANDEURO symposium of The Association of the United States’ Army, discussing the role of the Allies’ armed forces and industry in deterring aggression.

    Thank you, General Brown.

    And good afternoon, everyone.

    It’s great to be here in Wiesbaden, home to the US Army’s Europe and Africa Headquarters.

    And a critical hub for America’s efforts to ensure stability across the region, but also beyond.

    Wiesbaden also houses our NATO command, the Security Assistance and Training command for Ukraine.

    With hundreds of personnel from NATO and partner countries who work hard, every day.

    To support Ukraine and to coordinate thousands of movements of military supplies, so that Ukraine can fight for it’s freedom, for peace, and for security.

    So what a better place to discuss the role of our armed forces and industry in deterring aggression.

    Let me start by thanking the organisers, the Association of the United States’ Army, for bringing us together to discuss this and many other important topics.

    Less than a month ago, leaders of all Allied nations gathered for the NATO Summit in The Hague.

    And they all had one clear objective.

    How to keep one billion people living in NATO countries safe today.

    And how to deter any possibility of aggression in the future.

    How to make sure that our Alliance can fulfil and I would say continue, in the next 75 and more years, to fulfil our sacred mission.

    What we saw in The Hague at the NATO Summit was bold decisions from our political leaders.

    A strong demonstration of our transatlantic unity and resolve.

    Allies have managed to agree on a very ambitious Defence Investment Plan, a new one, The Hague one,

    to invest 5 percent of GDP for our security by 2035.

    And this really is a game-changer.

    And I shouldn’t be saying this in this room, because you can understand how much of an impact will this have for our deterrence and our defence.

    It will massively increase NATO’s strength and war-fighting capabilities.

    And it will definitely ensure that we continue what we do best, and this is deliver peace, but through strength.

    At least 3.5% of GDP out of the 5% target will be spent on so called core miliary requirements.

    They will be spend on what one can say is the heavy metal of our armed forces — many of you here today.

    And this is the heavy metal that you all need to deter and defend.

    Among all these capability requirements that all Allies have agreed to even a month before the Hague Summit,

    What we have included in this number is a five-fold increase of our air and missile defence systems,

    thousands more armoured vehicles and tanks,

    and millions more artillery shells,

    and drones, and air jets.

    All these things contribute to the capability targets that we need, and the capability targets that require 3.5% of GDP so that they can be financed in due time.

    At the same time, Allies agreed to spend 1.5% of GDP on defence and security related expenses.

    This means more money to support our militaries and societies to become more secure.

    In a world where microchips matter as much as the latest missiles every part of our society and our economy must step up for security.

    From strong cyber defences to secure supply chains.

    From greater resilience to more investment in roads, railways and ports for the sake of our defence plans.

    This is all about making sure that we can get our forces to the right place at the right time, but equipped with the right capabilities.

    It’s also about responding to the world as it is now, not as we wish it to be.

    Preparing for war costs money, 5% is a lot of money.

    But not preparing for it will cost us far more, both in terms of money and in terms of lives. We are no longer fighting wars of choice, where everything is plannable and we set the timetable.

    It is our adversaries that are setting the pace of production and defining the moment.

    Russia is rearming faster than many people have imagined.

    It is enabled by Chinese technology, Iranian drones, and North Korean missiles but also boots on the ground.

    What’s more, Putin has shown that he will not hesitate to use military force to achieve his goals.

    China is also carrying out its own massive military modernisation.

    It is rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal, completely unconstrained by any arms control agreements.

    It is flexing its muscles in the South China Sea and sharpening its tools of economic coercion in the Euro-Atlantic.

    And while all this is happening, we also cannot underestimate the persistent instability in the Middle East,

    divisive rhetoric in the Western Balkans,

    and the ongoing threats of terrorism.

    So as the world becomes more dangerous, more turbulent,

    NATO must become stronger, fairer and, and this is the right place to use the word, more lethal.

