NewzIntel.com

Category: Europe

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New sensory room for Little Explorers

    Source: City of Portsmouth

    The new sensory room features musical touch pads, liquid floor tiles, soft blocks and shapes, calming sensory lighting, a trampoline, a mini climbing wall, and much more. It offers an engaging environment where children can interact, explore, and enjoy sensory-rich activities.

    This latest addition complements Exploria’s original sensory room, which remains a popular attraction, offering exciting lights, sounds, and interactive touch features.

    Designed in partnership with occupational therapists from Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, the new sensory room has been created with accessibility in mind, ensuring it meets the needs of all Little Explorers, including those with additional needs.

    Entry to both sensory rooms is included in Exploria’s weekly SEN Play and SEN Play & Bounce sessions, as well as Play & Bounce and Weekday Play sessions for under-2s and 2-8-year-olds.

    Cllr Steve Pitt, Leader of Portsmouth City Council, said:
    “It’s great we’ve been able to provide a second sensory room at Exploria. It will give even more children access to a space designed to encourage learning, play, and social interaction in a safe and engaging environment.”

    On behalf of BH Live, Rob Cunningham, Director of Leisure and Business Development shared: “The new sensory room is a fantastic addition to Exploria’s fun-filled facilities. We hope this will encourage more young people across the city to explore what’s on offer at the centre, creating a safe space for visitors to learn and play.”

    Play & Bounce sessions are also included in selected BH Live Active Family and Junior membership packages. Sessions can be booked online at exploria.org.uk.

    ENDS

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Case on alleged irregularities at EUAA officially closed

    Source: European Asylum Support Office

    In 2022, an article was published in the press regarding an anonymous letter alleging irregularities in the management of the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA). The Executive Director, Nina Gregori, and the Senior Management of the EUAA, strongly refuted all allegations of irregularities mentioned in this anonymous letter. 

    The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) opened an investigation in this respect and the EUAA fully collaborated with OLAF and other control bodies. 

    At the end of 2024, OLAF sent their Final Report and Recommendations to the Chair of the EUAA Management Board.

    The EUAA Management Board is composed of 29 members from all EU Members States (27) and European Commission (2), and has the duty to supervise and ensure that the Agency’s functions are in full compliance with the principle of transparency, good governance, and efficiency. 

    In this role, the EUAA Management Board collectively examined all the information at their disposal, paying due attention to the context and circumstances, the explanations provided and the applicable legal framework. The Management Board also recognised that the concerns raised in the anonymous letter had largely already been checked by the European Courts of Auditors, the Internal Audit Service of the European Commission and the European Ombudsman and were already appropriately addressed.

    The EUAA Management Board has decided not to initiate disciplinary proceedings against the EUAA Executive Director, or any other staff in the Agency, but to avail itself of the possibility set out in Article 3(1)(b) of Annex 9 of the Staff Regulations, together with recommendations, in a letter, to ensure that the efficiency of certain procedures will be further increased, and the overall Human Resources administration will be more broadly strengthened.

    With that, this case is officially closed. 

    The EUAA and its Executive Director respect the decision of the Management Board and will address any identified recommendations for further improvement. The EUAA will continue delivering on its mandate at a critical time when the Agency’s products, services, and support to Member States have become crucial as preparations intensify for the entry into application of the Pact on Migration and Asylum in June 2026.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Giorgia Meloni’s government is still supporting Ukraine and backing NATO. Italy’s aerospace and defence sectors help explain why

    Source: The Conversation – France – By Jean-Pierre Darnis, Full professor at the University of Côte d’Azur, director of the master’s programme in “France-Italy Relations”. Associate fellow at the Foundation for Strategic Research (FRS, Paris) and adjunct professor at LUISS University (Rome), Université Côte d’Azur

    US President Donald Trump’s pivot toward Russia amid its war in Ukraine has collided with the stance of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government, which has always shown unwavering support for Kyiv as well as loyalty to Washington. When Trump came to power, Meloni wanted to appear connected to his administration, hoping to play the role of a bridge with Europe while France and Germany were in unfavourable political cycles. Trump’s pivot led to a revival of France’s role in Europe, while Germany emerged from its electoral period with its likely next chancellor, Friedrich Merz, calling for European defence’s “independence from the USA”.

    Meloni’s position is not only weakening within the European context, where France, Germany and the UK play leading roles, but also in Italian politics, as US policy has created rifts within the three-part governing coalition. Meloni’s party, Fratelli d’Italia, supports Ukraine and Europe, as does Forza Italia. But the leader of Lega, Matteo Salvini, has come to embody Trumpism in Italy, taking an openly pro-Russian position and opposing European rearmament. If a break with Lega were to occur, it could call into question the viability of the government, as it would no longer hold an absolute majority in parliament.

    Anti-French rhetoric

    For her part, Meloni always tends to push back against any “European-only” defence solution proposed by France. This position is a way for Italy to avoid facing the fact that NATO has weakened. It also reactivates an anti-French rhetoric that is a classic refrain among Italian nationalists. Salvini has recently accused French President Emmanuel Macron of being “crazy” and calling for Europe to prepare for nuclear war.

    However, Macron has not made any significant missteps toward Italy. Since the first informal emergency meeting in Paris after Trump’s policy shift toward Ukraine (a gathering that included the UK, Germany, Italy, Denmark, the Netherlands, Spain and Poland), the Italian government has always been involved. Moreover, Macron’s policy convergence with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has dulled criticisms, because Rome is traditionally close to London.

    Both Meloni’s government and the opposition have put forward complicated if not unrealistic proposals for the war in Ukraine, such as a UN peacekeeping mission after a ceasefire, and repeatedly reaffirmed their commitment to NATO. In terms of public opinion, a poll published in mid-February – two weeks before Trump scolded Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a White House visit – found that 69 percent of Italians “are favourable toward a common European army”.

    There is also a growing debate in Italy on nuclear deterrence. This issue had been taboo until now, with Italy benefitting from an arrangement in which US nuclear bombs are stored in bases on Italian soil. While Germany and Poland have expressed interest in an expansion of the French nuclear umbrella, Italian media and policymakers are also beginning to discuss it. The discussion may reflect doubts about US reliability within NATO, including Washington’s commitment to the alliance treaty’s Article 5, which holds that “an armed attack” on one member “shall be considered an attack against them all”.



    À lire aussi :
    French nuclear deterrence for Europe: how effective could it be against Russia?

    Defence ties to Europe

    There are also significant signals coming from Italian industry. While, in recent months, the Italian government appeared to want to use the telecommunications services of Starlink, the satellite network created by Elon Musk, for its defence needs, a contract no longer seems to be on the agenda. Musk’s fluctuating stance about the Starlink service provided to Kyiv, as well as the US decision that temporarily cut aid to Ukraine, introduced questions about reliability. This explains how, in just a few weeks, the French company Eutelsat, which owns the OneWeb constellation, has seen a resurgence of interest, as many countries assess its services as alternatives to Starlink. Following this turmoil, the Italian company Leonardo recently announced that it is planning to launch a constellation of 18 telecommunications satellites for defence purposes.

    These developments also tie into Italy’s industrial position in aerospace and defence, because Leonardo and Fincantieri, another large, publicly owned company, do not limit their markets to the Italian armed forces. As part of a European strategy, Leonardo concluded an agreement with the German company Rheinmetall in 2024 to jointly produce battle tanks, and recently announced an agreement with the Turkish company Baykar to produce drones. Leonardo is part-owner, along with French defence company Thales, of Telespazio and of Thales Alenia Space, and is also in discussions with Airbus to form a European satellite production group. In the missile sector, Leonardo’s participation in European joint venture MBDA allowed Italy and France to produce the SAMP/T anti-missile system, which could lead to further developments for the European missile-defence network. In shipbuilding, Fincantieri has expressed interest in merging its activities with the German group Thyssen Krupp Marine Systems. And in aircraft, Italy is participating in the Global Air Combat Programme, which includes the UK and Japan in the production of fighter jets. These examples show that Italian aerospace and defence development is intrinsically linked to European collaborations and export markets.

    Both in terms of industrial interests and politics, Italy is firmly anchored in the European camp. The positive stance that the Meloni government took toward Washington does not mean Rome is considering an alternative to EU affiliation. Italy is also facing continuous cyberattacks from Russian groups, which feeds a clear threat perception. The prime minister has stressed her differences with France and the UK during the recent European security summits, but while Italy may be reluctant to deploy peacekeeping troops in Ukraine, it cannot distance itself too much from the future defence architecture of Europe.

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

    – ref. Giorgia Meloni’s government is still supporting Ukraine and backing NATO. Italy’s aerospace and defence sectors help explain why – https://theconversation.com/giorgia-melonis-government-is-still-supporting-ukraine-and-backing-nato-italys-aerospace-and-defence-sectors-help-explain-why-252683

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Duckworth Visits Parr Instruments to Discuss Economic Impacts of Trump’s Tariffs on Illinois Manufacturing

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth

    March 22, 2025

    [MOLINE, IL] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation (CST)—visited Parr Instrument Company yesterday to tour the facility and discuss with company leaders and members of the Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center (IMEC) how Trump’s tariffs threaten Illinois’s manufacturing industry. For over 125 years, Parr Instrument Company has designed and built high precision laboratory equipment. However, because of President Trump’s reckless, blanket tariffs on critical materials such as steel and aluminum, Parr could face increased costs and supply chain disruptions, threatening jobs and the stability of their workforce. Photos of yesterday’s visit are available on the Senator’s website.

    “Trump’s chaotic, sweeping tariffs will negatively impact Illinois’s workforce and manufacturers, while harming our nation’s allies around the world,” Duckworth said. “The consequences of Trump’s needless trade wars will hurt key Illinois manufacturers like Parr Instrument Company, which employs many hardworking, middle-class workers across the Quad Cities. I’m proud to work alongside Illinois manufacturing leaders as we continue to push back against Trump and his one-sided political interests.”

    “It was a pleasure and honor to host Senator Duckworth at our facilities at Parr Instrument Company,” said Jim Nelson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Parr. “I appreciated the Senator’s sincere interest in the challenges small and mid-size manufactures are facing in today’s world. She takes a pragmatic approach to the issues and works in a bipartisan manner in her your representation of her constituents.”

    Duckworth is a proven leader in securing international investments that drive commerce and job growth in Illinois—all while strengthening economic ties with Indo-Pacific nations and improving security in the region. As a member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Duckworth led a bipartisan delegation of her Senate colleagues to Taiwan last year to further enhance our bilateral economic ties, including deepening our trade ties on chip manufacturing and agricultural investments.

    Parr Instrument Company, based in Moline, Illinois, designs, manufactures, and sells laboratory instruments for testing fuels and conducting chemical reactions under heat and pressure. Its equipment is used in chemical, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, and biotech research labs. The company employs about 100 skilled professionals and machinists at its Moline plant and operates a sales and service branch in Frankfurt, Germany.

    -30-

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Allister to host Briefing on the Future of UK Defence: How Should We Respond to the Latest European Union Proposals?

    Source: Traditional Unionist Voice – Northern Ireland

    Tomorrow morning the leader of the TUV, Jim Allister KC MP, will host a briefing for MPs and Peers in Westminster delivered by Lt Gen Jonathan Riley CB DSO on the future of UK Defence Policy.

    There has been much talk about an Reset in the UK’s relationship with the EU, at the heart of which is a paper published by the Council of Europe Presidency on 3rd December 2024, central to which are proposals for the UK to become engaged in EU defence integration.

    Lt Gen Jonathan Riley CB DSO will reflect on the implications of these proposals and UK’s relationship with NATO.

    Jim Allister said ‘There has seldom been a time when the question of UK defence and the future of UK defence policy has been more important. I am delighted to welcome General Riley to present to MPs and Peers on the consequences of the EU Reset proposals in relation to defence and the United Kingdom’s relationship with NATO.

    General Riley is the Former Deputy commander of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Mayor says lack of government funding forces reliance on overseas investment for London’s Growth Plan, in response to Zoë Garbett’s questions

    Source: Mayor of London

    20th March 2025 

    Mayor says lack of government funding forces reliance on overseas investment for London’s Growth Plan, in response to Zoë Garbett’s questions 

    During today’s Mayor’s Question Time (MQT), Zoë Garbett, Green Party London Assembly Member, raised concerns about the Mayor’s London Growth Plan – published last month – specifically highlighting his heavy reliance on overseas investment to address the city’s housing crisis. Zoë told the Mayor that this would only continue to exacerbate the issue of housing inequality in the city.  

    In response, the Mayor defended his position, saying, “we do want foreign investment for the simple reason that there has not been enough investment from the Government.” 

    Reflecting on the Mayor’s response, Zoë Garbett AM says:  

    “London’s housing market is broken. It’s designed for the wealthy to profit while Londoners suffer. Overseas investment is not a solution to the housing crisis – in fact, it’s made the situation worse. 

    “It’s telling that the Mayor has admitted he’s forced to rely on overseas investment while the Labour government refuses to provide essential public funds for housing. What kind of message does that send about priorities? Londoners deserve better than to be left at the mercy of speculative overseas money. 

    “With Londoners’ spending 40% of their wages on rent, 60,000 families stuck in temporary accommodation, social housing waiting lists at a ten year high and 300,000 homes approved but not built, it’s clear the current system is not working. 

    “Sky-high rents and the cost of living crisis are leaving schools struggling to stay open and driving families out of the city they call home.  

    “Without a meaningful shift in government policy and funding, London’s housing market will continue to serve the interests of a wealthy few.” 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Secretary-General’s remarks to the Security Council – Advancing Adaptability in UN Peace Operations: responding to new realities [bilingual, as delivered; scroll down for all-English and all-French versions]

    Source: United Nations – English

    r. President, Excellencies,
     
    I thank the government of Denmark for convening this high-level discussion.

