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Category: Transport

  • MIL-OSI Security: Faust — Faust RCMP & Lakeshore Regional Police conduct arrests in stolen vehicle turned assault with a weapon investigation

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    On May 10, 2025, Faust RCMP were investigating multiple stolen vehicles when one was located by RCMP members out on patrol. A traffic stop was attempted, but the vehicle fled to the area of Joussard, Alta, after attempting to ram several police vehicles and run others off the road. High Prairie RCMP as well as Grande Prairie Police Dog services were called in to assist, but the suspects were not located.

    On May 12, 2025, Faust RCMP received information regarding the location of the suspects, who were barricaded in a residence in Driftpile Cree Nation, Alta. Faust RCMP and Lakeshore Regional Police surrounded the residence and were able to talk one suspect out of the residence before entering to arrest the second.

    As a result of the investigation, a 29-year-old individual, of no fixed address, and a 22-year-old individual, a resident of Driftpile Cree Nation, were charged with:

    • Assault with a weapon (x2);
    • Failure to stop;
    • Dangerous driving;
    • Possession of stolen property over $5000 (x2); and
    • Obstruct Peace Officer (x2).

    Furthermore, the 29-year-old individual was charged with possession of a weapon while prohibited.

    Both individuals were brought before a justice of the peace. The 22-year-old individual was released on conditions while the 29-year-old individual was remanded into custody. The 22-year-old individual is to appear before the Alberta Court of Justice in High Prairie, Alta. on June 2, 2025 while the 29-year-old individual will appear before the Alberta Court of Justice in Edmonton on May 14, 2025.

    “We would like to thank the members of the public who allowed us to conduct out investigation safely by following the safety guidelines we provided” said Cst. Tyler Bell of the Faust RCMP Detachment. “Faust RCMP and Lakeshore Regional Police Service work strongly together to provide the best services to our communities in order to keep our communities safe.”

    If you have any information pertaining to any criminal or suspicious activity please contact Faust RCMP at 780-355-3670. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), online at www.P3Tips.com or by using the “P3 Tips” app. To report crime online, or for access to RCMP news and information, download the Alberta RCMP app through Apple or Google Play.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • India launches ‘BharatGen’ AI model to revolutionize multilingual innovation at BharatGen Summit

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science & Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh, unveiled ‘BharatGen,’ India’s first indigenously developed, government-funded, multimodal Large Language Model (LLM) designed for Indian languages, at the BharatGen Summit on Monday. Held as India’s largest Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) and LLM summit and hackathon, the event marked a milestone in India’s journey toward inclusive and ethical AI innovation.

    Developed under the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS) and led by the TIH Foundation for IoT and IoE at IIT Bombay, BharatGen integrates text, speech, and image modalities to deliver AI solutions in 22 Indian languages. Supported by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), the initiative collaborates with leading academic institutions and innovators to create AI that is “ethical, inclusive, multilingual, and deeply rooted in Indian values and ethos,” as described by Dr. Singh.

    Speaking at the summit, Dr. Singh emphasized BharatGen’s potential to transform sectors like healthcare, education, agriculture, and governance by providing region-specific AI solutions. Highlighting a success story from his constituency, he shared how AI-powered telemedicine, with doctors communicating in patients’ native languages, has revolutionized healthcare in remote villages. “This builds trust and has a placebo-like psychological effect, connecting remote regions with superspeciality hospitals,” he said.

    Dr. Singh aligned BharatGen with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of “India’s Techade,” emphasizing innovation for inclusion. He cited India’s AI-driven grievance redressal system, CPGRAMS, as a global benchmark studied by several countries. The minister also underscored the role of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (NRF) in boosting India’s R&D ecosystem and highlighted flagship schemes like PM MUDRA Yojana, PM SVANidhi, and PM Vishwakarma Yojana, which empower micro-entrepreneurs, artisans, and street vendors.

    The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 was lauded for fostering interdisciplinary learning, enabling students to blend humanities and technology for enhanced employability and innovation. Dr. Singh also celebrated the rise of over 3,000 Agri-tech startups, including lavender cultivation in Jammu & Kashmir, as proof of innovation thriving beyond urban IT hubs.

    The summit saw the launch of the Generative AI Hackathon 2025, aimed at engaging student innovators to solve real-world challenges through AI. BharatGen’s execution involves 25 Technology Innovation Hubs (TIHs), with four upgraded to Technology Translational Research Parks (TTRPs), focusing on technology development, entrepreneurship, human resource development, and international collaboration. A significant MoU exchange ceremony further strengthened ties across government departments and research hubs.

  • MIL-OSI Europe: OSCE and Thailand mark 25 years of partnership with focus on combatting online scams

    Source: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe – OSCE

    Headline: OSCE and Thailand mark 25 years of partnership with focus on combatting online scams

    Ambassador Natasha Meli Daudey of Malta and Ambassador Pattarat Hongtong of Thailand, Vienna, 2 June 2006 (OSCE/Ghada Hazim) Photo details

    The OSCE and the Kingdom of Thailand marked the 25th anniversary of their partnership with a special workshop and a meeting of the OSCE Asian Partners for Co-operation Group, held in Vienna on 30 May and 2 June 2025. Hosted as part of Malta’s Chairpersonship of the OSCE Asian Partners for Co-operation Group, the two events brought together senior government officials, cybercrime and trafficking experts, law enforcement authorities and private sector representatives to address the growing global threat of online scams.
    OSCE participating States and Asian Partners gathered to share experiences and best practices in detecting, investigating, and disrupting digital fraud, as well as identifying the victims of trafficking involved in online scams operations.
    “With its comprehensive approach to security, the OSCE is uniquely positioned to help develop co-ordinated, human-centred responses to this growing challenge,” said Ambassador Natasha Meli Daudey of Malta.
    Discussions addressed the complexity of the scam ecosystem, from blockchain-enabled money laundering to the exploitative methods used by criminal groups. Thailand presented its national strategy, which includes AI-based detection tools, a centralized Anti-Online Scam Operation Center (AOC), and multi-agency co-ordination.
    “Our national experience demonstrates that robust inter-agency co-ordination and strong international partnerships are crucial in dismantling these sophisticated criminal networks,” noted Professor Wisit Wisitsora-at, Permanent Secretary at Thailand’s Ministry of Digital Economy and Society.
    Thai Ambassador Pattarat Hongtong further shared details on the work of the ASEAN Working Group on Anti-Online Scam, which Thailand initiated in February 2024, as a platform for information sharing, capacity building, and co-ordinated enforcement at the regional level.
    Participants also examined ways to bridge policy gaps, enhancing digital and financial literacy to prevent victimization, and promoting public-private partnerships that engage digital platforms and financial actors—including the cryptocurrency sector. Experts called for harmonized regulatory frameworks to mitigate virtual assets risks, enhanced cross-border police and judicial collaboration, and capacity building for criminal justice practitioners.
    With online scams resulting in over $1 trillion in reported global losses in 2023 alone, participants reaffirmed their commitment to collaborative, forward-looking responses that prioritize prevention, victim protection, and international co-operation to tackle an increasingly sophisticated form of transnational crime with high human and financial costs.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: AFRICA/DR CONGO – Testimony from Bukavu: Children are the silent victims of war

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Kinshasa (Agenzia Fides) – Children are the silent victims of all wars: in Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, and in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. From Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu, currently under the control of the M23 rebel movement since mid-February (see Fides 17/2/2025), we have received a testimony that reflects the dramatic humanitarian situation in the region. Although the rebels have announced the creation of an administration to manage the conquered territories, the situation in South and North Kivu remains precarious, especially for the most vulnerable: women, children, and the elderly. We publish the full testimony, omitting the name of the person who shared it for security reasons.Sister Charline welcomes me to the ward of the Bukavu General Hospital, where, together with Sister Marie-Jeanne, she coordinates the reception and care for malnourished children. “Before the war there were about 40, now there are 84; there are even three per bed,” she tells me as she invites me into the large rooms. In one of them, a mother is dressing her eight-year-old daughter: she is about to return home. She is very thin, but has passed the critical phase. The girl says goodbye with a smile. The most serious cases are in the intensive care unit, including that of a baby abandoned in the hospital by its mother, from a combat zone. A nurse cares for him with care. The war has made it impossible to grow crops, harvest, and trade… and this, along with the looting, has caused hunger. “When we have enough adequate food, they recover in two weeks; otherwise, it takes up to two months… or they die. We try to send them home as soon as possible to make room for others, but sometimes the mothers tell us they will be short of food there again… I give them a little flour; I can’t do more,” Sister Charline adds, desolately. I go to greet Natalina. In her Ek’Abana center, she welcomes children accused of witchcraft, but also, since the war began, children entrusted to her by the Red Cross while they wait to find their families. There are about 25 in total. “Cases of girls accused of witchcraft are increasing,” Natalina says. Three have arrived this week. With their parents dead or absent, the girls lived with their grandparents or other relatives. The psychologist explains: the stress of these times, the succession of illnesses, deaths, job losses, and other problems, pushes people to seek answers in prayer rooms, where irresponsible pastors point to the most vulnerable as the cause of their ills. The girl is blamed and marginalized. Sometimes, it is the grassroots communities that accompany them to the center to save them. And what about the stress of children who flinch at every noise? Of miscarriages caused by the startle of gunshots? Of the violence the children witness at the hands of the occupiers, the bandits, the population itself when, in exasperation, they lash out at the alleged thief until they kill him? Of dropping out of school after fleeing with their families? Of the humiliation of being expelled from school because parents can no longer pay the quarterly fees? Of the shortage of daily food? As I was returning, a child asked me to buy him a pancake, which is sold cheaply on the street. “Who do you live with?” “With my grandmother.” Given the crisis, I overcame my reluctance: “Take two, one for Grandma.” “Then I’ll buy some flour,” he replied. Nothing to do with a whim. All this adds to the tally of children killed directly by bombs and violence. They are silent victims, like those in Gaza, who pay the price for a debt that is all ours.” (Agenzia Fides 2/6/2025)
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  • MIL-OSI Europe: ASIA/CHINA – Chinese Catholic communities begin the month dedicated to the Sacred Heart and prepare for Pentecost

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Beijing (Agenzia Fides) – With the inner light and hope rekindled during the month of May, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, the Catholic communities of mainland China have begun the month consecrated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and are preparing to celebrate the solemnity of Pentecost.Community pilgrimages, the making of religious vows, and the beginning of the Pentecost Novena marked the last weekend in many Chinese dioceses.Many Catholics from Beijing gathered at the Marian Shrine of Housangyu, in the district of Mentougou, for the closing of the Marian month and the opening of the month dedicated to the Sacred Heart.The solemn Eucharistic liturgy on Sunday, June 1, was presided over by the Bishop of Beijing, Joseph Li Shan, and concelebrated by Coadjutor Bishop Matteo Zhen Xuebin. The warm welcome of the local community made the day a true experience of communion.All parishes participated in the celebration from early morning until the evening. The faithful were also able to receive the sacrament of confession and participate in the pious practice of the Stations of the Cross.The parish of Nantang, like many others, began the Pentecost Novena on Saturday, May 31. Until June 8, the church will remain open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. to facilitate participation in Eucharistic adoration and allow for intense spiritual preparation for Pentecost, renewing the invocation of the Holy Spirit to console and comfort souls, rekindling the faith of all.On Friday, May 30, Joseph Tong Changping, Bishop of the Diocese of Weinan/Tongzhou (Shaanxi Province), inaugurated and consecrated a statue of Our Lady of Life in front of the Parish of the Holy Stigmata of St. Francis. Those present prayed together, asking for Mary’s intercession and God’s blessing for peace in the world and “for the healthy growth of all human life.”In the cathedral of the Diocese of Wenzhou, the faithful gathered to pray the Holy Rosary before the image of Our Lady. A special prayer was offered for parents who were asking for graces for their children on the Feast of the Visitation. That same day, in the Diocese of Jingzhou (Shashi), the Sisters of the Congregation of the Child Jesus made their perpetual vows during the celebration of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary to Elizabeth. Bishop Joseph Xu Honggen of the Diocese of Suzhou presided over the solemn liturgy, during which the Sisters of the Congregation of the Presentation of Mary also made their perpetual vows.In his homily, Bishop Xu expressed his sincere desire and deep expectations, emphasizing that these vows are not only an important milestone in the spiritual life of each religious, but also a source of pride and hope for the entire diocese and the local Church.Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is deeply rooted in the daily life of Chinese Catholic communities (see Fides, 14/6/2024).According to partial data collected in the precious ‘Guide to the Catholic Church in China’, compiled by the late French missionary Jean Charbonnier (1932-2023), there are more than 200 parishes, churches, and chapels dedicated to the Sacred Heart in mainland China. Among them, the cathedral of the Archdiocese of Guangzhou stands out, considered one of the most beautiful and solemn in the country. New churches continue to be consecrated, such as the one dedicated to the Sacred Heart in June 2023 in the Diocese of Wenzhou.According to the Shanghai Catholic newspaper Shengxin (Sacred Heart), published between 1887 and 1949, it was the Jesuit Father Jean Charles de Broissia who introduced this devotion to China. However, the spread of the cult of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is attributed above all to his confrere Romain Hinderer (1668-1744), who built the first large church dedicated to the Sacred Heart between 1722 and 1732 in the city of Hangzhou, where today stands the mausoleum Park of the Jesuit Martino Martini (1614-1661), a prominent Italian historian, geographer, and cartographer. (NZ) (Agenzia Fides, 2/6/2025)
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  • MIL-OSI Security: Grande Prairie — Grande Prairie RCMP CRU conducts drug-related arrests

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    Grande Prairie RCMP Crime Reduction Unit (CRU) have been conducting proactive patrols in areas that have been noted to have a higher likelihood of criminal activity. As a result, four people were arrested on these two separate files:

    • On May 8, 2025, Grande Prairie CRU conducted a traffic stop on a Ford F150 with faulty equipment. RCMP members noted drugs and drug paraphernalia in the vehicle and arrested the two occupants. A search of the vehicle incidental to arrest revealed a stolen revolver with its associated ammunition as well as a small amount of both crack cocaine and unstamped tobacco.
      • As a result of the investigation, a 40-year-old individual and a 39-year-old individual, both residents of Grande Prairie, were charged with five firearm-related offences. Furthermore, the 39-year-old individual was charged with failing to comply with a release order.
      • Both individuals were brought before a justice of the peace. The 40-year-old individual was released on conditions while the 39-year-old individual was remanded into custody. They are both to appear at the Alberta Court of Justice in Grande Prairie, with the 40-year-old individual appearing on May 21, 2025 and the 39-year-old individual on May 28, 2025.
    • On May 6, 2025 Grande Prairie CRU located a white Ford Bronco, involved in previous flights from police, at a local gas station. A traffic stop was conducted as the driver was pumping gas. RCMP members noted unstamped tobacco in the vehicle and arrested both the driver and the passenger. A search of the vehicle and suspects was conducted incidental to arrest.
      • As a result of the search, the following items were seized:
        • Several packs of unstamped tobacco;
        • 34 grams of cocaine;
        • 15ml of GHB;
        • A small amount of methamphetamines;
        • $1660 in Canadian currency; and
        • A switchblade.
      • As a result of the investigation, a 30-year-old individual and a 47-year-old individual, both residents of Grande Prairie, were charged with:
        • Possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking;
        • Possession of proceeds of crime; and
        • Possession of unstamped tobacco.
      • Furthermore, the 47-year-old individual was charged with seven counts of possession of a weapon contrary to court orders.
      • Both individuals were brought before a justice of the peace. The 30-year-old individual was released on conditions while the 47-year-old individual was remanded into custody. Both are to appear before the Alberta Court of Justice in Grande Prairie, with the 30-year-old individual appearing on June 4, 2025, and Dick on May 21, 2025.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Three Orange County Men Plead Guilty To Fentanyl And Methamphetamine Distribution Conspiracy

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    Orlando, Florida – United States Attorney Gregory W. Kehoe announces that Bradley D. Burch (34, Apopka), Ronald E. Hubbard Jr. (37, Apopka), and Douglas E. Arnett Jr. (33, Orlando) have pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute fentanyl, a fentanyl analog, and methamphetamine. Burch also pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Hubbard and Arnett each face a minimum penalty of 10 years, up to life, in federal prison, and Burch faces a minimum penalty of 15 years, up to life, in federal prison. 

    According to plea agreements and court documents, throughout 2023, undercover agents conducted multiple controlled purchases of powder fentanyl, counterfeit fentanyl pills, and methamphetamine from Burch. For at least some of those deals, Hubbard, Arnett, or both supplied the drugs to Burch to sell to the undercover agents. Over the course of the conspiracy, they distributed nearly 2 kilograms of methamphetamine and over 350 grams of fentanyl or fentanyl analog mixtures. Additionally, during some of these transactions, Burch had a firearm nearby or in his waistband. 

    This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Apopka Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Megan Testerman.

    This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Cheaper food or a compromise on standards? Why the UK’s trade deal with the US is sounding alarm bells

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Manoj Dora, Professor in Sustainable Production and Consumption, Anglia Ruskin University

    I Wei Huang/Shutterstock

    British farmers and food safety campaigners have been sounding the alarm over the recent deal struck between the UK and US. The agreement offers unprecedented access to US agricultural exports such as beef and ethanol into the UK market.

    While some hailed this as a breakthrough after previous talks stagnated under Joe Biden’s administration, critics argue it could undercut domestic producers, introduce lower standards for food and even compromise public health. With the cost of living remaining high, cheaper US imports may look appealing to British consumers. But many fear the products may come at a longer-term cost.

    The UK government has insisted it will not compromise on standards. Hormone-treated beef and chlorine-washed chicken remain banned. But critics are sceptical. At the White House, US trade officials suggested food rules should be based on science, hinting at renewed pressure to permit products currently excluded by UK law.

    But public opinion in the UK strongly supports high food standards. Surveys show most UK consumers reject hormone-fed beef and chlorinated chicken, valuing animal welfare and food safety. Given this, any shift toward US-style practices could trigger a backlash.

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

    The deal’s language – promising to “enhance agricultural market access” – raises concerns that this may be only the first step. Food safety advocates fear a slow erosion of standards under commercial pressure.

    Under the terms of the deal, the UK will allow in 13,000 tonnes of US beef tariff-free — a huge change from the 1,000-tonne cap (with a 20% tariff) previously in place. In exchange, the US will grant a matching quota for UK beef.

    The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) welcomed improved US market access. But domestically, many farmers feel exposed.

    They worry that cheap US beef, even if hormone-free, will undercut UK cattle raised under stricter welfare and environmental rules. Feedlot beef from the American Midwest is typically cheaper, prompting fears of price pressure.

    The NFU says this could be a “disaster” for British farming. Supermarkets including Tesco and Sainsbury’s say they will continue sourcing 100% British beef, but farmers fear US meat could enter the wholesale and catering sectors.

    There’s also concern about ethanol – a biofuel typically sourced from crops such as corn or wheat and used primarily as a petrol additive to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The UK has eliminated a 19% tariff and opened a quota of 1.4 billion litres of US corn ethanol.

    But this threatens domestic bioethanol plants, which purchase millions of tonnes of British wheat each year for ethanol production. It plays a crucial role in supporting UK arable farming and rural economies.

    The NFU has warned that this could destabilise farm incomes, reduce local feed supplies and endanger the production of CO², which is used widely in food packaging, refrigeration and the carbonation of drinks across the UK industry. The NFU said the deal overlooked the complex role these plants play in the UK’s food system.

    UK consumers have been feeling the effects of rising food prices.
    Steve Travelguide/Shutterstock

    But cheaper imports could ease grocery bills in the UK, a welcome prospect given food price inflation peaked at more than 19% in 2023. Cheaper beef might help households increase their protein intake. For lower-income families, for example, small savings on staples could really improve nutrition.

    However, not all cheap calories are healthy. Britons are already encouraged to eat less red meat on health grounds. Increased access to cheaper beef could nudge intakes beyond recommended levels.

    Restaurateur Henry Dimbleby, the UK government’s former food strategy lead, has argued that undermining domestic standards for short-term savings risks health and environmental setbacks.

    Not just any commodity

    Food safety is another issue. While the government says all imports will meet UK standards, future trade negotiations could challenge that. Country-of-origin labelling and enforcement will be essential for consumer confidence.

    There’s also the risk of more ultra-processed food entering the UK. The deal may increase imports of US cereals, drinks and snack foods. While not inherently unsafe, many health advocates worry about worsening rates of obesity and diabetes if heavily processed products become cheaper and more common in the UK.

    Trade can bring benefits — but food isn’t just another commodity. It intersects with health, environment and rural life. The NFU warns that Britain’s high standards shouldn’t be quietly traded away under pressure from US agribusiness.

    The UK government claims it has preserved food protections while expanding trade. What will be key is whether consumers see real savings, as well as whether supermarkets stick to British meat. If not, it remains to be seen whether UK farmers can compete or if they will be squeezed out.

    Crucially, UK regulators must hold the line if the US pushes harder. A prosperous deal should not just mean more trade — but safer, healthier and fairer food for all.

    Manoj Dora 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. Cheaper food or a compromise on standards? Why the UK’s trade deal with the US is sounding alarm bells – https://theconversation.com/cheaper-food-or-a-compromise-on-standards-why-the-uks-trade-deal-with-the-us-is-sounding-alarm-bells-257755

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: From period pain to heart disease, the gender health gap is real – here’s how to close it

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Jennifer Bousfield, Senior Analyst, Health and Care Research Group, RAND Europe

    Dragana Gordic/Shutterstock

    For decades, women’s health has been chronically underfunded and under-researched. The consequences of this neglect are widespread and deeply damaging.

    Millions of women live with avoidable pain, delayed diagnoses, inadequate treatments and poor access to care. The ripple effects reach far beyond individual health: they impact families, workplaces and the wider economy.

    In recent years, some progress has been made. In 2022, the UK government launched the first ever women’s health strategy for England, which was a landmark recognition that the health needs of women have been systematically overlooked in research, policy and service design.

    The strategy pledged better support for menopause, increased funding for research, the creation of women’s health hubs, which provide a convenient location for women to access multiple services, such as gynaecology, sexual health, contraception an menopause care. These hubs aim to improve access, enhance experiences, reduce health inequalities for women and improved coordination across NHS services.

    But just two years later, that momentum is at risk of stalling.

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

    The government’s wider NHS reform efforts, coupled with cost-cutting, have included the withdrawal of national funding incentives for women’s health hubs. This decision has triggered concern across the health sector.

    These hubs were designed to bring together vital services – from menstrual and menopause support to contraception and fertility care – in one location. They have shown promise in narrowing gender health gaps.

    One of us (Jennifer) was involved in a recent evaluation by Rand Europe and the University of Birmingham, which found that women using the hubs reported overwhelmingly positive experiences, and collaboration between hub leaders and local healthcare services were key to their success. Yet many of these services are now at risk of being dismantled before they’ve had a chance to take root.

    This is not a marginal issue. Women make up 51% of the UK population. Still, for decades, they’ve been underrepresented in clinical research, resulting in diagnostic blind spots and treatments that don’t account for female physiology. Conditions like endometriosis, adenomyosis and heavy menstrual bleeding affect millions but remain understudied and are frequently dismissed.



    Read more:
    Symptoms of androgen excess in women are too often being overlooked – or dismissed as ‘just cosmetic’

    In other cases – such as heart disease and dementia – a lack of gender-specific understanding can be life-threatening.

    Innovation is booming — but is it reaching the right people?

    At the same time, women’s health is seeing a surge in innovation. The “femtech” sector is booming and expected to be worth US$117 billion globally by 2029 (£86 billion). From AI-powered diagnostic apps and menstrual tracking wearables, to 3D-printed pessaries, advanced ultrasonic imaging tools and new breast cancer therapies, the possibilities are exciting.

    But innovation alone isn’t enough – and it risks deepening existing inequalities if not implemented thoughtfully. The gender health gap persists, and disparities in healthcare access and outcomes are often worse for women based on geography, ethnicity or income. Without inclusive design, these shiny new tools could widen the divide rather than close it.

    There are growing concerns around bias in health technologies, particularly AI. If algorithms are trained on data that doesn’t reflect the diversity of the population, they can miss key symptoms, produce inaccurate results or fail to support women from minority backgrounds. Technology must be matched by transparency, oversight and inclusion.



    Read more:
    AI can guess racial categories from heart scans – what it means and why it matters

    Even the most advanced tools are meaningless without strong systems in place to govern them. Innovation must be embedded into accessible, well-funded services – and those services must be built around the real needs of women. Trust, relevance, and cultural sensitivity aren’t optional extras – they’re essential for success.

    As the UK government moves ahead with NHS reforms, it must not lose sight of the importance of women’s health. Getting this right means more than launching new apps or pilot schemes. It means long-term commitment and investment backed by evidence.

    At RAND Europe, our research points to two central challenges: a lack of equitable access to services and a disconnect between innovation and the needs of women.

    If we want to create meaningful, lasting change, three key priorities must be addressed:

    1. Sustainable funding: short-term pilots of new therapies or treatments often show promise, only to vanish when initial funding ends. Women’s health hubs, and similar services, need stable, long-term support to become embedded parts of the health system – not experiments at risk of collapse.

    2. Stronger cross-sector collaboration: progress depends on better coordination across the NHS, academia, industry, charities and the public. Working together can reduce the duplication of efforts, align priorities and drive real results.

    3. Accessible information and health literacy: for services and innovations to work, people need to understand them. Clear, reliable information is crucial – not just for women, but for healthcare professionals too. Empowering patients to make informed choices is key to improving outcomes.

    Women’s health is not a side issue. It’s a foundation of a healthy, fair society. Investing in it doesn’t just benefit women, it strengthens families, communities and the economy.

    The NHS ten-year plan presents a vital opportunity. If the ambitions of the women’s health strategy are to become reality, they must be baked into long-term planning with clear, measurable goals.

    Sonja Marjanovic receives grant and contract funding for wider portfolios of research on healthcare services and innovation. She works at RAND Europe, a not for profit policy research institute and she is a Trustee of The Nuffield Trust.

    Stephanie Stockwell receives grant and contract funding for wider portfolios of research on healthcare services and innovation. Stephanie Stockwell works at RAND Europe, a not f profit research institute and is on the committee for the physical activity for health division of the Chartered Society of Sport and Exercise Scientists.

    Jennifer Bousfield 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. From period pain to heart disease, the gender health gap is real – here’s how to close it – https://theconversation.com/from-period-pain-to-heart-disease-the-gender-health-gap-is-real-heres-how-to-close-it-252565

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: The four best non-lyrical vocal moments in pop music – from la la las to duh duh duhs

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Glenn Fosbraey, Associate Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Winchester

    My professional life revolves around the academic study of song lyrics. So it may seem like a strange move to write about how some of the most powerful and emotive vocal moments in popular music have come when singers reject words. But it’s impossible to ignore that sometimes a song needs something more universal, more innate and more guttural than language.

    Some vocalists have eschewed words entirely in their songs, like Ella Fitzgerald scatting throughout Flying Home (1945), or David Crosby da da dumming his way through Song With No Words (1971). More frequently, though, these wordless singalong moments appear as hooks.

    Think the “la la la las” of Elton John’s Crocodile Rock (1972); the “duh duh duh duhs” in The Fratellis’ Chelsea Dagger (2006); the “ooh-aah-aaahs” of Fun’s Some Nights (2012) and Coldplay’s Viva La Vida (2008); or the ear worm “eh, eheu, eheus” of Bastille’s Pompeii (2013).

    To paraphrase Ronan Keating (for the first and probably last time), sometimes singers say it best when they say nothing at all. And here are my four favourite examples of where they do just that.

    1. The Great Gig in the Sky by Pink Floyd (1973)

    When Richard Wright brought his song The Great Gig in the Sky to the studio during Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of The Moon recording sessions, the band felt something was missing. They wanted a “foreground element to make it really transcend”, and versatile session vocalist Clare Torry was brought in to provide it.

    The Great Gig in the Sky by Pink Floyd.

    Receiving little musical direction from the band apart from that they wanted the vocal to be wordless, she ad-libbed a few different ideas before leaving the studio, fully expecting nothing more to come of it. To Torry’s surprise, her vocal not only made it onto the finished record, but arguably became a pinnacle not just of the album, but of Floyd’s entire canon.

    With a jaw-dropping wail that elevated the track to near-celestial heights, Torry managed to express the full range of human emotion without relying on words. Her contribution was eventually recognised with a co-authorship credit alongside Wright.

    2. Anywhere by Rita Ora

    If my championing of non-lexical sounds in songs is to dabble in unfamiliar waters, then praising anything by Rita Ora is to sail into “here there be monsters” territory. And yet the hook of her 2017 song Anywhere is just so dang good that it demanded to be include here.

    Anywhere by Rita Ora.

    Heavily-treated and chopped-up by producers Alesso, Andrew Watt and Sir Nolan, Ora’s vocal flirts with decipherability as the occasional word emerges from the wonderful confusion, but then veers joyously off into digitised gibberish again.

    It’s a prime example of what a crucial role production can play in a song’s success. Such is the manipulation of her original take, even Ora herself admits that she has no idea what she’s singing. Sadly, public and media pressures eventually led her to reveal what the lyrics were before they were “chopped up”.

    If you really want to know, watch this Live Lounge performance. For me, though, the power of the song lies beyond language, so, in this case, ignorance is indeed bliss.

    3. Blue Moon by Elvis Presley (1956)

    There have been some great falsetto singers over the decades, with the likes of Frankie Valli, Brian Wilson, The Bee Gees, Smokey Robinson and Prince all true masters of the craft. My favourite ever example, though, comes from Elvis’s eponymous 1956 album and his cover of Blue Moon.

    Blue Moon by Elvis Presley.

    After spending the first two minutes of the track in the trademark croon of his lower register, Elvis then soars into wordless falsetto at various points in the last 30 or so seconds. It’s unexpected. It’s delicate yet somehow strong. And it’s musical heaven.

    4. Gimme Shelter by The Rolling Stones (1969)

    Similarly to The Great Gig in the Sky, The Rolling Stones wanted something that would transform their new song Gimme Shelter from good into great. The solution was soul and gospel singer Merry Clayton, who was brought in to sing the heavy, dark chorus, first alongside Mick Jagger, then solo. The rest, as they say, is history.

    I can’t include Clayton’s vocal itself in this list, seeing as it contains words, but I can include a by-product of it, which, for me, is one of the greatest, most natural moments ever caught on record: Mick Jagger’s reaction.

    Gimme Shelter by The Rolling Stones.

    At 3m 02s, when the intensity of Clayton’s third go-around of the line “rape, murder, it’s just a shot away” has caused her voice to crack under the strain, we hear Jagger whooping in the background, unable to contain his amazement and joy at what he was witnessing.

    Gimme Shelter’ has become one of the Stones’ most enduring tracks and is a staple of their live shows, which include some great performances of Merry’s section from Lisa Fischer and Chanel Haynes, and a not-so-great one from Lady Gaga. As with so many things, though, nothing will ever come close to the original.

    Glenn Fosbraey 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 four best non-lyrical vocal moments in pop music – from la la las to duh duh duhs – https://theconversation.com/the-four-best-non-lyrical-vocal-moments-in-pop-music-from-la-la-las-to-duh-duh-duhs-257386

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: California wildfire plan to ban most plants within 5 feet of homes overlooks some important truths about flammability

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Max Moritz, Wildfire Specialist, University of California Cooperative Extension; Adjunct Professor at the Bren School, University of California at Santa Barbara, University of California, Santa Barbara

    Photos after the Los Angeles fires in January 2025 show many yards where vegetation didn’t burn while neighboring houses did. AP Photo/Chris Pizzello

    One of the most striking patterns in the aftermath of many urban fires is how much unburned green vegetation remains amid the wreckage of burned neighborhoods.

    In some cases, a row of shrubs may be all that separates a surviving house from one that burned just a few feet away.

    As scientists who study how vegetation ignites and burns, we recognize that well-maintained plants and trees can actually help protect homes from wind-blown embers and slow the spread of fire in some cases. So, we are concerned about new wildfire protection regulations being developed by the state of California that would prohibit almost all plants and other combustible material within 5 feet of homes, an area known as “Zone 0.”

    Photos before and after the 2025 Palisades Fire show thick green vegetation between two closely spaced homes. The arrow shows the direction of the fire’s spread.
    Max Moritz; CAL FIRE Damage Inspection photos, CC BY

    Wildfire safety guidelines have long encouraged homeowners to avoid having flammable materials next to their homes. But the state’s plan for an “ember-resistant zone,” being expedited under an executive order from Gov. Gavin Newsom, goes further by also prohibiting grass, shrubs and many trees in that area.