    To leave no adversary in any doubt that we will do what it takes to protect and defend each other.

    A couple of weeks ago, we bid a fond farewell to General Cavoli, who as you know wore two hats.

    He was both NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander, our SACEUR, but also Commander of the US’s European forces.

    And let me use this opportunity to say that he has played really a fundamental role in transforming the Alliance, even prior to the NATO Summit.

    He has really supported us in fostering a stronger bond between NATO’s Supreme Allied Headquarters in Mons, SHAPE, and the United States’ European Command in Stuttgart.

    General Cavoli made sure that we have robust regional plans to defend every inch of Allied territory.

    And that we continue to modernise NATO’s multi-domain warfighting capabilities.

    From the seabed to outer space, we cannot afford to have any weak links.

    The conflicts in Ukraine, but also the instability and the conflicts in the Middle East have transformed modern warfare.

    In Ukraine, we have seen tactics and trench-warfare from the last world wars, combined with the completely new technology from the next.

    Ukraine has pioneered the use of drones, I was able to see remarkable examples for this, but not only in the air domain.

    But also to neutralise the threat of the Russian army in the Black Sea.

    And to strike Russian military targets far beyond the frontlines.

    Both Russia and Ukraine have carried out kinetic and non-kinetic attacks — across land, sea, air, cyber and information space — and all of this simultaneously.

    This was done to certain extent in devastating ways.

    And we need to therefore think differently about how we operate.

    Not in silos — but really seamlessly across all domains — and at the same time.

    So when we develop our capabilities, this is the thinking, this is the logic.

    This is the philosophy that we have to take into account.

    We also need to think about how we integrate the latest technologies with conventional capabilities to gain the maximum effect.

    And this was very much what SACEUR and SACT worked on in the last years.

    But this is why we were also delighted to welcome General Alexus Grynkewich as our new Supreme Allied Commander.

    He has championed innovation and developed cutting-edge capabilities for our armed forces.

    His appointment demonstrates the United States’ ironclad commitment to our shared security.

    As America continues to put forward its brightest and best in service of the United States of America, but also in the service of the Alliance.

    At the Summit, we heard really strong statements from the US leadership, from President Trump, but also from the two Secretaries and all the representatives.

    How dedicated and how committed they are to NATO and to our collective defence.

    The US continues to stand foursquare with its NATO Allies.

    Because it is good for America’s security and it is vital for the transatlantic security.

    The US has played and continues to play an indispensable role in our Alliance.

    Providing critical enablers, reinforcements, and of course its nuclear deterrence – the ultimate guarantor of our security.

    At the same time, America’s Allies, European and Canada, are stepping up.

    All Allies, all 32 of them, will spend 2 percent of GDP on defence this year, as we have agreed time ago in Wales.

    And many are already going much further and much faster.

    Some of them have stepped up and approached 5% even before the Summit. And this is remarkable leadership.

    They are making sure that we have collectively what we need to deter and defend.

    That’s why the other major focus of the Summit in The Hague was defence production.

    Because cash alone does not deter our adversaries. It does not by itself provide security.

    But concrete capabilities do.

    Our adversaries won’t be deterred just because of our statements, because of our pledges, because of our words.

    But by strong defences, well-equipped troops, and the latest weapons systems.

    This is why the Secretary General has been tireless in his efforts to engage not only with Allied leaders or with the militaries, but also with defence industries on both sides of the Atlantic.

    He has been urging them to open new production lines, put in the extra shifts, really ramp up production.

    But also to boost innovation and come up with capabilities that are actually meaningful today and tomorrow.

    And they are.

    They are really prepared for this game-changing environment around us.

    Across the Alliance, industry has opened hundreds of new production lines and expanded existing ones.

    We are now on course to produce more ships, more planes and ammunition than we have done in decades.

    But we still need to do more.

