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Category: Business

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Province strengthens response to combat downtown street crime, disorder

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Businesses in British Columbia will be better protected against property crimes with the launch of a new public-safety initiative focused on addressing street disorder and non-violent offences.

    The new Community Safety and Targeted Enforcement (C-STEP) program will boost police efforts tackling public-safety challenges that are affecting businesses and communities. Through C-STEP, police can strengthen operations that address street crimes, such as robbery, shoplifting, theft and property damage, and the associated impacts on public safety, community well-being and the growth of B.C.’s economy.

    “Businesses that have been the victims of theft rings and shoplifting are understandably frustrated by the losses they have suffered,” said Terry Yung, Minister of State for Community Safety and Integrated Services. “Building on the proven success of other public-safety initiatives, we are implementing C-STEP to further strengthen these efforts that support safer downtown cores, so people can build a good life in a safe community.”

    The Province is allocating as much as $5 million in new funding for the initiative, which will provide police with enhanced tools, technology and investigative resources to curb property crimes.

    In addition to enforcement, C-STEP will also support police initiatives to develop co-ordinated operational plans that unite law enforcement, businesses, outreach teams and social services to deliver a strategic, preventive approach to tackling street disorder.

    “Our downtown communities are more than just economic hubs. They are the heartbeat of our cities, bringing people together to work, explore, create and connect with culture,” said Spencer Chandra Herbert, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport. “Our downtowns reflect the energy and diversity that makes our Province unique, and the new C-STEP program is laying the groundwork for safer, more dynamic downtowns, ensuring they remain vibrant spaces for everyone.”

    Funding provided through C-STEP can also support proactive patrols and increased police presence to improve physical and social conditions of public spaces by addressing disruptive or unlawful behaviours, such as open drug use or trafficking, disturbances, obstruction, indecent acts and/or public intoxication.

    Additionally, the initiative will enhance police capacity to effectively work alongside front-line social-service providers, ensuring individuals in crisis are connected to the appropriate and available services.

    “The B.C. Association of Chiefs of Police supports the C-STEP initiative and funding directed toward addressing street disorder across our province,” said Chief Supt. Wendy Mehat, president of the B.C. Associations of Chiefs of Police. “Police leaders continue to raise concerns about repeat offending and the impacts of chronic street-level crime on public safety and community well-being. We recognize that a co-ordinated, multi-agency response is essential, and we are committed to working alongside government and community partners to develop long-term, sustainable solutions. Our shared goal is safer, healthier communities for all British Columbians.”

    C-STEP builds on the existing Specialized Investigation and Targeted Enforcement (SITE) program, with the B.C. RCMP administering the funding to police on behalf of government. Together, these programs will help police agencies implement comprehensive public-safety strategies to tackle violent and non-violent crime, adapt to emerging policing needs and stay responsive to evolving crime trends.

    Quotes:

    Garry Begg, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General –

    “B.C. businesses are the backbone of our province, and it’s essential that they’re supported to deal with public-safety challenges such as theft, vandalism and shoplifting, which threaten their prosperity. C-STEP will prioritize high-incident hot spots, including major shopping corridors and areas where public-safety concerns exist, so law enforcement agencies have the resources they need to address crime and help to build safer, more vibrant downtowns for everyone.”

    Diana Gibson, Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation –

    “Small businesses are the foundation of B.C.’s economy, and ensuring people and businesses can thrive in safe, welcoming downtown areas is a priority for our government. This new program is a great step forward in the Province’s ongoing commitment to building safer communities, while helping our local businesses to prosper.”

    Deputy Chief Const. Howard Chow, Vancouver Police Department –

    “Open drug use, street disorder and criminal activity has negatively impacted the health of our downtown core and surrounding neighbourhoods, making people feel less safe. Addressing these challenges requires support from all levels of government, and we welcome any new initiative that will help our officers prevent crime, arrest offenders and make Vancouver a safer city.”

    Jane Talbot, president and CEO, Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association –

    “This initiative reflects a clear recognition of the urgent public-safety challenges facing downtown cores, including the growing impact of non-violent and repeat offenders on small businesses. Any step forward is important, and we see this as a significant and encouraging move in the right direction. Downtown Van is committed to continued collaboration with the province and all partners to build a safer, more vibrant city for everyone.”

    Tony Hunt, general manager of loss prevention, London Drugs –

    “We welcome the C-STEP initiative as a meaningful step forward, supporting local projects that address prolific and repeat offenders. Across British Columbia, communities and businesses are facing rising levels of violence, organized retail crime and abuse targeting workers. This growing disorder is eroding safety and public confidence — especially in our downtowns, which are vital to our economy. It’s essential that we track its impact, and we look forward to seeing and celebrating the positive outcomes this program can deliver.”

    Quick Facts:

    • Budget 2025 invests $235 million in new funding over the next three years to help improve community safety through various public-safety and justice programs.
    • The SITE program introduced under the B.C. government’s Safer Communities Action Plan provides operational funding for police departments to enhance proactive enforcement and investigative techniques to target repeat violent offending.
    • The Vancouver Police Department reported that between October 2024 and January 2025, the SITE initiative led to a 27% drop in violent crime in Hastings Crossing and a 45% drop in weapon-related assaults in Gastown, with January 2025 recording the lowest violent- and property-crime rates in Hastings Crossing in over two years.

    Learn More:

    To learn more about government’s action to keep communities safe and strong, visit: https://strongerbc.gov.bc.ca/safer-communities/

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Good-paying jobs, new technology coming to B.C.

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Building on the success of a three-year pilot, through Budget 2025, B.C. is investing $30 million over three years in the Integrated Marketplace program to help more technology companies scale up and bring more good-paying jobs to people in British Columbia.

    “B.C. is home to a vibrant, accelerating technology sector, and Web Summit Vancouver is the perfect place to demonstrate what we have to offer investors, companies and talent looking for new opportunities,” said Diana Gibson, Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation. “We want the world to know B.C. is open for business. The Integrated Marketplace program has shown great results and potential for much more. By working with our partners across levels of government, industry and academia, we are continuing to strengthen and diversify our economy, and creating valuable career opportunities for people in B.C.”

    Created to help local companies grow and showcase their technology in the province, the Integrated Marketplace program supports the adoption of B.C. solutions by companies located at strategic partner testbed locations, such as the Vancouver International Airport (YVR) or the Prince Rupert Port Authority.

    “British Columbia’s tech sector drives innovation and job creation across the province and across Canada,” said Gregor Robertson, federal Minister of Housing and Infrastructure and Minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada. “PacifiCan is a proud founding partner of Integrated Marketplace, which serves as a powerful launchpad for local companies, accelerating their growth and expanding their reach, helping to build one strong Canadian economy.”

    Testbeds can be physical or conceptual locations where the Integrated Marketplace runs projects that use commercially ready products in real-world settings to confirm benefits and efficacy.

    “The Integrated Marketplace program helped accelerate our path to commercialization and global markets,” said Jessica Yip, COO and co-founder, A&K Robotics. “We are being approached by some of the world’s largest airport operators who want to implement our AI-enabled solution across their sites in Europe and Asia. I cannot wait to show the world the great innovations coming out of Vancouver.”

    To date, four testbeds have been announced: YVR, the Prince Rupert Port Authority, the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority and the provincial health testbed hosted by Provincial Laboratory Medicine Services.

    “The Integrated Marketplace has been a catalyst for MarineLabs’ growth, proving what’s possible when you invest in homegrown innovation to improve marine safety and climate resilience in B.C. and beyond”, said Scott Beatty, CEO, MarineLabs. “With Innovate BC’s support, we’ve accelerated product development, grown our team and expanded into new markets. It’s a model that’s helping B.C. tech lead on a world stage.”

    Delivered by B.C.’s Crown agency, Innovate BC, the Integrated Marketplace allows B.C. companies to receive assistance and reduce the risks in adopting new technologies, boosting their productivity and competitiveness. At the same time, participating companies establish valuable Canadian references who support the companies’ ability to expand their business and grow into new markets.

    “This additional $30-million investment from the Province is a strong vote of confidence in B.C.’s innovation ecosystem and the real-world impact of the Integrated Marketplace,” said Peter Cowan, president and CEO, Innovate BC. “It confirms what we’ve seen first-hand, that when we give local companies a platform to prove their solutions, we not only create home-grown success stories, we drive job creation, export B.C.-made solutions and help industries become more competitive, sustainable and resilient. This funding will allow us to continue expanding that impact across the province, addressing pressing challenges in productivity, emissions reduction and health and safety, while fuelling long-term economic prosperity.”

    This announcement builds on the Government of B.C.’s initial investment of $11.5 million, and the Government of Canada’s investment, through PacifiCan, of $9.9 million in the Integrated Marketplace.

    Quick Facts:

    • In May 2025, PacifiCan announced an additional $1.8 million investment in the Integrated Marketplace through its Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative.
    • To date, 17 solution providers have participated in the Integrated Marketplace program.

    Learn More:

    To learn more about the Integrated Marketplace, visit: https://www.innovatebc.ca/programs/integrated-marketplace

    For more about Innovate BC, visit: https://www.innovatebc.ca/

    To learn more about A&K Robotics, visit: https://www.aandkrobotics.com/

    To learn more about MarineLabs Data Systems, visit: https://marinelabs.io/

    To learn more about PacifiCan, visit: https://www.canada.ca/en/pacific-economic-development.html

    To learn more about Web Summit Vancouver, visit: https://vancouver.websummit.com/

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI: Cloud Mining Trends 2025: VNBTC Empowers Investors to Build Sustainable Passive Crypto Income

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    London, United Kingdom, May 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — In 2025, as digital assets continue to reshape the landscape of global finance, more investors are seeking stable and automated ways to generate passive income. Among the most accessible solutions is cloud mining—a low-maintenance strategy that eliminates the need for expensive hardware or technical expertise. VNBTC, a fast-growing player in the crypto mining sector, is empowering users worldwide to earn daily passive income through its transparent, automated mining platform. With flexible investment plans and a focus on user-friendly experiences, VNBTC is positioning itself as a go-to solution for both beginners and experienced crypto investors looking to grow their wealth reliably in the evolving digital economy.

    Why invest in VNBTC instead of conventional mining?

    Traditional mining requires costly equipment, frequent upgrades, and high electricity expenses, which make it difficult for many to profit.

    VNBTC changes the game.

    Through automated cloud mining, there’s no need for setup, maintenance, or technical skills. VNBTC only needs users to invest, as it handles the mining process remotely while sending daily earnings directly to the user’s wallet. It offers a simpler, faster, and more accessible way to earn passive income from crypto mining without the usual hassles.

    VNBTC Enhances Cloud Mining with AI-Driven Optimization, Multi-Crypto Support, and Trusted Industry Recognition

    VNBTC is setting a new standard in cloud mining by harnessing cutting-edge AI technology to boost mining efficiency and maximize user returns. Forget the hassle of managing hardware, electricity costs, or complex technical setups; VNBTC makes crypto mining straightforward and accessible. Supporting a wide range of cryptocurrencies, the platform also welcomes new users with a $79 bonus right after registration. Backed by verified security certifications and trusted by major industry players, VNBTC offers reliable 24/7 customer support to ensure every user feels confident and supported.  With a very low entry point of $79 and a vibrant community of over 230,000 global users, many enjoy daily rewards exceeding $5,000. 

    Consistent Daily Earnings, Secure Investment, and Extra Ways to Profit with VNBTC

    VNBTC offers flexible, fixed-income mining plans with guaranteed daily payouts and zero volatility. Every plan includes full principal return at maturity, making it perfect for users seeking stable and passive income.

    Available Mining Packages Supporting BTC, ETH, DOGE, and USDT:

    • Doge Starter Plan – 7 days: $79 price, 1.20% daily profit, 6.64% total profit
    • Avalanche Miner Pack – 20 days: $2,000 price, 1.40% daily profit, $560 total profit
    • Ethereum Max Yield Plan – 35 days: $10,000 price, 1.55% daily profit, $5,425 total profit

    Profits are paid automatically every 24 hours, and users can withdraw anytime.

    Additional Ways to Earn with VNBTC:

    • Referral Program: Earn 3% commissions on direct referrals and 1.8% on their referrals.
    • Welcome Bonus: Receive a $79 bonus immediately after registration.
    • Content Creator Rewards: Get paid for blogs, podcasts, videos, and social media promotions, earn from $2 up to $20 per activity.
    • Loyalty & Engagement Bonuses: Daily bonuses for active users on platforms like Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and more.

    Begin Your Cloud Mining Journey with VNBTC: 4 Easy Steps to Start Earning

    1. Sign Up & Claim $79 Bonus: Register on https://vnbtc.com and earn an instant $79 mining credit.
    2. Pick a Mining Plan: Choose from fixed-return contracts in BTC, ETH, DOGE, and more.
    3. Start Earning Daily: Activate your plan and earn up to $5,000 per day.
    4. Withdraw or Reinvest: Profits are paid daily. Cash out anytime or reinvest for more returns.

    VNBTC: Leading the Future of Cloud Mining in 2025

    Backed by verified security certifications, 24/7 customer support, and an AI-driven mining engine, VNBTC is redefining what users expect from cloud mining. 

    “As we move into the future of digital mining,” a VNBTC spokesperson stated, “we’re not just building a platform, we’re creating a name that fits: powerful, secure, and profitable.”

    With a strong track record, real user success stories, and ongoing platform advancements, VNBTC is poised to dominate the crypto mining space in 2025 and beyond. Choosing VNBTC means joining a dynamic, trustworthy ecosystem designed for sustainable growth and steady passive income.

    Disclaimer: The information provided in this press release does not constitute an investment solicitation, nor does it constitute investment advice, financial advice, or trading recommendations. Cryptocurrency mining and staking involve risks and the possibility of losing funds. It is strongly recommended that you perform due diligence before investing or trading in cryptocurrencies and securities, including consulting a professional financial advisor.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Manager at Long Island Company Indicted for Stealing $1.6 Million from Customer Credit Accounts

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Earlier today, at the federal courthouse in Central Islip, Tony Ream was arraigned on an indictment charging him with wire fraud and money laundering in connection with his employment at a Long Island company (the Company).  Ream was a credit supervisor for the Company, which was a worldwide distributor of medical and dental supplies with its principal place of business in Melville, New York.  Over the course of four years, Ream sent wire transfers totaling approximately $1.6 million from the Company’s bank account to a bank account that he controlled.  The arraignment was held before Magistrate Judge Steven I. Locke.

