NewzIntel.com

Category: Politics

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Advocacy – 95 New Zealand Lawyers Call for Stronger Govt Stance on Israel Amidst Rising Tensions in Middle East

    Source: Max Harris
    Ninety-five New Zealand lawyers – including 9 King’s Counsel – have signed a letter to the Prime Minister and other ministers urging the Government to consider a stronger stance against Israel’s actions in Gaza.
    The letter has been sent amidst rising tensions in the region, following Israel’s surprise attacks on Iran, and Iran’s attacks on Israel in response.
    The letter’s signatories come from all levels of seniority in the legal community including senior barristers, law firm partners, legal academics, and in-house lawyers.
    The letter cites UN sources that document the steadily deteriorating plight of civilians in Gaza, featuring escalating levels of bombardment, forced displacement, blockades of aid and deliberate targeting of hospitals, aid workers and journalists, and notes key responses to date.
     
    In September last year New Zealand voted in favour of a UN General Assembly resolution calling upon all UN Member States to comply with their obligations under international law and take concrete steps to address Israel’s ongoing presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. At the time, New Zealand noted it expected Israel to take meaningful steps towards compliance with international law including withdrawal from the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The letter comments that Israel has done nothing of the sort.
     
    The letter goes on to point out that in May this year Independent UN Experts demanded immediate international intervention to “end the violence or bear witness to the annihilation of the Palestinian population in Gaza.” UN experts have observed the occurrence of over 52,535 deaths, of which 70 percent continue to be women and children. The Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher has called for a response “as humanitarians” urging “Humanity, the law and reason must prevail”.
    The letter urges the Government to consider a stronger response including to condemn Israel’s unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, to review immediately all diplomatic and political and economic ties with Israel, and to go further in imposing sanctions after New Zealand imposed sanctions on two extremist Israeli politicians.
    One of the letter’s signatories, barrister Max Harris, says: “This letter reflects rising concern among the general community about Israel’s breaches of international law.”
    “The Government has tried to highlight red lines for Israel, but these have been repeatedly crossed, and it’s time that the Government considers doing more, in line with international law,” adds Harris.
    Aedeen Boadita-Cormican, another barrister who has signed the letter, says: “The Government could do more to follow through on how it has voted at the United Nations and what it has said internationally.”
    “This letter shows the depth of concern in the legal community about Israel’s actions,” adds Boadita-Cormican.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Government appoints Emma Jones CBE as new Small Business Commissioner to help tackle late payments

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Government appoints Emma Jones CBE as new Small Business Commissioner to help tackle late payments

    Government appoints new Small Business Commissioner as part of efforts to boost SMEs and tackle late payments

    • The new Small Business Commissioner has been appointed to take a leading role in tackling late payments and unfair payment practices 

    • Jones brings wealth of entrepreneurial experience as founder of Enterprise Nation to support UK’s 5.5m small businesses 

    • Appointment reinforces government commitment to creating fair business environment as part of Plan for Change 

    As part of the Government’s mission to support small businesses, Emma Jones CBE, founder of Enterprise Nation, has today been announced as the new Small Business Commissioner. 

    She will take up the role on 23rd June 2025 following the completion of Liz Barclay’s four-year term as the current Commissioner.  

    Liz Barclay was instrumental in designing and delivering the new Fair Payment Code which launched in December 2024.  

    Since then, over 300 businesses have already become Fair Payment Code awardees with a commitment to paying their suppliers quickly.  

    Liz has also played a key role in helping design potential future legislative measures to tackle late payments and long payment terms, with a major consultation set to be published in the coming months. 

    Small Business Minister Gareth Thomas said: 

    “I’m delighted that in Emma Jones’s appointment, we have someone who has long championed small firms and entrepreneurs right across the UK. I am confident that her passion and expertise will ensure small firms have a powerful advocate fighting in their corner. 

    “As part of our Plan for Change, I’m determined to make the UK the world’s best place to be an SME, tackling late payments, improving access to finance and getting more small firms exporting around the world – and today’s appointment is a crucial part of that process. 

    “And I want to thank Liz Barclay for her work over the past four years as Commissioner, during which time she has worked tirelessly in supporting the nation’s small businesses.” 

    In her new position, Emma will be a key player in tackling late payments and long payment terms for small businesses and the self-employed. This Government is committed to tackling this problem, which has for too long been a scourge for small businesses. Research has found that in 2024, SMEs were owed on average £21,400 in late payments.

    New Small Business Commissioner Emma Jones CBE said: 

    “Having done it myself, I know the commitment it takes to start and grow a successful business. Founders tell me they are time poor and spending too many precious hours on non-productive work like chasing debt. This is limiting their capacity to focus on growth and we want to change that.

    “Through the Office of the Small Business Commissioner, we will make life easier for small business owners by leveraging technology to speed up payments and access to support.

    “This work will be delivered in partnership with government and industry with a shared desire to enable founders to focus on what they do best and retain the UK’s status as a great place to start and grow a business.”

    The Small Business Commissioner plays a vital role in supporting the UK’s 5.5 million small businesses by working to ensure they are treated fairly by larger companies and can access the support they need to thrive. The office also provides practical advice and resources to help small businesses resolve payment disputes and navigate commercial challenges. 

    The appointment furthers the government’s agenda to create a fair and supportive environment for small businesses to thrive, recognising their critical role in job creation, economic growth and community prosperity across the UK. 

    The Government has already announced a raft of measures to support small firms across the country. 

    A revamped Board of Trade tasked with helping more small firms was launched earlier this year, and comes ahead of a major consultation to tackle the scourge of late payments. 

    Last year, the Treasury extended business rates relief for the hospitality sector and the Business Secretary announced a new Business Growth Service to make it easier and quicker for SMEs to access and benefit from the right government advice and support for their business. 

    This appointment has been made in accordance with the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code on Public Appointments. 

    Updates to this page

    Published 17 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The Inspiration Arts Festival will be held at VDNKh in July

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    From July 23 to 27, the VDNKh will host the International Arts Festival “Inspiration” for the eighth time. It will bring together creative teams and projects of artists from the capital, St. Petersburg, Krasnodar, as well as China, India, Turkey, Egypt and other countries. This was reported by Natalia Sergunina, Deputy Mayor of Moscow.

    “At various exhibition venues, city residents and tourists will be treated to street plays and dance performances, performances and concerts. The stages will feature works by Pyotr Tchaikovsky, Mikhail Glinka, Aram Khachaturian, Frederic Chopin and other famous composers,” the deputy mayor said.

    The festival will take place at 10 venues, including the Main Alley, the square near the Friendship of Nations fountain, the Worker and Kolkhoz Woman pavilion, and the Slovo Museum of Slavic Literature.

    On July 23, the Green Theater will host a performance based on Leo Tolstoy’s epic novel “War and Peace.” It will be performed by a group from Turkey. On July 25, the “Night of One-Act Ballets” project will be presented here. Modern choreographic programs will be demonstrated by dance schools from Egypt and Cuba.

    On July 25, the main stage of the festival will host an opera production. It will introduce the culture of China, in particular the traditions and folk legends of the Guangxi province. A classical music concert will also be held at the same venue. Residents and guests of the capital will be able to hear works by Pyotr Tchaikovsky, Mikhail Glinka, Sergei Rachmaninov and Aram Khachaturian. And on July 27, the performance “Three Sisters” by the Krasnodar Academic Drama Theater named after Maxim Gorky will be shown on the veranda of the VDNKh House of Culture. It is based on the play by Anton Chekhov.

    All events are free. Pre-registration is required to attend.website VDNKh.

    The Inspiration Festival will be held as part of a large-scale project “Summer in Moscow”. It brings together the most vibrant events in the capital. Every day, charity, cultural and sporting events are held in all areas of the city, most of which are free. The Summer in Moscow project is being held for the second time, and this season will be more eventful: new, original and colourful festivals and events will be added to the traditional ones.

    Quickly find out the main news of the capital inofficial telegram channel the city of Moscow.

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

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

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/155319073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Residents of two old houses in Kotlovka have begun moving into new apartments under the renovation program

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Almost 300 residents of two old five-story buildings in the Kotlovka district received letters offering equivalent housing in a new building. This was reported by the Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Urban Development Policy and Construction Vladimir Efimov.

    “In Kotlovka, the city has transferred a new building at 11 Remizova Street, Block 2, for the resettlement of about 300 Muscovites. It has become the fifth residential complex built in the area intended for participants in the renovation program. Now families from two old houses have received letters from the city with offers of equivalent apartments and have begun to inspect housing in the new building. In total, 82 old houses in the area are to be resettled, and approximately 15.7 thousand city residents will receive new apartments here. As of today, almost 1.6 thousand Muscovites have become the owners of comfortable housing in the area,” said Vladimir Efimov.

    An information center has been opened on the first floor of the new building. Its specialists answer questions related to moving and help with paperwork for new housing. After the relocation is complete, shops, cafes, pharmacies, and online order pick-up points will open on the site of the center.

    “Over 170 residents of building 11, block 1 on Remizova Street and over 120 people from building 19, block 1 on Nagornaya Street received offers of equivalent apartments at the end of May. They began inspecting the housing offered by the city on June 16. The new apartments have the same number of rooms as the old ones, but due to more spacious kitchens, corridors and bathrooms, their total area is usually larger. The premises are rented out with a finished, improved finish according to the standards

    renovation programs, they already have plumbing and lighting fixtures installed. This allows you to move into a new home as quickly and comfortably as possible,” noted Ekaterina Solovieva, Minister of the Moscow Government, Head of the Moscow Department of City Property.

    Minister of the Moscow Government, Head of the Department of Urban Development Policy Vladislav Ovchinsky added that the new building has 180 apartments with a total area of over 10,000 square meters. Five of them are equipped for residents with limited mobility – there are wide corridors and doorways for easy movement in a wheelchair. The bathrooms are equipped with special handrails. The passage in the residential complex is through. From the entrance, residents will be able to go out both to the courtyard with a children’s and sports grounds, and to the street with guest parking. For a comfortable move, the city provides free movers and a car to participants in the renovation program. Service “Moving Assistance” You can order it yourself on mos.ru or at the resettlement information center.

    As noted in the capital Department of Information Technology, a general guide will help you prepare for your planned move instruction, available in the super service “Moving under the renovation program”. With its help, you can find out how the move is organized, get information about the necessary documents for drawing up a contract, and also use links to useful services. If you configure the parameters of the move, you will be able to read the instructions for a specific life situation.

    Earlier, the Mayor of Moscow said that the renovation program included 131 more sites for the construction of houses.

    Renovation program approved in August 2017. It concerns about a million Muscovites and provides for the resettlement of 5,176 houses. Sergei Sobyanin ordered to increase the pace of implementation of the renovation program in twice.

    Moscow is one of the leaders among regions in terms of construction volumes. High rates of housing construction correspond to the goals and initiatives of the national project “Infrastructure for life”.

    Get the latest news quicklyofficial telegram channel the city of Moscow.

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

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

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/155331073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New films showcase the landscapes of the South West

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    New films showcase the landscapes of the South West

    A series of six films co-funded by Natural England highlight the fragile nature of protected sites and how we can all take steps to help our environment.

    Simon Willis filming Prof John Wedgwood Clarke at Kynance. Credit Susan Willis

    The stunning beauty of the South West has inspired many writers and artists, but now Natural England has joined forces with a poet and film maker to create a series of six inspiring videos about nature on protected sites in this corner of the country.

    Taking in protected sites across Cornwall, Devon and Somerset, the films, called “Wild Westcountry Odyssey” are a result of a collaboration between Natural England’s Protected Site Strategies (PSS) Research and Development Programme and the [RENEW Biodiversity project] (https://renewbiodiversity.org.uk/) at the University of Exeter. RENEW (Renewing biodiversity through a people in nature approach) is a collaboration between the University and the  National Trust, funded by the Natural Environment Research Council. It also partners with major conservation bodies like the RSPB and Wildlife Trusts.

    The aim of future Protected Site Strategies will be to ensure the root causes of environmental issues – often driven by factors beyond the sites themselves – are addressed in ways that guarantee wildlife thrives on those sites, while helping nature recovery beyond their boundaries. All six of the Protected Sites chosen for the films are Sites of Special Scientific Interest and Habitat Sites.