    NATO Allies today are home to world-class defence companies – some of them present today here with us – the best researchers, and the most innovative entrepreneurs.

    But we need to do these things more, better and faster to drive even more production both on the American but also on the European side of the Atlantic.

    And, again, we need to think differently about how and who we partner with.

    This means working with everyone from the defence primes to civilian start-ups to integrate the latest technologies into our defence.

    But it also means working together not among us in the Alliance, but also with our partners, from Ukraine, European Union, to the Indo-Pacific. All of them joined us for the Hague Summit and we agreed to do more, together, including or especially focusing on defence production.

    There is so much we can learn from Ukraine, and we already are learning.

    We have opened a new joint centre in Poland, the so-called JATEC [the NATO-Ukraine Joint Analysis, Training and Education Centre] to do that exactly. To help Ukraine, but also, in the same way use the experience so that we can create stronger deterrence and defence.

    We are also determined to work even more closely with our partners — Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea — including on defence production.

    They are the source of so many of today’s cutting-edge capabilities.

    Ladies and gentlemen,

    NATO is the strongest and most successful defensive Alliance in history of mankind.

    We have done that. We have secured. We have protected one billion citizens.

    Because we combine the finest armed forces, with the most innovative economies.

    And because of our solemn promise to protect and defend each other.

    So this sense of unity, solidarity, joint work is very strong and continues to be very important for us.

    So let me end by thanking all of you here for the vital role you have played in our security.

    I know I can count and we can count on you to keep our Alliance strong and our one billion people safe.

    Thank you very much for your attention and I look forward to our discussions.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Landsbankinn hf.: Landsbankinn’s results for the first half of 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • Landsbankinn’s profit in the first half of 2025 amounted to ISK 18.3 billion after tax, ISK 10.4 billion thereof in the second quarter. 
    • Annualised ROE was 11.5% as compared with 10.5% for the same period the previous year. 
    • The net interest margin as a ratio of average total asset position was 2.9% and the net interest margin of domestic households was 2.1% during the period. 
    • Net interest income amounted to ISK 32.5 billion and net fee and commission income was ISK 6.2 billion.  
    • TM’s performance in the period 28 February to 30 June 2025 from insurance contracts was ISK 925 million, thereof ISK 655 million in the second quarter. The combined ratio of TM, 93.2%, is the combined claims ratio, cost-income ratio and reinsurance ratio calculated based on income from insurance contracts in the first half of 2025. 
    • The cost-income ratio was 35.8%, compared with 33.1% for the same period of 2024. 
    • The total capital ratio was 24.0% at the end of the period. The Financial Supervisory Authority (FSA) of the Central Bank of Iceland sets the total capital requirement at 20.4%. 
    • In February, the Bank finalised the sale of Additional Tier 1 securities (AT1) in the amount of USD 100 million. This was the Bank’s inaugural AT1 issuance. The Bank also issued senior non-preferred bonds in the amount of NOK 500 million and SEK 1,300 million. There was considerable over-demand for the bonds. 
    • The Bank’s AGM on 19 March 2025 approved payment of a dividend of ISK 18.9 million to shareholders. Total dividend paid by the Bank since 2013 will amount to ISK 210.6 billion at the end of the year. 
    • Settlement of the purchase by Landsbankinn of TM tryggingar hf. and delivery took place 28 February 2025 and the Bank assumed operation of the company as of that date. The Annual General Meeting of TM, held on 29 April 2025, approved a motion from the Board of Directors to pay a dividend to shareholders for the operating year 2024 in the amount of ISK 2.5 million.   
    • At the end of April, the international rating agency S&P Global Ratings announced an upgrade of the Bank’s credit rating, from BBB+ to A-. This is the highest credit rating Landsbankinn has achieved since 2014, when S&P started rating the Bank. 

    Lilja Björk Einarsdóttir, CEO of Landsbankinn: 

     “The Bank’s strong half-year results reflect its solid position. A broad range of services contributes to stable and sound operations, and continuous improvements enhance customer satisfaction. Significant market volatility in the past three months has impacted returns from investment assets but fee and commission income increased year-over-year. Defaults have not increased despite persistently high interest rates, which is encouraging. 

    There has been a noticeable slowdown in the Bank’s mortgage lending, alongside reduced demand for non-indexed mortgages. On the other hand, corporate lending has grown steadily. There is strong growth in deposits and market funding has also been successful. The Bank’s issuance of EUR 300 million in green bonds in June was at the most favourable terms it has received in many years, following an upgrade to the Bank’s credit rating. With this issuance, all of the Bank’s general bond issues in euros are now green. 

    The integration of TM into the Landsbankinn group is progressing well. We have made several organisational changes and operations to best leverage the group’s strengths and the results so far are promising. Our focus is on increasing TM’s market share in the insurance sector by boosting insurance sales through Landsbankinn’s distribution network, as well as maintaining TM’s strong customer relationships, particularly with corporate clients. 

    Landsbankinn recently advertised for sale the beautiful and historic building at Austurstræti 11, along with three adjacent properties. The sales process has not yet concluded and emphasis is being placed on conducting it carefully and professionally. The Bank has a long-standing history in the city centre, as does TM, which in June moved its main office operations back down-town, to Kalkofnsvegur. At the same time, 24 TM employees transferred to the Bank and TM’s branch was merged with Landsbankinn’s branch at Reykjastræti 6. As is the case with Landsbréf, TM shares various services with Landsbankinn. Close cooperation within the group is key to achieving success and continuing to provide excellent customer service. By leveraging all our strengths to support our customers, we contribute to a prosperous future for them and for society as a whole.” 

    Landsbankinn’s financial calendar 

    • Q3 2025 23 October 2025 
    • Annual results 2025 29 January 2026 

    For further information contact:

    Public Relations, pr@landsbankinn.is

    Investor Relations, ir@landsbankinn.is

    Attachments

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Young Kim Introduces Bill to Strengthen Global Telecommunications Security 

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Young Kim (CA-39)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representatives Young Kim (CA-40) and Bill Keating (MA-09) introduced the Securing Global Telecommunications Act to promote secure, trusted telecommunications infrastructure around the world.

    “For too long, the Chinese Communist Party has held the reins on global telecommunications networks—surveilling citizens, cutting off countries’ internet access, and promoting its authoritarian agenda,” said Rep. Young Kim, who serves as chairwoman of the House Foreign Affairs East Asia and Pacific Subcommittee. “We must work with our allies and partners to protect the technologies the world relies on each day from the CCP. I’m proud to lead this bipartisan bill with Congressman Keating and will keep fighting to ensure the United States leads in securing telecommunications infrastructure.”

    “Today, we are reintroducing a bipartisan bill to strengthen our cybersecurity defenses and counter those who seek to exploit our telecommunications networks,” said Ranking Member Keating. “Every day, cybercriminals and hostile actors from Russia, China, Iran, and elsewhere target our critical infrastructure and that of our allies and partners. This legislation helps ensure that the United States can continue to promote the use of secure telecommunication infrastructure around the world.”

    The Securing Global Telecommunications Act would support U.S. efforts to safeguard telecommunications infrastructure globally by requiring the State Department to: 

    • Establish a comprehensive strategy to promote secure telecommunications infrastructure, including mobile networks, data centers, and 6G and emerging technologies, around the world; 
    • Report to Congress on Chinese and Russian efforts to advance their interests at the International Telecommunications Union (ITU); 
    • Identify key opportunities for multilateral collaboration to strengthen and protect trusted telecommunications infrastructure abroad. 

    Rep. Kim introduced this bill alongside Representative Kathy Manning (NC-06) in the 118th Congress, and it passed the House on September 10, 2024. 

    Learn more about the bill HERE.  

    MIL OSI USA News –