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Category: Artificial Intelligence

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Rising demand for data centers prompts innovative cooling solutions, reveals GlobalData

    Source: GlobalData

    Rising demand for data centers prompts innovative cooling solutions, reveals GlobalData

    Posted in Thematic Intelligence

    The rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI) has significantly increased the demand for data processing capabilities and capacity, leading to the expansion of data centers globally. As these facilities operate continuously, their energy-intensive equipment are raising concerns about sustainability. New cooling technologies and innovative approaches are emerging to address the environmental challenges posed by these critical infrastructures, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

    GlobalData’s latest Strategic Intelligence report, “Deep Dive into The Environmental Impact of Data Centers,” reveals that water is the most common cooling method, and its use has increased during the current AI boom. However, new cooling technologies are being developed.

    Martina Raveni, Analyst in the Strategic team at GlobalData, comments: “The high temperature of data centers is a critical issue at the moment. If equipment overheats, malfunctions and breakdowns can occur, with repercussions for the many sectors that rely on those data centers. As demand for AI applications increases, managing these temperatures will become increasingly important.”

    Big Tech companies training large language models (LLMs) are increasing their water consumption for cooling purposes. However, water cooling is not ideal in the long-term due to water scarcity in certain areas and because it is ultimately a finite resource.

    To reduce water consumption, new cooling technologies are being developed, including immersion cooling using dielectric fluids and ceramic components for circuit boards and semiconductors. Future cooling methods such as underwater data centers and data centers in space are also being explored.

    Raveni concludes: “There will likely be increased deployment of data centers in cold climates. Expectations include greater adoption of sustainable design and advanced cooling technologies like immersion cooling, driven by data centers’ energy efficiency demands and regulatory pressures.

    “The future of data centers hinges on our ability to innovate and adapt to the pressing environmental challenges they pose. As we embrace advanced cooling technologies and sustainable practices, it is crucial to balance the growing demand for data processing with our responsibility to protect finite resources. The transition to more efficient and eco-friendly solutions will not only enhance operational resilience but also pave the way for a more sustainable digital infrastructure.”

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Hon Laauli Leuatea Polataivao Fosi Remarks at the Validation Workshop for the National Science, Technology & Innovation Policy by Scientific Research Organisation of Samoa.

    Source: Government of Western Samoa

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    (Nafanua – 2 October, 2024)

    Susu le susuga i le Failauga Fa’amaoni – Semi Seruvakula

    Director & UNESCO Representative to the Pacific States – Dr Shamila, Nair – Bedouelle

    Esteemed CEOs and Stakeholders

    Ladies and gentlemen,

    Talofa lava!

    It is my pleasure to welcome you all to this important workshop to validate our National Science, Technology & Innovation Policy. I acknowledge the distinguished group of stakeholders and policymakers here with us today, who share a passion for advancing science, technology and innovation in our nation, ensuring it serves the public good.

    Today marks a crucial moment in our collective journey. As we gather here, we’re not just discussing policy; we’re shaping how the future of science, technology and innovation interacts with our society. In recent years, we’ve witnessed advancements in research in these areas, from groundbreaking discoveries in agriculture and healthcare to innovative technologies addressing food security and climate change, as well as leaps of development in artificial intelligence. Yet, these advancements come with complex challenges that require thoughtful frameworks.

    The purpose of this workshop is clear, we are here to validate our National Science, Technology & Innovation policy in its latest draft form, ensuring it is robust, transparent, and most importantly, relevant in shaping the diverse perspectives of the scientific community in Samoa.

    Validation is not merely an exercise in approval; it is an opportunity for critical reflection and constructive dialogue. It is about asking the right questions: Is the proposed policy addressing the most pressing scientific challenges? Does it promote collaboration amongst the stakeholders and across our sectors? Does it foster innovation?

    As we embark on validating and hopefully launching this important policy, I want to emphasize the importance of collaboration.

    Science, technology and innovation thrives on diverse viewpoints. We have here policymakers, and technical experts in technology, education, health, environment, agriculture and other areas where science plays an important role. Each of you brings unique insights and experiences that are vital to finalizing a policy that truly serves our collective interests and most importantly, our people. Therefore, as we engage in discussions this morning, I encourage each of you to share your thoughts. Your expertise is invaluable and your contributions will help ensure that our policy is not only effective, but also reflective of our shared values.

    I would like to extend my gratitude to UNESCO for their funding and support, which has been instrumental in the development of this Science, Technology, and Innovation (ST&I) policy

    In closing, I want to thank each of you for your commitment to this important document. Your dedication to advancing the policy will have a lasting impact in promoting science, technology and innovation in Samoa.

    Fa’afetai!

    Soifua and God Bless!

    Lauga Autu Afioga i le Minisita o le SROS, La’auli Leuatea Polataivao Fosi i le Iloiloga ma le Fa’atalatalanoaga o le Faiga Fa’avae mo le Fa’asaienisi, Tekinalosi ma Mea Fou a le Fa’alapotopotoga o Su’esu’ega Fa’asaienisi o Samoa

    (Nafanua – 2 Oketopa, 2024)

    Susu le susuga i le Failauga Fa’amaoni – Semi Seruvakula

    Afio le Taitaifono o le UNESCO mo le Pasefika – H.E. Dr Shamila Nair Bedouelle

    Afifio Fa’auluuluga o Matagaluega ma Fa’alapotopotoga a le Malo

    Afifio le Ma’ave ese’ese ua aofia potopoto nei

    Talofa lava!

    E fa’apōpō o aso ua a’o aso folau fo’i e le tu’ua e pei ona i ai le asō. Ua fa’amalo le soiufa laulelei ma le lagi e mama i le pa’ia ma le mamalu ua mafai ona afifio ma tala mai a’ao e tusa ai ma le fa’atalau’ula atu, se’i o tatou falē ma umufono talatala i le auga o le tatou fa’amoemoe i le asō.

    O outou pa’ia e le popo i se fa’amatalaga, aua e tumau. E mai saua se’i pa’ia fili ma puletu’u na matemate ai malo.

    Nona lea o le vi’iga i lo tatou Tapa’au Sili, aua o lona mata’isau ua mafua ai le asō.

    O lea ua ma’ea momoli lapalapa o malo, ma sufi le ao o fa’asuaga o manū, auā la tatou taulaga osia o le fa’afetai i le Atua i lenei taeao.

    O lo tatou ala lea i malo, ma le fa’apogai o manuia ua tatou sapi ai i le asō. Fa’afetai i lau susuga i le Failauga Fa’amaoni – lau Susuga Semi Seruvakula mo fa’amanuiaga fa’aleagaga e tomatau ai le fa’amoemoe o le asō. Tau ia ina ia alu ma le mana le fe’au o le talalelei ua laugaina e lana auauna.

    Ae o le fiafiaga o le agaga e le fa’aitiitia, i le va’ava’ai atu i le afifio ma le tala mai o a’ao i le mamalu o le au vala’aulia ma pa’aga, o e o lo’o fito-i-tonu i ai lenei Faiga Fa’avae. O se Faiga fa’avae e taiala ai fuafuaga, o fa’atatauga ma galuega e patino i le Fa’asaienisi, Tekinalosi ma le Tomai o Faufauga o Meafou (Science, Technology and Innovation Policy).

    E le ititi le taua ma le aoga o le Fa’asaienisi, Tekinalosi ma le Tomai e fausia ni Meafou i atina’e o malo uma o le lalolagi, ua loa ona outou silafia ma ua ou iloa. O le mafuaga lea o lo’o tinoū ma finafinau ai pea malo tetele uma ina ia si’itia tulaga o le Fa’asaienisi, Tekinalosi ma le Tomai o Faufauga o mea fou. Aua lava le manuia o le tamaoa’iga ma le atina’eina o latou malo.

    O le auga fo’i lea o le tu’ufa’atasia ai o lenei faiga fa’avae. Ina ia fa’amati’e, fa’alauiloa ma una’ia le Fa’asaienisi, o le Tekinalosi, ma fa’amalosiaina o le Tomai e fausia ai ni mea fou. Ina ia mapo lelei ma aoga e le gata i le atina’eina o Samoa ae o le soifua lelei ma le manuia lautele o nai o tatou tagata.

    O lo’u iloa a leai se Fa’asaienisi, Tekinalosi ma le Faufauga o Mea Fou e le iloa pe tua ma ni a le atina’eina o:

    • Fa’atoaga ma Faigafaia,

    • Soifua Maloloina

    • Felauaiga o le vanimonimo, lauelele ma le sami

    • Feso’otaiga i ona po nei

    • Fausiaina o Maota ma Laoa..ma isi lava matata.

    E le’i fausia Roma i se aso e tasi. E fa’apena fo’i se manatu. O le tatou ulua’i faiga fa’avae lea ua fatu-fatu ma ua toetoe a ma’ea. E i ai a suiga mai lea taimi i lea taimi, ae o le tatalo ia avea le ulua’i faiga fa’avae lea, e amata mea i le fa’amapu’epu’eina, fa’alauiloa ma fa’amalosia ai le itu tau Fa’asaienisi, Tekinalosi ma le Tomai o Faufuaga o Mea Fou (Science Technology and Innovation).

    A’o outou alo atu i le la’asaga mulimuli mo le iloiloina o le faiga fa’avae, a’o le’i tu’uina atu mo le talia aloaia e le Kapeneta, ou te talosaga atu i le tou lagolago. E tofu outou ma manatu lelei ma le tomai fa’apitoa i so’o se vaega o le faiga fa’avae lenei, e aofia i lau auaunaga ma au matafaioi. O le tu’ualalo lava, aua ne’i oti i tua sou lagona, ae fa’ali uma aua le fa’aleleia o le tatou faiga fa’avae. E taua ou manatu, tomai ma ou lagona fa’aali.

    A’o maua pea le avanoa, ou te fia fa’aleo le agaga fa’afetai i le UNESCO mo le lagolagoina o lenei fa’amoemoe. O le latou lagolago mai, fa’atasi ma si a tatou fo’i tu’utu’u la’au fa’a-manu iti atu, ua tu’ufa’atasia ai lenei faiga fa’avae.

    A fa’aiuina lenei fa’amoemoe, tu’uama le fua, ia fa’amanuia tele le Atua i faiva ma tiute o lo’o outou fita-i-tuga ai. Manuia ou faiva alofi lima i so’o se vala’auina ua tofia ai aua le tautuaina o si o tatou malo.

    Fa’afetai!

    Soifua ma ia Manuia tele le tatou Aso!

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: RELEASE: $52 Million Multistate Settlement with Marriott for Data Breach of Starwood Guest Reservation Database

    Source: US State of Hawaii

    RELEASE: $52 Million Multistate Settlement with Marriott for Data Breach of Starwood Guest Reservation Database

    Posted on Oct 9, 2024 in Latest Department News, Newsroom

     

    DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS

    KA ʻOIHANA PILI KĀLEPA

    OFFICE OF CONSUMER PROTECTION

     

    JOSH GREEN, M.D.

    GOVERNOR | KE KIAʻĀINA

     

    NADINE Y. ANDO

    DIRECTOR | KA LUNA HOʻOKELE

    THOMAS MANA MORIARTY

    EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

              

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    October 9, 2024

    $52 Million Multistate Settlement with Marriott for Data Breach of Starwood Guest Reservation Database

     

    HONOLULU — The state of Hawai‘i Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Office of Consumer Protection announced today that a coalition of 50 attorneys general has reached a settlement with Marriott International, Inc. as the result of an investigation into a large multiyear data breach of one of its guest reservation databases. The Federal Trade Commission, which has been coordinating closely with the states throughout this investigation, has reached a parallel settlement with Marriott. Under the settlement with the attorneys general, Marriott has agreed to strengthening its data security practices using a dynamic risk-based approach, provide certain consumer protections, and make a $52 million payment to states. The state of Hawai‘i will receive$438,045.00 from the settlement.

    Marriott acquired Starwood in 2016 and took control of the Starwood computer network within the same year. However, from July 2014 until September 2018, intruders in the system went undetected. This led to the breach of 131.5 million guest records pertaining to customers in the United States. The impacted records included contact information, gender, dates of birth, legacy Starwood Preferred Guest information, reservation information, and hotel stay preferences, as well as a limited number of unencrypted passport numbers and unexpired payment card information.

    Shortly after the breach of the Starwood database was announced, a coalition of 50 attorneys general launched a multistate investigation into the breach. Today’s settlement resolves allegations by the attorneys general that Marriott violated state consumer protection laws, personal information protection laws, and, where applicable, breach-notification laws by failing to implement reasonable data security measures and remediate data security deficiencies, particularly when attempting to use and integrate Starwood into its systems.

    “When companies choose to collect and store consumer data, they must take steps to secure it,” stated Executive Director of the Office of Consumer Protection, Mana Moriarty. “We will continue to hold businesses accountable for their failure to do so.”

    Under the terms of the settlement, Marriott has agreed to strengthen and continually improve its cybersecurity practices. Some of the specific measures include:

    • Implementation of a comprehensive Information Security Program. This includes new overarching security program mandates, such as incorporating zero-trust principles, regular security reporting to the highest levels within the company, including the Chief Executive Officer, and enhanced employee training on data handling and security.
    • Data minimization and disposal requirements, which will lead to less consumer data being collected and retained.
    • Specific security requirements with respect to consumer data, including component hardening, conducting an asset inventory, encryption, segmentation to limit an intruder’s ability to move across a system, patch management to ensure that critical security patches are applied in a timely manner, intrusion detection, user access controls, and logging and monitoring to keep track of movement of files and users within the network.
    • Increased vendor and franchisee oversight, with a special emphasis on risk assessments for “Critical IT Vendors,” and clearly outlined contracts with cloud providers.
    • In the future, if Marriott acquires another entity, it must timely further assess the acquired entity’s information security program and develop plans to address identified gaps or deficiencies in security as part of the integration into Marriott’s network.
    • An independent third-party assessment of Marriott’s information security program every two years for a period of 20 years for additional security oversight.

    These settlement terms are grounded in a well-developed risk-based approach in which Marriott not only needs to conduct an annual enterprise level risk assessment, but it must also perform risk analyses throughout the year for changes to security controls. Those ongoing risk assessments must address the criteria of “harm to others” – which would include potential harm to consumers.

    As part of the settlement, Marriott will give consumers specific protections, including a data deletion option, even if consumers do not currently have that right under state law. Marriott must offer multifactor authentication to consumers for their loyalty rewards accounts, such as Marriott Bonvoy, as well as reviews of those accounts if there is suspicious activity.

    Connecticut, Maryland, and Oregon as well as the District of Columbia, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, North Carolina, and Texas co-led the multistate investigation, assisted by the Executive Committee of Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Vermont, and were joined by Alaska, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Hawai‘i, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

    ###

    Media Contact:

    William Nhieu

    Communications Officer
    Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs
    Email:     [email protected]

    Phone: 808-586-7582

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: DLNR News Release-ʻALALĀ BEGIN JOURNEY BACK TO THE WILD ON MAUI, Oct. 9, 2024

    Source: US State of Hawaii

    DLNR News Release-ʻALALĀ BEGIN JOURNEY BACK TO THE WILD ON MAUI, Oct. 9, 2024

    Posted on Oct 9, 2024 in Latest Department News, Newsroom

    DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES 

     

    JOSH GREEN, M.D. 
    GOVERNOR 

     

    DAWN CHANG 
    CHAIRPERSON 

     

    NEWS RELEASE 

     

     

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

    October 9, 2024

     

    ʻALALĀ BEGIN JOURNEY BACK TO THE WILD ON MAUI

    (MAKAWAO, MAUI) –In a significant milestone for the conservation of Hawaiʻi’s native birds, five ʻalalā (Native Hawaiian crow) were transferred last week, from the Maui Bird Conservation Center (MBCC) to a temporary field aviary on the slopes of Haleakalā. This marks the beginning of their adaptation period before their eventual release into the wild. MBCC is operated by San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.

    The ʻalalā, revered in Hawaiian culture and known for their intelligence, are the only surviving native crow species in Hawaiʻi.They are currently extinct in the wild. The birds will spend three to four weeks in their temporary aviary, carefully monitored by conservation teams, before being released into the Kīpahulu Forest Reserve. The site, on the leeward slopes of Haleakalā, was selected for its native vegetation and relative isolation, key factors in ensuring the birds’ survival​.

    The pilot release on Maui follows a few years of reintroduction efforts on Hawaiʻi Island, which had both successes and challenges. While those challenges ultimately resulted in the birds being brought back into human care, there were lessons learned and insights gained that will help in the future.

    “Even though ʻalalā have been gone from Maui Nui longer than Hawaiʻi Island, we are trying to do an experimental release here to see if we have enough forest for them to survive in and see if maybe this could be a steppingstone to eventually a bigger recovery effort on Hawaiʻi Island,” said Dr. Hanna Mounce, manager of the Maui Forest Bird Recovery Project(MFBRP).

    Two females and three males were bred in captivity and have spent the last 10 months in a social group. Conservation teams hope this close bond will help them thrive as they adjust to the forest. “When you put birds in a captive environment, even though you’re trying to give them enrichment and care for them the right way, they are not doing all the things they need to do in the wild. They have to relearn those behaviors that came generations before them,” said Mounce. Each bird is equipped with transmitters to track their movements after release.

    Before the birds were transferred to their new home by helicopter, staff from the MBCC and the MFBRP joined local hālau Nā Hanona Kūlike ʻO Piʻilani to conduct an emotional send-off. Its pule honored the ʻalalā as hulu kūpuna and sought to guide them through their journey.

    “We were letting them know we need them to be around to thrive. So if they thrive, we all thrive,” Kumu Kaponoʻai Molitau explained. He also acknowledged the significance of the conservationists’ work. “They’re caring for the voice of that ancestor, so that one day we can have many of those voices returned.”

     

    Like the conservationists, Molitau is invested in the long term efforts to restore ʻalalā. “I look forward to coming back in five years and seeing what that those voices sound like. I look forward to future generations here on Maui being a part of this program, so that we can all collectively understand that it is our kuleana, it’s our responsibility, but it’s also a very big honor to be a part of that responsibility.”

    In addition to San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, the DLNR Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and The Nature Conservancy are active partners in the reintroduction of ʻalalā on Maui.

     

    # # #

     

    RESOURCES 

    (All images/video courtesy: DLNR) 

     

    HD video – ʻAlalā in MBCC aviary and sendoff ceremony (September 26 and October 3, 2024):

    https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/1017770469

     

    HD video – Dr. Hanna Mounce and Kumu Kaponoʻai Molitau SOTs (October 3, 2024):

    https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/1017762254

    (Transcription attached)

    Photographs – ʻAlalā in MBCC aviary (September 26, 2024):

    https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/jo6ns7nl2rsks5070az1p/AInVp9C9VWJppJzvCISCHHA?rlkey=gme1g90ng4j4p2vxuegstz7bd&st=38s3wulu&dl=0

     

    Photographs – ʻAlala transfer ceremony (October 3, 2024):

    https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/s5mvbm5noeey85k2vq63w/AH6cZScDQjWw11TTvcl6a98?rlkey=ocvbz96rjjkxdxsmy0im8l145&st=ls09c6mi&dl=0

     

     

    Media Contacts: 

    Patti Jette

    Communications Specialist

    808-587-0396

    [email protected] 

    Dan Dennison

    Communications Director

    808-587-0407

    [email protected]

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SPC Tornado Watch 690

    Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

    Note:  The expiration time in the watch graphic is amended if the watch is replaced, cancelled or extended.Note: Click for Watch Status Reports.
    SEL0

    URGENT – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
    Tornado Watch Number 690
    NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
    815 AM EDT Wed Oct 9 2024

    The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a

    * Tornado Watch for portions of
    Central and South Florida
    Coastal Waters

    * Effective this Wednesday morning and evening from 815 AM until
    900 PM EDT.

    * Primary threats include…
    Several tornadoes likely
    Isolated damaging wind gusts to 70 mph possible

    SUMMARY…Supercells in the outer rain bands of Hurricane Milton
    will pose a threat for several tornadoes today across the central
    and southern Florida Peninsula. The forecast maximum wind gusts and
    mean cell motion apply to severe thunderstorms outside the eyewall.

    The tornado watch area is approximately along and 85 statute miles
    east and west of a line from 35 miles east northeast of Saint
    Petersburg FL to 10 miles south southwest of Marathon FL. For a
    complete depiction of the watch see the associated watch outline
    update (WOUS64 KWNS WOU0).

    PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

    REMEMBER…A Tornado Watch means conditions are favorable for
    tornadoes and severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch
    area. Persons in these areas should be on the lookout for
    threatening weather conditions and listen for later statements
    and possible warnings.

    &&

    AVIATION…Tornadoes and a few severe thunderstorms with hail
    surface and aloft to 0.5 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind
    gusts to 60 knots. A few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 500. Mean
    storm motion vector 17040.

    …Gleason

    Note: The Aviation Watch (SAW) product is an approximation to the watch area. The actual watch is depicted by the shaded areas.
    SAW0
    WW 690 TORNADO FL CW 091215Z – 100100Z
    AXIS..85 STATUTE MILES EAST AND WEST OF LINE..
    35ENE PIE/SAINT PETERSBURG FL/ – 10SSW MTH/MARATHON FL/
    ..AVIATION COORDS.. 75NM E/W /31ENE PIE – 38E EYW/
    HAIL SURFACE AND ALOFT..0.5 INCH. WIND GUSTS..60 KNOTS.
    MAX TOPS TO 500. MEAN STORM MOTION VECTOR 17040.

    LAT…LON 28118075 24597976 24598246 28118354

    THIS IS AN APPROXIMATION TO THE WATCH AREA. FOR A
    COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE WOUS64 KWNS
    FOR WOU0.

    Watch 690 Status Report Message has not been issued yet.

    Note:  Click for Complete Product Text.Tornadoes

    Probability of 2 or more tornadoes

    High (80%)

    Probability of 1 or more strong (EF2-EF5) tornadoes

    Low (20%)

    Wind

    Probability of 10 or more severe wind events

    Low (20%)

    Probability of 1 or more wind events > 65 knots

    Low (10%)

    Hail

    Probability of 10 or more severe hail events

    Low ( 2 inches

    Low (

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: How a subfield of physics led to breakthroughs in AI – and from there to this year’s Nobel Prize

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Veera Sundararaghavan, Professor of Aerospace Engineering, University of Michigan

    Neural networks have their roots in statistical mechanics. BlackJack3D/iStock via Getty Images Plus

    John J. Hopfield and Geoffrey E. Hinton received the Nobel Prize in physics on Oct. 8, 2024, for their research on machine learning algorithms and neural networks that help computers learn. Their work has been fundamental in developing neural network theories that underpin generative artificial intelligence.

    A neural network is a computational model consisting of layers of interconnected neurons. Like the neurons in your brain, these neurons process and send along a piece of information. Each neural layer receives a piece of data, processes it and passes the result to the next layer. By the end of the sequence, the network has processed and refined the data into something more useful.

    While it might seem surprising that Hopfield and Hinton received the physics prize for their contributions to neural networks, used in computer science, their work is deeply rooted in the principles of physics, particularly a subfield called statistical mechanics.

    As a computational materials scientist, I was excited to see this area of research recognized with the prize. Hopfield and Hinton’s work has allowed my colleagues and me to study a process called generative learning for materials sciences, a method that is behind many popular technologies like ChatGPT.

    What is statistical mechanics?

    Statistical mechanics is a branch of physics that uses statistical methods to explain the behavior of systems made up of a large number of particles.

    Instead of focusing on individual particles, researchers using statistical mechanics look at the collective behavior of many particles. Seeing how they all act together helps researchers understand the system’s large-scale macroscopic properties like temperature, pressure and magnetization.

    For example, physicist Ernst Ising developed a statistical mechanics model for magnetism in the 1920s. Ising imagined magnetism as the collective behavior of atomic spins interacting with their neighbors.

    In Ising’s model, there are higher and lower energy states for the system, and the material is more likely to exist in the lowest energy state.

    One key idea in statistical mechanics is the Boltzmann distribution, which quantifies how likely a given state is. This distribution describes the probability of a system being in a particular state – like solid, liquid or gas – based on its energy and temperature.

    Ising exactly predicted the phase transition of a magnet using the Boltzmann distribution. He figured out the temperature at which the material changed from being magnetic to nonmagnetic.

    Phase changes happen at predictable temperatures. Ice melts to water at a specific temperature because the Boltzmann distribution predicts that when it gets warm, the water molecules are more likely to take on a disordered – or liquid – state.

    Statistical mechanics tells researchers about the properties of a larger system, and how individual objects in that system act collectively.

    In materials, atoms arrange themselves into specific crystal structures that use the lowest amount of energy. When it’s cold, water molecules freeze into ice crystals with low energy states.

    Similarly, in biology, proteins fold into low energy shapes, which allow them to function as specific antibodies – like a lock and key – targeting a virus.

    Neural networks and statistical mechanics

    Fundamentally, all neural networks work on a similar principle – to minimize energy. Neural networks use this principle to solve computing problems.

    For example, imagine an image made up of pixels where you only can see a part of the picture. Some pixels are visible, while the rest are hidden. To determine what the image is, you consider all possible ways the hidden pixels could fit together with the visible pieces. From there, you would choose from among what statistical mechanics would say are the most likely states out of all the possible options.

    In statistical mechanics, researchers try to find the most stable physical structure of a material. Neural networks use the same principle to solve complex computing problems.
    Veera Sundararaghavan

    Hopfield and Hinton developed a theory for neural networks based on the idea of statistical mechanics. Just like Ising before them, who modeled the collective interaction of atomic spins to solve the photo problem with a neural network, Hopfield and Hinton imagined collective interactions of pixels. They represented these pixels as neurons.

    Just as in statistical physics, the energy of an image refers to how likely a particular configuration of pixels is. A Hopfield network would solve this problem by finding the lowest energy arrangements of hidden pixels.

    However, unlike in statistical mechanics – where the energy is determined by known atomic interactions – neural networks learn these energies from data.

    Hinton popularized the development of a technique called backpropagation. This technique helps the model figure out the interaction energies between these neurons, and this algorithm underpins much of modern AI learning.

    The Boltzmann machine

    Building upon Hopfield’s work, Hinton imagined another neural network, called the Boltzmann machine. It consists of visible neurons, which we can observe, and hidden neurons, which help the network learn complex patterns.

    In a Boltzmann machine, you can determine the probability that the picture looks a certain way. To figure out this probability, you can sum up all the possible states the hidden pixels could be in. This gives you the total probability of the visible pixels being in a specific arrangement.

    My group has worked on implementing Boltzmann machines in quantum computers for generative learning.

    In generative learning, the network learns to generate new data samples that resemble the data the researchers fed the network to train it. For example, it might generate new images of handwritten numbers after being trained on similar images. The network can generate these by sampling from the learned probability distribution.

    Generative learning underpins modern AI – it’s what allows the generation of AI art, videos and text.

    Hopfield and Hinton have significantly influenced AI research by leveraging tools from statistical physics. Their work draws parallels between how nature determines the physical states of a material and how neural networks predict the likelihood of solutions to complex computer science problems.

    Veera Sundararaghavan receives external funding for research unrelated to the content of this article.

    – ref. How a subfield of physics led to breakthroughs in AI – and from there to this year’s Nobel Prize – https://theconversation.com/how-a-subfield-of-physics-led-to-breakthroughs-in-ai-and-from-there-to-this-years-nobel-prize-240871

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: DEA could reclassify marijuana to a less restrictive category – a drug policy expert weighs the pros and cons

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Chris Meyers, Adjunct Professor of Philosophy, George Washington University

    The move would not make marijuana legal at the federal level for recreational use and would require dispensaries to comply with medical marijuana requirements. Nathalie Jamois/SOPA Images, LightRocket via Getty Images

    The Drug Enforcement Administration announced in early 2024 that it would act on President Joe Biden’s call to reclassify marijuana, moving it from the tightly controlled Schedule I category that it has been in since 1970 to the less restrictive Schedule III status of the Controlled Substances Act. That triggered a long process of hearings and reviews that will not be completed until after the presidential election in November.

    The news drew strong reactions from critics: 25 Republican lawmakers sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland protesting any changes to federal marijuana laws. They argued that the decision “was not properly researched … and is merely responding to the popularity of marijuana and not the actual science.”

    As a philosopher and drug policy expert, I focus on assessing arguments and evidence rather than politics or rhetoric. So, what are the arguments for and against rescheduling cannabis?

    Scheduling under the Controlled Substances Act

    The Controlled Substances Act places each prohibited drug into one of five schedules based on known medical use, addictive potential and safety. Schedule I drugs – which, along with marijuana, also includes heroin, LSD, psilocybin, ecstasy (MDMA) and quaaludes – is the most restrictive category.

    Schedule I substances cannot be legally used for any purpose, including medical use or research, though an exception for research can be made with special permission from the DEA. The criteria for inclusion in the Schedule I category is that the substance has a high potential for abuse, is extremely addictive and has “no currently accepted medical use.”

    Schedule II, which is slightly less restrictive than Schedule I, includes drugs that are addictive and potentially unsafe but also have some accepted medical use. These include strong opioids such as fentanyl, as well as cocaine, PCP and methamphetamine. Though they are still tightly regulated, Schedule II drugs can be used medically with a prescription or administered by a licensed physician.

    Schedule III is much less restrictive and is intended for substances with legitimate medical use and only moderate risk of abuse or dependency. This category includes low-dose morphine, anabolic steroids and ketamine.

    Schedule IV – which includes the sedative valium, the weak opioid tramadol and sleep medicines such as Ambien – is even less restrictive.

    The least restrictive category is Schedule V, which includes cough syrups with codeine and calcium channel blockers such as gabapentin and pregabalin. All scheduled drugs require a doctor’s prescription and can be distributed only by licensed pharmacies.

    What rescheduling would mean for marijuana

    The push to reschedule is largely to make federal laws consistent with state medical marijuana programs that – as of October 2024 – are legal in 38 states plus the District of Columbia.

    Moving marijuana to Schedule III would not change its legal status in states where it is banned. It would make marijuana legal at the federal level but only for medical use. Recreational use would still be federally prohibited, even though it is currently legal in 24 states plus Washington.

    Rescheduling, however, might not make medical marijuana any easier for patients to access and could even make it much harder for some. Currently, getting a medical marijuana card is quite easy in most states. In Washington D.C., where I live, patients can self-certify.

    Reclassifying marijuana as a Schedule III drug would legitimize its medical use.

    If marijuana is reclassified as Schedule III, medical marijuana programs will have to start requiring a doctor’s prescription, just like with all other scheduled substances. And it could be distributed only by licensed pharmacies, which would put medical dispensaries that are now selling it without a license from the Food and Drug Administration out of business.

    Rescheduling, however, would give medical marijuana legitimacy as a bona fide medicine. And the intent of the move is to increase access, even if it is unclear how rescheduling would achieve that.

    So, assuming that rescheduling would have the intended effect of expanding access to medical marijuana, should it be rescheduled?

    Medical uses of marijuana

    Though there are three criteria for Schedule I in the Controlled Substances Act, the DEA in fact relies on only the medical use criterion. This was the basis of the DEA’s proposal to reschedule marijuana. The fact that almost 75% of Americans live in a state with a medical marijuana program suggests that marijuana has an accepted medical use.

    More importantly, Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act already includes dronabinol, which is delta-9 THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. Although dronabinol is synthesized in the lab rather than extracted from the cannabis plant, it is the exact same molecule. The FDA approved THC in the form of dronabinol in 1985 for treating anorexia caused by HIV/AIDS as well as nausea and vomiting due to chemotherapy. Placing marijuana in the same schedule as its primary active ingredient makes a lot of sense.

    Another argument in favor of rescheduling is that it would open up new opportunities for medical research into marijuana’s effects, research that is currently hampered by its Schedule I status. This work is critical because the system of cannabinoid receptors through which marijuana causes its therapeutic and psychoactive effects is crucial for almost every aspect of human functioning.

    Research has shown that cannabis is effective not only in treating nausea and AIDS but also chronic pain and some symptoms of multiple sclerosis.

    There is also good evidence that marijuana can help treat other conditions, including Lou Gehrig’s disease (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS), glaucoma, irritable bowel syndrome, insomnia, migraine, post-traumatic stress disorder and Tourette syndrome. Keeping marijuana in the Schedule I category severely hampers research that might establish more effective treatments for these conditions.

    Researchers have been extremely limited in their abilities to study marijuana because of its Schedule I classification.

    Balancing risks and benefits

    Those opposed to rescheduling cite possible health risks associated with marijuana consumption. Heavy use is linked to an increased risk of developing schizophrenia. However, the increased risk of schizophrenia from cannabis use is comparable to that caused by watching excessive television, eating junk food or smoking cigarettes.

    Long-term marijuana use can also lead to sleep problems and diminished visuospatial memory. It can also cause gastrointestinal trouble, such as cannabis hyperemesis syndrome, which is characterized by nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. The symptoms, while extremely unpleasant, are temporary and occur only after consuming marijuana. The condition disappears in people who stop using.

    Marijuana use can also be addictive. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about three out of every 10 regular marijuana users meet the diagnostic criteria for cannabis use disorder.

    All of the concerns above are legitimate, though it is worth noting that virtually no effective medicine is free from undesirable side effects. And although marijuana can be habit-forming, it is not as addictive as alcohol, tobacco, oxycodone, cocaine, methamphetamine or benzodiazepines. None of those other drugs are categorized as Schedule I, and alcohol and tobacco are not scheduled at all.

    Unlike most other prescription medications, marijuana use is associated with many benefits. For example, in states where marijuana has been legalized, worker’s compensation payments have fallen by an average of 21% among people over 40. Researchers think that this is because marijuana helps workers better manage chronic pain. The use of marijuana for pain management also helps to reduce dependency on opioids. One study found that U.S. counties with one or two marijuana dispensaries had an average of 17% fewer opioid-related fatalities compared with counties with no dispensaries.

    Research also shows that marijuana use can help to prevent Alzheimer’s by blocking the enzymes that produce amyloid plaques. It also shows promise for reducing a person’s risk of developing Type 2 diabetes by helping the body regulate insulin and glucose levels.

    All of these benefits add up to marijuana users having an overall lower rate of premature death than nonusers.

    Chris Meyers 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. DEA could reclassify marijuana to a less restrictive category – a drug policy expert weighs the pros and cons – https://theconversation.com/dea-could-reclassify-marijuana-to-a-less-restrictive-category-a-drug-policy-expert-weighs-the-pros-and-cons-237199

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI: SCOR announces the filing of a tender offer for the entire share capital of MRM

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Press release
    October 9, 2024 – N° 14

    SCOR announces the filing of a tender offer
    for the entire share capital of MRM

    To read this information in full, please confirm that you have read and understood the disclaimer on SCOR’s website here.

    *

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    SCOR, a leading global reinsurer

    As a leading global reinsurer, SCOR offers its clients a diversified and innovative range of reinsurance and insurance solutions and services to control and manage risk. Applying “The Art & Science of Risk”, SCOR uses its industry-recognized expertise and cutting-edge financial solutions to serve its clients and contribute to the welfare and resilience of society.

    The Group generated premiums of EUR 19.4 billion in 2023 and serves clients in around 160 countries from its 35 offices worldwide.

    For more information, visit: http://www.scor.com

    		 Media Relations
    Alexandre Garcia
    media@scor.com

    Investor Relations
    Thomas Fossard
    tfossard@scor.com

    Follow us on LinkedIn
     

    All content published by the SCOR group since January 1, 2024, is certified with Wiztrust. You can check the authenticity of this content at wiztrust.com.

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    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: SIMPPLE Ltd. Announces New Contracts and Partnerships in Australia and New Zealand

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Singapore, Oct. 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — SIMPPLE Ltd. (NASDAQ: SPPL) (“SIMPPLE” or “the Company”), a leading technology provider and innovator in the facilities management (FM) sector, today announced the closing of multiple contracts and strategic partnerships in Australia and New Zealand (ANZ). The contracts included agreements to provide:

    • an end-to-end integrated cleaning services and compliance solution incorporating workforce management, IoT sensors and robotics, at two international and one regional Australian airport, to the aviation services arm of a global Danish outsourcing company with annual revenue of over $11 billion;
    • a cleaning services and compliance solution, at five campuses of an Australian university, to the education services arm of that same Danish company;
    • a cleaning services and compliance solution, at a food manufacturing plant in Sydney, to the manufacturing services division of a global UK-headquartered facilities management services company with annual revenue of over $2 billion; and
    • a cleaning services and compliance solution, at a major retail centre in Sydney, for another division of that same UK-headquartered company.

    Aggregate revenue from these four contracts is projected at approximately $2.35 million.

    SIMPPLE’s recently completed strategic partnerships include five collaborations aimed at distributing SIMPPLE Robotics and software capabilities and building a service delivery, maintenance and support network across ANZ. These new partners include:

    • a provider of robotic solutions and services to the hospitality, retail and healthcare industries in Australia;
    • a Sydney-headquartered supplier of autonomous security robots and other technology solutions to major corporate and government customers in Australia;
    • a Sydney-headquartered retailer and wholesaler of cleaning equipment and supplies;
    • a Brisbane-headquartered supplier of cleaning, catering, hospitality, health and hygiene supplies to businesses in Australia; and
    • a supplier of A.I. robotic solutions in New Zealand.

    Spearheading the closing of these contracts and partnerships was the new leadership team at the recently established SIMPPLE Australia Pty Ltd subsidiary in Brisbane. This team includes Aloysius Chong, SIMPPLE’s former CEO relocated in February 2023 to Australia to serve as SIMPPLE Australia Pty Ltd’s Director of Brand and Product Strategy; James Yatras, appointed in February 2023 as SIMPPLE’s Head of Australia and New Zealand; and Greg Crisp, appointed in June 2024 as the Company’s Regional Sales Director for Australia and New Zealand.

    “These contracts and partnerships mark a significant step in our strategic expansion into the lucrative Australia and New Zealand markets,” said SIMPPLE Ltd CEO Norman Schroeder. “These agreements also highlight our Company’s capability to venture into a wide range of new sectors covering aviation, education, healthcare, and manufacturing – a significant expansion from our existing retail, institutions, and commercial office sectors.”

    The new agreements, he said, also stem from the unique position, held by SIMPPLE Australia Pty Ltd and its ANZ partners, of being that region’s only supplier of end-to-end facilities management solutions able to integrate software, robotics, ESG auditing and reporting, IoT sensors and other diverse data collection technologies into a single platform.

    This platform, he added, is built modular to accommodate small businesses, yet can be scaled up and/or down to meet the variable requirements of large enterprise-wide organizations.

    “Going forward,” said the CEO, “we believe the ANZ region offers SIMPPLE major growth potential. I am confident that our Australia Pty Ltd team is expertly positioned to drive this growth by providing targeted best of breed solutions to facility owners, operators, and service providers in this market.”

    Mr. Schroeder underscored the Company’s potential in the ANZ market by referencing SIMPPLE Australia Pty Ltd’s announcement, on September 12, that its new range of AI spot cleaning robots had received the Excellence Award (Innovation) for Large Equipment at the International Sanitary Supply Association (ISSA) Cleaning & Hygiene Expo in Sydney.

    According to recent data from Expert Market Research, the Australia facility management market was valued at $37.37 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.5% to reach a value of $56.93 billion by 2032. This growth, said the study, is expected to be driven by rising numbers of infrastructure development projects, increased focus on sustainability and cost optimization, and the growing need for outsourcing of technology integration services within facilities.

    A Mordor Intelligence report projected that the facilities management markets in Australia and New Zealand are expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.1% and 2.5%, respectively, from 2024 through 2029. Growth in Australia, said Mordor, is expected to be fuelled by multiple industries adopting integrated FM services models that can meet all core customer needs on a large scale, and by those FM models incorporating newer technologies allowing for intelligent buildings and work environments. Future New Zealand FM sector growth, said the report, will be spurred by increasing end-user awareness of the need for energy conservation and developed building infrastructure.

    “The possibilities for SIMPPLE in ANZ are plentiful,” concluded Mr. Schroeder. “We look forward to announcing further progress for this region in the near future.”

    About SIMPPLE LTD.

    Headquartered in Singapore, SIMPPLE LTD. is an advanced technology solution provider in the emerging PropTech space, focused on helping facilities owners and managers manage facilities autonomously. Founded in 2016, the Company has a strong foothold in the Singapore facilities management market, serving over 60 clients in both the public and private sectors and extending out of Singapore into Australia and the Middle East. The Company has developed its proprietary SIMPPLE Ecosystem, to create an automated workforce management tool for building maintenance, surveillance and cleaning comprised of a mix of software and hardware solutions such as robotics (both cleaning and security) and Internet-of-Things (“IoT”) devices. 

    For more information on SIMPPLE, please visit: https://www.simpple.ai

    Safe Harbor Statement

    This press release contains forward-looking statements. In addition, from time to time, we or our representatives may make forward-looking statements orally or in writing. We base these forward-looking statements on our expectations and projections about future events, which we derive from the information currently available to us. Such forward-looking statements relate to future events or our future performance, including: our financial performance and projections; our growth in revenue and earnings; and our business prospects and opportunities. You can identify forward-looking statements by those that are not historical in nature, particularly those that use terminology such as “may,” “should,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “contemplates,” “estimates,” “believes,” “plans,” “projected,” “predicts,” “potential,” or “hopes” or the negative of these or similar terms. In evaluating these forward-looking statements, you should consider various factors, including: our ability to change the direction of the Company; our ability to keep pace with new technology and changing market needs; and the competitive environment of our business. These and other factors may cause our actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statement.

    Forward-looking statements are only predictions. The forward-looking events discussed in this press release and other statements made from time to time by us or our representatives, may not occur, and actual events and results may differ materially and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions about us. We are not obligated to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events discussed in this press release and other statements made from time to time by us or our representatives might not occur.

    For investor and media queries, please contact:
    SIMPPLE LTD.
    Investor Relations Department
    Email: ir@simpple.ai

    Visit the Investor Relation Website: https://www.investor.simpple.ai/

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    1177 Avenue of the Americas, 5th Floor
    New York, NY 10036
    Tel: (646) 893-5835
    Email: info@skylineccg.com  

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Secretary-General of ASEAN meets with the President of the AIIB

    Source: ASEAN

    Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, met with President of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), H.E. Jin Liqun, on the sidelines of the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits and Related Summits in Vientiane, Lao PDR today. SG Dr. Kao commended the AIIB’s efforts in advancing connectivity and infrastructure development and looked forward to having deeper cooperation between ASEAN and AIIB in enhancing connectivity in the region.

    The post Secretary-General of ASEAN meets with the President of the AIIB appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI: Alation Unveils AI Governance Solution to Power Safe and Reliable AI for Enterprises

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Oct. 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Alation Inc., the data intelligence company, today launched its AI Governance solution to help organizations realize value from their data and AI initiatives. The solution ensures that AI models are developed using secure, compliant, and well-documented data. With capabilities such as lineage for AI auditability, AI documentation, data discovery and custom tagging, and data quality flags, organizations can confidently accelerate AI development, mitigate risks, and optimize their AI investments for business impact.

    As regulatory demands rise and data environments grow more complex, organizations struggle to scale AI applications—including machine learning (ML) and generative AI (GenAI)—beyond proof-of-concept stages. Despite growing adoption, research from McKinsey shows only 11% of organizations have successfully scaled these initiatives, largely due to challenges in data governance, compliance, and security. New and evolving regulations, such as GDPR, the EU AI Act, and frameworks like the OECD AI Principles and NIST AI Risk Management Framework, further complicate governance requirements.

    Alation’s AI Governance solution equips organizations with trusted, compliant data and the visibility to confidently scale AI initiatives while adhering to governance policies. By cataloging training datasets, LLM prompts, AI models, and API endpoints in a unified platform, Alation ensures traceability across the AI ecosystem, enabling compliance and fostering collaboration. This transparency mitigates AI risks by allowing teams to trace errors, correct biases, and maintain accountability throughout the AI lifecycle. With curated features ensuring data quality and best practices like model card documentation, Alation streamlines AI development, accelerates time-to-value, and delivers governed collaborative AI outcomes. By reinforcing trust and explainability, Alation helps enterprises future-proof and centralize their AI efforts, driving measurable impact.

    “Alation is critical to increasing the confidence and the value of our data, providing a single source of truth that drives informed decision-making across the organization,” said Ilya Gilin, Leader of Data and AI/ML Governance at Interac. “As we scale our AI initiatives, Alation delivers the transparency, traceability, and governance needed to build, document, and validate analytical models confidently. With features like data quality flags and lineage for AI auditability, we can ensure our model inventory is accurate and timely while maintaining compliance and operational excellence. By transforming data into a strategic asset, Alation fuels innovation and future-proofs our data governance program.”

    “Alation delivers critical guardrails required to help keep AI initiatives safe, ethical, and compliant,” said Stewart Bond, Vice President of Data Intelligence and Integration Software Research at IDC. “Alation helps enterprises find, understand, and trust their data and now brings this expertise to AI—now a top boardroom priority. Alation’s AI Governance solution equips data and business teams to track and validate data before it feeds into AI models while supporting model development, documentation, and validation. By providing a trusted platform, Alation enables organizations to deploy and scale reliable, auditable AI, ensuring compliance, mitigating risks, and driving measurable, AI-driven business outcomes.”

    “The potential for AI to revolutionize industries—from preventing financial fraud to accelerating drug development—is immense, but realizing that potential and driving true business value depends on trusted, high-quality data,” said Satyen Sangani, CEO and co-founder of Alation. “Alation’s AI Governance solution ensures AI initiatives are built on secure, compliant, and transparent data, enabling faster innovation with confidence. As enterprises continue to invest in AI infrastructure to scale large models, Alation turns those investments into real-world applications that deliver measurable ROI, reduce risk, and scale AI safely and ethically—unlocking significant business value.”

    Alation’s AI Governance solution enables organizations to confidently scale AI initiatives and drive measurable business outcomes by leveraging:

    • Accurate Datasets for Trusted Models: Alation equips data scientists, ML experts, and AI engineers with trusted, compliant, contextual data. By leveraging Alation’s Intelligent Search and custom tags, users can quickly locate and tag relevant and compliant datasets needed to build trusted AI models, ensuring a strong foundation for AI initiatives.
    • Streamlined AI Documentation and Collaboration: Alation provides a single source of truth for documenting and managing AI models using model card templates. By centralizing collaboration within the AI Governance solution, teams can collaborate in the context of specific models, ensuring unified visibility across all stakeholders. This promotes governance, compliance, and the efficient discovery and sharing of AI/ML models across the enterprise, driving operational efficiency and transparency.
    • Auditable AI Lineage and Traceability: Alation delivers end-to-end lineage from datasets to AI models, offering full visibility into the AI lifecycle. By cataloging training datasets, LLM prompts, AI models, and output data in a single source of truth, Alation ensures traceability for internal stakeholders and auditors. This enables organizations to diagnose issues, enforce compliance, and maintain trust in AI systems, embedding safety, ethics, and governance throughout the entire process.
    • Compliance and Risk Mitigation: Alation’s AI and data governance framework flags non-compliant datasets and ensures AI models are built on reliable, governed data. This mitigates operational risks, prevents costly errors, and safeguards data integrity—ensuring organizations meet the highest regulatory standards while driving innovation.
    • AI Readiness Accelerator: Alation’s Expert Services offering accelerates AI adoption by providing expert guidance and best practices for model card development. Customers can also engage system integrators from the Alation ecosystem to implement these practices, ensuring they are prepared to scale AI initiatives and deliver measurable business impact. 

    To learn more, read our blog, AI Governance Best Practices: A Framework for Data Leaders. 

    Register for the webinar, “Building Trust in AI: Best Practices for AI Governance from IDC’s Stewart Bond,“ on October 23, 2024, at 8 AM PT. Gain expert insights from Stewart Bond, IDC’s Vice President of Data Intelligence and Integration Software Research, and David Chao, CMO of Alation, on navigating AI governance challenges, improving AI safety, and harnessing trusted data to drive successful AI initiatives.

    About Alation
    Alation is the data intelligence company. Nearly 600 global enterprises — including 40% of the Fortune 100 — rely on Alation to realize value from their data and AI initiatives. Customers such as Cisco, DocuSign, Nasdaq, Pfizer, and Samsung trust Alation’s platform for self-service analytics, cloud transformation, data governance, and AI-ready data, fostering data-driven innovation at scale. Headquartered in Redwood City, California, Alation has been recognized five times by Inc. Magazine as one of the Best Workplaces. To learn more, visit http://www.alation.com. 

    Media Contact
    Lauren Lloyd
    Director, Corporate Communications
    541-490-6115
    lauren.lloyd@alation.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: The U.S. Department of Energy Selects Craft to Protect Federal Investments from Foreign Influence

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Craft, the supply chain resilience company, today announced its risk management platform was selected by the United States Department of Energy (DoE) to provide risk assessments for companies that apply for awards and loans through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. The collaboration is part of a larger effort to protect U.S. energy infrastructure, technology, intellectual property, and federal investments from hostile foreign nations and influence.

    Currently, more than 500 employees across 61 federal government organizations use the Craft platform in support of the SBIR program to enhance their due diligence practices. The DoE’s Office of Research, Technology & Economic Security is the latest agency to use Craft to conduct due diligence on SBIR award applicants. This formerly manual process is now completed quickly and accurately, and supports compliance with the U.S. SBIR And STTR Extension Act of 2022. With Craft, the DoE can discover foreign ownership and associations across myriad data points including patents, licensing, board seats, politically exposed people, investor locations, blocklists, ultimate beneficial ownership (UBO), and more.

    “The U.S. invests significantly in the private sector to support the country’s energy infrastructure and technological innovation. However, foreign influence poses a major threat,” said Brian Mackerer, group director, Government and Defense Sector, Craft. “Craft’s platform provides the DoE with a gold standard for due diligence and ensures that all investments will advance U.S. energy interests.”

    Craft’s due diligence data and intelligence can be accessed by any U.S. government agency for faster risk assessments and to avoid duplicative work. Its platform will continue to be essential for the DoE and other government agencies to invest confidently and quickly on SBIR awards for important energy technology across batteries, electric grid infrastructure, and renewable and clean energy.

    “Foreign influence is increasingly more difficult to detect and manual vetting processes can slow the rate of U.S. innovation and technological progress,” said a representative from the Department of Energy’s Office of Research, Technology & Economic Security. “Craft’s platform allows us to vet federal funds candidates easier and faster to ensure they are free of hostile foreign influence.”

    Craft’s work with the DoE is the latest in a series of announcements with the U.S. government. In May 2024, Craft announced a $28 million, five-year agreement with the Secretary of the Air Force to bolster due diligence efforts across the Department of Defense. In March 2024, it announced a partnership with Strider Technologies, Inc. to enrich the data used to identify foreign influence within supply chains for federal government agencies and organizations engaged in government contracts.

    “Our vision is for Craft to be the supply chain risk and resilience partner-of-choice for the U.S. government. This collaboration is another step forward in that direction,” said Mackerer.

    For more information about Craft, visit http://www.craft.co or contact press@craft.co.

    About Craft

    Craft illuminates the path to global supply chain resilience. It empowers businesses to strengthen their supplier networks and supply chains with the industry’s most reliable and comprehensive data fabric and advanced risk mitigation engine. Craft’s user-friendly platform offers 360-degree visibility to explore and evaluate supplier networks, AI-driven insights to detect and mitigate disruptions, and collaborative tools to enhance supply chain strategies. Procurement and supply chain professionals can confidently navigate regulatory environments, adhere to ethical standards, and ensure business continuity. Headquartered in San Francisco, CA, Craft assists commercial and governmental organizations worldwide in creating more resilient supply chains. For more information about Craft, visit http://www.craft.co.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Nokia and Furukawa Electric LatAm expand partnership in Brazil to reach data center market

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Press Release
    Nokia and Furukawa Electric LatAm expand partnership in Brazil to reach data center market

    • Security and automation designed for the AI era are focus of new phase of partnership, designed for data centers of all sizes in Brazil.
    • Solutions immediately available for Brazilian market bring together Nokia’s modern data center automation platform and Nokia DDoS attack detection and mitigation software.
    • Existing partnership between the companies to commercialize advanced passive optical network (POL) technologies continues throughout Latin America.

    9 October 2024
    São Paulo, Brazil – Nokia and Furukawa Electric LatAm today announced they have expanded their partnership to immediately bring high-performance solutions in data center automation to Brazil. Partners since 2022, the two companies will also continue to offer advanced passive optical network technologies to the Latin American business market.

    Furukawa will now offer Nokia’s Data Center Fabric solution, which includes high-performance data center switching platforms, running Nokia SR Linux, a uniquely open, extensible and resilient Network Operating System and managed by Nokia Event-Driven Automation (EDA), a modern data center network automation platform that combines speed with reliability and simplicity and provides guardrails that detect errors caused by automation.

    Roberto Kihara, General Sales Manager for Furukawa Electric LatAm, said: “We are delighted to be able to extend our partnership with Nokia to offer the most advanced passive optical network technology available. The POL market is very hot in Latin America and we have a lot to achieve together in the region’s data center market. Brazil is a promising market and exemplary in terms of investment volume and demand for automation solutions.”

    Juan Pablo Anadon, Head of Enterprise, Webscale and Partners Sales for Latin America, Network Infrastructure at Nokia, said: “Together with Furukawa Electric LatAm, we are committed to bringing cutting-edge data center technology to the Latin American business market quickly. Our new EDA platform, developed for the AI era, simplifies data center management and can cut down operational efforts up to 40%. Part of our Data Center Fabric solution, EDA is now available in Brazil just two weeks following its global launch, allowing us to work towards our goal with Furukawa to support and advance data center networks in Latin America.”

    Nokia is helping cloud builders worldwide to build modern data center networks that are highly reliable, secure and easy to operate – which is essential to meet the growing demands of AI workloads worldwide.

    Resources and additional information
    Webpage: Nokia – Event-Driven Automation (EDA)
    Webpage: 7220 Interconnect Router for Data Center Fabric
    Webpage: 7750 Service Router
    Webpage: Deepfield Defender
    Press release: Nokia and Furukawa Electric LatAm partner to accelerate Optical LAN in Latin America

    About Nokia
    At Nokia, we create technology that helps the world act together.

    As a B2B technology innovation leader, we are pioneering networks that sense, think and act by leveraging our work across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. In addition, we create value with intellectual property and long-term research, led by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs.

    With truly open architectures that seamlessly integrate into any ecosystem, our high-performance networks create new opportunities for monetization and scale. Service providers, enterprises and partners worldwide trust Nokia to deliver secure, reliable and sustainable networks today – and work with us to create the digital services and applications of the future.

    About Furukawa Electric LatAm
    Furukawa Electric Latam is a communications infrastructure solutions manufacturer with headquarters in Curitiba/PR and other plants in Sorocaba/SP and Santa Rita do Sapucaí/MG, as well as optical cable factories in Berazategui, Argentina, and Mexicali, Mexico.

    With a comprehensive portfolio of communication infrastructure solutions, it serves diverse markets such as data centres, industries, offices, operators and services, among others, at all application levels.

    Furukawa Solutions brand is the result of the union of various development, production and support centres distributed around the world, relying on the solidity of the Furukawa Electric group, which has been operating globally for over 135 years, offering world-class solutions with local support and services. With a strong commitment to society, it provides infrastructure for life.

    Media inquiries
    Nokia Press Office
    Email: Press.Services@nokia.com

    Nokia Americas
    Email: lygia.torelli@nokia.com

    Furukawa Electric Latam
    Email: andreia.rodrigues@agenciafr.com.br

    Follow Nokia on social media
    LinkedIn X Instagram Facebook YouTube

    Follow Furukawa on social media
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  • MIL-OSI: OnStation Welcomes Former DOT Chief Mack Long to Drive Public Sector Adoption

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CLEVELAND, Oct. 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — OnStation, the leading provider of digital stationing solutions for the heavy highway industry, today announced the appointment of Mack Long as its new Strategic Advisor.

    Mack brings over 30 years of experience working for both contractors and Departments of Transportation. Previously, he served as the Director of the Montana Department of Transportation as well as President and General Manager of Wyoming’s JTL Group. Mack is a recognized expert in the industry and has served as the Chairman of the Committee on Construction for American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). In his capacity as strategic advisor, Mack will guide OnStation relationships with public sector officials, research, and grant funds.

    Throughout his career, Mack has been passionate about putting the right technology into the hands of road crews, which aligns with the OnStation corporate mission. “OnStation is the best tool out there for both the DOTs and contractors to make sure their projects get built right. It’s the critical tool that connects every road worker with the information they need to be productive and safe,” said Long.

    CEO Patrick Russo noted how the addition of Mack Long deepens OnStation’s value proposition for DOT and contractor teams who often work side by side on the same projects. The app allows team members to instantly find their live digital station and offset reading, drop flags at specific locations, attach images, send chat messages, and share with colleagues across the entire project.

    “OnStation focuses on providing a digital location to every worker on a jobsite to help make their jobs easier and safer. We solve challenges roadway crew experience daily by aligning the needs of DOT project owners and the contractor community, so everyone derives increased value from digital stationing. Mack’s experience on both sides of road construction project teams will help guide us towards fulfilling this vision. It is awesome our company is attracting folks like Mack, and I am excited to learn from him,” said Russo.

    For more information about OnStation and its solutions, please visit http://www.onstationapp.com. 

    About Mack Long

    Mack was born in Billings, Montana, where he grew up and raised his own family. He attended Montana State University (MSU) in Bozeman, Montana, and graduated in 1986 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management. After college, Mack worked in Bozeman where he met and married his wife, Karen, in 1990. Mack returned to MSU to earn a Construction Engineering degree. Later, he and Karen moved to Texas where Mack worked for Peter Kiewit & Sons construction and engineering firm. While in Texas, Mack and Karen raised their family and welcomed their son, Nathon to their family.

    In 1995, they moved back to Billings and Mack went to work for the family construction company, JTL Group, Inc. Shortly after moving back, their daughter was born. The family moved to Casper, Wyoming in 1998 where Mack became the President and General Manager of JTL Group, Wyoming. In 2002, Mack moved into JTL Group’s main administrative office and worked with his father, Joel, in Billings. JTL Group, Inc. was acquired by MDU Resources Group Inc. in 1999. When Joel retired in 2003, Mack became the President and Regional Manager for Knife River Corp, Inc., an MDU Resources division, until he retired in 2009.

    Mack has been the owner and partner in business ventures over the past 10 years and his experience in the construction field has been wide and varied across airport reconstruction, highways, utilities work, and major industrial plant construction. In 2021 Governor Greg Gianforte appointed Mack to be the Director of the Montana Department of Transportation. Mack proudly served in this role and was asked to be the Chairman of the Committee on Construction for AASHTO. Mack retired in April of 2024 to spend more time with his wife.

    About OnStation

    OnStation is a collaborative digital stationing platform that offers location-based project records from bid to close. Specifically designed for the heavy highway industry, OnStation’s mobile app centralizes communication, boosts productivity, enhances worker safety, and improves project quality. Users benefit from live jobsite stationing, milepost, and LRS capabilities. They can overlay design layers on the project map and communicate via a custom chat platform that organizes and records project events at their locations. OnStation is available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store and is supported on all desktop systems.

    Contact

    Jessica Kodrich
    jkodrich@onstationapp.com 

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e4dccfb6-c5d1-4af4-851b-79ec1f2b4e36

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: FloQast CEO Mike Whitmire and Accounting Operations Evangelist Stefan van Duyvendijk Publish New Book to Empower Controllers and Accounting Teams

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LOS ANGELES, Oct. 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FloQast, an Accounting Transformation Platform created by accountants for accountants, today announced the release of “Shift Happens: The Rise of the Operational Mindset and How Controllers Can Drive Real Value,” a new book co-authored by FloQast CEO and Co-Founder Mike Whitmire and Accounting Operations Evangelist Stefan van Duyvendijk. Available on the Amazon Kindle Store starting October 9, the book offers critical insights for accounting professionals as they navigate a rapidly changing business landscape.

    Controllers today face increasing pressure to move beyond traditional accounting responsibilities and embrace a more strategic, operational role within their organizations. “Shift Happens” explores this transformation, providing a roadmap for controllers and accounting teams to elevate their influence and steer organizational strategy, particularly during periods of economic uncertainty and business volatility.

    “Shift Happens” draws from the real-world experiences of Whitmire, van Duyvendijk, and other finance leaders at top-tier organizations to deliver actionable advice for controllers looking to position themselves as operational leaders. By adopting a mindset that balances financial expertise with strategic decision-making, controllers can help their companies thrive in today’s complex and fast-paced environment.

    “The controller’s role is changing fast,” said Mike Whitmire, co-founder and CEO of FloQast, CPA. “Accountants understand a company’s finances better than anyone, which puts them in a unique position to help shape business strategy with real data and insights. With today’s economic pressures and talent shortages, businesses can’t afford to overlook this expertise. Our book gives controllers and their teams the tools they need to step up and make a real difference.”

    Stefan van Duyvendijk echoes Whitmire’s sentiment: “Controllers already have the skills and insights needed to drive operational success, but too often they are limited to financial reporting. With an operational mindset, they can expand their influence, bringing valuable insights to the table that impact the entire organization.”

    “Shift Happens” empowers controllers and accounting teams to embrace this broader scope, teaching them how to bridge the gap between accounting functions and business operations. The book provides practical guidance on how to navigate complex financial regulations, communicate effectively with senior executives, and manage cross-functional teams.

    Earn 10 CPE/CPD Credits with FloQademy!

    As part of its mission to provide continuous education to accounting professionals, FloQast is offering readers the opportunity to earn 10 CPE/CPD credits through FloQademy. Head to floqademy.floqast.com/shift-happens to claim your credits and explore other informative and entertaining courses designed to enhance your accounting expertise.

    About the Authors:

    Mike Whitmire is the CEO and co-founder of FloQast, which he established in 2013 to address critical inefficiencies in accounting operations. With a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Syracuse University, Whitmire’s early career included roles at Ernst & Young and Cornerstone OnDemand, where he contributed to a successful IPO. In addition to “Shift Happens,” Whitmire is also the author of the Amazon best-selling book “Controller’s Code: The Secret Formula to a Successful Career in Finance.” Outside of his work in the accounting industry, Whitmire is an avid woodworker and a dedicated Los Angeles Dodgers fan.

    Stefan van Duyvendijk serves as the Accounting Operations Evangelist at FloQast. Prior to joining FloQast, van Duyvendijk held corporate controller positions at Kodiak Cakes and Skullcandy, building extensive experience in financial operations and regulatory compliance. His expertise includes ASC 606 implementation, close process improvements, business combinations, and financial statement audits. When he’s not advocating for accounting innovation, Stefan enjoys skiing the slopes around his home in Utah.

    Book Availability and Pricing: “Shift Happens: The Rise of the Operational Mindset and How Controllers Can Drive Real Value” will be available on the Amazon Kindle Store starting October 9 for a limited-time introductory price of $2.99 for the Kindle edition and $7.75 for the paperback.

    About FloQast

    FloQast, an Accounting Transformation Platform created by accountants for accountants, enables organizations to automate a variety of accounting operations. Trusted by more than 2,800 global accounting teams – including Twilio, Los Angeles Lakers, Zoom, and Snowflake – FloQast enhances the way accounting teams work, enabling customers to automate close management, account reconciliations, accounting operations, and compliance activities. With FloQast, teams can utilize the latest advancements in AI technology to manage aspects of the close, reduce their compliance burden, stay audit-ready, and improve accuracy, visibility, and collaboration overall. FloQast is consistently rated #1 across all user review sites. Learn more at FloQast.com.

    Contact:
    Kyle Cabodi
    FloQast Director of Corporate Communications
    kyle.cabodi@floqast.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Axyom.Core Announces Industry-First 4G/5G Dual Mode Enterprise Small Cells Improving Signal Strength in Indoor Areas

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    ANDOVER, Mass., Oct. 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Axyom.Core, a leader in cloud-native wireless core and radio access network (RAN) solutions, today announced the commercial launch of the industry’s first 4G/5G dual-mode enterprise femtocell product. It extends service coverage indoors where access would otherwise be limited or unavailable.

    Service providers can deploy these small cells in their own offices, shops, and other facilities, as well as sell them to enterprise customers, such as hospitals, offices, retail stores, and schools which show a significant rise in demand for small cell solutions, driven by the rapid adoption of 5G technologies and the growing need for indoor wireless coverage.

    Axyom.Core’s new femtocell product—supporting both 5G NSA (Non-Standalone) and SA (Standalone) architectures—is well-positioned to meet this demand, offering high capacity and exceptional throughput for improved quality of service.

    “These small cells for enterprises improve indoor communication by providing stronger, more reliable signal strength and a cost-effective solution,” said Kurt Daniel, CEO, Axyom.Core. “By enhancing the flexibility of indoor coverage, this new offering can benefit organizations of all sizes, addressing the common frustration of poor signal strength indoors and helping them meet their connectivity needs more efficiently and affordably.”

    The launch of this dual-mode small cell product marks a significant milestone for Axyom.Core, which continues to lead the way in advancing cloud-native wireless solutions.

    To learn more, register for the webinar on October 29, Redefining Indoor Coverage and Capacity.

    Trusted by six of the world’s top 10 communications service providers, Axyom.Core’s products include high-performance 4G and 5G converged core solutions, Femto core, security gateways, and enterprise RAN. The Axyom.Core platform offers unparalleled efficiency, scalability, and economics, ensuring that customers remain at the forefront of the rapidly evolving telecommunications landscape.

    Axyom.Core was acquired by Lumine Group on April 30, 2024, marking the group’s 14th corporate carve-out. The acquisition strengthens Lumine Group’s portfolio in the communications and media software sector with Axyom.Core continuing to operate autonomously under its new brand identity.

    About Axyom.Core
    Axyom.Core is a global leader in cloud-native wireless core and radio access network solutions, trusted by major communications service providers worldwide. Our advanced product portfolio includes high-performance 4G and 5G Converged core, Femto core, security gateways, and enterprise RAN units. Axyom.Core is dedicated to delivering innovative solutions that meet the evolving needs of the telecommunications industry. For more information, visit http://www.axyomcore.ai.

    About Lumine Group
    Lumine Group acquires, strengthens, and grows vertical market software businesses in the Communications and Media industry. Learn more at http://www.luminegroup.com.

    Media Contact
    Glenn Rossman
    glenn@eckertcomms.com
    914-623-8354

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: ibex Partners with Parloa for Latest GenAI Capabilities

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    WASHINGTON and NEW YORK, Oct. 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ibex (NASDAQ: IBEX), a leading global provider of business process outsourcing (BPO) and AI-powered customer engagement technology solutions, today announced a strategic partnership with Parloa, a leading provider of generative AI automation solutions. Per the agreement, ibex will leverage Parloa’s AI Agent Management Platform (AMP) as part of the ibex Wave iX solutions suite for clients in North America.

    “ibex is excited to partner with Parloa to leverage cutting-edge GenAI to transform the world of customer experience (CX),” said ibex CEO Bob Dechant. “This strategic partnership unites Parloa’s industry-leading genAI automation for CX with ibex’s ground-breaking Wave iX solutions suite, unmatched BPO expertise, and deep customer insights to deliver the most advanced AI and agent-assisted CX solutions, ever.”

    Parloa’s GenAI-powered AMP platform is designed to support fully dynamic and autonomous personal agents that engage in more natural, engaging customer interactions.

    “We are excited to partner with ibex to bring generative AI to customer engagement at scale,” said Malte Kosub, CEO and Co-founder of Parloa. “By combining our GenAI-based technology with ibex’s expertise, we’re enabling brands to deliver more personalized and efficient customer interactions, enhancing both the customer and agent experience.”

    ibex takes a solutions-driven approach to align with specific business needs and deliver real CX solutions for transformative outcomes. ibex Wave iX, which includes three key solution sets—AgentAI, CustomerAI, and InsightsAI—uses the latest GenAI technology to deliver authentic digital transformation and advanced customer-facing self-service options to businesses of all sizes at every stage of their digital journey. Explore the full suite of ibex Wave iX solutions here.

    About Parloa

    Parloa is a leading AI company for the automation of customer service. Parloa’s platform unites humans and AI in one team to take companies’ service quality to a new level through AI-based customer service, natural-sounding conversations, and outstanding service experiences on the phone and all communication channels. The Parloa platform resolves the majority of customer queries quickly and automatically, allowing contact center agents to focus on complex issues. Parloa was founded in 2018 by Malte Kosub and Stefan Ostwald and today employs more than 250 people in Berlin, Munich, and New York. Find out more about Parloa on our website and join us on LinkedIn to stay up to date.

    About ibex

    ibex delivers innovative business process outsourcing (BPO), smart digital marketing, online acquisition technology, and end-to-end customer engagement solutions to help companies acquire, engage and retain valuable customers. Today, ibex operates a global CX delivery center model consisting of approximately 30 operations facilities around the world, while deploying next generation technology to drive superior customer experiences for many of the world’s leading companies across retail, e-commerce, healthcare, fintech, utilities and logistics.

    ibex leverages its diverse global team of over 30,000 employees together with industry-leading technology, including the AI-powered ibex Wave iX solutions suite, to manage nearly 175 million critical customer interactions, adding over $2.2B in lifetime customer revenue each year and driving a truly differentiated customer experience. To learn more, visit our website at ibex.co and connect with us on LinkedIn.

    Media Contacts:

    Dan Burris
    ibex
    Daniel.Burris@ibex.co

    Julia Goelles
    Parloa
    julia.goelles@parloa.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/49202d3d-6561-4cf6-a051-ddf4a636e145

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: VanEck Launches $30M Fund to Support Innovation in Fintech, Crypto and AI

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    The Fund is available to Qualified Purchasers Only, is subject to significant risk and may not be suitable for all investors. Please carefully read the Private Placement Memorandum before investing.

    NEW YORK, Oct. 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — VanEck, a leading global investment management firm, announces the launch of VanEck Ventures, a $30 million early-stage fund dedicated to investing in visionary founders operating at the intersection of fintech, digital assets, and artificial intelligence. This launch marks VanEck’s strategic expansion into venture capital, building on its long-established record of identifying and supporting transformative markets.

    “From pioneering an approach to gold investing in 1968 to recognizing the disruptive potential of Bitcoin in 2017, embracing a long-term view on transformative opportunities has always been part of our investment philosophy. This fund extends that vision into the early-stage venture space,” said Jan van Eck, CEO of VanEck. “We look forward to supporting founders of what we believe are some of the most disruptive companies in fintech—those building the future of finance.”

    VanEck Ventures invests in category-defining founders pushing the boundaries of financial applications and markets leveraging emerging technologies like blockchain and large language models. The fund’s investment philosophy focuses on supporting exceptional teams building at the application layer while maintaining an infrastructure-agnostic approach. The fund’s core investment themes include tokenized assets, internet native financial marketplaces, and next-generation payments building on stablecoins and tokenized capital markets.

    The fund is led by Wyatt Lonergan and Juan Lopez, both seasoned investors with experience in fintech and crypto ventures. Previously, Lonergan and Lopez headed Circle Ventures, the venture arm of USDC-issuer Circle, where they successfully invested over $50 million in early-stage companies ranging from infrastructure to consumer applications. Their leadership, combined with VanEck’s strong reputation in asset management, positions VanEck Ventures as a valuable partner for emerging innovative startups. VanEck’s global workforce and senior leadership support the fund from an operational and advisory perspective.

    “Three inflection points core to our investment thesis are starting to reshape the foundation of the internet: stablecoins emerging as an open-source banking layer, the commoditization of blockspace, and AI breakthroughs. The convergence of these is creating unprecedented opportunities for globally connected, user-centric financial experiences, and we are excited to back founders building on these innovations,” said Wyatt Lonergan, General Partner at VanEck Ventures.

    The fund expects to make 25 to 35 investments with check sizes ranging from $500,000 to $1 million, focusing on companies that offer both strategic and financial upside. The fund has already made 4 investments yet to be announced.

    “Over the past few years, we’ve seen stablecoins enable seamless, large-scale value storage and transfer along with Linux-like composability,” said Juan Lopez, General Partner at VanEck Ventures. “As several on-chain utilities, focused on programmability and compliance, come to market with growing regulatory clarity, it’s never been a more exciting time to build. Our goal is to be a long-term partner to bold founders defining the next phase of blockchain utility.”

    About VanEck

    VanEck has a history of looking beyond the financial markets to identify trends that are likely to create impactful investment opportunities. We were one of the first U.S. asset managers to offer investors access to international markets. This set the tone for the firm’s drive to identify asset classes and trends – including gold investing in 1968, emerging markets in 1993, and exchange traded funds in 2006 – that subsequently shaped the investment management industry.

    Today, VanEck offers active and passive strategies with compelling exposures supported by well-designed investment processes. As of August 31, 2024, VanEck managed approximately $113.9 billion in assets, including mutual funds, ETFs and institutional accounts. The firm’s capabilities range from core investment opportunities to more specialized exposures to enhance portfolio diversification. Our actively managed strategies are fueled by in-depth, bottom-up research and security selection from portfolio managers with direct experience in the sectors and regions in which they invest. Investability, liquidity, diversity, and transparency are key to the experienced decision-making around market and index selection underlying VanEck’s passive strategies.

    Since our founding in 1955, putting our clients’ interests first, in all market environments, has been at the heart of the firm’s mission.

    General Disclosures

    This is not an offer to buy or sell, or a recommendation to buy or sell any of the securities, financial instruments or digital assets mentioned herein. The information presented does not involve the rendering of personalized investment, financial, legal, tax advice, or any call to action. Certain statements contained herein may constitute projections, forecasts and other forward-looking statements, which do not reflect actual results, are for illustrative purposes only, are valid as of the date of this communication, and are subject to change without notice. Actual future performance of any assets or industries mentioned is unknown. Information provided by third party sources are believed to be reliable and have not been independently verified for accuracy or completeness and cannot be guaranteed. VanEck does not guarantee the accuracy of third party data. The information herein represents the opinion of the author(s), but not necessarily those of VanEck or its other employees.

    The Fund is available to Qualified Purchasers Only. Please carefully read the Private Placement Memorandum before investing. An investor should consider the investment objective, risks, charges and expenses of the Fund carefully before investing. There is no guarantee the Fund will achieve its investment objective and investors may lose their entire investment. The Fund is not suitable for all investors. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.

    The Partnership’s investment program is speculative and entails substantial risks. There can be no assurance that the Partnership’s investment objective will be achieved.

    An investment in the Fund involves a high degree of risk, including, without limitation, uncertain returns, market risk, risks associated with Limited Partner default, indemnification risks, illiquidity, possible lack of diversification, lack of management control, tax risks and potential conflicts of interest. There is no guarantee that the Funds’ investment objectives will be achieved.

    VANECK ABSOLUTE RETURN ADVISERS CORPORATION (“VEARA”), THE INVESTMENT MANAGER OF THE FUND, IS A MEMBER OF NFA AND IS SUBJECT TO NFA’S REGULATORY OVERSIGHT AND EXAMINATIONS. VEARA HAS ENGAGED OR MAY ENGAGE IN UNDERLYING OR SPOT VIRTUAL CURRENCY TRANSACTIONS IN THE FUND. ALTHOUGH NFA HAS JURISDICTION OVER VEARA, YOU SHOULD BE AWARE THAT NFA DOES NOT HAVE REGULATORY OVERSIGHT AUTHORITY FOR UNDERLYING OR SPOT MARKET VIRTUAL CURRENCY PRODUCTS OR TRANSACTIONS OR VIRTUAL CURRENCY EXCHANGES, CUSTODIANS OR MARKETS. YOU SHOULD ALSO BE AWARE THAT GIVEN CERTAIN MATERIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THESE PRODUCTS, INCLUDING LACK OF A CENTRALIZED PRICING SOURCE AND THE OPAQUE NATURE OF THE VIRTUAL CURRENCY MARKET, THERE CURRENTLY IS NO SOUND OR ACCEPTABLE PRACTICE FOR NFA TO ADEQUATELY VERIFY THE OWNERSHIP AND CONTROL OF A VIRTUAL CURRENCY OR THE VALUATION ATTRIBUTED TO A VIRTUAL CURRENCY BY VEARA.

    General Digital Asset Risks

    Cryptocurrencies and digital assets are not suitable for all investors. Investments in digital assets and Web3 companies are highly speculative and involve a high degree of risk. These risks include, but are not limited to: the technology is new and many of its uses may be untested; intense competition; slow adoption rates and the potential for product obsolescence; volatility and limited liquidity, including but not limited to, inability to liquidate a position; loss or destruction of key(s) to access accounts or the blockchain; reliance on digital wallets; reliance on unregulated markets and exchanges; reliance on the internet; cybersecurity risks; and the lack of regulation and the potential for new laws and regulation that may be difficult to predict. Moreover, the extent to which Web3 companies or digital assets utilize blockchain technology may vary, and it is possible that even widespread adoption of blockchain technology may not result in a material increase in the value of such companies or digital assets.

    Digital asset prices are highly volatile, and the value of digital assets, and Web3 companies, can rise or fall dramatically and quickly. If their value goes down, there’s no guarantee that it will rise again. As a result, there is a significant risk of loss of your entire principal investment.

    Digital assets are not generally backed or supported by any government or central bank and are not covered by FDIC or SIPC insurance. Accounts at digital asset custodians and exchanges are not protected by SPIC and are not FDIC insured. Furthermore, markets and exchanges for digital assets are not regulated with the same controls or customer protections available in traditional equity, option, futures, or foreign exchange investing.

    Digital assets include, but are not limited to, cryptocurrencies, tokens, NFTs, assets stored or created using blockchain technology, and other Web3 products.

    Web3 Companies include but are not limited to, companies that involve the development, innovation, and/or utilization of blockchain, digital assets, or crypto technologies.

    © Van Eck Associates Corporation

    ©️ Van Eck Securities Corporation, Distributor, a wholly owned subsidiary of Van Eck Associates Corporation
    666 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017
    Phone: 800.826.2333
    Email: info@vaneck.com

    Media Contact

    Garret J. Shaw
    +1 517.213.3180
    garret@serotonin.co
     

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at: 
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6c23f9cc-2c26-4460-975f-b5b0c214c2e9

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: The Future of Navigation is Mini: Advanced Navigation Launches Certus Mini Series with INS and AHRS

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN DIEGO, Oct. 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Advanced Navigation, a world leader in navigation and autonomous systems, has announced the expansion of its versatile Certus range, with the new Mini series.

    Available in three variants, the Certus Mini series includes a GNSS-aided Certus Mini D and Certus Mini N inertial navigation system (INS), while Certus Mini A functions as an attitude and heading reference system (AHRS).

    Weighing no more than 55 grams, the series packs an impressive punch in performance and cost-efficiency, defying expectations for its weight and size.

    Advanced Navigation CEO Chris Shaw said, “Manufacturers and system integrators often face trade-offs between performance, size, cost and weight. The Certus Mini series is a testament these attributes do not need to conflict with one another.

    For customers deploying land-based vehicles, this value-driven breakthrough lowers their entry barrier to precise and reliable navigation. It also unlocks new possibilities for those using lightweight airborne platforms, such as drones, where every gram counts towards flight efficiency and power consumption.

    Designed with flexibility in mind, the series is easily integrated into existing and new system builds with simple plug-and-play connectivity, minimizing development time and costs. This adaptability, paired with its performance and size, makes the Mini series a powerful addition to the already versatile Certus range.”

    The Future of Navigation is Mini

    • Dual-antenna INS – Leading the series, the Certus Mini D features dual-antenna GNSS heading. This allows it to deliver superior accuracy in heading, position and velocity. With a maximum weight of 55 grams, it fills a critical gap in the market for a dual-antenna INS in a lightweight and compact size.
    • Multiband GNSS receiver – By operating on the L1/L5 multi-constellation GNSS, the Certus Mini series offers leading capabilities in interference immunity, position accuracy and multipath resistance in urban environments, such as near tall buildings, tree canopies and canyons.
    • Software-enabled hardware – The series houses Advanced Navigation’s breakthrough algorithmic technology. This software-enabled hardware delivers navigation data superior to outputs based on traditional filter methods, offering new levels of performance for miniature INS in GNSS-challenged environments.

    Advanced Navigation Introduces the Certus Mini Series

    Easily Integrated Into New and Existing Platforms

    The Certus Mini series can be easily integrated into legacy systems and new builds, ensuring seamless upgrades, reducing installation time and minimizing costs. This flexibility accelerates deployment across diverse applications including:

    • Geospatial surveying – Certus Mini can augment drone solutions by providing accurate positioning and attitude without weighing the system down. This enables new applications for surveying environments across open-pit mines, construction sites, urban areas and critical infrastructure.
    • Agriculture – In a new era defined by farming-as-a-service (FaaS), Certus Mini can be used in purpose-built agriculture robots and equipment to assist with a diverse range of tasks, including aerial spraying, weed detection and localization, monitoring crop health, inspecting moisture levels, creating field maps, autonomous pruning and grass-cutting, among others.
    • Open-pit mining – Certus Mini is the ideal solution for surface drilling OEMs and integrators seeking precise rig alignment. Best-in-class accuracy provides precise alignment even in deep pits where multipath errors occur, and a ruggedized design delivers durability and reliability in harsh mining conditions.
    • Asset tracking – Certus Mini can be used to track and monitor assets for a range of industries, including mining, facility management, manufacturing, construction, commercial fleets, automotive, oil and gas, among others.

    Rapid Product Delivery with In-House Manufacturing

    By manufacturing all solutions in-house, Advanced Navigation employs a vertical integration framework which streamlines development, enhances quality control, and ensures agility in responding to customer demand. Further, by utilizing machine learning and advanced quality control mechanisms, only components meeting the highest standards are integrated into the navigation system.

    This in-house capability guarantees exceptional product reliability, quality, and longevity, while providing complete control over production timelines, reducing lead times, and ensuring swift, efficient delivery of the entire product series.

    Advanced Navigation ensures rapid product delivery with in-house manufacturing

    General availability
    The Certus Mini series is now available for purchase in OEM and ruggedized form.

    Certus Mini Dual-antenna Navigation

    • 0.1 ° Roll and Pitch
    • 0.1 ° Heading (GNSS)
    • 10 mm RTK Positioning
    • 1000 Hz Update Rate

    Certus Mini Navigation, single antenna

    • 0.1 ° Roll and Pitch
    • 0.2 ° Heading (Velocity)
    • 10 mm RTK Positioning
    • 1000 Hz Update Rate

    Certus Mini Attitude and heading reference system

    • 0.1 ° Roll and Pitch
    • 0.8 ° Heading (Magnetic)
    • 1000 Hz Update Rate

    Note: The Certus Mini series will replace Advanced Navigation’s legacy systems Orientus and Spatial. Customer support will continue for Orientus and Spatial, with the Certus Mini Series recommended for new design and builds.

    About Advanced Navigation
    Advanced Navigation is a global leader in navigation and autonomous systems. By leveraging capabilities in software-enabled hardware, every solution delivers unrivaled capabilities and exceptional performance across land, air, sea and space applications where GPS is unreliable.

    Made possible with extensive research, testing and onshore automated manufacturing, the company has progressed into deep technology fields, including underwater acoustics, GNSS antennas and receivers, radio frequency systems, inertial sensors, photonics, robotics and quantum-enhanced inertial navigation. Customers choose Advanced Navigation for rapid product delivery and unmatched technical field expertise.

    Headquartered in Sydney, Australia with multiple research facilities throughout the country and offices around the world. Advanced Navigation is an Australian manufacturer exporting globally. #JoinTheAutonomyRevolution

    For additional information, visit http://www.advancednavigation.com

    Media Contact
    Stephanie Qiu
    Senior PR & Communications Manager
    stephanie.qiu@advancednavigation.com

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8dcddce0-5100-486b-a2da-e5e42f29dcde

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b0769d46-7105-470c-9e40-7c03da141388

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/115c0419-2618-4756-a41e-c1c2df255e73

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Secretary-General of ASEAN meets with the President of the AIIB

    Source: ASEAN

    Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, met with President of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), H.E. Jin Liqun, on the sidelines of the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits and Related Summits in Vientiane, Lao PDR today. SG Dr. Kao commended the AIIB’s efforts in advancing connectivity and infrastructure development and looked forward to having deeper cooperation between ASEAN and AIIB in enhancing connectivity in the region.

    The post Secretary-General of ASEAN meets with the President of the AIIB appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI USA: REPS LIEU AND OBERNOLTE INTRODUCE BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION TO JUMPSTART ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE INNOVATION ACROSS THE UNITED STATES

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

    WASHINGTON – House Artificial Intelligence Task Force Co-Chair Congressman Ted Lieu (D-Los Angeles County) and Chair Congressman Jay Obernolte (R-CA) recently introduced the bipartisan AI Grand Challenges Act, which would direct the National Science Foundation (NSF) to establish a program to administer prize competitions to incentivize artificial intelligence research and innovation. Prize competitions have long been used to jumpstart development of emerging technologies, and the AI Grand Challenges Program would ensure AI’s power will be harnessed to benefit the United States. 

    Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Mike Rounds (R-SD), and Martin Heinrich (D-NM) introduced companion legislation in the Senate earlier this year. 

    “Artificial intelligence has the power to change our world,” said Congressman Lieu. “We must maintain American leadership in AI research, innovation and implementation while minimizing potential risks associated with the technology. The AI Grand Challenges Act would encourage the next generation of AI researchers and developers through prize competitions to incentivize ambitious, cutting-edge AI development. I am pleased to introduce this bill with AI Task Force Chair Congressman Jay Obernolte and look forward to our continued work to harness the power of AI for the benefit of American families.”

    “The AI Grand Challenges Act will ensure the U.S. will continue to lead in AI research and development across critical sectors such as health, energy, and cybersecurity,” said Congressman Obernolte. “By incentivizing breakthroughs, we are paving the way for transformative advancements that will harnesses the incredible potential of artificial intelligence to solve some of our nation’s most pressing challenges.”

    Congressman Lieu is Co-Chair of the House Bipartisan Task Force on Artificial Intelligence. In 2023, he introduced the first piece of federal legislation written by AI, H.Res.66, which urged Congress to focus on the regulation of this emerging technology. As Vice Chair of the Democratic Caucus, Congressman Lieu has led discussions with top researchers, academics, and industry leaders in AI. He also introduced a bill to study AI applications in health care. Congressman Lieu was named one of Time Magazine’s Most Influential Leaders in AI in 2023, which included 100 individuals from around the world who are advancing conversations on how AI is reshaping the present and our future. 

    READ THE FULL TEXT OF THE BILL HERE

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI: gStore by GreyOrange Unveils SoftFence – Next-Generation Virtual Shielding for RFID-Driven Retail Operations

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    GreyOrange’s gStore, a B2B SaaS real-time inventory management and store execution platform, further optimizes store performance with new smart algorithm-driven technology, SoftFence, to precisely control RFID read zones

    ATLANTA, Oct. 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — GreyOrange Inc., a global leader in AI-driven technology, introduces SoftFence, a groundbreaking virtual shielding technology from its renowned, state-of-the-art retail software as a service (SaaS) platform, gStore. Designed to enhance store execution through real-time inventory management and intelligent tasking, gStore is already trusted for implementing over 250 overhead RFID-enabled stores, which is a global first.

    “gStore’s SoftFence introduces virtual zoning capabilities for retailers, which is a step towards comprehending their portfolio for implementing handheld-only stores,” said Troy Siwek, gStore General Manager, GreyOrange. “SoftFence builds on gStore’s cutting-edge capabilities by incorporating selective reading, signal manipulation, and dynamic control to ensure data security and precise inventory accuracy by creating distinct store sections – including backroom vs. sales floor – without any physical barriers.”

    This smart algorithm-driven technology prevents RFID signal leakage and allows only authorized RFID readers to access tag information, preventing unauthorized scans by manipulating signal strength and timing, allowing retailers to further optimize omnichannel fulfillment and streamline operations. SoftFence also supports real-time adjustments based on store needs, offering unmatched flexibility.

    Moreover, SoftFence can integrate with existing systems, enabling seamless implementation without additional hardware investments. SoftFence uses advanced machine learning algorithms to analyze RFID signals, improving stocktake accuracy and reducing read errors. As a cost-effective solution, it optimizes sub-location data, aiding efficient restocking and enhancing store operations.

    SoftFence is the next evolution in gStore’s mission to empower retailers with comprehensive, easily deployable solutions that elevate store performance, improve customer experiences, and simplify operations.

    Learn more by visiting gstore.greyorange.com.

    About gStore by GreyOrange
    gStore by GreyOrange is a state-of-the-art, easily deployable retail SaaS application designed to enhance store execution through real-time inventory management and actionable insights. The platform empowers retailers to maintain precise inventory control, enables intelligent tasking, streamlines store operations, manages omnichannel order fulfillment and elevates customer experiences with smart technologies.

    About GreyOrange
    GreyOrange Inc. is at the forefront of AI-driven robotics systems, transforming distribution and fulfillment centers worldwide. Its emphasis on orchestration, innovation, and customer satisfaction marks a new era in efficient, responsive supply chain solutions. The company’s solutions offer a competitive advantage by increasing productivity, empowering growth and scale, mitigating labor challenges, reducing risk and time to market, and creating better experiences for customers and employees. Founded in 2012, GreyOrange is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, with offices and partners across the Americas, Europe, and Asia. For more information, visit http://www.greyorange.com.

    Media Contact
    Leah R H Robinson, APR
    LeadCoverage
    leah@leadcoverage.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b1b96b34-e38d-496a-8763-0db07676c4d3

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Companjon achieves fourth consecutive ‘world’s most innovative insurtechs’ recognition from FinTech Global

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • The leading insurtech player launched its dynamic insurance products earlier this year, leveraging AI and machine learning to ‘right-size’ protection, an industry first.
    • The company has also recently expanded geographically to include the US and UK, and is on track to quadruple last year’s 33 million generated transactions by year’s end.

    DUBLIN, Oct. 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —  Companjon, a leading insurtech start-up specializing in end-to-end, dynamic embedded insurance solutions, was today recognized on the 2024 InsurTech100, its fourth consecutive year of inclusion on the list. The InsurTech100, published by FinTech Global, is an annual report that identifies the world’s most innovative insurtechs, as decided by a panel of experts and analysts. The award places Companjon at the forefront of industry leaders and investors.

    Companjon, headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, has experienced tremendous growth year-over-year since it was established in 2020. In the last year alone, the company launched its dynamic insurance products, signed new partnerships with major banking and mobility brands Erste Bank, Omio, and Carwiz, expanded the geographic footprint of their solutions to protect customers in the US and UK, and is on track to quadruple last year’s 33 million generated transactions. The dynamic insurance products, which utilize machine learning and artificial intelligence on consumer behavior to offer the right level of coverage at the right time for the right price, are an insurance industry first.

    Companjon CEO, Matthias Naumann, said: “We are delighted to once again be recognized as one of the world’s most innovative insurtechs with our fourth consecutive inclusion on the InsurTech100 list. The 2024 recognition is particularly rewarding as we round out a banner year for our business with the introduction of boundary-breaking dynamic solutions, expansion into new geographies, and collaboration with more big, leading brands. Companjon’s success can be attributed, with thanks, to our business partners, who also endeavor to go where none have gone before, and our incredibly diverse and talented team.”

    FinTech Global CEO, Richard Sachar, said: “We congratulate Companjon on its fourth consecutive appearance in our InsurTech100 list. We have had the pleasure of watching Companjon achieve proof of concept in its earliest days and emerge as one of today’s leaders in the insurtech space. We applaud Companjon’s contribution to transforming the insurance industry, particularly with its dynamic insurance products launched earlier this year. We look forward to seeing what the next year has in store for them.”

    Companjon seeks to change the way people think about insurance. The company has implemented a variety of fully digital and frictionless insurtech products with leading, globally recognized brands in the travel, mobility, live events and entertainment, and fintech sectors. Its unparalleled end-to-end solutions, which include the unique ability to serve as its own underwriter and risk carrier, delight their business partners’ customers with protection that provides the ultimate in flexibility and convenience across 32 countries in Europe and North America.

    About Companjon 

    Companjon is a leading B2B2C insurtech start-up specializing in fully digital, AI-driven embedded insurance. Its modern, end-to-end insurance solutions enable companies to delight their customers and drive more business value from stronger brand loyalty and new ancillary revenue opportunities. Companjon designs, builds, and underwrites its dynamic solutions on a 100% cloud-based platform capable of issuing 32,000 policies per second, integrating API gateways easily, and leveraging the latest advanced technology. It has been recognized as one of the World’s Top Insurtech Companies 2024 by CNBC and one of the world’s most innovative insurtechs by FinTech Global for four consecutive years (2021-2024).

    Companjon seeks to change the way people think about insurance by creating seamless and positive experiences when things don’t go as planned: being right there when ‘life’ happens. The company is registered in Ireland and regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

    http://www.companjon.com

    Media Contact:
    Kimberly Littlefield
    +353 (0)86 107 0416
    press@companjon.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Publication of a Prospectus and Relevant Related Party Transaction

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN, INTO OR FROM THE UNITED STATES, CANADA, AUSTRALIA, JAPAN, THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF THAT JURISDICTION. THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OF SECURITIES FOR SALE IN ANY JURISDICTION, INCLUDING IN THE UNITED STATES, CANADA, AUSTRALIA, JAPAN OR THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA.

    THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS AN ADVERTISEMENT AND NOT A PROSPECTUS.

    HARGREAVE HALE AIM VCT PLC

    LEI: 213800LRYA19A69SIT31 

    9 October 2024

    Publication of a Prospectus and Relevant Related Party Transaction

    Offer for Subscription

    Further to the announcement on 18 September 2024, the Board of Hargreave Hale AIM VCT plc (the “Company“) is pleased to announce that the Company has today published a prospectus (the “Prospectus“) in relation to an offer for subscription under which the Company is seeking to raise up to £20 million (the “Offer“).

    The Offer is now open and will close at 12.00 p.m. on 12 August 2025 (unless fully subscribed by an earlier date or closed at the Directors’ discretion). Persons intending to apply for ordinary shares under the Offer for the 2024/25 tax year should note that the deadline for such applications is 5.00 p.m. on 21 March 2025.

    Persons wishing to participate in the Offer must complete an Electronic Application Form (available at http://www.hargreaveaimvcts.co.uk) accompanied by electronic payment and follow the instructions given. The Board is of the view that the Electronic Application Form is the most efficient and cost-effective way for investors to participate in the Offer.

    Early Bird Discount

    Canaccord Genuity Asset Management Limited (“CGAM“) will offer an “early bird discount” of up to 2 per cent. on the initial fee for those applications received by CGAM by 5.00 p.m. on Friday, 29 November 2024, subject to a maximum aggregate subscription under the “early bird offer” of £10 million. The 2 per cent. discount (to the standard 3.5 per cent. initial fee) will only apply to applications which do not trigger the payment of introductory commission to a Financial Intermediary. In such cases, the available discount will fall to 1 per cent. Discounts are paid through the allotment of additional Offer Shares to the Investor. CGAM reserves the right to vary the terms of the “early bird offer”, including to revoke such offer, at any time and in its sole discretion.

    Relevant Related Party Transaction

    As part of the Offer, the Company has entered into an offer agreement with CGAM, dated 9 October 2024 (the “Offer Agreement“). Under the Offer Agreement, CGAM has agreed to administer the Offer, act as receiving agent to the Company in relation to the Offer and to use its reasonable endeavours to procure subscribers for shares in the Company. As consideration for the services to be provided under the Offer Agreement, the Company shall pay CGAM a fee of 3.5 per cent. of the gross proceeds of the Offer. Out of this fee, CGAM shall pay all costs and expenses of and incidental to the Offer and the preparation of the Prospectus.

    The investment manager of the Company is CGAM. Under the Listing Rules of the FCA, a related party of a closed-ended investment fund includes the investment manager of the fund. As such, the arrangement under the Offer Agreement constitutes a relevant related party transaction as defined in UKLR 11.5.4R. The Board considers the arrangement under the Offer Agreement to be fair and reasonable as far as the shareholders of the Company are concerned having been so advised by the Company’s sponsor, Howard Kennedy Corporate Services LLP.

    The Prospectus is available to download from the Company’s website, http://www.hargreaveaimvcts.co.uk, subject to certain access restrictions. The Prospectus will also shortly be available for inspection at the National Storage Mechanism, https://data.fca.org.uk/#/nsm/nationalstoragemechanism.

    All capitalised terms used and not defined in this announcement shall have the same meaning as in the Prospectus.

    For further information please contact:

    Oliver Bedford, Canaccord Genuity Asset Management Limited

    Tel: 020 7523 4837

    Important Information

    This announcement is an advertisement for the purposes of the Prospectus Regulation Rules of the UK Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA“) and is not a prospectus. This announcement does not constitute or form part of, and should not be construed as, an offer for sale or subscription of, or solicitation of any offer to subscribe for or to acquire, any ordinary shares in the Company in any jurisdiction, including in or into Australia, Canada, Japan, the Republic of South Africa, the United States or any member state of the EEA (other than any member state of the EEA where the Company’s securities may be lawfully marketed). Investors should not subscribe for or purchase any ordinary shares referred to in this announcement except on the basis of information in the Prospectus in its final form, published today by the Company in connection with the Offer and the proposed admission of new ordinary shares to the Official List of the FCA and to trading on London Stock Exchange plc’s main market for listed securities. A copy of the Prospectus is available for inspection, subject to certain access restrictions, from the Company’s registered office, for viewing at the National Storage Mechanism at https://data.fca.org.uk/#/nsm/nationalstoragemechanism and on the Company’s website (http://www.hargreaveaimvcts.co.uk). Approval of the Prospectus by the FCA should not be understood as an endorsement of the securities that are the subject of the Prospectus. Potential investors are recommended to read the Prospectus before making an investment decision in order to fully understand the potential risks and rewards associated with a decision to invest in the Company’s securities.

    The distribution of this announcement may be restricted by law in certain jurisdictions and persons into whose possession any document or other information referred to herein comes should inform themselves about and observe any such restriction. Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. This announcement does not constitute, and may not be construed as, an offer to sell, or the solicitation of an offer to acquire or subscribe for, securities of the Company in any jurisdiction where such offer or solicitation is unlawful or would impose any unfulfilled registration, qualification, publication or approval requirements on the Company or Howard Kennedy Corporate Services LLP. The offer and sale of securities of the Company has not been and will not be registered under the applicable securities laws of Australia, Canada, Japan, the Republic of South Africa or the United States. Subject to certain exemptions, the securities of the Company may not be offered to or sold within Australia, Canada, Japan, the Republic of South Africa, the United States or any member state of the EEA or to any national, resident or citizen of Australia, Canada, Japan, the Republic of South Africa, the United States, or any member state of the EEA.

    This announcement is not for publication or distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States of America. This announcement is not an offer of securities for sale into the United States. The securities of the Company have not been and will not be registered under the US Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to any national, resident or citizen of the United States. No public offering of securities is being made in the United States. In addition, the Company has not been and will not be registered under the US Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

    The information in this announcement is for background purposes only and does not purport to be full or complete. No reliance may be placed for any purpose on the information contained in this announcement or its accuracy or completeness. The material contained in this announcement is given as at the date of its publication (unless otherwise marked) and is subject to updating, revision and amendment. In particular, any proposals referred to herein are subject to revision and amendment.

    This announcement does not constitute a recommendation concerning the Company or the Offer. The price and value of securities and any income from them can go down as well as up. Past performance is not a guide to future performance and prospective investors may not receive any return from the Company. Before purchasing any securities of the Company, persons viewing this announcement should ensure that they fully understand and accept the risks set out in the Prospectus. Information in this announcement or any of the documents relating to the Company or the Offer cannot be relied upon as a guide to future performance. Potential investors should consult a professional adviser as to the suitability of the Offer for them.

    Howard Kennedy Corporate Services LLP, which is authorised and regulated by the FCA, is acting only for the Company in connection with the matters described in this announcement and is not acting for or advising any other person, or treating any other person as its client, in relation thereto and will not be responsible for providing the regulatory protection afforded to clients of Howard Kennedy Corporate Services LLP or advice to any other person in relation to the matters contained herein.

    Neither Howard Kennedy Corporate Services LLP, the Company, or any of their respective parents or subsidiary undertakings, or the subsidiary undertakings of any such parent undertakings, or any of such person’s respective directors, partners, officers, employees, agents, affiliates or advisers or any other person (“their respective affiliates”) accepts (save where required by law) any responsibility or liability whatsoever for/or makes any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to this announcement, including the truth, accuracy or completeness of the information in this announcement (or whether any information has been omitted from the announcement) or any other information relating to the Company, whether written, oral or in a visual or electronic form, and howsoever transmitted or made available or for any loss howsoever arising from any use of this announcement or its contents or otherwise arising in connection therewith.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Music Licensing, Inc. (OTC: SONG) Continues Uninterrupted Operations Amid Hurricane Milton Impact

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Naples, FL , Oct. 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Music Licensing, Inc. (OTC: SONG), a leading diversified music rights management company, announces the temporary closure of its Naples, Florida office due to the impact of Hurricane Milton. While the office remains closed to ensure the safety of staff and comply with local evacuation orders, the company confirms that operations remain fully functional, with no disruption to services.

    In preparation for potential emergencies, Music Licensing, Inc. has long maintained robust contingency plans, including remote work capabilities and redundant systems, which have allowed us to transition seamlessly during this time. Our team continues to manage operations remotely, ensuring that all clients, partners, and stakeholders continue to receive the highest level of service without interruption.

    “Our thoughts are with everyone affected by Hurricane Milton,” said Jake P. Noch, CEO of Music Licensing, Inc. “We have implemented our business continuity protocols to maintain the operational integrity of our services and ensure that our clients experience no lapse in the quality of support they rely on. The safety of our team and community remains a priority, and we are committed to staying fully operational during this challenging time.”

    Music Licensing, Inc. appreciates the understanding and support of its partners and clients during this temporary disruption. The company will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as needed.

    About Music Licensing, Inc. (OTC: SONG) (ProMusicRights.com)

    Music Licensing, Inc. (OTC: SONG), also known as Pro Music Rights, is a diversified holding company and the fifth public performance rights organization (PRO) formed in the United States. Its licensees include notable companies such as TikTok, iHeart Media, Triller, Napster, 7Digital, Vevo, and many others. Pro Music Rights holds an estimated market share of 7.4% in the United States, representing over 2,500,000 works by notable artists such as A$AP Rocky, Wiz Khalifa, Pharrell, Young Jeezy, Juelz Santana, Lil Yachty, MoneyBagg Yo, Larry June, Trae Pound, Sauce Walka, Trae Tha Truth, Sosamann, Soulja Boy, Lex Luger, Trauma Tone, Lud Foe, SlowBucks, Gunplay, OG Maco, Rich The Kid, Fat Trel, Young Scooter, Nipsey Hussle, Famous Dex, Boosie Badazz, Shy Glizzy, 2 Chainz, Migos, Gucci Mane, Young Dolph, Trinidad James, Chingy, Lil Gnar, 3OhBlack, Curren$y, Fall Out Boy, Money Man, Dej Loaf, Lil Uzi Vert, and countless others, as well as artificial intelligence (A.I.) created music.

    Additionally, Music Licensing, Inc. (OTC: SONG) owns royalty stakes in Listerine “Mouthwash” Antiseptic and musical works by artists such as The Weeknd, Justin Bieber, Kanye West, Elton John, Mike Posner, blackbear, Lil Nas X, Lil Yachty, DaBaby, Stunna 4 Vegas, Miley Cyrus, Lil Wayne, XXXTentacion, Jeremih, Ty Dolla $ign, Eric Bellinger, Ne-Yo, MoneyBagg Yo, Halsey, Desiigner, DaniLeigh, Rihanna, and numerous others.

    Forward-Looking Statements:

    This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created thereby. Investors are cautioned that, all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including without limitation, the ability of Music Licensing, Inc. & Pro Music Rights, Inc. to accomplish its stated plan of business. Music Licensing, Inc. & Pro Music Rights, Inc. believes that the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements contained herein are reasonable, any of the assumptions could be inaccurate, and therefore, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking statements included in this press release will prove to be accurate. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward-looking statements included herein, the inclusion of such information should not be regarded as a representation by Pro Music Rights, Inc., Music Licensing, Inc., or any other person.

    Non-Legal Advice Disclosure:

    This press release does not constitute legal advice, and readers are advised to seek legal counsel for any legal matters or questions related to the content herein.

    Non-Investment Advice Disclosure:

    This communication is intended solely for informational purposes and does not in any way imply or constitute a recommendation or solicitation for the purchase or sale of any securities, commodities, bonds, options, derivatives, or any other investment products. Any decisions related to investments should be made after thorough research and consultation with a qualified financial advisor or professional. We assume no liability for any actions taken or not taken based on the information provided in this communication.

    Contact: investors@ProMusicRights.com

    SOURCE: Music Licensing, Inc

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: A bastion of democracy: helping journalism survive and thrive

    Source: European Union 2

    This year’s Connecting EU seminar, the EESC flagship annual communication event for civil society communicators, will be talking about journalism and the crucial need to preserve its independence and accountability as essential foundations for safeguarding democracy and preventing its decline.

    Apart from mounting political pressures and restrictions in media freedom, journalism is facing unprecedented challenges stemming from the rapid rise of generative AI, and all the good and bad it brings. Can journalism stay relevant in a world, where, according to some reports, over 20% of young people rely solely on TikTok to get their information?

    On top of this, old challenges, such as lack of media ownership transparency and insufficient funding, seem set to stay. What will it take for journalism to remain a cornerstone of democracy? How can civil society and journalists, as key democratic watchdogs, best team up in this new context?

    Taking place on 17 and 18 October in Brussels, under the title ‘A bastion of democracy: helping journalism survive and thrive’, the seminar will include two panels and a practical networking session:

    • Responsible journalism in the post-truth era. Is responsible journalism even viable today? In a world where media outlets are competing with influencers and social media as the sources of news, will journalism have to reinvent itself to stay a public good? Can the latest EU acts help make AI an ally of press freedom?
    • The job of living dangerously – investigative reporting. Investigative journalism has a long history of holding power to account and providing a voice for those seeking to report abuse of position and privilege. What kinds of challenges do investigative reporters have to grapple with to bring the truth to light? What protection do they have at their disposal to shield themselves from threats? Can the EU legislation secure more freedom and power for them?
    • Working as a press or communication officer in the age of Instagram, TikTok and AI – how to get your message across (networking session and workshops). Through presentations and hands-on workshops, the session aims to offer a glimpse into the brave new world of communicating to different audiences, including young people.

    The seminar is part of the ‘Connecting EU’ series, now in its 17th year.  Every year, this event provides a platform for press and communication professionals from civil society organisations to network and discuss current issues of common interest affecting Europe. It brings together EESC members and other EU representatives, partner organisations from Member States, journalists and researchers to debate the hot issues of the day.

    The Connecting EU 2024 seminar will take place at the EESC premises in Brussels and is organised with the support of the European Federation for Journalists and the Daphne Caruana Galizia Prize for Journalism.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Google Deepmind founder shares Nobel prize in chemistry for AI that unlocks the shape of proteins

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Matthew Addicoat, Senior Lecturer in Functional Materials, Nottingham Trent University

    The 2024 Nobel prize in chemistry has been awarded to three scientists for their work on describing and predicting proteins with the help of computers. One half of the prize goes to David Baker from the University of Washington in the US “for computational protein design”, with the other half jointly awarded to Demis Hassabis and John M. Jumper, both from Google Deepmind, UK, “for protein structure prediction”.

    Using computers to carry out protein design and for predicting protein structures are two sides of the same coin. They are separately very powerful – and combined, even more so.

    Proteins are the building blocks of life, building and powering our muscles and organs. Proteins are molecular machines: they read and copy our DNA to make new cells, and pump ions (electrically charged atoms or groups of atoms) into and out of our cells, so these always have what they need to work properly. Proteins act as sensors, detecting what’s in their environment. They also activate our immune systems.

    The molecular building blocks of proteins are amino acids. These connect, one end to another, like letters joining to form a word. Exactly like a word, scientists give a letter to each amino acid, and these can spell out any given protein.

    Just having that protein sequence – the “word” – isn’t enough, though. It’s the three-dimensional shape of the protein that determines how it works. So, if we want to make a protein for some purpose, we need a way to determine what its three-dimensional shape will be from the amino acid sequence alone. This is protein structure prediction.

    Some proteins can be prepared in such a way that their structure can be determined by X-ray, but most cannot. This is why computational structure prediction is vitally important.

    It is still an extraordinarily difficult problem. Even a small protein, of around 100 “letters” or amino acids, has an impossibly high number of possible ways it can be arranged in three dimensions. To visualise this, imagine arranging strands of cooked spaghetti in a bowl.



    Read more:
    Nobel Prize in physics spotlights key breakthroughs in AI revolution − making machines that learn

    For this reason, until the last decade, computational structure prediction had very low accuracy – less than 50%, in fact. Then, in 2020, Hassabis and Jumper developed an AI tool called AlphaFold2. This can predict the three-dimensional structure of a protein, using only the sequence of letters, with over 90% accuracy.


    Nobelprize.org, CC BY-SA

    To make such a leap in accuracy, AlphaFold2 uses deep learning and neural networks. Deep learning is a computer-based approach that simulates the way the human brain makes decisions. Neural networks mimic the human brain’s structure and function to process data.

    AlphaFold2 also makes use of massive databases of known protein structures and sequences. The neural network correlates the known three-dimensional shapes with the amino acid sequence. It can then derive rules for what shape a given sequence – the “letters” – will adopt.

    The opposite problem, computational protein design, can be summed up by the following question: “I want a protein with this three-dimensional shape; what is the sequence that gives me that shape?”

    This challenge was actually solved first. In 2003, Baker wrote a computer program called Rosetta that begins with the desired three-dimensional structure, and produces the amino acid sequence that will give that structure. It uses the idea that the three-dimensional structure of the entire protein can be built from the structures of small fragments.



    Read more:
    AI system can predict the structures of life’s molecules with stunning accuracy – helping to solve one of biology’s biggest problems

    Applying the science

    Computational protein design has many applications. Proteins have been designed to bind and inactivate viruses, to detect drugs like fentanyl, and even to degrade plastic in the environment.

    So, why has this prize been awarded for these advances now? Protein design and prediction are both inherently complex problems. There is no way to shortcut the large number of possible structures. But the rapid rise in the capabilities and use of artificial intelligence methods has given us a way to address this complexity. AI can efficiently derive correlations from millions of protein structures.

    The pace of development in AI approaches is highlighted by this year’s Nobel prize in physics, which was awarded for the development of neural networks.

    The twin methods of computational protein design and computational protein structure prediction are now real tools, used by millions of scientists worldwide. Proteins to counter pandemic viruses can now be designed in a matter of weeks.

    It therefore wouldn’t be surprising if we see many other Nobels in future being awarded for breakthroughs that use the power of artificial intelligence.

    Matthew Addicoat receives funding from EPSRC and the Royal Society.

    – ref. Google Deepmind founder shares Nobel prize in chemistry for AI that unlocks the shape of proteins – https://theconversation.com/google-deepmind-founder-shares-nobel-prize-in-chemistry-for-ai-that-unlocks-the-shape-of-proteins-240921

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI: Subsea7 awarded contract in the US Gulf of Mexico

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Luxembourg – 9 October 2024 – Subsea 7 S.A. (Oslo Børs: SUBC, ADR: SUBCY) announced today the award of a sizeable 1 contract for a subsea tieback development in the US Gulf of Mexico.

    Subsea7 will be responsible for transporting and installing the flowline, umbilical, and associated subsea components for the tieback. Project management and engineering work will begin immediately at Subsea7’s office in Houston, Texas, and offshore activity is expected to start in 2025.

    Craig Broussard, Vice President for Subsea7 Gulf of Mexico, said: “Our strategy of early engagement and close collaboration with clients allows us to approach projects with an open mind and a deep understanding of client needs. This helps us explore innovative, cost-effective ways to deliver optimized energy solutions.”

    1. Subsea7 defines a sizeable contract as being between $50 million and $150 million

    *******************************************************************************
    Subsea7 is a global leader in the delivery of offshore projects and services for the evolving energy industry, creating sustainable value by being the industry’s partner and employer of choice in delivering the efficient offshore solutions the world needs.

    Subsea7 is listed on the Oslo Børs (SUBC), ISIN LU0075646355, LEI 222100AIF0CBCY80AH62.

    *******************************************************************************

    Contact for investment community enquiries:
    Katherine Tonks
    Investor Relations Director
    Tel +44 20 8210 5568
    ir@subsea7.com

    Contact for media enquiries:
    Ashley Shearer
    Communications Manager
    Tel +1-713-300-6792
    ashley.shearer@subsea7.com

    Forward-Looking Statements: This document may contain ‘forward-looking statements’ (within the meaning of the safe harbour provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). These statements relate to our current expectations, beliefs, intentions, assumptions or strategies regarding the future and are subject to known and unknown risks that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in these statements. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as ‘anticipate’, ‘believe’, ‘estimate’, ‘expect’, ‘future’, ‘goal’, ‘intend’, ‘likely’ ‘may’, ‘plan’, ‘project’, ‘seek’, ‘should’, ‘strategy’ ‘will’, and similar expressions. The principal risks which could affect future operations of the Group are described in the ‘Risk Management’ section of the Group’s Annual Report and Consolidated Financial Statements. Factors that may cause actual and future results and trends to differ materially from our forward-looking statements include (but are not limited to): (i) our ability to deliver fixed price projects in accordance with client expectations and within the parameters of our bids, and to avoid cost overruns; (ii) our ability to collect receivables, negotiate variation orders and collect the related revenue; (iii) our ability to recover costs on significant projects; (iv) capital expenditure by oil and gas companies, which is affected by fluctuations in the price of, and demand for, crude oil and natural gas; (v) unanticipated delays or cancellation of projects included in our backlog; (vi) competition and price fluctuations in the markets and businesses in which we operate; (vii) the loss of, or deterioration in our relationship with, any significant clients; (viii) the outcome of legal proceedings or governmental inquiries; (ix) uncertainties inherent in operating internationally, including economic, political and social instability, boycotts or embargoes, labour unrest, changes in foreign governmental regulations, corruption and currency fluctuations; (x) the effects of a pandemic or epidemic or a natural disaster; (xi) liability to third parties for the failure of our joint venture partners to fulfil their obligations; (xii) changes in, or our failure to comply with, applicable laws and regulations (including regulatory measures addressing climate change); (xiii) operating hazards, including spills, environmental damage, personal or property damage and business interruptions caused by adverse weather; (xiv) equipment or mechanical failures, which could increase costs, impair revenue and result in penalties for failure to meet project completion requirements; (xv) the timely delivery of vessels on order and the timely completion of ship conversion programmes; (xvi) our ability to keep pace with technological changes and the impact of potential information technology, cyber security or data security breaches; (xvii) global availability at scale and commercially viability of suitable alternative vessel fuels; and (xviii) the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting. Many of these factors are beyond our ability to control or predict. Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of this document. We undertake no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

    This information is considered to be inside information pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation and is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.

    This stock exchange release was published by Katherine Tonks, Investor Relations, Subsea7, on 9 October 2024 at 18:20 CET.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA-Funded Study Assesses Pollution Near Los Angeles-Area Warehouses

    Source: NASA

    Satellite-based data offers a broad view of particulate air pollution patterns across a major West Coast e-commerce hub.
    As goods of all shapes and sizes journey from factory to doorstep, chances are they’ve stopped at a warehouse along the way — likely several of them. The sprawling structures are waypoints in the logistics networks that make e-commerce possible. Yet the convenience comes with tradeoffs, as illustrated in a recent NASA-funded study.
    Published in the journal GeoHealth, the research analyzes patterns of particulate pollution in Southern California and found that ZIP codes with more or larger warehouses had higher levels of contaminants over time than those with fewer or smaller warehouses. Researchers focused on particulate pollution, choosing Southern California because it is a major distribution hub for goods: Its ports handle 40% of cargo containers entering the country.
    The buildings themselves are not the major particulate sources. Rather, it’s the diesel trucks that pick up and drop off goods, emitting exhaust containing toxic particles called PM2.5. At 2.5 micrometers or less, these pollutants can be inhaled into the lungs and absorbed into the bloodstream. Although atmospheric concentrations are typically so small they’re measured in millionths of a gram per cubic meter, the authors caution that there’s no safe exposure level for PM2.5.
    “Any increase in concentration causes some health damage,” said co-author Yang Liu, an environmental health researcher at Emory University in Atlanta. “But if you can curb pollution, there will be a measurable health benefit.”

    Growing Air Quality Research
    Particulate pollution has been linked to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, some cancers, and adverse birth outcomes, including premature birth and low infant birth weight.
    The new study is part of a broader effort funded by the NASA Health and Air Quality Applied Sciences Team to use satellite data to understand how air pollution disproportionately affects underserved communities.
    As the e-commerce boom of recent decades has spurred warehouse construction, pollution in nearby neighborhoods has become a growing area for research. New structures have often sprouted on relatively inexpensive land, which tends to be home to low-income or minority populations who bear the brunt of the poor air quality, Liu said.
    Another recent NASA-funded study analyzed satellite-derived nitrogen dioxide (NO2) measurements around 150,000 United States warehouses. It found that concentrations of the gas, which is a diesel byproduct and respiratory irritant, were about 20% higher near warehouses.
    Distribution Hub
    For the GeoHealth paper, scientists drew on previously generated datasets of PM2.5 from 2000 to 2018 and elemental carbon, a type of PM2.5 in diesel emissions, from 2000 to 2019. The data came from models based on satellite observations, including some from NASA’s MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) and ASTER (Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer) instruments.
    The researchers also mined a real estate database for the square footage as well as the number of loading docks and parking spaces at nearly 11,000 warehouses across portions of Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties, and all of Orange County.
    They found that warehouse capacity correlated with pollution. ZIP codes in the 75th percentile of warehouse square footage had 0.16 micrograms per cubic meter more PM2.5 and 0.021 micrograms per cubic meter more elemental carbon than those in the 25th percentile.
    Similarly, ZIP codes in the 75th percentile of number of loading docks had 0.10 micrograms per cubic meter more PM2.5 and 0.014 micrograms per cubic meter more elemental carbon than those in the 25th percentile. And ZIP codes in the 75th percentile of truck parking spaces had 0.21 micrograms per cubic meter more PM2.5 and 0.021 micrograms per cubic meter more elemental carbon than those in the 25th percentile.
    “We found that warehouses are associated with PM2.5 and elemental carbon,” said lead author Binyu Yang, an Emory environmental health doctoral student.
    Although particulate pollution fell from 2000 to 2019 due to stricter emissions standards, the concentrations in ZIP codes with warehouses remained consistently higher than for other areas.
    Researchers also found that the gaps widened in the holiday shopping season, up to 4 micrograms per cubic meter — “a significant difference,” Liu said.
    Satellites Provide Big Picture
    Satellite observations, the researchers said, were essential because they provided a continuous map of pollution, including pockets not covered by ground-based instruments.
    It’s the same motivation behind NASA’s TEMPO (Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring of Pollution) mission, which launched in April 2023 and measures air pollution hourly during daylight over North America. The release of TEMPO’s first maps showed higher concentrations of NO2 around cities and highways.
    Meanwhile, NASA and the Italian Space Agency are collaborating to launch the MAIA (Multi-Angle Imager for Aerosols) in 2026. It will be the first NASA satellite mission whose primary goal is to study health effects of particulate pollution while distinguishing between PM2.5 types.“This mission will help air quality managers and policymakers conceive more targeted pollution strategies,” said Sina Hasheminassab, a co-author and science systems engineer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California. Hasheminassab, like Liu, is a member of the MAIA science team.
    News Media Contacts
    Andrew Wang / Jane J. LeeJet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.626-379-6874 / 818-354-0307andrew.wang@jpl.nasa.gov / jane.j.lee@jpl.nasa.gov
    2024-134

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Panetta and a Bipartisan Coalition Introduce Legislation to Foster Alignment of Middle East Partners, Counter Iran

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif)

    Washington, DC – United States Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to improve security and military readiness between the United States and Abraham Accords nations.  The Learning Integrated National Knowledge (LINK) Act would connect strategic, operational, and tactical senior commanders through an exchange program to foster greater integration and alignment. 

    This legislation was introduced as tensions continue to rise in the Middle East due to the actions by Iran and Iranian-backed proxies and follows the fourth anniversary of the historic Abraham Accords.  Leading this legislation alongside Rep. Panetta are Reps. Zach Nunn (IA-03), Brad Schneider (IL-10), Ann Wagner (MO-02), David Trone (MD-06), and Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-05).  Companion legislation has been introduced by Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Joni Ernst (R-IA) in the Senate.

    Iran and its proxy forces, including Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis, continue to conduct terrorist operations across the Middle East, from firing missiles within Lebanon, to attacks against commercial vessels in the Red Sea.  Through the establishment of a subject matter expert exchange program, American senior military officials will be able to bolster capabilities and deepen cooperationto enable the U.S. and its allies to respond to continuing and unforeseen aggression more effectively.

    “The increasingly aggressive actions by Iran and its terrorist proxies threaten the stability, security, and economy of the broader Middle East,” said Rep. Panetta.  “A military expert exchange program between Abraham Accords countries will ensure leaders are coordinating an integrated response to counter these malign activities in the region.  These partnerships are vital to our efforts to further strengthen the diplomatic, defense, and economic relationships between the United States, Israel, and our Arab partners.”

    “The Iranian Regime and its proxies cannot be left unchecked,” said Rep. Nunn.  “As Israel continues to withstand attacks from Iran, Hamas, and Hezbollah, now is the time to bring together the best and brightest military minds within the Abraham Accords.  This partnership will bring a more secure and peaceful Middle East.”

    “The combined efforts last week by Israel, the United States, and other allies to intercept nearly 200 Iranian ballistic missiles before they could cause unimaginable destruction demonstrates the importance of strengthening the coordination between CENTCOM and our allies,” said Rep. Schneider.  “As Iran and its proxies—including Hezbollah and the Houthis—continue to escalate threats to Israel, and the entire Middle East, it is critical that our partners have access to experienced military experts who can offer sound guidance during these escalations.  Through the LINK Act, we are strengthening our ties with Abraham Accords nations, ensuring both Israel and our Arab allies have the expert support needed to address these evolving threats and maintain regional security.”

    “Iran’s unprecedented missile attack on Israel on October 1 shows the Ayatollah is bent on Israel’s destruction and is willing to drag the region into war to accomplish its violent agenda,” said Rep. Wagner.  “As Iran continues to attack Israel directly and through its proxies, regional security cooperation remains vital to stability in the Middle East—and the defense of American allies against aggression.  My work with colleagues in the Abraham Accords Caucus has shown me how important it is to have our experts work closely with our partners and allies in the region to develop sound strategies and tackle threats together.   The ongoing instability and fighting in the region demand a more effective path forward to address threats from dictatorial governments and terrorists and ensure the safety of our own citizens at home and abroad.  This bill will ensure our partners in the Middle East support one another as we work towards that goal.”

    “Now more than ever, leaders in the Middle East and around the world must work together against growing threats, including Iran,” said Rep. Trone.  “With that goal in mind, it is imperative that we continue to share vital resources and encourage international cooperation to better equip our intelligence and military operations. With the LINK Act, we’re doing just that.”

    “Iran’s ballistic missile attack on Israel was an escalation that threatens to plunge the entire Middle East into chaos. Now more than ever, we need to strengthen military coordination and defense planning between Abraham Accords countries to safeguard against these increasingly aggressive attacks by Iran and its terrorist proxies,” said Rep. McMorris Rodgers.  “The LINK Act is a critical bipartisan effort to ensure military experts are in place to protect the diplomatic and economic relationships we’ve worked so hard to promote, while showing the world that we unequivocally stand with Israel.”

    This legislation has been included in the House and Senate versions of the FY25 National Defense Authorization Act, building upon the work of the Armed Services Committee to integrate air and missile defense capabilities, maritime domain awareness, cyber and AI readiness, and space satellites to deter Iranian aggression.

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    MIL OSI USA News –