NewzIntel.com

Category: Europe

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Mainland China warns against sending wrong signals to separatist forces pushing for ‘Taiwan independence’

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    BEIJING, June 25 (Xinhua) — State Council Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Zhu Fenglian on Wednesday called on individual countries to abide by the one-China principle in practice and refrain from sending wrong signals to separatist forces advocating “Taiwan independence.”

    Zhu Fenglian made the call at a briefing, commenting on statements by participants at the recent Group of Seven (G7) summit, who noted the “importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.”

    “We firmly oppose relevant countries making irresponsible statements on the Taiwan question and grossly interfering in China’s internal affairs,” Zhu Fenglian said, stressing that the Taiwan question is an exclusively internal matter for China and does not tolerate interference from any external forces.

    She called on the relevant states to recognize the danger and harmfulness of provocative actions aimed at achieving “Taiwan independence.”

    The spokeswoman also warned the island’s administration, led by Lai Qingde, that any such provocation would be met with harsh countermeasures, and that any attempts to collude with outside forces in pursuit of “independence” were doomed to failure.

    Zhu Fenglian also answered questions from media representatives regarding recent actions and statements by the United States, including the House Appropriations Committee’s passage of a defense spending bill that allocates US$500 million for the “Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative.”

    The official representative called on the US side to actually fulfill its political commitments to China on the Taiwan issue, adhere to the one-China principle and the provisions of the three China-US joint communiqués, and approach the Taiwan issue with the utmost caution. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Record 769 arrests and USD 65 million in illicit pharmaceuticals seized in global bust

    Source: Interpol (news and events)

    25 June 2025

    Operation reveals growing demand for semaglutides and peptides as ‘lifestyle enhancers’

    SINGAPORE – An INTERPOL-coordinated operation across 90 countries has resulted in the seizure of 50.4 million doses of illicit pharmaceuticals worth USD 65 million, highlighting the alarming scale of the global trade in unapproved and counterfeit medicines.

    Operation Pangea XVII, which took place from December 2024 to May 2025, saw the arrest of 769 suspects and the dismantling of 123 criminal groups worldwide.

    The seizures and arrests are the largest in the operation’s 17-year history.

    Nervous system agents, including psychostimulants, anti-anxiety drugs, and medications for Parkinson’s disease, topped the list as the most seized product type, with erectile dysfunction medicines, the second highest.

    Other commonly seized product types include anabolic steroids, anti-diabetic medicines, anti-smoking products, dermatological agents, health supplements, herbal products and psychotherapeutic agents.

    David Caunter, Director pro tempore of Organized and Emerging Crime at INTERPOL, said:

    “Fake and unapproved medications are a serious risk to public health. They can include dangerous or illegal ingredients potentially resulting in severe illness, or even death.

    “The rapid growth of online platforms has made it easier for these unsafe drugs to reach people as well as opening new opportunities for criminal networks to exploit.

    “Working together through Operation Pangea, countries are taking action to protect people’s health and keep healthcare systems safe.”

    Ethiopian authorities discovered illicit pharmaceuticals hidden inside a container.

    Seizures of anti-diabetic medication in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom.

    Customs inspection at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Malaysia.

    Inspection at a warehouse in Malaysia.

    Illicit pharmaceuticals seized in Türkiye.

    Illicit pharmaceuticals seized in Malaysia.

     

    Growing demand for anti-diabetic medications and peptide supplements

    The operation revealed growing demand for anti-diabetic drugs and peptide supplements, driven by increasing self-medication, among other factors.

    This trend is being driven by the widespread promotion and availability of these medicines across social media and online marketplaces, creating lucrative and relatively low-risk opportunities for criminal networks selling low-quality or counterfeit products.

    Data from participating countries indicate increasing circulation of illicit anti-diabetic medicines globally due to their off-label weight loss effects, with unapproved and potentially fake drugs seized in the Asia-Pacific, Europe and North America.

    Estimates suggest that a single semaglutide pen may sell for several hundred US dollars on the secondary market.

    The seizures corroborate recent alerts from the World Health Organization and various national health regulatory agencies warning of emerging risks associated with GLP-1-related injectable drugs.

    Operation Pangea XVII revealed another emerging trend – growing demand for peptide supplements for their perceived cosmetic and performance-enhancing benefits, especially in high-income countries across Europe, North America and Oceania.

    These supplements, such as BPC-157, ipamorelin, and melanotan, remain unapproved in many regions due to potential health risks and the lack of sufficient human trials, and until recently, seizures of such peptide-based biologically active substances were rare.

    Ethiopian authorities discovered illicit pharmaceuticals hidden inside a container.

    Illicit pharmaceuticals seized in Argentina.

    Unapproved pregabalin medicines seized in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom.

    Suspected counterfeit tramadol and other medicines seized in Gabon.

    Illicit pharmaceuticals found in a clandestine clinic in Mozambique.

    Illicit erectile dysfunction medicines seized in Bulgaria.

    Operational highlights

    In total, law enforcement agencies worldwide launched 1,728 investigations and issued 847 search warrants targeting criminal networks engaged in the illicit distribution of pharmaceutical products.

    93 per cent of the illicit pharmaceuticals seized lacked regulatory approvals from national health authorities.

    Such products may contain counterfeit, substandard or falsified substances which have not been identified.

    The remaining seven per cent were confirmed as either counterfeit, diverted, or misbranded products.

    Australia recorded the largest seizures globally, with psychostimulants such as modafinil and armodafinil being the most common category seized nationally. This was followed by anti-smoking pouches and erectile dysfunction medicines.

    Professor Tony Lawler, Head of Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) said:

    “During this operation, the TGA assessed over 9,500 imports referred by the Australian Border Force and facilitated the seizure of over 5.2 million units of unlawfully imported therapeutic goods, including products that were found to be substandard or falsified.

    This operational partnership represents a significant disruption of dangerous medicines from entering our community, and diversion of profits from those that would usually benefit from the illegal sale and supply.”

    Large seizures of various illicit pharmaceuticals were similarly reported in Canada, Ireland, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States, among other countries. 

    Operation Pangea XVII also saw the shutdown of approximately 13,000 criminal-linked websites, social media pages, channels, and bots used to market and sell illegal or falsified medicines.

    Malaysia removed the greatest number of online listings (7,000), followed by Russia, Ireland, Singapore and Iran. The five countries collectively accounted for 96 per cent of all listings taken down.

    In Burkina Faso, 816,000 tablets including analgesics and anti-inflammatories were discovered hidden in vehicles.

    In Mexico, authorities intercepted 27,000 clonazepam tablets and 20,000 alprazolam tablets passing through a courier facility in Tijuana.

    In Portugal, anabolic steroids were discovered in eight prisons across the country, unveiling evidence of a criminal network smuggling illicit substances into correctional facilities.

    Notes to Editor

    Operation Pangea is an annual INTERPOL operation targeting the online sale of illicit pharmaceuticals. The 17th edition of the operation marked a departure from previous iterations with enforcement action taking place over six months instead of the traditional one week. This extended duration allowed for a more comprehensive and sustained effort to disrupt criminal networks.

    Additional support was provided by national health regulatory agencies, Europol, the International Narcotics Control Board, the Pharmaceutical Security Institute, the Transnational Alliance to Combat Illicit Trade, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the Universal Postal Union, the World Customs Organization and the World Health Organization.

    The following countries participated in Operation Pangea XVII: Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belarus, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Curacao, Cyprus, Czech Rep., Democratic Rep. of Congo, Denmark, Dominican Rep., Ecuador, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Greece, Guyana, Hong Kong (China), India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Jamaica, Kuwait, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Netherlands, New Zealand, Northern Ireland (United Kingdom), Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Palestine, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Rep San Marino, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Senegal, Serbia, South Africa, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, Sri Lanka, St Lucia, Sweden, Thailand, Togo, Türkiye, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela and Zimbabwe.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI China: Foreign Minister Lin accompanies European press delegation to experience Taiwan’s culture, promotes Taiwan Cultural Year in Europe

    Source: Republic of Taiwan – Ministry of Foreign Affairs

    Foreign Minister Lin accompanies European press delegation to experience Taiwan’s culture, promotes Taiwan Cultural Year in Europe

    • Date：2025-06-20
    • Data Source：Department of European Affairs

    June 20, 2025  

    No. 216  

    On the afternoon of June 19, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung took a delegation of journalists from the Czech Republic, France, Germany, and the Netherlands to visit the cast of Zeelandia, a Taiwan original musical. Minister Lin spoke about Taiwan’s leading technology and rich culture and expressed hope that the cultural activities being held as part of the 2025 Taiwan Cultural Year in Europe would help the nations of Europe see a side of Taiwan other than technology.

     

    In his remarks, Minister Lin said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) had partnered with the Ministry of Culture and the National Palace Museum (NPM) to put together the Taiwan Cultural Year in Europe. In September and November, pieces from the NPM collection would be exhibited in the Czech Republic and France, respectively, he stated, while other performing arts activities would be held across Europe. Minister Lin continued by expressing hope that this would help European nations better understand Taiwan’s rich culture. He stressed that while Taiwan was a technology island, it was also a culture island that married cultural assets with a creative spirit, which would be highlighted by the Taiwan Cultural Year in Europe. 

     

    The minister then explained that the events were being held under the banner “From Tech to Culture, Taiwan Leads the Future,” while the logo for the event was inspired by Roman columns and bore the word Taiwan symbolizing an IC design. Minister Lin said that this was an expression of how Taiwan and Europe were inextricably linked via cultural exchanges. 

     

    Musical cast members then led Minister Lin and the visiting journalists in singing a traditional Siraya song to experience for themselves the beauty of Taiwan’s culture. The musical Zeelandia takes as its backdrop Fort Zeelandia in the 17th century. The performance tells the story of how the cultures of Han, Siraya, and Dutch people came together, underscoring the unbreakable cultural and historical bonds linking Taiwan and Europe. The musical is being performed from June 20 to 29 at the Taipei Performing Arts Center. 

     

    In the future, MOFA will continue to promote cultural diplomacy to highlight Taiwan’s core values of freedom, openness, and inclusion. It will use culture as a bridge linking Taiwan to the world’s democracies, so as to jointly encourage the greater cultural flowering of free and democratic societies. (E) 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: MOFA response to UK National Security Strategy 2025 conveying concern over peace and stability across Taiwan Strait

    Source: Republic of Taiwan – Ministry of Foreign Affairs

    MOFA response to UK National Security Strategy 2025 conveying concern over peace and stability across Taiwan Strait

    • Date：2025-06-25
    • Data Source：Department of European Affairs

    June 25, 2025  

    The UK Cabinet Office issued National Security Strategy 2025 on June 24 following a comprehensive review of relevant issues, including the China audit, that was launched by the Labour government after it assumed office. The strategy noted the centrality of the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait in global trade and supply chains and underscored the importance of regional stability to the United Kingdom. It also indicated that there was a risk of escalation around Taiwan and reiterated that issues regarding Taiwan should be resolved peacefully through constructive dialogue, without the threat or use of force or coercion. It further stated that the United Kingdom did not support any unilateral attempts to change the status quo and that the United Kingdom would continue to strengthen its cooperative relationship with Taiwan in a wide range of areas based on shared democratic values.

     

    The day the national security strategy was issued, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy briefed the House of Commons on the China audit and the government’s China policy, emphasizing that the United Kingdom’s long-standing position on Taiwan remained unchanged and that it would continue to deepen its vibrant ties with Taiwan in such domains as trade, education, and innovation. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomes these statements.

     

    Following the release of the Strategic Defence Review on June 2, the national security strategy serves as another integrated policy document of the UK government. In addition to reaffirming the United Kingdom’s staunch position on peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, the strategy once again highlighted the fact that there is a high degree of international consensus on cross-strait peace and stability and that Taiwan plays an indispensable role in the security and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific and the world.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Local Area Inclusion Plan: Supporting Derby’s young people to live their best life

    Source: City of Derby

    Inclusion is at the heart of our work at the council, and this week we’ve published our new Local Area Inclusion Plan, setting out clearly how we’re tackling important issues such as health, community, and job opportunities for Derby’s children and young people, particularly for those who with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and those in Alternative Provision (AP). 

    Following consultation with over 2,000 Derby stakeholders, including schools, children and young people, parent/carers and families, we’ve set out three core aims, underpinned with objectives and practical plans to make sure that children and young people ages 0-25 are supported to achieve strong outcomes and positive destinations. 

    The three interconnected aims are:

    • Aim 1 – Champion an ambitious and inclusive city
    • Aim 2 – Meet the needs of our children at the right time and place
    • Aim 3 – A strong, collaborative system that helps our children live their best life.

    Councillor Paul Hezelgrave, Derby City Council Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Skills, describes the importance of this collaborative approach to strategy:

    Our children and young people deserve the very best from those who are making decisions on their behalf. Through co-production with these youngsters, this plan sets out how we effectively prepare them for the future and get them closer to the labour market, developing clear pathways with support from businesses.

    This ensures that Derby’s young people feel supported, empowered and included, and that their voice has been heard and acted upon.

    At its core, the Local Area Inclusion Plan promotes inclusion across the community and in mainstream settings, finding ways to support young people earlier and reducing the pressures on specialist services. In consultation with young people, the plan sets out six key outcomes that Derby’s young people have stated are vital to living their best life.

    These are:

    • I have real-life experiences, learning opportunities, good careers advice and guidance, and insight into the world of work
    • I have a plan for my future
    • I am active, independent and take part in my local community
    • I enjoy good physical and mental health and live a healthy lifestyle 
    • I am supported to dream big
    • Those that care for me understand how they can help me and realise my potential.

    Andy Smith CBE, Strategic Director of People Services, explains:

    Every child in Derby deserves to be seen, heard, and supported to thrive. This plan is our commitment—to work together across services so children, young people, and their families get the right help at the right time, for the brightest futures possible.

    Sharon Buckby, Director of Learning, Inclusion and Skills, is confident that this plan will lead to better outcomes for Derby’s children and young people. She said:

    Our holistic approach to inclusion means that we are supporting children and young people at the right time, in the right place with a focus on early intervention.

    We do also understand that there is a need for specialist intervention in some cases, and this plan looks to address some of those challenges with long waits for assessment.  We are passionate about supporting every young person to achieve their potential.

    Jo Hunter, Deputy Chief Nurse, highlighted the collaborative nature of the work:

    Collaborative working across the local area, knowledge exchange and an understanding of experiences of the system has really strengthened our approach to inclusion.

    Taking a multi-disciplinary approach to areas of need means our response can be strengths based, insightful and targeted, leading to the effective use of resources and best possible outcomes for young people with physical disabilities and special educational needs.

    The Local Area Inclusion Plan is available to read on our website, in an easily digestible, at-a-glance format.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: The United Kingdom is deeply concerned about the worsening situation for children in conflicts around the world: UK statement at the UN Security Council

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Speech

    The United Kingdom is deeply concerned about the worsening situation for children in conflicts around the world: UK statement at the UN Security Council

    Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on children and armed conflict.

    The UK remains committed to supporting Syrians as they rebuild after years of suffering, with an inclusive transition that reflects a wide range of voices, including those of Syria’s youth. 

    I will make three points today.

    First, the United Kingdom is deeply concerned about the worsening situation for children in conflicts around the world. 

    The Secretary-General’s report highlights a shocking 25% increase in grave violations against children in the past year. 

    We call on all parties to armed conflict to immediately end and prevent grave violations against children. Perpetrators need to be held to account.

    We also echo the Secretary-General’s call for all listed parties to engage with the United Nations to develop and implement action plans to end and prevent grave violations. 

    Second, as we’ve heard today, cases of rape and other forms of sexual violence against children have increased by over a third in the past year. 

    In Sudan, children as young as one are reportedly subject to sexual violence.

    The United Kingdom unequivocally condemns sexual violence against children and has championed the rights of child survivors and rallied global action through the Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict Initiative.

    Third, in too many conflicts, children are bearing the brunt of violence.

    The conflict in the Occupied Palestinian Territories is having a catastrophic impact on children, with thousands killed and maimed as a result of Israeli military action. 

    Palestinians, desperate to feed their families, have been killed as they try to reach the few aid sites permitted by Israel. 

    This is unacceptable. 

    We call on Israel to abide by its obligations under international humanitarian law to protect children and urgently lift restrictions to enable aid to enter Gaza at scale. 

    Israeli children have also suffered as a result of Hamas’ despicable crimes, with children killed and taken hostage on 7 October. 

    The UK repeats its call for an immediate ceasefire and the release of all remaining hostages.

    And Russia continues to kill and maim children and attack schools and hospitals in its illegal war in Ukraine. 

    We call on Russia to cease this unprovoked war and return forcibly deported children to Ukraine. 

    President, the United Kingdom remains steadfast in its commitment to the Children and Armed Conflict mandate and ending grave violations against children. 

    We need to do more to protect children. They are the next generation of leaders and peacebuilders. They are our future.

    Updates to this page

    Published 25 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: HSE held the fifth School on Financial Technologies

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    At the beginning of June Faculty of Computer Science HSE held its fifth anniversary Fintech School, organized basic department of PJSC Sberbank “Financial technologies and data analysis”More than 200 students, teachers and practitioners gathered in the HSE building on Pokrovsky Boulevard to listen to presentations by experts from major companies.

    On the first day, Yevgeny Solovyov, Deputy Director of the Innovation Department of the National Payment Card System, and bachelor’s degree graduates presented their reports. “Software Engineering” Timofey Looze, Head of Product Analytics Group for Factoring at Ozon Bank, and Ekaterina Karavaeva, Research Intern Cloud and Mobile Technologies Labs Faculty of Computer Science at the Higher School of Economics, engineer-developer of the platform solutions department at T-Bank.

    The second day of the school was opened by Sber’s Senior Vice President, Head of the Risks Block, Dzhangir Dzhangirov. He told how Sber makes decisions around the clock, what technologies operate “under the hood” of the company and what role AI plays in this. Sber was also represented by Evgeny Sokolovsky, Executive Director, Leader of the Antifraud in Lending to Individuals product and a Master’s degree teacher “Financial Technologies and Data Analysis” HSE Faculty of Computer Science. He gave a lecture entitled “Antifraud in the Age of AI Accomplices.”

    At the end of the school, the participants listened to lectures from Fedor Pakhurov, a research intern project-training laboratory “Artificial Intelligence in Mathematical Finance” HSE Faculty of Computer Science, and speakers from Alfa-Bank – Victoria Baykova, head of the LLM development projects program, and Artem Karavaev, head of advanced analytics projects.

    The presentations focused on the most relevant topics — financial innovations and technologies, including the use of artificial intelligence, blockchain, and APIs in fintech. Experts spoke about low-code solutions for accelerating business processes and data approaches that transform traditional banking. Special attention was paid to combating fraud in the AI era, as well as diffusion generative models and RAG systems. Automatic machine learning and its role in automating data analysis for business monetization were also discussed.

    During the breaks between lectures, participants had the opportunity to get to know each other better, discuss the knowledge they had gained, and ask questions to industry experts.

    Speakers and participants shared their impressions of the school.

    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 Asia-Pac: MOFA response to UK naval vessel transiting Taiwan Strait

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    MOFA response to UK naval vessel transiting Taiwan Strait

    Date：2025-06-19
    Data Source：Department of European Affairs

    June 19, 2025  

    On June 18, the UK Royal Navy patrol vessel HMS Spey transited the Taiwan Strait. Through this concrete action, the United Kingdom further defended freedom of navigation in the Taiwan Strait and demonstrated its firm position that the strait constitutes international waters. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomes and affirms the transit.
     
    MOFA continues to encourage the United Kingdom and other like-minded countries to jointly safeguard cross-strait peace and stability, promote a free and open Indo-Pacific region, and maintain the rules-based international order. 

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: MOFA response to false claims regarding Taiwan in joint statement between Central Asian nations and China

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    MOFA response to false claims regarding Taiwan in joint statement between Central Asian nations and China

    Date：2025-06-19
    Data Source：Department of West Asian and African Affairs

    June 19, 2025  

    Chinese leader Xi Jinping met with the presidents of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan from June 16 to 18 at the second China-Central Asia Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan. Following the summit, these nations and China jointly issued the Astana Declaration, which contains the spurious claim that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs solemnly refutes this statement and sternly protests against the Chinese communist regime for its repeated use of meetings with other nations’ leaders to publicly undermine Taiwan’s sovereignty as well as central Asian nations for uncritically accepting China’s statements that run contrary to the facts in downgrading Taiwan’s sovereignty.
     
    MOFA reiterates that neither the Republic of China (Taiwan) nor the People’s Republic of China is subordinate to the other, that the Chinese communist regime has never governed Taiwan, and that no nation has the right or power to deny Taiwan’s existence via so-called joint statements. MOFA calls on Kazakhstan and other central Asian nations not to support false statements and endorse China’s aggressive intentions to disrupt regional peace and stability. 
     
    Taiwan’s sovereignty belongs to its people, and it is the people of Taiwan who will determine Taiwan’s future. Moreover, peace, stability, and prosperity must be jointly upheld by all nations of the world. Taiwan is a force for good in the international community and will continue to staunchly defend the values of freedom and democracy as it strengthens collaboration with democratic nations to halt authoritarian expansionism, defend cross-strait peace and security, and maintain a free and stable Indo-Pacific region. 

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: G20 Sherpa meeting to focus on global solidarity and sustainable development

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    G20 Sherpa meeting to focus on global solidarity and sustainable development

    The third Sherpa meeting of the Group of 20 (G20) kicked off on Wednesday, focusing on global collaboration, sustainable development, and addressing new international challenges.

    The Sun City Convention Centre was filled with representatives from the world’s largest economies and organisations as Zane Dangor, the Director-General of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation and South Africa’s G20 Sherpa, delivered his opening remarks.

    The meeting, which will run for three days, brings together international representatives to discuss critical global challenges and explore potential collaborative solutions.

    The meeting will take place under the theme: “Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability”.

    Dangor announced that the Foreign Ministers will lead detailed discussions on global geopolitical issues, focusing on international law and mutual accountability while emphasising the need to prioritise substantive matters.

    “The meeting also provides an opportunity for Sherpas to have a discussion, dare I say it, on the geopolitical issues as part of the agenda. 

    “And I think, we’ve always shied away from geopolitical issues, but given the events not only of the last two years but particularly of the last month, we’re going to have some discussion in a measured but robust way,” he told delegates. 

    He recognised that the G20 serves as a platform for international economic cooperation, making it a crucial focus.

    “But the ongoing conflict worldwide, as it has been pointed out before, is definitely now even more detrimental not just to peace and security but economic development and the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals. 

    “So, we will discuss it, but we will also make sure it doesn’t hold us back.”

    However, he said, only the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and ultimately the leaders will engage in the geopolitical issues, following the example set by Brazil, while the working groups will concentrate on the technical issues.

    Today’s meeting marked the beginning of a series of 10 sessions, during which Dangor announced leadership changes, including the appointment of several new Sherpas and representatives from Brazil, India, China, and the United Kingdom. 

    This shift indicates a new approach to international cooperation. 

    “The discussions will provide us with the opportunity to refine objectives. We will report back from some of the working groups and task teams, and we’ll look at how they align with the priorities we’ve set up to ensure that we do reach out to inclusivity and that also reflect our own collective aspirations.” 

    Dangor stressed the importance of creating actionable, measurable declarations that go beyond aspirational statements, with a commitment to reducing global inequalities.

    “It is our responsibility, collectively as Sherpas, to resolve the challenges that are being presented to us within the working groups or task teams, even the new emerging challenges, and there are many new emerging challenges. I do think that we should work to ensure that none of the working group fails to reach consensus.” 

    According to South Africa’s G20 Sherpa, the gathering also aims to shape a clear and actionable G20 Leaders’ Declaration, with a strong emphasis on sustainable development, reducing inequalities, and achieving measurable goals.

    Dangor said he hoped that the G20 Leaders’ Declaration has concrete, measurable, and time-bound actions, not just aspirational statements.

    He announced that, out of the 132 planned meetings, the Presidency has already hosted 70, and most of the working groups have completed their third sessions.

    The Sherpa also announced the upcoming social summit. 

    He concluded the opening remarks, expressing confidence in the fruitful deliberations over the next three days. – SAnews.gov.za

    Gabisile

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: MHRA seizes 7.7 million doses of illegal medicines and removes hundreds of illegal online listings as part of Operation Pangea

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    MHRA seizes 7.7 million doses of illegal medicines and removes hundreds of illegal online listings as part of Operation Pangea

    Operation Pangea brings together health regulators, customs authorities, law enforcement agencies, and private sector partners to tackle the threat posed by global criminal networks

    The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has seized almost eight million doses of illegal medicines as part of an annual global coordinated operation to tackle the illegal online sale of medicines and medical devices.

    Operation Pangea, coordinated by Interpol and involving around 90 countries, is the world’s largest initiative of its kind. It brings together health regulators, customs authorities, law enforcement agencies, and private sector partners to tackle the threat posed by criminal networks operating in the global supply of illegal medicines.

    This year’s operation took place between December 2024 and May 2025. Working with law enforcement partners, the MHRA’s Criminal Enforcement Unit (CEU) seized 7.7 million doses of illicit medicines with an estimated value of £17.2m. Among the products seized in the UK were various prescription-only medications including powerful painkillers, anti-depressants and sleeping pills.

    The CEU also coordinated several arrest operations, denied gangs access to almost £1.4m in criminal profits, and removed 367 websites and social media accounts offering medical products to the public illegally.

    Do not self-prescribe.

    Self-diagnosis and self-medication can be very dangerous. If you have a concern about your health, seek advice from a healthcare professional and only obtain medicines from a trusted source.

    Visit the #FakeMeds website for tools and resources to help people purchase medication or medical devices safely online.

    Andy Morling, who heads the MHRA’s Criminal Enforcement Unit (CEU), said:

    Criminals trade in illegal medicines for no other reason than to make money. Not only are these people breaking the law, but they also have no regard for your health.

    Buying medicines from unverified sources, online or elsewhere, means there is no guarantee that the products are safe or effective. Some can contain dangerous or illegal ingredients that could result in severe illness, addiction or even death.

    People also need to be aware that turning to illegal online sellers can leave them exposed to bank fraud and identity theft.

    This year’s operation is another example of how the MHRA and its international partners are joining forces to tackle the criminal gangs causing so much misery and harm around the world.

    Notes to editors

    • Anyone who suspects they are having a side effect from a medicine are encouraged to talk to their doctor, pharmacist or nurse and report it directly to the MHRA Yellow Card scheme, either through the Yellow Card website or by searching the Google Play or Apple App stores for MHRA Yellow Card.
    • The MHRA’s Accredited Financial Investigators are authorised by the National Crime Agency under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA). They support investigations by tracing, freezing, and confiscating assets linked to crime, including money laundering and the illegal supply of medicines. Their work includes seizing cash, valuable items, and freezing bank accounts or cryptocurrency suspected of criminal origins. The Home Office’s Asset Recovery Incentivisation Scheme (ARIS) allows a proportion of the proceeds of crime recovered under POCA, to be redistributed to agencies involved in the asset recovery process. The Home Office encourages agencies to invest ARIS funds to drive up performance on asset recovery or, where appropriate, to fund local crime fighting priorities for the benefit of the community.
    • Operation Pangea is a global initiative coordinated by INTERPOL that targets the illegal online sale and distribution of unlicensed and counterfeit medicines and medical devices. Involving police, customs, health regulators, and private sector partners across approximately 90, the operation aims to protect public health by disrupting criminal networks and raising awareness of the dangers of buying medicines from unregulated sources.
    • The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is responsible for regulating all medicines and medical devices in the UK by ensuring they work and are acceptably safe.  All our work is underpinned by robust and fact-based judgements to ensure that the benefits justify any risks. 
    • The MHRA is an executive agency of the Department of Health and Social Care. 
    • For media enquiries, please contact the newscentre@mhra.gov.uk, or call on 020 3080 7651.

    Updates to this page

    Published 25 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: PM meeting with President Erdoğan of Türkiye: 25 June 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    PM meeting with President Erdoğan of Türkiye: 25 June 2025

    The Prime Minister spoke with the President of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in The Hague earlier this afternoon.

    The Prime Minister spoke with the President of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in The Hague earlier this afternoon.

    The leaders began by discussing the perilous situation in the Middle East. The leaders welcomed the ceasefire between Israel and Iran and agreed that negotiations must lead to the next vital step forward. 

    Discussing the conflict in Gaza, the leaders agreed that there needed to be an urgent acceleration of aid and an end to the intolerable situation.

    Turning to the situation in Ukraine, the Prime Minister thanked President Erdoğan for his support to the Coalition of the Willing planning and thanked him for Türkiye’s role in peace talks.

    The leaders also welcomed the strengthening military cooperation between the two countries, and agreed on the importance of making progress in free trade agreement talks.

    Updates to this page

    Published 25 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UN Human Rights Council 59: UK statement for the Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women and Girls

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Speech

    UN Human Rights Council 59: UK statement for the Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women and Girls

    UK Statement for the Interactive Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on Violence Against Women and Girls. Delivered by the UK’s Permanent Representative to the WTO and UN, Simon Manley.

    Thank you Mr Vice President and Special Rapporteur for your report on your visit to the UK in February last year under the previous Government. I have listened carefully to your comments this morning.

    Tackling violence against women and girls, both domestically and internationally, is a top priority for the UK.

    Special Rapporteur, we note that you highlighted several positive elements of the UK’s domestic response, including:

    • robust legislation covering sexual violence, domestic abuse and modern slavery and human trafficking;
    • criminal offences covering female genital mutilation and forced marriage;
    • measures taken to prevent and improve employers’ responses to workplace harassment;
    • an expansive definition of domestic abuse, which includes emotional abuse, coercive or controlling behaviour and economic abuse and recognises that children can be victims of domestic abuse;
    • measures to tackle technology-facilitated violence, particularly the Online Safety Act 2023; and
    • the strength of civil society organisations.

    Nevertheless, we recognise that there are several areas for improvement that are relevant to the Special Rapporteur’s comments on the UK, such as:

    • ensuring the sustainable provision of services for women affected by violence and abuse;
    • ensuring children under the age of 16 receive effective safeguarding and support when they experience teenage relationship abuse; and
    • ensuring more comprehensive and richer data is collected about these crimes and the individuals who commit and experience them.

    We must also ensure sustainable and long-term resources for the implementation of policies and legislation across the four nations of our United Kingdom. Three devolution settlements – one each for Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland – stipulate matters that are the responsibility of the UK Parliament and others that are the responsibility of the devolved legislatures. It is right that approaches can be tailored to the specific needs of each nation. Nevertheless, the four governments can and will work together to ensure a coherent and effective framework for the safety and security of people across our United Kingdom.

    Mr Vice President,

    The manifesto on which our current Government was elected last summer included the ambition to halve levels of violence against women and girls in a decade – an ambitious aim that requires a transformative approach across government, public services, the private sector and charities.

    Since last year’s election, the Government has introduced several important measures to improve protection for victims of violence against women and girls and ensure perpetrators are held accountable. These include:

    • the rollout of Domestic Abuse Protection Orders in selected areas and the introduction of “Raneem’s Law” strengthening the police’s response domestic abuse by embedding specialists in emergency service control rooms in specific areas;
    • a new package of measures to tackle stalking, including a review of legislation and introducing statutory guidance to set out the process by which the police should release information identifying online stalkers to their victims; and
    • £13 million for a new National Centre for Violence Against Women and Girls and Public Protection, to improve the policing response.

    This year, our Government will publish a new strategy which will set the strategic direction and concrete actions to deliver on that Manifesto pledge to halve levels of violence against women and girls in a decade. This will be underpinned by an evidence-based theory of change to ensure that our approach is informed by the best available evidence.

    Finally, while I have the floor, we note your latest thematic report, Special Rapporteur. We are not going to make a separate statement in relation to that report but I would like to express our support to the joint statement Colombia will deliver today on the use of established terms such as gender-based violence.

    Thank you both.

    Updates to this page

    Published 25 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Canada renews support to protect the world’s children against infectious diseases

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    June 25, 2025 – Ottawa, Ontario – Global Affairs Canada

    Vaccines are one of the world’s most effective, evidence-based health interventions. This is true no matter where in the world a child lives. Each year, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, provides immunizations for more than half the children born into the world, saving millions of them from life-threatening diseases like human papillomavirus (HPV), malaria, measles and polio.

    Today, the Honourable Randeep Sarai, Secretary of State (International Development), concluded his participation in Gavi’s pledging conference held in Brussels, Belgium, on June 25, 2025.

    At the conference, Secretary Sarai reiterated Canada’s renewed commitment to global immunization efforts through its previously announced pledge of $675 million over the next five years (2026-2030), for Gavi, The Vaccine Alliance.

    Gavi’s work has significant implications for global economic growth and health security and is projected to create more than $100 billion in economic benefits for supported countries over the next 5 years. Canada’s support will help Gavi provide life-saving vaccines to at least 500 million more children, preventing over 8 million deaths, protecting the world against future pandemics and disease outbreaks, as well as strengthening health systems and global health security. It will also support exciting innovations, including the rollout of the groundbreaking new malaria vaccine, as well as practical, climate-smart solutions, such as installing more than 20,000 solar-powered fridges and freezers to ensure life-saving doses stay cold in remote areas.

    On the sidelines of the conference, Secretary Sarai met with key leaders in global health, including representatives from implementing countries and heads of major organizations. These included Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the WHO, Catherine Russell, UNICEF’s Executive Director, Dr. Mekdes Daba, Ethiopia’s Minister of Health, Dr. Muhammad Ali Pate, Nigeria’s Minister of Health, and Bill Gates. They discussed the future of global health efforts and the importance of sustained collaboration and innovation, to protect the progress made so far. Secretary Sarai also reaffirmed Canada’s steadfast commitment to Gavi and to making vaccines more accessible as the cornerstone of global health security.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Foreign Minister Lin accompanies European press delegation to experience Taiwan’s culture, promotes Taiwan Cultural Year in Europe

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    Foreign Minister Lin accompanies European press delegation to experience Taiwan’s culture, promotes Taiwan Cultural Year in Europe

    Date：2025-06-20
    Data Source：Department of European Affairs

    June 20, 2025  
    No. 216  

    On the afternoon of June 19, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung took a delegation of journalists from the Czech Republic, France, Germany, and the Netherlands to visit the cast of Zeelandia, a Taiwan original musical. Minister Lin spoke about Taiwan’s leading technology and rich culture and expressed hope that the cultural activities being held as part of the 2025 Taiwan Cultural Year in Europe would help the nations of Europe see a side of Taiwan other than technology.
     
    In his remarks, Minister Lin said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) had partnered with the Ministry of Culture and the National Palace Museum (NPM) to put together the Taiwan Cultural Year in Europe. In September and November, pieces from the NPM collection would be exhibited in the Czech Republic and France, respectively, he stated, while other performing arts activities would be held across Europe. Minister Lin continued by expressing hope that this would help European nations better understand Taiwan’s rich culture. He stressed that while Taiwan was a technology island, it was also a culture island that married cultural assets with a creative spirit, which would be highlighted by the Taiwan Cultural Year in Europe. 
     
    The minister then explained that the events were being held under the banner “From Tech to Culture, Taiwan Leads the Future,” while the logo for the event was inspired by Roman columns and bore the word Taiwan symbolizing an IC design. Minister Lin said that this was an expression of how Taiwan and Europe were inextricably linked via cultural exchanges. 
     
    Musical cast members then led Minister Lin and the visiting journalists in singing a traditional Siraya song to experience for themselves the beauty of Taiwan’s culture. The musical Zeelandia takes as its backdrop Fort Zeelandia in the 17th century. The performance tells the story of how the cultures of Han, Siraya, and Dutch people came together, underscoring the unbreakable cultural and historical bonds linking Taiwan and Europe. The musical is being performed from June 20 to 29 at the Taipei Performing Arts Center. 
     
    In the future, MOFA will continue to promote cultural diplomacy to highlight Taiwan’s core values of freedom, openness, and inclusion. It will use culture as a bridge linking Taiwan to the world’s democracies, so as to jointly encourage the greater cultural flowering of free and democratic societies. (E) 

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: MOFA response to UK National Security Strategy 2025 conveying concern over peace and stability across Taiwan Strait

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    MOFA response to UK National Security Strategy 2025 conveying concern over peace and stability across Taiwan Strait

    Date：2025-06-25
    Data Source：Department of European Affairs

    June 25, 2025  

    The UK Cabinet Office issued National Security Strategy 2025 on June 24 following a comprehensive review of relevant issues, including the China audit, that was launched by the Labour government after it assumed office. The strategy noted the centrality of the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait in global trade and supply chains and underscored the importance of regional stability to the United Kingdom. It also indicated that there was a risk of escalation around Taiwan and reiterated that issues regarding Taiwan should be resolved peacefully through constructive dialogue, without the threat or use of force or coercion. It further stated that the United Kingdom did not support any unilateral attempts to change the status quo and that the United Kingdom would continue to strengthen its cooperative relationship with Taiwan in a wide range of areas based on shared democratic values.
     
    The day the national security strategy was issued, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy briefed the House of Commons on the China audit and the government’s China policy, emphasizing that the United Kingdom’s long-standing position on Taiwan remained unchanged and that it would continue to deepen its vibrant ties with Taiwan in such domains as trade, education, and innovation. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomes these statements.
     
    Following the release of the Strategic Defence Review on June 2, the national security strategy serves as another integrated policy document of the UK government. In addition to reaffirming the United Kingdom’s staunch position on peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, the strategy once again highlighted the fact that there is a high degree of international consensus on cross-strait peace and stability and that Taiwan plays an indispensable role in the security and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific and the world.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • Trump signals willingness to send Ukraine more Patriot missiles after meeting Zelenskiy

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    U.S. President Donald Trump indicated he would consider supplying Ukraine with more of the Patriot air-defence missiles Kyiv relies on to defend itself from mounting Russian strikes, after meeting his Ukrainian counterpart on Wednesday.

    Both leaders said the 50-minute meeting on the sidelines of a NATO summit in The Hague was a positive step in a war now in its fourth year, and which Trump described as “more difficult than other wars”.

    Trump, during a press conference, said the weapons are “very hard to get” but that “we are going to see if we can make some of them available.”

    The U.S. leader also left open the possibility of providing more military aid to Kyiv, which has struggled to fend off grinding Russian advances on the battlefield in recent months.

    Trump had previously shown no signs of resuming the donations of weaponry to Ukraine against Russia’s invasion that his predecessor Joe Biden had instituted.

    Zelenskiy described the meeting as “long and substantive”, saying it covered “all the truly important issues”.

    “We discussed how to achieve a ceasefire and a real peace,” he wrote on X. “We spoke about how to protect our people.”

    Trump added that he would speak to Vladimir Putin again soon, saying the Russian president “really has to end that war”.

    Zelenskiy has worked to rebuild relations with Washington after a disastrous White House meeting in February with Trump, whose overtures to Russia in recent months have concerned officials in Kyiv.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Our support to Ukraine remains unwavering: UK statement to the OSCE

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Speech

    Our support to Ukraine remains unwavering: UK statement to the OSCE

    Speaking at the Annual Security Review Conference, Head of Security Policy Department, Jason Rheinberg, outlines why the UK remains committed to the OSCE and its principles.

    Thank you, Mr Chair. I am pleased to be here at the OSCE, particularly on the fiftieth anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act. Then, just as now, the Organisation and the Decalogue are foundation stones of strategic stability and security in the Euro-Atlantic area.

    Let me begin by reiterating the United Kingdom’s unwavering support for Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity.

    Russia’s full-scale invasion, now in its fourth year, remains the most serious threat to European security in decades. It is a blatant violation of the UN Charter and the core principles of this Organization – principles that every singe one of us has committed to uphold.

    Despite the immense human and economic toll, Ukraine continues to resist. And I salute their bravery. Ukraine has also shown it is committed to peace: Ukraine has agreed to a full, unconditional ceasefire, as proposed by the US. Russia has failed to agree to the same and has instead ramped up its attacks on civilians in Ukraine – including yesterday’s ballistic missile strikes on the Dnipro region, which killed at least 20 civilians and injured nearly 300 others. Hitting nurseries, apartment blocks and bakeries, as we heard earlier today from the Ukrainian First Deputy Foreign Minister.

    Here in Vienna, the UK continues – week in, week out – to hold Russia to account at the Permanent Council and Forum for Security Cooperation. We challenge the lies used to justify this illegal war and expose the brutality with which it is being waged.

    As Chair of the Security Committee, the UK has also continued the good practice of using meetings to support Ukraine and its neighbours in dealing with the impacts of this war. Our workplan covers policing, border security, child protection and empowerment, critical infrastructure and cyber resilience. And it serves as a platform for sharing perspectives, best practice, and establishing a common security picture.

    And listening to the interventions of our distinguished colleagues from Georgia and the Republic of Moldova, we call on Russia to withdraw all of its forces from the internationally recognised territory of both States.

    Meanwhile, we are also responding to a broader and increasingly complex threat landscape. Many of the transnational threats we face are intensifying:

    Malign hybrid activities – including information manipulation – are intensifying.

    Cyber threats, in some cases enabled by AI, are targeting critical national infrastructure.

    Organised criminals – more sophisticated than ever – are smuggling drugs, weapons, cultural property, and people across borders.

    And the threat from terrorism and violent extremism has not diminished. The Islamic State Khorasan Province is growing in strength. At the same time, extreme right-wing groups are proliferating in online spaces.

    Three key themes permeate these challenges: they highlight the wide-ranging impact of emerging technologies; they do not respect borders; and they demand a coordinated, and cross-dimensional response.

    Mr Chair, the OSCE’s comprehensive approach to security has therefore never been more relevant. We must remain vigilant to the full spectrum of threats facing our region; of which, Russia’s illegal war against Ukraine remains the most urgent and serious.

    Our Leaders mandated the OSCE to continue politico-military dialogue even in the hardest of times because they saw – and see – it is essential to manage risk, reduce misunderstanding and avoid miscalculation for the benefit of all our citizens. The OSCE has an extensive acquis and toolkit to do this work. But it relies on political will to be effective.

    The UK has that will. We remain committed to the OSCE and to the principles that underpin it. We believe in the potential of this Organization to do much more to support peace, security, and cooperation. We need the will of all States to be able to do that.

    And we are looking forward to continuing these conversations at the Helsinki Plus 50 forum later this summer. Thank you.

    Updates to this page

    Published 25 June 2025

    Invasion of Ukraine

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Recognising the legacy of the ‘Tinker Experiments’

    Source: Scottish Government

    First Minister announces formal apology for historical policies.

    First Minister John Swinney has told Parliament that policies historically applied to Gypsy/Traveller individuals and families were unacceptable and has formally apologised to those communities.

    Responding to the publication of research into how Gypsy/Traveller communities were affected by the so-called ‘Tinker Experiments’, Mr Swinney said that while the policies are no longer in effect, and pre-date the Scottish Parliament, they caused significant and lasting trauma to families.

    Unjust attitudes and practices resulted in children being removed from Gypsy/Traveller families and families being forced to live in substandard accommodation and degrading conditions.

    Extending a formal apology to those affected, Mr Swinney said the Scottish Government is whole-heartedly committed to ensuring mistakes are not repeated in its current and future work.

    The First Minister said:

    “It seems clear to me that stark prejudice and lack of cultural awareness led to a series of unfair and unjust policies. Policies that resulted in children being removed from families, and families  being forced to live in substandard accommodation and degrading conditions.

    “The trauma that this has caused to individuals, families and groups, including those who regard themselves as ‘victims of Tinker Experiments’, is significant and lasting.

    “So, as First Minister, I want to say this directly to Gypsy/Traveller communities: The ‘Tinker Experiments’ should not have happened. It was wrong. And we recognise how much it is still hurting so many. And more than anything else I want to say this. On behalf of Scotland, we are sorry.”

    Background:

    Links:

    First minister’s statement

    Archival research conducted to explore 20th century policies affecting Gypsy/Traveller communities in Scotland

    Historical policies impacting Gypsy/Traveller communities, colloquially known as “The Tinker Experiment(s)” – Scottish Government’s response

    Lived experience testimonies of policies affecting Nackens (Scottish Gypsy Travellers), Gypsy/Travellers and Scottish Travellers

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Targeting funding at frontline services

    Source: Scottish Government

    Financial strategy and action plan published.

    Savings rising to £2.6 billion in 2029-30 will ensure funding can be targeted at frontline services such as the NHS, social security, action to eradicate child poverty and other priorities.

    Under the five-year Medium Term Financial Strategy and Fiscal Sustainability Delivery Plan the Scottish Government will:

    • increase value for public money, with affordable and sustainable investment plans set out through a Scottish Spending Review in December
    • improve efficiencies and productivity across the public sector by using more technology and automation while improving collaboration between public bodies
    • reform public services, doing more with available resources and prioritising people with the greatest need
    • reduce the public sector workforce by an average of 0.5% every year until 2030 while protecting frontline services
    • invest in preventative measures to reduce demand on services such as health, social care and justice

    The strategy and action plan also include measures to support sustainable, inclusive economic growth and ensure a strategic approach to tax policy that considers longer term impacts and competitiveness.

    Finance Secretary Shona Robison said:

    “With the world facing profound economic uncertainty this Medium Term Financial Strategy is being published in deeply challenging circumstances. Those challenges have been exacerbated by the actions of the UK Government, whose decisions continue to have serious consequences for the delivery of our public services.

    “Managing the impact of Westminster austerity is all too familiar. In spite of this we continue to invest in the people of Scotland, supporting a better paid public sector, delivering high-quality public services and providing welfare support that is not available in other parts of the UK. And we have done this while delivering a balanced budget every single year.

    “Fiscal sustainability is about more than balancing the books – it’s about delivering value, driving reform and making strategic choices that support long-term growth. By focusing on efficient public spending, modernising services, growing our economy and taking a strategic approach to tax, we can build a stronger, fairer Scotland.”

    Background

    Medium Term Financial Strategy 2025

    Fiscal Sustainability Delivery Plan 2025

    Medium-Term Financial Strategy: Ministerial statement – gov.scot

    The Scottish Government’s seventh Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) provides the economic, funding and spending outlooks for the financial years 2025-26 to 2029-30. It also presents the Government’s fiscal strategy to deliver sustainable public finances within the current constitutional settlement.

    A Fiscal Sustainability Delivery Plan (FSDP) is published alongside the MTFS this year, bringing together the actions across government to deliver fiscal sustainability. 

    The FSDP actions include:

    • a Scottish Spending Review that will set a savings target of between £300 million and £700 million a year over the five years
    • improving efficiency and productivity while reforming public services, with savings growing from £600 million to £1.5 billion a year over the five years
    • reducing the public sector workforce by an average of 0.5 per cent every year until 2030, with savings growing from £100 million to £700 million a year

    Exact savings figures will vary on an annual basis.

    These figures incorporate the total £1 billion reduction in corporate functions over five years as set out in the Public Service Reform strategy.

    A framework for the Scottish Spending Review forms part of the MTFS. The review will set out multi-year allocations on capital and resource funding, and will be published alongside the next Budget in December.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Council identifies surplus sites to support new housing in the city

    Source: City of Stoke-on-Trent

    Published: Wednesday, 25th June 2025

    Land and buildings owned by Stoke-on-Trent City Council have been reviewed to help pick out areas where new homes could be built.

    As a result, the council has identified a number of surplus sites across the city that can now be put forward for consideration in terms of future development – for potential new homes or other purposes – as part of the forthcoming public consultation on Local Plan.

    Following a cabinet meeting yesterday (Tuesday, 24th June), 11 sites have been deemed surplus to requirements and will be put forward for consultation.

    They are a mix of vacant commercial buildings, former council service properties and industrial land. This includes the former Ball Green High School site, which has been vacant since closing in 1988.

    Councillor Chris Robinson, cabinet member for housing, planning and governance at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “We’re reviewing the land and property we own across the city to identify areas that could support the building of new homes and other purposes.

    “The council currently owns around 500 buildings and pieces of land, all of which cost a significant amount to maintain – and many are no longer needed. Reviewing these sites is an important part of our plans to save money, run more efficiently and unlock new opportunities for communities.

    “We want to make better use of brownfield land and provide more homes for local people, and we are committed to listening to the views of residents and other stakeholders before making any decisions about the future of these sites.”

    Once a site is declared surplus to requirements it does not mean a decision has been taken on its future use. The council is considering a number of options for each of the sites including regeneration, disposal or letting out its assets.

    After the public consultation on the Local Plan, planned to start later in 2025, council officers will use the feedback from residents, developers and other groups to investigate different uses for the land and property to best meet the council’s priorities for the city.

    The full list of sites is contained in the cabinet report: Committee Report

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  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Central Park Ponds update – June 2025

    Source: City of Plymouth

    Here are the first pictures of work restarting on the Central Park Ponds Project.

    On Monday, new contractor WBM Groundworks started to bring in all necessary equipment onto site ahead of getting spades back into the ground next week.

    Their first job will be on the playing pitches above the north pond. Work will focus on the relocation of surplus soil and the installation of land drainage before imported permeable soil blend is laid. After that, it’s seeded and the rest of the planting around this pond will be completed.

    These works are likely to take around 12 weeks with some flexibility for the weather but the area will remain fenced off until the new grass is established.

    Because of our ambition to keep all of the excess earth and spoil in the park, the works to replant Reservoir Field will take place after the pitches have been finished.

    These monthly updates on the progress of the scheme will continue but we will also be providing further updates on construction milestones as and when they are complete.

    It’s been a long time coming but we finally have some progress. We look forward to updating you further in the coming weeks.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Report concludes Scotland must break its silence on state-enforced ‘Tinker Experiments’ Research into 20th century policies affecting Gypsy/Traveller communities across Scotland – including the forced and permanent removal of children from their families – has found clear evidence of widespread institutional discrimination amounting to ‘cultural genocide’.

    Source: University of Aberdeen

    Shamus, Bridget, Chic and Roseanna at Bobbin Mill circa 1975 (credit Roseanna and Shamus McPhee)

    Research into 20th century policies affecting Gypsy/Traveller communities across Scotland – including the forced and permanent removal of children from their families – has found clear evidence of widespread institutional discrimination amounting to ‘cultural genocide’.
    The report was led by the University of St Andrews with contribution from the University of Aberdeen’s Dr Bennett Collins, into the controversial ‘Tinker Experiments’. It was commissioned by the Scottish Government in 2023 in response to a campaign led by Scottish Gypsy/Traveller activists calling for a formal apology to recognise the historic injustice.
    Published today (Wednesday 25 June 2025) the 104-page document, compiled by the Third Generation Project at St Andrews’ School of International Relations, which was cofounded by lead author Professor Ali Watson and Dr Collins when he was based at the University of St Andrews.
    The report demonstrates that institutions across Scotland were complicit in the creation of an environment that allowed the Gypsy/Traveller community to be marginalised and persecuted to the extent that it should be considered cultural genocide.
    It also recommends that the Scottish Government should issue an apology to Gypsy/Travellers in Scotland and initiate reparations for survivors and victims of the ‘Tinker Housing Experiments’.
    The Third Generation Project team, which also included researchers from the London School of Economics and McMaster University in Canada, analysed hundreds of documents and visited archival sites across Scotland in its quest to gather information on key events, key legislation and the role of institutions, as well as the extent to which policies employed as part of the ‘Tinker Experiments’ were implemented and when.
    The researchers, experienced in investigating similar historical injustices, found that between 1940 and the late 1980s and beyond, organisations including the Scottish Office, Church of Scotland, charities, and the police, were complicit in facilitating policies like forced assimilation, settlement and the removal of children including sending them abroad.”
    In its conclusions, the report states that the evidence found shows three significant patterns; the dehumanisation of Gypsy/Travellers in Scotland; systematic control including segregation and surveillance; and forced assimilation into wider settled society.
    The report states: “The very nature of assimilation presumes cultural dominance of one group over another, and in the case of the ‘Tinker Experiments’ and the intent to erode the collective cultural identity of Gypsy/Travellers in Scotland, there is a need to consider and to recognise that the context in which it occurred is best characterised as cultural genocide.”
    Lead author and director of the Third Generation Project, Professor Ali Watson OBE said: “We ultimately found that the intentions of the Tinker Experiments (TE) were not to support the cultural ways of life of Gypsy/Travellers in Scotland. It was the exact opposite.”
    Dr Bennett Collins, Lecturer, Politics and International Relations at the University of Aberdeen said: “Our remit was to document and analyse what the archives had to say about this dark chapter in Scotland’s history. Given the overwhelming amount of material, and the need to hear from survivors themselves, this report and the events of today should be understood as the beginning of a journey rather than a conclusion.”
    The report notes how the TE included four key pieces of legislation that directly impacted the social, economic, and cultural welfare of Gypsy/Traveller communities in Scotland, creating a mandate for government and civil society to manage and intervene in the lives of Gypsy/Travellers.
    Professor Watson explained, “For example, changes in legislation created the possibility that Gypsy/Traveller children could be taken from their families if they did not ‘settle’. We also found evidence that Gypsy/Travellers in Scotland were referred to as ‘a problem’ during debates in both Houses of Parliament.”
    The report outlines that the Tinker Experiments were pervasive across Scotland, demonstrating that this was a national set of policies and actions.
    “Overall, this research found evidence of at least one of three forms of forced and/or discriminatory housing policy used in 27 of the 32 present day council areas in Scotland,” she said.
    Along with an official apology, the report makes recommendations for key stakeholders in the report, including the Scottish government, local councils, specific churches, the police, and media, to begin a journey of truth-seeking and reconciliation with Gypsy/Traveller communities.
    “Moving forward, significant takeaways from this report must be not only to continue this inquiry, but also for Scotland to break the silence and begin addressing the legacies of the Tinker Experiments and their impact on Gypsy/Travellers in Scotland today.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Local Area Inclusion Plan: How we’re tackling important issues for Derby’s children

    Source: City of Derby

    Inclusion is at the heart of our work at the council, and this week we’ve published our new Local Area Inclusion Plan, setting out clearly how we’re tackling important issues such as health, community, and job opportunities for Derby’s children and young people, particularly for those who with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and those in Alternative Provision (AP). 

    Following consultation with over 2,000 Derby stakeholders, including schools, children and young people, parent/carers and families, we’ve set out three core aims, underpinned with objectives and practical plans to make sure that children and young people ages 0-25 are supported to achieve strong outcomes and positive destinations. 

    The three interconnected aims are:

    • Aim 1 – Champion an ambitious and inclusive city
    • Aim 2 – Meet the needs of our children at the right time and place
    • Aim 3 – A strong, collaborative system that helps our children live their best life.

    Councillor Paul Hezelgrave, Derby City Council Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Skills, describes the importance of this collaborative approach to strategy:

    Our children and young people deserve the very best from those who are making decisions on their behalf. Through co-production with these youngsters, this plan sets out how we effectively prepare them for the future and get them closer to the labour market, developing clear pathways with support from businesses.

    This ensures that Derby’s young people feel supported, empowered and included, and that their voice has been heard and acted upon.

    At its core, the Local Area Inclusion Plan promotes inclusion across the community and in mainstream settings, finding ways to support young people earlier and reducing the pressures on specialist services. In consultation with young people, the plan sets out six key outcomes that Derby’s young people have stated are vital to living their best life.

    These are:

    • I have real-life experiences, learning opportunities, good careers advice and guidance, and insight into the world of work
    • I have a plan for my future
    • I am active, independent and take part in my local community
    • I enjoy good physical and mental health and live a healthy lifestyle 
    • I am supported to dream big
    • Those that care for me understand how they can help me and realise my potential.

    Andy Smith CBE, Strategic Director of People Services, explains:

    Every child in Derby deserves to be seen, heard, and supported to thrive. This plan is our commitment—to work together across services so children, young people, and their families get the right help at the right time, for the brightest futures possible.

    Sharon Buckby, Director of Learning, Inclusion and Skills, is confident that this plan will lead to better outcomes for Derby’s children and young people. She said:

    Our holistic approach to inclusion means that we are supporting children and young people at the right time, in the right place with a focus on early intervention.

    We do also understand that there is a need for specialist intervention in some cases, and this plan looks to address some of those challenges with long waits for assessment.  We are passionate about supporting every young person to achieve their potential.

    Jo Hunter, Deputy Chief Nurse, highlighted the collaborative nature of the work:

    Collaborative working across the local area, knowledge exchange and an understanding of experiences of the system has really strengthened our approach to inclusion.

    Taking a multi-disciplinary approach to areas of need means our response can be strengths based, insightful and targeted, leading to the effective use of resources and best possible outcomes for young people with physical disabilities and special educational needs.

    The Local Area Inclusion Plan is available to read on our website, in an easily digestible, at-a-glance format.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Ghana’s innovation hubs move from recovery to resilience


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    From Accra to outlying areas, Ghana’s innovation hubs are showing what’s possible when local knowledge meets international support. This is how they’re scaling solutions, building networks, and shaping the next generation of entrepreneurs. 

    After the pandemic, many of Ghana’s innovation hubs faced significant challenges. Several hubs struggled to deliver services, support startups effectively, or sustain their own business models. Without intervention, the broader ecosystem risked fragmentation.

    ‘We were coming off the back of COVID, and most hubs had been hit hard,’ says Yaw Adu-Gyamfi, Chairman of the Ghana Hubs Network. ‘Their service and product models had collapsed. They needed to rebuild, and quickly.’

    From 2022 to 2025, the Netherlands Trust Fund V (NTF V) Ghana Tech project supported Ghana’s innovation hubs with targeted training and expert guidance. The NTF V project partnered with the Ghana Hubs Network and international trainers to help hubs improve their operations, deliver better support to startups, and play a stronger role in the innovation economy.

    Investing in foundational skills

    In 2022, NTF V launched an eight-week training programme for hub staff and leadership. Led by Swiss-based business models and tools expert Nadine Reichenthal, the programme introduced tools such as the business model canvas, empathy mapping, and value proposition design. Additional sessions covered marketing, communication, business planning and startup coaching techniques.

    ‘This training helped hubs gain structure and clarity,’ says Adu-Gyamfi. ‘It enabled them to rethink how they operate and how best to support the startups in their network.’

    In 2023, the focus shifted to coaching hub leaders to apply the tools in practice. By 2025, the Ghana Hubs Network had taken full ownership of this process and began delivering training and guidance independently.

    ‘That was a turning point,’ he says. ‘It meant the ecosystem no longer depended on external facilitation. We were now equipped to sustain and scale the knowledge locally.’

    Practical application in the field

    AgricoHub, an rural hub focused on agritech and entrepreneurship, is one of the many hubs that completed the full training cycle. Co-founder David Yeboah joined the first cohort in 2022.

    ‘Before, we supported startups, but not in a structured way,’ he says. ‘Now, we use tools like the empathy map and value proposition canvas to help founders identify customer needs and refine their offerings.’

    Yeboah highlights the success of one entrepreneur who manufactures and exports shea butter. ‘We worked closely with her using what we’d learned. She’s now been accepted into UNICEF’s Startup Lab (based in the capital). That’s the kind of result we’re aiming for.’

    AgricoHub has since trained over 20 startups, several of which are now part of a Startup Cooperative Credit Union to access funding and peer support. ‘We’ve embedded these tools into our daily work,’ Yeboah says. ‘They’ve become part of how we do business.’

    “The training built my confidence. I now mentor other hub leaders, and we’re building a peer-learning platform for startups to share knowledge with one another.” David Yeboah, AgricoHub co-founder

    Strengthening partnerships and access to funding

    A critical barrier for many hubs was limited access to funding and difficulty meeting grant requirements. In response, NTF V introduced a follow-on programme in 2025 focused on grants, fundraising, and partnership development. This was done in conjunction with the Ecosystems and Institutions division with training led by Tonia Dadwe. Participants learned how to identify funding opportunities, engage with donors, and build sustainable funding strategies.

    ‘This filled a major gap,’ says Adu-Gyamfi. ‘Hubs were previously unable to position themselves well with funders. The training gave them the tools to meet requirements and communicate their value more effectively.’

    National reach, local impact

    Over 50 hubs across Ghana participated in the training, ensuring that all regions had the opportunity to benefit.

    ‘We were deliberate about geographic spread,’ says Adu-Gyamfi. ‘Hubs in smaller towns and rural areas play a vital role in job creation and problem-solving in their communities. Strengthening them is critical to inclusive economic growth.’

    He adds that well-equipped hubs often become anchors for local innovation. ‘They support MSMEs (small businesses), encourage entrepreneurship, and enable solutions to local challenges. That’s how you strengthen the economy from the ground up.’

    Reaching underserved regions

    While the formal training under NTF V has ended, both Adu-Gyamfi and Yeboah are clear that this is just the beginning. There is increasing demand for maker spaces in underserved regions, and a growing need for support in agritech, green economy, and digital services.

    ‘There is real appetite for hands-on facilities like maker spaces in rural areas,’ says Adu-Gyamfi. ‘Many young people have ideas, but no access to tools or prototyping resources. That’s something we must address.’

    AgricoHub’s startup cooperative encourages peer learning and reduces overreliance on coaching staff. ‘We want startups to take ownership of their development and learn from each other’s experience,’ says Yeboah.

    The Ghana Hubs Network is now exploring new partnerships to scale this work.

    ‘We’ve made significant progress, but there are still more hubs and startups that need support,’ says Adu-Gyamfi. ‘With the right partners, we can build on what we’ve started and expand the impact.’

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of International Trade Centre.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Veterans should be exempt from disability assessments as part of UK Government welfare reforms – Plaid Cymru

    Source: Party of Wales

    MPs are set to vote on the UK Government’s welfare reforms next Tuesday 

    During PMQs today (Wednesday 25 June) Ben Lake MP urged the UK Government to commit to ensuring that veterans with service-related injuries to be automatically exempt from repeat disability assessments.  

    The Ceredigion Preseli MP explained the way in which veterans who have lost limbs and continue to live with the trauma of war are faced with repeat disability assessment just to prove their disabilities.  

    The UK Government announced its plan to tighten the eligibility criteria for PIP from November 2026, potentially resulting in reduced payments for many, including veterans living with service-related disabilities.  

    MPs are set to vote on the reforms next Tuesday (1 July), which are expected to save the Treasury £5bn a year in savings.  

    However, there is growing rebellion against Keir Starmer’s plans, with over 120 of his own MPs having already publicly opposed them.  

      

    Speaking in PMQs, Ben Lake MP said:  

    “I should like to join the Deputy Prime Minister in thanking members of the Armed Forces community for their service. I’ve had the privilege in recent months of meeting many veterans in my own constituency, some of whom still carry the trauma of war. Some, including amputees, have told me how repeat disability assessments are too often required of them in order to access financial support.  

    “So does the Deputy Prime Minister agree with me that veterans with life changing service-related injuries should be exempt from repeat disability assessments in future?”  

    Angela Rayner MP, the Deputy Prime Minister, who was standing in for the PM today, said:  

    “Mr. Speaker, again as part of the reforms we want to do is to ensure that those who can never work are properly supported and not put through this endless assessment, and I thank the Right Hon. Member for raising the case.   

    “We are committed to renewing the nation’s contract with those that have served, with a range of support in place for veterans, including dedicated medical and physical healthcare, pathways in the NHS and in employment and in housing. The new support system VALOUR backed by £50m of funding will provide a network of support centres to connect veterans with local and national services.” 

    Speaking after the session, Ben Lake MP said:  

    “It is unfair to force people to undergo reassessments for permanent conditions and disabilities to access financial support, and it is cruel to require amputees and others with life changing injuries to continually re-prove their disablement.

    “The UK Government should look to address this injustice as a matter of urgency, but instead their proposed welfare reforms risk placing further barriers for those with disabilities to overcome. In Wales, where 32% of disabled people already live in poverty, the Government’s proposed changes will simply exacerbate this injustice.

    “The UK Government must take this opportunity to address the injustices of the current welfare system instead of making it even harder for those with disabilities to access the support to which they are entitled.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: EU noose now tightens on farm machinery

    Source: Traditional Unionist Voice – Northern Ireland

    Statement by TUV leader Jim Allister:-

    “The Irish Sea border has not operated in relation to the movement of agricultural vehicles and machinery until now.

    “But now, in the latest tightening of the noose, the EU by an express law (2023/1231) has dictated that all such movements from GB to NI must be subject to their prescribed labelling, because it is their Writ, not the UK’s, which runs.

    “The EU law which imposes this regime is one of the most audacious since Brexit, because it involves a foreign entity, the EU, making the law in the UK. It epitomises the sovereignty grab of Brussels, which cares nothing that the inter-UK trade in machinery will be inhibited- all with the common Protocol design of building north/south trade which discouraging our east/west trade and economy.

    “With every week that passes the big lie of the dud Donaldson/DUP deal that they had removed the Irish Sea border is exposed, while farmers and consumers continue to pay the price of being ruled by laws we don’t make and can’t change.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK government gathers business and environment leaders in support of UN nature agreement

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    UK government gathers business and environment leaders in support of UN nature agreement

    UK Government hosts a major international nature finance event attended by His Majesty the King at Lancaster House.

    Secretary of State Steve Reed speaking at Nature Action

    ·        Key commitments made by the private sector to deploy millions of dollars of investment for nature.

    ·        Comes after government announces modern Industrial Strategy to make the UK the sustainable finance capital of the world.

    The UK has brought together foreign governments, Indigenous leaders, as well as leaders from business and finance representing trillions of pounds, to increase the flows of private finance to nature at an event today (25 June) at Lancaster House, London. 

    The event, called ‘Nature Action: Mobilising Frameworks and Finance’, included roundtable discussions of how to drive private-sector investment in nature, along with cross-sector announcements and commitments, and a reception attended by His Majesty the King. 

    Held during London Climate Action Week, and ahead of COP30 in Brazil in November, the event is designed to drive delivery of the deal agreed by almost 200 countries at the UN Nature summit in Montreal two years ago to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030, as well as the Paris Agreement. 

    The global nature deal saw countries agree to a major increase in the amount of money invested in tackling nature loss and restoring threatened habitats. The agreement set out a target to mobilise $200 billion per year globally by 2030, including $20 billion in flows to developing countries by 2025, rising to $30 billion by 2030. 

    Private finance will play a crucial role in meeting these ambitious targets and funding the protection and restoration of nature. The event will showcase new and innovative ways to invest in nature, which is crucial to ensuring the health of our oceans and forests for the future. Raising finance for nature recovery will mean that these precious habitats continue to play vital roles in our ecosystems for future generations.

    Environment Secretary Steve Reed, speaking at Lancaster House, said: 

    “Nature underpins everything. Without it there is no economy, no food, no health and ultimately no society.  

    “With this Government, Britain stands ready to lead on climate and nature. 

    “The UK is playing our part to protect nature at home and abroad. We will work with other nations around the world who commit to do the same.” 

    Ruth Davis, Special Representative for Nature, said: 

    “Nature is the bedrock of the world’s financial systems and economies. It is the air we breathe, the water we drink and the food we eat – but it is in crisis. 

    “We can no longer rely on public finance alone to tackle the scale of the challenge before us. We must harness the potential of the private sector to drive nature restoration, super-charging opportunities for businesses to see a return on investments in a nature-positive economy – the ambition shown today is a step along that journey.” 

    Tony Juniper, Chair of Natural England, said:

    “We must embrace high ambition in mobilising the finance needed to achieve nature’s recovery, ending the short termism which is leading to the destruction of the natural systems on which we depend. The web of life is in decline, and urgent action is needed to halt and reverse the process of running down nature’s capital assets.

    “Growing nature is an integral part of growing the economy; if we look after nature, it will look after us. Helpful progress has been made today and now we need to harness that for practical action”

    This builds upon actions that the Government has already taken to direct private finance towards nature. In March, The British Standards Institution launched the Government-backed Nature Investment Standards, which will help nature-friendly investments across the UK to grow by building confidence among investors. The Government is also gathering views from industry on how to support economic growth while powering nature recovery, with a Call for Evidence currently underway seeking ideas from business and investors – delivering a key recommendation of the Corry Review and the commitments made in the Land Use Framework consultation. 

    This came alongside the announcement that the UK will join a new global coalition, the Friends of Cali Fund, which brings together governments and businesses to champion the fair and equitable sharing of benefits they derive from nature. 

    Business attendees used the summit to make announcements including: 

    • Basecamp Research is expanding its biodiscovery network – adding Malawi, Hungary, and the Scripps Institution of Oceanography – extending its benefit sharing to 27 countries.
    • A future contribution to the Cali Fund by Ginkgo Bioworks, a leading biotech company
    • A new collaboration between Conservation International and Silvania to deploy millions of dollars of private capital into nature-based solutions. The collaboration will unlock further funding for the protection and restoration of critical ecosystems
    • Financial Sector Deepening Africa, a specialist African development agency, will launch a Nature Finance Innovation Lab with support from the UK Government to address the urgent need to unlock private investment in locally developed nature first projects
    • Environment Bank is launching an innovative Nature Shares product in the UK as a voluntary opportunity for business to invest in. These will help restore vital habitats such as woodlands and wetlands, improve water quality, build flood resilience, and enhance community access to nature.

    London Climate Action Week brings together climate expertise and leaders from London and beyond to focus on local, national and international action to restore cut carbon emissions and keep global temperature increases below 1.5c. 

    Clean growth presents a huge opportunity for our economy and these measures come as part of a Government effort to make UK the sustainable finance capital of the world as part of our modern Industrial Strategy.

    Growth opportunities will be seen all through London Climate Action Week. The Lancaster House event follows a recent launch of a Call for Evidence on expanding the role of the private sector in nature recovery – delivering a key recommendation of the Corry Review. 

    NOTES TO EDITORS

    Tanya Steele, Chief Executive at WWF-UK said:

    “Nature underpins our lives – from our food to the economy and even our mental health. Reversing the dramatic consequences of climate change and nature loss demands urgent action to safeguard the world we love. Investing now so people and the natural world don’t pay the price later is not just the right thing for the planet – it’s smart economics. It creates jobs, builds resilience, and reduces risks for governments, people, and businesses alike. But finance alone isn’t enough – without strong policies and regulations, we risk funding solutions with one hand while driving destruction with the other. As critical climate talks in Brazil approach, WWF urges leaders in government to put the policies in place and business to unlock the finance needed to end deforestation and reverse nature loss this decade.”

    Updates to this page

    Published 25 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress stressed the need for legislative guarantees for the development of productive forces of new quality

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    BEIJING, June 25 (Xinhua) — Zhao Leji, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC), on Wednesday called on lawmakers to put forward more targeted and well-thought-out bills and initiatives to promote the development of new productive forces.

    Zhao Leji, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, made the remarks during an exchange of views with deputies attending the 16th session of the 14th NPC Standing Committee as non-voting participants.

    Developing productive forces of new quality is of great significance for promoting high-quality development and advancing Chinese-style modernization, the NPC Standing Committee chairman noted.

    According to him, deputies must always maintain close contact with the masses, carefully summarize, analyze and study the real situation on the ground, as well as the aspirations and expectations of the population, put forward practical and feasible proposals, reflect the opinion and wisdom of the people in their bills, initiatives and speeches during discussions.

    Zhao Leji called on legislators to broaden their horizons to properly fulfill their parliamentary duties, implement the Constitution and laws in an exemplary manner, and voluntarily submit to the supervision of voters and the masses. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Two citizens planning a terrorist attack have been neutralized in Russia

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    St. Petersburg, June 25 (Xinhua) — Russia’s Federal Security Service on Wednesday reported the neutralization of two Russian citizens who were preparing a terrorist attack in the Moscow region.

    Two Russian citizens were found near one of the gardening non-profit partnerships in the Moscow region. They were removing from a cache a homemade explosive device, which was planned to be used to commit a sabotage and terrorist act against one of the servicemen.

    When detained, they offered armed resistance and were neutralized by return fire. At the scene, law enforcement officers found Makarov pistols and ammunition for them, as well as a ready-to-use homemade explosive device and communications equipment containing correspondence discussing the planned terrorist act. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –