NewzIntel.com

Category: Economy

  • MIL-OSI: Treasury issues Eurobond

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    The Republic of Iceland has successfully issued a €750 million Eurobond (ISK 109 billion equivalent) with a fixed coupon of 2.625% and a five-year maturity, priced at a re-offer yield of 2.672%. The proceeds will be used to strengthen the foreign exchange reserves of the Central Bank of Iceland and to refinance existing Eurobonds.

    Concurrently with the new issue, the Treasury launched a tender offer to repurchase its outstanding €500 million Eurobond maturing in 2026. The offer remains open until 17:00 BST on Friday, 23 May 2025.

    The transaction attracted robust demand, with orders totalling €4.4 billion—nearly six times the issue size. The investor base comprised over 100 institutions, including asset managers, banks, central banks, pension funds, insurance companies, and other institutional investors, primarily from across Europe. Citibank, Barclays, J.P. Morgan, and BNP Paribas acted as joint lead managers for the transaction.

    Daði Már Kristófersson, Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, commented:
    “It is highly gratifying to see such strong investor interest in this bond issue and the improved spreads compared to our previous offerings. The breadth and diversity of the investor base align with our goal of broadening access to Icelandic government bonds. This outcome reflects market confidence in the Icelandic economy, sound public finances, and the Government’s policy direction.”

    This issuance forms part of the Government’s Medium-Term Debt Management Strategy, which aims to ensure that the Treasury is a regular and credible issuer in international capital markets.

    The pricing of the bond, 42 bps over mid-swaps, represents a significant improvement over the Treasury’s 10-year green bond issued in 2024, which carried a mid-swap spread of 95 basis points. Despite ongoing global uncertainty, spreads on Icelandic sovereign debt have narrowed and outperformed those of many peers with comparable credit ratings.

    “Our message is resonating well with investors,” said Minister Kristófersson. “Iceland stands out for its solid and growing economy with good prospects, declining inflation, diversified exports, improved sustainability, and stronger credit profile.”

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Capito, Warner Introduce Bill to Improve Early Assessment, Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and Mark Warner (D-Va.), reintroduced the Concentrating on High-Value Alzheimer’s Needs to Get to an End (CHANGE) Act, bipartisan legislation to encourage early assessment and diagnosis of Alzheimer’s. Companion legislation was also introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Linda Sanchez (D- Calif.), Darren LaHood (R-Ill.), Doris Matsui (D-Calif.), and Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla.).
    “As we continue to search for breakthroughs in the fight against Alzheimer’s, we must ensure our health care system is doing its part to identify the disease earlier and connect patients and families with the tools they need. The CHANGE Act focuses on practical improvements—like earlier screening and detection—that can make a meaningful difference right now. I’m proud to reintroduce this bill to help improve outcomes, ease the burden on caregivers, and move us closer to ending this devastating disease,” Senator Capito said.
    “Having watched my mother battle Alzheimer’s for a decade before her passing, I know this is a devastating disease that impacts not just the individual, but the entire family. Our legislation is key to helping secure an early diagnosis that will allow for better care, earlier access to treatment, and more support for families navigating this difficult journey,” Senator Warner said.
    “Like countless families across the country, mine has personally felt the heartbreaking toll of Alzheimer’s,” Representative Sánchez said. “Having lost both of my parents to this cruel disease, I understand how critical early diagnosis can be. Our bipartisan, bicameral bill would early assessments and offer crucial resources for families. As our population continues to age and diagnoses expected to rise, we can’t afford to wait.”
    “Alzheimer’s affects millions of Americans, and we must be relentless in our search for a cure,” Representative LaHood said. “I am proud to work alongside Rep. Sánchez to reintroduce the CHANGE Act to strengthen existing tools within Medicare, helping to streamline and broaden the ability for earlier diagnosis of dementia. It is critical that Congress find ways to support patients, their families, and caregivers.”
    “We need a comprehensive approach to tackle the devastating impact of Alzheimer’s and to support the millions of Americans battling against this disease. Early detection and intervention are crucial to improve care and prolong the life of loved ones,” Representative Matsui said. “The CHANGE Act provides important tools to deliver early support and high-value care. I applaud my colleagues for advancing this bipartisan effort as we continue taking steps forward to prevent, treat, and put an end to Alzheimer’s.”
    “As research continues to yield advancement in the development of more treatment options for patients with Alzheimer’s, we know that early detection, diagnosis and intervention offers the best promise for disease management,” Representative Bilirakis said. “My family has coped with the devastating impacts of this horrific disease for more than a decade, so I understand the toll it takes on the patient and his or her loved ones as it progresses.  We owe it to our fellow Americans to develop a system of care that prioritizes education, screening and assessment so that patients can enjoy the best possible quality of life.”
    The CHANGE Act is endorsed by: UsAgainstAlzheimer’s, American Academy of Neurology, Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, AMDA – The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine, Alliance for Aging Research, Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease, Gerontological Society of America, American Society of Consultant Pharmacists, Latinos Against Alzheimer’s, and USAging.
    “The reintroduction of the CHANGE Act is a powerful display of bipartisan, bicameral leadership stepping up to confront the growing Alzheimer’s crisis. Senators Capito and Warner, along with Representatives Sánchez, LaHood, Matsui, and Bilirakis, recognize that early detection and timely intervention are extremely important to improving outcomes for patients and reducing strain on families and our healthcare system. UsAgainstAlzheimer’s proudly supports this legislation, which shifts our country’s approach from reacting too late to acting early—where we have the greatest chance to change lives and make a difference,” George Vradenburg, CEO and Founder of UsAgainstAlzheimer’s, said.
    BACKGROUND:
    Approximately 7.2 million Americans age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s disease in 2025. That number could grow to a projected 13.8 million by 2060. The direct financial costs of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias will also continue to increase exponentially, with projections indicating they will reach just under $1 trillion by 2050.
    The CHANGE Act would better utilize the existing Welcome to Medicare initial exam and Medicare annual wellness visits to screen, detect, and diagnose Alzheimer’s and related dementias in their earliest stages.
    Now, as new treatments are approved and glimpses at what could be on the horizon for those living with the disease emerge, ensuring screening and diagnosis is taking place is more essential than ever. An early documented diagnosis communicated to the patient and caregiver enables early access to care planning services and available medical and non-medical treatments and optimizes patients’ ability to build a care team, participate in support services, and enroll in clinical trials. It also would allow this devastating disease to be caught in its earliest stages, and ensure appropriate access to treatment.
    Legislative text is available here.  

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: VIDEO: Capito Opening Statement at Hearing Reviewing HHS Budget Request

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito
    [embedded content]
    Click here or on the image above to watch Chairman Capito’s opening remarks from the hearing. 
    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-HHS), held a hearing with U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. to consider the president’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget request, as well as the many priorities of the agency. 
    Below is the opening statement of Chairman Capito as prepared for delivery: 
    “Good morning. This is our first Labor-HHS Subcommittee hearing for fiscal year 2026 and the first hearing in my new role as chair. 
    “Vice Chair Baldwin and I have served together for several years on this committee, and I look forward to continuing to work with you in our new roles.
    “I also want to take a moment to recognize Senators Collins and Murray.  
    “As the Chair and Vice Chair of the Appropriations Committee, they are committed to regular order and maintaining our track record of writing and passing bipartisan appropriations bills in a timely manner.  
    “Today’s budget hearing is a first step in that process.
    “Secretary Kennedy, thank you for being here today.  
    “I know that we all share the goal of improving the health of Americans. This hearing is an important opportunity for the subcommittee to hear from you on HHS’s budget proposal and better understand your priorities for fiscal year 2026.
    “You have taken the helm of a large agency with thousands of dedicated career staffers whose work each day makes Americans healthier and safer and ensures our global leadership in science and biomedical research.
    “In your first few months as secretary, you have made many changes at the department that will lead to a healthier America. This committee looks forward to hearing more from you on details of your proposed reorganization for HHS and working together to Make America Healthy Again.
    “HHS has always worked with Congress when considering and designing reorganizations, and I encourage you and your staff to work closely with Congress as you move forward.
    “Your fiscal year 2026 budget proposes a reduction in funding for HHS of over 26%. I commend you and President Trump for taking a careful look at each and every program at the department and I look forward to reviewing your full budget request hopefully very soon. 
    “This committee wants to work with you on improving HHS so that the agency can be more efficient and fund the best science. I am concerned that our country is falling behind in biomedical research – this should be a concern that we all share and make investments in. Investing in biomedical research has proven to save lives while exponentially strengthening the U.S. economy.
    “NIH-funded basic research is also behind many of the 600+ new cancer treatments the FDA has approved over the last 20 years. NIH-funded research led to the development of buprenorphine – a medication treatment for opioid addiction. NIH-funded research led to the development of the first overdose naloxone nasal spray – Narcan.
    “For almost a decade, this committee has increased funding toward the goal of finding treatments and a cure for Alzheimer’s disease. This goal is very personal to me since both of my parents lived with and eventually succumbed to the disease.  
    “These investments have allowed NIH to fund research into a wide variety of potential causes of the disease, and build evidence for prevention based on a healthy lifestyle. NIH-funded research on the amyloid protein led to the development of FDA-approved Alzheimer’s drugs in 2023 and 2024 to slow progression of the disease.  
    “All of this research is important, and I look forward to working with you to continue robust and diversified Alzheimer’s disease research. 
    “Wasteful spending of taxpayer dollars must end, and I applaud you taking a hard look at what federal research dollars are funding. 
    “I encourage you to ensure the fiscal year 2025 funding Congress has already appropriated is spent in a timely manner, in particular for the vital biomedical research which could lead to lifesaving breakthroughs in science. Too many American families are waiting for a cure. We have a responsibility to make sure their taxpayer dollars fund critical research. 
    “You and I have talked about the importance of the NIOSH coal programs to West Virginia and how the work conducted by NIOSH in Morgantown is unique across the federal government. I am pleased that you brought some of these specialized NIOSH employees back to work earlier this month and then, just last week, reversed their RIFs so that their return to the office will not be temporary. 
    “Your decision to return NIOSH staff to the office meant that the Firefighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program could issue the final report on the December 27, 2020 fire that killed a 30-year-old firefighter and injured three others. Senior Airman Logan Young was one of many who responded to the Kearneysville fire. I’m glad NIOSH was able to finish their investigation and issue their recommendations and final report. 
    “While your action last week was a good first step, there are other divisions within NIOSH with specialized staff who conduct essential, unique work. I support the president’s vision to right size our government, but as you and I have discussed, I do not think eliminating NIOSH programs will accomplish that goal. I encourage you to look closely at all of NIOSH’s offices and bring back additional critical staff.
    “West Virginia—my home state—continues to rank above the national average in both new cancer diagnosis and deaths. We are thankful for the work performed by the CDC’s National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion and I look forward to learning more about how this important work will be continued under the administration for a Healthy America.
    “Substance abuse challenges also continue to be a real problem facing West Virginia and the nation.
    “SAMHSA grant funding has played an important role in West Virginia, and I want to understand how the budget proposal will impact my state. I look forward to learning more from you today about your vision for these important programs. 
    “Rural health care is a top priority for this body. CDC data show that rural Americans are more likely to suffer from higher rates of diabetes and are more likely to die from cancer, heart disease, and stroke than urban Americans. This is unfortunately especially true in my home state, which also leads the nation in rates of diabetes and heart disease.  
    “Improving rural health outcomes goes hand-in-hand with investing in the health care workforce to meet the physical and mental health needs of Americans. 
    “HRSA has been a trusted Federal partner on rural health issues for decades. HRSA has funded critical rural health capacity building and other initiatives across the country and administers the healthcare workforce programs that help bring medical providers into local communities. You have proposed moving HRSA to the new AHA, and I would like to learn more about how your budget proposal would invest in rural America. 
    “We have a difficult task ahead of us this year, but it is my hope that we will come together, just as we have done in prior fiscal years, to use our limited resources in the most efficient and effective way to support the health and well-being of all Americans. 
    “Secretary Kennedy, I look forward to your testimony.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Urban Grid Advances Pollinator Research with New Apiary at Virginia Solar Site

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HOUSTON, May 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — To mark World Bee Day, Urban Grid proudly announces the launch of its first solar apiary at Crystal Hill Solar in Halifax County, Virginia. This initiative expands the company’s growing agrivoltaics program, bringing together clean energy production, pollinator health and regenerative land management on one site.

    The apiary—home to ten hives and a half million bees—is expected to yield more than 400 pounds of honey annually. With lamb already produced through on-site grazing, the addition of honey expands Crystal Hill Solar’s role as a source of nourishment for the community. The honey will be shared with local food banks, schools and faith-based organizations, further connecting solar infrastructure to local food systems.

    “This is the ripple effect of American made energy—when we use the land well, solar can strengthen the local economy, support farmers and deliver real benefits to the communities we’re part of,” said Val Newcomb, Vice President of Economic and Community Development at Urban Grid. “For more than a year, we’ve been grazing sheep on this facility to manage vegetation in a way that supports soil health and agricultural viability. While Crystal Hill Solar quietly delivers much-needed power to the Commonwealth, local farmers there have been raising grass-fed lamb and helping to build a new sheep economy in southern Virginia. Honey production adds another layer of agricultural value to this site, deepening our connection to the land and community.”

    Developed in partnership with Siller Pollinator Company, the apiary will serve as a living laboratory. Together, Urban Grid and Siller’s founding farmer Allison Wickham are launching a multi-year study of pollinator activity and plant diversity on solar land. The program includes vegetation monitoring, soil sampling and honey analysis to understand how pollinators interact with the solar environment—and what that means for the surrounding ecosystem.

    “We’re not just placing hives on a solar site—we’re farming this land,” said Wickham. “We’ll be analyzing pollen to identify what species bees are foraging, measuring vegetation changes over time and comparing site conditions near and far from the hives. This kind of research can help shape smarter, more sustainable solar land use across the country and provide greater opportunities to a wider range of farmers and land managers. To celebrate World Bee Day, we are honored to start a honeybee husbandry program with Urban Grid that will serve as an operational and scientific model for honey-production based land management in this and future agrivoltaics sites. We look forward to sharing data on the resulting food production from this project.”

    Next, Wickham will plant a 3-acre rotational crop pilot within the array closest to the hives, enabling Urban Grid to study ways in which additional farming options can be introduced on its facilities.

    “This pilot gives us the chance to research pollinator impacts on the local community,” said Jeff Hudson, Vice President of Asset Management at Urban Grid. “By installing the hives on the edge of the project we can study the impacts across a significant portion of the land, which allows us to measure pollination benefits for local farmland. In the end, improving vegetation while producing energy is the goal—this is a business, and these innovations help us operate smarter while creating shared value for the communities we’re in.”

    Honey samples from Crystal Hill will contribute to the growing body of data from agrivoltaics sites and guide practical land management strategies, helping Urban Grid better understand how pollinators interact with solar-managed landscapes. These insights will shape habitat design, vegetation planning and ecological performance across the company’s portfolio, as Urban Grid works to expand this model—integrating beekeeping and grazing practices into future projects to holistically restore habitat, support local agriculture and uphold its commitment to being responsible land stewards.

    About Urban Grid
    Urban Grid, a leading independent power producer, facilitates a rapid and sustainable energy transition by developing high-quality renewable energy projects, fostering community partnerships and serving as a good land steward. Our company is positioned to develop, own and operate its facilities while cultivating a land management system that benefits farmers, communities and the natural world through agrivoltaics. Urban Grid maintains a delivery-focused approach with the goal of being a good neighbor, corporate citizen and trusted energy solutions partner. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, with teams situated strategically throughout the United States, Urban Grid has a long history of contributing to the clean energy economy. In addition to 940 megawatts currently under construction, we are actively developing a growing portfolio of more than 12,000 megawatts of solar PV and 7,000 megawatts of co-located and stand-alone energy storage.

    Urban Grid is a portfolio company of Brookfield, one of the world’s largest owners and operators of renewable power and climate transition assets.

    Learn more: www.urbangridsolar.com

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/04f677a9-a405-4d63-9386-c7ab191a47e1
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4f027fac-f048-49c2-9a7e-762302011dbf

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Head of Commercial Real Estate Investment Firm Sentenced to 87 Months for $62.8M Investment Fraud Scheme

    Source: United States Department of Justice

    A New York man was sentenced yesterday in the Northern District of Georgia to 87 months in prison and ordered to pay over $45 million in restitution for his role in a scheme to defraud investors in connection with commercial real estate investments in Atlanta, Georgia and Miami, Florida.

    According to court documents, beginning in May 2022, Elchonon “Elie” Schwartz, 46, of New York City, engaged in a scheme to defraud commercial real estate investors that invested through the crowdfunding investment website, CrowdStreet Marketplace. Schwartz raised over $62.8 million from hundreds of investors through CrowdStreet, including approximately $54 million for a large commercial real estate complex in Atlanta, Georgia, and approximately $8.8 million for a mixed-use building in Miami Beach, Florida. When soliciting investments, Schwartz represented to CrowdStreet investors that he would safeguard their funds in segregated bank accounts, not commingle the investors’ money, and only use it to fund the investment in each property.

    Over the course of the scheme, however, Schwartz directed substantially all the CrowdStreet investor money into his personal bank account, personal brokerage account, and accounts for unrelated commercial real estate investments he controlled. He used the CrowdStreet investor funds to purchase luxury watches, invest in stocks and options in his brokerage account, and cover payroll expenses for his unrelated commercial real estate businesses. Ultimately, in mid-July 2023, the two corporate entities that Schwartz had formed to receive funds from CrowdStreet investors both filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

    “Yesterday a federal judge sentenced Elchonon Schwartz to 87 months for defrauding investors out of more than 60 million dollars through lies and deceit as part of a real estate scheme,” said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Criminal Division. “The defendant made fraudulent representations to investors and misappropriated their money to buy luxury watches and to deposit into his brokerage and bank accounts instead of investing it as promised. The Criminal Division remains dedicated to prosecuting fraudsters who steal investors’ hard-earned savings to the fullest extent of the law.”

    “Schwartz’s greed was boundless,” said U.S. Attorney Theodore S. Hertzberg for the Northern District of Georgia. “He callously abused the trust of hundreds of investors to line his own bank accounts, purchase expensive watches, and buy additional luxury items. Schwartz’s sentence reflects our office’s commitment to hold fraudsters accountable for exploiting investors who innocently rely on their false representations.”

    “This sentencing underscores that those who exploit the trust of investors for personal gain will be held accountable,” said Paul Brown, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Atlanta Field Office. “Mr. Schwartz’s actions caused significant financial harm to hundreds of individuals, and hopefully today’s outcome delivers a measure of justice for the victims.”

    In February 2025, Schwartz pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud.

    The FBI Atlanta Field Office investigated the case. The Justice Department appreciates the valuable assistance of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s Division of Enforcement.

    Trial Attorney Matthew F. Sullivan of the Criminal Division’s Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelly Connors for the Northern District of Georgia prosecuted the case.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Treasury issues Eurobond

    Source: Government of Iceland

    The Republic of Iceland has successfully issued a €750 million Eurobond (ISK 109 billion equivalent) with a fixed coupon of 2.625% and a five-year maturity, priced at a re-offer yield of 2.672%. The proceeds will be used to strengthen the foreign exchange reserves of the Central Bank of Iceland and to refinance existing Eurobonds.

    Concurrently with the new issue, the Treasury launched a tender offer to repurchase its outstanding €500 million Eurobond maturing in 2026. The offer remains open until 17:00 BST on Friday, 23 May 2025.

    The transaction attracted robust demand, with orders totalling €4.4 billion—nearly six times the issue size. The investor base comprised over 100 institutions, including asset managers, banks, central banks, pension funds, insurance companies, and other institutional investors, primarily from across Europe. Citibank, Barclays, J.P. Morgan, and BNP Paribas acted as joint lead managers for the transaction.

    Daði Már Kristófersson, Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs, commented:

    “It is highly gratifying to see such strong investor interest in this bond issue and the improved spreads compared to our previous offerings. The breadth and diversity of the investor base align with our goal of broadening access to Icelandic government bonds. This outcome reflects market confidence in the Icelandic economy, sound public finances, and the Government’s policy direction.”

    This issuance forms part of the Government’s Medium-Term Debt Management Strategy, which aims to ensure that the Treasury is a regular and credible issuer in international capital markets.

    The pricing of the bond, 42 bps over mid-swaps, represents a significant improvement over the Treasury’s 10-year green bond issued in 2024, which carried a mid-swap spread of 95 basis points. Despite ongoing global uncertainty, spreads on Icelandic sovereign debt have narrowed and outperformed those of many peers with comparable credit ratings.

    “Our message is resonating well with investors,” said Minister Kristófersson. “Iceland stands out for its solid and growing economy with good prospects, declining inflation, diversified exports, improved sustainability, and stronger credit profile.”

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Starmer: Year One conference to take place at ARU

    Source: Anglia Ruskin University

    A street sign at Downing Street

    The Labour History Research Unit at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) is hosting the first ever conference to focus on the record to date of Sir Keir Starmer’s government.

    The public event, called Starmer: Year One, is taking place at Anglia Ruskin’s Cambridge campus on Saturday, 14 June, and will feature a number of high-profile speakers, including a former advisor at Number 10 Downing Street.

    Bringing together policy specialists, political scientists, historians and other experts, the conference will examine various aspects of the current Labour government, from its handling of the economy and the Ukraine crisis, to issues such as gender, immigration, and the NHS.

    In addition to analysing and debating the Labour government’s progress, the Labour History Research Unit aims to use the day to develop the first academic study on Sir Keir Starmer’s government.

    Confirmed speakers include Professor Tim Bale (Queen Mary University of London), Dr Emily Stacey (independent researcher), Professor Jonathan Portes (King’s College London), and Dr Kevin Hickson (University of Liverpool).

    Other participants include Jovan Owusu-Nepaul who stood for Labour in Clacton last year against Nigel Farage, and Professor Patrick Diamond, a former head of policy planning at Downing Street.

    “This is the first conference to review the record of the new government and by the time of the event, Labour will have been in power for almost a year.

    “However, the results of May’s local elections show that the political landscape of Britain has continued to shift significantly since last year’s General Election and there is evidence that voters have become disenchanted with the two-party political system.

    “This is a government that promised change in 2024 but its tone so far has proven to be one of caution. Why is this, and what does it tell us about the challenges of governing in the mid-2020s? What is the new political landscape and how should the Starmer government seek to shape it? This Labour History Research Unit event promises to be a ‘must’ for anyone interested in contemporary politics.”

    Rohan McWilliam, Professor of Modern British History and Director of the Labour History Research Unit at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU)

    The conference is open to all and tickets cost £25, which includes lunch and refreshments. For further information, visit https://www.aru.ac.uk/arts-humanities-education-and-social-sciences/humanities-and-social-sciences/research/labour-history-research-unit/news/starmer-year-one

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Competition Bureau publishes new guidance for market studies

    Source: Government of Canada News (2)

    May 20, 2025 – GATINEAU (Québec), Competition Bureau

    Today, the Competition Bureau published the final version of its Market Studies Information Bulletin. This follows a public consultation on a draft Bulletin.

    During its market studies, the Bureau closely looks at a market or industry to examine competition issues and propose solutions. Market studies help the Bureau and policymakers understand competition dynamics in important sectors of the Canadian economy. They also allow us to make recommendations that support competition.

    The Market Studies Information Bulletin answers five broad questions:

    • What steps do we take before launching a market study?
    • How do we launch market studies and decide how long they will take?
    • How do we obtain and use information, including confidential information?
    • What are the outcomes of a market study?
    • How do we follow up and monitor the impact of our market study?

    In December 2023, amendments to the Competition Act created a new framework for undertaking market studies with information-gathering powers. These changes are reflected in the new Market Studies Information Bulletin.

    The Bureau thanks all those who participated in the consultation. Their comments were carefully considered as we finalized the Bulletin.

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: IAM Victory at Boeing

    Source: US GOIAM Union

    How did a union of 33,000 aircraft workers win a battle that set a new standard in the aviation industry with a 40% pay increase over four years? What strategies did they use to score a guarantee of building Boeing’s next commercial aircraft? What tactic did they use to defend their ground in a battle for retirement savings, not to give another inch of territory that had already been taken from them?

    “If it ain’t Boeing, I ain’t going.”

    This was the catchphrase during the heyday of commercial aviation in North America from the 1930s through the 1970s. Boeing aircraft were dominating the skies with silver bottom planes that denoted the quality engineering and manufacturing it took to build a transportation marvel.

    A job at Boeing in the Pacific Northwest was a key to the lock on a comfortable middle-class life for many families. And those jobs had been union jobs for generations, thanks to the foresight of early Boeing workers in 1936 who organized with the IAM.

    But the chase for middle-class life started racing uphill in the early 1980s. More recently, staggering inflation put even higher demands on workers’ salaries and compensation with exponential growth in the cost of living. Health insurance, housing, groceries, and energy prices grew faster than wage and benefit increases. The ability to retire with dignity and financial stability was becoming an afterthought. The bar for the middle class wasmoving higher and higher, and someone had to take a stand and choose a battlefield for a fight to begin.

    Thirty-three thousand IAM members from District 751 and W24 were ready.

    These members had been held in limbo for two contract cycles. They weathered two extensions of previous collective bargaining agreements, riddled with threats to move their work elsewhere, while Boeing stopped pension contributions. Meanwhile, since 2010, Boeing has sent $83 billion in profits to Wall Street, according to the Seattle Times. It had told its world-class workforce that cuts to worker compensation were necessary.

    Preparation and planning were key to readiness. Both districts focused on communication; putting the plan up front for all members to see. Face to face discussions, surveys, emails, and dropbox suggestions were used to gauge membership needs. District 751 Aero Mechanic printed road maps of the contracts back to 1952 -showing the history of contract wins and path of growth. W-24 held contract input and listening sessions at Mt. Hood community college.
    Shop stewards encouraged “swag days” when union members would wear the same union gear to mark solidarity.

    “This is our future, our fight, and we are ready for it,” said IAM District 751 President and Directing Business Representative Jon Holden. “We have spent the last decade listening to members tell us what’s important to them and their families. Many changes are necessary to address the membership’s priorities. We are creating a proposal to address a comprehensive list of membership demands.”

    Noted union organizer and author Marshall Ganz once said, “Movements have narratives. They tell stories because they are not just about rearranging economics and politics. They also rearrange meaning. And they’re not just about redistributing the goods. They’re about figuring out what is good.”

    And what a story IAM members working for Boeing in the Pacific Northwest would have to tell.

    “IAM members are the most dedicated, skilled, and experienced aerospace union in the world,” said IAM Western Territory General Vice President Robert “Bobby” Martinez. “We could not settle for anything less than the respect and family-sustaining wages and benefits that our members at Boeing need and deserve.”

    It was time for a bold move.

    A July 2024 rally at Seattle’s T-Mobile Park, the only sports venue in the area with enough capacity to hold the IAM’s Boeing membership in the area, saw a strike sanction vote pass by 99.9%.

    Boeing workers had decided this negotiation cycle was their chance—no more extensions to an existing agreement. Boeing management had made a series of high-profile blunders over the past decade, against the advice of its own workers.

    On Sept. 13, 2024, over 96% of Boeing IAM workers voted no on Boeing’s first contract offer. The path was set. Game on!“Our membership’s ‘no’ vote was a clear mandate. Boeing had to stop undervaluing its workforce,” IAM International President Brian Bryant said after the vote. “Our strength lies in our unity, and we do not back down.”

    Strike lines were set. Burn barrels were put in place. News media covered the strike from Seattle to Europe, where Boeing’s competitor, Airbus, was watching. The fight was on 24/7, and these workers were together.

    And the legacy of some past members stepped up at just the right time.

    IAM District 751 member Keith Olsen passed away from cancer in 2020. He left behind two children, Hawken and Bailey. Their mother, Arlene, saw her children take action no one expected. Bailey, now 16, shared, “When the strike started, my brother Hawken asked, ‘If Dad were alive, would he be out there?’” Bailey continued, “When I said yes, [Hawken] immediately wanted to join. He’s autistic, and the honking and crowds worried me, but he had so much fun. He kept telling everyone, ‘This is for my Dad.’”

    33,000 moms, dads, union brothers, sisters, and siblings knew what was at stake if they folded under pressure.

    A rejection of a Boeing offer on Oct. 23 ratcheted up the stakes. IAM leaders met with workers and listened to their objections to Boeing’s offers. It just wasn’t good enough, was the consensus.

    “Our membership spoke loudly and clearly about what they wanted in this agreement,” said IAM District 751 President and Directing Business Representative Jon Holden. “We stand strong until those needs are addressed.”

    As the strike continued past its 50th day, striking workers’ determination was further tested. Each day, one day longer, one day stronger.
    The strike was rearranging the meaning of solidarity. As Marshall Ganz described it, the narrative was figuring out what was good.

    “That means that we all needed to come together, stay informed, and take action as a group. There’s no way they’re gonna wait us out,” said District W24 President and Directing Business Representative Brandon Bryant. “We’re going to be here as long as it takes. We’ve got plenty of support for a long time.”

    U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell and U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal rallied with striking District 751 members on Oct. 15. Sen. Patty Murray and Reps. Adam Smith and Rick Larsen joined a support letter from Cantwell and Jayapal that called on the two sides to “expeditiously work out a fair and durable deal that recognizes the importance of the machinist workforce to Boeing’s future.”

    The continuing strike’s economic impact on the overall U.S. economy did not go unnoticed. The Seattle Times reported that Boeing and its suppliers had lost $9.7 billion by early November.

    Julie Su, then the Acting Labor Secretary, visited Seattle three times and gathered management and union leaders in late October.

    “There was a real history here where the prior leadership of the company had undervalued and undermined the relationship between management and the machinists,” Su told Axios News. “And so the workers felt that.”

    As day 53 of the strike ended, a deal was reached. Solidarity had won a new agreement.

    “This means growth and stability for Boeing workers. Our members went on strike for better wages and working conditions –and they won by staying united and exercising democracy in the workplace,” said IAM Resident General Vice President Jody Bennett said, “They hit the streets, held strong, and have been rewarded with an excellent contract. This dedicated frontline workforce does not just deserve these provisions —they are also overdue. This contract will set a new standard for aerospace across the region, the nation, and the industry.”

    Boeing workers in South Carolina, who are just like our members; facing the same employerand performing the same work, where Boeing moved some production lines to avoid union power in the right to work for less state, saw gains in their compensation packages influenced by the District 751 and W24 fight.

    “Our members fought courageously for what they deserve, and this victory proves the power of collective bargaining,” said IAM International President Brian Bryant. “IAM Boeing workers will help make the case to Boeing South Carolina workers on how we helped raise their wages and benefits at Boeing and the entire industry. We look forward to the conversations on the ground in Charleston about how the IAM can make their workplace stronger.”

    “This experience changed me. It wasn’t just about standing up to the company -it was about standing up for each other, for every worker who deserves respect and fairness. Our strength is our solidarity, and we proved that every day on the line.”, said District 751A member Chris McQueen as she returned to work after the 53 day strike.

    Members knew that standing up meant that more than just their current battle was won, it meant the door was open to change things for the future, together.

    “Education is power, and by equipping our members with the right tools and information, we build a more united and informed union. Together, we are shaping a stronger future for all IAM members and the entire aerospace industry,” said 751 President Holden. “From our family members to the flying public, we want everyone to be proud of this company once again. We are the watchdog with a unique opportunity to make things better for all.”

    Any movement starts with a step, and a step in the right direction tells a new story with new chapters yet to come.

    It was a fight worth winning.

    SIDEBAR
    Historic Agreement:
    IAM District 751 and W24 Members are now the best compensated aerospace workers in the industry.

    * 38% general wage increase over four years, which compounds to 43.65% over the life of the agreement 
    *401(k) employer match of 100% up to 8%-$12,000 ratification bonus 
    *AMPP incentive plan is reinstated, with a guaranteed minimum annual payout of 4%
    *Special company retirement contribution of 4% into 401(k) maintained
    *$105 pension multiplier per year for those vested in the pension plan
    *Call-in language back to current contract
    *New long-term disability plan and big improvement to short term disability plan-Health care cost containment
    *Improved overtime rules
    *Key job security provision for IAM members to build the next Boeing commercial aircraft in the Pacific Northwest
    *Additional Job Security language maintaining the headcount of Facilities and Maintenance members in the Collective Bargaining Agreement

    Share and Follow:

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Caisse Française de Financement Local: EMTN 2025-8 SOCIAL

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Paris, 20 May 2025

    Capitalised terms used herein shall have the meaning specified for such terms in the Caisse Française de Financement Local base prospectus to the €75,000,000,000 Euro Medium Term Note Programme dated 8 July 2024 (the “Base Prospectus”).

    Caisse Française de Financement Local has decided to issue on 22 May 2025 – Euro 500,000,000 Fixed Rate Obligations Foncières due 22 May 2037.

    The net proceeds of this issue will be used to finance and/or refinance, in whole or in part, the Eligible Social Loans as defined in the Sfil Group Green, Social and Sustainability Bond Framework as published as of the Issue Date which is available on the website of the Issuer.

    A Stabilisation Manager has been named in the applicable Final Terms.

    The Base Prospectus dated 8 July 2024 and the supplements to the Base Prospectus dated 13 September 2024, 30 September 2024, 26 December 2024, 27 February 2025 and 2 April 2025 approved by the Autorité des Marchés Financiers are available on the website of the Issuer (https://www.caissefrancaisedefinancementlocal.fr/), at the registered office of the Issuer: 112-114, avenue Emile Zola, 75015 Paris, France, and at the office of the Paying Agent indicated in the Base Prospectus.

    The Final Terms relating to the issue will be available on the website of the AMF (www.amf-france.org) and of the Luxembourg Stock Exchange (www.bourse.lu), at the office of the Issuer and at the office of the Paying Agent.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Best Royalty-Free Music (2025): Pond5 Recognized as Top Audio Resource for Creators by Software Experts

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK CITY, May 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Software Experts, a trusted digital publication covering software solutions and creative tools, has officially recognized Pond5 as a leading resource for royalty-free music in 2025. The decision follows an in-depth evaluation of digital music libraries available to content creators, marketers, educators, and media professionals.

    Best Royalty Free Music:

    • Pond5 – With its expansive catalog of expertly produced tracks, intuitive search tools, and flexible pricing models, it provides a seamless experience for anyone in need of premium music for media production.

    The recognition reflects broader shifts in the creator economy, where demand for accessible, rights-cleared audio assets continues to grow. As video consumption increases across platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, and LinkedIn, background music has become a foundational element in digital storytelling. Pond5 has responded to this need with a scalable and user-friendly platform offering a wide selection of music tracks licensed for multi-platform use.

    Pond5 hosts a catalog of over 1.5 million royalty-free music tracks, covering genres including cinematic, corporate, electronic, hip-hop, acoustic, ambient, and experimental. This diverse inventory supports a wide range of applications, from short-form social media clips to full-length documentaries and advertising campaigns.

    The Software Experts review notes that the royalty-free model provided by Pond5 aligns with the operational needs of modern creators. Unlike traditional licensing methods that may involve recurring royalty payments or limited usage rights, Pond5’s approach enables broad, perpetual use of music for a single license fee. This model reduces administrative burdens while ensuring compliance with major platforms’ copyright policies.

    The report highlights that royalty-free music has moved beyond being a niche offering. It is now a core requirement for professionals in film production, e-learning, game design, app development, and podcasting. Platforms like Pond5 provide not just content, but the infrastructure to support fast and safe deployment across these formats.

    Subscription Plans Address Creator Needs Across Different Scales

    A major focus of the recognition was the adaptability of Pond5’s subscription plans, which are structured to accommodate creators at various stages of growth – from freelancers to production companies.

    The platform offers three key subscription options:

    • Music Subscription ($25/month): Grants access to 10 royalty-free music downloads per month.
    • Music & Sound Effects Subscription ($30/month): Offers 10 monthly downloads with access to both music and over 1.7 million sound effects.
    • Footage Plus Subscription ($199/month): Includes 10 monthly downloads from a curated selection of HD/4K footage, music, sound effects, images, and templates.

    Each subscription includes a royalty-free license for unlimited project use with global, perpetual rights and no additional fees. All plans also enjoy remaining download rollovers.

    Annual subscriptions are available and come with a 10% discount on any additional purchases, providing further value to frequent users.

    Pond5’s transparent licensing terms were cited in the report as a practical advantage. Users can access license documentation at the point of purchase, ensuring clarity around content usage. This is especially relevant for creators working under tight deadlines or across multiple distribution channels.

    Search Tools and Workflow Integration Improve Efficiency

    Another factor influencing the Software Experts recognition is the integration of intelligent search and filtering tools. These include filters for mood, genre, instrumentation, duration, tempo (BPM), and keywords, allowing users to quickly locate music that matches specific creative objectives.

    The review also points to Pond5’s support for editing software integration. The platform offers plugins for Adobe Premiere Pro and other creative tools, enabling faster media asset selection and editing directly within production environments. This integration helps streamline the creative process, making music selection a frictionless part of content development.

    Responding to a Changing Creator Landscape

    The rise of decentralized content creation has led to a significant increase in non-traditional media producers – from educators building online courses to entrepreneurs creating branded social content. As a result, there is growing demand for high-quality music that is both legal to use and affordable.

    According to recent industry data, over 80% of digital video creators rely on royalty-free music in their projects. This figure is expected to grow as more professionals adopt remote production workflows and scale their content output. Platforms like Pond5 are positioned to meet this demand by providing accessible licensing models, regularly updated content libraries, and user support systems that adapt to evolving production requirements.

    The Software Experts review emphasizes that Pond5’s ability to consistently add new tracks, coupled with its rigorous content curation, ensures that users have access to fresh and high-quality audio assets throughout the year. Each track submitted to the platform undergoes a quality screening process, reinforcing the brand’s position as a trusted media provider.

    Licensing Simplicity and Legal Assurance

    As copyright enforcement becomes more automated across platforms, creators must ensure that their media assets are fully cleared for use. Pond5’s licensing structure provides clear legal documentation and usage terms, reducing the risk of content being flagged, demonetized, or removed from hosting platforms.

    The review indicates that licensing simplicity is now as critical as the quality of the content itself. Time constraints, legal compliance, and platform monetization policies have made the demand for clear and reliable licenses a non-negotiable part of the content development process.

    Pond5’s licenses cover most use cases, including broadcast, online streaming, mobile apps, corporate presentations, and advertising. This eliminates the need for multiple licenses across different formats and simplifies budgeting for media production.

    Education and Support for Professional Users

    Pond5 also provides support resources and educational materials to help users make informed licensing decisions. For agencies or production teams, enterprise-level solutions are available with volume pricing, team access controls, and dedicated account support.

    These features enable Pond5 to serve not only individual creators but also teams managing complex content pipelines. This level of service is becoming increasingly necessary as content strategy becomes a key part of brand and business growth in sectors such as education, technology, and entertainment.

    Conclusion and Industry Implications

    The Software Experts team evaluated numerous platforms and determined that Pond5 aligns well with the current and future needs of content creators. The platform’s wide-ranging media access, flexible subscriptions, license transparency, and user-first search tools contribute to its recognition as a reliable and forward-facing audio resource.

    This recognition signals a broader shift in how music licensing is being approached in 2025. Rather than treating audio as a static add-on, professional creators are now considering it a foundational layer in content strategy. Solutions that provide clear, scalable access to licensed music—without legal friction—are becoming essential tools in the modern creator’s toolkit.

    The full review is available now at the Software Experts website.

    About Pond5: Pond5 is the world’s largest video-first content marketplace, with over 45 million royalty-free video clips, plus millions of music tracks, sound effects, images, and more. Driven by a commitment to its passionate and growing global community of more than 100,000 professional visual and audio artists, Pond5 provides a platform where creative work can flourish.

    About Software Experts: Software Experts provides news and reviews of consumer products and services. As an affiliate, Software Experts may earn commissions from sales generated using links provided. 

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK adopts historic Pandemic Agreement

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Press release

    UK adopts historic Pandemic Agreement

    Better protections for British public and NHS thanks to deal adopted at the World Health Assembly in Geneva.

    • New Agreement will protect British public and NHS from future global health threats while preserving UK sovereignty
    • Pandemic Agreement will safeguard lives and UK economy by improving world’s collective ability to prevent, prepare for, detect and respond to global disease threats
    • This follows long negotiation process to ensure agreement is firmly in UK’s national interest

    The British people, our NHS and the economy will be better protected against future global health threats thanks to a new World Health Organization (WHO) Pandemic Agreement adopted by the UK today.

    The deal marks a significant step forward in stronger domestic and global prevention by improving the way countries around the world work together to detect and combat pandemic threats.

    The UK government has been actively engaged in negotiations to ensure a strong final agreement. The Agreement adopted at the World Health Assembly in Geneva respects national sovereignty while encouraging nations to work together more effectively to address shared global health threats, in turn helping strengthen our national security which is a key part of this government’s Plan for Change. There are no provisions that would give the WHO powers to impose domestic public health decisions on the UK.

    Minister of State for International Development Baroness Chapman said:

    The Pandemic Agreement is a great example of the UK working with our partners to support countries combat disease and strengthen their health systems. Acting together will help us to prevent pandemics, and prepare for and respond to any future pandemic threats.

    Diseases cross borders, and our diplomacy must too, if we are to prevent a repeat of the devastation caused by Covid-19. That’s why this agreement will make the world a healthier and safer place.

    Health Minister Ashley Dalton said:

    COVID-19 showed us the vital importance of international cooperation to save lives. This landmark agreement will help protect British people from future pandemic threats and safeguard our health system, supporting our mission to build an NHS fit for the future.

    Our national interest and the safety and wellbeing of the British public will always be our first priority. This agreement maintains our sovereignty while ensuring the NHS and the UK as a whole will be better prepared for possible future global health emergencies, through stronger early warning systems and faster response capabilities.

    Our world-class life sciences sector will also benefit from increased innovation in vaccines and treatments, boosting growth and improving care for patients across the UK.

    UKHSA Chief Executive Dame Jenny Harries said:

    It is gratifying to see the Pandemic Agreement adopted. It is clear that international co-operation and collaboration must be at the very heart of our pandemic preparedness strategy if it is to be effective, and this agreement is a welcome step towards making the world a safer place from pandemic threats.

    UKHSA has consistently been committed to sharing data and analysis on pathogens with pandemic potential with our international partners, and we will continue to do so as we work to develop the global capacity to respond to emerging threats to public health.

    This is also good news for scientific innovation and the UK’s world-leading life sciences industry, opening the door to enabling high quality vaccines to be delivered faster in the next pandemic.

    The Covid-19 pandemic has had an enduring impact on lives and livelihoods around the world. Thousands of families in the UK lost loved ones, children missed out on pivotal learning and development opportunities, and businesses were forced to close their doors. The estimated cost of the UK government’s COVID-19 measures was over £300 billion.

    The new Pandemic Agreement will help avoid a repeat of this devastation by creating a framework for countries to take action together to better prevent pandemics – by improving disease surveillance so we can detect and respond to new health threats sooner, and by speeding up innovation of life-saving vaccines and treatments.

    The aim is to prevent pandemic threats from emerging in the first place and stopping them in their tracks when they do.

    It will facilitate swifter pathogen and pathogen data sharing so we can act quickly to prevent further spread. It will also enable the UK to develop vaccines, treatments and tests faster, which will help save lives and drive economic growth in our world-leading life sciences sector.

    124 member states agreed to adopt the Pandemic Agreement today, demonstrating strong international commitment to multilateralism and collective action to strengthen global health security.

    The final text represents a strong outcome for the UK. Key wins include: 

    • Commitments on pandemic prevention, including for health, animal, and environmental sectors to collaborate through a “One Health” approach – a major step toward preventing disease spillover from animals to humans;
    • Provisions that will foster innovation, enhance global research and development, and strengthen supply chains;
    • The Pandemic Agreement paves the way for a new and voluntary Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS) system which should see pharmaceutical companies get faster access to the pathogens and genetic sequences that they need to create new vaccines, treatments and tests to respond to a pandemic. In return, manufacturers who voluntarily sign up to the system – not the government – will share a portion of their production with the WHO to allocate where it is most needed;
    • The PABS system is entirely voluntary for pharmaceutical companies, who may choose to join to gain faster access to pathogen data for innovation. There are no requirements placed on governments to share vaccines or treatments they have purchased.
    • The Pandemic Agreement does not include any provisions that would give the WHO powers to impose domestic public health decisions on the UK. The sovereignty of states is one of the guiding principles of the Agreement.

    Updates to this page

    Published 20 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: The EBA publishes 2024 Report of its key achievements and activities

    Source: European Banking Authority

    The European Banking Authority (EBA) today published the first part of its 2024 Annual Report presenting the main achievements and activities of the organisation in fulfilling its mandates under its Work Programme over the past year.  

    The year 2024 proved to be a milestone year, with the Agency delivering on over 93% of the tasks under its remit. On the regulatory front, the EBA made significant progress in the implementation of the Basel III reforms within the EU, aiming to ensure banks’ resilience in future crises and strengthen the financial system.  

    The EBA focused on enhancing the Single Rulebook by issuing guidelines and technical standards on key banking topics, such as credit, market and operational risk. The EBA also contributed to the European Green Deal by advancing sustainable finance integration, issuing guidelines and reports on ESG risks, greenwashing, and scenario analysis, reflecting its commitment to embedding environmental and social considerations into prudential frameworks. 

    In 2024, the EBA focused on monitoring financial stability amidst high interest rates, slow growth, and geopolitical uncertainty, with a particular emphasis on the impact on the banking sector. These assessments are included in two issues of its Risk Assessment Report, one published in spring and the other one autumn. The latter was accompanied by the publication of the results of the EU-wide transparency exercise. 

    Other achievements throughout the year included the update of the stress-testing methodology, incorporating new elements like net fee and commission income projections and market risk sensitivity. 

    The Authority also conducted a one-off climate risk stress test to assess the resilience of the financial sector under scenarios of the Fit-for-55 package, showing limited impact from transition risks but potential disruption when combined with macroeconomic factors. 

    Note to the editors  

    By end-June, the EBA will publish a consolidated version of the Annual Report that will provide a comprehensive account of the activities carried out by the EBA in the implementation of its mandate and work programme during 2024.  

    Part 1, published today, provides an overview of the annual key achievements, while Parts 2-5, will include comprehensive information on the implementation of the EBA’s work programme, budget, staff policy plan, its management and internal control systems. 

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI: Bel Appoints Lynn Hutkin as Chief Financial Officer

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    WEST ORANGE, N.J., May 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Board of Directors of Bel Fuse Inc. (Nasdaq: BELFA and BELFB) (“Bel” or the “Company”) today announced the appointment of Lynn Hutkin as Bel’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO) effective immediately following Bel’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held May 27, 2025. She will be responsible for Bel’s financial strategies and will lead the global finance organization, including planning, treasury, tax, reporting and investor relations. In her new role Ms. Hutkin is succeeding Farouq Tuweiq, Bel’s current CFO, who as previously announced will vacate his CFO role immediately following Bel’s 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held May 27, 2025, upon Mr. Tuweiq’s assumption of the President and CEO role on that same date.

    Ms. Hutkin joined Bel in 2007 and has held roles with increasing responsibilities, most recently serving in the role of Vice President of Financial Reporting and Investor Relations along with her designation as Principal Accounting Officer for Bel, which she will continue in her new role (together with her newly added designation as Principal Financial Officer). In addition to her primary roles, throughout her tenure at Bel, she has also been a leader in a variety of other areas including mergers and acquisitions, bank financing, corporate insurance and employee benefit programs. Ms. Hutkin started her career at Arthur Andersen within the audit group and subsequently held roles of increasing responsibility within finance at companies ranging from an IT consulting start-up to a $250 million publicly-traded courier company prior to joining Bel. Ms. Hutkin earned her B.S. of Accountancy from Bentley University and is an active CPA in the State of New Jersey.

    “I am excited to continue working with Lynn and to build upon the accomplishments we have achieved since we began working together in 2021,” said Farouq Tuweiq, Bel’s current CFO. “Bel has gone through a number of transformational steps over the past four years and Lynn has been integral in strengthening best practices at Bel and enhancing financial discipline, financial reporting and internal procedures and controls throughout the organization.”

    “I’m beyond honored to step into the CFO role and very excited for the new journey ahead,” said Lynn Hutkin. “I look forward to the continued partnership with Farouq and our talented team in attaining our future goals.”

    About Bel
    Bel (www.belfuse.com) designs, manufactures and markets a broad array of products that power, protect and connect electronic circuits. These products are primarily used in the defense, commercial aerospace, networking, telecommunications, computing, general industrial, high-speed data transmission, transportation and eMobility industries. Bel’s portfolio of products also finds application in the automotive, medical, broadcasting and consumer electronics markets. Bel’s product groups include Power Solutions and Protection (front-end, board-mount, industrial and transportation power products, module products and circuit protection), Connectivity Solutions (expanded beam fiber optic, copper-based, RF and RJ connectors and cable assemblies), and Magnetic Solutions (integrated connector modules, power transformers, power inductors and discrete components). The Company operates facilities around the world.

    Company Contact:
    Farouq Tuweiq
    Chief Financial Officer
    ir@belf.com

    Investor Contact:
    Three Part Advisors
    Jean Marie Young, Managing Director or Steven Hooser, Partner
    631-418-4339
    jyoung@threepa.com; shooser@threepa.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China approves projects with fixed asset investment worth 573.7 bln yuan in first four months

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    BEIJING, May 20 (Xinhua) — China approved 27 projects in the first four months of 2025, with fixed asset investment totaling 573.7 billion yuan (about 79.8 billion U.S. dollars).

    The projects primarily target sectors such as energy, agriculture, forestry, water conservation and high technology, Li Chao, a spokesperson for China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), said at a press conference on Tuesday.

    According to her, in April alone, the SCRR approved eight projects with investments in fixed assets totaling 377.1 billion yuan.

    China will update the catalogue of industries in which foreign investment will be encouraged, opening up more sectors including advanced manufacturing and the digital economy, Li Chao said.

    She noted that for more than 40 years, China has steadily promoted the policy of reform and opening up, remaining an ideal, safe and favorable place for foreign enterprises to invest.

    However, the current unilateral and protectionist measures taken by some countries have forced enterprises to take sides and make choices that are not in line with economic principles, causing significant disruption to the normal operation of multinational companies, Li Chao said, calling on relevant countries to immediately return to the right track of multilateralism and free trade, working together to bring certainty to global economic development.

    Li Chao said the NDRC is coordinating with relevant departments to speed up the implementation of a series of measures to stabilize employment and the economy while promoting high-quality development. Relevant departments are currently working hard to implement these measures, and most of them are expected to be put into effect by the end of June. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Netherlands to work for successful G20

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    The Netherlands has reiterated its commitment to work for a successful G20 meeting which South Africa will host later this year.

    This is according to Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, Caspar Veldkamp in a joint communiqué following the fourth meeting of the South Africa – Netherlands Joint Commission for Cooperation (JCC) on Monday.

    “The Ministers discussed the progress of South Africa’s G20 Presidency to which the Netherlands was invited for all meetings including the Leaders’ Summit. Minister Veldkamp reiterated that the Netherlands will continue to work for a successful G20, the first on African soil, under South Africa’s Presidency,” the communiqué read.

    South Africa is set to host the Group of Twenty (G20) Summit in November 2025. The G20 is an international forum of both developing and developed countries which seeks to find solutions to global economic and financial issues.

    South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola co-chaired the JCC in the Hague alongside Minister Veldkamp.

    In a statement on Monday, the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation said the high-level dialogue between the Ministers underscored the enduring partnership between the two nations.

    READ | Minister Lamola arrives in Netherlands for Joint Cooperation Commission

    At the JCC, the Ministers noted the outcomes of the recent South Africa – European Union Summit and the agreement to start negotiations on a Clean Trade and Investment Partnership.

    “The Ministers expressed their commitment to a fruitful and successful Third AU-EU Ministerial meeting on 20 May 2025 in Brussels, paving the way for an AU-EU Summit in June 2025,” the communiqué stated.

    Held in Cape Town in March, President Cyril Ramaphosa described the 8th South Africa-European Union (EU) Summit as a “watershed” moment for trade and investment relations between South Africa and the regional bloc.

    READ | SA-EU Summit a ‘watershed’ moment for trade and investment relations

    “As a bloc, the European Union (EU) is one of South Africa’s largest trading partners and the source of much investment in our country. Our economic ties with European countries go back to colonial times. Since the advent of democracy 30 years ago, we have steadily been growing the volume and value of trade,” the President said.

    Additionally, the Ministers underlined the strong relations between South Africa and the Netherlands.

    “The Ministers underlined the strong, broad and friendly relationship between the Netherlands and South Africa, recalling the State Visit of Their Majesties King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima to South Africa in 2023.

    “The Ministers noted the progress that has been made in fostering the relationship between the two countries since the Third Meeting of the Joint Commission was held in Pretoria on 18 October 2023,” noted the communiqué. –SAnews.gov.za
     

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Minister launches review of White Paper on Local Government

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Cooperative governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa has characterised the review of the White Paper on Local Government as one that is timely and urgent.

    Speaking at the launch of the review of the white paper at the Premier Hotel OR Tambo, Kempton Park on Monday,  the Minister said the launch represents a pivotal step in reimagining South Africa’s local government framework.

    “Since the adoption of the original White Paper in 1998, South Africa has made significant strides, including improved access to basic services, the establishment of autonomous municipalities, and the strengthening of democratic participation. 

    “However, numerous municipalities continue to grapple with systemic challenges such as service delivery failures, fiscal mismanagement, and governance breakdowns,” he said at the launch in Gauteng.

    He further emphasised the importance of confronting these challenges directly.

    “The harsh reality is that several municipalities are unable to repair potholes, ensure access to clean water, or provide reliable waste management. Others fail to utilise grants effectively. This is unacceptable, and the Review of the White Paper provides a blueprint for transformative change.”

    He said that of South Africa’s 257 municipalities, some are “financially unsustainable, lacking any revenue base – an outcome of legacy design flaws in our system.”

    “As we reshape local government to be fit-for-purpose, we must seriously consider whether maintaining non-viable municipalities is justifiable.”

    Government has identified local government as a key driver of its strategic priorities, which include inclusive economic growth, poverty eradication, job creation, and the promotion of ethical and capable governance. 

    READ | Hlabisa to officially launch the Review of the 1998 White Paper on Local Government

    The Review of the White Paper is aligned with these objectives and focuses on the following strategic pillars:
    •    Structural reforms to enhance operational efficiency and accountability
    •    Deepened community participation and inclusive governance
    •    Ethical leadership and anti-corruption initiatives
    •    Strengthened intergovernmental coordination
    •    Recognition and integration of traditional governance structures
    •    Climate-resilient and spatially equitable development

    A Discussion Document, released on 10 April 2025, outlines nine policy priority areas for transformation, including financial reform, the depoliticisation of municipal administration, and the reduction of spatial inequality. 

    The public have until 30 June 2025 to make their inputs into the document.

    It can be accessed on : https://www.cogta.gov.za/index.php/docs/white-paper-on-local-government-1998-review-of-the-white-paper-on-local-government/  

    Minister Hlabisa emphasised that this review is not merely a technical or policy-driven exercise, but a national imperative requiring active citizen engagement. 

    “The journey toward a more capable and responsive local government system is a collective responsibility. We call on all stakeholders—residents, councillors, municipal employees, business leaders, and traditional leaders—to partner with us in redesigning this vital sphere of governance.”

    A key theme of the review is the meaningful inclusion of the Khoi, San, and traditional leadership systems. 

    Minister Hlabisa reiterated that recognising these voices is not only a constitutional obligation but a critical step in developing culturally grounded and socially cohesive models of governance.

    The review process commenced in October 2024 through extensive consultations with stakeholders across all sectors of society. These engagements informed the current Discussion Document. 

    Further rounds of public submissions, dialogues, and workshops will shape the revised White Paper, which is expected to be finalised and published by March 2026.

    The Minister stressed that the success of the review relies on a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach, with contributions required across all three spheres of government and from every segment of society.

    Submissions can be directed via email to:
    •    WPLG26@cogta.gov.za
    •    RichardP@cogta.gov.za
    •    MaphutiL@cogta.gov.za

    Alternatively, submissions can be sent via post or hand-delivered to the following addresses:

    Postal Address:
    Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
    Attention: Mr. Thabiso Richard Plank (WPLG26 Policy Review)
    Private Bag X802
    Pretoria, 0001

    Physical Address:
    87 Hamilton Street
    Arcadia, Pretoria

    –    SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: SIU to probe allegations of corruption at Bushbuckridge Local Municipality

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed two new proclamations authorising the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to investigate allegations of maladministration and corruption at the State Information Technology Agency (SITA) and Bushbuckridge Local Municipality in Mpumalanga.

    The SITA investigation focuses on the procurement of a Turnkey Software Asset Management Solution and Integrated Logistics Support Services. 

    “The SIU will assess whether the procurement process adhered to National Treasury guidelines or if it was tainted by irregularities, lack of transparency, or wasteful expenditure. 

    “Additionally, the investigation will examine any unlawful or improper conduct by SITA employees, suppliers, or other entities involved in the contract. The investigation period spans 13 July 2017 to 16 May 2025, including any relevant conduct before or after this timeframe,” said the unit in a statement.  

    Proclamation 259 of 2025 initiates a significant investigation by the SIU into serious maladministration and unlawful conduct within the Bushbuckridge Local Municipality. 

    “This inquiry will primarily focus on the procurement and contracting for the Lillydale Phase 1 project, specifically Contract No. BLM R119, MIG/MP/1710/RST/18/19, which involves the paving of internal streets in the municipal area. 

    “The SIU aims to address allegations regarding the fairness, competitiveness, transparency, equity, and cost-effectiveness of the procurement process, examining whether it has violated any applicable legislation, National Treasury guidelines, or municipal policies. 

    “Additionally, the investigation will scrutinise any instances of unauthorised, irregular, fruitless or wasteful expenditure connected to this project. The investigation will also examine improper conduct by municipal officials, employees, suppliers, or service providers and determine whether such conduct resulted in financial losses for the municipality or the state.”

    The proclamation covers conduct occurring between 1 January 2018 and 16 May 2025, as well as any related activities before or after this period that are connected to the matters under investigation. 

    Beyond investigating maladministration, corruption, and fraud, the SIU is committed to identifying systemic failures and recommending measures to prevent future losses. 

    In line with the SIU and Special Tribunals Act, the SIU will refer any evidence of criminal conduct uncovered during its investigation to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for further action. 

    “Under the SIU Act, the SIU is also authorised to initiate a civil action in the High Court or a Special Tribunal in its name to address any wrongdoing identified during its investigation resulting from acts of corruption, fraud, or maladministration,” it said. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Mashatile engages with SA and French businesses in roundtable dialogue

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Deputy President Shipokosa Paul Mashatile has engaged with South African and French businesses during a Roundtable Breakfast Dialogue hosted by MEDEF International in Paris. 

    MEDEF is France’s largest business federation, representing over 750 000 companies, from SMEs to large multinationals. It plays a central role in promoting French economic diplomacy, supporting private sector development, and facilitating international investment and trade relationships.

    The Business Dialogue is an important platform for businesses from both countries to expand on existing cooperation and identifying new areas of cooperation, with a specific focus on trade and investment.

    “The South African Government has committed to spending more than R940 billion on infrastructure over the next three years. This funding will revitalise our roads and bridges, build dams and waterways, modernise our ports and airports, and power our economy. 

    “Moreover, investors have an opportunity to collaborate with the South African Government by investing in infrastructure such as ports, rail, electricity, and manufacturing to improve local value-addition and boost trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area,” the Deputy President said in his address at the Business Dialogue.

    The Deputy President also touched on the European Union-SA Summit, which took place in Cape Town in March 2025, where there was an announcement of the EU investment package of around R90 billion to support investment projects in South Africa. 

    In addition, Mashatile met with Thierry Deau, Group CEO of Meridiam and Chairperson of the Global Long-Term Infrastructure Investors Association. 

    Meridiam is a global investment firm specialising in public infrastructure, with assets under management exceeding €12 billion. It focuses on long-term investments in transport, energy, social infrastructure, and environmental projects, with a commitment to sustainable development and inclusive growth.

    READ | Deputy President in France for a working visit

    During the meeting, the two discussed, among others, the importance of collaboration with various stakeholders, including infrastructure investors, policymakers, and academia, as being crucial for promoting responsible and long-term private capital deployment in public infrastructure.

    The Deputy President indicated that he is certain that South Africa and France can achieve new heights of prosperity through strengthening their economic links and encouraging closer cooperation. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Deputy Prime Minister speech to UKREiif – 20 May 2025

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Speech

    Deputy Prime Minister speech to UKREiif – 20 May 2025

    Transcript of the Deputy Prime Minister’s speech at the UK Real Estate and Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF) on 20 May 2025.

    Good morning!

    It’s fantastic to be back at UKREiiF, as Deputy Prime Minister.

    And it’s excellent to be here in Leeds.

    A great city under a great council and West Yorkshire’s Mayor, my friend Tracy Brabin.

    From Holbeck to Hunslet to Horsforth, it’s being remade and reborn.     

    Creating new good-quality jobs as well as opportunities for growth and investment.

    And it’s a testament to partnership between local, regional, and national government.

    And I want to say a big thanks to all of you here today. And it was great to hear Tom and the enthusiasm when I was backstage then and also throwing down the gauntlet to us to say we will match your ambition if you’ve got it, Tom we have that ambition.

    From our local leaders to housebuilders to investors.

    For the part you’re playing in all of this.

    And I’m here, today, to tell you that there’s more to come…

    … As we get Britain building again as part of our Plan for Change.

    I said last year that we would deliver this change.

    New homes, new infrastructure projects, jobs, higher living standards, strong communities and a strong economy.

    And I said that we would deliver this by working in partnership.

    By backing you to build, invest and succeed.

    So that our country and that is what we can do together to succeed.

    Last year, I told you about a new development that I had just visited in my own constituency.

    That delivered 62 much-needed new social and affordable homes.

    For families in my community who needed them.

    I told you what that development meant to me.

    [Political content removed]

    Because our vision is not just building houses, but it’s building homes for people of our country.

    And building the communities in which they live.

    We have a target to build 1.5 million homes this Parliament.

    As most of you in this room know I’m a straight talker, so I’ll say it straight.

    I know that target is stretching.

    [Political content removed]

    But I won’t shy away from the challenge.

    It’s desperately needed after years of failure.

    But I also want to be clear that our vision for housing is about so much more than hitting one target.

    We must continue building well beyond this Parliament.

    These must be well-designed, decent homes for local people.

    And they must come alongside the GP surgeries, schools and parks they need too.

    So, how will we know we’re succeeding?

    Firstly, if we get more and more homes – in every part of the country,  including here in West Yorkshire – built long into the future too.

    We can’t just ramp-up housebuilding over the next few years.

    Secondly, if more people have a home they can afford.

    And we bring crippling costs down.

    Thirdly, if we’re ensuring all homes are safe, secure and warm.

    And we’re driving down bills for working people.

    And finally, if we’re tackling the shameless homelessness crisis that is destroying the life chances of so many.

    Now this will demand huge ambition.

    And I am ready to meet it.

    Already, we are creating the right conditions for building.

    Ensuring smarter regulation for planning.

    And pro-growth and pro-building policy.

    We’re also working in partnership with you –

    Investors, industry…

    … The builders of our great nation.

    And I want to see new players, entrepreneurs and disruptors flourish.

    Small and medium enterprises, community-led housing projects and Councils who can disrupt the market for the better.

    Radically changing what we build, and who builds it.

    And transforming the system.

    To make it more diverse and innovative.

    Capable of not just delivering more homes, more quickly.

    But delivering secure, affordable and decent homes – for everyone, everywhere…

    And homes that will stand the test of time.

    I say that I don’t shy away from the scale of the crisis facing us.

    Because it is  monumentous.

    There’s barely a family in this country hasn’t been affected by it.

    The dream of home ownership has been snatched away from a generation.

    Just over 1.3 million people languish on waiting lists for social housing.

    It is a scandal we have over 160,000 children in temporary accommodation.

    Their lives have been held back.

    Our country is being held back.

    I know, from my own experience, how much having a secure, affordable home matters.

    Alongside decent work and a strong community.

    These were the foundations on which our parents and grandparents built good lives.

    But which are now just not there for too many working people.

    This is not just taking a personal toll, but it’s taking an economic one too.

    Because growth and development go hand in hand.

    Unlocking decent jobs, vital infrastructure and supporting our local economies.

    Which in turn delivers the growth that is so needed to improve living standards and revitalise our public services.

    Yet, I’ve heard from so many people since coming into office, how the system just stopped working.

    Desperate families failed.

    Local leaders feeling powerless to act.

    Developers navigating a complex system.

    This is not a series of crises.

    But the symptoms of a broken system.

    And so, nothing less than action everywhere will do.

    It’s a momentous challenge – but we will meet this moment.

    And in our first ten months of Government that is what I set out to do.

    We said getting shovels in the ground was crucial.

    And so, I wasted no time in turning the pages on years of decline.

    With unwavering action to reverse the tide and get Britain building again.

    We reintroduced local housing targets.

    [Political content removed]

    We set out and consulted on a new pro-growth, pro-supply National Planning Policy Framework within our first three weeks in Office.

    Unlocking brownfield and grey belt land for development.

    And before the summer was out, we started getting stalled sites moving again through our New Homes Accelerator.

    We’re pressing ahead with the hugely ambitious Planning and Infrastructure Bill.

    To speed up the delivery of new homes and critical infrastructure.

    With innovative reforms like our Nature Restoration Fund to unblock building.

    While creating a win-win for nature and development.

    As well as plans to modernise planning committees and bring in a new system of strategic planning.

    Changes which could add up to £7.5 billion to the UK economy over the next decade.  

    The New Towns Task force is also hard at work on its recommendations for sites.

    We’ve committed £3bn of support to small to medium enterprises and the build to rent sector, to access cheaper lending.

    And as part of our commitment to building 1.5 million homes this Parliament…

    …We’ll deliver  the biggest wave of affordable and social housing in a generation.

    And we’ve already topped up investment by £800 million.

    As well as a £2 billion top-up funding next year.

    With more to come at the Spending Review. 

    And that’s not all.

    Our landmark Renters’ Rights Bill was introduced within our first four months.

    Banning no fault evictions and giving the millions renting more security.

    In November, we also set out our blueprint to ending the feudal leasehold system.

    And earlier this year we published our Commonhold White Paper.

    Giving leaseholders more say and power over their homes and lives.

    And we’re empowering mayors through our devolution revolution.

    Because the homes we build must deliver for people in all corners of our country.

    This is the biggest shift of power from Whitehall to our town halls in a generation.

    That was why I was delighted to celebrate the launch of The Great North last night. Not just because I am a northerner.

    The North’s mayors coming together to herald a new era of Northern cooperation.

    Showing what’s possible when we work together.

    And we’re already seeing green shoots of this coming through.

    Today Homes England has announced it’s delivering thousands more homes across the country compared to last year.

    But this is just the start.

    Because I know that there is so much more that still needs to be done.

    As I’ve said, our planning reforms are a game-changer.

    But we know that there must also be a renewed focus on social housebuilding.

    I’m committed to resetting the foundations of the sector.

    And to give the sector stability and confidence to invest in the future.

    It’s also why we have made planning changes to support affordable housing too.

    And we’ve helped Councils to borrow sustainably from the Public Works Loan Board.

    Extending the preferential rate for council housebuilding to the end of 2025-26.

    And we’ll shortly be confirming future regulatory standards.

    To ensure that homes are safe, decent and warm.

    And that social housing tenants are treated with the respect that they deserve.

    Whilst also giving the sector the certainty to invest for the future. 

    I’m committed to this Council housebuilding revolution.

    And not just because social and affordable housing are a nice add-on.

    But because it’s essential to ensuring homes are built – and more quickly.

    Because we know developments with a mix of housing build out faster.

    And that affordable homes are the vital ingredient to unlocking private housebuilding too.

    Partnerships between housebuilders and the public sector – like Vistry’s partnerships model…

    And the projects between Homes England, Muse and Pension Insurance Corporation that are delivering 100% affordable sites in Bradford and Wakefield.

    And are adding greater diversity, ensuring we meet the needs of local communities.

    And I want to see these continue.

    And more partnerships like them too.

    We also want to see smaller housebuilders playing a bigger role.

    Both in terms of who builds our homes and the types of homes they build.

    They already make a significant contribution on smaller brownfield sites.

    Building out faster than is often possible on larger and more complex sites.

    So, we’re backing them to reclaim their rightful place as the backbone of housebuilding.

    But a diverse housing market also depends on a workforce that’s fit for the future.

    And so, we’re working closely with the construction sector to improve skills.

    And job opportunities across the country.

    The Chancellor has already announced £600 million to recruit an extra 60,000 construction workers by 2029.

    And I’m proud to be joining the inaugural meeting of the Construction Skills Mission Board with Mark Reynolds from Mace. This industry-led group will bring together the whole sector to invest in UK plc, and oversee industry plans to recruit 100,000 more workers per year by the end of the Parliament, securing the next generation of construction workers.  

    It’s also why we’re also plugging capacity back into local planning authorities.

    Making funds available to hire 300 new planners.

    And through reforms to our Planning and Infrastructure Bill, letting Councils set their own planning fees.

    And ringfencing this money to reinvest in planning.

    Today, we don’t have to look too far afield for inspiration.

    Just round the corner from this hall, the Leeds College of Building – the UK’s only specialist construction college – is training the next generation of workers.

    And when it comes to who will drive delivery, our Mayors will be key.

    With the powers we’re handing them, they will be critical to powering regional growth.

    They’ve already achieved so much.  

    South Yorkshire’s on course for 20,000 new homes over the next 20 years.

    In West Yorkshire, Mayor Brabin has helped get shovels in the ground on the Dyecoats project where 1,600 new homes will be built.

    In Greater Manchester, there’s a strategic place partnership with Homes England that’s supporting 10 councils with 13 projects.

    And in the North-East, Mayor McGuinness is supporting the delivery of 100 new family homes – including council housing – as part of a regeneration project in East Durham.

    And, just last week, Mayor Parker in the West Midlands, announced 300 affordable homes on the site of the former Yardley Sewage Works…

    … Including 150 for social rent.

    And going forward, we want to forge a stronger partnership between Mayors and Homes England.

    Moving Homes England to a more regionalised model, over time.

    This is Britain [Political content removed].

    Open to building.

    Open for business.

    And delivering for working people.

    So we give people the security and control they deserve.

    Regardless of whether they rent or they own their home.

    Or are in the private or social rented sector.

    We have big changes in the pipeline.

    Disrupting, diversifying and transforming the housing market.

    So that it delivers for working people.

    Big changes that mean big opportunities for investment and growth.

    I urge everyone across the whole system to seize them with both hands.

    To investors, I say: there are an exciting array of opportunities. Tom spoke about them.

    To our housebuilders, we have listened and we’re reversing the tide to create the right conditions.

    But now we need you to build, build, build.

    To our mayors, I say don’t hold back.

    Take control of planning to drive the growth across housing, transport and skills.

    Our councils, too, must raise their game with up-to-date Local Plans.

    And work together with housing associations to build a new generation of social housing.

    Because the days of business as usual are over.

    It’s time to fight for a brighter, more ambitious future for our country.

    And what better inspiration than Clement Attlee’s 1945 Labour Government.

    Out of the ruins of war, he built homes for heroes.

    And as we mark its 80th anniversary, it’s time to recommit ourselves to delivering in the same spirit.

    This is how we’ll unleash the growth and opportunities we all want to see.

    It’s how we will rebuild the foundations of a good life for everyone.

    And it’s how we will deliver for working people.

    Thank you.

    Updates to this page

    Published 20 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: IMF Executive Board Concludes the Fourth Review of Kosovo’s Stand-By and Resilience and Sustainability Facility Arrangements

    Source: IMF – News in Russian

    May 20, 2025

    • The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund completed the Fourth and final review of Kosovo’s Stand-By and Resilience and Sustainability Facility Arrangements. The completion of the review makes available SDR 13.352 million (€16.08 million) under the SBA and SDR 7.744 million (€9.32 million) under the RSF.
    • The objectives of both programs have been successfully achieved. The economy has maintained healthy growth, inflation has notably decelerated, fiscal buffers have been rebuilt, and reforms have accelerated.
    • Building on the progress made under the programs, the authorities should continue with prudent fiscal policies, strengthen the fiscal framework, and advance structural reforms in the fiscal and financial sectors.

    Washington, DC: The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Fourth and final review of Kosovo’s Stand-By and Resilience and Sustainability Facility Arrangements. The authorities have consented to the publication of the staff report and associated documents. The completion of the review makes available SDR 13.352 million (€16.08 million) under the SBA and SDR 7.744 million (€9.32 million) under the RSF. This will bring the total disbursements under the RSF to SDR 61.95 million (€74.61 million). The SBA, which so far has been treated as precautionary by the authorities, amounts to SDR 80.122 million (€96.50 million).

    Kosovo’s economic performance continues to be strong. In 2024, growth was 4.4 percent, driven by household consumption, supported by strong private credit and rising wages. Inflation decelerated sharply, reaching an average of 1.6 percent in 2024 down from 4.9 percent in 2022. The external current account deficit widened to 9 percent of GDP, as increases in consumption and investment led to higher imports; growth of remittances slowed. In 2025, despite heightened external uncertainty from rising trade tensions, growth is expected to remain strong at 4 percent, with inflation stabilizing at 2¼ percent.

    Program implementation under both arrangements has been strong. All quantitative performance criteria for end-December 2024 were met. All indicative targets for end-December 2024 and for end-March 2025 were also met. Two structural benchmarks for this review—implementation of a cash forecasting function within the Treasury and the development of a roadmap for adopting the Supervisory Review and Evaluation Process to assess bank risk profiles—were implemented. The remaining RSF reform measure to launch an auction for the construction and operation of the wind power plant has also been implemented.

    Following the Executive Board’s discussion, Bo Li, IMF Deputy Managing Director and Acting Chair, issued the following statement:

    “The Kosovo authorities have successfully implemented a Stand-By Arrangement and an Arrangement under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility. The SBA supported the authorities’ economic program to reduce inflation and sustain strong growth, while safeguarding the economy against adverse shocks. The RSF supported the authorities’ ambitious climate reform agenda.

    “Prudent fiscal policies under the SBA, anchored in the authorities’ rules-based fiscal framework, helped deliver low deficits and debt. In 2025, fiscal policy will aim to sustain growth amid heightened uncertainty, strengthen buffers against future shocks and continue addressing large developmental needs. An ongoing review of the fiscal framework seeks to align it with EU norms while supporting Kosovo’s developmental objectives and maintaining fiscal discipline.

    “The structural fiscal agenda has considerably advanced under the SBA. Revenue mobilization has improved through broadening the tax base, leading to higher tax collection. Public financial management reforms have enhanced capacity to assess fiscal risks, improved the quality of fiscal reporting, and increased fiscal transparency. Strengthening the public investment management system will help to further boost execution rates of public investment.

    “The Central Bank of Kosovo (CBK) has been driving forward critical reforms to enhance governance and institutional quality, develop the financial sector and strengthen resilience. The banking sector continues to expand rapidly providing vital support to economic activity while maintaining strong capitalization, liquidity, and profitability. The CBK is strengthening its ability to monitor risks related to rapid private sector credit growth.

    “Reform measures implemented under the RSF have been instrumental in advancing the authorities’ ambitious strategic energy goals, including expanding renewable generation capacity, reducing pollution, improving energy efficiency, and enhancing regional cooperation. The authorities remain committed to making continued and meaningful progress across all these areas.”

    Kosovo: Selected Economic Indicators, 2022–25

    Population: 1.6 million (2024)

    Nominal GDP per capita (2024): € 6,497

    Gini index: 0.29 (2017)

    Poverty rate: 19.8% (2018)

    Quota (current): SDR 82.6 million

    Main products and exports: Minerals, base metals, agricultural products, tourism.

    2022

    2023

    2024

    2025

    Act.

    Act.

    Prel.

    Proj.

    Output

       Real GDP growth (percent)

    4.3

    4.1

    4.4

    4.0

    Employment

       Unemployment rate (percent)

    12.6

    10.9

    …

    …

    Prices

       Consumer prices (period average, percent)

    11.6

    4.9

    1.6

    2.3

       GDP deflator

    7.2

    4.6

    2.0

    3.8

    General government finances (percent of GDP)

       Revenue and grants

    28.1

    29.5

    30.0

    29.8

       Expenditure

    28.8

    29.8

    30.3

    31.9

       Overall balance, excluding IFI- and privatization-financed capital projects (Fiscal rule definition)

    -0.5

    -0.1

    -0.1

    -1.6

       Overall balance

    -0.7

    -0.2

    -0.3

    -2.1

       Total public debt

    20.0

    17.5

    16.9

    18.3

       Stock of government bank balance

    3.9

    2.8

    3.1

    3.4

    Money and credit

       Non-performing loans (percent of total loans)

    1.9

    1.9

    1.8

    …

       Credit to the private sector (eop, percent change)

    16.0

    12.9

    18.3

    15.8

       Effective bank lending rate (eop, percent)

    6.3

    6.3

    5.9

    …

    Balance of payments (percent of GDP)

       Current account balance

    -10.3

    -7.6

    -9.0

    -8.3

       Remittance inflows

    13.7

    13.8

    13.1

    12.6

       Net foreign direct investment

    -6.8

    -6.9

    -6.1

    -7.5

       External debt

    38.6

    39.8

    41.1

    42.4

    Sources: Kosovo authorities and IMF staff estimates.
                   
    IMF Communications Department
    MEDIA RELATIONS

    PRESS OFFICER: Camila Perez

    Phone: +1 202 623-7100Email: MEDIA@IMF.org

    https://www.imf.org/en/News/Articles/2025/05/19/pr25154-kosovo-imf-concludes-4th-review-of-kosovos-stand-by-and-rsf-arrangements

    MIL OSI

    MIL OSI Russia News –

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

    Source: Securities and Exchange Commission

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

    I am grateful for the opportunity to discuss the SEC, 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.

    Four weeks ago today, 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.

    As I testify before you, this is my 20th working day as Chairman. 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 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.

    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.

    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.

    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 week 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 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.

    SEC Funding

    The SEC’s budget is set through the Appropriations process. Fees on securities transactions that the SEC collects provide an offset. The annual collections–fees paid by SROs based on the aggregate dollar amount of securities sales–go to the Treasury’s general fund.

    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.[2] The Commission determined this new rate in accordance with Section 31 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

    The Commission collected its entire fiscal year 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.

    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 President, the full Commission, or any Commissioner. 

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Georgia’s Gubernatorial Dem Primary Takes Shape

    Source: US Republican Governors Association

    The following text contains opinion that is not, or not necessarily, that of MIL-OSI –

    WASHINGTON, D.C. –The Republican Governors Association (RGA) issued the following statement in response to Keisha Lance Bottoms’ announcement that she is entering the Georgia gubernatorial race, joining Jason Esteves in the Democratic primary:

    “The gubernatorial primary is shaping up to be nothing but disappointing for Georgia Democrats. Keisha Lance Bottoms’ record as Mayor is one that was a disaster for Atlanta — crime skyrocketed, with incidents of homicide, rape, aggravated assault all surging due to her failed policies. Atlanta was drastically unsafe under Bottoms, and the last thing Georgians want is to bring her policies to the entire state. Bottoms is a risk Georgians cannot afford,” said RGA Communications Director Courtney Alexander. “She joins Jason Esteves who, from opposing the border wall, to standing in the way of parental rights in education, has proven over and over again that he is woefully out of touch with Georgians. And let’s not forget, Democrats are still hopeful that two-time failed candidate Stacey Abrams will hop into the race.”

    Keisha Lance Bottoms’ Record: 

    –Bottoms was a key member of the Biden-Harris campaign teams and their failed administration that was responsible for skyrocketing costs and increasingly dangerous communities.

    –Bottoms did not run for a second term as mayor as crime skyrocketed in Atlanta as homicides, rapes, and aggravated assaults surged due to her failed leadership.

    –Bottoms enacted sanctuary policies, and refused to work with ICE to hold those with immigration violations accountable – letting illegal criminals run free, and making Georgia less safe.

    –Bottoms pushed to implement a statewide mask mandate as Georgia was safely being reopened during the COVID-19 pandemic and fought to keep the state locked down.

    –Bottoms was unable to even be responsible when it came to managing her own finances, and was fined for campaign finance violations.

    Jason Esteves’ Record: 

    -Esteves strongly supported Joe Biden and Kamala Harris’ failed administration and even backed him after his disastrous debate performance.

    -Esteves stood against allowing parents to have a choice in their children’s education and opposed a statewide school choice program in Georgia.

    -Esteves opposed safety measures that would hold sanctuary cities accountable for crimes committed by illegal immigrants.

    -Esteves opposed building a Southern border wall to keep families and communities safe, even after Georgia was devastated by crimes committed by illegal aliens.

    -Esteves would allow children to receive irreversible transgender surgeries.

    -Esteves failed to protect girls’ sports, opposing a commonsense bill that banned biological males from playing on girls’ sports teams.

    -Esteves is against Second Amendment rights.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Media Agencies Under Pressure, Turning to AI to Strengthen Financial Health and Cash Flow, AvidXchange Survey Reveals

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CHARLOTTE, N.C., May 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — AvidXchange Inc. (Nasdaq: AVDX) a leading provider in accounts payable (AP) automation software and payment solutions for mid-market businesses and their suppliers, today announced findings from its 2025 Media Agency Health Survey.

    The survey polled financial leaders at U.S. media and advertising agencies, revealing rising concerns about cash flow management and growing demand for AI-driven solutions to strengthen their financial health.

    Key Drivers of Financial Health
    Agencies cited revenue growth (92%), data protection (91%), and fraud prevention (88%) as vital to financial stability. Cash flow, improved invoicing, talent management, and operational efficiency also ranked as important contributors. These priorities reflect a continued need to protect profitability while safeguarding operations in an increasingly complex financial landscape.

    Adapting to Uncertainty
    Agencies continue to feel the pinch of economic uncertainty, with 35% losing clients to in-house advertising in 2025, a 20% jump from 2024. Rising turnover, up 32% from 2024, is further stretching teams that are already facing tight budgets.

    Cash Flow Pressures Rise
    Despite 85% of respondents rating cash flow as critical to financial health, many agencies struggle with managing it. In 2024, 54% of agencies reported extended payment terms from clients, and 36% expect continued disruptions to cash flow, making it harder to manage expenses and growth.

    AI and Automation are Transforming Financial Operations
    71% of agencies already use AI in finance, and 97% are open to new automation tools. Among adopters, 80% have automated significant parts of their finance function, including payment processes. Media finance teams are using AI-enhanced tools to tackle a key pain point—invoice reconciliation—which takes up 30–40% of finance leaders’ time.

    “Media agencies are under more pressure than ever as clients reallocate budgets to safeguard their businesses in today’s uncertain economy, and as a result, agency leaders are scrutinizing operations, revenue strategies, and cost drivers more closely,” said Dan Drees, President of AvidXchange. “That’s where AvidXchange comes in. Our world-class AP automation technology provides greater visibility and control over their bills, backed by an incredible customer support team dedicated to helping them navigate change and drive efficiency.”

    Survey Methodology
    AvidXchange used the third-party market research company Prodege to conduct an online survey to 156 decision makers at U.S. media and advertising agencies, conducted between January 23-26, 2025.  

    About AvidXchange®  
      
    AvidXchange (Nasdaq: AVDX) is a leading provider in accounts payable (AP) automation, offering intelligent AP software and payment solutions specifically designed for mid-market businesses and their suppliers. With 25 years of industry experience, AvidXchange modernizes the way businesses manage their expenses and payments by offering AI-enhanced software coupled with support from experts. Empowering over 8,500 growth-driven businesses, AvidXchange increases efficiency, control, and visibility in financial operations and has securely processed payments to more than 1.3 million suppliers through its proprietary payment network over the past five years. For more information, visit avidxchange.com.

    Media Contact:   
    Alexis Riddick
    Public Relations Manager
    AvidXchange
    pr@avidxchange.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Standard Premium Reports Record Profitability for FY 2024 and Q1 2025, Signaling Continued Growth

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MIAMI, May 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Standard Premium Finance Holdings, Inc. (“Standard Premium”) (OTCQX: SPFX), a leading specialty finance company, announces record-breaking profitability across its latest financial reporting periods. In fiscal year 2024, net income rose 84.1% year-over-year and total revenues exceeded $12.1 million, a 24.9% increase over 2023. In Q1 2025, the Company delivered its strongest single-quarter performance, including 230% increase in earnings per share and 82.7% rise in net income compared to the same period in 2024.

    “This level of profitability reflects the strength of our business model, discipline of our team and long-term potential of the specialty finance sector,” says William Koppelmann, CEO, Standard Premium. “We focus on customer service and scaling strategically while delivering consistent value to shareholders.”

    Financial highlights:

    FY 2024:

    • Revenue: $12.1 million (up 24.9%)
    • Net Income: $980,000 (up 84.1%)
    • Earnings Per Share (Basic): $0.29
    • Loan Originations: $149 million (up 14%)
    • Return on Equity: 16.6%

    Q1 2025:

    • Net Income: $336,000 (up 182.7%)
    • Earnings Per Share (Basic): $0.10 (up 230%)
    • Return on Equity: 20.99%
    • Operating expenses reduced 7.8% year-over-year

    Standard Premium maintains continued growth using strong fundamentals, including payment of preferred dividends and improved returns on equity and assets. Lower borrowing costs and disciplined expense management contributed to bottom-line growth.

    “Standard Premium is positioned to lead with innovation, operational discipline and proven ability to scale profitably,” Koppelmann adds. “We remain committed to delivering long-term value by expanding our footprint, investing in technology and pursuing growth opportunities that align with our strengths.”

    About Standard Premium Finance Holdings, Inc. 
    Standard Premium Finance Holdings, Inc. (OTCQX: SPFX), is a specialty finance company which has financed premiums on over $2 Billion of property and casualty insurance policies since 1991. We currently operate in 38 states and are seeking M&A opportunities of synergistic businesses to leverage economies of scale. https://www.standardpremium.com/ 

    Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
    This press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and within the meaning of Section 27a of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21e of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended with regard to our anticipated future growth and outlook. Our actual results may differ from expectations presented or implied herein and, consequently, you should not rely on these forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. We do not undertake or accept any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement to reflect any change in our expectations or any change in events, conditions or results.

    Additional information concerning risk factors relating to our business is contained in Item 1A Risk Factors of our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 10, 2025, which is available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov or on the Investor Relations section of our website, standardpremium.com.

    Media:
    Nicholas Turchiano
    CPR Marketing
    nturchiano@cpronline.com
    201-641-1911×35

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: NEW REPORT: Clean Energy Manufacturing Driving Next Chapter of U.S. Economic Prosperity

    Source: American Clean Power Association (ACP)

    Headline: NEW REPORT: Clean Energy Manufacturing Driving Next Chapter of U.S. Economic Prosperity

    Clean power manufacturing contributes $18 billion to GDP annually and supports 122,000 American jobs
    Projected to contribute $86 billion to GDP annually and support over 575,000 jobs by 2030
    Investments are concentrated in rural communities and 73% of active facilities are in Republican states

    PHOENIX, AZ, May 20, 2025 – Today at CLEANPOWER 2025, the American Clean Power Association (ACP) released its State of Clean Energy Manufacturing in America report, showing a significant and sustainable ripple effect across states and economic sectors. The clean power manufacturing sector currently contributes $18 billion to U.S. GDP annually, spurs $33 billion in domestic spending annually, and supports 122,000 American jobs across the country.
    If all announced manufacturing facilities become operational, clean power manufacturing is projected to support over 575,000 jobs and contribute $86 billion annually to GDP by 2030.
    “Surging clean energy deployment is creating new manufacturing facilities across the country. This success will create hundreds of thousands of jobs and revitalize American communities if policy leaders place economic progress over partisan division,” said Jason Grumet, CEO of ACP. “Today’s report shows that the manufacturing activities across the clean energy sector drive a ripple effect of economic growth that extends far beyond factory walls, reaching every corner of the country. Reshoring this critical supply chain requires a shared commitment by both industry and policymakers to prioritize domestic economic growth and global competitiveness.”
    Clean Power Manufacturing Driving U.S. Economic Boom
    The report illustrates how the industry has laid the groundwork for a secure domestic supply chain, revitalizing manufacturing communities and driving American competition on the global stage.

    Over 800 manufacturing plants currently contributing to the U.S. clean energy supply chain, with at least one in every state.
    200 existing manufacturing facilities are actively building primary clean power components across 38 states to supply the booming demand for new energy in America.

    Creating Generational Opportunities for Local Communities
    New data highlights how clean power manufacturing is creating generational opportunities at the local level, providing opportunities across skillsets, industries, and generating wages well above the national average.

    Clean energy manufacturing is booming in regions across the country, such as the Southeast, Midwest, and in states like Texas.
    The clean energy manufacturing workforce made on average $42,000 more than the average worker in the U.S. economy in 2024.

    These manufacturing jobs also generate additional employment across the economy: Upstream supply chain jobs paid an average of $75,000, while downstream jobs supported by household spending—such as those in retail, food service, and hospitality—averaged about $52,000.

    Driving US Competitiveness and Global Leadership
    The industry’s investments are critical to international competitiveness and innovation, positioning the U.S. as a global leader and strengthening our energy security.

    America’s power needs are growing fast—projected to rise 35–50% by 2040—as data centers expand, domestic manufacturing rebounds, and our transportation and buildings electrify.
    Energy manufacturing processes are considerably complex and capital intensive, often requiring multiple intricate steps, specialized equipment, and expertise. This intricacy often comes with trade exposure or a series of imports and exports before the final energy component is ready for installation.
    A resilient, American-made supply chain for clean energy technologies makes the economy stronger, the country’s energy more secure, and serves as the foundation for innovation and growth.

    The Path Forward
    There are 200 manufacturing facilities in the pipeline representing over $150 billion of investment. If all announced facilities become operational by 2030, the impact could be transformative.

    Clean power manufacturing could support over 575,000 jobs
    Generate over $40 billion in earnings
    Contribute $86 billion to the GDP
    Add $164 billion in output to the economy annually

    Employment from existing and planned facilities by 2030 by region is projected to be:

    Northeast: 4,300+
    Mid-Atlantic: 123,000+
    South: 172,000+
    Midwest: 86,000+
    West: 173,000+

    Policy and Business Certainty Critical to American Manufacturing Leadership
    The report details how these economic and job benefits have largely been made possible because of federal clean energy tax credits enacted in 2022. The report calls on policymakers to build on this historic American manufacturing legacy with a suite of targeted policy tools to continue the momentum. They include:

    Preserving energy tax credits (45X, 45Y, 48C, 48E)
    Creating a stable and strategic trade environment
    Facilitating a true all-of-the above energy strategy
    Streamlining permitting to benefit American manufacturers and their customers
    Ensuring critical minerals policy appropriately leverages demand from downstream domestic clean energy manufacturers.

    To read the full report, click here.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How mindfulness therapy could help those left behind by depression treatment

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Thorsten Barnhofer, Professor of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, School of Psychology, University of Surrey

    Yuri A/PeopleImages.com/Shutterstock

    For some people, depression is like an unwanted guest who moves in and refuses to leave. Even with therapy and medication, the heavy fog of low mood, exhaustion and hopelessness never fully lifts for long. For around 30% of people with depression, this is a daily reality.

    It’s not just a personal burden. Difficult-to-treat depression affects families, workplaces and communities – and carries a huge cost for society.

    In England, the NHS Talking Therapies programme is the first place many adults turn when they’re struggling with depression or anxiety. In 2023-24, it supported more than 1.26 million people. Yet, for all its reach, around half of those who complete treatment still feel depressed by the end. And if the therapy hasn’t worked, there are often no further options available.

    Most people in this situation are sent back to their GP. A small number may be referred to more specialist mental health services, but those are typically reserved for the most severe cases. That leaves a significant number of people in limbo – still unwell, but without a clear route to further care.

    Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

    This is part of a wider problem in mental health services: the so-called “missing middle”. These are people whose needs are too complex for primary (GP) care, but not severe enough for secondary services. As a result, they fall through the cracks.

    For many of these people, medication is often the only treatment on offer. But our study, with colleagues, suggests that a different approach, using mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), could offer a way forward.

    Promising results

    We worked with more than 200 patients who had completed NHS Talking Therapies but were still experiencing symptoms of depression. Half were offered an eight-week MBCT course, delivered in small online groups. The others continued with their usual care.

    MBCT blends traditional cognitive therapy (which aims to reduce negative thinking patterns) with intensive mindfulness training. Participants learn how to stay present, recognise harmful thought spirals early, and respond to difficult emotions with greater awareness and compassion. Most importantly, they gain skills they can use for the rest of their lives.

    The results were promising. People who took part in the mindfulness programme reported bigger improvements in their depressive symptoms than those who didn’t. Six months later, the benefits had not only lasted – they had consolidated and slightly strengthened.

    What’s more, those in the MBCT group used fewer health and social care services overall. The programme was also inexpensive to run, costing less than £100 per person. In a time when health systems are under extreme financial pressure, that’s a big deal. Our research suggests MBCT is not just effective, it’s cost-saving too.

    When depression doesn’t respond to standard treatment, it can upend lives. People may struggle to work, maintain relationships, or care for their families. Children are especially affected when a parent has long-term depression. Without the right support, things often get worse – and the costs, both personal and financial, continue to grow.

    MBCT is already being used for relapse prevention – and there is a trained workforce to deliver it. Consisting of just eight group-based sessions, it is accessible and designed to equip people with practical tools. We believe it can offer hope to those who do not benefit sufficiently from existing services, and should be made available to more people.

    Beyond the promise of MBCT itself, this research offers a wider message: we need to invest in psychological therapies for people in the “missing middle”. These are people who are often overlooked but stand to gain the most from targeted, practical support.

    In times of tight budgets, the idea that we can improve lives and save money is more than compelling – it’s necessary. This is a clear opportunity to improve outcomes, reduce strain on overstretched services, and help people move forward with their lives.

    Thorsten Barnhofer is the author of a book on mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT). He regularly provides workshops on mindfulness-based interventions. He is co-investigator of a programme grant evaluating an adapted MBCT course for adolescents experiencing depression and is among the investigators for the NIHR Research for Patient Benefit-funded trial described in this article.

    Barney Dunn receives funding from the National Institute of Health Research for mental health treatment trials at the University of Exeter, including the Research for Patient Benefit Funding for the RESPOND trial discussed in this article. He co-directs an NHS commissioned psychological therapies service, which delivers Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy.

    Clara Strauss is co-lead for Sussex Mindfulness Centre (SMC), part of Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, and has received funding to conduct MBCT research from NIHR and other funders, funding to deliver MBCT courses and funding to train MBCT therapists within SMC.

    – ref. How mindfulness therapy could help those left behind by depression treatment – https://theconversation.com/how-mindfulness-therapy-could-help-those-left-behind-by-depression-treatment-256547

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Labour governments have always struggled with immigration – here’s what Keir Starmer could learn from them

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Erica Consterdine, Senior Lecturer in Public Policy, Lancaster University

    The government has outlined its plans to reduce net migration to the UK. The proposals are generally restrictive: scrapping social care visas, tightening work visas, longer residency requirements, tougher English tests and restructuring student visas.

    While Reform’s recent success at the local elections hardened Keir Starmer’s rhetoric in announcing the changes, the thrust of this policy was to be expected. But will the political calculation pay off?

    Immigration has long been a headache for Labour. It is a topic that cuts across the party’s ideological factions – its protectionist roots, its universalist values, and its market-friendly third way leanings. Each of these calls for a different approach on immigration.

    Labour’s record on immigration is historically patchy. Previous Labour governments have been responsible for some of the most deplorable immigration acts, including the racially discriminatory 1968 act, which restricted non-white immigration in a betrayal of Kenyan Asians fleeing persecution.

    Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.

    The British public then was far more illiberal on immigration than it is today. Trade unions were historically anti-immigrant, perceiving foreign labour as a threat to wages and job displacement. Labour, like their Tory counterparts, mostly operated on a bipartisan consensus of limiting immigration, on the idea that this was better for cohesion.

    This is exemplified in the Hattersley equation (named for former MP Roy Hattersley), a bipartisan political consensus that lasted from the postwar years up until Thatcher’s government. The compromise was between restrictive immigration policy and liberal integration measures (the Race Relations Act) to appease Labour’s liberal base.

    New Labour embraced the Thatcherite, neoliberal agenda, with Tony Blair declaring that there is no alternative to globalisation and therefore immigration. Framing immigration as an economic good, and humanitarian mobility as the bogeyman, Labour’s regime radically transformed the immigration system from one of the most restrictive in Europe to one of the most liberal labour regimes. But this was never for the benefit of migrants – it was simply economic calculation.

    We know what happened next: the political battleground, the cursed net migration target, Brexit and the lurches to the right ever since. In opposition, Labour has never been able to resolve this.

    Starmer’s approach

    A sticking point since 2010 has been traditionally working-class Labour constituents, viewed as “left behind” due to globalisation, and who now make up the red wall. The narrative goes that these voters have drifted rightwards due to dissatisfaction with immigration.

    But overall, Labour voters are still more positive than Conservatives towards immigration. A regressive policy on migrant rights could lose Labour some of its voter base.

    What’s more, net migration is likely to decrease over Labour’s term anyway, due to changes made by the last government and the tailing off of unprecedented migration from bespoke humanitarian schemes, like the one for Ukrainians. Arguably, Starmer’s reforms weren’t strictly necessary.

    Starmer could have framed the same policies around a softer rhetoric, one that embraces multicultural Britain while making the case for reforming the labour market. The enemy could have easily been cast as the Conservative government that neglected investment in the people at the expense of global corporations.

    Data from the Institute of Public Policy Research suggests that the UK public has become softer on immigration, but they want fairness. The easy way out here was to praise the benefits that immigration can bring while emphasising the need for control to maximise those benefits.

    Denigrating the current system as a “squalid chapter” of history is playing to Reform voters – arguably a foolish move, given that evidence shows you can’t beat the far right at its own game.

    Will the proposals work?

    If these proposals do reduce migration, it will come at a high cost for the country, not least in the consequences for the higher education and social care sectors. It may even increase irregular migration, as more people go underground in their attempts to reach Britain.

    The crux of the government’s problem is promising to reduce immigration in a system dependent on labour market flexibility. The proposals would make the UK extortionately expensive for both applicants and the employers who sponsor them, and make it economically unviable for the sectors that rely on foreign labour to recruit.

    A more social democratic immigration policy would invest in training, skills and wages of domestic workforces, while providing rights to the migrants who already reside here.

    Labour’s policy does not do this. It curtails rights significantly, for example in the doubling of the waiting period to apply for the right to stay indefinitely, and the plans to review how the right to family life is applied. Both of these are arguably counterproductive to the aims of integration and out of step with other countries.

    The theory behind the government reforms is that migrant workers will be replaced by the economically inactive domestic labour force – a win-win. Aside from the suspect simplicity of this equation, it will require more than sticks on employers and migrants. It necessitates a radical overhaul of the system, the economic model and a more interventionist state to move towards a coordinated market economy, one with more organisation and regulation on the labour market.

    Despite the government’s significant majority, a disciplined cabinet and an infighting opposition, the government appears reluctant to make such dramatic change, wedded to the existing paradigms of neoliberal free markets in a quest for growth in stagnating economies. If it wants its plans to work, Labour will have to be bolder and provide carrots to go with the sticks.

    Erica Consterdine 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. Labour governments have always struggled with immigration – here’s what Keir Starmer could learn from them – https://theconversation.com/labour-governments-have-always-struggled-with-immigration-heres-what-keir-starmer-could-learn-from-them-256737

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: 20 Reasons Why Congress Must Unite Behind the One, Big, Beautiful Bill

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    Congressional Republicans MUST unite to pass President Donald J. Trump’s One, Big, Beautiful Bill and take advantage of the once-in-a-generation opportunity they were given by voters.
    Here are 20 reasons why Congress must unite behind the One, Big, Beautiful Bill:
    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 includes 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 delivers Big, Beautiful Deportations. The bill permanently secures our borders by making the largest border security investment in history, funding at least one million annual removals of illegal immigrants and ramping up “mass deportation operations to a level never before seen in American history.”
    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 — stopping deadly fentanyl from flowing into our communities and securing the border from dangerous illegal immigrant murderers and rapists.
    It boosts Border Patrol and ICE agents on the frontlines. It empowers immigration authorities to carry out their mission by hiring 10,000 new ICE personnel, 5,000 new customs officers, and 3,000 new Border Patrol agents — and gives $10,000 bonuses in each of the next four years to agents on the frontlines.
    It protects Medicaid for Americans by kicking 1.4 million illegals off the benefits. This bill eliminates waste, fraud, and abuse by ending benefits for at least 1.4 million illegal immigrants who are gaming the system.
    It requires able-bodied Americans to work if they receive benefits. With 4.8 million able-bodied adults choosing not to work, The One, Big, Beautiful Bill puts work requirements in place and supports them as they find dignity through employment.
    It reverses the spending curse plaguing Washington, D.C. The legislation delivers the largest deficit reduction in nearly 30 years, with $1.6 trillion in mandatory savings.
    It ends taxpayer-funded sex change for minors. It reverses the Biden-era mandate that Medicaid cover so-called “gender transition” procedures for minors — ending the taxpayer-funded chemical castration and mutilation of American children.
    It provides historic tax relief to Social Security recipients. It slashes taxes on seniors’ Social Security benefits.
    It will give Americans PERMANENT tax relief through the Trump Tax Cuts. If the bill doesn’t pass, Americans will see the largest tax increase in history.
    It finally modernizes air traffic control, fulfilling President Trump’s plan to completely overhaul the systems that keep Americans flying safely and efficiently. This will allow President Trump to update our air traffic control systems and act where the Biden Administration failed (despite repeated warnings).
    It ends the taxpayer-funded Green New Scam. The legislation repeals or phases out every “green” corporate welfare subsidy in Democrats’ so-called “Inflation Reduction Act,” immediately stops credits from flowing to China and saves taxpayers $500+ billion every year, and reverses electric vehicle mandates that let radical climate activists set the standards for American energy.
    It incentivizes MADE IN AMERICA. It 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 is pro-family. The One, Big, Beautiful Bill increases the child tax credit, establishes MAGA Accounts for newborns to start saving, and strengthens paid family leave.
    It repeals Democrats’ insane attack on the gig economy. It repeals the requirement that Venmo, PayPal, and other gig transactions over $600 be reported to the IRS.
    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’s a once-in-a-generation chance to revolutionize our nation’s defense capabilities and protect the homeland against new threats. It funds President Trump’s Golden Dome, invests in American shipbuilding, and modernizes our military.
    It unleashes American energy dominance. The legislation increases onshore and offshore oil and gas leases, which provides certainty for energy producers, spurs job growth, and makes energy more affordable for American consumers.
    It boosts American mineral development. This bill increases mining of domestic minerals and makes America less dependent on foreign adversaries for critical minerals.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: Helix and Avalanche Announce $100M Commitment to Support Fusion, A New Framework for Blockchain Economies Focused on Real-World Outcomes

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    The initiative supports new Layer 1 networks and on-chain services designed for practical applications across sectors such as AI, healthcare, and decentralized infrastructure

    LONDON, May 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Helix and Avalanche, with support from Faculty Group, today announced the launch of Fusion, a community-led initiative built to accelerate the creation of outcome-driven, domain-specific blockchain economies. Leveraging an innovative economic model to drive ecosystem coordination, Fusion enables developers, businesses, and protocols to access modular, programmable networks that deliver measurable real-world value.

    “Fusion is about unlocking the next chapter of blockchain adoption,” said Fusion Core Contributor David Post. “We’re building a framework that goes beyond experimentation – enabling scalable, sector-specific solutions with real-world impact and value. By combining Avalanche’s performance with a powerful suite of modular services, Fusion gives builders the tools they need to deploy meaningful applications and connect them to a thriving, interoperable ecosystem.”

    Fusion features a two-layer architecture: Composers, independent Layer 1 blockchains tailored for specific sectors like AI, decentralized science (DeSci), and decentralized physical infrastructure networks (DePIN), and Modules, plug-and-play services like compute, stablecoins, and biometric data that support Composers. Each Composer offers accessible SDKs and APIs, allowing developers to integrate services, deploy applications, and execute tasks.

    Modules are an interoperable set of building blocks that can be combined through composers to create value for end users. This includes oracles for real-world data (e.g., weather, sports, commodities), financial services like asset swap platforms and treasury tools, identity verification, decentralized data storage, and reputation systems that offer users loyalty benefits or exclusive access via NFTs.

    Fusion’s architecture is built on Avalanche’s high-performance stack, leveraging the C-Chain for fast, EVM-compatible smart contract execution and Interchain Messaging (ICM) for secure, efficient communication between composers and other Layer 1s. This ensures seamless interoperability and scalability across the ecosystem.

    “Fusion equips developers with the tools they need to build impactful, real-world applications on live blockchain networks,” said Nicholas Mussallem, CEO of AvaCloud. “While AvaCloud streamlines Layer 1 network creation, Fusion enhances these networks once they’re operational. This initiative combines the best tools for scaling blockchain technology, creating tangible value, and driving widespread adoption across industries.”

    Fusion is supported by $100 million in resources allocated to existing Avalanche programs – including Multiverse, Retro9000, InfraBUIDL and InfraBUIDL AI – to catalyze a new wave of ecosystem development. These funds will accelerate the launch of Composers in real-world verticals, support foundational Modules that provide critical infrastructure and services, and incentivize developers and builders to integrate Composer APIs and SDKs into practical, outcome-driven applications.

    The initial Fusion ecosystem includes composers like Life Network, which helps healthcare institutions deploy AI-driven solutions for disease-specific use cases, such as stroke prevention. Other Composers include Kite AI, a decentralized AI model platform, and Tayga, focusing on DePIN resources. Fusion plans to launch additional composers in areas such as RWAs, Identity, and Defi in the near future along with convening best in class Modules through partners like QuickNode and Space and Time.

    About Helix

    Helix is a thesis driven advisory and incubation platform whose principals serve as fractional founders for the companies they partner with, helping drive all aspects of the business. Helix collaborates with Web 3’s top venture funds, projects, and blockchains to build industry leading ecosystems and scale category defining projects.

    About Avalanche

    Avalanche is an ultra-fast, low-latency blockchain platform designed for builders who need high performance at scale. The network’s architecture allows for the creation of sovereign, efficient and fully interoperable public and private layer 1 (L1) blockchains which leverage the Avalanche Consensus Mechanism to achieve high throughput and near-instant transaction finality. The ease and speed of launching an L1, and the breadth of architectural customization choices, make Avalanche the perfect environment for a composable multi-chain future.

    Supported by a global community of developers and validators, Avalanche offers a fast, low-cost environment for building decentralized applications (dApps). With its combination of speed, flexibility, and scalability, Avalanche is the platform of choice for innovators pushing the boundaries of blockchain technology.

    About Fusion

    Fusion is a community-led initiative supported by Ava Labs and led by a consortium of leading VCs, builders, and innovators from Avalanche Ecosystem that transforms how value is created and distributed. Through its innovative architecture of Composers (purpose-built Layer 1s) and Modules (plug-in services), Fusion enables developers to compose vertical-specific economies that reward measurable impact rather than just activity.

    Fusion is already powering breakthrough applications across AI, physical infrastructure, and healthcare, creating productive economies that deliver genuine utility while ensuring all participants benefit from aligned economic incentives. Fusion does more than settle transactions, it coordinates outcomes.

    Contact:
    David@helix3.xyz
    Founder of Helix
    David Post

    Avalanche
    PR lead:
    Kaitlin.starcher@avalabs.org
    Kaitlin Starcher

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

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

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

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8aac7e54-401a-4a9c-bbc7-171d3fef0400

    The MIL Network –