NewzIntel.com

Category: Europe

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The most interesting astronomical phenomena of the summer of 2025, visible in Novosibirsk

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

    Summertime for astronomy at the latitude of Novosibirsk, especially the month before and after the summer solstice on June 21, is a period of calm, since the nights are too light and short, so the opportunities for observing interesting astronomical phenomena are reduced. And only in August, with the return of dark and longer nights, astronomical observations come alive again.

    However, it is during the brightest nights that there is a good opportunity to observe noctilucent clouds. This is not a completely astronomical phenomenon, since it occurs in the Earth’s atmosphere, but bright noctilucent clouds are a good object for summer night observations and filming. They appear differently on different nights, sometimes they are practically invisible, and sometimes very large and bright fields of “silver” are visible. It is impossible to say in advance when they will be clearly visible, but it is definitely worth observing such a phenomenon, especially for those who have not seen them before.

    August 10. Moon occultation of the star Deneb Algedi (Delta Capricornus). This is a fairly bright star (magnitude 2.9), so its occultation should be quite visible in binoculars or a telescope. It is interesting that for Novosibirsk this occultation is tangential, i.e. the Moon will cover the star with the very edge of its disk. Since the lunar disk is not perfectly flat due to the presence of mountains on the Moon, then during tangential occultations multiple occultations and emergences of the star from behind the lunar disk at the beginning and end of the occultation can be observed. For Novosibirsk, the occultation parameters are as follows: beginning at 04:07:52, altitude 14°, end at 04:25:43, altitude 13°.

    August 12-13. Perseid meteor shower peak. One of the so-called “big three” showers, that is, one of the three most active annual meteor showers, the peak of which occurs on August 12-13. At this time, its activity reaches approximately 100 meteors per hour, if you observe them outside the city, under a dark sky. However, this year during the Perseid maximum, the bright Moon will be shining in the sky, so even outside the city, the sky will be heavily illuminated by it, which will significantly worsen the ability to observe the shower and reduce the number of meteors observed. Nevertheless, the activity of the Perseids is such that their observation can be recommended even with lunar illumination, especially since they can produce very bright meteors and even fireballs.

    The Perseid radiant is located in the constellation Perseus, which is where the shower gets its name. The radiant is the point in the sky from which the shower’s meteors fly out. To simplify, we can say that the Perseid meteors fly out of the constellation Perseus. The shower’s radiant is located quite high above the horizon throughout the dark time of day. During the maximum, this is approximately from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. However, the height of the radiant during this time increases from approximately 30 to 60 degrees, so as the night progresses, the conditions for observing the Perseids and the number of their meteors increase.

    At the same time, in the pre-dawn hours before sunrise, around 4 a.m., you will be able to see two bright “stars” low above the northeastern horizon – this is what the conjunction of the two brightest planets in the earth’s sky – Jupiter and Venus – will look like.

    August 16-17. Occultation of the Pleiades by the Moon. The series of occultations of the Pleiades star cluster by the Earth’s satellite, which occurs once every 18 years, continues. The period of 18 years is equal to the duration of the lunar saros (draconic period), which is caused by the precession of the lunar orbit. In other words, this is the period of precession of the Moon’s orbit. The Pleiades cluster is located in the sky slightly above the ecliptic, however, due to the precession and the tilt of the lunar orbit of about 5 degrees, the Moon in its visible movement across the sky periodically (every 18 years) “reaches” the Pleiades and causes a series of occultations of the cluster.

    At the latitude of Novosibirsk, the current series of occultations began in mid-2024 and will end in March 2028. Occultations occur approximately once a month (more precisely, every 29 days, which corresponds to the sidereal period of the Moon). However, not every occultation is visible in Novosibirsk. For example, in the summer of 2025, of the three occultations of the Pleiades, only one will be visible – on August 16-17.

    To observe this occultation (or rather, a group of occultations), you need to use binoculars or a telescope. In its orbit around the Earth, the Moon will pass in front of the Pleiades stars and will cover them from an observer on Earth for some time. Through binoculars or a telescope, you will be able to see the Moon gradually approaching various stars of the cluster, then at some point they will disappear behind the lunar disk, and after some time they will reappear on the other side. Unfortunately, in this case, the Moon’s actual occultations of the Pleiades stars will occur at a very low altitude above the horizon, approximately from 23 to 00 hours, but later, when the altitude of the Moon and the cluster becomes higher, approximately from 1 to 2 hours, the Moon will not have time to move far from the cluster, which will look good in binoculars or a telescope next to the Moon.

    Here are the parameters of coverage of the brightest stars of the Pleiades for Novosibirsk:

    Alcyone. Beginning before sunrise, ending at 23:33:43, altitude 4°.

    Merope. Beginning before sunrise, ending at 23:07:28, altitude 1°.

    Atlas. Start at 23:20:07, altitude 2°, end at 00:02:38, altitude 7°)

     

    Explanation: Usually, various astronomical phenomena can be observed over a more or less large area, and depending on what kind of event we are talking about, they can be visible, for example, in different regions of Siberia or Russia as a whole, or in the entire northern or eastern hemisphere, or even around the world. This review provides information about what remarkable, unusual and interesting astronomical phenomena can be observed in Novosibirsk and its environs in the summer of 2025.

    It may well turn out that Novosibirsk will not be the optimal place for observing any of the phenomena indicated in the review, and in other points on our planet this phenomenon will be better visible, however, the circumstances of visibility are given specifically for Novosibirsk.

     

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reps. Garamendi, Thompson Demand Answers from Pentagon Over Plans to Use Travis AFB as Deportation Center

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman John Garamendi – Representing California’s 3rd Congressional District

    WASHINGTON, DC— This week, U.S. Representatives John Garamendi (D-CA-08) and Mike Thompson (D-CA-04) sent a joint letter to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth following reports that the Trump Administration is considering Travis Air Force Base as an immigration detention facility:

    “It’s outrageous and inappropriate for the Trump Administration to use Travis Air Force Base as an immigration detention facility. Converting Travis into an immigration facility would undermine its vital national security mission. Travis Air Force Base has long been known as the ‘Gateway to the Pacific’ because it plays a crucial role in our national security by providing transportation for personnel and materiel around the world, particularly in support to Ukraine.” said the Representatives.

    “Unfortunately, this is not the President’s first attempt to inappropriately utilize Travis Air Force Base, hampering its critical mission. In February we uncovered that Trump was using Travis’s military aircraft to transport undocumented individuals at three times the cost of commercial flights. Later that month, we were able to stop his attempt to send trained medical personnel to the proposed migrant detention camp in Guantanamo Bay. Now, the President wants to turn Travis into a mass deportation center. All these instances compromise our national security and are simply absurd.

    “We are deeply alarmed by Trump’s blatant abuse of presidential power and his indifference to the rule of law. His utter disregard for the Posse Comitatus Act, which explicitly prohibits using active-duty military personnel for domestic law enforcement functions, is gravely concerning.

    “We will continue Congress’s oversight role and work to ensure the American people understand the unlawful, wasteful, and dangerous path Trump is pursuing.”

    This letter is the latest in a series of actions by Rep. Garamendi and Rep. Thompson to hold the Trump Administration accountable for misusing military resources in immigration enforcement.

    In January, Rep. Garamendi’s office sent a letter demanding answers from the Department of Defense regarding the use of C-17s and C-130s from Travis Air Force Base to deport undocumented immigrants. 

    In February, Rep. Garamendi followed up with another letter pressing the Trump Administration over plans to deploy medical professionals to a proposed migrant detention facility in Guantanamo Bay. The Department of Defense recently responded to that inquiry, but Rep. Garamendi’s office found the response inadequate.

    Read the full letter here and below.

    Pete Hegseth
    Secretary of Defense
    Office of the Secretary of Defense 
    1000 Defense Pentagon 
    Washington, DC 20301 

    Dear Secretary Hegseth, 

    We are deeply frustrated and gravely concerned by recent reports regarding the proposed use of Travis Air Force Base (AFB) as a migrant detention site. In our previous correspondence, we requested detailed assessments on the impact of this plan, including its effects on military resources, infrastructure, ongoing construction projects, and overall readiness. To date, these critical details remain unclear.

    While the federal government must address immigration challenges with humane and practical solutions, utilizing a military installation for civilian law enforcement and detention operations raises significant concerns about the misuse of military resources, operational readiness, and national security. The decision to use Travis AFB as a migrant detention center would both constitute a dangerous militarization of immigration enforcement and unnecessarily degrade military readiness.

    Travis AFB plays a critical role in national security and is responsible for the global transportation of personnel and material. Whether providing aid to Ukraine or transporting personnel and equipment into the Pacific, Travis AFB must maintain its readiness to respond to global crises.

    Additionally, military personnel’s involvement in civilian detention and law enforcement contradicts established legal frameworks, including the Posse Comitatus Act, which restricts military engagement in civilian law enforcement. Assigning resources toward immigration enforcement risks blurring this crucial distinction and setting a concerning precedent for the use of military installations for purposes beyond their intended scope.

    We demand answers from the Department of Defense to the following inquiries, no later than 30 days after receipt:

    1. Has the Department assessed the potential impact on Travis AFB’s infrastructure, specifically regarding water and energy, should a detention site be established at the base?
    2. How will diverting space and resources for a detention center at Travis AFB impact ongoing or future operations?
    3. How many migrants does the Department expect to detain at Travis AFB?
    4. Does the Department plan to reassign military personnel at Travis AFB to assist in detention operations?
    5. How will the Department ensure military personnel are not performing law enforcement activities at this detention center?
    6. What authorized and appropriated funds are being diverted to build and maintain this detention center?

    We urge you to provide full transparency on how this decision will affect Travis AFB and to reconsider any action that might compromise military readiness and interfere with ongoing or future operations.

     ###

     

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: House Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member Meeks, Lofgren Send Letter to Secretary Lutnick on Multilateral Export Controls

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Gregory W Meeks (5th District of New York)

    Washington, D.C. – Representatives Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and Zoe Lofgren, Ranking Member of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, sent a letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick raising concerns over reports that the Department of Commerce may withdraw from critical multilateral agreements aimed at restricting access to critical technologies, like semiconductors and semiconductor manufacturing equipment (SME). The Members warned Secretary Lutnick that abandoning coordinating efforts with partners would make it harder to prevent the People’s Republic of China (PRC) from accessing cutting-edge technology and undermine America’s national security. 
     
    The full text of the letter can be found below. A PDF copy of the letter can be found here.  

    Dear Secretary Lutnick,

    We are concerned by recent reports indicating the Department of Commerce may seek to pull back from critical multilateral agreements and engagements with allies and partners that are designed to coordinate policies to restrict the People’s Republic of China (PRC) from accessing cutting-edge technologies. While it’s important to prevent U.S. technology from powering the PRC’s military, a coordinated approach with partners and allies is necessary in critical technology areas such as advanced semiconductors and semiconductor manufacturing equipment (SME), to prevent the PRC from developing critical capabilities that are detrimental to our national security. 

    To ensure the United States continues to outpace the PRC on semiconductors and SME, we have worked on a bipartisan basis to facilitate a domestic innovation and manufacturing ecosystem while controlling our adversary’s ability to access advanced technologies. We helped to pass the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, sweeping legislation that sought to reinvigorate U.S. leadership in science and technology and included an investment of $52.7 billion designed to help reshore U.S. semiconductor manufacturing capacity. We also recognize the need for a defensive strategy to protect our economic and national security. Both the Trump and Biden Administrations have placed restrictions on PRC entities from purchasing certain high-end semiconductor chips and SME technologies.  We believe these export controls were necessary and remain so.

    However, U.S. export controls alone are not sufficient because other countries also manufacture advanced semiconductors and associated equipment and tools that they can sell to the PRC. While the previous administration achieved some success with multilateral agreements with the Netherlands and Japan on certain SME controls,  those controls would have been far more successful in constraining the PRC if they were coordinated from the start. To this day these trilateral controls remain misaligned in key ways, from a lack of end use controls to different approaches to the denial of licensing.

    We recognize that organizing these coalitions can be challenging, but working with allies and partners achieves real results. The United States assembled a coalition of nearly 40 nations to coordinate controls against Russia after its invasion of Ukraine. We urge you to continue to engage with our partners and allies to build a similar coalition focused on the PRC. This can only be accomplished through direct and sustained diplomacy, which while not always as fast as we would like, is the only effective option in the long competition with the PRC.

    The Commerce Department has an opportunity to demonstrate strength and support the U.S. manufacturing base by coordinating more plurilateral controls, not less. With Russia stalling progress in the four large multilateral regimes, we urge you to seek out small coalitions of countries that have market-share in particular critical technology sectors. In the case of semiconductors, for instance, we should be broadening coordination beyond Japan and the Netherlands to include South Korea, Taiwan, and others. Initiatives and fora, such as the Multilateral Action on Sensitive Technologies (MAST) and the U.S.-E.U. Trade and Technology Council (TTC), can help advance such coordination while furthering U.S. global leadership and interests on standards development, technology transfer, trade, and many other multinational issues.

    We are worried that if the United States goes it alone or attempts to bully our partners, they will increasingly hedge to the PRC instead of working with the United States. Disengaging from multilateral dialogues and initiatives could provide an excuse for key governments not to cooperate with our controls. In response to President Trump’s tariffs, President Ursula von der Leyen of the European Commission has called for strengthening European-PRC relations.  In March, the Dutch company ASML announced it would be building a facility in China—a decision that runs counter to U.S. interests and could only have been made with European government support.  Last month, the PRC engaged in its first multilateral economic dialogue with Japan and South Korea in five years—seeking a regional partnership among the three nations to weather the trade policies of the United States.

    Finally, we caution against a unilateral approach that overly relies upon the foreign direct product rule (FDPR) to extend U.S. jurisdiction to foreign-produced items. While the Department should continue to exercise this authority as a last resort, abuse of the rule may further weaken our standing with allies and partners and result in the removal of U.S. suppliers from major global supply chains in the long run, which would be disastrous for our economy and our ability to outcompete the PRC on critical technologies. A better path would be to coordinate controls with other partners and help them build enforcement capacity, so the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) does not have to monitor and police millions of transactions alone. We would be willing partners in ensuring that BIS has the tools and resources to make U.S. controls more effective.

    We are deeply concerned about the harms that will occur to U.S. interests if the United States walks away from multilateral approaches. We urge the Department to continue multistakeholder dialogues to bring our allies along in aligning their export controls with ours, using appropriate leverage available to you. Given the critical importance of this matter to both domestic and foreign affairs, we request that you provide us answers to the following questions by June 5, 2025:

    • What is the Department’s current policy with regards to participation in multilateral councils and forums, including MAST, TTC, multilateral agreements, and plurilateral agreements such as the U.S.-Japan-South Korea trilateral agreement?
    • What steps is the Department taking to coordinate with our allies and partners on export controls on critical technologies, such as semiconductors and SME?
    • To what extent will the Department continue to take into account foreign availability as it designs and coordinates its controls?
    • What additional staffing, resources, or authorities does the Department need to more effectively coordinate with partners on controls on technology entering the PRC market?

    We would appreciate a briefing from your staff to better understand how you are approaching these questions.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: House Foreign Affairs Ranking Members Meeks and Shaheen Issue Statement on the State Department Reorganization

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Gregory W Meeks (5th District of New York)

    Washington, D.C. – Today, Representative Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY), Ranking Member of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee, and U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement on the State Department reorganization:

    “The proposed changes to the State Department—and effectively USAID—we received this morning will be carefully weighed against the real costs to American security and leadership. As Russia and China open new embassies and recruit aggressively to increase their diplomatic presence, President Trump and Secretary Rubio are proposing significant cuts to an already strained and limited U.S. diplomatic corps. When America retreats – as it has under President Trump – China and Russia fill the void.

    “We welcome reforms where needed, but they must be done with a scalpel, not a chainsaw. This proposal hands over Afghan allies who fought side-by-side with our military to the Taliban. It guts programs meant to protect brave democracy defenders living in fear. It haphazardly moves what is left of our once prominent foreign assistance programs to Department entities with no experience dealing with such programs and accounts. It proposes the firing of thousands of national security experts without cause. Taken together, these moves significantly undercut America’s role in the world and open the door for adversaries to threaten our safety and prosperity. And we cannot ignore that the gutting of foreign assistance earlier this year occurred without Congress, with utter disregard and in violation of federal law and the constitution.

    “We will be scrutinizing these proposed reforms, and in no way believe one notification is enough.American jobs, lives, and national security are at stake. We look forward to Secretary Rubio coming before our Committees and engaging with Congress on the future of the State Department if he is serious about making the case for this proposal.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Since the beginning of 2025, more than 1,500 China-Europe freight trains have passed through the Erenhot checkpoint

    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

    HOHHOT, June 2 (Xinhua) — More than 1,500 freight trains on China-Europe international railway routes have passed through the Ereenhot railway port in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in both directions since the beginning of this year as of Sunday, according to the Hohhot branch of China State Railway Corporation (CSRC).

    By Sunday evening, another China-Europe train loaded with auto parts, household appliances and everyday items left the said border crossing.

    Based on the digital checkpoint system, the Hohhot Branch of the KGZK continues to promote paperless customs clearance, ensure smooth coordination with customs, border control and other departments, so as to effectively improve the efficiency of customs clearance.

    According to the Hohhot branch of the KGZK, if previously the time to go through various procedures related to the passage of China-Europe trains was almost 8 hours, now it has been reduced to 2 hours.

    Ereenhot is the largest land checkpoint on the China-Mongolia border. To date, it has handled a total of 19,000 trains on 73 China-Europe freight routes. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: K. Nawrocki leads R. Trzaskowski by a small margin in the second round of the presidential elections in Poland

    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

    WARSAW, June 2 (Xinhua) — Karol Nawrocki is ahead of Rafal Trzaskowski in the second round of Poland’s presidential election on Sunday, according to the latest Ipsos poll. Previous exit polls had shown Trzaskowski in the lead.

    K. Nawrocki, a historian and head of the Polish Institute of National Remembrance, received 50.7 percent of the vote, while R. Trzaskowski, the mayor of Warsaw and the candidate of the ruling Civic Coalition, got 49.3 percent, a poll released by Ipsos at around 11 p.m. local time /21:00 GMT/ showed.

    The previous Ipsos exit poll showed R. Trzaskowski receiving 50.3 percent of the vote, while K. Nawrocki, an independent candidate supported by the opposition Law and Justice party, received 49.7 percent. Voter turnout was estimated at 72.8 percent.

    According to the Polish National Electoral Commission, the final results are expected to be announced on Monday morning or early afternoon.

    On May 18, a tense first round took place, in which R. Trzaskowski received 31.36% of the votes, followed by K. Nawrocki with 29.54%. Since none of the candidates received more than 50% of the votes in the first round, a second round was called. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: In Bradfield, the election is not yet over. What happens when a seat count is ultra close?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Graeme Orr, Professor of Law, The University of Queensland

    Election day was over four weeks ago. Yet the outcome in one House of Representatives remains unclear. That is the formerly Liberal Sydney electorate of Bradfield.

    In real time, you can watch the lead tilt between Liberal hopeful, Gisele Kapterian and her teal independent rival, Nicolette Boele. The difference between them has been as small as one vote. As of Monday, that had shifted to 12 votes in the Teal’s favour. Still too close even for Antony Green to call.

    What are the processes for resolving ultra-marginal results? And, more broadly, what accountability is there for problems in campaigning or the running of the election, such as the allegation that voters in one NSW town were misled about how to vote?

    First, to the Bradfield saga. The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) has until July 9 to declare the result. It then certifies a list of successful candidates, which it “returns”, attached to the original writ the governor-general used to formally begin the election.

    Electoral challenges

    Within 40 days of the writ being returned, any candidate or elector from the seat can “petition” its result. That’s not a petition calling for parliament to handle the matter. It means a formal pleading to the Court of Disputed Returns. For national elections, that means the High Court.

    Remarkably few seats are challenged in Australia. On the happy side, this is because our election agencies are very professional. It’s also a matter of legal principle, arithmetic and resources.

    To succeed in a challenge, you must show the outcome was likely to have been affected, by errors or breaches of the electoral act. With more than 100,000 voting in House of Representatives electorates, even a 0.5% margin means convincing a judge that a 500-vote lead was uncertain.

    The last successful petition nationally was 12 years ago. The AEC admitted some lost ballots meant that the last couple of Western Australian Senate seats could have been different. The whole race had to be re-run.

    In Bradfield, there’s no suggestion of impropriety. So it’s not like the last unsuccessful petition, from 2019, where the Liberals survived claims that misleading how-to-vote posters, directed at Chinese language speakers, might have affected the result.

    Instead, the Bradfield loser would focus on disputed ballots. That would mean, for example, votes where their scrutineers noted some uncertainty. Such as whether a “1” was a “7”. A judge can then give a binding ruling on the intent of the ballot.

    The loser might also try to find evidence of people being wrongly denied a ballot or wrongly issued one. The 40-day period to marshal evidence is strict.

    Besides time limits, a challenger needs lawyers and risks paying the other side’s (and perhaps the AEC’s) legal costs if they lose the hearing.

    Counts and recounts

    Australian election counts are very thorough. This is in contrast to the United Kingdom, where local officials literally rush to be the first to declare, in the wee hours of Friday morning after voting closes at 10pm on a Thursday.

    The figures we see on election night are “indicative” only, drawing on counts in thousands of polling places. Every ballot is transferred to a more central location, for official tallying. Ballots for weaker candidates are reviewed multiple times, as they pass on according to each elector’s preferences.

    When a seat is ultra-close, the law permits a complete recount. AEC policy is to conduct one whenever the result is within 100 votes: in Bradfield, the initial result was a mere eight votes.

    A losing candidate can also request a recount. Teal independent Zoe Daniel did that in her Melbourne seat of Goldstein, where Liberal Tim Wilson finished 260 votes ahead.

    Recounts are resource intensive. So the AEC agreed to review all “1” votes for those candidates, and ballots put in the “informal” or invalid pile. Wilson finally won by 175 votes. A challenge to a margin of that size seems very unlikely.

    Bad form or protest? Informal votes

    What of votes that couldn’t be counted? We call these “informal”. Given turning-out to vote is compulsory – and the requirement to give preferences – Australia has long had a lot of informal ballots.

    Upwards of half tend to be accidental, caused by people misnumbering the ballot or not understanding the rules. The highest rates are in seats with many new citizens from overseas, especially as long ballots of many of candidates is becoming common.

    Votes that cannot be counted are called ‘informal’, and can be a source of dispute in a seat count.
    Shutterstock

    Maybe more than half, however, are deliberate, intended as protests against the system or parties. These include blanks and those scribbled with (sometimes obscene) comments. As faith in parties has declined, informals have risen. Also, due to “automatic enrolment”, more people are enrolled than ever, including some who’d rather not be. Informal ballots this year reached 5.6% of turnout. For perspective, that’s up just 0.4%.

    Voters in the small town of Missabotti in the New South wales seat of Cowper, however, were miffed to find their polling booth had a 45% informal rate. That’s quite an outlier, even for a seat where electors had to rank a dizzying 11 candidates.

    There are allegations a polling official misled some electors, by telling them they only had to number “6” candidates for the House. That is the rule for the Senate, not the House.

    As preferences are not mandatory at NSW state elections, it’s understandable voters may have heeded such advice rather than the actual rule on the ballot. Such an error would be embarrassing for the AEC. But it could hardly ground an election challenge: the Nationals held Cowper by almost 5,500 votes.

    Does that mean there’s no accountability? Anyone affected does not get to vote again. But the AEC is investigating. And after every election, it is grilled by a parliamentary inquiry that the public can contribute to.

    In the end, every vote should be sacred. In reality, elections are huge logistical events and nothing is perfect. But there are courts and inquiries to offer remedies and improve things for the future.

    Graeme Orr 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. In Bradfield, the election is not yet over. What happens when a seat count is ultra close? – https://theconversation.com/in-bradfield-the-election-is-not-yet-over-what-happens-when-a-seat-count-is-ultra-close-257956

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Van Drew Announces Introduction of Bill to Codify President Trump’s Executive Order Lowering Drug Prices for Americans

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jeff Van Drew (NJ02)

    Washington, DC –Today, Congressman Van Drew released the following statement in support of President Trump’s executive order, signed today, which will tie what Medicare pays for prescription drugs to the lowest prices paid in other developed countries.

    “Today, President Trump took a bold step to lower prescription drug prices for Americans, and I fully support it,” said Congressman Van Drew. “For far too long, American families have been stuck paying outrageous prices for the same drugs sold at a fraction of the cost in other countries. This has to change. In fact, I will be introducing the Fair Prescription Drug Prices for Americans Act in the coming days to build on the President’s action. This bill will make it illegal for drug manufacturers to charge Medicare and privately insured Americans more than what they charge in other countries like Canada, the United Kingdom, or Japan. If they exceed that amount, they will face serious civil monetary penalties of ten times the difference in price for every single dose sold under those insurance plans. It is time to put the interests of the American people first and stop letting Big Pharma get away with price gouging.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: [Interview] Lines That Find Than Define: Kun-Yong Lee x Samsung Art Store

    Source: Samsung

    “Bodyscape was inspired by a line my child left on the wall as she fell.”
    — Kun-Yong Lee, contemporary artist
     
    Should art make you think or feel? Is beauty created or discovered? These questions do not have easy answers. But for decades, artist Kun-Yong Lee has explored them head-on — quite literally with his body — in pursuit of an art that anyone can experience.
     
    Starting today, June 2, a curated selection of 15 pieces from Lee’s works will be available on Samsung Art Store.1 Samsung Art Store is an art subscription service available on Samsung Art TVs including The Frame and QLEDs. Currently available in 117 countries around the world, Samsung Art Store offers over 3,500 pieces of art in 4K resolution from over 70 partners. To mark the occasion, Samsung Newsroom spoke with Lee about his artistic philosophy and what inspired this collaboration with Samsung.
     

    Widely regarded as a major figure in contemporary Korean art, Lee has been at the forefront of the Korean avant-garde movement. He began gaining international recognition in the 1970s with notable appearances at the 8th Paris Biennale in 1973 and the 15th São Paulo Biennale in 1979. Over the years, he has been honored with numerous accolades such as the Grand Prize at the Lisbon International Show in 1979, the 8th Lee In-Sung Art Award in 2007 and the Order of Cultural Merit (Silver Crown) in 2022. Spanning drawing, painting, photography, installation and performance, Lee’s expansive practice explores the dynamic relationships between the body, the medium and the audience.

     
    ▲ “Bodyscape 76-3” (2022, Kun-Yong Lee)
     
     
    The Sensory Nature of Art
    Q: You are well known for your “Bodyscape” series. What roles do the body and movement play in your art?
     
    The “Bodyscape” series was inspired by a moment when my young daughter, just learning to walk, stumbled while holding a crayon and ended up drawing a line on the wall as she fell. That moment sparked the idea that a work of art could be created without any intention to express a specific concept — simply by allowing the body to move naturally, without even looking at the canvas.
     
    French philosopher Maurice Merleau-Ponty argued that knowledge comes from sensory experience, not abstract reasoning. Similarly, Austrian linguistic philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein once said, “Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must be silent”— critiquing the limits of philosophy grounded in conceptual language. I resonate with the idea that meaning arises not from language or rational thought but from the movement and sensation of the body. Artistic expression, then, is not merely a product of conscious intent — it is a way for the body to directly construct and respond to the world.
     
    ▲ Lee often positions himself behind the canvas or turns his back to it during his creative process.
     
    That’s where my work diverges from traditional painting techniques. I dip my body or brush into paint and stretch my arms as far as they reach, adding line over line. Sometimes, I intentionally turn my back to the canvas. While traditional painting reflects what the artist consciously envisions, my work is shaped by the natural lines that emerge through repeated motion — lines defined by the structure and limited range of movement of my body.
     
     
    Q: Your work often involves interacting with the audience. How does this interaction influence your art?
     
    I’ve been involved in performance art since I was young. Audience interaction is essential, as performance is a medium that cannot exist without a live audience. When viewers watch the artist’s actions, they begin to wonder what the artist is doing or what will happen next. Every word spoken by the artist and every reaction from the audience become integral parts of the work itself.
     
    “Art encourages us to see the world with greater curiosity — ultimately helping us lead more fulfilling lives.”
     
    Q: What are your favorite pieces?
     
    Among the “Bodyscape” series, I’m most partial to “Bodyscape 76-1,” “Bodyscape 76-2” and “Bodyscape 76-3.”
     
    ▲ (From left) “Bodyscape 76-1” (2022) and “Bodyscape 76-2” (2022)
     
    “Bodyscape 76-1” and “Bodyscape 76-2” were created using methods entirely different from traditional painting. For “Bodyscape 76-1,” I stood behind a canvas roughly the height of my body and painted from behind and above — extending only my hands to draw lines. For “Bodyscape 76-2,” I painted with my back turned to the canvas. A new world emerged from a context where I couldn’t see what I was painting.
     
    “Artistic expression is not merely a product of conscious intent — it is a way for the body to directly construct and respond to the world.”
     
    “Bodyscape 76-3” represents an artistic world created solely through the movement of my left and right arms. Like “Bodyscape 76-2,” I stood in front of the canvas but did not face it directly. I positioned myself sideways and extended my right arm as far as it could reach to paint a line, then repeated the motion with my left. There was no fixed reference point — I simply painted within the limits of my reach. The curves drawn by each hand met at the bottom and crossed at the top, forming a heart-like shape. But I wasn’t intentionally drawing a heart — rather, I let the lines created by my body’s movement emerge naturally and accepted them as a central part of the artwork.
     
    ▲ Lee poses in front of “Bodyscape 76-2+3-2022” shown on a 114-inch Samsung MICRO LED at Art Basel Hong Kong 2025.
     
    Corporeality is the most essential aspect of my work. This aligns with Merleau-Ponty’s idea that the body is a living subject of perception. Because this sense of corporeality is more apparent in the process than in the final result, I encourage first-time viewers to observe how the work is created.
     
     
    Engaging the Public Through the Language of Art
    Q: How do you define art?
     
    Art shouldn’t belong exclusively to artists — anyone can enjoy, imitate and experience it.
     
    “Audience interaction is essential, as performance cannot exist without an audience.”
     
    In 2022, I experimented with digital interaction through a project titled “Digital Bodyscape 76-3.” Visitors could choose their preferred colors and styles, and an avatar of myself would create a digital version of “Bodyscape 76-3.”
     
    At the 14th Gwangju Biennale in 2023, I invited visitors to experience “Bodyscape 76-3” by drawing lines with their own two arms in the exhibition hall. From young children to grandparents, anyone with a crayon could create a piece of art. There’s a deep sense of fulfillment when people see work they’ve made themselves. I would love to have more opportunities like this in the future —where technology not only deepens communication between artists and audiences, but also invites art lovers to take part in the process.
     
    Q: What is the role of art in society?
     
    In today’s fast-paced and demanding world, art offers us a chance to appreciate what we often take for granted, to find meaning in the process rather than just the outcome and to slow down and reflect. Art encourages us to see the world with greater curiosity — ultimately helping us lead more fulfilling lives.
     
    ▲ Unfazed by passing trends, Lee shared that “had to wait until his 80s to be acquire worldwide recognition” and is “grateful to his fan number one — his spouse — for bearing the times with him.”.
     
     
    Samsung Art Store: Pushing the Boundaries of Art Experience
    Q: Do you think experiential works can be effectively conveyed through a digital platform like Samsung Art Store?
     
    Being able to conveniently view artworks through a Samsung Art TV is a wonderful opportunity for connection. Sitting comfortably in your living room with a cup of coffee, quietly engaging with an artist’s work — that is a deeply meaningful form of art appreciation. When I saw my work displayed on The Frame at Art Basel Hong Kong, I was truly amazed. In some ways, the emotion and energy of the pieces came through even more vividly than when viewing them in person. That’s the innovation of cutting-edge technology.
     
    “Quietly engaging with an artist’s work over a cup of coffee, at the comfort of your living room sofa — that is a deeply meaningful form of art appreciation.”
     
    What’s more, I believe Samsung Art TVs can overcome the limitations of purely visual artwork. Performance pieces can be experienced with sound and video, while conceptual works can be paired with artist commentary to support deeper understanding. It’s an incredible opportunity for artists. I hope more people will be able to access and enjoy art through Samsung Art Store — an invitation to see the world through an artist’s perspective.
     
    ▲ Lee believes that art is for everyone, not just the artists.
     
     
    Beyond Art: Next Steps
    Q: Do you have any advice you’d like to share with younger artists?
     
    Since I was young, I’ve steadily followed my own path — without hesitation or compromise — and time has brought me to where I am today. Although I often felt skeptical about following trends, which are ever-changing. In the end, what matters most is the passion to pursue your own art.
     
    As artists, I believe it is enough to respond sincerely to the spirit of our time, remain true to the present and not be swayed by passing fads.
     

    Samsung Art Store is an art subscription service available on Samsung Art TVs including The Frame and QLEDs. Currently available in 117 countries around the world, Samsung Art Store offers over 70 partners and 3,500 artworks in 4K quality. Through Samsung Art Store, subscribers can enjoy artworks from world-class galleries and masters at home and use it to create new interiors every day.

     
     
    1 Art Store subscription and Samsung Account required to access full selection of artwork.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Greens call for investment in genuine global security  

    Source: Green Party of England and Wales

    / by Green Party

    In anticipation of the outcome of the strategic defence review being published today, Ellie Chowns MP, who holds the defence brief for the Parliamentary Green Party, said:

    “We acknowledge the need for greater defence spending and continued NATO membership, but also call for a more thorough reappraisal of strategic defence alliances. With Trump no longer a reliable ally, we need to deepen our defence cooperation with the EU, and review AUKUS.

    “A Green approach to security is not based on arms and threats, but on the three Ds: diplomacy and development as well as defence. Defence policy should not be a simple competition over spending, but based on real commitment to an international order based on human rights, equality and genuine cooperation.

    “If we are to avoid the horror of war, we need to look at the deeper causes of insecurity, including poverty and climate change. We strongly support the restoration of the international aid budget to at least 0.7% of GNI, with a considerable proportion spent on climate action.

    “And we will continue to argue that real patriotism means to stand against UK-made weapons or components being sold to dictators, human rights abusers or for use against civilians anywhere in the world.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-Evening Report: What is populism?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Benjamin Moffitt, Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Relations, Monash University

    In 2017, in the wake of Brexit and Donald Trump’s first election win, populism was named the “word of the year” by Cambridge University Press.

    Almost a decade later, we might have thought the term’s popularity would have faded.

    But with Trump back in power in the United States, the Reform Party polling very well in the United Kingdom, and Argentinian president Javier Milei wielding his chainsaw at public events, populism is very much still with us.

    But what is populism? Is it a left or right phenomenon? And is it here to stay?

    What is populism?

    Put simply, populism is a political phenomenon that revolves around the central divide between “the people” and “the elite”.

    Although there is agreement on this divide, academics tend to disagree on two things when it comes to populism.

    The first is what kind of phenomenon it is. Is populism an ideology (that is, a belief system)? A strategy? Or is it a kind of performative political style?

    Secondly, experts disagree on whether populism is a threat or corrective to democracy. Some think it can be both.

    Populism: left or right?

    Much of the confusion about populism stems from the fact that it can appear across the ideological spectrum.

    This is because “the people” and “the elite” are flexible terms, and populists can characterise them in very different ways.

    Right-wing populists tend to characterise “the people” in socio-cultural terms, and often combine their populism with nativism.

    Think for instance, of how Trump’s “people” are coded as White Americans.

    Or, how Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi evokes Hindu nationalism in his definition of “the people”.

    Other prominent right-wing populist leaders include the likes of Viktor Orban of Hungary, Nigel Farage of the United Kingdom, Geert Wilders of the Netherlands, and Australia’s Pauline Hanson.

    Left-wing populists, meanwhile, tend to characterise “the people” in socio-economic terms. They often combine their populism with calls for economic redistribution or shifts in power.

    Examples include Latin American populist leaders like Evo Morales of Bolivia and Hugo Chavez of Venezuela, who sought to bring the poor into their conception of “the people”.

    In the US, Bernie Sanders’ 2016 and 2020 presidential primary campaigns put the working class and people in precarious work at the heart of his “people”.

    Other examples of left-wing populism include the Podemos and Syriza parties in Spain and Greece respectively.

    This also means the way populists tend to define “the elite” is quite different.

    Right-wing populist targets often include:

    • government and policy elites (think of Trump’s “drain the swamp”)
    • cultural elites (Trump’s attacks on media as “fake news”)
    • academics (attacks on the “ivory tower”) and
    • transnational bodies (such as attacks on the United Nations).

    These groups are connected in right-wing populist discourse and purported to be undermining “the people’s” livelihood by abetting increased immigration or the destruction of “traditional values”.

    Left-wing populists tend to target business and power elites, who they see as fleecing “the people” economically and keeping them from expressing their popular power (think of Occupy Wall Street’s divide between the 99% and the 1%).

    Populists also tend to have a suspicion of transnational organisations. But while right-wing populists tend to focus on the likes of the United Nations and World Health Organisation, left-wing populists are more suspicious of business transnationals such as the World Trade Organization or World Economic Forum.

    Is populism here to stay?

    After every major election where a populist leader or party succeeds, there is inevitably talk of a “populist earthquake”, “populist wave” or “populist tsunami”.

    These metaphors suggest populism has come out of nowhere, and is causing a major and unexpected shock to the system.

    But that’s simply not the case.

    If anything, the story of 21st century politics has been one in which populism has become “normalised” and “mainstreamed”.

    Populists are no longer merely “challenger” parties nor minor parties.

    They increasingly are among the top three parties in their respective countries (particularly in Europe), and have won government in places from the US to India to the Netherlands to Italy to Greece.

    This success has seen them steadily viewed as viable and “normal” political players.

    Meanwhile, mainstream parties and leaders have increasingly adopted elements of populists’ discourse, platforms and political styles, as a way to compete with populists.

    This, ironically, has had the effect of legitimising populists in many countries; it makes their policies and discourse look more “acceptable”.

    It’s important to be cynical about any pundit crowing about the “death” of populism – or, on the flipside, the idea it has come out of nowhere.

    Populism is here to stay. Acknowledging that can help us better understand its appeal, which in turn, can provide hints about how to best deal with it.

    Benjamin Moffitt receives or has received funding from the Australian Research Council and the Marianne and Marcus Wallenberg Foundation.

    – ref. What is populism? – https://theconversation.com/what-is-populism-249369

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: On June 4–5, Mikhail Mishustin will take part in a meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of the Commonwealth of Independent States in Dushanbe

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    On June 4–5, in Dushanbe, Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation Mikhail Mishustin will take part in a meeting of the Council of Heads of Government of the Commonwealth of Independent States.

    The heads of government will discuss current issues of developing cooperation within the CIS in the trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian fields.

    It is proposed to approve the Concept for the Development of Cooperation of the CIS Member States in the Light Industry, the Concept for the Harmonization of National Air Traffic Management Systems of the CIS Member States, the Concept for Cooperation of the CIS Member States in the Field of Public Health Protection, and to sign an Agreement on Cooperation of the CIS Member States in the Development of Heavy Engineering Industries.

    It is also planned to adopt the Regulation on the CIS Volunteer Forum, which envisages the creation of a legal basis for the development of the volunteer movement.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: On Children’s Day, Dmitry Chernyshenko and Sergey Kiriyenko awarded the winners of the 1st All-Russian Prize “Conversations about the Important”

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    Dmitry Chernyshenko took part in the awarding of the winners of the 1st All-Russian Prize “Conversations about the Important”

    June 1, 2025

    Dmitry Chernyshenko took part in the awarding of the winners of the 1st All-Russian Prize “Conversations about the Important”

    June 1, 2025

    Dmitry Chernyshenko took part in the awarding of the winners of the 1st All-Russian Prize “Conversations about the Important”

    June 1, 2025

    Dmitry Chernyshenko took part in the awarding of the winners of the 1st All-Russian Prize “Conversations about the Important”

    June 1, 2025

    Minister of Education Sergey Kravtsov took part in the awarding of the winners of the 1st All-Russian Prize “Conversations about the Important”

    June 1, 2025

    First Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Administration Sergei Kiriyenko took part in the awarding of the winners of the 1st All-Russian Prize “Conversations about the Important”

    June 1, 2025

    Award ceremony for the winners of the 1st All-Russian Prize “Conversations about the Important” within the framework of the festival “Movement of the First”

    June 1, 2025

    Previous news Next news

    Dmitry Chernyshenko took part in the awarding of the winners of the 1st All-Russian Prize “Conversations about the Important”

    On Children’s Day, First Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Administration Sergei Kiriyenko and Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko awarded the winners of the 1st All-Russian Prize “Conversations about the Important”.

    The event became the central event of Children’s Day at the “Movement of the First” festival, which was held at VDNKh. The award is held based on the results of the 2024/2025 academic year and emphasizes the significance and effectiveness of the “Conversations about the Important” project as an effective tool for educating the younger generation.

    Sergei Kirienko welcomed the guests and noted the project’s influence on the formation of the educational space in Russia.

    “The sense of pride with which the children relate to the Russian flag, to the Russian anthem, is the result of the enormous work of educators, teachers, mentors, educational advisers, mentors of the “Movement of the First”, thanks to the “Conversations about the Important” team and those people who, despite their busy schedules, get involved in the project. The “Conversations about the Important” are attended by the heads of the Government, the Federal Assembly, ministers, heads of the largest corporations, outstanding scientists who drop everything and truly believe that there is nothing more important than to pass on their conviction, their faith to the younger generation,” noted Sergei Kiriyenko.

    The First Deputy Chief of Staff of the Presidential Administration also presented an award to one of the winners in the nomination “Best Interview of the Year” – Hero of Labor of the Russian Federation, President of the Research Institute of Emergency Children’s Surgery and Traumatology, surgeon Leonid Roshal. He was chosen by teachers in a public vote.

    Dmitry Chernyshenko thanked Sergey Kiriyenko for the educational platform – the Atom pavilion and presented awards to the winners in the nomination “Best Interview of the Year”. They were chosen by parents during a public vote. The awards were received by the author of a documentary film about the Kursk region Maxim Anufriev, primary school teacher Kristina Chokheli, agricultural inventor Nikita Tolstov and Honored Doctor of Russia Viktor Belinsky.

    “Thank you to our President Vladimir Putin, who gives such incredible people the opportunity to realize their talents. In this difficult genre of interview, the interviewer’s skill determines how much the interlocutor will open up. People participating in “Conversations about the Important” certainly tell our children very important things. And the one who won today, according to the parents, did it better than anyone else this year,” said the Deputy Prime Minister.

    The ceremony was also attended by the Minister of Education Sergey Kravtsov, the Minister of Agriculture Oksana Lut, the head of the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs (Rosmolodezh) Grigory Gurov, Hero of Russia, Chairman of the Board of the “Movement of the First” Artur Orlov.

    “The “Conversations about the Important” classes are held first and foremost for our children. Today we see on stage the heroes who made this project so successful. Thanks to you and teachers all over Russia, our children are proud of their country. This is very important. Taking this opportunity, I would like to thank the teachers, directors’ advisors on education, who conduct “Conversations about the Important”, recognizing their enormous value and passing it on to the students. I propose making the “Conversations about the Important” award an annual one and celebrating it every June 1,” said Sergey Kravtsov.

    The “Movement of the First” festival is held in all 89 regions from May 31 to June 1 and is dedicated to International Children’s Day. The central venue was VDNKh in Moscow. Over the course of two days, the event became the main space for childhood and youth for the entire country. Here, children and adults see real opportunities for young people in Russia, get acquainted with the values of the “Movement of the First”, and communicate with experts and famous speakers.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Dmitry Chernyshenko: Children and youth of Russia have a huge number of paths, but even more opportunities

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    At the “Movement of the First” festival at VDNKh, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko congratulated the participants on Children’s Day, discussed their projects with schoolchildren, greeted the “Eaglets of Russia” and assessed the work of the sports zone.

    A presentation of four socially significant projects by Russian high school students took place in the lecture hall of the Znanie Society. The discussion was also attended by the general director of the Znanie Society, Maxim Dreval.

    “Friends, you have a huge number of paths, but even more opportunities, because President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin gave us an order – this is a whole national goal: to create conditions for the realization of opportunities, the disclosure of your talents. Today we have gathered here to consider some of the projects that you are doing. All of them are very interesting and deserve that we listen to them together. We will definitely think about how to support the most successful projects,” said Dmitry Chernyshenko.

    A student of Lyceum No. 1 of the Krasnoarmeysky District of Volgograd, finalist of the All-Russian competition “Knowledge. Lecturer” Alesya Zhuk presented the project “Made with Care in Russia”. Its mission is to promote the preservation and popularization of traditional folk crafts and trades. The idea is aimed at creating an all-Russian database of artisans and an interactive map of the origin of crafts.

    Dmitry Chernyshenko said that it is important to decide within the framework of what large event to hold such a festival of traditional crafts, to think through the mechanics and program.

    A student of Bauman Engineering School No. 1580 in Shatura, Alexandra Zhelnova, and a student of Moscow School No. 727, Margarita Starostina, presented the project “Pro podderzhki” – a service for supporting teenagers and their parents. The high school students want to create a tool that will distract children from the negative influence of the Internet, direct them to development and creativity, and help parents improve their relationships with their children.

    The Deputy Prime Minister drew attention to the importance of ensuring the protection of personal data, the anonymity of users, and also recommended adding functionality with the ability to find activities to one’s liking.

    Muscovite Daniil Makatrov, a student at the Classical Boarding School of Moscow State University named after M.V. Lomonosov, spoke about smart sensors for sports analytics using artificial intelligence – YouChip. The product significantly increases the efficiency of players and coaches, reduces the number of errors and speeds up decision-making by members of a sports club. The creator of the project is confident that the solution is applicable in any game sport, and the technology will be useful in industry, logistics, and other areas.

    Dmitry Chernyshenko gave recommendations on the commercialization of the project and noted that he would instruct the Ministry of Sports to consider the possibility of subsidizing in order to make the technology accessible to schools.

    Maria Aleksandrova, a student of the V. M. Komarov School with Advanced Study of English in Zvezdny Gorodok, Moscow Region, a finalist of the All-Russian competition “Knowledge. Lecturer”, presented the “Promkod” project. This is a new tourist platform for schoolchildren, parents and teachers, where enterprises from 13 industrial sectors will be presented, available for school excursions.

    The Deputy Prime Minister spoke about the federal project “Professionality” and announced plans to give its partner companies the opportunity to become familiar with the “Promcode”.

    The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized the depth and professional level of the projects’ preparation: “It turned out that you are helping to implement the President’s order, for which a separate national project “Youth and Children” was created. Thank you very much!”

    In addition, at the “Movement of the First” festival, Dmitry Chernyshenko congratulated the “Orlyat Rossii” on Children’s Day and joining the “Movement of the First”:

    “Now you will always be first! Thanks to our President, you have a huge number of opportunities to realize your talents. And we will try to make it happen for you.”

    Together with the deputy chairman of the board of the “Movement of the First”, Olympic champion Nikita Nagorny, the deputy prime minister assessed the sports zone, including phygital. Thus, the festival hosts the sites of the “Healthy Fatherland” movement, the Spartak football club, the Rugby Sports Federation, the Drone Racing Federation, the Gymnastics Federation and the Boxing Federation.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Dmitry Chernyshenko: 10 world-class scientific centers have been selected for grants

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    Dmitry Chernyshenko held another meeting of the Presidium of the Commission for Scientific and Technological Development of Russia

    May 31, 2025

    Dmitry Chernyshenko held another meeting of the Presidium of the Commission for Scientific and Technological Development of Russia

    May 31, 2025

    Previous news Next news

    Dmitry Chernyshenko held another meeting of the Presidium of the Commission for Scientific and Technological Development of Russia

    Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko held a regular meeting of the Presidium of the Commission for Scientific and Technological Development of Russia, at which confirmed the winners competitive selection for the provision of grants to world-class research centers (WRC).

    The meeting was attended by the Minister of Science and Higher Education Valery Falkov, the President of the Russian Academy of Sciences Gennady Krasnikov, the First Deputy Minister of Economic Development Maxim Kolesnikov, the Deputy Minister of Finance Pavel Kadochnikov, and representatives of scientific and educational organizations.

    “Based on the results of the competition, 10 NCMUs were selected. Their activities will be aimed at developing and introducing into the economy the most important science-intensive technologies defined by the decree of President Vladimir Putin. The size of the subsidy for each of the selected world-class scientific centers will be up to 320 million rubles annually,” Dmitry Chernyshenko emphasized.

    The Deputy Prime Minister also noted that the commission’s scientific and technical council provided expertise for all applications received, and thanked its head Gennady Krasnikov for the work he had done.

    The head of the Ministry of Education and Science, Valery Falkov, reported that applications were received for the competitive selection in all seven priority areas of scientific and technological development approved by the head of state.

    “In the future, it is planned to assign selected scientific centers to industry federal executive bodies. This will ensure the closest possible interaction between the parties,” the minister noted.

    “Last year, in accordance with the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of June 18, 2024, seven priority areas of scientific and technological development of our country were approved. In this regard, when considering applications, the scientific and technical council of the commission and the Russian Academy of Sciences proceeded from the fact that each priority area should correspond to at least one world-class scientific center. In total, we considered 46 applications,” said RAS President Gennady Krasnikov.

    Grants in the form of subsidies from the federal budget for the creation of the NCMU will be provided to 10 winning centers:

    — World-class scientific center IT SB RAS “Thermophysics and Power Engineering” (S.S. Kutateladze Institute of Thermal Physics SB RAS),

    — World-class scientific center “New materials for special purposes” (Tomsk State University),

    — Center for Cybernetic Medicine and Neuroprosthetics (Federal Center for Brain and Neurotechnology FMBA),

    — Center for Modern Breeding of Agricultural Plants (Federal Scientific Center for Vegetable Growing),

    — World-class scientific center “Agroengineering of the Future” (Stavropol State Agrarian University),

    — Center for Advanced Microelectronics (Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology),

    — “Electronic and quantum technologies based on synthetic diamond” (NRNU MEPhI),

    — “Intelligent unmanned aircraft systems” (Samara National Research University named after academician S.P. Korolev),

    — Center for Rational Use of Rare Metal Raw Materials (A.N. Frumkin Institute of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences),

    — World-class scientific center “High-tech bioeconomics” (National Research Center “Kurchatov Institute”).

    The size of the grants is determined by the development program of each center, which is formed for a period of at least six years.

    Let us recall that the first world-class scientific centers were created in 2020 as part of the national project “Science and Universities”, the implementation of which was completed last year. On the instructions of President Vladimir Putin, a new stage of development of the centers will be implemented as part of the state program “Scientific and Technological Development of the Russian Federation”.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Dmitry Chernyshenko, Sergey Kravtsov and Gleb Nikitin talked to the participants of the new season of the project “Institute of Advisors on Social Change”

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    Dmitry Chernyshenko at a meeting with participants of the new season of the project “Institute of Advisors on Social Change”

    May 31, 2025

    Dmitry Chernyshenko, Sergey Kravtsov and Gleb Nikitin talked to the participants of the new season of the project “Institute of Advisors on Social Change”

    May 31, 2025

    Previous news Next news

    Dmitry Chernyshenko at a meeting with participants of the new season of the project “Institute of Advisors on Social Change”

    On May 30, 2025, in Nizhny Novgorod, at the site of the Corporate University of the Government of the Nizhny Novgorod Region (KUPNO), training for participants in the fourth stream of the project “Institute of Advisors for Social Change” started. Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko, Minister of Education Sergei Kravtsov and Governor of the Nizhny Novgorod Region Gleb Nikitin spoke with the participants of the event.

    The Institute of Advisors for Social Change project is a cross-sector free program of the People’s Front project “Region of Care” and KUPNO, implemented with the support of the government of the Nizhny Novgorod region with the participation of RANEPA. It unites civil servants, managers and employees of NPOs, representatives of socially responsible businesses and the media and allows for the preparation of leaders of change in the social sphere.

    Since the project began, 115 people from 33 regions of Russia have already completed specialized training. More than 40 people have become students of the fourth training stream. They will have to develop projects in such areas as helping teenagers in crisis situations, reorganizing boarding schools, palliative care for children and adults, preventing social orphanhood, and many others. The main goal of the training is to help specialists restructure their work so as to proceed from the interests of the person, while using the strengths of partner organizations.

    “Today we could not help but come here, where they train social change advisers, first of all out of respect for you and your work. As the President teaches us, in public administration it is precisely this kind of direct communication that helps make wise decisions and effectively build processes. It is very important to check the real situation and take into account that it can even have a destructive effect if the situation is incorrectly interpreted and unrepresentative data is used. What you do is a great responsibility, you must be professionals of the highest level in order to fully justify the enormous trust that has been placed in you. Especially in such an area as social change. Of course, these changes must be positive,” noted Dmitry Chernyshenko.

    “We pay great attention to the education system, it is important that it is consistent – starting with kindergarten, then continuing in school, college, and university. On the instructions of the President of Russia, education in our country is built on the basis of traditional spiritual and moral values. We care about the fact that all children, including children with disabilities, have access to the development of their talents and self-realization,” said Minister of Education Sergey Kravtsov.

    According to Gleb Nikitin, the Institute of Advisors is a unique project to train leaders of change in the social sphere. The educational program gives participants an impetus to develop social innovations both in their home regions and at the federal level.

    “Together with the Region of Care and my advisor Nyuta Federmesser, we started implementing social change projects in the field of working with people with disabilities and disabilities five years ago. And at the initial stage, we went through many difficulties, overcoming the rigidity of the system. Some people had to be made to remember what humanity is. When faced with callousness, sometimes the inability to change something, when a person is having a hard time, feeling bad, you ask yourself: how can this be changed? We understood one thing clearly: we need to work with those who permanently live in social institutions and have health restrictions. All this requires a huge heart and a very special way of thinking. The Institute of Advisors project brought together exactly these people – supporters, caring and charged with changes for the better,” said Gleb Nikitin.

    Today, among the graduates of the “Institute of Advisors” of previous years, there are already 22 specialists from the Nizhny Novgorod region. Experts show in practice how to change the work of social institutions for the better, give wards more freedom of choice, fill people’s lives with new meanings.

    Director of the Department of State Policy in the Sphere of Education, Supplementary Education and Children’s Recreation of the Ministry of Education, Hero of Russia, participant of the program “Time of Heroes” Igor Yurgin joined the words of Sergey Kravtsov and noted that in the year of the 80th anniversary of the Victory and in the Year of the Defender of the Fatherland, it is important to remember that the participants of the SVO defend the values of the state. And among them, the upbringing of children, youth, assistance to children with disabilities is one of the main ones.

    The author of the People’s Front project “Region of Care”, adviser to the Governor of the Nizhny Novgorod Region Nyuta Federmesser emphasized that systemic changes can be introduced into the work of state institutions only with the assistance of a motivated and caring public and government.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Record levels of peatland restored

    Source: Scottish Government

    Scotland on track to meet interim peatland restoration target.

    **Embargoed until 0001 Monday 2 June**

    More than 14,000 hectares of degraded peatlands have been restored across Scotland in the last year, helping to reduce carbon emissions and restore biodiversity.

    Peatlands are areas of wet land that support habitats and species that are important for biodiversity, they also protect the wider ecosystem by improving water quality and reducing the severity of flooding. 

    Covering nearly two million hectares, Scotland is home to two-thirds of the UK’s peatlands. However, nearly three-quarters of Scotland’s peatlands is currently degraded.

    The Scottish Government has pledged £250 million to support the restoration of 250,000 hectares of peatlands by 2030, with an interim target of 110,000 hectares by 2026. A total of 90,000 hectares have been restored since 1990 and 14,860 of those were completed throughout the 2024-25 financial year.

    Agriculture Minister Jim Fairlie said:

    “As we celebrate World Peatlands Day, I am very pleased to report Scotland’s Peatland ACTION partnership has put 14,860 hectares of degraded peatlands on the road to recovery last year. This is a new record in one year.

    “Restoring peatland benefits our environment by reducing emissions, reducing risks of flooding and wildfires and improving water quality, it also invests in people and skills, creating green jobs in rural communities.

    “This means we have exceeded our 2024 Programme for Government commitment and represents a 42% increase over the 10,360 hectares restored during 2023-24. I thank all of our partners for their sustained efforts and tenacity in delivering another milestone figure.”

    Nick Halfhide, NatureScot Interim Chief Executive, said:

    “As key partners in the Scottish Government’s Peatland ACTION Partnership, NatureScot has successfully facilitated 65% of the restoration work completed in 2024-25. This significant achievement contributes substantially towards the overall target of 250,000 hectares of degraded peatland being put on the road to recovery by 2030.

    “Restoring Scotland’s degraded peatlands is essential to addressing both the climate and nature emergencies – it makes a vitally important contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions while providing broader benefits for biodiversity and water quality.”

    A key delivery partner of the Peatland ACTION Partnership, Forestry and Land Scotland has delivered 1744ha of peatland restoration work across Scotland in the last year surpassing its yearly target of 1500ha. CEO Kevin Quinlan said:

    “Forestry and Land Scotland is proud to be supporting the Scottish Government’s commitment to restoring 250,000 hectares of peatlands by 2030 as a key delivery partner in the Peatland ACTION Partnership.

    “Every site we restore adds to the scale of the contribution we make in efforts to transform and restore one of Scotland’s largest degraded ecosystems to create a far healthier landscape.”

    Background

    NatureScot is due to publish the Peatland ACTION Annual Review 2024-25 this week.

    Peatland ACTION | NatureScot

    Peatlands | Forestry and Land Scotland

    Third World Peatlands Day – International Peatland Society

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Redesigned flight paths to deliver quicker, quieter flights and boost growth

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Redesigned flight paths to deliver quicker, quieter flights and boost growth

    Modernising our airspace will help to reduce pollution from flying and help pave the way for new technologies like flying taxis.

    • passengers will benefit from quicker flights and fewer delays, while residents could enjoy quieter take-offs through new government plans  
    • redesigned flight paths will create more direct and efficient routes, propel airport expansion and turbocharge growth as part of the Plan for Change  
    • plans will help to reduce aviation’s climate change impacts and help pave the way for new technologies like flying taxis to take to the skies, delivering a boost for innovation and jobs

    Holiday-makers will enjoy quicker flights and fewer delays as part of new laws set out today (2 June 2025) to open up new and more direct routes, propel airport expansion and boost growth.  

    The changes laid in Parliament today will enable the largest redesign of UK airspace since it was first formed in the 1950s, when there were only around 200,000 flights per year, compared to 2.7 million in 2024. The new UK Airspace Design Service (UKADS) will be fully operational by the end of 2025 and will be run by NATS (En Route) plc (NERL). 

    Modernising the airspace will open up capacity, supporting growth and thousands of jobs in the aviation and tourism sectors, as well as reducing delays and emissions per flight resulting from planes circling in the sky while waiting to land.

    Redesigned ‘skyways’ could also allow planes to climb quicker during take-off and descend more smoothly, reducing noise and air pollution for residents who live along flight routes.   

    The UKADS’ initial focus will be on redesigning London’s airspace, with expansion at Heathrow alone expected to create over 100,000 extra jobs, turbocharge economic growth, strengthen the UK’s status as a global hub and deliver major benefits for airlines and passengers. 

    Over a longer timeframe, the UKADS could design routes that support flight paths for new and emerging technologies such as drones and flying taxis, spurring British innovation and delivering highly skilled jobs in the tech space.   

    The Department for Transport will continue working with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to ensure the swift delivery of these new and improved routes, as well as to ensure independent oversight of the UKADS roll-out. 

    Aviation Minister, Mike Kane, said:  

    Redesigned ‘skyways’ will turbocharge growth in the aviation industry, not least by boosting airport expansion plans and supporting job creation, driving millions into the UK economy as part of the Plan for Change.  

    Modernising our airspace is also one of the simplest ways to help reduce pollution from flying and will set the industry up for a long-term, sustainable future.

    The measures will help secure the long-term future of the sector and make it more resilient to disruption. The plans come as global forecasts show a near doubling of passengers and cargo in the next 20 years.  

    One modernisation measure in the south west of England has already been estimated to save 12,000 tonnes a year, enough to power 7 trips around the world, with further modernisation plans expected to deliver even greater results.  

    Rob Bishton, Chief Executive of the UK Civil Aviation Authority, said:

    Modernising our airspace infrastructure is key to enabling the growth of the sector and helping mitigate its impacts.  

    Our work with government and stakeholders on the creation of the UK Airspace Design Service is another important step in the journey to streamline and improve confidence in the ability to deliver airspace change decisions.

    Martin Rolfe, CEO of NATS, said:

    The UK’s airspace network is one of the busiest and most complex in the world. We handle a quarter of Europe’s traffic despite having only 11% of its airspace, with one of the best safety and delay records anywhere. However, we have to modernise airspace if we are to maintain this level of performance as traffic grows towards 3 million flights per year.

    The government’s announcement to create a UK Airspace Design Service is a crucial step, building on the work we’ve already completed in other parts of the UK. We look forward to working with the government and the CAA to finalise the details regarding the best way to implement the plan and the processes required to ensure UKADS is successful.

    Karen Dee, Chief Executive of AirportsUK, the trade association for UK airports, said:

    The UK’s airspace is a critical piece of our national infrastructure and these proposals will help modernise it, bringing forward new technologies and routing methods that will make it more efficient, cleaner, and provide passengers with a better experience.

    Our airspace is some of the most complex in the world and we welcome the new UK Airspace Design Service (UKADS) that will bring together all the parties involved to help overcome some of the challenges this creates.

    Airports have led the calls for this approach to be adopted and we are pleased that government is fast-tracking it for implementation by the end of the year. Our members, firstly in the London area and then perhaps more widely across the UK, look forward to getting to work with UKADS to deliver the changes that will make our airspace fit for the 21st century.

    Tim Alderslade, CEO of Airlines UK, said:

    Modernising UK airspace is long overdue and these changes will help to speed up a programme that will provide tangible reforms, from a reduction in delays, improved resilience and lower carbon emissions. 

    This is a major priority for airlines and we look forward to working with Ministers and all parts of UK aviation to complete a once in a generation infrastructure programme as quickly as possible and ideally by the end of the decade, so we can continue delivering for passengers and cargo customers whilst meeting our commitment to net zero. 

    Alison FitzGerald, Chief Executive Officer of London City Airport, said:

    We welcome the government’s support for airport growth and the recognition of the economic and societal benefits that air travel brings to the UK. London and the South East has some of the most complex airspace in the world, and this announcement will help create the conditions for a more modern, efficient, and sustainable airspace system.

    Modernising our airspace is essential to unlocking future growth, reducing delays, cutting emissions, and improving the passenger experience. We look forward to working closely with government, industry partners and local communities to deliver these vital changes.

    Heathrow’s Chief Operating Officer, Javier Echave, said:

    This is an important step to making UK aviation more modern, efficient, and reliable for the millions of people and businesses who rely on available airspace capacity. As the UK’s gateway to growth, we are committed to continue working with the government to unlock the economic benefits of an expanded UK airspace, while cutting carbon and noise impacts.

    Aviation, Europe and technology media enquiries

    Media enquiries 0300 7777 878

    Switchboard 0300 330 3000

    Updates to this page

    Published 2 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Telecare users and their loved ones across the UK urged to speak to telecoms providers ahead of switch to digital landlines

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Telecare users and their loved ones across the UK urged to speak to telecoms providers ahead of switch to digital landlines

    The 2 million vulnerable people who rely on lifesaving telecare alarms to call for help have today been urged to get in touch with their landline providers so companies can provide additional support for them during the switch to digital landlines.

    Telecare users and their loved ones urged to speak to telecoms providers ahead of switch to digital landlines.

    • Users of lifesaving alarms encouraged to call their providers to access additional free support with the switchover from copper to digital landlines
    • During the switchover, telecoms companies will send engineers to help customers and test connections of telecare alarms used by 2 million nationwide
    • Comes as BT and Virgin Media launch national awareness campaign, supported by the UK government, to ensure no one gets overlooked during vital digital migration

    The switch from analogue to digital landlines is being rolled out across the country as copper networks become increasingly unreliable and spare parts are no longer available.

    Putting safety at the centre of the switchover, landline companies will send an engineer to carry out the switchover and personally test the telecare alarm, ensuring it continues to work once a household has moved onto the digital network.

    Landline providers will also offer vulnerable customers a free battery back-up device so their landline can continue working in an outage.

    It comes as a major new campaign funded by BT and Virgin Media and backed by the UK government launches today (Monday 2 June), urging the millions of telecare users in the UK– typically elderly and disabled people – as well as their support network to identify themselves so nobody gets overlooked.

    Many local authorities and private telecare operators have already signed data sharing agreements with landline providers to ensure that as many telecare users have been identified as possible. With over two thirds of landlines already migrated, the campaign is the final layer of protection to identify any additional users.  

    Following a fall last year, Ann, who is in her 90s and from Stockport, became reliant on her telecare device. She is backing the campaign after her provider successfully migrated her landline last year. 

    Ann said: 

    The visit with the engineer was most enjoyable and very smooth, they handled everything for me. It’s left me feeling more reassured and confident. It’s also given my daughter Vickey peace of mind, knowing that if I need support, my pendant will work as it should. I’d encourage other people like me who rely on a personal alarm to get in touch with their landline provider for support.

    Telecoms Minister Sir Chris Bryant said:

    We cannot afford to leave anyone behind during the vital transition to digital landlines.

    I have personally set a strict checklist of safeguards for industry to comply with before they migrate any telecare user.

    This industry-led campaign marks a further step towards keeping people safe as we boost the resilience of our networks for the digital age.

    I urge anyone with a telecare alarm – or anyone close to a user of a telecare alarm – to pick up the phone and contact their provider to access the help that’s available.

    Since 2017, UK operators have been carrying out work to retire the decades old copper home phone network and move customers to digital landline services ahead of the analogue switch-off. Analogue landlines are reaching end of service life, becoming increasingly unreliable and spare parts are no longer available. Recent Ofcom data reveals faults rates substantially increased by 45% in 2024.

    The campaign launched today and builds on the voluntary industry charter signed by BT, Virgin Media and other providers and the checklist agreed in November 2024. The checklist commits providers to complete a strict checklist of safeguards before transferring customers from old analogue phone lines onto a digital network, reducing the risk of them being disconnected during the migration. This includes engineer visits and issuing battery backups.

    Minister of State for Care, Stephen Kinnock, said:

    Patient safety is our priority and by supporting this campaign we are making sure that no-one will be put at risk by having to use unreliable devices.

    We are working with communication providers who are delivering the digital phone switchover to make sure no-one falls through the cracks. BT and VMO2 are offering free advice as well as supported installations for vulnerable people.

    Modernising our telecoms infrastructure will make a world of difference for millions of people and help guarantee their safety.

    Claire Gillies, BT Group’s Consumer CEO, said:

    Moving customers onto newer digital services is a necessary step as the reliability of the 40-year-old analogue landline technology is increasingly fragile – therefore the time to act is now. 

    The Digital Switchover project requires team collaboration, so we’ve been working hard with industry partners and are really pleased to have the support of government in helping us raise awareness and drive action. It’s incredibly important that nobody gets left behind, and we encourage telecare users and their carers to contact their provider to ensure a smooth switch.

    Rob Orr, Chief Operations Officer at Virgin Media O2, said:

    This major new campaign marks a significant moment where 2 industry leaders have come together to raise awareness of the digital landline switchover. 

    With traditional analogue landlines becoming less and less reliable, the programme is essential step to safeguard services for the future. Inaction would mean putting services at risk. 

    Our message is clear: if you or someone you know use a telecare alarm, pick up the phone and talk to your provider. Let us know, and we’ll support you every step of the way.

    Amy Low, CEO at AbilityNet, said: 

    As a charity our core aim is empowering older and disabled people to use technology, so we’re fully behind this campaign which will raise further awareness to the most vulnerable, as well as their carers, with an urgent message to act.

    With the digital switchover happening it has never been more important that they contact their provider who can offer tailored support and in-home assistance to ensure everything goes to plan.

    Matthew Evans, Director for Markets and Chief Operating Officer at techUK, said:

    As the current PSTN system becomes increasingly unreliable – with faults rising 45% in 2024 – we need to ensure a swift transition to a digital network fit for the future.

    With many other countries and many millions of UK households having already completed the migration, it is essential to raise awareness and complete this move. We are proud to support VMO2 and BT as well as the UK government as they establish this important campaign and we look forward to continuing to work with the telecoms sector and other parties to ensure the delivery of a safe and sustainable switch.

    Alyson Scurfield, chief executive of telecare advisory body, TSA said:

    Landline phone lines are switching to digital, which could stop telecare alarms working. However, many people, families and carers just aren’t aware of the impact this could have on life-saving telecare. That’s why TSA is supporting this incredibly important national campaign. If you or someone you know uses a telecare alarm, then please call your landline provider. They will make sure your alarm keeps working through the switchover. Please help us spread this message far and wide.

    Notes to editors

    More information on the digital switchover and the new awareness campaign video.

    From today, adverts will appear across TV, newspapers, social media and select radio stations around the country running over the next few months to ensure widespread reach. This is coupled with newly created posters which will be on display in GP surgeries, hospitals, pharmacies and post offices.

    The campaign has been created following extensive research with telecare users and their carers, as well as charities, to ensure the messaging is suitable for healthcare alarm users. The advertising campaign is expected to be seen by 95% of all adults in the UK, including 98% of those over 65.

    In 2023, BT and Virgin Media (and other major communication providers) voluntarily signed up to the government’s Public Switched Telephone Network charter to protect vulnerable people when they are moved onto digital services. In November 2024 the major communication providers agreed a checklist of specific safeguards to protect people during the migration.  

    Since then, both companies, which together make up the vast majority of landline users in the UK, have worked with Ofcom, government and charities to improve their policies and processes. They have developed comprehensive support measures to support vulnerable customers including providing free of charge battery backup solutions to provide connectivity during power outages. 

    To find out more about the support available, customers of all major providers can easily find contact information on the newly created digital landline website: www.digitalphoneswitchover.com.

    BT and Virgin Media landline customers can call on 150 from their home phone.

    DSIT media enquiries

    Email press@dsit.gov.uk

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

    Updates to this page

    Published 2 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Coast Guard urges preparedness for 2025 Atlantic hurricane season

    Source: United States Coast Guard

    News Release  

    U.S. Coast Guard 7th District PA Detachment Jacksonville
    Contact: Coast Guard PA Detachment Jacksonville
    Office: 904-714-7606/7607
    After Hours: 786-393-4138
    PA Detachment Jacksonville online newsroom

     

    06/01/2025 04:57 PM EDT

    MIAMI — The Coast Guard reminds mariners and residents of South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands to prepare for the 2025 hurricane season.  

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: expert reaction to a conference abstract looking at the effect of nanoplastic consumption on metabolism and liver function in mice

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    A conference abstract presented at NUTRITION 2025 looks at the effect of nanoplastic consumption on metabolism and liver function in mice. 

    Prof Oliver Jones, Professor of Chemistry, RMIT University, said:

    “While we only have the press release and abstract to go on, the keywords are ‘in mice’. Mice are not mini-humans; we can’t assume the result would automatically translate to humans.

    “The methods are not clear, but it seems the mice were given 60 mg/kg per day of a solution that was 10% polystyrene (so 6 mg/kg of plastic per kg of body weight per day). It is equivalent to an 80 kg human eating half a gram of plastic per day. This is just not a realistic dose [see 1]. A recent independent review suggests that we ingest only 0.0000006 g of plastic per day [2]. Even then, they likely pass straight out again as the gut wall is relatively thick and well-regulated in humans.

    “The mice were also force-fed this diet directly into the stomach for 6-7 weeks before the biochemical analysis was performed. If I were force-fed almost 0.5 grams of plastic a day for 6-7 weeks, I expect I would have some sort of metabolic response, but that would not necessarily be bad in itself, and in any case, this just isn’t what happens in real life.  

    “The researchers only used one plastic, polystyrene, which is far from the most common plastic found in the environment. However, it is readily available and is often used in such studies, even if it is not the best plastic to use.

    “Another issue is that the type of mouse (C57/B6J) used may have problems with glucose metabolism under normal circumstances anyway [3]. Metabolic analyses also only give you an idea of what was happening at the single point in time the sample was taken. We don’t know if the metabolic changes were permanent or went back to normal later.

    “The World Health Organisation (WHO) says there is no clear evidence that microplastics pose a threat to human health. Now, this is not the same as saying they are safe, it simply means they feel there is no proof they pose a risk, despite the numerous papers published on microplastics each year. 

    “I don’t think this study is helpful for human risk assessment. It uses unrealistically high amounts of a plastic, which is not the major type found in the environment, fed to a type of mouse prone to glucose issues, in an unrealistic manner.”

    References:

    1. Green, H. (2022) Are You Eating a Credit Card Every Week? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ntp6BqhSng accessed 29/05/25
    2. Mohamed Nor N.H., Kooi M., Diepens N.J. & Koelmans A.A. (2021) Lifetime Accumulation of Microplastic in Children and Adults. Environmental Science & Technology 55, 5084-96. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.0c07384
    3. Freeman H.C., Hugill A., Dear N.T., Ashcroft F.M. & Cox R.D. (2006) Deletion of nicotinamide nucleotide transhydrogenase: a new quantitive trait locus accounting for glucose intolerance in C57BL/6J mice. Diabetes 55, 2153-6.https://diabetesjournals.org/diabetes/article/55/7/2153/14138/Deletion-of-Nicotinamide-Nucleotide”

    ‘Adverse Effects of Nanoplastics Administration on the Metabolic Profile and Glucose Control in Mice’ is a conference abstract which was presented by Amy Parkhurst at NUTRITION 2025. The embargo lifted at 21:45 UK Time, Sunday 1st June 2025.

    Declared interests

    Prof Oliver Jones: “I am a professor of chemistry at RMIT University in Melbourne. I don’t have any conflicts of interest to declare. However, I do conduct research into environmental pollution, such as microplastics. Sixteen years ago, I worked on a toxicology project funded by the UK Food Standards Agency.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK to expand submarine programme in response to Strategic Defence Review

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    UK to expand submarine programme in response to Strategic Defence Review

    The UK will build up to a dozen new attack submarines to keep Britain safe.

    SSN-AUKUS concept image

    • UK to build up to 12 attack submarines as part of AUKUS programme in response to the rapidly increasing threats
    • Builds on £15 billion investment set out for the UK’s sovereign nuclear warhead programme, keeping the UK safe for generations to come and delivering on the Plan for Change
    • Nuclear investments will transform critical parts of the defence nuclear industry, directly supporting 30,000 highly skilled jobs up-and-down the country and the doubling of apprentice and graduate roles across the next ten years.

    The Prime Minister will announce tomorrow that the UK’s conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarine fleet will be significantly expanded, with up to 12 new SSN-AUKUS boats to be built.

    The increase in submarines will transform the UK’s submarine building industry and, following the £15 billion investment in the warhead programme outlined, will deliver on this government’s Plan for Change, supporting 30,000 highly skilled jobs up-and-down the country well into the 2030s, as well as helping work to deliver 30,000 apprenticeships and 14,000 graduate roles across the next ten years.

    The announcement comes as the government unveils its new Strategic Defence Review tomorrow. The externally-led review is expected to recommend that our Armed Forces move to warfighting readiness to deter the growing threats faced by the UK. The report makes 62 recommendations, which the government is expected to accept in full.

    Responding to the report, the government will make significant commitments to its armed forces and deliver greater security for working people through the government’s Plan for Change.

    That includes:

    • A landmark shift in our deterrence and defence: moving to warfighting readiness to deter threats and strengthen security in the Euro Atlantic area;
    • Increasing stockpiles of munitions and support equipment, ensuring that production capacities can rapidly scale up in response to crises or war;
    • The procurement of up to 7,000 UK-built long-range weapons for the UK Armed Forces, supporting around 800 defence jobs, and boosting our military capabilities
    • A new CyberEM Command to put the UK at the forefront of cyber operations, alongside £1bn investment in pioneering digital capability; and
    • Improving the lives of thousands of British military personnel and their families through more than £1.5 billion of additional funding to repair and renew armed forces housing.

    The Prime Minister is expected to say:

    From the supply lines to the front lines, this government is foursquare behind the men and women upholding our nation’s freedom and security.

    National security is the foundation of my Plan for Change, and this plan will ensure Britain is secure at home and strong abroad, while delivering a defence dividend of well-paid jobs up and down the country.

    This Strategic Defence Review will ensure the UK rises to the challenge and our Armed Forces have the equipment they need that keeps us safe at home while driving greater opportunity for our engineers, shipbuilders and technicians of the future.

    Alongside the commitment to expand the UK’s conventionally armed attack submarine fleet, the government is securing the future of the Royal Navy’s Continuous At Sea Nuclear Deterrent, backed by a £15 billion investment into the sovereign warhead programme in this parliament and supporting more than 9,000 jobs.

    It is the first time the UK has outlined the full scale of its investment plans in its warhead programmes and is further evidence of the Government’s triple lock commitment to the nuclear deterrent: to maintain our continuous at-sea deterrent; to build the new fleet of Dreadnought submarines; and to deliver all future upgrades necessary.

    This will see significant modernisation of infrastructure at the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) in Aldermaston and supporting more than 9,000 jobs at the Berkshire site, and thousands more across the UK supply chain – from Scotland to Somerset.

    The nuclear warhead programme includes some of the most advanced and sensitive science, engineering and manufacturing facilities in the UK.

    Both the UK’s sovereign warhead programme and the UK’s conventionally-armed submarine fleet will make Britain and NATO safe for decades to come.

    Defence Secretary John Healey MP said:

    Our outstanding submariners patrol 24/7 to keep us and our allies safe, but we know that threats are increasing and we must act decisively to face down Russian aggression. 

    With new state-of-the-art submarines patrolling international waters and our own nuclear warhead programme on British shores, we are making Britain secure at home and strong abroad, while delivering on our Plan for Change with 30,000 highly-skilled jobs across the country.

    Already supporting more than 400,000 skilled British jobs, UK defence is a crucial engine for economic growth, delivering on the government’s Plan for Change – supported by the Government’s historic uplift in defence spending to 2.5% of GDP from 2027, and the ambition to hit 3% in the next parliament, when economic and fiscal conditionals allow. 

    Currently the UK is set to operate 7 Astute Class attack submarines, which will be replaced with an increased fleet of up to 12 SSN-AUKUS submarines from the late 2030s.

    The boost to the SSN-AUKUS programme will see a major expansion of industrial capability at Barrow and Raynesway, Derby, with the build of a new submarine every 18 months in the future.

    The increase in capacity at the two sites will allow the UK to increase its fleet to up to 12 attack boats, as part of the AUKUS partnership.

    To ensure the demands of this expanded programme can be met, government is working closely with industry partners to rapidly expand training and development opportunities, aiming to double defence and civil nuclear apprentice and graduate intakes. This will result in 30,000 apprenticeships and 14,000 graduate roles over the next ten years.

    The SDR calls for significant investment into the UK sovereign warhead programme this parliament, while maintaining the existing stockpile.

    Updates to this page

    Published 1 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Minister Ramokgopa to attend Hamburg Sustainability Conference

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Minister in the Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Maropene Ramokgopa, is set to represent South Africa at the Hamburg Sustainability Conference in Germany, which takes place in Germany on 2 and 3 June 2025. 

    The Ministry in The Presidency: Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation said the conference seeks to accelerate global action to implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

    “Minister Ramokgopa’s participation at the Hamburg Sustainability Conference will underscore South Africa’s continued efforts to advance accelerated action to achieve domestic development goals through the National Development Plan Vision 2030 (NDP) and the Medium-Term Development Plan (MTDP), and global goals through the SDGs and the African Union’s Agenda 2063. 
    “The Minister will also advance the importance of partnerships and equality to achieve to achieve sustainable development,” the Ministry said in a statement on Saturday.
    Established in 2024, the two-day conference will bring together key decision-makers from governments, civil society, and the private sector.  

    Spearheaded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Michael Otto Foundation, and the Free Hanseatic City of Hamburg, this initiative is designed to drive sustainable change.

    The conference offers a unique platform to forge new partnerships and demonstrates the power of collaboration in tackling global challenges and transforming lives.

    According to the Director, Germany Representation Office at the UNDP, Melanie Hauenstein, the world is at a pivotal moment and confronting extraordinary challenges – climate change, conflict, and economic instability, all while investment in development and international cooperation faces unprecedented constraints. 

    She said that these realities underscore why multilateralism is essential for addressing shared challenges and securing a more stable, sustainable future.

    “The Hamburg Sustainability Conference (HSC) is a vital platform for advancing this critical agenda. The HSC goes beyond reflection – it’s an opportunity to deepen our understanding of development and to imagine the sustainable futures we can create together,” she said.  – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Statement by IMF MD Kristalina Georgieva on the Passing of Former IMF FDMD Stanley Fischer

    Source: IMF – News in Russian

    Statement by IMF MD Kristalina Georgieva on the Passing of Former IMF FDMD Stanley Fischer

    June 1, 2025

    Washington, DC: Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), issued the following statement today after news of the death of Mr. Stanley Fischer, former IMF First Deputy Managing Director:

    “We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of our dear friend Stan Fischer, who among many career achievements, served as the First Deputy Managing Director of the IMF between 1994 and 2001. Stan will be remembered for his enormous influence on the economics profession, first as a leading academic and teacher, then as an accomplished policymaker across many prominent posts. During his time at the IMF, he helped lead the Fund’s response to a number of significant challenges, including the Mexican crisis of 1994 and the 1997 Asian financial crisis. To this day, Stan is deeply admired by Fund staff, management and the membership for his intellectual leadership, personal integrity, and dedication to public service. He believed strongly in the Fund’s core mission, as he put it: ‘to promote principles of good economic citizenship, and provide a forum for countries to discuss issues of mutual interest.’

    “As an academic at the University of Chicago and MIT, Stan’s research had a profound effect on the field of macroeconomics, becoming a leading figure in the New Keynesian movement. Stan taught, mentored and influenced many leading policymakers and thought leaders. During his extraordinary policymaking career, he served as Chief Economist of the World Bank before becoming First Deputy Managing Director of the IMF. From 2005 until 2013, he served as Governor of the Bank of Israel, helping to steer the Israeli economy through the global financial crisis. He then became Vice-Chair of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System in 2014, serving in that role until 2017. As a central banker, he was a staunch proponent of inflation targeting frameworks, transparency, and central bank independence.

    “On behalf of the IMF, I extend my deepest condolences to Mr. Fischer’s three children Michael, David and Jonathan and their families. Stan led a life of exemplary public service, matched only by his innate goodness as a colleague, friend and human being.”

    IMF Communications Department
    MEDIA RELATIONS

    PRESS OFFICER: Brian Walker

    Phone: +1 202 623-7100Email: MEDIA@IMF.org

    https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2025/06/01/pr-25169-statement-by-imf-md-kristalina-georgieva-on-the-passing-of-former-imf-fdmd-stanley-fischer

    MIL OSI

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: These 5 roadblocks are standing in the way of energy-efficient homes

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jaime Comber, Senior Research Consultant in Energy Futures, University of Technology Sydney

    Westend61, GettyImages

    We all want homes that keep us warm in winter and cool in summer, without breaking the bank. However, Australian homes built before 2003 have a low average energy rating of 1.8 stars out of 10. This means they’re often uncomfortable to live in and expensive to run.

    There’s a strong case for a “renovation wave” of home energy upgrades across Australia. Reducing the use of fossil gas and improving the energy efficiency of existing housing by nearly 50% is also central to achieving net zero emissions by 2050.

    Energy-saving upgrades such as solar panels, batteries, insulation, draught-proofing and hot water heat pumps also reduce the cost of energy bills. So while there’s an upfront cost, upgrades can reduce household expenses in the long run.

    We wanted to find out what’s holding people back from getting energy-saving upgrades. We surveyed 100 Australian households and interviewed 19 people about their experiences. Our new research revealed five major barriers that stop these upgrades from being accessible to most households. Suppliers, governments and community organisations can all help overcome these barriers.

    Embarking on home energy upgrades can be an emotional rollercoaster ride.
    RACE for 2030

    1. Information about upgrades is confusing and overwhelming

    Households told us the amount of information out there about energy saving upgrades is overwhelming and sometimes conflicting. There are many different types of upgrades and product choices, making it challenging to identify which options provide the best value and what to do first. People found it difficult to know what information and which suppliers to trust.

    Households need clear information from a trusted source about what their homes need. Many governments internationally, such as Scotland, provide online resources and tools to provide tailored advice to help with this.

    Energy upgrade programs run by neutral community organisations and councils can also help, such as Rewiring Australia’s Electrify 2515 or Geelong Sustainability’s Electric Homes Program. These programs use their expertise to vet suppliers and ensure households receive good deals and high quality products.

    2. Homes need to engage multiple suppliers and tradespeople

    Many households worked on their home gradually, one upgrade at a time. Each upgrade involved a labour-intensive process of researching products, selecting companies, getting quotes and managing the disruptions caused by the installation. One Sydney homeowner told us:

    The process of needing both a plumber and an electrician to change to induction cooking was frustrating. [We had to] to coordinate availability times and appliance delivery.

    Australians need companies that can do multiple upgrades at once, to simplify and streamline the process. In Ireland, the government helped stimulate a market for organisations that can cover all the upgrades needed by a household.

    Ireland has “One Stop Shops” for home energy upgrades (Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland)

    3. Households are losing opportunities for straightforward upgrades

    Every year, Australians invest billions in home renovations. They spent more than A$3 billion in the December 2024 quarter alone.

    One of the best times to improve your home is during major renovations or when old appliances, such as hot water systems, break down. If you’re already facing disruptions and need to spend money, it can be an easy and more cost-effective way to increase your home’s energy efficiency at the same time.

    Yet our research found advice on energy-saving upgrades was rarely provided to people undertaking major renovations or emergency replacements unless they asked for it. Households needed to seek out builders, architects and tradespeople who specialised in sustainability to get advice on an energy-saving renovation.

    Providing energy upgrades to homes should be a standard component of modern renovations. Otherwise, households are missing out on easy and more affordable opportunities to get these upgrades.

    4. Many tradespeople lack knowledge of energy-saving upgrades

    Our research found tradespeople are the most common point of contact for households. They can be a valuable source of information and advice to facilitate upgrades. However, many households reported difficulty finding tradespeople knowledgeable about – and willing to install – energy-saving upgrades.

    Some upgrades, such as solar panels, require specialised workforces. Others, such as hot water heat pumps are usually installed by regular plumbers and electricians.

    Some tradespeople lack the knowledge to advise on energy-saving upgrades or need training to install new technologies to a high standard. This situation leaves households vulnerable to misinformation, with a shortage of skilled workers to do their upgrades.

    Tradespeople require increased support and incentives to make energy-saving measures part of their skill set. This is especially true in regional areas, where there are fewer products and workers available.

    5. The costs are too high for many households

    A final, significant barrier was the cost of home upgrades, which often caused households to drop out early in the process. Australian households, particularly those with less disposable income, need more help with the upfront cost.

    One way to do this is through targeted government rebates, which are currently only available in some regions. Another is affordable and accessible financing, like that available in Tasmania and the ACT. The national Home Energy Upgrades Fund could also be extended to make sure available finance matches the scale of the challenge.

    Also needed are long-term reforms such as mandatory disclosure of energy performance when homes are sold and minimum energy standards for rental properties, which are currently only required in some jurisdictions in Australia. When these are both addressed we can make comfortable, and affordable homes the norm rather than the exception.

    Keeping warm in winter and cool in summer is the number one motivation for energy saving upgrades.
    RACE for 2030

    A worthwhile journey

    Roadblocks aside, households also shared the joy and satisfaction of completing home energy upgrades. While the journey was often difficult, those who reached the end of the road were overwhelmingly pleased with the results. A homeowner who had installed solar panels and undertaken draught-proofing and insulation in Adelaide said:

    It’s nice not to have huge electricity bills, and but I find it’s that day to day stuff of actually being comfortable that makes the biggest difference.

    This research was undertaken by Jaime Comber, Kamyar Soleimani, Ed Langham, Nimish Biloria, Leena Thomas and Kerryn Wilmot from the University of Technology, Sydney.

    Jaime Comber received funding for this research as part of the Energy Upgrades for Australian Homes (EUAH) initiative – a national collaboration between research, industry and government partners to enable scalable, community-led energy upgrades. EUAH is funded through the RACE for 2030 cooperative research centre, which includes contributions from the NSW Government, Government of South Australia and Knauf Insulation. The project is led by Climate-KIC Australia and Monash University.

    Ed Langham undertakes contract research for government, community and consumer advocates, and the clean energy industry. This research was funded as part of the RACE for 2030 Cooperative Research Centre’s Energy Upgrades for Australian Homes project, which is co-funded by Australian Government, NSW Government, Government of South Australia and Knauf Insulation. Ed is also affiliated with Schumacher Institute for Sustainable Systems, based in the UK.

    Nimish Biloria receives funding through the RACE for 2030 Cooperative Research Centre. This research was undertaken as part of the Energy Upgrades for Australian Homes initiative, which is funded in part by the NSW Government, the Government of South Australia, and Knauf Insulation. Before this, Nimish Biloria has received funding from various governmental bodies, not-for-profit organizations, and the Industry such as the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science, Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), City of Sydney, AusIndustry Smart Cities and Suburbs Program, Transport for New South Wales, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Leigh Place Aged Care, Sydney, NSW, HMI Technologies.

    – ref. These 5 roadblocks are standing in the way of energy-efficient homes – https://theconversation.com/these-5-roadblocks-are-standing-in-the-way-of-energy-efficient-homes-256906

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Three years after the Jenkins report, there is still work to be done on improving parliament culture

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Maria Maley, Senior Lecturer in Politics, School of Politics and International Relations, Australian National University

    Three and a half years ago, then-sex discrimination commissioner Kate Jenkins’ Set the Standard report was handed to federal parliament, commissioned after Brittany Higgins’ allegations of sexual assault in Parliament House, which had shocked the public and politicians alike. Since then, work has been underway to implement its 28 recommendations.

    The report found unacceptable levels of sexual harassment, bullying and misconduct in parliamentary workplaces, and laid out a radical plan to create a standards regime. The plan would provide tools to deal with such conduct, and try to prevent it by changing the culture of parliament.

    In 2025, parliament’s implementation of the Jenkins review is due to be evaluated by an external independent reviewer. Have the recommendations been implemented? What are the prospects for continued reform of conduct in the parliamentary workplace? Will the election of an historic number of women into parliament create pressure for further reform?

    Action after the review

    On February 8 2022, the first sitting day of federal parliament after the Jenkins review had been handed down, both houses of parliament made an historic statement of acknowledgement and apology to the victims of misconduct in its workplace. It stated:

    We say sorry. […] This place and its members are committed to bringing about lasting and meaningful change to both culture and practice within our workplaces. We today declare our personal and collective commitment to make the changes required.

    Parliamentarians committed to implement all 28 recommendations of the Jenkins review. A cross-party body was created to lead the implementation process.

    Known as the Parliamentary Leadership Taskforce, it had members from both houses of parliament, ministers and legislators, Labor, the Coalition, the Greens and one independent parliamentarian. It worked hard for three years to design and put in place the rules and mechanisms laid out in the Jenkins review, before disbanding in September 2024.

    The magnitude of the changes parliament had to make should not be understated. Among many ground-breaking reforms, it involved developing codes of conduct and a body to enforce them by investigating complaints about breaches of the code.

    In February 2023, both houses of parliament agreed on codes of conduct. In October 2024, an Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission was established to receive complaints, investigate and make findings about misconduct. There are seven commissioners, appointed from outside parliament, who are lawyers, former public servants, tribunal members and ex-ombudsmen. For the first time, there will be external independent review of parliamentarians’ conduct.

    An independent human resources body for the parliamentary workplace was also created, known as the Parliamentary Workplace Support Service. These are huge achievements and represent historic reforms.

    In line with Jenkins’ recommendations, the taskforce committed to an external independent review of parliament’s implementation of the Jenkins report.

    But has it been effective?

    It is hard to evaluate new rules, systems and bodies that are in their infancy, but one part of the new standards architecture does not represent best practice. After the Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission has completed an investigation of a parliamentarian’s conduct, made findings and recommended sanctions, it will hand its report to the privileges committee in each house.

    The privileges committees are made up of parliamentarians, almost exclusively members of the major parties. It is up to these committees to decide on any action to be taken. We won’t know if they depart from the commission’s recommendations, as standards commission reports are not public.

    In the United Kingdom House of Commons, which represents best practice in this area, independent investigation reports are handed to a parliamentary committee called the Committee on Standards. Half the members of that committee are MPs, but half are “lay members” – that is, appointed members of the community, including lawyers and HR professionals.

    The House of Commons established its standards regime in 2018, and has reviewed and improved it over time. Lay members were placed on the committee because it was evident MPs found it difficult to judge the conduct of their peers and struggled to hold them accountable.

    Unfortunately Australia’s new standards system leaves decisions in the hands of parliamentarians, without the corrective and robustness that members of the public would provide. Will the federal parliament continue to reform and reshape its arrangements if they prove not to be robust enough?

    Ongoing leadership is needed if parliament is to continue to address conduct issues, drive culture change and refine and develop its new standards regime. Some believe the culture of parliament has improved since the Jenkins review. Others disagree.

    There are still recommendations of the review that have not been addressed. These include developing a ten-year strategy to increase diversity in the workplace, establishing a health and wellbeing service in parliament, and introducing an alcohol policy. Now that the Parliamentary Leadership Taskforce has disbanded, who will continue to advance the reform process?

    In October 2024, parliament decided to create a Parliamentary Joint Committee on Parliamentary Standards. Its functions include reviewing the operation of the new codes and the Independent Parliamentary Standards Commission.

    This committee should play a leadership role on conduct and culture issues, but its membership is tightly restricted. The government dominates positions and all members must also be members of the privileges committees. Presiding officers are not permitted to sit on the committee, despite their important leadership roles and responsibilities in parliament. Crossbenchers and independent parliamentarians are largely locked out of the committee (only two positions are reserved for them), despite the fact they have often been the leading voices calling for culture change.

    With the influx of many more women and new faces into the parliament after the election, there is an opportunity to press for continued reform and for membership of the joint committee to include diverse voices from across the parliament.

    In 2021 Maria Maley worked as a consultant to the Jenkins Review.

    – ref. Three years after the Jenkins report, there is still work to be done on improving parliament culture – https://theconversation.com/three-years-after-the-jenkins-report-there-is-still-work-to-be-done-on-improving-parliament-culture-257810

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Pride Month 2025

    Source: Liberal Democrats UK

    But the work doesn’t stop there. Now, we must put these policies into action and keep doing everything we can to push for the positive change that the LGBTQ+ community deserves. 

    Because for years, the Conservatives targeted vulnerable LGBTQ+ people – and the trans community in particular – with their divisive culture wars. And I know that many people feel deeply let down by the Labour Government’s track record so far when it comes to standing up for LGBTQ+ rights. 

    Now more than ever, the Liberal Democrats must stand with the LGBTQ+ community. I want to make clear that our party will keep pushing to ensure that everyone’s fundamental rights are protected, no matter your orientation or identity.

    So we will keep fighting – until we can finally build a society where everyone is free to be who they are. And that will certainly be something to celebrate. 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New munitions factories and long-range weapons to back nearly 2000 jobs under Strategic Defence Review

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    New munitions factories and long-range weapons to back nearly 2000 jobs under Strategic Defence Review

    Procurement of up to 7,000 UK-built long-range weapons and £1.5 billion to build at least six munitions and energetics factories.

    • Procurement of up to 7,000 UK-built long-range weapons and £1.5 billion to build at least six munitions and energetics factories.
    • Work to create more than 1,000 new jobs and support around 800 more across the UK, driving defence as an engine for economic growth and supporting the Plan for Change.
    • Delivers the Strategic Defence Review’s focus on warfighting readiness to deter and follows historic uplift in defence spending.

    The UK will build at least six new munitions and energetics factories and thousands more long-range weapons to strengthen Britain’s Armed Forces and create new jobs across the country.

    Through the Strategic Defence Review – published in the coming days – the UK’s defence and deterrence is being bolstered with thousands of long-range weapons and a new £1.5 billion government investment in munitions and energetics factories.

    Together the investment will back around 1,800 highly-skilled jobs across the UK, putting money in the pockets of working people, and supporting the government’s Plan for Change by driving growth in every region and nation.

    The SDR recommends creating an ‘always on’ munitions production capacity in the UK allowing production to be scaled up at speed if needed. It says the MOD should also lay the industrial foundations for an uplift in munitions stockpiles to meet the demand of high-tempo warfare.

    Taking the lessons from Ukraine which shows that our military is only as strong as the industry that stands behind it, the measures will boost British jobs while improving the warfighting readiness of both British Armed Forces and industry.

    The additional funding will see UK munitions spend hit £6 billion this Parliament. It follows the Prime Minister’s historic commitment to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP, recognising the critical importance of military readiness in an era of heightened global uncertainty. 

    Commitments include:

    • £1.5 billion in an “always on” pipeline for munitions and building at least 6 new energetics and munitions factories in the UK. Creating more than 1,000 skilled manufacturing jobs, the factories will produce munitions and energetics, which are key components of weapons, including propellants, explosives, and pyrotechnics.

    • Up to 7,000 UK-built long-range weapons for the UK Armed Forces, supporting around 800 defence jobs.The lessons from Ukraine demonstrate the importance of long-range weaponry and boosting our military capabilities.

    The SDR sets a path for the next decade and beyond to transform defence and make the UK secure at home and strong abroad. It ends the hollowing out of our Armed Forces and will also drive innovation, jobs and growth across the country, allowing the UK to lead in a stronger NATO.

    Defence Secretary, John Healey MP said:

    The hard-fought lessons from Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine show a military is only as strong as the industry that stands behind them. 

    We are strengthening the UK’s industrial base to better deter our adversaries and make the UK secure at home and strong abroad. 

    We will embrace the Strategic Defence Review; making defence an engine for economic growth and boosting skilled jobs in every nation and region as part of our Government’s Plan for Change.

    Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said:

    A strong economy needs a strong national defence, and investing in weaponry and munitions and backing nearly 2,000 jobs across Britain in doing so is proof the two go hand-in-hand.

    We are delivering both security for working people in an uncertain world and good jobs, putting more money in people’s pockets as part of our Plan for Change.

    The new investments will form an ‘always-on’ approach for priority munitions. They will provide a steady drumbeat of investment to industry sustaining a thriving defence industrial base that drives growth and jobs to deliver on the Plan for Change, while strengthening the UK’s commitment to NATO. 

    The funding will help transform the UK’s Armed Forces readiness and ability to endure in prolonged campaigns, providing the industrial foundations needed to support our Armed Forces in warfare, as demonstrated by the conflict in Ukraine.

    Updates to this page

    Published 1 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: expert reaction to randomised trial on physical exercise and reduced risk of recurrence of colon cancer

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    A randomised trial published in The New England Journal of Medicine and a conference abstract presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting 2025 (ASCO) looks at physical exercise and colon cancer recurrence. 

    Dr Marco Gerlinger, Professor of Gastrointestinal Cancer Medicine and Consultant Medical Oncologist, Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, said:

    “This is a really important study. It’s the first randomised trial showing that physical exercise can reduce the risk of recurrences, new cancer diagnoses and death in patients who had surgery followed by chemotherapy for an early-stage colon cancer. Major confounders such as baseline physical activity, tumour stage, comorbidities or age did not differ between the groups in this randomised trial. I could not find information on the exact N stage of patients in the two groups which is a slight limitation. The paper shows that the same proportion of patients in the two groups had stage 3 disease which tumours where local lymph nodes were involved. But it does not show if the proportion of patients with N1 (up to 3 nodes positive), N2a (4-6) and N2b (7 and more) was similar. The recurrence risk of N2 is quite a bit higher than N1, and imbalance may hence lead to a difference. Maybe this data is somewhere in the supplements but that was not available to me. All patients had chemotherapy after their surgery and an exercise program that added activities such as jogging for 30 minutes three times a week or brisk walking for an hour three times per week led to a 30% further reduction in the risk of cancer recurrence and death. This indicates that exercise has a similarly strong effect as previously shown for chemotherapy, which is really quite impressive. One of the commonest questions from patients is what they can do to reduce the risk that their cancer comes back. Oncologists can now make a very clear evidence based recommendation for patients who just completed their chemotherapy for bowel cancer and are fit enough for such an exercise program. I think that support from their doctor and a physiotherapist or trainer will almost certainly be necessary to make this effective for the majority of patients.”

     

    Professor Amy Berrington, Team Leader in Clinical Cancer Epidemiology at The Institute of Cancer Research, London, said:

    “There have been several observational studies that suggested that exercise after colorectal diagnosis could reduce the risk of colorectal cancer mortality by about 25 per cent for 10 MET/hours per week.

    “The findings from this large well-conducted trial are quite consistent with those previous observational studies – the trial found a 28 per cent reduction in disease-free survival with an exercise programme designed to increase exercise by 10 MET/hours per week.

    “The two treatment groups were well balanced with respect to potential confounders through the randomisation. The programme was quite intensive, and adherence decreased over the three years, but the amount of exercise remained higher in the structured exercise programme group.

    “It would be important to know how expensive these types of behaviour support programs are to evaluate the cost-effectiveness.  Also, the recruitment was very slow, suggesting that it was difficult to find patients willing to commit to this long programme, but hopefully these very positive results will help convince more patients to try what looks like a very promising safe and effective ‘treatment’.”      

    The abstract ‘A randomized phase III trial of the impact of a structured exercise program on disease–free survival (DFS) in stage 3 or high-risk stage 2 colon cancer: Canadian Cancer Trials Group (CCTG) CO.21 (CHALLENGE)’ was presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting 2025, and the paper ‘Structured Exercise after Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Colon Cancer’ by Kerry S. Courneya et al. was published in The New England Journal of Medicine at 13:00 UK time Sunday 1 June 2025. 

    DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa2502760

    Declared interests

    No reply to our request for DOIs was received.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Scottish Greens welcome UK-wide vape ban

    Source: Scottish Greens

    01 Jun 2025 Health Nature Ban Disposable Vapes

    Millions of disposable vapes are thrown away every week in the UK.

    More in Health

    A UK-wide vape ban is a ‘positive step forward’ for people and planet, says Scottish Greens co-leader Lorna Slater.

    The ban will come into effect today, making it illegal for businesses to sell or supply disposable vapes. A ban on the single-use products should lead to less environmental damage and reduce the harm to young people that is caused by vaping.

    The Scottish Greens have campaigned for years to ban disposable vapes in Scotland, with party spokesperson for Health, Gillian Mackay MSP spear-heading the cause.

    Ms Slater said:

    “This is a brilliant day for everyone who has campaigned so hard for this ban. My Scottish Greens colleague Gillian Mackay has worked tirelessly with campaigners to help reduce harm to young people’s health and our environment.

    “We saw changes being made to cigarettes and other tobacco products in the UK to try and discourage young people in particular from taking up smoking. At the very same time flavoured, colourful disposable vapes became popular and readily available to buy, with many people who had never even smoked to begin with starting to vape.

    “It is a testament to the campaigners and health experts that we are seeing positive steps forward to get rid of these devices. I’m delighted with the results and certain that this is the right thing to do.

    “Disposable vapes are not only harmful to health, but many of them end up littering our streets, beaches and green spaces. We will now have to keep a close eye on what vape manufacturers are doing and ensure any ban isn’t undermined by them.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –