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  • MIL-OSI: TSplus Releases Remote Support Android V4: Smarter, Broader, and Now Compatible with Android TV

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LYON, France, May 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — TSplus is proud to announce the release of version 4 of its Remote Support app for Android. This major update marks a new step in the continuous evolution of the product, bringing increased compatibility, refined performance, and broader usability. As part of TSplus ongoing commitment to accessible, powerful remote assistance tools, this version introduces full support for Android TVs — opening the door to exciting new use cases in both home and professional environments.

    Constant Improvements Make Remote Support for Android a Versatile Product

    Since the start of the year, TSplus has consistently delivered improvements to its Remote Support Android application. With each update, the app has grown in performance, compatibility, and usability. Now, with the release of Version 4, a major milestone has been reached: full support for Android TVs.

    This latest version expands device compatibility to include arm32 and x86 architectures, adding over 2,300 new models and bringing the total supported Android devices to 22,720 (source: Google Play Store). These two architectures are commonly found in Android TV-based devices thanks to their affordability and broad adoption in commercial hardware.

    In France, for instance, Free’s Freebox Player Pop — a popular Triple Play AndroidTV box — now runs the Remote Support app seamlessly. This enhancement marks a key step forward in TSplus’ mission to make remote assistance accessible everywhere, even in living rooms and on public-facing digital signage.

    Remote Support for Android: A Game-Changer for IT Maintenance and Remote Assistance

    With the new Android TV compatibility, Remote Support for Android V4 unlocks powerful new use cases:

    • Home or Office: Use Viewer mode to support others or cast a PowerPoint presentation from PC to TV when HDMI isn’t available.
    • Retail & Fast Food: Troubleshoot self-service ordering kiosks at restaurants like McDonald’s.
    • Public Transport: Remotely access ticket machines or schedule display boards in train, tram, and bus stations.
    • Airports: Provide support to digital signage and interactive displays.
    • Cinema & Events: Maintain or configure ticket ordering stations.
    • And more!

    The Sharer mode allows users to securely share their screen and receive help from a remote technician, even without a touchscreen. Meanwhile, Viewer mode lets support agents control Android sessions directly — all while ensuring a smooth and intuitive user experience on devices not traditionally designed for remote control.

    With improved navigation for AndroidTV, optimized network usage, and support for D-PAD and global action commands, this update brings meaningful upgrades for technicians and users alike.

    TSplus invites users to download the latest version of Remote Support Android directly from the Google Play Store.

    For IT professionals and helpdesk teams, this update opens new doors to efficient, secure remote support — wherever Android is running!

    Press Contact: Caleb Zaharris Marketing Director caleb.zaharris@tsplus.net

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/51b4bf7f-a371-4ce3-939c-bd59d38aa9b1

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6f55f588-02bc-41ed-89f2-510ac0e7dc41

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Treasury Bond Auction Announcement – RIKB 27 0415 – RIKB 42 0217

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Series RIKB 27 0415 RIKB 42 0217
    ISIN IS0000036291 IS0000033884
    Maturity Date 04/15/2027 02/17/2042
    Auction Date 05/23/2025 05/23/2025
    Settlement Date 05/28/2025 05/28/2025
    10% addition 05/27/2025 05/27/2025

    On the Auction Date, between 10:30 am and 11:00 am, the Government Debt Management will auction Treasury bonds in the Series, with the ISIN numbers and with the Maturity Dates according to the table above. Payments for the Treasury bonds must be received by the Central Bank before 14:00 on the Settlement Date, and the Bonds will be delivered in electronic form on the same day. Article 6 of the General Terms of Auction for Treasury bonds applies for the right to purchase an additional 10%.

    Further reference is made to the description of the Treasury bond and the General Terms of Auction for Treasury bonds on the Government Debt Management website.

    For additional information please contact Oddgeir Gunnarsson, Government Debt Management, at +354 569 9635.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Superior Agents by KIP Reveal Surprising AI “Personalities” in Crypto Trading Experiment

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SINGAPORE, May 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — KIP Protocol has launched a public experiment testing autonomous, self-learning AI agents in live crypto trading environments, each powered by a different large language model (LLM). Despite identical setups, the agents exhibited dramatically different behaviors, hinting at something deeper than prompt engineering: LLMs have real, measurable behavioral divergence in autonomous economic environments.

    The agents — all live on-chain — use a Darwinian feedback loop to evolve over time. No prompts or fine-tuning post-deployment. Each decision is judged solely by results: PnL, risk, efficiency. The best strategies survive, the rest are dropped.

    Standout findings:

    • Aristid (Gemini) returned +42.5% in 36 days — a 3,536% annualized return — with just 29 trades.
    • Verity (Deepseek) delivered +32.5% over 62 days with a low-variance, high-consistency approach.
    • Lux (Qwen) traded infrequently but outperformed per trade, showing highly selective strategy logic.
    • Sefer (OpenAI) posted cautious but positive returns.
    • Romulus (Gemini) lagged, highlighting that LLM quality matters, but feedback architecture is key.

    “We didn’t tell these agents how to trade. We just defined the environment and let them learn,” said Jennifer Dodgson, co-founder of KIP Protocol. “What emerged is both technically impressive and strangely human – you start to see each model’s tendencies come through.”

    Agents cycle through decisions thousands of times: scan market conditions, select a pair, decide to act, score outcomes, and update strategy – all autonomously.

    Over time, patterns emerged:

    • Gemini agents showed volatility at both extremes.
    • Deepseek led in stable, compounding growth.
    • Qwen proved surprisingly precise with minimal trades.
    • OpenAI was slower to adapt but remained profitable.

    These findings reveal how AI models behave in self-directed, real-world environments. It’s a glimpse into the future of AI that goes beyond chatbots: agents that generate, retain, and optimize economic value on their own.

    Check us out:
    Live Leaderboard: https://superioragents.com/live-agents
    Technical Framework: https://kipprotocol.gitbook.io/superior-agents

    About KIP Protocol:

    KIP Protocol builds Web3 infrastructure for AI app developers, model makers and data owners, empowering easy deployment and monetisation of AI assets while maintaining full ownership rights. With a focus on building infrastructure that caters to every aspect of AI, from governments exploring AI sovereignty to consumer-facing applications, KIP Protocol is setting its sights on achieving over 100,000 daily active users (DAUs) and unlocking the largest total addressable market in decentralized AI. Addressing challenges of connectivity, monetization, and ownership, the platform enables creators to transform their innovations into tangible and sustainable value. At the heart of this ecosystem is the $KIP token, serving as its economic engine. The token powers transparent revenue sharing, allowing creators to retain digital property rights of their AI assets while accessing sustainable income streams. Through its ERC-3525 tokenization, KIP democratizes access to AI innovations and empowers creators to thrive in a decentralized economy.

    For media inquiries, contact press@kip.pro or presshub@kip.pro

    Disclaimer: This press release is provided by KIP Protocol. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing in crypto and mining related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector–including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining–complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release.

    Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an “as-is” basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Ranking Member Kaptur Remarks at Fiscal Year 2026 Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation Budget Hearing

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09)

    Full Hearing Recording Available Here

    Washington, DC — Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-09), Ranking Member of the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Subcommittee, delivered the following remarks at the subcommittee’s fiscal year 2026 budget hearing for the Army Corps of Engineers (Civil Works) and the Bureau of Reclamation:

    Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Good morning, everyone. Thank you for joining us. You build America, and we respect that. I welcome this opportunity to examine recent actions for the budget requests for the Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation.

    Thank you to our witnesses for devoting your lives to the nation and for joining us today. Your agencies play a critical role in developing the resources of our land while mindful of our obligations to future generations. Your vital work strengthens our economy, sustains life on Earth, and ensures public safety against the now constant onslaught of both increasing natural and human-caused disasters across our country, which is growing in population, headed to half a billion people. For example, the Corps played a vital role in clearing the waterways after the Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore. Thank you so much. And you are currently carrying out wildfire debris removal in Los Angeles County. Thank you for your exemplary service to our country. You hold us together, and all those who serve in the Corps and the Bureau.

    The proposed cuts to the US Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation are not just misguided — they are dangerous. Slashing their budgets and eroding their workforce endangers people’s lives and public safety, undermines economic growth, and weakens our national — the national welfare of the country — in the face of climate change.

    Let’s start with the Corps of Engineers. Your work is not just about dams and levees. It’s about protecting lives and building America’s public infrastructure to manage flood control systems that safeguard our communities from the devastating effects of extreme weather. And we saw that this past week, with the terrible tornadoes from St. Louis and all surrounding states.

    Along the shores of Lake Erie — the largest freshwater system in the world — we know what’s at stake. Erosion, rising lake levels, the problems with algal blooms, and increasingly violent storms threaten homes, businesses, and public assets. We cannot build a safe and a habitable environment for our growing population on shrinking budgets and shrinking staff.

    In the Great Lakes region, modernization of projects like the Soo Locks are a prime example of long overdue investments that will turbocharge our economy. One hundred percent of America’s domestic iron ore passes through the Soo Locks. Think about how important that makes this strategic infrastructure.

    Steel is a $500 Billion industry, it supports 123 thousand middle-class jobs, and I’m a strong advocate for reshoring the US steel industry and growing those numbers, but we have to modernize the shipping lanes and the waterways, and our ports, for today and the future. This project will ensure our heartlands’ maritime, industrial, agricultural, and commercial products are safe and efficiently moved.

    Think about our region, it is the shortest distance by way of the Atlantic Ocean to the ports of northern Europe and beyond. Canada, the Great Lakes, and St. Lawrence Seaway hasten global trade, and President Eisenhower understood its place within our continental enterprise and global defense. So must we, as we witness the dawn of the new arctic age.

    Similarly, the Brandon Road project, aims at arresting the potential enormous economic and environmental damage that can be unleashed by the invasion of the Asian carp. They could exterminate local and regional aquatic fish and species, and that would be devastating to our Great Lakes’ $7 Billion fishery and its $16 Billion recreational boating industry. These are astounding numbers.

    The Corps of Engineers has a return on investment of over 200 to 1 in terms of economic benefits for every dollar invested. Ports, locks, and inland waterways maintained by the Corps are vital arteries for our very large nation and its commerce. In the Great Lakes region alone, these investments ensure that goods — from American steel to Ohio soybeans — can reach domestic and global markets. And cuts to this work would cause costly delays, limit our competitiveness, and harm local economies.

    Now, to the Bureau of Reclamation. Though it serves primarily the Western United States, its importance cannot be overstated. The Bureau manages water supply for over 31 million Americans in the dry, and I guess I would say, coming from my part of the country drier, Western states, irrigates 10 million acres of farmland, and generates hydropower for millions of homes.

    In this time of unprecedented drought and water stress, we must bolster — not diminish — Reclamation’s capacity to invest in sustainable water systems and innovative conservation technologies. Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and Herbert Hoover understood what development west of the Mississippi River would require. So must we.

    Let’s be clear: disinvestment in the Corps and Bureau now will lead to higher costs down the road. Deferred maintenance becomes disaster recovery. Preventable failures become national emergencies.

    I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle — this is not the time to retreat. It is time to lead. We must provide these agencies with the resources they need to protect our growing population, strengthen our economy, and safeguard our environment for generations to come.

    Finally, I truly condemn the extreme politicization of critical Army Corps’ construction funding decisions, as we saw in last week’s work plan. It is yet another reminder that Congress must reclaim its authority over funding decisions by passing full-year appropriations bills.

    Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and Members and our guests. I yield back.

