Category: Europe

MIL-OSI: Kyivstar Group Reaches Nasdaq Listing Milestone with Public Filing of Registration Statement on Form F-4

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

KYIV, Ukraine, June 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Kyivstar Group Ltd., Ukraine’s leading digital operator (“Kyivstar Group” or “the Company”) and a subsidiary of VEON Ltd. (Nasdaq: VEON) (“VEON Group” or “VEON”), today announced the public filing of its Registration Statement on Form F-4 (the “Registration Statement”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).

This filing represents a milestone in Kyivstar Group’s plans to be listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) following the anticipated completion of a business combination with Cohen Circle Acquisition Corp. I (Nasdaq: CCIR) (“Cohen Circle”) that was announced on March 18, 2025.

Today, as we announce the public filing of our Registration Statement, we are excited to complement our operational performance with the continued progress towards our plans to list Kyivstar Group on the Nasdaq Stock Market,” said Oleksandr Komarov, CEO of Kyivstar Group. “We are excited to be a company that not only delivers exceptional value to our customers, but also represents a compelling investment opportunity for U.S. and global investors interested in Ukraine’s growth and resilience.”

The closing of the business combination is expected to occur during the third quarter of 2025 and is subject to the approval of Cohen Circle’s shareholders and other customary closing conditions.

Additional Information and Where to Find It

Kyivstar Group Ltd. and VEON Holdings B.V. have filed on June 5, 2025 a registration statement on Form F-4 (File No. 333-287802) (as may be amended from time to time, the “Registration Statement”) as co-registrants that includes a preliminary proxy statement/prospectus of Cohen Circle and a preliminary prospectus of Kyivstar Group. When available, Cohen Circle will mail a definitive proxy statement/prospectus relating to the business combination and other relevant documents to its shareholders. This communication does not contain all the information that should be considered concerning the business combination and is not intended to provide the basis for any investment decision or any other decision in respect of the business combination. VEON, Cohen Circle and Kyivstar Group may also file other documents regarding the business combination with the SEC. Cohen Circle’s shareholders and other interested persons are advised to read, when available, the Registration Statement, the proxy statement/prospectus and other documents filed in connection with the business combination, as these materials will contain important information. Investors and shareholders will be able to obtain free copies of the preliminary proxy statement/prospectus, the definitive proxy statement/prospectus and other documents filed or will be filed with the SEC by Cohen Circle through the website maintained by the SEC website at www.sec.gov or by directing a written request to: Cohen Circle Acquisition Corp. I, 2929 Arch Street, Suite 1703, Philadelphia, PA 19104.

About Kyivstar Group

Kyivstar Group operates Ukraine’s leading provider of mobile communication, serving more than 23 million mobile customers and over 1.1 million home internet fixed line customers as of December 31, 2024. Kyivstar Group and its subsidiaries provide services across a wide range of mobile and fixed line technologies, including 4G, big data, cloud solutions, cybersecurity, digital TV, and more. VEON, together with Kyivstar Group, intends to invest USD 1 billion in Ukraine by 2027, through social investments in infrastructure and technological development, charitable donations and strategic acquisitions. Kyivstar Group and its subsidiaries have been operating in Ukraine for more than 27 years. For more information, visit: www.kyivstar.ua

About VEON

VEON is a digital operator that provides converged connectivity and digital services to nearly 160 million customers. Operating across six countries that are home to more than 7% of the world’s population, VEON is transforming lives through technology-driven services that empower individuals and drive economic growth. VEON is listed on Nasdaq. For more information, visit: https://www.veon.com.

About Cohen Circle

Cohen Circle Acquisition Corp. I is a special purpose acquisition company sponsored by investment firm Cohen Circle, LLC and formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more technology and/or financial services businesses. Cohen Circle’s units, Class A ordinary shares and warrants are listed on Nasdaq under the symbols “CCIRU,” “CCIR” and “CCIRW,” respectively.

No Offer or Solicitation

This press release shall not constitute a solicitation of a proxy, consent, or authorization with respect to any securities or in respect of the transactions mentioned herein or the proposed business combination with Cohen Circle. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any states or jurisdictions in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Participants in the Solicitation

Cohen Circle, Kyivstar Group, certain shareholders of Cohen Circle, VEON and certain of Cohen Circle’s, Kyivstar Group’s and VEON’s respective directors, executive officers and other members of management and employees may, under SEC rules, be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the shareholders of Cohen Circle with respect to the proposed business combination. A list of the names of such persons and information regarding their interests in the proposed business combination is set forth in the Registration Statement. Free copies of these documents may be obtained from the sources indicated above.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements,” as the phrase is defined in Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “future,” “intend,” “may,” “opportunity,” “plan,” “project,” “should,” “strategy,” “will,” “will be,” “will continue,” “will likely result,” “would” and similar expressions (including the negative versions of such words or expressions).

Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements contained in this press release that do not relate to matters of historical fact should be considered forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements relating to, among other things, the timing of the closing of the proposed business combination and the listing of Kyivstar Group’s common shares and warrants on Nasdaq, the expected investment opportunity in Kyivstar Group following the closing of the business combination, including the expectation that Kyivstar Group will be the only pure-play Ukrainian investment opportunity and the growth potential of Kyivstar Group. These statements are based on VEON, Cohen Circle and Kyivstar Group management’s current expectations. These statements are neither promises nor guarantees, but involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause Kyivstar Group’s, VEON’s or Cohen Circle’s actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements in this press release, including, but not limited to, the inability to complete the business combination due to the failure to obtain the necessary shareholder approvals or to satisfy other conditions to closing; changes to the proposed structure of the business combination that may be required or appropriate as a result of applicable laws or regulations; the decision by the SEC to deem effective the Registration Statement; the ability to meet the Nasdaq listing standards upon closing of the business combination and admission of Kyivstar Group for trading on Nasdaq; changes in applicable laws or regulations; the escalation or de-escalation of war between Russia and Ukraine; the successful integration of Uklon; continued growth in digital services; and other risks and uncertainties set forth in the section entitled “Risk Factors” included in the Registration Statement filed by Kyivstar Group with the SEC on June 5, 2025 and in any other subsequent filings with the SEC by Kyivstar Group or Cohen Circle. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which VEON, Kyivstar Group and Cohen Circle cannot predict with accuracy and some of which neither VEON, Kyivstar Group nor Cohen Circle might not even anticipate. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date of this release. VEON, Kyivstar Group and Cohen Circle do not undertake to publicly update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after such date or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by U.S. federal securities laws.

Contact Information

Kyivstar Group

Media and Investor Contact:
Kyivstar@icrinc.com

VEON

Media Contact:
Email: pr@veon.com

The MIL Network –

June 6, 2025
MIL-OSI: BULGOLD Announces Non-Brokered Private Placement for Gross Proceeds of Up to $1 Million

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for dissemination in the United States

TORONTO, June 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — BULGOLD Inc. (TSXV: ZLTO) (the “Company” or “BULGOLD”) is pleased to announce a non-brokered private placement (the “Offering”) for gross proceeds of up to $1,000,000 from the sale of common shares of the Company (each, a “Share”) at a price of $0.05 per Share (the “Issue Price”).

The Company has agreed to pay a finder’s fee to arm’s length parties for services rendered in respect of the Offering. The finder’s fee will consist of a cash fee equal to 7.0% of the gross proceeds from the sale of Shares sold to third parties sourced by the finders, and finder’s warrants equal in number to 7.0% of the Shares sold to third parties sourced by the finders (the “Finder’s Warrant”). Each Finder’s Warrant will entitle the holder to acquire one additional common share of the Company at an exercise price of $0.07 until the date which is 18 months from the closing date of the Offering.

