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Category: European Union

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – A cloud to call our own! – E-001198/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The Commission aims to support an enhanced availability and uptake of European cloud solutions across the EU through the upcoming Cloud and Artificial intelligence Development Act[1].

    The main objective is to at least triple the EU’s overall data centre capacity within the next five to seven years[2] and ensure that highly critical use cases in the EU are served by highly secure EU-based cloud capacity[3].

    The Act will be complemented by a single EU-wide cloud policy for public administrations and public procurement[4].

    Moreover, the Commission has approved the ongoing implementation of the Important Project of Common European Interest on Next Generation Cloud Infrastructure and Services[5].

    Also, through the co-financing under the Digital Europe Programme, the Commission also supports the deployment of an EU marketplace for federated cloud services[6] to facilitate the provision and the procurement of cloud services across the EU by EU cloud service providers[7].

    The Commission’s adequacy decision on the EU-US Data Privacy Framework[8] is based on the key safeguards included in Executive Order 14086 (EO 14086) adopted by the President of the United States[9].

    In particular, EO 14086 introduced safeguards to ensure that the collection and use of personal data of Europeans by United States intelligence agencies is limited to what is necessary and proportionate in pursuit of defined national security objectives.

    Moreover, EO 14086 established the Data Protection Review Court, providing EU citizens with a redress mechanism with binding investigatory and remedial powers.

    EO 14086 continues to be in place, providing key safeguards to data transferred from the EU[10], and addressing all the points raised by the Court of Justice in its Schrems II judgment[11].

    • [1] Mission letter from the President of the European Commission to the Executive Vice-President-designate for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy: https://commission.europa.eu/document/download/3b537594-9264-4249-a912-5b102b7b49a3_en?filename=Mission%20letter%20-%20VIRKKUNEN.pdf.
    • [2] This will be achieved by streamlining the permitting procedures and improving access to suitable sites, energy and funding for data centres that meet ambitious resource efficiency requirements. This is an important opportunity for European data centre operators and cloud service providers will have an important role to play in meeting this objective.
    • [3] Such highly critical uses cares in the EU are characterised by high sovereignty and operational autonomy requirements.
    • [4] The aim will be to assist the Act’s implementation in the public sector, guide public authorities in their cloud procurement decisions and empower them to leverage their purchasing power more strategically.
    • [5] IPCEI CIS/8ra Europe’s Next Generation Cloud Infrastructure and Services — 8ra: https://www.8ra.com/ Seven Member States will provide up to EUR 1.2 billion in public funding, expected to unlock an additional EUR 1.4 billion.
    • [6]  Project DOME DOME Mark etplace: https://dome-marketplace.eu/dashboard.
    • [7]  Such providers offer highly trustworthy, curated cloud services that serve the interests of crucial sectors dealing with sensitive data, such as the public sector.
    • [8]  Commission Implementing Decision EU 2023/1795 of 10 July 2023 pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the adequate level of protection of personal data under the EU-US Data Privacy Framework (notified under document C(2023)4745) (Text with EEA relevance) C/2023/4745 OJ L 231, 20.9.2023, p. 118-229 https://commission.europa.eu/document/fa09cbad-dd7d-4684-ae60-be03fcb0fddf_en.
    • [9]  Executive Order 14086 on ‘Enhancing Safeguards for United States Signals Intelligence Activities’.
    • [10]  Its requirements and safeguards have also been recently assessed in the Commission’s report of 9 October 2024 to the European Parliament and the Council on the first periodic review of the functioning of the adequacy decision on the EU-US Data Privacy Framework COM(2024) 451 final: https://commission.europa.eu/document/25695177-8073-4ce3-bf81-eb816dc6b468_en.
    • [11]  C-311/18, Data Protection Commissioner v Facebook Ireland Limited and Maximillian Schrems (‘Schrems II’), 16 July 2020, ECLI:EU:C:2020:559.
    Last updated: 13 June 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Funding and prioritising of the Rail Baltica project – E-000924/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    1. The Commission considers the Rail Baltica project one of the flagship projects on the trans-European transport network (TEN-T) because it would finally allow to connect the Baltic states to the single European railway area. This is crucial for the regions’ economic growth, cohesion and now more than ever, its security and defence. For the Commission, Rail Baltica is the most urgent transport infrastructure project in the Baltic States to be implemented.

    2. In the Baltic states, the Rail Baltica project is managed by RB Rail joint venture and Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania authorities. The Baltic states cooperate closely, including through the RB Rail, to ensure the success of Rail Baltica. The project partners monitor the costs and expected benefits. They are also responsible for the respective railway market and ensuring that rail traffic can start as soon as the line is operational. The Commission follows the project implementation and has always encouraged the organisations involved in the implementation to use the most cost-efficient solutions. There are frequent audits, and the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency and the European Coordinator for the North Sea Baltic corridor monitor the project.

    3. The c o-legislators identified the infrastructure priorities of the trans-European transport network (TEN-T) until 2050 in TEN-T Regulation[1] to ensure consistency and predictability. They identified Rail Baltica as a major cross-border missing link[2]. The applicable regulation also considers financial constraints and the fiscal rules of the EU to safeguard the financial stability and resilience of Member States apply.

    • [1] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=OJ:L_202401679.
    • [2] Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) Regulation: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/1153/oj/eng.
    Last updated: 13 June 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Aromatic and medicinal plants from Greek producers – E-001584/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), through the Strategic Plans Regulation[1], includes a range of tools that allow farmers and Member States to develop production (including of aromatic and medicinal plants) ensuring the viability and competitiveness of farms.

    In the Greek CAP Strategic Plan (CSP)[2], a Basic Income Support with a total amount of EUR 4 274 574 890.is paid to all eligible farmers.

    The unit amount, per eligible hectare in the agricultural area of arable crops, is set to EUR 215. An increased support for small/medium farms and young farmers with bigger income support needs with a total amount of EUR 913 297 896 is also programmed under the CSP.

    Farmers may participate on a voluntary basis in the eco-schemes relevant to medicinal and aromatic plants with different support rates (e.g. organic farming: EUR 1 295/hectare/year, use of resistant and adapted species and varieties: EUR 824/hectare/year).

    Furthermore, under the rural development interventions, investment support is available to modernize or improve production, aiming to improve economic efficiency, and competitiveness of agricultural holdings to quickly adapt to market needs and to increase their market orientation.

    In addition, support is programmed for investments in the processing/marketing and/or development of several agricultural products, including medicinal and aromatic plants, aiming to produce quality products, increasing their added value, as well as helping to enter new markets.

    Finally, the CSP provides support for interventions for producer organisations (EUR 31 million), quality schemes (EUR 41 million), training (EUR 108 million) and advisory services to farmers (EUR 63 million).

    • [1]  Regulation (EU) 2021/2115 (OJ L 435, 6.12.2021, p. 1).
    • [2] CAP strategic plan of Greece: https://www.agrotikianaptixi.gr/category/sskap-2023-2027/sskap-egkrisi-tropopoiiseis/.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – French intelligence services allegedly call on Telegram to censor conservative voices in Romania – E-002218/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002218/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Christine Anderson (ESN)

    Pavel Durov, the founder of the Telegram messaging platform, has stated publicly that in spring 2025 Nicolas Lerner, the head of France’s foreign intelligence service (DGSE), asked him to suppress conservative Romanian voices on Telegram in the run-up to the presidential elections in Romania[1]. Durov maintains that he rejected the request. The French authorities have firmly rejected the allegations and described them as unfounded.

    • 1.Is the Commission aware of any attempts by the French authorities or intelligence services to influence content on platforms such as Telegram in connection with the presidential elections in Romania, and how does the Commission assess such allegations with regard to upholding fundamental rights in the EU, in particular the freedom of speech and the freedom of information?
    • 2.What steps is the Commission taking to ensure that Member States do not exert undue influence on digital platforms, especially in the context of elections in other Member States?
    • 3.Is the Commission planning to look into these allegations and, if necessary, take action to protect the integrity of elections and the independence of digital communication platforms in the EU?

    Submitted: 3.6.2025

    • [1] https://t.me/durov/232
    Last updated: 13 June 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – EU funding of the Gesellschaft für Freiheitsrechte through intermediary organisations – E-002215/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002215/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Christine Anderson (ESN)

    The Gesellschaft für Freiheitsrechte (GFF – Society for Civil Rights) is a German non-governmental organization that engages in strategic legal action on fundamental rights issues within Germany and takes clear political positions – among other things, it is working to have the AfD banned as a political party. According to its own information, the GFF receives funding from various foundations, including the European AI & Society Fund. The GFF also received financial backing from the Digital Freedom Fund, which supports strategic lawsuits in the area of digital rights in Europe and receives project funding from the EU’s Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values programme.

    • 1.Have EU funds been channelled – directly or indirectly – to the GFF, in particular through support structures such as the European AI & Society Fund or the Digital Freedom Fund?
    • 2.If so, how does the Commission ensure that this funding is in line with the EU’s political neutrality, in particular where funded organisations influence the political discourse in a Member State through their activities?
    • 3.Does the Commission consider it appropriate that EU funds are used to support organisations that engage in legal action relating to national political disputes and what safeguards are in place to prevent possible political interference in Member States?

    Submitted: 3.6.2025

    Last updated: 13 June 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Self-sufficiency in plasma: a European necessity – E-002294/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002294/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Hilde Vautmans (Renew)

    The availability of human plasma is essential for the treatment of thousands of European patients suffering from rare or chronic diseases. At present, however, the EU is highly dependent on plasma imports from countries outside Europe, notably the United States. This dependence poses a strategic risk, especially in light of increasing global demand and geopolitical uncertainties. During the COVID-19 crisis, this vulnerability became painfully visible when patients in Europe faced shortages.

    Some Member States, including Belgium and Denmark, have already demonstrated that a model based on voluntary, unpaid donations is not only effective and scalable, but also ethical, safe and crisis resistant. This model offers a viable alternative to commercial systems and deserves recognition and support from Europe.

    • 1.Does the Commission recognise that human plasma is a strategic resource for public health in the EU?
    • 2.What steps is the Commission taking to develop a coordinated European strategy to ensure plasma self-sufficiency?
    • 3.How will the Commission actively support the model of voluntary, unpaid plasma donations within this strategic framework?

    Submitted: 6.6.2025

    Last updated: 13 June 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Authorisation and regulation of trade in brown bear meat in Slovakia and its impact on the conservation of the species – E-002224/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002224/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    César Luena (S&D)

    The Slovak Government has recently announced that restaurants will be authorised to serve meat from brown bears culled under a law that is legally questionable. The brown bear (Ursus arctos) is a threatened species in Europe and is strictly protected. Before the meat is put on the market, companies will have to obtain a certificate of derogation attesting to the ‘legality’ of the cull and the safety of the meat. The decision has led to concerns about its impact on the conservation of biodiversity and the sustainable management of this species.

    • 1.What is the Commission’s official position on the authorisation to sell meat from brown bears, which are protected in the EU, and Slovakia’s criteria for granting certificates of derogation for this trade?
    • 2.What mechanisms and controls are in place at EU level for the marketing of meat from a species that is strictly protected by the Habitats Directive?
    • 3.What are the Commission’s recommendations for managing the brown bear population where it poses a threat to humans, taking into account non-lethal alternatives and protection of the bears’ natural habitat?

    Submitted: 3.6.2025

    Last updated: 13 June 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Compliance with the rule of law in Spain amid the wave of legal proceedings regarding corruption – E-002213/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002213/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Dolors Montserrat (PPE)

    There are an increasing number of legal proceedings involving those closest to the Prime Minister of Spain: his wife, his brother, the organisational secretary of the ruling party, and several former high-ranking government officials are all implicated in alleged cases of corruption, influence peddling, misappropriation of public funds and irregularities related to public procurement.

    The most egregious examples include:

    – the charges brought against the Prosecutor General of Spain for politically-motivated leaks of confidential information;

    – the initiation of legal proceedings against the Prime Minister’s brother for misconduct and influence peddling;

    – suspected circumvention of the law to obtain special immunity for regional leaders facing charges;

    – the involvement of former ministerial officials in allegedly rigged public contracts;

    – and the possible use of institutional influence to favour those associated with the ruling party who are close to Sánchez.

    The principles of the rule of law, the separation of powers and accountability are under threat.

    • 1.Does the Commission plan to include an explicit warning in its Rule of Law Report about these signs of structural corruption connected to the Spanish Government, as well as a warning about possible political interference in the legal proceedings currently under way?

    Submitted: 3.6.2025

    Last updated: 13 June 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Plan for preventing unfair competition – E-002222/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002222/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Maria Grapini (S&D)

    The previous Commission proposed a reindustrialisation programme.

    Sadly, European industry is being seriously affected by competition from third countries, which are selling products from all sectors onto the EU market at dumping prices.

    One example is the ceramics industry. Ceramics production is in peril in my country, Romania, as well as in other Member States, after companies invested hundreds of millions of euro in modernisation because of the different conditions imposed on European producers as compared to those in Asia (who do not have to pay to meet CO2 certification or water purification requirements, and where workers do not enjoy working conditions based on social standards, etc.).

    My question is: Does the Commission have a plan for preventing unfair competition, to save the ceramics industry?

    Submitted: 3.6.2025

    Last updated: 13 June 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Consequences of the EU’s Waste Directive – E-002217/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-002217/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Beatrice Timgren (ECR)

    Under Directive (EU) 2018/851, Member States are required to set up separate collections for textiles. The aim is to promote a more circular way of managing textile waste. In Sweden, the implementation of this requirement has already resulted in second-hand organisations being inundated with textiles. This is a problem because they do not have the storage space or the resources to deal with the volumes concerned. The organisations are warning that they are now receiving large quantities of clothes that are damaged or unusable.[1] Thanks to EU rules, shops are now forced to spend time and money on sorting large quantities of textiles and sending them for recycling.

    At the same time, local councils are warning that the textiles containers at recycling points are full to bursting. One council has now been forced to remove the containers because the collection firm cannot cope with the volumes.[2]

    In view of the above:

    • 1.What guidance are the Member States given on dealing with the practical challenges arising from municipal infrastructure being overwhelmed as a result of the Waste Directive?
    • 2.Has the Commission assessed the risk of second-hand organisations being overwhelmed with products that they cannot sell on, which is pushing costs up?
    • 3.What steps is the Commission taking to ward off the risk of second-hand organisations turning into waste-sorting centres, rather than operators that focus on re-use?

    Submitted: 3.6.2025

    • [1] https://www.sverigesradio.se/artikel/mer-skrap-till-second-hand-efter-nya-lagen-jattetrakigt
    • [2] https://www.tranastidning.se/2025-04-30/overfulla-behallare-efter-nya-lagen-nu-plockas-de-bort/
    Last updated: 13 June 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Influencers hail Nvidia-Mistral partnership as game-change for European tech, reveals GlobalData

    Source: GlobalData

    Influencers hail Nvidia-Mistral partnership as game-change for European tech, reveals GlobalData

    Posted in Business Fundamentals

    NVIDIA Corp (NVIDIA) has announced a significant partnership with French startup Mistral AI to build “Mistral Compute,” a powerful new AI cloud infrastructure. While influencers have universally praised the scale of the initiative, which will deploy tens of thousands of GPUs, influencers see it as a monumental win for both European AI sovereignty and the US-led open-source movement, reveals the Social Media Analytics Platform of GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

    Smitarani Tripathy, Social Media Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Influencers lauded the partnership for creating an integrated AI stack that will massively increase AI compute capacity. However, a clear divergence emerged in their analysis. Some framed the deal as a game-changer for European tech, emphasizing the creation of a ‘Sovereign AI infrastructure.’ Also, a few others saw it as a ‘massive win for America,’ suggesting that open models running on US chips could become the global template.”

    Below are a few popular influencers opinions captured by GlobalData’s Social Media Analytics Platform:

    1. Ray Wang, Technologist:

    “1) One of the key partnerships announced is between Nvidia and French startup Mistral, which will build an “AI cloud” that will deploy 18,000 Nvidia Grace Blackwell chips. This will allow businesses to develop and use AI through Mistral’s models, Nvidia said. 2) In Germany, Nvidia said it is building what it has dubbed as an “industrial cloud” that will feature 10,000 GPUs and will be specifically designed to provide services for European manufacturers.”

    1. Paul Murphy, Partner at Lightspeed:

    “Our @lightspeedvp  portfolio company @MistralAI ‘s next big move – Mistral Compute 18,000 NVIDIA Grace Blackwell chips, 10x increase in EU AI compute capacity over 2 years. Sovereign AI infrastructure, game changing for European tech! ”

    1. Beth Kindig, Lead Tech Analyst at I/O Fund :

    “Mistral and Nvidia $NVDA are partnering to create Mistral Compute, offering customers a private and integrated AI stack spanning GPUs, orchestration, APIs, products and services, with “tens of thousands” of GPUs available..”

    1. Anjney Midha, General Partner @ a16z:

    “”Today we’re announcing we’re going to build an AI cloud together with @MistralAI”  Jensen @nvidia GTC today unveiling Mistral Compute This is a massive win for America and for open source Open models on US chips wil be the template for AI infrastructure buildouts globally.”

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Government must retain and retrain Alexander Dennis workers

    Source: Scottish Greens

    13 Jun 2025 Economy Transport

    The workers whose jobs are at risk must be protected by our governments

    More in Economy

    The Scottish and UK governments must take immediate actions to retain the highly skilled workforce from Alexander Dennis if their factories in Falkirk and Lambert close, the Scottish Greens have said.

    Writing to the Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes, Mark Ruskell MSP said that the closure put 400 direct jobs at risk, and up to 1,600 more indirectly in the wider Falkirk and Grangemouth area. 

    Speaking after sending the letter, Mr Ruskell said:

    “The factories in Falkirk and Lambert are putting electric buses on roads across Europe. Their closure would be a devastating blow to local communities at a time when our green economy should be booming.

    “Manufacturing could continue here profitably for years to come, and the Government must leave no stone unturned to keep them working. But if their owners are determined to move, then Ministers need to recognise the importance that retaining a skilled workforce has for Scotland’s future.

    “We recognised this at Grangemouth, and when the refinery closed Forth Valley College received funding to offer support and training. This helped keep these essential skills in our communities and economy.

    “The First Minister has said he’ll do “everything he can” to support the workers. But we must now see those words transform into action with a proper plan, community and trade union involvement, and significant investment. To do anything else would be a betrayal of Scotland’s future.”

    Text of letter sent to DFM Kate Forbes by Mark Ruskell

    Dear Deputy First Minister,  

    I write to you following the news that bus manufacturer Alexander Dennis, which has 
    factories in Falkirk and Larbert, announced that it was considering moving 
    manufacturing to a site in Scarborough.

    This decision is a further devastating blow to hundreds of workers and to a community 
    that already feels like it has been abandoned following job losses at the nearby INEOS 
    site in Grangemouth. 

    From conversations with Unite the Union representatives there is understandable worry 
    around the uncertainty and many of their members want answers and action from their 
    elected representatives.

    The workers from ALD, similarly to those from Grangemouth, could have a crucial role to 
    play in our green future. But warm words alone about a just transition won’t pay the 
    bills, it needs investment, and it needs a proper plan. To achieve our climate targets, we 
    must retain the workers, and urgently upscale their knowledge and skills needed to 
    deliver them. 

    I believe that there is life in the current Falkirk and Larbert sites, and that manufacturing 
    in Scotland can continue for many years to come. However, if the Canadian owned firm 
    have their sights set on England, then I would hope that the Scottish and UK 
    Governments would support workers at risk of redundancy with skills and training.

    These workers are highly skilled and have an important contribution to make locally and 
    nationally. 
     
    Forth Valley College has received funding from the Scottish and UK Governments to 
    support the Grangemouth workers and this should be no different for those employed 
    by Alexander Dennis. For every job in bus manufacturing, it is estimated that there is a 
    multiplier of three to four jobs in the wider supply chain and support services. The 
    closure announcement on this basis put up to 1,600 jobs at risk in the wider Falkirk and 
    Grangemouth area. 

    I hope that Ministers will work with the trade unions to retain jobs and skills in the 
    community and to ensure that it is workers and local people who are leading the 
    process.  

    Could I ask when the Government is planning to meet with workers and trade unions? It 
    would be beneficial to get all parties round the table, including the current employers, 
    to explore the next steps. 

    Kind regards, 

    Mark Ruskell MSP 
    MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Government of Canada attends the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3)

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    June 13, 2025

    Nice, France – Canada’s oceans are facing increasing impacts from climate change, including species decline, biodiversity loss, ecosystem degradation, harm from aquatic invasive species, illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and the effects from waste and other pollutants. In response to these challenges, Canada is collaborating internationally with maritime nations across the globe to better protect our oceans for present and future generations.

    From June 9-13, Fisheries and Oceans Canada led the Canadian delegation at the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3), which took place in Nice, France. During the Conference, Canada led on a series of events including:

    • An Ocean Action Panel co-chaired with Palau, leading thoughtful discussions on advancing sustainable ocean governance, conservation and responsible use of marine resources for our shared global oceans.
    • An Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing Action Alliance (IUU-AA) event to reinforce the importance of transparency while improving efforts to govern, enforce and work with international partners to combat IUU fishing. As the current chair of the IUU Fishing Action Alliance, Canada recognizes the challenges of IUU fishing and its devastating impacts on fish stocks, ecosystems and economies around the world. 
    • The launch of a High Ambition Coalition for a Quiet Ocean, co-led alongside Panama, which was endorsed by 35 other countries. This Coalition marks a significant global commitment to reduce ocean noise, a key threat to ecosystem health and marine biodiversity around the world.

    Canada also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the United Kingdom to strengthen our long history of cooperation on the sustainable use of marine resources, ocean protection and preservation, and ocean science.

    By continuing to collaborate with international partners to better understand the environmental changes we are seeing in the global ocean and create more economic opportunities for coastal and inland communities, Canada can help contribute to a more sustainable and prosperous blue economy for all.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI: Trusted Crypto Casinos Are Taking Over Online Gambling in 2025: Exclusive Report By Radcred

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Glendale, CA, June 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Independent Research Report Shows Why Licence-Backed, Instant-Pay Blockchain Sites Outpace Legacy Casinos

     Trust, not gimmicks, now decides where U.S. players place their crypto chips. Radcred’s Crypto-Casino Research Report scrutinized more than 200 digital-currency gambling sites, stress-testing everything from licensing to ledger speed. The audit confirms that total bet volume doubled to $26 billion in Q1 2025, while payout disputes fell by 38 per cent at operators meeting tier-one compliance and provably fair standards. 

    Only a few platforms earned Radcred’s coveted Gold Trust accreditation; dozens were rejected for opaque bonus rules, slow withdrawals, or missing security protocols.Together, these findings outline the benchmarks that separate the best crypto casinos 2025 from the rest of the market.

    How Crypto Casinos Are Revolutionising Online Gambling

    The digital gambling scenario is undergoing a seismic shift as blockchain technology fundamentally transforms the way players interact with online casinos. Unlike traditional platforms that rely on centralized systems and legacy banking infrastructure, crypto casinos are redefining transparency, speed, and global accessibility by utilizing distributed ledger technology.

    Immutable Gaming Records 
    Every bet, game outcome, and payout is permanently recorded on-chain, creating an unalterable audit trail that players can independently verify. This eliminates the opacity of traditional casinos that store critical game data in private, centralized databases.

    Provably Fair Gaming 
    Cryptographic algorithms enable players to validate results in real time—crucial for anyone seeking provably fair crypto games.. This revolutionary approach allows independent verification of outcomes, removing the need to trust casino operators blindly.

    Instant Settlement Times 

    Withdrawals typically clear within 5-15 minutes; the fastest test result came from an instant-withdrawal Bitcoin casino at just 4.9 minutes, compared to traditional casinos that may take days for international transfers. This speed advantage is particularly pronounced for weekend transactions when traditional banking systems are often offline.

    Elimination of Payment Processors 
    Direct peer-to-peer transfers remove the need for third-party payment processors and their associated fees and delays. This streamlined approach reduces transaction costs while dramatically improving processing speeds.

    24/7 Global Accessibility 
    Blockchain networks operate continuously, allowing players worldwide to access gambling services regardless of local banking hours or weekend restrictions. This constant availability particularly benefits international players who previously faced significant barriers with traditional payment methods.

    Detailed Casino findings are available in Radcred’s full 2025 report.

    Game Selection at the Top Crypto Casinos

    Leading sites now bundle 5,000+ RNG titles, live-dealer studios, crash games, and on-chain originals providing the variety legacy brands need years to match. BitStarz alone adds 200 new releases monthly, while Jackbit’s slot lobby covers every volatility tier from low-risk warm-ups to fast-paying crypto casino jackpot chasers.

    1) Slots
    Crypto sites host thousands of slot titles, from three-reel classics to video machines loaded with Megaways, cascading reels, and progressive jackpots. Fan favourites such as Sweet Bonanza and Book of Dead sit alongside exclusive Bitcoin-themed slots, most posting return-to-player rates near 95-97 %. Spin wagers typically start at $0.10, yet pooled jackpots can climb into six figures.

    2) Table Games
    Core staples include blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and multiple poker variants. European roulette carries the lower house edge (2.7 %) versus its double-zero American cousin, while crypto blackjack often supports perfect-strategy RTPs above 99 %. Minimum bets hover around $1, but VIP tables raise limits well past $5,000.

    3) Live Dealer Tables
    Live studios stream in 4K from providers such as Evolution and Pragmatic Play, pairing professional croupiers with real-time chat. Options span live blackjack, speed roulette, Andar Bahar, and game-show formats like Crazy Time or Monopoly Live. Entry stakes can be as low as $0.20.

    4) Provably Fair Originals
    Blockchain titles—Crash, Dice, Mines, and Plinko—let players verify every result through on-chain hashes. The transparency appeals to trust-minded users, while lightning-fast rounds give the genre an arcade feel. Typical wagers range from a few cents to several hundred dollars.

    5) Specialty Games
    Light-hearted picks such as keno, bingo, scratch cards, and virtual sports round out the lobby. Tickets often cost under $1, deliver instant outcomes, and require no complex rules—ideal for a quick session between bigger bets.

    6) Sports & eSports Betting
    Many crypto platforms include full sportsbooks covering NFL, NBA, soccer, UFC, and eSports titles like CS:GO and League of Legends. Odds are priced in BTC or USDT, and same-wallet payouts hit accounts within minutes after matches settle.

    7) Poker Rooms & Tournaments
    Dedicated poker lobbies run cash tables, sit-and-go’s, and multi-table events with buy-ins from $1 to $10,000. Players join anonymously and withdraw chips directly to their wallets once play ends.

    8) Crash & Multiplier Games
    Titles such as Aviator, Bustabit, and JetX let users cash out before a rising line “crashes.” RTPs hover above 99 %, and rounds last under ten seconds, popular with bankroll builders seeking quick swings.

    9) Lottery & Jackpot Draws
    Daily crypto lotteries and hourly jackpot wheels sell tickets for a few satoshis. Prize pools grow block-by-block, draws are blockchain-verifiable, and winnings pay out instantly to the player’s wallet.

    List of Top Games Reviewed by Radcred Experts

    Legal Landscape of Crypto Casinos (U.S. & Global)

    While no federal statute outlaws crypto wagering, state-by-state rules vary. Offshore platforms licensed in Curaçao, Malta, or the Isle of Man can legally accept American traffic, yet players should verify state restrictions before depositing. Europe is moving toward unified licence classes, and Asia-Pacific regulators are drafting sandbox frameworks to balance innovation and consumer protection.

    How Players Use Crypto Casinos

    • Bankroll building: Players grind low-stake slots to clear bonuses, then switch to provably fair       dice for high-volatility bursts.
     
    • Anonymity seekers: Privacy-minded users favour no-KYC crypto casino accounts tied to self-custody wallets.

    • High rollers: VIPs capitalise on daily cashback ladders and wager-back rebates that would be impossible under fiat-card fees.

    Bonuses and Promotions at Crypto Casinos

    Welcome packages have exploded—some platforms tout 500 % matches worth $10,000 plus 500 free spins. Radcred’s audit focuses on rollover fairness: any deal above 40×, with max-win caps mirroring deposit size, is flagged. Ongoing perks—reload boosts, rakeback, and loyalty NFTs now rival sign-up deals for overall value.

    Welcome Bonuses
    First deposits routinely trigger 100 %–325 % matches, often capped at 5 BTC (or 50,000 USDT) and bundled with 50–250 free spins. Wagering is usually 20×–40× on the bonus—or occasionally on “deposit + bonus,” so reading the terms is non-negotiable.

    No-Deposit Bonuses
    A handful of trusted crypto casinos drop tiny crypto credits (0.0002–0.001 BTC) or 10–50 free spins just for signing up. Great for testing the lobby, but expect steeper rollover—typically 40×–60×—and modest cash-out caps around 0.005 BTC.

    Reload Bonuses
    Weekly or VIP reloads add 25 %–100 % to subsequent top-ups, usually worth $50–$300 in coin value. Wagering mirrors welcome offers (20×–40×), though elite tiers may see requirements cut in half.

    Cashback Deals
    Loss rebates of 5 %–20 % appear daily or weekly. The better platforms credit these funds wager-free; others attach a light 10×–20× roll-through before withdrawals unlock.

    Free Spins
    Blocks of 10–200 spins (valued at $0.10–$0.50 each) accompany welcome, reload, or new-game promos. Spin winnings usually face 20×–45× wagering and may top out at roughly $100 in withdrawable value.

    Loyalty & VIP Programs
    Long-term play earns points that escalate through bronze-to-diamond tiers. Perks scale from birthday spins to 40 % rakeback, higher withdrawal ceilings, physical gifts, and 24/7 concierge hosts often with no extra wagering attached, though unused bonus chips expire after 30–90 days.

    Full bonus data appears in the 2025 Radcred report

    Crypto-Gambling Trends to Watch in 2025

    Crypto-gambling is evolving fast, blending blockchain innovation with high-stakes entertainment. From Bitcoin betting platforms to NFT-based rewards, U.S. players are seeing more secure, fast, and anonymous ways to play. Here’s a look at the biggest trends shaping the future of online crypto casinos this year.

    AI-Powered Personalization

    Advanced artificial intelligence algorithms are revolutionizing player experiences by analyzing behavior patterns, game preferences, and betting habits to deliver tailored recommendations and dynamic bonuses. These systems enhance engagement while providing early warnings for problematic gambling behaviors.

    Instant Withdrawals and Lightning Transactions

    Crypto casinos are prioritizing sub-10-minute withdrawal speeds, with a few platforms processing Bitcoin withdrawals in under 12 minutes. This trend addresses traditional banking delays and attracts players seeking immediate access to winnings.

    NFT Integration and Tokenized Rewards

    Non-fungible tokens are being incorporated as in-game rewards, collectibles, and play-to-earn mechanisms. This creates new revenue streams and adds digital ownership elements to traditional gambling experiences.

    Decentralized Casinos and Web3 Adoption

    Blockchain-powered platforms are eliminating centralized control through smart contracts, offering provably fair games and transparent operations. These decentralized systems provide enhanced player autonomy and reduced operational costs.

    Mobile-First Crypto Gaming

    With over 59% of gaming activity occurring on mobile devices, operators are prioritizing mobile-optimized crypto gambling experiences. This includes seamless crypto wallet integration and touch-friendly interfaces designed for smartphones.

    Why Crypto Casinos Are the Top Choice of Players

    The digital gambling revolution has positioned crypto casinos as the preferred destination for modern players worldwide. With a market that has surged to $250 million and witnessed an 83.6% increase in crypto bets in 2024, these platforms are redefining player expectations through superior technology, enhanced privacy, and unprecedented convenience.

    Identity Protection

    Wallet addresses replace names and card numbers, so breaches or charge-back fraud can’t touch you. End-to-end encryption keeps every spin or hand tied only to a hash—not your personal details.

    No KYC Hassles

    Most leading sites skip document uploads entirely. You register with an email, set a wallet, and play in under a minute—eliminating the data-sharing risk many mainstream gamblers now avoid.

    Instant Deposits & Withdrawals

    On-chain transfers settle in 5-15 minutes; benchmark brand CoinCasino routinely clocks Bitcoin cash-outs below 15. Weekends or bank holidays no longer freeze bankrolls.

    Minimal Fees

    With processors removed, network costs often fall below $1, and some operators cover them. That translates to more spins, bets, or hands from the same budget.

    Provably Fair Games

    Roughly 77 percent of crypto casinos publish hashed server/client seeds. Anyone can verify randomness after every round, reinforcing trust without third-party auditors.

    Super-Charged Bonuses

    Welcome deals reach 500 percent plus hundreds of free spins. Reloads, daily rakeback, and loyalty NFTs push total promo value far past what fiat sites offer.

    VIP Treatment

    Tiered programs award up to 40 percent cashback, higher withdrawal caps, dedicated hosts, and even luxury trips for high rollers—perks unlocked through transparent point systems, not opaque invitations.

    How Crypto Casinos Are Evaluated

    Evaluating crypto casinos means looking beyond flashy bonuses. U.S. players prioritize secure blockchain payments, fair game mechanics, fast withdrawals, and strong user reputations. With more platforms entering the space, understanding how these casinos are evaluated helps players find trustworthy and rewarding experiences in the growing world of crypto gambling.

    • Licence & Jurisdiction Verification –  Analysts cross-reference licence numbers with regulators in Malta, Curaçao, and the Isle of Man, checking disciplinary dockets for unresolved complaints. Sites without a publicly searchable certificate or those linked to dormant holding companies are excluded immediately, preventing unsafe operators from reaching readers.
    • Provably Fair Confirmation –  Every in-house slot, roulette wheel, or dice game is hashed against its server seed, client seed, and nonce. Radcred reruns thousands of rounds to ensure the outcome history matches blockchain-published randomness proofs, hard evidence that no hidden code tilts results.
    • On-Chain Transaction Speed Audit – Deposits and withdrawals are executed every six hours for a week. Analysts log confirmation counts, network fees, and manual-review delays. Platforms clearing cash-out requests in under ten minutes on at least 95 percent of attempts score the highest.
    • Security & Privacy Controls – Evaluation covers mandatory two-factor authentication, SSL/TLS strength, DDoS mitigation, and cold wallet segregation. Zero-knowledge KYC methods, where available, receive bonus credit for minimizing identity exposure while still complying with anti-money laundering regulations.
    • Bonus-Term Transparency –  Fine print is dissected for wagering multipliers, game exclusions, and maximum-win caps. Operators hiding key conditions below the fold, or inflating advertised bonus value through unrealistic rollover hurdles, are penalised.

    Visit Casino Sites Researched by Radcred’s Experts

    Why Radcred Is Your Trustworthy Crypto-Casino Radar?

    The modern crypto-gambling scenario demands reliable guidance through countless platforms and endless promotional claims. Radcred emerges as your definitive compass, cutting through industry noise to deliver transparent, merit-based casino evaluations that prioritize player protection over profit margins.

    Comprehensive Platform Testing 

    Radcred’s team conducts rigorous 7-day real-money testing sessions across multiple crypto casinos, evaluating everything from deposit speeds to withdrawal reliability during peak and off-peak hours. This hands-on approach ensures authentic insights rather than surface-level promotional content that plagues many review sites.

    Transparent Scoring Methodology 

    Unlike biased platforms that accept upfront payments from casinos, Radcred maintains editorial independence by utilizing merit-based evaluation criteria, including licensing verification, payout speeds, and responsiveness to customer service. Their 4.3-star average rating system reflects genuine user experiences rather than inflated promotional scores.

    Security-First Assessment 

    Every reviewed platform undergoes thorough security audits, examining SSL encryption standards, regulatory compliance, and data protection measures to ensure player safety. Radcred’s commitment to 256-bit encryption standards and fraud prevention education demonstrates their dedication to consumer protection over affiliate commissions.

    Real-Time Market Intelligence 

    The platform continuously monitors crypto casino developments, tracking regulatory changes, bonus structure modifications, and industry trends to provide up-to-date recommendations. This dynamic approach ensures players receive current, actionable information rather than outdated reviews that could lead to poor platform choices.

    Community-Verified Feedback  

    Radcred integrates verified player testimonials and community-driven insights, creating a comprehensive feedback ecosystem that highlights both positive experiences and potential red flags across different crypto gambling platforms.

     SEE HOW RADCRED SCORES YOUR FAVORITE CASINO SITE

    Safe Crypto Casino Actionable Tips

    Even with professional rankings, personal due diligence remains vital. Use the following four rules as a pre-deposit checklist.

    • Verify Licence Details in Regulator Databases –  If a licence number fails to populate official records or the corporate entity name differs from the site’s footer, treat it as a red flag.
    • Stress-Test Customer Support – Send a basic payout question before making a deposit. A sub-five-minute human response often predicts smoother conflict resolution later.
    • Scrutinise Bonus T&Cs –  Rollover above 40×, limited game eligibility, or maximum win caps that equal the deposit can erode perceived generosity.
    • Enable Two-Factor Authentication Immediately –  Phishing remains rampant. Hardware-key or app-based 2FA blocks account takeovers that simple passwords cannot.

    Conclusion

    Trust-centric design, verifiable randomness, and license-backed operations are pushing crypto casinos from fringe curiosity to mainstream entertainment. Radcred’s 2025 research report shows that when transparency meets speed, players follow. Relying on independent audits, free safety tools, and clear regulatory guidance, U.S. gamblers can enjoy blockchain wagering without unnecessary risk or confusion.

    FAQs

    Are crypto casinos legit?
    Crypto casinos operate in a legal gray area in the U.S., with legitimacy varying by state. Platforms licensed by authorities such as Curaçao or Malta are generally considered safe. However, U.S. federal laws create uncertainty, so always verify a casino’s license and check your state’s online gambling regulations before playing.

    Is it possible to win big at a crypto casino?
    Big wins are absolutely possible; some players have won millions of dollars. Games with high RTPs and smart bankroll strategies can improve odds. However, gambling is risky by nature, and winning isn’t guaranteed. Play responsibly and never wager more than you can afford to lose.

    How to find the best crypto casino online?
    Look for licensed platforms offering secure logins, fast payouts, and thousands of games. Check for fair bonus terms and crypto support. User reviews on sites like Trustpilot and Reddit can offer honest feedback. Reputable names like JACKBIT, BitStarz, and 7Bit are strong, proven options.

    How to verify the trustworthiness of cryptocurrency casinos?
    Verify proper licensing and conduct third-party audits by reputable bodies, such as iTech Labs or eCOGRA. Trustworthy sites use SSL encryption, offer provably fair games, and have responsive customer support. Always read genuine player reviews and be cautious of platforms with unclear terms, fake reviews, or delayed payouts.

    Disclaimer

    This material is for informational purposes only and does not constitute gambling advice or an invitation to wager. Online gaming may be illegal in some jurisdictions and involves financial risk. Always verify local laws, set personal limits, and seek help via the National Council on Problem Gambling helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Africa: Unlocking the Power of Women and building strong movement for Peace in the Sahel

    Since the outbreak of crises in Libya in 2012, then in Mali and the entire central Sahel, as well as the proliferation of Boko Haram in the countries of the Lake Chad Basin, the Sahel region has been facing enormous security challenges that are aggravated by political, geopolitical, socio-economic, and environmental factors. The deterioration of the security situation is aggravated by highly porous borders, attacks by non-state armed groups as well as inter-community conflicts that have had and continue to have negative impacts on communities and force millions of people to be displaced. But also this situation has generated a major crisis of governance and lack of confidence in the governments of the affected countries having led to a wave of coups d’état and political transitions in : Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso and Chad.  The crisis in the Sahel prevails in a context where women were already subject to several forms of violence and discrimination underpinned by socio-cultural barriers deeply rooted in tradition. 

    Against this backdrop, women are actively working for peace. They have organized themselves into associations at local, national, and regional levels to influence peace and to advocate for the advancement of their rights. But their efforts face several challenges, mainly organizational and lack of funding. It is in this context that UN Women has developed and is implementing since 2023 a program aimed at strengthening the capacities of women’s organizations for peace in the Sahel. Funded by the Government of  Netherlands, the program plans to support 103 organizations applying a comprehensive approach combining institutional, technical and advocacy support and partnership. 

    Building on the commitments of UNSCR 1325, 2024 marked a pivotal shift toward strengthening local women’s organizations and positioning them as key actors for inclusive peace. At the core of the initiative, lies a powerful bet on grassroots transformation. A total of 103 women-led peace organizations received tailored support spanning institutional diagnostics, technical training, coaching, and access to equipment. Twelve organizations now operate from fully equipped, staffed offices, and five have successfully mobilized new funding based on project proposals developed with the program’s guidance.  Fifteen organizations began designing income-generating initiatives to secure independent funding streams. 

    “The project transformed our structure. We revised our policies, gained visibility, and secured international funding.”
    – Young women leader, APSJ Mauritania

    Beyond capacity building, the program invested in coalition building and advocacy. A mapping of peace-focused women’s organizations was completed in all five countries, laying the foundation for connected national networks and an emerging regional alliance. Virtual convenings and a digital platform piloted in Mali are facilitating knowledge exchange and cross-border solidarity. The 103 organizations are now informally networked across countries, forming the backbone of a regional movement of women peacebuilders in the Sahel.

    A cohort of 170 women leaders across the five countries received in-depth training in advocacy strategy, messaging, and influence. Women’s organizations developed national advocacy plans with concrete actions, strategic targets, and implementation roadmaps. The execution of those plans has already begun through targeted lobbying and partner engagement. So many successful advocacy initiatives have been conducted. For example, a National Women’s Dialogue was organized in Niger after the July 2023 coup, uniting 44 women’s groups to define priorities for inclusive transition. Those priorities were presented to the government and some of them considered in the transition roadmap. 

    In all the five countries, women hold quarterly citizen dialogues  to reflect on solutions for durable peace and their inclusion in peace processes.

    With a dedicated visual identity “Sahel Women’s Leadership for Peace” the initiative rolled out communications campaigns targeted millions of people across all countries. Public debates, radio programs, and digital storytelling amplified the voices and priorities of women peacebuilders, while increasing public awareness of the WPS agenda.

    With this innovative approach, UNWOMEN is catalyzing deep shifts in the peace infrastructure of the region. From grassroots organizations gaining legitimacy and funding, to regional coalitions taking shape and national advocacy plans being rolled out, women are now repositioned as peace leaders. The initiative is not just building capacity, it is reshaping systems. And as these women organize, influence, and lead, they are redefining what inclusive peace looks like in some of the region’s most fragile contexts. Even though the region is still in crisis, there is hope that this women’s movement will contribute to the stabilization of the region.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UN Women – Africa.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Federal Grand Juries in Bowling Green and Paducah Indict 4 Illegal Aliens for Immigration Offenses

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Bowling Green and Paducah, KY – Federal grand juries in Bowling Green and Paducah, Kentucky, returned indictments on June 10 and 11, 2025, charging three individuals with illegal reentry after deportation or removal and one individual with use of a false passport.

    U.S. Attorney Kyle G. Bumgarner of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Rana Saoud of Homeland Security Investigations, Nashville, and Sam Olson, Field Office Director for Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Chicago, U.S. Immigration Customs Enforcement made the announcement.

    According to the indictments:

    Santiago Tehandon-Paneda, age 45, a citizen of Mexico, was charged in Owensboro, Kentucky, with reentry after deportation or removal and false claim to United States citizenship. On or about May 12, 2025, Tehandon-Paneda was an alien found in United States after having been denied admission, excluded, deported, and removed from the United States on or about May 4, 2007, and August 13, 2012. On or about May 15, 2025, Tehandon-Paneda willfully represented himself to be a citizen of the United States. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 13 years in prison. This case is being investigated by HSI, ICE-ERO.

    Feliz Morales-Rangel, age 38, a citizen of Mexico, was charged in Bowling Green with reentry after deportation or removal. On or about March 26, 2025, Morales-Rangel was an alien found in United States after having been denied admission, excluded, deported, and removed from the United States on or about March 20, 2008, and May 1, 2010. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. This case is being investigated by HSI, ICE-ERO.

    Francisco Campos-Guardian, age 32, a citizen of Mexico, was charged in Paducah with reentry after deportation or removal. On or about May 8, 2025, Campos-Guardian was an alien found in the United States after having been denied admission, excluded, deported, and removed from the United States on or about January 7, 2020. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 2 years in prison. This case is being investigated by HSI, ICE-ERO.

    Bogdan Drapac, age 41, a citizen of Romania, was charged in Paducah with use of a false passport. On or about May 14, 2025, Drapac willfully and knowingly used and attempted to use a false, forged, and counterfeited Spanish passport; that is, he presented the passport to law enforcement during a traffic stop to conceal his identity. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. This case is being investigated by HSI, ICE-ERO.

    A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors.

    There is no parole in the federal system.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mark J. Yurchisin II, of the U.S. Attorney’s Bowling Green Branch Office, and Raymond McGee, of the U.S. Attorney’s Paducah Branch Office, are prosecuting the cases.

    These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

    An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Met sets out policing plans ahead of protests this weekend

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    The Met is preparing for another busy weekend in the capital with a protest in Tower Hamlets and Westminster.

    On Saturday 14 June, a protest against proposals for a new Chinese embassy will take place between 14:00hrs until 17:00hrs at Royal Mint Court, north of Tower Bridge. The Met has set out conditions, which are detailed below.

    A protest organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), Stop the War and other groups is also due to take place on Saturday at 14:00hrs in Parliament Square. There are currently no conditions in place, however there will be a police presence to ensure the protest takes place safely and any incidents can be dealt with. Any conditions will be updated on this page.

    Currently we have not been informed of any planned counter protests, but the Met will be prepared and have sufficient resources in place.

    Details on conditions are below:

    Section 12 – Public Order Act

    Any person taking part in the procession element of the protest against the proposed Chinese embassy site must not deviate from the route shown on the map below.

    Having completed the procession, any person continuing to take part in the static element of the protest must remain in the area detailed below.

    Section 14 – Public Order Act

    Any person taking part in the static assembly element of the protest against the proposed Chinese embassy site must remain within the area shaded red on the map below.

    The assembly must conclude by 17:00hrs.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Fun for all the family at Isle of Wight Armed Forces Day 13 June 2025 Fun for all the family at Isle of Wight Armed Forces Day

    Source: Aisle of Wight

    Families heading to this year’s Isle of Wight Armed Forces Day are in for a treat, with a packed programme of activities and displays designed to thrill visitors of all ages — especially the younger ones.

    While the skies will be alive with the roar of the Red Arrows, daring parachute display teams, and the unmistakable sights and sounds of the Spitfire and Hurricane, there’s just as much excitement to be found on the ground.

    Children and families can explore a range of interactive exhibits, including a hands-on stand from the Army Medical Corps and a close-up look at the Air Corps’ Gazelle helicopter. The 165 Port and Maritime Regiment will also be showcasing the Army’s vital maritime operations.

    Back by popular demand, the Fort Cumberland Guard and Vectis Guards will be performing historical displays on the beach during the afternoon.

    For those with a sense of adventure, the Army Cadets are bringing something extra special this year.

    Event organiser Ian Dore explained: “It’s been tricky to fit this in because frankly, it’s a whopper. But Chris, our site manager, has done a sterling job of getting it in place.

    “The Army Cadets will be unveiling a 30-metre inflatable assault course! You won’t miss it — it’s big, green, and set up in the Rose Gardens near the stage.”

    Also returning is John Cattle’s Skate Club, offering free skateboarding lessons in the Skate Park — a great opportunity for kids to try something new.

    Add to that a wide array of military vehicles, live music from military bands, and plenty of space to relax, and it’s shaping up to be a bumper day out for everyone.

    The event on Sunday, 29 June, at Eastern Gardens in Ryde, officially opens at 10am with a spectacular parachute display from the Royal Navy team.

    If all goes to plan, Red 10 from the Red Arrows will make a dramatic entrance by helicopter, landing right on the beach. Shortly after, the marching parade will get underway, marking the start of a full day of festivities.

    Organisers are encouraging visitors to arrive early, bring a picnic, and set up on the beach to make the most of the day.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: SSCP Lager BidCo AB (publ) successfully issues subsequent notes of SEK 200 million

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SSCP Lager BidCo AB (publ) (“Logent” or the “Company”) has successfully issued subsequent senior secured floating rate notes in an amount of SEK 200,000,000 under the terms and conditions of the Company’s outstanding notes loan 2023/2026 with ISIN SE0021021193 (the “Subsequent Notes”). The order book was significantly oversubscribed, and the Subsequent Notes were issued to 102 per cent. of nominal amount.

    The Subsequent Notes carry a floating interest rate of 3m Stibor + 625 basis points and will mature in December 2026. Logent intends to apply for admission to trading of the Subsequent Notes on the corporate bond list of Nasdaq Stockholm.

    The net proceeds from the issuance of the Subsequent Notes will be applied towards consummation of the acquisition of the Finnish entity HUB logistics Finland Oy, financing transaction costs and general corporate purposes. Following the issuance of the Subsequent Notes, the aggregate outstanding nominal amount under the notes loan is SEK 1,050 million.

    The Company has mandated Nordea Bank Abp and Pareto Securities AS as Joint Bookrunners in connection with the issuance of the Subsequent Notes. Snellman Advokatbyrå AB has acted as legal advisor to the Company and Gernandt & Danielsson Advokatbyrå KB has acted as legal advisor to the Joint Bookrunners.

    For further information, please contact:

    Joel Engström, CEO, telephone number: +46 734 36 36 29, joel.engstrom@logent.se

    About Logent Group
    Logent is an independent logistics partner, with a Nordic base present in Northern Europe and global networks. We have a wide range of services and create value for our customers through guaranteed cost and quality improvements. Our service offer include Logistics Services such as Warehouse design and operations, Transport Management and Customs, Port and Terminal operations, Staffing Services and Consulting Services. This means that Logent has grown to a turnover of about SEK 2.4 billion from the start in 2006 and employs approximately 2,800 people in Northern Europe.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Bulgaria is joining the euro in January – and not everyone is pleased

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Yuxiang Lin, Doctoral Researcher, Centre for Russian, European and Eurasian Studies, University of Birmingham

    The EU has given the green light for Bulgaria to join the euro from January 1 2026. This huge step towards European integration comes just six months after Bulgaria became a full member of Schengen area, within which people can move freely across borders.

    However, while rapprochement moves apace at the top level, euroscepticism shows little sign of abating at the grassroots level in Bulgaria, or in national party politics.

    Protests calling for Bulgaria to stick with its national currency have sprung up in both capital city Sofia and in several towns around the country. A May poll showed that 38% of Bulgarians were against the euro and only 21% agreed that the switch should go ahead in January.

    Others wanted to wait a few years. In a similar poll in January, 40% of respondents said they never wanted Bulgaria to join the euro.

    Anti-euro protests tend to be associated with the Bulgarian nationalist political parties. The most influential of these, Vazrazhdane, has become increasingly popular and won 13.63% in the most recent parliamentary elections in October 2024. It had won just 2.45% in elections held in April 2021.

    Bulgaria joined the European Union in 2007. When, in December 2021, I interviewed a former spokesman for the political party NDSV (National Movement Simeon II), which was in government from 2001 to 2009, they said Bulgarians had very high expectations ahead of becoming part of the bloc.

    They had thought it would take just a few years for Bulgaria to be as economically developed as Switzerland, and that their standard of life would soar. The dream was that Bulgaria to become the so-called “Switzerland of the Balkans”, as both countries have similar population size and a similar touristic appeal.

    The EU has channelled €16.3 billion into Bulgaria since the country joined EU, particularly for infrastructure development. However, a year of fieldwork has shown me that Sofia has been the main benefactor of this investment.

    Small municipalities and rural communities have not felt the benefit as clearly. Among the €16.3 billion, Sofia received €3.1 billion and Plovdiv received €0.8 billion.

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

    Whereas Sofia gets new metro lines during recent years, citizens in some municipalities still struggle with basic public services for survival. Nearly 15% of the country’s population struggles with regular quality water supply.

    The imagined “European” standard of life has not yet reached small municipalities and rural areas. Europe still feels far away.

    Becoming part of the EU has given opportunities to Bulgarian citizens to work and live abroad in European countries. Official figures show 861,054 Bulgarian citizens lived in other EU countries in 2022. Recently a total of 74% of young people in Bulgaria are considering more or less seriously the idea of emigrating abroad.

    However, the trend of young people working abroad in Europe has caused brain drain and has partially contributed to the decreasing population of Bulgaria, which fell from 7.68 million before it joined the EU in 2006 to 6.44 million in 2024.

    According to a research analyst at a Sofia-based non-governmental organisation who I interviewed recently, many Bulgarian parents hope that their children working abroad in Europe will return to work in Bulgaria, because jobs for migrants abroad tend not be for high-skilled workers.

    Accession to the eurozone is more likely to benefit Sofia-based people who do business abroad rather than older people living local lives in small municipalities or rural areas. Younger and working people have already been shown to be the ones who benefited most from European integration in Bulgaria and Romania in the first place.

    That said, support for EU membership has been rising recently.

    Holding a coalition together

    Despite euroscepticism, European integration is one of the few issues that unites Bulgaria’s fragile coalition government – although not all political parties agree with joining the eurozone.

    Bulgaria held seven parliamentary elections between April 2021 and October 2024. It therefore has been a surprise that amid the political turmoil, the coalition government that was formed in October 2024 has survived. A very important motivational source here is unity on the question of Europe.

    But with mixed results so far and with meaningful levels of opposition the joining the euro, Bulgaria’s government will have to be careful about the potential for eurosceptic movements to grow as they have in several other EU nations.

    Yuxiang Lin 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. Bulgaria is joining the euro in January – and not everyone is pleased – https://theconversation.com/bulgaria-is-joining-the-euro-in-january-and-not-everyone-is-pleased-258626

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How pterosaurs can inspire aircraft design

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By David Hone, Senior Lecturer in Zoology, Queen Mary University of London

    Travelershigh / Shutterstock

    Pterosaurs were an amazing group of flying reptiles that occupied the skies around the same time that dinosaurs roamed on land. Appearing in the fossil record around 230 million years ago, pterosaurs survived until 66 million years ago, when an asteroid impact helped wipe them, and many other life forms, out.

    The pterosaurs are often the animals in the background, while the dinosaurs occupy the foreground. However, they are worthy of much more recognition than they are commonly given, not just as interesting ancient animals, but because they could also inspire aircraft designs.

    Pterosaurs were the first vertebrates to evolve powered flight. They were in the air 80 million years before birds and around 180 million years before bats. However, their flight apparatus was rather different to either. The wings of bats are supported by multiple digits (like our fingers). Birds use feathers as structural units in the wings.

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

    But pterosaurs primarily had one finger to support their wings. Their main wing was composed of a single giant “spar” – a structural unit – made of up of the bones of the arm and the greatly elongated fourth finger, with a membrane that stretched from the tip of the finger down to the ankle. This membrane acted as a flight surface.

    As a group, pterosaurs were diverse – some were specialist fishers, filter feeders, terrestrial predators, insect hunters, seed crackers, and more. Some could climb well and many species were highly mobile on the ground.

    They also got very large. The biggest pterosaurs had wingspans of over 10m and could weigh over 250kg. Even the smallest pterosaurs could fly: juveniles with 10cm wingspans were probably capable of flight within days or even hours of hatching.

    The bones of pterosaurs, like those of birds and many dinosaurs, were filled by extensions of the lungs called air-sacs, and they were extremely thin walled. This made the skeletons of the animals very stiff for their weight (rather important when flying). It also made their skeletons very fragile after death, and so pterosaur fossils are rare.

    However, in a handful of sites around the world – most notably in Germany, Brazil and China – where the preservation of fossils is exceptionally good, we have huge numbers of pterosaur fossils with both complete skeletons and a lot of soft tissue. This gives us an incredible insight into the shape and structure of their wings and how they flew.

    In addition to the main wing surface, pterosaurs had two other smaller subsidiary surfaces that would have given them extra control. At the front of the main wing sitting in the crux of the elbow was a small membrane between the wrist and the base of the neck, supported by a unique long wrist bone called the pteroid.

    At the back of the body, earlier pterosaurs had a single large sheet of membrane between the legs, supported in the middle by a long tail and on each side by long fifth toes on the feet. Later pterosaurs split this rear membrane and had only a small piece of membrane running from the ankle on each leg to the base of a short tail.

    As well as the outer skin-like layers, the wings had at least three major layers, comprising blood vessels, a layer of muscles, and a layer of stiffening fibres. Some might well have had extensions of the airsacs in the main wing membranes too, which could presumably be inflated and deflated to a degree. The wing as a whole was therefore extremely elastic and flexible.

    Artist’s impression of pterosaurs in flight.
    Natalie Jagielska

    This would have given pterosaurs extraordinary control over their wings. All of this makes them an intriguing model for future aircraft design.

    Flight challenge

    Aircraft wings are not (and cannot) be perfectly stiff. Adding flexibility, or better still, actual shape changing potential, could give them substantial performance benefits. But stiffness and flexibility need to be balanced. Problems with aeroelasticity – the tendency of a soft wing to vibrate in ways that greatly reduce performance (or even cause flight to fail outright) – limit how pliable the wings can be.

    Pterosaurs had multiple mechanisms to address this challenge, from passive mechanisms, such as fibres within the wing, to active mechanisms, such as the muscles that ran throughout the wing and could tighten on demand. This wing tensioning anatomy is*is?* among the most sophisticated aeroelastic control systems known to science.

    Survey and rescue drones of the future could look very different to this one.
    Sobrevolando Patagonia / Shutterstock

    The key to applying our knowledge of pterosaurs to future aircraft design comes not in closely mimicking the exact shape and form of pterosaurs, but instead, in understanding and extracting core principles from their anatomy.

    The membranous wings of pterosaurs were great at changing shape. The leading
    edge could lie flat or depress to a sharp angle, thanks to the small anterior membrane. The main wing surface could change its curvature, or camber. There is even evidence that the wing could manage what is called reflex camber – a shape in which the trailing edge of the wing curves upwards.

    Even the stiff portion of the wing (the spar) made of bone and surrounding muscles, was mobile – through motions of the shoulder, elbow, and wrist and flexibility within the bone itself near the wingtip. This soft, shape changing structure gave pterosaurs exceptional control over their moment-to-moment wing performance, optimising for lower speed or higher speed within fractions of a wingbeat. This would have made them particularly adept at slow speed flight – good for tight turns and precise, soft landings.

    Greater manoeuvrability and pinpoint landings are a premium for autonomous vehicles working in busy environments – such as cities or natural disaster zones full of debris. So future survey and rescue drones could take lessons from pterosaur wing control systems.

    Lessons from pterosaur anatomy could also be applied to wingsuits.
    Rick Neves / Shutterstock

    The jointed, flexible wing anatomy of pterosaurs also meant that the wings could fold tightly, and unlike the wings of birds, the folded wings of pterosaurs doubled as powerful walking limbs. Because the hands contacted the ground while walking, the forelimbs were available to help push the animals into the air during take-off leaps. Mathematical models predict half-second launch times, from a standing start, in even the largest pterosaurs.

    The exceptional mechanical loads associated with these launches were handled
    by one of the highest stiffness-to-weight skeletons to ever evolve. This folded-wing, rapid-launch system has great potential for applications to future technologies.

    So much so, in fact, that a prototype folding wing system modelled on pterosaurs has already undergone some testing (through a Nasa-funded university project on which one of the authors, Michael Habib, consulted). A folding, flapping wing that doubles as a launch system could allow future drones to take off with limited space – perhaps while on ships at sea. It could also be used to allow small flying drones to land and launch again out of craters on Mars.

    The red planet has just enough atmosphere to make flapping wing and rotor wing systems work. But it’s energetically costly and hovering is tough – better to land, measure and launch again. Similarly, rapid take offs from uneven terrain, precise landings, tight turns, and on demand tweaks to improve performance are all features that could be applied to the drones of the future, in wingsuits, and more.

    As the control systems for drones become increasingly driven by intelligent software, we will need a new generation of hardware to match. Pterosaurs may hold the keys to unlocking a future of highly manoeuvrable autonomous aerial vehicles that are competent in harsh conditions and urban environments. These would be ideal for search and rescue or surveys in locations that are too dangerous for humans.

    So despite having been extinct for 66 million years, the pterosaurs have huge potential as the inspiration for aircraft design. Sometimes looking back can be the best way to look forward.

    Michael Habib has worked on a prototype folding wing system based on pterosaur flight through a Nasa-funded university project.

    David Hone and Liz Martin do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. How pterosaurs can inspire aircraft design – https://theconversation.com/how-pterosaurs-can-inspire-aircraft-design-256823

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: PM call with Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel: 13 June 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    PM call with Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel: 13 June 2025

    The Prime Minister spoke to Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu this afternoon.

    The Prime Minister spoke to Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, this afternoon following last night’s events. 

    The Prime Minister was clear that Israel has a right to self-defence and set out the UK’s grave concerns about Iran’s nuclear programme.

    He reiterated the need for de-escalation and a diplomatic resolution, in the interests of stability in the region.

    Updates to this page

    Published 13 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: The End of Light Goods Vehicle Acquired Rights

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    The End of Light Goods Vehicle Acquired Rights

    Since May 2022, transport companies and couriers using vans and car and trailers over 2.5 tonnes to transport goods in the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland have needed a Standard International Goods Vehicle Operator Licence and have a designated transport manager.

    Over the past year the Office of the Traffic Commissioner has been working with the 293 operators who relied on a transport manager that holds an Acquired Rights Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) for light goods vehicles.

    As the certificate could only be used to satisfy the professional competence requirements on an operator’s licence until 20 May 2025, it was important that they had a suitably qualified person specified on their operator’s licence before this date. Without it, their operator’s licence is at risk of revocation.

    The transport manager is a vital part of a transport company. They are responsible for helping to ensure that all goods and passengers reach their destinations safely. They ensure drivers have a valid licence and do not speed or break the drivers’ hours rules, vehicles are taxed and insured, have a valid MOT, are properly maintained and are loaded safely and the vehicle operator does not break safety rules.

    Gaining the CPC can take up to a year and the majority of those with acquired rights have spent the time and effort gaining the CPC qualifications they need. Some operators have appointed new, already qualified transport managers. Some no longer need the licence and have surrendered them, but for around 90 operators, licence revocation is now immanent, jeopardising their businesses through inaction.

    If you would like to know how to become a transport manager, visit https://www.gov.uk/become-transport-manager

    Updates to this page

    Published 13 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: The Government of Barbados Announces an Offer to Purchase for Cash its 6.500% Notes due 2029

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION IN OR INTO OR TO ANY PERSON LOCATED OR RESIDENT IN ANY JURISDICTION WHERE SUCH RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL

    BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, June 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Government of Barbados (the “Offeror”) announces that it has today launched an offer (the “Offer”) to holders (the “Noteholders”) of any and all of its outstanding U.S.$407,642,670 6.500% Notes due 2029 (the “Notes”) to purchase any and all of such Notes for cash on the terms and subject to the satisfaction of the New Financing Condition (as defined below) and the other conditions set forth in the tender offer memorandum dated 13 June 2025 (the “Tender Offer Memorandum”).

    Capitalised terms used in this announcement but not defined have the meanings given to them in the Tender Offer Memorandum.

    All documentation relating to the Offer including the Tender Offer Memorandum and any amendments or supplements thereto will be available to Noteholders via the website for the Offer accessible at: www.dfking.com/barbados. The Offer is subject to offer and distribution restrictions in, among other countries, the United Kingdom, Italy, Belgium and France, as described below.

    Summary of the Offer

    Description of Notes Outstanding Principal
    Amount as of the Date
    Hereof and subject to the Offer    		 ISINs / CUSIP No. Purchase Price(1)
    6.500% Notes due 2029 U.S.$407,642,670 Rule 144A Notes:
    US067070AH54 / 067070 AH5

    Regulation S Notes:
    USP48864AQ80 / P48864 AQ8

    		 U.S.$1,000

     

    (1) Offered as Purchase Price per each U.S.$1,000 principal amount of Notes validly tendered at or prior to the Expiration Deadline (as defined below) and accepted for purchase. The Purchase Price does not include Accrued Interest (as defined below). On 26 June 2025 (subject to the right of the Offeror, at its sole discretion, to extend, re-open, amend and/or terminate the Offer) (the “Settlement Date”), Noteholders will also receive Accrued Interest on all Notes validly tendered and accepted for purchase.
       

    Rationale for the Offer

    The Offeror is making the Offer (subject to the New Financing Condition (as defined below)) in connection with the Offeror’s broader debt management strategy to refinance short-dated debt with longer-dated debt.

    All Notes purchased by the Offeror pursuant to the Offer will be cancelled and will not be re-issued or re-sold.

    Tender Offer Consideration

    The Offeror will, on the Settlement Date, pay for the Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn at or before the Expiration Deadline pursuant to the Offer and accepted for purchase pursuant to the Offer a cash amount (rounded to the nearest U.S.$0.01) equal to the sum of (i) the Purchase Price for such Notes, as set forth in the table above; and (ii) interest accrued and unpaid on the Notes from (and including) the interest payment date for such Notes immediately preceding the Settlement Date to (but excluding) the Settlement Date in respect of such Notes (the “Accrued Interest” and the payment thereof, the “Accrued Interest Payment”).

    The Offeror will calculate any Accrued Interest with respect to the Notes accepted for purchase in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Notes, and the calculation will be final and binding on all Noteholders whose Notes were accepted for purchase, absent manifest error.

    The Offeror reserves the right, in its sole and absolute discretion, to modify in any manner and at any time any of the terms and conditions of the Offer.

    New Financing Condition

    Whether the Offeror will accept for purchase any Notes validly tendered in the Offer is subject to (unless such condition is waived by the Offeror in its sole and absolute discretion), among other things, the prior closing of the issuance by the Offeror of one or more series of debt securities (the “New Notes”) in the international capital markets (the “New Notes Offering”) in an aggregate principal amount, and at a price and on terms and conditions acceptable to the Offeror in its sole and absolute discretion, a portion of the net proceeds of which will be used by the Offeror to purchase any Notes tendered and accepted pursuant to the Offer (the “New Financing Condition”).

    The New Notes Offering will be made solely by means of an offering memorandum relating to the New Notes Offering (the “New Notes Offering Memorandum”), and this announcement and the Tender Offer Memorandum do not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the New Notes. You may not participate in the New Notes Offering unless you have received and reviewed the New Notes Offering Memorandum, and not in reliance on, or on the basis of, this announcement or the Tender Offer Memorandum. The New Notes will be offered only to qualified institutional buyers in the United States in reliance on Rule 144A and outside the United States to non-U.S. persons in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act, and will not be registered under the Securities Act or the securities laws of any other jurisdiction.

    Even if the New Financing Condition is satisfied, the Offeror is not under any obligation to accept for purchase any Notes tendered pursuant to the Offer.

    In order to be valid, Tender Instructions must be submitted in respect of a minimum nominal amount of U.S.$100 and in integral multiples of U.S.$100 in excess thereof (the “Minimum Denomination”). Noteholders who do not tender all of their Notes must ensure that they retain a principal amount of Notes amounting to at least the Minimum Denomination.

    Expected Timetable of Events

    The times and dates below are indicative only.

    Date Events
    13 June 2025 Commencement of the Offer

    Offer announced. Tender Offer Memorandum available from the Information and Tender Agent.
       
    20 June 2025, 5 p.m. (New York Time) Expiration Deadline

    Deadline for receipt by the Information and Tender Agent of all Tender Instructions in order for Noteholders to be able to participate in the Offer and to be eligible to receive the Purchase Price and Accrued Interest Payment on the Settlement Date.
       
    As soon as reasonably practicable on or after the Expiration Deadline and expected to be 23 June 2025 Announcement of Results

    Offeror’s announcement of the amount of Notes validly tendered pursuant to the Offer.
       
    Promptly after the New Financing Condition has been met or waived Announcement of Notes accepted for purchase

    The Offeror will announce, promptly after the New Financing Condition has been met or waived, (i) the aggregate principal amount of Notes validly tendered that will be accepted for purchase, and (ii) the aggregate principal amount of Notes remaining outstanding following the completion of the Offer. See “Terms and Conditions of the Offer –Announcements” in the Tender Offer Memorandum.
       
    26 June 2025 (but subject to change without notice) Settlement

    Expected Settlement Date for the Offer. Payment of Purchase Price and Accrued Interest Payment in respect of the Offer. All Notes purchased pursuant to the Offer will be cancelled on the Settlement Date and will no longer be outstanding.
       

    The above times and dates are subject to the right of the Offeror to extend, re-open, amend, waive any condition of and/or terminate the Offer at any time (subject to applicable law and as provided in the Tender Offer Memorandum). Noteholders are advised to check with any bank, securities broker or other intermediary through which they hold Notes when such intermediary would need to receive instructions from a Noteholder in order for that Noteholder to be able to participate in, or (in the limited circumstances in which revocation is permitted) revoke their instruction to participate in, the Offer before the deadlines specified in the Tender Offer Memorandum. The deadlines set by any such intermediary and each Clearing System for the submission of Tender Instructions will be earlier than the relevant deadlines specified above. See “Procedures for Participating in the Offer” in the Tender Offer Memorandum.

    Announcements

    Unless stated otherwise, announcements in connection with the Offer will be by the issue of a press release through the Luxembourg Stock Exchange and by the delivery of notices to the relevant Clearing Systems for communication to Direct Participants. Such announcements may also be made by the issue of a press release to a Notifying News Service. Copies of all such announcements, press releases and notices and will be available on the Offer Website or alternatively they can also be obtained upon request from the Information and Tender Agent, the contact details for which are below. Significant delays may be experienced where notices are delivered to the Clearing Systems and Noteholders are urged to contact the Information and Tender Agent for the relevant announcements during the course of the Offer. In addition, Noteholders may contact the Dealer Managers for information using the contact details below.

    Tender Instructions

    In order to participate in and be eligible to receive the relevant Purchase Price and any Accrued Interest Payment pursuant to the Offer, Noteholders must validly tender their Notes by delivering, or arranging to have delivered on their behalf, a valid Tender Instruction in respect of the Offer that is received by the Information and Tender Agent by 5.00 p.m. New York City time on 20 June 2025 (the “Expiration Deadline”).

    Tender Instructions will be irrevocable except in the limited circumstances described in the Tender Offer Memorandum.

    Noteholders are advised to check with any bank, securities broker or other intermediary through which they hold Notes when such intermediary would need to receive instructions from a Noteholder in order for that Noteholder to be able to participate in, or (in the limited circumstances in which revocation is permitted) revoke their instruction to participate in, the Offer by the deadlines specified in the Tender Offer Memorandum. The deadlines set by any such intermediary and each Clearing System for the submission of Tender Instructions will be earlier than the relevant deadlines specified in the Tender Offer Memorandum.

    Tender Instructions must be submitted in respect of a nominal amount of Notes equal to or greater than the Minimum Denomination.

    A separate Tender Instruction must be completed on behalf of each beneficial owner.

    Disclaimer

    This announcement does not contain the full terms and conditions of the Offer. The terms and conditions of the Offer are contained in the Tender Offer Memorandum, and are subject to the Offer and distribution restrictions set out below and more fully described therein.

    Further information

    J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Standard Chartered Bank have been appointed by the Offeror to serve as dealer managers (the “Dealer Managers”) for the Offer. D.F. King (the “Information and Tender Agent”) has been appointed by the Offeror to act as the information and tender agent in connection with the Offer.

    For additional information regarding the terms of the Offer, please contact J.P. Morgan Securities LLC by telephone at (866) 846-2874; Collect: (212) 834-7279 and Standard Chartered Bank by telephone at (212) 667-0351 (U.S.) or +44 20 7885 5739 (U.K.) and by email at liability_management@sc.com.

    Requests for documents and questions regarding the tender of Notes may be directed to the Information and Tender Agent D.F. King & Co., Inc. via:

    Banks & Brokers Call: (212) 269-5550

    Toll free: (866) 342-4881

    Email: barbados@dfking.com

    The Tender Offer Memorandum is expected to be distributed to Noteholders beginning today. A copy of the Tender Offer Memorandum is available on the tender offer website accessible at www.dfking.com/barbados.

    No Recommendation

    The relevant Purchase Price, if paid by the Offeror with respect to the Notes of any series accepted for purchase, will not necessarily reflect the actual value of such Notes. Noteholders should independently analyse the value of the Notes and make an independent assessment of the terms of the Offer. None of the Offeror, the Dealer Managers or the Information and Tender Agent has or will express any opinion as to whether the terms of the Offer are fair. None of the Offeror, the Dealer Managers or the Information and Tender Agent makes any recommendation that Noteholders should submit an offer to sell or tender Notes or refrain from doing so pursuant to the Offer, and no one has been authorised by any of them to make any such recommendation.

    Offer and Distribution Restrictions

    Neither this announcement nor the Tender Offer Memorandum constitutes an offer to participate in the Offer in any jurisdiction in which, or to any person to or from whom, it is unlawful to make such offer or for there to be such participation under applicable securities laws. The distribution of the Tender Offer Memorandum in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. Persons into whose possession the Tender Offer Memorandum comes are required by the Offeror, the Dealer Managers and the Information and Tender Agent to inform themselves about, and to observe, any such restrictions

    Nothing in this announcement or the Tender Offer Memorandum or the electronic transmission thereof constitutes an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the New Notes in the United States or any other jurisdiction.

    In addition, each Noteholder participating in an Offer will also be deemed to give certain representations in respect of the other jurisdictions referred to above and generally as set out in “Procedures for Participating in the Offer” of the Tender Offer Memorandum. Any tender of Notes for purchase pursuant to an Offer from a Noteholder that is unable to make these representations will not be accepted. Each of the Offeror, the Dealer Managers and the Information and Tender Agent reserves the right, in its absolute discretion, to investigate, in relation to any tender of Notes for purchase pursuant to an Offer, whether any such representation given by a Noteholder is correct and, if such investigation is undertaken and as a result the Offeror determines (for any reason) that such representation is not correct, such tender shall not be accepted. The acceptance of any tender shall not be deemed to be a representation or a warranty by any of the Offeror, the Dealer Manager or the Information and Tender Agent or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, agents or affiliates that it has undertaken any such investigation and/or that any such representation to any person underwriting any such Notes is correct.

    United Kingdom

    The communication of the Tender Offer Memorandum and any other documents or materials relating to the Offer are not being made, and such documents and/or materials have not been approved, by an authorised person for the purposes of section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, as amended (the “FSMA”). Accordingly, such documents and/or materials are not being distributed to, and must not be passed on to, the general public in the United Kingdom. The communication of such documents and/or materials is exempt from the restriction on financial promotions under section 21 of the FSMA on the basis that it is only directed at and may be communicated to (1) those persons who are existing creditors of the Offeror within Article 43(2) of the FSMA (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended, and (2) to any other persons to whom these documents and/or materials may lawfully be communicated.

    Belgium

    Neither the Tender Offer Memorandum nor any other documents or materials relating to the Offer have been, or will be, submitted to or notified to, or approved by, the Belgian Financial Services and Markets Authority (Autorité des services et marchés financiers/Autoriteit voor Financiële Diensten en Markten) and, accordingly, the Offer may not be made in Belgium by way of a public offering, as defined in Article 3 of the Belgian Law of 1 April 2007 on takeover bids (loi relative aux offres publiques d’acquisition/wet op de openbare overnamebiedingen), as amended or replaced from time to time.

    Accordingly, the Offer may not be, and are not being advertised, and the Tender Offer Memorandum, as well as any brochure, or any other material or document relating thereto (including any memorandum, information circular, brochure or any similar document) may not, have not and will not be distributed, directly or indirectly, to any person located and/or resident within Belgium, other than those who qualify as qualified investors (investisseurs qualifiés/qekwalificeerde beleggers), within the meaning of Article 2, e), of the Prospectus Regulation acting on their own account. Accordingly, the information contained in the Tender Offer Memorandum or in any brochure or any other document or material relating thereto may not be used for any other purpose, including for any offering in Belgium, except as may otherwise be permitted by law, and shall not be disclosed or distributed to any other person in Belgium.

    France

    The Tender Offer Memorandum and any other documents or materials relating to the Offer are only addressed to and are only directed at qualified investors within the meaning of the Prospectus Regulation in France. Each person in France who receives any communication in respect of the Offer contemplated in the Tender Offer Memorandum and any other documents or materials relating to the Offer will be deemed to have represented, warranted and agreed to and with the Dealer Managers and the Offeror that it is a qualified investor within the meaning of Article 2(e) of the Prospectus Regulation.

    European Economic Area

    In any European Economic Area (“EEA”) Member State, this announcement and the Tender Offer Memorandum are only addressed to, and are only directed at, “qualified investors” (as defined in Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 June 2017, as amended (the “Prospectus Regulation”)) in that Member State.

    Each person in a Member State of the EEA who receives any communication in respect of the Offer contemplated in this announcement and the Tender Offer Memorandum will be deemed to have represented, warranted and agreed to and with each Dealer Manager and the Offeror that it is a qualified investor within the meaning of the Prospectus Regulation.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Statement from the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke

    Source: Government of Ireland – Department of Jobs Enterprise and Innovation

    13th June 2025

    This afternoon, Michael Carey tendered his resignation as Chair of Enterprise Ireland. 

    A process will now commence through the Public Appointments Service to appoint a new Chair. Jim Woulfe sits on the board of Enterprise Ireland and has agreed to act as interim Chair in advance of the formal process concluding.

    I would like to thank Michael Carey for his work and dedication to Irish enterprises over the last two years as Chair of Enterprise Ireland and wish him all the best in the future. 

    The Government and Enterprise Ireland have ambitious plans over the coming period, including to increase exports to €50bn by 2029, to establish 1,700 new Irish-owned exporters and to increase jobs in companies supported by Enterprise Ireland to 275,000.

    Supporting Irish SMEs, together with realising the significant potential we have in our innovative economy, remain my absolute priority. I am working closely with Jenny Melia, as CEO designate, and the board of Enterprise Ireland in this regard.

    ENDS

    Back to Department News

    Back to Top

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: AAIB Update: Air India flight AI171

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    AAIB Update: Air India flight AI171

    Update on the fatal accident which occurred in Ahmedabad, India on 12 June 2025

    A team of four investigators from the UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has arrived in India. They have expertise in aircraft operations, engineering and recorded data. Their role is to provide additional support and expertise to the safety investigation being led by India’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau.

    The UK AAIB has ‘Expert’ status in the Indian safety investigation. In accordance with international protocols, release of information on the investigation rests solely with the Indian authorities.

    British nationals who require consular assistance or have concerns about friends or family should call the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO): 020 7008 5000.

    Updates to this page

    Published 13 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Closed notice to improve: Lakes College West Cumbria

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Correspondence

    Closed notice to improve: Lakes College West Cumbria

    A financial health notice to improve issued to Lakes College West Cumbria.

    Applies to England

    Documents

    Financial health notice to improve: Lakes College West Cumbria

    PDF, 155 KB, 6 pages

    Details

    This notice to improve is now closed.

    This letter and its annex serve as a written financial health notice to improve at Lakes College West Cumbria.

    Sign up for emails or print this page

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Ministers discuss ‘AI in Reform and Transformation’ at 43rd BIC Summit13 June 2025 The Chief Minister, Deputy Lyndon Farnham, and Minister for External Relations, Deputy Ian Gorst, represented Jersey at the British-Irish Council, BIC, Summit in Northern Ireland on Thursday 12 to… Read more

    Source: Channel Islands – Jersey

    13 June 2025

    The Chief Minister, Deputy Lyndon Farnham, and Minister for External Relations, Deputy Ian Gorst, represented Jersey at the British-Irish Council, BIC, Summit in Northern Ireland on Thursday 12 to Friday 13 June. 

    The 43rd Summit, hosted by the First Minister of Northern Ireland, Michelle O’Neill, and the Deputy First Minister, Emma Little-Pengelly, brought together all the representatives of the BIC administrations, including the Irish, Welsh, Scottish and UK Governments, the Northern Ireland Executive, and the Governments of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man.

    The theme of the meeting was ‘The Role of AI in Reform and Transformation’. 

    After the summit, Deputy Farnham said: “The British-Irish Council remains a vital forum that brings together member administrations to discuss, and address, our many joint challenges and opportunities. Deputy Gorst and I had useful conversations with ministers from across the British Isles against the backdrop of challenging global and national events. 

    “I would like to thank the First Minister and Deputy First Minister for the kind hospitality that we were shown throughout the Summit.” 

    Deputy Gorst added: “It was immensely worthwhile to discuss how AI can enhance our public services, particularly in health diagnosis and prevention of illness. We will be sharing expertise with other jurisdictions which are exploring advances in many of the same areas.”​

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Portsmouth’s Clean Air Zone delivers results – But the journey isn’t over

    Source: City of Portsmouth

    To mark and practically contribute to Clean Air Day on Thursday 19 June, Portsmouth City Council is offering free bus travel across the city — celebrating the progress made in tackling air pollution and the key role buses can play while recognising there’s still more to do.

    Since in 2021, when the Clean Air Zone (CAZ) was launched, air quality in Portsmouth has seen a marked improvement and a recent study shows that over 99% of chargeable vehicles entering the zone now meet emissions standards. However, a few areas of the city still exceed legal nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) limits, mainly due to older diesel vehicles especially private cars and vans.

    While achieving UK legal limits is a key milestone, Portsmouth City Council is committed to going further to better protect public health. Cleaner air benefits everyone — it can ease breathing problems, particularly for children, older people, and those with existing health conditions, and helps create a healthier environment for all.

    To tackle remaining pollution hotspots, Portsmouth City Council is stepping up its commitment to cleaner air and healthier travel across the city — and these are just some of the actions already underway.

    The council has rolled out 62 electric buses through the government’s ZEBRA scheme, cutting emissions from public transport. Bus services have also been upgraded under the Bus Service Improvement Plan, making them more frequent and reliable.

    Walking and cycling are being made safer and more accessible through schemes like the Active Pompey Neighbourhood programme, while 320 new on-street electric vehicle charge points are being installed to support the switch to cleaner cars.

    Meanwhile, Portsmouth International Port is progressing towards net-zero emissions, including a UK-first shore power system that allows ships to plug in while docked, significantly reducing pollution.

    These initiatives are part of a wider, long-term strategy to make Portsmouth a cleaner, greener and healthier city — with more improvements still to come.

    Cllr Peter Candlish, Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “We’ve made real progress on air pollution, but there’s much more we can do, especially by changing how we travel. That’s why Clean Air Day is the perfect time to try the bus — it’s free, it’s easy, and it’s one small step we can all take for a cleaner, greener and healthier Portsmouth.”

    Cllr Kimberly Barrett, Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Greening the City, added: “Cleaner air means healthier lives. We’re seeing real progress, but we all have a part to play. Choosing greener ways to travel — even just once a week — can make a big difference for Portsmouth.”

    The CAZ will remain in place until air pollution levels stay within legal limits for two consecutive years. Experts are optimistic this could be achieved in the coming years, as cleaner vehicles continue to replace older diesel models. Even after these limits are met, Portsmouth City Council will continue taking proactive steps to further reduce air pollution and safeguard public health.

    For more information, visit the Portsmouth City Council website: https://cleanerairportsmouth.co.uk/

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Nimanode Presale Skyrockets Past 15% Softcap Target, Set to Give Early Participants First Mover Edge

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LEEDS, United Kingdom, June 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The highly anticipated Nimanode (NMA) Presale has so far surpassed expectations, rapidly filling 15% of its softcap which has fuelled intense investor FOMO.

    Nimanode, coined the “first no-code AI agent platform built natively on the XRP Ledger”, presents a no-brainer opportunity to what is poised to be the next evolution of DeFi on XRP.

    Analysts have predicted $NMA could deliver high returns as we prepare for an alt season once it debuts on major decentralized exchanges (DEXs).

    Join $NMA Presale

    Nimanode’s NMA Token Sale Surges as Investor Demands Intensifies

    FOMO is already building up as the Nimanode Presale momentum indicates strong confidence from early investors citing a belief in the project.

    Early participants have already scooped up 15% of the initial presale softcap allocation, signaling growing market interest and early momentum.

    Demand for the NMA token has also surged as tokens are set to be listed at an upward 25% price from presale prices at top XRPL exchanges like Magnetic, so instant returns for early investors are expected.

    Such attractive pricing is resonating deeply with investors who missed out on XRP’s early growth stages.

    Pioneering the AI x Blochchain Wave on XRP Ledger

    Nimanode positions itself as a first-of-its-kind AI-powered infrastructure and agent economy, purpose-built on the XRP Ledger. By aligning with the renewed momentum surrounding XRP’s ecosystem, Nimanode aims to harness both the network’s technical evolution and the community’s growing excitement.

    Though independent from Ripple’s official roadmap, Nimanode leverages XRP Ledger’s speed, low fees, and increasing developer adoption to help reignite the bullish energy seen in previous cycles.

    To put it in perspective, XRP once saw an explosive 137,000% surge during the 2017–2018 bull market. Now, as the XRP ecosystem rebounds—with the token retracing back to $2.20—Nimanode’s emergence offers a timely opportunity to capture investor interest around intelligent automation, agent-powered DeFi, and tokenized real-world utilities built directly on XRPL.

    Buy $NMA

    Reimagining the Future of Work Through AI Agents, A Core Value

    Nimanode isn’t just riding the wave of XRP’s momentum, it introduces a suite of pioneering features designed to fuel long-term growth and ecosystem resilience. It is working to be a part of the future of work.

    Zero-Code Agent Builder: Create and launch AI agents through an intuitive drag-and-drop interface
    Autonomous On-Chain Agents: Agents can interact with dApps, execute logic, and respond to events
    Decentralized Agent Marketplace: Allows the community to deploy and monetize AI Agents
    Cross-Chain & Off-Chain Integration: Enable automation across multiple networks and external APIs

    Time to Move: Nimanode Presale Gaining Momentum

    With early interest accelerating and a powerful utility-driven token model, investor excitement around Nimanode is building fast. As more participants secure their share of $NMA, the window for getting in at the most favorable entry point is narrowing quickly.

    Don’t miss out! Head to the Nimanode Presale Page now and claim your $NMA tokens before this early opportunity slips away! Participation details are easy and can be clearly seen on their page.

    Connect with Nimanode

    Website: https://nimanode.com

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

    Telegram: https://t.me/nimanodeAI

    Documentation: https://docs.nimanode.com

    Contact:
    Nick Lambert
    contact@nimanode.com

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

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

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0f1cb75d-6cd8-4a9e-a31a-f1757087a2e8

    The MIL Network –