NewzIntel.com

Category: European Union

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: School lunches, the French way: It’s not just about nutrition, but togetherness and ‘bon appetit’

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Rachel Engler-Stringer, Professor, Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, University of Saskatchewan

    This spring, as part of a sabbatical project, I had the privilege of visiting school food programs and meeting with school food researchers in six cities in France, England and Scotland.

    I got to eat school lunches, visit central kitchens in two cities where meals are prepared for thousands of children, visit school kitchens and discuss school food with the countries’ leading experts.

    This visit intersects with my research with colleagues on promising food programs across Canada. This research offers insights for consideration as regions navigate the federal government’s first National School Food Program and National School Food Policy.

    Government announcements about the program and policy were followed by negotiations with the provinces and territories, all of which have since signed agreements for a portion of the funding.

    In most parts of Canada, officials are just beginning to plan for new approaches to school food (with a few exceptions especially in Atlantic Canada where school food programs have been transforming much more quickly).

    Based on my research about international food programs, here are four key things Canadians should pay attention to:

    1) In Canada we need to shift from thinking of school lunches as a safety net for kids living in poverty to thinking about them as benefiting the health and well-being of children and their families. In France, this shift in thinking is particularly clear.

    School lunches in France are about teaching children about food and culture and all kids are encouraged to eat together with an adult facilitator who teaches them about the components of the meal and creates a family-meal context at each table. By contrast, if you ask many parents in Canada what school meals are for, they will tell you they are for kids living in poverty to make sure they have food to eat at school.

    If Canada wants a national school food program that achieves the benefits of the best programs in the world in the areas of education, well-being and on the economy, we need to think of school meals as supporting young people to be the best students they can be.

    2) One important benefit of school food programs globally is to encourage picky eaters to try new foods due to the social pressure of all kids eating the same foods together. In three cities in France I visited, and one in England, school lunches look like home-cooked meals. One main dish with meat is served (and in England, a vegetarian alternative), and kids can choose if and how much of the side vegetables and fruit to take.

    In Canada, following a similar practice — one main and a vegetarian alternative when meat is served — might work well. But it’s also important that in developing a menu, the cultural diversity of Canadian school communities is reflected in the food on offer.

    In the other two locations in England and Scotland, kids choose from multiple main dishes — something that adds cost to the program and does less to encourage kids to try new foods, given one choice is always something basic like a cheese sandwich.

    Kids need to have some autonomy when it comes to eating, but school food programs should not be facilitating eating the same food every day. Nor should school food programs aspire to a model where broad choice is afforded from a large menu.

    3) With care, planning and sufficient resources, centralized kitchens can prepare thousands of servings of a main dish daily. The French central kitchens I visited prepare 6,000 to 10,000 servings a day of high-quality food following strict food safety protocols.

    I ate two simple yet delicious meals cooked in municipally owned central kitchens. In the three cities in France where I visited, they used central kitchens where main dishes were prepared and chilled to be delivered for heating at the school level. Central kitchens also delivered the salads and sides (like chopped veggies, bread, cheese and fruit) and dressings.

    In the small school kitchens, the salads were dressed, and the cheese and fruit were cut for service.

    The central kitchens were also used in at least one city to prepare food for daycares and for seniors who were home-bound — something to consider for Canadian cities.

    Centralizing kitchens can reduce costs and provide a way for high-quality food to be produced from basic ingredients without commercial kitchens in every school capable of preparing meals for hundreds of children at a time.

    4) When designed with requirements for purchasing foods from local farmers and other Canadian producers, school food programs can benefit the agricultural sector and multiply their benefits to communities beyond direct school food jobs. In France, for example, there are specific percentages to be purchased from local and sustainable sources. Percentage requirements for local and sustainable purchasing should be enacted now in Canada as its program establishes itself, perhaps beginning with 20 per cent and growing over time.

    I have many more reflections from my visits, both positive and negative, but the four I have discussed are important for Canada to learn from as it begins to design the National School Food Program to meet the needs of diverse communities from coast to coast to coast.

    Rachel Engler-Stringer receives funding from the Canadian Institutes for Health Research, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada and received a University of Saskatchewan International Travel Award for program visits. She sits on the Steering Committee of the Coalition for Healthy School Food.

    – ref. School lunches, the French way: It’s not just about nutrition, but togetherness and ‘bon appetit’ – https://theconversation.com/school-lunches-the-french-way-its-not-just-about-nutrition-but-togetherness-and-bon-appetit-259832

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: School lunches, the French way: It’s not just about nutrition, but togetherness and ‘bon appetit’

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Rachel Engler-Stringer, Professor, Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, University of Saskatchewan

    This spring, as part of a sabbatical project, I had the privilege of visiting school food programs and meeting with school food researchers in six cities in France, England and Scotland.

    I got to eat school lunches, visit central kitchens in two cities where meals are prepared for thousands of children, visit school kitchens and discuss school food with the countries’ leading experts.

    This visit intersects with my research with colleagues on promising food programs across Canada. This research offers insights for consideration as regions navigate the federal government’s first National School Food Program and National School Food Policy.

    Government announcements about the program and policy were followed by negotiations with the provinces and territories, all of which have since signed agreements for a portion of the funding.

    In most parts of Canada, officials are just beginning to plan for new approaches to school food (with a few exceptions especially in Atlantic Canada where school food programs have been transforming much more quickly).

    Based on my research about international food programs, here are four key things Canadians should pay attention to:

    1) In Canada we need to shift from thinking of school lunches as a safety net for kids living in poverty to thinking about them as benefiting the health and well-being of children and their families. In France, this shift in thinking is particularly clear.

    School lunches in France are about teaching children about food and culture and all kids are encouraged to eat together with an adult facilitator who teaches them about the components of the meal and creates a family-meal context at each table. By contrast, if you ask many parents in Canada what school meals are for, they will tell you they are for kids living in poverty to make sure they have food to eat at school.

    If Canada wants a national school food program that achieves the benefits of the best programs in the world in the areas of education, well-being and on the economy, we need to think of school meals as supporting young people to be the best students they can be.

    2) One important benefit of school food programs globally is to encourage picky eaters to try new foods due to the social pressure of all kids eating the same foods together. In three cities in France I visited, and one in England, school lunches look like home-cooked meals. One main dish with meat is served (and in England, a vegetarian alternative), and kids can choose if and how much of the side vegetables and fruit to take.

    In Canada, following a similar practice — one main and a vegetarian alternative when meat is served — might work well. But it’s also important that in developing a menu, the cultural diversity of Canadian school communities is reflected in the food on offer.

    In the other two locations in England and Scotland, kids choose from multiple main dishes — something that adds cost to the program and does less to encourage kids to try new foods, given one choice is always something basic like a cheese sandwich.

    Kids need to have some autonomy when it comes to eating, but school food programs should not be facilitating eating the same food every day. Nor should school food programs aspire to a model where broad choice is afforded from a large menu.

    3) With care, planning and sufficient resources, centralized kitchens can prepare thousands of servings of a main dish daily. The French central kitchens I visited prepare 6,000 to 10,000 servings a day of high-quality food following strict food safety protocols.

    I ate two simple yet delicious meals cooked in municipally owned central kitchens. In the three cities in France where I visited, they used central kitchens where main dishes were prepared and chilled to be delivered for heating at the school level. Central kitchens also delivered the salads and sides (like chopped veggies, bread, cheese and fruit) and dressings.

    In the small school kitchens, the salads were dressed, and the cheese and fruit were cut for service.

    The central kitchens were also used in at least one city to prepare food for daycares and for seniors who were home-bound — something to consider for Canadian cities.

    Centralizing kitchens can reduce costs and provide a way for high-quality food to be produced from basic ingredients without commercial kitchens in every school capable of preparing meals for hundreds of children at a time.

    4) When designed with requirements for purchasing foods from local farmers and other Canadian producers, school food programs can benefit the agricultural sector and multiply their benefits to communities beyond direct school food jobs. In France, for example, there are specific percentages to be purchased from local and sustainable sources. Percentage requirements for local and sustainable purchasing should be enacted now in Canada as its program establishes itself, perhaps beginning with 20 per cent and growing over time.

    I have many more reflections from my visits, both positive and negative, but the four I have discussed are important for Canada to learn from as it begins to design the National School Food Program to meet the needs of diverse communities from coast to coast to coast.

    Rachel Engler-Stringer receives funding from the Canadian Institutes for Health Research, the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada and received a University of Saskatchewan International Travel Award for program visits. She sits on the Steering Committee of the Coalition for Healthy School Food.

    – ref. School lunches, the French way: It’s not just about nutrition, but togetherness and ‘bon appetit’ – https://theconversation.com/school-lunches-the-french-way-its-not-just-about-nutrition-but-togetherness-and-bon-appetit-259832

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Marking a Milestone: 20th Anniversary of the Amendment to the Convention on Physical Protection of Nuclear Material

    Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –

    Twenty years ago, the adoption of the Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (A/CPPNM) marked the start of a new era in international efforts to counter the risk of nuclear security threats.

    The Convention and its Amendment are the only internationally legally binding undertakings in the area of physical protection of nuclear material and of nuclear facilities used for peaceful purposes. They provide a robust international legal framework as a foundation for effective nuclear security.

    On the occasion of the anniversary, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi emphasized in his message that “it is in everyone’s interest that all States join and implement both. We need to do everything possible against current and emerging threats, and we need to lay a solid foundation for the many communities embracing reliable, low carbon nuclear energy in more and more countries.”

    The Amendment came into force in May 2016 and extended the scope of the original treaty to cover physical protection of nuclear facilities and nuclear material used for peaceful purposes in domestic use, storage and transport. It also further criminalizes offences related to illicit trafficking and sabotage of nuclear material or nuclear facilities, and provides for strengthened international cooperation in light of the expanded scope, such as assistance and information sharing in the event of sabotage.

    The first Conference of the Parties to the Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Materials was held at the IAEA’s headquarters in Vienna, Austria from 28 March to 1 April 2022. The second such Conference is scheduled to be held in Vienna in April 2027.

    “As we prepare for the second conference on the Amendment to the CPPNM, the IAEA will continue its support. We will do this through new partnerships with key decision makers and stakeholders, new initiatives and tailored legislative and technical assistance,” Grossi said.

    The CPPNM currently has 165 Parties, of which 138 have also joined the Amendment. Most recently, Mongolia became the latest Party to the Amendment.

    Mongolia’s ratification of the A/CPPNM in April 2025 marked a strategic step in strengthening the national nuclear security framework and legal infrastructure. “This development reaffirms Mongolia’s strong commitment to the peaceful use of nuclear technology and to preventing nuclear and radiological threats both nationally and regionally. By joining the Amendment, Mongolia has expanded its obligations to protect nuclear material not only during international transport but also in domestic use and at nuclear facilities, in line with international standards,” said Gerelmaa Gombosuren, Acting Head of the Foreign Affairs Division in Mongolia’s Nuclear Energy Commission.

    “The country’s adherence was made possible through close cooperation with the IAEA, whose legal guidance, technical assistance, and capacity-building support have significantly enhanced our institutional preparedness. We remain committed to the universalization and effective implementation of the A/CPPNM and to contributing to global nuclear security efforts,” she added.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Marking a Milestone: 20th Anniversary of the Amendment to the Convention on Physical Protection of Nuclear Material

    Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

    Twenty years ago, the adoption of the Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (A/CPPNM) marked the start of a new era in international efforts to counter the risk of nuclear security threats.

    The Convention and its Amendment are the only internationally legally binding undertakings in the area of physical protection of nuclear material and of nuclear facilities used for peaceful purposes. They provide a robust international legal framework as a foundation for effective nuclear security.

    On the occasion of the anniversary, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi emphasized in his message that “it is in everyone’s interest that all States join and implement both. We need to do everything possible against current and emerging threats, and we need to lay a solid foundation for the many communities embracing reliable, low carbon nuclear energy in more and more countries.”

    The Amendment came into force in May 2016 and extended the scope of the original treaty to cover physical protection of nuclear facilities and nuclear material used for peaceful purposes in domestic use, storage and transport. It also further criminalizes offences related to illicit trafficking and sabotage of nuclear material or nuclear facilities, and provides for strengthened international cooperation in light of the expanded scope, such as assistance and information sharing in the event of sabotage.

    The first Conference of the Parties to the Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Materials was held at the IAEA’s headquarters in Vienna, Austria from 28 March to 1 April 2022. The second such Conference is scheduled to be held in Vienna in April 2027.

    “As we prepare for the second conference on the Amendment to the CPPNM, the IAEA will continue its support. We will do this through new partnerships with key decision makers and stakeholders, new initiatives and tailored legislative and technical assistance,” Grossi said.

    The CPPNM currently has 165 Parties, of which 138 have also joined the Amendment. Most recently, Mongolia became the latest Party to the Amendment.

    Mongolia’s ratification of the A/CPPNM in April 2025 marked a strategic step in strengthening the national nuclear security framework and legal infrastructure. “This development reaffirms Mongolia’s strong commitment to the peaceful use of nuclear technology and to preventing nuclear and radiological threats both nationally and regionally. By joining the Amendment, Mongolia has expanded its obligations to protect nuclear material not only during international transport but also in domestic use and at nuclear facilities, in line with international standards,” said Gerelmaa Gombosuren, Acting Head of the Foreign Affairs Division in Mongolia’s Nuclear Energy Commission.

    “The country’s adherence was made possible through close cooperation with the IAEA, whose legal guidance, technical assistance, and capacity-building support have significantly enhanced our institutional preparedness. We remain committed to the universalization and effective implementation of the A/CPPNM and to contributing to global nuclear security efforts,” she added.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Co-leader calls for climate resilience to be put on a statutory footing

    Source: Green Party of England and Wales

    / by Green Party

    Reacting to the Met Office’s State of the Climate Report, published today, co-leader of the Green Party, Adrian Ramsay MP, has called on the Prime Minister to put climate resilience on a statutory footing. He said:

    “England is facing its driest start to a year in my lifetime. Extreme weather is becoming the norm, and we are nowhere near prepared to protect our citizens. Our climate is fuelling extreme weather, and that is having direct and urgent consequences in the here and now.

    He continued: ”We had the warmest spring on record, and we are in the middle of this summer’s third heatwave. The last three years have been among the top five warmest on record. The Government has not adequately prepared our infrastructure to protect our citizens.”  

    ”The Government must outline the steps they are taking to prepare for the increasing threat of extreme temperatures. This is not just about this summer, it’s about how we adapt as the climate crisis continues to escalate.”

    “We need to safeguard the public from this rising climate threat. That is why the Prime Minister must put climate resilience on a statutory footing, requiring local councils and major infrastructure providers to carry out climate risk assessments for all projects.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Katy Perry and her fellow space tourists weren’t exceptions – humanity has long cared about interplanetary style

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Berna Akcali Gur, Lecturer in Outer Space Law, Queen Mary University of London

    When pop star Katy Perry and five other women made a much-publicised trip to the edge of space earlier this year, they faced sharp criticism across both social and traditional media, with sceptics questioning multiple aspects of the mission.

    Much of the backlash centred on the emphasis the crew – which included broadcaster Gayle King and Jeff Bezos’s now-wife, journalist Lauren Sánchez – placed on glamour. Detractors saw their uniforms as at odds with the traditional image of astronauts as explorers, scientific pioneers and envoys of humankind venturing into space.

    The flight suits were designed by New York fashion house Monse Maison’s co-founders, Fernando Garcia and Laura Kim. They also created Sánchez’s 2024 Met Gala look.

    The celebrity crew were first revealed in a photo shared by Blue Origin on April 12, two days before the launch. The unveiling was followed by a series of pre-flight interviews that touched on topics such as makeup, lash extensions and hair styling.

    In one such segment, Perry quipped that the crew “put ass in astronaut”. It’s the type of comment that, while playful, reinforced the criticism that the flight prioritised spectacle over substance.

    Having previously conducted research on governance of space suit design and astronaut safety, I think much of the backlash targeting the crew’s emphasis on glamour is misplaced. Fashion and style has long played a role in space exploration, a defining feature of both science fiction and real-world missions.

    The all-women crew of Blue Origin, in their own way, carried forward this tradition, reinforcing the enduring connection between style symbolism, and space travel.

    Looking for something good? Cut through the noise with a carefully curated selection of the latest releases, live events and exhibitions, straight to your inbox every fortnight, on Fridays. Sign up here.

    Space-faring nations spend millions getting both public and private companies to design suits for intravehicular activity (IVA suits) and extravehicular activities (EVA suits). The priority is not just functionality and safety, but also creating impressive designs.

    High fashion house Prada is currently collaborating with Axiom Inc. to design suits for the forthcoming Artemis Mission, a lunar exploration mission led by Nasa. Another Nasa next-generation spacesuit features an exterior cover designed by Esther M. Marquis, who was enlisted for the project after showcasing her visionary spacesuit designs in For All Mankind, an Apple TV Sci-Fi series.



    Read more:
    For All Mankind: space drama’s alternate history constructs a better vision of Nasa

    The European Space Agency (ESA), meanwhile, has contracted Maison Pierre Cardin to design the uniforms for training in its new lunar mission simulation facility, Luna, in Germany.

    These and many other similar collaborations represent a continuation of the longstanding interplay between art, fashion and space technology. Science fiction books and movies have both influenced and been influenced by advancements developed for space travel.

    Modern space fashion

    Photos and videos from inside the International Space Station (ISS) reveal that their intravehicular activity (IVA) suits are designed for functionality and comfort rather than style.

    It’s a sensible approach, as most crew stay there for extended periods to conduct scientific experiments. In contrast, two of the billionaires most associated with space tourism – Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson – take a different approach. In competing to promote their emerging space tourism ventures, their own trips to space have been carefully curated – with fashion playing a key role.

    From launch to landing, Bezos’ own suborbital space travel with Blue Origin in 2021 lasted 11 minutes, while Branson’s travel in Virgin Galactic’s VSS Unity lasted approximately 90 minutes, with four minutes of experience of weightlessness. However, they ensured that their “look” as they walked to their spacecraft would remain entrenched in our memories.

    Jimmy Fallon jokes about Bezos’s cowboy hat.

    Branson entrusted sports brand Under Armour to make a statement with a dark blue jumpsuit. Nine days later, Bezos appeared on the flight platform sporting a cowboy hat with his light blue flight suit.

    Branson’s crew won more fashion points with their sleek and streamlined suits – and he flew before Bezos – beating Blue Origin’s flight by nine days. Yet Bezos and his crew travelled to a higher altitude.

    As of the date of this article, Blue Origin has flown 58 people into space, whereas Virgin Galactic have flown 61 passengers, including crew. Space suits are an integral part of the experience. No less than a picture-perfect design will be expected for the high price tag.

    Elon Musk’s SpaceX, is the foremost private space enterprise of our time and arguably the one with the most political influence – although the effects of the recent fallout between SpaceX founder Elon Musk and the US president, Donald Trump, on the company remain uncertain.

    SpaceX has also stepped up its design efforts before the first-ever commercial astronaut spacewalk during the Polaris Dawn spaceflight, it unveiled its new EVA suit, dubbed the “space tuxedo”.

    SpaceX’s ‘space tuxedo’ suit reveal.

    During spacewalks, EVA suits are essential for keeping humans alive, making them a vital piece of wearable technology. The space tux was designed by Hollywood costume designer, Jose Fernandez, who also designed the suits for Iron Man and Captain America (an interesting twist given the film version of Iron Man’s alter ego, Tony Stark was reportedly partly inspired by Musk).

    Musk reportedly demanded both IVA and EVA suits to look “badass” while remaining practical. The mission was a success, as the four-member civilian team, led by billionaire Jared Isaacman, travelled further into space than any humans since the Apollo Missions to the moon.

    As we continue to explore the cosmos, fashion will continue to play a role in how we present ourselves to the universe. Whether for scientific missions or private ventures, how we dress for space will reflect our identity and aspirations as a species. This phenomenon did not begin with these glamorous star-studded women embarking on space ventures in their signature bold styles, nor will it end with the scrutiny and negative publicity they have faced.

    Berna Akcali Gur 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. Katy Perry and her fellow space tourists weren’t exceptions – humanity has long cared about interplanetary style – https://theconversation.com/katy-perry-and-her-fellow-space-tourists-werent-exceptions-humanity-has-long-cared-about-interplanetary-style-256937

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Russian Imperial Movement: how a far-right group outlawed by the UK is spreading terror across Europe

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Dale Pankhurst, PhD candidate and Tutor in the School of History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics, Queen’s University Belfast

    The British government announced in early July that a far-right group called the Russian Imperial Movement (RIM) will be banned under terrorism legislation. This will make it a criminal offence in the UK to be a member of the group or to express support for it.

    The RIM was at the centre of a string of letter bomb attacks targeting high-profile people and institutions in Spain in 2022. These included a bomb addressed to the official residence of Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez, which was intercepted by his security detail.

    Six more letter bombs were mailed to targets including the American and Ukrainian embassies in Madrid, military installations, and weapons manufacturing companies that supply arms to Ukraine. No one was killed in the attacks, which US officials considered to be acts of terrorism.

    Investigators soon announced that they suspected the RIM of being involved. US and European officials alleged that the group was directed to carry out the attacks by Russian intelligence officers.

    What is the RIM?

    The RIM is an ultra-nationalist, neo-nazi and white supremacist organisation based in Russia. It was created in 2002 by Stanislav Anatolyevich Vorobyev, a Russian national who is designated a terrorist by the US government.

    The group seeks to create a new Russian empire, and uses the Russian imperial flag as its sign. The previous Russian empire (1721-1917) encompassed all of modern-day Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Poland, Finland, Georgia, Armenia and the Baltic states, as well as parts of China.

    The movement does not recognise Ukrainian sovereignty. It sees Ukraine as part of what it calls a global Zionist conspiracy designed to undermine Russia and promote Jewish interests. The RIM has engaged in Holocaust denial and is formally outlawed in the US, Canada and now the UK.

    It also has a paramilitary wing called the Imperial Legions, which operates at least two training facilities in the Russian city of St. Petersburg. The US State Department believes these facilities are being used to train RIM members in woodland and urban assault, tactical weapons and hand-to-hand combat.

    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.

    Denis Valliullovich Gariyev, the Imperial Legions’ leader, has in the past called on “young orthodox men” to join the Legions and defend Novorossiya – a term used to describe Russia’s claim over Ukraine. As of 2020, the Imperial Legions was estimated to have several thousand members.

    The RIM and its paramilitary wing have engaged in a wide range of activities and operations. These range from passive alliances with other far-right groups in Europe to providing paramilitary training for terrorist organisations. They have also participated directly in bomb attacks.

    Since 2014, when the conflict in eastern Ukraine began, the movement has trained and sent members as mercenaries to bolster the pro-Russian separatist groups fighting there. Its members have also actively supported the Russian armed forces in Ukraine after the full-scale invasion in 2022.

    After the invasion, posts related to the RIM on various social media platforms such as Vkontakte and Telegram revealed a ramping up of recruitment to join operations in Ukraine. Its fighters have posted videos of themselves in Ukraine armed with weaponry from sniper rifles to anti-tank missiles.

    According to analysts, the movement also maintains strong ties with the Russian private military company, the Wagner Group. Imperial Legions fighters are believed to have operated alongside Wagner mercenaries in Syria, Libya and possibly the Central African Republic.

    Outside of these activities, the movement has been active in supporting far-right organisations in Europe. These include the Nordic Resistance Movement in Sweden and similar groups in Germany, Spain and elsewhere.

    It provides training to these groups through its so-called “Partizan” (Russian for guerrilla) programme. The training includes bombmaking, marksmanship, medical and survival skills, military topography and other tactics. According to the UK government, the Partizan programme aims to increase the capacity of attendees to conduct terrorist attacks.

    Two Swedish nationals who took part in the programme later committed a series of bombings against refugee centres in Gothenburg, a city on Sweden’s west coast, in late 2016 and early 2017. The men were convicted in Sweden, with the prosecutor crediting RIM for their terrorist radicalisation and training.

    The RIM has also provided specific paramilitary training to far-right groups in Finland. Some members of these groups have fought on Russia’s side in Ukraine, while others have attempted to establish a Finnish cell of the international neo-nazi Atomwaffen Division. Police raids in 2023 also unveiled plans to assassinate the then Finnish prime minister, Sanna Marin.

    Links with the Russian state

    The movement has previously been critical of the Russian government. It initially believed the approach of Russia’s leader, Vladimir Putin, to Ukraine was too soft, while the group’s promotion of white supremacy and neo-nazism is at odds with Putin’s pragmatic nationalism within Russia.

    In 2012, the RIM even took part in discussions with other far-right groups in Russia to form an opposition movement called New Force to challenge Putin’s rule. However, the crisis in Ukraine that erupted in 2014 after pro-Russian president Viktor Yanukovych was ousted from power has caused the Kremlin and RIM’s political objectives to converge.

    Indeed, the group can now be viewed as one of the core Russian proxy paramilitaries operating in Ukraine at a time when Putin needs more recruits to continue the war. Western intelligence agencies now believe it has a relationship with officials from Russian state intelligence.

    It is difficult to pinpoint the total number of RIM fighters operating in Ukraine as the involvement of mercenary groups there is a closely guarded secret. However, based on previous intelligence reports on the group’s activities, it is reasonable to assume the number is in the hundreds to low thousands.

    The decision by the British government to proscribe the RIM indicates concern that the far-right group is increasing its operational capacity both in Ukraine and throughout Europe. With its extensive network, the movement will become an increasing threat to security if it is allowed to continue acting as a proxy for Putin’s foreign policy objectives.

    Dale Pankhurst 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. Russian Imperial Movement: how a far-right group outlawed by the UK is spreading terror across Europe – https://theconversation.com/russian-imperial-movement-how-a-far-right-group-outlawed-by-the-uk-is-spreading-terror-across-europe-260825

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: How does the PKK’s disarmament affect Turkey, Syria and Iraq?

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Pinar Dinc, Associate Professor of Political Science, Department of Political Science and Researcher, Centre for Advanced Middle Eastern Studies, Lund University

    The historic disarmament ceremony on July 11 where members of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) laid down their arms marked a pivotal moment in a decades-long conflict in Turkey. The ceremony was described by many who attended as a profoundly symbolic and emotional day that may signal the beginning of a new era.

    During the disarmament ceremony in Sulaymaniyah in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, 26 PKK guerrillas alongside four senior commanders and leaders of the movement, symbolically laid aid down their arms and burned them. The audience included officials from the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), plus politicians, journalists and international observers.

    For more than four decades the PKK has been embroiled in an armed conflict with Turkey that has claimed more than 40,000 lives and shaped Kurdish identity and politics across the region.

    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.

    The PKK disarmament ceremony also could mark a new era for the Kurds, one of the largest stateless groups in the world with over 30 million people living across Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Syria. The PKK has said it will now shift from armed resistance to political dialogue and regional cooperation.

    Strikingly, the day after the ceremony, Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan acknowledged the state’s historical failures in addressing the Kurdish issue. He listed past abuses of Kurds – state-sponsored abductions and extrajudicial violence, the burning of villages and the forced displacement of families – as examples of policies that had fuelled, rather than quelled, the conflict.

    “We all paid the price for these mistakes” he said. He later added: “As of yesterday, Turkey began to close a long, painful and tear-filled chapter.” Erdoğan also announced the formation of a parliamentary commission to oversee the legal steps of the peace process, suggesting a much-needed institutionalised and transparent approach than in previous attempts.

    This hints that the road ahead might include a period of transitional justice. This could compose of different tools used by societies to address past violence and human rights abuses during a shift from conflict to peace and democracy. These may include legal actions such as trials, as well as other efforts to heal and rebuild trust in society.

    Erdoğan also underlined the regional dimension of the agreement: “The issue is not only that of our Kurdish citizens, but also of our Kurdish brothers and sisters in Iraq and Syria. We are discussing this process with them, and they are very pleased as well.”

    PKK fighters take part in a symbolic peace ceremony.

    International dimensions

    While the PKK may be laying down arms, the Kurdish political movement should not be expected to disappear. On the contrary, it is likely to become more active in the democratic sphere — both in Turkey and in other parts of the Middle East where Kurdish people live. It is no secret that the current peace process is the result of shifting geopolitical realities.

    Growing tensions between the US and Iran, Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza, the ousting of the Assad regime in Syria, and shifting power dynamics across the region have all contributed to a geopolitical landscape in which prolonged armed conflict has become increasingly unsustainable — for both Turkey and the PKK. In this context, the current peace process is not merely a domestic initiative.

    It represents a strategic recalibration in a rapidly changing Middle East. For Turkey, stabilising its southeastern border and reducing internal security pressures is essential amid regional volatility.


    Shutterstock

    Turkey has long maintained strong ties with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) (the official ruling body of the Kurdistan region) in Iraq. However, the situation for Kurds in Syria remains more complex, as Turkey continues to view the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (a region that has in effect been self governing since 2012 and where many Kurds live) as a security threat along its border.

    Meanwhile, negotiations continue between the new Syrian government under current president, Ahmed Hussein al-Shara, and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the Kurdish-led coalition in Syria, which has been historically backed by the US. The SDF seeks to maintain its military autonomy and have its own independent political system — both of which are opposed by Damascus.

    Western nations, particularly the US, remain influential in these talks. The US ambassador to Turkey and special envoy for Syria, Thomas Barrack, is reportedly uneasy with the lack of progress in the talks between al-Shara, and the SDF. He said: “The SDF, who has been a valued partner for America in the fight against ISIS, well-respected, bright, articulate, has to come to the conclusion that there’s one country, there’s one nation, there’s one people, and there’s one army.”

    Another factor here is that a strong Arab-Turkish-Kurdish alliance is unlikely to align with Israeli strategic interests, which may favour a more fragmented Kurdish presence in the region.

    For now, Turkey faces the complex task of overseeing a comprehensive disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration process. This requires not only the decommissioning of weapons and the disbanding of armed units, but also the social and political reintegration of former combatants. The success of this will depend on legal reforms, institutional trust and a genuine commitment to democratic inclusion.

    Erdoğan has been critised for his government’s ongoing non-democratic practices such the appointment of state trustees who replace elected officials and the imprisonment of elected officials.

    And, despite the symbolic disarmament, the Turkish government persists in using the words “struggle against terrorism” — an approach that risks undermining the peace process by criminalising political dialogue and delegitimising Kurdish demands.

    Turkey’s foreign minister Hakan Fidan reiterated that the PKK’s broader network, including the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK), a group representing Kurds across Iraq, Syria and Turkey, must cease to pose a threat. “We will remain vigilant until every component of the KCK is no longer a danger to our nation and region,” he stated.

    For the PKK, the changing alliances and uncertainties in Syria and Iraq may have made armed struggle a less viable path forward. Yet the sustainability of peace will depend on more than disarmament. It will require ending the criminalisation of Kurds in political institutions and within civil society.

    What comes next will determine whether this moment becomes a historic turning point or another missed opportunity.

    Pinar Dinc is the principal investigator of the ECO-Syria project, which receives funding from the Strategic Research Area: The Middle East in the Contemporary World (MECW) at the Centre for Advanced Middle Eastern Studies, Lund University, Sweden.

    – ref. How does the PKK’s disarmament affect Turkey, Syria and Iraq? – https://theconversation.com/how-does-the-pkks-disarmament-affect-turkey-syria-and-iraq-261113

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: How does the PKK’s disarmament affect Turkey, Syria and Iraq?

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Pinar Dinc, Associate Professor of Political Science, Department of Political Science and Researcher, Centre for Advanced Middle Eastern Studies, Lund University

    The historic disarmament ceremony on July 11 where members of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) laid down their arms marked a pivotal moment in a decades-long conflict in Turkey. The ceremony was described by many who attended as a profoundly symbolic and emotional day that may signal the beginning of a new era.

    During the disarmament ceremony in Sulaymaniyah in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, 26 PKK guerrillas alongside four senior commanders and leaders of the movement, symbolically laid aid down their arms and burned them. The audience included officials from the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), plus politicians, journalists and international observers.

    For more than four decades the PKK has been embroiled in an armed conflict with Turkey that has claimed more than 40,000 lives and shaped Kurdish identity and politics across the region.

    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.

    The PKK disarmament ceremony also could mark a new era for the Kurds, one of the largest stateless groups in the world with over 30 million people living across Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Syria. The PKK has said it will now shift from armed resistance to political dialogue and regional cooperation.

    Strikingly, the day after the ceremony, Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan acknowledged the state’s historical failures in addressing the Kurdish issue. He listed past abuses of Kurds – state-sponsored abductions and extrajudicial violence, the burning of villages and the forced displacement of families – as examples of policies that had fuelled, rather than quelled, the conflict.

    “We all paid the price for these mistakes” he said. He later added: “As of yesterday, Turkey began to close a long, painful and tear-filled chapter.” Erdoğan also announced the formation of a parliamentary commission to oversee the legal steps of the peace process, suggesting a much-needed institutionalised and transparent approach than in previous attempts.

    This hints that the road ahead might include a period of transitional justice. This could compose of different tools used by societies to address past violence and human rights abuses during a shift from conflict to peace and democracy. These may include legal actions such as trials, as well as other efforts to heal and rebuild trust in society.

    Erdoğan also underlined the regional dimension of the agreement: “The issue is not only that of our Kurdish citizens, but also of our Kurdish brothers and sisters in Iraq and Syria. We are discussing this process with them, and they are very pleased as well.”

    PKK fighters take part in a symbolic peace ceremony.

    International dimensions

    While the PKK may be laying down arms, the Kurdish political movement should not be expected to disappear. On the contrary, it is likely to become more active in the democratic sphere — both in Turkey and in other parts of the Middle East where Kurdish people live. It is no secret that the current peace process is the result of shifting geopolitical realities.

    Growing tensions between the US and Iran, Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza, the ousting of the Assad regime in Syria, and shifting power dynamics across the region have all contributed to a geopolitical landscape in which prolonged armed conflict has become increasingly unsustainable — for both Turkey and the PKK. In this context, the current peace process is not merely a domestic initiative.

    It represents a strategic recalibration in a rapidly changing Middle East. For Turkey, stabilising its southeastern border and reducing internal security pressures is essential amid regional volatility.


    Shutterstock

    Turkey has long maintained strong ties with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) (the official ruling body of the Kurdistan region) in Iraq. However, the situation for Kurds in Syria remains more complex, as Turkey continues to view the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (a region that has in effect been self governing since 2012 and where many Kurds live) as a security threat along its border.

    Meanwhile, negotiations continue between the new Syrian government under current president, Ahmed Hussein al-Shara, and the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the Kurdish-led coalition in Syria, which has been historically backed by the US. The SDF seeks to maintain its military autonomy and have its own independent political system — both of which are opposed by Damascus.

    Western nations, particularly the US, remain influential in these talks. The US ambassador to Turkey and special envoy for Syria, Thomas Barrack, is reportedly uneasy with the lack of progress in the talks between al-Shara, and the SDF. He said: “The SDF, who has been a valued partner for America in the fight against ISIS, well-respected, bright, articulate, has to come to the conclusion that there’s one country, there’s one nation, there’s one people, and there’s one army.”

    Another factor here is that a strong Arab-Turkish-Kurdish alliance is unlikely to align with Israeli strategic interests, which may favour a more fragmented Kurdish presence in the region.

    For now, Turkey faces the complex task of overseeing a comprehensive disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration process. This requires not only the decommissioning of weapons and the disbanding of armed units, but also the social and political reintegration of former combatants. The success of this will depend on legal reforms, institutional trust and a genuine commitment to democratic inclusion.

    Erdoğan has been critised for his government’s ongoing non-democratic practices such the appointment of state trustees who replace elected officials and the imprisonment of elected officials.

    And, despite the symbolic disarmament, the Turkish government persists in using the words “struggle against terrorism” — an approach that risks undermining the peace process by criminalising political dialogue and delegitimising Kurdish demands.

    Turkey’s foreign minister Hakan Fidan reiterated that the PKK’s broader network, including the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK), a group representing Kurds across Iraq, Syria and Turkey, must cease to pose a threat. “We will remain vigilant until every component of the KCK is no longer a danger to our nation and region,” he stated.

    For the PKK, the changing alliances and uncertainties in Syria and Iraq may have made armed struggle a less viable path forward. Yet the sustainability of peace will depend on more than disarmament. It will require ending the criminalisation of Kurds in political institutions and within civil society.

    What comes next will determine whether this moment becomes a historic turning point or another missed opportunity.

    Pinar Dinc is the principal investigator of the ECO-Syria project, which receives funding from the Strategic Research Area: The Middle East in the Contemporary World (MECW) at the Centre for Advanced Middle Eastern Studies, Lund University, Sweden.

    – ref. How does the PKK’s disarmament affect Turkey, Syria and Iraq? – https://theconversation.com/how-does-the-pkks-disarmament-affect-turkey-syria-and-iraq-261113

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Russian Imperial Movement: how a far-right group outlawed by the UK is spreading terror across Europe

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Dale Pankhurst, PhD candidate and Tutor in the School of History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics, Queen’s University Belfast

    The British government announced in early July that a far-right group called the Russian Imperial Movement (RIM) will be banned under terrorism legislation. This will make it a criminal offence in the UK to be a member of the group or to express support for it.

    The RIM was at the centre of a string of letter bomb attacks targeting high-profile people and institutions in Spain in 2022. These included a bomb addressed to the official residence of Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez, which was intercepted by his security detail.

    Six more letter bombs were mailed to targets including the American and Ukrainian embassies in Madrid, military installations, and weapons manufacturing companies that supply arms to Ukraine. No one was killed in the attacks, which US officials considered to be acts of terrorism.

    Investigators soon announced that they suspected the RIM of being involved. US and European officials alleged that the group was directed to carry out the attacks by Russian intelligence officers.

    What is the RIM?

    The RIM is an ultra-nationalist, neo-nazi and white supremacist organisation based in Russia. It was created in 2002 by Stanislav Anatolyevich Vorobyev, a Russian national who is designated a terrorist by the US government.

    The group seeks to create a new Russian empire, and uses the Russian imperial flag as its sign. The previous Russian empire (1721-1917) encompassed all of modern-day Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Poland, Finland, Georgia, Armenia and the Baltic states, as well as parts of China.

    The movement does not recognise Ukrainian sovereignty. It sees Ukraine as part of what it calls a global Zionist conspiracy designed to undermine Russia and promote Jewish interests. The RIM has engaged in Holocaust denial and is formally outlawed in the US, Canada and now the UK.

    It also has a paramilitary wing called the Imperial Legions, which operates at least two training facilities in the Russian city of St. Petersburg. The US State Department believes these facilities are being used to train RIM members in woodland and urban assault, tactical weapons and hand-to-hand combat.

    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.

    Denis Valliullovich Gariyev, the Imperial Legions’ leader, has in the past called on “young orthodox men” to join the Legions and defend Novorossiya – a term used to describe Russia’s claim over Ukraine. As of 2020, the Imperial Legions was estimated to have several thousand members.

    The RIM and its paramilitary wing have engaged in a wide range of activities and operations. These range from passive alliances with other far-right groups in Europe to providing paramilitary training for terrorist organisations. They have also participated directly in bomb attacks.

    Since 2014, when the conflict in eastern Ukraine began, the movement has trained and sent members as mercenaries to bolster the pro-Russian separatist groups fighting there. Its members have also actively supported the Russian armed forces in Ukraine after the full-scale invasion in 2022.

    After the invasion, posts related to the RIM on various social media platforms such as Vkontakte and Telegram revealed a ramping up of recruitment to join operations in Ukraine. Its fighters have posted videos of themselves in Ukraine armed with weaponry from sniper rifles to anti-tank missiles.

    According to analysts, the movement also maintains strong ties with the Russian private military company, the Wagner Group. Imperial Legions fighters are believed to have operated alongside Wagner mercenaries in Syria, Libya and possibly the Central African Republic.

    Outside of these activities, the movement has been active in supporting far-right organisations in Europe. These include the Nordic Resistance Movement in Sweden and similar groups in Germany, Spain and elsewhere.

    It provides training to these groups through its so-called “Partizan” (Russian for guerrilla) programme. The training includes bombmaking, marksmanship, medical and survival skills, military topography and other tactics. According to the UK government, the Partizan programme aims to increase the capacity of attendees to conduct terrorist attacks.

    Two Swedish nationals who took part in the programme later committed a series of bombings against refugee centres in Gothenburg, a city on Sweden’s west coast, in late 2016 and early 2017. The men were convicted in Sweden, with the prosecutor crediting RIM for their terrorist radicalisation and training.

    The RIM has also provided specific paramilitary training to far-right groups in Finland. Some members of these groups have fought on Russia’s side in Ukraine, while others have attempted to establish a Finnish cell of the international neo-nazi Atomwaffen Division. Police raids in 2023 also unveiled plans to assassinate the then Finnish prime minister, Sanna Marin.

    Links with the Russian state

    The movement has previously been critical of the Russian government. It initially believed the approach of Russia’s leader, Vladimir Putin, to Ukraine was too soft, while the group’s promotion of white supremacy and neo-nazism is at odds with Putin’s pragmatic nationalism within Russia.

    In 2012, the RIM even took part in discussions with other far-right groups in Russia to form an opposition movement called New Force to challenge Putin’s rule. However, the crisis in Ukraine that erupted in 2014 after pro-Russian president Viktor Yanukovych was ousted from power has caused the Kremlin and RIM’s political objectives to converge.

    Indeed, the group can now be viewed as one of the core Russian proxy paramilitaries operating in Ukraine at a time when Putin needs more recruits to continue the war. Western intelligence agencies now believe it has a relationship with officials from Russian state intelligence.

    It is difficult to pinpoint the total number of RIM fighters operating in Ukraine as the involvement of mercenary groups there is a closely guarded secret. However, based on previous intelligence reports on the group’s activities, it is reasonable to assume the number is in the hundreds to low thousands.

    The decision by the British government to proscribe the RIM indicates concern that the far-right group is increasing its operational capacity both in Ukraine and throughout Europe. With its extensive network, the movement will become an increasing threat to security if it is allowed to continue acting as a proxy for Putin’s foreign policy objectives.

    Dale Pankhurst 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. Russian Imperial Movement: how a far-right group outlawed by the UK is spreading terror across Europe – https://theconversation.com/russian-imperial-movement-how-a-far-right-group-outlawed-by-the-uk-is-spreading-terror-across-europe-260825

    MIL OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: 4 killed in plane crash at London’s Southend Airport – media

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    LONDON, July 14 (Xinhua) — Four people were killed in a plane crash at London’s Southend Airport on Sunday, local media reported on Monday.

    Four people have died, the BBC and PA news agency reported. Police have not yet confirmed the number of casualties.

    The 12-metre-long aircraft, believed to be a Beech B200 Super King Air, was owned by Dutch company Zeusch Aviation and was scheduled to fly to Lelystad Airport in the Netherlands.

    Zeusch Aviation confirmed that its flight SUZ1 “experienced an incident” at London Airport and expressed sympathy to “all those affected”.

    Video footage shows a huge fireball after the plane crashed.

    Pictures posted online showed large flames and a cloud of black smoke after the crash, which happened on Sunday afternoon. Essex Police said they received “reports of a collision involving a single 12m aircraft” shortly before 4pm local time /1500 GMT.

    Southend Airport said the airport would be “closed until further notice” due to a “serious incident”. -0-

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Three arrested in connection with Knightsbridge murder

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    Detectives have arrested three men in their 20s in connection with the murder of Blue Stevens, who was stabbed to death in Knightsbridge.

    Two were arrested at an address in Hounslow on Saturday, 12 July.

    One man was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder. He remains in police custody.

    Another man was arrested on suspicion of murder. He has been bailed pending further enquiries.

    Following their arrests, Met officers obtained a warrant to search two properties in Chiswick where significant evidence was recovered.

    The third man was arrested on Monday, 14 July on suspicion of assisting an offender. He remains in police custody.

    Detective Chief Superintendent Christina Jessah, who leads policing in Central West London, said: “These arrests mark a significant milestone in this complex and unfolding murder investigation.

    “We continue to progress at pace. While we retain an open mind around motive, one line of enquiry is now that this may have been a targeted attack.

    “Increased police patrols remain active in and around the Knightsbridge area. Please do speak with an officer if you have any questions or concerns.”

    A murder investigation was launched after officers were called to reports of a stabbing in Seville Street at 21:24hrs on Wednesday, 9 July.

    Met officers responded with paramedics from London Ambulance Service and London’s Air Ambulance. Blue Stevens, 24, was found with stab wounds. Despite the efforts of emergency services, he sadly died at the scene.

    His next-of-kin continue to be supported by specialist officers.

    Please call police on 0208 721 4961 referencing CAD 8521/09JUL if you were a witness or have any information which might help.

    You can also call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or visit crimestoppers-uk.org.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK and Czechia to lead global race on small modular reactors

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    UK and Czechia to lead global race on small modular reactors

    British workers will further benefit from a new generation of nuclear power.

    • Golden age of nuclear receives a major new boost, as the Prime Minister and Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala sign first of a kind partnership at Downing Street today
    • both countries will now work closer together on small modular reactors to seize export opportunities, support highly-skilled jobs, boost economic growth and deliver clean, homegrown energy as part of the Plan for Change
    • follows government backing for new nuclear at the Spending Review, including selection of Rolls-Royce SMR as the preferred bidder to build the UK’s first small modular reactors and £14.2 billion investment to build Sizewell C

    British workers will further benefit from a new generation of nuclear power, as the government signs a landmark agreement with Czechia to kickstart the next chapter in the UK’s golden age of nuclear and secure high-skilled jobs. 

    Today’s agreement, set to be signed by Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala at Downing Street, will unlock new opportunities for industrial collaboration and the potential for the UK and Czechia to export small modular reactors to other countries in Europe. 

    It will also support the delivery of up to six new reactors in Czechia by Rolls-Royce SMR, potentially worth billions of pounds.

    It comes after Rolls Royce SMR and the Czechia’s largest public company, ČEZ, agreed last year to partner on SMR, with ČEZ acquiring a 20% stake.

    The leaders will also host a business roundtable as part of the visit to drive closer trade and investment links between the UK and Czechia to support working people.

    Building more nuclear will help drive the UK’s energy security, as part of the government’s mission to protect family finances by replacing the UK’s dependency on fossil fuel markets controlled by dictators with clean power that we control. 

    Small modular reactors are also smaller and quicker to build than traditional nuclear plants, with costs likely to come down as units are rolled out, helping to delivering clean, homegrown energy for British billpayers. 

    The government’s clean energy mission is the only route to energy security, lower bills and good jobs for the country. Investment is already booming, with over £40 billion of private investment in clean energy announced since last July.

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

    This agreement is about delivering for Britain – cleaner energy, better jobs, and greater security.

    By working with our Czech partners on small modular reactors, we’re backing British engineering, strengthening our industrial base, and putting the UK in a leading position to export the technologies of the future.

    This is our Plan for Change in action, taking practical steps to rebuild our economy, bring down bills, and give working people a stake in our clean energy transition.

    Peter Fiala, Prime Minister of Czechia, said:

    Nuclear energy holds significant potential for the coming years, as the sector is undergoing a true renaissance. That is why I am especially pleased that ČEZ and Rolls-Royce will cooperate on the development and production of small modular reactors. This collaboration will bring tangible benefits to both Czech and British economies, including job creation.

    The Czech Republic and the United Kingdom share a common approach to energy policy, and we have a very similar vision of what the future of energy should look like. We see the ideal energy mix as a combination of large nuclear power plants, small modular reactors and renewable energy sources.

    I am confident that this partnership with the United Kingdom will help us ensure energy security and affordable energy for future generations — a key priority of our government.

    UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said: 

    This government is driving to make the UK a clean energy superpower, replacing our dependence on fossil fuel markets controlled by petrostates with clean homegrown power we control. 

    Nuclear power is an essential part of that, which is why this government is ending years of a no-nuclear status quo to seize the benefits of a nuclear golden age for Britain. 

    This agreement will put the UK back where it belongs – at the very forefront of the global race on nuclear, working in lockstep with our Czech partners to deliver economic growth, clean energy and highly-skilled jobs for both nations.

    According to the International Energy Agency, the global SMR market is projected to reach up to nearly £500 billion by 2050, with today’s announcement giving the UK and Czechia the competitive advantage as frontrunners in the global race to build and export new nuclear technology. 

    This follows Rolls-Royce SMR being selected as the preferred bidder to partner with Great British Energy – Nuclear to develop small modular reactors, subject to final government approvals and contract signature – unlocking a new golden age of nuclear in the UK.  

    As part of the government’s modern Industrial Strategy to revive Britain’s industrial heartlands, the government has pledged over £2.5 billion for the overall small modular reactor programme – with this project potentially supporting up to 3,000 new skilled jobs and powering the equivalent of around 3 million homes with clean, secure homegrown energy. 

    Great British Energy – Nuclear is aiming to allocate a site later this year and connect projects to the grid in the mid-2030s. Once small modular reactors and Sizewell C come online in the 2030s, combined with the new station at Hinkley Point C, this will deliver more nuclear to the grid than over the previous half century. 

    Last week, during the President Macron’s State Visit to the UK, French energy giant EDF confirmed it will take a 12.5% stake in Sizewell C, taking the project one step closer to being given the green light. At peak construction, Sizewell C will support 10,000 jobs, and thousands more in the nationwide supply chain, and create 1,500 apprenticeships.  

    Updates to this page

    Published 14 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Chinese Foreign Minister Holds Talks with Malta Deputy Prime Minister

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    BEIJING, July 14 (Xinhua) — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Malta’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism Ian Borg in Beijing on Monday.

    Wang Yi, also a member of the Politburo of the CPC Central Committee, said Malta plays a unique and positive role in matters of world peace and stability.

    China hopes to work with Malta to maintain high-level political trust, mutual respect, mutual understanding and mutual support, and firmly fulfill mutual commitments on issues affecting each other’s core interests and major concerns, the Chinese Foreign Minister noted.

    He indicated that China is willing to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation with Malta in areas such as trade, investment, culture and tourism, science and education, and continue to maintain positive communication and cooperation in international affairs.

    Speaking about China-EU relations, Wang Yi noted that the most important experience and lesson learned from the 50 years of development of China-EU relations is that bilateral relations are positioned as partnerships, not competition, and their leitmotif is dialogue and cooperation.

    The Chinese Foreign Minister stressed that China and the EU, as two leading global powers, civilizations and markets, should understand, respect and value each other.

    Wang Yi called on both sides to view the mutually beneficial and win-win nature of bilateral relations from the perspective of development, jointly promote the process of human civilization, and maintain world peace and stability.

    J. Borg, for his part, stated that Malta highly values relations with China, always regards them as a priority area of its diplomacy, firmly adheres to the one-China principle, actively participates in the Belt and Road Initiative and invites more Chinese friends to visit Malta.

    The Maltese side also believes that the EU and China should be partners, not rivals, and that differences between them should be properly resolved through dialogue and consultation, said J. Borg, expressing his readiness to continue to play an active role in stimulating the development of European-Chinese relations. –0–

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: ASM share buyback update July 7 – 11, 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Almere, The Netherlands
    July 14, 2025, 5:45 p.m. CET

    ASM International N.V. (Euronext Amsterdam: ASM) reports the following transactions, conducted under ASM’s current share buyback program.

    Date Repurchased shares Average price Repurchased value
    July 7, 2025 25 € 507.60 € 12,690
    July 8, 2025 837 € 506.37 € 423,834
    July 9, 2025 410 € 512.89 € 210,283
    Total 1,272 € 508.50 € 646,807

    These repurchases were made as part of the €150 million share buyback program which started on April 30, 2025. Of the total program, 40.4% has been repurchased. For further details including individual transaction information please visit: www.asm.com/investors/dividends-share-buybacks.

    About ASM International

    ASM International N.V., headquartered in Almere, the Netherlands, and its subsidiaries design and manufacture equipment and process solutions to produce semiconductor devices for wafer processing, and have facilities in the United States, Europe, and Asia. ASM International’s common stock trades on the Euronext Amsterdam Stock Exchange (symbol: ASM). For more information, visit ASM’s website at www.asm.com.

    This press release contains inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation.

    Contacts  
    Investor and media relations Investor relations
    Victor Bareño Valentina Fantigrossi
    T: +31 88 100 8500 T: +31 88 100 8502
    E: investor.relations@asm.com E: investor.relations@asm.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: The UK is committed to ensuring the UN can operate across its Missions in Yemen: UK at the UN Security Council

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Speech

    The UK is committed to ensuring the UN can operate across its Missions in Yemen: UK at the UN Security Council

    Explanation of vote by Ambassador Barbara Woodward, UK Permanent Representative to the UN, after the adoption of UN Security Council resolution 2786.

    We welcome the Council’s extension of UNMHA’s mandate until January 2026. 

    We thank Council colleagues for their engagement in the negotiation.

    We will closely engage with the UN on their review to identify opportunities for further efficiencies, coherence and coordination across United Nations Missions in Yemen. 

    As the expiry of this mandate approaches early next year, we look forward to leading further discussions with this Council on the full range of options for UN operations in Hodeidah, including assessing the future viability and sunsetting of UNMHA. 

    We remain committed to ensuring the UN is able to operate across its Missions in Yemen, with a view to supporting humanitarian needs, promoting long-term stability and preserving space for a future UN-led peace process.  

    We will continue to work closely with the UN Special Envoy, regional and Yemeni stakeholders to achieve this.

    Updates to this page

    Published 14 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Why Did Bitcoin Suddenly Surge? BJMINING Reveals the Answer with Data – And Announces Major Global Expansion.

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Washington, D.C, July 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitcoin prices soared to an all-time high of $122,979.87 on July 14, 2025, marking a 4% increase from the previous day and a 13% rise over the past week. This price surge has reignited investor enthusiasm worldwide, with many seeking stable returns through cloud mining. One of the key players in this space, BJMINING, has not only provided data-backed insights into the surge but also made a major company announcement: the launch of 12 new mining facilities across North America and Southeast Asia, expanding its operational capacity by over 30%.

    This expansion is set to meet the skyrocketing demand for hash power and make high-yield cloud mining more accessible globally. With this move, BJMINING reinforces its position as a top-tier platform offering secure, efficient, and transparent mining opportunities.

    About BJMINING

    Founded in 2015 and headquartered in the United Kingdom, BJMINING is a fully compliant cloud mining platform regulated under UK law. With 5 million+ users in over 180 countries and more than 60 mining farms, the company utilizes AI-powered allocation systems and green energy infrastructure to deliver top-tier mining services.

    What Sets BJMINING Apart

    Real-Time Expansion:
    BJMINING’s new expansion includes 7 facilities in the U.S. and Canada, and 5 in Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia. These sites are powered by renewable energy and optimized for high-efficiency ASIC equipment.

    User-Centric Experience
    A beginner-friendly dashboard, one-click mining, and seamless withdrawals make the platform accessible to all.

    Security First
    EV-SSL encryption, MFA, real-time monitoring, and privacy-respecting policies keep user assets protected.

    Transparent Operations
    All fees are disclosed upfront. No hidden charges.

    Global Hash Power
    Daily payouts in BTC, ETH, USDT, LTC, and XRP are backed by real, verifiable mining output from facilities worldwide.

    Referral Rewards
    Earn 5.0% commissions on referrals with no cap on earnings.

    Flexible Mining Contracts
    From short-term trials to long-term strategies, BJMINING offers plans to suit every investor:

    BJMINING offers a variety of flexible contracts tailored to BTC holders of all investment levels. Below are some of the most popular mining plans:

    Contract Project Investment Amount The term Total revenue
    WhatsMiner M50S+ $100 2days $100+$6
    WhatsMiner M60S++ $600 7days $600+$52.50
    Avalon Miner A1566 $1,200 15days $1,200+$234
    WhatsMiner M66S+ $5,800 30days $5,800+$2,610
    Antminer L7 $12,000 40days $12,000+$8,160
    ANTSPACE HD5 $96,000 54days $96,000+$119,232

    If a user invests $96,000 in the ANTSPACE HD5 hashrate contract (54-day term), the estimated total return can reach $215,232—including a net profit of $119,232. This option is ideal for long-term holders looking to optimize their asset allocation.

    Why Choose Cloud Mining Now?

    With Bitcoin surging and mining difficulty increasing, cloud mining allows individuals to benefit without owning physical equipment or managing energy costs. BJMINING’s scalable infrastructure, paired with its recent expansion, ensures users have access to stable mining returns—regardless of market volatility.

    BJMINING’s Official Expansion Statement

    “The current crypto rally has dramatically increased global interest in mining. Our 12 new mining centers mark a critical step in our roadmap to deliver decentralized, clean-energy-powered mining to users worldwide,” said BJMINING’s Chief Operating Officer. “We’re proud to contribute to a more inclusive digital economy.”

    Get Started Today

    Whether you’re exploring cloud mining for the first time or expanding your crypto portfolio, BJMINING offers flexible entry points, including a $15 free trial contract.

    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.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: HAF Summer programme returns for 2025

    Source: City of Coventry

    Coventry’s popular Holiday, Activity and Food (HAF) programme returns this summer with thousands of activities available for Coventry school-aged children!

    Bookings are now open for the Summer programme and will run between 21 July to the 31 August. This year there are over 26,000 activity sessions available, with 16 sessions available to book per child.

    This year, there are lots of new activities available, ensuring there are different activities and more experiences than previous years. In addition, the programme is spread across a wide range of venues and locations in the city to make it accessible for as many children as possible.

    The programme proved incredibly popular in 2024, with 92% of parents recommending the programme to others and 56% of parents rating the experience as excellent in the post-programme survey. Positive comments from the survey included “very suitable for special educational needs (SEN) children, caters for them effectively”; “I like how children of all abilities are understood and included”; “the kids said the staff were all very encouraging by helping them make friends and have great fun, the activity was an amazing experience for them.”

    Our new providers this year include Pet XI specialising in teaching children about AI coding, as well as local company Coventry Building and Welding, providing skills in construction. Both of these new activities will help young people gain practical experience that can help them in a future career and or develop skills in the future.

    Councillor Dr Kindy Sandhu, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills said:

    “This programme is a great opportunity for children and families who need financial or additional support to partake in activities that all young people should have the opportunity to benefit of, regardless of their personal situation or background.

    “They get a wonderful opportunity to do amazing things like AI coding and activity sessions including, science and technology sessions, sports, arts, and crafts, as well as enjoyable fun-filled activities like karaoke, moviemaking, cooking, and lots more.

    “Providing these opportunities for children to not only gain more skills and interests, but the chance to make new friends and at the same time benefit from healthy food options, will hopefully ensure an enjoyable summer for many of our local children.

    “I would encourage all parents and guardians to learn more by visiting the HAF website and sign up for the 2025 summer programme and take the opportunity to be part of Coventry’s summer programme.”

    People will need to check if their child is eligible for the programme, the criteria includes that the child must be in school, undertaken as a ‘child in need’ and fits within specific financial categories such as being in receipt of a means-tested benefit.

    The HAF programme is an enrichment programme for children whose families are in receipt of or qualify through other categories which allows them to enjoy fun and memorable experiences, including the provision for healthy food.

    Bookings are now open for the summer at the HAF webpages and see if your child/children are eligible.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Welsh Water must pay £36,000 for Herefordshire pollution incident

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Welsh Water must pay £36,000 for Herefordshire pollution incident

    Environment Agency investigation into sewage treatment plant at Clehonger. Water company admits exceeding permitted levels of ammonia 7 times in a year.

    Aerial photograph of River Wye

    The Environment Agency has successfully prosecuted Welsh Water for breaking conditions of an environmental permit at a Herefordshire sewage treatment works 7 times in a 5 month period.

    At Kidderminster Magistrates Court on 11 July 2025, Welsh Water was fined £24,000 for exceeding permitted levels of sewage effluent from the Clehonger Sewage Treatment Works near Hereford. The company was also ordered to pay costs of £11,835.86 and a surcharge of £181.

    Sewage treatment works treat raw sewage to produce an effluent which is discharged without damaging the local watercourse. At Clehonger, the water is discharged into the Cage Brook which is a tributary of the River Wye.

    The court was told that officers from the Environment Agency were alerted to an issue following routine sampling results in November 2020.

    The environmental permit states that Welsh Water must not discharge effluent containing more than 18 milligrams/litre of ammonia on more than 2 occasions in a 12-month period.

    Results showed that in a 5 month period from 23 November 2020 to 17 April 2021 the limit had been exceeded 7 times ranging from 18.2 mg/l to 26.2 mg/l.

    Officials from Welsh Water told the Environment Agency that the company was aware of additional loading coming into the site from a new development.

    In mitigation, Welsh Water said that it had spent a significant amount of money to improve the infrastructure at the site. Adding, that since this incident there had been no further issues or breaches of permit condition.

    Adam Shipp, a Senior Environment Officer at the Environment Agency who led the investigation, said: 

    Incidents like this are preventable and are completely unacceptable, particularly at a time when the need to protect the water environment for wildlife and people has never been greater. 

    Water companies are aware that their activities have the potential for serious environmental impacts, and they know that we will take action when they cause pollution. 

     The Environment Agency does and will continue to hold water companies to account when their performance falls below acceptable standards.

     The Charge

    Failing to comply with, or contravening, an environmental permit condition, contrary to Regulation 38(2) of the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2016.

    The particulars of the offence are as follows:  

    Dwr Cymru Cyfyngedig (trading as Welsh Water), Company Number 02366777, between the 23 November 2020 and the 17 April 2021, at the Clehonger Sewage Treatment Works, Herefordshire, failed to comply with, or contravened, an environmental permit condition, namely Condition 3.1.2 and Schedule 3 to Discharge Consent AH1000401, by exceeding the permitted level of 18 milligrams per litre of ammonia in the discharge from the said works to the Cage Brook, on seven occasions within the said period.

    Updates to this page

    Published 14 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Lieutenant General Baltrėnas starts his tenure as the new Director General of the NATO International Military Staff

    Source: NATO

    On Monday, 14 July 2025, the NATO Military Committee welcomed the new Director General of the NATO International Military Staff (DGIMS), Lieutenant General Remigijus Baltrėnas (LTU Army).

    During his welcome remarks, the Deputy Chair of the NATO Military Committee, Lieutenant General Andrew M. Rohling, acknowledged General Baltrėnas’s extensive military career, which combines various postings: “A proud Lithuanian and dedicated soldier, General Baltrėnas brings with him over three decades of distinguished service to his nation and to the wider Euro-Atlantic community. Your background, therefore, bridges the tactical and strategic, the national and the multinational, as an invaluable asset in today’s complex security environment.”

    Taking the floor, Lieutenant General Baltrėnas thanked the Committee for the warm welcome and pledged to the Nations and Chiefs of Defence who entrusted him with DGIMS responsibility:  “As the new Director in this well-structured organism, I will do my utmost to maintain its agility, adaptability, speed and effectiveness. The greatest strength, treasure and success of the International Military Staff are its military and civilian personnel. I have no doubt that they will all continue contributing to the Alliance with the greatest dedication,” Lieutenant General Baltrėnas said.

    Lieutenant General Remigijus Baltrėnas took over the DGIMS position from the outgoing Director General, Lieutenant General Janusz Adamczak, on 10 July 2025. He is a three-star General in the Lithuanian Army, elected by the NATO Chiefs of Defence in September 2024, and will serve a three-year term.

    The Director General of the International Military Staff (DGIMS) is responsible for the coordination between the decision-making bodies of the Alliance, the two Strategic Commanders, national military personnel from NATO and Partner countries working in Brussels, and the civilian International Staff, that support the Secretary General and the North Atlantic Council, so that the IMS can provide the best possible policy advice to the Military Committee.

    The Director General heads the International Military Staff, the executive body of the NATO Military Committee, which prepares assessments and studies on NATO military issues, identifying areas of strategic and operational interest and, most importantly, proposes courses of action. The IMS enables the National Military Representatives to address military issues rapidly and effectively, ensuring that the Military Committee provides the North Atlantic Council with consensus-based advice on all military aspects of policy, operations, and transformation within the Alliance.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: JPMorgan ETFs (Ireland) ICAV: Change to Sub-Fund Index: Shareholder Notice

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    DUBLIN, July 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — This is to notify you of the change to the Sub-Fund Index of the below Sub-Fund of the ICAV effective as of 31 July 2025:

    • JPMorgan ETFs (Ireland) ICAV – Carbon Transition Global Equity (CTB) UCITS ETF

    To view the full document including the options available to Shareholders, please paste the following URL into the address bar of your browser.

    https://am.jpmorgan.com/content/dam/jpm-am-aem/emea/regional/en/supplemental/notice-to-shareholders/jpm56794-etf-web-ctb-notice-en.pdf

    Enquiries:

    JPMorgan
    Christopher Moore
    +44 203 493 1810

    This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Statement: Standing firm against online and face-to-face abuse

    Source: City of Derby

    A statement from Paul Simpson, Chief Executive, Derby City Council:

    As a Council we are committed to delivering essential and vital services to our residents and businesses, often under challenging circumstances and with limited resources. We take immense pride in the dedication, professionalism, and compassion our teams demonstrate daily in serving our community. 

    However, we have observed a concerning increase in abusive, threatening and aggressive behaviour directed at our staff and councillors, both in person, online and over the phone. This includes deeply troubling incidents involving racist and misogynistic language, targeted threats of violence, and unacceptable harassment. 

    Unfortunately we have little choice but to make it absolutely clear – we will not tolerate abuse of any kind directed to our staff and councillors. Everyone has the right to work in an environment free from fear, intimidation and harm. 

    We recognise that not everything goes as planned, and we understand the frustration that can arise when services fall short or systems fail. We are committed to listening, improving, and being accountable. However, abuse is never the answer. 

    It’s important to remember that many of our colleagues live right here in Derby and reflect our communities. They’re regularly exposed to hateful comments that no one would wish their own loved ones to experience.

    Beyond the direct impact on our colleagues, we’re also seeing a concerning increase in negative comments directed at our diverse communities. This is entirely unacceptable.  

    We are committed to fostering a city where everyone feels safe, respected, and welcome, both in person and online.  

    We are actively addressing this behaviour by reporting serious incidents to the police, monitoring online threats, blocking abusive accounts, and providing wellbeing support. Where necessary, we will pursue legal action. We stand firmly with our staff, ensuring their safety and wellbeing remain our top priority. We will continue to deliver services with care, dignity, and respect, and we expect the same. 

    Derby has so much to celebrate this year. Our children’s services for looked after children have been rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted for the second time in three years. Our newly restored Derby Market Hall continues to thrive, and our responsible budget management places us in a strong position to continue providing quality services for all residents. 

    As a city, we must unite and treat each other with respect and compassion. Thank you to all our staff and councillors for your continued resilience, commitment and service to our communities.  

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK and Pakistan agree new Business Advisory Council at inaugural Trade Dialogue

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    World news story

    UK and Pakistan agree new Business Advisory Council at inaugural Trade Dialogue

    Ministers from the UK and Pakistan have announced new measures to boost trade between the two countries, following the launch of the UK-Pakistan Trade Dialogue.

    As part of the Dialogue, ministers announced the creation of a new UK-Pakistan Business Advisory Council bringing together senior business leaders and government officials to facilitate high value trade and investment. The Council will provide strategic advice on policy reform, offer a confidential forum for engagement, and help promote commercial opportunities by addressing market access challenges and sharing best practices.  

    Today’s (14 July) meeting in London was co-chaired by the UK Minister for Trade Policy and Economic Security, Douglas Alexander, and Pakistan’s Federal Minister of Commerce, Jam Kamal Khan. Both Ministers agreed to annual ministerial meetings to unlock growth opportunities, and support businesses and investors in the UK and Pakistan.  

    UK Minister for Trade Policy and Economic Security Douglas Alexander said: 

    Today’s Dialogue marks the next step in our long-standing relationship with Pakistan, taking our trading partnership to the next level and unlocking new opportunities for businesses in both our countries.

    By deepening cooperation in key sectors like healthcare and digital technology – areas central to the UK’s Industrial Strategy – we can drive growth, foster innovation, and create jobs.

    Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Commerce, Jam Kamal said:  

    The UK remains one of Pakistan’s most important economic partners. This Dialogue lays the foundation for a more structured and forward-looking trade relationship. By strengthening collaboration and aligning our priorities, we can expand bilateral trade, attract greater investment, and create sustainable economic opportunities that benefit both nations. 

    The UK has also announced up to £200,000 to support Pakistan’s aspirations to attract investment from the UK. The funds will provide technical assistance for investor outreach, and support matchmaking between Pakistani investors and UK-based opportunities. This initiative reflects the UK’s commitment to supporting Pakistan’s ambitions to increase outbound investment and to strengthening the bilateral investment relationship. 

    The Dialogue highlighted shared ambition to build on recent momentum, with bilateral trade increasing by 7.3% during the final quarter of last year. Bilateral trade is currently valued at £4.7 billion. Today’s discussion focussed on key sectors including information technology and healthcare, two priority areas under the UK’s Industrial Strategy. 

    The UK’s Industrial Strategy presents a significant opportunity for businesses and investors. The UK is committed to making it easier, faster, and more predictable for international firms to operate in its market. This includes reforms in skills development, innovation, regulation, and planning – creating a more dynamic and open business environment. Through the alignment of the UK’s Industrial Strategy and the UK – Pakistan Trade Dialogue, we are reaffirming our commitment to open and fair trade, and to deepening economic ties with key partners like Pakistan.

    For updates on the British High Commission, please follow our social media channels:

    Updates to this page

    Published 14 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Codere Online reinforces its commitment to Mexican sport with Rayadas partnership

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • Codere Online to become the main sponsor of Rayadas
    • Rayadas, Puma and Codere have unveiled the new kit for the 2025-2026 season

    Mexico City / Monterrey, July 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) – Codere Online Luxembourg, S.A. (Nasdaq: CDRO / CDROW) (the “Company” or “Codere Online”) a leading online gaming operator in Spain and Latin America, is proud to strengthen its partnership with Club de Futbol Monterrey as the main sponsor of Rayadas, the multi-champion women’s team in Liga MX Femenil.

    Starting on July 13th, the Codere Online logo featured on the front of the Rayadas match-day jersey, debuting in its opening fixture against Pumas in matchday one of the Apertura 25 tournament. The branding will also be present when Rayadas compete for the “Campeón de Campeonas” trophy against Pachuca in San Antonio, Texas, on July 16th and will continue to be featured throughout the remainder of the season.

    Codere Online and Rayadas will collaborate on a series of campaigns, activations and fan experiences designed to elevate the profile of women’s football in the country. By combining digital engagement with in-stadium initiatives, the partnership reflects shared values of equity, excellence and the ongoing growth of the game.

    This new sponsorship builds on last years’ renewal of Codere Online’s partnership with Rayados, which saw Codere named Official Betting Partner of the men’s team, while maintaining its front of shirt sponsorship. Extending support to Rayadas demonstrates Codere Online’s institutional commitment to the development and professionalisation of women’s sport in Mexico.

    Carlos Sabanza, Director of Sponsorships and Public Relations at Codere Online, said: “Becoming Main Sponsor of Rayadas was a clear priority for Codere Online since we started our partnership with the broader club.

    “It is an honour to support one of the strongest teams in Liga MX Femenil and to help drive greater visibility for women’s football.”

    Alberto Telias, Chief Marketing Officer at Codere Online, added: “This partnership underlines our continued growth in Mexico, where codere.mx remains one of the foremost online gaming platforms.”

    Pedro Esquivel, Executive President of Club de Futbol Monterrey, commented: “We are delighted to extend our relationship with Codere Online. This collaboration promises exciting developments ahead, and we look forward to achieving them together.”

    About Codere Online
    Codere Online refers, collectively, to Codere Online Luxembourg, S.A. and its subsidiaries. Codere Online launched in 2014 as part of the renowned casino operator Codere Group. Codere Online offers online sports betting and online casino through its state-of-the art website and mobile applications. Codere currently operates in its core markets of Spain, Mexico, Colombia, Panama and the City of Buenos Aires (Argentina). Codere Online’s online business is complemented by Codere Group’s physical presence in Spain and throughout Latin America, forming the foundation of the leading omnichannel gaming and casino presence.

    About Codere Group
    Codere Group is a multinational group devoted to entertainment and leisure. It is a leading player in the private gaming industry, with four decades of experience and with presence in seven countries in Europe (Spain and Italy) and Latin America (Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, Panama, and Uruguay).

    Contacts:

    Investors and Media
    Guillermo Lancha
    Director, Investor Relations and Communications
    Guillermo.Lancha@codereonline.com
    (+34) 628.928.152

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Bitget Hits Tracks at MotoGP Germany with Interactive Fan Booth and New Online Activations

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VICTORIA, Seychelles, July 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget, the leading cryptocurrency exchange, and Web3 company has accelerated its global presence at the MotoGP of Germany at Sachsenring Track, held from July 11–13 , by rolling out a high-energy brand activation that fused racing excitement with smart trading innovation. The event marked Bitget’s second major outing under its MotoGP partnership, executing its strategy of merging Web3 innovation with mainstream culture to more than 50 million audience base.

    At the heart of the action was Bitget’s interactive fan zone booth, which welcomed tens of thousands of MotoGP attendees. Fans immersed themselves in the official MotoGP bike simulator, and received exclusive Bitget x MotoGP merchandise—creating a hands-on experience that blended speed with strategy, echoing the brand’s ethos of “Smart Trading Meets Speed.”

    “Our presence at MotoGP Germany is about bringing crypto closer to people who seek the finer adventures of life,” said Gracy Chen, CEO of Bitget. “From on-track adrenaline to on-chain innovation, we’re helping users explore how trading can be as thrilling and rewarding as a world-class race.”

    Alongside its offline activation, Bitget launched a dedicated MotoGP landing page, offering fans the chance to stay updated on race schedules, upcoming campaigns, and continuous giveaways, including MotoGP tickets, limited-edition merchandise, and Bitget trading rewards. Coming soon, the Smarter Speed Challenge mini-game will allow users to virtually race to the top of the leaderboard and unlock exclusive prizes—further driving engagement beyond the racetrack.

    With MotoGP’s global fan base exceeding 50 million across social platforms and a strong presence in key growth regions for crypto adoption, Bitget is leveraging this partnership to connect with new audiences and onboard the next generation of Web3 users. The German GP was a prime example of how strategic sports collaborations can fuel both brand awareness and community engagement.

    This initiative is part of Bitget’s broader campaign roll-out tied to its MotoGP partnership, which will continue throughout the racing season with localized events, interactive challenges, and themed content designed to empower and reward users worldwide.

    For more information, visit the Bitget x MotoGP Campaign Page and follow the journey as Bitget races alongside MotoGP into the future of finance.

    Event Highlights

    About Bitget

    Established in 2018, Bitget is the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company. Serving over 120 million users in 150+ countries and regions, the Bitget exchange is committed to helping users trade smarter with its pioneering copy trading feature and other trading solutions, while offering real-time access to Bitcoin price, Ethereum price, and other cryptocurrency prices. Formerly known as BitKeep, Bitget Wallet is a leading non-custodial crypto wallet supporting 130+ blockchains and millions of tokens. It offers multi-chain trading, staking, payments, and direct access to 20,000+ DApps, with advanced swaps and market insights built into a single platform.

    Bitget is driving crypto adoption through strategic partnerships, such as its role as the Official Crypto Partner of the World’s Top Football League, LALIGA, in EASTERN, SEA and LATAM markets, as well as a global partner of Turkish National athletes Buse Tosun Çavuşoğlu (Wrestling world champion), Samet Gümüş (Boxing gold medalist) and İlkin Aydın (Volleyball national team), to inspire the global community to embrace the future of cryptocurrency.

    Aligned with its global impact strategy, Bitget has joined hands with UNICEF to support blockchain education for 1.1 million people by 2027. In the world of motorsports, Bitget is the exclusive cryptocurrency exchange partner of MotoGP™, one of the world’s most thrilling championships.

    For more information, visit: Website | Twitter | Telegram | LinkedIn | Discord | Bitget Wallet

    For media inquiries, please contact: media@bitget.com

    Risk Warning: Digital asset prices are subject to fluctuation and may experience significant volatility. Investors are advised to only allocate funds they can afford to lose. The value of any investment may be impacted, and there is a possibility that financial objectives may not be met, nor the principal investment recovered. Independent financial advice should always be sought, and personal financial experience and standing carefully considered. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Bitget accepts no liability for any potential losses incurred. Nothing contained herein should be construed as financial advice. For further information, please refer to our Terms of Use.

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9d86793b-a39a-4f2a-b6e6-561c0f41767c
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e7fd5d6e-e919-48bf-a339-be0550b458c5
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/bc524929-8f7e-47ea-84f9-dab270af935e
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/7fe3efd6-df14-45b9-9c31-72ca129d88f2

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Share your views on the future of Cowes Floating Bridge 14 July 2025 Views invited to shape future of Cowes Floating Bridge

    Source: Aisle of Wight

    The public is being asked to give its views on the future of the Cowes/East Cowes floating bridge.

    A series of engagement opportunities including public drop-in information sessions is being launched by the Isle of Wight Council following a decision by its Cabinet last year to replace the current chain ferry.

    The Cabinet also agreed to commission a River Medina Crossing Strategy with an updated business case, options appraisal, output specification and procurement strategy so that any such purchase could ensure best value for council tax-payers.

    In recent months, transport experts have been reviewing all available options, against a range of criteria including affordability, sustainability, value for money, reliability and the need to minimise traffic congestion on the local road network.

    Following detailed analysis and initial consultation with key stakeholders including Cowes and East Cowes town councils, Cowes Harbour Commission and elected Isle of Wight Council members from both sides of the river, the most viable possibilities are being put forward for further consideration.

    These options are:

    • New vessel: Replacement of the existing floating bridge with a new floating bridge (FB7).
    • Modify existing vessel and/or the operational environment option: through a phased approach involving additional control chains and/or tidal flow reduction and/or adding flush thrusters to the existing vessel.
    • Do minimum: Maintain and operate the existing floating bridge with the continued use of the push boat.

    Options ruled out include a new Medina bridge, a tunnel, a new type of vessel to make the crossing and also the option of discontinuing a service.

    During the forthcoming engagement, the public will be given the chance to air their views in a number of ways including a survey on the council’s website and drop-in sessions where people can speak to industry experts and council representatives, including those directly responsible for operating the floating bridge.

    The drop-in sessions will be between 3-7pm at East Cowes Town Hall on July 22, Northwood House, Cowes, on July 23 and The Riverside Centre, Newport on July 31. The online sessions will take place on 7 August 12-1.30pm and 12 August 6-7.30pm

    There will also be online sessions for anyone unable to make these events. 

    The consultation is being publicised Island-wide and directly to floating bridge users and ends on 22 August 2025.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Warning issued over rogue traders tarmac scam 14 July 2025 A warning has been put out to businesses and consumers regarding a tarmac scam by rogue traders

    Source: Aisle of Wight

    The Isle of Wight Council, Trading Standards Service and Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary are warning Island consumers and businesses of rogue traders cold calling claiming to be working with the Council/Island Roads and having a surplus of tarmac that they need to use up, which is not the case. Reports have been received from the Newport and Cowes areas.

    These rogue traders often call on vulnerable and elderly residents, but we are warning businesses to be vigilant as well due to some work being carried out at business premises. Commonly, cold callers are unqualified conmen who charge extortionate amounts of money for little or no work done at all along with the prices being very misleading and demanding immediate payment.

    Trading Standards is warning residents to be aware that these businesses are operating on the Island, and to be extremely careful before even discussing any work that the trader may suggest requires doing.

    Trading Standards & Community Safety Manager, James Potter said: “Island residents should always be very wary of rogue traders who will cold call, as in our experience they are often unqualified conmen who will overcharge for unnecessary repairs/services which will be of poor quality.

    “Legislation protecting consumers requires cold callers to give consumers a ‘Cancellation Notice’ giving them 14 days to cancel the contract made for over £42.”

    “Failure to issue a cancellation notice in the correct manner is a criminal offence.”  

    These conmen offer services including gardening work, house maintenance, driveways, jet washing roofs, to name a few. Never engage with cold callers, and if you require work doing to your home always try to obtain at least two written quotes. Trading Standards run a trader approval scheme where local traders are vetted for compliance with consumer legislation.

    For further information on our Scheme, please contact 823000 or look at our website (www.iwight.com/tas). Please be vigilant if you have elderly or vulnerable neighbours and report your concerns to the Police or the Trading Standards Service. We are committed, with the support of the Police, to protect Island residents and will take enforcement action, including prosecution, against rogue traders.

    Michelle Love, Service Director for Highways and Community Protection said: “Island Roads does not ‘doorstep sell’.”

    “Any materials used on the Island’s roads is carefully accounted for and used solely across the scope of our work.”

    “If you are in any doubt about the legitimacy of anyone claiming to work for or with us, please contact our call centre immediately on 822440 or, alternatively, contact Trading Standards on 823371.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Security Council Votes on Renewal of Yemen Mission

    Source: United Nations 4

    9957th Meeting (AM)

    The Security Council will vote on a draft resolution extending the mandate of the United Nations Mission to Support the Hudaydah Agreement (UNMHA) for another six and a half months, until 28 January 2026. The text is authored by the United Kingdom, the penholder on Yemen.

    For information media. Not an official record.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Couple found guilty of killing their newborn baby following Met investigation

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    A couple who were arrested following a police search across the UK have been found guilty of killing their newborn baby.

    Mark Gordon, 51 (08.06.74) and Constance Marten, 38 (16.05.87), both of no fixed address, lived outside in a tent in freezing conditions with their baby Victoria.

    The court heard they went on the run with Victoria to evade the authorities after their previous four children were taken into care.

    After a 53-day search, they were arrested in Brighton on 27 February 2023 and officers later found the body of their child in a shopping bag at an allotment where they had been living.

    Today, Monday, 14 July following a trial at the Old Bailey, they were found guilty of gross negligence manslaughter.

    Detective Chief Inspector Joanna Yorke, who led the homicide investigation into Victoria’s death, said: “The selfish actions of Mark Gordon and Constance Marten resulted in the death of an innocent newborn baby who would have recently had her second birthday and should have had the rest of her life ahead of her.

    “This was an incredibly challenging investigation for the hundreds of officers across the UK who were involved in the search. Our main focus throughout the search was finding Victoria alive and we were devastated by the outcome.

    “We know today’s verdict won’t bring Victoria back, but I am pleased our investigation has resulted in the couple who caused her death finally being brought to justice.”

    Investigation launched

    Concerns were first raised on 5 January 2023 when the couple’s car broke down and caught fire on the M61 in Greater Manchester. Firefighters found the pair had abandoned their car and left the motorway before help had arrived.

    The car was full of items, including nappies and clothing. A placenta was also found and there was concern that whoever had been in the car had recently given birth and could be in need of urgent medical care.

    Officers were called and a missing person’s investigation was launched. Marten’s passport was found in the wreckage of the fire.

    Through speaking to witnesses and viewing CCTV it later became clear that the couple had travelled to Bolton and then to Liverpool that evening.

    Moving across the country

    From Liverpool the couple paid a taxi driver £350 to take them 270 miles away to Harwich in Essex.

    The reason for them choosing this location is unclear, however it is thought they may have been trying to leave the country by boat.

    They arrived in the town in the early hours of 6 January 2023 and checked into a hotel. Marten gave staff a fake surname and CCTV showed she had a baby underneath her coat.

    Concerned about the welfare of the couple and their newborn child, officers shared a public appeal for information.

    This was being widely reported in the media and on 7 January 2023 they were stopped by a member of the public who asked if they were the people who were on the news.

    Avoiding authorities

    From Harwich the couple took a taxi to Colchester and then on to east London. They arrived in East Ham at around midday on the same day and went to buy a buggy from a branch of Argos.

    The buggy they bought was too big for a newborn baby. They dumped it in an alleyway and transferred their child into a supermarket bag for life.

    CCTV also showed them sitting in a restaurant in Whitechapel. This footage was the first time baby Victoria had been seen alive on camera since her birth.

    The couple’s erratic and unpredictable movements across the country made it difficult for officers to trace them.

    Travelling to Newhaven

    Shortly after midnight on 8 January 2023 they couple paid £475 for a taxi to Newhaven in East Sussex.

    Soon after arriving in the town they were seen on CCTV entering the South Downs Way.

    This is a huge area of open land in the south of England. Officers carried out searches, but could not locate the pair.

    On 16 January 2023 a member of the public spotted them in a tent at the Stanmer Park Nature Reserve near Brighton. It was winter and temperatures regularly dropped below freezing.

    There were further sightings over the following weeks. These were not reported to police at the time.

    Arrests

    After more than a month living in a tent, the couple visited a shop in Hollingbury Place in Brighton on 27 February 2023.

    A member of the public, who recognised them from the media appeals, called police and officers from Sussex Police responded quickly.

    They were arrested nearby in Golf Drive, however there was no sign of baby Victoria.

    Officers carried out emergency interviews and asked them both where their child was. Both refused to share any information and Gordon instead continually asked for food.

    Finding baby Victoria

    Over the following days, hundreds of officers from the Met travelled to Sussex to search the area near to where the couple were arrested.

    On 1 March 2023, following an extensive search, officers found the body of a baby inside a carrier bag at a shed on an allotment where they had been staying.

    Pathologists were unable to confirm how Victoria had died. Marten told officers she had died while the couple was sleeping but did not share any further information.

    Detective Superintendent Lewis Basford, who led the search for the couple, said:     “Victoria’s death was completely avoidable. The couple had plenty of opportunities to do the right thing and come forward to ask for help. They knew that officers were looking for them.

    “We have waited more than two years to secure justice for baby Victoria and I am pleased we have now been able to get that for her – despite her parents trying to disrupt and derail not one, but two trials.

    “I would like to thank the media for the support they showed throughout the search, as well as the many members of the public who reported sightings. I’d also like to thank the jury for their patience and resilience in having to sit through a long trial where they had to listen to Marten and Gordon’s horrific actions.

    “This information was incredibly important, and officers travelled across the country to track down CCTV and speak to witnesses.

    “Speaking personally as a father, I find it hard to comprehend how, instead of providing the warmth and care their child needed, Mark Gordon and Constance Marten chose to live outside during freezing conditions to avoid the authorities.”

    Chief Superintendent James Collis, from Sussex Police, said:     “The search for Constance Marten and Mark Gordon ended in the most tragic circumstances and had a profound effect on the local community in Sussex.

    “Our thoughts remain with baby Victoria and extend to her wider family after what must have been an extremely difficult time.

    “I hope the conclusion of these criminal proceedings will everyone the space to begin to come to terms with the traumatic events of the last 28 months.

    “I would once again like to thank the public for their compassion and support throughout this process, and of course the police officers, staff and volunteers who took part in the extremely challenging search as well as those who have supported the investigation.”

    The pair will be sentenced at the Old Bailey on a date to be set.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Couple found guilty of killing their newborn baby following Met investigation

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    A couple who were arrested following a police search across the UK have been found guilty of killing their newborn baby.

    Mark Gordon, 51 (08.06.74) and Constance Marten, 38 (16.05.87), both of no fixed address, lived outside in a tent in freezing conditions with their baby Victoria.

    The court heard they went on the run with Victoria to evade the authorities after their previous four children were taken into care.

    After a 53-day search, they were arrested in Brighton on 27 February 2023 and officers later found the body of their child in a shopping bag at an allotment where they had been living.

    Today, Monday, 14 July following a trial at the Old Bailey, they were found guilty of gross negligence manslaughter.

    Detective Chief Inspector Joanna Yorke, who led the homicide investigation into Victoria’s death, said: “The selfish actions of Mark Gordon and Constance Marten resulted in the death of an innocent newborn baby who would have recently had her second birthday and should have had the rest of her life ahead of her.

    “This was an incredibly challenging investigation for the hundreds of officers across the UK who were involved in the search. Our main focus throughout the search was finding Victoria alive and we were devastated by the outcome.

    “We know today’s verdict won’t bring Victoria back, but I am pleased our investigation has resulted in the couple who caused her death finally being brought to justice.”

    Investigation launched

    Concerns were first raised on 5 January 2023 when the couple’s car broke down and caught fire on the M61 in Greater Manchester. Firefighters found the pair had abandoned their car and left the motorway before help had arrived.

    The car was full of items, including nappies and clothing. A placenta was also found and there was concern that whoever had been in the car had recently given birth and could be in need of urgent medical care.

    Officers were called and a missing person’s investigation was launched. Marten’s passport was found in the wreckage of the fire.

    Through speaking to witnesses and viewing CCTV it later became clear that the couple had travelled to Bolton and then to Liverpool that evening.

    Moving across the country

    From Liverpool the couple paid a taxi driver £350 to take them 270 miles away to Harwich in Essex.

    The reason for them choosing this location is unclear, however it is thought they may have been trying to leave the country by boat.

    They arrived in the town in the early hours of 6 January 2023 and checked into a hotel. Marten gave staff a fake surname and CCTV showed she had a baby underneath her coat.

    Concerned about the welfare of the couple and their newborn child, officers shared a public appeal for information.

    This was being widely reported in the media and on 7 January 2023 they were stopped by a member of the public who asked if they were the people who were on the news.

    Avoiding authorities

    From Harwich the couple took a taxi to Colchester and then on to east London. They arrived in East Ham at around midday on the same day and went to buy a buggy from a branch of Argos.

    The buggy they bought was too big for a newborn baby. They dumped it in an alleyway and transferred their child into a supermarket bag for life.

    CCTV also showed them sitting in a restaurant in Whitechapel. This footage was the first time baby Victoria had been seen alive on camera since her birth.

    The couple’s erratic and unpredictable movements across the country made it difficult for officers to trace them.

    Travelling to Newhaven

    Shortly after midnight on 8 January 2023 they couple paid £475 for a taxi to Newhaven in East Sussex.

    Soon after arriving in the town they were seen on CCTV entering the South Downs Way.

    This is a huge area of open land in the south of England. Officers carried out searches, but could not locate the pair.

    On 16 January 2023 a member of the public spotted them in a tent at the Stanmer Park Nature Reserve near Brighton. It was winter and temperatures regularly dropped below freezing.

    There were further sightings over the following weeks. These were not reported to police at the time.

    Arrests

    After more than a month living in a tent, the couple visited a shop in Hollingbury Place in Brighton on 27 February 2023.

    A member of the public, who recognised them from the media appeals, called police and officers from Sussex Police responded quickly.

    They were arrested nearby in Golf Drive, however there was no sign of baby Victoria.

    Officers carried out emergency interviews and asked them both where their child was. Both refused to share any information and Gordon instead continually asked for food.

    Finding baby Victoria

    Over the following days, hundreds of officers from the Met travelled to Sussex to search the area near to where the couple were arrested.

    On 1 March 2023, following an extensive search, officers found the body of a baby inside a carrier bag at a shed on an allotment where they had been staying.

    Pathologists were unable to confirm how Victoria had died. Marten told officers she had died while the couple was sleeping but did not share any further information.

    Detective Superintendent Lewis Basford, who led the search for the couple, said:     “Victoria’s death was completely avoidable. The couple had plenty of opportunities to do the right thing and come forward to ask for help. They knew that officers were looking for them.

    “We have waited more than two years to secure justice for baby Victoria and I am pleased we have now been able to get that for her – despite her parents trying to disrupt and derail not one, but two trials.

    “I would like to thank the media for the support they showed throughout the search, as well as the many members of the public who reported sightings. I’d also like to thank the jury for their patience and resilience in having to sit through a long trial where they had to listen to Marten and Gordon’s horrific actions.

    “This information was incredibly important, and officers travelled across the country to track down CCTV and speak to witnesses.

    “Speaking personally as a father, I find it hard to comprehend how, instead of providing the warmth and care their child needed, Mark Gordon and Constance Marten chose to live outside during freezing conditions to avoid the authorities.”

    Chief Superintendent James Collis, from Sussex Police, said:     “The search for Constance Marten and Mark Gordon ended in the most tragic circumstances and had a profound effect on the local community in Sussex.

    “Our thoughts remain with baby Victoria and extend to her wider family after what must have been an extremely difficult time.

    “I hope the conclusion of these criminal proceedings will everyone the space to begin to come to terms with the traumatic events of the last 28 months.

    “I would once again like to thank the public for their compassion and support throughout this process, and of course the police officers, staff and volunteers who took part in the extremely challenging search as well as those who have supported the investigation.”

    The pair will be sentenced at the Old Bailey on a date to be set.

    MIL Security OSI –