    Each film includes two short poems, specially written by John Wedgwood Clarke. The films celebrate the beauty and diversity of nature on the sites and the key achievements and projects that have restored habitats and species and are successfully tackling environmental change and impacts resulting from human activity

    David Burton, Natural England’s Principal Officer for the Protected Site Strategies Implementation and Development programme, said:

    We supported the production of the films to research how creative media can help re-set the relationships between people and nature within the framework of Protected Site Strategies. The approach is to educate and highlight the need for nature recovery to everyone.

    Too often the environment sector has failed to communicate the plight of biodiversity in accessible, positive and thought-provoking ways. For Protected Site Strategies to realise the ambition we have set for them, resetting the relationships between nature and people in ways that build a resilient future for all, we need to harness the power of creative channels for our call to action.

    John, Simon, and the rest of the ‘Wild Westcountry Odyssey’ team have created inspirational stories through film and poetry to help set our first few Protected Site Strategies on their way.

    Simon Willis, filmmaker, said:

    It’s been a privilege to work with all the nature reserves and John. The human effort that goes into keeping them thriving for wildlife is remarkable.

    I hope our images and John’s words encourage people to look beyond the picture postcard and really value the wildlife that makes the South West such a great place to visit.

    John Wedgwood Clarke, Professor of Poetry at the University of Exeter, said:

    The South West’s diverse and beautiful landscapes have been the source of great joy for so many people and have inspired writers and artists over time. But take a closer look and you realise how fragile many of our ecosystems have become and the lengths to which our agencies and charities have to go in order to conserve their biodiversity.

    I hope these films, and the visual and verbal poetry they contain, inspire people to explore this beautiful part of the world and think about how they can support, in whatever way they can, the work the goes in to helping people and nature thrive together in these special places.

    John Clarke at Kynance. Credit Susan Willis

    Professor Rosie Hails, Director of Nature and Science at the National Trust said:

    We know that for people to protect nature and our fragile ecosystems, they have to care for it first.  By using poetry and creating these films we aim to bring the beauty of these six south-west locations into their homes and onto their mobile devices, and to inspire them to visit and to help look after these special places.

    Kynance on the Lizard Peninsula is one of our richest sites for rare and threatened species. The unique geology of granite cliffs with serpentine rocky exposures supports some of our most notable species such as land quilwort, pygmy rush and upright clover amongst the swathes of Cornish heath that make the site a National Nature Reserve. 

    As part of the Trust’s new strategy we will be targeting the rejuvenation of these important plant varieties through innovative management techniques to ensure the special species thrive into the future.

    The first of the films, which features Kynance on The Lizard, is released today on YouTube: https://youtu.be/F4Lpu61T0vM

    Others will be released weekly through to 21 July.

    Notes to editors

    Protected Site Strategies are ambitious and innovative in their approach to addressing the environmental issues impacting Protected Sites. They encourage collaborations with a wide range of stakeholders that operate at a landscape scale. This starts with the understanding that protected sites are representative examples of important places for nature and serve as indicators of healthy, naturally functioning landscapes. If the wildlife and physical environment within sites are compromised by issues such as neglect or pollution, that indicates that the broader landscape is facing challenges that affect both nature and people.

    RENEW is a five year programme led by the University of Exeter and the National Trust and around 30 other partners from various sectors. It is funded by the UKRI Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and aims to tackle the challenges of biodiversity renewal through a people-in-nature approach. This initiative involves a wide range of research to understand how people engage with nature and the opportunities and challenges this presents for nature recovery.

    As a result, finding ways to balance human activities with efforts for nature recovery is central to the work of both RENEW and PSS.

    The short films are being released weekly from Monday, 16 June in the following order

    The sites are: 

    Kynance on the Lizard, Cornwall, 16 June

    Goonhilly Downs National Nature Reserve, Cornwall, 23 June

    Challacombe Farm, Dartmoor, 30 June 

    Westhay Moor National Nature Reserve, Somerset, 7 July

    Exe Estuary, Devon, 14 July

    Otter Estuary, Devon, 21 July

    Film one, Kynance: Celebrates the landscape beauty and the unique wildlife in Kynance and the return of the chough to the Lizard peninsular in Cornwall – the focus of a conservation project by Natural England, the National Trust and local farmers.

    Film two, Goonhilly: Reveals the hidden richness of nature in a seemingly bleak heath and the abandoned workings of a former quarry while celebrating the collaborative conservation efforts of Natural England and local farmers.

    Film three, Challacombe Farm: A film about Challacombe Farm on Dartmoor features a local farmer who has nurtured wildlife habitats across his farm. The farm is part of a future landscape recovery plan to improve conditions for nature across the Moor while helping farms prosper.

    Film four, Westhay Moor: Focusses on a large peat bog restoration project being carried out by Somerset Wildlife Trust. It explores the theme of climate change which is bringing about impacts on nature and people highlights how peat restoration is essential in order to mitigate them.

    Film five, Exe Estuary: Features the Exe Estuary in Devon, a vital refuge for migratory birds of great conservation concern, whose breeding and feeding grounds are increasingly threatened by intensive agriculture, development, and climate change.

    Film six, Otter Estuary: Presents the Lower Otter Restoration Project at Budleigh Salterton and the new wetlands – created by a partnership between Clinton Devon Estates, the East Devon Pebblebed Heaths Conservation Trust, the Environment Agency and the Interreg (EU) programme – that absorb the impacts of climate change and attract a wealth of wildlife.

    Photo credits: Susan Willis.

    All footage copyright Simon Willis Films. Clips can be supplied on request.

    Updates to this page

    Published 17 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Celebrations as 17 Ministry of Defence Silver ERS Award winners are announced in Wales

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Celebrations as 17 Ministry of Defence Silver ERS Award winners are announced in Wales

    17 organisations in Wales have been awarded the 2025 Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Silver Award among more than 300 nationally.

    Employers in Wales that have actively demonstrated their support for the armed forces community through implementing practical policies in the workplace have been recognised with the prestigious Defence Silver ERS Award.

    The 17 Welsh winners will be invited to receive their award as honoured guests at a Royal Gun Salute ceremony at the Pierhead Building, Cardiff Bay, on 17 July.

    The 17 recipients are:

    • Active4Blood
    • Andy Swan Driver Services Ltd
    • Bulldogs Boxing and Community Activities
    • Cobra Life Martial Arts Ltd
    • Events Medical Team – Saltney Ltd
    • Henry Williams and Son (Roads) Ltd
    • Platts Group
    • Riverside Retreat Veterans Camp CIC
    • Shadow Response Security & Medical Ltd
    • The Royal Welch Fusiliers Museum Trust
    • Business in Focus Limited
    • IG Doors Limited
    • MPH Construction
    • Powys Teaching Health Board
    • R&M Williams Limited
    • V3 Group (UK) Ltd
    • Bridgend College

    Major General Jamie Gordon, Chief Executive of the Council of Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Associations, said:

    These Silver Award winners are trusted allies of defence. They don’t just talk about support—they show it, every day, through flexible policies, visible advocacy, and long-term commitment to those who serve. This is about more than good intentions, it’s about practical, sustained support that strengthens our national resilience. It is very pleasing that they have been recognised for all they do for our reservists, veterans and cadets.

    Gareth Jones, Veterans Project Manager, Bulldogs Boxing and Community Activities, said:

    Bulldogs BCA is incredibly proud and deeply honoured to have been awarded the Silver Award as part of the Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme. This recognition reflects our unwavering commitment to supporting the armed forces community, including veterans, reservists, and their families.

    We are thrilled that our efforts to provide opportunities, understanding, and practical support have been acknowledged at such a prestigious level. This award not only highlights the values at the heart of Bulldogs BCA, but also strengthens our resolve to continue championing those who have served our country with dedication and respect.

    To achieve Silver, organisations must proactively demonstrate that the armed forces community are not unfairly disadvantaged as part of their recruitment policies. They must also ensure that their workforce is aware of the policies that benefit defence personnel, including reservists, veterans, Cadet Force Adult Volunteers, and military families.

    The scheme has 3 levels: Bronze, Silver and Gold, awarded to organisations that support defence personnel and encourage others to do the same.

    Mr Craig Middle, the MOD’s DRM for South Wales, said:

    Achieving the Silver ERS award has been a journey for all of our deserved winners. This journey has involved an exploration into what all aspects of the defence community can do for their teams. Many congratulations to all of this year’s winners – we look forward to celebrating with them in person next month.

    Find out how your organisation can support the armed forces community through the Armed Forces Covenant and Defence Employer Recognition Scheme:

    Contact

    Craig Middle, Defence Relationship Manager (DRM) for South Wales:

    Tony Fish, Defence Relationship Manager (DRM) for North Wales:

    Updates to this page

    Published 17 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: 2025 NATO Summit programme announced

    Source: Government of the Netherlands

    News item | 17-06-2025 | 10:00

    NATO has announced the programme for the summit that will be held in The Hague on 24 and 25 June. Dozens of heads of state and government of NATO countries will meet at the World Forum to discuss international security and current global developments, together with foreign and defence ministers.

    Pre-Summit Press Conference by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte

    On Monday 23 June, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte will hold a press conference at the World Forum in The Hague, ahead of the NATO Summit.

    NATO Public Forum

    On both days of the summit (24 and 25 June), interested parties can follow the NATO Public Forum online. During this public event, heads of state and government, ministers, experts, opinion leaders, young people and academics will discuss current issues relating to peace and security. The all-day programme can be followed via NATO Public Forum Live.

    NATO Summit Defence Industry Forum

    The NATO Summit Defence Industry Forum will take place on Tuesday 24 June. Defence ministers, experts and representatives of the defence industry in NATO countries will come together to discuss innovation, cooperation and ways of strengthening the industry.

    Official Meetings

    Two sessions will be held in the World Forum at the same time. The foreign ministers will meet for a working dinner of the NATO-Ukraine Council. And the defence ministers will meet for a working dinner of the North Atlantic Council. A reception for all ministers will be held earlier the same evening.

    Royal Dinner

    On the evening of Tuesday 24 June, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima will host an informal dinner for the heads of state and government of the NATO countries. The prime ministers of Australia, Japan and New Zealand, the presidents of South Korea and Ukraine, and the presidents of the European Council and European Commission are also invited to attend.

    North Atlantic Council

    On Wednesday 25 June, the main focus will be on the meeting of the North Atlantic Council, at which theheads of state and government will discuss the most important decisions facing the alliance. After the meeting NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte and representatives of the Dutch government and other NATO allies will hold press conferences. Over the course of both days various countries will engage in bilateral talks.

    Programme at Government.nl/nato2025

    The programme for the NATO summit and all side events will be made available at government.nl/nato2025. Check the NATO, NATO Public Forum and NATO Summit Defence Industry Forum websites regularly for the latest information, as the programme is subject to change.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Trident Energy Steps Up Regional Activity with Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to Speak at African Energy Week (AEW) 2025

    Jean-Michel Jacoulot, CEO of Trident Energy, has been confirmed to speak at African Energy Week (AEW) 2025: Invest in African Energies, taking place in Cape Town from September 29-October 3. Amid a period of dynamic expansion and production growth, Trident Energy continues to strengthen its position as a leading independent operator in Africa, with recent milestones in the Republic of Congo and Equatorial Guinea.

    The company recently reinforced its position as a leading independent player with major upstream acquisitions in the Republic of Congo. In 2024, Trident acquired a 31.5% non-operating stake in the Moho-Bilondo, Nkossa and Nsoko II fields from Chevron, alongside a 15.75% operating interest in the Lianzi field. This was followed by the acquisition of an additional 53.5% working interest in the Nkossa and Nsoko II fields from TotalEnergies, bringing Trident’s total stake to 85% and securing operatorship.

    These developments mark a turning point for Congo’s offshore sector. With operatorship now in hand, Trident has committed to ramping up production, optimizing existing infrastructure and driving reinvestment into these critical assets. The company is also advancing the Nkossa Gas Project – a major initiative centered on substantial gas potential to be monetized via FLNG – while actively assessing additional opportunities and partnerships that support its long-term growth strategy in the country.

    “Trident Energy is making bold moves that show what is possible when experienced leadership and technical expertise meet Africa’s energy potential,” said NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber. “Their expansion in Congo is exactly the kind of strategic investment African markets need, and we look forward to hearing Jean-Michel Jacoulot’s vision at AEW 2025.”

    In Equatorial Guinea, Trident continues to deliver on its commitment to enhance long-term production. In late 2024, the company brought online the C-45 infill well at the Ceiba Field and Okume Complex – a milestone in its multi-phase development plan for offshore Block G. The next phase involves drilling the Akeng Deep ILX well in Block S, which is currently underway, with further discoveries targeted over the next three years. Trident is also making significant investments to reduce gas flaring in the country and is exploring additional prospects, including potential opportunities extending from Angola along the West African coast.

    AEW 2025 will serve as the premier platform for African and international stakeholders to connect, forge new deals and accelerate the continent’s energy future. As Trident Energy expands its footprint across West and Central Africa, Jacoulot’s participation will shed light on how upstream independents are driving value, resilience and growth in African oil and gas markets.

    AEW: Invest in African Energies is the platform of choice for project operators, financiers, technology providers and government, and has emerged as the official place to sign deals in African energy. Visit www.AECWeek.com for more information about this exciting event.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: SPbPU Strengthens Positions in the National Project “Unmanned Aircraft Systems”

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –

    The BAS personnel forum was held in Tolyatti at the Zhigulevskaya Dolina technology park. It was a joint event of the University 2035, the Government of the Samara Region and the business publication Vedomosti.

    The forum platform became a place for exchanging best practices, dialogue on partnership and discussion of tasks for developing human resources potential in the unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) industry. The plenary session “UAS Labor Market – 2025: Current Results” was attended by Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation Dmitry Afanasyev, Vice-Governor of the Samara Region Anton Emelyanenko, Rector of the University 2035 Dmitry Kaisin, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation Vasily Shpak.

    Representatives of SPbPU took an active part in panel discussions and round tables devoted to personnel training, best practices of network interaction and the formation of engineering teams: Vice-Rector for Continuing and Pre-University Education Dmitry Tikhonov and Director of the Higher School of Transport of IMMiT Alexey Grachev.

    The national project “Unmanned Aircraft Systems” is the first national project of technological leadership. It has been implemented since 2024, and within the framework of the federal project “Personnel for UAS”, more than 10,000 people were trained last year.

    Polytechnic is an active participant in the project in terms of educational initiatives. Our projects have already been presented atlast year’s forum; we are performing providers both in the preparation of youth engineering teams andin ALS training in general. The university also invests in infrastructure — simulators, copters — and implements programs for schools. I am confident that the new academic year will bring new experience and new successful programs, — noted Dmitry Tikhonov.

    The forum included a tour of the UAS Samara research and production center, where participants saw the full production cycle of unmanned aerial vehicles, their testing at virtual and real sites, and also evaluated innovative developments and watched drone pilot competitions.

    One of the key topics of the forum was youth engineering teams (YET). This training format embodies the principle of “training through practice”, which is especially important in the context of a personnel shortage in the new industry. The main feature is the selection of teams to solve real problems of industrial partners, and the result is not only the acquisition of knowledge, but also the defense of the project.

    This format can unite not only students under the guidance of mentors, but also industrial partners. To solve problems, cooperation with software development companies, raw material suppliers, manufacturers and operating organizations is required. It is possible to get not only trained personnel and new partnerships, but also a practically ready-made, in-demand product. It is worth noting that this format requires its own infrastructure – from workplaces to test sites, but, as practice shows, when there is a goal and a close-knit team, solutions are found, and customers – industrial partners and UAS operators – provide comprehensive support, – says Alexey Grachev, who went the full way with MIC last year.

    In parallel with the forum, a working meeting on prospects for cooperation in the field of additional professional education was held at Samara University. Last year, the Polytechnic University and Samara University already implemented a network program for professional retraining “Design and Construction of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle”. Now the partners discussed prospects for training academic staff and continuing cooperation on national projects of technological leadership.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: View from the Hill: Cancelled Albanese-Trump meeting a setback on tariffs, AUKUS

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra

    Anthony Albanese’s failure to get his much-anticipated meeting with US President Donald Trump is not the prime minister’s fault, nor should it be characterised as a “snub” by the president.

    There was always a risk of derailment by outside events, particularly when the scheduled get-together was late in the piece, rather than soon after the president’s arrival in Canada for the G7.

    Nevertheless, the result is something of a debacle for Albanese.

    The prime minister needs to meet the president. Pressing issues – tariffs, AUKUS and defence – require discussion at leadership level. Quite apart from having the two leaders, who’ve never met, establishing some personal relationship.

    It would have been especially desirable for the prime minister to convey, at the highest level, Australia’s views on the importance of and progress on AUKUS, as the month-long US inquiry into the agreement begins. This inquiry, announced last week, is examining whether the pact serves the US’ interests.
    It’s also difficult to see Australia being able to extract concessions on the US tariffs without a discussion between the leaders. Possibly something can be done in phone calls between the two. But they seem as rare as hen’s teeth.

    The Albanese government’s spin is, no matter, there will be a chance for a meeting when Albanese goes to the US in September to address the United Nations leaders’ week. He can make a side trip to Washington.

    Perhaps. But let’s wait to see the invitation to Washington. Many leaders are in the US at that time, wanting to get to the capital.

    Anyway, it’s become increasingly clear Albanese is not keen on facing the now-risky Oval Office ritual. Trump may be in a bad mood. The US journalists present could be feral.

    If Albanese hopes the meeting would be in New York, that would be at the whim of Trump’s schedule.

    Looking back, whatever the counterarguments (that included the complication of an election campaign), the prime minister should have tried very hard to get to Trump earlier, including braving the Oval Office.

    This is not because Australia should kowtow to the Americans, but because any Australian prime minister should engage, as soon as possible, with a new US administration, especially when the president is as volatile as this one.

    When things slip, as they have now, it all becomes trickier to navigate.

    Those with good memories might recall this is not the first time Albanese has found himself victim of a presidential no-show. In 2023, then president Joe Biden was supposed to come to Australia for the Quad, and address the federal parliament.

    Because of a deadlock in negotiations over the US budget, the president didn’t make it. (Later he issued Albanese an invitation for an official visit to Washington, seen as compensation. Not a precedent Albanese should rely on.) The Biden no-show was a big inconvenience but no more, given the very positive relations between the Albanese government and that US administration.

    Some in Labor would think about the Trump issue in domestic political terms – that given Australians don’t like Trump, it’s not that important whether there is a meeting. But that sort of approach is not in Australia’s national interests.

    An exchange at the joint news conference Trump and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer (who has a deal on tariffs) gave in Canada is instructive.

    Question: On the AUKUS submarine agreement, is that still proceeding?

    Keir Starmer: Yep, we’re proceeding with that. It’s a really important deal to both of us. I think the President is doing a review. We did a review when we came into government, so that makes good sense to me.

    Donald Trump: We’re very long-time partners and allies and friends, and we’ve become friends in a short period of time. He’s slightly more liberal than I am, to put it mildly.

    Starmer: I stand slightly on the left.

    Trump: But for some reason, we get along.

    Starmer: We make it work.

    Somehow, Albanese needs to find a way to “make it work”.

    Michelle Grattan 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. View from the Hill: Cancelled Albanese-Trump meeting a setback on tariffs, AUKUS – https://theconversation.com/view-from-the-hill-cancelled-albanese-trump-meeting-a-setback-on-tariffs-aukus-258968

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: View from the Hill: Cancelled Albanese-Trump meeting a setback on tariffs, AUKUS

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra

    Anthony Albanese’s failure to get his much-anticipated meeting with US President Donald Trump is not the prime minister’s fault, nor should it be characterised as a “snub” by the president.

    There was always a risk of derailment by outside events, particularly when the scheduled get-together was late in the piece, rather than soon after the president’s arrival in Canada for the G7.

    Nevertheless, the result is something of a debacle for Albanese.

    The prime minister needs to meet the president. Pressing issues – tariffs, AUKUS and defence – require discussion at leadership level. Quite apart from having the two leaders, who’ve never met, establishing some personal relationship.

    It would have been especially desirable for the prime minister to convey, at the highest level, Australia’s views on the importance of and progress on AUKUS, as the month-long US inquiry into the agreement begins. This inquiry, announced last week, is examining whether the pact serves the US’ interests.
    It’s also difficult to see Australia being able to extract concessions on the US tariffs without a discussion between the leaders. Possibly something can be done in phone calls between the two. But they seem as rare as hen’s teeth.

    The Albanese government’s spin is, no matter, there will be a chance for a meeting when Albanese goes to the US in September to address the United Nations leaders’ week. He can make a side trip to Washington.

    Perhaps. But let’s wait to see the invitation to Washington. Many leaders are in the US at that time, wanting to get to the capital.

    Anyway, it’s become increasingly clear Albanese is not keen on facing the now-risky Oval Office ritual. Trump may be in a bad mood. The US journalists present could be feral.

    If Albanese hopes the meeting would be in New York, that would be at the whim of Trump’s schedule.

    Looking back, whatever the counterarguments (that included the complication of an election campaign), the prime minister should have tried very hard to get to Trump earlier, including braving the Oval Office.

    This is not because Australia should kowtow to the Americans, but because any Australian prime minister should engage, as soon as possible, with a new US administration, especially when the president is as volatile as this one.

    When things slip, as they have now, it all becomes trickier to navigate.

    Those with good memories might recall this is not the first time Albanese has found himself victim of a presidential no-show. In 2023, then president Joe Biden was supposed to come to Australia for the Quad, and address the federal parliament.

    Because of a deadlock in negotiations over the US budget, the president didn’t make it. (Later he issued Albanese an invitation for an official visit to Washington, seen as compensation. Not a precedent Albanese should rely on.) The Biden no-show was a big inconvenience but no more, given the very positive relations between the Albanese government and that US administration.

    Some in Labor would think about the Trump issue in domestic political terms – that given Australians don’t like Trump, it’s not that important whether there is a meeting. But that sort of approach is not in Australia’s national interests.

    An exchange at the joint news conference Trump and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer (who has a deal on tariffs) gave in Canada is instructive.

    Question: On the AUKUS submarine agreement, is that still proceeding?

    Keir Starmer: Yep, we’re proceeding with that. It’s a really important deal to both of us. I think the President is doing a review. We did a review when we came into government, so that makes good sense to me.

    Donald Trump: We’re very long-time partners and allies and friends, and we’ve become friends in a short period of time. He’s slightly more liberal than I am, to put it mildly.

    Starmer: I stand slightly on the left.

    Trump: But for some reason, we get along.

    Starmer: We make it work.

    Somehow, Albanese needs to find a way to “make it work”.

    Michelle Grattan 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. View from the Hill: Cancelled Albanese-Trump meeting a setback on tariffs, AUKUS – https://theconversation.com/view-from-the-hill-cancelled-albanese-trump-meeting-a-setback-on-tariffs-aukus-258968

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Foreign directors visited the Moskino cinema park and the Gorky Film Studio

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Representatives from 20 countries gathered at the XIX International Media Forum of Young Journalists “Dialogue of Cultures”, which was held in Moscow in May. Bloggers, journalists, directors, producers, cameramen and correspondents visited the sites of the Moscow film cluster. They noted the support measures introduced by the Moscow Government for foreign filmmakers to attract them to the capital, including a rebate system – compensation for part of the costs of filming.

    The guests visited the main sites of the Moskino cinema park, including the Center of Moscow, Cowboy Town, Chroma Key, TU-154 Airplane, Berlin Streets, Moscow Cathedral Square and Prince Andrey’s Chambers, Far Eastern City, Moscow of the 1940s, Remote Village, and County Town, and assessed its scale and capabilities.

    Six new filming locations have appeared in the Moskino cinema parkThe largest natural chromakey in Europe is located in the Moskino cinema park

    “The most important feature of the cinema park is the large number of sites for creating projects on a variety of topics. Here you can shoot science fiction films using natural chroma key, and historical films, filming on the sites of “Cathedral Square”, “Streets of Berlin” and “Moscow of the 1940s”. Each set is made with authenticity and close attention to detail. This is a large-scale project that has no equal in Europe. Relations between Russia and India are strengthening and developing every year, so I hope that our partnership will bring interesting joint projects,” said director Arun Chadha from India.

    The international delegation also visited the oldest and largest film production company, the Gorky Film Studio, which is celebrating its 110th anniversary this year. By the end of 2025, its area will increase to 100 thousand square meters.

    “Moscow is a city where you can and should shoot films, there is everything for this. I really liked the sites of the Moscow film cluster, which I managed to visit, there are very few like it in other capitals of the world, I would even say, only a few. A unique project has been created in Moscow. We need to make films about this,” Serbian documentary filmmaker Milan Jankovic noted the uniqueness of the Moscow infrastructure for filming.

    He was supported by Turkish director Muhammet Beyazdag.

    “I am impressed by the meeting with Moskino and the capabilities of the Russian capital for creating film projects. The Moscow film cluster allows film industry professionals from all over the world to shoot films of any complexity, to implement any ideas. The city’s film sites amaze with their scale and uniqueness. I want to tell Turkish filmmakers about this,” Beyazdag Muhammet emphasized.

    Sobyanin told how virtual technologies simplify film shooting in MoscowSobyanin: Gorky Film Studio to Become Part of World-Class Film Cluster

    In early May, directors also visited the Moscow film cluster facilities Oliver Stone And Emir Kusturica, who plans to shoot his films in the Moskino cinema park.

    The Russian capital has provided support measures for foreign filmmakers. Since April 1, a grant has been in effect for the production of international films in Moscow. Film crews consisting of Moscow and foreign film companies can apply for it. Industry representatives will be able to reimburse up to 30 percent of film production costs. The maximum payment for one project will be 50 million rubles. The new support measure will expand the capabilities of the Moscow film cluster and make the city even more attractive to international market players.

    The Moskino cinema park is part of Sergei Sobyanin’s “Moscow – City of Cinema” project and an object of the Moscow cinema cluster, which is being developed by the capital Department of Culture. The first stage of creation has already been completed here: 24 natural sites, four pavilions and six infrastructure facilities have been built, including the sets “Center of Moscow”, “Moscow of the 1940s”, “Vitebsk Station”, “Cathedral Square of Moscow”, “County Town”, “Cowboy Town”, “St. Petersburg Bar” and others. On weekends and holidays, the cinema park hosts staged filming, concerts, music and film festivals, performances, meetings with filmmakers and professional master classes.

    The Moscow Film Cluster is an infrastructure facility, services and facilities for filmmakers, which are being developed by the Moscow Government within the framework of the Moscow — City of Cinema project. Its structure includes the Moskino film park, the Gorky Film Studio (sites on Sergei Eisenstein Street and Valdaisky Proyezd), the Moskino film factory, the Moskino cinema chain, the film commission and the Moskino film platform.

    Get the latest news quickly official telegram channelthe city of Moscow.

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    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/155342073/

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  • MIL-OSI Russia: Experts from the Electronic House platform will help hold a meeting of owners online

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Muscovites held more than 22 thousand general meetings of owners (GMO) on the platform “Electronic House”With their help, they choose a management company, make decisions about closing the garbage chute and major repairs, installing surveillance cameras and other important issues.

    Since March “Electronic House” became one of two information systems where citizens can hold general meetings of owners online. The platform’s experts help them organize such meetings. They provide detailed advice on the preparation and holding of general meetings of owners, their agenda, and other issues.

    How to consult with specialists

    Apartment owners can get advice by calling 7 499 652-62-11 and stating their address. Platform operators will tell you about current meetings in the building, explain how to register in the system, take part in electronic voting and express a position on important issues. In addition, if necessary, specialists will explain how to initiate a new general meeting of owners.

    At the request of owners, Electronic House experts also hold face-to-face meetings and online consultations (the event lasts from one to three hours, depending on the number of people present). Residents are shown the platform’s functionality in detail, told about the organization of general meetings of owners and additional opportunities. The time and format of the meetings are chosen taking into account the wishes and capabilities of the residents of a particular house. Such consultations help to attract even more neighbors to participate in the voting.

    Support at every stage

    The platform’s specialists provide special support to initiators and administrators of meetings. These can be owners of premises in an apartment building.

    To hold a general meeting of owners on the Electronic House platform, you need to enter the address in a special section, confirm your ownership and submit an application. On the Electronic House website, you need to go to the section “Owner surveys and meetings”, click the button “New survey / General meeting of owners of premises in an apartment building”. Users of the mobile application will find the section “Surveys and meetings of owners” in the “More” block. It remains to specify the address and select the type of survey – “General meeting of owners of premises in an apartment building”.

    If the initiator encounters any difficulties at the application stage, he/she can contact the platform experts. They will give recommendations on how to change the questions in the form or what question to add so that the decisions made at the meeting are legitimate.

    The application for holding a general meeting of owners will be reviewed within five working days. If it is not approved, the initiator will have the opportunity to consult with experts, adjust the application and re-submit. Next, it is necessary to inform the neighbors about the upcoming electronic voting 10 working days before it starts, so that everyone has time to familiarize themselves with the agenda.

    After the application is approved and on the day of the general meeting of owners, all owners whose phones are in the state information systems will receive a notification of the meeting via SMS and e-mail, and users of the Electronic House will additionally see a message in the news feed and receive a push notification. informing residents mos.ru reported earlier.

    If any of the neighbors are not ready to vote online, the meeting administrator prints out the ballots and distributes them among the residents. The completed document form will be automatically generated in the administrator’s personal account (in the “Polls and meetings of owners” section, in the “My OSS” tab). Upon request, the “Electronic House” employees will help organize a joint door-to-door visit to explain the agenda and hand out ballots to neighbors. For all questions related to organizing such visits, please call: 7 499 652-62-11.

    For the convenience of Muscovites, the platform also has special page, where you can learn about the advantages of conducting electronic voting in the system. There are also examples of the ballot and protocol, recommendations and step-by-step instructions that will help when organizing a meeting. Useful information is also available in “Knowledge Base” project.

    Staying in touch with your neighbors: the “Electronic House” platform will help you solve important issues even during the holiday season“Electronic House”: platform specialists answered the five most popular questions from MuscovitesNew services and services will appear on the “Electronic House” platform – Sergei Sobyanin

    “Electronic House” — a comprehensive multifunctional platform for managing an apartment building online. On the platform, you can quickly resolve issues with the management organization, conduct surveys of residents, communicate with neighbors in common and personal chats, transmit meter readings and pay utility bills. The platform began operating in November 2020. The project is being developed by the State Institution “New Management Technologies” together with Department of Information Technology of the City of Moscow.

    The creation, development and operation of the e-government infrastructure, including the provision of mass socially significant, as well as other services in electronic form, corresponds to the objectives of the national project“Data Economy and Digital Transformation of the State” and the regional project of the city of Moscow “Digital Public Administration”.

    Get the latest news quickly official telegram channel the city of Moscow.

     

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  • MIL-OSI Russia: Sergei Sobyanin spoke about plans to modernize Moscow’s energy supply system

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    The capital continues modernization power supply systems. Sergei Sobyanin spoke about this in on your telegram channel.

    “This helps ensure the stable operation of the entire Moscow energy system, which includes 145 thousand kilometers of power transmission lines, 188 power supply centers and 23 thousand distribution and transformer substations,” the Moscow Mayor wrote.

    Source: Sergei Sobyanin’s Telegram channel @mos_sobyanin

    According to him, energy consumption in the metropolis is constantly decreasing.

    In 2025, special attention will be paid to increasing the efficiency and safety of the energy system, as well as creating additional power reserves. Large-scale work is being carried out for this purpose.

    In particular, four combined heat and power plants are being modernized: TPP-21, TPP-22, TPP-23 and TPP-25. The work will extend the service life of the equipment and reduce specific fuel consumption. In addition, specialists will reconstruct two historical substations – “Central” and “Raushskaya”, as well as the substation “Lebedevo” in TiNAO.

    At the moment, the reconstruction of the Golyanovo substation has been completed andreplacement of cable lines under the Moscow River, laid 70 years ago.

    By the end of the year, they plan to renew more than 350 kilometers of cable lines and lay over 80 kilometers of backup lines for distribution and transformer substations.

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    https: //vv.mos.ru/mayor/tkhemes/12951050/

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  • MIL-OSI Russia: More than 700 trees were planted on the Yauza embankments

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Specialists from the city’s municipal services complex have planted more than 700 large trees on the embankments of the Yauza River that were landscaped last year. This was reported by the Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Housing and Public Utilities and Improvement Petr Biryukov.

    “Greening is a mandatory component of all capital improvement projects. Maples, apple trees, oaks and elms from two to six meters high were planted on the embankments of the Yauza River. All trees are adapted to the difficult conditions of the metropolis and the visual appearance of the street space,” noted Petr Biryukov.

    Planting trees is one of the most important areas of creating a comfortable urban environment. Green spaces clean the air, protect from street noise and road dust, create shade and coolness on hot days. Thanks to this, any territory becomes more comfortable and cozy. Specialists plant adult trees, previously grown in nurseries, where they were prepared for transplantation.

    The head of the city economy complex explained that trees are planted in pre-prepared holes with fertile soil and a drainage layer. It protects the roots from rotting and provides the necessary ventilation.

    About eight thousand large-sized trees will be planted in Moscow annually — Sobyanin

    Get the latest news quickly official telegram channel the city of Moscow.

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  • MIL-OSI Russia: Since the beginning of this year, traffic lights have been installed and modernized at 61 addresses in Moscow

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    This year, specialists from the Traffic Management Center (TMC) installed and updated traffic lights at 61 addresses. When choosing a location for installation, they took into account the accident rate at the site, the traffic intensity, the number of lanes on the road, as well as the proximity to social institutions and the wishes of city residents. The work was carried out in almost all districts of the capital.

    “Since January 2025, the Traffic Management Center has updated traffic lights at 40 addresses – they have replaced the equipment, installed additional sections and sound signals. New traffic lights have been installed at 21 locations: near places where residents gather and busy intersections, as well as in places where road accidents are concentrated. We continue

    improve conditions for all road users on the instructions of Sergei Sobyanin,” said the Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Transport and Industry Maxim Liksutov.

    New traffic lights were also installed in areas with heavy traffic, such as multi-lane highways with a large number of public transport routes. Particular attention was paid to roads near schools, kindergartens, clinics and social institutions, such as government service centres and post offices.

    During the modernization, traffic lights were equipped with buttons for pedestrians or additional sections indicating, for example, a turn. At the same time, the settings for the traffic light mode were adjusted more than one thousand times. This allowed pedestrians to spend less time waiting for a green light, and drivers to pass intersections and highways faster. The traffic light mode is reconfigured at the request of city residents, when the traffic pattern changes, and also for faster passage of public transport and cars through the most congested areas.

    Before making a decision on installing a traffic light, the employees of the Traffic Management Center analyze the traffic situation and develop a project. After its approval, preparations begin for placing the equipment on the selected section.

    In particular, this year the work was carried out in the Chertanovo Yuzhnoye district at the address: Kirovogradskaya Street, Building 42, Building 1. Schools No. 504 and 1545, as well as a sports complex, are located nearby. A regulated pedestrian crossing was organized there, which made it possible to increase the safety of all road users.

    The pedestrian crossing in the Mitino district at 39 Dubravnaya Street has also become regulated. Traffic lights have been installed here to improve safety for residents and reduce accidents. There are many social facilities nearby, including a post office, School No. 1747 named after Hero of the Soviet Union D. M. Rumyantsev, School No. 1900, and City Polyclinic No. 180.

    Get the latest news quicklyofficial telegram channel the city of Moscow.

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  • MIL-OSI Russia: Housing for the implementation of the renovation program will be built in the village of Kokoshkino according to the KRT project

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    In the Vnukovo area, housing will be built under the integrated territorial development project (ITD) to implement the renovation program. The corresponding draft resolution posted on the mos.ru portal, said the Minister of the Moscow Government, head of the capital’s Department of Urban Development Policy Vladislav Ovchinsky.

    “In the village of Kokoshkino in the Vnukovo district of the Novomoskovsk administrative district, three inefficiently used sites will be redeveloped, which are part of one KRT project. Their total area is 1.76 hectares. It is planned to build modern residential complexes there as part of the renovation program. The first, non-residential floors will house shops, cafes, and premises for municipal institutions. Thus, more than 190 jobs will be created,” said Vladislav Ovchinsky.

    In total, almost 48 thousand square meters of residential real estate will be built here. The area of apartments in new buildings will be approximately 26.8 thousand square meters. It is expected that about a thousand Muscovites will move there under the renovation program. The territory will be landscaped and greened, and children’s and sports grounds will be equipped in the courtyards.

    The plots are located near the Kokoshkino station of the fourth Moscow Central Diameter. The developed street and road network, as well as the availability of various infrastructure, will allow easy integration of new houses into the urban environment. Nearby there is a school, a clinic, two kindergartens, shops and other facilities that will be used by new residents.

    According to the program of integrated development of territories, multifunctional city blocks are being created, where roads, comfortable housing and all necessary infrastructure are being designed on the site of former industrial zones and inefficiently used areas. Currently, 302 KRT projects with a total area of about 4.2 thousand hectares are at various stages of development and implementation in Moscow. This work is being carried out on behalf of Mayor of Moscow.

    The renovation program was approved in August 2017. It concerns about a million Muscovites and provides for the resettlement of 5,176 houses. Earlier, Sergei Sobyanin ordered to increase the pace of implementation of the renovation program in twice.

    Moscow is one of the leaders among regions in terms of construction volumes. High rates of housing construction correspond to the goals and initiatives of the national project “Infrastructure for life”.

    Get the latest news quicklyofficial telegram channel the city of Moscow.

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  • MIL-OSI Russia: Active Citizen users will choose the best route for a bike ride

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Active Citizen Project, capital departments sports And cultures, as well as Russian champion Yaroslava Bondarenko, winner of the Russian Cup in cycling (BMX), have prepared a special event for Muscovites voting on sports leisure in the capital.

    Take a ride with the wind and benefit your health

    The athlete has created five walking bike routes for active citizens. Muscovites will have to choose the best one. The route in the modern 850th Anniversary of Moscow Park runs along the river. When cyclists ride from one district to another, picturesque views open up before them. You can also ride along the bank in Fili Park with a view of the Mnevnikovskaya floodplain. The bike route along the Smolenskaya, Luzhnetskaya and Frunzenskaya embankments passes by Vorobyovy Gory, Neskuchny Garden, Novodevichy Convent and other attractions.

    Meshchersky Park, located far from the bustle of the city, is ideal for a quiet ride. The bike route through Izmailovsky Park runs along a cascade of ponds. There are no climbs uphill, so the road is suitable for beginner cyclists.

    Not just cycling

    In addition to voting, Muscovites are invited to take part in a quiz dedicated to the active life of the city. Eight questions have been prepared for them, and they will have to choose the correct answer from five options.

    Quiz participants will learn what training is carried out on roofs as part of the project “My Sports District” and the championship of what yard game is held on the project sites “Summer in Moscow”. In addition, residents of the capital will remember what some sports terms mean and where they can complete the GTO standards. You can follow the opening of the quiz on page project “Summer in Moscow” on the website and in the “Active Citizen” application.

    For each correct answer, five points are awarded to the city loyalty program “A Million Prizes”. Accumulated points can be used to receive goods and services from organizations that are partners of the program, tickets for an excursion or a museum, promotional codes for discounts in cafes and stores. Points can also be donated to charity.

    Project “Summer in Moscow”— the main event of the season. It brings together the most vibrant events of the capital. Every day, charity, cultural and sports events are held in all districts of the city, most of which are free. The Summer in Moscow project is being held for the second time, and this season will be more eventful: new, original and colorful festivals and events will be added to the traditional ones.

    Project “Active Citizen” has been operating since 2014. During this time, more than seven million people have joined it, and over seven thousand votes have been held. Every month, 30 to 40 decisions made by Muscovites are implemented in the city. The project is being developed by the capital Department of Information Technology together with the State Institution “New Management Technologies”.

    The creation, development and operation of the e-government infrastructure, including the provision of mass socially significant services, as well as other services in electronic form, correspond to the objectives of the national project “Data Economy and Digital Transformation of the State”and the regional project of the city of Moscow “Digital Public Administration”.

    Get the latest news quickly official telegram channelthe city of Moscow.

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

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

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/155328073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Decoding PNG leader Marape’s talks with French President Macron

    ANALYSIS: By Scott Waide, RNZ Pacific PNG correspondent

    The recent series of high-level agreements between Papua New Guinea and France marks a significant development in PNG’s geopolitical relationships, driven by what appears to be a convergence of national interests.

    The “deepening relationship” is less about a single personality and more about a calculated alignment of economic, security, and diplomatic priorities with PNG, taking full advantage of its position as the biggest, most strategically placed island player in the Pacific.

    An examination of the key outcomes reveals a partnership of mutual benefit, reflecting both PNG’s strategic diversification and France’s own long-term ambitions as a Pacific power.

    A primary driver is the shared economic rationale. From Port Moresby’s perspective, the partnership offers a clear path to economic diversification and resilience.

    But many in PNG have been watching with keen interest and asking: how badly does PNG want this?

    While Prime Minister James Marape offered France a Special Economic Zone in Port Moresby (SEZ) for French businesses, he also named the lookout at Port Moresby’s Variarata National Park after President Emmanuel Macron drawing the ire of many in the country.

    The proposal to establish a SEZ specifically for French industries is a notable attempt to attract capital from beyond PNG’s traditional partners.

    Strategically coupled
    This is strategically coupled with securing the future of the multi-billion-dollar Papua LNG project.

    Macron’s personal undertaking to work with TotalEnergies to keep the project on schedule provides crucial stability for one of PNG’s most significant economic ventures.

    For France, these arrangements secure a major energy investment for its national corporate champion and establish a stronger economic foothold in a strategically vital region between Asia and the Pacific.

    In the area of security, the relationship addresses tangible needs for both nations.

    PNG is faced with the immense challenge of monitoring a 2.4 million sq km Exclusive Economic Zone, making it vulnerable to illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

    The finalisation of a Shiprider Agreement with France provides a practical force-multiplier, leveraging French naval assets to enhance PNG’s maritime surveillance capabilities. This move, along with planned defence talks on air and maritime cooperation, allows PNG to diversify its security architecture.

    For France, a resident power with Pacific territories like New Caledonia and French Polynesia, participating in regional security operations reinforces its role and commitment to stability in the Indo-Pacific.

    Elevating diplomatic influence
    The partnership is also a vehicle for elevating diplomatic influence.

    Port Moresby has noted the significance of engaging with a partner that holds permanent membership on the UN Security Council and seats at the G7 and G20.

    This alignment provides PNG with a powerful channel to global decision-making forums. The reciprocal move to establish a PNG embassy in Paris further cements the relationship on a mature footing.

    The diplomatic synergy is perhaps best illustrated by France’s full endorsement of PNG’s bid to host a future UN Ocean Conference. This support provides PNG with a major opportunity to lead on the world stage, while allowing France to demonstrate its credentials as a key partner to the Pacific Islands.

    This deepening PNG-France partnership does not exist in a vacuum.

    It is unfolding within a broader context of heightened geopolitical competition across the Pacific.

    The West’s view of China’s rapid emergence as a dominant economic and military force in the region has reshaped the strategic landscape, prompting traditional powers to re-engage with renewed urgency.

    increased diplomatic footprint
    The United States has responded by significantly increasing its diplomatic and security footprint, a move marked by Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to Port Moresby to sign the Defence Cooperation Agreement.

    Similarly, Australia, PNG’s traditional security partner, is working to reinforce its long-standing influence through initiatives like the multi-million-dollar deal to establish a PNG team in its National Rugby League (NRL), a soft-power exercise reportedly linked to security outcomes.

    This competitive environment has, in turn, created greater agency for Pacific nations, allowing them to diversify their partnerships beyond old allies and providing a fertile ground for European powers like France to assert their own strategic interests.

    A strong foundation for the relationship is a shared public stance on environmental stewardship. The agreement on the need for rigorous scientific studies before any deep-sea mining occurs aligns PNG’s national policy with a position of environmental caution.

    This common ground extends to broader climate action, where France’s commitment to conservation in the Pacific resonates with PNG’s status as a frontline nation vulnerable to climate change.

    This alignment on values provides a durable and politically important basis for cooperation, allowing both nations to jointly advocate for climate justice and ocean protection.

    For the Papua New Guinea economy, this deepening partnership with France is critically important as it provides high-level stability for the multi-billion-dollar Papua LNG project and creates a direct pathway for new investment through a proposed SEZ for French businesses.

    Vital economic resource
    Furthermore, by moving to finalise a Shiprider Agreement to combat illegal fishing, the government is actively protecting a vital economic resource.

    For Marape’s credibility in local politics, these outcomes are tangible successes he can present to the nation as he battles a massive credibility dip in recent years.

    Securing a personal undertaking from the leader of a G7 nation, gaining support for PNG to host a future UN Ocean Conference, and enhancing national security demonstrates effective leadership on the world stage.

    This allows him to build a narrative of a competent statesman who, through “warm, personal relationships”, can deliver on promises of economic opportunity and national security while strengthening his political standing at home.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Decoding PNG leader Marape’s talks with French President Macron

    ANALYSIS: By Scott Waide, RNZ Pacific PNG correspondent

    The recent series of high-level agreements between Papua New Guinea and France marks a significant development in PNG’s geopolitical relationships, driven by what appears to be a convergence of national interests.

    The “deepening relationship” is less about a single personality and more about a calculated alignment of economic, security, and diplomatic priorities with PNG, taking full advantage of its position as the biggest, most strategically placed island player in the Pacific.

    An examination of the key outcomes reveals a partnership of mutual benefit, reflecting both PNG’s strategic diversification and France’s own long-term ambitions as a Pacific power.

    A primary driver is the shared economic rationale. From Port Moresby’s perspective, the partnership offers a clear path to economic diversification and resilience.

    But many in PNG have been watching with keen interest and asking: how badly does PNG want this?

    While Prime Minister James Marape offered France a Special Economic Zone in Port Moresby (SEZ) for French businesses, he also named the lookout at Port Moresby’s Variarata National Park after President Emmanuel Macron drawing the ire of many in the country.

    The proposal to establish a SEZ specifically for French industries is a notable attempt to attract capital from beyond PNG’s traditional partners.

    Strategically coupled
    This is strategically coupled with securing the future of the multi-billion-dollar Papua LNG project.

    Macron’s personal undertaking to work with TotalEnergies to keep the project on schedule provides crucial stability for one of PNG’s most significant economic ventures.

    For France, these arrangements secure a major energy investment for its national corporate champion and establish a stronger economic foothold in a strategically vital region between Asia and the Pacific.

    In the area of security, the relationship addresses tangible needs for both nations.

    PNG is faced with the immense challenge of monitoring a 2.4 million sq km Exclusive Economic Zone, making it vulnerable to illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

    The finalisation of a Shiprider Agreement with France provides a practical force-multiplier, leveraging French naval assets to enhance PNG’s maritime surveillance capabilities. This move, along with planned defence talks on air and maritime cooperation, allows PNG to diversify its security architecture.

    For France, a resident power with Pacific territories like New Caledonia and French Polynesia, participating in regional security operations reinforces its role and commitment to stability in the Indo-Pacific.

    Elevating diplomatic influence
    The partnership is also a vehicle for elevating diplomatic influence.

    Port Moresby has noted the significance of engaging with a partner that holds permanent membership on the UN Security Council and seats at the G7 and G20.

    This alignment provides PNG with a powerful channel to global decision-making forums. The reciprocal move to establish a PNG embassy in Paris further cements the relationship on a mature footing.

    The diplomatic synergy is perhaps best illustrated by France’s full endorsement of PNG’s bid to host a future UN Ocean Conference. This support provides PNG with a major opportunity to lead on the world stage, while allowing France to demonstrate its credentials as a key partner to the Pacific Islands.

    This deepening PNG-France partnership does not exist in a vacuum.

    It is unfolding within a broader context of heightened geopolitical competition across the Pacific.

    The West’s view of China’s rapid emergence as a dominant economic and military force in the region has reshaped the strategic landscape, prompting traditional powers to re-engage with renewed urgency.

    increased diplomatic footprint
    The United States has responded by significantly increasing its diplomatic and security footprint, a move marked by Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to Port Moresby to sign the Defence Cooperation Agreement.

    Similarly, Australia, PNG’s traditional security partner, is working to reinforce its long-standing influence through initiatives like the multi-million-dollar deal to establish a PNG team in its National Rugby League (NRL), a soft-power exercise reportedly linked to security outcomes.

    This competitive environment has, in turn, created greater agency for Pacific nations, allowing them to diversify their partnerships beyond old allies and providing a fertile ground for European powers like France to assert their own strategic interests.

    A strong foundation for the relationship is a shared public stance on environmental stewardship. The agreement on the need for rigorous scientific studies before any deep-sea mining occurs aligns PNG’s national policy with a position of environmental caution.

    This common ground extends to broader climate action, where France’s commitment to conservation in the Pacific resonates with PNG’s status as a frontline nation vulnerable to climate change.

    This alignment on values provides a durable and politically important basis for cooperation, allowing both nations to jointly advocate for climate justice and ocean protection.

    For the Papua New Guinea economy, this deepening partnership with France is critically important as it provides high-level stability for the multi-billion-dollar Papua LNG project and creates a direct pathway for new investment through a proposed SEZ for French businesses.

    Vital economic resource
    Furthermore, by moving to finalise a Shiprider Agreement to combat illegal fishing, the government is actively protecting a vital economic resource.

    For Marape’s credibility in local politics, these outcomes are tangible successes he can present to the nation as he battles a massive credibility dip in recent years.

    Securing a personal undertaking from the leader of a G7 nation, gaining support for PNG to host a future UN Ocean Conference, and enhancing national security demonstrates effective leadership on the world stage.

    This allows him to build a narrative of a competent statesman who, through “warm, personal relationships”, can deliver on promises of economic opportunity and national security while strengthening his political standing at home.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Beninese small business gain international presence and know-how

    Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

    Download logo

    Benin wants to grow its exports, especially by small businesses working in food and technology. The African country believes this is the best way to lift its economy from the ranks of least developed countries.

    A key milestone in that effort is the creation of a new Pôle Export, a platform that will make it easier for entrepreneurs to enter international markets.

    Pôle Export is the centrepiece of a project at the Interantional Trade Centre (ITC), which is working with both the government and with small businesses to boost the country’s exports.

    The government has created new Directorate for Export Promotion, known by its French acronym DPE. It sits within the Import and Export Promotion Agency (APIEx), but it’s more than an organizational change. It’s a new way of thinking about exports, with a targeted approach that focuses on agribusiness and digital trade.

    Since February, the Pôle Export is has its own director to coordinate its activities. A team of government trade exports has been assigned to support him, along with eight Beninese consultants recruited by ITC to build up their skills.

    Three advisors are focussed on priority export areas, including agribusinesses and textiles and clothing. Three others have already worked with 21 small business on their branding and e-commerce operations. Two more will provide DPE staff with training in market analysis tools. 

    The ITC work is under a project called Support to operationalize the APIEx Pôle Export, known simply as ProPex. The Embassy of the Netherlands funds the project, which began in February 2025. A steering committee meeting on 6 May marked ProPex’s official launch.

    The Export Promotion Directorate is the backbone of Benin’s ambitions to expand into international markets, offering targeted export support services tailored to priority sectors,’ said ITC country manager Ludmila Azo. ‘Through the PROPEX project, we aim to strengthen this institutional lever by providing it with the skills, tools and systems necessary to provide strategic and high-impact support to SMEs ready to export.’

    Upgrading digital services

    The APIEx website is being upgraded to include trade information tools, as well as a small business marketplace and sector-specific content.

    ProPex stands out because of how it centres participatory governance. Three thematic working groups structure their services within the National Export Strategy, which was also crafted with ITC support.

    Regular briefings between ITC, APIEx and other partners ensure close monitoring of progress. By focussing on sustainability and capitalization, ProPex is laying the foundation for a robust export ecosystem in Benin.

    – on behalf of International Trade Centre.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: ‘We were only asking for our rights’: Tunisian authorities punish mobilization for socioeconomic and environmental rights

    Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

    Download logo

    Against the backdrop of a deepening cost of living and environmental crisis and despite repeatedly committing to upholding economic and social justice for the most disadvantaged, over the past five years Tunisia’s authorities have targeted individuals from marginalized and impoverished communities for peacefully protesting or striking over socioeconomic and environmental issues, Amnesty International said in a new report published today.  

    The report, ‘We were only asking for our rights and dignity’, highlights how Tunisia’s authorities have arrested, investigated or prosecuted people for peacefully protesting or striking over socioeconomic and environmental issues such as poor working conditions, pollution and access to water using vague charges of “obstruction.”    

    Between February 2020 and January 2025, the authorities have targeted at least 90 peaceful protesters, activists, trade unionists, and workers simply for exercising their rights to freedom of peaceful assembly, to form and join a union, and to organize and participate in strikes.

    “The right to freedom of peaceful assembly is fundamental to a thriving society and serves as a crucial means to strengthen human rights and protect workers’ rights,” said Sara Hashash, Deputy Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International.   

    “This report highlights a worrying pattern of unjust criminalization of peaceful activism, usually at a local level where communities or workers have mobilized for their basic socioeconomic or environmental rights. It is another, less visible, manifestation of the repression of peaceful dissent within a broader crackdown on human rights and the rule of law in Tunisia and further threatens civic space in the country. 

    “Instead of using vague ‘obstruction’ charges to stifle or punish expressions of peaceful dissent or dissatisfaction over basic rights related to environmental or labour-related concerns Tunisia’s authorities should be working to safeguard and uphold the right to freedom of peaceful assembly in line with their international human rights obligations.” 

    Amnesty International has investigated nine cases as illustrative examples of a wider pattern of criminalization of peaceful assemblies using “obstruction” charges, cases which are likely to be under-reported due to their localization, the lack of access to human rights organization by affected communities and the fear of reprisals from authorities and employers.  

    The organization interviewed 26 people, eight of their lawyers and four family members to document these cases involving the investigation, arrest or prosecution of 90 people using “obstruction” charges. These vaguely formulated provisions do not meet the principle of legality and do not proscribe an internationally recognized criminal offence.  

    The legal proceedings were initiated in reprisal against peaceful assemblies or union activism, often affiliated with the Tunisian General Labour Union (UGTT), and have sought to deter protesters and others from participating in future protests and strikes. Among those targeted, 16 were arrested and detained for periods ranging between three days and 20 months. Individuals targeted include residents and environmental rights activists who protested for their right to water and a healthy environment, and workers and unionists who organized protests and strikes over employment and working conditions.  

    As one striking female worker from a shoe factory in Kairouan stated: “It was the last straw, we decided to take action… We are not protected from chemicals we use in the factory… in the summer we have to work in very high temperatures; there is no water, no respect for our welfare… If you get sick you get a pay cut… You are dismissed if unable to work… There is always a lot of verbal abuse and insults.”  

    She described how they were summoned by police in November 2024 right before the constitutive meeting for a new union: “[They] wanted us to say that [we were] manipulated into doing something illegal, or that we had other suspicious motives, but there was no basis to it. We were only asking for our rights and our dignity.” 

    While most of the individuals concerned were convicted and sentenced to fines or suspended prison terms, or have not been detained pending trial, this pattern has a chilling effect on individuals considering voicing concerns over their social, economic, and environmental rights.  

    A local resident from the town of Bargou in the northern region of Siliana who participated in a protest about access to water in February 2023 stated: “It was barely a protest, we stood on the side of the road holding signs, there wasn’t any disruption. They [the police] summoned dozens of people for that’” 

    A local activist from the eastern region of Sfax, convicted for his involvement in an environmental protest movement in June 2023, told Amnesty International: “Everyone was taken to court. It was a way to silence us… to say close your mouth or you will go to prison”. 

    In February 2020, authorities summoned a group of women forestry maintenance workers in Sfax following a sit-in to protest their working conditions. Police asked them to sign statements in which they would commit not to protest again, infringing on their right to peaceful assembly.  

    Compounding this, in five of the cases documented, serious violations of the right to a fair trial and due process took place, including instances where defendants’ rights to information and adequate defense were denied.  

    In eight of the nine cases investigated, authorities used Article 136 of the Penal Code on “obstruction of work,” and in one case, they used Article 107 of the Penal Code on “obstruction of a public service.”  

    “Obstruction” charges have at times also been used as part of a set of charges brought against prominent political and civil society figures who expressed their opposition to President Kais Said, such as judge Anas Hmedi and opposition party leader Abir Moussi. 

    “The arbitrary application of these vaguely worded ‘obstruction’ legal provisions, coupled with fair trial violations, violates Tunisia’s international human rights obligations and sends a chilling message to anyone daring to speak out for their rights,” said Sara Hashash.  

    “Tunisia’s authorities must immediately quash convictions and drop charges in all cases relating t individuals’ participation in peaceful street protests and labour strikes. They must also repeal Articles 107 and 136 of the Penal Code or amend them in line with international human rights standards.” 

    Following President Kais Saied’s power grab on 25 July 2021, Tunisian authorities have escalated a wider crackdown on human rights including the right to freedom of expression and all forms of dissent, using repressive laws and unfounded charges to prosecute and arbitrarily detain political opponents, journalists, human rights defenders and civil society activists, lawyers and other perceived critics, while eroding judicial independence and the rule of law.  

    The rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly are guaranteed under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, to which Tunisia is a state party. Under international human rights law, states have an obligation to tolerate temporary obstruction caused by a peaceful assembly, such as disruption of road traffic, pedestrian movements, or economic activity. The mere obstruction of movement or traffic cannot be equated with violence.

    – on behalf of Amnesty International.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Press release – Agreement on suspending short-stay visa-free travel to respond to security concerns and rights violations

    Source: European Parliament 3

    EP and Council teams have reached an agreement on grounds for suspending visa-free travel for short stays into the EU.

    A reform of the mechanism to suspend short-stay visa-free travel into the EU, agreed today between Parliament and Council negotiating teams, will allow the EU to respond more flexibly when countries backslide on important principles of their visa waiver agreement, which can include security concerns and human rights violations.


    New grounds for suspension

    In future, violations of the United Nations Charter, severe breaches of international human rights or humanitarian law, and not complying with international court decisions will be valid grounds for suspending visa-freedom. This helps align the grounds for suspension with the grounds for granting the visa waiver in the first place, and can create a deterrent effect.

    With the new law, additional grounds for suspending the visa waiver will include hybrid threats, such as state-sponsored instrumentalisation of migrants aimed at destabilising or undermining society; and investor citizenship schemes (“golden passports”), which raise security concerns. A country’s lack of alignment with EU visa policy, potentially making it a transit country for illegal entry into the EU, will also be a valid ground for suspending visa-free regimes. Existing grounds, including a lack of cooperation on readmissions, will be maintained.


    No impunity for third-country government officials

    To deter third-country governments from violating the terms of their short-stay visa waiver agreement, the agreed law gives the EU more flexibility to target government officials (who may bear responsibility for a government’s human rights breaches or other violations) with suspensions of visa freedom.

    Based on an EP proposal, it was agreed that the Commission can prevent member states from exempting from visa suspension diplomatic and service passport carrying government and state officials.

    Under current legislation, “substantial” increases in numbers of people staying without permission, of asylum applications from a country with a low recognition rate, or of serious criminal offences can also trigger visa freedom suspension. During negotiations, it was agreed that the threshold for assessing such an increase will be set to 30 %. The threshold for calculating a low recognition rate of asylum application will be set at 20 %. In well-justified cases, the Commission can also deviate from these thresholds.


    Quote

    After the vote, rapporteur Matjaž Nemec (S&D, Slovenia) said: “Reformed visa rules will give the EU a revamped tool to respond to geopolitical situations and new threats. Visa policy can contribute to upholding EU values by ensuring that there are consequences when a foreign government breaches human rights and international law. In such cases, their government representatives and diplomats should have their visa-free access to the EU revoked, and this agreement makes that more likely.”


    Next steps

    Before it can enter into law, the provisional agreement needs to be formally adopted by both Parliament and Council.


    Background

    Nationals of 61 third countries can currently travel to the Schengen area for short stays (up to 90 days in any 180-day period) without a visa (source: EP Research Service). See also this Council website for a map of current visa agreements.

    According to the current law, the European Commission (following a proposal by a concerned member state or on its own initiative) can start the process of suspending visa-free travel from third countries into the Schengen area, first temporarily, pending further investigation and dialogue with the country in question, and then permanently if the issues are not resolved. To date, visa freedom has only been revoked once, in the case of Vanuatu.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: There’s a new ban on vaping in childcare centres, but what else do we need to keep kids safe?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Erin Harper, Lecturer, School of Education and Social Work, University of Sydney

    On Monday, the federal government announced new rules to boost safety in the early childhood sector.

    From September there will be mandatory reporting of any allegations or incidents of child physical or sexual abuse within 24 hours. Currently there is a seven-day window.

    On top of this, vapes will be banned from all early childhood services and there will be “stronger protections” around the photographing and filming of children. Services will be need to have clear policies on taking photos and videos of children, parent consent, CCTV use and using service-issued devices.

    Next week, Australia’s education ministers will meet to discuss what else can be done to improve safety in childcare services. What do they need to consider?

    What has happened so far?

    This week’s changes stem from a 2023 review by the national early childhood quality authority, which highlighted serious concerns about childcare safety.

    This found increasing reports of critical incidents in services relating to inappropriate discipline, inadequate supervision and harmful sexual behaviours.

    Education Minister Jason Clare explained he set up the review, prompted by concerns for children’s safety. This included allegations of multiple cases of abuse by a former childcare worker.

    But stories of mistreatment and neglect in childcare services have continued – with the ABC reporting cases of shocking abuse in some childcare centres this year.

    Too many incidents

    The national childcare quality authority reports there has been a slow but steady increase in the rate of confirmed breaches and reporting of serious incidents in the eight years to 2023-24.

    For example, the rate of reported serious incidents in 2023-24 was 148 per 100 approved services. This is higher than the rate of 139 in 2022-23 and 124 in 2021-22.

    Concerningly, current reporting levels may be an under-representation due to inadequate understanding of child safety among educators and confusion about when and how to report child safety incidents.

    This mirrors Australian research, which indicates a lack of time, understanding and support are barriers for medical staff reporting child abuse.

    Why is progress so slow?

    There is a chance the latest announcement may inadvertently cause families concern. Parents and carers might reasonably wonder why we currently have a seven-day window to report child abuse and how vapes were ever allowed in early education services to start with.

    Families may also wonder why stronger protections around filming their kids have not already been introduced – given early childhood services have been photographing children for years. The situation is further confused by the fact that some service providers may have developed and implemented their own policies.

    There is a long history of slow and reactive policy making and regulation in early childhood – as noted by a review published by the Australian Council for Educational Research as far back as 2006.

    The sector is also subject to complex and cumbersome structural frameworks. Services need to navigate different state and territory requirements as well as national regulations. There are also a raft of extra guidelines and codes, for example, Safe Sleep Practices by Red Nose Australia.

    What is needed now?

    Next week, federal and state education ministers will meet and discuss childcare safety once again. There are two important things they should keep in mind.

    1. We are still missing important data.

    We need a better evidence base on the exact nature and frequency of child safety incidents in childcare services. We need robust data so we can track longitudinal trends and assess the ongoing impact of new policies.

    At the moment this crucial information is obscured by inconsistent data records. While this is likely due to the complex interplay of federal and state governance, this is one of many issues in the sector that has long been documented.

    2. Early childhood educators are already overworked

    My 2024 research with colleagues shows many early childhood educators already know what safe and quality education and care looks like. But they are frustrated their ability to spend quality time with children is hampered by administrative tasks. This frustration is a key contributor to burnout, which is already rife within the sector.

    So governments should ensure important safety practices do not come with excessive, burdensome and confusing red tape.

    What about families?

    For families who are worried about the quality of care their children are receiving – it may help to know the vast majority of services (91%) met or exceeded the national standards as of February 2025.

    If you have specific concerns you can contact the regulatory authority in your state.



    Read more:
    How can you tell if your child’s daycare is good quality?

    Erin Harper 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. There’s a new ban on vaping in childcare centres, but what else do we need to keep kids safe? – https://theconversation.com/theres-a-new-ban-on-vaping-in-childcare-centres-but-what-else-do-we-need-to-keep-kids-safe-259035

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI China: Bamboo boom: Anji’s bamboo industry drives green development

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

    China SCIO | June 17, 2025

    Photo taken on June 12, 2025 shows the view of Yucun village of Anji county, eastern China’s Zhejiang province. Anji county has made great efforts to promote the green development in rural areas. [Photo by Cui Can/China SCIO]

    In the lush hills of Anji county, eastern China’s Zhejiang province, summer comes with the dense, whispering green of bamboo forests. Here, a single stalk of bamboo, humble and fast-growing, can find its way into upscale European restaurants as sleek dinnerware, or appear as a minimalist bamboo lamp on the shelves of MUJI and IKEA stores worldwide.

    With about 720 square kilometers of bamboo groves, Anji has embraced bamboo as both a cultural symbol and an economic resource. Today, it is emerging as a pioneer in developing bamboo industry to drive green development. 

    “Bamboo is not only tough and durable, but also renewable,” said Liu Yu, chief expert of the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Ecology and Environment. “Compared to wood, which can take over a decade to mature, bamboo is harvest-ready in just four to six years and can regrow without replanting.”

    Liu also noted that responsible harvesting benefits the ecosystem. “If left uncut, bamboo becomes prone to disease and pests. Its aggressive root system can also outcompete other plant life, reducing biodiversity.”

    A worker processes bamboo at a company in Anji county of Huzhou city, Zhejiang province, June 13, 2025. [Photo by Cui Can/China SCIO]

    To harness bamboo’s environmental potential, China in 2022 launched a “Bamboo as a Substitute for Plastic” initiative in collaboration with the International Bamboo and Rattan Organization. A year later, the National Development and Reform Commission and several other government departments introduced a three-year action plan to accelerate initiative. Anji was named one of the program’s first demonstration bases.

    Currently, more than 1,000 enterprises in Anji are involved in the bamboo industry, over 40 of which are large-scale operations. Around 70% of their products are exported to markets like the U.S., Europe, Japan, and South Korea, said Zhou Jihui, who oversees the “Bamboo for Plastic” project at Anji Development and Reform Bureau.

    Photo taken on June 13, 2025 shows the bamboo packaging, lighting, and tableware produced by a company in Anji county of Huzhou city, Zhejiang province. [Photo by Cui Can/China SCIO]

    Zhejiang Fenghui Bamboo and Wooden Products Co. Ltd., founded in 1990, is one of Anji’s largest bamboo manufacturers and exporters. When General Manager Liang Fenghui took over the business from his father in 2014, the company focused on low-value raw products like bamboo poles and fences. “The profit margins were slim, and environmental standards were rising. Many companies shut down, and some bamboo forests were abandoned,” he recalled. “We had to transform.”

    The company began to invest in developing a more diversified product line, ranging from bamboo kitchenware and dining items to garden products. It now offers a portfolio of over 1,000 bamboo products.

    And as Anji aligns itself with China’s broader green development strategy, local bamboo manufacturers like Fenghui are making sustainability a priority. “Our production process is now cleaner, and we’ve developed machinery that improves material utilization by at least 20%,” Liang said. 

    Today, Bamboo tableware accounts for 60% of the company’s revenue. It exports bamboo packaging, lighting, and tableware to clients across Japan, France, Spain, and the U.S. In 2024, the company’s export value reached 150 million yuan (about US$21 million), with Japan and France each accounting for 20% of sales, and the U.S. around 10%.

    According to Zhou of Anji Development and Reform Bureau, the county’s bamboo sector has improved incomes for more than 51,000 local farming households. In 2024 alone, bamboo-related income increased each household’s earnings by an average of 6,500 yuan. “And 167 village collectives each saw their revenues grow by more than 1 million yuan,” she said.

    Photo taken on June 13, 2025 shows bamboo tableware at a company in Anji county of Huzhou city, Zhejiang Province. [Photo by Cui Can/China SCIO]

    As Anji accelerates its “Bamboo for Plastic” initiative, the county has been exploring more ways to bring bamboo into everyday life. In hospitality, bamboo toothbrushes, combs, and takeaway cutlery are replacing plastics. In local markets, plastic bags have been gradually phased out in favor of biodegradable ones made from bamboo powder. “They decompose within three months and are stronger than plastics,” Zhou noted.

    And whereas plastic products are generally cheaper than bamboo products of the same kind, Zhou said price isn’t always the key concern. “Consumers, especially in hospitality, often care more about the product’s look and whether it matches their brand image than about the cost. That gives us more room to innovate.”

    To meet this rising demand, Liang is investing in design and branding. “We’re incorporating traditional Chinese cultural elements into packaging and product design to appeal to younger consumers. And with cross-border e-commerce platforms, we’re reaching more global audiences.”

    In 2024, the total output value of Anji’s bamboo industry reached 19.2 billion yuan, up 7% over the previous year, according to Zhou. “That was nearly 2.6 billion yuan more than in 2022. The growth momentum is very strong.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: PM meeting with President Macron of France: 16 June 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    PM meeting with President Macron of France: 16 June 2025

    The Prime Minister met French President Emmanuel Macron at the G7 Summit this afternoon.

    The Prime Minister met French President Emmanuel Macron at the G7 Summit this afternoon.

    Discussing the Middle East, they both agreed on the need to find a route to peace through diplomacy and dialogue. They agreed that this should be a key focus for G7 partners in the next two days.

    They looked ahead to the upcoming UK-France Summit in July and agreed that their teams should pursue high-ambition outcomes that deliver for the British and French people. 

    Migration should be a key focus given the deteriorating situation in the Channel, they confirmed – adding that they should continue to work closely with other partners to find innovative ways to drive forward progress.

    They also agreed that the summit presents an opportune moment to further enhance our existing defence and security co-operation. 

    Both leaders looked ahead to discussing Ukraine at the G7 tomorrow and underscored their enduring support for securing a just and lasting peace and keeping up the pressure on Putin.

    Updates to this page

    Published 17 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Telstra and Nokia partner to unlock network APIs for developers and enterprises

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Press release
    Telstra and Nokia partner to unlock network APIs for developers and enterprises

    • Telstra’s muru-D Labs, a hub for incubating ideas, products, and technologies, will make network APIs available in a lab environment on Nokia’s Network as Code platform with developer portal.
    • The collaboration targets industry use cases for enterprises that leverage CAMARA and GSMA Open Gateway APIs.

    17 June 2025
    Espoo, Finland – Telstra, Australia’s leading telecommunications company, and Nokia today announced a new collaboration that will give developers secure access to network APIs to help build smarter applications and integrate them into advanced new use cases for enterprises and industries.

    Under the agreement, Telstra’s muru-D Labs will provide access to a select mix of live and simulated network APIs on Nokia’s Network as Code platform with developer portal, designed to make it easier for developers to build, test, and deploy new applications that securely tap into Telstra’s advanced network capabilities.

    The collaboration will focus on real-world use cases across industries, such as managing network traffic during large events, improving network observability, and prioritising critical services. The partnership will also explore Fixed Network use cases, having the developer platform consume API’s from Nokia’s service orchestration software already deployed in Telstra.

    Kim Krogh Andersen, Group Executive Product & Technology at Telstra, said the new collaboration reflects the company’s recently announced Connected Future 30 strategy and focus on delivering increasingly sophisticated and flexible connectivity capabilities to meet evolving customer needs. Core to this strategy is ‘Network as a Product,’ which aims to reinvent how Telstra creates and captures value from its networks by productising sophisticated network capabilities and opening up new business models.

    “We’re radically innovating at the core of our business and pushing the boundaries of our network leadership, so that our customers can get the connectivity they need in a changing environment. This new collaboration with Nokia is another way we are testing and learning how the power of the network can unlock new value in the tech ecosystem.”

    “By giving access to advanced capabilities through our network APIs, we’re enabling developers to create smarter, more responsive applications for enterprises. This is about working with our partner ecosystem to demonstrate how developers can securely interact with Telstra’s network and innovate at scale,” Andersen said.

    The initiative will include a local hackathon later this year, giving developers access to a selection of live network APIs and a sandbox environment to experiment with new ideas. This new collaboration builds on Telstra and Nokia’s long-standing partnership and supports Telstra’s Network as a Product vision of a software-defined, programmable network.

    Nokia’s network automation and Digital Operations solutions are laying the foundation for scalable API enablement by making it easier for partners, like Telstra, to offer developers on-demand access to programmable network capabilities with consistency and speed.

    “Our collaboration will deepen Telstra’s network integration into developer ecosystems and provide developers with greater choice, flexibility, and security in creating new applications,” said Shkumbin Hamiti, Vice-President and Head of Nokia’s Network Monetization Platform, Cloud and Network Services at Nokia. “As more developers explore network APIs, their feedback will shape the next generation of services, and we are excited to work alongside Telstra to drive this.”

    Nokia’s network API strategy centers around connecting multiple API ecosystems through its Network as Code platform. It offers operators the broadest range of network enablement options with robust multi-tier API security and provides developers simplified access to network functionalities.

    Nokia’s ecosystem of Network as Code platform partners has grown to over 50 and includes operators from around the world, as well hyperscalers, Communications Platform as a Service (CPaaS) platform providers, systems integrators, and vertical independent software vendors.

    About Nokia
    At Nokia, we create technology that helps the world act together. 

     As a B2B technology innovation leader, we are pioneering networks that sense, think and act by leveraging our work across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. In addition, we create value with intellectual property and long-term research, led by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs, which is celebrating 100 years of innovation.  

    With truly open architectures that seamlessly integrate into any ecosystem, our high-performance networks create new opportunities for monetization and scale. Service providers, enterprises and partners worldwide trust Nokia to deliver secure, reliable, and sustainable networks today – and work with us to create the digital services and applications of the future. 

    About Telstra
    Telstra is Australia’s leading telecommunications and technology company. We offer a full range of services and compete in all telecommunications markets in Australia, operating the largest mobile and wi-fi networks. Globally, we provide end-to-end solutions including managed network services, global connectivity, cloud, voice, colocation, conferencing and satellite solutions. We have licenses in Asia, Europe and the United States and offer access to more than 2,000 points of presence across the globe. For more information visit www.telstra.com.

    About Telstra muru-D
    muru-D is Telstra’s hub for incubating ideas, products, and technologies, and plays a pivotal role in accelerating a portfolio of ~80 startup investments. The name muru-D has a meaningful origin rooted in the Sydney Aboriginal Eora language—muru means “path,” symbolising a journey or direction, while the D stands for “digital,” representing our focus on digital innovation. Together, muru-D signifies a pathway to digital innovation. 

    muru-D explores emerging technologies and rapidly prototype solutions, drawing on deep expertise in 5G, IoT, connectivity, edge computing, and applied AI. Through partnerships with industry, experts, and universities, we co-develop real-world solutions to real-world problems. Our process includes prototyping, proof-of-concepts, customer trials, hackathons and human-centred design workshops. 

    In addition to supporting Telstra’s innovation mission, muru-D backs founders driving social and technological impact across AI, VR, AR, drones, satellites, and robotics—amplifying innovation through our growing portfolio of startups. www.telstra.com.au/business-enterprise/muru-d 

    Media inquiries
    Nokia Press Office
    Email: Press.Services@nokia.com

    Telstra
    Steve Carey, General Manager Media 
    Phone: +61 413 988 640 
    Email: media@team.telstra.com                  

    Connect with Nokia on social media
    LinkedIn X Instagram Facebook YouTube 

    The MIL Network –

  • EU readies ban on Russian gas imports by end of 2027

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The European Commission is set to propose on Tuesday a ban on EU imports of Russian gas and liquefied natural gas by the end of 2027, using legal measures to ensure the plan cannot be blocked by EU members Hungary and Slovakia.

    The proposals will set out how the European Union plans to fix into law its vow to end decades-old energy relations with Europe’s former top gas supplier Russia, made after Moscow’s 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

    An internal Commission summary of the upcoming proposal, seen by Reuters, said it would fix into law a ban on imports of Russian pipeline gas and LNG from January 1, 2026, with longer deadlines for certain contracts.

    Short-term Russian gas deals signed before June 17, 2025 would have a one-year transition period, to June 17, 2026, it said.

    Imports under existing long-term Russian contracts would then be banned from January 1, 2028 – effectively ending the EU’s use of Russian gas by this date, the summary said.

    Companies including TotalEnergies TTEF.PA and Spain’s Naturgy NTGY.MC have Russian LNG contracts extending into the 2030s.

    EU LNG terminals would also be gradually banned from providing services to Russian customers, and companies importing Russian gas would have to disclose information on their contracts to EU and national authorities, Reuters previously reported.

    The plans could still change before they are published.

    EU energy commissioner Dan Jorgensen said on Monday the measures were designed to be legally strong enough for companies to invoke the contractual clause of “force majeure” – an unforeseeable event – to break their Russian gas contracts.

    “Since this will be a prohibition, a ban, the companies will not get into legal problems. This is force majeure, as it [would be] if it had been a sanction,” Jorgensen told reporters.

    NO VETO

    Slovakia and Hungary, which have sought to maintain close political ties to Russia, still import Russian gas via pipeline and say switching to alternatives would increase energy prices. They have vowed to block sanctions on Russian energy, which require unanimous approval from all EU countries, and have opposed the ban.

    To get around this, the Commission’s proposals will use an EU legal basis that can be passed with support from a reinforced majority of countries and a majority of the European Parliament, EU officials said.

    While most other EU countries have signalled support for the ban, officials said some importing countries have raised concerns about the risk to companies of financial penalties or arbitration for breaking contracts.

    Around 19% of Europe’s gas still comes from Russia, via the TurkStream pipeline and LNG shipments – down from roughly 45% before 2022. Belgium, France, the Netherlands and Spain are among those that import Russian LNG.

    “We fully support this plan in principle, with the aim of ensuring that we find the right solutions to provide maximum security for businesses,” French industry minister Marc Ferracci told reporters on Monday.

    (Reuters)

     

  • MIL-OSI Russia: US Judge Rules Trump’s NIH Funding Cuts Illegal

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    WASHINGTON, June 16 (Xinhua) — A federal judge in the U.S. city of Boston ruled on Monday that the Donald Trump administration’s decision to cut funding for diversity-related research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) was illegal, accusing the administration of discriminating against minority groups.

    The NIH has stopped funding more than $1 billion in research because it was deemed related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. Federal District Court Judge William Young said in a non-jury trial that the move violated federal law and was “invalid and illegal.”

    W. Young, a federal judge appointed by Republican President Ronald Reagan, said he would restore funding to Democratic-led organizations and states that sued over the funding cuts.

    W. Young criticized the defunding of research related to minorities, saying: “I have never seen racial discrimination so palpable.”

    “Any discrimination by our government is so wrong that it requires a court decision, and at the appropriate time I intend to do so,” said W. Young.

    The NIH is the world’s largest federally funded biomedical research organization, awarding about 60,000 grants each year to nearly 3,000 universities and hospitals. Under the Trump administration, it has become a key target for funding cuts and federal spending cuts.

    Since Trump took office for a second term in January, the NIH has terminated 2,100 research grants worth about $9.5 billion and additional contracts worth $2.6 billion, according to media reports. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Regime change wouldn’t likely bring democracy to Iran. A more threatening force could fill the vacuum

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Thomas, Lecturer in Middle East Studies, Deakin University

    The timing and targets of Israel’s attacks on Iran tell us that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s short-term goal is to damage Iran’s nuclear facilities in order to severely diminish its weapons program.

    But Netanyahu has made clear another goal: he said the war with Iran “could certainly” lead to regime change in the Islamic republic.

    These comments came after an Israeli plan to assassinate the supreme leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was reportedly rebuffed by United States President Donald Trump.

    It’s no secret Israel has wanted to see the current government of Iran fall for some time, as have many government officials in the US.

    But what would things look like if the government did topple?

    How is power wielded in today’s Iran?

    Founded in 1979 after the Iranian Revolution, the Islamic Republic of Iran has democratic, theocratic and authoritarian elements to its governing structure.

    The founding figure of the Islamic republic, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, envisioned a state run by Islamic clerics and jurists who ensured all policies adhered to Islamic law.

    As Iran was a constitutional monarchy before the revolution, theocratic elements were effectively grafted on top of the existing republican ones, such as the parliament, executive and judiciary.

    Iran has a unicameral legislature (one house of parliament), called the Majles, and a president (currently Masoud Pezeshkian). There are regular elections for both.

    But while there are democratic elements within this system, in practice it is a “closed loop” that keeps the clerical elite in power and prevents challenges to the supreme leader. There is a clear hierarchy, with the supreme leader at the top.

    Khamenei has been in power for more than 35 years, taking office following Khomeini’s death in 1989. The former president of Iran, he was chosen to become supreme leader by the Assembly of Experts, an 88-member body of Islamic jurists.

    While members of the assembly are elected by the public, candidates must be vetted by the powerful 12-member Guardian Council (also known as the Constitutional Council). Half of this body is selected by the supreme leader, while the other half is approved by the Majles.

    The council also has the power to vet all candidates for president and the parliament.

    In last year’s elections, the Guardian Council disqualified many candidates from running for president, as well as the Majles and Assembly of Experts, including the moderate former president Hassan Rouhani.

    As such, the supreme leader is increasingly facing a crisis of legitimacy with the public. Elections routinely have low turnout. Even with a reformist presidential candidate in last year’s field – the eventual winner, Masoud Pezeshkian – turnout was below 40% in the first round.

    Freedom House gives Iran a global freedom score of just 11 out of 100.

    The supreme leader also directly appoints the leaders in key governance structures, such as the judiciary, the armed forces and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

    The all-powerful IRGC

    So, Iran is far from a democracy. But the idea that regime change would lead to a full democracy that is aligned with Israel and the US is very unlikely.

    Iranian politics is extremely factional. Ideological factions, such as the reformists, moderates and conservatives, often disagree vehemently on key policy areas. They also jockey for influence with the supreme leader and the rest of the clerical elite. None of these factions is particularly friendly with the US, and especially not Israel.

    There are also institutional factions. The most powerful group in the country is the clerical elite, led by the supreme leader. The next most powerful faction would be the IRGC.

    Originally formed as a kind of personal guard for the supreme leader, the IRGC’s fighting strength now rivals that of the regular army.

    The IRGC is extremely hardline politically. At times, the IRGC’s influence domestically has outstripped that of presidents, exerting significant pressure on their policies. The guard only vocally supports presidents in lockstep with Islamic revolutionary doctrine.

    In addition to its control over military hardware and its political influence, the guard is also entwined with the Iranian economy.

    The IRGC is heavily enriched by the status quo, with some describing it as a “kleptocratic” institution. IRGC officials are often awarded state contracts, and are allegedly involved in managing the “black economy” used to evade sanctions.

    Given all of this, the IRGC would be the most likely political institution to take control of Iran if the clerical elite were removed from power.

    In peacetime, the general consensus is the IRGC would not have the resources to orchestrate a coup if the supreme leader died. But in a time of war against a clear enemy, things could be different.

    Possible scenarios post-Khamenei

    So, what might happen if Israel were to assassinate the supreme leader?

    One scenario would be a martial law state led by the IRGC, formed at least in the short term for the purposes of protecting the revolution.

    In the unlikely event the entire clerical leadership is decimated, the IRGC could attempt to reform the Assembly of Experts and choose a new supreme leader itself, perhaps even supporting Khamenei’s son’s candidacy.

    Needless to say, this outcome would not lead to a state more friendly to Israel or the US. In fact, it could potentially empower a faction that has long argued for a more militant response to both.

    Another scenario is a popular uprising. Netanyahu certainly seems to think this is possible, saying in an interview in recent days:

    The decision to act, to rise up this time, is the decision of the Iranian people.

    Indeed, many Iranians have long been disillusioned with their government – even with more moderate and reformist elements within it. Mass protests have broken out several times in recent decades – most recently in 2022 – despite heavy retaliation from law enforcement.

    We’ve seen enough revolutions to know this is possible – after all, modern Iran was formed out of one. But once again, new political leadership being more friendly to Israel and the West is not a foregone conclusion.

    It is possible for Iranians to hold contempt in their hearts for both their leaders and the foreign powers that would upend their lives.

    Andrew Thomas 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. Regime change wouldn’t likely bring democracy to Iran. A more threatening force could fill the vacuum – https://theconversation.com/regime-change-wouldnt-likely-bring-democracy-to-iran-a-more-threatening-force-could-fill-the-vacuum-259042

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –