NewzIntel.com

Category: Economy

  • MIL-OSI Europe: The Netherlands: Leyden Labs lands €20 million EIB investment facilitated by HERA to advance pandemic preparedness activities

    Source: European Investment Bank

    • European Investment Bank and Leyden Labs sign €20 million financing to advance Leyden Labs’ pandemic preparedness activities, guaranteed by European Commission’s InvestEU initiative through its Health Emergency Preparedness and Response (HERA).
    • Funding is part of “HERA Invest,” a €110 million top-up to the European Union’s InvestEU initiative, meant to address pandemic readiness, biodefense and antimicrobial resistance.
    • Leyden Labs will use the funding to advance development of its novel non-vaccine approach, with nasal sprays containing broadly-protective antibodies to defend against seasonal and pandemic viral infections.

    The European Investment Bank (EIB) and Dutch clinical-stage biotechnology company Leyden Laboratories B.V. have signed a €20 million financing deal to advance development of the Company’s broadly-protective antibodies to defend against seasonal and pandemic viral infections. Leyden Labs’ lead program is a pan-influenza nasal spray currently in clinical development (PanFlu), which has the potential to provide first-in-class influenza protection and meaningfully reduce the burden of influenza infection, including in infection from Avian Flu (H5).

    The venture debt financing agreement is supported under the European Commission’s InvestEU programme and specifically falls under “HERA Invest.” This €110 million initiative from the European Health Union is meant to address biodefence, pandemic readiness and antimicrobial resistance in Europe, as a top-up to the European Union’s InvestEU initiative, funded by the EU4Health programme.

    “The COVID-19 pandemic taught us multiple lessons, including that we should strengthen the EU’s preparedness and autonomy in key areas like bio sciences.” stated EIB Vice President Robert de Groot. “With the support of the European Commission, the EIB backs highly innovative EU companies like Leyden Labs with venture debt, enabling them to grow and thrive in Europe. Technological innovations from companies like Leyden Labs are key for European competitiveness and the well-being of our society.” 

    Hadja Lahbib, Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management, added: “Respiratory viruses are common and affect us all, especially the most medically vulnerable. Today’s agreement reaffirms our commitment to invest in innovation to strengthen preparedness and protection against respiratory viruses. HERA Invest is a prime example of Europe at the forefront of medical advancements in response to serious threats to health.”

    “We are thrilled with this endorsement of our approach and support from HERA and the European Investment Bank. This will accelerate our efforts to provide broad, universal protection against current and future viral outbreaks. We are grateful that HERA and the EIB understand the urgency and significance of investing in initiatives to ensure Europe is prepared for pandemic viruses. This concern is greater than ever given the increasing threat of an avian influenza outbreak,” said Koenraad Wiedhaup, co-founder and CEO of Leyden Labs. 

    Leyden Labs’ product candidates are nasal sprays that administer broadly protective antibodies directly to the respiratory mucosa. Leyden Lab’s solutions are designed to work at the earliest moment, before the virus even reaches systemic circulation. Systemically administered vaccines primarily generate systemic protection against viruses, however, this may be a limitation that contributes to suboptimal efficacy. Airborne viruses, including influenza, do not directly enter systemic circulation, but rather, they enter the body through the nose and mouth. The Company’s antibodies aim to protect against full viral families, so they keep working even when a virus mutates and evolves. This intranasal strategy also has the potential to benefit people with weakened immune systems because it does not rely on the person to be able to mount an immune response in order to be protective.

    The Company’s novel approach has the potential to transform the way the healthcare ecosystem thinks about viral prophylaxis, while also providing an innovative solution for use both in times of seasonal outbreaks as well as pandemic emergencies.

    HERA’s responsibility is to ensure that the EU and Member States are ready to act in the face of cross-border health threats. The €20 million proceeds of this financing will support further development of Leyden Labs’ novel, non-vaccine approach to fighting respiratory viruses to contribute to European pandemic preparedness efforts.

    Background information:

    Health Emergency Preparedness and Response (HERA). The European Commission’s Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) supports projects that strengthen preparedness and response capacities in the field of health. HERA was established as a direct consequence of the lessons learned from the initial management of the COVID-19 pandemic, to ensure a solid Union response to serious-cross border health threats and secure ready availability and accessibility of medical countermeasures. HERA’s responsibility is to ensure that the EU and Member States are ready to act in the face of cross-border health threats, and its mandate covers both the strengthening of preparedness in advance of future emergencies and the implementation of a swift and efficient response once crisis hits.

    HERA Invest is a €110 million top-up to the InvestEU programme, funded by the EU4Health programme. It is implemented by the EIB and supports projects that focus on pathogens with pandemic potential, chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear threats, and antimicrobial resistance. Together with HERA, the EIB assesses whether an operation meets HERA Invest’s criteria.

    The InvestEU programme provides the European Union with crucial long-term funding by leveraging substantial private and public funds in support of a sustainable recovery. It also helps mobilise private investment for EU policy priorities, such as the European Green Deal and the digital transition. InvestEU brings together under one roof the multitude of EU financial instruments previously available to support investment in the European Union, making funding for investment projects in Europe simpler, more efficient and more flexible. The programme consists of three components: the InvestEU Fund, the InvestEU Advisory Hub and the InvestEU Portal. The InvestEU Fund is deployed through implementing partners who will invest in projects using the EU budget guarantee of €26.2 billion. The entire budget guarantee will back the investment projects of the implementing partners, increase their risk-bearing capacity and thus mobilise at least €372 billion in additional investment.

    The European Investment Bank (EIB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by its Member States. The Netherlands owns a 5,2% share of the EIB. It makes long-term finance available for sound investment in order to contribute towards EU policy goals and national priorities. More than 90% of its activity is in Europe. Over the last ten years, the EIB has made available more than €27 billion in financing for Dutch projects in various sectors, including research & development, sustainable mobility, drinking water, healthcare and SMEs. In 2024 the EIB Group, which also includes the EIB’s subsidiary, the European Investment Fund (EIF), made available more than €3 billion for Dutch projects.

    Leyden Laboratories B.V. (Leyden Labs), founded in 2020, is a clinical-stage biotechnology company based in the Netherlands. Leyden Labs is working to free people from the threat of respiratory viruses, by leveraging its Mucosal Protection Platform to develop a portfolio of candidates aimed at providing protection against influenza, coronaviruses, and other respiratory viruses through a new class of broadly protective nasal sprays. Leyden Labs is supported by a strong syndicate of investors and ambassadors; VC investors include GV (formerly Google Ventures), Casdin Capital, F-Prime Capital, ClavystBio (a life sciences venture investor established by Temasek), Polaris Partners, Qiming Venture Partners, Invus, SoftBank Vision Fund 2, Byers Capital / Brook Byers and Bluebird Ventures.To learn more, visit www.leydenlabs.com.

    CR9114, Leyden Labs’ lead product candidate for the PanFlu program, is a human monoclonal antibody that protects against influenza in preclinical models. Leyden Labs holds an exclusive license from Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc., one of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, to develop and commercialize CR9114.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Need to incorporate specific measures to better support the health coverage of islands in the EU cohesion policy framework – E-001524/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    Health services and infrastructure are already a priority under Cohesion Policy enabling Member States to promote equal access to healthcare and strengthen health system’s resilience[1].

    Implemented through shared management, national authorities can tailor investments addressing territorial needs, as access to basic healthcare is vital to support the right to live where people reside.

    For Greece, some EUR 416 million[2] under the European Regional Development Fund, support health infrastructure and equipment at all levels of the National Health System across regions, including Primary Healthcare, eHealth and telemedicine[3].

    Complementary, some EUR 323 million[4] under the European Social Fund Plus, support measures targeting marginalised and isolated communities such as the creation of 127 Local Health Units[5] and Mobile Healthcare Units[6], promotion of citizen registration with a personal doctor, the development of integrated information technology systems, long-term and mental healthcare actions, especially in remote areas, and staff training to improve access and quality[7].

    To help islands and outermost regions address multi-faceted problems, the Commission will launch a consultation on an Islands Strategy as announced in the communication of 1 April 2025 ‘A modernised Cohesion policy: The mid-term review’[8].

    The Commission will keep working with Member States to mobilise reforms and investments based on community needs, encouraging them to address the specific challenges of their islands through Cohesion Policy support[9].

    Since deliberations on the post-2027 framework of Cohesion Policy are still ongoing, it is premature to comment on its content at this stage, as its final outcome will depend on the results of discussions with the co-legislators .

    • [1] In total, EUR 7.4 billion have been allocated by Member States across the EU from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and Interreg to support health-related investments under Cohesion Policy for 2021-2027. These include improvements in healthcare infrastructure, long-term care, and digitalisation, in line with national and regional smart specialisation strategies. Examples of ERDF support include investments in health infrastructure and equipment, that improve access to mainstream high-quality healthcare and long-term care (LTC) services across the EU. Cohesion policy also supports research and innovation linked to healthcare, digitalizations and e-health, based on Member States’ and regions’ smart specialisation strategies (S3).
    • [2] Public expenditure.
    • [3] Through 13 regional programmes.
    • [4] Public expenditure.
    • [5] Local Health Units (TOMYs) — Τοπικές Μονάδες Υγείας ( ΤΟΜΥ ).
    • [6] Mobile Healthcare Units (KOMYs) — Κινητές Μονάδες Υγείας ( ΚΟΜΥ ).
    • [7] European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) investments fall under the horizontal intervention field 160 and 16-
      Regulation (EU) 2021/1060 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 June 2021 laying down common provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund Plus, the Cohesion Fund, the Just Transition Fund and the European Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund and financial rules for those and for the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, the Internal Security Fund and the Instrument for Financial Support for Border Management and Visa Policy ( OJ L 231, 30.6.2021, p. 159 https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=OJ%3AL%3A2021%3A231%3ATOC)
      https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/1060/oj/eng.
    • [8] https://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/information-sources/publications/communications/2025/a-modernised-cohesion-policy-the-mid-term-review_en.
    • [9] The Commission’s Communication on ‘The road to the next multiannual financial framework’ clearly sets out the need for a simpler, more focused and more impactful budget with a leaner budgetary architecture consolidating current spending programmes to overcome a currently fragmented funding landscape.
      6d47acb4-9206-4d0f-8f9b-3b10cad7b1ed_en.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Gov. Kemp: Special Tax Refund Checks Begin Issuing This Week

    Source: US State of Georgia

    ATLANTA – Governor Brian P. Kemp and the Georgia Department of Revenue (DOR) announced today that the state will begin issuing one-time, special tax refunds this week. The third round of such refunds under Governor Kemp’s leadership, these measures were made possible by the passage of House Bill 112 during the 2025 legislative session and are a direct result of conservative budget practices and a strong state economy. Most eligible taxpayers who filed their 2023 and 2024 returns in a timely manner and before the filing deadlines can expect to receive their refund within the coming weeks.

    “Because we’ve managed our state’s resources wisely, we’re again able to return money to hardworking Georgians who know how best to use it,” said Governor Brian Kemp. “Along with our acceleration of the largest income tax rate cut in state history, this latest refund is just one more way we’re working to support the people of our state, their families, and their businesses, because that’s not the government’s money, it’s theirs!”

    This marks the third time Georgia has returned a portion of its revenue surplus to taxpayers, with previous refunds issued in 2022 and 2023. To be eligible, taxpayers must have filed both 2023 and 2024 individual income tax returns, have paid into the system, and do not owe the state Department of Revenue. An individual filer’s refund amount will depend on their tax liability from the 2023 tax year and is capped at:

    • $250 for single filers and married individuals filing separately
    • $375 for head of household filers
    • $500 for married individuals filing jointly

    In addition to HB 112, the General Assembly also passed House Bill 111, reducing Georgia’s income tax rate from 5.39% to 5.19%. This was the second acceleration of the income tax cut implementation schedule signed by Governor Kemp in 2022. 

    “Our Department is ready to get this third round of refunds out the door efficiently and securely,” said State Revenue Commissioner Frank O’Connell. “We appreciate the continued partnership with the Governor and the General Assembly in making this happen.”

    Taxpayers can check their eligibility using the Surplus Tax Refund Eligibility Tool, available through the Georgia Tax Center, by inputting their tax year, Social Security Number or Tax Identification Number, and Federal Adjusted Gross Income.

    For more details, including Frequently Asked Questions and refund tracking, visit:
    https://dor.georgia.gov/georgia-surplus-tax-refund.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Mullin—“The Broker”—Previews the Senate’s Role in Reconciliation on Squawk Box

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator MarkWayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma)

    ICYMI: Mullin—“The Broker”—Previews the Senate’s Role in Reconciliation on Squawk Box

    “I was on the phone with the president this weekend about making sure we’re in lockstep with the White House, and with the House, and with the Senate.”
    Washington, D.C. – On Monday, U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) joined CNBC’s Squawk Box to break down the Senate’s approach to President Trump’s ‘One, Big, Beautiful Bill.’ Note: Punchbowl News has recently credited Senator Mullin as “The Broker” helping President Trump negotiate a deal on reconciliation and ultimately deliver on the MAGA agenda.

    Sen. Mullin’s full interview can be found here.
    On the GOP Senate being lockstep with President Trump:
    “Leader Thune has made it real clear that we want to have this done by July 4th. We will deliver for what he wants to get done. There’s gonna be a lot of negotiations. I was on the phone with the president this weekend about making sure we’re in lockstep with the White House, and with the House, and with the Senate.”
    On the ‘One, Big, Beautiful Bill’ paving the way for a balanced budget:
    “I don’t really think that what we’re gonna do here in today’s bill is going to balance the budget, but it will tomorrow’s bill. Meaning that because we’re cutting deficit spending, we’re gonna bring surety back to the market. We already see numbers through the economy be extremely impressive. We see inflation down…
    “We’re gonna have GDP growth. And I feel like, I honestly do feel like we’re gonna be able to balance the budget for the first time since Clinton was in office and I think we can do it in about a year and a half.”
    Read the full story from PUNCHBOWL NEWS HERE with excerpts below:

    The Senate’s reconciliation standouts
    By Laura Weiss, Andrew Desiderio | June 2, 2025
    “The broker. The House’s thin majority is a problem for the Senate too. Keep an eye on Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), a former House member.
    Mullin often acts as an informal liaison with House Republicans. He’s also an ally of House Ways and Means Committee Chair Jason Smith (R-Mo.).”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Issa Reintroduces Resolution to Recognize Essential Contributions of Independent Workers

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-50)

    WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Darrell Issa reintroduced a resolution recognizing the contributions of independent workers and contractors to American enterprise and defending economic opportunity for the millions of Americans that make their living by working for themselves.

    “We stand with the millions of independent workers, contractors, and freelancers who are under threat from politicians and bureaucrats, especially in California, seeking to eliminate their livelihoods,” said Rep. Issa. “Too often dismissed as casual or part-time labor, these hardworking, self-reliant individuals are vital to the American economy, they’ve chosen an honorable path, and they deserve our support.” 

    Rep. Issa was joined by seven of his House colleagues in support of his resolution, which is also endorsed by TechNet, the Flex Association, the Coalition for Workforce Innovation, and Glamsquad.

    “The Coalition for Workforce Innovation appreciates Congressman Issa’s efforts to recognize the substantial contributions of independent workers across the American economy,” Coalition for Workforce Innovation Chair Evan Armstrong said. “Independent work empowers people of all types to decide for themselves when, where, and how they work. As innovative work arrangements become more popular, it is critical that our policies catch up to protect those who choose to work independently and entrepreneurially. We thank Congressman Issa for championing this important message on behalf of independent workers across the country.”

    “On behalf of the app-based industry and its more than 23 million independent workers, Flex praises Representative Issa for his resolution supporting independent work,” said the Flex Association. “App-based platforms have made independent work more accessible than ever before, empowering people to choose when, where, and how often they work. We appreciate Rep. Issa’s leadership in highlighting the benefits of this flexibility and look forward to collaborating with lawmakers across the aisle to advance policies that support the millions who choose this path.” 

    “The gig economy is driving new opportunities in communities nationwide, providing Americans with unmatched flexibility and opportunity to leverage their skills and resources and decide where and how they work,” said TechNet President and CEO Linda Moore. “We applaud Representative Issa for recognizing the significant contributions that gig workers make every day to strengthen our economy and support families across the country.”

    “Glamsquad applauds Congressman Issa’s resolution to recognize the contributions of independent workers and contractors,” said Glamsquad. “Independent work empowers beauty professionals across the country to decide when, where and how they work and using app-based platforms like Glamsquad enables beauty professionals to have additional reach and flexibility to earn income on their own schedules.”

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Exemption of defence spending from EU fiscal rules – E-000034/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    EU integration was built on a shared aspiration for lasting peace in Europe. Given the deterioration of the security situation, the determination to maintain peace has prompted the Commission, together with the High Representative/Vice-President, to elaborate the White Paper for European Defence Readiness 2030[1], which aims to deter any temptation of military aggression and to ensure that Europeans are ready to withstand all threats, including the most extreme military contingencies.

    It means that Europeans shall take care of their own security, build their strategic autonomy and a fairer burden-sharing within the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, which remains the cornerstone of EU’s defence.

    The Commission supports Member States’ efforts to achieve defence readiness in a more cooperative and more cost-efficient manner with its policy, financial, and regulatory powers.

    The White Paper for European Defence Readiness 2030 sets out a vision according to which they should tap the full potential of EU collaboration to deliver peace through strength and unity.

    The ReArm Europe Plan provides ambitious and sound financial foundations to support Member States in sustaining this huge effort and in closing the accumulated capability gap. Finally, the Defence Omnibus will be proposed in June to simplify the regulatory environment of the defence sector.

    Member States are in the driving seat for defence matters and remain the sole decision-makers to identify, prioritise and realise their capability needs.

    The Commission supports them with its policies and instruments, promoting a more cooperative approach towards defence investment and industrial ramp up, to increase value for money, better interoperability and resilience in the EU’s achievements of defence readiness.

    • [1] https://defence-industry-space.ec.europa.eu/document/download/30b50d2c-49aa-4250-9ca6-27a0347cf009_en?filename=White%20Paper.pdf.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Is the 2040 intermediate climate target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 90 % legally and economically feasible? – E-001551/2025(ASW)

    Source: European Parliament

    EU climate policies have been highly effective, with EU net territorial emissions meeting the 2020 target already in 2019 ahead of 2020 and being 37% below 1990 levels in 2023[1].

    Consumption-based emissions can be beyond the EU legislator’s jurisdiction. Still, this footprint as estimated by the Directorate-General for Statistics (ESTAT) declined by 14% between 2010 and 2022 while the gross domestic product (GDP) increased by 19%[2].

    The EU is implementing the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)[3] to address carbon leakage and actively engages with partners to support them in creating effective policies to reduce their territorial emissions, including through effective carbon pricing mechanisms.

    The Impact Assessment[4] accompanying the communication on the 2040 target[5]. provides a comprehensive analysis of the impact of the recommended target in accordance with the Better Regulation requirements[6] and considers all the elements listed in the article 4(5) of the European Climate Law[7].

    As highlighted in the communication, investments in the energy system are estimated at about 3.2% of the GDP in 2031-2050, the majority of which would be needed in any case to modernise the EU’s energy system.

    In addition, it shows that decarbonisation of the economy will generate major co-benefits, including sharp cuts in fossil fuels imports, significantly improved economic resilience and strategic autonomy, and reduced healthcare costs and mortality due to air pollution. The cost of inaction and corresponding damages have also been assessed.

    The impact assessment also considered different global climate policy contexts depending on the evolution of climate policy by major relevant players.

    • [1] 2024 Climate Action Progress Report, COM(2024) 498 final.
    • [2] https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/nama_10_gdp/default/table?lang=en&category=na10.nama10.nama_10_ma.
    • [3]  Regulation (EU) 2023/956.
    • [4] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A52024SC0063.
    • [5] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=COM%3A2024%3A63%3AFIN.
    • [6] https://commission.europa.eu/law/law-making-process/better-regulation_en.
    • [7] Regulation (EU) 2021/1119.
    Last updated: 3 June 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI: ThoughtSpot Launches Agentic Analytics Platform for Snowflake, Empowering Customers to go from Insights to Actions, Powered by Agents

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN FRANCISCO, June 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ThoughtSpot, the Agentic Analytics Platform company, today announced a new offering of the ThoughtSpot Agentic Analytics Platform purpose-built for Snowflake, the AI Data Cloud company, at Snowflake Summit 2025. This new ThoughtSpot offering has deep integrations with Snowflake Cortex AI and Snowpark, and enables new ways to purchase, deploy and consume via the Snowflake Marketplace. Hundreds of Snowflake customers such as Hyatt, PepsiCo, LegalZoom, Capital One, and Matillion are already experiencing the transformative potential of this collaboration, seamlessly integrating the intelligence of Spotter, ThoughtSpot’s agentic AI analyst, the exploratory data prep workflows of ThoughtSpot Analyst Studio, the advanced capabilities of Cortex AI, and a comprehensive suite of intelligent analytics features to drive their business.

    “With our core business operating on the Snowflake ecosystem, we’ve achieved a truly data-driven state. The integration of ThoughtSpot has further empowered teams across LegalZoom, strengthening our data strategy and ultimately enabling us to deliver the personalized experiences our customers have come to expect,” said Ana Garcia, VP, Data and Platform Engineering, LegalZoom.

    The Next Generation of Agentic Analytics

    Designed to empower every user – from business leaders extracting actionable insights from AI agents and AI-augmented dashboards, to data scientists preparing AI-ready datasets in Python, to product leaders building the next generation of intelligent applications – ThoughtSpot offers a seamless experience to gain instant access to actionable insights, wherever they are.

    The deep integrations between ThoughtSpot and Snowflake empower data, product and business teams to:

    • Set the right foundation with an Agentic Semantic Layer. ThoughtSpot’s Agentic Analytics Platform seamlessly connects to the Snowflake AI Data Cloud, automatically inheriting key metadata such as joins, column descriptions and synonyms directly from their Snowflake environment. The ThoughtSpot SQL Passthrough capability allows users to create formula columns in ThoughtSpot models using advanced or custom Snowflake SQL functions. This integration reduces manual setup and ensures consistency, allowing business users to confidently explore and analyze data using familiar business terms.
    • Build Smart Apps with ThoughtSpot AI features embedded into Snowflake Streamlit ApplicationsThoughtSpot’s integration with Streamlit, powered by the Visual Embed SDK, brings AI-Augmented Liveboards and the full range of ThoughtSpot’s AI capabilities directly into Snowflake’s Python-based apps. Snowflake developers benefit from instant access to ThoughtSpot features, including AI Highlights, SpotIQ Change Analysis, and Spotter. This enables agentic analytics, natural language queries, proactive insights, and real-time anomaly detection, all within a single, interactive analytics experience.
    • Deliver AI agents with Spotter, powered by Snowflake Cortex AI. Available soon, Spotter will integrate with Cortex AI, empowering users to leverage Snowflake’s advanced AI capabilities directly within Spotter. This approach offers greater flexibility, control and security as customers can integrate models from the industry-leading LLMs that Cortex AI offers. Customer data stays in Snowflake’s security boundary and is fine-tuned for their business under the stewardship of their own data team. Users can ask questions about their dataset itself that require building complex calculations on the fly, and ‘why’ questions that require automated change and root cause analysis.
    • Upgrade to next generation dashboards with connected insights. ThoughtSpot’s Agentic Analytics Platform for Snowflake enables every user to seamlessly connect to their Snowflake data warehouse and instantly begin searching, analyzing and visualizing live data without the need for data movement or duplication. Once connected, users can leverage ThoughtSpot’s AI-driven analytics to explore data in real time, create custom visualizations, and build interactive Liveboards that update automatically as the underlying Snowflake data changes. Muze, ThoughtSpot’s native visualization engine, offers extensive customization and flexibility, allowing users to craft compelling, interactive charts and dashboards tailored to their needs. This combination of live connectivity, advanced charting, and intuitive data storytelling empowers organizations to deliver actionable insights at the point of impact, making analytics accessible and impactful for every user across the business.
    • Give data teams the power tools they need with Snowflake Snowpark Python in Analyst Studio. For analysts and data teams, the offering includes Analyst Studio, ThoughtSpot’s comprehensive workspace to prepare, cleanse, and transform data for AI-driven analytics. Analyst Studio brings together SQL, Python, and data management tools in a unified interface, allowing teams to quickly make data AI-ready, and publish datasets for business users and AI agents—all in minutes, not days. The Python Notebook can be used to execute Snowpark compute workloads and allow business users to self-serve insights on the results. Snowpark Python libraries are preinstalled to simplify the process of getting started.
    • Experience Snowflake data everywhere via ThoughtSpot. With seamless integrations in the ThoughtSpot platform, users have real time access to their Snowflake data insights. Users can bring live, governed data from Snowflake directly into Google Sheets and Slides, as well as Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint, ensuring that reports and presentations are always up to date. They can also ask natural language questions and receive instant answers from their Snowflake data directly within Microsoft Teams. This unified experience empowers everyone to make data-driven decisions faster, with trusted insights powered by ThoughtSpot and delivered in their favorite productivity tools.

    Easy to get started, right from Snowflake Marketplace.
    ThoughtSpot’s Agentic Analytics Platform for Snowflake is now on the Snowflake Marketplace for effortless consumption. This means customers can seamlessly purchase and deploy ThoughtSpot using their existing Snowflake credits and accelerating time to value. This Marketplace integration simplifies the transaction process and enables customers to maximize their Snowflake investment while taking advantage of the operational and financial efficiencies offered by the Marketplace.

    Thoughts from the Top: A New Era of Agentic Analytics

    “Today, we’re not just answering questions—we’re helping our customers think, reason, and act with data,” said Ketan Karkhanis, Chief Executive Officer at ThoughtSpot. “Our agentic platform is designed to be a true thought partner, bringing perception and reasoning to every business user. It is a catalyst for building data-driven organizations where human expertise and AI agents for your Snowflake data work hand-in-hand to drive smarter decisions and transformative outcomes. This is the next phase of analytics, and it’s available now.”

    “Our vision is to put the power of data directly into the hands of every user and help organizations get the most from their Snowflake investment. ThoughtSpot’s agentic semantic layer is a key enabler of this vision, providing a smart and intuitive pathway to explore your Snowflake data. By understanding context and relationships automatically, it allows individuals, regardless of their technical expertise, to ask meaningful questions and drive data-informed decisions with confidence,” said Francois Lopitaux, Senior Vice President, Product Management at ThoughtSpot.

    “The launch of ThoughtSpot’s Agentic Analytics Platform for Snowflake demonstrates how we’re helping customers make meaningful business decisions from their data,” said Kieran Kennedy, VP, Data Cloud Product Partners at Snowflake. “Our collaboration with ThoughtSpot enables organizations to expand analytics access across their teams, helping stakeholders make informed decisions with their Snowflake data and drive measurable business outcomes.”

    “ThoughtSpot’s Agentic Analytics Platform availability on the Snowflake Marketplace is a game-changer for our customers,” said Jeff Depa, Chief Revenue Officer at ThoughtSpot.”By making ThoughtSpot available directly through the Snowflake Marketplace, we’re removing barriers to adoption and enabling organizations to leverage their existing Snowflake capacity for seamless procurement and deployment. This not only accelerates time to value, but also empowers our customers to maximize their Snowflake investment while bringing self-service analytics and AI-driven insights to every corner of their business. It’s all about making it easier for customers to unlock the full potential of their data and drive real business impact, faster than ever before.”

    ThoughtSpot’s agentic analytics platform is available today for all ThoughtSpot and Snowflake customers. To learn more, request a demo, or start your free trial, visit thoughtspot.com.

    About ThoughtSpot

    ThoughtSpot is the Agentic Analytics Platform for every enterprise. Our mission is to create a more fact-driven world by empowering everyone to explore any data, ask any question, and uncover actionable insights faster—leading to growth, better business outcomes, and efficiency in their organizations. With ThoughtSpot’s intuitive natural language search, every user can confidently generate answers from their business data at every point of decisioning. The platform’s unified capabilities, along with our agentic AI analyst, Spotter, enable users to create precise, transparent, personalized, and actionable insights with enterprise grade trust, security, and scale. Accessible via the web and mobile app, ThoughtSpot ensures intelligent decision-making happens seamlessly, wherever and whenever needed. For developers, ThoughtSpot Embedded offers a low-code solution to integrate AI-powered analytics directly into products and services, driving data monetization and boosting user engagement for customers. Industry leaders like NVIDIA, Hilton Worldwide, Capital One and Huel rely on ThoughtSpot to transform how their employees and customers take advantage of data to create better business outcomes. Try ThoughtSpot today and experience the new era of analytics.

    PR Contact:
    Lindsay Noonan
    Director of Communications, ThoughtSpot
    press@thoughtspot.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: 50 Wins in the One Big Beautiful Bill

    US Senate News:

    Source: US Whitehouse
    Here are 50 reasons why President Donald J. Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill is the best chance in a generation to pass critical reforms for which Americans voted:
    It delivers the largest tax cut in American history. This means an extra $5,000 in Americans’ pockets with a DOUBLE-DIGIT percent DECREASE to their tax bills. Americans earning between $30,000 and $80,000 will pay around 15% less in taxes.
    It makes the Trump Tax Cuts permanent, preventing the largest tax increase ever. If the bill doesn’t pass, Americans will see the largest tax increase in history.
    It raises Americans’ take-home pay by as much as $13,300 and wages by as much as $11,600.
    It reverses the spending curse plaguing Washington, D.C. The bill delivers the largest deficit reduction in nearly 30 years, with $1.6 trillion in mandatory savings — the largest single reduction in mandatory spending in our country’s history.
    It delivers NO TAX ON TIPS and NO TAX ON OVERTIME. This makes good on two of President Trump’s cornerstone campaign promises and will benefit hardworking Americans where they need it the most — their paychecks.
    It provides historic tax cuts for seniors.
    It finishes President Trump’s border wall. As a result, 701 miles of primary wall, 900 miles of river barriers, 629 miles of secondary barriers, and 141 miles of vehicle and pedestrian barriers will be constructed.
    It boosts Border Patrol and ICE agents on the frontlines with the largest border security investment in history. This means funding to hire 10,000 new ICE personnel, 5,000 new customs officers, and 3,000 new Border Patrol agents to detain and deport at least one million illegal immigrants annually.
    It increases the child tax credit to $2,500 per family.
    It protects Medicaid for Americans who truly need it. This bill eliminates waste, fraud, and abuse by ending benefits for at least 1.4 million illegal immigrants who are gaming the system.
    It implements popular work requirements for able-bodied Americans receiving taxpayer-funded benefits. Through commonsense, Clinton-era work, volunteer, education, or training requirements, the One Big Beautiful Bill lifts Americans up to find a better quality of life through the dignity of work.
    It eliminates hundreds of billions of dollars in Green New Scam tax credits. The legislation immediately stops credits from flowing to China, saving taxpayers $500+ billion every year.
    It reverses electric vehicle mandates that let radical climate activists set the standards for American energy.
    It ends Biden’s war on American energy. The bill finally unleashes American energy dominance by opening federal lands and waters to oil, gas, coal, geothermal, and mineral leasing.
    It streamlines onerous permitting processes so America can get building again.
    It refills the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to safeguard America’s energy security.
    It repeals and rescinds every “green” corporate welfare subsidy in Democrats’ so-called “Inflation Reduction Act.”
    It stops illegal immigrants from receiving tax credits and taxes remittances sent to foreign countries.
    It supports small businesses by increasing the Section 199A deduction to 23% — promoting the growth and success of Main Street.
    It incentivizes MADE IN AMERICA. The bill rewards companies that build their products in America with lower taxes — and allows Americans who buy an American-made vehicle to fully deduct their auto loan interest.
    It creates new Trump Savings Accounts for newborns — allowing children across America to experience the miracle of compounded growth.
    It expands access to childcare for hardworking American families.
    It provides a historic increase in funding for the U.S. Coast Guard. This will help block illegal drugs and migrants from entering our country, protect our sovereignty in the Arctic, and promote our national security.
    It supports building new factories to grow domestic business operations. The bill renews 100% immediate expensing and interest deductions, increases the small business deduction, and establishes 100% immediate expensing for equipment and machinery.
    It helps American farmers, producers, and ranchers compete and sell products in foreign markets. The bill makes sure American farmers aren’t crowded out by foreign imports in liquid fuel production markets.
    It holds woke, elitist universities accountable by increasing the endowment tax on large universities.
    It protects hardworking taxpayers by canceling Biden’s illegal and unfair student loan bailouts.
    It ends taxpayer-funded sex changes. It reverses the Biden-era mandate that Medicaid cover so-called “gender transition” procedures — ending the taxpayer-funded chemical castration and mutilation of American children.
    It’s a once-in-a-generation chance to revolutionize our nation’s defense capabilities and protect the homeland against new threats by funding President Trump’s Golden Dome.
    It enhances the capacity of America’s naval fleet. The bill provides billions of dollars to revitalize America’s shipbuilding and maritime industrial base.
    It modernizes air traffic control — fulfilling President Trump’s plan to completely overhaul the systems that keep Americans flying safely and efficiently.
    It strengthens SNAP benefits. The legislation requires states to contribute a greater portion of the cost of administering benefits, thereby controlling costs, and closes the excessively broad loopholes for work requirements.
    It implements critical program integrity and cost containment provisions in Medicaid to strengthen it for future generations. These include removing deceased individuals from the program and limiting retroactive coverage from three months to one month prior to enrollment.
    It safeguards Second Amendment rights by removing tax and registration requirements for firearm silencers and eliminating silencers from the National Firearms Act.
    It provides critical disaster recovery funding to farmers, producers, and ranchers.
    It provides funding to rebuild America’s military — including $9+ billion to improve quality of life for our servicemembers, $20+ billion to bolster U.S. munitions production, and $12+ billion to modernize our nuclear arsenal.
    It expands health savings accounts to give Americans greater choice and flexibility in how they spend their money.
    It gives $10,000 bonuses annually over the next four years to Border Patrol and ICE agents on the frontlines.
    It incentivizes scholarships that empower American families and students to choose the education that best fits their needs.
    It repeals Democrats’ insane attack on the gig economy — ending the requirement that Venmo, PayPal, and other gig transactions over $600 be reported to the IRS.
    It reforms and streamlines the federal student loan program to drive down tuition costs and simplify repayment plans. This includes reasonable limits on amounts students can borrow.
    It strengthens accountability for students and taxpayers on federal student loans. The bill imposes “skin in the game” requirements to hold universities financially accountable to the government on defaulted federal student loans.
    It implements critical reforms to Pell Grants to make sure they prioritize students who truly need financial assistance while promoting completion. The legislation allows grants to be used for short-term, high-quality workforce training programs to support Americans who want to learn a trade instead of the traditional four-year colleges.
    It increases timber sales on federal lands. This means an increase in timber production and improvement to forest management — improving the resilience of timber and saving billions on future wildfire suppression costs.
    It authorizes the sale of expanded spectrum MHz to strengthen rural broadband and secure America’s technological dominance in AI and other emerging technologies.
    It creates permanent fees that illegal immigrants must pay for their applications so American taxpayers aren’t saddled with covering these costs. These fees will bring in over $77 billion to cover adjudication costs and fund immigration processes and enforcement actions.
    It protects family farmers. The bill prevents the greedy death tax from hitting two million family-owned farms who would otherwise see their exemptions cut in half and cuts taxes on farmers by over $10 billion.
    It ends abusive financing practices in Medicaid by freezing existing provider taxes and prohibiting new provider taxes. This ensures states cannot improperly increase the federal government’s cost-share of a state Medicaid program at the expense of taxpayers.
    It reins in the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. This brainchild of Sen. Elizabeth Warren has long functioned as another woke, weaponized arm of the bureaucracy — with minimal accountability or oversight — that leverages its power against certain industries and individuals disfavored by the so-called “elites.”
    It rolls back harmful Biden-era regulations that increase cost and administrative burdens with limited flexibility for states. These burdensome regulations, such as federal staffing mandates at nursing homes, lead to closures, reduced access to care, and increased costs, particularly in areas already overwhelmed by labor shortages.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Testimony Before the United States Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government

    Source: Securities and Exchange Commission

    Chairman Hagerty, Ranking Member Reed, and members of the Subcommittee. Thank you for inviting me to testify today.[1]

    I am grateful for the opportunity to discuss the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our important mission on behalf of our fellow citizens, investors, and taxpayers. I also appreciate the opportunity as well to speak to some of my priorities as Chairman.

    On April 22, I was sworn in by Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent in the Oval Office with President Donald Trump; my family was by my side. I am honored by the trust and confidence that the President and the Senate placed in me to lead the SEC.

    I have returned to the SEC where I was a Commissioner from 2002 to 2008. In that time, I advocated for greater transparency at the agency and emphasized robust cost-benefit analysis when considering new regulations. I also previously served on the staff of two SEC chairmen—Richard Breeden, appointed by President George H.W. Bush, and Arthur Levitt, appointed by President Bill Clinton.

    With my fellow Commissioners, Congress, and SEC staff, I look forward to working to ensure that the United States is well-positioned to seize on the new excitement for investment and economic opportunity that President Trump’s leadership and pro-growth policies have inspired.

    SEC Mission

    First and foremost, it is a new day at the SEC. I am determined that we return to our core mission that Congress set for us more than 90 years ago.

    The SEC’s three-part mission was enunciated by Congress in the Exchange Act: protecting investors; facilitating capital formation; and maintaining fair, orderly, and efficient markets.  

    Investor protection is vital to our mission—holding accountable those who lie, cheat, and steal. The SEC will remain vigilant in our important role to ensure that investors have confidence to participate in the markets.

    Capital formation is also at the root of what we do—fostering a direct, economical route for investors’ capital to find its way to entrepreneurs and industry to create products and services. This engine of growth employs people, helping them to work and save to achieve their dreams.

    The third core part of our mission is maintaining fair, orderly, and efficient markets. Congress calls on the Commission to ensure that our regulations balance costs and benefits, that they do not become too burdensome by adding needless friction to the marketplace, undermining the capital formation that yields so much benefit.

    During my tenure as Chairman, the SEC will not stray from this core three-part mission.

    My time in public service and the private sector, both earlier in my career and more recently, has allowed me to see firsthand how regulations affect markets and investors. They can stoke innovation, facilitate investment goals, and create opportunities—or burdens—on businesses’ ability to compete and serve their customers.

    How we implement regulations at the SEC is crucial; it is one thing to write a regulation, quite another for it to achieve its intended goal. Regulation should be smart, effective, and appropriately tailored within the confines of our statutory authority.

    It takes market experience and focused application to ensure that customers and investors of financial services firms benefit from efficient, effective, and well-designed regulation. Our goal at the SEC must be to facilitate those efforts, analyze their effectiveness, and use our enforcement power to cure and rectify wayward actions.

    In short, clear rules of the road benefit all market participants.

    The SEC is returning rulemaking to regular order. Our comment periods will not be artificially short, and the public will have ample time to provide feedback. The SEC will also be sure to take into consideration how rules overlap and how regulatory burdens build, in keeping with our obligation to consider their costs and benefits. The SEC also looks forward to working with the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs on our rulemaking.

    I am grateful to Commissioner Mark Uyeda for his stewardship of the agency as acting Chairman of the SEC from January to April, a very productive three months.

    During this transition, he brought clarity to some urgent policy issues that we faced in the courts and some organizational issues as the new Administration came into office.

    He established the Crypto Task Force together with Commissioner Hester Pierce, which has worked with staff to provide necessary guidance to the industry. He normalized the agency’s stance regarding materiality of disclosure requirements to comply with Supreme Court rulings and backed agency actions to extend certain compliance dates and remove personally identifiable information (PII) from the Consolidated Audit Trail (CAT).

    As we look ahead, I am confident in the direction of our work. My experience over the decades will naturally inform my approach as Chairman.

    The Commission will focus on providing meaningful pathways for entrepreneurs to obtain the capital that they need to execute their innovative ideas and grow their companies in both the private and public markets. At the same time, investors that provide such capital must be able to continue to depend on effective enforcement against fraudulent activities.

    Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Request

    On May 30, I submitted to Congress the agency’s fiscal year (FY) 2026 budget request.[2] I am pleased to support President Trump’s request of $2.149 billion for SEC operations. This request reflects the focus on returning to the core mission that Congress set for the agency as well as the resource needs for the Crypto Task Force. This budget level is flat as compared to both the FY 2025 and FY 2024 enacted funding levels.

    The budget request contemplates approximately 4,100 full-time equivalents (FTEs), which is a net reduction of 447 FTEs compared to the FY 2025 level due to attrition following early retirement and buy-out offers in calendar 2025. At this lower FTE level, the budget request actually is approximately $100 million more than the amount that would be required to maintain our current state of operations. There is some uncertainty regarding the FY 2026 budget, including the potential transfer of the functions of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) into the SEC.[3] If Congress approves this budget request, we anticipate that this funding could support such a transfer of the PCAOB functions into the SEC in FY 2026.

    SEC Fees

    The SEC’s funding is deficit neutral, as by law any amount appropriated to the agency will be offset by fees on securities transactions under Section 31 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Exchange Act).

    On April 8, 2025, the SEC announced that starting on May 14, 2025, the fee rates applicable to most covered sales would be set at $0 per million in securities transactions.[4] The Commission determined this new rate in accordance with the Exchange Act.

    The Commission collected its entire FY 2025 appropriation before the new fee rate of $0 per million became effective on May 14. The prior fee rate was $27.80 per million. The Commission is required to set the fee rate to a level that generates fees equal to the Commission’s appropriated amount, so no further collections for fiscal year 2025 are required.

    The Commission will continue to keep this committee, and the public, informed of developments relating to fees on the SEC website.

    SEC Staff Numbers

    The SEC’s Offices and Divisions have decreased headcount by 15% since the beginning of the current fiscal year. Many of our colleagues at the SEC elected to take advantage of the Administration’s Fork in the Road, Voluntary Early Retirement Authority (VERA), or Voluntary Separation Incentive Payments (VSIP). Some left to pursue other opportunities. These departures leave vacancies that in many cases need to be filled. When I left the agency in 2008, we had approximately 3,600 employees. At our height a year ago, we had approximately 5,000 employees plus 2,000 contractors. Today we are at approximately 4,200 employees and 1,700 contractors.

    Digital Assets

    From 2017 until my nomination, I worked to help develop best practices for the digital assets industry and saw firsthand how ambiguous or nonexistent regulations in this space created uncertainty and inhibited innovation. That lack of regulatory framework also invites fraud. 

    A key priority of my Chairmanship will be to develop a rational regulatory framework for crypto asset markets that establishes clear rules of the road for the issuance, custody, and trading of crypto assets while continuing to discourage bad actors from violating the law. Clear rules of the road are necessary for investor protection against fraud—not the least to help them identify scams that do not comport with the law.

    Policymaking will be done through notice and comment rulemaking not through regulation-by-enforcement. The Commission will utilize its existing authorities to set fit-for-purpose standards for market participants. The Commission’s enforcement approach will return to Congress’ original intent, which is to police violations of these established obligations, particularly as they relate to fraud and manipulation.

    This undertaking requires coordination across multiple offices and divisions within the Commission, which is why I am pleased that Commissioner Uyeda and Commissioner Hester Peirce have worked together to establish the Crypto Task Force. For too long, the Commission has been hindered by policymaking silos. The Crypto Task Force exemplifies how our policy divisions can come together to expeditiously provide long-needed clarity and certainty to the American public.

    I am confident that Commissioner Peirce, known for her principled and tireless advocacy for common-sense policy, is the right person to lead the Crypto Task Force’s effort to come up with a rational regulatory framework for crypto asset markets.

    The task force has held four roundtables so far on further defining security status, tailoring regulation for crypto trading, custody considerations, and tokenization. I look forward to the input from industry and additional public feedback during the next roundtable on decentralized finance.

    This is important work. Entrepreneurs across the United States and around the world are harnessing blockchain technology to modernize aspects of our financial system. I anticipate benefits from this market innovation for efficiency, cost reduction, transparency, and risk mitigation.

    SEC Commissioner Roles

    In addition to Commissioner Peirce’s continued leadership of the Crypto Task Force, I have asked Commissioner Uyeda to be our “ambassador” to the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO). Commissioner Caroline Crenshaw has agreed to take on the SEC’s administrative law proceedings framework and the procedures in adjudications used by our administrative law judges in light of Supreme Court rulings that oblige us to rethink and reform this area.

    Reorganization

    Under Acting Chairman Uyeda, the reporting lines in the Divisions of Enforcement and Examinations were realigned to better reflect each Division’s national programs to improve efficiency, management, and oversight of the Divisions. There will be targeted, common-sense reorganizations to come at the SEC. To start, I am seeking approval from Congress to disband what is known as agency’s Strategic Hub for Innovation and Financial Technology (FinHub). Innovation should be ingrained into the culture SEC-wide and not limited to a relatively small office. Established in 2018, FinHub was created during a critical period of emerging technologies. The rapid development of distributed ledger technology, including digital assets, artificial intelligence, and machine learning, required a centralized effort to build understanding at the SEC. The principles and priorities under which it was established are being integrated into the very fabric of the SEC.

    Technology Review and Optimizing Efficiency

    We have begun a process to review our technology infrastructure and our contractual obligations. This review is long overdue—call it a spring cleaning and reassessment of contracts, especially regarding information technology.

    We publicly announced last month that the Commission determined that certain masked data fields on publicly available reports on Form N-PORT submitted between Feb. 3, 2025, and May 8, 2025, were inadvertently made public on the SEC’s EDGAR system. This was the result of a software update effective Feb. 3. The masking error has been corrected and did not affect Form N-PORT filings made after May 8, 2025.

    This situation is not acceptable. I have directed the initiation of a comprehensive review of the EDGAR system to ensure for data integrity. We need to evaluate what we have, where our vulnerabilities are, and how we can shore up and improve our systems. We will work on optimizing our efficiency and eliminating redundancy.  

    SEC Regional Offices and Leasing

    The SEC has 10 regional offices across the country. In late February, the General Services Administration (GSA) informed the SEC that it would terminate leases utilized by the SEC’s Los Angeles Regional Office and the Philadelphia Regional Office. Discussions with the GSA and the landlords are ongoing, and I will keep this Committee apprised of those developments. In the meantime, the leases are in their “soft term” and are not terminated.

    I firmly believe in the SEC’s regional office concept. We cannot and should not have all of the SEC’s staff in Washington and New York. Risk management, human resource development, and practicality for our examination teams—as one example—provide ample reinforcement for the need to maintain these offices.

    Conclusion

    As I said at the outset of this testimony, it is a new and brighter day for the SEC.

    We will work with our colleagues in the Administration, especially other financial services regulators, and with Congress to bolster the economy and build on U.S. leadership of the global markets.

    This is a pivotal moment for our economy. Entrepreneurs, businesses, and individuals here at home and across the globe are eager to invest in America.

    This SEC will work to protect investors from fraud, keep politics out of how our securities laws and regulations are applied, and advance clear rules of the road that encourage investment in our economy to the benefit of all Americans.

    This SEC will work to ensure that regulations promote capital formation rather than stifle it. We will work together to ensure American investors get disclosures that actually help them understand the true risks of an investment.

    This SEC will make every effort to ensure that the U.S. is the best and most secure place in the world to invest and do business. Americans should always have utmost confidence when investing their hard-earned dollars to save and provide for their future and the future of their families.

    Thank you.

     

    [1] The views expressed in this testimony are those of the Chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and do not necessarily represent the views of the Commission or any Commissioner. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Press conference – Wangaratta, Victoria

    Source: Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority

    CATHERINE KING [MINISTER]: Well, it is fantastic to be here in Wangaratta today, celebrating the completion of the Wangaratta Rail Precinct, and of course Tranche 1 of Inland Rail Beveridge to Albury. This has been a huge construction process. Inland Rail is building this double-stacked freight route for the Australian Government, and I’m really pleased that as part of that, as part of the need to get double-stacked trains onto Inland Rail, we’ve also been able to upgrade this rail precinct here in Wangaratta at the same time.

    Inland Rail is an incredibly big and complex project, over 1,600 kilometres of rail track taking freight off our busy roads. Seventy per cent of our freight task, we are estimating, will come onto Inland Rail once complete. And of course, we’re concentrating on the construction of Inland Rail to Parkes and beyond, being able to unlock the possibilities of getting freight from Melbourne and all the way to Western Australia into the Port of Botany and also to Newcastle. Really delighted, as a part of this project, there have been so many local people from this outstanding district employed on this project, because not only is Inland Rail a freight project, it is also a great employment generator. So, the fact that we’ve seen local electricians, plumbers, construction workers building this precinct here for the people of Wangaratta, I think, is a great testament to the skills and contributing- as part of Inland Rail contributing to the skills growth here in this community.

    Inland Rail, as I said, is a multi-billion dollar project. It’s a really significant project that the Australian Government is very proud to be delivering for the Australian people and [indistinct] celebrating this significant milestone here today.

    Happy to take any questions.

    JOURNALIST: A multi-billion-dollar project for the Australian people – just why is double-stacked freight important to them?

    CATHERINE KING: Well, in order to make sure that Inland Rail is viable compared to road, you need to be able to deliver the volume that road can at the time that road can. So, really, Inland Rail is premised on double-stacked trains, 24-hour Melbourne to Brisbane delivery. And that premise is really important to make rail and make sure rail remains competitive against the alternate routes, which is both coastal shipping and of course road freight. What we do want to do is see- we’re seeing a growth in freight across this country. That’s a good thing. But what we’re also seeing, of course, is more and more heavy vehicles on our road, and we want rail to take on a greater share of that. That’s both good for productivity but also good for the economy, for road safety, and for our communities.

    JOURNALIST: I mean, more passenger freight through Wangaratta, do you reckon that might create some new opportunities for Wangaratta as well?

    CATHERINE KING: Well, obviously the opportunities of Inland Rail to be able to get goods to market in a more efficient way, hopefully in a cheaper way as well, is really significant for Australia’s freight task. We know that it is significantly growing. The demand for Australian goods is growing. The opening up again by the Albanese Labor Government of markets in China has been very important, being able to get goods out of our port but also being able to get goods in and into communities. So white goods from Melbourne up to Brisbane, being able to provide those opportunities for people to sell those in Melbourne, but also for farming communities as well.

    And again, with the development of this precinct, what that has also opened up is opportunities for perhaps new businesses to come into this precinct. I’ve heard talk about maybe a brewery behind us there. That would be a great opportunity, market stalls, to be able to use the precinct for other economic opportunities and social opportunities for the people of Wangaratta.

    JOURNALIST: You’ve been to a few project openings here at the Wangaratta [indistinct]?

    CATHERINE KING: She’s pretty nice, I’d have to say. It’s a really great station precinct. The thing that I’m really proud of as well is the disability access. A lot of our train stations for passengers in particular were built over 100 years ago, and they are not disability friendly. Making sure people can actually access the platforms, access trains safely, but also there’s access [indistinct] and being able to go to the toilet. So those sorts of things, this has really meant that Wangaratta is actually now compliant, as I understand it, with the disability standards, means that we can actually make sure that people with disability can access the train just like everybody else as they always should have been. So that’s something I think the Wangaratta community can be very proud of.

    JOURNALIST: How much did these works actually cost?

    CATHERINE KING: These works, overall, are well over $100 million. You heard there around about $270 million overall for the overall project, Albury to Beveridge. And the train station here I think was around about $70 million, but I’ll have to check the figures with Inland Rail.

    Any other questions? Thank you. Thanks – did you want Nick as well to ask some technical questions about the project?

    Nick, you’re up.

    NICK MILLER: Nick Miller, Chief Executive Officer of Inland Rail. Look, delighted to be here today to open this precinct. It’s been a long and tough journey for the teams, but the outcome, as you can see around here, is outstanding. Fantastic for the community. Great for their journey to get double-stacked trains from Melbourne to Brisbane. This is a really important milestone for that goal.

    JOURNALIST: Can you go through some of the impacts local businesses received as a result of this?

    NICK MILLER: Yeah, local business and work construction partner, McConnell Dowell, put an enormous effort into that. Over 1,600 people have worked on this project since its commencement, and around 1,500 of those people have been locals. We’ve spent over $160 million on this project with local businesses and around $10.5 million on this project with First Nations local businesses. We’re really proud of those statistics.

    JOURNALIST: Has this been a long time coming today?

    NICK MILLER: Well these projects are really challenging. It’s a brownfields environment so we’re operating on an existing track, and on this particular site we’ve really relocated the western track and the dive over another side of the station has been removed. So a lot of that work has to happen during what’s called possessions. So you do a lot of preparation work and we have two possessions notionally a year, and those possessions are for around 60 to 100 hours, and there’s a very intensive period of activity goes on in construction during those possessions. So brownfields projects do take longer than greenfields projects.

    JOURNALIST: And this would stack up quite significantly compared to other projects Australia has rolled out in the past?

    NICK MILLER: Oh absolutely. This is a significant project. As the Minister spoke of, this is a multi-billion dollar project, Inland Rail. It’s a critically important project for the Australian economy and for the regions of Australia. If we think about the trains that run on Inland Rail, 1.8 kilometres long, double stacked, each one of those trains will take 110 B-doubles off the road. That’s good for safety, it’s good for sustainability, and it’s good for the economy in terms of having an efficient connection between Brisbane and Melbourne and the inland ports along that route.

    JOURNALIST: What would be the consequence of taking those B-doubles off the road in terms of the economy?

    NICK MILLER: Well, it’s a good question because ultimately if you look at the freight tasks now in 2040, 2050, the freight tasks expect to grow over 26 per cent. So the reality is, the secret here is it’s not just about road and it’s not just about rail. It’s a combination. As our economy grows and the volume of our goods increases, the combination is going to be important for the Australian economy.

    JOURNALIST: Just to confirm, is it around $70 million invested here into this project?

    NICK MILLER: No, this project from Beveridge to Albury, Tranche 1 was around $300 million.

    JOURNALIST: So, the actual Wangaratta project though, how much did that cost? This and the Green Street bridge?

    NICK MILLER:        Sorry, I…

    All good. Thank you.

    UNIDENTIFIED SPEAKER: Local member?

    HELEN HAINES [FEDERAL INDEPENDENT MEMBER FOR INDI]: Good morning everyone. It’s a big day in Wangaratta for the opening of this new railway precinct as a result of the Inland Rail Project. This is a nation building project for Australia but it has impacts on small towns all the way along the line. So for a regional centre like Wangaratta to transform our railway precinct, to make it more accessible for people, to connect our health services in our town with a modern facility such as this is indeed a good day for our town.

    I think what we’ve seen today with Inland Rail, with V-Line, with the federal government, with Minister King, I want to thank Minister King and her government and her department for the way they’ve engaged with me as the Member for Indi in making sure that the work that takes place along the Inland Rail works hand in glove with the community and with community expectations. So what we’ve seen today is a reflection of that. We just saw a community choir coming and having some fun but celebrating the impact of this project on our town.

    I’m really impressed with the amount of economic development that’s happened as a result of this project. We heard today from Inland Rail some astounding statistics about the numbers of local businesses and input into this project. That has a trickle-down effect right across our community. But what we’re left with actually is a legacy, and this legacy is one where we do see, from this day forward an improvement to our town. Better parking, better disability access, better and safer access to the trains and a beautiful new precinct that connects and helps us to the main part of our city. So very, very proud and happy to be here today to celebrate this.

    JOURNALIST: This seems like a significant improvement for Wangaratta moving into the future with the projected population growth. So I suppose this is bringing services and infrastructure up to standards to meet that growth.

    HELEN HAINES: Yes, indeed. This is a growing regional city. We’ve seen net migration out of the city’s inter-country areas such as ours since COVID and we need to make sure that the infrastructure matches the population growth. What I’d like to see now of course is improved engagement, improved services when it comes to the numbers of trains available on our timetable and additional carriages for example. We’ve seen the numbers of people using the train increase with the changes in fares and I think we’re only going to see more and more growth as people come and realise what a fantastic facility this is.

    So that’s the next part of the work of course is to make sure that the services can match the facilities here, but primarily this is a project for freight, not a project for passengers, but to get both improvements is a really significant thing and a great thing for Wangaratta I think, and of course we’ve got work happening further down the railway line in Benalla and in Euroa.

    JOURNALIST: Obviously not your issue but you touched on getting more services through here, and I think a lot of people would like that.

    HELEN HAINES: Look, absolutely they would. The numbers of people who are now using the services has grown exponentially, and that’s a result of good service and affordable fares. So, we need to put all of those things together. But what we’re here today to look at is the infrastructure, and we need infrastructure projects of this magnitude in rural and regional Australia and certainly across the electorate of Indi, so I’m very pleased with the result that we’ve had here today. It’s been years in the making. Lots of relationships along the way, but I think what we’ve seen today is how when people work collaboratively in good faith with clear intent, we can get a great outcome.

    JOURNALIST: We’ve heard some ideas about maybe a brewery going up around here. Have you got any ideas what you’d like to see?

    HELEN HAINES: I just heard that for the very first time, and well, who’s going to argue with a new brewery right? But I think what this has created is a reimagining of this space. I’ve lived in this town for nearly 40 years and this area of the railway precinct is one we’ve turned our back on for a long time. But now I think I’m certainly seeing it with new eyes and clearly other people are too. I can see community usage of this space in all sorts of imaginative ways, and who knows, maybe that may include a brewery. But you know, we have the North Eastern Hotel right across the road there, and I think we’ll see usage of this space in whole new ways.

    Okay, thank you.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Interview – ABC Radio Goulburn Murray

    Source: Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority

    SANDRA MOON [HOST]: It is 10.37, and you’ve no doubt seen all of the work that has been happening with the Inland Rail Project. There’s been bridge works, track duplication – even a makeover for Wangaratta’s train station is part of the Beveridge to Albury part of the project. And today, that new station is going to officially open. The Federal Minister for Transport and Regional Development, Catherine King, will be there for the formalities, and is with you now. Good morning.

    CATHERINE KING [MINISTER]: Good morning, Sandra. Lovely to be here in Wangaratta.

    SANDRA MOON: Yeah, it’s a big makeover for the Wangaratta train station.

    CATHERINE KING: I’m really looking forward to seeing it. I’ve heard lots about it. This, of course, marks the completion of the work of the first tranche of the Albury to Beveridge section of Inland Rail. Inland Rail is delivering that project on behalf of the Australian Government, and the Wangaratta precinct and the station upgrade, pedestrian underpass, disability standards for the station have been a really great part of the benefit coming to the community from Inland Rail. Not only are we delivering Inland Rail to get freight off our roads as much as we possibly can, but we’re also trying to improve the amenity as we go along the way as we build this project.

    SANDRA MOON: And so when we look at Inland Rail for residents in the northeast of the state here, what sort of difference will it make for them?

    CATHERINE KING: Well, it’s ostensibly a freight project. So, what we’re trying to do is get from Melbourne to Brisbane. First, we’re doing the section from Melbourne to Parkes to where- and then that allows us to get more freight onto rail. So that’s less trucks travelling on our roads and on our interstate routes in particular, where there’s a heavy load from our heavy vehicles, so trying to get more freight on. So really, Inland Rail delivers that, and productivity and freight.

    But as we’ve gone along the road, we’ve actually improved road access. We’ve been improving pedestrian access. In the case of Wangaratta, of course, improving the station and also bringing up its disability compliance as well, which some of these older stations have really struggled with.

    SANDRA MOON: And when it’s finished, the Government has promised that freight will get from Brisbane to Melbourne in less than 24 hours. How far off that are we?

    CATHERINE KING: Well, we did a major review when we came to government three years ago, the Schott review, to really look at what was happening with Inland Rail. It was a project that had, frankly, blown out in costs. There had been some significant problems in terms of the way in which it was being managed, so we had a lot of work to do to clean that up. We accepted all of the recommendations of the Schott review. What we’ve been concentrating on is getting the Inland Rail project built to Parkes – that opens us up to being able to get freight to the west and also into Port of Botany and into Newcastle. And we’re progressing with the work to get planning approval – we haven’t got planning approval yet – through the rest of New South Wales and then into Queensland, and then we’ll start construction once we’ve got those planning approvals in place. But we’ve had to do quite a bit of work in government to really clean this project up, and there’s some big investments that we’ll still need to make.

    SANDRA MOON: Well, it certainly is an absolutely huge project, and I’m sure that there’ll be many people in the local area that are happy to see the completion of some of these as they start to roll out.

    CATHERINE KING: It’s a really complex project. It’s over 1600 kilometres of track, which is basically the biggest infrastructure project in the country. And it is also- as I said, it’s interacting between freight and passenger route as well. And so that, again, adds to the complexities. You’ve got to keep passenger trains- you’ve got to be able to keep trains going at the same time as you’re building this really significant infrastructure project.

    SANDRA MOON: On ABC Goulburn Murray, you’re hearing from the Federal Minister for Transport and Regional Development, Catherine King, who is also the Minister for Local Government. So, while I do have you, we’ve heard a lot from state inquiries around councils really struggling to make ends meet. You referred the issue to a federal inquiry last year, and councils are expected to struggle even more when the Victorian Government’s new emergency services levy comes into force – which, of course, has been extremely controversial in this part of the world. What will the Federal Government be doing this term to help councils be even more sustainably funded?

    CATHERINE KING: Well, the first thing is, as you have quite rightly pointed out, local government is a level of government in and of its own right, and it interacts most closely with state governments, and state governments have responsibilities in relation to local government. At the federal level, we’ve had- we obviously provide millions of dollars in financial assistance grants, which recognises that there is some infrastructure and services that are beyond the capacity of councils to raise rates for in and of their own right. And the Federal Government has an interest, particularly in things like child care and aged care, in terms of those sorts of services, but also making sure that they’ve got untied money for roads.

    A while back, we also recognised that because of particularly the 2022 weather events that many councils were struggling, and post-COVID struggling with the costs of keeping up with some of those roads. So, we wanted to make a contribution to that. We’re not responsible 100 per cent for that, but what we did is we doubled the amount of Roads to Recovery, and that’ll steadily climb in our term up to $1 billion dollars. So that’s a billion dollars per year that will be distributed to councils. We received an interim report that was tabled at that House of Reps committee. They’ll, I assume, reconvene and continue with their work and provide the Parliament with a final report, and the Government will look at that and look at the recommendations of what we can implement.

    In particular, I think where the Federal Government really is looking for assistance from local government is in the delivery of the 1.2 million homes. Local government has a really significant role to play in assisting, particularly in improving the planning process to get those homes up and built as quickly as possible, and to add to the productivity of the construction sector. So, if we’re going to do things in relation to local government, it will be in relation to issues like that.

    SANDRA MOON: Well, we thank you for your time this morning, and I’m sure that you will understand if we’re not unhappy if it does rain just a little bit today, that would be great.

    CATHERINE KING: [Laughs] Absolutely. Out my way- my electorate’s Ballarat, and we’re as dry- have been as dry as anything. We’re pretty windy today, so I hear, but just the rain is so, so welcome. Despite the fact that it’s got cold, we really desperately need the rain.

    SANDRA MOON:  We do indeed.

    CATHERINE KING: It’s terrible to see, you know? What a country. We’ve got drought through South Australia and Vic and WA, and floods in New South Wales. Just horrendous at the moment.

    SANDRA MOON:  Yeah. Thank you again for your time.

    CATHERINE KING: Good to be with you, Sandra.

    SANDRA MOON:  Federal Minister for Transport and Regional Development, that’s Catherine King, who is in in town in Wangaratta for the official opening of the Wangaratta train station as part of the Inland Rail Network, with the sort of Beveridge to Albury part of the project.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: A new era for Tasmania: Opening of the new Bridgewater Bridge

    Source: Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority

    The Albanese and Rockliff Governments are proud to mark a historic milestone for Tasmania, with the official opening of the new Bridgewater Bridge – the largest transport infrastructure project in the state’s history.

    The $786 million project represents a significant investment in Tasmania’s future, delivering modern infrastructure that improves connectivity, enhances freight and passenger movement, and supports economic growth across the state.

    The Australian Government contributed $628.8 million to the transformative project, with the Tasmanian Government contributing the remaining $157.2 million. The new bridge has been delivered on time and on budget.

    The new four-lane bridge will deliver faster, more reliable travel times for commuters, freight operators and locals, significantly reducing bottlenecks on this key section of the highway network.

    The new bridge is the fifth to be built across the River Derwent at Bridgewater and symbolises the next chapter in the evolution of this critical transport link.

    It replaces ageing infrastructure with a state-of-the-art structure that will serve the people of Tasmania for decades to come. 

    The 1.2-kilometre-long crossing will improve safety for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists, with new interchanges, a 3-metre-wide shared path and modern safety features.

    The bridge also includes improved access for marine traffic, with a higher clearance and no lift span, reducing delays and improving efficiency for both road and river users.

    It has been designed to support growth throughout the region and has been built with a vision towards the future of the state.

    Since construction began in October 2022, the project has supported around 1000 jobs, more than 25 per cent of which were employees from the local area.   

    Thanks to targeted employment and training programs, the project has created pathways for apprentices, trainees and people new to the civil construction industry to gain real-world experience on a nationally significant construction site.

    This ensures the state’s workforce is equipped for the pipeline of future Tasmanian infrastructure projects.

    The new bridge will open to traffic from tomorrow (Monday, 2 June) with all four lanes operating at 80 km/h.

    Works across the project site will continue over coming weeks, including landscaping, construction of the new roundabout linking Old Main Road and Gunn Street, and removal of the temporary bridge and barges.

    For more information about the project and to see the latest flythrough footage, visit the project website at bridgewaterbridge.tas.gov.au.

    Quotes attributable to Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese:

    “My Government is building Australia’s future by investing in transformative transport infrastructure like the Bridgewater Bridge.

    “We have worked with the Tasmanian Government to deliver a landmark project that will improve safety, deliver a better commuter experience, and boost productivity in this great state.

    “The Bridgewater Bridge is about more than meeting the needs of Tasmanians today – it’s about making sure that Tasmanians have the world class infrastructure they deserve for generations to come.”

    Quotes attributable to Premier of Tasmania Jeremy Rockliff: 

    “This is a bridge built by Tasmanians for Tasmanians, and is something that everyone in the State can be proud of.

    “The Bridgewater Bridge has been talked about for decades, but together with every person involved in this project, we have delivered it.

    “The new Bridge is a testament to what we can achieve in Tasmania when we work together.

    “Major infrastructure projects like this inspire, support our economy, upskill our people, and build a better Tasmania: now and for the future.

    “I want to acknowledge the Federal Government for working with us to deliver this inter-generational infrastructure for Tasmania.”

    Quotes attributable to Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King:

    “The first Bridgewater Bridge opened in 1848, and today we’re opening the fifth, marking a historic milestone in the history of Tasmania.

    “Investing in major infrastructure projects doesn’t just keep people and goods moving, it provides an ongoing boost to local economies through more efficient and effective transport.

    “We are proud to partner with the Tasmanian Government and local industry to deliver this important project which will improve safety, support economic growth and leave a lasting legacy for future generations.”

    Quotes attributable to Tasmanian Minister for Infrastructure Kerry Vincent: 

    “This bridge stands as a testament to what can be achieved when we work together.

    “It is more than just concrete and steel. It is a once-in-a-generation project and a symbol of what the future holds for Tasmania.

    “I want to thank the local community for their patience and understanding during the construction period.

    “The resilience of the local community and the travelling public are what has made this landmark of national significance a success.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Brisbane 2032 Games Coordination Commission Visit: A Collective Vision

    Source:

    Thank you Andrew for your kind introduction and welcome.

    It’s a pleasure to be here, and I thank the Brisbane 2032 OCOG for hosting this event. 

    I want to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we meet the Turrbal and Jagera peoples and pay my respects to Elders past and present.

    Together Australians stand on the shoulders of 1,600 generations of First Nations people, and that is our shared history.

    I also acknowledge to CO-Com, executives and the IOC delegation, particularly President-elect Kirsty Coventry and new Co-Com Chair Mikee Cojuangco Jaworski, who is all but a local… training under own Vicki Roycroft at the Brisbane Showgrounds… Mikee, please know, I view you as my Vicki Roycroft.

    Thank you to my fellow OCOG members, and AOC President Ian Chesterman and new CEO Mark Arbib… Mark’s presence means there are three Federal Sport Ministers in this room – what could go wrong.

    While our Prime Minister Anthony Albanese wishes he could be here this week with you, he has just returned from the Pope’s inauguration in Rome.

    If there is one sentence that resonates long after you leave Brisbane… I hope it is this –

    The re-election of the Albanese Government ensures Australia is absolutely committed to making the Brisbane Games – a great Games, for our athletes, for Queensland, Australia and the Pacific.

    There’s a quote from outgoing President Bach that has stuck with me and lights our path to 2032…

    “Like no other human activity, sport is about bringing people together in the spirit of friendship and respect. Sport always builds bridges, it never erects walls.”

    The Australian government views Brisbane 2032 as an amphitheatre for our athletes to bring people together for greater health and social cohesion from playground to podium. 

    Because sport makes us hug strangers. And we have evidence of that right below us – on that grass.

    I understand there is a tour of this stadium later today but this venue is so much more than turnstiles and corporate boxes.

    You see, for decades that grass behind you was only known for men clashing in violent rugby contests.

    Until we hosted the Women’s Football World Cup in 2023, when just down there, three seconds changed a nation.

    A moment when a young woman called Cortnee Vine, who learned to kick a ball in the outer suburbs of Brisbane, 10 kms north of here, curled a penalty past France’s goalkeeper to send Australia through to the World Cup semi-final. 

    Our greatest World Cup achievement.

    I was sitting just up there. I cried. I launched a ferocious hug on a bewildered Prime Minister that prompted Federal Police to hover.

    Cortnee’s goal speaks to why the 2032 Games must be about sporting Moments not monoliths.

    That moment and significant funding from the Australian government led to a ten per cent increase in women’s football participation post tournament.

    That match is among the top five most watched television programs in Australian history.

    In fact, four of those five are women’s sporting events, including Cathy Freeman’s 400 metre gold in Sydney.

    This September marks 25 years since those Sydney Games transformed Australia.

    Brisbane 2032 must and will drive even greater participation and social cohesion.

    As a key Games Delivery Partner, I want to assure the Games family the Australian Government is a steadfast partner and we thank the IOC for your esteemed leadership.

    Our immediate areas of focus include governance, infrastructure, impact and legacy.

    I know how dedicated the IOC is to fostering sport through the Pacific and note your recent trip to Guam – we share that same passion.

    We will make 2032 a north star for a more inclusive sport environment throughout the region and for our Pacific family.

    From the outset the Australian Government has backed Brisbane 2032.

    We provided more than $8.6 million to the Queensland Government to support its candidature bid and its only grown from there.

    Already, our 2032 funding commitment across infrastructure, transport, high performance, major events and grass roots has exceeded $16 billion dollars. 

    This includes more than $12.4 billion dollars in Games related transport, more than $3.4 billion dollars in Games venues and in the past 18 months alone almost a billion-dollar commitment to grass roots and high-performance sport.

    Crucially, we made a two year $489 million in Olympic and Paralympic sport as we head to LA28.

    This is the largest Olympic and Paralympic sport investment ever.

    This means that 95% of Olympic and Paralympic summer sports are receiving increased funding with an average increase of 64% per year, compared to the period leading up to Paris Games.

    More sports are being supported too, with an increase from 54 to 68 summer Olympic and Paralympic programs funded in the lead-up to LA.

    We have also increased our Direct Athlete Investment Scheme – DAIS – funding, boosting it to $41.4m across two years.

    DAIS is money in the athlete’s pocket so they can spend more time training and less time fundraising.

    This means more than 1000 Australian athletes now receive DAIS funding.

    Crucially we have also doubled the money going towards Paralympic sports with an extra $54.9m over the next two years.

    The is the largest commitment an Australian government has made to Para-Sport and will shift the balance of funding from 85 per cent able bodied and 15 per cent people with a disability, to 75 per cent able bodied and 25 per cent people with a disability.

    And, while it hasn’t been announced yet, the Federal Government will invest an additional $2.1m so our Paralympians can travel to Milan Cortina to chase gold. 

    We are determined to do more – because we know 3 in 4 Australians with a disability want to play sport but only 1 in 4 have the opportunity.

    While as Minister for Sport, I am first and foremost athlete-led.

    We have also made major infrastructure commitments including a record $249m for the Australian Institute of Sport to improve our national centre of excellence where our juniors and elites train. 

    This is the biggest investment in the AIS since the early 80’s – before Kirsty and I were born.

    This is on top of our $200m Play Our Way fund for women’s and girls sport infrastructure and programs – the largest ever sport funding package to build female changerooms and women-specific sporting environments.

    And… since we came to Government Labor has funded more than $80m in Major Events as well including the Canoe World Champs that the IOC’s own Jess Fox will star in later this year.

    The Albanese Government will also invest up to $3.435 billion in Games venues in a 50/50 partnership with the Queensland Government.

    BUT – we are also funding significant Games transport.

    $12.4 billion committed for transport projects in South East Queensland already identified by the Queensland Government as necessary for the Games.

    This includes faster rail, highway upgrades, and major connection pieces that support 2032.

    So this $16 billion commitment will revitalise the AIS, boost high‑performance sport, increase participation, reduce injuries, enhance guardrails and sport safety, fund legacy arenas and the connections that allow people to visit them while improving integrity for the benefit of all Australians.

    And recent news helps us all. Last week I was honoured to be named Minister for Communications, opening greater synergies for the world’s biggest media event.

    Sport and Comms is now in the infrastructure department, and already Sport Integrity Australia have flagged a goal to embed integrity as a design principle of sport infrastructure.

    We are also continuing work on our IOC Guarantees.

    As part of the candidature process to secure hosting rights, the Albanese Government committed to a range of operational support services.

    These include communications, national security, taxation, integrity, safety and safeguarding, and visa handling.

    We are committed to delivering on these guarantees, taking a coordinated approach across all involved departments to create solutions.

    These threads I’m discussing today are hemmed through Australia’s first ever ten-year plan for sport.

    Australia’s National Sport Strategy, Sport Horizon, will capitalise on sport’s power, and outlines my government’s priorities for this sector.

    It affirms our commitment to creating a safe, fair, and sustainable sector that grows participation, drives positive social change, grows our economy and strengthens international relationships.

    It emphasises the pursuit of gender equity.

    For the first time in Australian history, sporting boardrooms across Australia must meet gender equity targets or risk government funding being withdrawn.

    I have mandated our sports sector must achieve the following governance targets by no later than 1 July 2027:

    50% of all board directors are women and/or gender diverse 

    50% of board chairs are women and/or gender diverse 

    50% of specified board sub-committee members are women and/or gender diverse.

    Because we view sport as a transponder for social change. 

    As President Bach says, sport builds bridges, never erects walls.

    And… we must remember this – 

    The Games’ most valuable treasure – is its athletes. 

    It is not about politicians or political point-scoring.

    Our job is to work with Federations to create environments where brilliance thrives, and then… get out of the way.

    Our job is to enable athletic moments to replace monoliths in 2032.

    So that grass right there conjures the next Cortnee Vine.

    So the aquatic centre a kilometre away creates history like Kirsty did in Athens and Beijing. 

    So Victoria Park is an amphitheatre for our next Cathy Freeman gold medal euphoria.

    I was born and raised in this city… 

    I am not just determined, I am obsessed. Brisbane 2032 will be a great Games.

    Thank you.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Raising curtain on concert hall refurbishment

    Source:

    The historic Perth Concert Hall is one step closer to its transformation, with preliminary works commencing last month on the $150.3 million refurbishment. 

    Construction broke ground marking the start of essential structural work to restore the heritage listed building, which was the first Australian concert hall built after World War II.

    The revitalisation includes a home for the West Australian Symphony Orchestra featuring office and rehearsal spaces, bar areas and events spaces, along with refurbishment of the auditorium entry, lifts and stairs to improve venue accessibility. 

    Updated seating, lighting and backstage facilities have been carefully considered to preserve the venue’s distinctive features and internationally-renowned acoustic features.

    The WA Government awarded the tender for forward works to Australian-owned and operated construction company ADCO, which has delivered similar large-scale, government and private projects. The main works tender is scheduled to be awarded in November 2025.

    A digital fly-through of the Perth Concert Hall project shows a new and improved entry experience, through a redesigned and landscaped forecourt to create a more connected and welcoming approach to the venue.

    The Perth Concert Hall Redevelopment is one of 14 projects under the $1.7 billion Perth City Deal partnership. The Australian Government is investing $532.7 million to projects including the ECU City Campus, WACA Upgrade, East Perth Common Ground, and the Boorloo (Causeway) Bridge.

    The $150.3 million investment includes $134.3 million in WA Government funding, $12 million from the Australian Government and $4 million from the City of Perth.

    Comments attributed to Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Catherine King: 

     “Refurbishing and expanding the Perth Concert Hall will capitalise on Perth’s historical and cultural strengths, and preserve the hall for future generations.

    “After 50 years of continuous operation, we’re investing in this cultural icon to be enjoyed by the community for at least 50 more. 

     “Expected to create 230 jobs, the Albanese Labor Government is delivering infrastructure that stimulates the economy, connects communities, and fosters vibrancy in our cities.”

    Comments attributed to Federal Member for Perth Patrick Gorman:

    “This investment helps secure Perth’s future as the cultural centre of Australia’s west coast. 

    “This will give local, national and international acts a venue worthy of their creative talents. 

    “The Albanese Labor Government is investing in Perth and the creative and tourism industries that employ thousands across our country.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Are influencers villains, victims or champions of change? The reality is more complex

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Aya Aboelenien, Associate Professor of Marketing, HEC Montréal

    As the influencer ecosystem expands and its culture evolves, there is increasing pressure for the industry to prioritize ethics over profit. (Shutterstock)

    Social media influencers have become cultural powerhouses, setting trends, shaping lifestyles and even swaying political views. As their influence grows, so do ethical debates about them: are they villains exploiting their audiences, victims of an unregulated industry or champions driving positive change?

    In our chapter in the recently released book, Influencer Marketing, we synthesized existing literature to explore the ethical minefield of influencer culture and attention economy. We scrutinized the responsibilities of influencers, brands, platforms and consumers, and the broader impact of influencers on society at large.

    Influencers as villains

    Influencers are often cast as villains in the online world. They are frequently criticized for inauthentic behaviour, such as by failing to disclose partnership agreements, perpetuating unrealistic beauty or lifestyle standards or by lying to their audiences outright.

    Despite regulations, many influencers hide their paid partnerships.
    In 2023, for instance, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission found that 81 per cent of influencers failed to properly disclose paid partnerships.

    Influencers are incentivized to do this because advertising-heavy content can appear inauthentic and be off-putting to followers. These omissions mislead audiences into thinking products and brand reviews are based on genuine opinion, rather than part of a paid script.

    Multiple influencers have also been caught lying to their followers about their lifestyles. One notable example is Belle Gibson, an Australian wellness influencer who falsely claimed to have cured her terminal cancer through diet. She gained a massive following and profited from these claims before being exposed and fined US$410,000 for misleading and deceptive conduct.

    Netflix trailer for ‘Apple Cider Vinegar.’

    Despite the controversy, Gibson’s story was adapted by Netflix into a series called Apple Cider Vinegar, further fuelling the money-making machine.

    Another case is that of Yovana Mendoza, a raw vegan influencer who was filmed eating fish in a Bali restaurant. The video went viral after being leaked by fellow travellers. Despite later revealing that she had stopped being vegan because of health reasons, she still faced backlash and accusations of hypocrisy.

    Unrealistic beauty standards

    Influencers, and particularly virtual CGI influencers, are also villainized by the masses for perpetuating unrealistic standards and lifestyle choices.

    From posing as the “perfect family” or the “perfect wife” (such as trad wife influencer Hannah Neeleman, also known as Ballerina Farm), to flaunting ultra-thin or perfectly chiselled beauty ideals, influencer content fosters harmful social comparisons.



    Read more:
    Women can build positive body image by controlling what they view on social media

    These portrayals can contribute to anxiety and low self-esteem among social media audiences. Influencers prey on these insecurities to make profit and gain influence, which affects the well-being of these audiences.

    In the case of male Instagram followers of the hashtag #fitfam, one study found increased pressure to achieve the so-called “instabod” — a sculpted, idealized physique — was linked to symptoms of muscle dysmorphia.

    Influencers as champions

    Despite the controversies surrounding influencer culture, some content creators are leveraging their platforms to do good. Body positivity influencers, for instance, advocate for self-love and self-acceptance, which can improve body satisfaction and appreciation among young women.

    One of the best known figures in this space is Ashley Graham, who challenges beauty norms by sharing unedited photos of herself with her 21.4 million Instagram followers.

    There are also green influencers who champion sustainability. For example, Alessandro Vitale teaches urban farming, while Emma Dendler advocates for zero-waste living.

    A study found that many women fashion influencers over 50 engage in what researchers call “styleactivism.” They use their social media platforms to bring about important changes in the ageist and sexist fashion and beauty markets.

    There is also a growing movement known as “deinfluencing,” where influencers discourage mindless consumption by critiquing over-hyped products, like the viral Stanley Cup water bottle.

    Influencers as victims

    While some influencers might profit from the system, others are victims of business exploitation and malpractices. There are a growing number of cases of unpaid labour where influencer agencies, like Speakr, have been accused of withholding payments, leaving creators in financial limbo.

    Black and LGBTQ+ influencers have also reported facing pay discrimination. They often earn less than their white counterparts or are asked to work for free. Stephanie Yeboah, a Black plus-size influencer, told The Guardian she discovered she was paid less than white influencers while working on the same campaign.

    Many influencers operate without the backing of talent managers or influencer agencies, despite taking on multiple roles, including videographers, video editors, scriptwriters, lighting specialists, directors and on-screen talent. This leaves them especially vulnerable to exploitation.

    To top it all, influencers are also victims of online harassment and cyberbullying. As part of a 2021–22 United Kingdom parliamentary inquiry into influencer culture, blogger Em Sheldon told MPs she faced relentless abuse and threats from online trolls.

    As the influencer ecosystem expands and its culture evolves, there is increasing pressure for the industry to prioritize ethics over profit. Weeding out the unethical practices lurking in various corners of this lucrative industry will require collective efforts from policymakers, brands, as well as influencers and their followers.

    Aya Aboelenien receives funding from Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC)

    Ai Ming Chow does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Are influencers villains, victims or champions of change? The reality is more complex – https://theconversation.com/are-influencers-villains-victims-or-champions-of-change-the-reality-is-more-complex-257527

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Pettersen, Van Hollen, Boozman, Hageman, Williams, Kim Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Improve Homebuying Process for Veterans

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Brittany Pettersen (Colorado 7th District)

    WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) – alongside Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and John Boozman (R-AR) and Representatives Harriet Hageman (WY-AL), Nikema Williams (GA-05), and Young Kim (CA-40) – introduced the Veterans Affairs Loan Informed Disclosure Act of 2025 (VALID Act). Despite potentially offering thousands of dollars in savings over the life of a loan, VA loans are underused – with only 10% to 15% of eligible veterans using the benefit, and some states as low as 6%. The bill introduced today provides a simple fix, ensuring veterans see VA loan options clearly laid out alongside conventional and FHA loans when applying for an FHA mortgage – making it easier to choose the best option for their needs.

    Specifically, this bipartisan legislation would update Federal Housing Administration (FHA) mortgage disclosures to include VA Home Loans alongside FHA and conventional loan options. The bill would also ensure lenders are provided with important information regarding an applicant’s military service so they can provide information about VA loans early in the homebuying process.

    “Our veterans put everything on the line to defend us, but far too often come home without the support they need,” said Pettersen. “No veteran should miss out on a benefit they’ve earned simply because they didn’t know it was an option. At a time when finding an affordable home is harder than ever, ensuring veterans have clear access to every funding resource available is critical. This legislation helps make homeownership possible and builds long-term stability for the brave men and women who’ve served our country.”

    “We enjoy freedom in America due to the incredible sacrifices of our servicemen and women,” said Hageman. “Guaranteeing that our veterans receive the care and benefits they deserve is the least we can do. The VALID Act provides for this assurance by ensuring our veterans are informed of the advantageous home loan programs available to them as they chart their future.”

    “Our veterans have earned every benefit available to them — including the opportunity for affordable homeownership,” said Williams. “Unfortunately, too many miss out on VA loan options because they are unaware of them. I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing the VALID Act that will ensure veterans can make fully informed decisions during the homebuying process. This legislation honors those who served and helps secure a better future for them and their families.”

    “Veterans put their lives on the line to protect our freedoms and, at the very least, deserve to know the benefits available to them. Anything less is unacceptable,” said Kim. “The VALID Act fully discloses the VA loan options available for veterans to use when buying a home. I’m proud to help lead this commonsense, bipartisan bill that ensures we have the backs of our brave men and women who had ours against global threats.” 

    “While we can never fully repay the debt we owe to our veterans, we have a duty to support them when they return home,” said Van Hollen. “The VA Home Loan has been helping servicemembers buy homes for over 80 years, but this funding resource remains severely underutilized by far too many of our veterans. This bipartisan legislation will help change that, ensuring more veterans and their families take advantage of the benefits they have earned.”

    “We should make certain veterans are aware they qualify for help with purchasing a home or realizing more savings over the life of a mortgage,” said Boozman. “Since we know VA home loans are underutilized, there is a clear need to better identify this assistance earlier in the process. I am proud to join my colleagues in enhancing this earned benefit for our former servicemembers.”

    “Why does it make any sense, at all, to disallow a veteran, like my husband, from reviewing, in a side-by-side view, of the actual written financial differences between the VA Home Loan when compared to a FHA Home Loan or a Conventional Home Loan? Updating the ‘informed consumer choice disclosure notice’ will close that loop,” said Lynn Jabs, Tacoma VAREP Chapter board member and National Legislative Chair at VAREP.

    “VAREP wholeheartedly endorses the VA Loan Information Disclosure Act of 2025. This legislation will help correct an injustice of non-disclosure of all viable mortgage loan options to all home loan applicants who are eligible to take advantage of their earned VA Home Loan Guarantee Benefits,” said VAREP in a statement. “VAREP applauds Rep. Pettersen for taking action to require the original lender to include a third financial comparator, to the current disclosure law that requires only disclosure of the difference between an FHA and a Conventional loan. Adding the third comparison of the VA Home Loan to the FHA Home Loan and the Conventional Home Loan is an essential missing loan disclosure element.”

    Research has shown that 1 in 10 veterans have experienced homelessness, often years after completing service and returning home. At the same time, rising housing costs are making homeownership increasingly out of reach. Programs like the VA Home Loan are more important than ever, offering a path to homeownership that can save veterans thousands of dollars and help them build lasting financial security.

    The legislation is endorsed by the Veterans Association of Real Estate Professionals (VAREP), the Broker Action Coalition, and the National Association of REALTORS®.

    Full text of the bill is available HERE. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Note to Correspondents: Joint Statement by STP President and PBC Chair – Ambassadorial-level meeting on São Tomé and Príncipe

    Source: United Nations secretary general

    The United Nations Peacebuilding Commission convened an Ambassadorial-level meeting on São Tomé and Príncipe on 29 May 2025, chaired by H.E. Ms. Antje Leendertse, Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission. H.E. Mr. Carlos Vila Nova, President of São Tomé and Príncipe, represented his Government at the meeting. 

    1.  The Peacebuilding Commission welcomed the President’s presentation of São Tomé and Príncipe’s Conflict Prevention Strategy (2025-2029), emphasizing that it aims to strengthen democratic governance and further build public confidence in justice and security institutions. The Commission recognized the Strategy as a crucial framework to guide peacebuilding efforts. 

    2. The President and the Peacebuilding Commission acknowledged and expressed appreciation for the joint strategic assessment mission conducted by the United Nations and the Economic Community of Central African States in April 2023, which made several recommendations to strengthen the justice and security sectors. They also expressed appreciation for the first meeting of the Peacebuilding Commission on São Tomé and Príncipe, held in January 2024, and the subsequent visit to São Tomé by the then-Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission in May 2024. The Peacebuilding Commission commended São Tomé and Príncipe for the ongoing reforms of the justice and security sectors, in support of peace and development processes. 

    3. The Peacebuilding Commission took note of São Tomé and Príncipe’s history of peaceful transitions of power, while recognising that there are risk factors that could adversely impact the sustenance of peace in São Tomé and Príncipe. In that regard, the President and the PBC stressed the vital importance of ensuring democratic stability, the rule of law, and human rights protection in São Tomé and Príncipe. 

    4. The Peacebuilding Commission joins São Tomé and Príncipe in encouraging its partners, Member States, regional and international financial institutions, regional organizations, and other stakeholders, to continue supporting the country’s peacebuilding priorities technically and financially, as guided by the Conflict Prevention Strategy.  

    5. The Government of São Tomé and Príncipe and the Peacebuilding Commission agreed to review progress on the implementation of the Conflict Prevention Strategy at the end of 2025, in order to assess achievements, identify challenges, and guide next steps. 

    6. The Government of São Tomé and Príncipe and the PBC reaffirmed their commitment to building and sustaining peace in São Tomé and Príncipe. 

    (Signed)

    H.E. Mr. Carlos Vila Nova 
    President of São Tomé and Príncipe 

    H.E. Ms. Antje Leendertse 
    Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission
     

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI: BitMart Discovery Officially Launches, Pioneering a New Era in Quality Asset Discovery

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Singapore , June 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — BitMart, the premium global digital asset trading platform, today announced the official launch of its innovative asset spotlight zone, BM Discovery, designed to provide users a brand-new solution for on-chain asset discovery and trading.

    As the on-chain asset landscape continues to expand rapidly and innovation emerges at an unprecedented pace, the launch of BM Discovery represents not only a strategic deep dive into asset exploration and value discovery but also an active response to evolving user needs and industry trends. Focusing on early-stage, high-potential on-chain assets, BM Discovery integrates professional project screening, on-chain data monitoring, and dynamic risk control to create a secure, transparent, and efficient platform. This empowers users to uncover promising projects and seize emerging market opportunities ahead of the curve.

    A New Benchmark for On-Chain Asset Discovery

    The strength of BM Discovery lies not just in its speed, but in its professional screening and potential identification capabilities. By leveraging advanced technologies and a robust ecosystem strategy, BitMart has built a comprehensive value discovery mechanism. This system combines a professional research team with key on-chain indicators to continuously monitor project developments and identify promising emerging assets, offering users greater confidence in their investment choices.

    Several of the initial assets launched in the BM Discovery zone have perfromed well, drawing the attention of users and demonstrating BitMart’s keen market foresight and professional judgment.

    For users, BM Discovery not only offers an efficient participation channel that syncs with on-chain developments but also addresses operational complexities. For those unfamiliar with intricate on-chain interactions or concerned about high gas fees, BM Discovery provides a seamless, one-stop platform solution that lowers barriers and empowers users to access high-potential assets effortlessly, capturing market heat.

    Dynamic Risk Management Ensuring a Secure Trading Environment

    Beyond asset discovery, BM Discovery prioritizes risk management and trading security.

    To safeguard user interests, BitMart has established a dynamic risk control system covering the entire asset lifecycle. Through continuous monitoring of asset quality and market performance, combined with multi-dimensional evaluation mechanisms, the platform can proactively delist high-risk or non-compliant assets, mitigating potential risks and ensuring both user protection and ecosystem health. The platform also reminds users that assets in this zone are often at early stages and may exhibit high price volatility. Users are encouraged to assess their risk tolerance and participate rationally.

    BM Discovery is not merely an asset aggregator—it is a sustainable value discovery ecosystem underpinned by professional screening and intelligent risk management. With this robust security framework, BitMart aims to strike an optimal balance between innovation and prudence, reinforcing user trust and strengthening its leadership in the global digital asset industry.

    Exclusive Promotion: Zero-Fee Spot Trading in BM Discovery

    To celebrate the official launch of BM Discovery, BitMart is offering a limited-time zero-fee promotion for spot trading in the Discovery zone. From May 27, 2025, to June 16, 2025, users can enjoy 0% spot trading fees for all tokens listed in BM Discovery. This offer not only reduces trading costs but also enhances accessibility for those seeking to explore emerging on-chain assets and capture early investment opportunities. For more details: https://www.bitmart.com/activity/BMD1st/en-US.

    Driving Continuous Innovation and Industry Leadership

    The launch of BM Discovery represents a major milestone in BitMart’s asset strategy and highlights the platform’s visionary commitment to continuous innovation driven by user needs. By creating a seamless loop encompassing “asset discovery – trading participation – risk identification – dynamic optimization,” BitMart is building a global-leading platform for asset discovery, offering a professional, convenient, and trustworthy environment for users.

    As an innovator and builder in the blockchain industry, BitMart remains committed to using innovation as a driving force. Moving forward, the platform will deepen its focus on technology, services, and ecosystem development, continuously elevating industry standards for asset discovery and user experience. By pioneering quality asset discovery and value creation, BitMart aims to collaborate with global users to build a more prosperous and diverse crypto world.

    About BitMart

    BitMart is a premier global digital asset trading platform with more than 10 million users worldwide. Consistently ranked among the top crypto exchanges on CoinGecko, BitMart offers over 1,700 trading pairs with competitive fees. Committed to continuous innovation and financial inclusivity, BitMart empowers users globally to trade seamlessly. Learn more about BitMart at Website, follow their X (Twitter), or join their Telegram for updates, news, and promotions. Download BitMart App to trade anytime, anywhere.

    Disclaimer:

    The information provided is for informational purposes only and should not be considered a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any financial assets. All information is provided in good faith. However, we make no representation or warranty of any kind, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, adequacy, validity, reliability, availability or completeness of such information.

    All crypto investments, including earnings, are highly speculative in nature and involve substantial risk of loss. Past, hypothetical, or simulated performance is not necessarily indicative of future results. The value of digital currencies can go up or down and there can be a substantial risk in buying, selling, holding, or trading digital currencies. You should carefully consider whether trading or holding digital currencies is suitable for you based on your personal investment objectives, financial circumstances, and risk tolerance. BitMart does not provide any investment, legal or tax advice.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: LIS Technologies Inc. Bolsters its Technical Team with the addition of Prominent Researcher and Engineer Lukasz Urbanski, Ph.D., to Lead its Stable Isotope Laser Program

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Oak Ridge, Tennessee, June 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — LIS Technologies Inc. (“LIST” or “the Company”), a proprietary developer of advanced laser technology and the only USA-origin and patented laser uranium enrichment company, today announced that it has engaged Lukasz Urbanski as the Director of its Stable Isotope Laser Program.

    Dr. Lukasz Urbanski is a seasoned technologist, bringing 12 years of experience in the semiconductor industry, specializing in high-power CO2 laser systems for Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) lithography. As a High-Power Laser Systems Architect at ASML Research, he led the development of next-generation drive lasers, critical components for laser-produced plasma in high-volume manufacturing EUV lithography systems. His work focused on scaling laser power and efficiency while reducing technology costs, resulting in multiple world records in power output, stability, repetition rate, and system architecture.

    “It is a joy to take on this role with LIS Technologies and spearhead the creation of its Stable Isotope Laser Program,” said Lukasz Urbanski, Ph.D., Stable Isotope Laser Program Director of LIS Technologies Inc. “There is a major opportunity in pursuing the development of stable isotopes, and later medical isotopes, that the Company has seen fit to explore and I am delighted to lend my expertise and help to expand the possibilities of what CRISLA can achieve.”

    Figure 1 – LIS Technologies Inc. Engages Dr. Lukasz Urbanski as the Director of its Stable Isotope Laser Program.

    Prior to the architect role at ASML, Dr. Urbanski served as a Staff Systems Engineer, where he acted as a key interface between Research, Engineering, and Product Development teams. He coordinated cross-disciplinary efforts to translate early-stage innovations into manufacturable solutions, with a strong emphasis on system throughput and optical performance. His contributions spanned the entire product lifecycle, from concept and design through implementation, ensuring technical alignment and performance optimization across teams.

    Dr. Urbanski began his career in EUV research as a graduate student at the National Science Foundation (NSF) Engineering Research Center for EUV Science and Technology, where he advanced to a postdoctoral researcher role. During this time, he also contributed to research at the Center for Functional Nanomaterials at Brookhaven National Laboratory. Before transitioning to academia and industry, he served as a Platoon Commander in the Polish Armed Forces after graduating from the Military University of Technology with a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering. He received his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Colorado State University with a focus on EUV Lasers, Nanopatterning, Nanofabrication, EUV Lithography.

    “Lukasz is a top scientist and engineer with the knowledge and expertise required to spearhead this whole new program for the Company,” said Christo Liebenberg, CEO and Co-Founder of LIS Technologies Inc. “The Stable Isotope Laser Program will open new market opportunities for LIST and deliver critical products, such as the isotopes required to enhance the performance of next-generation chips for AI and quantum computing, or potential medical isotopes that can drive healthcare breakthroughs. Lukasz’s track record of guiding projects from inception will be invaluable, and I’m pleased to welcome him to the Company.”

    “Dr. Urbanski sees our company’s potential and market growth, having come from a company with a market worth of about $300 billion. Following his addition, we are now preparing to enter the rapidly expanding stable‑isotope market, alongside further developing the only U.S.‑origin, patented laser‑uranium‑enrichment technology, which is uniquely positioned to support the growing fuel demands of large civil reactors as well as advanced SMRs and microreactors,” said Jay Yu, Executive Chairman and President of LIS Technologies Inc. “I feel humbled to have such a seasoned professional and technical expert to assist us in developing a potentially significant new revenue stream for the Company.”

    About LIS Technologies Inc.

    LIS Technologies Inc. (LIST) is a USA based, proprietary developer of a patented advanced laser technology, making use of infrared lasers to selectively excite the molecules of desired isotopes to separate them from other isotopes. The Laser Isotope Separation Technology (L.I.S.T) has a huge range of applications, including being the only USA-origin (and patented) laser uranium enrichment company, and several major advantages over traditional methods such as gas diffusion, centrifuges, and prior art laser enrichment. The LIST proprietary laser-based process is more energy-efficient and has the potential to be deployed with highly competitive capital and operational costs. L.I.S.T is optimized for LEU (Low Enriched Uranium) for existing civilian nuclear power plants, High-Assay LEU (HALEU) for the next generation of Small Modular Reactors (SMR) and Microreactors, the production of stable isotopes for medical and scientific research, and applications in quantum computing manufacturing for semiconductor technologies. The Company employs a world class nuclear technical team working alongside leading nuclear entrepreneurs, former U.S. national leaders, and industry professionals, possessing strong relationships with government and private nuclear industries.

    In Dec 2024, LIS Technologies Inc. was selected as one of six domestic companies to participate in the Low-Enriched Uranium (LEU) Enrichment Acquisition Program. This initiative allocates up to $3.4 billion overall, with contracts lasting for up to 10 years. Each awardee is slated to receive a minimum contract of $2 million.

    For more information please visit: LaserIsTech.com

    For further information, please contact:
    Email: info@laseristech.com
    Telephone: 800-388-5492
    Follow us on X Platform
    Follow us on LinkedIn

    Forward Looking Statements

    This news release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In this context, forward-looking statements mean statements related to future events, which may impact our expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as “expects”, “anticipates”, “intends”, “plans”, “believes”, “will”, “should”, “could”, “would” or “may” and other words of similar meaning. These forward-looking statements are based on information available to us as of the date of this news release and represent management’s current views and assumptions. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, events or results and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may be beyond our control. For LIS Technologies Inc., particular risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual future results to differ materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements include but are not limited to the following which are, and will be, exacerbated by any worsening of global business and economic environment: (i) risks related to the development of new or advanced technology, including difficulties with design and testing, cost overruns, development of competitive technology, loss of key individuals and uncertainty of success of patent filing, (ii) our ability to obtain contracts and funding to be able to continue operations and (iii) risks related to uncertainty regarding our ability to commercially deploy a competitive laser enrichment technology, (iv) risks related to the impact of government regulation and policies including by the DOE and the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission; and other risks and uncertainties discussed in this and our other filings with the SEC. Only after successful completion of our Phase 2 Pilot Plant demonstration will LIS Technologies be able to make realistic economic predictions for a Commercial Facility. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which apply only as of the date of this news release. These factors may not constitute all factors that could cause actual results to differ from those discussed in any forward-looking statement. Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as a predictor of actual results. We do not undertake to update our forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this news release, except as required by law.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICYMI: Small Business Owner Applauds Ernst Leadership in Making Trump Tax Cuts Permanent

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA)
    WASHINGTON – In case you missed it, Palo small business owner Jerry Akers authored an op-ed in The Gazette praising Senator Joni Ernst’s (R-Iowa) leadership in the fight to permanently extend the Trump tax cuts and avoid the largest tax hike in American history.
    As chair of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Ernst invited Akers to testify before Congress in April to ensure the voices of Iowa small businesses are represented as Washington debates repealing the punitive death tax, making the pass-through tax deduction permanent, and other key provisions in the Trump tax cuts.
    Read the full editorial below:
    Don’t raise taxes on small businesses
    By: Jerry Akers
    With the headache of Tax Day behind us, small business owners are looking ahead with a new worry — will the Trump tax cuts be extended, or will they be hit with the largest tax hike in our nation’s history in 2026?
    I know this firsthand as a franchise business owner of Great Clips and The Joint Chiropractic. With my wife and two daughters, I own and operate 33 Great Clips and four The Joint Chiropractic locations across Iowa, as well as Nebraska.
    In April, Sen. Joni Ernst invited me to testify before the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, which she chairs, to detail why making the Trump tax cuts permanent is so critical for small businesses and franchises like mine.
    Dating back to Benjamin Franklin’s printing press, franchising has been perhaps the most important business growth strategy in our history. It has served as a core American model over centuries for opportunity and entrepreneurism, contributing to robust job creation and providing foundational skills development for small businesses. Franchising allows entrepreneurs to go into business for themselves, but not by themselves.
    Passed in 2017, the Trump tax cuts, or the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), significantly overhauled large portions of the tax code for individuals, families, and businesses. While some of these changes for big businesses were permanent, many of the individual and small business provisions are expiring at the end of this year. The looming expiration is creating uncertainty and giving business owners pause.
    Among the key provisions at risk of expiring include several that provide important tax relief to small businesses.
    For example, the Section 199A deduction provides pass-through businesses with a 20% deduction for qualified business income, which helps level the playing field with larger businesses. Notably, more than 95% of franchised businesses are organized as pass-throughs, meaning we pay individual tax rates, not corporate ones.
    The 199A deduction has enabled me to increase investment in new equipment, technology, and facilities, driving growth and innovation, while the extra financial breathing room has allowed me to hire more employees and provide better benefits.
    Investing in new equipment is just as important as investing in employees. The bonus depreciation provision of the Trump tax cuts provides critical relief but is in danger of expiring. Bonus depreciation allows businesses to deduct a large percentage of the cost of capital investments.
    This immediate deduction significantly reduces taxable income, leading to lower tax liabilities and improved cash flow. For our businesses, this influx of cash is crucial for reinvestment, expansion, or managing operational costs.
    These deductions help level the playing field, allowing businesses like mine to compete with larger corporations, and provide valuable financial stability, especially in achieving the dream of fully passing the businesses on to my two daughters.
    But whether that transfer can happen — hopefully many years from now — may depend on whether Congress makes permanent key estate tax provisions. These provisions allow family businesses like mine to be passed down to the next generation without selling or paying even higher taxes.
    Fortunately, Sen. Ernst has led the fight in Washington to permanently repeal the punitive death tax and ensure that grieving families do not lose their livelihood.
    These are just a few provisions critical to the success of small businesses. I was also encouraged that early version of the legislation included provisions on “No Tax On Tips” and overtime, which will put more money back in the pockets of our staff.
    I thank Sen. Ernst for being a voice for Iowans and small business in Washington, and I urge Congress to make the Trump tax cuts permanent.
    Jerry Akers is a multiunit franchisee of Great Clips and The Joint Chiropractic, and serves on the board of the International Franchise Association (IFA). He lives in Palo.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Murphy, Colleagues, Advocates Call Out Trump’s Corrupt Meme Coin Dinner, Demand The Release Of Attendees’ Names And What Favors They’re Getting

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Connecticut – Chris Murphy

    June 03, 2025

    [embedded content]
    WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Thursday led a press conference with U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and U.S. Representative Sam Liccardo (D-Calif.), Public Citizen, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), and End Citizens United to call out the blatant corruption behind President Trump’s meme coin dinner — a secretive, high-dollar event where anonymous crypto investors are buying direct access to Trump. The Members demanded full transparency: who’s attending, how much they paid, and what kind of influence they’re expecting in return for the millions of dollars they put in Trump’s meme coin. With no press, no disclosure, and crypto wallets tied to foreign actors, this dinner isn’t just unethical — it’s a national security risk. It’s pay-to-play politics on steroids, and Trump is cashing in. The dinner is scheduled for tonight at Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Virginia.
    “We’re here today to call on the President and the people who serve him to do something really simple: release the names of the people who are going to be there,” said Murphy. “Even if you release the names, it’s still corrupt. But at least let us see who’s going to be there. At least let the American people know who has bought access to the President. Release the names. If there’s nothing wrong, if you think that this is all above board, then what are you hiding?”
    “Americans sent us to Congress to unrig the economy — not to help the President turn the White House into a crypto cash machine with private dinners for his top meme coin buyers or legislation that supercharges his stablecoin profits,” said Banking Committee Ranking Member Warren. “The GENIUS Act should be written to prohibit the president and his family from profiting—period.”
    “President Trump has put a ‘for sale’ sign on the White House lawn with his cryptocurrency schemes,” said Merkley. “Congress needs to act fast to stop the massive corruption and national security threat that is Trump selling access and influence to the highest bidders. My End Crypto Corruption Act not only cracks down on this corruption but also prevents other federal officials, like Members of Congress, from betraying our ‘We The People’ government.”
    “Donald Trump is selling access. He is selling out America, he is selling it to a foreign power, and he is putting our national security at risk. Trump is becoming beholden to foreign powers—the Emirates that provided $2 billion to World Liberty Financial, the Qataris that have provided him with a plane, and the unknown foreign actors that have invested in his meme coin operation. It’s not just about corruption—it is about corruption that endangers our national security by putting the president in a compromised position in relation to foreign powers,” said Blumenthal. “My hope is that the Trump Administration will give us the list of individuals attending tonight’s dinner as the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigation has asked them to provide.”
    “I was not invited to dine with Donald Trump today. I’m not disappointed.  But you know who should be disappointed? The 746,000 people (probably many of them Americans) who bought small amounts of that Trump coin – maybe some of them bought a little bit more – who didn’t get invited. When I introduced the MEME Act in the House it was because, to borrow from Richard Nixon, those 764,000 Americans needed to know that their president was a crook. And hopefully, we’re going to find some Republicans who have the courage and the spine to say this is corruption regardless of which party is committing it,” said Liccardo.
    “America should not be for sale. With tonight’s prize dinner, our President is using his private golf course to cater to some of the world’s richest people, instead of working on behalf of working families and our country. He claims to be ‘America first,’ but really, he’s ‘Donald Trump first.’ Between his outrageous meme coin grift, his Tesla car show on the White House lawn, the jumbo jet gift from Qatar and his numerous candlelit dinners for tech bros and foreign billionaires, this President is the definition of corruption and personal profit over regular people,” said Lisa Gilbert, co-president of Public Citizen.
    “The President’s corrupt dinner is yet another alarming example of foreign interests opening their wallets to him. By turning the American presidency into a money-making venture, Trump is inviting an unprecedented level of corruption—and putting our national security at risk. End Citizens United proudly stands with Senator Murphy and the other lawmakers who spoke out today to demand transparency and accountability,” said Justin Unga, Vice President of Public Affairs, End Citizens United.
    Earlier this month, Murphy introduced the Modern Emoluments and Malfeasance Enforcement (MEME) Act, legislation to prevent corrupt federal officials from using their position to profit off digital assets such as meme coins. Rep. Liccardo introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: The Governments of Canada and Saskatchewan to Provide Red Cross Funding to Help Those Impacted by Saskatchewan Wildfires

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Released on June 3, 2025

    Today, the Government of Canada reinforced its commitment to the donation-matching initiative with the Canadian Red Cross to support wildfire disaster relief and recovery efforts across Saskatchewan.

    Through this initiative, the federal government will match every dollar donated to the Canadian Red Cross 2025 Saskatchewan Wildfires Appeal. 

    The Government of Saskatchewan will be immediately providing $15 million to the Canadian Red Cross to work with the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency to support wildfire evacuees. 

    For each appeal, every $1 donated will become $2 to support the families and individuals most impacted by wildfires. Donation matching will be open for 30 days, retroactive to when the appeal first opened on May 30th. The funds raised will be used to assist those impacted in Saskatchewan with immediate and ongoing relief.

    Thousands of Saskatchewanians have been displaced as wildfires continue to threaten communities across the province. In response, the Canadian Red Cross is working closely with Indigenous leadership and all levels of government to provide emergency accommodations, personal services and critical information to people who have been forced from their homes. 

    The Government of Canada and the Government of Saskatchewan are committed to continue doing everything they can to support all those affected.  

    Canadians wishing to make a financial donation to help those impacted by wildfires in Saskatchewan can do so online at www.redcross.ca or by calling 1-800-418-1111.

    Quotes

    “I would like to express my heartfelt support for the people and the communities that are affected by wildfires across the country,” Federal Minister of Emergency Management and Community Resilience and Minister Responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada Eleanor Olszewski said. “As wildfires continue to impact communities across the province of Saskatchewan, we are committed to working closely with the provincial government, Indigenous leadership, and the Canadian Red Cross to ensure a coordinated and compassionate response. By matching donations to the Red Cross, we are encouraging the people of Canada to come together in support of those affected and to help communities recover and rebuild with strength and resilience.” 

    “Saskatchewan people are known for coming together in times of need,” Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said. “This fundraising initiative to support those impacted by the wildfires reflects the generosity shown in our province and throughout the country. We thank the Canadian Red Cross for their fundraising efforts and for providing support for evacuees as we continue to fight these wildfires.”

    “These wildfires in Saskatchewan have been devastating; we are seeing people uprooted, homes destroyed,” Secretary of State (Rural Development) Buckley Belanger said. “From the beginning, the Canadian Red Cross has been providing crucial support to affected people on the ground. Now, your federal government is partnering with the Red Cross and the province to match every donation they receive, so that we can make sure we get more help to those that need it most. As always, we stand ready to respond to any further requests for assistance, now and in the days ahead.”

    “This has been a devastating beginning to wildfire season in Canada and our thoughts are with those impacted by the fires,” Canadian Red Cross President and CEO Conrad Sauvé said. “The Canadian Red Cross is grateful for the generosity of people living in Canada, and to the Government of Canada for their support of people impacted by wildfires in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. The Red Cross is committed to providing support to people in the immediate days of the response, as well as for recovery.”

    Quick Facts 

    • Donations to the 2025 Saskatchewan Wildfires Appeal can be made online at www.redcross.ca or by phone at 1-800-418-1111.
    • The Active Incidents | SaskPublicSafety.ca web page is updated with information for impacted Saskatchewan residents. Saskatchewanians seeking information or supports can call the Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency at 1-800-667-9660.
    • Government of Canada information and resources: Wildfires.
    • FireSmart Canada.

    Stay Connected

    Follow Public Safety Canada on X, LinkedIn and YouTube.

    Follow Emergency Ready in Canada on Facebook.

    Follow Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency on Facebook and YouTube.

    -30-

    For more information, contact:

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI: Blockchain and Digital Assets Virtual Investor Conference Agenda Announced for June 5th

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, June 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Virtual Investor Conferences, the leading proprietary investor conference series announced the agenda for the Blockchain and Digital Currency Virtual Investor Conference on June 5, 2025.

    Individual investors, institutional investors, advisors, and analysts are invited to attend.

    REGISTER HERE

    It is recommended that investors pre-register and run the online system check to expedite participation and receive event updates. There is no cost to log-in, attend live presentations, or schedule 1×1 meetings with management.

    “We’re thrilled to kick off this week’s Blockchain & Digital Assets Virtual Investor Conference, in collaboration with our event sponsor, ITG,” said Jason Paltrowitz, Executive Vice President of Corporate Services at OTC Markets Group. “Attendees can look forward to insightful presentations from some of the innovative OTCQX, OTCQB, and private companies shaping the next wave of blockchain and digital finance.”

    Jeff Gamble, Managing Director, ITG, commented, “We’re thrilled to partner with OTC Markets Group for the Blockchain & Digital Assets Virtual Investor Conference on June 5th. This event brings together industry leaders to share insights on Blockchain, Cryptocurrency, and the broader digital assets landscape.”

    June 5th

    To facilitate investor relations scheduling and to view a complete calendar of Virtual Investor Conferences, please visit www.virtualinvestorconferences.com.

    About Virtual Investor Conferences®

    Virtual Investor Conferences (VIC) is the leading proprietary investor conference series that provides an interactive forum for publicly traded companies to seamlessly present directly to investors.

    Providing a real-time investor engagement solution, VIC is specifically designed to offer companies more efficient investor access. Replicating the components of an on-site investor conference, VIC offers companies enhanced capabilities to connect with investors, schedule targeted one-on-one meetings and enhance their presentations with dynamic video content. Accelerating the next level of investor engagement, Virtual Investor Conferences delivers leading investor communications to a global network of retail and institutional investors.

    Media Contact: 
    OTC Markets Group Inc. +1 (212) 896-4428, media@otcmarkets.com

    Virtual Investor Conferences Contact:
    John M. Viglotti
    SVP Corporate Services, Investor Access
    OTC Markets Group
    (212) 220-2221
    johnv@otcmarkets.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: MSBFUND Fully Integrates Leading Risk Control Systems, Creating the World’s Strongest On-Chain Compliance Firewall

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Los Angeles, CA, June 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Leading global compliant digital asset trading platform MSBFUND has announced the completion of its integration with two of the world’s most renowned blockchain risk control solution providers. This marks MSBFUND’s official entry into the fully automated regulatory technology phase of “trading as compliance, on-chain as regulation.” This technological integration also signifies that MSBFUND will possess the most powerful on-chain risk control capabilities globally, creating an ultra-secure asset circulation environment for institutional users and compliance regulation.

    According to the cooperation agreement, MSBFUND has completed the integration of underlying system APIs, enabling real-time access to industry-leading KYT (Know Your Transaction) and blockchain analytics modules to achieve four key functions:

    1. Real-time monitoring of trading behaviors and risk scoring of addresses.

    2. Automatic identification and blocking of blacklisted addresses and suspicious paths.

    3. Visualization of transaction flow across the entire platform and cross-chain identification.

    4.Activation of on-chain freezing mechanisms for high-risk accounts and automatic generation of compliance reports.

    Jacob Hill, Chief Technology Officer of MSBFUND, stated: “We are building not just a trading system, but a global regulatory digital asset infrastructure. The comprehensive integration with these top-tier compliance technology providers is a crucial step in our ‘compliance as the default state’ strategy.”

    MSBFUND has deployed these risk control capabilities across all core trading areas, institutional account modules, API systems, and OTC scenarios, with plans to extend them to multi-signature wallets, DeFi gateways, and NFT trading zones. Additionally, the risk control system will update over 7 million address labels daily, covering more than 160 blockchains and Layer 2 networks.
    Industry experts point out that in the current context of increasing global regulation, MSBFUND’s technological setup not only enhances the platform’s own risk control capabilities but also effectively promotes the realization of the “on-chain as regulation” concept. This technology particularly benefits high-net-worth individuals, institutional funds, and family offices, allowing them to engage in crypto trading in a truly controllable, traceable, and reportable environment.

    A representative from one of the integrated risk control solution providers stated: “We are honored to partner deeply with MSBFUND. MSBFUND’s efforts to advance regulatory technology globally are highly recognized as a compliance benchmark.”
    Another senior executive from a leading blockchain analytics company commented: “This collaboration signifies a shift in the global digital asset space from ‘passive regulatory responses’ to ‘actively built regulatory compliance logic.’ MSBFUND is a leader in this trend.”

    Currently, MSBFUND’s automated alert and freezing mechanism response time has been optimized to 0.39 seconds, with compliance report generation time reduced to under 1.5 minutes, well below the industry average. The system will also integrate with the upcoming EU MiCA framework and UAE VARA trading regulatory standards, proactively adapting to the evolution of global compliance rules.

    Moreover, to further expand the application of its technology in the industry, MSBFUND plans to officially launch the “Open Compliance Engine” initiative in Q3 of this year, opening certain interfaces to third-party trading platforms, wallet service providers, and security companies to create a decentralized, collaborative defensive global compliance firewall network. This initiative is expected to foster a global regulatory technology ecosystem alliance driven by shared platforms and consensus mechanisms, with on-chain collaborative risk control.

    According to MSBFUND, the platform currently supports trading of over 800 digital assets, with a daily trading volume exceeding $1.3 billion. The global registered user base has surpassed 2.2 million, and the activity level of institutional clients and system call frequency has maintained high growth for five consecutive quarters. The compliance department has established a “4-pole regulatory network” covering the U.S., EU, Asia, and the Middle East, collaborating quarterly with over 12 countries and regions on data reporting.

    The launch of this system will also enhance MSBFUND’s influence in government and financial collaborations. Several national Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs) have already initiated strategic discussions with MSBFUND, hoping to leverage its “compliance as a service” module for regulatory data flow, risk event synchronization, and coordination of suspicious transactions.

    Evolving from a “trading matching platform” to a “global compliant technology infrastructure platform,” MSBFUND once again leads the global digital finance sector toward a safer, more transparent, and trustworthy direction with its advanced risk control capabilities and forward-thinking strategic vision.

    About MSBFUND:
    MSBFUND is a globally leading compliant digital asset trading platform headquartered in the U.S., holding an MSB financial services license issued by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s FinCEN. The platform focuses on serving institutional investors, family offices, and global high-net-worth clients, aiming to create the safest, most professional, and trustworthy digital asset trading infrastructure through technology-driven solutions and global regulatory collaboration. It possesses strong capabilities in regulation, fintech, and security risk control.

    Website: https://msbfund.com

    Disclaimer: The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended you practice due diligence, including consultation with a professional financial advisor, before investing in or trading cryptocurrency and securities.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Fine-tuning AI models into agents — the secret to scaling expert knowledge across your company

    Source: Microsoft

    Headline: Fine-tuning AI models into agents — the secret to scaling expert knowledge across your company

    When every business uses AI, how do you maintain a competitive edge? Simply adopting the standard AI models isn’t enough—you need to adapt them to your business, and the work you want them to do for you.  

    Fine-tuning is the step that makes this possible: you can give your AI a hyper-accelerated education in everything that makes your company valuable. Learning from your data, the AI will become a specialist in your organization, uniquely designed to accomplish what you do best.  

    Historically, fine-tuning was a time- and resource-intensive process. But recent breakthroughs are changing the game. It’s now readily available to every organization—no coding experience required. Here’s how that change is unfolding, and what it means for your business. 

    Moving to more specialized agents
    Many foundation models are trained on data from across the internet, which makes them powerful but general. Fine-tuning gives them targeted expertise: for instance, the model can take in countless examples from your business and learn to understand your data, language, and workflows. Build an agent based on that tuned model, and it’s like hiring a digital specialist with years of experience. 

    Thanks to recent advancements that make it easier and faster, fine-tuning is well within reach for organizations of any size. Businesses now have two ways to tap into these more knowledgeable models:  

    • Custom: Fine-tune a model yourself and build agents based on it. This is a much easier process now with low-code tools like Copilot Tuning, a new offering we just announced at Build. (Your fine-tuned model and custom agents access data securely, and only within your organization’s Microsoft 365 service boundary.) Any agent you create has deep and specific knowledge based on your company’s own data about how best to do a particular task. 

    • Pre-built: Buy an agent that has already been taught special skills. If you need help with advanced data analysis, for example, there’s a Microsoft agent called Analyst—built on OpenAI’s o3-mini reasoning model and designed to think like a data scientist. Its knowledge in that area is deep, but instead of being fine-tuned on your own company data, it’s trained on a broad, abstracted understanding of how businesses work. To access other special skills, you can tap into a whole ecosystem of agents from Microsoft and our partners.  

    Honing your competitive edge
    Fine-tuning agents on what sets your business apart is the digital equivalent of onboarding a team with specialized skills and knowledge. Since your institutional knowledge and know-how are what differentiate you from your competition, tuning your agents is the way you scale that competitive advantage across the whole business. In essence, you’re encoding the valuable expertise of your subject matter experts into the systems that support everyone else. 

    For instance, imagine if your agents understood how and why your documents are crafted in specific ways (including format, word choice, and content). A biomedical company could use agents to write reports in the way it has developed over decades, so they’re not just accurate but aligned with how the firm’s experts communicate critical information. A legal firm could draft arguments that blend institutional knowledge with client-specific context to build the strongest cases possible. At a financial services firm, an agent could generate investment reports modeled on the tone, structure, and content of those drafted by the organization’s most experienced analysts.  

    This is institutional knowledge at scale—captured, codified, and available to any employee. 

    Agents go vertical, human roles go horizontal
    Because of this new ability to scale organizational knowledge, the traditional model of an organization’s software customization is going to change—along with the role of humans. In short, software will go more vertical, and humans more horizontal. Software products have traditionally been universal—think of Excel, which anyone who works with numbers can use, or Word, a tool for writing and editing that’s used across countless professions and industries. We’re moving into an era of more targeted solutions, with agents as a new kind of software that has deep expertise in specific roles, industries, and organizations.  

    In the meantime, I expect that human roles will be able to expand horizontally as agents support them with deep, vertical expertise. AI-first organizations will pair human generalists with specialized agents at every level. Humans will step back to see the big picture—connecting dots across roles and orchestrating work between people and machines. They’ll manage and guide agents, validating their outputs, resolving discrepancies, handling exceptions, and making judgment calls. The real advantage will belong to those who can think strategically while deploying tools designed for precision. 

    Summing it up
    What if everyone in your organization had access to all your company’s best thinking, preferred practices, and institutional knowledge? This is truly the definition of democratizing that knowledge across the business. Soon, a fleet of fine-tuned agents will make that vision possible. They embed your company’s best practices into the flow of work, helping teams move faster with more consistency and confidence—constantly sharpening your unique edge. 

    For more insights on AI and the future of work, subscribe to this newsletter.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: “The ability to cope with difficulties helps to build a reliable and strong solution”

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    This year, the winner of the “Your Project” competition in the “innovation” category was a team from Novosibirsk: Alena Kozich, Ilya Kateshov, Artem Tretyakov and Nikita Konstantinov. In the fall, they will begin their studies in the “Managing research, development and innovation in the company” Artem and Nikita shared how the work on the case went and why they are looking forward to starting their studies at HSE.

    — What did you like about the competition, and what caused difficulties?

    — I liked the freedom to choose the topic for the scenario study, the task included many industries for the application of UAS, from agriculture and the oil and gas industry to transport and logistics work and medicine, which is what we chose. I also liked the clearly formulated task, which at the same time did not limit the space for research. The number of companies to be studied could be chosen independently: at least 1 company, at least 20 companies, it all depends on the strength of the team. Of course, when solving a complex task, difficulties arise, but it is the ability to cope with them that helps build a reliable and strong solution, so there is no point in being afraid of difficulties, they must be overcome.

    — How did you distribute roles in the team?

    — My team and I have been taking part in case championships since the first year of our bachelor’s degree and we are the organizers of a case club within our university, so during the time of solving cases we know each other’s strengths and weaknesses. Each team member was responsible for their own unique part of the work, and everyone’s skills helped us apply our efforts to the solution as effectively as possible.

    The task was complex, so it was necessary to conduct a large block of analysis. After that, we moved on to forming a solution. At the analysis stage, we identified two main areas: analysis of foreign practices and analysis of the current situation in Russia for the implementation of new practices.

    Two people looked for foreign practices, two analyzed the current situation. After that, they moved on to implementation. Implementation was also divided into several parts: calculating solutions and assessing their impact on business and the situation in Russia as a whole.

    — Was the case difficult?

    — The task was clearly formulated, from the very beginning the team understood what to do. The case turned out to be interesting, with the main focus on the study of scenarios and practices, as well as the argumentation of initiatives. The Zipline company website contained 90% of the information we needed, except for the financial statements, which we found in open sources. During the analysis, we actively maintained a board in Figjam (analogous to Miro for Figma) and recorded every potentially useful information.

    In parallel, we analyzed federal laws and draft laws, and looked at the current situation of using UAS (unmanned aerial systems – Ed.) in Russia, because experience is also a limiting factor. Using UAS in specific regions is legally permitted, but consumers do not have active demand for the product, so it is necessary to think in a different direction. After all the practices were collected and the risks were analyzed, we began to generate ideas for using practices taking into account the limitations.

    Some practices, as expected, could not be implemented due to restrictions at the regional level. We deleted some initiatives, but others that we thought were potentially profitable, we reworked in such a way that they did not affect the restrictions.

    For example, delivery of first aid supplies using drones has been legally permitted in the Magadan Region since February 2025, so we decided to apply this practice specifically in the Magadan Region.

    After generating initiatives and creating a strategy for their application, we began calculating financial models taking into account the economic context of the regions and the method of drone delivery. The last day, as befits true case study specialists, we devoted ourselves entirely to creating a presentation and additional analysis of the final solution.

    — What are your expectations for the upcoming Master’s degree at HSE?

    — Since last year, we have been planning to enroll in the innovation program. We expect a lot of practical work, but most of all we are looking forward to meeting cool guys in order to start doing something together and simply broaden our horizons.

    Evgeniy Savelenok, Academic Director of the program “Management of Research, Development and Innovation in the Company”

    “Initially, when preparing the case, colleagues had a request to monitor information from foreign sources about the state of affairs in the UAV industry with an emphasis on new technologies and products. As a result of the discussion, we supplemented the task with a creative part – generating a scheme and logistics for using UAVs in Russia, including calculating economic costs. The case turned out to be complex and practically applicable – our partners considered all the solutions, and applicants have the opportunity to present their developments to the company’s specialists.

    The special thing about the competition is that you know the people who are going to defend their theses. This knowledge helps us to make a more informed assessment at the defense: we look at the work in the chat, and at the finished product, and at the individual achievements of the participants. As a rule, the more organized, united and active teams win. That is, we get applicants with whom we can get to know each other throughout the competition, watch them in action, observe their work. This is the right idea.”

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Province, First Nations take next step to grow economy through partnerships, planning, conservation in northwestern B.C.

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Randene Neill, Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship –

    “The northwest strategy will provide clarity for First Nations, industry and the public, and will advance our goal of protecting 30% of the land by 2030 on some of the most biodiverse and rugged land and watersheds in Canada. It will also create tens of billions of dollars in investment and thousands of good, family-supporting jobs for British Columbians.”

    Jagrup Brar, Minister of Mining and Critical Minerals –

    “This strategy builds on years of co-operation between our government, First Nations and industry to strike the right balance between conservation, reconciliation and economic development. Partnerships like this will deliver the critical minerals the world needs while better protecting the air, land and waters that First Nations have stewarded since time immemorial.”

    Beverly Slater, president, Tahltan Central Government –

    “Phase 1 land-use plan is a significant step toward sustainable development and reconciliation. Ensuring our culturally sensitive land is off limits to development, that our air, fish, land, water and wildlife will be protected, and establishing co-management protocols for responsible resource development within Tahltan territory is not only in the best interest of the Tahltan Nation, but also in the best interest of all British Columbians.”

    Jíník, Charmaine Thom, spokesperson, Taku River Tlingit First Nation –

    “This long-awaited commitment marks a significant step toward right relations between the Taku River Tlingit First Nation and the Government of British Columbia, focused on land and water stewardship in the globally significant Taku watershed. We welcome this opportunity to build on our T’akú Tlatsini IPCA, rooted in the direction of our elders and citizens and based on generations of knowledge and decades of research and work. Through respectful collaboration and partnership, we look forward to working with the Province, stakeholders and all who care for or depend upon our territory to build a robust and thriving shared future.”

    Chief Stephen Charlie, Liard First Nation​ –

    “The Kaska have a long-held vision for the protection of our ancestral lands, consistent with our values and laws, and we are eager to see the provincial government affirm that vision through collaborative land-use planning. Safeguarding the heartlands of our territory in B.C. and building a thriving conservation economy will benefit future generations of Kaska and all people of the region.”

    Tara Marsden/Naxginkw, Wilp sustainability director, Gitanyow Hereditary Chiefs –

    “Today, we are moving forward together to protect critical salmon habitat in the Meziadin, building on decades of collaborative land-use planning. This renewed certainty will support continued economic growth in fisheries, eco-tourism and mineral exploration in less sensitive areas.”

    Eva Clayton, president, Nisga’a Nation, Nisg̱a’a Lisims Government –

    “The Nisga’a Lisims Government administration will be delighted to work with B.C., Canada and our neighboring First Nations across the northwest. Many of us have shared interest when it comes to our natural resources and economic vision. We look forward to reviewing the data from the multiple experts and state-of-the-art land-assessment procedures. With 25 years experience in land assessments, waterways and sustainable resource management, we are prepared to bring our best to the table and contribute to economic excellence.”

    Christine Boyle, Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation –

    “The shared vision we have for the northwest is centred on reconciliation as envisioned by the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, conservation and economic growth. By building and strengthening government-to-government relationships with the Tahltan, Taku River Tlingit, Kaska Dena, Gitanyow and Nisga’a Nations, appropriately planning for and protecting the land and environment, and providing predictability and transparency in this work, we will create opportunities for good jobs and a strong economy. My gratitude and thanks to all involved.” 

    Tori Ball, conservation director, lands and freshwater program, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, British Columbia (CPAWS-BC) –

    “CPAWS-BC is heartened that the Province is acting on its commitment to protecting the lands, waters and ways of life that make B.C. special through land-use planning carried out in partnership with First Nations. Collaborative planning has the potential to meet the dual challenge of ecological crisis and economic uncertainty by putting ecosystem and community health at the core of decision-making. We have a generational opportunity to bring people together to work toward a shared vision of a healthy future for wildlife and British Columbians alike.”

    Nikki Skuce, director, Northern Confluence Initiative –

    “This northwest announcement is putting commitments into action that help B.C. meet its conservation goals, while also providing greater certainty to industry through land-use planning. This ambitious pathway will help us in the northwest move forward with responsible development that protects our salmon watersheds and makes us more resilient to climate-change impacts. We look forward to participating in meaningful public engagement as planning moves forward in co-operation with Indigenous governments.”

    Justin Himmelright, senior vice-president, external affairs, Skeena Gold & Silver –

    “Skeena looks forward to engaging in this process. As a near-term producer of precious and critical minerals, we have first-hand experience with the work needed to permit and develop a mine in B.C.  Working with all parties to establish certainty on the land is an essential step in creating prosperity for First Nations and all British Columbians.”

    Rudi Fronk, CEO and chairman of the board, Seabridge Gold –

    “We support the land-use planning process and welcome its focus on collaboration and reconciliation. We look forward to working with the Province, the Tahltan and the Nisga’a Nation to finalize the plan.”

    Trish Jacques, board chair, Association for Mineral Exploration (AME) –

    “AME shares the government’s aspiration for certainty, including establishing clear areas for critical minerals and precious metals exploration and development. While there are good signs at this early stage, from the accelerated one-year land-use planning process to allowing Notice of Work permitting and existing tenures to continue throughout the planning area, mineral explorers have invested hard work and money in areas that may be considered sensitive. AME will continue to advocate to protect mineral exploration and development for the benefit of all British Columbians.”

    Katherine MacRae and Scott Ellis, co-chairs, Adventure Tourism Coalition –

    “The Adventure Tourism Coalition supports the collaborative approach to land-use planning in the northwest. This process is a critical opportunity to ensure long-term ecological integrity while also recognizing the economic importance of low-impact, nature-based tourism. We remain optimistic that through meaningful engagement and Indigenous leadership, this process can result in land designations that protect sensitive areas and sustain outdoor-recreation opportunities for generations to come.”

    Jeff Hanman, executive vice-president and chief strategy officer, Teck Resources –

    “Northwest B.C. has tremendous potential to responsibly supply critical minerals the world needs and create economic opportunity. Working in co-operation with Indigenous communities and local stakeholders is essential to responsibly unlocking this resource potential and advancing reconciliation.”

    Michael Goehring, president and CEO, Mining Association of British Columbia –

    “Northwest land-use planning can unlock generational economic development in the region and across the province through a balanced, informed and inclusive process that achieves conservation objectives while accelerating permitting for provincially or nationally significant mining projects in full partnership with First Nations. Creating greater certainty for investors will strengthen B.C.’s and Canada’s position as a leading global supplier of critical minerals and metals.”

    Abdul Rahman Amoadu, managing director, Africa-Canada business unit, Newmont –

    “With over a century of experience, Newmont has found that shared visions between industry and communities lead to the most successful outcomes. Gaining a clearer understanding of areas of cultural significance to Indigenous groups in northwest B.C. will support more informed and effective business decisions.”

    Louise Pedersen, executive director, Outdoor Recreation Council of BC –

    “We welcome this commitment to inclusive land-use planning in the northwest. Recreation users have strong connections to these landscapes, and it’s important that their voices are part of the conversation. Collaborative planning can help strike the right balance between public access, conservation, economic growth and Indigenous leadership so these places can be enjoyed and cared for by all.”

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: African Mining Leaders Call for Bold Policy Reforms at Mining in Motion 2025

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

    ACCRA, Ghana, June 3, 2025/APO Group/ —

    African mining ministers from Ghana, Liberia, Malawi and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) emphasized the need to review and reform Africa’s mining codes during the Mining in Motion 2025 summit in Accra. Highlighting the role strengthened policies play in enhancing responsible governance, local value creation and the formalization of artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM), ministers outlined how evolving legal and policy frameworks are positioning the mining sector as a driver of equitable, sustainable development.

    Ghana is leading several ambitious initiatives to modernize its mining code. Among proposed reforms is the creation of a medium-scale mining category, bridging the gap between artisanal and large-scale operations. Ghana’s Alhaji Yusif Sulemana, Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, stressed the importance of enabling local ownership and ensuring miners have access to sustainable technology, financing models and responsible markets.

    “We’re proposing a legal regime that allows indigenous people to own part of the business. We want miners to start small, adopt sustainable practices, and gradually move up to larger operations. It’s about creating an ecosystem of growth and accountability,” stated Deputy Minister Silemana.

    Liberia echoed Ghana’s inclusive approach, with Wilmot J.M. Paye, the country’s Minister of Mines and Energy, emphasizing that formalizing ASM is a national priority under the country’s national development plan.

    “Small-scale mining is where hundreds of thousands of our people gets their livelihoods. To make the sector productive, we must simplify regulations and ensure intergovernmental coordination. We’re bringing miners to the table,” Minister Paye stated.

    Meanwhile, Kenneth Zikhale Ng’oma, Minister of Mining, Malawi, underscored the role of long-term planning. He stated that under Malawi’s Minerals and Mining Policy, the country facilitates investment in human capital, infrastructure and modern technologies.

    “We are building capacity and linking ASM miners to banks so they can grow their formal enterprises,” Minister Ng’oma stated.

    Adding to the continent-wide call for stronger mining governance, Godard Motemona Gibolum, Deputy Minister of Mines, DRC, emphasized his country’s commitment to reforming ASM practices to better serve local communities and the national economy. He highlighted environmental protection as a top priority in ASM-operated areas, noting that government oversight now includes stricter contract terms and closer monitoring.

    “We have a new vision – one in which we are adding more value to minerals and providing jobs for the people of our country,” Deputy Minister Gibolum stated.

    During the panel session, Ghana’s recent policy reforms were highlighted as a model for mining code reforms across the continent. These include the Local Content and Policy Regulation, which mandates the use of Ghanian expertise, goods and services in mining operations. The Equipment Tracking Regulations and Blue Water Initiative were also noted as templates for how other countries can improve environmental standards, traceability and value addition.

    The panelists agreed that Africa’s mineral wealth can only benefit its people through transparent, inclusive and environmentally conscious governance. They indicated that reforms must go beyond legislation and be backed by capacity building, access to finance and collaboration with communities.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND: WE MUST DEFEND FINGER LAKES NATIONAL FOREST FROM INCREASED LOGGING; FOLLOWING TRUMP ORDERING LARGE SWATHS OF NATIONAL FORESTS BE CUT DOWN FOR TIMBER, SENATORS DEMAND U.S. FOREST…

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for New York Charles E Schumer
    Trump Released Executive Order For U.S. Forest Service To Develop Plan To Increase Timber Production By 25% Across National Forests, Like Finger Lakes National Forest, Prompting Major Concern From Local Communities & Environmentalists, Which Treasure Open Space And Wilderness, Depend On Outdoors As Driver For Tourism Economy
    Schumer Has Long History Of Pushing To Preserve & Protect Finger Lakes National Forest – NY’s Only National Forest; Senator Previously Sponsored Legislation To Protect Forest From Gas Drilling And Pushed To Stop Logging
    Schumer, Gillibrand: We Must Protect Finger Lakes National Forest – A Crown Jewel of The Finger Lakes Region – From Unwarranted & Unwanted Logging
    After the Trump administration released an executive order for the U.S. Forest Service to achieve a 25% increase in timber production in national forests, like the Finger Lakes National Forest, prompting outcry from local activists, U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today called on the U.S. Forest Service to protect Finger Lakes National Forest (FLNF) from increased timber logging and to restore FLNF to its full staffing level to protect this Upstate treasure. The Finger Lakes National Forest is New York’s only national forest, and the senators said protecting trees is vital to protecting the surrounding Finger Lakes, precious open space, biodiversity, and the vibrant recreation and tourism economy.
    “We must protect the Finger Lakes from Trump’s attempts to turn our National Forests into timber. The Finger Lakes National Forest is a crown jewel of the region, and a magnet for families and tourists alike to experience the vast nature and beauty of Upstate NY. But Trump’s recent executive order could callously cut down huge chunks of this forest, threatening the Finger Lakes. This unwanted and unwarranted policy would endanger the Finger Lakes National Forest and our thriving outdoor recreation economy,” said Senator Schumer. “Trump’s ill-conceived executive order to cut down large swathes of our nation’s forest could be devastating, even the Once-ler in the Lorax would scoff at it. We cannot let our forest be ripped away from our kids, and the tens of thousands who visit the Finger Lakes every year.  That’s why I’m standing up to Trump’s plans and demanding the U.S. Forest Service not increase logging in the Finger Lakes National Forest. I’ve long been a proud supporter of the Finger Lakes National Forest, protecting it from gas drilling and high-volume logging for years. Now, we need to protect Upstate New York’s forest health to preserve the area’s natural beauty so the community and visitors can enjoy this space for generations to come.”
    “The Finger Lakes National Forest is an Upstate treasure, and the Trump administration’s plan to increase logging in the area would be catastrophic for the environment and devastating for the thousands of New Yorkers who flock to the area to hike, hunt, and fish,” said Senator Gillibrand. “I am urging the Trump administration to listen to the concerns of the local community and pause any plans for additional commercial logging.”
    In a letter to the U.S. Forest Service chief, Schumer and Gillibrand explained that Trump’s executive order could hurt the Finger Lakes National Forest habitat and lead to water-quality issues due to increased runoff into Seneca and Cayuga lakes and increased wildfire risks. The Senators also urged the administration to reverse recent cuts of the dedicated staff and rangers who are vital for the forest’s stewardship, visitor services, and forest health.  The reduced number of staff jeopardizes regular maintenance of the forest, including replanting native trees in the section of forest lost to invasive Emerald Ash Borer infestations. Citing a report from the U.S. Forest Service on FLNF and Green Mountain, the senators described how the Finger Lakes National Forest supports over $174 million in annual revenue from recreational activities which would be threatened with increased logging. The senators said preventing logging is vital to protecting the surrounding lakes, biodiversity, and the vibrant recreation economy, from hikers to sportsmen, to fishermen, and more. They also emphasized that is necessary to ensure New Yorkers and all Americans can access the forest today and for generations to come.
    Yvonne Taylor, Co-Founder and Vice President, Seneca Lake Guardian said, “Senators Schumer and Gillibrands’ leadership to protect the Finger Lakes National Forest affirms what so many of us in the region know in our hearts: that this forest is not a timber commodity that can be bought. It is a sacred public treasure that fuels our economy, safeguards our environment, and belongs to future generations. We urge the Forest Service to heed their call, retain the dedicated staff that defend the forest, and protect this irreplaceable landscape.”
    Schumer has a long history of pushing for the preservation and protection of the Finger Lakes National Forest, dating back to 2001 when he co-sponsored legislation to protect the Finger Lakes National Forest from gas drilling and exploration. In subsequent years, Schumer has pushed for moratoriums on logging within the forest.
    Schumer and Gillibrand’s letter to Chief of the Forest Service Tom Schultz can be found HERE or below:
    Dear Forest Service Chief Schultz:
    We write to strongly oppose increased logging and staff reductions at the Finger Lakes National Forest (FLNF) following recent executive actions and budget decisions. It is imperative to the ecological health of this ecosystem and the Finger Lakes vital tourism industry you ensure that additional FLNF trees will not be unnecessarily cut down, subject to commercial logging, and you immediately reverse recent staff cuts that threaten the ongoing health of the Forest.  The Administration must respect the unique ecological, economic, and recreational value of this treasured public resource and the Upstate NY communities it sustains.
    The Finger Lakes National Forest is more than a beautiful landscape – it is a living asset for the region, supporting tourism, recreation, and a healthy environment, while also serving as a source of pride for generations of Upstate New Yorkers. According to a report from the U.S. Forest Service, the Finger Lakes National Forest supports over $174 million in annual revenue from recreational activities. The natural beauty and economic benefits this landscape provides far outweighs any potential profits from future timber sales and the Forest Service must take every step to ensure the sustainable management of the Forest. Because the Forest Service already supports logging on up to 800 acres of FLNF land specifically for forest health, it is unclear why additional logging in the FLNF is necessary or productive, and local communities are justifiably concerned this could threaten the economic and environmental health of the region.
    We are alarmed by new reports of significant staff reductions at the FLNF, leaving just a handful of rangers to oversee more than 16,000 acres. The cuts of the dedicated staff and rangers who are vital for the forest’s stewardship, visitor services, and forest health are wrong and seriously undermine the FLNF’s ecological integrity and it’s enjoyment by the public.  The reduced number of staff will jeopardize regular maintenance of the forest, including replanting native trees in the section of forest lost to invasive Emerald Ash Borer infestations. Without full staffing, the Forest health could be compromised, jeopardizing the countless jobs and economic benefits it supports in the surrounding communities.
    Many in the Finger Lakes region – residents, environmental groups, small businesses, and local governments – have raised their voices out of concern for the future of the Forest. The community deserves immediate answers on what the U.S. Forest Service’s future plans are for the Finger Lakes and we urge the U.S. Forest Service and USDA to immediately:
    Restore Fiscal Year 2024 staffing levels across Finger Lakes National Forest operations and invest in the jobs needed for forest stewardship, restoration, and public safety.
    Remove the Finger Lakes National Forest from any consideration for increased logging.
    Engage directly with local communities, conservation organizations, and forestry professionals before taking any action affecting the FLNF.
    Ensure that any prior commitments to replanting and habitat restoration, especially following previous clear-cutting for ash borer mitigation, are fully funded and completed.
    Publish a justification detailing the increased acreage that would be logged beyond current activities supporting forest health, describing whether the administration intends to clear cut or sustainably thin areas of the Forest, which areas are too sensitive for logging activities, which areas would be avoided due to recreational activities, how threatened and endangered species would be protected or avoided when logging, and the necessary staff increases to complete these actions.
    Publish the Forest Service’s plan for public engagement, including input from New York forestry experts regarding any potential plans to log the FLNF.
    The Finger Lakes National Forest is a unique ecological and economic asset. Any changes to its management or staffing should strengthen – not weaken – its role as a model for conservation, recreation, and sustainable rural development.
    We look forward to your prompt response on this timely concern and stand ready to work with you and the community to protect the Finger Lakes National Forest.
    Thank you for your attention to this matter.

    MIL OSI USA News –