NewzIntel.com

Category: Machine Learning

  • MIL-OSI: Tango Announces Leadership Change Designed to Drive Future Growth with the Appointment of Jon Elliott as New CEO

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    DALLAS, May 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Tango, the leading provider of cloud-based real estate and facilities management software solutions, is pleased to announce the appointment of Jon Elliott as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective May 1, 2025. Pranav Tyagi, who founded Tango and served as its leader for 17 years, is stepping down as CEO and will assume the role of Chairman of the Board of Directors where he will continue to support the company’s long-term success in an advisory capacity. This strategic leadership change marks a significant milestone for Tango as it continues to advance its mission to empower the world’s leading companies by providing innovative solutions, data, and expertise to maximize value and impact from their locations.

    Since its founding in 2008, Tango has achieved remarkable milestones, transitioning from its beginnings as a management consulting firm to becoming a pioneer in the creation of Integrated Workplace Management Systems (IWMS) and Store Lifecycle Management (SLM) solutions. Under Tyagi’s visionary leadership, Tango has led the way in the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) to create a global Enterprise SaaS solution embraced by customers in more than 140 countries, enabling them to plan and manage their entire real estate and facilities lifecycle, optimize costs, enhance employee engagement, and track and improve sustainability.

    “I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built together at Tango,” said Tyagi, Chairman of the Board of Directors at Tango. “Our exceptional team has been the driving force behind our success, consistently innovating and pushing boundaries to help our customers respond to the evolving ways people interact with physical space. I can’t thank them enough for their dedication and hard work. I also want to extend my gratitude to our customers, many of whom have been with us since the beginning, for their unwavering support and trust.”

    Jon Elliott joins Tango after more than two decades of outstanding success across multiple industries that have seen dramatic digital transformation and growth. Most recently, he was the CEO of Bluebeam, a global B2B SaaS software business serving customers in the Architecture, Engineering & Construction (AEC) industry, as well as a Chief Division Officer and Executive Board Member of the Nemetschek Group.

    “The global Tango team has built something truly special — a trusted product, a passionate team, and a loyal customer base,” said Jon Elliott, Tango’s Chief Executive Officer. “I’m deeply honored to join this next chapter and work alongside the team to build on the strong foundation that Pranav and the team created.”

    Tyagi continued, “This transition marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter. Jon Elliott is an inspiring, entrepreneurial, and mission-driven leader who knows what it takes to scale a vision into substantial global impact. By staying close to customers and understanding industry needs, he recognizes how technology can solve the most pressing customer challenges, and I have full confidence in his ability to lead Tango into its next phase of growth.”

    Jon Nuger, a Tango Board member and Managing Director at Berkshire Partners commented on this significant appointment, “We are thrilled to welcome Jon Elliott as our new CEO. His proven leadership and depth of experience are precisely what Tango needs to navigate the evolving landscape and achieve our ambitious goals. We also want to express our deep thanks to Pranav for his visionary leadership and extraordinary dedication, which have been instrumental in shaping Tango’s success. We look forward to his ongoing guidance as Chairman of the Board.”

    About Tango
    With hundreds of customers across more than 140 countries, Tango is the leader in Store Lifecycle Management and Integrated Workplace Management System software, delivering a single solution spanning real estate, design & construction, lease administration & accounting, facilities, occupancy management, energy & sustainability, desk booking, visitor and space management. To learn more visit tangoanalytics.com.

    About Berkshire Partners
    Berkshire Partners is a 100% employee-owned, multi-sector specialist investor in private and public equity. The firm’s private equity team invests in well-positioned, growing companies across business & consumer services, healthcare, industrials, and technology & communications. Berkshire is currently investing from its Fund XI, which held its final closing in 2024 with approximately $7.8 billion in commitments. Since inception, Berkshire Partners has made more than 150 private equity investments and has a strong history of collaborating with management teams to grow the companies in which it invests. For additional information, visit www.berkshirepartners.com.

    For media inquiries, please contact:

    Tango
    Kathy Fischer
    Vice President, Marketing
    kathy.fischer@tangoanalytics.com
    (416) 727-5647

    Berkshire Partners
    Greg Winter
    Director of Marketing and Communications
    gwinter@berkshirepartners.com
    (617) 227-0050

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Lotlinx Appoints Kerri Wise as Chief Marketing Officer

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    DETROIT, May 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Lotlinx, the auto industry’s leading VIN-specific data company for dealership inventory management, announced today the appointment of Kerri Wise as Chief Marketing Officer. With over 25 years of executive leadership experience at top automotive technology brands, Wise will spearhead Lotlinx’s marketing strategy, brand development, and dealer engagement initiatives as the company expands its footprint and enhances its solutions powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning.

    Wise is widely recognized as a trailblazer in automotive retail marketing. Most recently, she served as Chief Marketing Officer at AutoFi, where she led strategic branding, demand generation, and partner marketing efforts that contributed to the company’s growth and industry influence. Prior to AutoFi, she held leadership roles at TrueCar, where she served as Vice President of Dealer Marketing and Industry Education, and Edmunds, where she led dealer training, sales enablement and analytics. Earlier in her career, Wise held pivotal roles at JD Power and Associates, focusing on market intelligence and customer experience.

    “Kerri brings an exceptional blend of brand leadership, automotive expertise, and an unmatched reputation for championing dealer success,” said Len Short, Executive Chairman of Lotlinx. “She understands how to connect data-driven solutions to real dealer challenges, and she has a deep understanding of how to drive impact through strategic marketing. Kerri’s passion for innovation and inclusivity aligns perfectly with our mission, and we’re proud to welcome her to the team.”

    Wise’s industry influence extends beyond her executive roles. She is a frequent keynote speaker at major automotive events and was recognized as one of Automotive News’ 100 Leading Women in the North American Auto Industry in 2020. She was also named a Notable Champion of Diversity in 2021. Additionally, Wise is the Co-founder and President of Women of Color Automotive Network (WOCAN), a member-based nonprofit organization with more than 1,000 members that seek to attract, connect, and empower women of color in the automotive industry.

    “Joining Lotlinx at this moment in its growth is an incredible opportunity,” said Wise. “Lotlinx is redefining how dealers harness the power of real-time, VIN-level data to make smarter marketing and inventory decisions. I’m excited to help amplify the company’s value proposition and strengthen connections with our dealer partners as we continue delivering machine-driven technology that directly impacts profitability and operational control.”

    Wise’s leadership at Lotlinx will focus on elevating the brand’s presence across digital and traditional channels, expanding education and thought leadership programs for dealers, and reinforcing Lotlinx’s role as a trusted partner in modernizing retail automotive through data precision.

    About Lotlinx 

    Founded in 2012 and based out in Peterborough, New Hampshire, Lotlinx is the automotive industry leader in VIN-specific data solutions for inventory risk management. The Lotlinx platform provides automobile dealers and manufacturers with enhanced operational control over their retail business. Leveraging state-of-the-art real-time data and machine learning technology, Lotlinx provides a precision retailing solution that enables dealers to automatically adapt to market dynamics, mitigating inventory risk through VIN-specific strategies. To learn more about Lotlinx, please visit www.lotlinx.com.  

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Haivision Redefines ISR Video Processing and Transcoding with the New Kraken X1 Rugged

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MONTREAL, May 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Haivision, a leading global provider of mission-critical, real-time video networking and visual collaboration solutions, today introduced the Kraken X1 Rugged, a game-changing addition to its battle-hardened ISR video processing arsenal. Built for maximum operational impact at the tactical edge, Kraken X1 Rugged processes full-motion video (FMV), delivering low latency encoding, transcoding, and AI-enhanced video and metadata to support the toughest mission demands in the most extreme environments.

    Precision-engineered to meet any video processing challenge in forward-deployed ISR missions, the Kraken X1 Rugged packs cutting-edge AI capabilities and low-latency video performance into a rugged, compact, and fanless appliance. Engineered to meet MIL-STD ruggedization requirements in a small form factor device, Kraken X1 Rugged provides superior video processing for ISR missions in the most demanding environments – including UAVs, manned aircraft, vehicles, towers, ships, and more.

    Kraken X1 Rugged derives its high-density power from the NVIDIA Jetson Orin platform with next-gen GPU acceleration. Along with the ability to encode/transcode up to four 1080p HD streams, Kraken X1 Rugged can enhance situational awareness with real-time AI processing at the edge, capable of running third-party AI models directly on sensor-equipped platforms that are deployed in the field, instead of transporting the sensor feeds for processing to cloud data centers far from the action. By processing at the tactical edge, Kraken X1 Rugged can provide higher-quality intelligence delivered more reliably, more quickly, and more securely.

    “The Kraken X1 Rugged represents a significant evolution of our ISR platform, bringing ruggedized, real-time video processing to the most demanding environments,” said John Leipper, Defense Product Manager, Haivision. “It delivers the trusted Kraken capabilities our users rely on, in a compact, durable form factor optimized for high-performance AI-ready processing at the edge – right next to sensors.”

    Haivision’s Kraken solutions are trusted by ISR and mission-critical operations to turn constrained, unreliable networks into actionable intelligence pipelines for full motion video. Key capabilities of Kraken X1 Rugged include:

    • Real-time video for ISR: Process real-time FMV with surgical precision to supercharge critical decisions. Handle up to four 1080p60 streams or one 4Kp60 stream with HEVC/H.265 or H.264 compression.
    • Bandwidth optimization with KLV metadata: High-quality transcoding for downstream compatibility and transport even when network bandwidth is limited, along with synchronous/asynchronous KLV metadata, filtered as needed, to enhance geospatial context and unlock actionable intelligence.
    • Enrich intelligence with AI at the edge: Run third-party AI algorithms on NVIDIA accelerated GPUs to reliably extract high-quality intelligence at the tactical edge and deliver as full motion video and KLV metadata for downstream dissemination.
    • Ruggedized performance in a small form factor: MIL-STD environmental and power compliance for tough conditions, form factor suitable for deployment in environments with size and weight constraints, and support for 28V DC in a fanless appliance, deliver reliable results wherever ISR operations demand.
    • Seamlessly connect ISR networks: Route encoded or transcoded video streams to multiple destinations and convert between transport protocols like MPEG-TS, SRT, RTMP, RTSP, and RTP.
    • Battle-tested compatibility: Runs the same industry-leading Kraken software trusted by defense, public safety, and intelligence organizations worldwide.

    The Kraken family of real-time ISR video encoding and transcoding solutions are central to Haivision’s cutting-edge product portfolio, driving mission-critical operations with precision and power. Haivision’s video wall systems for command centers, video distribution solutions, and ISR video technology help aerospace, enterprise, government, military, and public safety organizations make informed decisions faster.

    The Kraken X1 Rugged will be showcased at SOF Week 2025 from May 6-8 in Tampa, Florida, and will be available in fall 2025. Learn more about the Kraken X1 Rugged here.

    About Haivision
    Haivision is a leading global provider of mission-critical, real-time video networking and visual collaboration solutions. Our connected cloud and intelligent edge technologies enable organizations globally to engage audiences, enhance collaboration, and support decision-making. We provide high-quality, low-latency, secure, and reliable live video at a global scale. Haivision open-sourced its award-winning SRT low-latency video streaming protocol and founded the SRT Alliance to support its adoption. Awarded four Emmys® for Technology and Engineering from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, Haivision continues to fuel the future of IP video transformation. Founded in 2004, Haivision is headquartered in Montreal and Chicago with offices, sales, and support located throughout the Americas, Europe, and Asia. To learn more, visit www.haivision.com.

    Jennifer Gazin
    514.334.5445 ext 8309
    jgazin@haivision.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Abundance Energy, sonnen, and Energywell Unite to Develop Residential Battery-Enabled Virtual Power Plants in Texas

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    STONE MOUNTAIN, Ga., May 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Abundance Energy, sonnen, and Energywell Technology Licensing, LLC (“Energywell”) are joining forces to power the future of energy through the development of behind-the-meter, battery-enabled Virtual Power Plants (“VPP”) in Texas.

    The collaboration empowers Abundance Energy customers to use their sonnenConnect home batteries to support grid stability, ensure reliable energy delivery, and lower electricity costs while driving the development of smart, sustainable energy solutions.

    Optimized through the integration of Energywell’s Proton platform with sonnen’s advanced Virtual Power Plant battery control technology, each battery is continuously managed in response to market price signals, customer usage, and solar generation. Networked together, these batteries create a VPP, dynamically balancing energy supply and demand to maximize value for both the grid and the customer.

    “Our mission is to empower homeowners with smarter, more sustainable energy solutions,” said Thomas Mandry, CEO of Abundance Energy. “By combining sonnen’s best-in-class battery and Virtual Power Plant technology, Energywell’s market expertise through its Proton platform, we are delivering an innovative VPP model that benefits both customers and the Texas grid.”

    sonnen’s VPP technology intelligently manages energy supply and demand, ensuring stored solar or grid energy is strategically deployed when needed most. “Our VPP solutions enable customers to actively participate in the energy market while maintaining resilience in their homes,” said Blake Richetta, Chairman and CEO of sonnen. “With Abundance Energy, and Energywell, we’re setting a new standard for residential energy management.”

    Energywell’s Proton platform provides advanced forecasting and optimization tools to ensure batteries are dispatched in alignment with market opportunities. “The Texas energy landscape is evolving, and this partnership exemplifies the future of distributed energy,” said Michael Fallquist, CEO of Energywell. “By optimizing stored energy, we are reducing reliance on fossil fuels and lowering carbon emissions, building a smarter, cleaner, and more flexible grid.”

    This VPP initiative aligns with Texas’ growing demand for resilient, customer-driven energy solutions and paves the way for further innovation in the residential energy sector.

    About Abundance Energy

    Abundance Energy is a digital-native Retail Electric Provider (REP) startup licensed for operations in Texas. Abundance’s products include transparent fixed-rate residential plans and multi-meter Continuous Service Agreement plans for vacant property management with a built-to-purpose CSA customer platform. Abundance is part of the Quext family of companies that includes next-generation LoRaWAN proprietary IoT thermostats and smart locks for the multifamily market. Visit abundanceenergy.com for more information.

    About sonnen

    sonnen is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of smart energy storage systems for residential applications, and a pioneer of the residential battery based virtual power plant. The sonnen VPP is nationally recognized as a blueprint for the decentralized, digitalized, decarbonized energy system of the future. sonnen is one of the most experienced and fastest growing VPP energy storage companies in the world. sonnen has received many internationally recognized awards celebrating our technological achievement. sonnen products and services are used by the sonnenCommunity, a collection of visionaries around the world who share our vision of clean and affordable energy for everyone. In Texas, sonnen partners with SOLRITE Energy to bring their flagship Virtual Power Plant Power Purchase Agreement (VPA), to provide solar panels and home battery systems at no upfront cost.

    sonnen’s offices are located in Germany, Italy, Spain, Australia, and the USA. sonnen is a wholly owned subsidiary of Shell. Learn more at: https://sonnenusa.com/en

    About Energywell

    Energywell is an energy technology company powering the sustainable energy transition. Energywell combines the financial strength of funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. and capital and commodities expertise from Hartree Partners L.P. with proprietary technology and a seasoned team of energy industry veterans. Visit Energywell.com for more information.

    About Proton

    Energywell’s Proton platform delivers real-time energy insights and seamless device integration, empowering businesses and customers to optimize energy more sustainably. Proton uses cloud-native, event-driven architecture to ensure energy solutions scale quickly while maintaining the highest standards of security, including SOC 2 Type 2 compliance. Proton is available for licensing for third parties looking to accelerate their own energy management capabilities. Visit Energywell.com/proton for more information.

    Press Contact
    FischTank PR
    sonnen@fischtankpr.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: May 2025 Letter to Shareholders of Nvni Group Limited

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, May 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Nuvini Group Limited (Nasdaq: NVNI) (“Nuvini” or the “Company”), a leading acquirer of private B2B SaaS companies in Latin America, today issued a letter to shareholders from Nuvini Founder and CEO Pierre Schurmann.

    Dear Fellow Shareholders,

    I wanted to take this occasion having recently announced our 2024 Full Year results and celebrated over 18 months as a public company to reflect on our journey thus far and discuss the future for Nuvini. Since inception we have been building a stable foundation of profitable, vertical SaaS companies throughout Latin America and believe today we have reached a critical inflection point in our Company’s trajectory. This new phase of growth will be one defined by leverage and execution, and not solely accumulation as we onboard strategic acquisitions to our platform and increase operational efficiencies across our portfolio in order to strengthen our margins.

    Nuvini Investment Thesis

    Our investment thesis in short is this, Nuvini is building the Constellation Software of Latin America—optimized for the AI era. We acquire durable SaaS businesses, integrate AI to unlock operational leverage, and drive sustainable, compounding returns. That vision is no longer aspirational—it’s underway.

    What’s Happening in our Portfolio and Sector?

    Latin America’s SaaS sector is going through an undeniable evolution creating massive opportunity to be achieved by those who not only are able to realize scale in a cost-efficient manner, but also by those who compound cash flow, automate operations, and allocate capital with discipline. We believe Nuvini is in a unique position to seize this opportunity and I am excited to share some recent developments from the first quarter of 2025 and catalysts we are looking forward to.

    Q1 2025 Updates

    As mentioned, Nuvini has reached an important turning point in our strategy fueled by relentless effort and rigorous execution of our business initiatives which have resulted in meaningful positive strides in the first quarter. Notably, we have launched NuviniAI, our AI focused initiative to reduce support, sales and development costs over the next 12 months, which will allow all Nuvini companies to share artificial intelligence progress to gain visibility, recognition and support across our portfolio. Additionally, during the quarter we successfully accelerated our M&A readiness by identifying five new qualified acquisition targets in Brazil and Mexico that all have over 65% gross margins and strong retention individually. This progress was highlighted by the term sheet we signed to acquire Mundii, an online platform that connects brands with consumers, suppliers, and retail chains based in São Paulo, Brazil, which we are planning to close during the second quarter of 2025. This acquisition aligns perfectly with our existing portfolio and once completed with further drive revenue growth and bolsters our already strong ecosystem of B2B Solutions. On top of it all, we made important decisions to tighten capital discipline reinforcing our commitment to accretive, cash-generative growth.

    What’s Coming Next?

    Looking forward to the second, third quarters and beyond, we are laser focused on execution across two strategic pillars.

    1)   Firstly, the activation of our M&A engine, exemplified by our expectation to close 1-2 acquisitions by the end of the third quarter. Our current pipeline is US$127 million and we are targeting companies with sticky customer bases, efficient cost structures, and high automation potential.

    2)   Secondly, we aim to implement the standardization of our AI infrastructure across the portfolio. By the fourth quarter we will obtain a key lever for margin as all operating companies will be integrated to utilize our NuviniAI tools to drive improvements in customer support, sales, and development automation.

    Capital Allocation

    To drive further value for our investors and stakeholders we are committed to continuing to operate with the mindset of disciplined business owners and operators. Each and every dollar deployed is thoughtfully allocated with a singular goal in mind, to generate and promote long-term compounding free cash flow through rigorous execution while forgoing the pitfalls of speculative hires and vanity marketing.

    Thank you for your continued trust.

    Sincerely,

    Pierre Schurmann

    Founder & CEO, Nuvini

    About Nuvini

    Headquartered in São Paulo, Brazil, Nuvini is Latin America’s leading private serial acquirer of B2B SaaS companies. The company focuses on acquiring profitable, high-growth SaaS businesses with strong recurring revenue and cash flow generation. By fostering an entrepreneurial environment, Nuvini enables its portfolio companies to scale and maintain leadership within their respective industries. The company’s long-term vision is to buy, retain, and create value through strategic partnerships and operational expertise.

    Disclaimer and Forward-Looking Statements

    Any obligation of the Company under the Term Sheet is subject to, among other things, the execution of the relevant definitive transaction documents, the result of a due diligence on Munddi, the satisfaction of conditions precedent for a transaction of this nature. There can be no assurance that any definitive transaction agreements will be entered into or that the potential Munddi acquisition will be consummated on the terms set forth herein, or at all. Therefore, it is possible that such potential acquisition may never occur.

    Statements about future expectations, plans and prospects, as well as any other statements regarding matters that are not historical facts, may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to the potential Munddi acquisition and the Term Sheet, including the Concurrent Investment and the other terms thereof. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including, without limitation: the Company’s ability to negotiate and enter into a definitive agreement with respect to the potential Munddi acquisition or any other alternative proposals on terms satisfactory to the Company, as well as the desirability of any such potential Munddi acquisition compared to alternatives which may be available to the Company; if a definitive agreement is reached, the Company’s ability to complete the potential acquisition on the anticipated timeline or at all,; general market conditions that could affect the consummation of the potential acquisition; if definitive documents with respect to a potential acquisition are executed, whether the parties will achieve any of the anticipated benefits of any such Proposed Transaction; and other factors discussed in the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s Quarterly and Annual Reports filed with the SEC, and the risks described in other filings that the Company may make with the SEC. Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof, and the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

    Investor Relations Contact

    Sofia Toledo
    ir@nuvini.co

    MZ North America
    NVNI@mzgroup.us

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Renown Capital Partners formally launches with $250M in anchor capital, leads Series C raise for Utilidata

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, May 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Renown Capital Partners, (“Renown”) – an investment firm focused on growth-stage technology companies helping to secure an efficient, affordable, and reliable energy system – has formally launched. Renown is a spinout of Moore Capital Management (“Moore”), which has provided $200M of anchor capital. The Daily Mail and General Trust (“DMGT”) has committed an additional $50M of anchor capital.

    Renown’s investment team is led by James McIntyre (Co-Founder, Chief Investment Officer, and Managing Partner), along with Hunter Horgan (Managing Director) and Cameron Scari (Managing Director). McIntyre leaves Moore after nearly twenty years with the firm and has worked with both Horgan and Scari for nearly a decade. Archie Soames is Co-Founder and Head of Business Development.

    Renown launches with a portfolio of six companies and recently led the Series C financing of Utilidata – an AI technology company bringing edge computing and AI to the electric grid. Utilidata’s distributed AI platform, Karman – designed in partnership with part owner NVIDIA – will help deliver unprecedented efficiency, resilience, and security to energy infrastructure across the globe.

    James McIntyre said, “Throughout my time at Moore I have rarely seen a secular shift as powerful and sustaining as what the world is currently experiencing in energy. Renown has been founded specifically to capitalize on this opportunity.”

    “Given the rise in demand, surge of complexity, and expansion of decentralized energy resources, utilities need real-time visibility of grid conditions and dynamic, software-defined infrastructure,” said Renown’s Hunter Horgan, who orchestrated the Utilidata round. “We believe Utilidata is providing a flexible, evergreen solution to address these complex issues, and we are excited to continue our longstanding relationship through this raise.”

    Archie Soames added, “We believe the global energy ecosystem is at an inflection point and offers a generational investment opportunity. The companies providing new technologies in this space, including those in Renown’s launch portfolio, are poised for extraordinary growth.”

    About Renown:

    Renown Capital Partners, (“Renown”), is an investment firm focused on growth-stage technology companies helping to secure an efficient, affordable, and reliable energy system. Renown is a spinout of Moore Capital Management with additional anchor capital committed from The Daily Mail and General Trust (“DMGT”).

    Contact:

    ir@renowncapital.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: TZA is Now Easy Metrics: A Unified Leader in Warehouse Performance Management

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BELLEVUE, Wash., May 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Easy Metrics, a leading warehouse performance management platform, today announced the full integration of TZA into the Easy Metrics brand. This unification combines the strengths of both companies to deliver the most comprehensive labor analytics solution available to warehouses and manufacturers.

    “Following last year’s acquisition of TZA and its ProTrack™ labor management system, we’ve brought together the best of both worlds,” said Dean Dorcas, CEO of Easy Metrics. “TZA’s tactical expertise and engineering strength perfectly complements our focus on financial and network-level insights. Together, we offer a true end-to-end solution.”

    The acquisition established Easy Metrics as an industry leader in the warehouse performance space—especially for companies managing multiple disparate systems and seeking network-wide visibility and control.

    “While Easy Metrics and TZA had different areas of expertise, labor management was our shared foundation,” said Dorcas. “But we now have it all combined into one company, moving far beyond that with warehouse performance management. With AI and machine learning, we’re helping customers uncover hidden inefficiencies, eliminate waste, and drive profitability across their entire network.”

    One of the critical aspects that helped make this a successful acquisition process is mutual alignment on culture. “We became one team very, very quickly,” Dorcas added. “TZA brought outstanding talent and deep consulting expertise to the table. We are incorporating TZA’s best-in-class change management and training program into the Easy Metrics model. And we’re retaining the ProTrack brand as part of a combined, more powerful labor management system to complement our operational financial management solutions. As a result, we’re better equipped than ever to support our customers.”

    Companies already using either company’s platform will experience a seamless integration, with the benefit of more features, says Dan Keto, President and CTO of Easy Metrics. “They’ll see a migration into a much-improved user experience with personalized support and training available.”

    “We give customers the visibility and control they need to operate more efficiently and profitably than ever before,” Dorcas said. As technology evolves with more automation and robotics working alongside employees, the real-time management of workflow data through Easy Metrics platform will evolve as well, so customers can drive out waste and increase efficiency, explained Dorcas. “This is the future of warehouse performance management, and we’re leading the way.”

    Easy Metrics is a portfolio company of Nexa Equity, a private equity firm dedicated to scaling B2B software businesses. Nexa invested in the company in 2024.

    About Easy Metrics
    Operations and finance leaders use Easy Metrics’ cloud platform to analyze, forecast, and manage the financial and operational performance of their warehouse operations. Easy Metrics empowers leaders to drive operational speed and efficiency, cut waste, prioritize investments, and adopt labor and automation strategies that fuel their business growth. Easy Metrics is based in Bellevue, Washington, and serves over 600 facilities. It is backed by Nexa Equity, a private equity firm based in San Francisco, CA. For more information, please visit https://easymetrics.com.

    About Nexa Equity
    Nexa Equity is a San Francisco, California-based private equity firm that partners with founder-led, rapidly scaling SaaS companies that address markets underserved by technology to create enduring value for the benefit of its investors and portfolio companies. The firm has more than $400 million in private equity capital under management. The Nexa Equity team brings substantial investing and operational experience to the table and helps management teams professionalize and scale their businesses while driving long-term sustainable growth. For more information, please visit www.nexaequity.com.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5785e728-a2d3-40c6-9783-0bef56bff13a

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Excelliance MOS Adopts Silvaco DTCO Flow for the Development of Next-Gen Silicon Carbide Devices

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SANTA CLARA, Calif., May 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Silvaco Group, Inc. (“Silvaco”) (NASDAQ: SVCO), a leading provider of TCAD, EDA software, and SIP solutions that enable semiconductor design and digital twin modeling through AI software and innovation, today announced that Excelliance MOS has adopted Silvaco’s DTCO (Design Technology Co-Optimization) flow, including Victory TCAD™ and UTMOST IV™, to accelerate the development of its next-generation Silicon Carbide (SiC) power devices.

    As demand for high-efficiency power electronics continues to grow, Excelliance MOS is leveraging Silvaco’s advanced DTCO platform to streamline research and development for cutting-edge SiC technology. Silvaco’s Victory Process™ and Victory Device™ simulators provide realistic process and accurate device simulation, including support for SiC-specific phenomena such as anisotropic oxidation and mobility, enabling precise modeling of next-generation devices.

    “Building efficient power devices requires an integrated TCAD simulation and SPICE modeling environment,” said Eric Guichard, Senior Vice President and General Manager of the TCAD business unit at Silvaco. “Our DTCO flow—combining Victory TCAD with UTMOST IV SPICE modeling and Victory DoE™—provides Excelliance MOS with a powerful, user-friendly solution that enhances device and circuit performance optimization and reduces development time.”

    “Silvaco’s DTCO solution provides our team the accuracy and efficiency we need to push the boundaries of SiC device and circuit design,” said Fermi Liu, Director of R&D Department at Excelliance MOS. “With Silvaco’s DTCO flow combining Victory TCAD and UTMOST IV, we can simulate, analyze, and refine device performance faster than ever, helping us bring innovative power solutions to market more rapidly.”

    The inclusion of Victory DoE, Silvaco’s intuitive design-of-experiments interface, allows for rapid exploration of process variations, while UTMOST IV delivers automated electrical measurements and SPICE model extraction to speed up characterization and circuit-level modeling. Together, these tools enable Excelliance MOS to efficiently design, simulate, and refine next generation SiC devices.

    Silvaco’s simulation solutions are technology-agnostic and support a wide range of applications, including power, memory, photonics, CMOS, and display technologies. With user-centric features such as streamlined interfaces, automation capabilities, and comprehensive DoE support, Silvaco’s tools empower engineers to innovate with greater speed and accuracy.

    About Silvaco Group, Inc.
    Silvaco is a provider of TCAD, EDA software, and SIP solutions that enable semiconductor design and digital twin modeling through AI software and innovation. Silvaco’s solutions are used for semiconductor and photonics processes, devices, and systems development across display, power devices, automotive, memory, high performance compute, foundries, photonics, internet of things, and 5G/6G mobile markets for complex SoC design. Silvaco is headquartered in Santa Clara, California, and has a global presence with offices located in North America, Europe, Brazil, China, Japan, Korea, Singapore, and Taiwan. Learn more at silvaco.com.

    Contacts
    Media Relations:
    Tiffany Behany, press@silvaco.com

    Investor Relations:
    Greg McNiff, investors@silvaco.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Leveling the playing field: Talkdesk supercharges small businesses with accessible, enterprise-grade artificial intelligence service tools

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PALO ALTO, Calif., May 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Talkdesk®, Inc., a global provider of artificial intelligence (AI)-powered customer experience (CX) technology that serves enterprises of all sizes, today announced the launch of Talkdesk Express™, an enterprise-grade customer service solution for small businesses that empowers them to deliver the same exceptional customer service as large organizations, without the complexity. A Gartner® study reports, “76% of executive leaders see CX as critical to meeting organizations’ business goals.”* However, traditional contact center software is either too expensive or complex for small businesses, placing them at an unfair disadvantage. Talkdesk Express is an affordable, intuitive solution designed for ultra-fast setup, and its ease of use enables small businesses to self-manage multi-channel customer service operations—no technical knowledge required or precious hours wasted on support hotlines.

    Easy Set-up, $100 Free Credits, and 25 Free Licences

    To help small businesses with up to 50 employees get started setting up their customer service operations, Talkdesk Express includes $100 in free credits and 25 free licenses. Businesses create their contact center directly from the Talkdesk website—bypassing cumbersome vendor sales-led setup and onboarding. Talkdesk Express is self-provisioning and guides new customers through a step-by-step process to procure a phone number and set up channels, users, and connected knowledge bases in just a few minutes.

    Businesses that have started using Talkdesk Express, like TV Wall Mounters LLC, DBA Visionary AV Solutions—a company specializing in residential and commercial AV installations, including TV mounting, LED video walls, and projector setups—are already seeing the difference. By simplifying customer service operations and improving call quality, Visionary AV Solutions has been able to deliver faster, more professional support while focusing on growing its business.

    “Talkdesk has been a game-changer for us. Compared to other systems we’ve used, Talkdesk Express truly stands out—the sound quality is clearer, the platform layout is more intuitive, and the overall performance has been outstanding. Our team loves using it, and we’ve already seen great success,” said Calvin Williams, chief executive officer of TV Wall Mounters LLC, DBA Visionary AV Solutions.

    Enterprise-Grade AI for Enhanced Customer Service

    Talkdesk Express equips small businesses with the same suite of powerful AI-driven tools used by Talkdesk large enterprise customers like BankUnited, Canon, Medela, and Michael’s. The AI tools come pre-installed and pre-configured for ease, so small businesses can compete with larger organizations without needing an IT team. These include:

    • Intelligent customer routing: A tool that allows customers to state their query in their own words, understands the interaction priority level for the business, and to whom the interaction should be routed (Talkdesk Navigator™).
    • Real-time agent assistance: A real-time AI assistant that supports agents by providing important information relevant to customer queries to resolve issues faster, and automating admin tasks, e.g., summarizing after-call notes (Talkdesk Copilot™).
    • 24/7 virtual agents: A self-service AI solution that ensures customers can get answers to common questions even outside of business hours (Talkdesk After Hours and Autopilot™).
    • Intelligent voice biometrics: A tool that automates customer authentication, which helps reduce call wait times while enhancing security (Talkdesk Identity™).

    “This move not only strengthens Talkdesk’s position as an innovative AI CX leader for businesses of all sizes, it’s set to transform the customer service landscape, driving much broader adoption of AI-powered solutions,” said Tiago Paiva, chief executive officer and founder at Talkdesk. “Large enterprises have long trusted Talkdesk to modernize and enhance their CX. Now we are making advanced AI-powered customer service tools inclusive, accessible, and affordable to all businesses for the first time.”

    Additionally, multiple non-AI tools are seamlessly integrated into Talkdesk Express. Small businesses are walked through setting up: a customer service phone number with their area code; the channels they want to converse with customers on, e.g., short message service (SMS), chat, email, social, and messaging; and users, all in minutes. They can also design intuitive workflows, carry out reporting, and more.

    Flexible and Cost-Effective

    Talkdesk Express offers usage-based pricing, ensuring small businesses only pay for what they use once they exhaust their $100 in free credits. The platform also scales as the company grows, providing a cost-effective way to expand customer service capabilities as and when the business is ready.

    Visit the Talkdesk Express page to learn more or get started with the solution today.

    About Talkdesk

    Talkdesk® is on a mission to rid the world of bad customer experience. With our cloud-native, generative AI-powered CX platform, purpose-built industry solutions, and extensible AI offerings, we empower enterprises in the cloud and on-premises to deliver exceptional customer experiences that make them more competitive, grow revenue, reduce costs, and provide operational efficiencies. With specialized workflows and integrations delivered out of the box for our Industry Experience Clouds, Talkdesk accelerates value for our customers faster and more simply than legacy or one-size-fits-all solutions.

    Partnering with enterprises globally, we deliver continuous innovation and breakthrough results. Our commitment to reliability and security, paired with our track record of delivering on promises, sets us apart in the industry. Elevate customer experiences, streamline operations, and increase revenue with Talkdesk. Companies that love their customers use Talkdesk.

    Talkdesk is a registered trademark of Talkdesk, Inc. All product and company names are trademarks™ or registered® trademarks of their respective holders. Use of them does not imply any affiliation with or endorsement by them.

    *Gartner; What the Best CX Organizations Do Differently; May 1, 2023; Don Scheibenreif, Michael Chiu
    GARTNER is a registered trademark and service mark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally and is used herein with permission. All rights reserved.

    Media Contact:

    Talkdesk Public Relations

    pr@talkdesk.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Radix to Showcase AI Driven Innovations at Big 10 and Friends Utility Conference

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    HOUSTON, May 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Radix, a technology services company delivering innovative solutions to asset-intensive educational institutions and industries, will attend the Big 10 and Friends Utilities Conference at the University of Cincinnati from May 18 to May 21, 2025.

    For the past two years, Radix has actively engaged at the Big 10 and Friends Utilities Conference that has participation of over 150 campus operations leaders from colleges and universities across North America. This year the Radix team will share insights designed to elevate innovation and action towards better asset and energy management of facilities, with tangible steps to reducing wastage while optimising energy.

    Thiago Bacic, Vice President of Infrastructure and Services North America at Radix, commented: “Radix has partnered with a spectrum of small and large universities and colleges to enable robust asset performance management practice that reduce waste and drive cost savings. We look forward to sharing these partner success stories that optimise facilities and energy management that’s both sustainable and at scale.”

    Radix will share insights into process improvement and optimization to boost sustainability, and enhance energy management that’s scalable while reducing cost, a key theme for Radix this year at Big Ten and Friends. “In essence, Radix can help elevate operational excellence at scale through data-driven solutions that drive measurable improvements in ways that were previously unattainable,” Thiago added.

    Boosting operational excellence for asset-intensive educational institutions’ facilities and energy management will be expanded on by Thiago during his presentation of “A Data-Driven Approach to Cost Effective Combined Cooling, Heating & Power Operations.”

    The discussion with various Universities will also include:

    1. Key Strategies for Successful Energy Implementation.
    2. Leveraging Existing Data to Enhance Facilities Performance.
    3. Steps to developing a Path to Optimized Asset Performance Management.

    The Radix team welcomes friends and partners to Booth 24 to collaborate and learn more about Education Sector Solutions – Radix: Enhancing Learning with AI and Software

    About Radix
    Founded in 2010, Radix is a privately held technology solutions company providing consulting, engineering, operations technology, and data and software technology solutions globally. Radix combines key capabilities and practices to empower customers to thrive along their digital transformation journey. Radix provides technology-based, data-driven solutions to industrial and non-industrial companies worldwide. Radix has experience leading projects in more than 30 countries. It has more than 1,800+ employees around the globe, with North American headquarters in Houston, Texas, main headquarters in Rio de Janeiro, additional offices in Sao Paulo and Belo Horizonte, and a presence in Singapore and Amsterdam. To learn more, visit www.radixeng.com.

    For more information:
    Citalouise Geiggar, Ph.D.
    citalouise.geiggar@radixeng.com
    Radix

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8c360a62-925d-4242-9213-fd3381e8c028

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI USA: SPC Tornado Watch 231

    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.
    SEL1

    URGENT – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
    Tornado Watch Number 231
    NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
    815 AM CDT Tue May 6 2025

    The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a

    * Tornado Watch for portions of
    Central and East/Southeast Texas

    * Effective this Tuesday morning and afternoon from 815 AM until
    400 PM CDT.

    * Primary threats include…
    A few tornadoes likely with a couple intense tornadoes possible
    Scattered large hail likely with isolated very large hail events
    to 3 inches in diameter possible
    Scattered damaging wind gusts to 70 mph likely

    SUMMARY…Supercell thunderstorms are expected to develop near a
    warm front across the region with other storms related to an
    eastward-moving cluster of storms across central Texas early today.
    Tornado potential is apparent, including the possibility of strong
    tornadoes. Damaging winds and large hail are also expected.

    The tornado watch area is approximately along and 65 statute miles
    north and south of a line from 65 miles north northwest of San
    Antonio TX to 35 miles southeast of Huntsville TX. For a complete
    depiction of the watch see the associated watch outline update
    (WOUS64 KWNS WOU1).

    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.

    &&

    OTHER WATCH INFORMATION…CONTINUE…WW 230…

    AVIATION…Tornadoes and a few severe thunderstorms with hail
    surface and aloft to 3 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind
    gusts to 60 knots. A few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 550. Mean
    storm motion vector 24025.

    …Guyer

    SEL1

    URGENT – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
    Tornado Watch Number 231
    NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
    815 AM CDT Tue May 6 2025

    The NWS Storm Prediction Center has issued a

    * Tornado Watch for portions of
    Central and East/Southeast Texas

    * Effective this Tuesday morning and afternoon from 815 AM until
    400 PM CDT.

    * Primary threats include…
    A few tornadoes likely with a couple intense tornadoes possible
    Scattered large hail likely with isolated very large hail events
    to 3 inches in diameter possible
    Scattered damaging wind gusts to 70 mph likely

    SUMMARY…Supercell thunderstorms are expected to develop near a
    warm front across the region with other storms related to an
    eastward-moving cluster of storms across central Texas early today.
    Tornado potential is apparent, including the possibility of strong
    tornadoes. Damaging winds and large hail are also expected.

    The tornado watch area is approximately along and 65 statute miles
    north and south of a line from 65 miles north northwest of San
    Antonio TX to 35 miles southeast of Huntsville TX. For a complete
    depiction of the watch see the associated watch outline update
    (WOUS64 KWNS WOU1).

    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.

    &&

    OTHER WATCH INFORMATION…CONTINUE…WW 230…

    AVIATION…Tornadoes and a few severe thunderstorms with hail
    surface and aloft to 3 inches. Extreme turbulence and surface wind
    gusts to 60 knots. A few cumulonimbi with maximum tops to 550. Mean
    storm motion vector 24025.

    …Guyer

    Note: The Aviation Watch (SAW) product is an approximation to the watch area. The actual watch is depicted by the shaded areas.
    SAW1
    WW 231 TORNADO TX 061315Z – 062100Z
    AXIS..65 STATUTE MILES NORTH AND SOUTH OF LINE..
    65NNW SAT/SAN ANTONIO TX/ – 35SE UTS/HUNTSVILLE TX/
    ..AVIATION COORDS.. 55NM N/S /50ESE JCT – 29NNE IAH/
    HAIL SURFACE AND ALOFT..3 INCHES. WIND GUSTS..60 KNOTS.
    MAX TOPS TO 550. MEAN STORM MOTION VECTOR 24025.

    LAT…LON 31349889 31319505 29439505 29469889

    THIS IS AN APPROXIMATION TO THE WATCH AREA. FOR A
    COMPLETE DEPICTION OF THE WATCH SEE WOUS64 KWNS
    FOR WOU1.

    Watch 231 Status Report Message has not been issued yet.

    Note:  Click for Complete Product Text.Tornadoes

    Probability of 2 or more tornadoes

    High (70%)

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

    Mod (50%)

    Wind

    Probability of 10 or more severe wind events

    Mod (60%)

    Probability of 1 or more wind events > 65 knots

    Low (20%)

    Hail

    Probability of 10 or more severe hail events

    Mod (60%)

    Probability of 1 or more hailstones > 2 inches

    Mod (50%)

    Combined Severe Hail/Wind

    Probability of 6 or more combined severe hail/wind events

    High (>95%)

    For each watch, probabilities for particular events inside the watch (listed above in each table) are determined by the issuing forecaster. The “Low” category contains probability values ranging from less than 2% to 20% (EF2-EF5 tornadoes), less than 5% to 20% (all other probabilities), “Moderate” from 30% to 60%, and “High” from 70% to greater than 95%. High values are bolded and lighter in color to provide awareness of an increased threat for a particular event.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Predictive policing AI is on the rise − making it accountable to the public could curb its harmful effects

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Maria Lungu, Postdoctoral Researcher of Law and Public Administration, University of Virginia

    Data like this seven-day crime map from Oakland, Calif., feeds predictive policing AIs. City of Oakland via CrimeMapping.com

    The 2002 sci-fi thriller “Minority Report” depicted a dystopian future where a specialized police unit was tasked with arresting people for crimes they had not yet committed. Directed by Steven Spielberg and based on a short story by Philip K. Dick, the drama revolved around “PreCrime” − a system informed by a trio of psychics, or “precogs,” who anticipated future homicides, allowing police officers to intervene and prevent would-be assailants from claiming their targets’ lives.

    The film probes at hefty ethical questions: How can someone be guilty of a crime they haven’t yet committed? And what happens when the system gets it wrong?

    While there is no such thing as an all-seeing “precog,” key components of the future that “Minority Report” envisioned have become reality even faster than its creators imagined. For more than a decade, police departments across the globe have been using data-driven systems geared toward predicting when and where crimes might occur and who might commit them.

    Far from an abstract or futuristic conceit, predictive policing is a reality. And market analysts are predicting a boom for the technology.

    Given the challenges in using predictive machine learning effectively and fairly, predictive policing raises significant ethical concerns. Absent technological fixes on the horizon, there is an approach to addressing these concerns: Treat government use of the technology as a matter of democratic accountability.

    Troubling history

    Predictive policing relies on artificial intelligence and data analytics to anticipate potential criminal activity before it happens. It can involve analyzing large datasets drawn from crime reports, arrest records and social or geographic information to identify patterns and forecast where crimes might occur or who may be involved.

    Law enforcement agencies have used data analytics to track broad trends for many decades. Today’s powerful AI technologies, however, take in vast amounts of surveillance and crime report data to provide much finer-grained analysis.

    Police departments use these techniques to help determine where they should concentrate their resources. Place-based prediction focuses on identifying high-risk locations, also known as hot spots, where crimes are statistically more likely to happen. Person-based prediction, by contrast, attempts to flag individuals who are considered at high risk of committing or becoming victims of crime.

    These types of systems have been the subject of significant public concern. Under a so-called “intelligence-led policing” program in Pasco County, Florida, the sheriff’s department compiled a list of people considered likely to commit crimes and then repeatedly sent deputies to their homes. More than 1,000 Pasco residents, including minors, were subject to random visits from police officers and were cited for things such as missing mailbox numbers and overgrown grass.

    Lawsuits forced the Pasco County, Fla., Sheriff’s Office to end its troubled predictive policing program.

    Four residents sued the county in 2021, and last year they reached a settlement in which the sheriff’s office admitted that it had violated residents’ constitutional rights to privacy and equal treatment under the law. The program has since been discontinued.

    This is not just a Florida problem. In 2020, Chicago decommissioned its “Strategic Subject List,” a system where police used analytics to predict which prior offenders were likely to commit new crimes or become victims of future shootings. In 2021, the Los Angeles Police Department discontinued its use of PredPol, a software program designed to forecast crime hot spots but was criticized for low accuracy rates and reinforcing racial and socioeconomic biases.

    Necessary innovations or dangerous overreach?

    The failure of these high-profile programs highlights a critical tension: Even though law enforcement agencies often advocate for AI-driven tools for public safety, civil rights groups and scholars have raised concerns over privacy violations, accountability issues and the lack of transparency. And despite these high-profile retreats from predictive policing, many smaller police departments are using the technology.

    Most American police departments lack clear policies on algorithmic decision-making and provide little to no disclosure about how the predictive models they use are developed, trained or monitored for accuracy or bias. A Brookings Institution analysis found that in many cities, local governments had no public documentation on how predictive policing software functioned, what data was used, or how outcomes were evaluated.

    Predictive policing can perpetuate racial bias.

    This opacity is what’s known in the industry as a “black box.” It prevents independent oversight and raises serious questions about the structures surrounding AI-driven decision-making. If a citizen is flagged as high-risk by an algorithm, what recourse do they have? Who oversees the fairness of these systems? What independent oversight mechanisms are available?

    These questions are driving contentious debates in communities about whether predictive policing as a method should be reformed, more tightly regulated or abandoned altogether. Some people view these tools as necessary innovations, while others see them as dangerous overreach.

    A better way in San Jose

    But there is evidence that data-driven tools grounded in democratic values of due process, transparency and accountability may offer a stronger alternative to today’s predictive policing systems. What if the public could understand how these algorithms function, what data they rely on, and what safeguards exist to prevent discriminatory outcomes and misuse of the technology?

    The city of San Jose, California, has embarked on a process that is intended to increase transparency and accountability around its use of AI systems. San Jose maintains a set of AI principles requiring that any AI tools used by city government be effective, transparent to the public and equitable in their effects on people’s lives. City departments also are required to assess the risks of AI systems before integrating them into their operations.

    If taken correctly, these measures can effectively open the black box, dramatically reducing the degree to which AI companies can hide their code or their data behind things such as protections for trade secrets. Enabling public scrutiny of training data can reveal problems such as racial or economic bias, which can be mitigated but are extremely difficult if not impossible to eradicate.

    Research has shown that when citizens feel that government institutions act fairly and transparently, they are more likely to engage in civic life and support public policies. Law enforcement agencies are likely to have stronger outcomes if they treat technology as a tool – rather than a substitute – for justice.

    Maria Lungu receives funding from the University of Virginia, Digital Technology for Democracy Lab. She is affiliated with nonprofit Center for AI and Digital Policy (CAIDP).

    – ref. Predictive policing AI is on the rise − making it accountable to the public could curb its harmful effects – https://theconversation.com/predictive-policing-ai-is-on-the-rise-making-it-accountable-to-the-public-could-curb-its-harmful-effects-254185

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Peace Corps isn’t just about helping others − it’s a key part of US public diplomacy

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Thomas J Nisley, Professor of Government and International Affairs, Kennesaw State University

    Peace Corps volunteers pose with the U.S. flag after they are sworn in during a 2002 event in Burkina Faso. Issouf Sanogo/AFP via Getty Images

    Since President Donald Trump returned to the White House in January 2025, his administration has slashed the work of many U.S. government agencies, including those focused on foreign policy. Now, there is concern that the Peace Corps could join the other foreign aid programs the administration is trying to dismantle.

    The United States Agency for International Development largely shut down in February and March 2025, with its workforce reduced from more than 10,000 to 15 people on staff.

    In early April 2025, members of Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency showed up at Peace Corps headquarters in Washington, D.C., signaling possible cuts.

    DOGE has also called for reducing the number of the Peace Corps’ 970 full-time staff who help recruit and oversee the work of volunteers.

    The Guardian reported on April 28 that the Peace Corps is offering staff a buyout, and that Peace Corps leadership expects “significant restructuring efforts.”

    The Peace Corps told The New York Times in an April 28 statement that “the agency will remain operational and continue to recruit, place, and train volunteers, while continuing to support their health, safety and security, and effective service.”

    As a scholar of international affairs, I think it is important to understand the subtle – but important – role that the Peace Corps plays in helping the U.S. maintain a positive international image.

    President John F. Kennedy greets Peace Corps volunteers at the White House in August 1962.
    Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images

    Understanding the Peace Corps

    In 1961, President John F. Kennedy created the Peace Corps, an independent agency in the federal government, alongside USAID as a way to reinvigorate American diplomacy.

    Kennedy viewed the State Department as an organization that lacked innovation, staffed by self-serving people without much practical experience.

    Since the 1960s, the Peace Corps has sent more than 240,000 U.S. citizens – many of them young people – to work as volunteers in more than 60 low- and middle-income countries on short-term projects, ranging from teaching students English to helping farmers increase their food production. This works out to about 3,500 to 4,000 volunteers abroad each year.

    As Kennedy hoped, many of these American volunteers returned home to eventually serve in the State Department, with some rising to the top ranks, such as Christopher Hill, a career diplomat who served in the Peace Corps in Cameroon in the 1970s.

    Peace Corps volunteers, sometimes known as PCVs, also go on to work in other types of public service, including in educational roles. It has also been common for former Peace Corps volunteers to work for USAID.

    Peace Corps’ role in US government

    The Peace Corps is not part of the day-to-day activities of U.S. foreign policy in the same way as the State Department, for example, which has diplomatic missions across the world.

    The Peace Corps, with a US$495 million annual budget, does contribute to U.S. foreign policy goals by enhancing U.S. soft power. Soft power, in this context, means getting others to want what you want.

    The political scientist Joseph Nye introduced the academic concept of soft power to the mainstream in the early 1990s. It is often misunderstood. Some mistakenly refer to the military as hard power, and economic and diplomatic tools as soft power.

    But soft power – and the allure of a project like the Peace Corps – is founded in the power of attraction. The Peace Corps, simply put, helps improve the U.S.’s image worldwide.

    My research on Latin American countries has shown that the presence of a Peace Corps program improves the popular perception of the U.S. among communities there. A good reputation fosters goodwill and helps the U.S. achieve its concrete foreign policy goals, be it making a trade deal or helping to end a conflict.

    The political scientist Stephen Magu has found similar results across Africa, including a connection between the number of Peace Corps volunteers in a country and support for the U.S. in its work at the United Nations.

    The Peace Corps’ experience

    The Peace Corps uses a very selective application process to recruit Americans of all ages to volunteer for two years in a foreign country, doing different kinds of service work ranging from agriculture and education to health and the environment.

    Most are younger people with college degrees, but there is no upper age limit to qualify and no requirement of a college degree to serve.

    There is no single Peace Corps experience.

    But all volunteers live and work in a community that has requested a volunteer to help with different types of activities. This could include helping local women set up their own small businesses in Panama or offering health workshops on reducing the risk of contracting and spreading HIV in Eswatini, formerly knwon as Swaziland. These volunteers are usually *the only Americans for miles around.

    Volunteers are expected to live modestly and are paid a monthly living allowance that covers their bare necessities.

    Volunteers’ work is not easy and not without risk. Since 1961, 311 people have died while serving. Most of the deaths are due to accidents, usually related to transportation. Some have died from diseases and illness, and a few have been victims of murder.

    Peace Corps’ approach to volunteer work

    The Peace Corps emphasizes what is known as grassroots development in foreign aid circles. This means that a Peace Corps volunteer tries to use local money and expertise to achieve goals jointly identified by the community and the volunteer.

    Critics of the Peace Corps have argued, among other things, that it has not made widespread changes that reliably last beyond the two-year term of each volunteer.

    But the Peace Corps is not intended to change the trajectory of a country’s economic development and suddenly make a poor country a rich one. Volunteers do help the people in the community they serve in small but meaningful ways.

    In my own service as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Dominican Republic from 1989 to 1991, for example, I had a demonstration vegetable garden where I grew nutritious vegetables such as spinach and mustard greens. Dominicans did not traditionally eat these vegetables, but I got my neighbors and friends to try them. Some learned to really like them and began to grow them on their own.

    A Peace Corps volunteer teaches English to students in Bucharest, Romania, in 1985.
    Paul Conklin/Getty Images

    Another kind of public diplomacy

    When asked in 1962 how he saw the relationship of the Peace Corps to U.S. foreign policy, Kennedy responded that he saw the Peace Corps as “an opportunity to emphasize a different part of our American character,” instead of the idea that the U.S. is a “harsh, narrow-minded militaristic, materialistic society.”

    The Trump administration tends to view foreign assistance programs as open-ended charity programs that need to be eliminated.

    I believe that foreign assistance programs are not charity – they are public diplomacy tools that contribute to the U.S.’s global power. If the Peace Corps is eliminated, the U.S. will lose another important tool of foreign policy.

    I served as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Dominican Republic from 1989 to 1991

    – ref. Peace Corps isn’t just about helping others − it’s a key part of US public diplomacy – https://theconversation.com/peace-corps-isnt-just-about-helping-others-its-a-key-part-of-us-public-diplomacy-255571

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Jostling for the papacy: A look back on the conclave’s history

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Colin Rose, Associate Professor of European and Digital History, Brock University

    Pope Francis’s successor will be elected in the coming days in a millennium-old ceremony known as the papal conclave. During the conclave, the 135 eligible Cardinal Electors of the Catholic Church will sequester themselves and elect a new pope in isolation.

    During that time, they will have no contact with the outside world and they will vote repeatedly, in written ballots and verbal declaration, until one of them achieves a two-thirds majority.

    Every failure brings sighs from the crowds in St. Peter’s Square as the votes, burned with a chemical admixture, send up a plume of inky black smoke from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel. White smoke, signalling a new pope has been elected, provokes cheers and celebrations and the beginning of a new papal era.



    Read more:
    How the next pope will be elected – what goes on at the conclave

    The history of the conclave, especially during the Italian Renaissance that I teach and research, tells us a lot about how the papacy is both a religious and a political office.

    The Pope is at once the supreme pontiff of the Catholic Church as well as the absolute monarch of Vatican City. He is both bishop of Rome and prince of the smallest sovereign state in the world.

    Politics of the papacy

    In the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries, the Vatican was the capital of a much-larger Papal State. This territorial buffer around Rome at its height bordered the territories of Florence, Naples, Milan and Venice, and covered much of northern Italy.

    Popes wielded great influence in the dramatic politics of famous Italian families like the Medici: it was a Medici pope, Clement VII, who helped negotiate the installation of the first Medici duke in Florence.

    Apocryphal accounts persist of Julius II, the so-called “Warrior Pope,” leading a charge over the walls of Bologna in 1506.

    At the same time popes, and Catholic policy, had profound consequences for European and global politics: Clement’s successor Paul III excommunicated England’s King Henry VIII, cementing the English break with Rome in 1538.

    A portrait of Pope Alexander VI Borgia circa 1495.
    (Vatican Museums)

    Alexander VI was more audaciously imperial: he sponsored the treaty that arbitrarily divided the entire world outside of Europe between Spain (his home country) and Portugal in 1494.

    Alexander VI’s historical infamy is perhaps outdone only by his son, Cesare Borgia, made famous by his mention is Niccolo Machiavelli’s book The Prince.

    Becoming pope was a big deal for a cardinal and his family. Leading candidates known as papabili (pope-ables) began strategizing and negotiating even before popes died.

    When a pontiff died, those cardinals abroad began their travels to Rome, construction began on the temporary cells that would house them all during the sequestration and the real work of electing a pope began.

    Enea Silvio Piccolomini left a detailed memoir of his election as Pius II in 1458. In it he describes a process of negotiating, threatening, cajoling and strategizing that make the scheming in the recent movie Conclave look unsophisticated.

    Renaissance Italy wrestled with and ultimately reconciled itself to the political nature of the papacy.

    Many, including popes such as Pius II, expressed discomfort with the political power of the papacy. While it was a clear factor in the schism of European Christendom that led to the emergence of the Protestant churches in the 16th century, in early modern Italy the political power of the papacy was a reality of the diplomatic milieu.

    The empty throne

    The conclave marks a special place in early modern history as a time when ordinary political order was overturned for a brief period known as the sede vacante (the Vacant See).

    The Vacant See was a time when identities were swappable and when, as one Paolo di Grassi told a judge in 1559, “in Vacant See [Romans] are the masters. The People are the Masters.” Di Grassi had, during the Vacant See of November 1559, pursued his own longstanding grudges against his enemies and been involved in at least one armed brawl.

    While they waited for a new pope, Romans and everyone else might have passed the time with another favourite vice: gambling on the conclave’s outcome.



    Read more:
    Who will the next pope be? Here are some top contenders

    European princes and other potentates of the church paid close attention to conclaves, tried to smuggle information in and out and steer the conclave in favour of their preferred candidate.

    In 1730, for instance, Cardinal Lambertini smuggled a letter out of his conclave thanking a benefactor for their donations to his future ordination as Pope Benedict XIV.

    The election held everyone’s attention as a rare and unusually impactful event in the Roman calendar.

    While Rome’s streets thrummed with tension during the chaotic days of a Vacant See, the conclave proceeded serenely and secretly within the Vatican’s walls.

    The use of white smoke to mark the election of a pope only began in the 20th century. During the Renaissance, the sound of bells would be a more effective way to spread the news through Rome, before the new pope was announced to the city and the world.

    Much turns on that announcement now, as much did in previous centuries. The conclave elects both a pope and a head of state. While Vatican City is magnitudes smaller than the Papal State of the past, it remains a sovereign state.

    Papal pronouncements shape not just religious thought but political action, through voting, advocacy and more. Today’s crowds might be less raucous than Renaissance Romans, but they are nonetheless invested in the results.

    Colin Rose receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

    – ref. Jostling for the papacy: A look back on the conclave’s history – https://theconversation.com/jostling-for-the-papacy-a-look-back-on-the-conclaves-history-255492

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Rep. Williams Applauds House Passage of Bipartisan TAKE IT DOWN Act

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Roger Williams (25th District of Texas)

    Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Roger Williams (TX-25), released a statement following the House passage of the bipartisan TAKE IT DOWN Act, by a vote of 409-2. This bill takes action to protect and empower victims of real and deepfake Non-Consensual Intimate Imagery (NCII).

    “As technology advances, predators are using AI to create deceptive material and exploit victims,” said Congressman Williams.“This bipartisan bill will hold abusers accountable and empower victims of online abuse to have deepfake content or explicit material shared without their consent removed. I look forward to sending this crucial legislation to President Trump’s desk to be signed into law.”

    Background:

    • This bill protects and empowers victims of real and deepfake Non-Consensual Intimate Imagery (NCII).
    • Criminalizes the publication of NCII or the threat to publish NCII in interstate commerce.
    • Protects good faith efforts to assist victims.
    • Requires websites to take down NCII upon notice from the victim.
    • Protects lawful speech.

    Read the bill text here.

    ###

    Congressman Roger Williams is the Chairman of the House Small Business Committee and member of the House Financial Services Committee. He proudly represents the 25th Congressional District of Texas.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: APO Group Founder and Chairman Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard Invited to Attend the International Sports Press Association (AIPS) Congress and Sports Media Awards

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

    RABAT, Morocco, May 6, 2025/APO Group/ —

    APO Group (www.APO-opa.com), the leading pan-African communications consultancy and press release distribution service, is pleased to announce that its Founder and Chairman, Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard, will attend the 2025 AIPS (International Sports Press Association) Congress and Sports Media Awards, set to take place from 13 to 17 May in Morocco.  

    The AIPS Congress is a gathering of esteemed sports journalists and industry leaders from around the world, providing a platform for meaningful discussions on the future of sports journalism. The event will return to Morocco for the second time in 2025, with Marrakech having been the host venue in 2005. Nearly 300 attendees are expected, including leading sports journalists and media stakeholders. They will explore emerging trends such as event coverage, ethical reporting, and the growing role of technology in sports journalism.  

    APO Group has established itself as a key player in Africa’s sports media industry, reflecting an ongoing commitment to showcasing African sporting excellence. Pompigne-Mognard has led several high-profile efforts to amplify African sporting narratives globally, and his presence at the 2025 AIPS Congress underscores his continued dedication to elevating sports journalism and promoting the potential of African sport on the world stage. 

    Expanding on APO Group’s commitment to sports journalism, Pompigne-Mognard said, “I am delighted to once again be part of such a significant gathering of sports media professionals. Sport is a powerful driver of unity and economic growth. At APO Group, we are passionate about the potential that it holds for positioning Africa as an attractive investment destination. AIPS provides an important platform to share ideas and strengthen professional standards, and I look forward to engaging in conversations that shape the industry’s future.” 

    Building on these sentiments and further underscoring its dedication to advancing the sector, APO Group partners with major sports organisations across Africa. This includes serving as the pan-African public relations agency for the NBA and the Basketball Africa League and as a strategic partner of the Olympic Movement in Africa (ANOCA). APO Group was also the PR agency of FIFA in Africa for three consecutive years and has supported iconic sporting-related organisations and initiatives like Olympique de Marseille’s OM Africa programme, NTT Pro Cycling, the Lux Afrique Polo Day, and the Beast Foundation. 

    Named among the 100 Most Influential Africans by New African magazine in both 2023 and 2024, Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard is widely recognised for his strategic understanding of Africa’s media landscape. He is trusted by global and regional organisations for his expertise, authenticity, and passion for African storytelling. He also serves as a Special Advisor to the President of Rugby Africa and is a member of the Advisory Board of the World Football Summit. 

    Through its presence at the 2025 AIPS Congress and Sports Media Awards, APO Group looks forward to positively influencing sports journalism on the African continent. 

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Trump targets NPR and PBS as public and nonprofit media account for a growing share of local news coverage

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Matthew Powers, Professor of Communication, University of Washington

    The Seattle Times currently funds 30 reporter positions through philanthropy and government aid. AP Photo/Ted S. Warren

    Republicans in Washington have their sights – once again – on defunding public media.

    On May 1, 2025, President Donald Trump issued an executive order calling for the termination of taxpayer support for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the nonprofit that helps fund American public media stations of all sizes, from NPR and PBS, to smaller outlets like WBHM in Birmingham, Alabama, and KGOU in Norman, Oklahoma.

    Many Republicans have denounced public media programming as biased, outdated or simply unnecessary.

    Beneath those familiar talking points lies a long-standing assumption: that the market already provides “abundant, diverse and innovative news options,” as the president’s executive order put it.

    That assumption is wrong. And the story of media in Washington state reveals why.

    Public media’s expanding footprint

    As a communication scholar at the University of Washington, I’ve studied journalism in Seattle and across Washington state for the past decade.

    During that time, I’ve watched for-profit journalism struggle to meet the needs of the region. For this reason, local news outlets have increasingly turned to other sources of revenue.

    The shift has been striking. Just 10 years ago, about 10% of all full-time journalists in Seattle worked for local, nonprofit affiliates of NPR and PBS. Today, that figure is closer to 30%.

    That growing share reflects investments by NPR affiliates like KUOW and KNKX and public television station Cascade PBS, which have expanded their coverage of critical topics like homelessness and immigration. Federal support plays a small but significant role, making up between 5% and 10% of their budgets. The rest of their funding comes from a combination of donations, sponsorship and philanthropic grants.

    However, public media’s expanding footprint is also a symptom of collapse elsewhere: corporate cutbacks at commercial broadcast media networks and stations, the shuttering of community newspapers and the disappearance of alt-weeklies, which sometimes challenged mainstream political or cultural narratives.

    To be sure, public media has not and cannot replace everything that has been lost. But it has helped fill the void left after once-iconic outlets like the Seattle Post-Intelligencer underwent huge layoffs.

    Donors, tax dollars plug holes

    Public media outlets are only one prong of an increasingly noncommercial local news system. In the past, local media were dominated by commercial players that garnered the lion’s share of their revenues through advertising.

    Now, more and more journalism jobs in the state of Washington, including those at commercial outlets, are sustained by philanthropy and government spending. The Seattle Times – which is still, by far, the largest newsroom in the city – pays 30 of its reporters through philanthropic funding. That’s roughly 20% of its entire newsroom. The national nonprofit Report for America has, since its inception in 2018, placed 13 reporters in towns and cities across Washington to cover underserved topics like rural health and veterans issues.

    Meanwhile, the Murrow News Fellowship, launched in 2023 and funded by Washington’s state Legislature, has enabled 16 full-time journalists to be hired for two-year stints in commercial, nonprofit and public media newsrooms around the state.

    Universities are also playing a role. Long a pipeline into the profession, undergraduate and graduate journalism programs have increasingly become a piece of the local news infrastructure. Roughly 10% of all state Legislature coverage in Washington, for example, is now produced by undergraduate student journalists. Many report for newsrooms that no longer have a dedicated journalist in Olympia, the state’s capital.

    Then-state Sen. Pramila Jayapal speaks to reporters in Olympia, Wash., about a proposal to make community and technical college free for state residents without a bachelor’s degree.
    AP Photo/Ted S. Warren

    News isn’t always profitable

    All of these examples – public media, philanthropic support for nonprofit outlets and jobs at for-profit media enterprises, and student journalism – meet needs that for-profit journalism can no longer address on its own.

    Of course, no funding model is perfect. Last year, KUOW laid off three newsroom staffers due to a budget shortfall. Cascade PBS journalists are threatening to strike over low pay. Some critics worry that philanthropic funding can subtly shape news organizations’ coverage priorities.

    But to pretend the market can fix these problems is to ignore that it played a key part in creating them. When a newsroom job disappears, it’s not because watchdog journalism has lost its civic value. It’s because it became hard to monetize.

    Professional reporting takes time and doesn’t inherently deliver high traffic or quick profits. But it does inform citizens, promote government accountability and strengthen communities.

    The push to defund NPR and PBS stems in large part from long-standing Republican antipathy toward public media. But it also rests on a belief that journalism should only survive if it can compete in the marketplace.

    In Washington state, we’ve already seen what happens when we rely on markets alone: fewer reporters, less oversight and a growing amount of AI-generated news that provides no original reporting.

    If these defunding efforts succeed, they will likely do real harm to local news. KNKX has warned that it would lead to “difficult decisions and sacrifices at the expense of access to local journalism.” KUOW has signaled that it would “immediately need to raise 1 million dollars” to offset the loss in federal funding.

    Translation: It could lead to fewer reporters and less reporting at a time when more of both is needed.

    Matthew Powers 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. Trump targets NPR and PBS as public and nonprofit media account for a growing share of local news coverage – https://theconversation.com/trump-targets-npr-and-pbs-as-public-and-nonprofit-media-account-for-a-growing-share-of-local-news-coverage-255740

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Being honest about using AI at work makes people trust you less, research finds

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Oliver Schilke, Director of the Center for Trust Studies, Professor of Management and Organizations, University of Arizona

    Whether you’re using AI to write cover letters, grade papers or draft ad campaigns, you might want to think twice about telling others. That simple act of disclosure can make people trust you less, our new peer-reviewed article found.

    As researchers who study trust, we see this as a paradox. After all, being honest and transparent usually makes people trust you more. But across 13 experiments involving more than 5,000 participants, we found a consistent pattern: Revealing that you relied on AI undermines how trustworthy you seem.

    Participants in our study included students, legal analysts, hiring managers and investors, among others. Interestingly, we found that even evaluators who were tech-savvy were less trusting of people who said they used AI. While having a positive view of technology reduced the effect slightly, it didn’t erase it.

    Why would being open and transparent about using AI make people trust you less? One reason is that people still expect human effort in writing, thinking and innovating. When AI steps into that role and you highlight it, your work looks less legitimate.

    But there’s a caveat: If you’re using AI on the job, the cover-up may be worse than the crime. We found that quietly using AI can trigger the steepest decline in trust if others uncover it later. So being upfront may ultimately be a better policy.

    Being caught using AI by a third party has consequences, as one New York attorney can attest.

    Why it matters

    A global survey of 13,000 people found that about half had used AI at work, often for tasks such as writing emails or analyzing data. People typically assume that being open about using these tools is the right choice.

    Yet our research suggests doing so may backfire. This creates a dilemma for those who value honesty but also need to rely on trust to maintain strong relationships with clients and colleagues. In fields where credibility is essential – such as finance, health care and higher education – even a small loss of trust can damage a career or brand.

    The consequences go beyond individual reputations. Trust is often called the social “glue” that holds society together. It drives collaboration, boosts morale and keeps customers loyal. When that trust is shaken, entire organizations can feel the effects through lower productivity, reduced motivation and weakened team cohesion.

    If disclosing AI use sparks suspicion, users face a difficult choice: embrace transparency and risk a backlash, or stay silent and risk being exposed later – an outcome our findings suggest erodes trust even more.

    That’s why understanding the AI transparency dilemma is so important. Whether you’re a manager rolling out new technology or an artist deciding whether to credit AI in your portfolio, the stakes are rising.

    What still isn’t known

    It’s unclear whether this transparency penalty will fade over time. As AI becomes more widespread – and potentially more reliable – disclosing its use may eventually seem less suspect.

    There’s also no consensus on how organizations should handle AI disclosure. One option is to make transparency completely voluntary, which leaves the decision to disclose to the individual. Another is a mandatory disclosure policy across the board. Our research suggests that the threat of being exposed by a third party can motivate compliance if the policy is stringently enforced through tools such as AI detectors.

    A third approach is cultural: building a workplace where AI use is seen as normal, accepted and legitimate. We think this kind of environment could soften the trust penalty and support both transparency and credibility.

    The Research Brief is a short take on interesting academic work.

    Oliver Schilke received funding from the National Science Foundation (Award #1943688).

    Martin Reimann receives funding from the National Endowment for the Arts research grant (#1925643–38-24) and a National Security Systems (TRIF NSS) research grant.

    – ref. Being honest about using AI at work makes people trust you less, research finds – https://theconversation.com/being-honest-about-using-ai-at-work-makes-people-trust-you-less-research-finds-253590

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI: SIOS Technology to Demonstrate High Availability Clustering Software for Mission-Critical Applications at Red Hat Summit, Milestone Technology Day and XPerience Day, and SQLBits 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN MATEO, Calif., May 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — SIOS Technology Corp., a leading provider of application high availability (HA) and disaster recovery (DR) solutions, today announced it will demonstrate its high availability clustering software for business-critical applications at four leading technology events this spring. SIOS also announced that it is inviting all IT practitioners to participate in its newly launched 2025 HA/DR Practices Survey, designed to gather insights into current trends, challenges, and strategies for ensuring application uptime and data protection.

    At each event, SIOS experts will demonstrate how SIOS LifeKeeper and DataKeeper software provide high availability and disaster recovery for critical applications like SQL Server, SAP, and Oracle. Attendees will learn how SIOS clustering software ensures application uptime, eliminates data loss, and simplifies HA/DR across physical, virtual, cloud, and hybrid environments.

    SIOS clustering software enables IT teams to create highly available application environments without the need for shared storage. Through intelligent application monitoring, real-time data replication, and automated failover and recovery, SIOS ensures business continuity with minimal complexity and reduced cost. With support for Windows and Linux in any infrastructure, SIOS solutions are trusted by enterprises worldwide to protect mission-critical operations.

    SIOS Launches Survey to Gather Insights on HA/DR Practices

    As part of its commitment to advancing resilience strategies in the enterprise, SIOS is launching its 2025 HA/DR Practices Survey to collect insights into the challenges, priorities, and real-world strategies used by IT professionals to ensure application uptime and data protection. The results will be compiled into the SIOS 2025 State of High Availability and Disaster Recovery Report, providing valuable benchmarks for the industry.

    All practitioners, including attendees of the Red Hat Summit, Milestone Technology Day, Milestone XPerience Day, and SQLBits, are invited to participate in the survey here.

    About SIOS Technology Corp.

    SIOS Technology Corp. high availability and disaster recovery solutions ensure availability and eliminate data loss for critical Windows and Linux applications operating across physical, virtual, cloud, and hybrid cloud environments. SIOS clustering software is essential for any IT infrastructure with applications requiring a high degree of resiliency, ensuring uptime without sacrificing performance or data – protecting businesses from local failures and regional outages, planned and unplanned. Founded in 1999, SIOS Technology Corp. (https://us.sios.com) is headquartered in San Mateo, California, with offices worldwide.

    SIOS, SIOS Technology, SIOS DataKeeper, SIOS LifeKeeper and associated logos are registered trademarks or trademarks of SIOS Technology Corp. and/or its affiliates in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

    Media Contact:

    Beth Winkowski
    Winkowski Public Relations, LLC for SIOS
    978-649-7189
    bethwinkowski@US.SIOS.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: 3D Systems’ NextDent® Material Portfolio Addressing Broadest Set of Patient-specific Indications

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • 3D Systems’ NextDent branded dental materials have set the benchmark for quality and aesthetics, addressing the broadest set of patient-specific dental solutions in the world
    • NextDent materials form the foundation for 3D Systems’ dental ‘repair’ offerings with regulatory approvals across the US, Europe and Asia
    • Industry’s largest portfolio of dental 3D printing materials seamlessly integrates with leading dental 3D printers across the industry, enabling improved production efficiency and aesthetics, reduced labor costs, and expanded service offerings
    • 3D Systems’ solutions for the ‘repair’ market are integral to its dental strategy, as the market is expected to be worth approximately $150 million by 2029
    • 3D Systems’ Digital Dentistry Solutions are catalyzing the adoption of 3D printing — serving more than one million patients

    ROCK HILL, S.C., May 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — 3D Systems’ (NYSE: DDD) Digital Dentistry Solutions are helping dental laboratories and clinics efficiently deliver patient-specific devices to straighten, protect, repair, and replace teeth with high precision. 3D printing combined with advanced dental materials can now provide individually customized patient solutions faster, better and at a lower cost than conventional technologies. The Company has cemented its leadership in Digital Dentistry by providing the most extensive portfolio of integrated solutions. At the core of 3D Systems’ strategy is a portfolio of NextDent® materials that are engineered to address the most comprehensive range of patient-specific indications. The Company’s deep experience and expertise — which includes nearly a century of pioneering dental material development — enables the production of custom prosthetics for the repair of teeth such as crowns and bridges that provide a precise fit, enhanced durability, and cost-effective results.

    3D Systems’ portfolio of clinically validated NextDent 3D printing resins now address more than 30 applications, including those focused on repairing teeth. This includes materials such as NextDent C&B MFH (Micro Filled Hybrid). This material has been developed for crowns and bridges, and engineered to efficiently produce strong, durable patient-specific devices. 3D Systems has also added a third-party material which shares the Company’s commitment to the highest quality standards to its portfolio to support an ever-increasing range of solutions for the ‘repair’ of teeth. In 2022, 3D Systems announced a partnership with Saremco Dental AG, and in so doing, made Saremco’s CROWNTEC™ material available for its NextDent 3D printers to produce patient-specific permanent crowns.

    3D Systems’ NextDent materials are compatible with the Company’s 3D printing technologies — NextDent 5100 and NextDent LCD1 — and are also validated to integrate with a variety of industry-leading dental 3D printers. Opening its materials portfolio to use with other renowned dental 3D printers helps lower the barrier to adoption by enabling more print solutions to capitalize on the rich legacy and expertise of the NextDent portfolio. NextDent materials for medical devices are fully biocompatible and carry all of the required regulatory clearances in many jurisdictions around the world.

    “3D Systems has been recognized for decades as an industry-leader in Digital Dentistry innovation,” said Dr. Jeffrey Graves, president & CEO, 3D Systems. “With the broadest range of technology in our industry and our strategic focus on dentistry, we are perfectly positioned to drive widespread adoption across all dental applications. Our mission is to be the leader in all aspects of dentistry, providing the highest-quality solutions to straighten, protect, repair and replace teeth for patients around the world. Our efforts in the ‘repair’ space are foundational to our business, which is deeply rooted in the rich history of the NextDent brand. Our validated 3D printing workflows featuring our industry-leading materials and empower dental labs and clinics to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and expand their service offerings, ensuring scalability and a competitive edge. Ultimately, our advanced solutions deliver better-fitting, longer-lasting, and aesthetically superior dental prosthetics, enhancing patients’ confidence and quality of life. Our continued focus on R&D enables the development of ever-improving solutions designed to rapidly meet the diverse patient needs.”

    According to internal market estimates, applications for the ‘repair’ pillar of 3D Systems’ dental strategy in the United States alone represent an approximately $150 million addressable market by 2029. The U.S. market is estimated to be roughly one-third of the total available global market. When combined with the markets for ‘straighten’ (approximately $125 million), ‘protect’ (approximately $150 million) and ‘replace’ (approximately $600 million), the U.S. Dental market represents a nearly $1 billion opportunity for the integration of 3D printing technology.

    3D Systems’ Digital Dentistry Solutions are integral to catalyzing the adoption of 3D printing — serving more than one million patients. The Company’s solutions for ‘repair’ applications include 3D printing materials, 3D printing technology (i.e., NextDent 5100, NextDent LCD1, DMP Flex 200), additive manufacturing software (i.e., 3D Sprint, 3DXpert) and deep applications expertise. For more information, please visit the Company’s website.

    Forward-Looking Statements
    Certain statements made in this release that are not statements of historical or current facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the company to be materially different from historical results or from any future results or projections expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In many cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terms such as “believes,” “belief,” “expects,” “may,” “will,” “estimates,” “intends,” “anticipates” or “plans” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are based upon management’s beliefs, assumptions, and current expectations and may include comments as to the company’s beliefs and expectations as to future events and trends affecting its business and are necessarily subject to uncertainties, many of which are outside the control of the company. The factors described under the headings “Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors” in the company’s periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as well as other factors, could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected or predicted in forward-looking statements. Although management believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not, and should not be relied upon as a guarantee of future performance or results, nor will they necessarily prove to be accurate indications of the times at which such performance or results will be achieved. The forward-looking statements included are made only as of the date of the statement. 3D Systems undertakes no obligation to update or review any forward-looking statements made by management or on its behalf, whether as a result of future developments, subsequent events or circumstances or otherwise, except as required by law.

    About 3D Systems
    More than 35 years ago, Chuck Hull’s curiosity and desire to improve the way products were designed and manufactured gave birth to 3D printing, 3D Systems, and the additive manufacturing industry. Since then, that same spark continues to ignite the 3D Systems team as we work side-by-side with our customers to change the way industries innovate. As a full-service solutions partner, we deliver industry-leading 3D printing technologies, materials and software to high-value markets such as medical and dental; aerospace, space and defense; transportation and motorsports; AI infrastructure; and durable goods. Each application-specific solution is powered by the expertise and passion of our employees who endeavor to achieve our shared goal of Transforming Manufacturing for a Better Future. More information on the company is available at www.3dsystems.com.

    Investor Contact:   investor.relations@3dsystems.com
    Media Contact:      press@3dsystems.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Banzai Secures Expanded Agreement with RBC Capital Markets for OpenReel Enterprise License

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SEATTLE, May 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Banzai International, Inc. (NASDAQ: BNZI) (“Banzai” or the “Company”), a leading marketing technology company that provides essential marketing and sales solutions, today announced it has expanded its agreement with RBC Capital Markets.

    As part of the expanded agreement, RBC Capital Markets’ Wealth Marketing Division will have an enterprise license for usage of OpenReel, Banzai’s leading digital video creation platform.

    “This agreement reinforces our strategy of expansion in the enterprise,” said Joe Davy, Founder and CEO of Banzai. “Having already been working with RBC Global Asset Management, this deal shows movement throughout the enterprise into the wealth marketing division, doubling our current engagement and validating our growth in the enterprise space. We are seeing solid traction in the financial sector, where the OpenReel Creator tool gives global financial firms the ability to offer standardized branded video with personalization at scale for their wealth managers, partners, and other stakeholders.”

    OpenReel empowers organizations to efficiently produce high-quality, branded video content at scale. Its platform enables users to remotely direct, record, edit, and collaborate on professional-grade video projects, significantly streamlining the production process and ensuring brand consistency. OpenReel serves a global enterprise client base, including industry leaders like Bristol Myers Squibb, Ingram Micro, DXC Technology, Insider Inc., and US Steel.

    About RBC Capital Markets

    The most significant corporations, institutional investors, asset managers, private equity firms, and governments around the globe recognize RBC Capital Markets as an innovative, trusted partner with an in-depth expertise in capital markets, banking, and finance. We are well-established in the largest, most mature capital markets across North America, Europe, and the Asia Pacific region, which collectively encompasses 80% of the global investment banking fee pool.

    RBC Capital Markets is part of a leading provider of financial services, Royal Bank of Canada (RBC). Founded in 1864, RBC is one of the largest banks in the world and the fifth largest in North America, as measured by market capitalization. With a strong capital base and consistent financial performance, RBC is among a small group of highly rated global banks. Learn more at rbccm.com.

    We are proud to support a broad range of community initiatives through donations, community investments and employee volunteer activities. See how at rbc.com/community-social-impact.

    About Banzai

    Banzai is a marketing technology company that provides AI-enabled marketing and sales solutions for businesses of all sizes. On a mission to help their customers grow, Banzai enables companies of all sizes to target, engage, and measure both new and existing customers more effectively. Customers who use Banzai’s product suite include Autodesk, Dell Technologies, New York Life, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Thinkific, and ActiveCampaign, among thousands of others. Learn more at www.banzai.io. For investors, please visit https://ir.banzai.io.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements often use words such as “believe,” “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “target,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,” “should,” “would,” “propose,” “plan,” “project,” “forecast,” “predict,” “potential,” “seek,” “future,” “outlook,” and similar variations and expressions. Forward-looking statements are those that do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. Examples of forward-looking statements may include, among others, statements regarding Banzai International, Inc.’s (the “Company’s”): future financial, business and operating performance and goals; annualized recurring revenue and customer retention; ongoing, future or ability to maintain or improve its financial position, cash flows, and liquidity and its expected financial needs; potential financing and ability to obtain financing; acquisition strategy and proposed acquisitions and, if completed, their potential success and financial contributions; strategy and strategic goals, including being able to capitalize on opportunities; expectations relating to the Company’s industry, outlook and market trends; total addressable market and serviceable addressable market and related projections; plans, strategies and expectations for retaining existing or acquiring new customers, increasing revenue and executing growth initiatives; and product areas of focus and additional products that may be sold in the future. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict and many of which are outside of our control. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and our actual results of operations, financial condition and liquidity and development of the industry in which the Company operates may differ materially from those made in or suggested by the forward-looking statements. Therefore, investors should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially include changes in the markets in which the Company operates, customer demand, the financial markets, economic, business and regulatory and other factors, such as the Company’s ability to execute on its strategy. More detailed information about risk factors can be found in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q under the heading “Risk Factors,” and in other reports filed by the Company, including reports on Form 8-K. The Company does not undertake any duty to update forward-looking statements after the date of this press release.

    Investor Relations
    Chris Tyson
    Executive Vice President
    MZ Group – MZ North America
    949-491-8235
    BNZI@mzgroup.us
    www.mzgroup.us

    Media
    Nancy Norton
    Chief Legal Officer, Banzai
    media@banzai.io

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Sagtec Global Secures US$30 Million Revenue Pipeline Through Exclusive UAE Partnership, Accelerating Global Expansion

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, May 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Sagtec Global Limited (NASDAQ: SAGT) (“Sagtec” or the “Company”), a leading provider of customizable software solutions, today announced its international growth strategy through the signing of a Master Dealership Agreement with SMD Tech – FZCO (“SMD Tech”), a premier technology distributor based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

    Under the terms of the agreement, SMD Tech is appointed as Sagtec’s exclusive master dealer for its flagship Speed+ Cloud-Based Smart Ordering System (“Speed+”) across Dubai with a firm commitment to purchase a minimum of 10,000 software licenses over the next five years. This translates into an expected revenue pipeline of no less than US$30 million, substantially enhancing Sagtec’s long-term recurring revenue visibility and global market penetration.

    Speed+, Sagtec’s cloud-native ordering platform, is purpose-built to transform operations in the retail and food & beverage (F&B) sectors – delivering seamless order processing, real-time analytics, and automated customer engagement. The platform’s relevance is further underscored by regional digital momentum. According to PwC Middle East, the UAE’s digital economy is projected to contribute over US$140 billion to gross domestic product (GDP) by 2031, driven by government-led innovation and enterprise digitalization. Dubai, in particularly, has emerged as a key innovation hub, fueled by substantial investments in cloud infrastructure, artificial intelligence, and smart city technologies.

    Supporting this backdrop, Statista forecasts the UAE’s F&B market will surpass US$37 billion by 2030, propelled by rising consumer expectations for digital convenience and operational efficiency. In parallel, Grand View Research projects the Middle East’s cloud-based point of sale (POS) market will grow at a 19% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) through 2030, reaching approximately US$1 billion. These converging treads points to an urgent demand for integrated platforms like Speed+, which empower businesses to streamline ordering, enhance customer engagement, and scale operations efficiently, making this the ideal time for Sagtec’s market entry.

    “This agreement unlocks a predictable multi-year revenue stream and positions Sagtec as a key digital enabler in the Middle East’s F&B transformation. With Speed+ backed by SMD Tech’s local market expertise, we are not only capturing market share but laying the groundwork for long-term Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) dominance in the region,” said Kevin Ng, Chairman, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of Sagtec.

    About Sagtec Global Limited

    Sagtec is a leading provider of customizable software solutions, primarily serving the Food & Beverage (F&B) sector. The Company also offers software development, data management, and social media management to enhance operational efficiency across various industries. Additionally, Sagtec operates power-bank charging stations at 300 locations across Malaysia through its subsidiary, CL Technology (International) Sdn Bhd.

    For more information on the Company, please log on to https://www.sagtec-global.com/.

    About SMD Tech – FZCO

    SMD Tech – FZCO is a technology-focused enterprise based in the United Arab Emirates, specializing in digital infrastructure, IoT solutions, and enterprise transformation. With a mission to empower businesses through innovative software and hardware integration, SMD Tech delivers cutting-edge solutions tailored to the region’s fast-evolving digital ecosystem. The company is committed to driving operational excellence and future-ready growth for its clients.

    Contact Information:

    Sagtec Global Limited Contact:
    Ng Chen Lok
    Chairman, Executive Director & Chief Executive Officer
    Phone: +6011-6217 3661
    Email: info@sagtec-global.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The growing threat to U.S. democracy will literally cost lives

    Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Andrew C. Patterson, Assistant Professor of Sociology, MacEwan University

    According to a recent survey, most political scientists agree that President Donald Trump is turning the United States government into an autocracy, all too quickly.

    As political scholars Steven Levitsky and Lucan Way explain, a competitive-authoritarian country is one where elections are held and election results carry, but incumbents alter the game so as to tilt the odds of winning heavily in their favour. This effectively makes it an autocratic regime, with one person holding the lion’s share of power.

    Politicians tilt these odds by doing exactly the sorts of things Trump is doing. He is replacing civil servants with loyalists, and then repurposing the long-standing institutions they serve. This is so he can use those institutions for political gain — to punish dissenters and reward allies. All to support his staying in power.

    As just one recent example, Levistky and Way predicted in February that the Internal Revenue Service would become one of the many departments that Trump would weaponize. On April 15, Trump called for the IRS to revoke Harvard University’s tax-exempt status in response to the university’s refusal to acquiesce. Trump had previously withheld billions of dollars in grant funding.



    Read more:
    Harvard is suing the White House: here’s what Trump hopes to achieve by targeting universities

    Is there any case in which Trump has still acted in the service of the American public? Arguably, no, not by a long shot. Even the Jeff Bezos-owned Washington Post describes his first 100 days as a remarkable failure across multiple fronts.

    The headlines have been blistering, calling those first 100 days “horrifying” and “inept.” Nor is the American public impressed: most give his performance a grade of D or F, according to a recent poll.

    The biggest threat of all may be permanent damage to government institutions.

    Democracy and population health

    As research shows, these trends cannot possibly be good for the lives and livelihoods of American citizens. We have known for over a decade that the recruitment of civil servants based on their political affiliations or loyalties, rather than credentials, is a recipe for political corruption. Corruption, in turn, harms population health.

    My own recent study affirms these findings. It also concludes that the impact of civil service hiring on population health is surprisingly direct. All of this suggests more corruption and worse health as Trump tightens his control over the civil service.

    Democracy, too, matters for population health. In another study, we found that democracies have as much as 11 years of added life expectancy, and 75 per cent lower rates of infant mortality, compared to autocratic countries. For someone focused on cross-national differences in health, these were huge differences.

    Economic impacts

    Trump’s actions will soon affect American wallets as well if they haven’t already, as research on both civil service hiring and democratization would suggest.

    It’s not difficult to demonstrate the threat, which continues to evolve in real time. Tourism in the U.S. has taken a serious hit in recent weeks, with airline bookings from Canada down 70 per cent.



    Read more:
    Does cancelling a trip to the U.S. really send a political message, or is it just hurting local tourism?

    People from other countries first started boycotting American goods and services in response to Trump’s tariff campaign. In the meantime, Congress has done little to curtail the detainment of migrants without just cause, or their deportation to a Salvadorean mega-prison without due process. And now tourists are afraid to travel to the U.S.

    It is fair to say that both economic prosperity and population health require investment in the same government infrastructures that the Trump administration is now downsizing.

    Yet the damage does not stop at the border. Trump’s decisions will have ripple effects on global health. Programs focused on containing infectious disease in the developing world are bearing the brunt of huge cuts to USAID.

    Speed and volume

    Trump’s approach is not informed by any kind of economic expertise. He is shooting the American economy in both feet by waging a tariff war against other countries as he simultaneously decimates tourism and upends a low-cost workforce with his immigration policy.

    Americans who voted for him will not get the price control they were hoping for, with supply-chain disruptions coming quickly down the pipeline.

    Nor can Americans count on the court system to preserve democracy. This is for two reasons.

    First, Trump’s executive actions are happening far too quickly. He has had a record number of executive orders since taking office only three months ago. It may take months if not years for challenges to these decisions to work their way through courts.

    Second, courts will not necessarily rule on the side of democracy, as in the Supreme Court’s decision to assure legal immunity for Trump.

    None of this bodes well. According to one watchdog based in Sweden, the U.S. could lose its status as a democratic nation in just a few months — well before the midterm elections.

    CNN reports on President Trump’s statement that he doesn’t know if he needs to uphold the U.S. Constitution.

    Starting a movement

    All of this has one common denominator: Trump’s unhinged executive power. A decidedly meek U.S. Congress needs to wake from its stupor and constrain that power.

    But at the time of this writing, the House judiciary committee plans to slip provisions into a budget megabill that will grant Trump ever more sweeping power over regulations.

    One solution may be what we sociologists refer to as a social movement. This is where as many people as possible choose to act. Small interactions — like sharing an article with friends and family — can make a big difference, according to one prominent perspective in sociology.

    Other means are more direct, like joining a protest or writing to members of Congress. And then there are decisions about what not to do. Universities and law firms are encouraged not to participate in the fraying of American democracy by making a “deal” with the Trump administration.

    The take-home message is that the threat to American democracy is real and it is imminent. The impact on human health and well-being will be global. If the collapse of American democracy affects all of us, inside and outside of U.S. borders, then we can all agree to do something about it.

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

    – ref. The growing threat to U.S. democracy will literally cost lives – https://theconversation.com/the-growing-threat-to-u-s-democracy-will-literally-cost-lives-254170

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI: Atsign Supercharges File Sharing with Invisible SMB/CIFS Connections

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN JOSE, Calif., May 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Atsign, the leader in invisible zero trust connectivity solutions, today announced that its NoPorts technology now supports invisible SMB/CIFS connections. This breakthrough enables users to access file servers remotely with unparalleled security and ease, regardless of network configurations, including those with Carrier-Grade NAT (CGNAT). By eliminating open ports, NoPorts makes SMB/CIFS endpoints completely invisible to attackers scanning the internet for vulnerabilities, completely eliminating the attack surface.

    SMB/CIFS (Server Message Block/Common Internet File System) is a widely used protocol for sharing files across networks. However, traditional SMB/CIFS implementations require open ports, making them vulnerable to attack. NoPorts eliminates this vulnerability by creating secure, encrypted tunnels that do not require any open ports. This innovative approach ensures that SMB/CIFS communication is not exposed to the internet, enhancing security.

    Overcoming CGNAT Challenges

    NoPorts, built on Atsign’s atPlatform, uses an unique addressing system—one that works independently of IP addresses— which is particularly beneficial in environments where CGNAT is present, such as those using Starlink, cellular networks, and other services that rely on shared IP addresses. While CGNAT places multiple users behind a single public IP address, making direct inbound connections impossible, NoPorts address system enables zero trust connections as illustrated in a recent case study involving a rural estate management company in Scotland:

    • Challenge – The company’s transition to Starlink introduced CGNAT, breaking their existing DDNS-based remote access to a Windows 11 file server and Synology NAS devices.
    • Solution – By implementing NoPorts, the company established secure, encrypted connections for SMB/CIFS access, Synology Drive Client synchronization, and RDP access – all without requiring open ports.
    • Benefits
      • Restored reliable remote access to essential file server resources.
      • Enhanced security through NoPorts’ encrypted connections.
      • Improved connection resiliency, even during Starlink handoffs.

    Key Features and Benefits of NoPorts for SMB/CIFS:

    • Invisible Connections – No open ports are required, making SMB/CIFS connections invisible to potential attackers.
    • End-to-End Encryption – All data transmitted through NoPorts is securely encrypted.
    • CGNAT Compatibility – NoPorts bypasses the limitations of CGNAT, enabling remote access in challenging network environments.
    • IP Address Agnostic – NoPorts works independently of IP addresses, ensuring connectivity even with dynamic IPs.
    • Simplified Network Management – Eliminates the complexity and security risks associated with firewalls, NAT, and port forwarding.
    • Cryptographic Authentication – Ensures that only authorized devices can connect, adding an additional layer of security before any data is transmitted.

    Atsign’s Commitment to Invisible Connectivity

    This latest innovation builds upon Atsign’s ongoing commitment to providing zero trust connections across the Internet. Atsign’s NoPorts technology already supports invisible connections for a wide range of protocols and applications, including:

    “We are excited to extend the benefits of NoPorts to SMB/CIFS users,” said Barbara Tallent, CEO at Atsign. “By eliminating the need for open ports, we are providing a more secure and reliable way to share files remotely, regardless of network complexities.”

    About NoPorts

    NoPorts eliminates network & security vulnerabilities by securing connections between people, entities, and things making them invisible to would-be attackers by eliminating attack network surfaces. Built on Atsign’s atPlatform, NoPorts provides a zero trust architecture, end-to-end encryption, and no reliance on cumbersome security layers, enabling seamless and secure communication across virtually any environment. Organizations gain scalability, operational efficiency, and stronger security—all while reducing costs and complexity. For more information, visit NoPorts.com.

    About Atsign

    At Atsign, we believe that people, entities, and things—including AI—should connect securely and directly, while always being invisible to bad actors. By eliminating the need for open ports and centralized servers, the atPlatform empowers developers and organizations to build applications with “invisible” security built in, placing data and device control back into the hands of their owners. Atsign is the creator of the atPlatform, the most robust infrastructure available for “invisible networking” and secure, private, peer-to-peer connectivity. Learn more at Atsign.com.

    For More Information Contact

    Scott Hetherington
    Atsign
    Scott@Atsign.com
    844-827-0985

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI China: CICG leads delegation to Foire de Paris 2025

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

    At the 119th Foire de Paris that kicked off on April 30, China International Communications Group (CICG) organized the 2025 “Souffle d’Orient” Chinese culture theme exhibition and a series of cultural exchange activities to showcase everything new and trendy in Chinese society and culture and foster people-to-people and cultural exchange.

    The Chinese culture theme exhibition is inaugurated at the 119th Foire de Paris on April 30, 2025. [Photo/CICG]

    Yu Tao, vice president of CICG; Irina Bokova, former director-general of UNESCO; Yang Xinyu, ambassador and permanent delegate of the People’s Republic of China to UNESCO; Carine Préterre, executive vice director of the Comexposium Group; Liang Ke, deputy secretary of the CPC Working Committee of the Administration of the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone; Catherine Ruggeeri, chief supervisor of Cultural Industries, French Ministry of Culture; and Vincent Montagne, president of the Paris Book Festival, attended the opening ceremony and delivered speeches. Over 100 representatives from the cultural, art, publishing, and business communities of China and France participated in the event.

    Yu Tao, vice president of China International Communications Group (CICG), delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of the Chinese culture exhibition in Paris, France, April 30, 2025. [Photo/CICG]

    Yu said that exchange and mutual learning between the Chinese and European civilizations will not only solidify the public foundation for bilateral relations, but also serve as a global model, injecting stability into a turbulent world. Looking ahead, he emphasized the importance of promoting exchanges in education, science and technology, and culture, so that the seeds of peace can take root in people’s hearts around the world, enabling them to work together toward a brighter future for a community with a shared future for mankind, Yu said.

    Irina Bokova, former director-general of UNESCO, delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of the Chinese culture theme exhibition in Paris, France, April 30, 2025. [Photo/CICG]

    Bokova said that both Chinese and European cultures are significant global forces with profound historical legacies. She said China’s participation in the Foire de Paris exemplifies that national rejuvenation begins with its cultural revival and awakening. Today, China places great emphasis on culture, which has become the bedrock and source of social harmony and innovative development in Chinese society. Dialogue between Chinese and French civilizations can bring positive energy to the progress of human civilization, Bokova said.

    Yang Xinyu, ambassador and permanent delegate of the People’s Republic of China to UNESCO, delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of the Chinese culture theme exhibition in Paris, France, April 30, 2025. [Photo/CICG]

    Yang stated that culture is the soul of people and a bridge for interpersonal connections. UNESCO’s mission is to promote cultural diversity, and China has always attached great importance to cultural openness and inclusivity, Yang said. China’s participation in the Foire de Paris enables people to share their respective cultures and provides an excellent opportunity to promote mutual learning among different civilizations. This exhibition is not only a window showcasing China’s global cultural outreach but also an open invitation from China to people from across the world, Yang said.

    Carine Préterre, executive vice director of the Comexposium Group, delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of the Chinese culture theme exhibition in Paris, France, April 30, 2025. [Photo/CICG]

    Préterre said that the Foire de Paris is the largest fair in France and across Europe. Since its inception in 1904, it has been dedicated to introducing cultures and innovations from around the world to the French public. She said her organization’s fruitful cooperation with CICG at the Foire de Paris embodies the friendship between China and France. She said she looks forward to the Chinese Culture Theme Exhibition introducing the charm of Chinese culture to French visitors.

    Liang Ke, deputy secretary of the CPC Working Committee of the Administration of the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Modern Service Industry Cooperation Zone, delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of the Chinese culture theme exhibition in Paris, France, April 30, 2025. [Photo/CICG]

    Liang said that Shenzhen, positioned at the forefront of China’s reform and opening-up, stands as a vibrant, innovative, and captivating international metropolis. She said that, at the Foire de Paris, the city is delighted to promote two cultural tourism projects: the Shenzhen Qianhai Huafa Snow World, the world’s largest indoor ski resort, and the Bay Area Store of Shenzhen Book City, China’s largest cultural complex dedicated to books. Qianhai, with its openness and innovation, is reaching out to the world. She said that friends from all sectors are cordially invited to experience Qianhai’s appeal and seize the opportunities for shared development.

    Catherine Ruggeeri, chief supervisor of Cultural Industries, French Ministry of Culture, delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of the Chinese culture theme exhibition in Paris, France, April 30, 2025. [Photo/CICG]

    Ruggeeri said that this year marks the 50th anniversary of EU-China diplomatic relations. Amidst a volatile and ever-changing international landscape, cultural dialogue is of paramount importance in nurturing EU-China relations. Both sides should remain committed to strengthening people-to-people exchanges and the development of cultural and creative industries through pragmatic cooperation platforms like the Foire de Paris, so as to inject new cultural vitality into the friendship between China and France, Ruggeeri said.

    Vincent Montagne, president of the Paris Book Festival, delivers a speech. [Photo/CICG]

    Montagne said that while the internet and modern technology have posed significant challenges to books, the number of new books published over the past two decades has surpassed the entire volume of publications before that period, with a historic number of manuscripts submitted by young authors. “Light still resides within books,” he said. Montagne said he looks forward to in-depth collaboration with Chinese publishing houses to jointly drive the prosperity and development of the book market.

    The exhibition features seven themed zones: Themed Books, Cultural and Creative Products from the National Museum of China, Panda Culture, Hehe Culture, Central Plains Culture, Sanjin Culture, and Science and Technology Innovation Culture. Approximately 2,000 exhibits are on display, spanning five categories: books, cultural and creative products, artworks, porcelain and ceramics, and sci-tech innovations. 

    Notable exhibits include the multilingual series of “Keywords to Understand China,” “Xingbao the Giant Panda,” “Nezha Conquers the Dragon King,” and “Hanshan’s Poems” among the books; panda-themed merchandise, Taizhou Embroidery apparel from Zhejiang province, mulberry silk embroidery, Jinqing straw-woven products, Shanxi iron teapots, Yigenteng table screens, and the intangible cultural heritage Ni Gugu (clay sculpture) among cultural and creative products; Linhai paper-cuttings, mortise and tenon structural components, crystal-carved plates featuring the “Two Hehe Sages,” glass artworks of “Hanshan and Shide,” and traditional costumes from the “Blue Rhythm and Brocade Memories” collection among artworks; and AI translation devices and AI photo frames among sci-tech innovations.

    Cultural performance is staged at the Chinese culture theme exhibition in Paris, France, April 30, 2025. [Photo/CICG]

    During the exhibition, various themed promotional events were hosted, such as the Shenzhen Theme Day and the Henan Theme Day, featuring intangible cultural heritage performances and cultural shows. These events attracted nearly 10,000 visitors and garnered enthusiastic responses.

    On the opening day, Steven Abajoli, chairman of the Organizing Committee of the Foire de Paris, presented the Honorary Contribution Award to CICG. He commended CICG for meticulously crafting an exquisite exhibition pavilion, presenting a diverse array of cultural products, and organizing creative cultural performances, all of which brought the distinctive appeal of Chinese culture to the Foire de Paris and the French public. This marked the third consecutive year that CICG has received this accolade.

    China Pavilion. [Photo/CICG]

    Founded in 1904, the Foire de Paris is one of the world’s oldest, largest, and most prestigious comprehensive exhibitions. After three years of dedicated efforts, the “Souffle d’Orient” Chinese culture theme exhibition, organized and curated by CICG, has emerged as a highlight at the Foire de Paris, garnering positive public acclaim.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI: Coralogix Launches Advanced Continuous Profiling to Accelerate Issue Resolution Without Slowing Production

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BOSTON, May 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Coralogix, the first cross-stack observability platform provider, today announced Continuous Profiling, an advanced capability that delivers unparalleled real-time visibility into application performance without any code changes or production impact. It seamlessly integrates with Coralogix logs, metrics and traces to help engineering teams pinpoint and resolve bottlenecks in minutes.

    Continuous profiling allows developers to connect overall CPU utilization with the underlying application, OS, and kernel processes that are impacting overall performance. By continuously collecting and storing profiling data, developer teams can visualize trends in processes, connect spikes or anomalies with code changes, and highlight troublesome PIDs before they escalate. However, traditional profiling solutions can significantly impact production performance by creating additional workload for the application, consuming extra CPU and memory, and persistently collecting large volumes of data.

    Coralogix’s Continuous Profiling eliminates this problem by leveraging vendor-neutral eBPF (extended Berkeley Packet Filter) probes together with the OpenTelemetry standard to deliver kernel-level, always-on performance telemetry with less than 1% overhead. These lightweight in-kernel probes capture high-frequency stack traces, CPU cycles, memory allocations, I/O wait times and thread states, all ingested by Coralogix’s OpenTelemetry-compatible collector. The platform then renders detailed system information—ranging from latency and process IDs (PIDs) to memory allocation and more—within a powerful user interface. This UI enables customers to explore their data visually through flame graphs or investigate the precise impact of every individual process via an interactive table. Within the table, users can traverse each row to understand the role a specific PID has played in contributing to overall process latency, CPU utilization, and additional system metrics.

    Later this year, the company will broaden support to include off-CPU profiling (blocked and scheduling delays), GPU utilization metrics, detailed memory-allocation insights and fine-grained I/O profiling—offering end-to-end visibility across every performance dimension.

    “Traditional profiling solutions may provide useful insights, but their invasive and resource-intensive nature often degrades performance,” said Ariel Assaraf, CEO of Coralogix. “With Coralogix Continuous Profiling, we’re giving teams an unprecedented lens into production code paths — automatically and without compromise. By pairing eBPF’s efficiency with Coralogix’s cross-stack observability, we are enabling organizations to accelerate root-cause analysis, optimize resources, and cut costs, all in one unified platform.”

    Benefits of the new feature include:

    • Rapid Deployment: Get up and running in minutes without having to modify application code.
    • Performance Optimization: Identify slow function calls within production applications, enabling immediate code optimizations.
    • Cost Efficiency: Quickly detect and mitigate resource-intensive processes, directly lowering infrastructure costs.
    • Enhanced Troubleshooting: Correlate stack traces with logs and metrics, dramatically reducing incident resolution times.

    About Coralogix
    Coralogix is a modern, cross-stack observability platform that enables businesses to monitor and manage data in real time, providing instant insights without the need for complex storage solutions. The platform supports application performance monitoring (APM), security information and event management (SIEM), real user monitoring (RUM), and infrastructure monitoring, offering complete visibility into AI performance, security, and governance in a single solution. Coralogix offers a simple pricing model based on data volume, along with world-class support that ensures rapid response times and swift resolutions. Following the acquisition of Aporia in December 2024, Coralogix expanded into AI observability, giving businesses the ability to monitor and govern generative AI models with full transparency. To learn more about how Coralogix can help your business, visit www.coralogix.com.

    PR Contact
    Mark Prindle
    Fusion PR
    mark.prindle@fusionpr.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8eabb591-14dd-4713-8e31-fce55748e649

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: RTI at AUVSI XPONENTIAL 2025: Accelerating the Future of Autonomy from Concept to Deployment

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SUNNYVALE, Calif., May 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Real-Time Innovations (RTI), the software framework company for physical AI systems, will exhibit at AUVSI XPONENTIAL 2025, held May 19-22 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, TX. At Booth #1628, RTI will demonstrate how RTI Connext® accelerates the development and deployment of next-generation autonomous systems across defense and commercial domains.

    As the demand for smarter, more capable autonomy grows across both defense and commercial sectors, Connext delivers the secure, real-time connectivity required to power AI-driven autonomy, multi-vehicle coordination, and unmanned operations in complex, high-stakes environments. Built on the Data Distribution Service (DDS™) standard, Connext helps teams move efficiently from concept to deployment—accelerating prototyping, simplifying integration, and evolving systems to meet dynamic mission or market needs.

    RTI experts will be available to discuss how a data-centric approach enables scalable, flexible architectures for the future of mission-ready autonomous systems.

    To learn more or schedule a meeting with the RTI team, click here.

    Event Details
    What: RTI at AUVSI XPONENTIAL 2025, Booth #1628
    When: May 19-22, 2025
    Where: George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston, TX

    About RTI

    RTI is the software framework company for physical AI systems, with a mission to run a smarter world. RTI Connext® provides the data architecture for over 2,000 designs in Aerospace and Defense, Medtech, Automotive, and Robotics – running in more than $1T of total deployed systems worldwide. Only RTI combines decades of technical expertise with industry-leading software and tools to develop smarter systems, faster. Learn more at www.rti.com.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Lingokids puts Parent Guilt on Trial in First of its Kind Campaign

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LOS ANGELES, May 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Today, Lingokids, the #1 interactive app for kids aged 2-8, puts the parenting screen time debate on trial with the launch of its largest U.S. campaign, The Trial by Lingokids. The campaign film highlights the invisible weight of parental guilt that over 74% of American parents feel when it comes to their child’s screen time and encourages open dialogue on the topic, which affects most parents, but is not frequently discussed (less than 10%).

    To create the film, Lingokids partnered with Piel Studios, Emmy-winning Film Director Diego Hurtado de Mendoza and Latin Grammy-winning Composer Fernando Velazquez to conduct a striking social experiment, enlisting 11 real parents to unknowingly put their parental guilt, particularly related to their child’s screen time use, on trial. During the trial, the parents expressed their unscripted feelings and doubts about their parenting styles and approach to screen time. The result is an emotional and impactful look at parental guilt around screen time use, providing a powerful message for parents.

    “Today’s parents, compared to past generations, often prioritize emotional engagement, open communication, and understanding their children’s perspectives, while facing increased pressure and societal expectations,” said board-certified pediatrician Dr. Mona. “This stress can lead to an immense amount of parental guilt and more intensive parenting styles. The resolution in The Trial by Lingokids underscores that parents are more than enough for their children just as they are, and it’s okay to take a break using technology, as long as it is safe, educational and used in moderation.”

    In April, Lingokids invited parents to open a conversation around screen time parent guilt by rolling out thought-provoking out-of-home content in New York City, prompting parents to vote “guilty or not-guilty” about their feelings when it comes to screen time use for their kids. The brand also commissioned two surveys that revealed:

    • Approximately 87% of American parents permit their children to use screens, however, less than 10% of American parents frequently engage in discussions about screen time with other parents or caregivers
    • Nearly half of parents (46%) feel pressured to constantly entertain their child
    • 77% of American parents feel judged by others at least some of the time for allowing their children to use screens
    • One in four American parents report that judgment related to their child’s screen usage has a detrimental impact on their mental well-being
    • 1 in 2 American parents believe that screen time can definitely or probably benefit their child’s development if managed correctly
    • Nearly 40% of parents endorse moderation as the cornerstone of managing screen time effectively

    “This data reinforces that technology isn’t the enemy—and not all screen time is created equal,” said Lingokids CMO Mikael Journo. “The real challenge is that parents often feel caught between two extremes: content their kids enjoy but they feel guilty about, and content they approve of but kids won’t engage with on their own. At Lingokids, we want to help parents move beyond that guilt. Guilt-free screen time is possible when it’s intentional—when parents choose content that’s both developmentally beneficial and genuinely engaging for children. It’s not about eliminating screen time, but about turning it into a meaningful, enriching part of a child’s day.”

    Designed to fill a notable gap in the children’s app market, Lingokids has created an entertaining resource that captivates children through interactive play and self-exploration. Historically, it has been a challenge for parents to find solutions for child screen time that are both educational and entertaining, yet safe. The Lingokids app meets this need with high-quality content and vibrant characters, ensuring that parents can offer their children guilt-free screen time. The Lingokids app is a safe, ad-free platform that offers thousands of educational activities in a 100% secure environment parents can trust. This liberates parents from the dilemma of choosing between their child responsibly using technology and maintaining their mental well-being. Lingokids understands when parents take the time to care for themselves, they are better equipped to care for their families.

    For more information on Lingokids, visit https://lingokids.com/.

    Methodology

    Lingokids conducted paid surveys in February and March 2025 utilizing Pollfish, a leading survey platform, to collect insights from 1,000 parents of children aged 2-8 in the United States.

    About Lingokids

    Lingokids is an EdTech and media company behind the #1 interactive app for kids aged 2-8.

    With more than 165M+ downloads around the world, the Lingokids app is packed with thousands of shows, songs and interactive games kids love—all fun, safe and educational.

    Its unique Playlearning™ methodology puts kids at the center of the Lingokids universe. As they explore, they’ll pick up academic knowledge and modern life skills in a safe, age-appropriate, ad-free environment designed for independent exploration. For more information, please visit www.lingokids.com.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/41f9ad3c-5ca0-46f2-b88c-c61cded3ebcc

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Scality expands distribution with Ingram Micro in ANZ and the South Pacific region

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SAN FRANCISCO, May 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Scality, a global leader in cyber-resilient storage software for the AI era, announced today the expansion of its distribution network with Ingram Micro in Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific region. The growth builds on Scality’s North American relationship with Ingram Micro, giving more organizations in ANZ and the South Pacific region access to Scality’s industry-leading ARTESCA and RING object storage software through the region’s largest IT distributor.

    The collaboration equips local businesses and enterprise organizations with sovereign, scalable, and cyber-resilient storage to defend against modern ransomware threats while supporting the increasing demands of AI-powered workloads. Ingram Micro’s established network of partners ensures seamless delivery and expert support for Scality’s solutions to enterprise and government customers across the region.

    “The growing threat of ransomware and the acceleration of AI have made secure, high-performance storage a top priority for enterprises in our region,” said Brett Lobwein, country manager for Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific at Scality. “Expanding our reach with Ingram Micro allows us to meet demand through trusted local channels that provide the expertise and support needed for organizations to protect their data and modernize their IT infrastructure.”

    The expanded relationship is a natural progression following a year of record-breaking channel momentum for Scality. As highlighted in Scality’s recent partner momentum announcement, 60% of sales are now driven by the VAR community.

    Meeting sovereign data requirements with cyber-resilient storage
    With governments enforcing more regulations for local, sovereign data protection and cybersecurity readiness, Scality’s solutions help organizations meet stringent compliance requirements. ARTESCA and RING provide immutable, scalable, and cost-effective storage that ensures data remains secure and accessible—even in the face of ransomware attacks.

    “Scality strengthens our ability to deliver solutions that address the growing need for sovereign, cyber-resilient data protection,” said Stuart Murray, vendor business manager at Ingram Micro. “With Scality, we help customers to safeguard critical data while innovating for the next generation of AI infrastructure.”

    About Scality
    Scality solves organizations’ biggest data storage challenges — growth, security, performance, and cost. Designed for end-to-end cyber resilience, only Scality S3 object storage with CORE5 safeguards data at every level of the system, from API to architecture. Its patented MultiScale Architecture enables limitless, independent scalability in all critical dimensions to meet the unpredictable demands of modern workloads. The world’s most discerning companies depend on Scality to accelerate high-performance AI initiatives, optimize cloud deployments, and defend their data with confidence. Recognized as a leader by Gartner, Scality software is reliable, secure, and sustainable. Follow us on LinkedIn. Visit www.scality.com and our blog.

    Media Contact:
    Jon Lavietes
    A3 Communications
    +1 415-572-4408
    jon.lavietes@a3communications.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at:
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3aef05d1-c540-40ef-8955-953123d4362c

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: 180 Degree Capital Corp. Notes Filing of Updated Preliminary Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus for Proposed Business Combination with Mount Logan Capital Inc.

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MONTCLAIR, N.J., May 06, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — 180 Degree Capital Corp. (NASDAQ:TURN) (“180 Degree Capital”) today noted the filing of an amended preliminary joint proxy statement/prospectus on Schedule 14A with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) regarding its proposed merger with Mount Logan Capital Inc. (“Mount Logan”) in an all-stock transaction (the “Business Combination”). As noted in its original press release issued on January 17, 2025, the surviving entity is expected to be a Delaware corporation operating as Mount Logan Capital Inc. (“New Mount Logan”) listed on Nasdaq under the symbol “MLCI”. In connection with the Business Combination, 180 Degree Capital shareholders will receive proportionate ownership of New Mount Logan determined by reference to 180 Degree Capital’s net asset value at closing relative to a valuation of Mount Logan of approximately $67.4 million at signing, subject to certain pre-closing adjustments.

    “Our amended joint proxy statement/prospectus regarding our proposed Business Combination with Mount Logan includes Mount Logan’s financial statements which were prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the US, or US GAAP,” said Kevin M. Rendino, Chief Executive Officer of 180 Degree Capital. “The conversion of Mount Logan’s financial statements from International Financial Reporting Standards, or IFRS, to US GAAP is an important milestone as now we are in a position to be able to speak freely with current and potential investors regarding historical financial performance and apples-to-apples comparisons of Mount Logan to its publicly traded peers. This conversion to US GAAP also resulted in favorable improvements in historical financial metrics, including an increase in Mount Logan’s reported fee-related earnings in 2024 under IFRS to approximately $9.1 million under US GAAP, and an increase in the reported shareholder equity value of Mount Logan as of December 31, 2024, under IFRS to approximately $104.1 million under US GAAP.”

    “We believe that the availability of Mount Logan’s US GAAP financial statements will add to the strong indications of support we have received from initial conversations with our shareholders following the filing of our initial joint proxy statement/prospectus in late March 2025,” added Daniel B. Wolfe, President of 180 Degree Capital. “We believe our investors who have signed voting agreements and/or provided indications of support already understood the potential that we believe exists to create significant value for shareholders of 180 Degree Capital through this Business Combination even before Mount Logan’s US GAAP financial statements were available. We appreciate all of this support and patience as we move steadily through the SEC review process, toward the start of soliciting votes, and the ultimate goal of the completion of our proposed Business Combination.”

    Mr. Rendino continued, “Our belief about the potential of our proposed Business Combination to create significant shareholder value for 180 Degree Capital shareholders has only grown stronger since our initial announcement in January 2025. This belief is amplified by numerous significant shareholders who have voiced their support for our proposed Business Combination to us, as well as new shareholders who were drawn to invest in 180 Degree Capital based on what we believe to be a shared view that our proposed Business Combination is a unique opportunity for future value creation. We continue to believe that converting to an operating company will make 180 Degree Capital’s net asset value a floor for our stock price rather than the ceiling as it is for most closed-end funds. The pro forma combination of our businesses, based on 180 Degree Capital’s net asset value and Mount Logan’s equity value, respectively as of December 31, 2024, less estimated merger-related expenses and other estimated adjustments, yields a combined entity with an estimated shareholder equity value of nearly $140 million. While the ultimate ratio of ownership between 180 Degree Capital and Mount Logan shareholders will be based on 180 Degree Capital’s net asset value at closing, if the transaction closed on December 31, 2024, the portion of this equity value ascribed to 180 Degree Capital shareholders would equate to more than 180 Degree Capital’s net asset value as of that date. This fact is only one of the multitude of reasons we are so excited about this proposed transaction and its potential opportunity to create meaningful value for 180 Degree Capital’s shareholders.”

    Mr. Wolfe concluded, “We look forward to discussing these updates to our preliminary joint proxy statement/prospectus and to having robust conversations with all of our current and potential future shareholders. Feel free to reach out to us at any time.”

    About 180 Degree Capital Corp.

    180 Degree Capital Corp. is a publicly traded registered closed-end fund focused on investing in and providing value-added assistance through constructive activism to what we believe are substantially undervalued small, publicly traded companies that have potential for significant turnarounds. Our goal is that the result of our constructive activism leads to a reversal in direction for the share price of these investee companies, i.e., a 180-degree turn. Detailed information about 180 Degree Capital and its holdings can be found on its website at www.180degreecapital.com.

    Press Contact:
    Daniel B. Wolfe
    Robert E. Bigelow
    180 Degree Capital Corp.
    973-746-4500
    ir@180degreecapital.com

    Additional Information and Where to Find It

    In connection with the agreement and plan of merger among 180 Degree Capital Corp. (“180 Degree Capital”), Mount Logan Capital Inc. (“Mount Logan”), Yukon New Parent, Inc. (“New Mount Logan”), Polar Merger Sub, Inc., and Moose Merger Sub, LLC, dated January 16, 2025, as it may from time to time be amended, modified or supplemented (the “Merger Agreement”) that details the proposed combination of the businesses of 180 Degree Capital and Mount Logan and any other transactions contemplated by and pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement (the “Business Combination”), 180 Degree Capital intends to file with the SEC and mail to its shareholders a proxy statement on Schedule 14A (the “Proxy Statement”), containing a form of WHITE proxy card. In addition, the surviving Delaware corporation, New Mount Logan plans to file with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-4 (the “Registration Statement”) that will register the exchange of New Mount Logan shares in the Business Combination and include the Proxy Statement and a prospectus of New Mount Logan (the “Prospectus”). The Proxy Statement and the Registration Statement (including the Prospectus) will each contain important information about 180 Degree Capital, Mount Logan, New Mount Logan, the Business Combination and related matters. SHAREHOLDERS OF 180 DEGREE CAPITAL AND MOUNT LOGAN ARE URGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT AND PROSPECTUS CONTAINED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND OTHER DOCUMENTS THAT ARE FILED OR WILL BE FILED WITH THE APPLICABLE SECURITIES REGULATORY AUTHORITIES AS WELL AS ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS TO THESE DOCUMENTS CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT 180 DEGREE CAPITAL, MOUNT LOGAN, NEW MOUNT LOGAN, THE BUSINESS COMBINATION AND RELATED MATTERS. Investors and security holders may obtain copies of these documents and other documents filed with the applicable securities regulatory authorities free of charge through the website maintained by the SEC at https://www.sec.gov and the website maintained by the Canadian securities regulators at www.sedarplus.ca. Copies of the documents filed by 180 Degree Capital are also available free of charge by accessing 180 Degree Capital’s investor relations website at https://ir.180degreecapital.com.

    Certain Information Concerning the Participants

    180 Degree Capital, its directors and executive officers and other members of management and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the Business Combination. Information about 180 Degree Capital’s executive officers and directors is available in 180 Degree Capital’s Annual Report filed on Form N-CSR for the year ended December 31, 2024, which was filed with the SEC on February 13, 2025, and in its proxy statement for the 2024 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (“2024 Annual Meeting”), which was filed with the SEC on March 1, 2024. To the extent holdings by the directors and executive officers of 180 Degree Capital securities reported in the proxy statement for the 2024 Annual Meeting have changed, such changes have been or will be reflected on Statements of Change in Ownership on Forms 3, 4 or 5 filed with the SEC. These documents are or will be available free of charge at the SEC’s website at https://www.sec.gov. Additional information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be considered participants in the solicitation of the 180 Degree Capital shareholders in connection with the Business Combination will be contained in the Proxy Statement when such document becomes available.

    Mount Logan, its directors and executive officers and other members of management and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the shareholders of Mount Logan in favor of the approval of the Business Combination. Information about Mount Logan’s executive officers and directors is available in Mount Logan’s annual information form dated March 13, 2025, available on its website at https://mountlogancapital.ca/investor-relations and on SEDAR+ at https://www.sedarplus.com. To the extent holdings by the directors and executive officers of Mount Logan securities reported in Mount Logan’s annual information form have changed, such changes have been or will be reflected on insider reports filed on SEDI at https://www.sedi.com/sedi/. Additional information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be considered participants in the solicitation of the Mount Logan shareholders in connection with the Business Combination will be contained in the Prospectus included in the Registration Statement when such document becomes available.

    Non-Solicitation

    This letter and the materials accompanying it are not intended to be, and shall not constitute, an offer to buy or sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any securities, or a solicitation of any vote or approval, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made, except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

    Forward-Looking Statements

    This press release, and oral statements made from time to time by representatives of 180 Degree Capital and Mount Logan, may contain statements of a forward-looking nature relating to future events within the meaning of federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements may be identified by words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “could,” “continue,” “estimate,” “expects,” “intends,” “will,” “should,” “may,” “plan,” “predict,” “project,” “would,” “forecasts,” “seeks,” “future,” “proposes,” “target,” “goal,” “objective,” “outlook” and variations of these words or similar expressions (or the negative versions of such words or expressions). Forward-looking statements are not statements of historical fact and reflect Mount Logan’s and 180 Degree Capital’s current views about future events. Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements about the benefits of the Business Combination involving Mount Logan and 180 Degree Capital, including future financial and operating results, Mount Logan’s and 180 Degree Capital’s plans, objectives, expectations and intentions, the expected timing and likelihood of completion of the Business Combination, and other statements that are not historical facts, including but not limited to future results of operations, projected cash flow and liquidity, business strategy, payment of dividends to shareholders of New Mount Logan, and other plans and objectives for future operations. No assurances can be given that the forward-looking statements contained in this press release will occur as projected, and actual results may differ materially from those projected. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and assumptions that involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. These risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, the ability to obtain the requisite Mount Logan and 180 Degree Capital shareholder approvals; the risk that Mount Logan or 180 Degree Capital may be unable to obtain governmental and regulatory approvals required for the Business Combination (and the risk that such approvals may result in the imposition of conditions that could adversely affect New Mount Logan or the expected benefits of the Business Combination); the risk that an event, change or other circumstance could give rise to the termination of the Business Combination; the risk that a condition to closing of the Business Combination may not be satisfied; the risk of delays in completing the Business Combination; the risk that the businesses will not be integrated successfully; the risk that synergies from the Business Combination may not be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected; the risk that any announcement relating to the Business Combination could have adverse effects on the market price of Mount Logan’s common shares or 180 Degree Capital’s common shares; unexpected costs resulting from the Business Combination; the possibility that competing offers or acquisition proposals will be made; the risk of litigation related to the Business Combination; the risk that the credit ratings of New Mount Logan or its subsidiaries may be different from what the companies expect; the diversion of management time from ongoing business operations and opportunities as a result of the Business Combination; the risk of adverse reactions or changes to business or employee relationships, including those resulting from the announcement or completion of the Business Combination; competition, government regulation or other actions; the ability of management to execute its plans to meet its goals; risks associated with the evolving legal, regulatory and tax regimes; changes in economic, financial, political and regulatory conditions; natural and man-made disasters; civil unrest, pandemics, and conditions that may result from legislative, regulatory, trade and policy changes; and other risks inherent in Mount Logan’s and 180 Degree Capital’s businesses. Forward-looking statements are based on the estimates and opinions of management at the time the statements are made. Readers should carefully review the statements set forth in the reports, which 180 Degree Capital has filed or will file from time to time with the SEC and Mount Logan has filed or will file from time to time on SEDAR+.

    Neither Mount Logan nor 180 Degree Capital undertakes any obligation, and expressly disclaims any obligation, to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Any discussion of past performance is not an indication of future results. Investing in financial markets involves a substantial degree of risk. Investors must be able to withstand a total loss of their investment. The information herein is believed to be reliable and has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but no representation or warranty is made, expressed or implied, with respect to the fairness, correctness, accuracy, reasonableness or completeness of the information and opinions. The references and link to the website www.180degreecapital.com and mountlogancapital.ca have been provided as a convenience, and the information contained on such websites are not incorporated by reference into this press release. Neither 180 Degree Capital nor Mount Logan is responsible for the contents of third-party websites.

    The MIL Network –