Category: Europe

MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Executive’s Housing Budget Fails Northern Ireland’s Most Vulnerable

Source: The Green Party in Northern Ireland

Executive’s Housing Budget Fails Northern Ireland’s Most Vulnerable
Green Party Councillor Lauren Kendall has condemned the Executive for slashing the social housing budget at a time of unprecedented need. The Department for Communities has been left unable to meet even its most basic commitments, forcing a drastic cut in new social homes.
“This is a deliberate political choice to underfund housing and abandon the most vulnerable,” said Cllr Kendall. “The Executive is failing to meet even the most basic commitments to those in desperate need of a home. Whilst I appreciate the Minister is stretching the budget as far as he can, the Executive needs to look at its priorities. Cutting support for those in desperate need is a moral failure. The Executive is failing the people who need help most.”
ENDS

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

June 4, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: United States Files False Claims Act Complaint Alleging Genetic Testing Medicare Fraud

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

MIAMI – The United States has filed a complaint under the False Claims Act against AIMA Business and Medical Support, LLC (AIMA), a company that provides medical billing and compliance services, for allegedly submitting or causing the submission of false claims to Medicare for medically unnecessary genetic laboratory tests.

AIMA is registered as a Florida limited liability company and offers medical billing and compliance services in the United States. AIMA’s CEO, Aaron Liston, was based in the United Kingdom, AIMA’s employees were based in India, and AIMA provided services to customers in the United States, including billing the Medicare Program on behalf of healthcare providers and suppliers. The United States’ claims arise from AIMA’s alleged conduct in offering Medicare billing advice and submitting bills to Medicare on behalf of a Miami-based diagnostic laboratory called Excellent Laboratories Inc., which did business as Selecta Laboratory (Selecta).

The United States contends that from August 2018 through August 2019, AIMA billed Medicare Part B approximately $ 15,178,946.00 for genetic tests on behalf of Selecta, even though AIMA knew or should have known that the tests were not medically necessary and were not ordered by the beneficiary’s treating physician. Medicare does not cover the costs of genetic tests that are not reasonable and necessary for the diagnosis or treatment of illness. To be covered by Medicare, a diagnostic laboratory test, including a genetic test, must be ordered by the physician who is treating the beneficiary for a specific medical problem and who uses the results in the management of that problem. As a result of AIMA’s conduct, Selecta received Medicare funds to which it was not entitled and, correspondingly, paid AIMA for its services.

U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida and Acting Special Agent in Charge Jesus Barranco of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), made the announcement.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Clarissa Pinheiro is handling the matter, with the HHS-OIG conducting the investigation.

The investigation and prosecution of this matter illustrate the government’s emphasis on combating healthcare fraud. One of the most powerful tools in this effort is the False Claims Act. Tips and complaints from all sources about potential fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement can be reported to the HHS at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477).

The claims asserted in the government’s complaint are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.

You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida at www.usdoj.gov/usao/fls.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Southern District of Florida at www.flsd.uscourts.gov or at http://pacer.flsd.uscourts.gov, under case number 25-cv-22507.

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MIL Security OSI –

June 4, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Romanian National Sentenced for Defrauding Banks and Leaving Hundreds of Banking Customers as Victims in His Wake

Source: Office of United States Attorneys

PROVIDENCE – A Romanian national illegally present in the United States who is described in court documents as being an “undeterred serial scammer” who left hundreds of victims in his wake after stealing and using their personal banking information has been sentenced to nearly three years in federal prison and will face deportation proceedings, announced Acting United States Attorney Sara Miron Bloom.

Mario Demarco, a/k/a Marius Lupu a/k/a David Adamec, 30, pleaded guilty in January to a charge of conspiracy to commit bank fraud. He was sentenced today by U.S. District Court Judge Mary S. McElroy to 33 months in federal prison to be followed by two years of supervised release. Additionally, Demarco was ordered to pay restitution totaling $16,567.06.

An immigration detainer has been lodged by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Court documents reflect that for more than two years, beginning in October 2022, Demarco traveled up and down the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic installing skimming devices on ATMs. These devices intercepted hundreds of customers’ debit card and banking information, which Demarco used to create fraudulent debit cards. The bogus cards were then used to make unauthorized cash withdrawals, attempted withdrawals, and purchases.

Throughout the course of the conspiracy, Demarco installed skimming devices on at least ten ATMs and compromised at least 952 cards. Demarco owes restitution to fifteen different banks.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Taylor A. Dean and Ly T. Chin.

The matter was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, with assistance from the Warwick, RI, Police Department, Cranston, RI, Police Department, East Greenwich, RI, Police Department, North Kingstown, RI, Police Department, East Providence, RI, Police Department, Boston, MA, Police Department, New York City Police Department, and the Stratford, CT, Police Department.

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MIL Security OSI –

June 4, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: “The ability to cope with difficulties helps to build a reliable and strong solution”

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

This year, the winner of the “Your Project” competition in the “innovation” category was a team from Novosibirsk: Alena Kozich, Ilya Kateshov, Artem Tretyakov and Nikita Konstantinov. In the fall, they will begin their studies in the “Managing research, development and innovation in the company” Artem and Nikita shared how the work on the case went and why they are looking forward to starting their studies at HSE.

— What did you like about the competition, and what caused difficulties?

— I liked the freedom to choose the topic for the scenario study, the task included many industries for the application of UAS, from agriculture and the oil and gas industry to transport and logistics work and medicine, which is what we chose. I also liked the clearly formulated task, which at the same time did not limit the space for research. The number of companies to be studied could be chosen independently: at least 1 company, at least 20 companies, it all depends on the strength of the team. Of course, when solving a complex task, difficulties arise, but it is the ability to cope with them that helps build a reliable and strong solution, so there is no point in being afraid of difficulties, they must be overcome.

— How did you distribute roles in the team?

— My team and I have been taking part in case championships since the first year of our bachelor’s degree and we are the organizers of a case club within our university, so during the time of solving cases we know each other’s strengths and weaknesses. Each team member was responsible for their own unique part of the work, and everyone’s skills helped us apply our efforts to the solution as effectively as possible.

The task was complex, so it was necessary to conduct a large block of analysis. After that, we moved on to forming a solution. At the analysis stage, we identified two main areas: analysis of foreign practices and analysis of the current situation in Russia for the implementation of new practices.

Two people looked for foreign practices, two analyzed the current situation. After that, they moved on to implementation. Implementation was also divided into several parts: calculating solutions and assessing their impact on business and the situation in Russia as a whole.

— Was the case difficult?

— The task was clearly formulated, from the very beginning the team understood what to do. The case turned out to be interesting, with the main focus on the study of scenarios and practices, as well as the argumentation of initiatives. The Zipline company website contained 90% of the information we needed, except for the financial statements, which we found in open sources. During the analysis, we actively maintained a board in Figjam (analogous to Miro for Figma) and recorded every potentially useful information.

In parallel, we analyzed federal laws and draft laws, and looked at the current situation of using UAS (unmanned aerial systems – Ed.) in Russia, because experience is also a limiting factor. Using UAS in specific regions is legally permitted, but consumers do not have active demand for the product, so it is necessary to think in a different direction. After all the practices were collected and the risks were analyzed, we began to generate ideas for using practices taking into account the limitations.

Some practices, as expected, could not be implemented due to restrictions at the regional level. We deleted some initiatives, but others that we thought were potentially profitable, we reworked in such a way that they did not affect the restrictions.

For example, delivery of first aid supplies using drones has been legally permitted in the Magadan Region since February 2025, so we decided to apply this practice specifically in the Magadan Region.

After generating initiatives and creating a strategy for their application, we began calculating financial models taking into account the economic context of the regions and the method of drone delivery. The last day, as befits true case study specialists, we devoted ourselves entirely to creating a presentation and additional analysis of the final solution.

— What are your expectations for the upcoming Master’s degree at HSE?

— Since last year, we have been planning to enroll in the innovation program. We expect a lot of practical work, but most of all we are looking forward to meeting cool guys in order to start doing something together and simply broaden our horizons.

Evgeniy Savelenok, Academic Director of the program “Management of Research, Development and Innovation in the Company”

“Initially, when preparing the case, colleagues had a request to monitor information from foreign sources about the state of affairs in the UAV industry with an emphasis on new technologies and products. As a result of the discussion, we supplemented the task with a creative part – generating a scheme and logistics for using UAVs in Russia, including calculating economic costs. The case turned out to be complex and practically applicable – our partners considered all the solutions, and applicants have the opportunity to present their developments to the company’s specialists.

The special thing about the competition is that you know the people who are going to defend their theses. This knowledge helps us to make a more informed assessment at the defense: we look at the work in the chat, and at the finished product, and at the individual achievements of the participants. As a rule, the more organized, united and active teams win. That is, we get applicants with whom we can get to know each other throughout the competition, watch them in action, observe their work. This is the right idea.”

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 4, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: Apple unveils winners and finalists of the 2025 Apple Design Awards

Source: Apple

Headline: Apple unveils winners and finalists of the 2025 Apple Design Awards

June 3, 2025

UPDATE

Apple unveils winners and finalists of the 2025 Apple Design Awards

Winners and finalists will be recognized for their innovation, ingenuity, and technical achievement at WWDC25

Today, Apple announced the winners and finalists of this year’s Apple Design Awards, celebrating 12 standout apps and games that set a high bar in design. This year’s winners include development teams spanning the world whose work was selected for excellence in innovation, ingenuity, and technical achievement.

“Developers continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible, creating apps and games that are not only beautifully designed but also deeply impactful,” said Susan Prescott, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Developer Relations. “We’re excited to celebrate this incredible group of winners and finalists at WWDC and spotlight the innovation and craftsmanship they bring to each experience.”

The awards recognize one app and one game across six categories: Delight and Fun, Innovation, Interaction, Inclusivity, Social Impact, and Visuals and Graphics. The winners were chosen from 36 finalists from around the world who have all demonstrated outstanding design experiences across apps and games.

Delight and Fun

Winners and finalists in this category provide memorable, engaging, and satisfying experiences enhanced by Apple technologies.

App: CapWords

Developer: HappyPlan Tech (China)

CapWords is a dynamic language learning tool that transforms images of everyday objects into interactive stickers — helping learners explore new words in a more intuitive and visual way. Supporting nine languages, the app is a delightful way to learn independently while immersing users in their surroundings.

Game: Balatro

Developer: LocalThunk (Canada)

Balatro is a satisfying fusion of poker, solitaire, and deck-building with roguelike elements. Players combine poker hands with joker cards — each with their own unique abilities — to create varied synergies. Hallmarked by clever details, gripping gameplay challenges players to advance their scores by crafting original decks to beat devious blinds and secure victory.

Finalists for this category include Lumy by Raja V; Denim by Feel Good Tech; Thank Goodness You’re Here! by Panic; and Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown by Ubisoft Montpellier.

Innovation

Winners and finalists in this category provide a state-of-the-art experience through novel use of Apple technologies that set them apart in their genre.

App: Play

Developer: Rabbit 3 Times (United States)

Play is a sophisticated yet accessible tool that lets users build interactive prototypes with SwiftUI frameworks. Its thoughtfully crafted user interface is both powerful and easy to navigate, helping designers create interactive prototypes and collaborate across Mac and iPhone, all synced in real time for seamless creativity.

Game: PBJ — The Musical

Developer: Philipp Stollenmayer (Germany)

PBJ — The Musical is snack-based Shakespeare, a charming game that tells the story of Romeo and Juliet with condiments. PBJ creatively mixes rhythm-based gameplay with narrative storytelling and a wonderful soundtrack. And with haptic feedback, clever camera work, and fun dialogue, it’s joyful from the start.

Finalists for this category include Moises by Music.AI; Capybara by Digital Workroom Ltd; Pawz by Bootloader Studio Holdings Private Limited; and Gears & Goo by Resolution Games AB.

Interaction

Winners and finalists in this category deliver intuitive interfaces and effortless controls that are perfectly tailored to their platform.

App: Taobao

Developer: Zhejiang Taobao Network (China)

Taobao offers a convenient and engaging shopping experience on Apple Vision Pro, providing incredible 3D models comparable to their real-life counterparts. The immersive experience enhances shopping for users, taking into consideration placement, position, controls, size, and function, and giving people the ability to compare items side by side from an extensive selection of products.

Game: DREDGE

Developer: Black Salt Games (New Zealand)

DREDGE blends slow-burn horror with exploration and adventure. Players take the helm of a fishing boat to navigate eerie islands, uncover strange wildlife, and piece together a haunting mystery. The game offers seamless interactions and a fun world of hidden treasures across iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

Finalists for this category include iA Writer by Information Architects AG; Mela – Recipe Manager by Silvio Rizzi; Gears & Goo by Resolution Games AB; and Skate City: New York by Snowman.

Inclusivity

Winners and finalists in this category provide a great experience for all by reflecting a variety of backgrounds, abilities, and languages.

App: Speechify

Developer: Speechify (United States)

With support for hundreds of voices in over 50 languages, Speechify is a powerful tool that transforms written text into audio with ease. Designed with accessibility at its core, and by offering features like Dynamic Type and VoiceOver, the app serves as a vital resource for people with dyslexia, ADHD, and low vision, as well as anyone who learns best by listening.

Game: Art of Fauna

Developer: Klemens Strasser (Austria)

Beautifully illustrated and mindfully designed, Art of Fauna is a puzzle game that blends vintage-inspired wildlife imagery with a deep commitment to inclusivity and conservation. Players can solve puzzles by rearranging visual elements or reordering descriptive text, making gameplay uniquely interactive. With features like full VoiceOver support and haptic feedback, accessibility is woven throughout the experience.

Finalists for this category include Evolve by GTA Solutions; Train Fitness by Train Fitness; puffies. by Lykke Studios; and Land of Livia by Split Atom Labs.

Social Impact

Winners and finalists in this category improve lives in a meaningful way and shine a light on crucial issues.

App: Watch Duty

Developer: Sherwood Forestry Service (United States)

During devastating wildfires in Southern California, Watch Duty once again served as a lifeline, delivering up-to-the-minute updates, evacuation information, and critical resources with clarity and reliability. The app reports information like active fire perimeters and progress, wind speed and direction, and evacuation orders.

Game: Neva

Developer: Developer Digital (United States)

Visually stunning and emotionally resonant, Neva is an action-adventure tale that follows a girl and her wolf companion through a beautiful world in decline. As the seasons shift, so does their relationship — offering a quiet meditation on care, connection, and the cost of environmental loss. With themes of friendship and leadership, players guide the pair through breathtaking landscapes, and a story that is as moving as it is timely.

Finalists for this category include Ground News by Snapwise; Opal by Opal OS; Ahoy! From Picardy by Daniel Jones; and Art of Fauna by Klemens Strasser.

Visuals and Graphics

Winners and finalists in this category feature stunning imagery, skillfully drawn interfaces, and high-quality animations with a distinctive and cohesive theme.

App: Feather: Draw in 3D

Developer: Sketchsoft (South Korea)

This drawing tool allows users to transform 2D designs into 3D masterpieces. Developed with a focus on creativity and user experience, Feather makes it easy for people of all skill levels to build advanced 3D modeling designs on iPad, drawing on touch and Apple Pencil interactions to help users bring their imaginations to life.

Game: Infinity Nikki

Developer: Infold Games (Singapore)

With its enchanted realm of color, detail, and rendering, Infinity Nikki is a true visual achievement. This cozy open-world adventure challenges players to collect wonderful things, and is packed with magical outfits, whimsical creatures, and unexpected moments.

Finalists for this category include Vocabulary by Monkey Taps; CellWalk by Timothy Davison; Control Ultimate Edition by Remedy Entertainment PLC; and Neva by Developer Digital.

To learn more about the Apple Design Award winners and finalists, visit developer.apple.com/design/awards or the Apple Developer app.

Press Contacts

Apple Media Helpline

media.help@apple.com

MIL OSI Economics –

June 4, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Ukraine ‘spiderweb’ drone strike fails to register at peace talks as both sides dig in for the long haul

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Stefan Wolff, Professor of International Security, University of Birmingham

News of the spectacular “spiderweb” mass drone attack on Russian air bases on June 1 will have been uppermost in the minds of delegates who assembled the following day for another round of direct talks between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul. The attack appears to have been a triumph of Ukrainian intelligence and planning that destroyed or damaged billions of pounds’ worth of Russian aircraft stationed at bases across the country, including at locations as far away as Siberia.

Ukraine’s drone strikes, much like Russia’s intensifying air campaign, hardly signal either side’s sincere commitment to negotiations. As it turned out, little of any consequence was agreed at the brief meeting between negotiators, beyond a prisoner swap, confirming yet again that neither a ceasefire nor a peace agreement are likely anytime soon.

But the broader context of developments on the battlefield and beyond can offer important clues about the trajectory of the war in the coming months.

Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

At an earlier meeting in Istanbul in May, Moscow and Kyiv agreed to draft and exchange detailed proposals for a settlement. The Ukrainian proposal restated the longstanding position of Kyiv and its western allies that concessions on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country are unacceptable.

In other words, a Russian-imposed neutrality ruling out Nato membership and limiting the size of Ukraine’s armed forces is a non-starter for Kyiv. So is any international recognition of Moscow’s illegal land-grabs since 2014, including the annexation of Crimea.

The Ukrainian proposal is for an immediate ceasefire along the frontline as “the starting point for negotiations”. Any territorial issues would be discussed “after a full and unconditional ceasefire”.

In substance, this is very similar to the peace plan presented by the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky in late 2022. This was received warmly by Ukraine’s main western allies, but failed to get traction with the broader international community.

Russia’s proposals, meanwhile, are also mostly old news. Russia maintains its demands for full recognition of Russian territorial claims since 2014, Ukrainian neutrality.

These stringent Russian demands in return for even a temporary ceasefire are hardly any more serious negotiation positions from Ukraine’s perspective than Kyiv’s proposals are likely to be to Moscow. In fact, what the Kremlin put on the table in Istanbul is more akin to surrender terms.

Ukraine is in no mood to surrender. The spiderweb drone attack against Russia’s strategic bomber fleet is a significant boost for Ukrainian morale. But, like previous drone strikes against Moscow in June 2023, it means little in terms of signalling a sustainable Ukrainian capability that could even out Russia’s advantages in terms of manpower and equipment.

The state of the conflict in Ukraine as at June 3 2025.
Institute for the Study of War

Closer to the frontlines inside Ukraine, Kyiv’s forces also struck the power grid inside Russian-occupied parts of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions. This may delay any Russian plans to expand its control over the two regions. But, like the latest drone strikes inside Russia, it is at best an operation that entrenches, rather than breaks the current stalemate.

There is no doubt that Ukraine remains under severe military pressure from Russia along most of the more than 1,000 mile frontline. The country is also still very vulnerable to Russian air attacks.

But while Russia might continue to make incremental gains on the battlefield, a game-changing Russian offensive or a collapse of Ukrainian defences does not appear to be on the cards.

International support

Kyiv’s position will potentially also be strengthened by a new bill in the US senate that threatens the imposition of 500% tariffs on any countries that buy Russian resources. This would primarily affect India and China.

These are the largest consumers of Russian oil and gas, and if New Delhi and Beijing decide that trade with the US is more important to them cheap imports from Russia, the move could cut Russia off from critical revenues and imports.

But, given how indecisive Donald Trump has been to date when it comes to putting any real, rather than just rhetorical, pressure on Vladimir Putin, it is not clear whether the proposed senate bill will have the desired effect. The bill has support of over 80 co-sponsors from both the Republican and Democratic caucuses, meaning the senate could overturn a presidential veto. But any delay in imposing tougher sanctions will ultimately play into Putin’s hands.

By contrast, European support for Ukraine has, if anything, increased in recent months. For example, EU leaders adopted their 17th sanctions package against Russia on May 20. A week later, Germany and Ukraine announced a new military cooperation agreement worth €5 billion (£4.2 billion).

It still falls short of what Kyiv would require for a major shift in the balance of power on the battlefield. But for now it is enough to prevent Russia from becoming militarily so dominant that Moscow’s current settlement proposals would present the only option for at least some part of Ukraine to survive as an independent state.

The war remains in a stalemate. Neither Moscow nor Kyiv appear to have the capacity to escalate their military efforts to the degree necessary that would force the other side to make substantial concessions.

Both sides are playing for time in the hope that their fortunes may change. For Ukraine, this would mean more US military support coupled with more sanctions pressure on Russia, while Europe follows through on building up its own and Ukraine’s defence capabilities.

Russia’s calculations will be different. Putin will need to keep his few remaining allies – China, Iran and North Korea – on side while trying to make a deal with Trump. This may be impossible to achieve.

In this case, the Russian dictator’s best hope might be that Trump does not impose any serious sanctions on Russia or its trade partners, let alone lean into increasing military support for Ukraine.

For both sides, a lot still hinges on Washington. The unpredictability of the Trump White House, much like the self-imposed restraint under Biden, not only makes it unlikely that the war in Ukraine moves beyond the current stalemate, it has become a major, and perhaps the decisive road block that enables both Moscow and Kyiv to dream of victory in a war that has become unwinnable.

Stefan Wolff is a past recipient of grant funding from the Natural Environment Research Council of the UK, the United States Institute of Peace, the Economic and Social Research Council of the UK, the British Academy, the NATO Science for Peace Programme, the EU Framework Programmes 6 and 7 and Horizon 2020, as well as the EU’s Jean Monnet Programme. He is a Trustee and Honorary Treasurer of the Political Studies Association of the UK and a Senior Research Fellow at the Foreign Policy Centre in London.

Tetyana Malyarenko 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. Ukraine ‘spiderweb’ drone strike fails to register at peace talks as both sides dig in for the long haul – https://theconversation.com/ukraine-spiderweb-drone-strike-fails-to-register-at-peace-talks-as-both-sides-dig-in-for-the-long-haul-257927

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

June 4, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: The strategic defence review means three new approaches for the UK

Source: The Conversation – UK – By David J. Galbreath, Professor of War and Technology, University of Bath

The UK government’s new strategic defence review has laid out a blueprint aimed at making Britain “secure at home, strong abroad”.

The review represents a change in how the government thinks about the UK’s defence amid a rapidly changing geopolitical picture. The Labour government launched the review in July 2024 shortly after taking office, as a first step in reassessing UK armed forces in the face of Russia’s war against Ukraine. Prime Minister Keir Starmer acknowledged at the time: “We live in a more dangerous and volatile world.”

The government has accepted the review’s 62 recommendations. The most eye-catching parts are investment and development of new weapons: expanding the UK’s nuclear capabilities, drone swarms and long-range missile systems, new F-35 and updated Typhoon fighter jets and autonomous weapon systems.

Unlike past reviews, this one was conducted by experts outside of the government: former Nato secretary general Lord Robertson, former US National Security Council member and former White House adviser Fiona Hill, and retired British Army officer General Sir Richard Barrons.

In addition to practical measures of investment and expansion, the review lays out the more difficult changes that are needed to respond to security challenges, namely Russian threats to Europe. Here are three key aspects to understand.

1. War-fighting ready

The review says the UK must be “ready to fight and win” a full-scale war. Importantly, it suggests that the UK is no longer in an era of going to war when it chooses – but instead is facing the possibility of being forced into war.

Academic Mary Kaldor made the distinction between the two types of wars in her book New Wars and Old Wars, stating that old wars are “wars of necessity”, and new wars are “wars of the willing”. Published a few years after the end of the cold war, it’s easy to see why Kaldor made this distinction.

But the strategic review paints a different picture – that wars of necessity are once again the UK’s primary security concern. This means the UK must be on a different war footing than it has been since 1991.

As such, the government and the UK armed forces will have to change and become more innovative to meet this challenge. To do this, the review lays out plans for an “integrated force” model (rather than joint forces). It describes this approach as leading to “a more agile and lethal combat force”.

The review also calls for a “whole society approach”, including expanding the voluntary under-18 cadet forces, protecting national infrastructure and public outreach.

2. Pace of innovation

The review includes a host of recommendations for digital innovation and munitions production, and suggests that the defence industry could be an even bigger contributor to growing the economy. But, it notes, the UK’s defence industry is currently “stuck in cold war-era procurement cycles” and processes.

It points to a need to speed up planning and procurement and improve partnerships with the commercial sector.

Many digital innovations are being driven by industry in the US and China, such as the work on AI, nanotechnologies, robotics and automation. The challenge for the UK will be how to build good relationships with those countries on innovation which does not have a strong presence in UK digital industries.

Keir Starmer and Defence Secretary John Healey visit the warship HMS Glasgow.
Lauren Hurley/Number 10/Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND

3. Nato first

The reelection of Donald Trump in 2024 shocked many into thinking that the trans-Atlantic relationship was fast dissolving, though the change has been going on for some time . This review acknowledges that in setting out a “Nato first” approach:

There is an unequivocal need for the UK to redouble its efforts within the Alliance and to step up its contribution to Euro-Atlantic security more broadly – particularly as Russian aggression across Europe grows and as the United States of America adapts its regional priorities.

It states that Europe and the transatlantic area will be the UK’s primary reference for security. This marks a shift from the previous “Indo-pacific tilt” defence focus laid out in the 2021 integrated review.

The Nato-first approach seems to be at odds with the direction of Nato’s largest and most powerful member, the US. Since the end of the 1990s, US presidents have repeatedly sought to realign US grand strategy towards China and away from Europe. Had the Russian Federation not invaded Crimea in 2014, the Obama administration may have been able to carry out this pivot.

As it stands, with the second Trump presidency and its repeated calls for increasing defence spending from European states (in addition to what has often been seen as less than resolute intentions towards Russia), one might think Nato should be counting its days, rather than being placed at the centre of a new strategic review.

However, regardless of Trump’s actions, the UK will still matter for Washington for the foreseeable future, because it remains an ally and it does defence well. Nato still remains the way to do coalition-building because it has been around for so long and has built up the institutions to do high-level defence cooperation and coordination.

The review recognises the direction of travel for Washington, and how much it requires the UK and other European governments to invest in their own defence.

David J. Galbreath has received funding from the UKRI.

– ref. The strategic defence review means three new approaches for the UK – https://theconversation.com/the-strategic-defence-review-means-three-new-approaches-for-the-uk-258002

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

June 4, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Chinese Premier Meets with Japan Association for the Promotion of International Trade Delegation

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 3 (Xinhua) — Chinese Premier Li Qiang met with a delegation of the Japan Association for the Promotion of International Trade led by its chairman Yeohei Kono at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Tuesday.

Li Qiang said that China is willing to take active steps with all social circles in Japan to implement the political consensus that the two countries regard each other as cooperative partners rather than a threat, achieve even greater results in practical cooperation, and strengthen the foundation of political mutual trust and friendship between the peoples of the two countries.

He expressed the hope that Japan will work with China to overcome differences in a constructive manner, firmly adhere to the correct course of interstate relations, and promote the healthy and stable development of bilateral ties.

China and Japan have many unique advantages for deepening cooperation, Li Qiang pointed out, adding that both sides should leverage these advantages, achieve mutual benefit and win-win results at a higher level, inject further impetus into mutual development and make greater contributions to world economic growth.

The Chinese head of government assured that China will steadily expand high-level opening up and welcomes more foreign-invested enterprises, including those from Japan, to develop in the country. Li Qiang also expressed hope that the Japan Association for the Promotion of International Trade will continue to play an active role in deepening trade and economic cooperation and strengthening friendship and mutual trust between the two countries.

For his part, Y. Kono stated that in the current international situation, which is full of uncertainty, Japan and China should strengthen communication and coordination to jointly protect multilateralism and the free trade system.

The head of the Japanese delegation noted that JAPIT has long been committed to Japan-China friendship, and hopes to continue to expand exchanges with China, strengthen mutual understanding, make positive contributions to deepening the friendly feelings between the peoples of the two countries, and promoting mutually beneficial cooperation. –0–

MIL OSI Russia News –

June 4, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Chinese Cultural Center in Ulaanbaatar Celebrates 15th Anniversary of Its Establishment

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

ULAN BATOR, June 3 (Xinhua) — The China Cultural Center in Ulan Bator celebrated its 15th anniversary on Tuesday by holding an opening ceremony of an exhibition of handicrafts from northwest China’s Qinghai Province.

The ceremony was attended by the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Mongolia Shen Minjuan, Counselor of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Mongolia, Director of the Chinese Cultural Center in Ulaanbaatar Li Zhi, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture and Tourism of Qinghai Province Chang Hong’an and Director of the Department of Culture and Arts of the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of Mongolia Boldyn Sergelen.

Delivering a speech at the event, Shen Minjuan stressed that over the 15 years since its establishment, the China Cultural Center in Ulaanbaatar has consistently demonstrated China’s development achievements and colorful culture to the Mongolian people, playing an important role in promoting mutual understanding and friendship between the peoples of the two countries.

B. Sergelen, for her part, noted that since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Mongolia and China, the two countries have strengthened mutual understanding and respect between their peoples through the mutual integration of cultures, laying a solid foundation for promoting harmonious coexistence and deepening interstate friendship.

Li Zhi said that the structure of the China Cultural Center in Ulaanbaatar plans to establish an educational department that will promote Chinese-Mongolian educational cooperation. The center will also make efforts to integrate the brands “Hello, China!” and “Go Mongolia” and strive to achieve even greater results in implementing the Global Civilization Initiative, the diplomat added.

Chang Hong’an noted that this is the second time since 2016 that Qinghai Province has held an exchange and cooperation event with the China Cultural Center in Ulaanbaatar. Such events, he said, allow Mongolian friends to experience the unique charm of China’s northwest.

The Chinese Cultural Center in Ulaanbaatar, which has been in operation since 2010, has held more than 800 events over the past 15 years, including exhibitions, lectures, film screenings and educational seminars. –0–

MIL OSI Russia News –

June 4, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: UN Green Climate Fund to Allocate $280 Million to Kazakhstan for Eco-Projects

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

ALMATY, June 3 (Xinhua) — The United Nations Green Climate Fund (GCF) will finance environmental projects in Kazakhstan worth $280 million, the Kazinform news agency reported on Tuesday.

The Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Kazakhstan, Yerlan Nysanbayev, announced the new financing program during parliamentary hearings on the implementation of the best available technologies.

According to the minister, the funds received will be used to develop renewable energy sources, stimulate the introduction of low-carbon technologies in the industrial sector, and support the development of electric vehicles.

E. Nysanbaev said that in 2024, in order to promote green projects for the UN GCF, a country program was prepared, including 7 projects aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the energy sector, increasing the sustainability of centralized water supply systems in rural areas, modernizing livestock farms, and supporting private sector initiatives in the field of green financing.

The total budget for these projects is more than $1 billion, of which the fund is expected to provide $630 million in funding. –0–

MIL OSI Russia News –

June 4, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Bahrain, Colombia, DRC, Latvia and Liberia elected as non-permanent members of UN Security Council

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

UNITED NATIONS, June 3 (Xinhua) — Bahrain, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Latvia and Liberia were on Tuesday elected as non-permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (SC) for a two-year term from January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2027.

Latvia will become a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the first time.

The above-mentioned countries will replace the current non-permanent members of this body, which include Algeria, Guyana, the Republic of Korea, Sierra Leone and Slovenia.

The UN Security Council is considered the most influential body of the world organization. Its task is to maintain international peace and security, it can make legally binding decisions, and also has the right to impose sanctions and authorize the use of force. –0–

MIL OSI Russia News –

June 4, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: South Texas stash house discovered by ICE Rio Grande Valley leads to the arrest of 16 illegal aliens

Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

HARLINGEN, Texas — A suspected stash house in Mercedes, Texas, was uncovered June 2 by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement resulting in the apprehension of 16 illegal aliens.

On June 1, ICE received a tip from an anonymous caller reporting that multiple illegal aliens were being harbored at a residence in Mercedes. ICE contacted the Mercedes Police Department, which conducted a welfare check of the property. Authorities spoke to the owner of the property who admitted to harboring approximately 16 individuals inside the home.

“This operation underscores the critical role that the public and local law enforcement partners play in identifying and disrupting human smuggling operations,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations Rio Grande Valley Deputy Special Agent in Charge Mark Lippa. “Transnational criminal networks continue to endanger lives for profit. ICE will relentlessly pursue those who exploit vulnerable individuals for financial gain.”

The 16 individuals encountered were identified as nationals of Nepal, Albania, Mexico, Honduras and Guatemala. Sixteen were taken into custody for immigration violations and another individual, a Mexican national, is being questioned for his role in human smuggling.

The investigation remains ongoing. The enforcement action was supported by ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations, U.S. Border Patrol and U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Field Operations.

Members of the public are encouraged to report suspicious activity or tips related to human smuggling by calling 866-347-2423 or by submitting an anonymous tip via the ICE online tip form.