    Joseph Nocella, Jr., United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Christopher G. Raia, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the arraignment.

    “As alleged, Ream is a thief who abused his authority and betrayed his employer to fund his lifestyle, including paying for the renovations of a restaurant he opened, footing the bill for his own wedding, and traveling around the world, all on the company’s dime,” stated United States Attorney Nocella.  “Embezzling company funds is a serious crime and my Office will vigorously prosecute this case to ensure Ream is held accountable for his brazen scheme.”

    “Tony Ream allegedly embezzled over one million dollars from his former company by diverting corporate funds to his personal account and deceiving his subordinates into perpetuating this theft,” stated FBI Assistant Director in Charge Raia.  “Ream allegedly abused his position and stole from his former company to fund his extravagant expenses.  The FBI remains committed to investigating any individual who orchestrates a scheme to exploit their company to finance personal wish lists.”

    As set forth in court filings and statements made in court, Ream was hired by the Company in 2019 to work in their credit department.  Starting in 2020 as a credit supervisor, Ream stole corporate funds from customer refund accounts and diverted the funds to his own accounts.  Additionally, while in his role as supervisor, Ream deceived employees whom he supervised into taking steps that assisted him in carrying out his fraudulent scheme.  Ream spent tens of thousands of dollars of the proceeds of his fraud on his wedding, hundreds of thousands on a failed restaurant venture in South Carolina, and tens of thousands on luxury international vacations.

    The charges in the indictment are allegations and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. If convicted, Ream faces up to 20 years in prison.

    The government’s case is being handled by the Criminal Section of the Office’s Long Island Division.  Assistant United States Attorney Charles P. Kelly is charge of the prosecution with the assistance of Paralegal Specialist Samantha Schroder.

    The Defendant:

    TONY REAM (also known as “Tony Ream-Hendley” and “Tony Moul Ream”)
    Age:  33
    Greenville, South Carolina

    E.D.N.Y. Docket No. 25-CR-179 (SJB)

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China’s overseas portfolio investment volume reached US$1.42 trillion by end of 2024

    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

    BEIJING, May 30 (Xinhua) — China’s overseas portfolio investment (excluding reserve assets) reached 1.42 trillion U.S. dollars by the end of 2024, official data released by the State Administration of Foreign Exchange showed Friday.

    According to the agency, of the total investment, $859.8 billion was invested in shares, and $557.5 billion in bonds.

    Non-bank financial institutions held $795.5 billion in foreign portfolio investment assets, or 56 percent of the total. Banks held $422.1 billion, or 30 percent of the total.

    The non-financial sector accounted for $199.8 billion of such assets, or 14 percent of the total. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: GDS Announces Closing of Public Offering of ADSs and Full Exercise of Option to Purchase Additional ADSs

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SHANGHAI, China, May 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — GDS Holdings Limited (“GDS Holdings”, “GDS” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: GDS; HKEX: 9698), a leading developer and operator of high-performance data centers in China, today announced the closing of its previously announced underwritten registered public offering of 5,980,000 American Depositary Shares (“ADSs”), each representing eight Class A ordinary shares, par value US$0.00005 per share (the “Primary ADSs Offering”), at a public offering price of US$24.50 per ADS (the “Primary ADSs Offering Price”), and reflecting the exercise in full by the underwriters of their option to purchase 780,000 additional ADSs.

    GDS received net proceeds from the Primary ADSs Offering of approximately $141.6 million, after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses. The Company received all of the net proceeds from the Primary ADSs Offering and plans to use such net proceeds for general corporate purposes, working capital needs and the refinancing of its existing indebtedness, including potential future negotiated repurchases, or redemption upon exercise of the investor put right, of its convertible bonds due 2029.

    The Company also announced today by separate press release the closing of an offering of 2.25% convertible senior notes in an aggregate principal amount of US$550 million due 2032 (the “Notes”) in a private offering to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), which amount reflects the exercise in full by the initial purchasers of their option to purchase an additional US$50 million in aggregate principal amount of the Notes (collectively, the “Notes Offering”).

    The Company also announced today by separate press release the closing of a separate registered public offering (the “Delta Placement of Borrowed ADSs”) of 6,000,000 ADSs (the “Borrowed ADSs”), at a public offering price of US$24.50 (which is the same public offering price as the Primary ADSs Offering Price), that the Company lent to an affiliate (the “ADS Borrower”) of an initial purchaser in the Notes Offering in order to facilitate the privately negotiated derivative transactions entered into by some holders of the Notes for purposes of hedging their investment in the Notes. The Company also entered into an ADS lending agreement (the “ADS Lending Agreement”) with an affiliate of the initial purchaser of the Notes Offering (such affiliate being the “ADS Borrower”), pursuant to which the Company lent the Borrowed ADSs to the ADS Borrower. The ADS Borrower or its affiliate received all of the proceeds from the sale of the Borrowed ADSs and the Company did not receive any of those proceeds, but the ADS Borrower paid the Company a nominal lending fee for the use of those ADSs pursuant to the ADS Lending Agreement. The activity described above could affect the market price of the Company’s ADSs otherwise prevailing at that time.

    Nothing contained herein shall constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, including the Primary ADSs, the Notes or the Borrowed ADSs, nor shall there be any offer or sale of the securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The Primary ADSs Offering and the Delta Placement of Borrowed ADSs were made only by means of separate prospectus supplements and accompanying prospectuses pursuant to an effective registration statement filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).

    J.P. Morgan, BofA Securities, Morgan Stanley and UBS Investment Bank acted as joint book-running managers, and China Galaxy and Guotai Junan International acted as financial advisors, for the Primary ADSs Offering.

    The Company filed an automatic shelf registration statement on Form F-3 with the SEC. A preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus describing the terms of the Primary ADSs Offering were filed with the SEC. The prospectus supplement for the Primary ADSs Offering was filed with the SEC. The Primary ADSs Offering was made only by means of the prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus. You may obtain these documents free of charge by visiting EDGAR on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. Copies of the prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus may be obtained from: (i) J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, or by telephone at 866-803-9204 or by email at prospectus-eq_fi@jpmchase.com; (ii) BofA Securities, Inc., One Bryant Park, New York, NY, 10036, Attention: Prospectus Department, telephone: +1 (800) 294-1322, email: dg.prospectus_requests@bofa.com; (iii) Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Attn: Prospectus Department, 180 Varick Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10014; or (iv) UBS Investment Bank, Attention: Prospectus Department, 1285 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10019, by telephone: (888) 827-7275 or email: ol-prospectusrequest@ubs.com.

    About GDS Holdings Limited

    GDS Holdings Limited (NASDAQ: GDS; HKEX: 9698) is a leading developer and operator of high-performance data centers in China. The Company’s facilities are strategically located in and around primary economic hubs where demand for high-performance data center services is concentrated. The Company’s data centers have large net floor area, high power capacity, density and efficiency, and multiple redundancies across all critical systems. GDS is carrier and cloud-neutral, which enables its customers to access the major telecommunications networks, as well as the largest PRC and global public clouds, which are hosted in many of its facilities. The Company offers co-location and a suite of value-added services, including managed hybrid cloud services through direct private connection to leading public clouds, managed network services, and, where required, the resale of public cloud services. The Company has a 24-year track record of service delivery, successfully fulfilling the requirements of some of the largest and most demanding customers for outsourced data center services in China. The Company’s customer base consists predominantly of hyperscale cloud service providers, large internet companies, financial institutions, telecommunications carriers, IT service providers, and large domestic private sector and multinational corporations. The Company also holds a non-controlling 35.6% equity interest in DayOne Data Centers Limited which develops and operates data centers in International markets.

    Safe Harbor Statement

    This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “aim,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “estimate,” “expect,” “future,” “guidance,” “intend,” “is/are likely to,” “may,” “ongoing,” “plan,” “potential,” “target,” “will,” and similar statements. Among other things, statements that are not historical facts, including statements about GDS Holdings’ beliefs and expectations regarding the Primary ADSs Offering, the Notes Offering and the Delta Placement of Borrowed ADSs, the growth of its businesses and its revenue for the full fiscal year, the business outlook and quotations from management in this announcement, as well as GDS Holdings’ strategic and operational plans, are or contain forward-looking statements. GDS Holdings may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the SEC on Forms 20-F and 6-K, in its current, interim and annual reports to shareholders, in announcements, circulars or other publications made on the website of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the “Hong Kong Stock Exchange”), in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause GDS Holdings’ actual results or financial performance to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: GDS Holdings’ goals and strategies; GDS Holdings’ future business development, financial condition and results of operations; the expected growth of the market for high-performance data centers, data center solutions and related services in China and regions in which GDS’ major equity investees operate, such as South East Asia; GDS Holdings’ expectations regarding demand for and market acceptance of its high-performance data centers, data center solutions and related services; GDS Holdings’ expectations regarding building, strengthening and maintaining its relationships with new and existing customers; the results of operations, growth prospects, financial condition, regulatory environment, competitive landscape and other uncertainties associated with the business and operations of our significant equity investee DayOne; the continued adoption of cloud computing and cloud service providers in China and other major markets that may impact the results of our equity investees, such as South East Asia; risks and uncertainties associated with increased investments in GDS Holdings’ business and new data center initiatives; risks and uncertainties associated with strategic acquisitions and investments; GDS Holdings’ ability to maintain or grow its revenue or business; fluctuations in GDS Holdings’ operating results; changes in laws, regulations and regulatory environment that affect GDS Holdings’ business operations and those of its major equity investees; competition in GDS Holdings’ industry in China and in markets that affect the business of our major equity investees, such as South East Asia; security breaches; power outages; and fluctuations in general economic and business conditions in China and globally, and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties or factors is included in GDS Holdings’ filings with the SEC, including its annual report on Form 20-F, and with the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release and are based on assumptions that GDS Holdings believes to be reasonable as of such date, and GDS Holdings does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

    For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

    GDS Holdings Limited
    Laura Chen
    Phone: +86 (21) 2029-2203
    Email: ir@gds-services.com

    Piacente Financial Communications
    Ross Warner
    Phone: +86 (10) 6508-0677
    Email: GDS@tpg-ir.com

    Brandi Piacente
    Phone: +1 (212) 481-2050
    Email: GDS@tpg-ir.com

    GDS Holdings Limited

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: GDS Announces Closing of Offering of American Depositary Shares in connection with the Delta Placement of Borrowed ADSs

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SHANGHAI, China, May 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — GDS Holdings Limited (“GDS Holdings”, “GDS” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: GDS; HKEX: 9698), a leading developer and operator of high-performance data centers in China, today announced the closing of a previously announced registered public offering of 6,000,000 American Depositary Shares (“ADSs”), each representing eight Class A ordinary shares, par value US$0.00005 per share (the “Delta Placement of Borrowed ADSs”), at a public offering price of US$24.50 per ADS (the “Delta Public Offering Price”), which the Company lent (such loaned ADSs, the “Borrowed ADSs”) to an affiliate of the underwriter in the ADS offering (such affiliate, the “ADS Borrower”) pursuant to an ADS lending agreement with the ADS Borrower (the “ADS Lending Agreement”).

    The ADS Borrower or its affiliate received all of the proceeds from the sale of the Borrowed ADSs. The Company did not receive any proceeds from the Delta Placement of Borrowed ADSs but received from the ADS Borrower a nominal lending fee, which was applied to fully pay up the Class A ordinary shares underlying the Borrowed ADSs. The Company believes that the Borrowed ADSs will not be considered outstanding for the purpose of computing and reporting its earnings per ADS under the current U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and, therefore, the Company believes that no dilution will occur as a result of the Borrowed ADSs.

    The Borrowed ADSs were sold concurrently with the pricing of the Notes Offering (as defined below) and the Primary ADSs Offering (as defined below). The Company was informed by the ADS Borrower that it or its affiliates intends to use the short position resulting from the Delta Placement of the Borrowed ADSs to facilitate privately negotiated derivatives transactions related to the Notes. The activity described above could affect the market price of the Company’s ADSs or the Notes otherwise prevailing at that time.

    The Company also announced today by separate press release the closing of an offering of 2.25% convertible senior notes in an aggregate principal amount of US$550 million due 2032 (the “Notes”) in a private offering to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), which amount reflects the exercise in full by the initial purchasers of their option to purchase an additional US$50 million in aggregate principal amount of the Notes (collectively, the “Notes Offering”).

    The Company also announced today by separate press release the closing of a separate registered public offering (the “Primary ADSs Offering”) of 5,980,000 ADSs (the “Primary ADSs”), at a public offering price of US$24.50 per ADS (which is the same public offering price as the Delta Public Offering Price), and reflecting the exercise in full by the underwriters in the Primary ADSs Offering of their option to purchase 780,000 additional Primary ADSs.

    Nothing contained herein shall constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, including the Borrowed ADSs, the Notes or the Primary ADSs, nor shall there be any offer or sale of the securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The Delta Placement of Borrowed ADSs and the Primary ADSs Offering were made only by means of separate prospectus supplements and accompanying prospectuses pursuant to an effective registration statement filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).

    The Company filed an automatic shelf registration statement on Form F-3 with the SEC. A preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus describing the terms of the Delta Placement of Borrowed ADSs were filed with the SEC. The prospectus supplement for the Delta Placement of Borrowed ADSs was filed with the SEC. The Delta Placement of Borrowed ADSs was made only by means of the prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus. You may obtain these documents free of charge by visiting EDGAR on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. Copies of the prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus may be obtained by contacting J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, or by telephone at 866-803-9204 or by email at prospectus-eq_fi@jpmchase.com.

    About GDS Holdings Limited

    GDS Holdings Limited (NASDAQ: GDS; HKEX: 9698) is a leading developer and operator of high-performance data centers in China. The Company’s facilities are strategically located in and around primary economic hubs where demand for high-performance data center services is concentrated. The Company’s data centers have large net floor area, high power capacity, density and efficiency, and multiple redundancies across all critical systems. GDS is carrier and cloud-neutral, which enables its customers to access the major telecommunications networks, as well as the largest PRC and global public clouds, which are hosted in many of its facilities. The Company offers co-location and a suite of value-added services, including managed hybrid cloud services through direct private connection to leading public clouds, managed network services, and, where required, the resale of public cloud services. The Company has a 24-year track record of service delivery, successfully fulfilling the requirements of some of the largest and most demanding customers for outsourced data center services in China. The Company’s customer base consists predominantly of hyperscale cloud service providers, large internet companies, financial institutions, telecommunications carriers, IT service providers, and large domestic private sector and multinational corporations. The Company also holds a non-controlling 35.6% equity interest in Day One Data Centers Limited which develops and operates data centers in International markets.

    Safe Harbor Statement

    This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “aim,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “estimate,” “expect,” “future,” “guidance,” “intend,” “is/are likely to,” “may,” “ongoing,” “plan,” “potential,” “target,” “will,” and similar statements. Among other things, statements that are not historical facts, including statements about GDS Holdings’ beliefs and expectations regarding the Notes Offering, Delta Placement of Borrowed ADSs and the Primary ADSs Offering, the growth of its businesses and its revenue for the full fiscal year, the business outlook and quotations from management in this announcement, as well as GDS Holdings’ strategic and operational plans, are or contain forward-looking statements. GDS Holdings may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the SEC on Forms 20-F and 6-K, in its current, interim and annual reports to shareholders, in announcements, circulars or other publications made on the website of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the “Hong Kong Stock Exchange”), in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause GDS Holdings’ actual results or financial performance to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: GDS Holdings’ goals and strategies; GDS Holdings’ future business development, financial condition and results of operations; the expected growth of the market for high-performance data centers, data center solutions and related services in China and regions in which GDS’ major equity investees operate, such as South East Asia; GDS Holdings’ expectations regarding demand for and market acceptance of its high-performance data centers, data center solutions and related services; GDS Holdings’ expectations regarding building, strengthening and maintaining its relationships with new and existing customers; the results of operations, growth prospects, financial condition, regulatory environment, competitive landscape and other uncertainties associated with the business and operations of our significant equity investee DayOne; the continued adoption of cloud computing and cloud service providers in China and other major markets that may impact the results of our equity investees, such as South East Asia; risks and uncertainties associated with increased investments in GDS Holdings’ business and new data center initiatives; risks and uncertainties associated with strategic acquisitions and investments; GDS Holdings’ ability to maintain or grow its revenue or business; fluctuations in GDS Holdings’ operating results; changes in laws, regulations and regulatory environment that affect GDS Holdings’ business operations and those of its major equity investees; competition in GDS Holdings’ industry in China and in markets that affect the business of our major equity investees, such as South East Asia; security breaches; power outages; and fluctuations in general economic and business conditions in China and globally, and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties or factors is included in GDS Holdings’ filings with the SEC, including its annual report on Form 20-F, and with the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release and are based on assumptions that GDS Holdings believes to be reasonable as of such date, and GDS Holdings does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

    For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

    GDS Holdings Limited
    Laura Chen
    Phone: +86 (21) 2029-2203
    Email: ir@gds-services.com

    Piacente Financial Communications
    Ross Warner
    Phone: +86 (10) 6508-0677
    Email: GDS@tpg-ir.com

    Brandi Piacente
    Phone: +1 (212) 481-2050
    Email: GDS@tpg-ir.com

    GDS Holdings Limited

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: GDS Announces Closing of Offering of US$550 Million Convertible Senior Notes and Full Exercise of Option to Purchase Additional Notes

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SHANGHAI, China, May 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — GDS Holdings Limited (“GDS Holdings”, “GDS” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: GDS; HKEX: 9698), a leading developer and operator of high-performance data centers in China, today announced the closing of its previously announced offering of 2.25% convertible senior notes in an aggregate principal amount of US$550 million due 2032 (the “Notes”), which amount reflects the exercise in full by the initial purchasers of their option to purchase an additional US$50 million in aggregate principal amount of the Notes (collectively, the “Notes Offering”). The Notes were offered in a private offering to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

    GDS received net proceeds from the Notes Offering of approximately $534.9 million, after deducting the initial purchasers’ discounts and estimated issuance expenses. The Company plans to use the net proceeds from the Notes Offering for working capital needs and the refinancing of its existing indebtedness, including potential future negotiated repurchases, or redemption upon exercise of the investor put right, of its convertible bonds due 2029.

    The Notes are senior unsecured obligations of GDS and bear interest at a rate of 2.25% per year, payable semiannually in arrears on June 1 and December 1 of each year, beginning on December 1, 2025. The Notes will mature on June 1, 2032, unless earlier redeemed, repurchased or converted in accordance with their terms prior to such date.

    The initial conversion rate of the Notes is 30.2343 American depositary shares, each representing eight Class A ordinary shares of the Company (the “ADSs”), per US$1,000 principal amount of Notes (which is equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately US$33.08 per ADS and represents a conversion premium of approximately 35% above the public offering price of the Primary ADSs (as defined below), which was US$24.50 per ADS (the “ADS Public Offering Price”)). The conversion rate of the Notes is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events.

    Prior to the close of business on the business day immediately preceding December 1, 2031, the Notes will be convertible only upon satisfaction of certain conditions and during certain periods. On or after December 1, 2031 until the close of business on the second scheduled trading day immediately preceding the maturity date, holders may convert their Notes at their option at any time. Upon conversion, the Company will pay or deliver, as the case may be, cash, the ADSs or a combination of cash and ADSs, at the Company’s election. Holders may also elect to receive Class A ordinary shares in lieu of any ADSs deliverable upon conversion, subject to certain procedures and conditions set forth in the terms of the Notes.

    The Company may redeem for cash all but not part of the Notes (i) in the event of certain tax law changes (a “Tax Redemption”) or (ii) if less than 10% of the aggregate principal of amount of notes originally issued (for the avoidance of doubt, including the notes issued upon the exercise of the initial purchasers’ option to purchase additional notes) remains outstanding at such time (a “Cleanup Redemption”). The Notes are not redeemable before June 6, 2029, except in connection with a Tax Redemption or Cleanup Redemption. On or after June 6, 2029 and on or prior to the 40th scheduled trading day immediately prior to the maturity date, the Notes will be redeemable, in whole or in part, for cash at the Company’s option at any time, and from time to time, if (x) the notes are “freely tradable” (as defined in the indenture for the Notes), and all accrued and unpaid additional interest, if any, has been paid in full, as of the date we send such notice and (y) the last reported sale price of the ADSs has been at least 130% of the conversion price then in effect on (i) each of at least 20 trading days (whether or not consecutive) during any 30 consecutive trading day period ending on, and including, the trading day immediately prior to the date the Company provides notice of redemption and (ii) the trading day immediately preceding the date the Company sends such notice (such redemption, an “Optional Redemption”). The redemption price in the case of a Tax Redemption, Cleanup Redemption or an Optional Redemption will equal 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the related redemption date.

    Holders of the Notes may require the Company to repurchase for cash all or part of their Notes on June 1, 2029. In addition, holders of the Notes have the option, subject to certain conditions, to require the Company to repurchase any Notes held in the event of a “fundamental change” (as will be defined in the indenture for the Notes). The repurchase price, in each case, will be equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the applicable repurchase date.

    The Company expects that certain purchasers of the Notes may establish a short position with respect to its ADSs by short selling its ADSs or by entering into short derivative positions with respect to its ADSs (including entering into derivatives with an affiliate of an initial purchaser in the Notes Offering), in each case, in connection with the Notes Offering. Any of the above market activities by purchasers of the Notes could increase (or reduce any decrease in) or decrease (or reduce any increase in) the market price of the Company’s ADSs or the Notes at that time, and the Company cannot predict the magnitude of such market activity or the overall effect it will have on the price of the Notes or its ADSs.

    The Company also announced today by separate press release the closing of a separate registered public offering (the “Delta Placement of Borrowed ADSs”) of 6,000,000 ADSs, at the ADS Public Offering Price, that the Company lent to an affiliate (the “ADS Borrower”) of an initial purchaser in the Notes Offering in order to facilitate the privately negotiated derivative transactions by some holders of the Notes for purposes of hedging their investment in the Notes. The Company entered into an ADS lending agreement (the “ADS Lending Agreement”) with the ADS Borrower, pursuant to which the Company lent 6,000,000 ADSs (the “Borrowed ADSs”) to the ADS Borrower. The ADS Borrower or its affiliate received all of the proceeds from the sale of the Borrowed ADSs and the Company did not receive any of those proceeds, but the ADS Borrower paid the Company a nominal lending fee for the use of those ADSs pursuant to the ADS Lending Agreement. The activity described above could affect the market price of the Company’s ADSs or the Notes otherwise prevailing at that time.

    The Company also announced today by separate press release the closing of a separate registered public offering (the “Primary ADSs Offering”) of 5,980,000 ADSs (the “Primary ADSs”), at the ADS Public Offering Price, and reflecting the exercise in full by the underwriters of their option to purchase 780,000 additional Primary ADSs.

    Nothing contained herein shall constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, including the Notes, the Borrowed ADSs or the Primary ADSs, nor shall there be any offer or sale of the securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The Delta Placement of Borrowed ADSs and the Primary ADSs Offering were made only by means of separate prospectus supplements and accompanying prospectuses pursuant to an effective registration statement filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).

    The Notes, the ADSs deliverable upon conversion of the Notes, if any, and the Class A ordinary shares represented thereby or deliverable upon conversion of Notes in lieu thereof, have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws, and were offered and sold only to persons reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act.
      
    About GDS Holdings Limited

    GDS Holdings Limited (NASDAQ: GDS; HKEX: 9698) is a leading developer and operator of high-performance data centers in China. The Company’s facilities are strategically located in and around primary economic hubs where demand for high-performance data center services is concentrated. The Company’s data centers have large net floor area, high power capacity, density and efficiency, and multiple redundancies across all critical systems. GDS is carrier and cloud-neutral, which enables its customers to access the major telecommunications networks, as well as the largest PRC and global public clouds, which are hosted in many of its facilities. The Company offers co-location and a suite of value-added services, including managed hybrid cloud services through direct private connection to leading public clouds, managed network services, and, where required, the resale of public cloud services. The Company has a 24-year track record of service delivery, successfully fulfilling the requirements of some of the largest and most demanding customers for outsourced data center services in China. The Company’s customer base consists predominantly of hyperscale cloud service providers, large internet companies, financial institutions, telecommunications carriers, IT service providers, and large domestic private sector and multinational corporations. The Company also holds a non-controlling 35.6% equity interest in DayOne Data Centers Limited which develops and operates data centers in International markets.

    Safe Harbor Statement

    This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “aim,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “estimate,” “expect,” “future,” “guidance,” “intend,” “is/are likely to,” “may,” “ongoing,” “plan,” “potential,” “target,” “will,” and similar statements. Among other things, statements that are not historical facts, including statements about GDS Holdings’ beliefs and expectations regarding the Notes Offering, Delta Placement of Borrowed ADSs and the Primary ADSs Offering, the growth of its businesses and its revenue for the full fiscal year, the business outlook and quotations from management in this announcement, as well as GDS Holdings’ strategic and operational plans, are or contain forward-looking statements. GDS Holdings may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its periodic reports to the SEC on Forms 20-F and 6-K, in its current, interim and annual reports to shareholders, in announcements, circulars or other publications made on the website of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the “Hong Kong Stock Exchange”), in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause GDS Holdings’ actual results or financial performance to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: GDS Holdings’ goals and strategies; GDS Holdings’ future business development, financial condition and results of operations; the expected growth of the market for high-performance data centers, data center solutions and related services in China and regions in which GDS’ major equity investees operate, such as South East Asia; GDS Holdings’ expectations regarding demand for and market acceptance of its high-performance data centers, data center solutions and related services; GDS Holdings’ expectations regarding building, strengthening and maintaining its relationships with new and existing customers; the results of operations, growth prospects, financial condition, regulatory environment, competitive landscape and other uncertainties associated with the business and operations of our significant equity investee DayOne; the continued adoption of cloud computing and cloud service providers in China and other major markets that may impact the results of our equity investees, such as South East Asia; risks and uncertainties associated with increased investments in GDS Holdings’ business and new data center initiatives; risks and uncertainties associated with strategic acquisitions and investments; GDS Holdings’ ability to maintain or grow its revenue or business; fluctuations in GDS Holdings’ operating results; changes in laws, regulations and regulatory environment that affect GDS Holdings’ business operations and those of its major equity investees; competition in GDS Holdings’ industry in China and in markets that affect the business of our major equity investees, such as South East Asia; security breaches; power outages; and fluctuations in general economic and business conditions in China and globally, and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing. Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties or factors is included in GDS Holdings’ filings with the SEC, including its annual report on Form 20-F, and with the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release and are based on assumptions that GDS Holdings believes to be reasonable as of such date, and GDS Holdings does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

    For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

    GDS Holdings Limited
    Laura Chen
    Phone: +86 (21) 2029-2203
    Email: ir@gds-services.com

    Piacente Financial Communications
    Ross Warner
    Phone: +86 (10) 6508-0677
    Email: GDS@tpg-ir.com

    Brandi Piacente
    Phone: +1 (212) 481-2050
    Email: GDS@tpg-ir.com

    GDS Holdings Limited

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Video: EU Archives: “NO“ Referendum in the UK, First European Elections, Messina Conference

    Source: European Commission (video statements)

    This week’s edition of EU Archives dives deep into the democratic aspects of the European Union with the first European elections being held in 1979. Four years prior, the British had to decide whether they wished to remain part of the European Communities. And the third anniversary traces back even further into the past.

    Dive with us into the European Commission’s audiovisual archives and discover important anniversaries with our new weekly AV history teaser!

    Upcoming anniversaries in the teaser:

    · 1955: Messina Conference in Rome to establish a more united Europe
    · 1975: Referendum: Should the UK leave the European Communities?
    · 1979: First European Elections

    Get the complete material from our archive:
    https://europa.eu/!WPNGyy
    https://europa.eu/!VGwWX8
    https://europa.eu/!HhTCrW

    Follow us on:
    -X: https://twitter.com/EU_Commission
    -Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/europeancommission/
    -Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EuropeanCommission
    -LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/european-commission/
    -Medium: https://medium.com/@EuropeanCommission

    Check our website: http://ec.europa.eu/

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jGgVfdLfaM

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Hong Kong’s credit ratings demonstrate its economic resilience – Chinese Foreign Ministry

    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

    BEIJING, May 30 (Xinhua) — The recent affirmation of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region’s (SAR) credit ratings by Fitch, S

    As the Chinese diplomat pointed out, the positive assessments of Hong Kong’s credit profile are further confirmation of confidence in its status as an international financial centre.

    The Hong Kong SAR administration said the city’s robust financial system, vibrant capital market and thriving IPO market reflect the high level of confidence global investors have in Hong Kong, Lin Chien said.

    Moreover, the official representative stressed that the steady progress of China’s high-quality development provides the SAR with even more development opportunities and new driving forces.

    “We have full confidence in Hong Kong’s development prospects and welcome foreign companies to invest in the SAR to achieve common development and prosperity,” Lin Jian concluded. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Video Game Workers Reach Historic Tentative Contract Agreement with Microsoft

    Source: Communications Workers of America

    NATIONWIDE – In a first for the video game industry, over 300 quality assurance workers working at Microsoft subsidiary ZeniMax Media — represented by Communications Workers of America Locals 2100, 2108, and 6215 (ZeniMax Workers United-CWA) — announced that they have reached a tentative contract agreement with the company. ZeniMax Workers United-CWA and Microsoft have been negotiating for a first contract for nearly two years.

    “QA workers from across the country continue to lead the charge for industry-wide change,” said Page Branson, Senior II QA Tester and ZeniMax Workers United-CWA bargaining committee member. “Going toe-to-toe with one of the largest corporations in the world isn’t a small feat. This is a monumental victory for all current video game workers and for those that come after.”

    “Video games have been the revenue titan of the entire entertainment industry for years, and the workers who develop these games are too often exploited for their passion and creativity. Organizing unions, bargaining for a contract, and speaking with one collective voice has allowed workers to take back the autonomy we all deserve,” said Jessee Leese, QA tester at ZeniMax and ZeniMax Workers United-CWA bargaining committee member. “Our first contract is an invitation for video game professionals everywhere to take action. We’re the ones who make these games, and we’ll be the ones to set new standards for fair treatment.”

    “Workers in the video game industry are demonstrating once again that collective power works. This agreement shows what’s possible when workers stand together and refuse to accept the status quo,” said CWA President Claude Cummings Jr. “Whether it’s having a say about the use of AI in the workplace, fighting for significant wage increases and fair crediting policies, or protecting workers from retaliation, our members have raised the bar. We’re proud to support them every step of the way.”

    The new contract sets new standards for the industry and includes substantial across-the-board wage increases as well as new minimum salaries for workers. The agreement also includes protections against arbitrary dismissal, grievance procedures, and a crediting policy that clearly acknowledges the QA workers’ contributions to the video games they help create. It also incorporates a previously announced agreement on how artificial intelligence is introduced and implemented in the workplace.

    “Our members knew what they deserved to make the industry a better place and fought for a tentative agreement that reflects the value they bring to the table,” said CWA Local 2100 President Nick Riddle. “Their victory is a win for us all, to show what can be possible through solidarity and collective bargaining.”

    “This tentative agreement reflects workers’ deep commitment to equity and respect in a field that has long undervalued their contributions and exploited their passions. And they did it by holding the line together,” said CWA Local 2108 President Johnny Brown. “We’re proud to have them in our ranks as leaders for the entire labor movement.”

    “Even amidst a rapidly evolving industry with significant volatility and job insecurity, video game workers never lost sight of what they deserved,” said CWA Local 6215 Vice President Alex Doblado. “We celebrate their commitment to building a better future through collective action. They are a testament to the power of unions.”

    Contract explanation meetings will be held for members over the next few weeks, and a ratification vote is expected to be concluded by June 20.

    “Taking on one of the largest tech companies in the world and winning real gains on improving the workplace is no small feat,” said CWA District 6 Vice President Derrick Osobase. “No matter how complex or powerful the employer may seem, collective action works. These workers have earned this victory and are opening the door for future worker-organizers.”

    “Organizing an entire workplace and fighting for a first contract takes resilience and determination. Their hard work has laid the foundation for what’s next at Microsoft,” said CWA District 2-13 Vice President Mike Davis. “I look forward to the strong contract that we’ll secure with other video game studios in the months to come. This is just the beginning.”

    Over 2,000 Microsoft video game workers have joined CWA under a groundbreaking neutrality agreement that enables them to freely and fairly make a choice about union representation.

    ###

    About CODE-CWA

    The Campaign to Organize Digital Employees (CODE-CWA) is a network of worker-organizers and their staff working every single day to build the voice and power necessary to ensure the future of the tech, game, and digital industries in the United States and Canada. CODE-CWA is a project of the Communications Workers of America, which represents hundreds of thousands of workers throughout tech, media, telecom, and other industries who stand together to fight for justice on the job and in our communities.

    About CWA

    The Communications Workers of America represents working people in telecommunications, customer service, media, airlines, health care, public service and education, manufacturing, tech, and other fields.

    cwa-union.org @cwaunion

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Alan Wilson announces SC victims of deceptive online training program will finally get repaid following pressure from AGsRead More

    Source: US State of South Carolina

    (COLUMBIA, S.C.) – South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is finally providing long-delayed restitution to victims of a predatory tech sales program in South Carolina and other states after their attorneys general pressed the agency for answers in May.

    In a May 6 letter to the CFPB’s acting director, South Carolina and 11 other state attorneys general detailed how a 2023 court order against Prehired LLC for illegal, deceptive and abusive practices resulted in $4.2 million in restitution for some 660 consumers nationwide, yet unexplained delays kept those checks from being distributed by the CFPB.

    The CFPB announced the allocation in May 2024. For the remainder of 2024, states received regular updates regarding the federal government’s progress on distributing these funds to Prehired’s victims. But in February of this year, the CFPB stopped providing information about the process. That changed after the attorneys general publicly pressured the agency to act. Our office is still gathering information about how many individuals have received restitution so far.

    “I will not stand by when South Carolinians are victimized by deceptive sales tactics,” Attorney General Wilson said. “The wheels of justice turn slowly, but I’m thankful that our letter to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau helped South Carolina victims start getting the compensation they deserve.”

    For years, Prehired used deceptive marketing tactics to lure South Carolina residents into paying up to $30,000 for Prehired’s unlicensed online sales training program. Most students could not afford to pay, and Prehired offered them income-share loans, which it claimed were not loans.

    The company “guaranteed” students would land tech sales jobs paying $60,000 or more. Meanwhile, the company demanded monthly payments from students who were earning far less. When students failed to pay their massive debt from the program, Prehired pursued aggressive collection techniques such as filing lawsuits and initiating arbitration proceedings against students across the country.

    South Carolina joined other state attorneys general along with the CFPB in a consumer protection enforcement action against Prehired, resulting in the court order that Prehired return $4.2 million to those who made payments on the company’s loans.

    Joining South Carolina in the letter were the states of Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Washington, and the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: AG Labrador Secures Judgment Against Coast to Coast Carports, Inc.

    Source: US State of Idaho

    Home Newsroom AG Labrador Secures Judgment Against Coast to Coast Carports, Inc.

    BOISE — Attorney General Raúl Labrador announced a judgment entered in March 2025 against Coast to Coast Carports, Inc., following allegations of deceptive business practices involving custom-made garages  and carports.
    The Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division filed suit in December 2024, alleging that Coast to Coast accepted consumer payments for custom-made garages and carports, failed to deliver the products, and in some cases provided faulty structures without offering refunds or repairs. The judgment prohibits Coast to Coast from engaging in any construction-related business within the State of Idaho and requires the company to pay civil penalties and restitution to affected consumers. The civil penalties and restitution for Coast-to-Coast are, respectively, $22,500 and $26,745.37.
    “This case sends a clear message to out-of-state contractors who operate dishonestly in Idaho,” said Attorney General Labrador. “We will take legal action to protect Idaho consumers and ensure accountability in the construction marketplace.”
    Attorney General Labrador urges consumers seeking a contractor’s services, please utilize these tips to avoid fraudulent business practices: 

    Read the Contractor’s business profile on the Better Business Bureau’s Website, paying particular attention to any unresolved complaints, its rating, and the business’s responses provided to the Better Business Bureau. 
    Check with the Attorney General’s Office or the Department of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL) at Welcome to Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses for any information regarding the Contractor and its business practices within the State of Idaho. 
    Review Idaho Code § 48-525 to understand what information a contractor is required to disclose. 
    Verify the contractor has liability and worker’s compensation insurance to avoid liability for work-related injuries and the contractor’s recklessness or negligence.
    If possible, obtain a surety bond, title insurance, and a lien waiver to cover potential losses, loss of title, and to prevent lienholders placing liens on the project for nonpayment. 

    Consumers who experience similar construction practices may file consumer complaints with the Consumer Protection Division. A complaint form is available here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: LiquidLink Announces Availability for Meetings During XRP Las Vegas 2025 and Provides Strategic Update on the Xrpfy Platform

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Vancouver, BC, May 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — LiquidLink AI Corp., a Web3 analytics and infrastructure company, today announced its availability for meetings during XRP Las Vegas, taking place on May 30–31, 2025. The company invites developers, partners, and investors to connect during the event to explore collaboration opportunities around its flagship product suite, Xrpfy.

    Introducing Xrpfy: A Self-Custody-First Discovery and Analytics Platform for XRPL

    Xrpfy is a next-generation discovery and analytics platform purpose-built for the XRP Ledger (XRPL). Designed to empower users through self-custody tools, Xrpfy operates fully client-side—except for its discovery engine—and does not take custody of assets or facilitate trades.

    Key features of the Xrpfy platform include:

    • Discovery Engine: Search for Real World Assets (RWAs), stablecoins, and a wide range of Web3 tokens issued on XRPL.
    • DEX Intelligence: Discover potentially cost-efficient trading routes and arbitrage opportunities across the XRPL decentralized exchange (DEX) and automated market makers (AMMs). Xrpfy uses available market data to estimate trading paths to the best of its analytical ability, but does not guarantee the lowest possible cost or execution.
    • Pure Self-Custody Tools: Navigate XRPL directly—LiquidLink does not custody funds or mediate transactions. All tools are provided for independent, user-controlled activity.
    • RWA-Focused Launchpad: A self-custody launch and asset management interface, designed for issuers and dealers of tokenized RWAs. The platform offers optional integrations for KYC workflows and jurisdictional compliance. LiquidLink does not issue, sell, or broker tokens—it solely provides the underlying software, leaving full control and regulatory responsibility with qualified users operating in their own jurisdictions.

    Tiered Launch Roadmap

    LiquidLink plans to launch the first version of Xrpfy by the end of Q2 2025, featuring a core set of discovery, analytics, and self-custody capabilities. Additional modules and features will roll out in a tiered manner throughout the year, with product development informed by community feedback and partner collaboration.

    Charting a Multi-Chain Future

    While LiquidLink remains focused on unlocking the full potential of XRPL, it is also preparing for a multi-chain future. Planned support includes tooling for key Bitcoin Layer 2 ecosystems:

    • Lightning Network
    • Liquid Network
    • RGB Protocol
    • Taproot Assets

    In addition, the company is evaluating integration with Axelar and other cross-chain technologies to enable broader interoperability for RWAs, stablecoins, and Web3 applications.

    About LiquidLink AI Corp.

    LiquidLink AI Corp. (formerly Milo Media Technologies Inc.) is a Vancouver-based Web3 infrastructure and analytics firm developing next-generation platforms for decentralized finance and digital asset ecosystems. A wholly owned subsidiary of Eat & Beyond Global Holdings Inc. (CSE: EATS) (OTCPK: EATBF) (FSE: 988), a publicly traded investment issuer, LiquidLink builds self-custody-first tools powered by AI and advanced analytics for the Web3 and payments space.

    Media Contact:
    Press & Communications
    LiquidLink AI Corp.
    info@liquidlink.ai
    www.liquidlink.ai

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: PROACTIS SA – Press Release 30.05.2025 (AFR report publication)

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Press Release

    Postponement of publication of results and Annual Financial Report for the year ending January 31, 2025

    Paris, France – (30 May 2025) – PROACTIS SA (ISIN code: FR0004052561) announces the postponement of the publication, originally scheduled for May 30, 2025, of its results and Annual Financial Report for the year ended January 31, 2025.

    This postponement follows the delay in finalizing the audit by the statutory auditors of PROACTIS HOLDING LIMITED (parent company of PROACTIS SA) and the delay in agreeing certain matters with the auditors of PROACTIS SA, notably with regards to the impairment of goodwill and forming a conclusion on going concern. As such, PROACTIS SA has no choice but to postpone the publication of its results and Annual Financial Report for the year ending January 31, 2025.

    PROACTIS SA and PROACTIS HOLDING LIMITED have already taken the necessary steps to complete the audits as quickly as possible.

    PROACTIS SA will announce the next publication dates in a press release in the near future.

    * * * *

    About Proactis SA (https://www.proactis.com/proactis-sa), a Proactis Company

    Proactis SA connects companies by providing business spend management and collaborative business process automation solutions for both goods and services, through The Business Network. Our solutions integrate with any ERP or procurement system, providing our customers with an easy-to-use solution which drives adoption, compliance and savings.

    Proactis SA has operations in France, Germany, USA and Manila.

    Listed in Compartment C on the Euronext Paris Eurolist.

    ISIN: FR0004052561, Euronext: PROAC, Reuters: HBWO.LN, Bloomberg: HBW.FP

    Contacts
    Tel: +33 (0)1 53 25 55 00
    E-mail: investorContact@proactis.com

    * * * *

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Soaring rice prices are stirring political trouble in Japan – history shows this often leads to a change of government

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Ming Gao, Research Scholar of East Asia Studies, Lund University

    Japan’s agriculture minister, Taku Etō, resigned on May 21 just six months into his term, following a public backlash to his joke that he never buys rice because supporters give it to him for free.

    Gaffes are by no means uncommon in Japanese politics. Controversial remarks by one former prime minister, Tarō Asō, were routinely followed by retractions – and the ruling Liberal Democratic party (LDP) even distributed a gaffe-prevention manual to its members in 2019.

    But amid a severe rice shortage, which has seen prices surge to 90% higher than they were a year ago, Etō’s quip was seen by the Japanese public as more than just an offhand comment.

    Rice has been a significant part of life in Japan for nearly 3,000 years. This deep connection is reflected in the Japanese word gohan, which means “cooked rice” but is often used simply to refer to a “meal”. Rice has also shaped the foundations of Japanese cuisine and farming culture.

    Such is the importance of rice to Japanese people that a spike in prices in 1918 led to a nationwide wave of protest. The so-called “rice riots” forced the then prime minister, Terauchi Masatake, to resign.

    However, despite its obvious importance, Japanese government policy in recent decades has been focused on tightly controlling and regulating the production of rice. It has endeavoured to keep prices high, partly to reward farmers who are an important support base for the LDP.

    This means consumers have paid a premium, contributing to a downward trend in rice consumption alongside other factors such as dietary diversification. By 2022, annual rice consumption in Japan had fallen to 51kg per person, less than half of what it was at its 1962 peak. In this context, the public reaction to Etō’s comment was understandable.

    Japan’s current prime minister, Shigeru Ishiba, initially seemed prepared to weather the storm, advising Etō to retract his “problematic” remarks and remain in his post. But with elections approaching in July and Ishiba’s approval rating sinking to a record low of 21%, his administration was left with little choice and Etō ultimately resigned.

    The rice crisis has emerged as one of the defining issues of the upcoming election, which will determine whether Ishiba’s ruling coalition can secure a majority in the upper house of parliament. Having already lost its majority in the lower house in October 2024, the government may be set for another crushing defeat at the polls.

    Japan’s rice crisis

    A few factors have combined over the past year to cause rice prices to increase unexpectedly. Japan’s hottest September in 125 years resulted in poor harvests, while government warnings that a major earthquake off the country’s Pacific coast could be imminent triggered panic buying. The agriculture ministry also says that a surge in inbound tourism contributed to a sudden rise in rice consumption.

    However, the rice crisis is not fundamentally the result of climate volatility or increased demand. It is the product of decades of self-defeating agricultural policy that has prioritised institutional interests over national food security.

    Rice production caps, which were introduced in 1971 to control supply and prices, have never been fully dismantled even as domestic consumption has changed and the farming population decreased. This artificial control of output has left the country ill-prepared for demand surges.

    Compounding these issues are entrenched protectionist measures designed to shield small-scale rice farmers through high tariffs and rigid distribution systems. These distortions have prioritised institutional stability and political patronage over food security reform, leaving Japan increasingly vulnerable in an era of climate disruption and supply chain instability.

    Having struggled with low wages for years, many sectors of Japan’s population are now grappling with inflation. The government has dug into its emergency rice reserves in an attempt to alleviate the problem, but the grain has been slow to reach supermarket shelves. And some farmers, increasingly frustrated by regulations limiting how much rice they can grow, have even organised demonstrations.

    Under current conditions, imported rice is becoming an unavoidable fallback. Japan is importing rice from South Korea for the first time in over 25 years, while Japanese tourists are reportedly filling their suitcases with Korean rice – despite deep-seated scepticism toward anything not domestically grown.

    Political change looming?

    With rice prices soaring and public discontent mounting, this beloved everyday grain is once again at the centre of Japanese politics – just as it was more than a century ago during the 1918 rice riots.

    Despite the complexities of modern economies, connected to global systems of market exchange, Japanese consumers understand that government policies have played an oversized role in creating the current crisis. It is largely policy that has kept their wages low and failed to rein in inflation.

    Consumers are also keenly aware that the LDP’s rice policy has worked to protect its critical agricultural support base, a situation strongly reflected in Etō’s joke.

    As the government scrambles to get its house in order and put more affordable rice back on the table, a deeper reflection of the past seems advisable. Historical precedents, such as the 1918 riots, suggest that strong public distrust of a government’s rice policy results in profound political change.

    Ming Gao receives funding from the Swedish Research Council. This research was produced with support from the Swedish Research Council grant “Moved Apart” (nr. 2022-01864). Ming Gao is a member of Lund University Profile Area: Human Rights.

    Timothy Amos 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. Soaring rice prices are stirring political trouble in Japan – history shows this often leads to a change of government – https://theconversation.com/soaring-rice-prices-are-stirring-political-trouble-in-japan-history-shows-this-often-leads-to-a-change-of-government-257490

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Coffee can interfere with your medication – here’s what you need to know

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Dipa Kamdar, Senior Lecturer in Pharmacy Practice, Kingston University

    Studio Neeby/Shutterstock

    For many of us, the day doesn’t start until we’ve had our first cup of coffee. It’s comforting, energising, and one of the most widely consumed beverages in the world. But while your morning brew might feel harmless, it can interact with certain medicines in ways that reduce their effectiveness – or increase the risk of side-effects.

    From common cold tablets to antidepressants, caffeine’s impact on the body goes far beyond a quick energy boost. Tea also contains caffeine but not in the same concentrations as coffee, and doesn’t seem to affect people in the same way. Here’s what you should know about how coffee can interfere with your medications – and how to stay safe.

    1. Cold and flu medicines

    Caffeine is a stimulant, which means it speeds up the central nervous system. Pseudoephedrine, a decongestant found in cold and flu remedies such as Sudafed, is also a stimulant. When taken together, the effects can be amplified – potentially leading to jitters or restlessness, headaches, fast heart rate and insomnia.

    Many cold medications already contain added caffeine, increasing these risks further. Some studies also suggest that combining caffeine with pseudoephedrine can raise blood sugar and body temperature – particularly important for people with diabetes.

    Stimulant effects are also a concern when combining caffeine with ADHD medications such as amphetamines, or with asthma drugs such as theophylline, which shares a similar chemical structure to caffeine. Using them together may increase the risk of side-effects such as a rapid heartbeat and sleep disruption.

    2. Thyroid medication

    Levothyroxine, the standard treatment for an underactive thyroid, is highly sensitive to timing – and your morning coffee can get in the way. Studies show that drinking coffee too soon after taking levothyroxine can reduce its absorption by up to 50%.

    Caffeine speeds up gut motility (the movement of food and waste through the digestive tract), giving the drug less time to be absorbed – and may also bind to it in the stomach, making it harder for the body to take in. These effects reduce the drug’s bioavailability, meaning less of it reaches your bloodstream where it’s needed. This interaction is more common with tablet forms of levothyroxine, and less likely with liquid formulations.

    If absorption is impaired, symptoms of hypothyroidism – including fatigue, weight gain and constipation – can return, even if you’re taking your medicine correctly.

    The same timing rule applies to a class of osteoporosis medications called bisphosphonates, including alendronate and risedronate, which also require an empty stomach and around 30-60 minutes before food or drink is taken.

    3. Antidepressants and antipsychotics

    The interaction between caffeine and mental health medications can be more complex.

    Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as sertraline and citalopram, are a type of antidepressant medication widely used to treat depression, anxiety and other psychiatric conditions. Lab studies suggest caffeine can bind to these drugs in the stomach, reducing absorption and potentially making them less effective.

    Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), such as amitriptyline and imipramine, are a class of older antidepressants that work by affecting the levels of neurotransmitters in the brain. They were among the first antidepressants developed and are less commonly used today, compared with newer antidepressants such as SSRIs, due to their potential for more side-effects and higher risk of overdose.

    TCAs are broken down by the liver enzyme CYP1A2, which also metabolises caffeine. The competition between the two can slow drug breakdown, increasing side-effects, or delay caffeine clearance, making you feel jittery or wired longer than usual.

    Clozapine, an antipsychotic, is also processed by CYP1A2. One study showed that drinking two-to-three cups of coffee could increase blood levels of clozapine by up to 97%, potentially increasing risks such as drowsiness, confusion, or more serious complications.

    4. Painkillers

    Some over-the-counter painkillers, such as those containing aspirin or paracetamol, include added caffeine. Coffee can speed up how quickly these drugs are absorbed by accelerating how fast the stomach empties and making the stomach more acidic, which improves absorption for some medications such as aspirin.

    While this may help painkillers work faster, it could also raise the risk of side-effects like stomach irritation or bleeding, especially when combined with other sources of caffeine. Though no serious cases have been reported, caution is still advised.

    5. Heart medications

    Caffeine can temporarily raise blood pressure and heart rate, typically lasting three-to-four hours after consumption. For people taking blood pressure medication or drugs that control irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmias), this may counteract the intended effects of the medication.

    This doesn’t mean people with heart conditions must avoid coffee altogether – but they should monitor how it affects their symptoms, and consider limiting intake or switching to decaf if needed.

    What can you do?

    Coffee may be part of your daily routine, but it’s also a potent chemical compound that can influence how your body processes medicine. Here’s how to make sure it doesn’t interfere.

    Take levothyroxine or bisphosphonates on an empty stomach with water, and wait 30-60 minutes before drinking coffee or eating breakfast.

    Be cautious with cold and flu remedies, asthma treatments and ADHD medications, as caffeine can amplify side-effects.

    If you’re on antidepressants, antipsychotics, or blood pressure drugs, discuss your caffeine habits with your doctor.

    Consider reducing intake or choosing a decaffeinated option if you experience side-effects like restlessness, insomnia or heart palpitations.

    Everyone metabolises caffeine differently – some people feel fine after three cups, while others get side-effects after just one. Pay attention to how your body responds and talk to your pharmacist or GP if anything feels off.

    If you’re ever unsure whether your medicine and your coffee are a good match, ask your pharmacist or doctor. A short conversation might save you weeks of side-effects or reduced treatment effectiveness – and help you enjoy your brew with peace of mind.

    Dipa Kamdar 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. Coffee can interfere with your medication – here’s what you need to know – https://theconversation.com/coffee-can-interfere-with-your-medication-heres-what-you-need-to-know-256919

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Neurosymbolic AI is the answer to large language models’ inability to stop hallucinating

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Artur Garcez, Professor of Computer Science, City St George’s, University of London

    Down with endless data. Alexander Supertramp

    The main problem with big tech’s experiment with artificial intelligence (AI) is not that it could take over humanity. It’s that large language models (LLMs) like Open AI’s ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini and Meta’s Llama continue to get things wrong, and the problem is intractable.

    Known as hallucinations, the most prominent example was perhaps the case of US law professor Jonathan Turley, who was falsely accused of sexual harassment by ChatGPT in 2023.

    OpenAI’s solution seems to have been to basically “disappear” Turley by programming ChatGPT to say it can’t respond to questions about him, which is clearly not a fair or satisfactory solution. Trying to solve hallucinations after the event and case by case is clearly not the way to go.

    The same can be said of LLMs amplifying stereotypes or giving western-centric answers. There’s also a total lack of accountability in the face of this widespread misinformation, since it’s difficult to ascertain how the LLM reached this conclusion in the first place.

    We saw a fierce debate about these problems after the 2023 release of GPT-4, the most recent major paradigm in OpenAI’s LLM development. Arguably the debate has cooled since then, though without justification.

    The EU passed its AI Act in record time in 2024, for instance, in a bid to be world leader in overseeing this field. But the act relies heavily on AI companies to regulate themselves without really addressing the issues in question. It hasn’t stopped tech companies from releasing LLMs worldwide to hundreds of millions of users and collecting their data without proper scrutiny.

    Meanwhile, the latest tests indicate that even the most sophisticated LLMs remain unreliable. Despite this, the leading AI companies still resist taking responsibility for errors.

    Unfortunately LLMs’ tendencies to misinform and reproduce bias can’t be solved with gradual improvements over time. And with the advent of agentic AI, where users will soon be able to assign projects to an LLM such as, say, booking their holiday or optimising the payment of all their bills each month, the potential for trouble is set to multiply.

    The emerging field of neurosymbolic AI could solve these issues, while also reducing the enormous amounts of data required for training LLMs. So what is neurosymbolic AI and how does it work?

    The LLM problem

    LLMs work using a technique called deep learning, where they are given vast amounts of text data and use advanced statistics to infer patterns that determine what the next word or phrase in any given response should be. The models – along with all the patterns it has learned – are stored in arrays of powerful computers in large data centres known as neural networks.

    LLMs can appear to reason using a process called chain-of-thought, where they generate multi-step responses that mimic how humans might logically arrive at a conclusion, based on patterns seen in the training data.

    Undoubtedly, LLMs are a great engineering achievement. They are impressive at summarising text and translating, and may improve the productivity of those diligent and knowledgeable enough to spot their mistakes. Nevertheless they have great potential to mislead because their conclusions are always based on probabilities – not understanding.

    Misinformation in, misinformation out.
    Collagery

    A popular workaround is called “human-in-the-loop”: making sure that humans using AIs still make the final decisions. However, apportioning blame to humans does not solve the problem. They’ll still often be misled by misinformation.

    LLMs now need so much training data to advance that we’re now having to feed them synthetic data, meaning data created by LLMs. This data can copy and amplify existing errors from its own source data, such that new models inherit the weaknesses of old ones. As a result, the cost of programming AIs to be more accurate after their training – known as “post-hoc model alignment” – is skyrocketing.

    It also becomes increasingly difficult for programmers to see what’s going wrong because the number of steps in the model’s thought process become ever larger, making it harder and harder to correct for errors.

    Neurosymbolic AI combines the predictive learning of neural networks with teaching the AI a series of formal rules that humans learn to be able to deliberate more reliably. These include logic rules, like “if a then b”, such as “if it’s raining then everything outside is normally wet”; mathematical rules, like “if a = b and b = c then a = c”; and the agreed upon meanings of things like words, diagrams and symbols. Some of these will be inputted directly into the AI system, while it will deduce others itself by analysing its training data and doing “knowledge extraction”.

    This should create an AI that will never hallucinate and will learn faster and smarter by organising its knowledge into clear, reusable parts. For example if the AI has a rule about things being wet outside when it rains, there’s no need for it to retain every example of the things that might be wet outside – the rule can be applied to any new object, even one it has never seen before.

    During model development, neurosymbolic AI also integrates learning and formal reasoning using a process known as the “neurosymbolic cycle”. This involves a partially trained AI extracting rules from its training data then instilling this consolidated knowledge back into the network before further training with data.

    This is more energy efficient because the AI needn’t store as much data, while the AI is more accountable because it’s easier for a user to control how it reaches particular conclusions and improves over time. It’s also fairer because it can be made to follow pre-existing rules, such as: “For any decision made by the AI, the outcome must not depend on a person’s race or gender”.

    The third wave

    The first wave of AI in the 1980s, known as symbolic AI, was actually based on teaching computers formal rules that they could then apply to new information. Deep learning followed as the second wave in the 2010s, and many see neurosymbolic AI as the third.

    It’s easiest to apply neurosymbolic principles to AI in niche areas, because the rules can be clearly defined. So it’s no surprise that we’ve seen it first emerge in Google’s AlphaFold, which predicts protein structures to help with drug discovery; and AlphaGeometry, which solves complex geometry problems.

    For more broad-based AIs, China’s DeepSeek uses a learning technique called “distillation” which is a step in the same direction. But to make neurosymbolic AI fully feasible for general models, there still needs to be more research to refine their ability to discern general rules and perform knowledge extraction.

    It’s unclear to what extent LLM makers are working on this already. They certainly sound like they’re heading in the direction of trying to teach their models to think more cleverly, but they also seem wedded to the need to scale up with ever larger amounts of data.

    The reality is that if AI is going to keep advancing, we will need systems that adapt to novelty from only a few examples, that check their understanding, that can multitask and reuse knowledge to improve data efficiency and that can reason reliably in sophisticated ways.

    This way, well designed digital technology could potentially even offer an alternative to regulation, because the checks and balances would be built into the architecture and perhaps standardised across the industry. There’s a long way to go, but at least there’s a path ahead.

    Artur Garcez 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. Neurosymbolic AI is the answer to large language models’ inability to stop hallucinating – https://theconversation.com/neurosymbolic-ai-is-the-answer-to-large-language-models-inability-to-stop-hallucinating-257752

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI: Ascendiant Capital Markets: Society Pass Inc (Nasdaq: SOPA) 1Q 2025 Sees Growth Over the Next Year with 2 IPOs Providing Key Catalysts in 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, May 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Ascendiant Capital Markets LLC (“Ascendiant”) publishes equity research coverage on Society Pass Inc. (Nasdaq: SOPA) (“SoPa” or the “Company”), Southeast Asia’s (SEA) next generation, data-driven, loyalty, fintech and e-commerce ecosystem.

    Click Here (on Society Pass website) or here (on Ascendiant website) to view the full Ascendiant Capital Markets Equity Research Report.

    Summary Points:

    • 2 IPOs Planned: In October 2023, the company announced plans to spinoff two of its businesses in IPOs in 2024 (originally planned), its digital advertising ecosystem, Thoughtful Media Group Inc., and its online travel platform, NusaTrip Inc. Ascendiant believes that these IPOs will drive significant value to Society Pass’s shareholders and will be key catalysts for the company in 2025.
    • Positive high risks versus high rewards: Overall, concerns outweighed by growth prospects and valuation. Society Pass’s main products still has long commercialization challenges ahead, but Ascendiant believes the ~billion dollars market potential presents high rewards for the risks.
    • Company trading at cash value: The company’s market capitalization is only ~$7 million while it has ~$7 million in cash implying its shares and business are significantly undervalued.
    • Valuation attractive: Ascendiant maintains BUY rating, and raises 12-month price target to $15 from $14, based on a NPV analysis, representing significant upside from the current share price. Ascendiant believes this valuation appropriately balances out the company’s high risks with its high growth prospects and large upside opportunities.

    About Society Pass Inc.
    Founded in 2018 as a data-driven loyalty, fintech and e-commerce ecosystem in the fast-growing markets of Vietnam, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, which account for more than 80% of the SEA population, and with offices located in Angeles, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Jakarta, Manila, and Singapore, Society Pass Incorporated (Nasdaq: SOPA) is an acquisition-focused holding company operating 6 interconnected verticals (loyalty, digital media, travel, telecoms, lifestyle, and F&B), which seamlessly connects millions of registered consumers and hundreds of thousands of registered merchants/brands across multiple product and service categories throughout SEA.

    Society Pass completed an initial public offering and began trading on the Nasdaq under the ticker SOPA in November 2021.

    SoPa acquires fast growing e-commerce companies and expands its user base across a robust product and service ecosystem. SoPa integrates these complementary businesses through its signature Society Pass fintech platform and circulation of its universal loyalty points or Society Points, which has entered beta testing and is expected to launch broadly at the beginning of 2023. Society Pass loyalty program members earn and redeem Society Points and receive personalised promotions based on SoPa’s data capabilities and understanding of consumer shopping behaviour. SoPa has amassed more than 3.3 million registered consumers and over 650,000 registered merchants and brands. It has invested 2+ years building proprietary IT architecture to effectively scale and support its consumers, merchants, and acquisitions.

    Society Pass leverages technology to tailor a more personalised experience for customers in the purchase journey and to transform the entire retail value chain in SEA. SoPa operates Thoughtful Media Group, a Thailand-based, a social commerce-focused, premium digital video multi-platform network; NusaTrip, a leading Indonesia-based Online Travel Agency; VLeisure, Vietnam’s leading provider of hotel management and payment solutions; Gorilla Global, a Singapore-based, mobile network operator; Leflair.com, Vietnam’s leading lifestyle e-commerce platform; Pushkart.ph, a popular grocery delivery company in Philippines; and NextGen Retail, a Indonesia-based e-commerce platform.

    For more information on Society Pass, please visit:

    Website at https://www.thesocietypass.com or

    LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/societypass or

    Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/thesocietypass or

    Twitter at https://twitter.com/society_pass or

    Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/societypass/.

    Cautionary Note Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
    This press release may include “forward-looking statements,” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this press release are forward-looking statements. When used in this press release, words such as “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “expect”, “intend” and similar expressions, as they relate to us or our management team, identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs of management, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, the Company’s management. Actual results could differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors detailed in the Company’s filings with the SEC. All subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are qualified in their entirety by this paragraph. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous conditions, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including those set forth in the Risk Factors section of the Company’s registration statement and prospectus relating to the Company’s initial public offering filed with the SEC. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release, except as required by law.

    Media Contact:
    Raynauld Liang
    Chief Executive Officer
    ray@thesocietypass.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Sibeprenlimab’s priority review highlights potential to differentiate in IgAN space, says GlobalData

    Source: GlobalData

    Sibeprenlimab’s priority review highlights potential to differentiate in IgAN space, says GlobalData

    Posted in Pharma

    Otsuka Pharmaceutical recently announced that the FDA has accepted for review the Biologics License Application (BLA) for sibeprenlimab, which acts as A Proliferation Inducing Ligand (APRIL) inhibitor in development for immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy (IgAN). This followed sibeprenlimab’s 2024 FDA breakthrough designation for the same indication. The BLA was supported by the Phase III VISIONARY trial data. If approved, sibeprenlimab could provide patients with the first disease-modifying therapy that addresses both the clinical and practical challenges of living with IgAN, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

    VISIONARY is an ongoing, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase III trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of sibeprenlimab for IgAN. Interim results showed that sibeprenlimab demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful reduction in 24-hour urine protein-to-creatinine ratio compared to placebo after nine months of treatment. Additionally, sibeprenlimab demonstrated a favorable safety profile.

    Kajal Jaddoo, Senior Pharma Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Sibeprenlimab is a single-dose prefilled syringe for subcutaneous injection every four weeks, intended for self-administration at home. This represents a substantial improvement over intravenous therapies that require clinical visits and healthcare facility resources. The self-administration at home provides patients with greater control over their treatment schedule and reduces the disruption to daily activities that often accompanies chronic disease management.”

    IgAN is a common cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and kidney failure. CKD is a condition characterized by a gradual loss of kidney function over time. This leads to the accumulation of excess fluid and waste in the body. In the early stages, CKD is a largely asymptomatic condition.

    Jaddoo concludes: “Sibeprenlimab’s latest priority review further signifies the drug’s major advantages over existing treatments and will provide enhanced support for its development for targeting a complex condition like IgAN.”

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Signing Ceremony of the Convention on the Establishment of the International Organization for Mediation and Global Forum on International Mediation successfully conclude today

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Signing Ceremony of the Convention on the Establishment of the International Organization for Mediation and Global Forum on International Mediation successfully conclude today 
         Member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Wang Yi, attended the Signing Ceremony of the Convention in Hong Kong. Mr Wang was the first to sign the Convention on behalf of China. Thirty-three countries, including China and countries from Asia, Africa, Latin America and Europe, jointly signed the Convention. In addition, more than 50 countries and nearly 20 international organisations, including the United Nations (UN), also sent senior representatives to witness the Signing Ceremony. The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee; the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki; the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan; and the Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, were also present.
     
         Addressing the ceremony, Mr Wang said that as an innovative step in international rule of law, the IOMed has great significance in the history of international relations. The establishment of the IOMed is an actualisation of the purposes and principles of the UN Charter; it is also an example of a civilisational belief in harmony and an epitome of inclusiveness in the culture of the rule of law. The IOMed will be headquartered in Hong Kong, whose handover is itself a success story of peaceful settlement of international disputes. The success of the “one country, two systems” principle has created brighter prospects for prosperity and stability in Hong Kong. Mr Wang said that he looks forward to all parties working together to let the IOMed play a positive role in peacefully resolving international disputes for a brighter future for humanity.
        
         Addressing the ceremony, Mr Lee expressed his sincere gratitude to the Central Government for its staunch support of Hong Kong, allowing Hong Kong the honour of housing the IOMed headquarters. He also thanked the international community for placing their trust and confidence in the city. He said that Hong Kong is the only common law jurisdiction in China. With a robust, efficient and well-respected legal system, as well as world-class legal and dispute resolution services professionals, Hong Kong is also the most preferred seat of arbitration in the Asia-Pacific region. Hong Kong goes all out to build bridges with the world and will actively support and facilitate the IOMed’s valuable work in settling international disputes through mediation, thereby providing a pathway for countries to resolve international disputes based on mutual respect and understanding.
     
         The Global Forum on International Mediation in the afternoon discussed topics such as mediation of disputes among countries and mediation of international investment and commercial disputes. Twenty-three leaders from different countries and international organisations shared their experiences on how a neutral third party can effectively assist in the mediation of disputes between countries through dialogue and consultation, highlighting the importance of mediation to the peaceful development of the world and the practice of justice. The speakers also discussed new developments in international investment and commercial dispute mediation and the contributions that the IOMed can make.
     
         Witnessed by forum guests, Mr Lam signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Minister of Commerce of Cambodia, Mrs Cham Nimul, to strengthen co-operation between the two places on issues relating to dispute avoidance and resolution.
     
         The objective and goal of the IOMed is to promote and facilitate the peaceful settlement of international disputes and to develop friendly relations and co-operation between countries through mediation. It is an important mechanism for implementing Article 33 of the UN Charter to peacefully settle international disputes through mediation and other means. It is of great significance to achieving win-win co-operation among all parties to the dispute, improving global governance, and promoting world peace and stability in the international order. The IOMed will be the first international intergovernmental legal organisation devoted to the use of mediation in resolving international disputes. It will be a beneficial supplement to the current international dispute settlement mechanism and will provide a new legal public good in international rule of law, marking a milestone in promoting the settlement of international disputes through mediation.
     
         The Convention on the Establishment of the International Organization for Mediation is the legal basis for the establishment of the IOMed, which covers important provisions such as the functions, governance structure, operation, scope of cases accepted, privileges and immunities of the IOMed. With the signing of the Convention, the IOMed will be formally established after signatories’ ratification of the Convention and be headquartered in Hong Kong. The IOMed headquarters is expected to be operational by the end of this year or early next year at the earliest, providing friendly, flexible, economical and efficient mediation services to all parties, thereby strengthening Hong Kong’s role as an international dispute resolution services centre and a capital for international mediation. Fully harnessing the institutional strengths under the “one country, two systems” principle and integrating into the national development strategy, Hong Kong will contribute to building a world of peace and justice. 
     
         The text of the Convention is available on the IOMed’s websiteIssued at HKT 23:19

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Stein Highlights DMV Challenges, Calls for Increased Investment

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: Governor Stein Highlights DMV Challenges, Calls for Increased Investment

    Governor Stein Highlights DMV Challenges, Calls for Increased Investment
    lsaito

    Raleigh, NC

    Today Governor Josh Stein joined Secretary of Transportation Joey Hopkins and DMV Commissioner Paul Tine to highlight North Carolina’s ongoing DMV crisis and call for cross-government partnership to improve the customer experience.

    “Hundreds of thousands of North Carolinians each year visit the DMV, and they need to be able to take care of their business in a timely manner,” said Governor Josh Stein. “We are tackling this problem head-on, and Secretary Hopkins, Commissioner Tine, and I are committed to working with our legislature and Auditor Boliek to make the DMV work better for everyone.”

    “Every North Carolinian on our roads will need to interact with the DMV at some point, so we have a responsibility to get it right,” said Department of Transportation Secretary Joey Hopkins. “I am pleased to see Commissioner Tine hitting the ground running.”

    “Since my appointment a month ago, I have dedicated myself to meeting with DMV customers and team members to learn more about the challenges our state is facing,” said DMV Commissioner Paul Tine. “While we have begun raising pay for examiners, simplifying the website, and finding opportunities to get more people through offices this summer, we know there is much more work to be done to ensure a positive experience for customers and team members alike.”

    Governor Josh Stein and the NC Department of Transportation announced Paul Tine’s appointment as Commissioner of the DMV on April 30. Commissioner Tine is working to improve North Carolinians’ experience with the DMV by addressing wait times, staffing challenges, and customer satisfaction. Governor Stein’s 2025-2027 budget proposal includes funding for 61 new Driver License Examiners and 24 new positions to staff new and expanded Driver License Offices. The House budget calls for this same expansion of DMV’s staff. Governor Stein is committed to working with the General Assembly and the State Auditor’s office to find and implement real solutions. 

    May 30, 2025

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: “Exciting, but incredibly inspiring”

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: State University Higher School of Economics – State University Higher School of Economics –

    Photo: Dmitry Novikov

    On May 28, the students of the university-wide elective course “GR in modern Russia: theory and practice” The projects were evaluated by three commissions consisting of professors. Department of Theory and Practice of Interaction between Business and Government HSE University. One of the commissions was headed by the head of the department, HSE President Alexander Shokhin.

    This academic year, the Department of Theory and Practice of Business and Government Interaction at the National Research University Higher School of Economics celebrated its 20th anniversary. For over 15 years, its key project has been a university-wide elective course. It is attended not only by HSE students, but also by representatives of other universities, government agencies, commercial organizations, etc.

    The department was one of the first at the university to use a project-based approach to teaching. “Students in our elective write their final theses not as classic coursework or diploma theses, but as projects, including group projects, aimed at solving specific problems. This is due to the fact that the faculty of the department are practicing politicians, officials and entrepreneurs,” notes Alexander Shokhin.

    The head of the department himself annually supervises the preparation of several projects. In the current academic year, one of them was devoted to youth entrepreneurship; a team of four people worked on it: two HSE Master’s students and two elective students who had already received a higher education.

    “Writing the paper under the guidance of Alexander Nikolaevich was exciting, but incredibly inspiring,” says Alena Velikanova, a first-year student in the master’s program.Media management” He was deeply immersed in the topic, guided us, helped to build a clear structure for the research and set the accents. And most importantly, he was sincerely interested not only in the successful defense of the work, but also in its further development. His recommendations went far beyond the scope of the academic assignment and concerned the prospects for the practical application of our developments.”

    Alena completed the elective for the second time, and became its listener for the first time in the third year of the bachelor’s program “Journalism” Then her work, carried out under the supervision of Professor Nikolai Tsekhomsky, was devoted to public-private partnership in infrastructure projects of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. Thanks to the elective, she deeply mastered economic issues, and this helped her in professional self-realization – she began to work in the Youth Council at the Representative Office of Kamchatka Krai.

    “I am an ambitious person, and the elective has become a serious challenge for me for the second year: I prove to myself that I can handle any topic,” admits Alena. “This is a great opportunity to prove myself, to master a new direction in an intensive format under the guidance of real leaders, to adopt their invaluable experience. In the future, I would like to do an internship at the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, and then work in my specialty – in the field of media management.”

    Another team of students, led by Professor Vladimir Salamatov, developed a project entitled “Development of the Northern Sea Route in the Context of Eastern Transport Infrastructure and Integration into International Transport Corridors.” It included Sergey Kharyushin, a second-year student in the bachelor’s program “State and municipal administration“, Alexey Proskurin, HSE graduate, head of the data analytics department of the Moscow Department of Information Technologies, and Elizaveta Metelyova, head of the operational analytics department of the Analytical Center under the Government of the Russian Federation.

    “The Northern Sea Route is a unique transport artery that connects Europe and Asia. After the introduction of sanctions, it became the most relevant, many problems associated with its use became more acute, and their solution required the combined efforts of various departments and shippers. The Northern Sea Route expands every year, attracts new participants, and last year it set a historical record for cargo turnover,” explains Elizaveta.

    “We have developed a number of recommendations – for example, we proposed creating the Main Directorate of the Northern Sea Route, an independent institution that will coordinate interdepartmental cooperation between Rosmorrechflot, Rosatom, the Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media of Russia and other structures on this issue. For online navigation tracking, we proposed creating a digital twin with the involvement of the Agency for Strategic Initiatives. The problem of the shortage of icebreaker and Arctic cargo fleet was also highlighted in the work,” adds Alexey.

    During the defense, the commission highly appreciated the project, and Professor Kirill Androsov recommended that its materials be submitted to the government commission. According to the authors, the expertise of Vladimir Salamatov, who has been working at the Department of Theory and Practice of Interaction between Business and Government at the National Research University Higher School of Economics since 2015, helped to prepare it at a high level and adequately defend it. In different years, he was Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation, General Director of the International Trade Center, and created his own analytical center dealing with issues of international trade.

    “I came to this department because it is unique. People who have achieved great results, worked or work in very important positions and, of course, have invaluable experience work here. They all understand that only the state or only business will not be able to solve the issues of our country’s development, that their alliance is needed for this. Both in professorial lectures and in student projects, the topic of interaction between business and government is highlighted every time,” Vladimir Salamatov notes.

    According to his assessment, there is a noticeable differentiation among the elective course participants by educational tracks: not only economists and political scientists come here, but even engineers, graduates of the Higher School of Economics and other universities. By and large, anyone can participate in the selection for the elective course. “I am equally interested in working with first-year students and graduates who perceive the material, including through the prism of their experience,” the professor adds.

    He recommends that elective students “not stand still, constantly study, test themselves, and if you do this constantly, success will not be long in coming.”

    Among the professors of the department who supervised the projects of the students this year was Deputy Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation Tatyana Ilyushnikova. The topic of one of the projects was devoted to the mechanisms of partnership interaction between the state and large businesses, the state and small businesses, large and small businesses, and another to the landscape of entrepreneurial awards as platforms for interaction between government bodies and businesses and identifying public opinion leaders in the entrepreneurial environment.

    “GR is the art of building a dialogue between business and the state based on mutual trust and strategic vision. Our elective course at HSE is a unique platform where future economists, managers and analysts learn to understand real decision-making mechanisms by working with relevant cases from practice. In the modern economy, where the regulatory environment is rapidly changing, such competencies are becoming critically important. Come and we will analyze real cases and explore the field of interaction between business and government in our joint project work,” said Tatyana Ilyushnikova.

    “In this elective, you will be able to receive exclusive information from outstanding experts – ministers, deputy ministers, State Duma deputies, famous entrepreneurs, and it will certainly be useful when studying in virtually any educational program. Personally, I learned a lot not only from the professors, but also from my senior comrades with whom I worked on the project,” says HSE student Sergey Kharyushin.

    At the end of this academic year, 45 students of the university-wide elective course “GR in Modern Russia: Theory and Practice” defended 27 projects, including 12 group projects. The range of scores was quite large. The maximum score, which only some managed to get, was 9 out of 10. It gives the right to apply for publication in the electronic journal “Business. Society. Power”, 8-point works can also be considered.

    After the defense, Alexander Shokhin thanked the audience for their involvement in the elective. Each was given a copy of the magazine “Business and Power in Russia”, published for the 20th anniversary of the department, with autographs of its professors.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Mining companies turn to AI and adoptive cloud to support global energy transition

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: Mining companies turn to AI and adoptive cloud to support global energy transition

    As global demand for minerals and metals only intensifies, mining companies are turning to AI-powered solutions to enhance exploration accuracy, automate equipment, predict maintenance needs, help increase safety, and optimize energy use. Meeting net-zero targets is expected to require around 700,000 new workers in the critical minerals extraction industry by 2030, an 88% increase from 2022 levels.1 This is one area where AI comes in—82% of leaders say they’re confident that they’ll use digital labor to expand workforce capacity in the next 12 to 18 months.2

    Explore Microsoft for energy and resources

    As the mining industry undergoes its digital and AI transformation, Microsoft remains committed to delivering innovative and secure solutions. From adopting AI and agents to streamlining business processes and unlocking efficiency to moving legacy systems to the cloud—we’re dedicated to working together towards a powerful and sustainable future of mining.

    AI transformation for a more resilient future of mining

    As we are seeing across the energy and resources industry, the mining sector is facing growing pressure to support the global energy transition, with AI emerging as a prominent solution. With demand for critical minerals expected to quadruple by 20403, AI can help mining companies locate and extract resources more efficiently, with studies showing potential reductions of 20% to 30% in the time and cost of mineral discovery.4

    From early stage exploration to downstream processing and logistics, AI has the potential to be embedded throughout the mining value chain. In upstream operations, it can enhance mineral prospectivity mapping, resource estimation, and production planning. Downstream, it can optimize ore blending, recovery, and processing. Even side streams like supply chain logistics are beginning to see gains, as AI-powered efficiencies ripple across operations. And in exploration, AI unlocks insights from vast geoscientific datasets—both legacy and real-time—enabling faster, more accurate decision-making.

    The possibilities for AI use cases in the mining sector are abundant, and there are ways for organizations embarking on their digital transformation journey to get started today—such as with workforce productivity. AI adoption in this context is a powerful step towards the future of work, and Ma’aden, a mining company in Saudi Arabia, is a prime example of that. Ma’aden used Microsoft 365 Copilot, Microsoft Copilot Studio, and Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service to help employees be more productive in daily tasks, like getting quick answers on policies, summarizing content, and drafting presentations, emails, and meeting minutes. Ma’aden saw enhanced productivity, with Copilot users saving up to 2,200 hours monthly.

    In addition to workforce productivity, Microsoft AI solutions are also enabling operational transformation, as seen in Sandvik’s approach to equipment optimization. Sandvik created a cloud-based service solution that uses data and AI to generate insights on the state of their machines to support the optimization of the operation of equipment. Powered by Microsoft Azure Cloud and its analytics and AI services, the solution uses data to produce actionable insights into equipment performance and status—helping to drive transformation across its business.

    Foundations for AI-driven transformation in mining

    Unlocking potential: Bringing the cloud to mining operations

    As the mining industry advances efficiency, safety, and sustainability goals, the adaptive cloud has emerged as a critical piece of this journey. Microsoft’s adaptive cloud approach uses cloud-native and AI technologies across hybrid, multi-cloud, edge, and Internet of Things (IoT) environments. By making operational technology (OT) cloud-enabled, mining organizations can unlock real-time insights, streamline operations, and enhance resilience. This union of cloud and OT supports smarter decision-making and predictive maintenance, and lays the foundation for innovation and scalability.

    Boliden offers a compelling example of how cloud infrastructure can modernize mining operations at scale. The Swedish mining company needed to automate and centralize data collection, increase visibility across processes, and add new ways to analyze information. Boliden monitors the Garpenberg site with a network of 500 cameras that give management teams oversight of the mines, wells, and operations, helping to keep an eye on productivity and safety. The company now uses a combination of Microsoft Azure IoT Edge and Microsoft Azure IoT Hub to connect the cameras with other Boliden systems and the rest of its IoT network, which consists of thousands of sensors above and below ground, along with other devices. By working with a flexible, fully featured cloud infrastructure, the company can now bring more productivity and safety to all their sites.

    Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) also exemplifies how adaptive cloud infrastructure can overcome the limitations of traditional on-premises environments to support scalable, intelligent operations. EGA deployed a hybrid environment that connected private cloud services through on-premises datacenters. Deploying a hybrid environment helped to optimize latency, support advanced AI and automation solutions, offer sustaining commercial savings by applying intelligence at the edge, and streamline processing for massive amounts of real-time readings from sensors, machinery, and production lines.

    Learn more about energy and resources solutions with Microsoft

    No matter what your organization’s digital transformation may look like, Microsoft is committed to helping to drive progress in the mining industry and working to grow sustainable, secure, AI-powered businesses. Microsoft has always been built on trust and a robust security suite, and is committed to prioritizing security in the design, build, and operation of our products and services. To take a deeper dive into cybersecurity in the age of generative AI and building a foundation for AI-powered transformation in mining, read our latest e-book.

    1 Tracking the Trends 2025 | Deloitte US, Deloitte 2025

    2 2025: The Year the Frontier Firm Is Born, Microsoft, April 2025

    3 The energy transition will need critical minerals and metals. Here’s how to mine responsibly, World Economic Forum, June 2024

    4 Now is the time to invest in sustainable mining technologies. Here’s why, World Economic Forum, September 2024

    Joseph Starwood

    Worldwide Mining Industry Leader, Microsoft

    Mr. Starwood serves as Worldwide Mining Industry Leader at Microsoft. He works with mining clients to align enterprise capabilities with business strategies to transform business models and operational processes and to realize value from technology investments and assets. He is a thought-leader on the Digital Sustainable Mine of the Future and his work utilizes digital twins, AI, industrial metaverse, edge computing, and more.

    See more articles from this author

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General James Secures $600,000 from Fitness Company Equinox for its Hard-to-Cancel Memberships

    Source: US State of New York

    EW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced a settlement with Equinox Group, LLC (Equinox Group), which offers fitness services under Equinox, Equinox+, and SoulCycle, for making it hard for New Yorkers to cancel their membership. The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) found that Equinox Group failed to clearly disclose its subscription terms, provide consumers with the subscription acknowledgment required by New York law, and offer cost-effective and easy-to-use online cancellation mechanisms. As a result of today’s settlement, Equinox Group must pay $600,000 in penalties, change its subscription practices, and offer refunds to subscribers who tried to cancel their membership but could not.

    “New Yorkers should be able to cancel a membership they no longer use or want without breaking a sweat,” said Attorney General James. “The Equinox Group made it challenging for customers to end their membership, costing them time and money. As a result of my office’s settlement, New Yorkers can now cancel their membership with Equinox, SoulCycle, or any of Equinox Group’s brands much faster.”

    New York law requires subscription terms to be clearly disclosed to customers, including the minimum term, the fact that the subscription renews, and the cancellation policy. Businesses must also obtain affirmative consent for automatic renewals, provide a post-purchase acknowledgment, and offer a cost effective, timely, and easy-to-use cancellation mechanism.

    The OAG found that Equinox’s subscription terms were not clear and appeared in fine print disclosures or within a hard-to-understand terms and conditions document. Equinox also did not obtain informed affirmative consent from subscribers and did not provide them with a post-purchase acknowledgment. In addition, Equinox’s cancellation process was complex, difficult, and time-consuming. 

    This settlement requires Equinox Group to pay $600,000 in penalties and provide refunds of up to $250 to New York subscribers who filed complaints with the Equinox Group, Federal Trade Commission, Better Business Bureau, or the Office of the Attorney General of the State of New York. 

    New York subscribers to Equinox gyms, SoulCycle, and Equinox+ online fitness classes are also eligible for up to $100 in restitution. New York Equinox Group customers who first became subscribers or attempted to cancel their subscription between February 9, 2021 and May 19, 2025 must email Equinox Group by July 19, 2025. SoulCycle subscribers should email NewYorkAGclaims@soul-cycle.com . Equinox Gym and Equinox+ subscribers should email NewYorkAGclaims@equinox.com.  Subscriber restitution requests must include their name, and the phone number or email address associated with their account. 

    In addition to paying penalties and restitution, Equinox Group must improve its disclosures, obtain informed affirmative consent from subscribers, and provide customers with an acknowledgment including cancellation information. The settlement also requires Equinox Group to clearly and conspicuously disclose cancellation information in the subscription agreement and on an easily accessible website page for each brand.