    # # #

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Jayapal, Sanders, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Make Public Colleges and Universities Tuition Free

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (7th District of Washington)

    WASHINGTON, DC – As President Trump and congressional Republicans are working overtime to make college unaffordable and unattainable for millions of working-class families in order to provide tax breaks to billionaires, Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), today introduced legislation to make public colleges and universities tuition free for 95% of students. The College for All Act would be the most transformative investment in higher education in 60 years and would substantially improve the lives of millions of students throughout the United States.

    “Congress can and must ensure that working families never have to take out crushing loans to purse an education,” said Jayapal. “The College for All Act will free students from a lifetime of debt, invest in working people, and transform higher education across America by making a degree more accessible to poor and working families across this country. This is more important now than ever as Trump continues to attack education in this country through attempts to strip funding from universities and to dismantle the Department of Education.”

    “In a highly competitive global economy where technology is changing the very nature of work and the jobs we perform, we need the best educated workforce in the world,” said Sanders. “Our nation used to lead the world in the percentage of adults with a college degree. Today, we are in 11th place behind countries like Japan, South Korea, Canada, the United Kingdom and Switzerland. That is not a prescription for a strong American economy of the future. It is a prescription for failure. Instead of increasing the cost of college in order to give more tax breaks to billionaires, we have a better idea. We are going to make public colleges and universities tuition free so that working class students can succeed and are not burdened with a lifetime of debt.”

    Making public colleges and universities tuition free is not a radical idea. In 1944, as World War II was coming to an end, the U.S. government made free higher education available to all those who served in the armed forces. That act not only improved the financial well-being of the Greatest Generation, but it also laid the groundwork for the greatest expansion of the American middle class in U.S history. Moreover, over 50 years ago, many of our most prestigious public colleges and universities were also tuition free or virtually tuition free.

    Since this legislation was first introduced ten years ago, several colleges and universities in America have provided free tuition for working class and middle class students including every state college in New Mexico, the State University of New York, the University of Texas, the University of Wisconsin, and Arkansas State University.

    Other wealthy countries like France, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland have made their public colleges and universities tuition free or virtually tuition free because they understand the value of investing in their young people.

    The College for All Act would guarantee tuition-free community college for all students and allow students from single households earning up to $150,000 a year, and married households earning up to $300,000 a year, to attend college without fear of being saddled with student loan debt.

    The College for All Act would also:

    • Double the maximum Pell Grant award for students enrolled at public and private non-profit colleges;
    • Establish a $10 billion grant program to improve student outcomes and address equity gaps at underfunded public colleges and universities;
    • Triple federal TRIO program funding;
    • Double GEAR UP funding; and
    • Double mandatory funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and other Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs).

    Read the bill text here.

    Read a summary of the bill here.

    Issues: Arts & Education

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Bitget Wallet Launches New Brand Identity and “Crypto for Everyone” Movement

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Backed by 300% user growth, Bitget Wallet unveils a new design and $1M campaign to bring crypto into everyday use worldwide

    SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador, May 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget Wallet, the leading non-custodial crypto wallet, has unveiled a new brand identity to reflect its evolution into a full-service crypto wallet designed for everyday use. With over 80 million users, Bitget Wallet has strategically expanded its offerings beyond trading and earning to onchain discovery and global payments. Alongside a new logo symbolizing simplicity and direction, the app has introduced a more streamlined, user-friendly interface to make crypto more intuitive for all. Bitget Wallet stands by the inclusive motto — Crypto for Everyone — now part of a broader initiative, the Crypto for Everyone Movement, aimed at onboarding the next billion users. Through this, it plans to incentivize the community with a pool of over $1 million as gratitude for support.

    “The role of wallets is evolving — it’s moving from a niche tool to one with real-world utility for everyday needs,” said Alvin Kan, COO of Bitget Wallet. “This rebrand is part of a longer-term plan to make crypto accessible for everyone. We’re building towards a future where interacting with crypto feels as easy as using Uber or Paypal,” he added. Bitget Wallet’s growth has coincided with increased demand for self-custody and alternative financial access, particularly in regions where banking infrastructure is limited. The platform saw a 300% increase in users over the past year, with the fastest growth in Africa (+959%), Europe (+367%), and the Middle East (+350%), as more individuals turn to crypto to navigate inflation, limited banking access, and economic instability, gaining greater control over their finances.

    Bitget Wallet’s rebrand focuses on making crypto easier to use and more practical for everyday needs. Built around four core features — Trade, Earn, Pay, and Discover — the wallet lets users track market trends, explore new tokens, and trade across over 130 blockchains with one click. In selected regions, a new Simple Mode will be launched to offer a streamlined experience for users who are new to crypto. To support secure usage, it includes protections like real-time risk monitoring and transaction screening, helping users navigate onchain finance more safely.

    Bitget Wallet is among the first to launch an in-app shop and remains the only major self-custodial wallet offering full payment flexibility, including crypto cards, QR code scans, and direct purchases. The shop supports over 300 brands across gaming, mobile, travel, and e-commerce, enabling crypto payments at Amazon, Google Play, Shopee, and more. Regional integrations with national QR payment systems are also underway. Building on this everyday utility, the wallet offers yield features to help users earn passive income on their crypto balances and plans to support tokenized real-world assets like stocks and gold as it expands beyond digital assets.

    “Bitget Wallet stands strong with the essence of crypto extending beyond our decentralized vision, serving as a critical access layer across trading, earning, and payments for onchain assets. Users now have an even more powerful tool — simple to use, accessible, and packed with capabilities — that connects people to opportunity, wherever they are, whenever they need,” said Gracy Chen, CEO at Bitget.

    To mark the rebrand, Bitget Wallet is launching the Crypto for Everyone Movement in partnership with leading ecosystem projects, offering over $1 million in rewards and inviting users to explore the updated platform through interactive campaigns.

    More details on the brand update and product roadmap are available on the Bitget Wallet blog. Watch the brand video on YouTube.

    About Bitget Wallet
    Bitget Wallet is a non-custodial crypto wallet designed to make crypto simple and secure for everyone. With over 80 million users, it brings together a full suite of crypto services, including swaps, market insights, staking, rewards, DApp exploration, and payment solutions. Supporting 130+ blockchains and millions of tokens, Bitget Wallet enables seamless multi-chain trading across hundreds of DEXs and cross-chain bridges. Backed by a $300+ million user protection fund, it ensures the highest level of security for users’ assets.
    For more information, visit: X | Telegram | Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn | TikTok | Discord | Facebook

    For media inquiries, contact media.web3@bitget.com

    Disclaimer: This is a paid post and is provided by Bitget. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. We do not guarantee any claims, statements, or promises made in this article. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing in crypto and mining-related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. It is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone, and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved. Seek independent advice if necessary. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector—including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining—complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed.

    Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility. Globenewswire does not endorse any content on this page.

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

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/62942f0e-9b03-4122-91be-4dd57d364f1a

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e3937725-8626-4018-bbab-fc0fe485b879

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/235a4208-356f-44ed-8016-20c19a845169

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Sidetrade introduces first-ever AI Cash Collection Agent, autonomous and interactive

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    New AI-native agent shifts Order-to-Cash from smart automation to autonomous execution, live today throughout global finance teams

    Sidetrade, the global leader in AI-powered Order-to-Cash applications, has today unveiled a seismic breakthrough in enterprise finance; the world’s first-ever AI Cash Collection Agent, operating live and autonomously from a digital standpoint.

    Powered by Sidetrade’s Data Lake, the new Aimie orchestrates Order-to-Cash (O2C) processes, executing phone calls, interacting with debtor clients, escalating and flagging issues or exceptions for human follow-up actions where necessary. Announced at the Gartner CFO & Finance Executive Conference today, this launch marks a decisive leap beyond automation.

    Ushering in a new era for CFOs, Global Business Services, and Shared Services
    In the current economic climate, traditional financial systems, rule-based automation, large teams handling low-value calls, and follow-up email campaigns have all revealed their limitations. The race for competitiveness is not just won with automation. It is also won with speed, precision, and the ability to make sense of vast and fragmented data. Chief Financial Officers (CFOs), Global Business Services, and Shared Services leaders must accelerate cash flow generation, reduce operational overheads, and scale faster.

    Aimie is now agentic. Designed as an enterprise teammate, her first capability is being an autonomous Cash Collection Agent, trained on $7.2 trillion in payment experiences and insights from 40 million buyers worldwide. “Simply put, Aimie does not wait for instructions,” said Rob Harvey, Chief Product Officer at Sidetrade. “Aimie does much more than merely follow a script; she makes decisions. That’s the real breakthrough. Agentic AI propels Order-to-Cash processes beyond automation into autonomous decision-making, unlocking new levers for sustainable financial performance. By combining human oversight with self-directed agents, we are creating an opening for more adaptive, scalable finance operations, where manual processes do not hold back growth.”

    Aimie’s Cash Collection Agent is ready for deployment across Europe and North America:

    • Autonomous outbound calling (first contact calls, follow-up calls, voicemail messages) with personalized dialogues suited to every situation;
    • Outcome qualification with automatic case updates;
    • Escalation when a material risk is detected.

    Unlike static bots, Aimie continuously learns from live outcomes, adjusts outreach strategies, and refines prioritization using predictive signals from Sidetrade’s Data Lake.

    Championing consistency to elevate performance
    Early adopters are already experiencing real-world impact. “What I love most about Aimie isn’t the cost savings; it’s her consistency,” said Stephen Dyer, VP Credit & Collections at OpenText. “I manage 100+ collectors globally, and inconsistency is inevitable. Aimie guaranteed precise, repeatable execution which is a game-changer! She also helps to reshape the modern customer 360, enabling us to move past traditional customer experiences toward a data-driven, personalized relationship that can be replicated at scale.”

    Aimie empowers Sidetrade customers with distinctive capabilities:

    • Rapidly learning a company’s culture, products, and terminology, adapting communication in a way that feels native to their brand.
    • Engaging in interactive, qualified conversations with thousands of buyers at scale, acting as a fully-fledged game-changer for managing massive SMB account portfolios, at low cost.
    • Speaking up to 29 languages: allowing for seamless cash collection in local languages and contexts.
    • Making 1,000 outbound calls daily, operating 24/5.
    • Accelerating cash flow by scaling the most effective channel in collections: outbound calling.

    Aimie takes on the high-volume, low-value tasks that drain finance teams, automating repetitive work with consistency, wherever the geography. The results? Reduced administrative burden on accounts receivable, so talent can refocus on strategic impact. Speaking with early adopters, Harvey commented: “They are not worried about a robot taking their job… because most of them already feel like they are doing the robot’s job. Moreover, they are aware that if we fail to design an AI co-worker, tomorrow’s finance will feel less human as they will be stuck talking to accounts payable robots instead of solving real strategic problems.”

    Building on CFOs economic environment
    Aimie’s unique advantage is Sidetrade’s Data Lake, which manages 10 payment events per second across one billion transactions, making it the largest real-time O2C behavioral database in the market. “Aimie’s intelligence comes from context-rich data, not just clever LLM’s,” said Mark Sheldon, Sidetrade’s Chief Technology Officer. “Generic AI systems lack the contextual data needed to operate as domain experts. But Aimie does. With $7.2 trillion in behavioral payment signals, Aimie adapts with pinpoint precision, and she keeps learning. Finance departments gain access to a new resource: tireless and infinitely scalable.”

    Sidetrade has been training finance-specific models since 2015, with generative capabilities added in 2024. The AI Cash Collection Agent is part of a broader rollout of Sidetrade’s new agentic AI, which includes purpose-built agentic functionalities for email auto-response, portal data extraction, and cash application exception handling. As an AI orchestrator, Aimie coordinates a team of domain-specific agents to run the O2C cycle autonomously. “AI goes agentic,” stated Harvey. “Each agent operates independently to process thousands of customer emails and payments per day. Together, they represent a step-change in how finance teams execute their O2C processes.”