    United Nations peace operations safeguard people and communities in some of the most desperate places on earth. 

    These operations comprise both peacekeeping operations and special political missions.

    Their work ranges from early warning to preventive diplomacy…

    From peacemaking to verifying peace agreements to protecting civilians…

    From negotiating ceasefires to helping parties implement them on the ground…

    To electoral support and observer missions.

    Collectively, these operations represent a critical tool at this Council’s disposal to maintain international peace and security in a variety of contexts.

    Since the first special political mission and peacekeeping operation were deployed in 1948, our peace operations have grown, adapted and evolved.

    Time and again, they allow us to mount tailored responses that have saved lives, reduced violence, prevented the expansion and spillover of deadly conflicts, and stopped atrocities.

    Peace operations are designed not only to be an effective example of multilateralism in action — but a cost-effective one.

    At their best, they show how when the UN comes together to address challenges, the burden is diminished on individual countries alone.  

    But as we all know, peace operations face serious barriers that demand new approaches.

    Wars are becoming more complex and more deadly. 

    They last longer, and are more enmeshed in global and regional dynamics. 

    Negotiated settlements have been harder to achieve.

    Meanwhile, our peace operations are confronted with a complex interplay of threats — many of which do not respect national borders.

    Terror and extremist groups, organized crime, the weaponization of new technologies, and the effects of climate change are all testing our capacities to respond.

    And, I regret to say, geopolitical divisions are undermining peace.

    The bilateral and multilateral arrangements that — for decades — have managed tensions and maintained stability are eroding.  

    Violations of international law, human rights and the UN Charter are rampant — seemingly without consequence.

    Trust is in short supply among — and within — countries and regions.

    All of these challenges and more throw fuel on the fires of conflict.

    Meanwhile, our peace responses are struggling.  

    We see a persistent mismatch between mandates and available resources.

    And we see increasing differences of views — including in this Council itself — around how peace operations should work, under what circumstances, with what mandates they should be deployed, and for how long.

    Excellencies,

    This is a grim diagnosis, but we must face facts.

    The good news is that, through the Pact for the Future, Member States committed to working to adapt peace operations for the future.

    This is an important opportunity to gain a shared understanding of what makes peace operations successful …

    What is hindering their effectiveness …

    And what new models we can use to make them more adaptable, flexible and resilient — while recognizing the limitations in situations where there is little or no peace to keep. 

    My recent proposals to you in the context of Haiti are a good example.

    We must keep working for a political process — owned and led by the Haitian people — that restores democratic institutions through elections.

    And the UN has a clear role to play in supporting stability and security, while addressing the root causes of the appalling crisis.

    The UN stands ready to assume the responsibility of the logistical and operational expenditures — including transportation, medical capabilities and support for the national police — that can support an enhanced international force by Member States that is able to confront the gangs in Haiti and create conditions for peace.   

    And the salaries of the force are paid through the trust fund that already exists.

    This is a good example of how we can design a tailored and collective approach to peace operations in an extremely complex and dangerous environment. 

    Other examples of adapting our peace operations include UNIFIL, which recently developed an adaptation plan to support the parties to uphold their obligations under resolution 1701…

    And our operations in Abyei, Sudan, where we reconfigured our peace operations into a multinational force.

    We also increasingly see the enormous benefits of strengthening cooperation with regional and subregional organizations.

    Security Council resolution 2719 is an important example.

    This breakthrough has lifted our partnership with the African Union to a new level as we work to establish peace enforcement missions under the responsibility of the African Union, supported by the United Nations.

    We are now working actively across our two Secretariats to meet the vision of the resolution, and I urge Council Members to fully support this work.

    Excellencies,

    It’s time to build on these examples and continue adapting our peace operations for current and future challenges. 

    Work is now underway to review all forms of peace operations, as requested by Member States in the Pact for the Future.

    The review will aim to critically examine these tools and propose concrete recommendations to make them fit for today.

    This will include extensive consultations with Member States and others to inform — and inspire — recommendations.

    The review will build on the analysis presented in the New Agenda for Peace.

    It will be informed by the first comprehensive study of the history of special political missions in the 80 years of the United Nations, which will be released soon.

    And it will reflect the Pact’s call to ensure that peace operations engage at the earliest possible stage in planning transitions with host countries, UN Country Teams and local and regional groups.

    The review also aligns with the Pact’s call to this Council to ensure that peace operations are guided by clear and sequenced mandates that are realistic and achievable — with viable exit strategies and transition plans.

    And it will draw on the discussions taking place in preparation for the Peacekeeping Ministerial in Berlin in May focusing on the future of peacekeeping.

    Excellences,

    Tout au long de l’étude, nous mènerons des consultations approfondies afin de recueillir un éventail de vues aussi large que possible et de bénéficier d’une expertise mondiale.

    Celle des États Membres, des pays hôtes, des pays fournisseurs de contingents ou de personnel de police et des contributeurs financiers…

    Celle des organisations régionales, de la société civile et des milieux universitaires, ainsi que de nos propres hauts responsables et experts des opérations de paix des Nations Unies et du Secrétariat.

    Bien entendu, l’étude contribuera à éclairer les efforts que nous déployons dans le cadre de l’initiative ONU80, afin de dégager des gains d’efficacité et des améliorations dans tous nos axes de travail – compte tenu des défis persistants de financement auxquels notre Organisation est confrontée.

    Excellences,

    Le débat public d’aujourd’hui est une occasion précieuse pour le Conseil de partager toute idée et point de vue qui pourrait contribuer à l’étude.

    J’invite tous les États Membres à apporter leur pierre à l’édifice.

    Et j’appelle ce Conseil à continuer à œuvrer pour surmonter les divisions et les désaccords entourant les opérations de paix, et bâtir le soutien politique unifié et cohérent dont nos opérations de paix – et les femmes et les hommes qui les mènent – ont tant besoin.

    Je vous remercie.

    ***
    All-English

    Mr. President, Excellencies,
     
    I thank the government of Denmark for convening this high-level discussion.

    United Nations peace operations safeguard people and communities in some of the most desperate places on earth. 

    These operations comprise both peacekeeping operations and special political missions.

    Their work ranges from early warning to preventive diplomacy…

    From peacemaking to verifying peace agreements to protecting civilians…

    From negotiating ceasefires to helping parties implement them on the ground…

    To electoral support and observer missions.

    Collectively, these operations represent a critical tool at this Council’s disposal to maintain international peace and security in a variety of contexts.

    Since the first special political mission and peacekeeping operation were deployed in 1948, our peace operations have grown, adapted and evolved.

    Time and again, they allow us to mount tailored responses that have saved lives, reduced violence, prevented the expansion and spillover of deadly conflicts, and stopped atrocities.

    Peace operations are designed not only to be an effective example of multilateralism in action — but a cost-effective one.

    At their best, they show how when the UN comes together to address challenges, the burden is diminished on individual countries alone.  

    But as we all know, peace operations face serious barriers that demand new approaches.

    Wars are becoming more complex and more deadly. 

    They last longer, and are more enmeshed in global and regional dynamics. 

    Negotiated settlements have been harder to achieve.

    Meanwhile, our peace operations are confronted with a complex interplay of threats — many of which do not respect national borders.

    Terror and extremist groups, organized crime, the weaponization of new technologies, and the effects of climate change are all testing our capacities to respond.

    And, I regret to say, geopolitical divisions are undermining peace.

    The bilateral and multilateral arrangements that — for decades — have managed tensions and maintained stability are eroding.  

    Violations of international law, human rights and the UN Charter are rampant — seemingly without consequence.

    Trust is in short supply among — and within — countries and regions.

    All of these challenges and more throw fuel on the fires of conflict.

    Meanwhile, our peace responses are struggling.  

    We see a persistent mismatch between mandates and available resources.

    And we see increasing differences of views — including in this Council itself — around how peace operations should work, under what circumstances, with what mandates they should be deployed, and for how long.

    Excellencies,

    This is a grim diagnosis, but we must face facts.

    The good news is that, through the Pact for the Future, Member States committed to working to adapt peace operations for the future.

    This is an important opportunity to gain a shared understanding of what makes peace operations successful …

    What is hindering their effectiveness …

    And what new models we can use to make them more adaptable, flexible and resilient — while recognizing the limitations in situations where there is little or no peace to keep. 

    My recent proposals to you in the context of Haiti are a good example.

    We must keep working for a political process — owned and led by the Haitian people — that restores democratic institutions through elections.

    And the UN has a clear role to play in supporting stability and security, while addressing the root causes of the appalling crisis.

    The UN stands ready to assume the responsibility of the logistical and operational expenditures — including transportation, medical capabilities and support for the national police — that can support an international force established by Member States that is able to confront the gangs in Haiti and create conditions for peace.   

    And the salaries of the force are paid through the trust fund that already exists.

    This is a good example of how we can design a tailored and collective approach to peace operations in an extremely complex and dangerous environment. 

    Other examples of adapting our peace operations include UNIFIL, which recently developed an adaptation plan to support the parties to uphold their obligations under resolution 1701…

    And our operations in Abyei, Sudan, where we reconfigured our peace operations into a multinational force.

    We also increasingly see the enormous benefits of strengthening cooperation with regional and subregional organizations.

    Security Council resolution 2719 is an important example.

    This breakthrough has lifted our partnership with the African Union to a new level as we work to establish peace enforcement missions under the responsibility of the African Union, supported by the United Nations.

    We are now working actively across our two Secretariats to meet the vision of the resolution, and I urge Council Members to fully support this work.

    Excellencies,

    It’s time to build on these examples and continue adapting our peace operations for current and future challenges. 

    Work is now underway to review all forms of peace operations, as requested by Member States in the Pact for the Future.

    The review will aim to critically examine these tools and propose concrete recommendations to make them fit for today.

    This will include extensive consultations with Member States and others to inform — and inspire — recommendations.

    The review will build on the analysis presented in the New Agenda for Peace.

    It will be informed by the first comprehensive study of the history of special political missions in the 80 years of the United Nations, which will be released soon.

    And it will reflect the Pact’s call to ensure that peace operations engage at the earliest possible stage in planning transitions with host countries, UN Country Teams and local and regional groups.

    The review also aligns with the Pact’s call to this Council to ensure that peace operations are guided by clear and sequenced mandates that are realistic and achievable — with viable exit strategies and transition plans.

    And it will draw on the discussions taking place in preparation for the Peacekeeping Ministerial in Berlin in May focusing on the future of peacekeeping.

    Excellencies,

    Throughout, we will hold extensive consultations to capture as wide a spectrum of views as possible and to benefit from worldwide expertise.

    From Member States, host States, troop- and police-contributing countries and financial contributors…

    To regional organizations, civil society and academia, and our own leaders and experts within UN peace operations and the Secretariat.

    And the review will, of course, help inform our efforts through our UN@80 initiative, to find efficiencies and improvements across our work in light of the continued funding challenges we face as an organization.  

    Excellencies,

    Today’s open debate provides a vital opportunity for the Council to share perspectives and ideas to inform the review process.

    I urge all Members to support it.

    And I call on this Council to continue working to overcome divisions and disagreements around peace operations, and build the unified and consistent political support our peace operations — and the women and men who conduct them — need and deserve.

    Thank you.

    ***
    All-French

    Monsieur le Président, Excellences,

    Je remercie le Gouvernement danois d’avoir organisé ce débat de haut niveau.

    Les opérations de paix des Nations unies protègent les personnes et les communautés dans certains des endroits les plus éprouvés de la planète. 

    Ces opérations comprennent à la fois les opérations de maintien de la paix et les missions politiques spéciales.

    Leur travail va de l’alerte rapide à diplomatie préventive…

    Du rétablissement de la paix à la vérification de l’application des accords de paix et de la protection des civils…

    De la négociation de cessez-le-feu au soutien de leur mise en œuvre par les parties sur le terrain…

    Ou encore aux missions d’observation et d’appui électoral.

    Prises ensemble, ces opérations dotent le Conseil d’un outil essentiel pour maintenir la paix et la sécurité internationales dans divers contextes.

    Depuis le déploiement de la première mission politique spéciale et de la première opération de maintien de la paix en 1948, nos opérations de paix se sont développées, adaptées et transformées.

    Elles nous permettent régulièrement d’intervenir de façon ciblée pour sauver des vies, réduire la violence, enrayer l’élargissement et le débordement de conflits meurtriers, et mettre fin à des atrocités.

    Les opérations de paix sont conçues pour démontrer non seulement l’efficacité du multilatéralisme en action mais aussi son intérêt en termes de coûts.

    Dans le meilleur des cas, elles montrent qu’il est possible d’alléger le fardeau qui pèse sur chaque pays individuellement lorsque les Nations Unies se rallient pour agir.

    Toutefois, comme nous le savons tous, les opérations de paix se heurtent à des obstacles de taille, et de nouvelles approches s’imposent.

    Les guerres deviennent plus complexes et plus meurtrières.

    Elles durent plus longtemps et sont davantage imbriquées dans des dynamiques mondiales et régionales.

    Il est plus difficile de parvenir à des règlements négociés.

    Parallèlement, un entrelacs complexe de menaces, dont beaucoup transcendent les frontières nationales, se dresse face aux opérations de paix.

    Les groupes terroristes et extrémistes, la criminalité organisée, la militarisation des nouvelles technologies et les effets des changements climatiques sont autant de phénomènes qui mettent à l’épreuve nos capacités d’intervention.

    Et – je suis navré de le constater – les divisions géopolitiques sapent la paix.

    Les accords bilatéraux et multilatéraux qui, pendant des décennies, avaient permis de maîtriser les tensions et de préserver la stabilité s’érodent.

    Les violations du droit international, des droits humains et de la Charte des Nations Unies sont légion – sans que cela ne porte à conséquence, semble-t-il.

    La confiance se fait rare entre les pays, entre les régions, et à l’intérieur de ceux-ci.

    Tous ces dangers, et bien d’autres encore, attisent la flamme des conflits.

    De notre côté, nos interventions en faveur de la paix sont à la peine.

    Nous constatons une asymétrie persistante entre les mandats confiés et les ressources disponibles.

    Et nous constatons des divergences de vues de plus en plus marquées – y compris au sein même de ce Conseil – sur les modalités de fonctionnement des opérations de paix, les circonstances justifiant leur déploiement, la teneur de leur mandat et leur durée.

    Excellences,

    Le diagnostic peut paraître sombre, mais il correspond à la réalité.

    La bonne nouvelle est que les États Membres se sont engagés dans le Pacte pour l’avenir à adapter les opérations de paix pour l’avenir.

    Voilà une occasion privilégiée de dégager une réponse commune aux questions suivantes : quelles sont les conditions de réussite des opérations de paix ?

    Quels obstacles se dressent sur le chemin ?

    Et quels nouveaux modèles nous pouvons appliquer afin de les rendre plus adaptables, plus souples et plus résilientes – tout en reconnaissant les cas limites où l’on sait qu’il y a peu ou pas de paix à maintenir.

    Les propositions que je vous ai faites récemment dans le contexte d’Haïti en sont une bonne illustration.

    Nous devons continuer d’œuvrer en faveur d’un processus politique – maîtrisé et conduit par le peuple haïtien – qui rétablisse les institutions démocratiques par la voie électorale.

    L’ONU a un rôle clair à jouer pour appuyer la stabilité et la sécurité, tout en s’attaquant aux causes profondes de cette crise effroyable.

    L’ONU est prête à assumer la responsabilité des dépenses logistiques et opérationnelles – y compris le transport, les capacités médicales et le soutien envers la police nationale – qui peuvent appuyer une force internationale renforcée par les États membres, qui soit capable de faire face aux gangs en Haïti et de créer les conditions de la paix.

    Les salaires de la force quant à eux sont couverts par le fonds d’affectation spéciale qui existe déjà.

    Nous avons là un bon exemple de la manière dont nous pouvons concevoir une approche adaptée et collective des opérations de paix dans un environnement extrêmement complexe et dangereux.

    Parmi les autres exemples d’adaptation de nos opérations de paix, citons la FINUL, qui a récemment élaboré un plan d’adaptation pour aider les parties à respecter les obligations que leur fait la résolution 1701.

    On peut également évoquer nos opérations à Abyei, au Soudan, où nous avons reconfiguré nos opérations de paix en une force multinationale.

    Nous prenons également de plus en plus la mesure des avantages considérables que présente le renforcement de la collaboration avec les organisations régionales et sous-régionales.

    La résolution 2719 du Conseil de sécurité revêt une importance certaine à cet égard.

    Cette avancée a porté notre partenariat avec l’Union africaine à un niveau supérieur, alors que nous œuvrons à la mise en place de missions d’imposition de la paix sous la responsabilité de l’Union africaine, avec le soutien des Nations unies.

    Nos deux Secrétariats travaillent désormais activement à concrétiser la vision énoncée dans la résolution, et j’invite les membres du Conseil à y apporter leur plein concours.

    Excellences,

    Il est temps de s’inspirer de ces exemples et de continuer à adapter nos opérations de paix aux défis actuels et futurs. 

    Des travaux sont en cours pour réexaminer toutes les formes d’opérations de paix, comme l’ont demandé les États Membres dans le Pacte pour l’avenir.

    L’objectif est de procéder à un examen critique de ces outils et de proposer des recommandations concrètes afin de les adapter au monde d’aujourd’hui.

    Il s’agira notamment de mener des consultations approfondies avec les États Membres et d’autres parties prenantes afin de nourrir – et d’inspirer – ces recommandations.

    L’étude fera fond sur l’analyse présentée dans le Nouvel Agenda pour la paix.

    Elle prendra pour appui l’étude d’ensemble de l’histoire des missions politiques spéciales, la première effectuée en 80 ans d’existence de l’ONU, qui sera publiée prochainement.

    Elle se fera aussi l’écho de l’appel lancé dans le Pacte pour veiller à ce que les opérations de paix s’engagent le plus tôt possible dans la planification des transitions avec les pays hôtes, l’équipe de pays des Nations Unies et les groupes locaux et régionaux.

    L’étude s’inscrit également dans le sillage de la demande qui est adressée au Conseil dans le Pacte pour que les opérations de paix soient guidées par des mandats clairs et séquencés, réalistes et réalisables, ainsi que des stratégies de sortie et des plans de transition viables.

    Elle s’appuiera enfin sur les discussions qui se tiennent en préparation de la Conférence ministérielle sur le maintien de la paix qui aura lieu à Berlin en mai et qui sera consacrée à l’avenir du maintien de la paix.

    Excellences,

    Tout au long de l’étude, nous mènerons des consultations approfondies afin de recueillir un éventail de vues aussi large que possible et de bénéficier d’une expertise mondiale.

    Celle des États Membres, des pays hôtes, des pays fournisseurs de contingents ou de personnel de police et des contributeurs financiers…

    Celle des organisations régionales, de la société civile et des milieux universitaires, ainsi que de nos propres hauts responsables et experts des opérations de paix des Nations Unies et du Secrétariat.

    Bien entendu, l’étude contribuera à éclairer les efforts que nous déployons dans le cadre de l’initiative ONU80, afin de dégager des gains d’efficacité et des améliorations dans tous nos axes de travail – compte tenu des défis persistants de financement auxquels notre Organisation est confrontée.

    Excellences,

    Le débat public d’aujourd’hui est une occasion précieuse pour le Conseil de partager toute idée et point de vue qui pourrait contribuer à l’étude.

    J’invite tous les États Membres à apporter leur pierre à l’édifice.

    Et j’appelle ce Conseil à continuer à œuvrer pour surmonter les divisions et les désaccords entourant les opérations de paix, et bâtir le soutien politique unifié et cohérent dont nos opérations de paix – et les femmes et les hommes qui les mènent – ont tant besoin.

    Je vous remercie.
     

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Ecological perspective in spatial planning focus of OSCE-supported workshop in Podgorica

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

    Headline: Ecological perspective in spatial planning focus of OSCE-supported workshop in Podgorica

    On 20 and 21 March, the parliamentary Committee on Tourism, Agriculture, Ecology and Spatial Planning, together with the OSCE Mission to Montenegro, organized a workshop on the ecological perspective in spatial planning and eco-urbanism.
    The workshop gathered staff from parliamentary committees on tourism, agriculture, ecology and spatial planning; economy, finance and budget; gender equality; anti-corruption, as well as from the parliamentary Research Centre and Commission for Monitoring and Control of the Privatisation Procedure. They discussed legislation regulating eco-urbanism, as well as environmental impacts of planned infrastructure and energy facilities. They considered challenges posed by climate change and examined sustainable urban solutions. Environmental protection, especially in light of the requirements under Chapter 27 – Environment and Climate Change and obligations of Parliament to fulfil these requirements were central to the discussion.
    Opening the workshop, Dejan Đurović, Chairperson of the Committee on Tourism, Agriculture, Ecology and Spatial Planning, emphasized that “the main objective of the workshop is to establish a dialogue to enable us as parliamentarians, to address all deficiencies, obstacles and challenges related to environment protection, while improving and adopting new knowledge in eco-urbanism.”
    The Mission’s Democratization Programme Manager, Bernd Burwitz, noted that while Montenegro is defined as an ecological state, many challenges remain. “In today’s world, climate change and environmental concerns are significant political and security challenges, which should be addressed through the development of the Spatial Plan, that covers the entire territory of Montenegro,” said Burwitz.
    The Mission remains committed to strong collaboration with parliamentary committees and support them in understanding documentation related to spatial planning and its ecological perspectives.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Plymouth’s first Neurodiversity Conference is a success

    Source: City of Plymouth

    Plymouth City Council proudly hosted its inaugural Neurodiversity Conference last Thursday, during National Neurodiversity Celebration Week.  

    Organised by the Council employee Neurodivergent Network, the event brought together Council staff, partners, and organisations from across the city to learn, share, and challenge perspectives on neurodiversity in the workplace. The conference saw an impressive turnout, with 100 people in attendance. 

    Councillor Chris Penberthy, Cabinet Member for Communities who attended the conference, emphasised the importance of understanding and celebrating neurodiversity. He said: “Neurodiversity is a vital aspect of our community.

    “By recognising and valuing the unique strengths of our friends, family and colleagues who are neurodivergent, we can create more inclusive and innovative communities and workplaces.

    “This conference is a testament to Plymouth City Council’s commitment to fostering an environment where everyone can thrive.” 

    Joe Savage, Chair of the Plymouth City Council Neurodivergent Network, added: “Our network organised this conference as part of a week-long initiative during neurodiversity celebration week to reshape how we think about neurodiversity. We aimed to provide a platform for learning, sharing, and challenging our perspectives.  

    “The Neurodivergent Network is dedicated to supporting Plymouth City Council staff on an ongoing basis, offering resources, advocacy, and a colleague community where neurodivergent individuals and their wider social networks can connect and thrive along with any individual who wishes to learn more about and advocate for our movement, celebrating alongside us.  

    “We hope that this will be the first of a series of conferences and activities in the future.” 

    The conference featured exhibitions from leading Plymouth employers, insights into workplace support programmes, and valuable networking opportunities. Attendees had access to resources for supporting neurodivergent colleagues and were treated to presentations on a range of topics, including empowering futures through education, training, and career support, navigating recruitment at PCC, fostering inclusivity, creating equal workplaces, inclusive sports and legal awareness, embracing neurodiversity, and empowering neurodiverse talent. 

    Understanding and celebrating neurodiversity is crucial for employers and managers. It not only fosters a more inclusive workplace but also taps into the diverse talents and perspectives that neurodivergent individuals bring. By embracing neurodiversity, organisations can enhance creativity, problem-solving, and overall productivity. 

    Organisations who attended, included:  

    •  Eat That Frog  
    •  Plymouth City Council HR 
    •  Neurodiverse Wellbeing Hubs  
    •  OCSW  
    •  Skills Launchpad  
    •  Seetec Pluss  
    •  Barnardo’s  
    •  Pushed  
    •  Unite the Union 
    •  DELT  
    •  CaterED/FullyCaterEd  
    •  Babcock/NPEN 
    • City Collegea 
    • Foster for Plymouth Team  

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Subsea 7 S.A. – 1Q25 earnings call notification

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Luxembourg –24 March 2025 – Subsea 7 S.A. (Oslo Børs: SUBC, ADR: SUBCY) will publish its first quarter 2025 results for the period ended 31 March 2025 on Wednesday 30 April 2025 at 08:00 CET.

    A conference call and simultaneous webcast for the investment community will be held on Wednesday 30 April 2025 at 12:00 UK / 13:00 CET.

    From 08:00 CET the results announcement and the presentation to be reviewed during the conference call and webcast will be available on the Subsea7 website: www.Subsea7.com

    Conference call registration:
    Phone: https://register-conf.media-server.com/register/BI419d51592b6f40e8823c7efe91ab9dab
    Webcast: https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/3v6564ut/        

    Please note that questions can only be submitted from a phone line.

    *******************************************************************************
    Subsea7 creates sustainable value by delivering the offshore energy transition solutions the world needs.

    Subsea7 is listed on the Oslo Børs (SUBC), ISIN LU0075646355, LEI 222100AIF0CBCY80AH62.

    *******************************************************************************

    Contact for investor enquiries:
    Katherine Tonks
    Head of Investor Relations
    Subsea 7 S.A.
    Tel +44 20 8210 5568
    ir@subsea7.com

    www.subsea7.com

    This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.

    This stock exchange release was published by Katherine Tonks, Investor Relations, Subsea7, on 24 March 2025 at 16:30 CET.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Polytechnic at the XV St. Petersburg International Educational Forum

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    From March 24 to 28, the 15th St. Petersburg International Educational Forum (SPIEF) is taking place in St. Petersburg — one of the leading professional events in the Russian education sector. The program includes more than 350 events of various formats at 200 venues in St. Petersburg on four tracks: “Personnel for the Economy and Technological Sovereignty”, “Teacher”, “Education of a Citizen”, “Children with Special Educational Needs”. The 2025 forum is held under the motto “Global Challenges — Local Solutions”, emphasizing the role of the teacher in a rapidly changing world.

    In 2025, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University will participate in 32 events of the forum and will also be the organizer of four events. The main objective of the Polytechnic University’s participation is to introduce school teachers, career guidance specialists, and college employees to the opportunities that the university provides for students. The University will also present programs and events that allow applicants to learn more about the Polytechnic University to make it easier for them to decide on their choice of higher education institution and their future career.

    The first event of the St. Petersburg International Educational Forum with the participation of the Polytechnic University was the practical conference “New Paradigm of Engineering and Technological Education of Schoolchildren”, organized by Gymnasium No. 642 “Earth and Universe”. Varvara Sotova, Director of the Center for the Formation of the Contingent of Students, took part in the panel discussion. The conference is dedicated to solving the issues of training engineering personnel and the role of general education organizations in achieving technological sovereignty through a system of career guidance, organization of targeted training and employment of graduates at industrial enterprises of the region.

    At the conference “Pre-professional training and creation of a comprehensive environment for professional self-determination of schoolchildren”, held in Lyceum No. 144, Artem Egupov, director of the Center for work with applicants, spoke, sharing his experience of conducting career guidance work and the specifics of organizing engineering education at the Polytechnic University.

    At the seminar “A New Generation of Engineers: Who and How Prepares Personnel?” Acting Director of the Center for Work with Educational Organizations Georgy Shkolnik presented advanced approaches and methods of working with educational institutions that have been successfully applied at the university. Particular attention was paid to additional education programs that allow students to delve deeper into their chosen field of activity even before entering the university.

    Senior teacher of additional education of the Higher Engineering School Maria Sinitsyna spoke at the seminar “Support for pre-professional self-determination of primary school students in the field of engineering professions and professions in the natural sciences.” She shared the successful experience of the Academy, aimed at developing the interest of schoolchildren in information technology and engineering. The programs allow children to gradually deepen their knowledge in the field of programming, robotics and other engineering disciplines, which helps them prepare for admission to in-demand IT and technical areas at the university.

    Nikolai Snegiryov, Head of the Directorate of Pre-University Education and Talent Attraction, took part in one of the sections of the discussion platform, “Personnel for a High-Tech Economy: Challenges and Solutions.” Nikolai emphasized the importance of a continuous process of education and training, which begins at school and continues at all subsequent stages of professional training. Particular attention was paid to the issues of early self-determination of schoolchildren and students. Strategies aimed at helping young people choose their professional trajectory were discussed, including holding career guidance events and implementing specialized classes jointly with enterprises in the country.

    Polytechnic also took part in the scientific and practical seminar “Formation of the inventive culture of students: from idea to implementation”, where the speaker was Andrey Shimchenko, senior lecturer of the Higher School of Advanced Digital Technologies of the Advanced Engineering School “Digital Engineering”.

    The final event of the first day of the forum was the interregional competition of project and research works of schoolchildren of grades 8–11 “Intelligence of the Future. I am a Researcher”, where students and teachers of the Polytechnic University served on the jury.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: XploraDEX Launches Secure, Transparent AI-Powered DEX on XRP Blockchain—$XPL Presale Now Live

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ZURICH, Switzerland, March 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Security and transparency are the cornerstones of any truly sustainable DeFi ecosystem and that’s exactly where XploraDEX stands out. As the first AI-powered decentralized exchange on XRPL, XploraDEX is rewriting the rules for how trust is built in Web3 trading environments.

    While other DEXs rely on complex user interfaces, opaque operations, and centralized decision-making, XploraDEX provides a fully decentralized, AI-enhanced trading platform with real-time visibility, verified on-chain activity, and non-custodial architecture from day one.

    With $XPL Token Presale currently live, early investors now have the opportunity to support and benefit from a platform committed to long-term trust, security, and innovation.

    The Challenge: DeFi Users Still Struggle with Transparency and Safety

    Despite DeFi’s growth, traders and liquidity providers still face major concerns:

    Hidden token mechanics and governance changes

    Security vulnerabilities in smart contracts

    Exploitable liquidity and rug pull risks

    Centralized control over supposedly decentralized platforms

    XploraDEX is built from the ground up to solve these problems using advanced AI logic and bulletproof smart contract design.

    GET $XPL TOKENS NOW

    The XploraDEX Security & Transparency Advantage

    Here’s how XploraDEX sets a new standard for trust in DeFi:

    Fully Audited Smart Contracts – Developed and stress-tested for resilience and exploit protection.

    On-Chain AI Execution Logs – Every trade executed by the AI engine is visible, traceable, and verifiable by the community.

    Non-Custodial Trading Framework – Users maintain 100% control of their assets with no third-party risk.

    AI-Powered Fraud Detection – Real-time detection of suspicious trading behavior and liquidity manipulation.

    Decentralized Governance – All protocol upgrades, liquidity program changes, and AI enhancements are subject to $XPL holder voting.

    Security + Transparency = Trust. And trust is the most valuable currency in DeFi.

    PARTICIPATE IN $XPL PRESALE

    $XPL Token – Empowering a Transparent DeFi Future

    The $XPL Token is not only the utility engine of the XploraDEX ecosystem—it’s also the key to community-led trust and governance.

    Holders of $XPL Gain:

    Access to AI features and trade automation

    Trading discounts and platform rewards

    Voting rights on protocol and AI system upgrades

    Staking incentives for long-term platform supporters.

    By participating in $XPL Presale, investors get early access to a token that isn’t just about hype—it’s about building DeFi infrastructure that lasts.

    Buy $XPL token at discounted early-stage pricing: https://sale.xploradex.io

    Don’t Just Trade—Trade Transparently with XploraDEX

    As DeFi continues to grow, trust will be the deciding factor in which platforms thrive—and which ones disappear. XploraDEX’s AI-enhanced security and real-time transparency model make it one of the most sustainable, user-focused launches on XRPL.

    With the $XPL presale live now, early adopters can:

    Get $XPL at discounted prices before public release

    Join a fast-growing, security-first trading ecosystem

    Participate in a community-led governance model from day one, Be part of the most secure and transparent DEX on XRPL.

    Secure your $XPL Tokens today: https://sale.xploradex.io

    Stay connected and Join the XploraDEX AI Revolution

    Website | $XPL Token Presale | X | Telegram

    Contact:
    Oliver Muller
    oliver@xploradex.io
    contact@xploradex.io

    Disclaimer: This press release is provided by the XploraDEX. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. We do not guarantee any claims, statements, or promises made in this article. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice.

    Investing in crypto and mining-related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. It is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone, and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved. Seek independent advice if necessary. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector—including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining—complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed.

    Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility.

    Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an “as-is” basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We assume no responsibility for any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/99231e32-d928-400b-b24b-f5a354609d61

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK sanctions for human rights violations and abuses during the Sri Lankan civil war

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    UK sanctions for human rights violations and abuses during the Sri Lankan civil war

    The UK has today sanctioned figures responsible for serious human rights violations and abuses during the civil war in Sri Lanka.

    • The UK sanctions former Sri Lankan commanders and an ex–Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) commander responsible for serious human rights violations and abuses during the civil war. 

    • Sanctions aim to seek accountability for serious human rights violations and abuses, committed during the civil war, and to prevent a culture of impunity.  

    • UK is committed to working with new Sri Lankan government on human rights, welcoming their commitments to national unity.

    The UK government has imposed sanctions on four individuals responsible for serious human rights abuses and violations during the Sri Lanka civil war; including extrajudicial killings, torture and/or perpetration of sexual violence. 

    The individuals sanctioned by the UK today include former senior Sri Lankan military commanders, and a former LTTE military commander who later led the paramilitary Karuna Group, operating on behalf of the Sri Lankan military against the LTTE. 

    The measures, which include UK travel bans and asset freezes, target individuals responsible for a range of violations and abuses, such as extrajudicial killings, during the civil war.

    Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, David Lammy, said: 

    The UK government is committed to human rights in Sri Lanka, including seeking accountability for human rights violations and abuses which took place during the civil war, and which continue to have an impact on communities today.

    I made a commitment during the election campaign to ensure those responsible are not allowed impunity. This decision ensures that those responsible for past human rights violations and abuses are held accountable.

    The UK government looks forward to working with the new Sri Lankan government to improve human rights in Sri Lanka, and welcomes their commitments on national unity.

    During her January visit to Sri Lanka, Minister for the Indo-Pacific, Catherine West MP, held constructive discussions on human rights with the Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, civil society organisations, as well as political leaders in the north of Sri Lanka.   

    For communities to move forward together, there must be acknowledgement, and accountability for past wrongdoing, which the sanctions listings introduced today will support. We want all Sri Lanka communities to be able to grow and prosper. 

    The UK remains committed to working constructively with the Sri Lankan Government on human rights improvements as well as their broader reform agenda including economic growth and stability. As part of our Plan for Change, the UK recognises that promoting stability overseas is good for our national security. 

    The UK has long led international efforts to promote accountability in Sri Lanka alongside partners in the Core Group on Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council, which includes Canada, Malawi, Montenegro, and North Macedonia.  

    Notes to editors:

    Those sanctioned are:  

    • former Head of the Sri Lankan Armed Forces, Shavendra Silva;  

    • former Navy Commander, Wasantha Karannagoda;  

    • former Commander of the Sri Lankan Army, Jagath Jayasuriya;  

    • former military commander of the terrorist group, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan. Also known as Karuna Amman, he subsequently created and led the paramilitary Karuna Group, which worked on behalf of the Sri Lankan Army. 

    The UK has supported Sri Lanka’s economic reform through the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme, supporting debt restructuring as a member of Sri Lanka’s Official Creditor Committee and providing technical assistance to Sri Lanka’s Inland Revenue Department. 

    The UK and Sri Lanka share strong cultural, economic and people to people ties, including through our educational systems. The UK has widened educational access in Sri Lanka through the British Council on English language training and work on transnational education to offer internationally accredited qualifications.

    Media enquiries

    Email newsdesk@fcdo.gov.uk

    Telephone 020 7008 3100

    Contact the FCDO Communication Team via email (monitored 24 hours a day) in the first instance, and we will respond as soon as possible.

    Updates to this page

    Published 24 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Final phase of brand-new Council homes handed over in Methven

    Source: Scotland – City of Perth

    The houses are the final phase of a development that has seen the inclusion of 41 brand new Council homes in total.

    The latest properties to be handed over are a mix of two and three-bedroom semi-detached mid-terrace homes. Previously, a mix of semi-detached, terraced homes and flats were handed over to the Council at the development, providing high-quality accommodation for a wide range of tenants.

    The homes at Hayfield Brae have been built to the highest standard by the Council’s construction partner GS Brown and include energy efficiency measures such as air source heat pumps, solar panels, quality insulation and high levels of air tightness to make sure tenants’ bills are kept as low as possible and the development’s carbon footprint is minimised.   

    Safety features such as sprinkler systems, fire alarm systems, and electrical surge protection devices have also been included as standard. 

    The five homes cost almost £1.1m to build. The Council invested £440,000, with the Scottish Government contributing the rest. 

    The houses were visited by the Council’s Housing and Social Wellbeing Convener, Councillor Tom McEwan, who said: “This development has been underway for a few years now and it is fantastic to see it completed. This significant number of new Council homes will help to address the housing needs of different types of tenants in a rural location where there is high demand for accommodation.

    “I’m particularly pleased to see the high level of energy efficiency that has been built into the homes, with air source heat pumps fitted instead of traditional boilers. As a Council and as a Housing Service, we are committed to minimising the environmental impact of everything we do. The efficient heating systems, top-grade insulation and solar panels included in the homes will help tenants reduce their energy use.

    “As well as providing high-quality, energy-efficient homes, this new development will add vibrancy to life in the village of Methven, supporting the local community and economy.”

    The Methven project is part of Perth & Kinross Council’s ongoing multi-million-pound new build housing programme, which has seen over 500 new Council homes built for tenants since 2012.

    The Council’s house building programme has delivered new homes for affordable social rent in towns and settlements right across the region, including Methven, Scone, Abernethy, Alyth, Inchture, Stanley, Blairgowrie, Meigle, Auchterarder, Balbeggie, Rattray and in many sites in Perth. 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: As part of Career Day, university representatives and employers discussed how to improve the training of specialists

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering – Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering – Round table at SPbGASU

    As part of the SPbGASU Career Day, a round table “Employers and Universities. Trends and Prospects” was held on March 20. Its participants discussed what is needed to train specialists who best meet modern industry requirements.

    Opening the meeting, Vice-Rector for Youth Policy Marina Malyutina said that holding a round table has become a tradition: it is important for the university to receive feedback from partners.

    A Proven Partnership

    Marina Viktorovna presented a letter of thanks to Nanosoft LLC and personally to the director of programs for the development of interaction with educational organizations “Nanosoft Development” Oleg Egorychev. “We express our deep gratitude for your active participation in organizing the “Career Day of SPbGASU” and training personnel for the construction industry. We greatly appreciate your contribution to the development of professional competencies of students,” the letter says.

    In his response, Oleg Egorychev emphasized that SPbGASU is a long-standing, kind and informative partner of Nanosoft. Together with the university, the company recently held two free educational courses on “Digital Modeling in Construction”. The company plans to hold the next course, as well as organize retraining of teachers from other universities on the basis of SPbGASU.

    Oleg Olegovich said that Nanosoft contributes to solving the tasks set by the head of state – to achieve technological sovereignty, to transition all sectors of the economy to domestic software, including engineering. The company provides its software free of charge to universities, colleges and comprehensive schools; systematically and massively conducts training of the faculty of universities, teachers and mentors of colleges, teachers of comprehensive schools in the use of software. “Because the entry point to any educational process is not licenses at all. These are the teachers, teachers, mentors who lead this educational process,” he noted.

    Mutual benefit

    Marina Malyutina spoke in detail about the cooperation of SPbGASU with partners. The university practices traditional, well-proven forms of interaction: open lectures, seminars, master classes of specialists, excursions to enterprises, career days and job fairs. This also includes the work of company specialists as external part-time workers and members of the State Examination Commission, industrial practice, providing topics for course projects and final qualification works, access to knowledge bases.

    At the same time, innovative methods are being introduced: case championships, competitions with expert consultations. The most famous of them is the student TIM championship.

    Later, the university began to extend this format to secondary vocational education institutions, colleges, and schools, motivating students to enroll in SPbGASU by selecting a target applicant.

    Another new form introduced last year is mini-courses from partners. The university sees a certain gap between the competencies of graduates and those competencies that are in demand on the labor market. In order to reduce this gap, the university offers partners to conduct small special courses from specialists of companies that “grow” students. The courses are voluntary, the topic is a product approach, project activities.

    Marina Malyutina expressed confidence that technological sovereignty is achieved in various ways, including by cultivating innovative entrepreneurial thinking in young people. Since last year, the university has joined the Startup as a Diploma program and has become a participant in the TechnoPiter accelerator. Third place in this program was taken by a student of SPbGASU, who received 200 thousand rubles as a reward.

    SPbGASU expects mentors and experts from companies in the context of developing technological entrepreneurship. In addition, the university invites companies to place their symbols, information stands, and videos on how a future specialist can realize themselves in the university buildings.

    Targeted training

    The Vice-Rector for Youth Policy also focused on targeted training. The audience learned that targeted training comes in two forms: by quota – only for companies with state participation, and not by quota – for any companies, including individual entrepreneurs.

    Under the quota, the contract is concluded at the admission stage. There is a separate competition for such applicants. The training is conducted at the expense of the state budget. After admission, the company pays the students a stipend. But there are risks and difficulties here: the company cannot choose a specific student. In the event of the student being expelled or the employer refusing to employ him, the party that has not fulfilled its obligations pays a fine in the amount of the cost of training.

    A contract for non-quota training can be concluded at any stage of training. There are various options for paying for training – at the expense of the student, the company, at the expense of the state budget, if the contract is concluded with a student studying on a budget place. The positive effect for the company is that it is possible to choose a specific student: look at his academic performance, the topic of term papers and understand how suitable he is. The university is ready to help in this choice. There are fewer risks in this case: the student is already profiled, motivated, he is a target by definition, the probability of his expulsion is small. The company can provide him with support measures. Fines are paid in the same cases as with targeted training under a quota.

    At SPbGASU, quota-based targeted training is coordinated by the admissions committee, while non-quota-based training is coordinated by the student entrepreneurship and career center.

    Project-based learning

    First Vice-Rector Svetlana Golovina emphasized: SPbGASU is for practical orientation, but this entails some difficulties. Students start working from the third year and miss classes. The university makes every effort to ensure that they receive knowledge, including through the Moodle e-learning and testing system, where lectures and assignment texts are available at any time.

    Svetlana Gennadyevna reported on the development of curricula for project-based learning. Project-based learning is an approach in which students learn through independent planning and development of solutions to a problem or task. An expert council of employers has been created for this purpose under the educational and methodological council of SPbGASU. The transition to project-based learning is planned for 2027.

    The First Vice-Rector reported that the university is interested in systemic cooperation and invited employers to join in the development of project activities and student technological entrepreneurship. Partner support can be advisory: in the form of feedback on the quality of graduate training, participation in the development of programs. Expert: participation in the assessment of student projects, support for teams in competitions, olympiads, training. Informational: you can talk about projects on your resources. Organizational: you can take on some of the tasks of preparing and holding certain events. Material: you can provide software, equipment, premises. Financial: student bonuses, investments in the implementation of projects, startups.

    For partners, the value of cooperation lies in finding ideas for solving current problems, developing their scientific and technical base, and innovations. In addition, this supports the image of a socially responsible company and increases brand awareness, and forms a personnel reserve. The company gets the opportunity to form a demand for competencies and influence the content and results of education, which develops the potential of current employees through mentoring and tutoring, and reduces the time and resources for the adaptation of young specialists.

    The roundtable participants completed a survey on new formats of interaction, discussed the importance of mentoring and acquiring fundamental knowledge, and expressed their willingness to join forces to ensure that graduates meet the requirements of the labor market.

    The event was organized by the Center for Student Entrepreneurship and Career of SPbGASU.

    SPbGASU and Nanosoft company thank the representatives of Severnaya Kompaniya, Region LLC, TITAN-2 holding, Glavstroy-Saint Petersburg Specialized Developer LLC, Samolet Group PJSC, StroyKraft LLC, Setl Group, Design Institute No. 2 LLC, ZVSK Invest LLC, Gipronickel Institute LLC, Alfa-Bank, Atomenergoproekt JSC, VDC, ENITA LLC, and LSR Group for their participation in the round table.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: GUU reveals secrets of theatrical life to Moscow schoolchildren

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    As part of the project “Theatrical Backstage” implemented by the State University of Management together with the Department of Education and Science of the City of Moscow and the Moscow Center for Educational Practices, a tour of the Moscow Academic Theatre named after Vl. Mayakovsky was held for Moscow schoolchildren.

    The excursion participants included children from the school theaters “Antre” from school No. 641 named after S. Yesenin, “Novaya Skazka” from the Zelenograd Palace of Children’s and Youth Creativity, “Litsedei” from school No. 656 named after A.S. Makarenko, and MART from school No. 2094.

    The tour guide was Roman Fomin, a theater employee with 16 years of experience. He shared interesting facts about the theater, its architecture and its importance in the cultural life of the city. The tour participants learned how the theater became a place where talents and creativity intersect.

    The schoolchildren were able to see what the theatre looks like from the inside and feel the atmosphere standing in the actors’ place. Roman Fomin told them about the work of lighting and sound, and also demonstrated various mechanisms used to change the scenery.

    Then, the tour moved to the backstage areas. The children visited the dressing rooms where the actors prepare for their performances.

    The behind-the-scenes tour not only expanded the children’s knowledge of theatrical art, but also inspired them to further develop in this area.

    Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 03/24/2025

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Three graphic novels that address the history of slavery – and commemorate resistance

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Dominic Davies, Senior Lecturer in English, City St George’s, University of London

    Millions of people were abducted from west Africa and forcibly trafficked to the Americas over the 400 years of the transatlantic slave trade, from the 15th to the 19th century.

    Slavery treated these people as forms of property. It forced them, with brutal violence, to work on plantations producing commodities such as cotton and coffee, sugar and tobacco. Their labour powered the world economy for several centuries.

    While common understanding of this history has improved, less frequently remembered are those who spearheaded resistance against slavery. Revolutionary uprisings led by enslaved people themselves, as well as actions by radical groups such as Quakers and mutinous pirates, challenged slavery long before William Wilberforce and Britain’s abolition movement.

    Now, an increasingly popular genre of the graphic novel is building public awareness and memory of these movements. Composing its stories of the past from framed documents, fragmented images and scraps of text, the form of the graphic novel resembles an archive. It is therefore well-placed to bring forgotten histories to life and to reflect on how those histories were recovered.

    Looking for something good? Cut through the noise with a carefully curated selection of the latest releases, live events and exhibitions, straight to your inbox every fortnight, on Fridays. Sign up here.

    Here are three recent graphic novels that can help us to remember resistance against slavery. They follow in the footsteps of historian Rebecca Hall’s collaboration with artist Hugo Martínez, Wake: The Hidden History of Women-Led Slave Revolts (2021), which I would also strongly recommend.

    1. Toussaint Louverture: The Story of the Only Successful Slave Revolt in History

    By C.L.R. James, Nic Watts, and Sakina Karimjee (2023)

    In the early 1930s, the anti-colonial historian, C.L.R. James, wrote a play about the 1791 Haitian Revolution and its leader, Toussaint Louverture.

    It dramatised the story of the only successful slave revolt in history, when 100,000 slaves rose up against their white masters and eventually secured independence after almost 15 years of struggle.

    James’s play was performed only twice in 1936, with the great African American actor Paul Robeson in the title role. The script was then lost for several decades, until 2005, when the historian Christian Høgsberg discovered a copy in the archives at the University of Hull and published a new edition of the play.

    In 2012, graphic artist, Nic Watts and theatre practitioner, Sakina Karimjee, decided to bring James’s play back to life – not on the stage, but in the pages of a graphic novel.

    James, who died in 1989, might not have guessed that he would one day be a co-creator of a graphic novel. But he would surely have been impressed with Toussaint Louverture, which takes readers through the Haitian Revolution in almost 300 thrilling pages.

    The graphic novel uses its uniquely spatial medium to map the connections between the French Revolution, which proclaimed universal rights for all men, and the slave uprising in Haiti, which sought to realise those rights in France’s colonies. It is packed with powerful symbols and imagery that build a rich picture of the strategies and tactics that led to the uprising’s eventual victory.

    2. Prophet Against Slavery: Benjamin Lay, A Graphic Novel

    By David Lester, edited by Paul Buhle and Marcus Rediker (2023)

    Historian Marcus Rediker has devoted his career to uncovering early histories of resistance against slavery and sharing them in compelling and accessible formats.

    In 2021 he teamed up with the illustrator, David Lester, and longtime graphic historian, Paul Buhle, to translate this work into graphic novels.

    The first, Prophet Against Slavery, takes readers back to a Quaker meeting house in the early 1700s. In its dramatic opening scene, Benjamin Lay disrupts the meeting with a piece of performance theatre. He appears to stab his own arm in protest against slavery, though we later learn that the spouting blood was in fact “red pokeberry juice”.

    Lay was an innovator of performance protest, and he developed the strategy of boycotting commodities produced by slave labour. As Prophet Against Slavery details, he was one of the earliest and most outspoken abolitionists, campaigning for the end of the transatlantic slave trade almost a century before Wilberforce.

    He was also a pioneer of veganism and an advocate for animal rights. Lay saw the parallels between early capitalism’s enclosure of common land in England and slavery’s enclosure of people’s bodies in the US. The claustrophobic borders of Lester’s graphic novel dramatise these acts of property making, even as they document Lay’s stubborn attempts to liberate the oppressed from bondage.

    The enslaved themselves do not have a voice in Prophet Against Slavery. But Lester uses powerful charcoal sketches and image-only panels to make sure their presence is never forgotten.

    These haunting images remind readers of the human cost of slavery without presuming to speak for those whose voices have been excluded from the written archive.

    3. Under the Banner of King Death: Pirates of the Atlantic, A Graphic Novel

    By David Lester and Marcus Rediker (2023)

    Rediker and Lester teamed up again for Under the Banner of King Death. The title refers to the skull and cross bones flag that flies on the masts of pirate ships.

    But this is not your conventional story of evil pirates drinking rum and hunting for gold (although there is some of that). It is rather a portrait of the pirate ship as a space of self-determination and political freedom at a time when, as Rediker puts it, “poor people had no democratic rights anywhere in the world”.

    The graphic novel tells the story of John Gwin, an African-American man who escaped from slavery in South Carolina. After being kidnapped by the Royal African Company to labour on a slaving ship, he decides to resist. He rallies his shipmates, liberates the Africans below deck, and leads a mutiny to overthrow Skinner, the tyrannical captain.

    With Skinner deposed, the pirates establish a commune at sea: “A world turned upside down,” as Gwin calls it. “All captains and officers elected. All tars [sailors] treated as brothers. No tyranny of the lash.” There is no hierarchy on this ship. Instead, they return to west Africa and begin breaking people out of slave castles along the coast.

    Lester’s pen-and-ink sketches and frantic page layouts capture the scattergun nature of pirate life in the 17th century. It was a dangerous existence. Such was the threat posed by pirates to the ruling order that the British Navy worked quickly to capture them and make an example. Under the Banner of King Death starts and ends with hanging scenes, where pirates were put to death in public.

    But while the British state could hang the pirates, it couldn’t kill their idea of freedom from slavery. Lester and Rediker recover this history and remind us of the revolutionary spirit that the skull and cross bones flag once represented.

    These graphic novels commemorate new histories of resistance to the slave trade, while also reminding us of the historiographic work that must be put into recovering and retelling them, now and in the future.

    Dominic Davies 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. Three graphic novels that address the history of slavery – and commemorate resistance – https://theconversation.com/three-graphic-novels-that-address-the-history-of-slavery-and-commemorate-resistance-251740

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: There’s a global tug-of-war for Greenland’s resources – but the new government has its own plans

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Nicolas Jouan, Senior Defence and Security Analyst, RAND Europe

    Greenland’s parliamentary election was held on March 11 against a backdrop of repeated calls from the Trump administration for America to annex the island. The poll delivered a momentous shift in Greenland’s political landscape as the pro-business Demokraatit (Democrats) emerged as the biggest winners overturning the two left-leaning parties which had formed the previous government.

    Securing nearly 30% of the vote and gaining seven seats for a total of ten in the Inatsisartut (parliament), the party now holds the strongest mandate it has ever had. Close behind was the nationalist Naleraq party, which secured 24.5% of the vote and gained four seats, bringing their total to eight.

    While both parties are united in their rejection of Trump’s ambitions and share a vision of Greenlandic independence, their approaches couldn’t be more different. Demokraatit advocates for a gradual, measured process, prioritising economic development. The party considers that economic self-sufficiency and strengthening domestic infrastructure are key preconditions to achieve independence. Naleraq, on the other hand, is pushing for a rapid break from Denmark. Its line is that Greenland will only be able to unleash its potential, economic and otherwise, once independent.

    Independence has long been the dominant theme of Greenlandic politics. Ever since the territory gained home rule in 1979, most political parties across the spectrum have championed the idea of full independence from the kingdom of Denmark. Even the two major challengers – the Inuit Ataqatigiit, which lost five seats at the election to drop to seven, and the once-dominant Siumut, which lost six and now holds just four seats – are pro-independence.

    But while independence remains a defining issue, the real story of this election is Greenland’s economy. The island is sitting on a treasure trove of rare earth elements, uranium, iron and other minerals critical to global industries. Yet despite decades of interest from foreign investors, strict regulations and environmental concerns have often slowed development.

    With Demokraatit’s rise, that could change. The party is pushing for pro-business policies, including tax incentives, streamlined regulations and reduced state intervention in key industries like mining, fisheries and tourism. If successful, these reforms could transform Greenland into a major player in the global supply chain.

    Despite its electoral gains, Demokraatit faces a challenge in implementing its economic vision. The party’s potential coalition partner, Naleraq, is deeply sceptical of foreign investment, at least when it comes from Denmark and Europe. While open to partnerships with the US, Naleraq is adamant that Greenland must retain full control over its resources, resisting any foreign influence that could compromise national sovereignty.

    This ideological divide could create friction within a potential coalition government. Will Demokraatit’s pro-business agenda be tempered by Naleraq’s nationalistic stance? Or will the promise of economic growth push both parties toward compromise?

    Global powers are watching

    Greenland’s election came at a time when it was already the focus of world attention. Its strategic location and vast resources have attracted growing interest from global superpowers – none more so than the US. Trump has repeatedly expressed interest in acquiring Greenland, a move widely considered unrealistic, but indicative of Washington’s strategic priorities.

    American interest in Greenland isn’t new. The island is home to the Pituffik Space Base, formerly Thule Air Base, since the 1950s as a critical part of North American missile defence and whose Arctic position makes it a key player in both American territorial defence and Nato’s security architecture. Pituffik is the only non-Danish military presence in the territory and is the northernmost American military base.

    But the White House’s rhetoric has taken a more insistent tone, raising questions about whether the US might attempt to exert greater influence over Greenland’s economic and political future. The interest in Greenland seems guided by at least two factors: its strategic position at the centre of the North Atlantic security complex and its economic potential with hard-to-access but abundant resources.

    In both cases, the growing involvement of both Russia and China in the Arctic seem to make the US wary of a potentially independent Greenland getting closer to unfriendly great powers.

    Denmark’s central government is walking a diplomatic tightrope when it comes to responding to the US government’s repeated intentions to annex Greenland. Copenhagen has sought to Europeanise the debate, floating the idea of Greenland joining the European Union. Taking this step would provide welcome economic support to the island but could also clash with Greenland’s scepticism toward European interference.

    Greenland now stands at a crossroads. Domestically, negotiations between Demokraatit and Naleraq will likely shape the trajectory of the island’s economic and independence ambitions. Internationally, major powers – including the US, the EU and possibly even China and Russia – are positioning themselves to engage with Greenland’s untapped potential.

    As the world’s focus on Greenland intensifies, one thing is clear: this Arctic nation is no longer a remote outpost. It is fast becoming a key battleground for economic, political and strategic influence in the North Atlantic.

    Nicolas Jouan 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. There’s a global tug-of-war for Greenland’s resources – but the new government has its own plans – https://theconversation.com/theres-a-global-tug-of-war-for-greenlands-resources-but-the-new-government-has-its-own-plans-252396

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Video: UK The Environmental Protection Policies of Defra  – Environmental Audit Committee

    Source: United Kingdom UK Parliament (video statements)

    At a time of heightened speculation regarding the Government’s commitment to nature and the environment, the Environment Secretary, Steve Reed is facing the Environmental Audit Committee.

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

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: SIA gathers leaders of top security businesses for action on labour exploitation

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    SIA gathers leaders of top security businesses for action on labour exploitation

    The SIA invited senior representatives from the private security industry to discuss ways that they and the regulator could combat labour exploitation together.

    On 20 March 2025 the Security Industry Authority brought together senior leaders from the 30 largest private security businesses to discuss labour exploitation. This summit followed a similar event in December 2024, at which the 20 largest businesses were represented.

    These events form part of Operation EMPOWER, which is the SIA’s response to labour exploitation. EMPOWER involves a dedicated multi-disciplinary team that includes intelligence specialists and criminal investigators working closely with HMRC. The event was intended to build on work started in December with a wider range of voices from the industry.

    Michelle Russell, SIA Chief Executive, welcomed the delegates and said:

    This meeting comes at an important time for the private security industry and the SIA, where strategic engagement and partnership between the regulator and the industry can deliver positive change. Together we can make a significant difference, strengthening the regulatory regime, rooting out criminality and improving public trust and confidence in the delivery of private security services.

    Paul Fullwood, SIA Director of Inspections and Enforcement, said:

    We have a shared responsibility to do the right thing. Collaboration and a change in culture is the key to this. The harm to individuals from labour exploitation is unacceptable; for every corrupt and criminal action carried out to maximise profit, there is likely to be a victim who is being deprived of their rights. ​We are very keen to engage, and very glad to have influential voices from the private security industry here with us. The solution to many of these problems can be found in this room – however, we will be engaging further across the UK private security industry.

    The SIA asked delegates to consider 2 questions in particular:

    1. What are the top 10 things that are broken or that prevent the UK private security industry from tackling labour exploitation effectively?
    2. What are the top 10 actions that the private security industry or the SIA can do to address labour exploitation across the UK private security industry?

    Topics under discussion included: the criminal gains to be made from non-compliant behaviour; issues raised by sub-contracting; educating buyers about the part they play in preventing labour exploitation; the SIA’s new business approval scheme (which is scheduled to replace the existing Approved Contractor Scheme); improvements in data-sharing between the SIA and the private security industry.

    The summit closed with a commitment from all present to work in partnership to start developing key workstreams based on the discussions and put industry names to actions to take forward. The SIA is planning further engagement to capture the expertise and knowledge from others across the UK private security industry.

    Further information

    The SIA is the organisation responsible for regulating the private security industry in the UK, reporting to the Home Secretary under the terms of the Private Security Industry Act 2001. The SIA’s main duties are the compulsory licensing of individuals undertaking designated activities and managing the voluntary Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS).

    For further information about the SIA or to sign up for email updates visit www.gov.uk/sia. We also post articles and updates on WordPress. The SIA is on LinkedIn, Facebook (Security Industry Authority) and X (@SIAuk).

    For media enquiries only, please contact  media.enquiries@sia.gov.uk.

    Updates to this page

    Published 24 March 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The GUU hockey team received a call-up to the XI All-Russian Championship of Russia

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    For the third time in a row, the GUU hockey club received an invitation to participate in the Russian Student Hockey League championship, which will be held in St. Petersburg from April 21 to 27.

    This season, 16 of the strongest student hockey teams from 11 regions of the Russian Federation will compete for the title. Matches will be held every day, which guarantees spectators a lot of exciting moments and tense clashes on the ice.

    Last year, our team demonstrated impressive results and reached the top 4 best teams in the country, losing bronze medals to the Far Eastern State Academy of Physical Culture. Hockey fans and enthusiasts will be able to watch our team’s games and support it on its way to new victories both in person and online.

    We invite all hockey fans to cheer for our hockey team in St. Petersburg and support them on their way to new achievements!

    Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 03/24/2025

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Secretary-General’s remarks to the Security Council – Advancing Adaptability in UN Peace Operations: responding to new realities [bilingual, as delivered; scroll down for all-English and all-French versions]

    Source: United Nations secretary general

    Mr. President, Excellencies,
     
    I thank the government of Denmark for convening this high-level discussion.

    United Nations peace operations safeguard people and communities in some of the most desperate places on earth. 

    These operations comprise both peacekeeping operations and special political missions.

    Their work ranges from early warning to preventive diplomacy…

    From peacemaking to verifying peace agreements to protecting civilians…

    From negotiating ceasefires to helping parties implement them on the ground…

    To electoral support and observer missions.

    Collectively, these operations represent a critical tool at this Council’s disposal to maintain international peace and security in a variety of contexts.

    Since the first special political mission and peacekeeping operation were deployed in 1948, our peace operations have grown, adapted and evolved.

    Time and again, they allow us to mount tailored responses that have saved lives, reduced violence, prevented the expansion and spillover of deadly conflicts, and stopped atrocities.

    Peace operations are designed not only to be an effective example of multilateralism in action — but a cost-effective one.

    At their best, they show how when the UN comes together to address challenges, the burden is diminished on individual countries alone.  

    But as we all know, peace operations face serious barriers that demand new approaches.

    Wars are becoming more complex and more deadly. 

    They last longer, and are more enmeshed in global and regional dynamics. 

    Negotiated settlements have been harder to achieve.

    Meanwhile, our peace operations are confronted with a complex interplay of threats — many of which do not respect national borders.

    Terror and extremist groups, organized crime, the weaponization of new technologies, and the effects of climate change are all testing our capacities to respond.

    And, I regret to say, geopolitical divisions are undermining peace.

    The bilateral and multilateral arrangements that — for decades — have managed tensions and maintained stability are eroding.  

    Violations of international law, human rights and the UN Charter are rampant — seemingly without consequence.

    Trust is in short supply among — and within — countries and regions.

    All of these challenges and more throw fuel on the fires of conflict.

    Meanwhile, our peace responses are struggling.  

    We see a persistent mismatch between mandates and available resources.

    And we see increasing differences of views — including in this Council itself — around how peace operations should work, under what circumstances, with what mandates they should be deployed, and for how long.

    Excellencies,

    This is a grim diagnosis, but we must face facts.

    The good news is that, through the Pact for the Future, Member States committed to working to adapt peace operations for the future.

    This is an important opportunity to gain a shared understanding of what makes peace operations successful …

    What is hindering their effectiveness …

    And what new models we can use to make them more adaptable, flexible and resilient — while recognizing the limitations in situations where there is little or no peace to keep. 

    My recent proposals to you in the context of Haiti are a good example.

    We must keep working for a political process — owned and led by the Haitian people — that restores democratic institutions through elections.

    And the UN has a clear role to play in supporting stability and security, while addressing the root causes of the appalling crisis.

    The UN stands ready to assume the responsibility of the logistical and operational expenditures — including transportation, medical capabilities and support for the national police — that can support an enhanced international force by Member States that is able to confront the gangs in Haiti and create conditions for peace.   

    And the salaries of the force are paid through the trust fund that already exists.

    This is a good example of how we can design a tailored and collective approach to peace operations in an extremely complex and dangerous environment. 

    Other examples of adapting our peace operations include UNIFIL, which recently developed an adaptation plan to support the parties to uphold their obligations under resolution 1701…

    And our operations in Abyei, Sudan, where we reconfigured our peace operations into a multinational force.

    We also increasingly see the enormous benefits of strengthening cooperation with regional and subregional organizations.

    Security Council resolution 2719 is an important example.

    This breakthrough has lifted our partnership with the African Union to a new level as we work to establish peace enforcement missions under the responsibility of the African Union, supported by the United Nations.

    We are now working actively across our two Secretariats to meet the vision of the resolution, and I urge Council Members to fully support this work.

    Excellencies,

    It’s time to build on these examples and continue adapting our peace operations for current and future challenges. 

    Work is now underway to review all forms of peace operations, as requested by Member States in the Pact for the Future.

    The review will aim to critically examine these tools and propose concrete recommendations to make them fit for today.

    This will include extensive consultations with Member States and others to inform — and inspire — recommendations.

    The review will build on the analysis presented in the New Agenda for Peace.

    It will be informed by the first comprehensive study of the history of special political missions in the 80 years of the United Nations, which will be released soon.

    And it will reflect the Pact’s call to ensure that peace operations engage at the earliest possible stage in planning transitions with host countries, UN Country Teams and local and regional groups.

    The review also aligns with the Pact’s call to this Council to ensure that peace operations are guided by clear and sequenced mandates that are realistic and achievable — with viable exit strategies and transition plans.

    And it will draw on the discussions taking place in preparation for the Peacekeeping Ministerial in Berlin in May focusing on the future of peacekeeping.

    Excellences,

    Tout au long de l’étude, nous mènerons des consultations approfondies afin de recueillir un éventail de vues aussi large que possible et de bénéficier d’une expertise mondiale.

    Celle des États Membres, des pays hôtes, des pays fournisseurs de contingents ou de personnel de police et des contributeurs financiers…

    Celle des organisations régionales, de la société civile et des milieux universitaires, ainsi que de nos propres hauts responsables et experts des opérations de paix des Nations Unies et du Secrétariat.

    Bien entendu, l’étude contribuera à éclairer les efforts que nous déployons dans le cadre de l’initiative ONU80, afin de dégager des gains d’efficacité et des améliorations dans tous nos axes de travail – compte tenu des défis persistants de financement auxquels notre Organisation est confrontée.

    Excellences,

    Le débat public d’aujourd’hui est une occasion précieuse pour le Conseil de partager toute idée et point de vue qui pourrait contribuer à l’étude.

    J’invite tous les États Membres à apporter leur pierre à l’édifice.

    Et j’appelle ce Conseil à continuer à œuvrer pour surmonter les divisions et les désaccords entourant les opérations de paix, et bâtir le soutien politique unifié et cohérent dont nos opérations de paix – et les femmes et les hommes qui les mènent – ont tant besoin.

    Je vous remercie.

    ***
    All-English

    Mr. President, Excellencies,
     
    I thank the government of Denmark for convening this high-level discussion.

    United Nations peace operations safeguard people and communities in some of the most desperate places on earth. 

    These operations comprise both peacekeeping operations and special political missions.

    Their work ranges from early warning to preventive diplomacy…

    From peacemaking to verifying peace agreements to protecting civilians…

    From negotiating ceasefires to helping parties implement them on the ground…

    To electoral support and observer missions.

    Collectively, these operations represent a critical tool at this Council’s disposal to maintain international peace and security in a variety of contexts.

    Since the first special political mission and peacekeeping operation were deployed in 1948, our peace operations have grown, adapted and evolved.

    Time and again, they allow us to mount tailored responses that have saved lives, reduced violence, prevented the expansion and spillover of deadly conflicts, and stopped atrocities.

    Peace operations are designed not only to be an effective example of multilateralism in action — but a cost-effective one.

    At their best, they show how when the UN comes together to address challenges, the burden is diminished on individual countries alone.  

    But as we all know, peace operations face serious barriers that demand new approaches.

    Wars are becoming more complex and more deadly. 

    They last longer, and are more enmeshed in global and regional dynamics. 

    Negotiated settlements have been harder to achieve.

    Meanwhile, our peace operations are confronted with a complex interplay of threats — many of which do not respect national borders.

    Terror and extremist groups, organized crime, the weaponization of new technologies, and the effects of climate change are all testing our capacities to respond.

    And, I regret to say, geopolitical divisions are undermining peace.

    The bilateral and multilateral arrangements that — for decades — have managed tensions and maintained stability are eroding.  

    Violations of international law, human rights and the UN Charter are rampant — seemingly without consequence.

    Trust is in short supply among — and within — countries and regions.

    All of these challenges and more throw fuel on the fires of conflict.

    Meanwhile, our peace responses are struggling.  

    We see a persistent mismatch between mandates and available resources.

    And we see increasing differences of views — including in this Council itself — around how peace operations should work, under what circumstances, with what mandates they should be deployed, and for how long.

    Excellencies,

    This is a grim diagnosis, but we must face facts.

    The good news is that, through the Pact for the Future, Member States committed to working to adapt peace operations for the future.

    This is an important opportunity to gain a shared understanding of what makes peace operations successful …

    What is hindering their effectiveness …

    And what new models we can use to make them more adaptable, flexible and resilient — while recognizing the limitations in situations where there is little or no peace to keep. 

    My recent proposals to you in the context of Haiti are a good example.

    We must keep working for a political process — owned and led by the Haitian people — that restores democratic institutions through elections.

    And the UN has a clear role to play in supporting stability and security, while addressing the root causes of the appalling crisis.

    The UN stands ready to assume the responsibility of the logistical and operational expenditures — including transportation, medical capabilities and support for the national police — that can support an international force established by Member States that is able to confront the gangs in Haiti and create conditions for peace.   

    And the salaries of the force are paid through the trust fund that already exists.

    This is a good example of how we can design a tailored and collective approach to peace operations in an extremely complex and dangerous environment. 

    Other examples of adapting our peace operations include UNIFIL, which recently developed an adaptation plan to support the parties to uphold their obligations under resolution 1701…

    And our operations in Abyei, Sudan, where we reconfigured our peace operations into a multinational force.

    We also increasingly see the enormous benefits of strengthening cooperation with regional and subregional organizations.

    Security Council resolution 2719 is an important example.

    This breakthrough has lifted our partnership with the African Union to a new level as we work to establish peace enforcement missions under the responsibility of the African Union, supported by the United Nations.

    We are now working actively across our two Secretariats to meet the vision of the resolution, and I urge Council Members to fully support this work.

    Excellencies,

    It’s time to build on these examples and continue adapting our peace operations for current and future challenges. 

    Work is now underway to review all forms of peace operations, as requested by Member States in the Pact for the Future.

    The review will aim to critically examine these tools and propose concrete recommendations to make them fit for today.

    This will include extensive consultations with Member States and others to inform — and inspire — recommendations.

    The review will build on the analysis presented in the New Agenda for Peace.

    It will be informed by the first comprehensive study of the history of special political missions in the 80 years of the United Nations, which will be released soon.

    And it will reflect the Pact’s call to ensure that peace operations engage at the earliest possible stage in planning transitions with host countries, UN Country Teams and local and regional groups.

    The review also aligns with the Pact’s call to this Council to ensure that peace operations are guided by clear and sequenced mandates that are realistic and achievable — with viable exit strategies and transition plans.

    And it will draw on the discussions taking place in preparation for the Peacekeeping Ministerial in Berlin in May focusing on the future of peacekeeping.

    Excellencies,

    Throughout, we will hold extensive consultations to capture as wide a spectrum of views as possible and to benefit from worldwide expertise.

    From Member States, host States, troop- and police-contributing countries and financial contributors…

    To regional organizations, civil society and academia, and our own leaders and experts within UN peace operations and the Secretariat.

    And the review will, of course, help inform our efforts through our UN@80 initiative, to find efficiencies and improvements across our work in light of the continued funding challenges we face as an organization.  

    Excellencies,

    Today’s open debate provides a vital opportunity for the Council to share perspectives and ideas to inform the review process.

    I urge all Members to support it.

    And I call on this Council to continue working to overcome divisions and disagreements around peace operations, and build the unified and consistent political support our peace operations — and the women and men who conduct them — need and deserve.

    Thank you.

    ***
    All-French

    Monsieur le Président, Excellences,

    Je remercie le Gouvernement danois d’avoir organisé ce débat de haut niveau.

    Les opérations de paix des Nations unies protègent les personnes et les communautés dans certains des endroits les plus éprouvés de la planète. 

    Ces opérations comprennent à la fois les opérations de maintien de la paix et les missions politiques spéciales.

    Leur travail va de l’alerte rapide à diplomatie préventive…

    Du rétablissement de la paix à la vérification de l’application des accords de paix et de la protection des civils…

    De la négociation de cessez-le-feu au soutien de leur mise en œuvre par les parties sur le terrain…

    Ou encore aux missions d’observation et d’appui électoral.

    Prises ensemble, ces opérations dotent le Conseil d’un outil essentiel pour maintenir la paix et la sécurité internationales dans divers contextes.

    Depuis le déploiement de la première mission politique spéciale et de la première opération de maintien de la paix en 1948, nos opérations de paix se sont développées, adaptées et transformées.

    Elles nous permettent régulièrement d’intervenir de façon ciblée pour sauver des vies, réduire la violence, enrayer l’élargissement et le débordement de conflits meurtriers, et mettre fin à des atrocités.

    Les opérations de paix sont conçues pour démontrer non seulement l’efficacité du multilatéralisme en action mais aussi son intérêt en termes de coûts.

    Dans le meilleur des cas, elles montrent qu’il est possible d’alléger le fardeau qui pèse sur chaque pays individuellement lorsque les Nations Unies se rallient pour agir.

    Toutefois, comme nous le savons tous, les opérations de paix se heurtent à des obstacles de taille, et de nouvelles approches s’imposent.

    Les guerres deviennent plus complexes et plus meurtrières.

    Elles durent plus longtemps et sont davantage imbriquées dans des dynamiques mondiales et régionales.

    Il est plus difficile de parvenir à des règlements négociés.

    Parallèlement, un entrelacs complexe de menaces, dont beaucoup transcendent les frontières nationales, se dresse face aux opérations de paix.

    Les groupes terroristes et extrémistes, la criminalité organisée, la militarisation des nouvelles technologies et les effets des changements climatiques sont autant de phénomènes qui mettent à l’épreuve nos capacités d’intervention.

    Et – je suis navré de le constater – les divisions géopolitiques sapent la paix.

    Les accords bilatéraux et multilatéraux qui, pendant des décennies, avaient permis de maîtriser les tensions et de préserver la stabilité s’érodent.

    Les violations du droit international, des droits humains et de la Charte des Nations Unies sont légion – sans que cela ne porte à conséquence, semble-t-il.

    La confiance se fait rare entre les pays, entre les régions, et à l’intérieur de ceux-ci.

    Tous ces dangers, et bien d’autres encore, attisent la flamme des conflits.

    De notre côté, nos interventions en faveur de la paix sont à la peine.

    Nous constatons une asymétrie persistante entre les mandats confiés et les ressources disponibles.

    Et nous constatons des divergences de vues de plus en plus marquées – y compris au sein même de ce Conseil – sur les modalités de fonctionnement des opérations de paix, les circonstances justifiant leur déploiement, la teneur de leur mandat et leur durée.

    Excellences,

    Le diagnostic peut paraître sombre, mais il correspond à la réalité.

    La bonne nouvelle est que les États Membres se sont engagés dans le Pacte pour l’avenir à adapter les opérations de paix pour l’avenir.

    Voilà une occasion privilégiée de dégager une réponse commune aux questions suivantes : quelles sont les conditions de réussite des opérations de paix ?

    Quels obstacles se dressent sur le chemin ?

    Et quels nouveaux modèles nous pouvons appliquer afin de les rendre plus adaptables, plus souples et plus résilientes – tout en reconnaissant les cas limites où l’on sait qu’il y a peu ou pas de paix à maintenir.

    Les propositions que je vous ai faites récemment dans le contexte d’Haïti en sont une bonne illustration.

    Nous devons continuer d’œuvrer en faveur d’un processus politique – maîtrisé et conduit par le peuple haïtien – qui rétablisse les institutions démocratiques par la voie électorale.

    L’ONU a un rôle clair à jouer pour appuyer la stabilité et la sécurité, tout en s’attaquant aux causes profondes de cette crise effroyable.

    L’ONU est prête à assumer la responsabilité des dépenses logistiques et opérationnelles – y compris le transport, les capacités médicales et le soutien envers la police nationale – qui peuvent appuyer une force internationale renforcée par les États membres, qui soit capable de faire face aux gangs en Haïti et de créer les conditions de la paix.

    Les salaires de la force quant à eux sont couverts par le fonds d’affectation spéciale qui existe déjà.

    Nous avons là un bon exemple de la manière dont nous pouvons concevoir une approche adaptée et collective des opérations de paix dans un environnement extrêmement complexe et dangereux.

    Parmi les autres exemples d’adaptation de nos opérations de paix, citons la FINUL, qui a récemment élaboré un plan d’adaptation pour aider les parties à respecter les obligations que leur fait la résolution 1701.

    On peut également évoquer nos opérations à Abyei, au Soudan, où nous avons reconfiguré nos opérations de paix en une force multinationale.

    Nous prenons également de plus en plus la mesure des avantages considérables que présente le renforcement de la collaboration avec les organisations régionales et sous-régionales.

    La résolution 2719 du Conseil de sécurité revêt une importance certaine à cet égard.

    Cette avancée a porté notre partenariat avec l’Union africaine à un niveau supérieur, alors que nous œuvrons à la mise en place de missions d’imposition de la paix sous la responsabilité de l’Union africaine, avec le soutien des Nations unies.

    Nos deux Secrétariats travaillent désormais activement à concrétiser la vision énoncée dans la résolution, et j’invite les membres du Conseil à y apporter leur plein concours.

    Excellences,

    Il est temps de s’inspirer de ces exemples et de continuer à adapter nos opérations de paix aux défis actuels et futurs. 

    Des travaux sont en cours pour réexaminer toutes les formes d’opérations de paix, comme l’ont demandé les États Membres dans le Pacte pour l’avenir.

    L’objectif est de procéder à un examen critique de ces outils et de proposer des recommandations concrètes afin de les adapter au monde d’aujourd’hui.

    Il s’agira notamment de mener des consultations approfondies avec les États Membres et d’autres parties prenantes afin de nourrir – et d’inspirer – ces recommandations.

    L’étude fera fond sur l’analyse présentée dans le Nouvel Agenda pour la paix.

    Elle prendra pour appui l’étude d’ensemble de l’histoire des missions politiques spéciales, la première effectuée en 80 ans d’existence de l’ONU, qui sera publiée prochainement.

    Elle se fera aussi l’écho de l’appel lancé dans le Pacte pour veiller à ce que les opérations de paix s’engagent le plus tôt possible dans la planification des transitions avec les pays hôtes, l’équipe de pays des Nations Unies et les groupes locaux et régionaux.

    L’étude s’inscrit également dans le sillage de la demande qui est adressée au Conseil dans le Pacte pour que les opérations de paix soient guidées par des mandats clairs et séquencés, réalistes et réalisables, ainsi que des stratégies de sortie et des plans de transition viables.

    Elle s’appuiera enfin sur les discussions qui se tiennent en préparation de la Conférence ministérielle sur le maintien de la paix qui aura lieu à Berlin en mai et qui sera consacrée à l’avenir du maintien de la paix.

    Excellences,

    Tout au long de l’étude, nous mènerons des consultations approfondies afin de recueillir un éventail de vues aussi large que possible et de bénéficier d’une expertise mondiale.

    Celle des États Membres, des pays hôtes, des pays fournisseurs de contingents ou de personnel de police et des contributeurs financiers…

    Celle des organisations régionales, de la société civile et des milieux universitaires, ainsi que de nos propres hauts responsables et experts des opérations de paix des Nations Unies et du Secrétariat.

    Bien entendu, l’étude contribuera à éclairer les efforts que nous déployons dans le cadre de l’initiative ONU80, afin de dégager des gains d’efficacité et des améliorations dans tous nos axes de travail – compte tenu des défis persistants de financement auxquels notre Organisation est confrontée.

    Excellences,

    Le débat public d’aujourd’hui est une occasion précieuse pour le Conseil de partager toute idée et point de vue qui pourrait contribuer à l’étude.

    J’invite tous les États Membres à apporter leur pierre à l’édifice.

    Et j’appelle ce Conseil à continuer à œuvrer pour surmonter les divisions et les désaccords entourant les opérations de paix, et bâtir le soutien politique unifié et cohérent dont nos opérations de paix – et les femmes et les hommes qui les mènent – ont tant besoin.

    Je vous remercie.
     

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: The EBA updates methodology on the regulatory and supervisory equivalence of non-EU countries

    Source: European Banking Authority

    The European Banking Authority (EBA) today published its updated methodology for the assessment of regulatory and supervisory frameworks of non-EU countries. The changes reflect the amendments to the revised Capital Requirements Regulation (CRR) and Capital Requirements Directive (CRD).

    The methodology used to perform a thorough assessment of the jurisdiction’s regulatory and supervisory framework is based on the following two questionnaires published on the EBA’s website:

    • The 1st step questionnaire consists of a preliminary screening to determine whether the main requirements and principles are in place.
    • The 2nd step questionnaire is a more in-depth examination, systematically mapping provisions of the EU framework with that of the non-EU country.

    Further to aligning the methodology with the latest regulatory developments, the EBA also streamlined its 2nd step questionnaire to improve the overall user experience.

    Finally, the content of the questionnaires was moved to an online platform, allowing countries to reply directly via a secured digital format. Upon request, interested non-EU jurisdictions may get a dedicated access to this platform. They may contact the EBA for further information (Equivalence@eba.europa.eu).

    Legal Basis and background

    Article 33(2) provides that the EBA shall assist the European Commission in preparing equivalence decisions pertaining to regulatory and supervisory regimes in non-EU countries following a specific request for advice from the European Commission or where required to do so by the legislative acts referred to in Article 1(2) of Regulation (EU) 2010/1093.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI: Notice of optional redemption of bonds due 23 December 2029

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Dated 24 March 2025

    Notice to the bondholders of EUR 20,000,000 6.15 % Tier 2 Subordinated Bonds due 23 December 2029 (ISIN: LT0000404287) (the “Bonds”).

    THIS NOTICE CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION FOR THE PURPOSES OF ARTICLE 7 OF THE MARKET ABUSE REGULATION (EU) No 596/2014 (“MAR”)

    THIS NOTICE IS IMPORTANT AND REQUIRES THE IMMEDIATE ATTENTION OF BONDHOLDERS. IF BONDHOLDERS ARE IN ANY DOUBT AS TO THE ACTION THEY SHOULD TAKE, THEY SHOULD CONSULT THEIR OWN INDEPENDENT PROFESSIONAL ADVISERS IMMEDIATELY.

    THIS NOTICE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE OR FORM PART OF ANY OFFER, INVITATION TO SELL OR ISSUE, OR ANY SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO PURCHASE OR SUBSCRIBE FOR, ANY SECURITIES OF AKCINĖ BENDROVĖ ŠIAULIŲ BANKAS.

    Akcinė bendrovė Šiaulių bankas (Tilžės gatvė 149, Šiauliai, LT-76348, Lithuania, LEI 549300TK038P6EV4YU51) (the “Issuer”) hereby gives notice to the bondholders (the “Bondholders”) of the Bonds, that pursuant to Terms & Conditions of the Bonds approved on 20 December 2019 and provided for in the prospectus approved on 27 April 2020 for the purpose of admission of the Bonds to trading on regulated market and on 20 March 2025 having received permission of the European Central Bank, the Issuer will exercise its optional early redemption call to fully redeem the outstanding Bonds on 24 April 2025 (the “Redemption Date“) at 100 % of the principal amount of the Bonds outstanding (EUR 10,000 for each Bond) together with accrued and unpaid interest on the Bonds (EUR 205.56 for each Bond) up to the Redemption Date (total redemption amount for each Bond shall be EUR 10205.56), having satisfied the applicable conditions to redemption.

    The Issuer will request the cancellation of the listing of the Bonds on the Bond List of Nasdaq Vilnius AB (“Nasdaq Vilnius“) and the admission to trading on the Regulated Market of Nasdaq Vilnius, in each case with effect from (and including) the Redemption Date.

    This notice is issued and directed only to the Bondholders and no other person shall, or is entitled to rely or act on, or be able to rely or act on, its contents and should not be relied upon by any Bondholder for any other purpose.

    Terms used but not defined in this notice bear the same meaning as set out in, or incorporated by reference into, the Conditions.

    For the purposes of MAR the person responsible for arranging for the release of this announcement is Tomas Varenbergas (Head of Investment Management Division) and should any Bondholder have any queries in relation to this notice please contact:

    Tomas Varenbergas
    Head of Investment Management Division
    tomas.varenbergas@sb.lt

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Swing into summer with the City of Derry Jazz Festival

    Source: Northern Ireland – City of Derry

    Swing into summer with the City of Derry Jazz Festival

    24 March 2025

    Bennigans Bar was the perfect location to get the jazz vibe going with the launch the City of Derry Jazz Festival 2025, taking place May 01 – 05.

    The Mayor of Derry and Strabane, Councillor Lilian Seenoi Barr, was joined by Martin Venning from event sponsors Diageo, for the launch at one of the festival’s most popular jazz hubs, renowned for its top-class artists.

    This year’s event marks 24 years of Ireland’s biggest Jazz extravaganza, and final preparations are now well underway to deliver an unsurpassable programme featuring over 320 performances, and brimming with musical talent from around the world. Music legend Billy Ocean tops this year’s bill, performing in the Millennium Forum on Saturday and Sunday May 3rd and 4th.

    Looking ahead to the event, which is organised by Derry City and Strabane District Council, Mayor Barr said she couldn’t wait to get her dancing shoes on. “I don’t know anyone who doesn’t love the City of Derry Jazz Festival,” she declared. “It’s a wonderful time to visit Derry as the city comes alive with music in every bar and on every street corner. The energy is infectious and the atmosphere is just incredible.

    “The festival is the perfect warm up for the summer, and it’s an event that people of all ages can enjoy. You don’t have to be a jazz fanatic – we have performers here from all over the world and a real medley of musical genres to enjoy. And don’t forget the majority of the entertainment is free!”

    This year’s programme includes old jazz favourites, local legends and plenty of new talent, ready to deliver five days packed with entertainment, from jazz workshops to live concerts and drama performances.

    There will be beats on the streets with a variety of al fresco acts, bringing the vibrant sound of jazz to the entire city. Festival goers can also look forward to an exciting mix of jump, jive, blues, and swing, ensuring there’s something for every music enthusiast.

    A highlight of the festival is the Live Music Now Schools Programme, which aims to inspire and educate the next generation of musicians through interactive performances and workshops in local post-primary schools. Young performers will have the chance to show off their talents performing live on the Gay McIntyre Stage, showcasing some of the finest jazz talent in the historic Guildhall Square.

    Jazz Festival coordinator with Derry City and Strabane District Council, Aisling McCallion, said: “May is fast approaching and we have had so much interest this year from acts from all over who have heard about the City of Derry Jazz Festival and the brilliant welcome the performers enjoy. We have some really exciting new performers this year, and of course we can’t wait to welcome our headline act Billy Ocean.”

    Martin Venning from Diageo said it would be an unforgettable weekend. “Diageo is delighted to continue supporting this fantastic festival, which celebrates the vibrant cultural scene here in the North West.

    “It’s the perfect platform for both established local performers and new up and coming talent, who join world class artists from across the world for a show-stopping weekend that brings so much value to the local economy. It’s the only place to celebrate the May Bank Holiday.”

    So join us for an unforgettable celebration of jazz, community, and culture at the 2025 City of Derry Jazz Festival!

    For more information go to cityofderryjazzfestival.com and for regular updates follow the City of Derry Jazz festival on Facebook Instagram and X @derryjazzfest.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Pool and gym solar switch-on

    Source: City of Sunderland

    Heating for swimmers and gym users is now being boosted with solar panels.

    Visitors to Hetton Pool and Wellness Centre are now benefiting from more than 430 roof mounted solar panels that are helping keep energy bills down and lowering the city’s carbon footprint.

    Opened in 2010, the pool, gym and studio facilities at Bernard Park receives between 5,000 and 6,000 visits per week.

    This installation is expected to save around £35,000 in operating costs and 30 tonnes of carbon dioxide per annum.

    Work on installing the panels was completed over the winter following planning approvals in autumn last year. After tests, the panels are now generating power during daylight hours to heat the 25 metre pool and help meet the centre’s power needs from lighting to gym equipment.

    Funding for the project came from a national Sport England grant of £226,00 via the Sport England Swimming Pool Support Fund. The funding was targeted at easing the financial pressures that councils and leisure operators have been facing because of recent rises in energy and general operating costs.

    The City Council’s Cabinet Member for Environment, Transport and Net Zero, Councillor Lindsey Leonard said: “This is great news for centre users and residents across our city. Thanks to Sport England for the initial grant and thanks to staff at the City Council and Everyone Active who have seen this project through we are already seeing the benefits.

    “As a council we’ve already installed solar panels in car parks and depots, we have LED lights in buildings, more energy efficient street lighting and we have an ongoing programme of identifying and installing more energy efficiency measures as we invest to save, wherever possible, to help lower our carbon footprint and save on our energy bills.”

    The latest technology for solar panels allows them to operate on overcast days as they capture diffused light. In direct sunlight, panels operate at 100 per cent.

    Cllr Leonard added: “By taking these steps we can make a real difference as we continue to work hard together towards our goal of becoming carbon neutral as a Council by 2030 and as a city by 2040.”

    The City Council was one of 264 local authorities that received funding for investing in panels, LED lights or other energy saving improvements aimed at improving the efficiency of public facilities with swimming pools.

    The council’s leisure service partner is Everyone Active and alongside Hetton, it oversees the Sunderland Aquatic Centre, Silksworth Community Pool Tennis and Wellness Centre and the Raich Carter Centre in Hendon.

    Everyone Active’s Contract Manager Ian Bradgate said: “Reducing the centre’s carbon footprint is the key aim of this project and we are delighted to play our part in that. Everyone Active will continue to work with the council to achieve their Net Zero ambitions, as part of our own Net Zero Strategy.”

    Lisa Dodd-Mayne, Executive Director – Place at Sport England added: “Swimming pools and leisure centres are vital community resources and are enormously important in helping people to be physically active.

    “Sport England is proud of the role we play in supporting these facilities. The investment from the Government’s Swimming Pool Support Fund at Hetton Pool and Wellness Centre will help improve energy efficiency and enable the centre to be more environmentally and financially sustainable so it remains available for future generations to enjoy.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The second stage of the Moscow Student Cheer League has ended at the State University of Management

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

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

    On March 22, 2025, the second stage of the Moscow Student Cheer League, organized by the Phoenix Sports Club in cooperation with our university, was held at the Sports Complex of the State University of Management.

    This large-scale and fascinating cheerleading and cheer-sport competition brought together 11 teams from different Moscow universities: GUU, Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, RANEPA, RGAU-MTAA, MSU and others.

    At this stage of the competition, participants competed in 10 disciplines, each of which required teams to be focused, coordinated, and professional. Our team showed excellent results and won second place in one of the disciplines.

    We thank the organizers, our fans and everyone who supported the team throughout this intense sports day.

    The Moscow Student Cheer League is an important platform for young talents, providing an opportunity for students not only to prove themselves, but also to strengthen ties between universities. We are looking forward to the next stage of the tournament and hope for new victories!

    Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 03/24/2025

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: HSE has launched a competitive selection process for the Russian Postdoc Program

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: State University Higher School of Economics – State University Higher School of Economics –

    The Higher School of Economics invites researchers to take part in Program for attracting Russian postdocsThis year, 106 vacancies are available for candidates at the university’s Moscow campuses, Saint Petersburg, Perm And Nizhny NovgorodApplications will be accepted until May 16.

    The Russian Postdocs Program is aimed at attracting colleagues who have received a candidate of science or PhD degree to HSE. The competition is open to researchers under 39 years of age who have not previously worked or studied in HSE postgraduate studies.

    The program is aimed at retaining personnel in science and strengthening the practice of inter-university exchange. Winners of the competitive selection are employed as HSE research fellows for one year with the possibility of extending for a second year. They work on a research project and are involved in expanding the research agenda of departments. Colleagues can also, if they wish, teach and participate in expert-analytical projects. The postdoc will be provided with a workplace, access to information resources, databases and electronic subscriptions of HSE, as well as participation in scientific and educational events and programs for scientific advancement and career development.

    Each applicant can choose to participate in one or two projects, indicating the priority option. The full list of vacancies is published on the website of the Russian Postdocs Attraction Program. To submit an application, you must fill out form.

    Today, there are more than 50 postdocs from different regions and cities of Russia working at HSE. The program implements the practice of consultations with current participants. Online meetings are held every Wednesday at 12:00 and 17:00 Moscow time. You can ask all your questions by filling out application.

    “The program to attract Russian postdocs has allowed our still young and small laboratory to expand its research capabilities,” says Robert Sandlersky, head of International Laboratory of Landscape Ecology Faculty of Geography and Geoinformation Technologies HSE University. — The postdoc attracted under the program acquired many new skills in his first year of work that are useful for our research. The knowledge acquired at HSE allowed him to formulate his own research direction in the second year of the program, which is especially valuable for our small team. With the help of our postdoc, we organized and conducted a student expedition to his native region, Buryatia, and implemented the research project “Geoinformation support for recreational activities in Tunkinsky National Park”. Thus, the Russian Postdoc Attraction Program allowed us to expand the geography of our research and involve students in it. I am pleased to plan the next research project, for which we can attract a new active postdoc.”

    “The program for attracting Russian postdocs is a great opportunity to be involved in the activities of the best university in Russia! I am glad that I took a risk and applied for the competitive selection,” shared Anastasia Ustyuzhantseva, postdoc, research fellow Department of Operations Management and Logistics. — A wide range of professional and personal growth trajectories, English courses for any level of training, advanced training in relevant areas, work in world-class research teams — this is only a small part of what participation in the program provides. I began to look at many things in a new way, made useful contacts, and was able to concentrate on truly important professional tasks.”

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 46th session of the joint UNECE Working Party on Forest Statistics, Economics and Management

    Source: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe

    The forty-sixth session of the joint FAO/UNECE Working Party on Forest Statistics, Economics and Management will be held from 14 to 15 May 2025 in Geneva, Switzerland.

    JWP preliminary programme (as of 07.03.2025): PDF

    Contact: Secretariat

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Statement by President Meloni on 81st anniversary of Fosse Ardeatine massacre

    Source: Government of Italy (English)

    24 Marzo 2025

    The events of March 24th 81 years ago left one of the deepest wounds ever to be inflicted on Rome and on the whole of Italy. The Fosse Ardeatine massacre, carried out by occupying Nazi troops in retaliation for the Via Rasella attack by partisans in Rome, is one of the most painful episodes in our nation’s history, and it is the primary duty of institutions, at all levels, to tell the story of what happened and pass the memory of those events on, especially to the younger generations. Today, we pay tribute to the 335 victims of that unspeakable massacre and reaffirm our commitment to safeguarding and protecting the values of freedom and democracy on which our Republic is founded. 

    [Courtesy translation]

    MIL OSI Europe News –