Follow HSI San Antonio on X at @HSI_SanAntonio to learn more about its enforcement efforts and investigations.

MIL OSI USA News –

June 4, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Graham Statement on Visit to Germany

US Senate News:

Source: United States Senator for South Carolina Lindsey Graham

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today released this statement following his visit to Berlin, Germany.

“I had a very productive visit to Berlin, Germany. I met with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul and Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The purpose of the visit was to inform our allies in the European Union about the status of the bipartisan Russia sanctions bill that has 82 cosponsors in the U.S. Senate. The bill is designed to incentivize China to push Russia to the peace table — the secondary sanctions and tariffs will come down heavy on those who are propping up Putin’s war machine by buying cheap Russian oil and other products.

“I was incredibly pleased with the meeting with President von der Leyen where she indicated a new set of sanctions was being drafted by the European Commission, focusing on those countries who prop up Putin’s war machine, as well as the Russian energy sector. It was her belief that Russia is playing games when it comes to peace and the only way the change the game for Russia is to increase the consequences of this war for Putin. I agree. She supported lowering the Russian oil price cap, which will hit Putin in the wallet and she believed there was strong support in Europe for that proposal.

“Additionally, I met with Foreign Minister Wadephul and Chancellor Merz, and expressed my appreciation for their commitment to increase defense spending which will make NATO more lethal and create more deterrence at a time of great upheaval in Europe. Germany has a very capable military, and this additional investment will only continue that trend.

“The President of the European Commission and the German government expressed appreciation to President Trump for earnestly and sincerely trying to end this war. It is obvious to all that President Trump has gone the extra mile trying to bring the parties together but it’s also clear that Putin is resisting efforts for peace and is in fact preparing for more war.

“During my meetings with German officials, I was informed that they see a build-up in weapons by Russia, a point that was also echoed in Ukraine and France. Putin is being disingenuous as President Trump works toward peace. Putin is building up his forces and weaponry to engage in more war, with a summer or early fall offensive in the making.

“Time is of the essence to act decisively. The combination of Europe lowering the Russian oil price cap along with enacting additional sanctions focusing on those who would prop up Putin will greatly enhance the efforts of the United States.

“This is the last best chance to avoid an expansion of this war and deter aggression throughout the globe. If we can end the Russia-Ukraine war honorably and in a way that prevents future wars, then the world will become more stable.

“However, if Putin is perceived to be rewarded for his aggression, and Ukraine is abandoned by its allies, it will encourage other bad actors throughout the globe and the consequences will be dire and long-lasting.

“I appreciate Germany’s leadership regarding brokering peace and their steadfast resolve when it comes to supporting Ukraine. Germany is a valuable ally, and the upcoming meeting between Chancellor Merz and President Trump will be one of the most important meetings between any U.S. president and any German chancellor in our shared history. Godspeed to both.

“Finally, recent media reports indicating the hour-long meeting in Istanbul between Russia and Ukraine resulted in the same old unrealistic, maximalist demands by Russia, telling us all we need to know about Putin’s desire to end the war. This was also confirmed to me by those participating in the talks.

“It is time to act.”

MIL OSI USA News –

June 4, 2025
MIL-OSI: Sidetrade joins the Euronext Tech Leaders 2025
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Sidetrade, the global leader in AI-powered Order-to-Cash applications, announces its inclusion in the 2025 Euronext Tech Leaders Index, the pan-European initiative spotlighting the continent’s most disruptive and high-growth tech companies.

Launched by Euronext in 2022, the Tech Leaders brings together the 110 most dynamic listed European tech companies, providing them with enhanced visibility, targeted investor access, and exclusive participation in pan-European innovation forums. Sidetrade’s inclusion reflects its alignment with the criteria of the index:
- A track record of building technologies with transformative impact,
- A market cap above €300 million,
- A CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) above 20% over the last three years.
The Euronext Tech Leaders Index will be updated after markets close on Friday, 20 June 2025, with effect from Monday, 23 June 2025.

Delphine d’Amarzit, Euronext Paris Chairwoman and CEO, states: “Sidetrade’s 20th anniversary of being listed coincides with the highest possible recognition of its stock market journey: its inclusion in the Euronext Tech Leaders, which brings together technology companies listed on Euronext that stand out for their growth and innovation. I am pleased that the stock exchange has fully played its role in supporting the growth of a company like Sidetrade, which now ranks among the most promising tech companies in Europe, thanks to the long-term vision of its founder, Olivier Novasque, and the work of its teams.”

Sidetrade’s trajectory reflects a conviction that the future of enterprise finance lies in autonomous systems capable of acting intelligently in dynamic environments. Innovation is in the DNA of Sidetrade. From the outset, the company has approached AI not as a layer of enhancement, but as the engine driving systemic change.

Central to this transformation is Aimie, Sidetrade’s agentic AI. Built to go beyond predictive analytics, Aimie is an autonomous agent that makes decisions, initiates actions, and adapts in real-time to optimize cash flow processes. From qualifying invoices to orchestrating engagement strategies and accelerating cash collections, Aimie scales behavior-based decision-making across a global network of over 40 million buyers. This intelligence is grounded in Sidetrade’s Data Lake, the world’s richest behavioral dataset for B2B transactions, encompassing more than $7.2 trillion in payment data. It is this combination of machine learning, behavioral modeling, and collaborative intelligence that positions Aimie as an operator that learns, acts, and evolves in the service of enterprise performance.

The inclusion in the Euronext Tech Leaders segment is also a tribute to Olivier Novasque’s vision as founder and CEO of Sidetrade. Marking 25 years of innovation at Sidetrade, Novasque has championed a bold roadmap to move finance beyond automation and into real-time intelligent orchestration, transforming the CFO office from a reactive unit to a proactive command center.

“We are honored to join the Euronext Tech Leaders,” said Olivier Novasque, CEO and founder at Sidetrade. “At Sidetrade, we’ve never followed the market. We’ve questioned its limits and investigated how technology should overcome them. In a financial world that is growing increasingly complex by the day, we believe the real breakthrough lies in augmenting human capacity. Our technology is designed to sharpen judgment, accelerate action, and foster resilience. When machines enhance talents, organizations unlock their full potential.”

Investor & Media relations @Sidetrade

Christelle Dhrif +33 6 10 46 72 00 cdhrif@sidetrade.com

About Sidetrade (www.sidetrade.com)
Sidetrade (Euronext Growth: ALBFR.PA) provides a SaaS platform designed to revolutionize how cash flow is secured and accelerated. Leveraging its new-generation agentic AI, nicknamed Aimie, Sidetrade analyzes $7.2 trillion worth of B2B payment transactions daily in its Cloud, thereby anticipating customer payment behavior and the attrition risk of 40 million buyers worldwide. Sidetrade has a global reach, with 400+ talented employees based in Europe, the United States, and Canada, serving global businesses in more than 85 countries. Among them: AGFA, BMW Financial Services, Bunzl, DXC, Engie, Inmarsat, KPMG, Lafarge, Manpower, Morningstar, Page, Randstad, Safran, Saint-Gobain, Securitas, Siemens, UGI, Veolia.
For further information, visit us at www.sidetrade.com and follow @Sidetrade on LinkedIn.

Contact Euronext
Flavio Bornancin-Tomasella fbornancin-tomasella@euronext.com

About Euronext
Euronext is the leading European capital market infrastructure, covering the entire capital markets value chain, from listing, trading, clearing, settlement and custody, to solutions for issuers and investors. Euronext runs MTS, one of Europe’s leading electronic fixed income trading markets, and Nord Pool, the European power market. Euronext also provides clearing and settlement services through Euronext Clearing and its Euronext Securities CSDs in Denmark, Italy, Norway, and Portugal. As of March 2025, Euronext’s regulated exchanges in Belgium, France, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, and Portugal host nearly 1,800 listed issuers with around €6.3 trillion in market capitalisation, a strong blue-chip franchise and the largest global centre for debt and fund listings. With a diverse domestic and international client base, Euronext handles 25% of European lit equity trading. Its products include equities, FX, ETFs, bonds, derivatives, commodities and indices.
For the latest news, follow us on X (x.com/euronext) and LinkedIn (linkedin.com/company/euronext).

In the event of any discrepancy between the French and English versions of this press release, only the English version is to be taken into account.

Attachment
- Sidetrade joins the Euronext Tech Leaders 2025
The MIL Network –
June 4, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Why the federal government must act cautiously on fast-tracking project approvals

Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Mark Winfield, Professor, Environmental and Urban Change, York University, Canada

The acceleration of federal approvals for “nation-building projects” was the major theme of this week’s first ministers meeting in Saskatoon. A rush to streamline approvals for resource development and infrastructure projects has been central to the Canadian response to United States President Donald Trump’s profound disruptions to longstanding trade and security relationships.

At the provincial level, Ontario’s Bill 5 and British Columbia’s Bill 15 also propose to move aggressively to fast-track mining and infrastructure projects.

These fast-tracking efforts are fuelling debate, particularly in terms of the implications for Indigenous rights and the implicit trade-offs pertaining to the environment and climate change.

Read more:
Mark Carney wants to make Canada an energy superpower — but what will be sacrificed for that goal?

Regulations often a minor factor

Project review and approval processes in Canada have already been aggressively streamlined over the past decade. The 2019 Federal Impact Assessment Act, also known as Bill C-69, was largely modelled on Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s 2012 Bill C-38 rewrite of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act.

It’s important to determine why projects are delayed in the first place. Most move through assessment processes with little delay or controversy. Problems emerge when proposals are poorly designed, face serious technical or economic doubts, raise major environmental, climate or safety concerns, and spark significant social, political or legal conflicts over their costs, benefits and impacts.

A recent study on mining approvals in B.C., for example, found that far more mines were approved than ever actually developed. The main cause of delays was changing economic conditions. Regulation was found to be only a minor factor.

While there are always potential ways to improve review processes, the results of previous streamlining efforts suggest the need for caution about the potential for these initiatives to backfire.

Impact assessment and similar processes emerged as more than a way to accurately assess projects and their risks and benefits. They also provided a framework for managing intense social and political conflicts those projects may generate.

If these processes are streamlined too much, the conclusions of these assessments may seem illegitimate. There could be a trade-off between clear, certain outcomes and ensuring the approval process is fair and trustworthy.

Exacerbating conflict

The Harper government’s Bill C-38 reforms were intended to facilitate the construction of more oil pipelines. In the end, they only escalated the spiralling political and legal conflicts around projects like the Northern Gateway and Energy East pipelines.

The accompanying Alberta-to-B.C. Trans Mountain Expansion pipeline was only approved after a tortuous process. That culminated in the federal purchase and completion of the pipeline at a cost to taxpayers of $34 billion.

Read more:
Why the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion is a bad deal for Canadians — and the world

A similar process unfolded under Ontario’s 2009 Green Energy Act. The legislation’s aggressive bypassing of local approvals reinforced a backlash against renewable energy projects in rural communities. The end result was a nearly decade-long de facto moratorium on renewable energy development. The situation has only recently eased.

The political consequences of these efforts at streamlining are noteworthy. The Bill C-38 episode was seen as playing a role in the Harper government’s defeat in 2015. Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty’s loss of his majority government in 2011 was also partly attributed to the rural response to the Green Energy Act.

Checks and balances

Aside from the political aspects, it’s important to recognize the value of thorough reviews for projects that are likely to be high-risk, high-cost and high-impact.

When past reviews have been rushed or cut short, they’ve undermine confidence in the decisions made — especially when even faster processes could increase the risks and costs passed on to taxpayers.

The Muskrat Falls and Site C hydro projects in Labrador and B.C., respectively, stand as testament to those risks. Both projects ran years behind schedule and billions over budget and continue to face major technical, environmental and economic challenges. Review processes can be important checks on poorly conceived, politically motivated projects.

It’s also important to think carefully about the long-term economic rationales being presented for projects. Canada is a relatively high-cost fossil fuel producer, making it unlikely to be among the last standing in a decarbonizing world.

That should raise serious questions about major investments in new fossil fuel export infrastructure. The irony of developing such projects as major wildfires, widely attributed to the impacts of climate change, burn in northern Saskatchewan and Manitoba cannot be overlooked.

Global markets for commodities like critical minerals are also uncertain and in deep flux.

The high costs of nuclear projects, as demonstrated by recent experiences in the U.S., the United Kingdom and Europe, also make them unlikely candidates to form the foundation for clean energy superpower status.

Read more:
‘Elbows up’ in Canada means sustainable resource development

‘Special economic zones’

Ontario’s Bill 5 represents the most aggressive streamlining proposal seen so far. The legislation would exempt designated “special economic zones” and even trusted proponents — such as mining companies assigned to lead projects — from all applicable provincial and municipal laws and regulations.

The province’s approach has raised fundamental questions about the rule of law, democratic governance and Indigenous rights, and jurisdictional boundaries.

Some commentators have pointed out that these zones are common in authoritarian regimes like China’s, or in jurisdictions in deep economic distress.

Others have accused Ontario of racing to the bottom in terms of health, safety and environmental standards, respect for the rule of law, Indigenous rights and basic democratic values.

All of this suggests a need for caution in further streamlining review and approval processes for major projects. These are undertakings with risks and costs that could stretch far into the future and must be properly understood before they proceed.

Mark Winfield receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada

– ref. Why the federal government must act cautiously on fast-tracking project approvals – https://theconversation.com/why-the-federal-government-must-act-cautiously-on-fast-tracking-project-approvals-257095

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

June 4, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: How Ukraine’s drone attacks on Russian airfields could derail Russia’s war efforts

Source: The Conversation – Canada – By James Horncastle, Assistant Professor and Edward and Emily McWhinney Professor in International Relations, Simon Fraser University

The drone attacks by Ukrainian Operation Spider’s Web forces on Russian airfields have called into question Russia’s supposed military strength.

Russian authorities have acknowledged damage from the June 1 attacks — an unusual admission that suggests the strikes were probably effective, given Russia’s usual pattern of downplaying or denying the success of Ukrainian operations.

The operation’s most significant target was the Belaya air base, north of Mongolia. Belaya, like the other bases targeted, is a critical component in the Russian Air Force’s strategic strike capabilities because it houses planes capable of long-range nuclear and conventional strikes.

It’s also in Irkutsk, approximately 4,500 kilometres from the front lines in Ukraine.

Read more:
Ukraine drone strikes on Russian airbase reveal any country is vulnerable to the same kind of attack

Ukraine’s ability to successfully strike Belaya — an attempted strike at the even more distant Ukrainka air base failed — probably won’t have much of a military impact on the war. But along with successful attacks on other Russian airfields and the strike at the Kerch Bridge in Crimea, Operation Spider Web’s successes could play a strategic role in the conflict.

These attacks could shift what has become increasingly negative media coverage and public perception about Ukraine’s chances in the war over the last year. In a war of attrition, which the conflict in Ukraine has become, establishing a belief in victory is a pre-condition for success.

Explosions hit the Kerch Bridge in Russia on June 3, 2025. (The Independent)

Increased pessimism

Policymakers and pundits, instead of recognizing their expectations of a Ukrainian victory in 2023 were unrealistic, have often declared that the war is unwinnable for Ukraine.

This perspective was even more prevalent following United States President Donald Trump’s resumption of power in January 2025. In the Oval Office spat Trump had with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in late February, he declared Ukraine did not “have the cards” to defeat Russia.

This turned out to be false. Ukraine’s army may possess significantly less military hardware and fewer soldiers than Russia’s, but war is often a continuation of politics. Politically, Russia faces several issues that could derail its war efforts.

Russian vulnerabilities

Russia’s military capabilities are important to Russian nationalists, who make up Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s core constituency. Russian military forces have advanced along nearly all fronts in Ukraine over the last year.

These advances, however, have largely been insignificant. Furthermore, they have emphasized Russia’s military weakness, which is an ongoing affront to Russian nationalists.

Not only have Russian military advances over the last year not changed the war in a strictly military sense, but the pace of advance has been incredibly slow. Over the last year, Russian forces have captured 5,107 square kilometres of Ukrainian territory. This territory represents less than one per cent of Ukraine’s pre-war territory.

In exchange for what amounts to negligible gains, Russian armed forces have suffered significant casualties.

Both Russia and Ukraine carefully guard the number of casualties their forces have suffered in the war. The British Ministry of Defence, however, estimates that Russia will have suffered more than a million casualties in the war by the end of this month. The Russian casualty rate is also accelerating, with an estimated 160,000 casualties in the first four months of 2025.

Russia attempts to compensate for this battlefield devastation in two ways.

First, it’s isolated Ukraine by manipulating Trump’s desire for political wins and business deals. Russia, in appearing to seek an end to the conflict while offering no concessions, has stoked tensions between Zelenskyy and Trump, where there was little love lost between the two to begin with.

Second, Russia has increased its attacks on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure. Large-scale bombing does little to help Russia on the battlefield. The attacks, in fact, put its forces at a disadvantage by redirecting munitions from military targets.

Attacks on civilians

The attacks on civilian infrastructure, however, are more about instilling fear in the Ukrainian population and demonstrating American impotence to a Russian audience.

Russia’s attacks on Ukrainian cities also highlight Russia’s trump card: nuclear weapons. Russia, and specifically former Russian president Dimitry Medvedev, has repeatedly threatened nuclear war in an attempt to dissuade Ukraine’s supporters.

By bombing Ukrainian cities, albeit with conventional munitions, Russia seeks to demonstrate its ability to deploy even more destructive weapons should the situation call for it.

These Russian military missteps, combined with a Russian economy that is structurally unsound, means that Russia’s war effort is increasingly fragile.

Weakening Asian alliances

Ukraine’s attack on Belaya also signals Russian weakness to its nominal allies in Asia.

Since the start of hostilities, Russia has relied on the tacit consent of China. This support has taken the form of China purchasing Russian crude oil to maintain the Russian economy and Chinese citizens unofficially fighting for Russia.

Belaya has been a vital element of Russia’s deterrence strategy in Asia, which has come to rely more heavily on the Russian strategic nuclear threat. The inability of Russia to protect one of its key strategic assets from a Ukrainian drone attack, combined with the weakness of Russian conventional forces in Ukraine, erodes its ability to position itself as a key ally to China.

In fact, some Russian authorities continue to view China as a major threat.

At the same time, Operation Spider’s Web gives hope to the Ukrainian people. It may also cause Trump — who prefers to back winners — to ponder whether it’s Putin, not Zelenskyy, who lacks the cards to win the war.

James Horncastle 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. How Ukraine’s drone attacks on Russian airfields could derail Russia’s war efforts – https://theconversation.com/how-ukraines-drone-attacks-on-russian-airfields-could-derail-russias-war-efforts-258049

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

June 4, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Commander dismissed from Met for second time

Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

A Metropolitan Police Commander has been dismissed from the service for a second time for refusing to take a drugs test.

A misconduct hearing, led by an independent legally qualified chair, found the allegation proven against Commander Julian Bennett at the level of gross misconduct.

Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist said: “I am enormously concerned that almost five years since this incident happened we have only now been able to dismiss Commander Bennett.

“This should have been a simple matter. Commander Bennett has never disputed he refused a lawful order to take a drugs test. As a senior officer who had chaired misconduct hearings, Commander Bennett was highly experienced and knew full well what was required of him, yet he made a choice not to co-operate.

“He has been suspended on full pay for an extraordinary length of time. I am sure Londoners will be as outraged as we are at the utter waste of public funds spent paying a senior officer to sit at home suspended and not work.

“In the last few years the Met has been making greater use of accelerated misconduct hearings to fast-track cases where the evidence is irrefutable. This allows us to dismiss officers far more quickly. And while the Met is not responsible for all the delays in Commander Bennett’s matter, we are also working hard to expedite cases and cut bureaucracy.

“I am confident a situation like Commander Bennett’s prolonged case would not happen again.”

Commander Bennett was initially dismissed in October 2023 by a misconduct panel independent of the Met.

The hearing heard that on 21 July 2020 he refused to provide a urine sample for a drugs test, having been informed there was reasonable cause to suspect he had taken drugs. On 24 July 2020 he was suspended from duty.

The panel found that Commander Bennett had breached the standards of professional behaviour to the level of gross misconduct.

Two further allegations were found not proven – that between February 2019 and 21 July 2020, while off duty, Commander Bennett smoked cannabis, and that he gave an untrue explanation for why he refused to take the drugs test.

Commander Bennett then applied to the Police Appeals Tribunal, which is an independent process run by the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime.

In July 2024 the PAT quashed the dismissal decision and ordered a new hearing, on the technical basis that the panel had ruled on a matter that was not part of the allegations they were asked to consider.

The Met considered a legal challenge by way of a Judicial Review but, after careful consideration and legal advice, decided Commander Bennett should face a fresh misconduct hearing.

A date for a new hearing was set as quickly as possible in liaison with all parties.

Commander Bennett has remained suspended throughout this process.

He will be added to the Barred List held by the College of Policing. Those appearing on the list cannot be employed by police and a number of police-related bodies.

MIL Security OSI –

June 4, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New JCVI Chair appointed
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

News story

New JCVI Chair appointed

Professor Wei Shen Lim KBE will become the new Chair of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation from October.
Professor Sir Andrew Pollard will step down as JCVI Chair on 30th September 2025 after 12 years of leadership

During his tenure, Sir Andrew has been instrumental in advising governments on vaccination matters and chaired numerous committees

Professor Wei Shen Lim, KBE, who is currently Deputy Chair of the JCVI and Chair of the COVID-19 sub-committee, will become the new JCVI chair from 1st October 2025

Professor Sir Andrew Pollard will step down as Chair of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) on 30th September 2025, after sitting on the committee for over a decade.

The JCVI is an independent departmental expert committee which has worked for over six decades to ensure that immunisation programmes in the UK are both world-leading and a cost-effective use of public money — optimising the protection of children and adults from serious infections.

Sir Andrew was appointed Chair of the JCVI in 2013, having previously served as a member of the JCVI’s meningococcal sub-committee. During his tenure, he has been instrumental in advising governments on vaccination matters, serving not only as Chair of the main JCVI committee, but also as Chair of the human papillomavirus (HPV), influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) sub-committees. Sir Andrew remains a valued expert on vaccination and immunisation as Director of the Oxford Vaccine Group, Ashall Professor of Infection and Immunity at the University of Oxford, and a Paediatric Infectious Disease Consultant at Oxford’s Children’s Hospital.

Following an open and competitive recruitment process, Professor Wei Shen Lim, KBE will be appointed as the new Chair of the JCVI from 1st October 2025. Professor Lim, KBE is a Consultant in Respiratory Medicine at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and an Honorary Professor of Respiratory Medicine for The University of Nottingham. He currently serves as the Deputy Chair of the JCVI and Chair of the COVID-19 sub-committee.

Dr Thomas Waite, Deputy Chief Medical Officer for England said:

I am deeply grateful for Sir Andrew’s leadership of the JCVI over the last 12 years. Over this time the JCVI has given advice to support the introduction of vaccination programmes to protect the public against a range of infections including meningococcal disease and RSV. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Sir Andrew for his dedication and expertise.

I am delighted to welcome Professor Lim, KBE as the new Chair of the committee. Professor Lim served as Chair during the COVID-19 pandemic and ensured government received timely advice on the roll out of the COVID-19 vaccination programme to protect the health of the UK public. I very much look forward to continuing to work with him as the new Chair.

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Published 3 June 2025
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
June 4, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: Xbox Games Showcase 2025 kicks off June 8
Source: Microsoft

Headline: Xbox Games Showcase 2025 kicks off June 8

This Sunday, June 8, it’s time for another huge double feature. The Xbox Games Showcase 2025 kicks off at 10am Pacific / 1pm Eastern / 6pm UK, immediately followed by The Outer Worlds 2 Direct – a deep-dive into the upcoming sequel to Obsidian Entertainment’s award-winning sci-fi RPG.

These shows are always an exciting moment for all of us at Xbox, offering a look at brand-new games and updates from across our first-party studios and our incredible partners across the globe. We hope you can join us to watch live. With that in mind, here are all the details you need to know ahead of Sunday:

What time does Xbox Games Showcase begin? The Showcase will take place on Sunday, June 8, beginning at:
- PDT: June 8, 10am
- EDT: June 8, 1pm
- BST: June 8, 6pm
- CEST: June 8, 7pm
- JST: June 9, 2am
- AEST: June 9, 3am
What time does The Outer Worlds 2 Direct begin? Immediately following the Xbox Games Showcase.

How do I watch the Xbox Games Showcase and The Outer Worlds 2 Direct? The Xbox Games Showcase and The Outer Worlds 2 Direct will be streamed live on official channels, including the below:

We’re giving you even more ways to watch this year’s Xbox Games Showcase by streaming the entire event live on TikTok starting at 1 PM EDT / 10 AM PDT / 6PM BST on June 8. Ethan Rothamel returns to lead the livestream with his signature mix of sharp Xbox insight and fan-favorite commentary. This year, he’s joined by TikTok creator Senpapi Gabe, whose passion for video games and community driven commentary has made him a standout voice on the platform. The duo will guide viewers through every reveal, surprise and moment as it happens – all in real time.

The show will also be streamed simultaneously on regional Xbox and Bethesda channels around the globe, as well as on Steam. It will also air on China’s Bilibili platform.

Please note the /Xbox, /Bethesda and /ObsidianEnt streams on YouTube will be in 4K at 60fps, while all other channels will be 1080p / 60fps.

Is the event available in languages other than English? The Xbox Games Showcase and The Outer Worlds 2 Direct will be streamed live on YouTube.com/Xbox with English captions, and our other live languages will be available via regional Xbox channels.

The languages we will support live on our Xbox channels are: English, Arabic, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Brazilian Portuguese, Castilian Spanish, Mexican Spanish and Turkish. Following the broadcast, we will add additional languages including Afrikaans, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Filipino, Finnish, Canadian French, Greek, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Indonesian, Malay, Norwegian, Persian (Farsi), Romanian, Russian, Slovak, Swahili, Swedish, Thai, Ukrainian and Vietnamese. The easiest way to find your preferred language is to go to your region’s Xbox page, or by viewing on the official Xbox YouTube channel at YouTube.com/Xbox and clicking the gear icon in the lower right corner.

Is Xbox Games Showcase and The Outer Worlds 2 Direct going to be Accessible to those with low/no hearing or low/no vision? There will be a version of the show with Audio Descriptions (AD) in English on the Xbox YouTube channel, American Sign Language (ASL) on Xbox’s YouTube channel and the /XboxASL Twitch channel, and British Sign Language (BSL) on Xbox On’s YouTube channel at YouTube.com/XboxOn.

I’m not going to be able to watch, where can I find out what was announced? As the broadcast runs, we’ll be publishing detailed blog posts for key announcements right here on Xbox Wire (with localized versions in Brazilian Portuguese, French, German, LATAM Spanish, and Japanese to follow).

A full show recap will be published on Xbox Wire immediately following the end of Xbox Games Showcase, and a separate recap for The Outer Worlds 2 Direct will go live after the double feature ends. Plus, stay tuned to Xbox Wire in the days following the show for more exclusive articles about games from the show.

Will Xbox be releasing post-show content? Starting from Sunday, June 8, the Official Xbox Podcast will be airing a series of special episodes offering updates and deeper dives into announcements featured during Xbox Games Showcase. These shows will be published on Xbox’s YouTube channel and podcast services. Stay tuned for more exciting post-show content on the Xbox YouTube channel and our social media platforms, where we’ll dive-deep into some of your favorite games.

Notes for co-streamers and creators: We at Xbox greatly appreciate any co-stream efforts and aim to ensure you have a smooth experience if you choose to do so. However, due to forces beyond our control, we cannot guarantee that glitches or disruptions by bots and other automated software won’t interfere with your co-stream.

For those planning to create full post-show breakdowns of the Xbox Games Showcase and/or The Outer Worlds 2 Direct in the form of video-on-demand coverage, we recommend you do not use any audio containing copyrighted music to avoid any action by automated bots, and to also consult the terms of service for your service provider.

We can’t wait for you to join us for the Xbox Games Showcase, followed by The Outer Worlds 2 Direct on Sunday, June 8.
MIL OSI Economics –
June 4, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with the US Ambassador to China and called on him to promote the healthy, stable and sustainable development of bilateral relations

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

Xinhua | 03. 06. 2025

Key words: China-USA

Source: Xinhua

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with the US Ambassador to China and called on him to promote the healthy, stable and sustainable development of bilateral relations. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with the US Ambassador to China and called on him to promote the healthy, stable and sustainable development of bilateral relations.

MIL OSI Russia News –

June 4, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Lee Jae-myung will likely be elected as new president of the Republic of Korea – media /more details/

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

SEOUL, June 3 (Xinhua) — Lee Jae-myung, the candidate for the presidency of the liberal Democratic Toburo Party, which holds the majority of seats in the country’s parliament, is likely to be elected as the new head of state, local television channel MBC reported on Tuesday.

According to the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Korea as of 22:53 local time /13:53 GMT/, based on the counting of 22.7 percent of ballots, Lee Jae-myung received 47.7 percent of the votes, while his main rival from the conservative Civil Power Party, Kim Moon-soo, received 44.1 percent.

MBC estimated the probability of victory for the Democratic Party candidate Toburo at 97.6 percent.

An exit poll jointly conducted by three broadcasters (KBS, MBC and SBS) showed Lee Jae-myung leading with 51.7 percent of the vote, ahead of Kim Moon-soo, who received 39.3 percent.

Early voter turnout was 79.4 percent, the highest in 28 years after a record 80.7 percent in 1997.

Voter turnout, including those who voted early on May 29 and 30, was up from the 77.1 percent recorded in the previous presidential election in 2022. –0–

MIL OSI Russia News –

June 4, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: AI and Practice: What Should Be the System for Training the Next Generation of IT Specialists

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

© Higher School of Economics

What IT specialists the Russian economy needs, how to train them correctly and why it is important to include industry professionals in the educational process were discussed by officials, companies and universities at the session “Personnel for the Data Economy. Training of the New Generation of IT Specialists”, which was held as part of the tenth annual CIPR conference in Nizhny Novgorod. HSE Vice-Rector Elena Odoevskaya took part in the session.

Thanks to the joint efforts of business, government and educational institutions, Russia has begun to graduate more IT specialists, stated Deputy Director of the Department of the Ministry of Digital Development Anastasia Kazantseva. In recent years, a lot of work has been done to increase the budget admission to the relevant specialties. The Digital Departments project was also launched and implemented, which was also aimed at “increasing the funnel of IT specialists.”

Today, the question of “how exactly do we train personnel and what competencies should they have at the end” is relevant. Companies are not always satisfied with the knowledge and skills of graduates upon leaving the university. Therefore, within the framework of the national project “New Data Economy and Digital Transformation of the State”, new projects “Top-AI” and “Top-IT” were launched, aimed at training top specialists in the field of artificial intelligence and information technology. It is envisaged to train university teachers and attract industry professionals for teaching, as well as generally increase the practical orientation of the programs, noted Anastasia Kazantseva. For universities participating in the projects, an important condition was that the educational institution must “definitely bring an industrial partner” that will invest resources and funds in the training of IT specialists, she added.

The operator of these projects is the Center for Expertise of Educational Programs of the Analytical Center under the Government of the Russian Federation. The head of the center, Sergey Astakhov, said that competitive selections have already been held and the winning universities have been determined: Innopolis, ITMO, MIPT, HSE, and Southern Federal University. They will train research scientists and developers of fundamentally new models of artificial intelligence.

Director of Artificial Intelligence Development at Yandex Alexander Kraynov said that the company has to interview 25 candidates to hire one. He believes that universities should “produce” ready-made specialists who can start working right away. According to him, there are literally several universities that “generate such people.” In his opinion, “we need to learn to measure the quality of the guys at the entrance, because if the quality is low at the entrance, then we need to go down and prepare schoolchildren.” Also, according to him, it is necessary to increase the number of good teachers, and due to the high rate of change, training programs need to be changed every six months.

Vladimir Averbakh, Senior Managing Director — Director of the Directorate for the Implementation and Popularization of AI Initiatives at Sber, noted that a very successful tandem of business and the state has developed in Russia in the training of IT personnel. At the same time, if “we believe that artificial intelligence significantly changes any sphere of activity, and in particular the industry, then when training IT specialists, we must introduce, maybe, a 12-level, maybe a 120-level, I don’t know, competency model using AI,” he noted. True, it is not yet very clear how to do this, since the world is changing very quickly. But in any case, he believes, AI must be introduced into the entire education system, and not just for training IT specialists.

In turn, the director of the Institute for Economic Research “Yakov and Partners” Elena Kuznetsova noted that, despite complaints, employers “are scooping up all graduates quite briskly.” “And the median salary of fresh graduates and graduates in the second year after graduation, no matter how you look at it, is growing at a very brisk pace, many times outpacing inflation,” the expert says. And this “reflects precisely the shortage of these people on the market.” At the same time, Elena Kuznetsova noted that the most advanced employers of technology personnel have moved from the position of “the university should give us ready-made personnel” to the position of “we will have to go to universities ourselves and work with these universities so that these personnel become better.”

“A university is more than just training personnel for the needs of a specific company. It is impossible to ask a university to change its educational program every month, otherwise it will not be a university. If we are talking about the cycle of personnel training, then it solves a systemic problem – training personnel for the country,” noted HSE Vice-Rector Elena Odoevskaya.

She agreed that changes are happening very quickly now, but to take them into account, the university does not need to change the entire curriculum, but rather adjust the content of the disciplines, introducing the most relevant knowledge into them. HSE and companies are constantly in dialogue, agreeing on these changes, she emphasized. “We need to talk and agree. It is important for companies to be able to sometimes side with the university, and for the university to side with the company,” Elena Odoevskaya added. At the same time, in her opinion, it is necessary to creatively rethink approaches to training and competency models.

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 4, 2025
MIL-OSI: XRP News: Major Investors Flock to Nimanode’s $NMA Presale to secure access to AI x Blockchain Wave

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

LEEDS, United Kingdom, June 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Nimanode, the first no-code AI agent platform built natively on the XRP Ledger (XRPL), is gaining momentum with its ongoing $NMA token presale. As investor confidence in AI infrastructure and XRP-based innovation grows, Nimanode is drawing serious attention from early adopters seeking exposure to the next phase of Web3 automation.

With anticipation of a major breakout post-launch, early participants are moving quickly to secure $NMA tokens at presale pricing.

Join $NMA Presale

New Kind of On-Chain Intelligence

Nimanode agents aren’t just simple bots.These agents think, analyze, and execute on-chain tasks ranging from:

Smart Contract Generation: AI that turns plain-English prompts into executable XRPL Hook contracts.

DeFi Yield Optimization: Self-directed agents that shift capital between pools to maximize APY.

Risk Monitoring: Agents that scan wallets and contracts to flag malicious activity in real-time.

Web3 Customer Support: Deployable support agents that run 24/7 across DAO forums, dApps, and more.

RWA Compliance: Regulatory agents that keep tokenized assets aligned with local frameworks. And all of it can be created from a zero-code interface, allowing creators, DAOs, or institutions to launch an entire automated ecosystem in minutes.

Presale Demand Up as Investors Target $NMA for 10X Growth

With a total of 90 million $NMA representing 45% of $NMA allocated for the presale, this marks a unique and promising chance to claim early access into one of XRP Ledger’s most innovative projects, spearheading the AI ecosystem on the blockchain.

As the market is currently clouded by volatility and corrections, Nimanode’s presale is emerging as a rare bright spot. Sparking strong FOMO across the XRP community and beyond as investors position themselves early in what many believe could be the next 100X breakout on XRPL.

Market Analysts already predict strong upside upon exchange listing of $NMA as demand for agent-based infrastructure gains traction.

This is a chance to invest in $NMA before its Listing at 25% higher than Presale value, however whales position for more as they eye a 10X surge on Launch.

Join $NMA Presale

How to Join The Nimanode Presale

Joining in the NimaNode Presale is quite straightforward for seasoned investors and newbies alike.

Setup an XRP-Compatible Wallet: Ensure you have a non-custodial wallet capable of receiving XRP native tokens like Xaman Wallet.

Purchase XRP: Acquire XRP from reputable exchanges like Binance, Coinbase, or Bybit.

Participate in the Presale: Visit the NimaNode presale page (https://nimanode.com/presale), send your XRP to the provided presale address, and secure your $NMA tokens.

The last cycle gave us DeFi protocols and NFTs. This cycle is shaping up to be about autonomous infrastructure and Nimanode is at the heart of it.

Don’t Miss Out – Secure your $NMA Tokens

Connect with Nimanode

Website: https://nimanode.com

Twitter/X: https://x.com/nimanodeai

Telegram: https://t.me/nimanodeAI

Documentation: https://docs.nimanode.com

Contact:
Nick Lambert
contact@nimanode.com

Disclaimer: This is a paid post and is provided by Nimanode. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. We do not guarantee any claims, statements, or promises made in this article. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing in crypto and mining-related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. It is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone, and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved. Seek independent advice if necessary. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector—including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining—complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility. Globenewswire does not endorse any content on this page.

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

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0042cfb6-ccd0-4221-b89b-ff1136aeb0b0

The MIL Network –

June 4, 2025

MIL-OSI: Information on the total number of voting rights and the number of shares making up the share capital

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Monthly information relating to the total number of shares and voting rights making-up the share capital

Information mensuelle relative au nombre total d’actions et de droits de vote composant le capital social

Article L. 233-8 II of the French Commercial code and article 223-16
of the AMF General Regulation

Article L. 233-8-II du Code de commerce et article 223-16 du Règlement général de l’AMF

Name and address of the Company: Planisware SA
Dénomination sociale de l’émetteur : 200 avenue de Paris
92320 Châtillon
France
(ISIN code : FR001400PFU4)

Date	Total number of shares Nombre total d’actions composant le capital	Number of theorical voting rights Nombre de droits de vote théoriques	Number of effective voting rights* Nombre de droits de vote effectifs*
31/05/2025	70,024,000	70,024,000	70,012,875

*Treasury shares excluded / Actions auto-détenues exclues

Attachment

20250531 – Planisware – total number of shares and voting rights

The MIL Network –

June 4, 2025

MIL-OSI: New CSC Industry Market Report 2025 Reveals Key EU and Global Trends in Cloud Signature Market

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Brussels, Brussels-Capital Region , June 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Cloud Signature Consortium (CSC), a global nonprofit dedicated to developing open standards for cloud-based digital trust services and promoting worldwide interoperability, announced the release of its “CSC Industry Market Report 2025 – The Cloud Signature Market: An EU & Global Perspective.” This comprehensive report, compiled by Obserwatorium.biz and NIMBUS on behalf of the CSC, provides an in-depth overview of electronic signature solutions and the evolving digital trust ecosystem worldwide, highlighting the impact of diverse legal frameworks and technologies on secure, cross-border digital interactions.

The Future of Digital Trust: CSC Industry Market Report Launch

As e-signatures become increasingly essential in both public and private sectors, the report emphasizes the growing need for adaptable, standards-based solutions to meet regulatory demands and user expectations. The report analyzes the technical spectrum of e-signatures, ranging from traditional certificates on physical devices to cloud-based signatures that enable remote onboarding. It explores the pivotal role of cloud signatures in assuring cybersecurity, ensuring non-repudiation, and providing robust legal validation for modern digital interactions.

The report draws on original market research, including surveys and in-depth interviews with key market players from regions worldwide. These findings offer unique insights from practitioners who face the challenges, opportunities, and implications of implementing trust services every day. This approach highlights broad industry trends as well as the specific nuances of local markets and operational practices.

“This report underscores the critical importance of global interoperability in the digital trust ecosystem,” said Viky Manaila, President of the Cloud Signature Consortium. “As the world becomes increasingly interconnected, the ability to seamlessly and securely exchange digital signatures across borders is essential for fostering international commerce and collaboration. CSC’s mission to promote worldwide interoperability has never been more critical as businesses and governments accelerate their digital transformation.”

“The CSC Industry Market Report 2025 provides a comprehensive overview of the global cloud-based electronic signature market, with insights from both Europe and beyond. It examines the latest technologies, legal standards, and the rising role of cloud signatures in cybersecurity and regulatory compliance. What truly sets this report apart is the market research—surveys and interviews with industry leaders worldwide. Their input helped us capture global trends, local challenges, and opportunities. The result is a fact-based, practical view of the market’s current state and future directions.” said Miłosz Brakoniecki, co-founder and board member of Obserwatorium.biz.

Download the full report for free at: https://cloudsignatureconsortium.org/csc-industry-market-report-2025-the-cloud-signature-market-an-eu-global-perspective/

Join our Online Live Launch on June 10th from 2-2:30 PM CET:
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/AbkIA4RXRhmXbBexncAikg

About Cloud Signature Consortium

The Cloud Signature Consortium (CSC) is a global nonprofit association dedicated to developing open standards for cloud-based digital trust services and promoting worldwide interoperability. The CSC envisions a future where digital signatures are universally trusted and easily accessible, enabling secure and seamless digital interactions across borders and industries.

Press inquiries

Cloud Signature Consortium
https://cloudsignatureconsortium.org/
Benita Lipps
info@cloudsignatureconsortium.org
+32 2 887 08 94
Novya | Rue De Spa 28 | 1000 Brussels | Belgium

The MIL Network –

June 4, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Press Release – Alderney Residential Property Stock and Price Bulletin 2025 Tuesday 03 June 2025

Source: Channel Islands – States of Alderney

Press Release

Date: 3rd June 2025

Delivery of housing statistics underpins strategic thinking

As a first for the Community, an Alderney Residential Property Stock and Prices Bulletin for 2025 has been produced. This follows research being undertaken by the Data and Analysis team in the States of Guernsey, which covers information relating to the past 10 years.

At the end of March 2025, there were 1,510 domestic property units in Alderney; 47% of the units were owner occupied, 45% were privately rented, 5% were deemed affordable and 4% had a tenure of ‘Other’.

Within the privately rented category, 36% (16% of the total housing stock) were identified as having an owner whose primary address was not in Alderney. There were also 52 residential property transactions during 2024, compared with 43 during 2023.

Chairman of the Housing Group, Iain MacFarlane said:

“Housing is high on the agenda for the States of Alderney and a number of workstreams are underway. This data is welcomed and is essential in providing the States with an understanding of property stock and prices and how they have changed over time which links directly with availability of housing and the various associated trends. Further work will be undertaken to assess evolving, current and future needs for housing.”

The bulletin can be found at the following link:

Alderney Residential Property Stock and Price Bulletin 2025

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

June 4, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Derry City and Strabane District Council Shortlisted for Prestigious RTPI Northern Ireland Planning

Source: Northern Ireland – City of Derry

Derry City and Strabane District Council Shortlisted for Prestigious RTPI Northern Ireland Planning

3 June 2025

Derry City and Strabane District Council has been shortlisted for the prestigious RTPI (Royal Town Planning Institute) Northern Ireland Awards for Planning Excellence 2025 in the category of Excellence in Planning for Heritage and Culture, recognising their outstanding work on the Clooney Terrace Cannon Regeneration Project.

The nomination celebrates the Council’s leadership and collaborative approach in transforming the historic Clooney Cannon site into an accessible, vibrant public space that respects and enhances local heritage. Delivered in partnership with the Bonds Street Community Association and Clooney All Saints Church of Ireland, the regeneration project has brought new life to a site of significant cultural and historical value in the Waterside area.

Completed in 2024, the £215k project included extensive environmental improvements, such as the restoration of the historic Crimean War-era cannon, new seating, planting, lighting, and the installation of interpretive signage. The scheme also created a physical link between the cannon site and the adjacent Clooney All Saints Church garden through a dedicated pathway, improved access points, new boundary railings and sympathetic lighting of the church building—ensuring that both heritage assets are better integrated and appreciated by the public. The scheme was fully funded by the Department for Communities.

Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Cllr Ruairí McHugh, welcomed the news of the nomination:
“This recognition from RTPI is a testament to what can be achieved through strong partnership working with our local communities. The Clooney Cannon project not only honours an important aspect of our shared history but also creates a welcoming and engaging public space that contributes to the cultural fabric of the city. We’re proud to see our efforts acknowledged at a regional level.”

Tony Monaghan, Regeneration Manager at Derry City and Strabane District Council, also praised the nomination and the team behind the project:
“Being shortlisted for this award is a fantastic achievement and reflects the dedication and professionalism of our regeneration team. I want to sincerely thank our staff, community partners, other stakeholders and our funder DfC who worked tirelessly to bring this project to life. It’s incredibly rewarding to see their efforts recognised in such a meaningful way.”

Funded by the Department for Communities, with £215k contributed to the project, the regeneration has already had a positive impact on the local community and urban landscape, aligning with broader goals for heritage-led regeneration and place-making in the district.

The RTPI Northern Ireland Awards for Planning Excellence recognise outstanding contributions to planning that create inclusive, sustainable, and high-quality places. They highlight projects that demonstrate vision, leadership, and positive impact on communities and the built environment. Shortlisted entries span a range of categories, showcasing the breadth of work carried out by planners and built environment professionals throughout the region.

The winners of the RTPI Northern Ireland Awards for Planning Excellence 2025 will be announced at the Welcome Celebration Event on 9 June 2025, from 12pm to 2pm at Malone House, Barnett’s Demesne, Belfast. The event will celebrate innovation, collaboration, and excellence across Northern Ireland’s planning community.

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

June 4, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Motorists advised of road closures as Summer Jamm comes to town

Source: Northern Ireland – City of Derry

Motorists advised of road closures as Summer Jamm comes to town

3 June 2025

The highly anticipated Summer Jamm Festival is set to return to Strabane town centre this Saturday, June 7th from 12-late, promising a day filled with entertainment, family activities, and community celebration that will transform the heart of Strabane into a vibrant hub of creativity and excitement.

The event attracts hundreds of visitors every year, and anyone planning on going along this weekend is encouraged to plan their trip, with some road closures and diversions in place to facilitate the event. From 7am-7pm the following roads will be closed to traffic, Railway Street, Main Street, Castle Street and Castle Place. Traffic diversions will be in place with alternative routes signposted.

Visitors are advised that streets will be busy with lots of activities taking place in and around the town centre, so motorists should use the town centre car parks, or if possible travel to the event using public transport. Please note that Canal Street car park will be closed to facilitate Cullen’s Fun Fair. Disabled parking will be available in the car parks at Canal Basin North, Railway Street, Butcher Street and in Upper and Lower Main Street.

Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Cllr Ruairí McHugh said: “I am absolutely delighted that one of my first major engagements as Mayor will be celebrating Summer Jamm with the people of Strabane. This fantastic festival has become a cornerstone of our community calendar, bringing together residents and visitors alike to celebrate the best of what our town has to offer. There is so much happening in the town on Saturday and there will be a real festival buzz about the place. I just want to remind people that there will be some minor disruption to traffic flow in some areas, so anyone driving to the event should follow directions and plan ahead for parking.

“This is a great day for families to come out and enjoy a wonderful summer event together, and of course the additional visitors to the town bring a welcome boost to local business owners. As your new Mayor, I can’t wait to meet people throughout the day and see everyone enjoying this fantastic celebration of our community spirit.”

Visitors to the town during Summer Jamm are also urged to be aware of the ‘Love Strabane’ campaign spearheaded by Strabane Business Improvement District (BID).

Chair of Strabane BID Kieran Kennedy explained: “We want to showcase the fantastic offering we have here in the town and encourage locals and visitors to call in and support local businesses. Strabane is renowned for being a hotspot for independent businesses which offers unique one-off pieces that you can’t find anywhere else so we’d encourage everyone to love local and support local on the day and we can’t wait to see the town transformed into a hub of activity and vibrancy.

“We have an incredibly strong hospitality sector in Strabane and this year we are particularly looking forward to the evening Music Trail. This will showcase the town’s fantastic venues as visitors can enjoy live music performances in our local bars throughout the evening.”

There’s a packed programme of entertainment planned throughout Saturday for all the family from 12noon – late, with street performances, street drumming, and circus school skills aplenty. New to this year’s event will be the Street Art Festival which features interactive selfie murals and live street art demonstrations throughout the town. Artists will showcase their talents, offering visitors a chance to engage with the art and even try their hand at creating their own masterpieces.

The popular Bear Run ’74 Supercar is making its first appearance at this year’s Summer Jamm. Featuring an impressive display of supercars, the Bear Run will also raise funds for the Mayor’s chosen charities – PIPS Suicide Prevention Derry and The Castlederg Patient and Comfort Terminally Ill Fund.

Families will find plenty to enjoy with the Kidz Farm petting zoo, dinosaur encounters, urban sports activities, an interactive drumming circle, and face painting. Street performers, including magicians, dancers, and musicians, will entertain crowds throughout the town centre. Scheduled performances will take place at various locations, ensuring entertainment is always just around the corner.

The Arts and Crafts and Food Quarter will have a variety of crafts stalls to explore along with a diverse range of culinary cuisine and delicious treats to satisfy everyone’s appetite.

The Alley Theatre will host additional family-friendly entertainment, including the FizzWizzPop Magic Show at 12noon (tickets £2), this is an interactive magical experience designed to delight children and parents alike. The Alley will also offer face painting, Barry McGowan Art exhibition, and Arts and Crafts Workshops from 12noon.

Cullen’s Funfair will be taking up residence in the Canal Carpark from June 5th – 8th for anyone who wants to start the celebrations early.

Keep an eye on the Summer Jamm website: www.derrystrabane.com/summerjamm and Whats On Derry Strabane and The Alley Theatre Facebook pages for further updates.

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

June 4, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Siege of Leicester to be re-enacted at Riverside Festival

Source: City of Leicester

LEICESTER’S role at the epicentre of the English Civil War will be re-created in a series of dramatic re-enactments this weekend.

Jim Butler’s Hidden Histories Heritage Events will bring the drama of the Siege of Leicester in 1645 to the city’s annual Riverside Festival, with thrilling skirmishes, loud cannons and soldiers’ drills on The Newarke and a 17^th century living history camp on Castle Green.

On both Saturday 7 June and Sunday 8 June, a re-enactment of the Battle for the Newarke – where some of the fiercest fighting took place – will pit the defenders of Leicester against the forces of King Charles I.

There will also be free talks at Newarke Houses Museum, where the story of Leicester’s pivotal role in the bloody conflict between the Royalist and Parliamentarian armies will be told.

“When King Charles I and his forces laid siege to Leicester at the end of May 1645, the town became the epicentre of the entire English Civil War,” said local historian Jim Butler.

“The tyranny of the king, and his appalling treatment of the people of Leicester, caused a national outcry and Parliamentary forces were swiftly dispatched to recapture the town.

“The ensuing Battle of Naseby saw victory for the Parliamentarians – and Leicester was finally liberated on 19 June 1645.

“Those events in Leicester would come back to haunt the king, as the sacking of the town was cited as the most damning evidence of Charles’s tyranny against his people, leading directly to his execution after his trial in January 1649.

“So the Siege of Leicester was a pivotal moment in the city’s history and had a huge impact on national events, yet so few people today have heard of it.

“Through our re-enactment events at the Riverside Festival, we hope to engage Leicester’s diverse communities with this incredible episode of the city’s hidden history.”

The live battle re-enactments will take place on The Newarke from 2pm-3pm on both Saturday 7 June and Sunday 8 June.

Graham Callister, head of festivals, events and cultural policy, said: “We’re really excited to have the Siege of Leicester re-enactment as one of the highlights of this year’s Riverside Festival – and extremely proud to commemorate this nationally significant moment in the city’s long history as part of a packed programme of events this weekend.”

The living history camp and Siege of Leicester battle re-enactments are being generously funded by the Leicestershire Archaeological & Historical Society’s Public Heritage Fund, Leicester City Council’s ward community funds (Castle, Fosse and Saffron wards) and a number of private donations.

Details of further Hidden Histories Heritage Events taking place in June to mark the 380^th anniversary of the Siege of Leicester can be found here

The full Riverside Festival programme – which features two days of boat rides, kayaking sessions, live music and performance, international street food, licensed bars, craft markets and a pop-up art gallery – can be downloaded here

Leicester’s biggest free festival runs from 12 noon until 6pm on Saturday 7 June and from 12 noon until 5pm on Sunday 8 June, with activities taking place along the River Soar’s Mile Straight and on Bede Park, Castle Gardens, Western Boulevard and The Newarke.

Last year’s event attracted around 75,000 visitors.

ends

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

June 4, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Government issues feedback on local plans to reshape councils

Source: City of Leicester

LEICESTER City Council has today (3 Jun) received the Government’s response to its interim proposal to expand the city’s boundary as part of plans to reorganise local government.

In December 2024, the Government announced major changes to simplify how local government will work in England. This would abolish the two-tier system of councils which exists in many areas, including Leicestershire, and replace them with larger, single-tier unitary councils. This would in turn pave the way for devolution – the transfer of more power from central government to the regions.

The Government invited local councils to make proposals for change in their areas.

It has now issued feedback on the three separate proposals covering Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

Leicester City Council’s interim proposal suggests a sensible and proportionate expansion of the city boundaries to include adjoining suburbs. This would create an expanded city council and a new single-tier authority in the county. These would be of roughly equal size and would both meet the Government’s target population for new unitary authorities, of at least 500,000 people.

The Government feedback provides guidance on how plans can be further developed into a final submission for November. No decisions have been made at this stage.

City Mayor Peter Soulsby said: “We have now received and will carefully consider the Government’s feedback to our interim proposal and will be continuing discussions with the county, district and Rutland councils to see if we can agree a way forward.

“I remain absolutely convinced that any realistic option for local government reorganisation in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland must address the historic accident of our city’s boundaries. An expanded city is key to unlocking devolution and boosting much needed housing development and economic growth.

“With the local elections in the county now concluded, I hope that we will now be able to return to sensible discussions about where new boundary lines should be drawn as we consider not just the challenges but also the immense opportunities of reshaping our local councils.

“We will, of course, ensure that people are kept informed as our proposal develops over the coming months.”

Leicester City Council will now continue discussions with the county, district and Rutland councils to see if a joint proposal for change across the area can be developed.

If this is not possible, the city council will continue to develop its own plan.

All councils must submit their final proposals by 28 November 2025.

Central government will have the final decision on a proposal, and will lead public consultation on it.

The Government’s response to Leicester’s interim proposal is available to view online at: leicester.gov.uk/devolution

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

June 4, 2025

Category: Europe

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