    Sheldon concluded: “Short-term, what companies need to define is the level of autonomy they are willing to delegate to agents, the role human oversight should play, and how best to optimize their resources in this new paradigm. Rather than giving in to fears around agentic AI or human replaceability, I encourage business leaders to rethink the role of people within organizations that fully harness this technological shift. The most forward-thinking leaders already augment operational efficiency while repositioning their teams toward higher-value, strategic work.”

    Aimie, Sidetrade’s AI Cash Collection Agent, is now available for early adopters. Meet Aimie, here.

    Media relations @Sidetrade
    Christelle Dhrif                +33 6 10 46 72 00          cdhrif@sidetrade.com
    About Sidetrade (www.sidetrade.com)
    Sidetrade (Euronext Growth: ALBFR.PA) provides a SaaS platform designed to revolutionize how cash flow is secured and accelerated. Leveraging its new-generation agentic AI, nicknamed Aimie, Sidetrade analyzes $7.2 trillion worth of B2B payment transactions daily in its Cloud, thereby anticipating customer payment behavior and the attrition risk of 40 million buyers worldwide. Sidetrade has a global reach, with 400+ talented employees based in Europe, the United States, and Canada, serving global businesses in more than 85 countries. Among them: AGFA, BMW Financial Services, Bunzl, DXC, Engie, Inmarsat, KPMG, Lafarge, Manpower, Morningstar, Page, Randstad, Safran, Saint-Gobain, Securitas, Siemens, UGI, Veolia.
    For further information, visit us at www.sidetrade.com and follow @Sidetrade on LinkedIn.
    In the event of any discrepancy between the French and English versions of this press release, only the English version is to be taken into account.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: XRP News: 7 Days Left, Buy $XDX Before XenDex Presale Closes and Exchange Listings Begin

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SYDNEY, May 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — With just 7 days remaining, the clock is ticking for investors to secure their allocation of $XDX tokens before the XenDex presale officially ends. Having already filled its soft cap and with the hard cap nearly reached, XenDex is entering its final presale phase and early momentum is turning into full-blown market attention.

    XenDex is emerging as the most anticipated DeFi launch on the XRP Ledger, offering real utility, speed, and accessibility at a time when XRP is experiencing a powerful market resurgence.

    Buy XDX

    Riding on the recent news of the possibility of XRP price hitting all time high, XenDex is building the DeFi infrastructure XRP has long needed. Its all-in-one decentralized exchange (DEX) is in active development, and the Version 1 of the DEX will be unveiled soon, showcasing every feature in action.

    A First-of-Its-Kind Platform on XRPL

    XenDex combines the best of DeFi in a beginner-friendly, powerful interface, including:

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    The upcoming mockup will give the community a first look at how these features will function and only presale buyers will get early access to the live platform once it launches.

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    Buy $XDX Now Before Listing On Binance

    Thousands have already joined the XenDex community across Telegram and X (Twitter), locking in their $XDX tokens before exchange listings go live. With the soft cap filled, token supply shrinking, and momentum building by the hour, this is your last best opportunity to buy before price pressure explodes.

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    Disclaimer: This is a paid post provided by XenDex. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. We do not guarantee any claims, statements, or promises made in this article. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice.

    Investing in crypto and mining-related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. It is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone, and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved. Seek independent advice if necessary. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector—including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining—complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility. Globenewswire does not endorse any content on this page.

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

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8182d808-49c5-41f6-a354-e7cca62a378a

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: ZOOZ Power to Present at the 2025 Aegis Capital Virtual Conference

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Tel-Aviv, Israel, May 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ZOOZ Power (Nasdaq and TASE: ZOOZ), a leading provider of flywheel-based power boosters and energy management systems enabling ultra-fast EV charging solutions, announced today that Erez Zimerman, ZOOZ Power’s Chief Executive Officer will present at the 2025 Aegis Capital Corp. Virtual Conference on May 22 at 4:00 p.m. ET.  

    For interested investors, a live webcast of the presentation can be accessed HERE.

    About The 2025 Aegis Capital Corp. Virtual Conference

    The conference brings together a lineup of companies and key business partners, and it features a network of retail brokers, institutional funds, and money managers. The conference is an excellent opportunity to gain insight into the latest developments happening at each of the presenting companies.

    About ZOOZ Power

    ZOOZ Power (NASDAQ/TASE: ZOOZ) is a leading provider of intelligent, flywheel-based energy-boosting and management solutions that empower the rapid deployment of ultra-fast EV charging infrastructure, without the need for expensive or time-consuming grid upgrades.

    As the electric vehicle market accelerates, ZOOZ addresses a critical challenge: the widening gap between growing consumer demand for ultra-fast charging and the limited capacity of existing electrical grids.

    ZOOZ’s proprietary flywheel technology enables Charging Point Operators (CPOs) and fleet owners to overcome local grid limitations by delivering high-performance, sustainable, and cost-effective power-boosting systems. These solutions ensure reliable ultra-fast charging capabilities while enhancing grid efficiency and flexibility.

    Engineered for long-term durability and environmental sustainability, ZOOZ Power’s solutions help customers accelerate infrastructure rollout, optimize utilization, and drive faster revenue and profitability growth.

    For more information, please visit: www.zoozpower.com

    Investor Contact:
    Miri Segal – CEO
    MS-IR LLC
    msegal@ms-ir.com

    Media enquiries:
    Media@zoozpower.com

    Forward-Looking Statement

    This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the safe-harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are based on the current beliefs, expectations, and assumptions of ZOOZ Power. All statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this press release, including statements regarding ZOOZ Power, and any of ZOOZ Power’s strategy, future operations and statements related to the collaboration between ZOOZ Power and “ON” charging network (including any plans to implement ZOOZ Power’s solution and upgrade an additional site of “ON” on Route 6) are forward-looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause ZOOZ Power’s actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks and other risks and uncertainties are more fully discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of ZOOZ’s most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) as well as other documents that may be subsequently filed by the Company from time to time with the SEC. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “will,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to the limited operating history and evolving business model of ZOOZ Power, ZOOZ Power’s future prospects, ZOOZ Power’s planned global expansion, including the timing and the results thereof, statements regarding ZOOZ Power’s newly introduced Energy Storage System (ESS), intelligent boosting offering and Energy Management System (EMS), their adoption by the market and any benefits that they may have to ZOOZ Power, its operations, financial position and its current and potential customers, statements regarding the expansion of ZOOZ Power’s sales team and the effect of that expansion on ZOOZ Power’s planned global expansion, financial condition, market position and results of operations, statements relating to ZOOZ Power’s market position, statements regarding the demand for ZOOZ Power’s products, the potential outcome of ZOOZ Power’s collaborations with third parties for installation of its flywheel-based power boosting solution, and conditions in Israel and in the Middle East, including the effect of the evolving nature of the ongoing “Swords of Iron” war, may adversely affect ZOOZ Power’s operations. These forward-looking statements are only estimations, and ZOOZ Power may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in any forward-looking statements, so you should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Actual results or events could differ materially from the plans, intentions and expectations disclosed in forward-looking statements made in this Press Release. Management of ZOOZ Power has based these forward-looking statements largely on current expectations and projections about future events and trends that such persons believe may affect ZOOZ Power’s business, financial condition and operating results. Forward-looking statements contained in this Press Release are made as of the date hereof, and none of ZOOZ Power or any of its representatives or any other person undertakes any duty to update such information except as may be expressly required under applicable law.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Credit Agricole Sa: The Crelan Group and Crédit Agricole announce the signing of an agreement for a long-term partnership

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Press release

    Brussels, Montrouge, 21 May 2025

    The Crelan Group and Crédit Agricole
    announce the signing of an agreement
    for a long-term partnership

    • The Crelan Group and the Crédit Agricole Group have announced a new strategic partnership that will enable Crelan’s customers to benefit from a wider range of banking products and services.
    • This agreement will allow Crelan to ramp up its commercial development and organic growth, and Crédit Agricole to ensure the development of its business lines in Belgium.

    What does the agreement entail?

    The partnership, which entails the Crédit Agricole Group obtaining a minority stake of 9.9% in Crelan, includes commercial collaborations in the areas of asset management (with Amundi), private banking and wealth management (with Indosuez Wealth Management/Bank Degroof Petercam) and leasing (with CA Leasing & Factoring).

    Crelan and the Crédit Agricole Group also intend to establish other joint commercial initiatives in the near future.

    “Crelan and Crédit Agricole share the same vision and approach to cooperative banking. By sharing our expertise, we will become stronger and offer a wider range of high-quality banking services. Our shared cooperative DNA will be what cements our partnership, for the benefit of our customers, our cooperators and society as a whole.” Philippe Voisin, CEO of Crelan.

    “We are thrilled to be supporting Crelan – a major Belgian cooperative bank – in its development objectives, through the recognised expertise of our asset management, wealth management and leasing businesses.” Olivier Gavalda, Chief Executive Officer of Crédit Agricole S.A.

    “Through this partnership with Crédit Agricole, we will be able to broaden our range of services for our individual customers. But it will also allow us to renew our long-term commitment to self-employed individuals and SMEs with tailored financing solutions.” Joris Cnockaert, CCO of Crelan.

    What will change for Crelan?

    Crelan is a cooperative bank firmly established in Belgium. The entirety of the deposits will remain invested in Belgium. The network of independent agents will continue to ensure proximity to customers. In addition, by joining forces with Crédit Agricole, Crelan will fully preserve its cooperative model and its founding values, thereby guaranteeing its commitment to its cooperative shareholders.

    What are the financial implications?

    The conclusion of commercial agreements will have a positive impact on the revenues of both groups.
    This minority stake will have a positive financial impact of around 2% on Crelan’s consolidated 2025 transitional CET1 capital ratio and a non-material impact on the Crédit Agricole Group’s CET1 ratio.

    The Crelan Group and Crédit Agricole plan to finalise the partnership agreement in the coming months, subject to final negotiations.

    About the Crelan Group
    The financial group ranks fifth among Belgian retail banks in terms of total assets. The Crelan group is represented by two bank brands: Crelan and Europabank. At 31 December 2024, the Crelan group had: 4327 employees (including staff members, independent bank agents, and their employees), 727 branches, 296,751 cooperative shareholders, nearly 1.7 million customers, and €55.8 billion in total assets. In addition, the banking group manages €44.3 billion in customer deposits, €16.5 billion in off-balance sheet investments, and supports Belgian households and businesses with €49.5 billion in loans.

    About Crédit Agricole
    The Crédit Agricole Group is the leading financial provider of the French economy and one of the leading banking players in Europe. As European leader in retail banking, the Group is also the leading asset manager, bankinsurer and third-largest project financing institution.
    With its strong cooperative and mutualist foundations, 157,000 employees and 27,423 local and regional bank directors, the Crédit Agricole Group is a responsible and useful bank serving 54 million customers and 12.1 million members.
    Thanks to its universal customer-focused banking model – based on the close cooperation between its retail banks and their related businesses – the Crédit Agricole Group supports its customers in their projects in France and throughout the world: day-to-day banking, real estate and consumer loans, savings, insurance, asset management, real estate, leasing, factoring, and corporate and investment banking.
    Serving the economy, Crédit Agricole also stands out for its dynamic and innovative corporate social responsibility policy. It is based on a pragmatic approach that informs the entire Group and empowers every employee to take action.

      
    Crelan press contact

    Caroline Beauvois, Press & Corporate Communication Expert
    Tel: + 32 (0) 475 82 09 34
    Mail: press@crelan.be

    Crédit Agricole press contacts

    Olivier Tassain: olivier.tassain@credit-agricole-sa.fr – +33 6 75 90 26 66
    Alexandre Barat: alexandre.barat@credit-agricole-sa.fr – +33 6 19 73 60 28
    Bénédicte Gouvert: benedicte.gouvert@ca-fnca.fr – +33 1 49 53 43 64

    All our press releases can be found at: https://www.credit-agricole.com/en

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: LambdaTest Enhances Mobile App Testing with Camera Image Injection on Virtual Mobile Devices

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    San Francisco, CA, May 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — LambdaTest, a unified agentic AI and cloud engineering platform, has announced a major enhancement to its real-time manual testing suite: Camera Image Injection. This tool empowers developers and quality assurance teams to test image capture, QR code scanning, and barcode scanning functionalities across a wide range of real mobile devices.

    The Camera Image Injection tool is compatible with over 3,000 real devices, supporting image-based functionalities and in-app image upload workflows. By enabling this feature, teams can ensure their applications perform seamlessly across diverse device ecosystems, enhancing user experience and application reliability.

    This capability removes the reliance on physical devices and enables seamless image injection via Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), saving time, costs, and effort. Teams building applications for FinTech, logistics, retail, and AR platforms can now validate complex visual workflows quickly and efficiently by injecting test images like QR codes or ID cards directly into the virtual camera input.

    “Ensuring that mobile applications function flawlessly across various devices is crucial in today’s diverse mobile landscape,” said Mayank Bhola, Co-Founder and Head of Product at LambdaTest. “With the Camera Image Injection feature, we are providing developers with the tools to test and validate image-related functionalities in real-world scenarios, leading to more robust and user-friendly applications.”

    The Camera Image Injection rollouts demonstrate LambdaTest’s continued commitment to providing innovative, reliable, and accessible tools for modern QA workflows. Whether you’re building secure banking platforms, immersive AR experiences, or education-focused web apps, LambdaTest is equipping teams with the tools they need to deliver quality faster and smarter.

    About LambdaTest

    LambdaTest is an AI-native, omnichannel software quality platform that empowers businesses to accelerate time to market through intelligent, cloud-based test authoring, orchestration, and execution. With over 15,000 customers and 2.3 million+ users across 130+ countries, LambdaTest is the trusted choice for modern software testing.

    • Browser & App Testing Cloud: Enables manual and automated testing of web and mobile apps across 10,000+ browsers, real devices, and OS environments, ensuring cross-platform consistency.
    • HyperExecute: An AI-native test execution and orchestration cloud that runs tests up to 70% faster than traditional grids, offering smart test distribution, automatic retries, real-time logs, and seamless CI/CD integration.
    • KaneAI: The world’s first GenAI-native testing agent, leveraging LLMs for effortless test creation, intelligent automation, and self-evolving test execution. It integrates directly with Jira, Slack, GitHub, and other DevOps tools.

    For more information, please visit, https://lambdatest.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: King, Colleagues Demand Explanation for DOGE Cuts at VA Impacting Healthcare for Maine Veterans

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Maine Angus King
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Angus King (I-ME) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), senior members of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee (SVAC), led their House and Senate colleagues in a letter to Doug Collins, the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) requesting detailed information on the hundreds of cancelled contracts across the agency impacting earned health care and benefits for veterans in Maine. In the letter, the senators slam the Secretary’s untruthful narrative about these various contract cancellations across the country and demand answers on the true updated list of canceled contracts.
    The letter comes on the heels of mass firings and contract cancellations executed by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) at the request of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
    The members began, “Since February, our Committees have made more than a dozen requests, many of them bipartisan, for you to provide Congress with the complete lists of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) contracts you have cancelled or proposed be cancelled. Today, we write to once again demand these lists. In addition, we are requesting a briefing from VA officials on the process by which contracts were and continue to be identified and cancelled, any meaningful advance consultation with career VA officials whose programs are impacted by these cancellations, and all activities of the VA-designated Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) personnel or liaisons and other DOGE personnel involved in VA programs, operations, and management. Our requests for information on DOGE operations at VA began on February 12, 2025, and to date have received no substantive response.”
    “…Now, more than two months later, Congress is still waiting for accurate and complete information on the contracts you have cancelled, the contracts you have restored after being cancelled, the process the Department is using, and documentation for the savings generated and reinvested. When asked about receiving this information and a briefing on DOGE’s operations at the Department, your leadership stated simply that VA “will not be providing a briefing on the issue.” Additionally, even though many of these contracts were officially cancelled more than two months ago, your staff has indicated “VA cannot release any contract lists as this is all ‘pre-decisional’ until the Contracting Officer officially notifies and signs the termination letter and negotiates potential settlement costs.” This statement is another attempt to hide the truth from Congress and runs counter to logic given that many companies and public databases list hundreds of VA contracts as already cancelled,” the members continued.
    The members concluded, “So that we may conduct our independent and constitutionally authorized oversight of the Department, we ask again for a copy of the list of more than 870 contracts cancelled or proposed for cancellation you discussed in your social media posting and video on February 24 and 25, 2025, which you indicated had a value of $2 billion; a copy of the list of 585 cancelled contracts VA announced publicly on March 3, 2025, with an estimated value of $1.8 billion; and a list of all contracts cancelled by VA from January 20, 2025, to present. Further, we request a briefing to the Committees to explain the timeline and process by which these contracts were selected and ordered cancelled; how the material provided to Congress on May 16, 2025, was assembled; and on DOGE operations inside VA related to contracts and more generally.”
    Representing one of the states with the highest rates of military families and veterans per capita, Senator King is a staunch advocate for America’s servicemembers and veterans. A member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee (SVAC), he works to ensure American veterans receive their earned benefits and that the VA is properly implementing various programs such as the PACT Act, the State Veterans Homes Domiciliary Care Flexibility Act, and the John Scott Hannon Act. Recently, Senator King introduced bipartisan legislation to help reduce suicides among veterans by providing free secure firearm storage to veterans. In addition, he helped pass the Veterans COLA Act, which increased benefits for 30,000 Maine veterans and their families. This year, he cosponsored the bipartisan Major Richard Star Act that would provide more combat-injured veterans with their full earned benefits. Most recently, he joined Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS), Chairman of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, in introducing bipartisan legislation to permanently authorize a program that would expand access to veteran disability claims exams.
    Recently, Senator King introduced bipartisan legislation alongside SVAC Chairman Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS) to improve care coordination for veterans who rely on both VA health care and Medicare. In February, Senator King was honored by the Disabled American Veterans as its 2025 Legislator of the Year. Last year, he was recognized by the Wounded Warrior Project as the 2024 Legislator of the Year for his “outstanding legislative effort and achievement to improve the lives of the wounded, ill, and injured veterans.” Senator King recently joined SVAC Ranking Member Senator Blumenthal in writing a letter to Secretary Collins raising concerns over proposed $1 spending limits on VA purchase cards which are used to pay for gas to transport disabled veterans to apportionments, buy medical supplies and more. Senator King also joined his colleagues in raising concerns over proposed plans to terminate 83,000 VA employees and demanded information from the VA in a previous letter to Secretary Collins.
    The full text of the letter can be found here and below.
    +++
    Dear Secretary Collins,
    Since February, our Committees have made more than a dozen requests, many of them bipartisan, for you to provide Congress with the complete lists of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) contracts you have cancelled or proposed be cancelled. Today, we write to once again demand these lists. In addition, we are requesting a briefing from VA officials on the process by which contracts were and continue to be identified and cancelled, any meaningful advance consultation with career VA officials whose programs are impacted by these cancellations, and all activities of the VA-designated Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) personnel or liaisons and other DOGE personnel involved in VA programs, operations, and management. Our requests for information on DOGE operations at VA began on February 12, 2025, and to date have received no substantive response.
    On February 24 and 25, 2025, you publicly celebrated on social media your plan, carried out with Elon Musk and DOGE, to cancel hundreds of VA contracts you claimed were for “PowerPoint slides and meeting minutes” and you indicated were valued at $2 billion. After you had given the orders for career officials in the Department to start the cancellations, a list of more than 870 contracts was leaked to Congress and the media. In reality, these contracts were predominantly for direct services for veterans or supporting VA operations including: suicide prevention and mental health treatment; radiology services; outreach regarding burial benefits and health care services; cancer care; the PACT Act; disability claims processing and audits; and ensuring safe and clean facilities. Amazingly, while claiming the purpose of cancelling these contracts was to improve efficiency and reduce waste, you also directed the cancellation of more than a dozen contracts whose purpose was to assist VA in conducting oversight activities to identify and prevent waste, fraud, and abuse and follow the recommendations of the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the VA Office of Inspector General.
    When the true purpose and impact of your mass contract cancellations were exposed, you and your leadership team directed career officials to pause some cancellations, stating in an internal email “VA Leadership is reconsidering previous guidance,” and “further contract reviews will be conducted to arrive at a new final decision.” Records show some contracts previously cancelled at your direction were then reversed while others remain cancelled. On March 3, 2025, you announced that instead of more than 870 contracts, you would cancel 585 contracts with an alleged value of $1.8 billion. This announcement provided no detail or information to support that claim while also stating VA would redirect about $900 million toward health care, benefits, and services for VA beneficiaries – again without evidence.
    Also, on March 3, 2025, the Department indicated the 585 contracts would be cancelled “over the next few days” and that “the termination of these contracts will not negatively affect Veteran care, benefits or services, and will help VA better focus on its core mission: providing the best possible care and services to Veterans, their families, caregivers and survivors.” In your response to Senator King’s letter requesting information on these contracts, you refused to take accountability for your chaotic contract cancellation process and subsequent damage control. Your letter describes “a deliberative, multi-level review that involved the career subject-matter expert” but then admits the feedback from these experts was disregarded until after the fact when “VA rapidly reversed and restored contracted services in response to feedback from resident expert specialties, to include radiation safety, Veteran suicide prevention, and all other critical VA mission areas to avoid any clinically significant effect on patient care.” If this was in fact a consultative and deliberate process, why did the Department have to reverse your orders of just a few days prior to blindly terminate hundreds of contracts?
    Now, more than two months later, Congress is still waiting for accurate and complete information on the contracts you have cancelled, the contracts you have restored after being cancelled, the process the Department is using, and documentation for the savings generated and reinvested. When asked about receiving this information and a briefing on DOGE’s operations at the Department, your leadership stated simply that VA “will not be providing a briefing on the issue.” Additionally, even though many of these contracts were officially cancelled more than two months ago, your staff has indicated “VA cannot release any contract lists as this is all ‘pre-decisional’ until the Contracting Officer officially notifies and signs the termination letter and negotiates potential settlement costs.” This statement is another attempt to hide the truth from Congress and runs counter to logic given that many companies and public databases list hundreds of VA contracts as already cancelled.
    Further, on May 16, 2025, your staff provided Congress with a list of more than 445 contracts which it indicated were “terminated and closed contracts” and then went on to say “there are additional contracts in negotiation to be closed, and this list does not include contracts modified to change scope. The frequently mentioned list of over 800 contracts was not released by VA as finale (sic) and complete; it was an initial review followed by several additional reviews.” Our initial review of these statements and the information provided indicates a number of contradictions and inaccuracies, and raises numerous additional concerns and questions.
    First, the statements from VA staff attempt to once-again mischaracterize the sequence of events associated with your multi-month effort to withhold information about your disorganized contract cancellation effort. The public record is clear: you directed the cancellation of hundreds of contracts impacting services for veterans and only reversed yourself when the nature of those contracts were publicly disclosed. Second, the list of 447 contracts includes at least 80 that were terminated during the Biden Administration. Third, according to the documentation you provided, the list of canceled contracts totals $120.8 billion dollars in contracting value and claimed savings. Given VA’s entire budget for Fiscal Year 2025 is approximately $426.3 billion, the value of these contracts would represent 28 percent of the Department’s budget. This questionable number is compounded by numerous contracts with wildly inaccurate value/savings figures. For example, one contract labeled “VA Program Management Support Services Contract” is shown with an astronomical value of $44.8 billion. However, federal data shows the value of this contract at approximately $85 million – meaning the Department has misstated the value by $44 billion. Finally, a number of the contracts provided do not appear on the list of cancelled contracts in the official Federal government system of record – the Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS). All of these points call into question the accuracy of the data in the document you provided to Congress.
    We firmly support VA efforts to regularly review services procured by the Department. And that process should be built into any functioning acquisition and program management operation at VA. However, cancelling hundreds of contracts in a several-day period and then scrambling to restore dozens just a few days later is not an indication of good program management. It’s an indication of waste and incompetence.
    So that we may conduct our independent and constitutionally authorized oversight of the Department, we ask again for a copy of the list of more than 870 contracts cancelled or proposed for cancellation you discussed in your social media posting and video on February 24 and 25, 2025, which you indicated had a value of $2 billion; a copy of the list of 585 cancelled contracts VA announced publicly on March 3, 2025, with an estimated value of $1.8 billion; and a list of all contracts cancelled by VA from January 20, 2025, to present. Further, we request a briefing to the Committees to explain the timeline and process by which these contracts were selected and ordered cancelled; how the material provided to Congress on May 16, 2025, was assembled; and on DOGE operations inside VA related to contracts and more generally. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
    Sincerely,

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Statement of Sen. Mark R. Warner on the Passing of Congressman Gerry Connolly

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Commonwealth of Virginia Mark R Warner
     WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) issued the below statement on the passing of Congressman Gerry Connolly:
    “I am heartbroken over the loss of my dear friend Gerry Connolly.
    “I’ve known Gerry for more than 35 years. To me, he exemplified the very best of public service. Just this past Sunday, I was honored to join his wife Smitty, daughter Caitlin, and the Fairfax community in celebrating his decades of service. While Gerry couldn’t be there in person, his presence was felt throughout the room. He was there in spirit, as he always is when people come together in the name of service and progress.
    “Gerry was a fighter. His sharp mind, boundless energy, and deep commitment to the people of Northern Virginia made him a force to be reckoned with, whether on the Fairfax Board of Supervisors or in Congress. He met every challenge with tenacity and purpose, including his final battle with cancer, which he faced with courage, grace, and quiet dignity.
    “Today, my thoughts are with Smitty, Caitlin, and all who loved him. We have lost a giant in Virginia public life, and he will be deeply missed.” 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Warner & Kaine Slam GOP Tax Bill for Raising Taxes on Working Families to Fund Windfalls for the Ultra-Wealthy

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Commonwealth of Virginia Mark R Warner
    WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine (D-VA) issued the following statement blasting the GOP’s partisan tax bill that would raise taxes on the lowest-income Americans while handing six-figure windfalls to the wealthiest 0.1% of taxpayers:
    “At a time when working families are struggling with the rising cost of living, Donald Trump and Washington Republicans are asking them to pay more so the ultra-rich can get a handout. The numbers speak for themselves: under the terms of the tax plan championed by President Trump and Republicans in Congress, the bottom rung of the income ladder will see their taxes hiked by more than 50% in order to give the richest 0.1% a $188,000 tax cut. That’s not what Virginians sent us here to do, and we will fight tooth and nail to stop it. We call on Republicans to drop this sham of a bill and instead work with us to provide meaningful relief to working families by bringing down housing and child care costs, cutting taxes for working- and middle-class Americans, and lowering prescription drug prices.”
    The nonpartisan Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) estimates that in the year 2029, when the permanent effects of the GOP tax plan are felt, those earning less than $15,000 a year would see a 53.5% increase in their federal taxes compared to current law. Meanwhile, the top 0.1% – roughly 197,000 taxpayers – would receive a collective $37.1 billion tax cut, amounting to $188,324 per person.
    New analysis from the Yale Budget Lab further underscores just how skewed the GOP bill is in favor of the wealthy. The lowest-income households would lose about $800 a year because of the GOP bill, amounting to a 4% hit to their budgets, while the richest 5% would walk away with an average annual windfall of $27,000. Overall, nearly 80% of the bill’s total benefits would go to the top 20% of earners.
    Warner and Kaine have been sounding the alarm about the effects of the GOP plan on Virginia if Republicans in Congress continue to insist on gutting vital programs in order to pay for tax breaks for the richest Americans, noting that the GOP bill would strip health insurance from more than 262,000 Virginians, raise energy costs for Virginia households, and jeopardize more than 20,000 Virginia jobs at clean energy and manufacturing facilities benefiting from Inflation Reduction Act investments.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Landsat at Work: Conserving Water and Growing High Quality Grapes

    Source: US Geological Survey

    Landsat at Work: Conserving Water and Growing High Quality Grapes

    Grapevine researcher turns to satellites for considerable water-use challenge

    Leading that effort is Nick Dokoozlian, who has spent his career studying grapevines—from working on his family’s vineyard to teaching at the University of California, Davis, and now leading a research group at Gallo, the largest winery in the world. His extensive knowledge of growing grapes, paired with a commitment to preserving Central Valley water, led him to explore new tools for managing irrigation. 

    That openness to experimentation brought him to remote sensing, and to Landsat, helping the company reduce water use while continuing to grow high-quality grapes for generations to come. 

    After years of innovation and collaboration, the company has made it halfway to its long-term goal of reducing water usage by 50% while maintaining or improving yield and fruit quality. “Now we’re going after the next 25%. That goal will outlive me, probably, but we will continue to refine our irrigation practices to improve water use efficiency,” Dokoozlian said.

    “None of that would have been possible without Landsat.”

    And this work didn’t just benefit one vineyard—it helped set the stage for agricultural water management efforts now used across the western United States.

    Dokoozlian received the company’s sense of environmental responsibility from Bob Gallo, son of co-founder Julio Gallo. Around the time of the company’s 75th anniversary in 2008, Bob Gallo shared his concern: They needed to ensure that they would have enough groundwater to grow grapes for future generations and help area grape growers save water, too.

    This image is an example of evapotranspiration mapping, centered on Modesto, California, which contains the Gallo Winery headquarters. The area’s fields are known for growing a wide variety of crops, including almonds, walnuts, tomatoes and hay. This particular image of 2020 annual actual evapotranspiration (ETa) is provided by the Landsat-based SSEBop (Operational Simplified Surface Energy Balance) ET model, which is one of the models used in the OpenET ensemble.

    The vineyards were generally well positioned with two water sources, groundwater and rivers, with the potential for recharging groundwater. But achieving a 50% reduction in water use was a very steep goal, especially across thousands of acres. They needed a way to accurately measure the amount of water the grapevines were using, and how much water the vines actually needed.

    At that time, Dokoozlian had been reading about the use of satellites in irrigation management and knew of a U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) hydrology group in Maryland working with Landsat data for a similar use.

    Landsat sensors have two key capabilities for monitoring water use: the necessary scale for monitoring large areas and land surface temperature measurements. Those temperatures are used to calculate the plants’ water usage, also called evapotranspiration (evaporation plus transpiration, or ET).

    Grapevines can vary in water needs, even within the same vineyard, so the research team used Landsat’s 30-meter resolution to understand this variability by examining water use across their vineyards. This helped them identify where irrigation could be adjusted to match the plants’ needs. 

    “Landsat is the single most valuable tool that we have used.” – Nick Dokoozlian

    A Broader Collaboration

    To build on that insight, the team worked with USDA researchers Bill Kustas (background photo) and Martha Anderson as they set up GRAPEX (Grape Remote sensing Atmospheric Profile & Evapotranspiration eXperiment) with Landsat and other imagery, developing a toolkit to improve irrigation schedules and water management in vineyards and potentially other tree crops. Gallo was an ideal partner to help with ground data and testing the usefulness of the tools in a real-world situation. 

    “GRAPEX was really the foundation of understanding how much water the vines are actually using,” Dokoozlian said. He began to spread the word about its usefulness beyond the wine industry to other water users in the area, such as almond growers.

    That effort helped contribute to the foundation for OpenET, a broader scale initiative developed in collaboration with agencies including the USGS, USDA and NASA, universities and other partners. OpenET delivers evapotranspiration estimates based on Landsat data to growers and other water managers across the western United States, with plans to soon expand east. 

    “OpenET wouldn’t exist without Landsat. Most everything related to the use of remote sensing in irrigation management generally funnels back to Landsat,” Dokoozlian said.

    The winery also works with its contract growers on water management and developed an irrigation dashboard with OpenET data and their own ground data. “We can adjust and validate the amounts of water that we’re applying and constantly look at it and have a continual feedback loop,” Dokoozlian said. “Did we apply enough? Did we apply too little? How do the vines look?”

    He predicts that automating data flows like this will unlock additional water savings. But Dokoozlian wishes he had even more Landsat data—particularly high-resolution thermal imagery.

    He’ll get his wish as plans for the next generation of Landsat include land surface temperature gathered more frequently and at a higher resolution than current Landsat satellites. Landsat Next is expected to launch in the early 2030s and will offer significant improvements, particularly for applications like GRAPEX and OpenET that rely on thermal data to support water management and agricultural decision-making.

    The mission will also extend Landsat’s historic 50-plus year record, providing long-term records needed to monitor environmental change and support resource management.

    “If you had one dime to call from a phone booth and you needed imagery, Landsat’s the imagery source to call,” Dokoozlian said. “Landsat provides the longest-running, well-calibrated and trusted source of information.”

    Left: Landsat 9 launched from Vandenberg Space Flight Center in California on September 27, 2021, onboard an Atlas V 401 rocket. Among those in attendance were Nick Dokoozlian and his son, who took a road trip to view the launch. Center: An artist’s illustration of Landsat 9 orbiting Earth. Right: The Landsat program has collected Earth observation data for more than 50 years. Watch an overview of its history and capabilities.

    Note: Landsat data are available from the U.S. Geological Survey at no cost to users.

    Disclaimer: This web page contains hypertext links to information created and maintained by other organizations. USGS is not responsible for the content of any off-site pages. Reference herein to any specific commercial products, processes, or services by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not constitute or imply its endorsement or recommendation by the United States Government. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Italian Food Emporium Joins Rural Jump-Start Program, Bringing Artisan Pasta to Montrose

    Source: US State of Colorado

    MONTROSE — The Business Funding & Incentives Division of the Colorado Office of Economic Development & International Trade (OEDIT) announced today that Italian Food Emporium, LLC, an artisanal pasta manufacturing company, has joined the Rural Jump-Start (RJS) Program. Committed to time-honored Italian pasta-making techniques, Italian Food Emporium will create new jobs, support local agriculture, and sell Montrose-produced pasta to grocery stores throughout Colorado and out of the state. 

    “Colorado is proud to support businesses like the Italian Food Emporium that enrich communities by offering unique, high-quality goods and services, such as their artisanal pasta for Coloradans on the Western Slope. By fostering opportunities through the Rural Jump-Start initiative, we empower businesses to stimulate local economies, generate jobs, and enhance the quality of life in Colorado communities.” said Governor Jared Polis. 

    “The Rural Jump-Start program is an important tool to support new jobs across Colorado, and we are thrilled to see the Italian Food Emporium recognize the many benefits of being based in Montrose, CO. The company’s traditional techniques and use of local ingredients exemplifies how global expertise can integrate into regional assets to create new jobs and diversify the local economy,” said Eve Lieberman, OEDIT Executive Director. 

    While proudly sourcing fresh ingredients directly from Colorado, at the core of Italian Food Emporium’s mission is a commitment to time-honored Italian pasta-making techniques. Employing traditional Italian machinery and ingredients, including flour, meats, and cheeses imported directly from Italy, alongside experienced workers, the company crafts pasta with the quintessential texture and flavor of Italian craftsmanship. In Montrose, Colorado, Italian Food Emporium plans to open a storefront and manufacturing space to produce both fresh and dried pasta to sell on-site at a storefront in town, at regional farmers markets, and wholesale to grocery stores and restaurants across and outside of the state. The company plans to employ four new hires. 

    “Our goal is to give both professional chefs and home cooks convenient access to fresh, artisan-quality pasta that tastes just like it was made by nonna,” said Jenny Pezzica, Italian Food Emporium’s Founder. “For chefs, this means adding handmade-quality pasta to their menus without compromise. For families, it means enjoying restaurant-level meals at home, without the need to roll and knead the dough themselves.” 

    The Rural Jump-Start (RJS) program encourages economic development and job creation in economically distressed, rural counties of Colorado. These grants are intended to support regional economic and workforce development activities that expand local business, create new good-paying jobs, and strengthen and diversify local economies. Sponsoring entities like Montrose Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) help identify RJS candidates in their communities and work with the business to help ensure its success in the program and in the community. 

    “Having a startup company of this caliber in our community is exciting. MEDC works with small and large companies alike that want to create primary jobs to bring new dollars into our community. The Italian Food Emporium is a great addition to our community and to the State of Colorado,” said Sandy Head, Executive Director of the MEDC. 

    To learn more about the Rural Jump-Start program, please contact Quina Weber-Shirk at quina.webershirk@state.co.us. 

    About the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade 

    The Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) works to empower all to thrive in Colorado’s economy. Under the leadership of the Governor and in collaboration with economic development partners across the state, we foster a thriving business environment through funding and financial programs, training, consulting and informational resources across industries and regions. We promote economic growth and long-term job creation by recruiting, retaining, and expanding Colorado businesses and providing programs that support entrepreneurs and businesses of all sizes at every stage of growth. Our goal is to protect what makes our state a great place to live, work, start a business, raise a family, visit and retire—and make it accessible to everyone. Learn more about OEDIT. 

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Sen. Emanuel Jones Appointed to Joint High School Athletics Overview Committee

    Source: US State of Georgia

    ATLANTA (May 21, 2025) — Last week, Lt. Governor Burt Jones appointed Sen. Emanuel Jones (D–Decatur) to the Joint High School Athletics Overview Committee.

    “I am honored to be appointed to the Joint High School Athletics Overview Committee,” said Sen. Jones. “High school athletics play a vital role in the lives of Georgia’s students and communities. I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure fairness, transparency and equity in our state’s athletic associations’ operations.”

    The Joint High School Athletics Overview Committee is a bipartisan legislative committee in charge of reviewing and providing oversight of high school athletic associations across Georgia. The committee comprises 12 members from the Georgia General Assembly. Additional Senate members appointed to the committee include Sen. Randy Robertson (R–Cataula), Sen. Jason Anavitarte (R–Dallas), Sen. Sonya Halpern (D–Atlanta) and Sen. Chuck Payne (R–Dalton). Sen. Billy Hickman (R–Statesboro), Chairman of the Senate Education and Youth Committee, will serve as the Senate Co-Chair of the committee.

    # # # #

    Sen. Emanuel Jones represents the 10th Senate District, which includes a portion of DeKalb County.  He may be reached at 404.656.0502 or via email at emanuel.jones@senate.ga.gov.

    For all media inquiries, please reach out to SenatePressInquiries@senate.ga.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Council AGM highlights a year of progress

    Source: City of Derby

    City Councillors met today for the Annual General Meeting, which sees the Council make appointments to its various committees and regulatory boards, and to outside organisations and charities.

    Reflecting on the past twelve months, Councillor Nadine Peatfield, Leader of Derby City Council, celebrated a year of strong progress and delivery for Derby. A year in which the administration has worked to make improvements for the people of Derby and create a modern, ambitious and welcoming city.

    Cllr Peatfield also thanked the various Council departments that have supported the administration over the past twelve months, and marked this and previous administrations’ efforts on the Derby Market Hall, which will open on Saturday 24 May.

    The annual Mayor Making Ceremony also took place during the day, with Councillor Ajit Atwal elected Mayor of Derby for 2025/26.

    Cllr Atwal, a Liberal Democrat Councillor, has served the Littleover ward since 2010 and held the position of Deputy Mayor to Cllr Ged Potter in 2024/25.

    Councillor Philip Ingall was elected as the city’s Deputy Mayor for the next year. Cllr Ingall is one of the Independent Councillors for Chellaston and Shelton Lock.

    Emily Feenan, Director of Corporate Governance, as well as Derby City Council’s Monitoring Officer, said:

    I’d like to express my congratulations to Councillors Atwal and Ingall on these new appointments. While these mayoral roles are ceremonial, they hold significant historical value and play a big role in our city. The Mayor and Deputy actively represent Derby at various events, support with fundraising, and boost Derby’s profile. I wish both councillors all the best.

    I also want to express my thanks to Councillor Ged Potter for all of his hard work during his term of office.”

    Rounding off the appointments, India Johal was sworn in as the city’s new Youth Mayor and Maryam Riaz as Deputy. Both were elected in a record-breaking election that saw over 12,000 young people cast their vote in February this year.

    The Youth Mayor and Deputy Youth Mayor help to raise awareness of the positive contribution young people make to our city and ensure their voices are heard.

    Information on the role of the Youth Mayor is available on our website.

    Recordings of both meetings are now available to watch on the Council’s YouTube Channel. 

    Details of Councillor appointments to Committees and Boards will be updated on the democracy portal once confirmed.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China’s Foreign Trade Maintains Steady Growth Despite Tariff Barriers – 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 21 (Xinhua) — China’s foreign trade has maintained steady growth despite high tariff barriers, demonstrating China’s full readiness, ability and confidence to face various risks and challenges, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said Wednesday.

    The diplomat made the statement at a regular briefing, commenting on the impact of external factors such as tariffs on the Chinese economy following a recent UN report that global economic growth could slow to 2.4 percent in 2025 due to escalating trade tensions and political uncertainty.

    As Mao Ning noted, international media called China’s economic performance in the first four months of this year “exceeding expectations” and “resilient.”

    According to her, in the first four months, the total volume of imports and exports of goods increased by 2.4 percent year-on-year, while exports grew by 7.5 percent, which indicates China’s high international competitiveness.

    China continues to expand its opening up, giving foreign businesses more development opportunities and more stable expectations, Mao Ning added.

    “All this demonstrates China’s full readiness, ability and confidence in confronting various risks and challenges,” the official representative of the Chinese Foreign Ministry emphasized. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Exclusive: Russia and China have made significant progress in bilateral cooperation in recent years – Russian businessman O. Deripaska

    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

    Moscow, May 21 /Xinhua/ — Russia and China have made significant progress in bilateral cooperation in recent years, and the countries have established a deep level of cooperation in many areas, Russian businessman Oleg Deripaska said in a recent interview with Xinhua.

    “We have made serious progress over the past four years. In general, this is a large, deep, large-scale cooperation in many areas: energy, transport, logistics, mechanical engineering, joint developments in aviation, space, nuclear energy. The countries share experience, organize joint design, develop engineering. This is already a fairly deep level of cooperation,” he noted.

    According to O. Deripaska, the countries are taking important steps to develop transport and logistics infrastructure. “The Russian side is modernizing railways, transport crossings, pipelines, power lines, communication lines, and ports. The Chinese and Russian sides are stimulating trade turnover by providing subsidies for transportation,” the businessman said, emphasizing that increasing the speed of cargo delivery improves trade.

    Another important area for further deepening trade and economic cooperation between the two countries, he believes, is improving financial conditions. This is not only about settlements in national currencies, but also about developing project financing mechanisms. “Our companies are already opening enterprises in China to produce modules that are needed for use in Russian production. In the same way, Chinese companies should invest in creating joint production facilities in Russia,” the Xinhua source believes.

    Speaking about cooperation between China and Russia in the field of science and education, O. Deripaska emphasized that in the next two years this issue will be given special attention, because joint educational projects not only bring the peoples of the two countries closer together, but also allow building a foundation for the future.

    As an example of such cooperation, the Russian entrepreneur cited the Chinese-Russian University PPI-MSU in Shenzhen /Guangdong Province, South China/. With the support of O. Deripaska’s funds, the university has created several educational programs for Chinese and Russian students. “Science is a source of progress, that is, all innovations begin with scientific developments, and this is important for us. Our investments create the opportunity for joint education in Russia and China,” he explained, adding that joint programs are being developed between universities in Irkutsk, Krasnoyarsk and universities in Harbin /the administrative center of Heilongjiang Province, Northeast China/ and Xi’an /the administrative center of Shaanxi Province, Northwest China/.

    The businessman praised the level of development of science, technology and engineering knowledge in China, noting significant successes in such high-tech areas as renewable energy, space programs, electronics, and electric vehicle production. “China has focused on education and building a system of scientific universities and research centers. A lot has been spent on training Chinese specialists abroad. Now many of them have returned. We see this progress,” he added.

    According to O. Deripaska, the deep level of cooperation between China and Russia allows us to hope that all the development goals set for the two countries will be achieved. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Kyrgyzstan sees rise in intestinal infections

    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

    BISHKEK, May 21 (Xinhua) — Kyrgyzstan recorded a 35.7 percent increase in the incidence of intestinal infections in the first four months of 2025, the Department of Disease Prevention and State Sanitary and Epidemiological Surveillance of the Kyrgyz Ministry of Health reported on Wednesday.

    It is noted that since the beginning of the year, a total of 6,348 cases of infection have been registered, compared to 4,610 cases for the same period in 2024. Among those infected, 81.6 percent are children under 14 years of age.

    “According to data from a long-term analysis of acute intestinal infections, the incidence rate rises from May to September with a peak in August. The main cause of acute intestinal diseases remains failure to comply with personal hygiene rules, which is why children are most at risk of infection,” the agency said in a statement. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Ukrainian shot dead near American School of Madrid

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    MADRID, May 21 (Xinhua) — Spain’s National Police have launched an investigation into the murder of a 52-year-old Ukrainian citizen who was shot dead on Wednesday morning outside the American School in the Madrid suburb of Pozuelo de Alarcon.

    The incident occurred at around 09:15 local time /08:15 GMT/. Emergency medical personnel who arrived at the scene confirmed the man’s death from four gunshot wounds to the chest and one to the head. The injuries were assessed as “incompatible with life.”

    As a precaution, classes at the school were immediately suspended. No other casualties were reported. Parents of the students told local media that the deceased was the father of one of the students at the school.

    Although the investigation is still ongoing, preliminary police information suggests that the assailant was waiting for the victim on a motorcycle. Spanish radio station Cadena Ser identified the victim as Andriy Portnov, a former adviser to ex-Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Beyer Statement On The Passing Of Gerry Connolly

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Don Beyer (D-VA)

    Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA) today issued the following statement on the passing of his longtime friend and colleague, Congressman Gerry Connolly:

    “Gerry Connolly was one of a kind, and I am heartbroken that he has passed.

    “Gerry will leave a towering legacy of accomplishment in Fairfax County, he was a forceful advocate for our region and the people in it. Everyone who runs for office says they want ‘to get stuff done,’ but comparatively few actually succeed. Gerry got stuff done for years in Fairfax, where he advocated successfully for projects including the Silver Line and the Cross County Trail, which now bears his name. Then he brought the same attitude and outlook to Congress, where he wrote and passed a major postal reform, led efforts to create the Washington Metrorail Safety Commission, and was one of the most tireless and active advocates for the federal workforce ever to serve in Congress. Gerry was especially proud to have been named the House’s ‘most effective legislator,’ and to have earned the trust of his colleagues to lead our Caucus on oversight and government reform, topics he knew more about than almost anyone.

    “Everyone who worked with him knew Gerry as a pugnacious fighter for his constituents, for good government, and for a range of causes around the world. He was also warm, witty, and loyal, and he loved acting in community theater as a company member of the Providence Players of Fairfax. Above all, Gerry was beloved by his family, friends, and staff. Megan and I send our condolences to all of them, and especially my best wishes to Smitty, Caitlin, and their family.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: REP LIEU STATEMENT ON PASSING OF RANKING MEMBER GERRY CONNOLLY

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ted Lieu (33 District of California)

    WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-Los Angeles County) issued the following statement on the passing of Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA).

    “Congress and Virginia’s 11th District lost a legislative titan today with the passing of Gerry Connolly. I join his family, friends, colleagues, and constituents in mourning this monumental loss. Gerry was a skillful lawmaker with a passion for making sure our government worked efficiently, ethically, and always for the people. In addition to his work as Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, Gerry was a passionate voice on foreign relations. I was grateful to get to work with him over the years on the Foreign Affairs Committee. Gerry was a lifelong public servant who cared deeply about making a difference and serving his community in Northern Virginia. We will miss him.”

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Foreign, health ministers call on WHO to facilitate Taiwan’s participation

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    May 16, 2025  No. 157  

    During a joint press conference on May 16, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung and Minister of Health and Welfare Chiu Tai-yuan called on the World Health Organization (WHO) to facilitate Taiwan’s participation. They said that Taiwan would demonstrate self-confidence and work with the world while showcasing the professionalism of Taiwan’s medical diplomacy team.
     
    The 78th World Health Assembly (WHA) is set to open in Geneva on May 19. Minister Lin and Minister Chiu held a joint press conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) on the morning of May 16, at which they underscored Taiwan’s willingness to contribute to better global health. The two ministers said that the WHO should not brook political interference but rather should promptly invite Taiwan to participate as an observer in the WHA as well as WHO technical meetings and thus realize WHO’s goal of “One World for Health.” 
     
    Making a special appearance at the press conference was the Puzangalan Children’s Choir of Pingtung County, which performed “Ualjaiyui,” a traditional song of blessing of the Paiwan indigenous community. The song speaks of good fortune and of passing on traditions. Taiwan shares such sentiments for its WHA Action Team headed to Geneva as well as to the world at large. Minister Lin pointed out that the choir would also be traveling to Geneva to show that Taiwan was not just a land of technology but also home to cultural soft power. 
     
    Minister Lin shared that this year’s WHA slogan is “One World for Health” and that the government was calling on WHO to “Chip in with Taiwan” so that no nation or people would be left behind, allowing Taiwan to work with other nations toward a healthier world. Adding that health and disease knew no borders, he said that in addressing COVID-19 Taiwan showed great resilience and was able to assist other nations. Excluding Taiwan from the WHA and WHO therefore represented a loss for the international community.
     
    Minister Lin further commented that Taiwan’s national health insurance program has enrolled 99 percent of residents and that no matter where people lived, they had access to Taiwan’s quality medical services and social security net, an accomplishment praised worldwide. Acknowledging WHO’s Global Action Plan for Health of Indigenous Peoples, the minister said that Taiwan was ready to share its experience providing quality medical care to indigenous people. 
     
    In the AI era, Minister Lin stated, utilizing digital technology could improve access to medical care. Reflecting this, MOFA would for the first time hold a forum on smart medicine in Geneva, at which both Acer Medical and Quanta Computer would share their experience in order to promote a Taiwan model of smart medicine. Taiwan, he said, would continue to show how it could help and underscore its role as a global leader in semiconductors and related technology. 
     
    Minister Lin said that to realize President Lai Ching-te’s vision of a healthy Taiwan, MOFA had implemented the Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project and eight flagship projects, which included the smart medicine and healthcare industries. He said thats MOFA had worked with the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) to establish a Taiwan medical diplomacy team as well as a medical consultation team that included professionals from medical firms and organizations. Through the “One Country, One Center” project, medical cooperation would be strengthened with New Southbound Policy partner countries. Such efforts would also bring Taiwan’s healthcare industry—comprising its biotech, pharmaceutical, and information technology sectors—to the world. 
     
    Minister Lin thanked the nation’s diplomatic allies for making proposals in favor of Taiwan’s participation, as well as like-minded countries for taking such concrete steps as sending letters and conducting joint demarches in support of Taiwan. Such actions underscored the strength of international support for Taiwan. However, China’s distortion of UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 and its pressure on the WHO Secretariat meant that Taiwan had yet to be invited to attend the WHA.
     
    Minister Lin stressed that Taiwan had established a government firmly rooted in popular support by conducting many democratic elections. As such, only the popularly elected government of Taiwan could represent the people of Taiwan at the United Nations, WHO, and other multilateral organizations. Many nations’ executive and legislative branches had publicly stated that UNGA Resolution 2758 did not preclude Taiwan’s participation in international organizations such as WHO. He then expressed hope that more nations would work together in support of Taiwan’s participation in WHO and oppose China’s international efforts at lawfare and cognitive warfare. 
     
    In addition, Minister Lin said that this year’s WHA slogan was “One World for Health” and that a Pandemic Agreement would be signed during the meeting. Taiwan had, he said, already shown the humanitarian spirit of “Taiwan can help” during COVID-19 and proved itself a valuable resource to WHO. However, Taiwan’s absence left a gap in the global public health and disease prevention network, said Minister Lin, who called on the WHO Secretariat to not brook political interference, to maintain professionalism and neutrality, and to facilitate Taiwan’s membership in the global public health and disease prevention network so as to create greater welfare for the world.
     
    In closing, Minister Lin said that Taiwan’s WHA Action Team would conduct publicity efforts in Geneva starting from May 16 and that MOFA and the MOHW would work together with self-confidence and engage the world. Moreover, the ministries would be proactive in making Taiwan’s voice heard and ensure that Taiwan responded to “One World for Health” and appealed to others to “Chip in with Taiwan” by making greater contributions to global public health. (E)

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Former Vice President Chen attends inauguration of Pope Leo XIV

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    May 18, 2025  
    No. 161  

    Former Vice President Chen Chien-jen, serving as special envoy of President Lai Ching-te, together with his wife and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs François Chihchung Wu, attended the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV on the morning of May 18. In an audience with the pontiff following the ceremony, Mr. Chen conveyed greetings from President Lai and the sincere congratulations of the government, people, and Catholic community of Taiwan.
     
    Upon arriving for the ceremony in St. Peter’s Square, Mr. Chen was received by a ceremonial officer for the Holy See. The inauguration, a grand and solemn occasion, took around two hours. According to statistics released by the Holy See, more than 150 delegations attended. Before the ceremony commenced, Mr. Chen exchanged greetings with Paraguayan Chamber of Deputies Speaker Raúl Latorre; Guatemalan Special Envoy and Ambassador to the Holy See Alfredo Vásquez Rivera; other officials from diplomatic allies; and delegates from the United States, Japan, Europe, and numerous other friendly countries. He also extended felicitations to and shared cordial interactions with several high-ranking members of the Vatican clergy, including Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin and Secretary of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue Monsignor Indunil Janakaratne Kodithuwakku Kankanamalage. 
     
    After the inauguration, Pope Leo received the heads of national delegations. Mr. Chen presented the pontiff with a congratulatory letter from President Lai, a commemorative set of postage stamps depicting four of Taiwan’s Catholic churches—St. Joseph’s Church in Jinlun Village, Taitung County; the Holy Family Catholic Church in Taipei City; the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Wanjin Village, Pingtung County; and the Holy Rosary Cathedral Basilica in Kaohsiung City—and a collection of postcards on Holy See artifacts jointly produced by Taiwan and the Apostolic Nunciature in Taiwan, highlighting the close connection between the Catholic Church in Taiwan and the Holy See. Mr. Chen also presented Pope Leo with a photo taken in 2020, when the pontiff was serving as bishop of the Chiclayo Diocese in Peru. The picture showed him accepting antipandemic supplies donated by Taiwan. The materials, delivered in cartons labeled “Taiwan Box,” were donated to Cáritas Chiclayo and other Peruvian healthcare and charitable organizations by the Pingtung County Government and Dr. Lai Hsien-yung of Hualien County’s Mennonite Christian Hospital. The government and people of Taiwan provided proactive assistance to the international community throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, fulfilling their international responsibilities and demonstrating that Taiwan could help and that Taiwan was helping.
     
    When Mr. Chen arrived at the airport in Rome on May 17, he met with Eswatini Prime Minister Russell Dlamini, who had also made the trip to attend the papal inauguration. Mr. Chen also attended a mass and prayer service for peace led by Bishop John Lee Keh-mien, President of the Chinese Regional Bishops’ Conference of Taiwan, at St. Benedict’s Monastery. On May 18, Mr. Chen had dinner with 16 prominent members of the Catholic clergy and several key officials and ambassadors of diplomatic allies, including Special Delegate of the Holy See to the Sovereign Military Order of Malta Cardinal Silvano Tomasi and Haitian Special Envoy and former Minister of Foreign Affairs Alrich Nicolas. 
     
    Since establishing diplomatic ties 83 years ago, Taiwan and the Holy See have enjoyed a profound diplomatic alliance and shared the core values of religious freedom, human rights, peace, and benevolence. The two sides will build on their existing friendship and solid foundation of cooperation in humanitarian assistance and other domains to further deepen bilateral relations and together make even greater contributions to the world. (E)

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: MOFA sincerely appreciates international support for Taiwan’s bid to participate in WHO and WHA

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    May 19, 2025  
    No. 163  

    The 78th World Health Assembly (WHA) is opening in Geneva on May 19. Following proactive efforts by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and related overseas missions, Taiwan’s bid to participate in the WHA has received staunch and concrete support from the Group of Seven (G7), the executive and legislative branches of government of more than 50 countries, the European Union, the European Parliament, and representative offices of like-minded nations in Taiwan. MOFA expresses sincere appreciation for this support.
     
    Eleven of Taiwan’s diplomatic allies, as members of the World Health Organization (WHO), submitted a proposal to the WHO Secretariat to invite Taiwan to participate in the WHA as an observer, requesting that the proposal be included as a supplementary item on this year’s WHA agenda. Saint Lucia Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre personally wrote a letter urging WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus to invite Taiwan to attend the WHA. The parliaments of Guatemala, Palau, and Saint Christopher and Nevis adopted resolutions backing Taiwan.
     
    The magnitude of support for Taiwan from like-minded countries has continued to grow. The current US administration has publicly endorsed Taiwan’s international participation more than 10 times. This includes a joint statement issued at the US-Japan leaders’ summit by President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in February, which for the first time contained text advocating Taiwan’s meaningful involvement in international organizations. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reaffirmed firm US support for Taiwan’s international participation during his congressional confirmation hearing as well as in interviews and joint statements issued at two meetings with the foreign ministers of Japan and the Republic of Korea. The United States twice spoke up for Taiwan at the WHO Executive Board session held in February. In April, it publicly refuted China’s misuse of United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution 2758 at the UN Security Council for the first time, reiterating that the resolution did not preclude Taiwan’s participation in the UN system or other multilateral fora. In terms of US congressional support, the House of Representatives passed the Taiwan International Solidarity Act without opposition on May 5. The act urged the US government to resist China’s efforts to suppress Taiwan through mischaracterization of UNGA Resolution 2758. In addition, nine US state legislatures approved resolutions backing Taiwan’s involvement in international organizations.
     
    Furthermore, in a joint statement issued following a meeting in March, the G7 foreign ministers reaffirmed support for Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations. On May 15, the European Union expressed a similar stance and recognized the extraordinary contributions Taiwan can make through its digital healthcare capabilities. In February, the European Parliament overwhelmingly adopted a resolution on the implementation of the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy, which backed Taiwan’s meaningful participation in relevant world bodies. 
    High-ranking European officials who publicly spoke up for Taiwan included Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani, Irish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Simon Harris, Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong, Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard, and Swedish Minister for Social Affairs and Public Health Jakob Forssmed. A total of 534 members of the European Parliament and 29 national parliaments across Europe cosigned a letter of the Formosa Club reaffirming support for Taiwan. The World Medical Association and other professional groups endorsed Taiwan’s participation in WHO and the WHA as they had done in the past.
     
    MOFA thanks the representative offices in Taiwan of the United Kingdom, France, Australia, Canada, the Czech Republic, Germany, Japan, and Lithuania for issuing a joint statement for the fifth year prior to the WHA affirming the immense benefits that Taiwan could bring to WHA discussions. The statement also emphasized that there was no legitimate reason for Taiwan’s exclusion from the WHA and that Taiwan’s absence would undermine the spirit of inclusive global public health cooperation and safety that WHO’s founding documents called for.
     
    MOFA points out that these positive developments fully demonstrate that China’s unreasonable obstruction of Taiwan’s participation in WHO has gained little traction or support among nations worldwide. MOFA reiterates that UNGA Resolution 2758 and WHA Resolution 25.1 make no mention of Taiwan, have nothing to do with Taiwan, and therefore cannot be cited as a legal basis for precluding Taiwan from participating in WHO or other international organizations or multilateral mechanisms or fora. MOFA asks that the WHO Secretariat listen closely to member countries, stop further condoning political manipulation by China, and instead work to realize WHO’s goals of “Leaving No One Behind” and “One World for Health” so as to fulfill its responsibility to maintain and improve the health and well-being of all people. MOFA also asks that Taiwan be allowed full and unobstructed participation in all WHO meetings, mechanisms, and activities, including the WHA. (E)

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Foreign Minister Lin hosts welcome luncheon to mark state visit by Palauan President Whipps

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    May 20, 2025  
    No. 167  

    Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung hosted a luncheon on May 20 to mark a state visit by President Surangel Whipps, Jr. of the Republic of Palau. During the luncheon, Minister Lin conveyed a warm welcome on behalf of the government of Taiwan and thanked Palau for its staunch support for Taiwan’s international participation. He said he expected Taiwan and Palau to continue their close cooperation and together promote sustainable development across a range of areas in both nations.
     
    In his remarks, Minister Lin explained that since taking office, he had launched a strategy of integrated diplomacy to serve as Taiwan’s primary focus for foreign affairs, adding that its three pillars of values-based diplomacy, alliance diplomacy, and economic and trade diplomacy were advancing the promotion of the Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project in Palau. He also noted that, in addition to personally leading an industrial delegation to Palau in January, several business delegations had visited Palau on information-gathering missions, and that in March President Whipps had appointed Taiwanese business leader Stan Shih to serve as a senior economic advisor to Palau. Minister Lin said that these activities had laid a successful foundation for using public-private partnerships as a cooperative model through which to promote the Diplomatic Allies Prosperity Project.
     
    In his remarks, President Whipps thanked the government of Taiwan and Minister Lin for their gracious reception. Observing that he had already made several trips to Taiwan, President Whipps said that visiting once again felt just like experiencing the warmth of home. Likening the 26-year ties between Taiwan and Palau to a marriage, he said that the nations’ sincere friendship was based on such shared values as freedom and democracy, a common Austronesian culture, and mutual support and prosperity.
     
    President Whipps also reiterated his heartfelt gratitude for Taiwan’s assistance toward national development in Palau, adding that Taiwan’s status as one of the world’s leading producers of semiconductors and other technologies was a reflection of its successful education system and outstanding industrial development. Remarking that President Lai Ching-te’s visit to Palau in December 2024 had established a robust foundation for a new era of Taiwan-Palau collaboration, he said he hoped the two nations would continue to use public-private partnerships to engage in close cooperation on sustainable tourism, green energy, smart medicine and healthcare, education and training, and food security, together creating a vision of economic prosperity for both countries.
     
    Among others attendees at today’s luncheon were Cheng Shih-chung, Director-General of the Ministry of Education’s Sports Administration; Professor Wang Ying-chou, Vice President for Academic Affairs at Fu Jen Catholic University; Liao Song-yie, Chairman of COTA Commercial Bank; and Liu Qing-ling, Chairperson of Chuan Cheng Hat Co., Ltd. Amid a warm and cordial environment, guests and the members of the Palauan delegation engaged in in-depth exchanges regarding various aspects of Taiwan-Palau cooperation. (E)

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Scientists design gene delivery systems for cells in the brain and spinal cord

    Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 2

    News Release
    Wednesday, May 21, 2025

    NIH-funded breakthrough could enable targeted therapies for many neurological disorders.

    Research teams funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have created a versatile set of gene delivery systems that can reach different neural cell types in the human brain and spinal cord with exceptional accuracy. These delivery systems are a significant step toward future precise gene therapy to the brain that could safely control errant brain activity with high precision. In contrast, current therapies for brain disorders mostly treat only symptoms.
    The new delivery systems carry genetic material into the brain and spinal cord for targeted use by specific cell types. This platform has the potential to transform how scientists can study neural circuits. It provides researchers with gene delivery systems for various species used in research, without the need for genetically modified, or transgenic, animals. Examples include illuminating fine structures of brain cells with fluorescent proteins and activating or silencing circuits that control behavior and cognition.
    “Imagine this new platform as a delivery truck dropping off specialized genetic packages in specific cell neighborhoods in the brain and spinal cord,” said John Ngai, Director of the NIH’s Brain Research Through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies® Initiative, or The BRAIN Initiative®. “With these delivery systems, we can now access and manipulate specific cells in the brain and spinal cord – access that was not possible before at this scale.”
    The new delivery tools, which use a small, stripped-down adeno-associated virus (AAV) to deliver DNA to target cells, can be broadly applied across many species and experimental systems, including small tissue samples removed during human brain surgeries. The delivery systems have been tested, or validated, in intact living systems, which is an important step for introducing new tools for widespread use. The newly published toolkit includes:

    Dozens of delivery systems that selectively target key brain cell types, including excitatory neurons, inhibitory interneurons, striatal and cortical subtypes, brain blood vessel cells, and hard-to-reach neurons in the spinal cord that control body movement and are damaged in several neurological diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and spinal muscular atrophy
    Computer programs powered by artificial intelligence (AI) that can identify genetic “light switches,” known as enhancers, that turn genes on in specific brain cell types, using data from many different species – cutting considerable time and effort for scientists looking for these genetic switches.

    Overall, this collection of research tools will significantly accelerate understanding of the human brain. Importantly, the toolkit enables access to specific brain cell types in the prefrontal cortex, an area that’s critical for decision-making and uniquely human traits. With other tools in the collection, scientists can better study individual cells and communication pathways known to be affected in several neurological diseases. These include seizure disorders, ALS, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and Huntington’s disease – as well as various neuropsychiatric conditions.
    AAV-based treatments are already approved for some conditions, such as spinal muscular atrophy for which a 2016 approval of a gene therapy known as Zolgensma transformed the lives of infants and young children who once faced severe disability or early death. The new collection of gene delivery resources lays the groundwork for more precise treatments that target only affected cells in the brain, spinal cord, or brain blood vessels.
    The toolkit is available at distribution centers including Addgene, a global supplier of genetic research tools. This collection of publications offers researchers standard operating procedures and user guides for these tools.
    The work is supported by the NIH’s Brain Research Through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies® Initiative, or The BRAIN Initiative®. Funding issued less than four years ago launched a large-scale, team-run project to design new molecular tools that can be useful to many research laboratories. The Armamentarium for Precision Brain Cell Access aims to develop precise and reproducible access to cells and circuits in experimental research models of the brain and spinal cord. The large-scale project brings together experts in the field of molecular biology, neuroscience, and artificial intelligence (AI). The eight papers appear in the May 21 issue of the journals Neuron, Cell, Cell Reports, Cell Genomics, and Cell Reports Methods.
    Grants: UF1MH130701, UH3MH120096, U24MH133236, UF1MH128339, UM1MH130981, R01MH123620, U19MH114830, P510D010425, U420D011123, S10MH126994, UH3MH120094, UF1MH130881, F30DA053020, R01FD007478, U01AG076791, R35GM127102, RF1MH114126, UH3MH120095, RF1MH121274, R01MH113005, UH3MH120095
    The Brain Research Through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies® Initiative and The BRAIN Initiative® are registered trademarks of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
    The NIH BRAIN Initiative, a multidisciplinary collaboration across 10 NIH Institutes and Centers, is uniquely positioned for cross-cutting discoveries in neuroscience to revolutionize our understanding of the human brain. By accelerating the development and application of innovative neurotechnologies, The BRAIN Initiative® is enabling researchers to understand the brain at unprecedented levels of detail in both health and disease, improving how we treat, prevent, and cure brain disorders. The BRAIN Initiative involves a multidisciplinary network of federal and non-federal partners whose missions and current research portfolios complement the goals of The BRAIN Initiative. 
    About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation’s medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.
    NIH…Turning Discovery Into Health®

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: May 21, 2025 DART Paratransit Workers Vote to Authorize Strike as NLRB Issues Complaint Against Transdev

    Source: US Amalgamated Transit Union

    Dallas, TX – After months of delay tactics, refusals to bargain, and disrespect from DART Paratransit contractor Transdev, DART paratransit workers overwhelmingly voted to authorize a strike, empowering Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1338-Dallas, TX, to call for a strike if necessary. 

    The workers voted 106-2 in favor of union representation on March 5. Rather than respect the workers’ clear decision, Transdev responded with baseless objections to the election—providing no evidence to support its claims, a fact acknowledged by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). In response, the federal government has issued a formal complaint against Transdev, citing violations of workers’ rights. 

    “Since the 106–2 vote, these workers have faced retaliation, harsher penalties, and broken promises—including a wage increase that was promised and then pulled back. Transdev continues to show total disregard for the people who make their service run,” said Kenneth Day, ATU International Vice President. “Workers now believe that taking action is the only path forward and are urging DART leadership to intervene.”

    The DART paratransit workers provide a critical service for people with disabilities and seniors across the Dallas area, who rely on them each day to get to the doctor, grocery store, and other important destinations.

    “This vote sends a loud and clear message to DART that it’s time to step in and save Transdev from themselves,” said ATU International President John Costa. “Our members are devoted to this work and to their riders, who depend on them and will make every effort to avoid a strike. However, Transdev must act reasonably and recognize that the workers have spoken—and so has the federal government.”

    MIL OSI USA News –