    This settlement is the latest in Attorney General James’ efforts to help customers with hard-to-cancel subscriptions. In December 2023, Attorney General James sued SiriusXM for trapping customers into unwanted subscriptions and in November 2024, a court found that SiriusXM violated the law by forcing customers to undergo a long and burdensome process to cancel their subscriptions.

    This matter was handled by Assistant Attorney General Gena Feist and Laura Mumm, and former Assistant Attorney General Hanna Baek, under the supervision of Deputy Bureau Chief Clark Russell and Bureau Chief Kim Berger of the Bureau of Internet and Technology. The Bureau of Internet and Technology is a part of the Division for Economic Justice, which is led by Chief Deputy Attorney General Chris D’Angelo and overseen by First Deputy Attorney General Jennifer Levy. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Press Release: FDIC Issues Enforcement Orders for April 2025

    Source: US Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation FDIC

    CategoriesBusiness, Commerce, MIL-OSI, United States Federal Government, United States Government, United States of America, US Commerce, US Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation FDIC, US Federal Government, US Insurance Sector, USA

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Road surfacing programme gets under way

    Source: City of Plymouth

    Forty-five Plymouth roads will get a new lease of life over the next 12 months as part of a £1.734 million investment in preventative treatment and resurfacing.

    Our road surfacing programme for 2025/26 has just got under way and is targeting stretches on main routes where the overall road surface is nearing the end of its life or where multiple potholes have developed.

    Nine roads will be fully resurfaced and a further 36 are undergoing surface dressing, which is used to extend the life of roads showing earlier signs of wear and tear, improving their condition and delaying the need for more costly repairs.

    Surface dressing involves spraying a bituminous binder onto the prepared road surface before applying aggregate chippings (also known as the ‘lock-chip’ stage), followed by sweeping and finally re-lining.

    Councillor John Stephens, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Transport, said: “Ensuring people can get from A to B, however they travel, is an absolute priority for Plymouth and a resilient road network is essential. By investing in preventative treatments like surface dressing we can improve the condition of roads and slow down their deterioration to help reduce the need for much more costly resurfacing.”

    Roads undergoing surface dressing between now and the end of June include:

    • Barbican Road
    • Beaconfield Road
    • Boulter Close
    • Chestnut Avenue
    • Clittaford Road
    • Culver Way
    • Dunnet Road
    • Eggbuckland Road/Frogmore Avenue
    • Ford Park Lane
    • Furneaux Road
    • Granby Way
    • Lanhydrock Road Lane
    • Longbridge Road/Marsh Close
    • Macadam Road/Shapters Way
    • Mount Gould Road
    • Old Laira Road
    • Penlee Place/Ashford Road
    • Plymbridge Road
    • Pomphlett Gardens
    • Prince Maurice Road
    • Princess Street
    • Princess Street Ope
    • Roman Way
    • Segrave Road
    • Southway Drive
    • Staddon Lane/Hooe Road
    • Station Road (Tamerton Foliot)
    • Stenlake Terrace
    • St Georges Avenue
    • St Peters Road
    • Uxbridge Drive
    • Whin Bank Road
    • Wolverwood Lane

    The works, which are phased over separate days, are being carried out by our road maintenance contractor South West Highways, alongside its day-to-day repairs to individual potholes.

    Advance warning signs are being put out on the roadside to let drivers know when works are programmed and local residents and businesses are being sent letters with details of when their roads are being closed. Access to properties is being maintained as far as possible and any diversion routes are being signposted.

    Roads that will be fully resurfaced this year include:

    • Buckwell Street
    • Budshead Road
    • Drunken Bridge Hill/Underwood Road
    • Foliot Road
    • Fort Austin Avenue
    • Ham Drive
    • Kinterbury Street
    • New Passage Hill

    For the latest roadworks updates follow @plymhighways on X or sign up for our weekly roadworks roundup.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Local businesses invited to join borough-wide ‘Shop ABC’ Gift Card Scheme

    Source: Northern Ireland City of Armagh

    Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council are asking local businesses to sign up to its exciting new gift card initiative, designed to encourage people to shop local, gift local, and spend local.

    Set to go live this summer, the ‘Shop ABC’ Gift Card will be valid across the ABC borough. Businesses of all types and sizes — from retailers and restaurants to salons, hotels, and visitor attractions — are invited to join the scheme for free.

    The card operates via the Mastercard network, meaning no additional equipment is required for businesses already accepting Mastercard payments.

    The ‘Shop ABC’ Gift Card offers a convenient and flexible way for consumers to gift and spend money within the borough. Whether it’s for birthdays, Christmas, thank-you gifts, or corporate rewards, the card will provide a powerful new way to promote local economic activity.

    With a summer launch fast approaching, the Council is urging businesses to register early to ensure they’re part of the scheme from day one.

    Deputy Lord Mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough, Councillor Kyle Savage said: “The introduction of the Shop ABC Gift Card marks a significant step in strengthening support for businesses across the borough. We all understand the vital importance of shopping local—and this card makes it easier than ever to do just that. By keeping spending within our city, town centres, and villages, we’re not only backing local businesses but also investing in the long-term vitality and resilience of our communities.”

    Chair of the ABC Business Partnership Alliance, Adrian Farrell, said: “The Shop ABC Gift Card is a powerful new way to support our local economy by making it easier than ever to shop local. Available in both physical and digital formats, it’s designed to appeal to all age groups and spending habits. This initiative gives smaller businesses access to a gift card program that aims to drive footfall and boost sales. With no additional cost to join or accept the card, it’s a win-win for businesses and consumers alike. By working together across the borough, we’re creating a compelling, modern tool that keeps money circulating locally and helps our town centres thrive.”

    Colin Munro, Managing Director of Miconex, said: “The first thing people will do when they receive a Shop ABC Gift Card is check where it can be spent. Being a part of the initiative will drive awareness of your businesses, and is a proven means of driving new customers and new revenue. Signing up to accept the card takes moments and ensures you’re not turning away businesses when the card launches in the summer.” 

    To sign up or find out more about the Shop ABC Gift Card, businesses can email:

    *protected email*

     

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: EXL partners with Databricks to launch Gen-AI powered code migration accelerator

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, May 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — EXL [NASDAQ: EXLS], a leading data and AI company, expanded its partnership with Databricks, the data and AI company, to deploy a GenAI-enabled SAS to Databricks Data Intelligence Platform migration solution. Leveraging EXL’s Code Harbor™ solution, the solution helps enterprises streamline their transition from SAS to Databricks to support enhanced cloud modernization initiatives. EXL has also achieved Select partner status with Databricks to accelerate the development of new AI and GenAI solutions within the Databricks ecosystem.

    EXL’s Code Harbor is a GenAI-enabled solution that facilitates the migration of legacy codebases into the modern open-source languages and cloud environments like Databricks Lakehouse. EXL has refined the solution to automate key aspects of SAS to Databricks migration, significantly reducing manual effort while facilitating high-quality code transformation. EXL Code Harbor is designed for multi-industry usage across insurance, banking and healthcare where SAS has traditionally maintained a strong presence. In addition to SAS, the solution also supports migration and assessment of other languages including BTEQ, HQL, PL/SQL, SQL Server and R, in addition to ETL platforms such as Informatica, Alteryx and DataStage. Clients using EXL Code Harbor benefit from EXL’s deep domain expertise and advanced AI capabilities while retaining the flexibility to integrate with on-premises, cloud and hybrid environments.

    A leading global insurance provider recently partnered with EXL to migrate its extensive SAS codebase to the Databricks Data Intelligence Platform using Code Harbor. The client achieved 50% faster migration with minimal manual intervention, improved compliance through comprehensive metadata documentation and drove integration with their governance frameworks.

    “The biggest challenge enterprises face when migrating from legacy systems is the time, cost and complexity involved in transforming extensive codebases,” said Anand “Andy” Logani, EXL’s chief digital and AI officer. “By providing an intelligent automation solution with embedded AI agents, clients can now accelerate their migration timelines by up to 50% while reducing manual efforts by 70-80%.”

    Unlike traditional migration approaches that rely heavily on manual processes, EXL Code Harbor utilizes an autonomous multi-agent framework to accelerate enterprise-scale code and data transformation. Leveraging Databricks’ Unity Catalog and governance layer, the SAS to Databricks solution accelerator ensures enterprise-grade discoverability, traceability and compliance across every annotation asset. By automating the manual effort involved in assessing, writing and optimizing code, the solution transforms the entire migration process, leading to faster delivery, reduced costs and improved accuracy.

    More information about EXL Code Harbor can be found here.

    About EXL

    EXL (NASDAQ: EXLS) is a global data and AI company that offers services and solutions to reinvent client business models, drive better outcomes and unlock growth with speed. EXL harnesses the power of data, AI, and deep industry knowledge to transform businesses, including the world’s leading corporations in industries including insurance, healthcare, banking and capital markets, retail, communications and media, and energy and infrastructure, among others. EXL was founded in 1999 with the core values of innovation, collaboration, excellence, integrity and respect. We are headquartered in New York and have approximately 60,000 employees spanning six continents. For more information, visit www.exlservice.com.

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    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Reform’s threat to the mainstream parties is unique in UK political history

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Martin Farr, Senior Lecturer in Contemporary British History, Newcastle University

    Labour’s former shadow chancellor John McDonnell has declared that Keir Starmer’s government has driven “a knife into the heart of what I believed Labour stood for” and called for party members, unions and MPs to take back control.

    The text was McDonnell’s, but the pretext was Nigel Farage. Earlier in the week, the Reform leader moved his tanks on to Labour’s lawn by promising to reverse the government’s withdrawal of winter fuel payments to pensioners, and remove the two-child benefit limit, a week after Starmer had committed the most perilous of political allusions: evoking the language of Enoch Powell over immigration. Starmer has been singed (as was Tony Benn in 1970) by playing with Powell’s incendiarism. The disingenuousness of denials that so irregular a phrase as “an island of strangers” was not Starmer dog-whistling marked another low.

    At the centre of Labour’s dilemma is political mutability; how those most elemental, political categories “right” and “left” have blurred into indistinction. Reform UK were ostensibly of the former – nationalist, individualist, authoritarian – but now parade the sacraments of the latter: nationalisation, collectivism, welfarism.

    Betrayal narratives follow Labour leaders as night does day, but Sir Keir Starmer’s inconstancy and inability to offer mitigation by counter-narrative at least demonstrates his fidelity to his political hero Harold Wilson. His ministers in the 1960s and 1970s despaired at their electorally successful prime minister’s apparent lack of defining principle.

    Of the many issues Reform UK raises, the most intriguing is also the least answerable: individual agency. It will never be known whether Britain would still be in the EU had Farage not survived his 2010 plane crash, but it’s more probable than not. Similarly, had Farage withdrawn, as he promised, from British politics to more lucrative pursuits across the Atlantic, the existential threat to both the Labour government and the Conservative party would have gone with him.

    But Farage stayed – and Reform is now a threat of a different order to his previous vehicles. They were significant – UKIP with Brexit; the Brexit party providing Boris Johnson’s 2019 victory – without being serious. They lacked policies (or even policy processes), professionalism, personnel (UKIP was the only party to ban former members of the BNP because it was the only party to have need to).

    Reform is now at the tipping point – both financially and electorally – of seriousness. It runs councils. It has mayors. Its triumph in the Runcorn by-election demonstrated discipline, and the importance of a sound candidate.



    Read more:
    UK local elections delivered record-breaking fragmentation of the vote

    When parties split

    In their public personas, Farage and Starmer are antitheses; the one glib, the other grave; the one with too much personality, the other too little. But charismatic politicians who “make the weather” can also break the party: Farage most recently and repeatedly. But before him Joseph Chamberlain split the Liberals in 1886 and the Unionists in 1903 and David Lloyd George again split the Liberals in 1916. Oswald Mosley caused chaos for Labour in 1931 and David Owen left Labour in the 1980s to form the Social Democratic Party (SDP), which he also later split.

    In 1981, the SDP achieved (in alliance with the Liberals) a poll surge of the kind currently being enjoyed by Reform. And in the 1983 general election the SDP/Liberal Alliance won only 675,000 fewer votes than Labour. But thanks to the first-past-the-post electoral system, the Alliance won 186 fewer seats. Labour’s geographical concentration saved it; the Alliance came second all over the country.

    In 2024, first past the post delivered what its advocates love, and its critics hate: a clear, and unfair, outcome. Labour won two-thirds of the seats on one-third of the votes. It was the most disproportionate result in history.

    Britain’s new multi-party politics may deliver a multi-party parliament at the next election, but through an electoral system designed – insofar as it was designed – for two. With Reform set to breach the 30% threshold, safe seats will be fewer and farther between; marginal seats the norm.

    This would present a challenge for a Labour leader much more nimble than Starmer. His dilemma is devilish: ape Reform and yield urban voters to the Greens and Liberal Democrats; repudiate and see the rebuilt red wall razed. There are other places for progressives to go. Indeed, there may soon be another: a new party of the left. McDonnell – who already sits as an independent, having had the Labour whip withdrawn last year – may see it as a lifeboat.

    Kemi Badenoch – and Robert Jenrick, her most likely usurper – face a strikingly similar problem. Responding to Reform in kind will cede affluent voters to the Liberal Democrats. The Conservative party is the most electorally successful in history in part because it never had a challenger on the right. There’s now another place for conservatives to go. (Or, as it were, to remain.)

    This is the historically unique threat of Reform. In warning of Farage – the most consequential politician since Margaret Thatcher – as a serious threat, Starmer and Badenoch may in overstating augment him, but to not do so is to risk acquiescing. Catastrophising and complacency were evident in 2014, when UKIP came first in the European Parliament elections. Two years later, Britain voted for Brexit.

    Reform still has somewhat less than fully thought-out, never mind fully-funded, policies. Its talent pool is a puddle. It’s now in office and will have a record to defend. It’s dominated by one person, and one who repels as much as he inspires. It’s still unlikely that in five years’ time Farage will be in government, much less prime minister. But it is less unlikely than it was, and is likely to become less unlikely still.

    Martin Farr 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. Reform’s threat to the mainstream parties is unique in UK political history – https://theconversation.com/reforms-threat-to-the-mainstream-parties-is-unique-in-uk-political-history-257839

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –