UK Column News - 4th June 2025

Charles Malet, Brian Gerrish, Vanessa Beeley and Sandi Adams with Wednesday's UK Column News.

Sources:

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From Defence to Offence: The War Hype Hits Overdrive

01:02 GOV.UK: Strategic Defence Review 2025 – Making Britain Safer (PDF)

GOV.UK: PM's remarks on the Strategic Defence Review: 2 June 2025

Financial Times: FTSE All-Share Aerospace and Defense - Markets data

 

The Weaponisation of Aid in Israel’s Multi-Spectrum War on Gaza and the West Bank

09:47 The Washington Post: U.S. consulting firm quits Gaza humanitarian aid effort amid criticism

The Grayzone: Israeli Mossad named as funder of Gaza Humanitarian Foundation

 

Statecraft or Stagecraft? Rubio’s Polyester Parade at the Compass Gala

15:56 U.S. Department of State: Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the American Compass Fifth Anniversary Gala

 

The Blue Economy Scam: Profiting from Oceans in the Name of Sustainability

23:40 Sustainable Development: 2025 UN Ocean Conference - Sustainable Development Goals

The Times: David Attenborough at 99: 'I will not see how the story ends' (Archived)

National Geographic Education Blog: Bring The Ocean Into Your Classroom

Economist Impact events: World Ocean Initiative at UN Ocean Conference

Sustainable Development: Goal 14 | Department of Economic and Social Affairs

Fondation Prince Albert II de Monaco: Monaco to host the "Blue Economy and Finance Forum", as part of the United Nations Ocean Conference

United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI): Financing the ocean: Key 2025 engagements for financial institutions

Monaco Smart Yacht: Main

Jumpshare: Misuse of Charitable Status PPFN & Climate and Nature Bill to usher in Eco-Fascism in 2025 (PDF)

 

Join the UK Column for Just £5/month—Get Access to News Extra

31:27 Support Independent Journalism from the UK Column with only £5 a month

Access UK Column News Extra Today—UK Column Community

UK Column shop: UK Column On Location Livestream Access

Event: Sounds Beautiful Festival - 26th to 29th June

Competition: Sounds Beautiful Festival 2X Ticket Giveaway

Event: Thetford Truth and Freedom Festival - 18th July 

Event: Hope Sussex Community: HOPE Freedom Music Festival - 22ndto 25th August

Webinar: Want To Learn More About The Assisted Dying Bill? Thursday 5 June 6.30-7.45pm

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83500578995?pwd=eGlMfnOIQ9m7rcQfMr4tHWvf7Mihjy.1

Meeting ID: 835 0057 8995

Passcode: 196366

 

Playing with Fire: Provoking Russia Toward Wider War

33:38 Times Radio (YouTube): Kerch Bridge bombing shows Putin 'cannot win' against Ukrainian asymmetric warfare | Malcolm Nance

Defense Politics Asia (YouTube): Ukraine Frontline Changes

The Sun (YouTube):  Ukraine special ops blast Putin’s beloved Crimean Bridge with underwater bombs ‘planted MONTHS ago’

 

Cold Corpses and Colder Consciences: Ukraine, Russia and Remembering Forgotten Children

39:59 NDTV: Russia To Give "6,000 Frozen Bodies" To Ukraine Under Prisoner Swap Deal

UK Column (2016): The Unaccompanied Children Scandal

Scribd: Eroding the right to family life: Human rights violations in Britain's child protection systems (PDF)

Forces News: Crimea Bridge linking Russia and Crimea hit by underwater explosives, claims Ukraine

 

Terrorists Turned Allies? Jolani and the Integration of Foreign Militants in Syria

48:39 The Washington Post: Syrian president Sharaa faces challenge of militant foreign fighters (Archived)

Reuters: US gives nod to Syria to bring foreign jihadist ex-rebels into army

Reuters: US to scale down its military bases in Syria, envoy says

This is Beirut: Integration of 3,500 Uyghur Jihadists into Syrian Army Raises Questions

The Washington Institute: Curbing China’s Influence on the New Syrian Government 

UK Column: The Blair-Bush Project in Syria That Brought Al Qaeda to Power

Inter Mediate: Lucy Stuart

LinkedIn: Lucy Stuart - Projects Director - Inter Mediate, an NGO for negotiation and mediation

Ynetnews: IDF strikes in Syria after rocket fire on Golan Heights

 

Law and Order? The UK’s Prison Capacity Crisis and Its ‘Modern’ Solutions

56:38 GOV.UK: Independent Sentencing Review: Final report

Museum of Jewish Heritage: Auschwitz

Not long ago. Not far away.

NHS: Consent to treatment

College of Policing: Psychological treatment of adults convicted of sex offences against children

The Howard League: Prison watch

The Telegraph: I will do what it takes to make sure our prisons never run out of space (Archived)

GOV.UK: Landmark sentencing reforms to ensure prisons never run out of space again

GOV.UK: Connected & Automated Mobility 2025: Realising the benefits of self-driving vehicles in the UK (PDF)

The Light Paper: The Light, Issue 57–May/June 2025