The Company intends to use the proceeds raised from the Offering for exploration as well as for general corporate purposes. The Offering is scheduled to close on or about June 30, 2025 and is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, receipt of all necessary approvals including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. The Shares will have a hold period ending on the day that is four months and one day following the closing date.

The securities described herein have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act, or any state securities laws, and accordingly may not be offered or sold within the United States except in compliance with the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities requirements or pursuant to exemptions therefrom. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy any securities in any jurisdiction.

About BULGOLD Inc.

BULGOLD is a gold exploration company focused on the exploration and development of mineral exploration projects in Central and Eastern Europe. The Company controls 100% of three quality quartz-adularia epithermal gold projects located in the Bulgarian and Slovak portions of the Western Tethyan Belt: the Lutila Gold Project, the Kostilkovo Gold Project and the Kutel Gold Project. Management of the Company believes that its assets show potential for high-grade, good-metallurgy, low-sulfidation epithermal gold mineralisation.

On March 31, 2025, BULGOLD’s issued and outstanding shares were 27,597,928 of which approximately 40.3% were held by Founders, Directors and Management. Additional information about the Company is available on BULGOLD’s website (www.BULGOLD.com) and on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca).

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This press release contains forward‐looking statements and forward‐looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. These statements relate to future events or future performance and include statements relating to the use of proceeds of the Offering and the timing for closing of the Offering. The forward‐looking statements and information are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by management of the Company. Although management of the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking statements and information are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward‐looking statements and information since no assurance can be given that they will prove to be correct.

Forward-looking statements and information are provided for the purpose of providing information about the current expectations and plans of management of the Company relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such statements and information may not be appropriate for other purposes, such as making investment decisions. Since forward‐looking statements and information address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks, including the inherent uncertainty of mineral exploration; risks related to title to mineral properties; and credit, market, currency, operational, commodity, geopolitical, liquidity and funding risks generally, including changes in economic conditions, interest rates or tax rates and general market and economic conditions. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward‐looking statements and information contained in this press release. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. The forward‐looking statements and information contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof and no undertaking is given to update publicly or revise any forward‐looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws. The forward-looking statements and information contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

For further information, please contact:

BULGOLD Inc.
Sean Hasson, President and Chief Executive Officer
Telephone: +359 887 560 545
Email: sean.hasson@BULGOLD.com
Website: www.BULGOLD.com

The MIL Network –

June 6, 2025
MIL-OSI Video: President Trump Welcomes German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to the White House

Source: United States of America – The White House (video statements)

“It’s an honor to have you. We have a great mandate from the people, and part of our mandate is we’re gonna have a great relationship with [Germany]. Thank you very much for being here.” –President Donald J. Trump

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

MIL OSI Video –

June 6, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: We applaud Syria’s determination to ensure Assad’s chemical weapons programme is destroyed: UK statement at the UN Security Council

Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

Speech

We applaud Syria’s determination to ensure Assad’s chemical weapons programme is destroyed: UK statement at the UN Security Council

Statement by Caroline Quinn, UK Deputy Political Coordinator, at the UN Security Council meeting on Syria.

Let me start by welcoming the strong commitment of the Syrian government to turn the page of history. We applaud Syria’s determination to ensure once and for all that the Assad era chemical weapons programme is destroyed.

The UK is greatly encouraged by Syria’s operational and logistical support to the deployments carried out by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, including access to sites and people, and by Syria’s commitment to engage with the international community.

We also welcome the OPCW Technical Secretariat’s deployments to Syria in March and April. The persistence and professionalism shown by OPCW staff in Syria has been exceptional. As has the consistently high quality of the Technical Secretariat’s work on this important file in a very challenging technical environment.

Important progress has been made towards setting up OPCW offices in Syria and the collection and analysis of samples.

These are vital steps towards Syria’s full implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention and UN Security Council resolution 2118, which the Assad regime so flagrantly violated.

There is, however, President, much more work to do in a difficult operational environment.

Due to the secrecy and complexity of Assad’s illegal chemical weapons programme, the precise extent of the challenge ahead is still unknown.

Allow me to make three brief points.

Firstly, both the Syrian government and the OPCW will need to be operationally agile to address any proliferation or health risks found in inspecting sites of concern.

The OPCW’s role is vital. As mandated by the Chemical Weapons Convention and by resolution 2118, the OPCW must verify the Syrian-led declaration and destruction of any remaining elements of Assad’s chemical weapons programme.

Secondly, to achieve this, the OPCW will need technical, financial and logistical assistance from the international community.

The OPCW has provided States Parties with its estimated costs for its work in Syria.

The UK has already provided more than $1 million to the OPCW Syria Missions to support their immediate work and will look to provide further assistance.

We join High Representative Nakamitsu in encouraging others to also provide the necessary resources. In particular, President, we welcome Qatar’s role in representing Syria at the OPCW in The Hague.

Finally, military action by neighbouring states risks delaying OPCW deployments as well as the preservation of evidence at chemical weapons sites. We therefore urge Israel to de-escalate their actions in Syria.

President, we have a historic opportunity to rid Syria of Assad’s chemical weapons.

Let us do our part to support Syria and the OPCW, to enable the new Syrian government to finally close the file on the scourge of chemical weapons use, and on this dark chapter in Syria’s history.

Updates to this page

Published 5 June 2025

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

June 6, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Chagos Deal Sparks Parliamentary Backlash

Source: Traditional Unionist Voice – Northern Ireland

Statement by TUV MP Jim Allister:

“The hand over the Chagos Islands is a shameful and exorbitantly expensive sell out of sovereignty.

“The UK historically owns the Chagos Islands. Hence its large and strategically important military base there. Yet, under this deal the government is surrendering sovereignty to Mauritius and then leasing back for 99 years its own base! The amount of money is eye-watering, running to well over £20B.

“There is much unease in Parliament about this deal. Yet, the only way there can even be a debate before the deal is implemented is by way of a ‘prayer of opposition’. This is what I have been involved in securing this week. I drafted such a motion and then secured joint submission of the ‘prayer’ under the lead signatures of Kemi Badenoch, Nigel Farage and myself.

“Several dozen other MPs have now signed the motion with a view to trying to force the government to concede a debate. This is the work now in progress.”

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

June 6, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Data confirms Protocol damage to GB to NI Trade

Source: Traditional Unionist Voice – Northern Ireland

Commenting on the latest data from the Office for National Statistics TUV leader Jim Allister KC MP said:

“The statistics published by the Office for National Statistics today are damning. They confirm that the Protocol, rebranded as the Windsor Framework, is driving down trade from Great Britain into Northern Ireland.

“The figures speak for themselves. In 2020, before the imposition of the Protocol, 20.1% of GB manufacturing firms sold to Northern Ireland. Now that figure has collapsed to just 12.9%. In the retail and wholesale sector, the drop is just as stark—from 17.5% down to 12.4%. And across all business sizes and sectors, the share of GB firms trading with NI has fallen by around a third.

“Behind those numbers are real consequences: fewer choices for consumers in Northern Ireland, higher costs for local businesses, and Northern Ireland’s economy being nudged ever closer to the orbit of the Republic of Ireland. That is not accidental — it is the direct consequence of the framework.

“The figures also reveal something else: businesses are not just ceasing trade with Northern Ireland; even those who continue are scaling back. For example, in the retail sector, 14.2% of GB firms report declining sales to Northern Ireland, with only a tiny 1.5% seeing an increase. And 11.4% have stopped trading with Northern Ireland altogether.

“Small and medium-sized enterprises — the backbone of the UK economy — are being disproportionately hit. The extra bureaucracy, costs, and delays caused by the Irish Sea border are discouraging trade.

“When asked directly, GB and NI firms identified the Protocol/Windsor Framework as a major challenge to intra-UK trade. In manufacturing, 24.1% of businesses reported it as a problem. Across all sectors, almost one in every nine businesses pointed to the Framework as a barrier to doing business within their own country.

“So much for the promise of unfettered access.

“This new data from the UK’s own official statistics body corroborates previous findings from NISRA, which showed that while NI imports from GB rose 24% between 2020 and 2023, imports from the Republic of Ireland soared by 51%. That speaks to nothing less than a fundamental reorientation of Northern Ireland’s trade, away from our most important market and towards Dublin.“

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

June 6, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Trump’s justifications for the latest travel ban aren’t supported by the data on immigration and terrorism

Source: The Conversation – USA – By Charles Kurzman, Professor of Sociology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Taliban fighters guard the former U.S. Embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan, on June 5, 2025. AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi

The Trump administration on June 4, 2025, announced travel restrictions targeting 19 countries in Africa and Asia, including many of the world’s poorest nations. All travel is banned from 12 of these countries, with partial restrictions on travel from the rest.

The presidential proclamation, entitled “Restricting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats,” is aimed at “countries throughout the world for which vetting and screening information is so deficient as to warrant a full or partial suspension on the entry or admission of nationals from those countries.”

In a video that accompanied the proclamation, President Donald Trump said: “The recent terror attack in Boulder, Colorado, has underscored the extreme dangers posed to our country by the entry of foreign nationals who are not properly vetted.”

The latest travel ban reimposes restrictions on many of the countries that were included on travel bans in Trump’s first term, along with several new countries.

But this travel ban, like the earlier ones, will not significantly improve national security and public safety in the United States. That’s because migrants account for a minuscule portion of violence in the U.S. And migrants from the latest travel ban countries account for an even smaller portion, according to data that I have collected. The suspect in Colorado, for example, is from Egypt, which is not on the travel ban list.

As a scholar of political sociology, I don’t believe Trump’s latest travel ban is about national security. Rather, I’d argue, it’s primarily about using national security as an excuse to deny visas to nonwhite applicants.

Terrorism and public safety

In the past five years, the U.S. has witnessed more than 100,000 homicides. Political violence by militias and other ideological movements accounted for 354 fatalities, according to an initiative known as the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data, which tracks armed conflict around the world. That’s less than 1% of the country’s homicide victims. And foreign terrorism accounted for less than 1% of this 1%, according to my data.

The Trump administration says the U.S. cannot appropriately vet visa applicants in countries with uncooperative governments or underdeveloped security systems. That claim is false.

The State Department and other government agencies do a thorough job of vetting visa applicants, even in countries where there is no U.S. embassy, according to an analysis by the CATO Institute.

The U.S. government has sophisticated methods for identifying potential threats. They include detailed documentation requirements, interviews with consular officers and clearance by national security agencies. And it rejects more than 1 in 6 visa applications, with ever-increasing procedures for detecting fraud.

Members of the Yemeni community and others wave American and Yemeni flags as they gather on the steps of Brooklyn’s Borough Hall to protest President Donald Trump’s first travel ban on Feb. 2, 2017, in New York.
AP Photo/Kathy Willens

The thoroughness of the visa review process is evident in the numbers.

Authorized foreign-born residents of the U.S. are far less likely than U.S.-born residents to engage in criminal activity. And unauthorized migrants are even less likely to commit crimes. Communities with more migrants – authorized and unauthorized – have similar or slightly lower crime rates than communities with fewer migrants.

If vetting were as deficient as Trump’s executive order claims, we would expect to see a significant number of terrorist plots from countries on the travel ban list. But we don’t.

Of the 4 million U.S. residents from the 2017 travel ban countries, I have documented only four who were involved in violent extremism in the past five years.

Two of them were arrested after plotting with undercover law enforcement agents. One was found to have lied on his asylum application. One was an Afghan man who killed three Pakistani Shiite Muslim immigrants in New Mexico in 2022.

Such a handful of zealots with rifles or homemade explosives can be life-altering for victims and their families, but they do not represent a threat to U.S. national security.

Degrading the concept of national security

Trump has been trying for years to turn immigration into a national security issue.

In his first major speech on national security in 2016, Trump focused on the “dysfunctional immigration system which does not permit us to know who we let into our country.”

His primary example was an act of terrorism by a man who was born in the U.S.

The first Trump administration’s national security strategy, issued in December 2017, prioritized jihadist terrorist organizations that “radicalize isolated individuals” as “the most dangerous threat to the Nation” – not armies, not another 9/11, but isolated individuals.

If the travel ban is not really going to improve national security or public safety, then what is it about?

Protesters wave signs during a demonstration against President Donald Trump’s revised travel ban on May 15, 2017, in Seattle.
AP Photo/Ted S. Warren

Linking immigration to national security seems to serve two long-standing Trump priorities. First is his effort to make American more white, in keeping with widespread bias among his supporters against nonwhite immigrants.

Remember Trump’s insults to Mexicans and Muslims in his escalator speech announcing his presidential campaign in 2015. He has also expressed a preference for white immigrants from Norway in 2018 and South Africa in 2025.

Trump has repeatedly associated himself with nationalists who view immigration by nonwhites as a danger to white supremacy.

Second, invoking national security allows Trump to pursue this goal without the need for accountability, since Congress and the courts have traditionally deferred to the executive branch on national security issues.

Trump also claims national security justifications for tariffs and other policies that he has declared national emergencies, in a bid to avoid criticism by the public and oversight by the other branches of government.

But this oversight is necessary in a democratic system to ensure that immigration policy is based on facts.

Charles Kurzman has received funding for research on terrorism from the National Institute of Justice and the National Science Foundation.

– ref. Trump’s justifications for the latest travel ban aren’t supported by the data on immigration and terrorism – https://theconversation.com/trumps-justifications-for-the-latest-travel-ban-arent-supported-by-the-data-on-immigration-and-terrorism-255471

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

June 6, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Fischer Introduces Legislation to Secure America’s Satellite Systems

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for Nebraska Deb Fischer
Today, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a member of the Senate Commerce Committee and Chair of the Telecommunications and Media Subcommittee, introduced the bipartisan Secure Space Act of 2025. The legislation aims to strengthen America’s national security by preventing foreign adversaries from accessing and compromising America’s satellite systems.
U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) is co-leading the bill with Fischer. Companion legislation – sponsored by House Energy & Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) and Chairman Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) – passed the U.S. House on April 28, 2025.“Americans rely on crucial communications services provided by our satellite systems now more than ever. That’s why we must prevent foreign adversaries like Communist China and Russia from undermining our ability to utilize these services safely and reliably. My bill strengthens our communications infrastructure against these vulnerabilities to make Americans’ network access more secure,” said Fischer.
“As satellite technology continues to advance, so do the threats to our national security. The Secure Space Act blocks satellite licenses for untrusted entities and protects our skies from foreign adversaries. This bill would help protect U.S. innovation and defend our communications networks from foreign entities that seek to hijack our future,” said Luján. Background:
The Secure Space Act of 2025 prohibits the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from granting satellite licenses or U.S. market access for foreign-licensed satellite systems to any entity or its affiliates that produce or provide communications equipment or services deemed a national security risk.
It amends the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act of 2019 to extend this prohibition to both geostationary and non-geostationary orbit satellite systems and includes gateway stations within its scope. It applies to new licenses and authorizations issued after the bill’s enactment and requires the FCC to establish implementing regulations within one year.
Click here to read text of the bill.

MIL OSI USA News –

June 6, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Financial news: Average price of MTPL policy in Q1 was 6.9 thousand rubles

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Central Bank of Russia –

In January-March 2025, the cost of a classic MTPL policy for ordinary motorists was on average 5.1% lower than a year earlier (7.3 thousand rubles). They issued almost 8.3 million such compulsory motor insurance contracts.

Another 1.5 million classic MTPL policies were issued to other categories of policyholders (public transport, business representatives, etc.). In the first quarter, about 0.9 million were concluded.short-term OSAGO contractsThese policies are in demand mainly among taxi drivers, who took them out for an average of two days for 272 rubles.

The total amount of premiums under compulsory motor third party liability insurance amounted to 73.9 billion rubles, and payments amounted to 51.7 billion rubles.

Overall, the insurance market in Q1 increased almost 1.5 times, to 845.4 billion rubles. As in the previous year, almost all of the growth was provided by the segment of accumulative and investment life insurance. The volume of payments for this period increased more than twofold, to 602.5 billion rubles. Read more about the situation on the market in“Review of key performance indicators of insurers”.

Preview photo: LeManna / Shutterstock / Fotodom

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.

Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

HTTPS: //vv. KBR.ru/Press/Event/? ID = 24681

MIL OSI Russia News –

June 6, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Dmitry Patrushev: Rosprirodnadzor’s systematic work allows us to identify and fairly stop environmental violations

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

On Ecologist Day, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Patrushev spoke at a meeting of the board of Rosprirodnadzor. He spoke about the department’s successes last year and outlined the tasks for the current year.

“Our country is consistently moving towards achieving environmental well-being. It is Rosprirodnadzor that the state has entrusted with the responsible role of verifying the quality of measures implemented within the framework of the national project of the same name in this large-scale process. This concerns control over wastewater treatment, elimination of accumulated damage, as well as the level of air pollution and other areas of work. In all these areas, a rational supervision system has been built, which, in general, allows us to identify and fairly suppress environmental violations,” Dmitry Patrushev emphasized.

The Deputy Prime Minister noted that in 2024, the service’s activities provided almost 32.5 billion rubles in revenues to the consolidated budget, which is 30% more than the forecast expectations. The bulk of these funds are directed to environmental programs in regional budgets.

The department’s activities actively include electronic services, including for collecting reports and budget administration. From 2020 to 2025, the number of services provided digitally increased 16 times and now covers their entire range. Dmitry Patrushev added that digitalization will help expand the remote control system, which in turn will increase the mobility of Rosprirodnadzor and the number of events carried out.

The Deputy Prime Minister reported that in 2024, the number of preventive visits and warnings from the department exceeded 80 thousand, which is almost twice as much as the year before. At the same time, the number of scheduled inspections is decreasing. Last year, 30% fewer of them were carried out than in 2023.

Rosprirodnadzor also continues to assess the impact of accumulated harm on the environment for inclusion in the relevant register. Last year, more than 230 accumulated harm objects were surveyed and assessed in 49 regions.

Dmitry Patrushev outlined the department’s tasks for the current year, including within the framework of work to complete the construction of treatment facilities on the Volga and Baikal, issuing comprehensive environmental permits, and administering the extended producer responsibility reform.

Rosprirodnadzor is also assigned a key role in the experiment on quotas for pollutant emissions in cities participating in the federal project “Clean Air”. The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that the list of such objects and the quota sizes should be established this year.

In conclusion, Dmitry Patrushev noted that over the past six years, funding for Rosprirodnadzor and its subordinate institutions has increased by 3.5 times. In addition, in 2025, the Government has additionally allocated 6 billion rubles to increase salaries for employees of the agency over the coming years, which will also help attract young, motivated specialists to the industry.

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 –

June 6, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Tatyana Golikova visited the Noginsky boarding house in the Moscow region

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

On the eve of Social Worker Day, Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova visited the gerontology department of the Noginsky boarding house in Chernogolovka, Moscow Region.

“Today’s visit is connected with the fact that our colleagues, workers of the social service system, have a professional holiday. These are incredible people who give themselves to those who come to them with their difficult life situations. I sincerely want to thank all social workers of the country for this work, for the love for those people to whom they give themselves,” Tatyana Golikova congratulated the workers.

During the visit, the Deputy Prime Minister inspected the boarding house and talked to residents and staff. The institution has double occupancy, an assembly hall, a tea room, a library, and a physical therapy room.

“Today in the Moscow Region we are also getting acquainted with active longevity technologies, which, on the instructions of the head of state, we will implement from January 1, 2025, as part of the national project “Family”. I am sure that thanks to such technologies, the number of senior citizens will grow. We see that technologies allow us to nurse even the most seriously ill patients so that they return to life, to society and become active. Now we are working in two areas: to support the older generation and those people who need help, people with disabilities, people who suffered during a special military operation, and their families. We are actively developing a long-term care system. By 2030, on the instructions of the head of state, 500 thousand of our citizens should be covered by long-term care, now it is 174 thousand. Such social homes are also one of the areas. As part of our project, together with the regions, we will carry out major repairs of 43 such houses and build 55. The most important thing is that these are not the same nursing homes that were before. This is a completely new look for social homes, where people who come here find their family, and sometimes even get married,” the Deputy Prime Minister noted.

The department employs 35 people, and is home to 45 elderly and disabled people. They have daily classes – Nordic walking, fitness, drawing, beading, string art, decoupage, dancing, cooking, and also have their own choir. All residents undergo annual medical examinations.

In 2025, the boarding house took first place in the country as the best organization with the safest and most harmless working conditions.

In total, there are 36 state-run boarding houses in the Moscow region, where 7 thousand elderly citizens and disabled people live.

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 –

June 6, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Dmitry Chernyshenko: Seven winners of the third wave of selection of research centers in the field of artificial intelligence will receive 4.7 billion rubles

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

At the Government Coordination Centre, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko presented the results of the selection of the third wave of research centres in the field of artificial intelligence (AI). The winning universities and research organisations will receive grants to conduct research and create breakthrough world-class industry solutions.

Dmitry Chernyshenko reported that the winners were HSE University, Innopolis, ISP RAS, ITMO University, MIPT, Skoltech, and for the first time, Lomonosov Moscow State University will be involved in the research.

“Each of the seven selected third wave centers will receive 676 million rubles for two years – until 2026 – to conduct fundamental research in the field of strong, trusted, multi-agent AI. The total amount of budget funding will be 4.7 billion rubles for all centers,” he added.

The Deputy Prime Minister noted that President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin set the task of focusing on fundamental areas in the field of AI and conducting research in other areas, but with the mandatory use of AI technologies. Within the framework of the federal project “Artificial Intelligence”, the operator of which is the Ministry of Economic Development, a grant competition is being held for research centers.

“Investments in AI research centers have already proven their effectiveness. The first wave of centers dealt with issues of strong, trusted, ethical artificial intelligence. The second wave is dedicated to industry research for medicine, transport, industry and smart cities. These centers create almost half of all Russian scientific groundwork in AI. President Vladimir Putin set the task of publishing at least 450 papers at top-level conferences in the field of AI in the world by 2030 – A*. We see that investments are achieving results, so the Government continues to develop such support programs,” Dmitry Chernyshenko emphasized.

He added that an important foresight session on fundamental and exploratory research in the field of AI was held in 2024. At it, leading Russian scientists with a global reputation identified 10 priority areas for the development of science in the field of artificial intelligence in the coming years.

“These areas are a strategic benchmark for public investment, which, as a rule, also attracts off-budget investment. The selection of the third wave was carried out taking into account these priorities, and we plan to conduct further research in Russia in relation to them. The Ministry of Economic Development and the Ministry of Education and Science are also preparing a unified research program in the field of AI, which will consolidate this logic,” concluded Dmitry Chernyshenko.

He asked the selected centers to support the winners and prize winners of the AI Olympiads, who also took part in the event.

A total of 19 applications from centers from 10 regions of Russia were submitted for selection. The centers’ programs state the key areas of foresight in fundamental and exploratory research in the field of AI, conducted in 2024: agent/multi-agent systems, elements of strong AI, fundamental and generative AI models.

“Artificial intelligence today has a significant impact on the development of many sectors of the economy. On the instructions of the President, the national strategy for the development of AI until 2030 is being implemented. Support for the activities of research centers in this area is a critically important tool that allows us to create a research base for the comprehensive development of sovereign AI in the country,” said First Deputy Minister of Economic Development Maxim Kolesnikov.

Grigory Bokov, Director of the Research Center for Artificial Intelligence at Lomonosov Moscow State University, said that the goal of their center is to develop modern artificial intelligence technologies, including in the direction of so-called general artificial intelligence, capable of solving a wide range of problems, just as humans do.

“We combine deep scientific research with applied developments that can already be in demand in the economy, industry, medicine and education. The project involves specialists from seven departments of Moscow State University, including leading Russian and foreign scientists,” he said.

Expert support for the competitive selection and subsequent support for the implementation of research center activity programs is provided by the Strategic Agency for Support and Formation of AI Developments (SAPFIR), a project office created on the basis of the Skolkovo Foundation.

“In the next two years, SAPFIR will focus on supporting research centers to achieve all their goals in both the scientific and commercial parts. Their activities will contribute to the creation of a technological reserve for Russia in the field of artificial intelligence, as well as attracting and developing the best personnel in the country,” said SAPFIR Director Tatyana Soyuznova.

Let us recall that in 2021, the first wave of research centers in the field of AI was selected as part of the federal project “Artificial Intelligence” (national program “Digital Economy”). Six scientific and educational organizations received state support totaling more than 8 billion rubles. Their work resulted in 165 articles in leading scientific journals, 206 publications at top-level conferences, as well as the creation and support of 15 frameworks. Together with 36 industrial partners, including Sber, Yandex, MTS and other large companies, the centers have already implemented about 50 applied solutions.

As part of the second selection wave, support was received by industry AI centers based at leading universities and research centers, such as the N.N. Blokhin National Medical Research Center of Oncology, S.P. Korolev Samara University, and others. These centers focus on training industry specialists, creating databases, and supporting specialized frameworks. RUB 3.8 billion from the federal budget has been allocated to finance their activities in 2023–2026.

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 –

June 6, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Dmitry Patrushev and Kirov Region Governor Alexander Sokolov discussed agricultural development and regional environmental issues

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Patrushev held a working meeting with Kirov Region Governor Alexander Sokolov. They discussed the development of the region’s agro-industrial complex, as well as the environmental agenda.

The Kirov Region maintains its position in the ranking of regions – leaders in milk production volume, according to this indicator it is among the five largest in the Russian Federation. It constantly demonstrates growth. Last year, Kirov livestock breeders received almost 860 thousand tons of milk.

The sowing campaign is coming to an end in the region. Spring crops have been sown on about 300 thousand hectares (more than 84% of the area). Dmitry Patrushev drew attention to the fact that farmers must be provided with all the necessary resources to carry out field work.

The meeting also discussed issues of ecology and nature conservation. The Deputy Prime Minister noted that the Kirov Region is rich in forest resources and issues related to forest management are strategic for the socio-economic development of the region.

Alexander Sokolov spoke about the development of the waste management system in the Kirov Region. By 2030, the region plans to create 10 solid municipal waste management infrastructure facilities. The most significant project for the region is the construction of the Central waste processing complex in the Slobodskoy District. The enterprise will become one of the elements of the smart waste collection system, its sorting and processing into raw materials for further production.

The meeting summed up the results of the implementation of the national project “Ecology” in the region. In the Kirov region, six unauthorized dumps were eliminated, measures were taken to preserve forests and improve the system of handling solid municipal waste. Almost 3 billion rubles were allocated from the federal budget for these purposes.

Within the framework of the new national project “Environmental Well-being”, which was launched this year, work in these areas will continue.

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 –

June 6, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Marat Khusnullin: More than 700 thousand meters of barrier fences will be installed on roads this year under the national project “Infrastructure for Life”

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Thanks to the national project “Infrastructure for Life”, large-scale work is being carried out in the regions of the country not only to update the road network, but also to equip facilities with safety elements.

“Improving the safety of all road users is one of the key objectives of the national project “Infrastructure for Life”, especially with the growing level of motorization, traffic intensity and population mobility. To implement it, large-scale work is being carried out in the regions participating in the national project not only to update the road network, but also to equip facilities with safety elements. Every repaired kilometer of road, traffic light and illuminated section is a contribution to preventing accidents and protecting Russians. In 2025, more than 700 traffic lights, almost 219 thousand meters of street lighting lines, over 700 thousand meters of barriers and 123 thousand meters of pedestrian fences will be installed in the participating regions. Specialists will equip more than 485 thousand meters of sidewalks and 14.5 thousand meters of pedestrian paths, 4.4 thousand meters of rumble strips, and install almost 96.1 thousand road signs,” he said. Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin.

On the instructions of the President of Russia, the mortality rate from road accidents must be reduced by 1.5 times by 2030 and by 2 times by 2036 compared to the 2023 figure.

“The solution to these problems will require the expansion of interdepartmental cooperation in all key positions in the field of road safety. We have positive experience in implementing the previous national project. Its distinctive feature was that road works were carried out in a comprehensive manner. The current pace must be maintained in the new national project “Infrastructure for Life”. This year, to achieve its indicators, road works will be carried out on almost 26 thousand km of the federal, regional and local road network. Accordingly, measures will be taken to ensure road safety at the sites,” said Transport Minister Roman Starovoit.

Particular attention is paid to routes to socially significant facilities, where infrastructure elements are designed taking into account increased pedestrian traffic.

“This year, we plan to bring almost 3,000 km of regional and local roads leading to educational institutions, more than 2,000 km of roads to tourist attractions, and the same number to medical institutions into compliance with the regulations. Each facility must be served by a high-quality road with the necessary elements to ensure the safety of road users,” emphasized Igor Kostyuchenko, Deputy Head of the Federal Road Agency.

Such work is actively carried out in the Republic of Ingushetia. Particular attention is paid to those routes that are most in demand by children during the summer holidays: these are approaches to summer and health camps, sports facilities, and playgrounds. This year, the republic plans to install almost 380 road signs, 33 pedestrian crossings, 8 speed bumps, 18,000 linear meters of sidewalks, and 196 linear meters of pedestrian fencing.

In Krasnoyarsk Krai, about 20 km of sidewalks will be installed under the national project. In addition, new lighting lines with a length of almost 30 km will be installed within the boundaries of populated areas. It will become lighter this year in the village of Sizaya in Shushensky District, the city of Lesosibirsk in Yenisei District, the settlement of Novoangarsk in Motyginsky District, and the village of Bol’shiye Knyshi in Idrinsky District. About 64.5 km of metal barrier fencing will also be installed.

Sidewalk construction is actively underway in the Moscow Region. In total, it is planned to build more than 60 km of sidewalks on 70 sites. In particular, in Serpukhov, work is being carried out on several sections of the Serpukhov-Glazovo-Kuzmenki highway at once: from the Sudimlya stop to the intersection with the A-108 highway and further to the Ryblovo stop, on the approach to the stops in the village of Novaya. In the Odintsovo District, a sidewalk is being built along the Zvenigorodskoye Highway in Golitsyno – it will provide residents with convenient access to the railway station and nearby infrastructure. In the Ramensky District, work is being carried out in the village of Ryleevo near the Ganusovskaya School, this will allow students to safely get to the educational institution. The new sidewalk will also make the path to the kindergarten, sports ground and Memory Alley comfortable.

The installation of cable barriers is another effective measure to reduce accidents: by separating traffic flows, the probability of driving into the oncoming lane is reduced and head-on collisions are prevented. Road workers have already completed more than half of the planned volume of work on installing such barriers – about 15 km out of the planned 30 km. In eight municipal and urban districts, the installation of cables has been fully completed: in Istra, Kashira, Kolomna, Krasnogorsk, Solnechnogorsk, Shchyolkovo, Sergiev Posad and Leninsky districts.

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 –

June 6, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Moscow hosts photo exhibition in honor of 80th anniversary of Victory in Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and World Anti-Fascist War

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

Moscow, June 5 (Xinhua) — A photo exhibition titled “Shoulder to Shoulder – Towards a Common Victory” dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War was held at the Chinese Cultural Center in Moscow on Thursday.

The event featured unique photographs from the Xinhua archive, which captured key events of the war years and the heroic feat of the Chinese people in the war, and also reflected the contribution of China and the Soviet Union to the victory over fascism and militarism. In addition, visitors were able to see modern photographs telling about the development of Russian-Chinese military and cultural-humanitarian cooperation in recent years.

Opening the exhibition, First Deputy Chairperson of the Russian-Chinese Friendship Society Galina Kulikova recalled that on May 9, Russia solemnly celebrated the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. The festive parade on Red Square was attended by leaders of a number of foreign countries, and the main guest was the Chairman of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping, she noted.

“These events are a tribute to the Great Victory of our countries. We, on the Western Front, and China, on the Eastern Front, won a decisive victory. This Victory was achieved by our countries at the cost of more than 64 million lives. In the name of those who gave their lives so that we can gather today, celebrate these dates, and solve the problems that the heads of our states set for us, we are obliged to and will always remember them,” said G. Kulikova.

The Plenipotentiary Minister of the Chinese Embassy in the Russian Federation Zhang Wei noted the dedication of the peoples of China and Russia in the fight against militarism and fascism, as well as the fact that during the war a deep friendship arose between the countries, which became a powerful incentive for the comprehensive development of bilateral relations.

“At the new historical starting point of the 80th anniversary of the victory in the World Anti-Fascist War, under the strategic leadership of the leaders of the two countries, China and Russia will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder, interact side by side, and hand in hand advance the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. Together, we will write a brilliant chapter of just and peaceful development,” he stressed.

The First Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs of the Russian Federation, former Russian Ambassador to China Andrei Denisov, for his part, pointed out that the joint statement of the Russian Federation and China, adopted following the state visit of Chinese Chairman Xi Jinping to Moscow, said a lot about the war, about preserving and passing on historical memory to younger generations, and preventing the distortion of historical truth.

“The Soviet Union and China are named at the very beginning of the first chapter of the joint statement as ‘the main theatres of military operations in Europe and Asia’. It is emphasized that they have become ‘two key forces’ in the fight against fascism and militarism,” he added, noting that he is looking forward to the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, which will be held in China in September. According to him, this will be a significant political event.

Deputy Chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs Dmitry Novikov expressed the opinion that the photo exhibition will become part of the commemorative events dedicated to the two 80th anniversaries. He noted that in China, as in Russia, great attention is paid to preserving the memory of the war and the fight against the falsification of history.

“This is extremely important from the point of view of ensuring that such tragedies do not happen again. It depends on each of us that the horrors of wars, the horrors of fascist terror do not happen again. Our peoples, who made the greatest sacrifices on the altar of Victory, can, must and are obliged to do more for this than others,” he emphasized.

The exhibition was prepared by the Xinxia Asia-Europe Bureau, China lmage Group, the Russian-Chinese Friendship Society and the Chinese Cultural Center. The co-organizers were the Union of Chinese Entrepreneurs in Russia and the Passion company. The event was held with the support of the Chinese Embassy in the Russian Federation. –0–

MIL OSI Russia News –

June 6, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Armenian Prime Minister and Turkish President discussed bilateral relations and the situation in the region during a telephone conversation

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

Yerevan, June 5 (Xinhua) — Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan held a telephone conversation with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday, the press service of the head of the Armenian government reported.

The interlocutors discussed issues of Armenian-Turkish relations and regional processes, reaching an agreement to continue the dialogue.

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, speaking in the country’s parliament on the same day, said that despite the lack of diplomatic relations between Armenia and Turkey, the two countries are engaged in a very active and productive dialogue. -0–

MIL OSI Russia News –

June 6, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Belarus sees growth in foreign trade turnover of goods in the first four months of 2025 — Belstat

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

MINSK, June 5 /Xinhua/ — Belarus’ foreign trade turnover of goods in January-April 2025 amounted to 100.02 percent of the same period last year, the Belarusian National Statistical Committee (Belstat) reported on Thursday.

In the first four months of 2025, foreign trade turnover of goods amounted to 27.042 billion US dollars, including exports of 12.39 billion dollars and imports of 14.652 billion dollars.

Compared to the level of January-April 2024, the turnover of foreign trade in goods calculated in current prices amounted to 100.02 percent, exports – 96 percent, imports – 103.7 percent. –0–

MIL OSI Russia News –

June 6, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Denis Manturov took part in the meeting of the Advisory Council of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Russia

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov took part in the annual meeting of the Advisory Council of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Russia chaired by Minister of Industry and Trade Anton Alikhanov.

At the meeting, the heads of the working groups of the Advisory Council summed up the results of the previous year’s activities and voiced proposals for the development of the radio-electronic industry, agricultural and transport engineering, as well as international cooperation. In addition, it was proposed to create additional working groups – on metallurgy and heavy engineering.

The Advisory Council was formed on April 10, 2014 (Order of the Ministry of Industry and Trade No. 673). The Advisory Council includes 11 ministers of the USSR, RSFSR and the Russian Federation in the main industries: chemical, construction, electrical engineering, machine tool building, transport, defense, trade and heavy engineering. Meetings of the Advisory Council are held annually.

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 –

June 6, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Final of 14 Individuals Sentenced for Dog Fighting
Source: US State of California

Following a final sentencing hearing today, all 14 defendants convicted in a large-scale federal dog fighting case in Albany, Georgia, have been sentenced to a total of 343 months in prison for dog fighting and other charges.

“Dog fighting is an odious form of organized crime, and it’s a magnet for other criminal activity,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “The Justice Department and its local partners, such as the Seminole County, Georgia, Sheriff’s Office, will not tolerate this callous criminal activity.”

“The brutality of dog fighting, combined with armed drug distribution, negatively affects our community,” said Acting U.S. Attorney C. Shanelle Booker for the Middle District of Georgia. “The collaboration among law enforcement agencies at every level during this investigation and prosecution was essential in bringing these defendants to justice and rescuing abused animals.”

“The Office of Inspector General is committed to working with all of our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners in pursuing individuals who choose to participate in animal fighting activities and engage in violations involving animal welfare,” said Special Agent in Charge Miles Davis of the Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General (USDA-OIG).

Details of the total sentencings is below:
- Donnametric Miller, of Donalsonville, Georgia – 100 months in prison;
- Fredricus White, of Panama City, Florida – 35 months in prison
- Christopher Travis Beaumont, of Panama City, Florida – 30 months in prison;
- Marvin Pulley, of Donalsonville, Georgia – 30 months in prison;
- Cornelious Johnson, of Panama City, Florida – 27 months in prison;
- Terelle Ganzy, of Panama City, Florida – 24 months in prison;
- Willie Russell, of Blakely, Georgia – 24 months in prison;
- Brandon Baker, of Panama City, Florida – 20 months in prison;
- Terrance Davis, of Pansey, Alabama – 20 months in prison;
- Tamichael Elijah, of Donalsonville, Georgia – 18 months in prison;
- Timothy Freeman, of Bainbridge, Georgia – time served (15 months in prison);
- Herman Buggs Jr., of Donalsonville, Georgia – time served (two weeks in prison);
- Rodrecus Kimble, of Donalsonville, Georgia – one year home confinement; and
- Gary Hopkins, of Donalsonville, Georgia – six months home confinement.
In addition to prison sentences, the court also imposed restitution for the costs of care of dogs rescued in this investigation. Under federal law, it is illegal to fight dogs in a venture that affects interstate commerce and to possess, train, transport, deliver, sell, purchase or receive dogs for fighting purposes.

According to court documents filed in this case, defendants from three states all converged on a property in Donalsonville, Georgia, on April 24, 2022, where they held a large-scale dog fighting event. Law enforcement disrupted the event after a 911 call and rescued 27 dogs that night, including one found in the blood-soaked fighting pit with severe injuries who soon died. The participants used their cars to store injured dogs who had already been fought, as well as those whose handlers were awaiting their turn in the fighting pit. Law enforcement personnel also seized a distribution quantity of methamphetamine.

Seized cell phones in this case contained evidence of some of the participants’ extensive participation in the dog fighting “industry,” including large group dog fighting text message chains, fight reports, and dog fighting videos and photos, including one of a dog who had been hung to death in a garage. Authorities seized and rescued 78 pit bull-type dogs altogether in this investigation, including 51 recovered during search warrants executed with arrest warrants this spring, sparing them from similar fates.

The USDA-OIG and detectives with the Seminole County, Georgia, Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Detectives with the Bay County, Florda, Sheriff’s Office also provided assistance.

Senior Trial Attorney Ethan Eddy and Trial Attorney Leigh Rendé of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section are prosecuting the case with assistance from Criminal Chief Leah McEwen of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Morrill and Paralegal Kristi Cote for the Middle District of Georgia handled a parallel civil forfeiture proceeding to ensure that the dogs did not have to be returned to the defendants. The Seized Canine Program of the U.S. Marshals Service cared for the rescued dogs pending legal process.

MIL OSI USA News –
June 6, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Final of 14 Individuals Sentenced for Dog Fighting
Source: United States Attorneys General 7

Following a final sentencing hearing today, all 14 defendants convicted in a large-scale federal dog fighting case in Albany, Georgia, have been sentenced to a total of 343 months in prison for dog fighting and other charges.

“Dog fighting is an odious form of organized crime, and it’s a magnet for other criminal activity,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “The Justice Department and its local partners, such as the Seminole County, Georgia, Sheriff’s Office, will not tolerate this callous criminal activity.”

“The brutality of dog fighting, combined with armed drug distribution, negatively affects our community,” said Acting U.S. Attorney C. Shanelle Booker for the Middle District of Georgia. “The collaboration among law enforcement agencies at every level during this investigation and prosecution was essential in bringing these defendants to justice and rescuing abused animals.”

“The Office of Inspector General is committed to working with all of our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners in pursuing individuals who choose to participate in animal fighting activities and engage in violations involving animal welfare,” said Special Agent in Charge Miles Davis of the Department of Agriculture Office of Inspector General (USDA-OIG).

Details of the total sentencings is below:
- Donnametric Miller, of Donalsonville, Georgia – 100 months in prison;
- Fredricus White, of Panama City, Florida – 35 months in prison
- Christopher Travis Beaumont, of Panama City, Florida – 30 months in prison;
- Marvin Pulley, of Donalsonville, Georgia – 30 months in prison;
- Cornelious Johnson, of Panama City, Florida – 27 months in prison;
- Terelle Ganzy, of Panama City, Florida – 24 months in prison;
- Willie Russell, of Blakely, Georgia – 24 months in prison;
- Brandon Baker, of Panama City, Florida – 20 months in prison;
- Terrance Davis, of Pansey, Alabama – 20 months in prison;
- Tamichael Elijah, of Donalsonville, Georgia – 18 months in prison;
- Timothy Freeman, of Bainbridge, Georgia – time served (15 months in prison);
- Herman Buggs Jr., of Donalsonville, Georgia – time served (two weeks in prison);
- Rodrecus Kimble, of Donalsonville, Georgia – one year home confinement; and
- Gary Hopkins, of Donalsonville, Georgia – six months home confinement.
In addition to prison sentences, the court also imposed restitution for the costs of care of dogs rescued in this investigation. Under federal law, it is illegal to fight dogs in a venture that affects interstate commerce and to possess, train, transport, deliver, sell, purchase or receive dogs for fighting purposes.

According to court documents filed in this case, defendants from three states all converged on a property in Donalsonville, Georgia, on April 24, 2022, where they held a large-scale dog fighting event. Law enforcement disrupted the event after a 911 call and rescued 27 dogs that night, including one found in the blood-soaked fighting pit with severe injuries who soon died. The participants used their cars to store injured dogs who had already been fought, as well as those whose handlers were awaiting their turn in the fighting pit. Law enforcement personnel also seized a distribution quantity of methamphetamine.

Seized cell phones in this case contained evidence of some of the participants’ extensive participation in the dog fighting “industry,” including large group dog fighting text message chains, fight reports, and dog fighting videos and photos, including one of a dog who had been hung to death in a garage. Authorities seized and rescued 78 pit bull-type dogs altogether in this investigation, including 51 recovered during search warrants executed with arrest warrants this spring, sparing them from similar fates.

The USDA-OIG and detectives with the Seminole County, Georgia, Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Detectives with the Bay County, Florda, Sheriff’s Office also provided assistance.

Senior Trial Attorney Ethan Eddy and Trial Attorney Leigh Rendé of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section are prosecuting the case with assistance from Criminal Chief Leah McEwen of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Morrill and Paralegal Kristi Cote for the Middle District of Georgia handled a parallel civil forfeiture proceeding to ensure that the dogs did not have to be returned to the defendants. The Seized Canine Program of the U.S. Marshals Service cared for the rescued dogs pending legal process.

MIL Security OSI –
June 6, 2025
MIL-OSI United Nations: Five countries elected to serve on UN Security Council

Source: United Nations – Peacekeeping

Bahrain, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Latvia, and Liberia were elected on Tuesday to serve as non-permanent members of the UN Security Council, with two-year terms beginning in January 2026.

They will serve through the end of 2027 on the UN body responsible for maintaining international peace and security.

They will join the five non-permanent members elected last year – Denmark, Greece, Pakistan, Panama, and Somalia – who will serve through 2026. The incoming members will succeed Algeria, Guyana, the Republic of Korea, Sierra Leone, and Slovenia, whose terms end in December 2025.

The Security Council has 15 members: five permanent members – China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States – who hold veto power, and ten non-permanent members elected by the General Assembly for staggered two-year terms.

Elections are held annually by secret ballot, with seats allocated by regional group. Candidates must secure a two-thirds majority in the 193-member General Assembly to be elected.

Vote tally

A total of 188 Member States participated in the election, which required only one round of balloting.

In the African and Asia-Pacific group, Bahrain received 186 votes, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) garnered 183 votes, and Liberia received 181 votes, with one country abstaining.

In the Eastern European group, Latvia received 178 votes while 10 countries abstained.

In the Latin America and the Caribbean group, Colombia received 180 votes, with eight countries abstaining.

Debut for Latvia

Latvia will take a seat on the Council for the first time in its history.

With the exception of Latvia, all the elected countries have previously served: Colombia seven times, the DRC twice, and Bahrain and Liberia once each.

Regional groups

The non-permanent seats on the Security Council are distributed according to four regional groupings: Africa and Asia; Eastern Europe; Latin America and the Caribbean; and the Western European and other States group.

This year’s election filled five seats: two allocated to Africa, one to Asia-Pacific, one to Eastern Europe, and one to Latin America and the Caribbean.

[embedded content]

By Vibhu Mishra

MIL OSI United Nations News –

June 6, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Labubus, Sonny Angels and Smiskis: Are blind toy boxes just child’s play or something more concerning?

Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Eugene Y. Chan, Associate Professor of Marketing, Toronto Metropolitan University

Collectible figurines on display at Pop Mart in Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine, on April 29, 2025. (Shutterstock)

If you’ve seen videos of people tearing into tiny toy packages online, or noticed teens obsessing over pastel-coloured figurines at the mall, you’ve probably encountered the global craze for blind box toys.

These small collectibles — usually figures of cartoonish characters — are sold in sealed packaging that hides which specific item is inside. You might get the one you want, or you might not. That uncertainty is part of the thrill.

Unlike traditional toys, these figures are marketed as collectibles. Many are part of themed series, with some designs labelled as “rare” or “secret,” appearing in as few as one in every 144 boxes. This sense of exclusivity fuels repeat purchases and has spawned a resale market where rare figures can command hundreds of dollars.

Popular among children and adults alike, blind box toys have grown into a billion-dollar industry. One of the more popular brands is Pop Mart, a Chinese toy company founded in 2010 known for its collectible designer toys sold in mystery packs.

Gen Z consumers, in particular, have embraced blind box toys both as a nostalgic pastime and as a form of legitimate collecting. The proliferation of unboxing videos on platforms like TikTok and YouTube, where creators open dozens of blind boxes on camera, has added to their appeal.

For many fans, these toys offer more than just cuteness: they also provide suspense, surprise and a rush of dopamine with every box opened. But how did this niche product become a global obsession?

From Tokyo streets to western malls

The origins of blind box toys trace back to East Asia. Capsule toy vending machines called gashapon originated in Japan in the 1960s. By the 1980s, they had become a cultural fixture. These machines dispense small toys in opaque plastic balls, with customers never quite sure which item they’ll receive.

In the early 2010s, Chinese companies like Pop Mart adapted the gashapon model for the mainstream retail space. Instead of vending machines, they began selling artist-designed vinyl toys in blind boxes at dedicated boutiques.

A tourist uses a gashapon machine in Osaka, Japan, in 2024. Gashapon machines are similar to the coin-operated toy vending machines seen outside grocery stores and other retailers in North America.
(Shutterstock)

Pop Mart’s success helped transform the blind box into a mainstream commercial phenomenon. Characters like Molly, Skullpanda and Dimoo became instant hits, combining Japanese kawaii esthetics with western pop art sensibilities.

Pop Mart figures have since developed a cult-like following. Many consumers treat the toys as affordable art objects, displayed in cabinets, on purses or traded online.

Today, blind box retail stores have expanded globally from Asia to Europe and North America. In October 2024, Pop Mart opened its first store in the Midwestern United States, located on Chicago’s Magnificent Mile at The Shops at North Bridge. The store offers exclusive products and taps into the growing demand for collectibles among American consumers.

The psychology behind the mystery

What makes blind box toys so hard to resist?

Their success relies on a psychological principle known as variable-ratio reinforcement — the same reward pattern that makes slot machines so addictive.

You never know exactly when you’ll score the item you’re after, but the possibility that the next box might contain it keeps people coming back. This unpredictability keeps people engaged, especially when the potential reward is framed as rare or valuable.

Cconsumer psychology research also suggests that anticipation plays a major role. Studies show that dopamine, the brain’s reward chemical, spikes not just when we get what we want, but when we anticipate it. The sealed packaging, the suspense of unwrapping and the hope for a rare figure all heighten this effect.

Sonny Angels on display in a store in Shenzhen, China, in March 2019.
(Shutterstock)

For younger collectors, the excitement of “the chase” can foster compulsive buying habits. This effect is amplified by the social influence of watching unboxings online or seeing friends complete their sets, and it becomes a powerful loop.

Even when buyers don’t get the figure they want, the sunk cost fallacy — the feeling that they’ve already invested too much time or money to walk away — keeps them buying more.

The hidden costs of blind boxes

As blind box toys surge in popularity, they have drawn criticism from consumer advocates, psychologists and environmentalists alike.

Some worry that blind boxes normalize gambling-like behaviours, especially among children. The randomness, excitement and promise of rare rewards closely mirror the mechanisms behind loot boxes in video games — another product that has sparked global concern over youth exposure to gambling psychology.

Several countries, including Belgium and the Netherlands, have regulated loot boxes under gambling laws. Blind boxes, though currently unregulated, may be next in line for scrutiny.

Read more:
Blind bags: how toy makers are making a fortune with child gambling

There are also environmental concerns. Many blind box toys come in excessive packaging — plastic wraps, foil bags, cardboard boxes — most of which is discarded immediately. The collectibles themselves are often made of non-recyclable plastics, raising questions about sustainability in an era of rising consumer awareness over waste.

Even among adult fans, some critics question whether blind boxes are designed less to bring joy and more to trigger compulsive consumption. The joy of collecting, they argue, is increasingly overshadowed by the mechanics of engineered desire.

What should we make of the blind box boom?

Blind box toys are not inherently harmful, and for many, they’re a source of fun, nostalgia and self-expression. They also offer an accessible way for consumers to engage with designer art in a collectible, miniature form, as many of them are created by individual artists.

But blind box toys also raise deeper questions about how modern marketing leverages psychological triggers associated with gambling, especially when it comes to children.

As these toys continue to gain traction in the West, it’s worth asking more critical questions, like: are we buying into mystery or are we being sold obsession and compulsion?

The blind box trend reflects broader shifts in how products are marketed, how value is perceived and how consumer behaviour is shaped in a digital, attention-driven economy. Understanding the forces at play may be the first step toward more informed — and perhaps more mindful — collecting.

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

– ref. Labubus, Sonny Angels and Smiskis: Are blind toy boxes just child’s play or something more concerning? – https://theconversation.com/labubus-sonny-angels-and-smiskis-are-blind-toy-boxes-just-childs-play-or-something-more-concerning-257611

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The European Union’s borders encompass 4 381 376 square kilometres, from the Aegean to Finland, Ireland, Portugal and Cyprus, with 65 992 kilometres of coastline. Islands are Europe’s natural borders. Covering an enormous area, they need immediate and balanced development as they tackle the effects of climate change, the demographic and housing crisis and illegal migration with limited access to new technologies and means of transport. Decisions must be coordinated and targeted. This makes it essential that we act immediately with the regions to ensure the balanced development of islands and mountainous areas, given that needs are very high.

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[1] https://www.consilium.europa.eu/nl/press/press-releases/2025/05/20/syria-council-statement-on-the-lifting-of-eu-economic-sanctions/
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