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Category: Politics

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The government has set a priority for environmentally friendly transport in public procurement

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    Document

    Resolution of June 12, 2025 No. 889

    The government has adjusted the procedure for purchasing cars and vehicles for state and municipal needs, establishing priority for environmentally friendly types of transport in such purchases. A resolution on this has been signed.

    We are talking about changes to individual government regulations in the area of public procurement, which determine what goods and with what characteristics government customers can purchase.

    In particular, now, when making government purchases, they must primarily purchase vehicles that run on natural gas fuel and electric vehicles instead of vehicles that run on traditional types of fuel – diesel and gasoline.

    At the same time, purchasing petrol or diesel vehicles is permitted in exceptional cases – when justifying the impossibility of purchasing vehicles running on alternative types of fuel, for example, due to the absence of gas filling infrastructure and charging infrastructure for electric vehicles in the territory where the purchased vehicles are planned to be used.

    The decision will contribute to improving the environment and will support domestic enterprises producing environmentally friendly transport.

    The signed document introduces changes toGovernment Resolution of September 2, 2015 No. 926 AndGovernment Resolution of September 2, 2015 No. 927.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Interview with Alexander Novak for Vedomosti newspaper

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    Alexander Novak: The main factors of economic development are within our country.

    Question: One of the key tracks of the upcoming SPIEF is: “The World Economy – a New Platform for Global Growth”. Over the past few months, the world economy has experienced not just a series of shocks, but real tectonic shifts. In your opinion, is global growth, in the context of a general movement, possible or is the world steadily moving towards regionalization?

    A. Novak: Global economic growth will continue to some extent until 2030. However, the dynamics of its growth will depend on new challenges and threats that primarily affect global trade flows. This primarily concerns the increasing economic fragmentation of global markets – when trade, investment, exchange of services and technologies are subject to the logic of “mine” and “others”. As a result, investment activity and the well-being of the world’s population are declining.

    These processes did not begin yesterday. Since the early 2000s, the economic center of the world has been shifting from the West to the East. Developing countries, primarily China, are gaining a much greater role in the global economy. Of course, this situation does not suit those who are used to dictating their terms. And we increasingly see how, in order to counteract the growing influence of developing countries on the world economy, Western countries are making active attempts to maintain the status quo on the world stage and preserve their leadership.

    As a consequence, the strengthening of protectionism in the national economy and the revision of the existing results of globalization come to the fore. The main steps in this direction were the actual destruction of the multilateral mechanisms of the WTO, unilateral tariff and non-tariff restrictions on developing countries under the pretext of “threats to national interests”, and the introduction of various sanctions against competitors.

    The current escalation of tariff restrictions is also, of course, another consequence of the confrontation between the West and the rest of the world. The desire to maintain dominant positions in the global economy is happening by “pushing” bilateral agreements instead of multilateral ones. And such steps obviously lead to a new round of regionalization, observed since 2022, and the consolidation of countries within “blocs”.

    In the current conditions, the priority for us is to ensure the implementation of the national development agenda and the construction of sustainable partnerships with friendly countries with their own infrastructure to ensure the interests of these partnerships. This concerns the economic, financial and technological sovereignty of the Russian Federation, which, in the context of involvement in global value chains, requires, first of all, a reconfiguration of foreign economic relations with trading partners.

    I would like to remind you that we took into account the trends of regionalization of the global economy when preparing the Strategy for Foreign Economic Activity adopted by the government at the beginning of last year, therefore, relations with trading partners are built and developed taking into account the influence of geo-economic fragmentation and the opportunities opening up for Russia.

    Question: One of the undisputed leaders of destabilization has become the new US tariffs, which with a high degree of probability will lead to a redrawing of trade flows. What is this primarily for Russia – a risk or an opportunity? How many percent or percentage points of Russia’s GDP can a global trade war take away?

    A. Novak: Subtract or add? No, seriously, from the point of view of forecasting, the situation in world trade is currently the largest zone of uncertainty. There are a great many development options, their implementation depends on a large number of external and internal factors.

    The world is wider than individual Western countries and their circle of partners. Most likely, the situation with trade wars will not be universal. Some commodity flows will be redirected, as usually happens in trade wars.

    At the same time, there will be no repetition of the pandemic situation, when global trade stopped and trade flows collapsed. Therefore, the baseline forecast scenario approved by the government assumes that the growth rate of global trade will slow down, but will not go into recession.

    You are right, for us there are really two sides to the coin: risks and opportunities. The risks are related to the overall slowdown of the global economy, as well as demand and prices for traditional Russian export goods. On the other hand, this is a possible reduction in logistics costs, the opening of new niches, the substitution of Russian products for goods that will leave certain markets. From the point of view of imports, risks arise for our domestic market and domestic producers.

    And yet, no matter how the situation in the world develops, the main factors of the development of the Russian economy are not outside, but inside our country. The main one, with all the importance of the proactive work of the government and the Bank of Russia, is private entrepreneurial initiative. The flexibility and adaptive capacity of national business is the key to the stability of our economy in recent years. The main task of the authorities is to develop and support these qualities in every possible way.

    However, when you think about all the changes that you said were caused by “destabilizing US tariffs,” it is important to understand that tariffs are just a tool, and the goal is not to redirect trade flows. The goal, apparently, is to return key production chains to the native territory of the United States, to return production, competencies, infrastructure. Localization of value chains is what the Trump administration wants to achieve. What level of tariffs is needed to deploy investment? This is an interesting question. I think 10-15% of the final tariff, given how many times goods cross customs borders in the modern world, will be quite enough to create incentives to redirect investment flows. And the current 50% or 100% tariffs are nothing more than a negotiating position from which negotiating tactics have begun to form.

    Question: Is the government considering measures to stimulate investment activity of Russians? Can more active attraction of citizens’ funds to the stock market help businesses solve the problem of lack of financing?

    A. Novak: Yes, of course, measures to stimulate investment activity are being taken, including, as you know, within the framework of the national project “Efficient and Competitive Economy” and the federal project “Development of the Financial Market” included in it. Also, separate support measures of the federal projects “SME” and “Technology” are aimed at the development of SMEs and small technology companies by attracting funds from the financial market, respectively.

    In the context of achieving the “May decree” indicators, our citizens have the opportunity to invest in long-term instruments. For example, one of them is the Long-Term Savings Program, LTS. It involves the state creating conditions for the formation of long-term savings, which are formed both from personal funds and from the pension savings of citizens.

    This program is a new universal savings product that will allow everyone, with the stimulating support of the state, to form capital for their priority goals. PDS is especially relevant for families seeking to provide for the future of their children, create a financial safety net, purchase housing or pay for education. Together with banks, we are trying to actively inform citizens about the availability of such programs and the opportunities they provide.

    Another tool for stimulating investment is more active attraction of citizens’ funds to the stock market, which can have a significant impact on solving the problem of lack of financing for businesses. Firstly, attracting citizens’ funds will help diversify sources of financing for businesses. This will reduce companies’ dependence on bank loans and allow them to more easily adapt to changing economic conditions.

    In addition, active participation of citizens in the stock market can contribute to increasing the financial literacy of the population. Educated investors better understand the risks and opportunities, and accordingly, they make more informed investment decisions. This, in turn, creates a healthier investment environment and promotes economic growth.

    Of course, we understand that the designated incentives will work much better with a reduction in deposit rates. This applies to interest rates on both deposits and loans. According to our estimates, a gradual, correct cooling of the economy is already underway. Citizens will eventually withdraw from deposits and consider the possibility of diversifying their savings.

    Question: What drivers do you think the capital market might have in the current geopolitical and economic conditions?

    A. Novak: There are several such incentives or drivers now. The main “driver” is macroeconomic stability. Reducing inflation expectations, consistent and predictable economic policy contribute to the growth of investor confidence in the stock and bond market.

    Controlling inflation helps reduce investment risks and increases the attractiveness of assets in the capital market.

    In the context of sanctions pressure and limited access to international financial markets, Russian companies are seeking to find new sources of financing within the country. As a result, there is demand for financial instruments such as bonds and shares, and this can contribute to the growth of the stock market. An increase in the number of issuers and an expansion of the range of financial products offered also contribute to the development of the capital market.

    The development of infrastructure for attracting investment can also be an important driver. Authorities and financial institutions can introduce new mechanisms to support business, such as tax incentives for investors, programs to improve the financial literacy of the population, and the creation of more convenient conditions for entering the stock market. This will not only increase the number of investors, but also increase their confidence in financial instruments.

    In addition, in my opinion, digitalization and the development of financial technologies, digital platforms give a significant boost to the capital market. Another plus in this regard is that digital technologies contribute to the growth of liquidity and the reduction of transaction costs.

    Question: At the recent government strategy session on the National Model of Target Conditions for Doing Business, you specifically emphasized that by 2030, Russia should be among the top 20 countries in terms of the investment climate, as assessed by the World Bank B-READY rating. This rating will be discussed at the SPIEF. What do you see as the key priorities for improving the business climate in Russia? In what aspects are there the largest “development zones” today?

    A. Novak: First of all, I would like to clarify that the World Bank’s international rating of the business and investment climate is one of the bases for the formation of the National Model of Target Conditions for Doing Business, along with Russia’s national development goals and the rating of the state of the investment climate.

    When analyzing the data of the pilot study of the business climate in Russia, conducted by the Agency for Strategic Initiatives, “development zones” were identified. Within the areas of engineering infrastructure, labor standards, taxation, dispute resolution, businesses have the most difficulties with the effectiveness of law enforcement of public services, even taking into account the well-developed regulatory framework in the country. We have formed working groups that are currently developing initiatives to improve indicators, such as reducing the number of hours for preparing and submitting tax reports. We are talking about reporting, which currently amounts to about 160 hours per year. Another example: the implementation of initiatives to develop alternative forms of dispute resolution, primarily through arbitration courts and mediation.

    The opposite situation has developed in the areas of business registration, financial services, and bankruptcy procedures. The assessment shows the need to improve regulatory and legal acts in Russian legislation. For example, such initiatives as the development and adoption of norms on restructuring, on pre-trial debt restructuring in order to reduce the period of bankruptcy of companies. In addition, norms are being discussed that change the process of asset sales and asset replacement in bankruptcy proceedings.

    Focusing, among other things, on the international rating, we plan to present the key priorities and results of the formation of the National Model at the St. Petersburg Forum; we are open and will be glad to have as many interested parties as possible participate in the discussion.

    Question: Does the government have a scenario for economic development in which sanctions against Russia are relaxed? If so, which restrictions do you think would be the most realistic to lift?

    A. Novak: Such a scenario is among many forecasts developed by the Ministry of Economic Development, but it is not the main one. The basic forecast scenario approved by the government does not include any drastic changes in terms of sanctions pressure.

    Question: Oil prices are now also under the control of geopolitics. In your opinion, can we say that we are once again entering an “era of low prices”? Is OPEC’s decision to accelerate production growth relevant in this context? Is its adjustment being discussed?

    A. Novak: Global oil prices have historically been under pressure from both political factors and the balance of supply and demand. The key factor of volatility in recent years has been the situation in the Middle East and the risks of supply restrictions through the Strait of Hormuz, as well as the ongoing recovery of the global economy and the risks associated with trade wars unleashed by the United States.

    Historically, affordable prices provoke additional demand for oil while global fuel competition continues. And in general, the world is experiencing a need for additional volumes of raw materials. We believe that OPEC objectively assesses the situation regarding the prospects for global oil demand, and we highly appreciate the competence of OPEC experts.

    As for the issue of adjustment, OPEC countries are in constant contact, monitor the market situation and are ready to respond flexibly and promptly to any changes in the market situation. If necessary, the parameters of the deal can be adjusted in the future to ensure an optimal balance between supply and demand.

    And in the short term, oil prices are always under the power of geopolitics. For example, the current aggravation of the Israeli-Iranian conflict. The key questions that good economists ask in such cases of external shocks are whether the shock is temporary (short-term) or permanent (permanent) and from which side is it – demand or supply? And from these options, the scenario and development of optimal policy occurs.

    Question: The SPIEF is planning to discuss the balance of interests of producers and consumers in the global fuel and energy market. You personally participated in the formation of the current architecture of balance, which allowed the markets to be stabilized. Today, do you see risks of disruption of the balance of supply and demand in the oil market in the medium term?

    A. Novak: The data show that in April, the demand for oil in the world was about 103.1 mbps with supply at 103.7 mbps. Given the current state of the oil market and its overall balance, as well as the traditionally high demand season in the summer, it is extremely important for each country to fulfill its obligations.

    The radical change in the external economic environment (I mean the growing sanctions pressure, the unstable geopolitical situation in the Middle East, as well as the high volatility in the global oil market) confirms that the current mechanism for implementing the agreement is the most effective tool. It ensures maximum efficiency of oil production and state revenues. Thus, OPEC plays and will continue to play a coordinating role in the market, as it has been for the past five years.

    Question: SPIEF is traditionally a platform for international dialogue. In your opinion, what are the most important factors that will determine future relations between energy producing and consuming countries, and how can Russia contribute to strengthening cooperation and stability in this dynamic environment?

    A. Novak: We are witnessing a transformation of the energy market, where, against the backdrop of accelerating energy consumption, accelerated growth is observed in all types of energy resources, both traditional ones – oil, gas, coal, and renewable energy sources. A renaissance in demand for the development of nuclear power plants is observed.

    The key drivers have already become the growth of the population in developing countries and the extensive development of data processing systems. And all this against the backdrop of the introduction of artificial intelligence.

    The recent major power outages in Spain and Portugal show that it is important to provide the population with electricity at economically feasible prices. Also, in addition to domestic generation and the choice of the optimal source in the conditions of inter-fuel competition, it is very important to ensure the possibility of delivering primary resources at acceptable prices.

    In this regard, I cannot help but state the obvious. Russia is a key supplier of energy resources around the world. And not only oil, gas and LNG, but also coal, which in the context of growing demand is an important competitive advantage. Russia is also a reliable partner in the supply of its energy resources, all contract terms are observed, and, given the current realities in the world, only long-term contracts and responsible relationships can become guarantors of a stable supply of energy resources.

    Question: In your opinion, in connection with recent geopolitical events, does the recently approved Energy Strategy need to be adjusted, or does it already take into account all possible risks?

    A. Novak: When developing the Energy Strategy until 2050, a pool of scenarios was considered that assumed various internal and external prerequisites and results of the development of Russian energy. In particular, the Energy Strategy until 2050 takes into account the stress scenario, which assumes a significant decrease in the production indicators of the fuel and energy complex industries against the background of a reduction in export opportunities and a general deterioration in external operating conditions.

    The calculation of quantitative indicators within the framework of the strategy’s stress scenario made it possible to identify the main challenges for the Russian energy sector in each of its sectors and to develop special measures to mitigate the consequences if such a scenario is implemented.

    But, of course, in case of significant changes not taken into account in the wide range of strategy scenarios, adjustments can be made to it. However, the main areas of work will remain the same.

    Question: Is the Power of Siberia 2 project still relevant in the current conditions? Have you managed to reach an agreement with your colleagues from China on the cost of gas? If so, when can a contract be signed for the project and what volume of supplies is currently being discussed?

    A. Novak: China is one of the largest energy consumers in the world, and its rapid economic development, industrial growth and urbanization contribute to a constant increase in energy demand. Particularly noticeable is the growing role of natural gas, which is used as a cleaner alternative to coal. In 2024, gas demand in China amounted to about 430 billion cubic meters, compared to 373 billion cubic meters in 2021, that is, an increase of 15%.

    In recent years, the role of renewable energy sources has also increased significantly in China’s energy sector – the country is the undisputed leader in terms of installed solar and wind generation capacity. If in 2021 the figure was 636 GW, then by 2024 it reached about 1400 GW. However, the growth in the use of renewable energy sources does not mean abandoning natural gas. Gas is expected to be used as a “balancing” fuel in cases of insufficient electricity generation from renewable energy sources and will remain the guarantor of China’s energy security. According to the forecast of the International Energy Agency, in the scenario of current policies, China will increase gas consumption throughout the forecast period, until 2050. By this time, gas demand in China is expected to increase by more than 30% compared to 2023.

    Russia, which is the leader in natural gas reserves (currently 63.4 trillion cubic meters), remains one of the main suppliers of this fuel to China. In this regard, the Power of Siberia 2 project undoubtedly remains relevant. As for the rest, more detailed information directly on the project itself is the subject of commercial negotiations.

    Question: Are there plans to build an oil pipeline to China parallel to Power of Siberia 2? You spoke about the possibility of delivering up to 30 million tons of oil per year through it. Has China confirmed its interest in this project? In what time frame could such a pipeline be built? Is there a preliminary estimate of its cost?

    A. Novak: I repeat: since the implementation of the project is the responsibility of the specialized companies, the details of the agreements are classified as a commercial secret and were not made public. However, I will add that, according to OPEC forecasts, China’s demand for oil in 2023-2050 will grow by an average of 2.5% per year. Against this background, the implementation of new infrastructure projects appears to be an important part of the sphere of interests of China’s fuel and energy sector.

    Question: Are there any risks for the National Welfare Fund due to the reduction in oil and gas budget revenues? The Ministry of Finance is already considering the possibility of adjusting the cutoff price under the budget rule. In this case, what are the prospects for the Russian “piggy bank”? Do you think it is important to continue accumulating the National Welfare Fund?

    A. Novak: Today, the cutoff price according to the budget rule is $60/bbl, and the average Urals FOB in January–April 2025 fluctuates in the range of $59–60/bbl.

    But current world oil prices are a short-term consequence of the current market situation, taking into account the growing factor of trade wars and geopolitical tensions, and do not suit most key oil producers. Therefore, oil prices will be adjusted as the effect of “market shocks” is leveled out and will take on an upward trend.

    As for the National Welfare Fund, it is certainly important to continue to accumulate it. The fund not only allows for the implementation of social projects and the maintenance of the well-being of citizens, but also promotes the development of industry and infrastructure in Russia.

    Question: Is there a need to replace the export of raw materials and first-stage products with new high-tech goods? Are new mechanisms of support from the state needed for this?

    A. Novak: In the context of increased sanctions pressure on the Russian fuel and energy complex, active import substitution is taking place. In parallel, work is actively underway to complete the modernization of oil refineries to improve the quality of manufactured products. The volume of oil and gas engineering currently exceeds 500 billion rubles, and by 2030 it is planned to import-substitute critical equipment by 100%.

    If we look at it from the point of view of petrochemistry, then by 2030 it is planned to increase the volume of production of large-tonnage plastics several times – up to 14 million tons. The development of oil refining will allow to fully provide the domestic market at reasonable prices. In implementing all import substitution projects, Russia is ready to start exporting services and supplying energy on a turnkey basis, that is, from raw materials to the construction of processing complexes in other countries.

    Thus, key measures to support both mechanical engineering and secondary product manufacturing are already being implemented in our country. New measures and mechanisms of support from the state require working out the effects and assessing the impact on the industry.

    Question: The key topic of SPIEF: common values are the basis for growth in a multipolar world. At the beginning of our conversation, we already discussed economic regionalization, but no less important is the division by value orientations. Until recently, carbon neutrality seemed to be a common goal for all countries: programs were adopted, significant budgets were allocated to solve these problems. But Trump’s rise to the presidency of the United States violated the status quo. He said that too much emphasis on renewable energy sources threatens the security of the United States. Do you see in this a general reversal and a paradigm shift in public and political consciousness? In your opinion, how can we maintain a balance between the world of the present and the world of the future, taking into account the priorities of all generations?

    A. Novak: Look what we see today? The aggressive policy of achieving carbon neutrality to the detriment of economic efficiency and the trend towards global replacement of traditional energy sources with renewable energy sources is gradually shifting to a more pragmatic direction. Many countries are adapting their energy policies towards an economically balanced approach to choosing energy sources.

    According to BloombergNEF’s annual report, global energy transition investment in 2024 grew by 11%, exceeding $2 trillion for the first time. However, the growth rate was lower than in the previous three years, when investment grew by 24-29% per year. Thus, to achieve carbon neutrality and net-zero emissions goals by mid-century, global energy transition investment in 2025-2030 will need to average $5.6 trillion per year.

    But investors pulled more than $30 billion out of climate-focused funds last year, ending a four-year boom that saw the value of assets increase sevenfold to $541 billion. Despite a six-fold increase in energy transition investment over the past 10 years, it is still only 37% of what is needed to achieve carbon neutrality. China was the largest such market, with $818 billion in investment.

    Factors that significantly limit the possibilities for large-scale implementation of renewable energy sources include insufficient transmission capacity of electrical networks, the expansion of which significantly reduces the economic efficiency of such generation. There are also limitations associated with the dependence of production on weather conditions. And all this against the background of a low level of maturity of energy storage technologies.

    The recent energy crisis in Spain and Portugal further confirms that today it is the grid complex that is the least prepared element of the energy system to operate in the conditions of the energy transition. Therefore, in the conditions of the current level of development of energy systems and the risks caused by this, it is necessary, first of all, to ensure a balance between economic efficiency, reliability of energy supply and the level of greenhouse gas emissions.

    Source – Vedomosti newspaper

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: Billion Dollar Sports Entertainment Facility Market Witnessing Significantly High Revenue Share

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PALM BEACH, Fla., June 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FN Media Group News Commentary – Sports facilities are not just earning revenues from sports but are also creating additional revenues from entertainment and other events. A recent report from Market.us said that the Global Sports Facilities Market size is expected to be worth around USD 1,084.0 Billion by 2034, from USD 132.4 Billion in 2024, growing at a CAGR of 23.4% during the forecast period from 2025 to 2034. The report said: “Sports facilities are dedicated spaces for athletic activities, training, and competitions. They include stadiums, arenas, gymnasiums, and community sports complexes. Some focus on professional events, while others serve schools and local leagues. These facilities support various sports, offering equipment, seating, and amenities for players and spectators. The sports facilities market includes businesses that develop, operate, and manage venues for sports activities. It covers public and private stadiums, fitness centers, and training complexes. The market depends on sports popularity, event hosting, and investments in infrastructure. Revenue comes from ticket sales, sponsorships, memberships, and government funding. Sports facilities are evolving to meet rising demand. Governments and private investors are upgrading stadiums, gyms, and training centers to attract more visitors.” Active Entertainment companies active in the markets include: Venu Holding Corporation (NYSE American: VENU), Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV), TKO Group Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: TKO), Madison Square Garden Sports Corp. (NYSE: MSGS), DraftKings Inc. (NASDAQ: DKNG).

    “Major sports events significantly impact local economies. According to Wikipedia, every $1 spent on operating costs and venues generates $2 for the host city. Additionally, these events create over 18,000 jobs on average. For this reason, cities continue to bid for global tournaments despite the high cost of construction and maintenance. Growth in this market is driven by increased sports participation and tourism. New multi-purpose venues host concerts, exhibitions, and esports events alongside traditional sports. However, competition is intense, with regions vying for sponsorships and government funding. As a result, operators focus on technology, sustainability, and unique fan experiences to stay competitive. The impact of sports facilities extends beyond entertainment. Locally, they create jobs, boost tourism, and promote community engagement. On a larger scale, they strengthen the global sports economy. Well-maintained venues attract international events, driving revenue from ticket sales, sponsorships, and broadcasting rights. Consequently, sports infrastructure plays a key role in economic growth.”

    Venu Holding Corporation (NYSE: VENU) Closes $10.125 Million Strategic Investment from Institutional Investor, Issues Convertible Preferred Stock – Venu Holding Corp. ($VENU) has closed a $10.125 million equity investment from a leading institutional investor through the issuance of 675 shares of Series B 4% Convertible Preferred Stock, priced at a Stated Value of $15,000 per share.

    Each share of Series B Preferred Stock is convertible into 1,000 shares of common stock, reflecting a conversion price of $15.00 per share, with a 4% annual cumulative dividend, payable in cash or registered common stock.

    Proceeds from the investment will support the continued development of the Company’s amphitheater buildout, including high-profile venues underway in McKinney, Texas and Tulsa, Oklahoma.

    Key terms of the Series B Preferred Stock include:

    • $15.00/share conversion price
    • Senior priority to common stock
    • Optional redemption rights for the investor if key venues are not operational by August 14, 2027
    • Company call option for conversion if common stock trades above $20.00 for 20 out of 30 consecutive trading days
    • Mandatory redemption if key long-term service agreements are terminated without replacement

    Additionally, the Company has entered into a Registration Rights Agreement and will file a registration statement with the SEC to cover the resale of any common shares issued under the preferred terms. This strategic capital infusion strengthens the Company’s balance sheet and further positions it to capitalize on demand for premium live entertainment infrastructure nationwide.   Read more about Venu Holding at:   https://venu.live/invest/

    In other developments and happenings in the sports/entertainment industry recently include:

    Live Nation Entertainment (NYSE: LYV), the global leader in live events, recently announced the election of Richard Grenell to its Board of Directors. Mr. Grenell brings decades of experience in diplomacy and negotiations, having served as U.S. Ambassador to Germany, Acting Director of National Intelligence, Presidential Envoy for Kosovo-Serbia Negotiations and Presidential Envoy for Special Missions. Mr. Grenell also currently serves as the President of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, where he oversees operations and programming at one of the nation’s premier cultural institutions.

    His career experience will help support Live Nation’s mission to bring more live music to the world, while also advocating for industry reforms that protect both fans and artists. “We are pleased to welcome Ric to our Board,” said Randall Mays, Chairman of the Board of Live Nation Entertainment. “His background will bring a valuable perspective as Live Nation continues to contribute to a growing live music industry around the globe.”

    TKO Group Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: TKO), a premium sports and entertainment company, recently announced that its board of directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend pursuant to which TKO’s Class A common stockholders will receive their pro rata share of an aggregate distribution of approximately $75 million from TKO Operating Company, LLC to its equityholders. The per share dividend to the holders of TKO’s Class A common stockholders will be $0.38 per share. The dividend will be paid on June 30, 2025 to Class A common stockholders of record as of the close of business on June 13, 2025.

    Future declarations of quarterly dividends are subject to the determination and discretion of TKO based on its consideration of various factors, such as its results of operations, financial condition, market conditions, earnings, cash flow requirements, restrictions in its debt agreements and legal requirements and other factors that TKO deems relevant.

    Madison Square Garden Sports Corp. (NYSE: MSGS) recently reported financial results for the fiscal third quarter ended March 31, 2025. Fiscal 2025 third quarter operating results reflected growth in average per-game revenues, including for tickets, sponsorship and premium hospitality offerings, across a combined two fewer New York Knicks (“Knicks”) and New York Rangers (“Rangers”) games played at the Madison Square Garden Arena (“The Garden”) as compared to the prior year quarter. In addition, fiscal 2025 third quarter operating results reflected the impact of expected reductions in local media rights fees as a result of proposed amendments to the Knicks’ and Rangers’ local media rights agreements with MSG Networks Inc. (“MSG Networks”) (as announced on April 25, 2025 and discussed in further detail in the Other Matters section of this earnings release), as well as the impact of the Knicks’ and Rangers’ rosters for the 2024-25 seasons.

    In March, the Company launched its 2025-26 Knicks and Rangers season ticket renewal initiative, which has seen strong demand to date. Subsequent to the end of the fiscal 2025 third quarter, both teams concluded their regular seasons, with the Knicks currently competing in the NBA playoffs.

    For the fiscal 2025 third quarter, the Company generated revenues of $424.2 million, a decrease of $5.8 million, or 1%, as compared to the prior year period. In addition, the Company reported operating income of $32.3 million, a decrease of $47.4 million, or 59%, and adjusted operating income of $36.9 million, a decrease of $51.8 million, or 58%, both as compared to the prior year period.

    In response to the recent and prior sports wagering tax increases passed by the Illinois state legislature on all mobile and online sports wagers placed with licensed operators, DraftKings Inc. (NASDAQ: DKNG) recently announced that it will implement a 50-cent transaction fee on all mobile and online bets placed in Illinois through DraftKings Sportsbook, effective September 1, 2025.

    “Illinois has been an important part of our growth, and we’re proud to have contributed meaningfully to the state through tax revenue, job creation, and a sustained investment in responsible gaming tools and resources,” said Jason Robins, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of DraftKings. “We are disappointed that Illinois policymakers have chosen to more than triple our tax rate over the past two years, and we are very concerned about what this will do to the legal, regulated industry. Meanwhile, Illinois continues to fuel the rapidly growing illegal industry, which pays no taxes or fees and provides none of the consumer protections that regulated operators offer.”

    DraftKings continues to support collaborative policymaking that works for the state and allows for the long-term sustainability of the industry. Should the legislation be repealed, the company will immediately remove the Illinois-specific per wager transaction fee.

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    This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. “Forward-looking statements” describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as “may”, “future”, “plan” or “planned”, “will” or “should”, “expected,” “anticipates”, “draft”, “eventually” or “projected”. You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, and other risks identified in a company’s annual report on Form 10-K or 10-KSB and other filings made by such company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements included herein, and not place undue reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements in this release are made as of the date hereof and FNM undertakes no obligation to update such statements.

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    SOURCE: FN Media Group

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Global travel made simple with Kaspersky eSIM Store

    Kaspersky (www.Kaspersky.co.za) eSIM Store is a new connectivity solution for international travel. Designed to make it easier for leisure and business travellers to stay online globally, it empowers users with easy Internet access across 150+ countries and regions, with a choice of over 2,000 affordable data plans.

    The production of eSIM-compatible devices has increased tenfold in the last five years according to the GSMA (http://apo-opa.co/4lamZ8D). By 2028, it is expected that half of all mobile connections worldwide will use eSIM technology. This rise in popularity is driven by eSIM’s convenience and ease of use – eliminating the need for physical SIM cards and enabling a hassle-free experience wherever you go.

    To meet this growing trend, Kaspersky eSIM Store provides access to eSIM plans from local telecom operators all over the world – with an easy interface and simple management.

    A new way to always stay connected

    Kaspersky eSIM Store lets users to enjoy affordable and easily accessible Internet connections around the globe without the hassle of physical SIM cards. Users can seamlessly access eSIM plans from local telecom providers in 150+ countries and regions worldwide, providing favourable rates and transparent conditions without any roaming fees.

    While travelling, an eSIM can help users avoid high roaming costs on a primary SIM, remove the need to search for a local SIM kiosk and share personal data with them, as well as avoiding the use of unsecured public Wi-Fi networks. Instead, eSIM ensures that leisure travellers can focus on the joyful moments of their trip and instantly share them with friends and relatives, while business travellers have continuous access to important messages, working documents and video calls.

    Seamless connection in a few taps

    Kaspersky eSIM Store features a user-friendly interface for plan selection, purchase, top-ups, and data usage management. Travellers can choose their preferred activation date, allowing them to set up their eSIM in advance and be connected the moment their trip begins — all in just a few taps.

    To match the needs of any traveller, there are many flexible ways to choose and manage data plans.

    Options are available based on destination, including plans for specific countries, global plan 122 destinations, or mini-global plans tailored to specific regions. For trip duration, travellers can select between expiring plans valid for a fixed period or non-expiring plans that remain active until the data is fully used. This ensures convenience whether the trip is short or long.

    Additionally, users have control over when their plan starts. They can either schedule activation for a specific date or begin using the data immediately, providing flexibility to align with their travel schedule.

    To ensure users never run out of GB unexpectedly, Kaspersky eSIM Store provides real-time data usage monitoring and alerts when a balance is near zero. The user profile (on the webpage or in the app) allows quick top-ups and supports multiple countries on a single eSIM – install once and use for a lifetime.

    Kaspersky eSIM Store is launched in partnership with award-winning provider BNESIM Limited, which has been delivering global eSIM services since 2017.

    “At Kaspersky we are constantly keeping up with latest trends shaping our digital habits, and eSIM is definitely one of them. eSIM technology greatly simplifies travelling abroad, allowing people to stay connected and not worry about issues like roaming charges. We know from our own experience how important it is to stay in touch with your family or colleagues when you are on a trip, so we designed Kaspersky eSIM Store for all types of travellers to ensure instant access to eSIM data plans wherever they go, as well as to provide a safe and positive digital experience,” – Mikhail Gerber, Executive Vice President, Consumer Business, Kaspersky.

    Kaspersky eSIM Store is now available on the official website www.Kasperskyesimstore.com, and as a mobile app in App Store and Google Play.

    Kaspersky eSIM Store complements Kaspersky’s wide range of industry-recognised solutions, such as Kaspersky VPN Secure Connection and Kaspersky Premium. Together they cover all modern connectivity needs and enhance digital freedom – ensuring safe, worry-free connectivity across the world.

    *You can check your device’s eSIM-capability on the www.Kasperskyesimstore.com or in the app.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Kaspersky.

    For further information please contact:
    Nicole Allman
    nicole@inkandco.co.za

    Social Media:
    Facebook: https://apo-opa.co/4kVoJ5G
    X: https://apo-opa.co/4jX5cAx
    YouTube: https://apo-opa.co/3ZzIlnD
    Instagram: https://apo-opa.co/4e2SCyu
    Blog: https://apo-opa.co/4jZCUpf

    About Kaspersky:
    Kaspersky is a global cybersecurity and digital privacy company founded in 1997. With over a billion devices protected to date from emerging cyberthreats and targeted attacks, Kaspersky’s deep threat intelligence and security expertise is constantly transforming into innovative solutions and services to protect individuals, businesses, critical infrastructure, and governments around the globe. The company’s comprehensive security portfolio includes leading digital life protection for personal devices, specialized security products and services for companies, as well as Cyber Immune solutions to fight sophisticated and evolving digital threats. We help millions of individuals and over 200,000 corporate clients protect what matters most to them. Learn more at www.Kaspersky.co.za.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Nigeria’s President Tinubu to Bring Bold Energy Reforms to African Energy Week (AEW) 2025 Stage


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    African Energy Week (AEW) 2025: Invest in African Energies is proud to announce that Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, will address delegates at Africa’s premier energy event in Cape Town. President Tinubu’s participation comes as Nigeria undergoes one of the most ambitious reform drives in its oil, gas and broader energy sectors – a drive that is reshaping the country’s investment climate and unlocking multi-billion-dollar opportunities across the value chain.

    Since assuming office, President Tinubu has spearheaded a wide-ranging program to reposition Nigeria as a top-tier destination for energy investment. In May 2025, he signed an Executive Order on Oil & Gas Reforms, aimed at overhauling project delivery frameworks and significantly reducing costs across the industry. The Order introduces streamlined contracting processes, tax incentives and the removal of regulatory and local content compliance bottlenecks, with a target of cutting upstream project costs by up to 40%. Such reforms are designed to make Nigeria’s operating environment globally competitive and unlock billions of dollars in new investments.

    In the past year, Nigeria has secured over $8 billion in deepwater oil and gas final investment decisions, signaling a renewed appetite among international investors. ExxonMobil, for example, has committed $1.5 billion to new deepwater field developments. Shell is also strengthening its position in deepwater and integrated gas – recently increasing its stake in OML 118, which includes the prolific deepwater Bonga field – while Chevron is expanding operations at the Agbami field, one of Nigeria’s largest deepwater discoveries. 

    Meanwhile, Petrobras has declared its interest in returning to deepwater exploration in Nigeria, seeking frontier acreage as a result of improved regulatory clarity and investor-friendly reforms. The country has also unveiled major new initiatives to promote local content and industrial growth, with multi-billion-dollar investments directed at building domestic capacity in fabrication, engineering and services. This includes the “Naira for Crude” initiative, which aims to promote local refining, enhance energy security and reduce reliance on foreign currency in the domestic oil market.

    Beyond upstream developments, Nigeria is advancing its gas monetization strategy and reviving refining capacity to enhance energy security and drive industrialization. The ongoing operational ramp-up of the 650,000-bpd Dangote refinery – the largest on the continent – is set to begin nationwide distribution of petrol and diesel later this year. The refinery, along with new investments in petrochemical plants, storage facilities and pipeline infrastructure, is expected to help end Nigeria’s decades-long reliance on gasoline imports, a trade valued at $17 billion. The U.S., European and global investor community is increasingly engaging with Nigeria as a strategic partner for energy supply diversification and clean energy integration, further solidifying the country’s position as a leading force in Africa’s energy landscape.

    “Nigeria under President Tinubu is showing the world how decisive policy reforms can directly translate into investor confidence and tangible project commitments,” said NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber. “What’s happening in Nigeria today is a case study for other African producers: it demonstrates that by cutting red tape, streamlining processes and providing fiscal certainty, countries can attract capital on a large scale while creating real value for their people. We are honored to welcome President Tinubu to AEW 2025 to share this important success story.”

    President Tinubu’s address at AEW 2025: Invest in African Energies will provide a unique opportunity for African and global stakeholders to gain insights into Nigeria’s evolving oil and gas sector, the government’s strategy for long-term energy security and the country’s vision for sustainable industrial development. His leadership is setting a benchmark for how resource-rich nations can balance competitiveness, local value creation and inclusive growth.

    AEW: Invest in African Energies is the platform of choice for project operators, financiers, technology providers and government, and has emerged as the official place to sign deals in African energy. Visit www.AECWeek.com for more information about this exciting event. 

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Mauritania roundtable raises US$2 billion pledge from the Arab Coordination Group in development funding

    Mauritania’s national development program will see a strong boost with a US$2 billion pledge made by the Arab Coordination Group (ACG) (www.TheACG.org) at a high-level roundtable held in Vienna, Austria. The event was chaired by the President of Mauritania, Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, and was hosted by the OPEC Fund for International Development in the framework of the Annual Meeting of the ACG Heads of Institutions.

    OPEC Fund President Abdulhamid Alkhalifa said: “We are strongly committed to play an active role in the implementation and success of Mauritania’s ambitious development program. With our pledge we are mobilizing our collective capabilities to translate ambition into action and bring about positive change in the lives of the people of our partner country Mauritania.”

    Speaking on behalf of the Arab Coordination Group, the President of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), H.E Dr. Muhammed Al Jasser, said: “Our funding will be directed to vital priority sectors, including energy, water, transportation and digital infrastructure, in order to stimulate economic growth and achieve comprehensive and sustainable development in the country.”

    The pledge followed an opening address by President El Ghazouani who reaffirmed Mauritania’s commitment to institutional reform, enhanced transparency and improved governance. He noted that these efforts, combined with macroeconomic stability and modernized public administration, are laying the foundation for long-term, inclusive growth. The President also underscored the country’s ambition to become a competitive investment destination through streamlined investment procedures and strengthened national security.

    During the roundtable, the government of Mauritania presented a portfolio of priority investment projects. Among them was an initiative to hybridize thermal power plants and enhance existing hybrid facilities with advanced energy storage solutions. Two strategic water infrastructure projects were also featured: one at the Taraf Al-Mahroud site and another in the Karakoro Basin. In the transport sector, the rehabilitation of the Nouakchott–Nouadhibou and Rosso–Boghé corridors was highlighted as vital to improving trade and connectivity.

    The ACG pledge will cover the period 2025-2030. Delivery will be “closely coordinated with the government and international partners,” IsDB President Al Jasser announced. The roundtable preceded the OPEC Fund Development Forum on June 17, where Mauritania’s President El Ghazouani will deliver an opening address as guest of honor.

    OPEC Fund President Alkhalifa underscored the institution’s commitment to supporting Mauritania. During a visit to the country in January he signed a Country Partnership Framework Agreement for the period 2025-2027. Under this strategic cooperation, the OPEC Fund will focus on key sectors such as renewable energy, water, food security, transport and clean cooking. The President said: “To be successful, development needs to attract investment. To be sustainable, however, development also needs to generate tangible results for the people. The government’s strategy prudently links both.”

    The Arab Coordination Group is the world’s second-largest development finance group, united around shared values of South-South cooperation and solidarity. Last year, the ACG extended US$19.6 billion collectively to fund nearly 650 operations in more than 90 countries.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Arab Coordination Group (ACG).

    About the Arab Coordination Group (ACG):
    The Arab Coordination Group (ACG) is a strategic alliance that provides a coordinated response to development finance. Since its establishment in 1975, ACG has been instrumental in developing economies and communities for a better future, providing more than 13,000 development loans to over 160 countries around the globe. Comprising ten development funds, ACG is the second-largest group of development finance institutions in the world and works across the globe to support developing nations and create a lasting, positive impact.

    The Group comprises the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development, the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa, the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development, the Arab Gulf Programme for Development, the Arab Monetary Fund, the Islamic Development Bank, the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, the OPEC Fund for International Development, the Qatar Fund for Development and the Saudi Fund for Development.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Rolls-Royce Expands African Footprint with New Regional Headquarters and Training Facility for its Power Systems division

    • New facility in Johannesburg will meet the growing demand for local service solutions
    • Training up to 150 engineers per year

    Rolls-Royce (www.Rolls-Royce.com) has officially opened a new headquarters and training facility in Johannesburg, South Africa, to support its Power Systems division. The new facility is further evidence of the company’s long-term commitment to Africa and will support the growing fleet of Power Systems’ mtu mobile and stationary power solutions across critical sectors such as energy, technology, mining, transportation, and oil & gas.

    Located in a specially adapted facility spanning approximately 6,000m², the new site consolidates core customer-facing functions into a central hub, including service coordination, spare parts storage, logistics, and technical training. It complements Rolls-Royce’s existing footprint in South Africa, with mtu engine rebuild capability, and finance and logistics functions located in Cape Town.

    The training centre is designed to support between 100 and 150 trainees annually with a wide range of training engines, including mtu 2000 and 4000 series, used for power generation, mining and rail applications. Trainees will benefit from access to advanced tooling and use simulation equipment for electronic training. The centre will deliver certified practical and theoretical training, equipping customers and partners from across Africa with the knowledge and hands-on experience required to support a wide range of applications and industries. 

    The new facility, operated by Rolls-Royce Solutions Africa, features dedicated capacity for the engineering and assembly of repower modules, enabling the replacement of engines in mining haul trucks and excavators with more suitable mtu power solutions. This allows customers to select upgrade options tailored to their specific operational needs. Fitting mtu engines delivers clear commercial benefits, including lower Total Cost of Ownership through improved fuel efficiency, increased equipment availability, and reduced maintenance costs. With a strong focus on system resilience, the regional subsidiary Rolls-Royce Solutions Africa is committed to delivering robust, fit-for-purpose solutions designed to perform in the demanding and often harsh operating environments across the continent.

    Cobus Van Schalkwyk, Director Global Mining and Managing Director, Rolls-Royce Solutions Africa:

    “As we approach our 25th year in South Africa, this new facility is a clear signal of our confidence in Africa’s growth and our commitment to being closer to our customers.

    “By bringing support services, technical training, and parts availability together under one roof, we’re building the capabilities that matter most to our partners across the continent. This investment also supports our strategy to further localise operations, reduce lead times, and strengthen supply chain resilience — critical advantages for customers operating in remote or fast-paced environments.”

    Press photos for download can be found at Media Centre (https://apo-opa.co/3G5yjnr)

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Rolls-Royce.

    For further information, contact:
    Media
    Lydia-Claire Halliday
    Corporate Communications Africa
    LCH Consultancy
    Tel +254 708000510
    lydia@lchconsultancy.com

    About Rolls-Royce Holdings plc:
    1.    Rolls-Royce is a force for progress, powering, protecting and connecting people everywhere. Our products and service packages help our customers meet the growing need for power across multiple industries; enable governments to equip their armed forces with the power required to protect their citizens; and connect people, societies, cultures and economies together.

    2.  Rolls-Royce has a local presence in 48 countries and customers in over a hundred more, including airlines and aircraft leasing companies, armed forces and navies, and marine and industrial customers.

    3.  Through our multi-year transformation programme, we are building a high-performing, competitive, resilient and growing Rolls-Royce. We are building the financial capacity and agility to allow us to successfully develop and deliver the products that will support our customers through the energy transition.

    4.  Annual underlying revenue was £17.8 billion in 2024, and underlying operating profit was £2.46 billion.

    5.  Rolls-Royce Holdings plc is a publicly traded company (LSE: RR., ADR: RYCEY, LEI: 213800EC7997ZBLZJH69)5.     

    6.   Rolls-Royce Power Systems is headquartered in Friedrichshafen in southern Germany and employs more than 10,350 people. The product portfolio includes mtu-brand high-speed engines and propulsion systems for ships, heavy land, rail and defence vehicles and for the oil and gas industry. The portfolio also includes diesel and gas systems and battery containers for mission critical, standby and continuous power, combined generation of heat and power, and microgrids. With its climate friendly technologies, Rolls-Royce Power Systems is helping to drive the energy transition.

    www.Rolls-Royce.com
    www.mtu-Solutions.com

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Russian Sinologists Win Special Book Prize of China

    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, June 17 (Xinhua) — The China Special Book Award ceremony was held in Beijing on Tuesday, with 16 people from 12 countries receiving the top honor given to foreigners working in the book publishing industry.

    Among the laureates were three sinologists from Russia: the head of the Department of Oriental Languages at the Diplomatic Academy of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Alexander Semenov, the head of the Department of Interpretation at the Higher Courses of Foreign Languages at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Tatyana Semenova, and professor at St. Petersburg State University Alexei Rodionov.

    The award winners have long paid attention to China’s development and deeply studied Chinese culture, translated, published and wrote a number of books telling stories about China to the world, making outstanding contributions to expanding international knowledge and understanding of China and promoting exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations, the ceremony said.

    Alexander Semenov studies the history and historiography of China, the foreign policy of the PRC, linguistics, translation, translation studies and methods of teaching the Chinese language, and Tatyana Semenova, his wife, studies the literature and culture of China, translation, translation studies and methods of teaching the Chinese language. They have jointly translated a number of books on Chinese politics.

    Alexey Rodionov has an academic interest in the history of 20th-century Chinese literature and Russian-Chinese literary relations. He has been engaged in literary translation and compilation of collections of contemporary Chinese literature for many years. According to available information, he has translated 26 works by contemporary Chinese writers, such as Lao She, Jia Pingwa, and Han Shaogong, and initiated the publication of collections of translations of contemporary Chinese literature.

    Since the prize was established in 2005, 219 translators, publishers and writers from 63 countries have won it. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: Northstrive Biosciences Announces Initiation of Phase II of Collaboration to Develop AI Powered Therapies for Obesity and Cardiometabolic Diseases

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • Northstrive Biosciences and Yuva Biosciences previously announced a collaboration leveraging MitoNova™, YuvaBio’s proprietary mitochondrial science-focused artificial intelligence platform, to discover and develop novel pharmaceutical treatments for obesity, type 2 diabetes and other cardiometabolic conditions.
    • Phase II of this collaboration involves compiling a selection of small molecule candidates that promote mitochondrial health in obesity and cardiac diseases.

    NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., June 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Northstrive Biosciences Inc. (“Northstrive”), a subsidiary of PMGC Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: ELAB) (the “Company,” “PMGC,” “we,” or “our”), today announced the initiation of Phase II of the AI Development Program with strategic partner Yuva Biosciences, Inc. (“YuvaBio”). As part of the Phase II objective, both companies will collaborate to leverage MitoNova™, YuvaBio’s AI mitochondrial science-focused artificial intelligence platform, to compile a selection of small molecule candidates that promote mitochondrial health in obesity and cardiac diseases.

    YuvaBio will use MitoNova™ to virtually screen a large-scale library of diverse, drug-like small molecules and predict which candidates are most likely to promote mitochondrial health. YuvaBio will then analyze results of this screen, including chemical and bioactivity properties, to highlight opportunities for biological validation. Then, YuvaBio will compile an initial list of synthetic compounds for muscle preservation and metabolic health.

    About Northstrive Biosciences Inc.

    Northstrive Biosciences Inc., a PMGC Holdings Inc. company, is a biopharmaceutical company focusing on the development and acquisition of cutting-edge aesthetic medicines. Northstrive Biosciences’ lead asset, EL-22, leverages an engineered probiotic approach to address obesity’s pressing issue of preserving muscle while on weight loss treatments, including GLP-1 receptor agonists. For more information, please visit www.northstrivebio.com.

    About PMGC Holdings Inc.

    PMGC Holdings Inc. is a diversified holding company that manages and grows its portfolio through strategic acquisitions, investments, and development across various industries. Currently, our portfolio consists of three wholly owned subsidiaries: Northstrive Biosciences Inc., PMGC Research Inc., and PMGC Capital LLC. We are committed to exploring opportunities in multiple sectors to maximize growth and value. For more information, please visit https://www.pmgcholdings.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    Statements contained in this press release regarding matters that are not historical facts are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Words such as “believes,” “expects,” “plans,” “potential,” “would” and “future” or similar expressions such as “look forward” are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release and are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are based only on our current beliefs, expectations and assumptions regarding the future of our business, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy, activities of regulators and future regulations and other future conditions. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. These and other risks are described more fully in PMGC Holdings’ filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, filed with the SEC on March 28, 2025, and its other documents subsequently filed with or furnished to the SEC. Investors and security holders are urged to read these documents free of charge on the SEC’s web site at www.sec.gov. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made. Except to the extent required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update such statements to reflect events that occur or circumstances that exist after the date on which they were made.

    IR Contact:
    IR@pmgcholdings.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Red Cat Holdings Announces $46.75 Million Registered Direct Offering of Common Stock

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, June 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Red Cat Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: RCAT) (“Red Cat” or “Company”), a drone technology company integrating robotic hardware and software for military, government, and commercial operations, announced today that the Company has entered into securities purchase agreements with certain institutional investors for the purchase and sale of 6,448,276 shares of common stock, pursuant to a registered direct offering, expected to result in gross proceeds of approximately $46.75 million, before deducting placement agent fees and other offering expenses. The offering is expected to close on or about June 18, 2025, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

    The Company intends to use net proceeds from the offering for general corporate and working capital purposes, including but not limited to operating expenditures related to its new unmanned surface vessel division.

    Northland Capital Markets is acting as the exclusive placement agent for the transaction.

    The offering is being made pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-283242), which was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on December 11, 2024. A final prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus relating to the registered direct offering will be filed with the SEC and will be available on the SEC’s website located at http://www.sec.gov. Additionally, when available, electronic copies of the final prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus may be obtained, when available, from Northland Securities, Inc., 150 South Fifth Street, Suite 3300, Minneapolis, MN.

    This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described herein, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

    About Red Cat Holdings, Inc.

    Red Cat (Nasdaq: RCAT) is a drone technology company integrating robotic hardware and software for military, government, and commercial operations. Through two wholly owned subsidiaries, Teal Drones and FlightWave Aerospace, Red Cat has developed a leading-edge Family of Systems. This includes the flagship Black Widow™, a small unmanned ISR system that was awarded the U.S. Army’s Short Range Reconnaissance (SRR) Program of Record contract. The Family of Systems also includes TRICHON™, a fixed wing VTOL for extended endurance and range, and FANG™, the industry’s first line of NDAA compliant FPV drones optimized for military operations with precision strike capabilities. Learn more at www.redcat.red.

    Safe Harbor Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains “forward-looking statements” that are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained in this press release are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release may be identified by the use of words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “contemplate,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “seek,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “target,” “aim,” “should,” “will” “would,” or the negative of these words or other similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to the expected timing of the offering and the satisfaction of customary closing conditions related to the offerings, and our intended use of proceeds from the offering. Forward-looking statements are based on Red Cat Holdings, Inc.’s current expectations and are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Further, certain forward-looking statements are based on assumptions as to future events that may not prove to be accurate. These and other risks and uncertainties are described more fully in the section titled “Risk Factors” in the Form 10-KT filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 31, 2025. Forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are made as of this date, and Red Cat Holdings, Inc. undertakes no duty to update such information except as required under applicable law.

    Contact:

    INVESTORS:
    E-mail: Investors@redcat.red

    NEWS MEDIA:
    Phone: (347) 880-2895
    Email: peter@indicatemedia.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Nelson Mandela Bay surpasses housing targets

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality has demonstrated its readiness for expanded housing allocations by exceeding its annual delivery target for the 2024/25 financial year, well ahead of schedule.

    The municipality reported that a total of 397 housing units has been delivered by the municipality, as of early June, surpassing its target of 386.

    The municipality highlighted that this is a clear sign of sustained institutional turnaround, improved planning and implementation, and strengthened intergovernmental coordination.

    Despite these gains, the municipality said it still faces a significant housing backlog of more than 100 000 units.

    In response to this, earlier this year, the municipality launched a registration drive aimed at prioritising backyard dwellers in upcoming allocations, with a goal of building news 400 housing units in the next budget year.

    Municipality’s Executive Mayor, Babalwa Lobishe said the municipality has called on the National Department of Human Settlements to consider increasing the metro’s housing allocations, in light of its consistent performance.

    “The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality has shown its ability to deliver on time, within budget, and wih quality—positioning itself as a reliable implementing partner in addressing the national housing backlog,” Lobishe said.

    The mayor emphasised that in the midst of all the vulnerabilities and challenges remain, including people living in shacks, floodplains, and unsafe conditions, the municipality must still act with the utmost urgency to deliver coordinated and integrated human settlements.

    “Section 26 of the Constitution guarantees everyone the right to access adequate housing [while] Section 152 compels municipalities to ensure the provision of services and promote sustainable communities. We are fulfilling this mandate not only with urgency, but with pride and purpose,” Lobishe said.

    She added that the municipality will pursue the relevant interventions and measures to ensure it engages the Minister of Human Settlement through the appropriate channels and processes, to advocate for increased allocations.

    Backed by a five-year turnaround strategy, the Human Settlements Directorate has introduced reforms in project and beneficiary management, financial controls, and intergovernmental collaboration.

    Communities across the metro, including Polar Park, KwaNobuhle, Jachtvlakte, Masakhane Village, Motherwell NU30, and Red Location, are already benefiting from these initiatives.

    Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Human Settlements, Thembinkosi Mafana, credited the municipality’s ability to meet and exceed targets to effective oversight, operational effectiveness, and collaboration across all levels of government.

    “The excellent performance speaks for itself. We have consistently delivered on the funding allocations given to the metro, on time, budget and with quality. In certain areas, we have even exceeded our targets.

    “Our housing delivery backlog is a challenge, and we need to fast-track housing delivery. Our quality controls and effectiveness will elevate our status significantly, as we continually improve our ability to deliver with agility,” Mafana said.

    The MMC also acknowledged the contribution of the Standing Committee for Human Settlements, other state entities, the residents, and municipal officials.

    “The administration’s Human Settlement Standing Committee has an all-hands-on deck approach. We also appreciate the dedication and turnaround efforts shown by our officials and contractors,” he said.

    The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality reiterated its readiness to scale up housing delivery and committed to working with provincial and national government to accelerate sustainable human settlements across the metro. – SAnews.gov.za
     

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Israeli aggression and Iranian nuclear brinkmanship made this confrontation all but inevitable

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Matthew Moran, Professor of International Security, King’s College London

    In the early hours of June 13, Israel launched its largest-ever attack on Iran. Airstrikes involving more than 200 aircraft targeted nuclear and missile facilities, as well as key figures in the Iranian military and nuclear programme leadership. The attack, codenamed “Operation Rising Lion”, appears to have been supported on the ground by Israeli agents operating drones positioned deep within Iranian territory.

    In one sense, this attack has been a long time coming. Over the past 15 years, Israel has repeatedly threatened to attack Iran, arguing that Tehran harbours nuclear weapons aspirations that pose an existential threat to the Israeli state. Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said as much in a televised address announcing the same-day military operation in which he placed the nuclear issue front and centre: “We struck at the heart of Iran’s nuclear weaponisation program.” But why has Israel chosen to act now?

    Clearly, we are looking at a dynamic situation from the outside in, but there are some important points worth considering. First, events over the past 12 months or so have undermined Iran’s ability to deter adversaries, which has left the regime exposed. Israel’s response to an Iranian missile attack in October, for example, seriously degraded Iran’s air defences as well as missile production capabilities. This created weaknesses that Israel has since exploited in its renewed military campaign.

    Looking more broadly, the fallout from the October 7 attack by Hamas on Israel has decimated the proxies that Iran spent decades cultivating in the Middle East. The brutal war in Gaza has decimated Hamas, while to the north, Hezbollah is severely degraded after its own 14-month war with Israel.

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    Add to this the fall of the Assad regime in Syria, and it is clear that Iran’s so called “axis of resistance”, a key pillar of the country’s deterrence posture, is now a dramatically reduced force. Israel has been emboldened by these events. It now clearly sees a unique opportunity to further degrade a major adversary – and potentially bring about regime change.

    What’s more, Iran’s nuclear programme has continued to advance since Donald Trump withdrew the US in 2018 from the joint comprehensive plan of action (JCPOA). This was the 2015 deal negotiated during Barack Obama’s presidency that rolled back the country’s nuclear capabilities in return for a relaxation of harsh sanctions against Iran.

    In March, the Washington-based – but non-partisan – Institute for Science and International Security reported that Iran could convert its current stock of 60% enriched uranium into enough weapons-grade uranium for seven nuclear weapons at the Fordow fuel enrichment plant. This could be done in as little as three weeks.

    At the same time, the US director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, told the Senate intelligence committee on March 27 that the intelligence community “continues to assess that Iran is not building a nuclear weapon”.

    So this raises the question of whether the Israeli government had intelligence that the Iranians were moving forward with weaponisation. It is possible that Iran was preparing to make a dash for the bomb, crossing an Israeli red line and triggering action – although there is currently no evidence to support this theory. What is clear, however, is that Iran’s brinkmanship around its effort to hedge its bets on a nuclear option meant it was always operating in a dangerous space.

    Was the Israeli attack inevitable?

    At first sight, the answer to this seems obvious. For years now, Israel has been very clear that it will not accept a nuclear armed Iran. Yet Tehran has insisted on a nuclear programme that appears to go well beyond what is required for civil nuclear purposes. On June 12, the International Atomic Energy Agency declared that Iran was not complying with its nuclear safeguards obligations.

    By most estimates, Iran is not far from the bomb and Israel has finally taken action – ostensibly on this basis.

    Had Iran curbed its nuclear advancement and continued to comply with its IAEA obligations, Israel would have found it more challenging to justify any military action politically. In the same vein, if Iran had made quicker and greater progress in its nuclear talks with the Trump administration on reaching some form of new deal, this would also have made it more difficult for Israel to act.

    The combination of the IAEA declaration and the lack of acceptable progress in talks with the US clearly influenced Israeli decision making. So why did the Iranian regime not take more concrete steps in this direction?

    Iran’s nuclear ‘hedging’

    The answer goes to the heart of Iran’s deterrence posture. Alongside its conventional forces and its infamous axis of resistance, Iran has sought to leverage its nuclear programme for influence.

    Nearly ten years ago, we argued that Iran was engaged in a strategy of “nuclear hedging”. The value of this approach lies in the potential for a state to position itself relatively close to the bomb without incurring all the negative – including potentially military – consequences of a fully-fledged nuclear weapons programme, where the goal is to cross the threshold as quickly as possible.

    Yet hedging is a delicate balancing act that requires plausible deniability of weapons intent. A step too far can undermine any idea that the nuclear development is for civilian use, instead inviting military intervention.

    Conversely, too few steps towards a credible breakout capability and hedging has little value. For any coercive or deterrent benefit to be obtained, a state must be perceived by others as relatively close to having the bomb.

    With the deterioration of Iran’s regional power over the past year, the value to Tehran of its nuclear programme has become much greater. This may help to explain why Iran did not take firm steps to reduce external concerns about its nuclear intentions.

    Tehran is likely to have factored the cost of being seen to give in to external pressure on its nuclear programme. At home there is the risk that the regime’s hold on power could be weakened by capitulation to external pressure from the US, and Israel in particular. Regionally, the power costs would include losing valuable influence over other states across the Middle East.

    At the same time, the US government has changed its stance since the JCPOA deal was struck during Obama’s presidency in 2015, allowing Iran some small degree of enrichment capacity. The first Trump administration pulled the US out of the JCPOA in 2018 depicting it as a flawed agreement.

    In Donald Trump’s second term, his administration has continued to take a hard line, pushing for Iran to give up enrichment. From an Iranian perspective, the benefits of rolling back its capabilities failed to materialise.

    This is a rapidly evolving situation. But even at this early stage, this case demonstrates clearly the risks associated with Iran’s strategy of nuclear hedging.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Israeli aggression and Iranian nuclear brinkmanship made this confrontation all but inevitable – https://theconversation.com/israeli-aggression-and-iranian-nuclear-brinkmanship-made-this-confrontation-all-but-inevitable-259024

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Israel’s air strength is giving it a free hand over Iran

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Matthew Powell, Teaching Fellow in Strategic and Air Power Studies, University of Portsmouth

    Israel says it quickly gained air superiority over the Iranian capital, Tehran. Luciano Santandreu / Shutterstock

    Israel’s initial attack on Iranian nuclear and military facilities, alongside its assassination of top military officials and nuclear scientists, on June 13 has been followed by days of escalating strikes. Iran threatened “severe punishment” and quickly launched what were, in relative terms, smaller-scale missile attacks against Israeli territory.

    Israel’s military then expanded its assault on Iran, with the Israeli defence minister, Israel Katz, saying “Tehran will burn” if Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, “continues to fire missiles at the Israeli home front”. Israel hit dozens of targets in the Iranian capital, Tehran, on June 15, and has since issued evacuation orders for significant areas of the city.

    The exchange of attacks has put the varying military and defensive capabilities of Israel and Iran on stark display. In particular, it appears that Israel has been able to exercise a high degree of air superiority over Iran.

    Israel was able to use more than 200 manned aircraft in its initial attack, with its air force reportedly suffering zero casualties. Within 48 hours of starting the conflict, Israel said it had gained control of the skies above Tehran.

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    This superiority has largely been gained through concerted efforts over the past year to destroy or degrade Iran’s air defence systems. In October 2024, for example, Israeli strikes targeted air defences protecting Iranian oil and gas facilities as well as those defending sites linked to Tehran’s nuclear programme and ballistic missile production.

    With a weakened air defence system, the Iranian military has been less able to prevent missile attacks and Israeli aircraft from entering its air space. This has given the Israeli military greater freedom of action in terms of the targets it chooses to attack – and greater freedom of choice when planning operations.

    Israeli aircraft have been dropping bombs from within Iran, instead of relying on long-range missiles. Iran, on the other hand, has been restricted to using its arsenal of missiles to strike Israel from distance.

    Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, made reference to the strategic importance of this aerial superiority on June 16. While confirming evacuation orders for the Iranian capital, he said: “The Israeli air force controls the skies over Tehran. This changes the entire campaign.”

    Netanyahu later did not rule out killing Khamenei, saying it would “end the conflict”. Katz repeated the threat the following day, warning Khamenei of a “fate similar to Saddam Hussein”.

    Iran has been far less effective than Israel in its response – which is no great surprise. Israel says it has destroyed “one-third” of the surface-to-surface missile launchers possessed by Iran. And the majority of the missiles and drones that have been fired by Iran into Israeli territory have been intercepted before striking their targets.

    But the strength of Israel’s so-called iron dome air defence system has, somewhat counter-intuitively, also offered Iran some advantages. In order to maintain the Iranian regime’s own internal security and stability, as well as its wider political aims of being a regional power, Tehran had to respond with a certain level of force.

    However, Iran is also fully aware of the protection the iron dome provides to the Israeli population. The Iranian government will still be able to point to the few missiles and drones that have reached their target, and the destruction they have caused, as evidence that it is able to project its power beyond its own borders and respond in the face of aggressive Israeli action.

    It is able to do so in the knowledge that the level of destruction and deaths of Israeli civilians, which so far stands at around 24 people, will be limited to such a degree that any further escalation by Israel will be seen as unjustified by the wider international community.

    However, as the destruction and death toll rises, it will become harder for either government to follow this path of logic. Iran has already criticised the Israeli military’s claim that it has conducted strikes in a precise manner and only against military targets, reporting that over 200 civilians have been killed in the strikes.

    It is here where mistakes and missteps could see events spiral out of control. This may lead to a wider and larger-scale conflict that neither side wants but is unable to prevent occurring. Iran, for its part, is reportedly signalling that it is seeking an end to hostilities and the resumption of talks over its nuclear programme.

    Wider consequences

    If the conflict does escalate, Israel will probably target Iranian military production facilities. The Israeli military has already issued a warning on social media, telling the Iranian people to stay away from all weapons manufacturing facilities.

    Other targets may include nuclear installations – though at least one, the heavily fortified Fordow nuclear site in central Iran, will not be targeted. Fordow is hidden in a mountain, with centrifuges located possibly as deep as 80 metres underground.

    Only the US military has the hardware capable of reaching this facility, so attacking the site would require US intervention. This is something the current Washington administration has proved reluctant to do, so far.

    But any escalation could have ramifications beyond the Middle East. Iran has supplied Shahed-type drones to Russia for use in its war in Ukraine, with them becoming a key part of Russia’s military strategy. However, Russia is now largely producing its own supplies of Shahed drones internally.

    A much more likely effect is the prolonging of the war in Ukraine as international attention shifts to de-escalating tensions between Israel and Iran. The international community has focused on trying to prevent further attacks, with the US president, Donald Trump, advocating for talks rather than more strikes.

    On June 15, Trump wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social: “Iran and Israel should make a deal, and will make a deal, just like I got India and Pakistan to make.” Whether Israel and Iran take heed of his request will become clear over the coming days and weeks.

    Matthew Powell 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. Israel’s air strength is giving it a free hand over Iran – https://theconversation.com/israels-air-strength-is-giving-it-a-free-hand-over-iran-259073

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Could faecal transplants cause long-term health problems?

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Georgios Efthimiou, Lecturer in Microbiology, University of Hull

    Getting ready to make some poo pills. microgen/Shutterstock.com

    Keeping a healthy mix of friendly microbes in the gut – known as eubiosis – is crucial for good health. When that delicate balance is thrown off – often by antibiotics, diet or illness – the result can be a range of issues, from digestive problems to more serious conditions like Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and even neurological and metabolic disorders.

    One increasingly popular way to try to restore gut health is through faecal microbiota transplantation. This involves taking stool from a healthy person, isolating the beneficial microbes and putting them in a capsule (jokingly referred to as “crapsules” or “poo pills”). The hope is that the beneficial microbes in the pill will establish themselves in the patient’s gut, thereby improving microbial diversity and function.

    Faecal transplants have been used to treat a wide array of conditions, including irritable bowel syndrome, Parkinson’s disease, obesity and Type 2 diabetes.

    Although generally viewed as safe and effective, a new international study published in the journal Cell has raised some concerns. The scientists found that when the donor’s microbes do not properly match the recipient’s gut environment – a situation they describe as a “mismatch” – the treatment can disrupt the body’s metabolic and immune systems, possibly with long-lasting consequences.

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    The term “mismatch” comes from the world of organ transplants, where the recipient’s body rejects the donor organ. In this case, the problem is that microbes from the donor’s large intestine may not be suitable for other parts of the recipient’s gut, especially the small intestine, where the microbial makeup is very different.

    To test this, researchers gave antibiotics to mice to disturb their natural gut microbes, then treated them with faecal transplants. They also tried transplanting microbes specifically from different parts of the small intestine. The mice were monitored for one to three months to track changes.

    A diverse microbiome is critical for wellbeing.
    Helena Nechaeva/Shutterstock.com

    Wrong microbes in the wrong place

    They found that faecal transplants often led to regional mismatches – the wrong microbes ending up in the wrong place. This altered the mix and behaviour of the gut microbes in unexpected ways, disrupting energy balance and other functions.

    Biopsies from the gut and liver showed significant, lasting changes in how certain genes – particularly those linked to metabolism and immunity – were being expressed.

    The study did not specify exactly what kind of health issues might result from these genetic shifts. But the researchers are urging doctors to take greater care when using faecal transplants, particularly when it comes to dose, timing and possible side-effects.

    There may, however, be a better way forward. A newer method known as the “omni microbial approach” involves transferring microbes from all parts of the intestine, not just the colon. This could help recreate a more balanced and natural gut environment, avoiding the local mismatches seen in standard faecal transplants.

    There is also growing interest in techniques that aim to “terraform” the gut: deliberately reshaping specific regions with carefully selected microbes to restore normal function.

    This new research has certainly sparked debate around the safety of faecal transplants. But with alternative approaches already being developed, there is real hope that the benefits of gut-based treatments can still be delivered, without the risks.

    Georgios Efthimiou 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. Could faecal transplants cause long-term health problems? – https://theconversation.com/could-faecal-transplants-cause-long-term-health-problems-258643

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Declining soil health is a global concern – here’s how AI could help

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Nima Shokri, Professor, Applied Engineering, United Nations University

    The arid Loess plateau landscape of northern China. yang1498/Shutterstock

    One-third of the Earth’s land surface is already degraded. The UN estimates that more than 2.6 billion people are harmed by land degradation, with countries losing up to US$10.6 trillion (£7.8 trillion) a year because of damage to “ecosystem services”, including the benefits people get from nature such as water and food.

    Unhealthy soil is a major contributor to land degradation. This can lead to loss of biodiversity, harm plants and animals, cause sand and dust storms and affect crop yields.

    These consequences affect the regulation of the planet’s climate and water cycle, socioeconomic activities, food security and forced migration of people.

    Emerging smart technologies such as artificial intelligence, satellite remote sensing and big data analysis offer a chance to protect our soils. These tools can help track soil health in real time. This will support farmers, landowners, government agencies and local communities in making better decisions to care for the soil.

    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.

    As a professor of geo-hydroinformatics – a field that combines geoscience, hydrology and information technology – my research focuses on using AI, algorithms and advanced modelling tools to better analyse and predict soil health.

    My team and I have developed the first global map of soil salinisation (accumulation of salt in soil) under various climate scenarios using AI-powered techniques. Soil salinisation is one of the leading contributors to soil degradation and can happen naturally or because of human activities, such as using salty irrigation water or poor drainage systems.

    With increasing climate uncertainty, our models help identify regions most vulnerable to salinisation. Our AI-driven analysis predicts that by the year 2100, dryland regions in South America, southern and western Australia, Mexico, the southwestern US and South Africa will be key hotspots of soil salinisation.

    In another key study, we used satellite data, AI and big data tools to investigate the interaction between soil salinity and soil organic carbon – an important part of healthy soil that stores nutrients, holds water and supports plants.

    Part of this analysis revealed a general negative correlation between salinity levels and soil organic carbon content. As salinity increased, we found that the soil organic carbon content tended to decrease.

    Our two studies underscore the transformative potential of AI technologies and big data analytics in understanding soil degradation. With a deeper understanding, land can be better managed through more effective mitigation policies and sustainable land use planning.

    Restoration at scale

    Large-scale land restoration can transform degraded soils. In the Loess plateau in China, centuries of deforestation and unsustainable farming have led to significant ecological challenges. Loess soils (a type not limited to this location in China, formed essentially by the accumulation of wind-blown dust) are easily eroded because they are made up of fine and loose particles.

    Degradation here has led to more frequent floods, droughts and dust storms because soil degradation is often associated with compaction. This reduces the ability of soil to absorb and hold water.

    In the 1990s, this prompted the Chinese government to invest in reforestation and sustainable agriculture. This led to the landmark Loess plateau watershed rehabilitation project, with the main goal of boosting farming and incomes on 15,600km² of land in the Yellow River’s tributary area. The total project cost of US$150 million, partly funded by the World Bank, was approved in 1994.

    Elsewhere, in the Tigray region of Ethiopia, the EthioTrees project was launched in 2016 to tackle land degradation through community-based reforestation, enclosures to limit grazing, and reinvestment of funds generated through climate finance mechanisms.

    Tree planting and other efforts have transformed the Tigray region of Ethiopia into a more fertile landscape.
    Jon Duncan/Shutterstock

    Despite challenges including drought and limited financial resources, these large-scale restoration projects have transformed the landscape and lives of people living there.

    But the Loess plateau and Tigray projects have been complex and expensive. A lot of coordination between people across huge regions and in different sectors is required to ensure a successful, integrated approach. AI can take these successful but resource-intensive restoration efforts and help scale them up.

    I’m also involved with a European Commission-funded project called AI4SoilHealth, which aims to advance the use of AI to monitor and quantify soil health across Europe. This project shows how data-driven initiatives can support more sustainable land management policies by providing timely, actionable information to governments, farmers and other stakeholders such as landowners, agribusiness companies and local communities.

    By integrating satellite imagery with accurate data about soil properties in different locations, AI can help develop robust, scalable models that cross local boundaries. Knowing where best to invest money, resources and effort in scaling up soil health solutions will help protect people, businesses and ecosystems from extreme events in the future.

    Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?

    Get a weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 45,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

    Nima Shokri receives funding from European Commission for the AI4SoilHealth project.

    – ref. Declining soil health is a global concern – here’s how AI could help – https://theconversation.com/declining-soil-health-is-a-global-concern-heres-how-ai-could-help-258847

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: The Inca string code that reveals Peru’s climate history

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Sabine Hyland, Professor of Social Anthropology, University of St Andrews

    The author studying specimens. Author provided, CC BY

    Five centuries ago, the Incas ruled the western half of South America with the help of a unique form of writing based on coloured and knotted cords. These strings, called khipus, recorded major events, tracked economic matters, and even encoded biographies and poetry, according to the Spanish chroniclers who witnessed their use.

    Most khipus have knots that indicate numbers that we can “read”, but we’ve lost the ability to interpret what those numbers mean. Recent discoveries are bringing us closer to deciphering these mysterious strings. In a remote community set high in the Peruvian Andes, my team and I have found khipus that were used by villagers to track climate change.

    Last year, I was invited to study the centuries-old khipus preserved in the village of Santa Leonor de Jucul in the Peruvian Andes. The 97 khipus conserved by villagers include the largest khipu in the world, which is over 68 metres long.

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    An elderly ritual specialist, Don Lenin Margarito, told me that the khipus recorded the annual ritual offerings given at different sacred places in the surrounding landscape. Miniature pink ritual bags stuffed with coca leaves and tobacco hang from the cords, representing the sacred purpose of these ancient strings. Rather than communicating through knots, the Jucul khipus record data with different kinds of tassels.

    For example, a tassel made of fuzzy beige llama tails indicates that an offering was performed at the sacred lake of Paccha-cocha, high in the mountains. The fluffiness of the llama tails is like a rain cloud, Don Lenin explained, representing the fact that offerings given at Paccha-cocha are thought to bring rain.

    Different kinds of tassels indicate offerings made at other ritual sites, each one of which is thought to have its own effect on the local environment. Rituals involving the spirits of the dead, for instance, are thought to halt flooding.

    If you look at one of the Jucul khipus and you see that there were a lot of offerings to Paccha-cocha that year, you know that this was a time of drought since the offerings were given to increase the rain.

    When speaking with community members, we learned that the khipus used to be kept in public so that they could be consulted by the elders. Andean people of the past looked at these khipus as a record of the climate, and they studied them to understand the patterns of what was going on, just as we do today.

    New methods

    New methods for obtaining precise radiocarbon dates for khipus have been pioneered by a team headed by khipu researcher Ivan Ghezzi.

    Efforts are now underway to get accurate radiocarbon dates for the Jucul khipus, which will provide a chronology of these climate-based offerings.

    If we can chart the khipus and then date them, we will have a record of climate data from this region that was created by the local Andean people themselves. In their current state, the Jucul khipus are threatened by insects, mould and rodents. The British Museum recently granted funding to clean, preserve and display the khipus so that these precious objects from the Andean past will persevere into the future.

    There are only five villages in the Peruvian Andes where ancestral khipus are kept. These rare archives offer tantalising clues about how khipus encoded information.

    Research in other villages with living khipu traditions has led to breakthroughs in the significance of khipu colour patterns and phonology. Many Inka khipus possess tassels which we believe may reveal the subject matter of the associated khipu. If we could unlock the significance of the tassels on the Jucul khipus, it might allow us to interpret more precisely the meaning of Inca cords.

    Sabine Hyland receives funding from the British Academy, the British Museum, the National Endowment for the Humanities (USA), the John Simon Guggenheim Foundation, the Leverhulme Trust, and the National Geographic Society.

    – ref. The Inca string code that reveals Peru’s climate history – https://theconversation.com/the-inca-string-code-that-reveals-perus-climate-history-258528

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Anniversary Statement: St Helena Airport

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Anniversary Statement: St Helena Airport

    Investigation of go-arounds flown at St Helena Airport on 17 June 2023 and subsequently

    This statement provides an update on the AAIB investigation into a number of go-arounds flown at St Helena Airport on 17 June 2023 and subsequently. 

    The AAIB has determined that these go-arounds did not constitute serious incidents, as defined, but that there are actions that may potentially improve the safety of operations by aircraft to the airport.  These include possible enhancements to runway marking, weather reporting and diversion procedures. 

    The report is nearing completion and will be published by the AAIB.

    Updates to this page

    Published 17 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK turns the screw on Putin as allies unite behind Ukraine

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    UK turns the screw on Putin as allies unite behind Ukraine

    The Prime Minister has ramped up economic pressure on Russia with a raft of new sanctions.

    • 30 new UK sanctions hit Russian finance, military and energy targets
    • Prime Minister ramps up pressure at G7 Summit as Putin continues to avoid peace.
    • Comes after further devastating Russian attacks on Kyiv in the last few hours

    The Prime Minister has ramped up economic pressure on Russia with a raft of new sanctions, as he galvanises support behind Ukraine at the G7 Summit in Canada today.  

    The 30 targets strike across Russia’s financial, military and energy sectors in response to Putin’s continued aggression. His repeated refusals to engage seriously in peace has redoubled the UK’s resolve to apply a stranglehold on the Russian economy. 

    The new sanctions crack down further on Putin’s shadow fleet, targeting 20 of his oil tankers. The UK is also tightening the net around those who enable Putin’s illicit oil trade, sanctioning Orion Star Group LLC and Valegro LLC-FZ, for their role in crewing and managing shadow fleet vessels.  

    Today’s action also targets Russia’s military capabilities, hitting the military agency leading the development of Russia’s underwater intelligence gathering operations (GUGI), protecting the UK from attacks on subsea infrastructure, restricting Putin’s war machine and increasing our security at home. 

    In addition, two UK residents Vladimir Pristoupa and Olech Tkacz operating a shadowy network of shell companies, have now been sanctioned for collectively funnelling over $120 million of electronics, many of which are on the Common High Priority goods list, to Russia. 

    These individuals, who live and own businesses in the UK, are responsible for supplying Russia with high tech electronics which are crucial to Putin’s war effort. The UK will not tolerate those who enable Putin to wage his illegal war, and today’s sanctions demonstrate there is nowhere to hide. 

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

    “These sanctions strike right at the heart of Putin’s war machine, choking off his ability to continue his barbaric war in Ukraine. 

    “We know that our sanctions are hitting hard, so while Putin shows total disregard for peace, we will not hesitate to keep tightening the screws.

    “The threat posed by Russia cannot be underestimated, so I’m determined to take every step necessary to protect our national security and keep our country safe and secure.”

    Foreign Secretary, David Lammy said: 

    “With his continued attacks and needless bloodshed, it is clear that Putin has no interest in peace. 

    “Today’s sanctions show we will systematically dismantle his dangerous shadow fleet, starve his war machine, and support Ukraine to defend itself.     

    “The UK and our allies will not sit idly by whilst Putin’s cowardly inaction continues to cost lives.”  

    The UK also plans to move with partners to tighten the Oil Price Cap to hurt Russia’s oil revenues, while ensuring stability of the energy market.  

    We are determined to hit Putin where it hurts by striking at his oil revenues – the single most important source of funding for his barbaric war.

    Additional infomation

    • GUGI is the common name for the Main Directorate of Deep-Sea Research within Russia’s Ministry of Defence. 

    • A full list of today’s targets can be found here

    Updates to this page

    Published 17 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: FEHD to take disciplinary sanctions

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    The Food & Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today said that staff members found guilty of a criminal offence will not only be subject to court sentencing but will also face disciplinary sanctions by the department in accordance with the established civil service disciplinary mechanism.  

     

    The FEHD made the remarks following the District Court’s sentencing of eight former Principal Hawker Control Officers for conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office.

     

    It emphasised that it attaches great importance to staff discipline and integrity and will not condone any misconduct or illegal behaviour.

     

    When conducting civil service recruitment exercises, civil servants must strictly comply with the relevant policies and procedures, and ensure that the recruitment process is conducted according to the principles of fairness, transparency, and merits.

          

    The FEHD said it will seek advice from the Civil Service Bureau to determine appropriate follow-up actions following the court judgment, including whether to consider cancelling, suspending, or reducing the pension benefits of the officers concerned under Section 29 of the Pension Benefits Ordinance.

          

    Following the incident, the FEHD has reviewed the recruitment procedures for Assistant Hawker Control Officers and introduced refinements to the modus operandi and the monitoring mechanism.

     

    Such enhancements include adjusting the representation of relevant grades in the recruitment boards to enhance objectivity and diversity in the selection process, and arranging for supervisory staff to observe interviews on an irregular basis.

     

    In addition, integrity training has been strengthened for enforcement and supervisory officers at all levels.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI: MKS Named in U.S. News & World Report’s 2025-2026 Best Companies to Work For

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ANDOVER, Mass., June 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MKS Inc. (NASDAQ: MKSI) (“MKS”), a global provider of enabling technologies that transform our world, was again recognized by U.S. News & World Report (“U.S. News”) as one of the 2025-2026 Best Companies to Work For. MKS was rated as a top company in the Manufacturing and Agriculture Industries category based on factors contributing to job seekers’ decision-making when choosing a workplace that best meets their needs.

    “Receiving this prestigious recognition for the third consecutive year is a testament to the innovative work we do and the supportive organizational climate we have cultivated,” said John T.C. Lee, President and Chief Executive Officer at MKS. “Our success rests on our ability to attract and retain highly talented professionals who are committed to advancing technology and serving as invaluable partners to our customers. We are grateful for this acknowledgement of our efforts to provide engaging and meaningful careers for our employees.”

    U.S. News’ ratings reflect the evolving sentiments that factor into employee decision-making when choosing the “best” company to work for. The ratings then analyze that sentiment against other factors, including quality of pay and benefits, work-life balance and flexibility, job and company stability, physical and psychological comfort, belongingness and esteem, and career opportunities and professional development.

    “Choosing a company to establish yourself or advance your career is a crucial decision for anyone,” said Carly Chase, Vice President of Careers at U.S. News & World Report. “The 2025-2026 list features companies that excelled across various metrics, contributing to a positive work environment and the daily employee experience.”

    To calculate the annual U.S. News Best Companies to Work For list, U.S. News only considered the largest 5,000 publicly traded companies as of January 2025 that had more than 75 Glassdoor reviews written between 2021-2025. Relevant data, including employee sentiment and regulatory enforcement data, was gathered from partners Revelio Labs, Good Jobs First’s Violation Tracker and QUODD to calculate the six metrics used in the list. For further details on how the metric scores were calculated, see the methodology.

    For more information on the Best Companies to Work For, review the FAQs and explore Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) using #BCTWF.

    About MKS Inc.
    MKS Inc. (NASDAQ: MKSI) enables technologies that transform our world. We deliver foundational technology solutions to leading edge semiconductor manufacturing, electronics and packaging, and specialty industrial applications. We apply our broad science and engineering capabilities to create instruments, subsystems, systems, process control solutions and specialty chemicals technology that improve process performance, optimize productivity and enable unique innovations for many of the world’s leading technology and industrial companies. Our solutions are critical to addressing the challenges of miniaturization and complexity in advanced device manufacturing by enabling increased power, speed, feature enhancement, and optimized connectivity. Our solutions are also critical to addressing ever-increasing performance requirements across a wide array of specialty industrial applications. Additional information can be found at www.mks.com.

    About U.S. News & World Report
    U.S. News & World Report is the global leader for journalism that empowers consumers, citizens, business leaders and policy officials to make confident decisions in all aspects of their lives and communities. A multifaceted media company, U.S. News provides unbiased rankings, independent reporting and analysis, and consumer advice to millions of people on USNews.com each month. A pillar in Washington for more than 90 years, U.S. News is the trusted home for in-depth and exclusive insights on education, health, politics, the economy, personal finance, travel, automobiles, real estate, careers and consumer products and services.

    Contacts:

    Bill Casey
    Vice President, Marketing
    Telephone: +1 (630) 995-6384
    Email: press@mksinst.com

    Kelly Kerry, Partner
    Kekst CNC
    Email: kerry.kelly@kekstcnc.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: MKS Named in U.S. News & World Report’s 2025-2026 Best Companies to Work For

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ANDOVER, Mass., June 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MKS Inc. (NASDAQ: MKSI) (“MKS”), a global provider of enabling technologies that transform our world, was again recognized by U.S. News & World Report (“U.S. News”) as one of the 2025-2026 Best Companies to Work For. MKS was rated as a top company in the Manufacturing and Agriculture Industries category based on factors contributing to job seekers’ decision-making when choosing a workplace that best meets their needs.

    “Receiving this prestigious recognition for the third consecutive year is a testament to the innovative work we do and the supportive organizational climate we have cultivated,” said John T.C. Lee, President and Chief Executive Officer at MKS. “Our success rests on our ability to attract and retain highly talented professionals who are committed to advancing technology and serving as invaluable partners to our customers. We are grateful for this acknowledgement of our efforts to provide engaging and meaningful careers for our employees.”

    U.S. News’ ratings reflect the evolving sentiments that factor into employee decision-making when choosing the “best” company to work for. The ratings then analyze that sentiment against other factors, including quality of pay and benefits, work-life balance and flexibility, job and company stability, physical and psychological comfort, belongingness and esteem, and career opportunities and professional development.

    “Choosing a company to establish yourself or advance your career is a crucial decision for anyone,” said Carly Chase, Vice President of Careers at U.S. News & World Report. “The 2025-2026 list features companies that excelled across various metrics, contributing to a positive work environment and the daily employee experience.”

    To calculate the annual U.S. News Best Companies to Work For list, U.S. News only considered the largest 5,000 publicly traded companies as of January 2025 that had more than 75 Glassdoor reviews written between 2021-2025. Relevant data, including employee sentiment and regulatory enforcement data, was gathered from partners Revelio Labs, Good Jobs First’s Violation Tracker and QUODD to calculate the six metrics used in the list. For further details on how the metric scores were calculated, see the methodology.

    For more information on the Best Companies to Work For, review the FAQs and explore Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) using #BCTWF.

    About MKS Inc.
    MKS Inc. (NASDAQ: MKSI) enables technologies that transform our world. We deliver foundational technology solutions to leading edge semiconductor manufacturing, electronics and packaging, and specialty industrial applications. We apply our broad science and engineering capabilities to create instruments, subsystems, systems, process control solutions and specialty chemicals technology that improve process performance, optimize productivity and enable unique innovations for many of the world’s leading technology and industrial companies. Our solutions are critical to addressing the challenges of miniaturization and complexity in advanced device manufacturing by enabling increased power, speed, feature enhancement, and optimized connectivity. Our solutions are also critical to addressing ever-increasing performance requirements across a wide array of specialty industrial applications. Additional information can be found at www.mks.com.

    About U.S. News & World Report
    U.S. News & World Report is the global leader for journalism that empowers consumers, citizens, business leaders and policy officials to make confident decisions in all aspects of their lives and communities. A multifaceted media company, U.S. News provides unbiased rankings, independent reporting and analysis, and consumer advice to millions of people on USNews.com each month. A pillar in Washington for more than 90 years, U.S. News is the trusted home for in-depth and exclusive insights on education, health, politics, the economy, personal finance, travel, automobiles, real estate, careers and consumer products and services.

    Contacts:

    Bill Casey
    Vice President, Marketing
    Telephone: +1 (630) 995-6384
    Email: press@mksinst.com

    Kelly Kerry, Partner
    Kekst CNC
    Email: kerry.kelly@kekstcnc.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Mattermost Launches Enterprise Advanced: Multi-Domain Operations for Defense, Intelligence, and Critical Infrastructure

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Palo Alto, CA, June 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Mattermost, the Intelligent Mission Environment that delivers chat operations, secure collaboration workflows, and multi-domain operations for mission-critical work in defense, government, and critical infrastructure, today announced the launch of Enterprise Advanced—a new product tier purpose-built for organizations operating at the highest levels of security and mission complexity.

    Built for defense, intelligence, cybersecurity, and critical infrastructure, Enterprise Advanced delivers sovereign control, secure collaboration, and AI-ready capabilities to accelerate operations and enforce Zero Trust security. The platform protects sensitive data, streamlines mission workflows, and ensures compliance with the most rigorous cybersecurity standards.

    As threats grow and operations become more complex, Enterprise Advanced goes beyond communication—securing, automating, and aligning it with national security mandates. It unifies teams with advanced access controls, real-time workflow automation, and integrated incident response to drive mission success.

    “Enterprise Advanced marks a fundamental breakthrough in how mission-critical operations are secured and executed,” said Jason Blais, Mattermost’s VP of Product and Program Management. “We designed this platform to meet the uncompromising demands of defense, intelligence, and cybersecurity teams in both government and enterprise. It empowers them to operate with enhanced security, greater agility, and unwavering confidence in even the most hostile environments.”

    Federal government, intelligence, defense agencies, and commercial enterprises in critical infrastructure sectors are undergoing rapid transformation to meet evolving cybersecurity mandates and operational threats. As the demand for secure, compliant, and resilient communications accelerates, Mattermost delivers with Enterprise Advanced, offering cutting-edge capabilities including Zero Trust-aligned security controls, classified and sensitive information controls, and advanced workflows for mission-critical and high-stakes operations.

    Key Capabilities of Enterprise Advanced:

    • Zero Trust by Design: Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC), Identity-Centric Access Management (ICAM), and need-to-know segmentation for trusted data separation across environments.
    • Sovereign Data Protection: Built-in data spillage handling, channel classifications, burn-on-read messaging, and post-quantum cryptography for classified and sensitive workloads.
    • AI-Ready Mission-Critical Workflow Automation: Real-time incident response coordination, cross-domain orchestration, and AI-enabled actions for rapid decision-making under pressure.

    “Enterprise Advanced is engineered for the operators who manage complexity under pressure,” said Pavel Zeman, SVP of Engineering at Mattermost. “From cyber defense to real-world mission execution, this platform ensures secure collaboration, sovereign control, and seamless automation—all in one system built to operate where failure is not an option.”

    The new tier will be available in July 2025, with continuous enhancements planned throughout the year, delivering a leap forward in how governments and enterprises collaborate on mission-critical work in high-stakes environments. For more information about Mattermost Enterprise Advanced and its capabilities, please visit our website or contact our sales team.

    About Mattermost

    Mattermost is the Intelligent Mission Environment that delivers chat operations, secure collaboration workflows, and multi-domain operations for mission-critical work in defense, government, and critical infrastructure. Trusted by the U.S. Department of Defense and Fortune 500s, our open core platform powers focused, adaptable, secure, resilient operations across the most demanding environments. The platform supports MissionOps, DevSecOps, and Cyber and Defense with secure messaging, file sharing, audio, screen sharing, workflow automation, and AI assistance—available in self-hosted and single-tenant SaaS deployments. Built on an open core and shaped by 4,000+ contributors, Mattermost is co-developed with the world’s top security experts to meet the most demanding operational needs. Learn more at mattermost.com.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Fortinet Strengthens Code-to-Cloud Security with CNAPP Enhancements and Launches Expanded Solution Availability in AWS Marketplace

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SUNNYVALE, Calif., June 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —

    News Summary
    Fortinet® (NASDAQ: FTNT), the global cybersecurity leader driving the convergence of networking and security, today announced powerful updates to Lacework FortiCNAPP, making it easier than ever for customers to secure applications and workloads across hybrid and multi-cloud environments. The company also announced that the FortiAppSec Cloud service, FortiMail Workspace Security, FortiNDR Cloud, FortiSIEM, and Fortinet Incident Response services are now available in AWS Marketplace, a digital catalog that helps you find, buy, deploy, and manage software, data products, and professional services from thousands of vendors.

    “Fortinet is committed to accelerating secure cloud transformation for our customers,” said Nirav Shah, Senior Vice President, Products and Solutions at Fortinet. “By making more of our services available in AWS Marketplace and enhancing leading cloud-native solutions like Lacework FortiCNAPP and FortiAppSec Cloud, we’re making it easier than ever for organizations to protect every cloud workload, application, and network edge.”

    Delivering Smarter Protection, Faster Response and Remediation

    Fortinet has enhanced Lacework FortiCNAPP to deliver even stronger protection for cloud-native applications across their entire life cycle. These updates reinforce FortiCNAPP as an industry-leading, cloud-native security platform designed to deliver faster detection, deeper insights, and simplified operations at scale.

    • Real-Time CloudTrail Alerting – Enables near-instant detection of critical activity, such as compromised credentials or anomalous API behavior, by reducing AWS CloudTrail alert latency from 24 hours to under 15 minutes.
    • Explorer (Security Graph) – Provides a visual, interactive view of attack paths and asset relationships, making pinpointing and investigating exposures, such as internet-facing vulnerabilities, easier.
    • Agentless Windows Scanning – Supports agentless scanning for Windows workloads across any cloud, identifying vulnerabilities and secrets without requiring software deployment. This is ideal for expanding visibility and compliance with minimal overhead.
    • Fleet Management – Delivers detailed visibility across large environments into agent inventory, health, and deployment status, helping teams monitor coverage and optimize cloud security.

    In addition, Fortinet expands its cloud services for web applications and APIs by introducing new service bundles that include Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST), CDN, and SoC-as-a-Service, in addition to its AI-powered zero-day threat detection, analysis, and remediation to protect web applications and APIs.

    Full-Stack Protection Now Available in AWS Marketplace
    Fortinet has expanded the availability of its cloud security portfolio in AWS Marketplace. This provides Amazon Web Services (AWS) customers with the ability to streamline the purchase and management of more Fortinet offerings within their AWS Marketplace account. By deploying solutions on AWS, Fortinet makes it easier for customers to deploy protection, streamline procurement, and apply AWS Enterprise Discount Program (EDP) commitments.

    Services now available in AWS Marketplace include:

    • FortiAppSec Cloud – Unified web application and API protection (WAAP) with web application firewall (WAF), bot management, API security, and DDoS mitigation
    • FortiMail Workspace Security – End-to-end SaaS protection across email, browsers, and collaboration tools to stop advanced threats in platforms like Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Slack, and Teams with a built-in, 24×7 managed incident response service to accelerate threat containment and lighten the load on SOC teams
    • FortiNDR Cloud – AI-driven threat detection optimized for distributed cloud infrastructure
    • FortiSIEM – Scalable log management and incident response for complex environments

    Fortinet has achieved the AWS Security Incident Response Specialization, which recognizes that Fortinet provides a streamlined incident response solution backed by AWS security response experts through AWS Security Incident Response.

    The capabilities of Fortinet’s specialized cloud consulting and FortiGuard Incident Response Services teams help AWS customers strengthen their cloud security posture. Fortinet Incident Response Services are now available in AWS Marketplace, offering expert support backed by deep integration with AWS and the Fortinet Security Fabric. This underscores Fortinet’s commitment to supporting customers with end-to-end security expertise—from proactive risk assessments to prompt incident handling—backed by deep integration with AWS-native tools and FortiGuard threat intelligence.

    A Strategic Shift toward Unified Cloud-Native Security

    This launch reinforces Fortinet’s commitment to simplifying cloud security by consolidating fragmented, non-integrated solutions into a unified cloud security platform. Rather than relying on isolated point products, Fortinet delivers integrated solutions across application, network, and user layers designed to streamline management and scale efficiently in any environment.

    By unifying capabilities like WAAP, network detection and response (NDR), security information and event management (SIEM), cloud-native application protection platform (CNAPP), and workspace security under a single vendor and deployment model, organizations gain comprehensive cloud protection along with greater speed, cost-efficiency, and operational clarity.

    For those with cloud spend commitments and desire to optimize their cloud security investments, particularly in dynamic environments, Fortinet FortiFlex offers a flexible, daily usage-based licensing model that supports rapid deployment, elastic scaling, and seamless drawdown of existing cloud commitments, helping organizations protect what they need, when they need it, while only paying for what they use.

    Additional Resources

    About Fortinet
    Fortinet (Nasdaq: FTNT) is a driving force in the evolution of cybersecurity and the convergence of networking and security. Our mission is to secure people, devices, and data everywhere, and today we deliver cybersecurity everywhere our customers need it with the largest integrated portfolio of over 50 enterprise-grade products. Well over half a million customers trust Fortinet’s solutions, which are among the most deployed, most patented, and most validated in the industry. The Fortinet Training Institute, one of the largest and broadest training programs in the industry, is dedicated to making cybersecurity training and new career opportunities available to everyone. Collaboration with esteemed organizations from both the public and private sectors, including Computer Emergency Response Teams (“CERTS”), government entities, and academia, is a fundamental aspect of Fortinet’s commitment to enhance cyber resilience globally. FortiGuard Labs, Fortinet’s elite threat intelligence and research organization, develops and utilizes leading-edge machine learning and AI technologies to provide customers with timely and consistently top-rated protection and actionable threat intelligence. Learn more at https://www.fortinet.com, the Fortinet Blog, and FortiGuard Labs.

    Copyright © 2025 Fortinet, Inc. All rights reserved. The symbols ® and ™ denote respectively federally registered trademarks and common law trademarks of Fortinet, Inc., its subsidiaries and affiliates. Fortinet’s trademarks include, but are not limited to, the following: Fortinet, the Fortinet logo, FortiGate, FortiOS, FortiGuard, FortiCare, FortiAnalyzer, FortiManager, FortiASIC, FortiClient, FortiCloud, FortiMail, FortiSandbox, FortiADC, FortiAI, FortiAIOps, FortiAgent, FortiAntenna, FortiAP, FortiAPCam, FortiAuthenticator, FortiCache, FortiCall, FortiCam, FortiCamera, FortiCarrier, FortiCASB, FortiCentral, FortiCNP, FortiConnect, FortiController, FortiConverter, FortiCSPM, FortiCWP, FortiDAST, FortiDB, FortiDDoS, FortiDeceptor, FortiDeploy, FortiDevSec, FortiDLP, FortiEdge, FortiEDR, FortiExplorer, FortiExtender, FortiFirewall, FortiFlex FortiFone, FortiGSLB, FortiGuest, FortiHypervisor, FortiInsight, FortiIsolator, FortiLAN, FortiLink, FortiMonitor, FortiNAC, FortiNDR, FortiPAM, FortiPenTest, FortiPhish, FortiPoint, FortiPolicy, FortiPortal, FortiPresence, FortiProxy, FortiRecon, FortiRecorder, FortiSASE, FortiScanner, FortiSDNConnector, FortiSIEM, FortiSMS, FortiSOAR, FortiSRA, FortiStack, FortiSwitch, FortiTester, FortiToken, FortiTrust, FortiVoice, FortiWAN, FortiWeb, FortiWiFi, FortiWLC, FortiWLM, FortiXDR and Lacework FortiCNAPP. Other trademarks belong to their respective owners. Fortinet has not independently verified statements or certifications herein attributed to third parties and Fortinet does not independently endorse such statements. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, nothing herein constitutes a warranty, guarantee, contract, binding specification or other binding commitment by Fortinet or any indication of intent related to a binding commitment, and performance and other specification information herein may be unique to certain environments.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Mercurity Fintech Partners with Franklin Templeton to Advance Real-World Asset Tokenization with BENJI Tokens and FOBXX Fund

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    New York, NY, June 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Mercurity Fintech Holding Inc. (the “Company,” “we,” “us,” “our company,” or “MFH”) (NASDAQ: MFH), a digital fintech group, today announced a strategic partnership with Franklin Templeton, a global investment management organization managing over $1.53 trillion in assets as of April 30, 2025. This collaboration will integrate Franklin Templeton’s BENJI token and the Franklin OnChain U.S. Government Money Fund (FOBXX) into Mercurity’s expanding platform for tokenized real-world assets (RWAs).

    Created by Franklin Templeton, BENJI is a blockchain token that gives investors direct access to FOBXX, a regulated U.S. money market fund. Unlike traditional investments, BENJI combines the stability of government-backed securities with the flexibility of digital assets so investors can potentially earn steady returns while maintaining easy access to their funds.

    Moreover, the blockchain-based structure addresses traditional inefficiencies in money market fund operations by reducing settlement times, simplifying peer-to-peer asset transfers, streamlining collateral management, and speeding up transaction processing. All while maintaining full regulatory compliance and security standards.

    Mercurity Fintech’s target clients—both institutional and retail investors—can gain access to money market opportunities, while earning yield on their holdings without sacrificing liquidity or navigating complex traditional banking processes. The platform offers seamless crypto-to-fiat conversions, multi-chain ecosystem exposure across networks like Avalanche and Solana, and enhanced treasury tokenization capabilities that optimize yield and liquidity management for corporate cash reserves.

    Mercurity Fintech also plans to benefit from tokenized treasury products like BENJI in its own operations by generating returns on capital reserves while maintaining the flexibility needed for its growing digital asset ecosystem. The Company’s FINRA-registered broker-dealer subsidiary, Chaince Securities, will play a vital role in handling investment transactions and advisory services for these tokenized real-world assets (RWAs), providing compliant distribution and efficient market access through its investment banking and brokerage expertise.

    “This partnership with Franklin Templeton reflects our focus on bridging the gap between traditional and digital finance,” said Shi Qiu, CEO of Mercurity Fintech. “BENJI addresses a real pain point in the market by offering regulated money market access through blockchain technology. It’s the type of compliant, institutional-grade solution our platform is designed to support.”

    The partnership represents a significant step in making institutional-grade financial products more accessible through blockchain technology. As tokenized assets continue to gain traction, this collaboration between Mercurity Fintech and Franklin Templeton demonstrates how traditional financial institutions and fintech companies can work together to modernize investment access while maintaining regulatory standards.

    About Mercurity Fintech Holding Inc.
    Mercurity Fintech Holding Inc. (NASDAQ: MFH) is a fintech group powered by blockchain infrastructure, offering technology and financial services. Through its subsidiaries including Chaince Securities, LLC, MFH aims to bridge traditional finance and digital innovation, offering services spanning digital assets, financial advisory, and capital markets solutions.

    About Chaince Securities
    Chaince Securities, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mercurity Fintech, is a FINRA-registered broker-dealer specializing in investment banking and brokerage services. Chaince provides tailored advisory services, structured financial products, and compliant distribution channels for tokenized assets and securities, supporting Mercurity’s vision of bridging traditional finance with blockchain innovation.

    About Franklin Templeton
     Franklin Resources, Inc. [NYSE: BEN] is a global investment management organization with subsidiaries operating as Franklin Templeton and serving clients in over 150 countries. Franklin Templeton’s mission is to help clients achieve better outcomes through investment management expertise, wealth management and technology solutions. Through its specialist investment managers, the Company offers specialization on a global scale, bringing extensive capabilities in equity, fixed income, alternatives and multi-asset solutions. With more than 1,500 investment professionals, and offices in major financial markets around the world, the California-based company has over 75 years of investment experience and $1.53 trillion in AUM as of April 30, 2025. The Company posts information that may be significant for investors in the Investor Relations and News Center sections of its website, and encourages investors to consult those sections regularly. For more information, please visit investors.franklinresources.com.

    Franklin Distributors, LLC. Member FINRA/SIPC.

    Forward-Looking Statements
    This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements other than statements of historical fact in this announcement are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that the Company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy and financial needs. Investors can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “aim,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “potential,” “continue,” “is/are likely to” or other similar expressions. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results.

    Contacts:
    International Elite Capital Inc.
    Vicky Chueng
    Tel: +1(646) 866-7928
    Email: mfhfintech@iecapitalusa.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: When developing countries band together, lifesaving drugs become cheaper and easier to buy − with trade-offs

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Lucy Xiaolu Wang, Assistant Professor, Department of Resource Economics, UMass Amherst

    Pooling procurement of drugs could increase the availability of essential treatments around the globe. narvo vexar/iStock via Getty Images Plus

    Procuring lifesaving drugs is a daunting challenge in many low- and middle-income countries. Essential treatments are often neither available nor affordable in these nations, even decades after the drugs entered the market.

    Prospective buyers from these countries face a patent thicket, where a single drug may be covered by hundreds of patents. This makes it costly and legally difficult to secure licensing rights for manufacturing.

    These buyers also face a complex and often fragile supply chain. Many major pharmaceutical firms have little incentive to sell their products in unprofitable markets. Quality assurance adds another layer of complexity, with substandard and counterfeit drugs widespread in many of these countries.

    Organizations such as the United Nations-backed Medicines Patent Pool have effectively increased the supply of generic versions of patented drugs. But the problems go beyond patents or manufacturing – how medicines are bought are also crucially important. Buyers for low- and middle-income countries are often health ministries and community organizations on tight budgets that have to negotiate with sellers that may have substantial market power and far more experience.

    We are economists who study how to increase access to drugs across the globe. Our research found that while pooling orders for essential medicines can help drive down costs and ensure a steady supply to low- and middle-income countries, there are trade-offs that require flexibility and early planning to address.

    Understanding these trade-offs can help countries better prepare for future health emergencies and treat chronic conditions.

    Pooled procurement reduces drug costs

    One strategy low-income countries are increasingly adopting to improve treatment access is “pooled procurement.” That’s when multiple buyers coordinate purchases to strengthen their collective bargaining power and reduce prices for essential medicines. For example, pooling can help buyers meet the minimum batch size requirements some suppliers impose that countries purchasing individually may not satisfy.

    Compared with decentralized procurement, pooled procurement eases transactions by connecting buyers and sellers in groups.
    Lucy Xiaolu Wang and Nahim Bin Zahur, CC BY-NC-ND

    Countries typically rely on four models for pooled drug procurement:

    • One method, called decentralized procurement, involves buyers purchasing directly from manufacturers.

    • Another method, called international pooled procurement, involves going through international institutions such as the Global Fund’s Pooled Procurement Mechanism or the United Nations.

    • Countries may also purchase prescription drugs through their own central medical stores, which are government-run or semi-autonomous agencies that procure, store and distribute medicines on behalf of national health systems. This method is called centralized domestic procurement.

    • Finally, countries can also go through independent nonprofits, foundations, nongovernmental organizations and private wholesalers.

    We wanted to understand how different procurement methods affect the cost of and time it takes to deliver drugs for HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis, because those three infectious diseases account for a large share of deaths and cases worldwide. So we analyzed over 39,000 drug procurement transactions across 106 countries between 2007 and 2017 that were funded by the Global Fund, the largest multilateral funder of HIV/AIDS programs worldwide.

    We found that pooled procurement through international institutions reduced prices by 13% to 20% compared with directly buying from drug manufacturers. Smaller buyers and those purchasing drugs produced by only a small number of manufacturers saw the greatest savings. In comparison, purchasing through domestic pooling offered less consistent savings, with larger buyers seeing greater price advantages.

    The Global Fund and the United Nations were especially effective at lowering the prices of older, off-patent drugs.

    Trade-offs with pooled procurements

    Cost savings from pooled drug procurement may come with trade-offs.

    While the Global Fund reduced unexpected delivery delays by 28%, it required buyers to place orders much earlier. This results in longer anticipated procurement lead time between ordering and delivery – an average of 114 days more than that of direct purchases. In contrast, domestic pooled procurement shortened lead times by over a month.

    Our results suggest a core tension: Pooled procurement improves prices and reliability but can reduce flexibility. Organizations that facilitate pooled procurement tend to prioritize medicines that can be bought at high volume, limiting the availability of other types of drugs. Additionally, the longer lead times may not be suitable for emergency situations.

    With the spread of COVID-19, several large armed conflicts and tariff wars, governments have become increasingly aware of the fragility of the global supply chain. Some countries, such as Kenya, have sought to reduce their dependence on international pooling since 2005 by investing in domestic procurement.

    But a shift toward domestic self-sufficiency is a slow and difficult process due to challenges with quality assurance and large-scale manufacturing. It may also weaken international pooled systems, which rely on broad participation to negotiate better terms with suppliers.

    Scaling up drug production in low-income countries can be difficult.
    Rafiq Maqbool/AP Photo

    Interestingly, we found little evidence that international pooled procurement influences pricing for the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, a major purchaser of HIV treatments for developing countries. PEPFAR-eligible products do not appear to benefit more from international pooled procurement than noneligible ones.

    However, domestic procurement institutions were able to secure lower prices for PEPFAR-eligible products. This suggests that the presence of a large donor such as PEPFAR can cut costs, particularly when countries manage procurement internally.

    USAID cuts and global drug access

    While international organizations such as the Medicines Patent Pool and the Global Fund can address upstream barriers such as patents and procurement in the global drug supply chain, other institutions are essential for ensuring that medicines actually reach patients.

    The U.S. Agency for International Development had played a significant role in delivering HIV treatment abroad through PEPFAR. The Trump administration’s decision in February 2025 to cut over 90% of USAID’s foreign aid contracts amounted to a US$60 billion reduction in overall U.S. assistance globally. An estimated hundreds of thousands of deaths are already happening, and millions more will likely die.

    The World Health Organization warned that eight countries, including Haiti, Kenya, Nigeria and Ukraine, could soon run out of HIV treatments due to these aid cuts. In South Africa, HIV services have already been scaled back, with reports of mass layoffs of health workers and HIV clinic closures. These downstream cracks can undercut the gains from efforts to make procuring drugs more accessible if the drugs can’t reach patients.

    Because HIV, tuberculosis and malaria often share the same treatment infrastructure – including drug procurement and distribution networks, laboratory systems, data collection, health workers and community-based services – disruption in the management of one disease can ripple across the others. Researchers have warned of a broader unraveling of progress across these infectious diseases, describing the fallout as a potential “bloodbath” in the global HIV response.

    Research shows that supporting access to treatments around the world doesn’t just save lives abroad. It also helps prevent the next global health crisis from reaching America’s doorstep.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. When developing countries band together, lifesaving drugs become cheaper and easier to buy − with trade-offs – https://theconversation.com/when-developing-countries-band-together-lifesaving-drugs-become-cheaper-and-easier-to-buy-with-trade-offs-255383

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: The hidden bias in college admissions tests: How standardized exams can favor privilege over potential

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Zarrina Talan Azizova, Associate Professor of Education, Health and Behavior, University of North Dakota

    At first glance, calls from members of Congress to restore academic merit in college admissions might sound like a neutral policy.

    In our view, these campaigns often cherry-pick evidence and mask a coordinated effort that targets access and diversity in American colleges.

    As scholars who study access to higher education, we have found that when these efforts are paired with pressure to reinstate standardized tests, they amount to a rollback of inclusive practices.

    A Department of Education letter sent to congressional offices from Feb. 14, 2025, stated that is “unlawful for an educational institution to eliminate standardized testing to achieve a desired racial balance or to increase racial diversity.” The letter also claimed that the most widely used admissions tests, the SAT and ACT, are objective measures of merit.

    In our recent peer-reviewed article, we analyzed more than 70 empirical studies about the SAT’s and ACT’s roles in college admissions. Our work found several flaws in how these exams function, especially for historically underserved students.

    Measuring college readiness

    Supporters of admissions tests contend that they are objective tools for measuring whether students are ready for college-level coursework.
    The Good Brigade/Digital Vision via Getty Images

    Several elite universities – including Yale, Dartmouth and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology – have reinstated SAT or ACT requirements, reversing test-optional policies that institutions expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    These changes have reignited debates about how well these tests measure students’ academic preparedness and how colleges should weigh them in admissions decisions.

    During a May 21, 2025, hearing of the U.S. House Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development, some witnesses argued that using test scores allows colleges to admit students based on merit. Others maintained that test scores can function as barriers to higher education.

    Our research shows that while these tests are statistically reliable – that is, they produce consistent results for students across subjects and during multiple attempts under similar conditions – they are not as valid as some argue.

    High school grade-point averages are typically better predictors of students’ success in college than either test.

    In addition, the tests are not equitable or similarly predictive for all students, especially given gender, race and socioeconomic demographics.

    That is because they systematically favor those with more access to high-quality schooling, stable socioeconomic conditions and opportunities to engage with test prep coaches and courses. That test prep can cost thousands of dollars.

    In short, both tests tend to reflect privilege more than potential.

    For example, students from higher-income households routinely outperform their peers on the ACT and SAT.

    This isn’t surprising, considering wealthier families can afford test prep services, private tutoring and test retakes. These advantages translate into higher scores and open doors to selective colleges and scholarship opportunities.

    Meanwhile, students from low-income families often face challenges – such as less experienced instructors and less access to high-level science, math and advanced placement courses – that test scores do not factor in.

    Reflecting deep inequities

    In the U.S., high school GPA can be a better predictor than standardized tests of college success.
    Clerkenwell/Vetta via Getty Images

    In our published review, we found that these disparities aren’t incidental – they’re systemic.

    Our review revealed long-standing evidence of bias in test design and differences in average scores along lines of race, gender and language background.

    These outcomes don’t just reflect academic differences; they reflect inequities that shape how students prepare for and perform on these tests.

    We also found that high school GPA outperforms standardized tests in predicting college success. GPA captures years of classroom performance, effort and teacher feedback. It reflects how students navigate real-world challenges, not just how they perform on a single timed exam.

    For many students, particularly those from historically marginalized backgrounds, grades can offer a better indication of how prepared they are for college-level work.

    This issue matters because admissions decisions aren’t just technical evaluations – they are value statements. Choosing to center test scores in admissions rewards certain kinds of knowledge, experiences and preparation.

    The American Council on Education defines equity as opportunities for success. It means building educational environments that recognize diverse forms of potential and equip all learners to thrive.

    It’s worth noting that research on testing often focuses on elite institutions, where standardized test scores are more likely to be used as high-stakes screening tools. Our systematic review found that, even in elite schools, the tests’ ability to accurately predict college academic performance is often limited (moderate in statistical terms).

    But most college students attend state universities, public regional universities, minority-serving institutions, or colleges that accept most applicants. Our study found that at these institutions, standardized test scores are even less likely to predict how students will do.

    This may be because state universities and public regional universities are more likely to serve highly diverse student populations, including older, part-time and first-generation students and those who are balancing work and family responsibilities.

    Where does higher ed go from here?

    Prioritizing standardized tests in college admissions could close the doors of opportunity for some capable students.
    David Schaffer/istock via Getty Images Plus

    With the debate over the role of standardized tests in the admissions process, higher education stands at a crossroads: Will colleges yield to political pressure and narrow definitions of merit and ignore equity? Or will institutions reaffirm their mission by embracing broader, fairer tools for recognizing talent and supporting student success?

    The answer depends on what values are prioritized.

    Our research and that of others make it clear that standardized tests should not be the gatekeepers of opportunity.

    If universities define merit on test scores alone, they risk closing the doors of opportunity to capable students.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. The hidden bias in college admissions tests: How standardized exams can favor privilege over potential – https://theconversation.com/the-hidden-bias-in-college-admissions-tests-how-standardized-exams-can-favor-privilege-over-potential-256967

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: A radical proposal to abolish state government and strengthen American democracy

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Stephen Legomsky, John S. Lehmann University Professor Emeritus, Washington University in St. Louis

    Abolish all the states? Zoonar/Getty Images Plus

    Get rid of states? Legal scholar Stephen Legomsky, who taught for 34 years at the Washington University in St. Louis School of Law, has just published a book, “Reimagining the American Union,” that proposes a radical idea: Abolish state government. The Conversation’s politics and democracy editor, Naomi Schalit – a former statehouse reporter herself – interviewed Legomsky about the provocative idea behind his book, in which he advocates moving most of the functions of state government down to the local level, closer to those represented and governed by it.

    You propose abolishing states. Why?

    The book is a thought experiment. The proposal I’m offering is long term. I realize we need states during the current political moment.

    I think the states are the root cause of many, if not most, of the current dangers faced by U.S. democracy. I also see the states as a significant source of fiscal waste. We don’t need three levels of government – national, state and local – all regulating us and all taxing us. Two would do just fine. And after careful, detailed analysis, I concluded that every benefit ever claimed for state government could be achieved at least as well, and in many cases better, by the local governments.

    I’m imagining the framers sitting in Independence Hall. And you go back in time and suggest to them not having states. I think most of them would drop dead at the thought, because it ultimately implies a much more powerful federal government. What would you say to them?

    After they stop laughing, I would emphasize that I’m not proposing a wholesale transfer of power from the states to an all-powerful, all-knowing central government. Yes, some of the functions currently performed by the states could better be performed at the national level, but I’m proposing that the lion’s share devolve down to the local governments, which are even closer to the people they represent than the state legislatures can ever be.

    Some of the most ardent Federalists, including Alexander Hamilton and James Wilson, referred to the states as “artificial beings” or “imaginary beings.” They accepted the states only because keeping them was politically essential to getting the required nine state ratifications, not because they thought states were a good idea.

    George Washington’s working copy of the Constitution from Aug. 6, 1787.
    National Archives, Records of the Continental and Confederation Congresses and the Constitutional Convention

    What functions would your plan hand over to the federal government?

    A prime example is licensing. I looked up all the different occupations that require state licenses. I was astonished: practically every health care profession, barbers, engineers, lawyers, architects, the list is endless.

    If you live near a state line, you can’t practice in both states unless you get two licenses. If you move to another state, you have to get another license. This seems silly. The human anatomy, human hair, engineering principles, don’t change as you cross from New York to New Jersey. Nor do we need 50 different state driver’s licenses; a single national license administered through local agencies would be more efficient.

    You say states are the root cause of the greatest threats to American democracy. What are those threats?

    The structural threats are those that are baked into the Constitution itself. The Electoral College is one. On five occasions, the Electoral College has awarded the presidency to the candidate whom the voters rejected nationwide. And there were many, many near misses where the popular vote loser almost became president, making many such future instances a statistical certainty.

    Perhaps even more important, every state, no matter how large or how small, gets the same number of U.S. senators. In fact, a majority of the U.S. population is represented by only about 18% of the Senate. The minority gets the other 82%.

    These counter-majoritarian defects in the elections of both presidents and senators have a ripple effect. They skew the composition, and thus the decisions, of the federal courts. Three of the current Supreme Court justices were appointed by President Donald Trump after he had lost the national popular vote; five of the current Supreme Court justices were confirmed by senators who collectively represented only a minority of the U.S. population.

    Here’s one especially jarring statistic: From 1969 until today, the Democratic presidential nominees won the national popular vote in a slight majority of the elections. Yet, during the presidential terms that resulted from those elections, Republican presidents have gotten to make 15 of the 20 Supreme Court appointments.

    The Constitution also gives the states broad powers to regulate and run national elections. State legislatures have used those powers to pass gerrymandering, voter suppression and other counter-majoritarian laws.

    If you devolve these functions and services to localities, wouldn’t you end up with a mirror of the current state-level structure? Wouldn’t this just send a lot of state personnel down to the local level?

    Yes, much of that structure would devolve. However, I see that as a good thing. Devolution is unavoidable in a country this size. Not everything can be done by the central government. The question for me is, do we need two levels of subordinate political subdivisions or one? One seems more efficient. And when problems are too big for one local government to handle on its own, it can partner with other local governments or with the national government, just as many local governments do today.

    Abolishing state government means no more meetings of the state legislature, like this one in the Maine House of Representatives on Jan. 4, 2023, at the State House in Augusta.
    AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty

    If there were no states to gerrymander or pass voter-suppression laws, wouldn’t some national government agency just do it instead?

    Redistricting would be performed by a nonpartisan redistricting commission that I propose be made up of technicians, mainly demographers, statisticians and geographers, under broad, general principles enacted by Congress. That’s what almost every other democracy in the world does today.

    Why did you write this book?

    For a long time, I’ve been distressed about so many of the dangers to our democracy. So, one day, I found myself compiling what ended up becoming a fairly long mental list of all of my democracy-related grievances.

    A list of grievances like in the Declaration of Independence!

    That’s a nice analogy. And as I thought about that list, it suddenly struck me that the vast majority of these problems couldn’t occur without states. That got me thinking about whether we really need states in the first place.

    If it’s just a thought experiment, something that’s not going to happen, why would you think it’s worthwhile spending time writing this?

    And why would I be so vain as to think anybody would want to waste their time reading it?

    And your answer is, ‘Because I’m an academic!’

    It’s that, plus more. I do hope there’s some scholarly value in this. But I’m also writing for the long term. States are secure for now, but history teaches us that the more distant future is full of surprises.

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

    – ref. A radical proposal to abolish state government and strengthen American democracy – https://theconversation.com/a-radical-proposal-to-abolish-state-government-and-strengthen-american-democracy-256955

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: The use of federal troops to quell Los Angles protests recalls militarized law enforcement during the Civil Rights Movement

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Justin Randolph, Assistant Professor of U.S. History, Texas A&M University

    The National Guard and protesters stand off outside of a downtown jail in Los Angeles on June 8, 2025. Spencer Platt/Getty Images

    President Donald Trump activated 4,000 National Guard troops on June 10, 2025, to quell protests in Los Angeles over immigration raids – without the normal request from the state. He has also sent to Los Angeles hundreds of U.S. Marines, with the goal of protecting the unprecedented deportation operations by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

    If this all feels exceptional, it should. Governors typically activate their own state troops, as Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said he would do on June 11 ahead of expected immigration protests.

    California quickly sued the president. A federal court has sided with the state, but an appeals court will weigh the Trump administration’s use of the U.S. code on armed services to activate the National Guard, which relies on protesters constituting either an “invasion” or “rebellion.”

    “What we’re witnessing is not law enforcement – it’s authoritarianism,”
    California Gov. Gavin Newsom said on June 10.

    Protesters report violent responses from Los Angeles police, too. Nonetheless, Newsom’s invocation of authoritarianism is apt.

    The last example of a president federalizing troops over the objection of a state government dates to Jim Crow segregation, a period marked by legal practices that routinely denied due process and citizenship rights to Black Americans in the South. In the 1960s, numerous Black freedom struggles took stands against this authoritarianism backed by militarized law enforcement.

    As a scholar of U.S. history, I’ve just completed a book on Jim Crow policing and the ways Black Americans fought back against racist law and order. I think the militarization of policing in Los Angeles opens important questions about democracy and state violence.

    Jim Crow dreams

    During the Civil Rights Movement, the federal government activated National Guard troops over Southern state objections when those states would neither enforce court orders nor protect protesters.

    In those cases, presidents protected people with the help of troops. In Trump’s case, he’s using troops to protect the government from protesters.

    The Trump administration’s vision of law enforcement aims for the type of militarized authority that state governments institutionalized under Jim Crow policing. If your political enemy is perceived more like an enemy combatant, the rules of legal procedure, especially due process, might not apply. Policing becomes war.

    When you see the words “Jim Crow,” your mind may jump to photos of racially segregated water fountains. But Jim Crow was far more than that. It was homegrown racial authoritarianism, or the repression of freedom of thought and action.

    Before troops enforced civil rights, Black Southerners saw the National Guard as an enemy rather than a friend.

    In the words of Ida B. Wells-Barnett after a white riot against Black residents in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1917, “The police were either indifferent or encouraged the barbarities. … The major part of the National Guard was indifferent or inactive. No organized effort was made to protect the Negroes or disperse the murdering groups.”

    Eisenhower sends in the troops

    The U.S. Supreme Court’s 1954 decision in Brown v. Board of Education changed things. It overturned the 1896 Plessy v. Ferguson decision that legalized racial segregation and ruled that segregated public school education was unconstitutional. This significantly altered the federal government’s responsibility in the South’s legal system of white supremacy.

    The first test came in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1957. Though numerous school districts across the South quietly desegregated, Southern governors such as Arkansas’ Orville Faubus resisted the planned desegregation of Little Rock Central High School.

    Seven of nine Black students walk onto the campus of Central High School in Little Rock, Ark., with a National Guard officer as an escort on Oct. 15, 1957.
    AP Photo/File

    Faubus deployed the Arkansas National Guard to stop Black children at the door. For nearly three weeks, Guardsmen blocked the small group of Black students – known as the “Little Rock Nine” – who were supposed to attend the school before President Dwight Eisenhower federalized the Arkansas National Guard and ordered them to stand down.

    Eisenhower deployed U.S. Army riot troops to Little Rock under the Insurrection Act. In the end, the Little Rock Nine began their studies at Central High despite the much-photographed spitting from the white mob that surrounded the school.

    State troops, state rights

    Next came the desegregation of interstate transportation.

    In spring 1961, the Congress of Racial Equality, a civil rights advocacy group, sent buses of integrated passengers through the Deep South. White terrorists attacked Freedom Riders, as these activists became known, three times in Alabama.

    But state authorities had learned from the Little Rock experience. Southern governors in Alabama and Mississippi deployed the National Guard themselves. This time they intended to only minimally protect Freedom Riders to block federal law enforcement. In Mississippi, police arrested and prison guards tortured Freedom Riders in the state penitentiary. Mob violence killed no one.

    James Meredith, center, is escorted by federal marshals as he appears for his first day of class at the previously all-white University of Mississippi on Oct. 1, 1962.
    AP Photo, File

    The same was not true during the desegregation of public universities.

    When U.S. marshals arrived to enforce the court order enrolling James Meredith at the University of Mississippi in September 1962, a white riot erupted. State law enforcement withdrew from the scene. Two men died, and many more were injured.

    President John F. Kennedy federalized the Mississippi National Guard and sent them in to restore order. The next summer, he did the same in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, to preemptively halt a riot at the University of Alabama.

    The occasion became a publicity stunt for Alabama Gov. George C. Wallace. He temporarily blocked the entrance to Foster Auditorium, intent on stopping the court-ordered registration of three Black students.

    “I stand before you here today in place of thousands of other Alabamians whose presence would have confronted you,” Wallace said to federal authorities. A National Guard general said, “Sir, it is my sad duty to ask you to step aside under the orders of the President of the United States.”

    A National Guard general informs Alabama Gov. George C. Wallace that the guard was under federal control, as the two meet at Foster Auditorium at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on June 11, 1963.
    AP Photo, File

    Wallace also triggered the last federal use – until now – of the National Guard. Alabama’s Selma-to-Montgomery march began as a memorial to Jimmie Lee Jackson, a young Black civil rights activist who was killed by police on Feb. 26, 1965. The march became primarily a symbol for the year’s Voting Rights Act.

    In an important change, President Lyndon B. Johnson federalized the National Guard to protect marchers. State troopers and sheriff’s deputies had terrorized marchers, including John Lewis, who was almost beaten to death on Bloody Sunday, March 7, 1965.

    Democracy is in the streets

    The history of the National Guard in the South is an important part of what’s unfolding in Los Angeles and across the nation.

    For most of the National Guard’s history in the South, political leaders used domestic military power to preserve the interests of racial authoritarians, not racial egalitarians. Little Rock, Tuscaloosa, Selma: Those moments when troops protected racial justice protesters at home stand out as some of America’s most hopeful moments.

    Recent statements by Trump administration officials help illustrate how it envisions using military power in domestic law enforcement. On June 8, 2025, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem asked Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth “to arrest rioters” – a request beyond the original order to protect ICE agents.

    And on June 12, Noem said that “the military people that are working on this operation … are staying here to liberate the city from the socialist and burdensome leadership that this governor and that this mayor have placed on this country.”

    The National Guard and Marines are reportedly protecting immigration enforcement. But what might happen if they directly interact with protests?

    With diverse tactics, protesters are halting business as usual because they see a mass-deportation regime terrorizing and disappearing people in their communities. U.S. courts tend to agree with their analysis but seem powerless to enforce even basic due process rights for those detained by ICE.

    These activists show the messy work of American social change. Their work may look like “anarchy” to even some Democrats. It may be maligned as “invasion” and “rebellion” by the Trump administration.

    But the calls to constrain ICE follow an American tradition of fighting authoritarianism.

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

    – ref. The use of federal troops to quell Los Angles protests recalls militarized law enforcement during the Civil Rights Movement – https://theconversation.com/the-use-of-federal-troops-to-quell-los-angles-protests-recalls-militarized-law-enforcement-during-the-civil-rights-movement-258866

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: AI ‘reanimations’: Making facsimiles of the dead raises ethical quandaries

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Nir Eisikovits, Professor of Philosophy and Director, Applied Ethics Center, UMass Boston

    This screenshot of an AI-generated video depicts Christopher Pelkey, who was killed in 2021. Screenshot: Stacey Wales/YouTube

    Christopher Pelkey was shot and killed in a road range incident in 2021. On May 8, 2025, at the sentencing hearing for his killer, an AI video reconstruction of Pelkey delivered a victim impact statement. The trial judge reported being deeply moved by this performance and issued the maximum sentence for manslaughter.

    As part of the ceremonies to mark Israel’s 77th year of independence on April 30, 2025, officials had planned to host a concert featuring four iconic Israeli singers. All four had died years earlier. The plan was to conjure them using AI-generated sound and video. The dead performers were supposed to sing alongside Yardena Arazi, a famous and still very much alive artist. In the end Arazi pulled out, citing the political atmosphere, and the event didn’t happen.

    In April, the BBC created a deep-fake version of the famous mystery writer Agatha Christie to teach a “maestro course on writing.” Fake Agatha would instruct aspiring murder mystery authors and “inspire” their “writing journey.”

    The use of artificial intelligence to “reanimate” the dead for a variety of purposes is quickly gaining traction. Over the past few years, we’ve been studying the moral implications of AI at the Center for Applied Ethics at the University of Massachusetts, Boston, and we find these AI reanimations to be morally problematic.

    Before we address the moral challenges the technology raises, it’s important to distinguish AI reanimations, or deepfakes, from so-called griefbots. Griefbots are chatbots trained on large swaths of data the dead leave behind – social media posts, texts, emails, videos. These chatbots mimic how the departed used to communicate and are meant to make life easier for surviving relations. The deepfakes we are discussing here have other aims; they are meant to promote legal, political and educational causes.

    Chris Pelkey was shot and killed in 2021. This AI ‘reanimation’ of him was presented in court as a victim impact statement.

    Moral quandaries

    The first moral quandary the technology raises has to do with consent: Would the deceased have agreed to do what their likeness is doing? Would the dead Israeli singers have wanted to sing at an Independence ceremony organized by the nation’s current government? Would Pelkey, the road-rage victim, be comfortable with the script his family wrote for his avatar to recite? What would Christie think about her AI double teaching that class?

    The answers to these questions can only be deduced circumstantially – from examining the kinds of things the dead did and the views they expressed when alive. And one could ask if the answers even matter. If those in charge of the estates agree to the reanimations, isn’t the question settled? After all, such trustees are the legal representatives of the departed.

    But putting aside the question of consent, a more fundamental question remains.

    What do these reanimations do to the legacy and reputation of the dead? Doesn’t their reputation depend, to some extent, on the scarcity of appearance, on the fact that the dead can’t show up anymore? Dying can have a salutary effect on the reputation of prominent people; it was good for John F. Kennedy, and it was good for Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.

    The fifth-century B.C. Athenian leader Pericles understood this well. In his famous Funeral Oration, delivered at the end of the first year of the Peloponnesian War, he asserts that a noble death can elevate one’s reputation and wash away their petty misdeeds. That is because the dead are beyond reach and their mystique grows postmortem. “Even extreme virtue will scarcely win you a reputation equal to” that of the dead, he insists.

    Do AI reanimations devalue the currency of the dead by forcing them to keep popping up? Do they cheapen and destabilize their reputation by having them comment on events that happened long after their demise?

    In addition, these AI representations can be a powerful tool to influence audiences for political or legal purposes. Bringing back a popular dead singer to legitimize a political event and reanimating a dead victim to offer testimony are acts intended to sway an audience’s judgment.

    It’s one thing to channel a Churchill or a Roosevelt during a political speech by quoting them or even trying to sound like them. It’s another thing to have “them” speak alongside you. The potential of harnessing nostalgia is supercharged by this technology. Imagine, for example, what the Soviets, who literally worshipped Lenin’s dead body, would have done with a deep fake of their old icon.

    Good intentions

    You could argue that because these reanimations are uniquely engaging, they can be used for virtuous purposes. Consider a reanimated Martin Luther King Jr., speaking to our currently polarized and divided nation, urging moderation and unity. Wouldn’t that be grand? Or what about a reanimated Mordechai Anielewicz, the commander of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising, speaking at the trial of a Holocaust denier like David Irving?

    But do we know what MLK would have thought about our current political divisions? Do we know what Anielewicz would have thought about restrictions on pernicious speech? Does bravely campaigning for civil rights mean we should call upon the digital ghost of King to comment on the impact of populism? Does fearlessly fighting the Nazis mean we should dredge up the AI shadow of an old hero to comment on free speech in the digital age?

    No one can know with certainty what Martin Luther King Jr. would say about today’s society.
    AP Photo/Chick Harrity

    Even if the political projects these AI avatars served were consistent with the deceased’s views, the problem of manipulation – of using the psychological power of deepfakes to appeal to emotions – remains.

    But what about enlisting AI Agatha Christie to teach a writing class? Deep fakes may indeed have salutary uses in educational settings. The likeness of Christie could make students more enthusiastic about writing. Fake Aristotle could improve the chances that students engage with his austere Nicomachean Ethics. AI Einstein could help those who want to study physics get their heads around general relativity.

    But producing these fakes comes with a great deal of responsibility. After all, given how engaging they can be, it’s possible that the interactions with these representations will be all that students pay attention to, rather than serving as a gateway to exploring the subject further.

    Living on in the living

    In a poem written in memory of W.B. Yeats, W.H. Auden tells us that, after the poet’s death, Yeats “became his admirers.” His memory was now “scattered among a hundred cities,” and his work subject to endless interpretation: “the words of a dead man are modified in the guts of the living.”

    The dead live on in the many ways we reinterpret their words and works. Auden did that to Yeats, and we’re doing it to Auden right here. That’s how people stay in touch with those who are gone. In the end, we believe that using technological prowess to concretely bring them back disrespects them and, perhaps more importantly, is an act of disrespect to ourselves – to our capacity to abstract, think and imagine.

    Nir Eisikovits directs UMass Boston’s Applied Ethics Center, which receives funding from the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies. He’s also a data ethics advisor to mindguard.com

    Daniel J. Feldman does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. AI ‘reanimations’: Making facsimiles of the dead raises ethical quandaries – https://theconversation.com/ai-reanimations-making-facsimiles-of-the-dead-raises-ethical-quandaries-256771

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: When you lose your health insurance, you may also lose your primary doctor – and that hurts your health

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Jane Tavares, Senior Research Fellow and Lecturer of Gerontology, UMass Boston

    Seeing the same doctor on a regular basis is good for your health. Morsa Images/DigitalVision via Getty Images

    When you lose your health insurance or switch to a plan that skimps on preventive care, something critical breaks.

    The connection to your primary care provider, usually a doctor, gets severed. You stop getting routine checkups. Warning signs get missed. Medical problems that could have been caught early become emergencies. And because emergencies are both dangerous and expensive, your health gets worse while your medical bills climb.

    As gerontology researchers who study health and financial well-being in later life, we’ve analyzed how someone’s ties to the health care system strengthen or unravel depending on whether they have insurance coverage. What we’ve found is simple: Staying connected to a trusted doctor keeps you healthier and saves the system money. Breaking that link does just the opposite.

    And that’s exactly what has us worried right now. Members of Congress are debating whether to make major cuts to Medicaid and other social safety net programs. If the Senate passes its own version of the tax-and-spending package that the House approved in May 2025, millions of Americans will soon face exactly this kind of disruption – with big consequences for their health and well-being.

    How people end up uninsured

    Someone can lose their health insurance for a number of reasons. For many Americans, coverage is tied to employment. Being fired, retiring before you turn 65 and become eligible to enroll in the Medicare program, or even getting a new job can mean losing insurance. Others wind up uninsured due to a different array of changes: moving to a different state, getting divorced or aging out of a parent’s plan after their 26th birthday.

    And those who buy their own coverage may find that they can no longer afford the premiums. In 2024, average premiums on the individual market exceeded more than US$600 per month for many adults, even with subsidies.

    Government-sponsored insurance programs can also leave you vulnerable to this predicament. The Senate is currently considering its own version of a tax-and-spending bill the House of Representatives passed in May that would make cuts and changes to Medicaid. If the provisions in the House bill are enacted, millions of Americans who get health insurance through Medicaid – a health insurance program jointly run by the federal government and the states that is mainly for people who have low incomes or disabilities – would lose their coverage, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

    Medicaid was established in the 1960s, explains a scholar of the program’s history.

    Consequences of becoming uninsured

    Health insurance is more than a way to pay medical bills; it’s a doorway into the health care system itself. It connects people to health care providers who come to know their medical history, their medications and their personal circumstances.

    When that door closes, the effects are immediate. Uninsured people are much less likely to have a usual source of care – typically a doctor or another primary care provider or clinic you know and trust. That relationship acts as a foundation for managing chronic conditions, staying current with preventive screenings and getting guidance when new symptoms arise.

    Researchers have found that adults who go uninsured for even six months become significantly more likely to postpone care or forgo it altogether to save money. In practical terms, this means they’re less likely to be examined by someone who knows their medical history and can spot red flags early.

    The Affordable Care Act, the landmark health care law enacted during the Obama administration, made the number of Americans without insurance plummet. The share of people without insurance fell from 16% in 2010 to 7.7% in 2023.

    The people who got insurance coverage, particularly those who were middle age, saw big improvements in their health.

    Researching the results

    In research that looked at data collected from 2014 to 2020, we followed what happened to 12,000 adults who were 50 or older and lived across the nation.

    Our research team analyzed how their experiences changed when they lost, and sometimes later regained, a regular source of care during those six years.

    Many of the participants in this study had multiple chronic conditions like diabetes, hypertension and heart disease.

    The results were striking.

    Those who didn’t see the same provider on a regular basis were far less likely to feel heard or respected by health care professionals. They had fewer medical appointments, filled fewer prescriptions and were less likely to follow through with recommended treatments.

    Their health also deteriorated considerably over the six years. Their blood pressure and blood sugar levels rose, and they had more elevated indicators of kidney impairment compared with their counterparts who had regular care providers.

    The longer they went without consistent health care, the worse these clinical markers became.

    Warning signs

    Preventive care is one of the best tools that both patients and their health care providers have to head off major health problems. This care includes screenings like cholesterol and blood pressure checks, mammograms, PAP smears and prostate exams, as well as routine vaccinations. But most people only get preventive care when they stay engaged with the health care system.

    And that’s far more likely when you have stable and comprehensive health insurance coverage.

    Our research team also examined what happened to preventive care based on whether the participants had a regular doctor. We found that those who kept seeing the same providers were almost three times more likely to get basic preventive services than those who did not.

    Over time, these missed preventive care opportunities can add up to a big problem. They can turn what could have been a manageable issue into an emergency room visit or a long, expensive hospital stay.

    For example, imagine a man in his 50s who no longer gets cholesterol screenings after losing insurance coverage. Over several years, his undiagnosed high cholesterol leads to a heart attack that could have been prevented with early medication. Or a woman who skips mammograms because of out-of-pocket costs, only to face a late-stage cancer diagnosis that might have been caught years earlier.

    Waiting too long to deal with a health condition can mean you make a trip to the emergency room, increasing the cost of care for you and others.
    FS Productions/Tetra images via Getty Images

    Shifting the costs

    Patients whose conditions take too long to be diagnosed aren’t the only ones who pay the price.

    We also studied how stable care relationships affect health care spending. To do this, we linked Medicare claims cost data to our original study and tracked the medical costs of the same adults age 50 and older from 2014 to 2020. One of our key findings is that people with regular care providers were 38% less likely to incur above-average health care costs.

    These savings aren’t just for patients – they ripple through the entire health care system. Primary care stability lowers costs for both public and private health insurers and, ultimately, for taxpayers.

    But when people lose their health care coverage, those savings disappear.

    Emergency rooms see more uninsured patients seeking care that could have been handled earlier and more cheaply in a clinic or doctor’s office. While hospitals are legally required to provide emergency care regardless of a patient’s ability to pay, much of the resulting cost goes unreimbursed.

    Hospitals foot the bill for about two-thirds of those losses. They pass the other third along to private insurance companies through higher hospital fees. Those insurers, in turn, raise their customers’ premiums. Larger taxpayer subsidies can then be required to keep hospitals open.

    Seeing Medicaid as a lifeline

    For the nearly 80 million Americans enrolled in Medicaid, the program provides more than coverage.

    It contributes to the health care stability our research shows is critical for good health. Medicaid makes it possible for many Americans with serious medical conditions to have a regular doctor, get routine preventive services and have someone to turn to when symptoms arise – even when they have low incomes. It helps prevent health care from becoming purely crisis-driven.

    As Congress considers cutting Medicaid funding by hundreds of billions of dollars, we believe that lawmakers should realize that scaling back coverage would break the fragile links between millions of patients and the providers who know them best.

    Jane Tavares receives funding from from the SCAN Foundation, the RRF Foundation for Aging, and Milbank Memorial Fund .

    Marc Cohen receives funding from the SCAN Foundation, the RRF Foundation for Aging and Milbank Memorial Fund .

    – ref. When you lose your health insurance, you may also lose your primary doctor – and that hurts your health – https://theconversation.com/when-you-lose-your-health-insurance-you-may-also-lose-your-primary-doctor-and-that-hurts-your-health-258380

    MIL OSI Analysis –