    If that prohibition remains in the final regulation, it’s likely to be met with public resistance. Getting these rules right also matters beyond California, because regulations that originate in California often ripple outward to other fire-prone regions.

    Lessons from the devastation

    Research into how vegetation can reduce fire risk is a relatively new area of study. However, the findings from plant flammability studies and examination of patterns of where vegetation and homes survive large urban fires highlight its importance.

    When surviving plants do appear scorched after these fires, it is often on the side of the plant facing a nearby structure that burned. That suggests that wind-blown embers ignited houses first: The houses were then the fuel as the fire spread through the neighborhood.

    We saw this repeatedly in the Los Angeles area after wildfires destroyed thousands of homes in January 2025. The pattern suggests a need to focus on the many factors that can influence home losses.

    Shrubs in Zone 0 of a home did not ignite during the Eaton Fire, despite the home burning.
    Max Moritz

    Several guides are available that explain steps homeowners can take to help protect houses, particularly from wind-blown embers, known as home hardening.

    For example, installing rain gutter covers to keep dead leaves from accumulating, avoiding flammable siding and ensuring that vents have screens to prevent embers from getting into the attic or crawl space can lower the risk of the home catching fire.

    However, guidance related to landscaping plants varies greatly and can even be incorrect.

    For example, some “fire-safe” plant lists contain species that are drought tolerant but not necessarily fire resistant. What matters more for keeping plants from becoming fuel for fires is how well they’re maintained and whether they’re properly watered.

    How a plant bursts into flames

    When living plant material is heated by a nearby energy source, such as a fire, the moisture inside it must be driven off before it can ignite. That evaporation cools the surrounding area and lowers the plant’s flammability.

    In many cases, high moisture can actually keep a plant from igniting. We’ve seen this in some of our experimental work and in other studies that test the flammability of ornamental landscaping.

    With enough heat, dried leaves and stems can break down and volatilize into gases. And, at that point, a nearby spark or flame can ignite these gases and set the plant on fire.

    Plant flammability testing shows how quickly twigs, grasses, plants and leaves will burn at different moisture levels. The images on the right are from an experiment at the University of California’s South Coast Research and Extension Center to test flammability of a living but overly dry plant.
    Max Moritz (left); Luca Carmignani (right)

    Even when the plant does burn, however, its moisture content can limit other aspects of flammability, such as how hot it burns.

    Up to the point that they actually burn, green, well-maintained plants can slow the spread of a fire by serving as “heat sinks,” absorbing energy and even blocking embers. This apparent protective role has been observed in both Australia and California studies of home losses.

    How often vegetation buffers homes from igniting during urban conflagrations is still unclear, but this capability has implications for regulations.

    California’s ‘Zone 0’ regulations

    The Zone 0 regulations California’s State Board of Forestry is developing are part of broader efforts to reduce fire risk around homes and communities. They would apply in regions considered at high risk of wildfires or defended by CAL FIRE, the state’s firefighting agency.

    Many of the latest Zone 0 recommendations, such as prohibiting mulch and attached fences made of materials that can burn, stem from large-scale tests conducted by the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety. These features can be systematically analyzed.

    But vegetation is far harder to model. The state’s proposed Zone 0 regulations oversimplify complex conditions in real neighborhoods and go beyond what is currently known from scientific research regarding plant flammability.

    Green lawns, trees and shrubs were still visible after the Eaton Fire burned homes in Altadena, Calif., in January 2025.
    Mario Tama/Getty Images

    A mature, well-pruned shrub or tree with a high crown may pose little risk of burning and can even reduce exposure to fires by blocking wind and heat and intercepting embers. Aspen trees, for example, have been recommended to reduce fire risk near structures or other high-value assets.

    In contrast, dry, unmanaged plants under windows or near fences may ignite rapidly and make it more likely that the house itself will catch fire.

    As California and other states develop new wildfire regulations, they need to recognize the protective role that well-managed plants can play, along with many other benefits of urban vegetation.

    We believe the California proposal’s current emphasis on highly prescriptive vegetation removal, instead of on maintenance, is overly simplistic. Without complementary requirements for hardening the homes themselves, widespread clearing of landscaping immediately around homes could do little to reduce risk and have unintended consequences.

    Max Moritz has nothing to disclose.

    Luca Carmignani has nothing to disclose.

    – ref. California wildfire plan to ban most plants within 5 feet of homes overlooks some important truths about flammability – https://theconversation.com/california-wildfire-plan-to-ban-most-plants-within-5-feet-of-homes-overlooks-some-important-truths-about-flammability-257109

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Councillors to review parking charges

    Source: City of York

    Following feedback from local residents and businesses, several changes to car parking charges are being considered at June’s Executive Meeting.

    In April, new pricing for car parking was introduced after being approved at Budget Full Council.

    Since the implementation of the new charges, the council has listened to residents and businesses most affected by the changes, who have shared their concerns.

    As a result, Executive will review the parking arrangements at the meeting on 3 June 2025 and consider a number of proposed changes. Executive will also be asked to agree to a consultation as part of a review of the impact of car parking charges on the economy and communities, the outcome of which will be taken to a future Executive meeting.

    An initial analysis of the economic impact is very positive, with Parliament Street showing an increase in footfall of 28.7% year on year comparing April figures, and an increase in spend of 3.7% year on year, continuing to buck the national trend.

    Councillor Claire Douglas, Leader of City of York Council said:

    We have recognised the strength of feeling and feedback from local communities following the implementation of new parking charges and continue to listen to concerns. At the upcoming Executive meeting we will consider a number of options which seek to address the issues raised, while still supporting our ambitions to develop a healthier, more sustainable and better connected city.

    “Setting a budget is never easy and we are very grateful for those who responded to the consultation carried out over several months last year, whether attending a workshop or filling in our survey. I look forward to having further discussions.”

    Councillor Kate Ravilious, Executive Member for Transport said:

    Money from car parking goes straight back into improving our highways and public transport. This year we have increased investment in our highway maintenance programme to £10 million, meaning more potholes are being repaired on York’s roads – with over 9,000 repaired last year alone.

    “We are also investing over £50 million in sustainable travel improvements, including ticket concessions for young people, better real time information, and in the Station Gateway scheme which includes a bus interchange. This is all focused on making it easier for everyone to get around. To do this we must tackle congestion which residents have told us has a detrimental impact on how they live and work in the city, including their health and wellbeing.

    “In recent weeks I have been listening to local residents and businesses. Everyone’s love and support for our incredible independent businesses has shone through. One of the great strengths of the city is the vibrant local economies that residents enjoy in their local areas. We continue to listen and as a result we are looking at reviewing some of the parking charges in line with our transport strategy and using a data-led and evidence-based approach.”

    At the meeting, Executive will consider a range of interim options which could be introduced while a review into the impact of the car parking charges takes place. These include:

    • approving an increase in the discount for the Minster Badge to 30% of the standard parking charge, from the current 24%, to reduce the impact of increased parking charges on residents
    • maintaining existing pricing at all city centre car parks
    • introduce an “outside the inner ring road” lower parking rate including at Bishopthorpe Road car park, which it’s proposed is moved in line with charges approved for community car parks at East Parade and Rowntree Park in the council’s 2025 to 2026 Budget. This would mean Bishopthorpe Road car park would become £3 per hour with a maximum stay of 3 hours, it would be £2.10 per hour for Minster Badge holders. It will also mean no Friday, Saturday or event uplift and no evening charge in these car parks
    • approving the adjustment of charges in the Micklegate and Priory Street area to the ‘outside the inner ring road’ on-street parking rate, rather than its existing higher city centre rate to recognise the anomalously low parking charges in this area previously, and to give local businesses time to adjust. This will be reviewed in the future. City centre evening parking rates for this area will still apply
    • approving that East Parade Car Park should remain matched to the ‘outer’ on-street local parking rate to ensure consistency across out of city centre parking, and reflect the different nature of local shopping areas outside of the immediate city centre
    • removing the proposed charges for dedicated motorcycle bays, to recognise that the motorcycle bays are generally in locations where a car space is not possible
    • increase the discount for low emission vehicle permits to 20%, from the current 16% discount, to set a discount that better reflects the contribution of all types of vehicles to congestion and takes in account the land-use impact of vehicle parking
    • approve that resident contract parking permits are no longer linked to season tickets, and will be set at last year’s prices, plus circa 5% increase, with a 20% discount for low emission vehicles to recognise the unique circumstances of the small number of residents who live within the city walls without access to resident parking schemes
    • to undertake a review and develop a policy position around travel to places of worship
    • accept the challenge to review parking charges under the Traffic Management Act 2004, this will include consultation with businesses and residents and community groups

    If approved, the new charges will need to be advertised for 21 days in accordance with legislation, meaning those charges implemented will come into effect late June to early July and be subject to a pending review.

    Should Executive approve a change to the amount paid for the low vehicle emission discount, contract, season and ResPark permits, holders will be refunded the difference with more details of this to follow.

    The report for next week’s meeting is available to view online.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: York celebrates meeting air pollution targets citywide for first time

    Source: City of York

    As we approach Clean Air Day later this month [19 June], City of York Council has released figures showing that all of York is meeting national air pollution targets for the first time*.

    Latest air quality monitoring figures from the council for 2024, reported to the Combined Executive Member Decision Session on 3 June 2025, show that the health-based air quality objectives were met at all locations in York for the first time, except during the Covid lockdowns, when traffic emissions reduced due to home working and closure of non-essential retail.  

    Air quality monitoring in some areas of the city, such as around Gillygate and Bootham, has shown that maximum annual levels of nitrogen dioxide pollution improved by 27 per cent in 2024 compared with 2023.

    The significant improvement in air quality is due to actions taken by the council, its partners and by residents. This includes further electrification of buses and council fleet vehicles, policies that incentivise the uptake of more low-emission taxis, anti-idling campaigns encouraging people to turn off their engines when stationary or waiting in traffic and improved electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure – all of which have all helped improve air quality further throughout 2024.

    The council encourages people to walk, cycle or use public transport wherever possible to reduce their exposure and contribution to air pollution, and make the switch to electric vehicles if budgets allow.

    Air pollution is linked to a range of health problems at every stage of life – from premature birth and effects on organ development in childhood,  to causing heart and lung disease, diabetes and strokes in adulthood.

    Every year, air pollution causes up to 43,000 deaths in the UK.

    Find out more through the Clean Air Hub about how air pollution impacts our mental and physical health and the planet’s wellbeing.

    Residents can also sign up for the council’s free pollution forecasting and alert service which sends air pollution alerts and health advice to those most likely to be affected by air pollution to help them minimise their exposure when future pollution episodes are forecast, and to encourage all of us to leave the car at home if possible on those days, to avoid worsening pollution for everyone.

    Cllr Jenny Kent, the Council’s Executive Member for the Environment and Climate Emergency, said: “This is brilliant news – what a fantastic achievement to help us celebrate Clean Air Day. By being proactive on improving the air we all breathe, the council has helped to meet air pollution targets for the *first time ever in York.

    “Having walked the stretch along Holgate for over a decade with prams and children, along with hundreds of young people travelling to and from 9 schools in the area, I know first hand what a difference this makes. We made a commitment to improve air quality when we published our fourth Air Quality Action Plan last summer and it is rewarding to see that the measures are working. Cleaner air is helping improve the health and wellbeing of everyone in York.

    “This is a really big achievement which we should celebrate, but we are not complacent; we need to see these results and the longer-term downward trend continue”.

    Peter Roderick, director of Public Health at City of York Council, said: “Even though we can’t see it, air pollution impacts our health whatever age we are. Improving air quality not only benefits our physical health and the environment but can also protect our mental and brain health. For the whole of York to meet air pollution targets for first time since Covid is a great achievement.

    “We hope Clean Air Day will help raise awareness of air pollution across the city and encourage people to consider their air quality impact in helping to protect everyone’s health. We can all make improvements; share a lift to work, work from home or walk, catch the bus or cycle, if possible.”

    “The latest results for the city demonstrate how far we have come in recent years to improve local air quality for everyone, however we recognise that more can be done. Through the council’s Air Quality Action Plan and other complementary strategies, we aim to go beyond National Air Quality Objectives and work towards meeting stricter World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines in the longer term to further improve public health; this will allow us all to benefit from lasting health improvements”.

    Mick Forbes, Engineering Director of First Bus North & West Yorkshire, said: “The results are very positive and provide real evidence of the environmental benefits we are achieving with our fully zero-emission fleet on the streets of York, which started on routes through Gillygate in September 2023.

    “We are delighted this is recognised in the air quality assessment by City of York Council and will continue to support its efforts to create cleaner air in the city.

    “By working together with the council we have been able to invest millions of pounds with government funding support to transform our James Street depot, which is one of the first in the country to be declared net zero.”

    Find how to protect your health and cut emissions at the Clean Air Hub 

    Free Clean Air Day resources for use by individuals, schools, businesses, health organisations and community groups are available on the Clean Air Day website 

    The council’s iTravel York website provides a host of sustainable travel resources, including walking resources and cycling resources

    This year’s Clean Air Day campaign on 19 June aims to highlight that air pollution affects your health from before your first breath until your last.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Record $20.2M to Strengthen Response to Domestic Violence

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul today announced a record $20.2 million investment to expand efforts to reduce intimate partner violence in 17 counties outside of New York City. This funding allows the State Division of Criminal Justice Services to support 87 law enforcement agencies and community-based organizations through the Statewide Targeted Reductions in Intimate Partner Violence (STRIVE) initiative, a ground-breaking collaborative involving district attorneys’ offices, sheriffs’ offices, municipal police agencies, probation departments, and service providers.

    “The safety of New Yorkers is my top priority, and I am committed to using every tool at our disposal to support anyone who has ever felt unsafe in their own home,” Governor Hochul said. “This record funding will save lives and reduce violence by putting offenders on notice and ensuring that the highest-risk victims and survivors receive the protection and support they need and deserve.”

    This new investment will fund 155 positions including investigators, detectives, crime analysts, coordinators and advocates to support skilled, multidisciplinary teams that work to reduce domestic violence and increase survivor capacity for safety.

    The STRIVE initiative promotes a coordinated community response rooted in survivor-centered, trauma-informed, and culturally competent practices. Modeled after the Division of Criminal Justice Services’ Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) initiative, STRIVE required each county to develop a comprehensive plan using one or more evidence-based strategies to hold those who harm accountable and increase safety capacity for victims.

    New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services Commissioner Rossana Rosado said, “The STRIVE initiative builds on our success in fighting gun violence, using the same data-driven framework, as well as proven techniques for responding to intimate partner violence. We thank Governor Hochul for her leadership and this significant investment to improve safety for victims and survivors.”

    STRIVE emphasizes six core elements: people, alignment, evidence-based strategies, engagement, skilled and supported staff, and monitoring and evaluation. The initiative places special focus on high-risk cases where victims face a serious risk of harm or lethality. Teams will use needs assessments, system mapping, and problem analysis to focus their efforts on the highest risk cases.

    Community providers will ensure responses align with existing services at the state, local, and federal levels—including social services, probation, and victim assistance programs. Progress will be monitored and evaluated using tools that track trends and inform adjustments. Using local knowledge and robust data, teams will implement one of three proven strategies to reduce domestic violence:

    The five New York City District Attorneys’ Offices also each received a share of $5 million to improve the public safety response to intimate partner violence and better address the needs of victims and survivors through early case enhancement efforts and assessments to identify and prioritize high-risk cases of abuse, among other strategies that support survivors and hold perpetrators accountable.

    New York State Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence Executive Director Kelli Nicholas Owens said, “STRIVE is an example of Coordinated Community Response, something OPDV and our partner state agencies have been investing in and promoting across the state. We know that when the systems that intersect when responding to domestic violence and other gender-based violence crimes work collaboratively, the outcomes for victims and survivors are better. STRIVE can save lives. Thank you, Governor Hochul, for supporting these efforts and for your unwavering support of those impacted by gender-based violence.”

    New York State Office of Victim Services Director Bea Hanson said, “This funding will help coordinate responses among different systems – law enforcement, domestic violence service providers, social services, and health care, among others – that respond to gender-based and intimate partner violence. It will also help expand and strengthen access to support and services so victims and survivors can reclaim their lives. I thank Governor Hochul for her leadership and commitment to supporting domestic violence survivors and crime victims, and we are proud to work with our state and local partners on this initiative.”

    The following counties, selected based on volume and rate of domestic and intimate partner violence, are receiving grant funding:

    Long Island

    • Suffolk County: $1,989,636

    Mid-Hudson

    • Dutchess County: $711,221
    • Orange County: $1,129,806
    • Westchester County: $1,419,443

    Capital Region

    • Albany County: $1,356,464
    • Rensselaer County: $775,555
    • Schenectady County: $1,177,640

    North Country

    • Jefferson County: $647,344

    Mohawk Valley

    • Oneida County: $918,308

    Central New York

    • Onondaga County: $1,876,478

    Southern Tier

    • Broome County: $750,767

    Finger Lakes

    • Cayuga County: $573,407
    • Monroe County: $2,299,070
    • Genesee County: $480,516

    Western New York

    • Chautauqua County: $847,225
    • Erie County: $2,379,496
    • Niagara County: $904,660

    A breakdown of funding by county, law enforcement agency and service provider is available online. DCJS will support the implementation and improvements in how agencies respond to intimate partner violence with dedicated training and technical assistance from national and state experts. STRIVE counties will also benefit from access to the State’s 11 Crime Analysis Centers, which provide data, intelligence and investigative support to identify perpetrators and build prosecutable cases.

    Additional STRIVE investment builds on essential, commonsense changes to New York’s Discovery Laws in the FY26 Enacted Budget to support survivors, hold perpetrators accountable and safeguard the right to a fair and speedy trial. The changes enacted will prevent cases from being thrown out over technical errors and eliminate dismissals and disruptions that have re-traumatized survivors of domestic violence and other serious crimes, and include $135 million for prosecutors and defenders to ensure compliance with discovery, a year-to-year increase of $15 million. The Enacted Budget also increases funding for rape crisis centers for the first time in a decade, with nearly $13 million for 52 centers certified by the State Department of Health; expands access to HIV prophylaxis medication to all survivors of sexual assault, not just those under 18; and improves access to public assistance for survivors of gender-based violence.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Cochrane — Cochrane RCMP lay over 50 criminal code charges

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    In the later evening of April 30, 2025, RCMP received multiple reports of a male pointing a long gun at another male while driving a stolen truck on Stoney Nakoda First Nation. Officers of Cochrane RCMP immediately responded with assistance from the Calgary Police HAWKS helicopter and RCMP Police Dog Services. Officers quickly became aware of the whereabouts of the suspect truck. The suspect driver drove head on towards an officer forcing the officer to swerve into the ditch to avoid contact. Shortly after, the officer deployed a tire deflation device, successfully puncturing three of the suspect’s vehicle tires. The vehicle came to a stop where the driver immediately fled into the woods.

    Officers quickly contained the vehicle and arrested two occupants. With coordinated efforts from the police helicopter and police dog services, the driver who fled the truck was quickly located and arrested without incident. A search of the vehicle yielded a rifle, bear spray, brass knuckles, and illicit drugs.

    A 38-year-old individual, a resident of Stoney Nakoda First Nation, Alta., was charged with a total of 36 offences, some including:

    • Dangerous operation of a motor vehicle;
    • Careless use of a firearm;
    • Possession of a firearm for dangerous purpose;
    • Possession of a prohibited weapon;
    • Possession of a weapon for dangerous purpose;
    • Possession of property obtained by crime;
    • Breach of release order (x7);
    • Possession of a controlled substance;
    • Unlawfully drive a motor vehicle uninsured AND suspended et al

    The individual was held for a judicial interim release hearing and remanded into custody. The individual is set to appear in the Alberta Court of Justice in Cochrane on May 5, 2025.

    A 35-year-old individual, a resident of Stoney Nakoda First Nation, was charged with a total of 19 offences, some including:

    • Possession of property obtained by crime;
    • Possession of a prohibited weapon;
    • Possession of a firearm for dangerous purpose;
    • Possession of a weapon for dangerous purpose;
    • Breach of release order (x11) et al

    The 35-year-old individual was also held for a judicial interim release hearing and remanded into custody. The individual is set to appear in the Alberta Court of Justice in Cochrane on May 5, 2025.

    A youth, who cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act was also arrested and held for a judicial interim release hearing. The youth was charged with a total of 11 offences, with some including possession of a weapon for dangerous purpose, possession of a prohibited weapon and obstruction. The youth was released on conditions and will appear in the Alberta Court of Justice in Cochrane later in May.

    Cochrane RCMP encourage the public to report any criminal or suspicious activity to police. Reports tell us where to look, who to look for, and where to patrol in the future. If you see a crime in progress, dial 911. If you wish to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), online at www.P3Tips.com or by using the “P3 Tips” app available through the Apple App or Google Play Store.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Calgary — Alberta RCMP Southern Alberta Crime Reduction Unit interdicts theft ring

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    In April 2025, the RCMP Southern Alberta District Crime Reduction Unit (SAD CRU) became aware of a series of commercial break and enters in Southern Alberta and began an investigation. The suspects targeted cannabis dispensaries, liquor stores, convenience stores and other rural Alberta businesses. The suspects also began targeting houses in Banff to steal bikes and homes in Chestermere targeting open garages and vehicles. The crew of suspects used stolen vehicles to commit these break and enters in various location in Southern Alberta.

    On May 2, 2025, the RCMP Southern Alberta District Crime Reduction Unit arrested a 36-year-old individual, a resident of Blood Tribe First Nation, and a 38-year-old individual, a resident of Calgary. At the time of their arrest, both individuals were in possession of two stolen vehicles and charged with the following Criminal Code offences:

    The 36-year-old individual was charged with:

    • Break and enter (x7)
    • Possession of property obtained by crime over $5000 (x4)
    • Possession of property obtained by crime under $5000 (x3)
    • Failing to comply with release orders (x5)
    • Wearing a disguise to commit an offence

    The 38-year-old individual was charged with:

    • Break and enter (x2)
    • Possession of property obtained by crime over $5000
    • Possession of property obtained by crime under $5000 (x2)
    • Failing to comply with release orders (x4)
    • Wearing a disguise to commit an offence
    • Possession of break in tools

    Both individuals were remanded into custody and are scheduled to appear in court as follows:

    • The 36-year-old individual on May 16, 2025, at the Alberta Court of Justice in Calgary.
    • The 38-year-old individual, at the Albert Court of Justice in Okotoks, Alta.

    “Using our analysts and a more intelligence-based approach we are able to identify and focus our enforcement efforts on these repeat offenders,” says Cst. Katelyn Dagg of SAD CRU, “it is through this approach that we can have the largest impact on reducing crime.”

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: IAEA Team Concludes Site and External Events Design Review for El Salvador’s First Nuclear Power Plant

    Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

    An IAEA team of experts visited the candidate sites of El Salvador’s first nuclear power plant during a Site and External Events Design Review Service mission. (Photo: CEL)

    An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team of experts has concluded a six-day safety review of El Salvador’s site selection process for its first nuclear power plant (NPP). The Central American country is embarking on a nuclear power programme to diversify its energy mix and to provide a clean and reliable source of energy to support economic development.

    The Site and External Events Design Review Service (SEED) mission, which took place between 26 to 31 May, reviewed El Salvador’s adherence to IAEA guidance on the site selection process. The SEED mission was carried out at the request of the Government of El Salvador and hosted by the Organization for the Implementation of the Nuclear Energy Program in El Salvador (OIPEN) and the Executive Hydroelectric Commission of the Lempa River (CEL). The SEED mission was the first of its kind in El Salvador.

    El Salvador is completing the site selection process based on a comprehensive methodology that integrates geospatial data analysis, national regulations and existing public infrastructure.

    The SEED review team comprised three experts from Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States, as well as two IAEA staff members. They reviewed the site selection report, together with the siting process, siting criteria and data collection process for siting activities.

    The team also visited and observed the candidate sites located in Chalatenango – about 40 kilometres northeast of the capital San Salvador – and San Vicente – about 70 kilometres east of San Salvador.

    In addition to the SEED review mission, the IAEA provided a SEED Capacity Building Workshop to support site evaluation, which includes the site characterization stage. During the workshop, external experts and participants engaged in discussions that will contribute to future progress in the site evaluation process.

    “We confirmed that CEL independently developed exclusion criteria for site screening and effectively narrowed down the areas of the country with the lowest external hazard risks. This can be considered a good practice for minimizing risks,” said mission team leader Kazuyuki Nagasawa, Senior Nuclear Safety Officer at the IAEA.

    The team provided recommendations to improve the quality and to optimize the site selection process, aiming to select the most favourable site. This optimization seeks to minimize the potential for the selected site to be found unsuitable during the site characterization stage. The factors to be considered include seismic, flooding and volcanic hazards. It’s also important to balance site characteristics with specific design features, site protection measures and administrative procedures from the early stages of the site selection process.

    “From the early stages of the site selection process, we have been guided by the technical guidance of the IAEA, rigorously applying its physical safety standards to ensure that this process follows a technical, transparent and responsible approach for all Salvadorans,” said Daniel Alvarez, President of CEL and Honorary Director of OIPEN.

    OIPEN and CEL will continue to receive technical support from the IAEA, as they advance from the site selection stage and move into the subsequent site characterization stage, in line with the IAEA Specific Safety Guide on Site Survey and Site Selection for Nuclear Installations, as well as other relevant Safety Guides for external hazards assessment.

    The final SEED mission report will be delivered to the Government of El Salvador within three months.

    About Site and External Events Design Review Service (SEED) missions

    SEED missions are expert review missions that assist countries going through different stages in the development of a nuclear power programme. The service offers a choice of modules in which to focus the review, such as site selection, site assessment and design of structures, systems and components, taking into consideration site specific external and internal hazards.

    In the case of site selection review, SEED missions assess the appropriate consideration of the safety issues in the site selection process.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: FormFactor, Inc. Announces Purchase of New Manufacturing Facility

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LIVERMORE, Calif., June 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FormFactor, Inc. (NASDAQ: FORM), a leading provider of test and measurement technologies for the semiconductor industry, today announced that it has purchased a manufacturing site in Farmers Branch, Texas. The site, which comprises four structures and includes 50,000 square feet of clean room space, was purchased for $55 million dollars.

    Commenting on the purchase, Mike Slessor, CEO of FormFactor, Inc., said, “FormFactor’s purchase of the Farmers Branch, Texas manufacturing facility enables us to acquire a scarce, fit-for-purpose asset that aligns with our strategic roadmap and provides significant operational flexibility. Located in a lower-operating cost region, it is one of a handful of existing facilities in the U.S. that has a clean room and comes equipped with the infrastructure to meet our future manufacturing needs.”

    Slessor added, “As we’ve said for some time, we are seeing increased test intensity driven by the adoption of advanced packaging technologies, which is in turn driving increased demand for FormFactor’s probe-card products. This is evident in the recent rapid growth of our High Bandwidth Memory, or HBM, probe-card revenue, and we expect this advanced-packaging driven growth to continue.”.

    “The purchase of this facility, for a competitive price, creates optionality for us in cost-effectively meeting this anticipated increasing long-term demand, and it will be an important step forward as we refine our operational strategy.”

    About FormFactor:

    FormFactor, Inc. (NASDAQ: FORM), is a leading provider of essential test and measurement technologies along the full semiconductor product life cycle – from characterization, modeling, reliability, and design de-bug, to qualification and production test. Semiconductor companies rely upon FormFactor’s products and services to accelerate profitability by optimizing device performance and advancing yield knowledge. The Company serves customers through its network of facilities in Asia, Europe, and North America. For more information, visit the Company’s website at www.formfactor.com.

    Forward-looking Statements:

    This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the federal securities laws, including with respect to the Company’s future financial and operating results, and the Company’s plans, strategies and objectives for future operations. These statements are based on management’s current expectations and beliefs as of the date of this release, and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company’s control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding future financial and operating results, including under the heading “Outlook” above, market trends, conditions in and the growth of the semiconductor industry and the Company’s performance, and other statements regarding the Company’s business. Forward-looking statements may contain words such as “may,” “might,” “will,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “forecast,” “continue,” and “prospect,” and the negative or plural of these words and similar expressions, and include the assumptions that underlie such statements. The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements: changes in and impacts from export control, tariffs and other trade barriers; changes in demand for the Company’s products; customer-specific demand; market opportunity; anticipated industry trends; the availability, benefits, and speed of customer acceptance or implementation of new products and technologies; manufacturing, processing, and design capacity, goals, expansion, volumes, and progress; difficulties or delays in research and development; industry seasonality; risks to the Company’s realization of benefits from acquisitions; reliance on customers or third parties (including suppliers); changes in macro-economic environments; events affecting global and regional economic and market conditions and stability such as tariffs, military conflicts, political volatility, infectious diseases and pandemics, and similar factors, operating separately or in combination; and other factors, including those set forth in the Company’s most current annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and other filings by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, there are varying barriers to international trade, including restrictive trade and export regulations such as the US-China restrictions, dynamic tariffs, trade disputes between the U.S. and other countries, and national security developments or tensions, that may substantially restrict or condition our sales to or in certain countries, increase the cost of doing business internationally, and disrupt our supply chain. No assurances can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements within this press release will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so, what impact they will have on the results of operations or financial condition of the Company. Unless required by law, the Company is under no obligation (and expressly disclaims any such obligation) to update or revise its forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

    Investor Contact:
    Stan Finkelstein
    Investor Relations
    (925) 290-4273
    ir@formfactor.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Blue Mountain Launches Spring 2025 RAM Release, Advancing Asset Management for Life Sciences

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    STATE COLLEGE, Pa., June 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Blue Mountain, the leader in GMP-compliant Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) software for life sciences, announces the launch of its Spring 2025 RAM Release, introducing advanced capabilities that drive operational excellence, maximize compliance, and empower mobile teams across the Life Sciences industry.

    The Spring 2025 release builds on RAM’s trusted foundation by delivering enhancements in three transformative areas:

    • Condition-Based Maintenance (CBM): Enables organizations to move beyond scheduled routines to smarter, condition-driven workflows. Real-time threshold management and automatic task generation ensure precision interventions, reducing downtime and cutting maintenance costs.
    • RAM Mobile Enhancements: Teams can now execute work plans offline, submit mobile requests with photos, and maintain data integrity on the go. These updates dramatically reduce mean time to detection and improve documentation completeness.
    • Artificial Intelligence: Now available in validation environments, RAMMY AI delivers instant, contextual answers sourced directly from validated documentation—slashing lookup times by up to 98% and unlocking daily productivity gains.

    “Our Spring 2025 Release represents a major step toward predictive maintenance and mobile-first efficiency,” said Judy Fainor, Chief Technology Officer. “With condition-based maintenance, powerful mobile capabilities, and the introduction of AI, we’re enabling Life Sciences teams to work smarter, faster, and more compliantly than ever.”

    About Blue Mountain

    Blue Mountain is the leader in enterprise asset management for Life Sciences. For over 35 years, Blue Mountain has been committed to delivering innovative and high-quality solutions that ensure regulatory compliance, enable operational efficiency and equipment uptime, and provide insights that optimize asset lifecycle management. Trusted by more than 450+ Life Sciences companies, the Blue Mountain industry-leading cloud platform helps companies master end-to-end GMP asset management from set-up to installation and from training to validation. Blue Mountain is backed by Accel-KKR and headquartered in State College, PA.

    For more information, please visit www.coolblue.com and follow the company on LinkedIn.

    Media Contact:

    Christian Rockwell
    carockwell@coolblue.com

    The MIL Network –

  • India and Japan strengthen maritime ties with focus on shipbuilding, green ports, and smart islands

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    In a significant step toward deepening maritime cooperation, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal on Monday held a bilateral meeting with Japan’s Vice Minister for International Affairs, Terada Yoshimichi, in Oslo, Norway. The discussions, aimed at fostering stronger maritime relations between India and Japan, covered key areas such as shipbuilding, port digitization, green port initiatives, maritime training, and the transformation of India’s Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep islands into Smart Islands.

    The ministers explored opportunities for Japanese investment in Indian shipyards, with a focus on collaborations involving leading Japanese companies like Imabari Shipbuilding, JMUC, Kanagawa Dockyard, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. Sonowal highlighted India’s interest in joint ventures with these firms, particularly for greenfield projects like Imabari Shipbuilding’s initiative in Andhra Pradesh. He also invited Japan’s maritime giants—NYK Line, MOL, and K Line—to explore investment opportunities in India’s burgeoning maritime sector.

    “Japan’s expertise in shipbuilding and ship repair is globally recognized, and we see immense potential for collaboration,” said Sonowal. “Our strong bilateral ties and India’s growing maritime industry present a unique opportunity for Japanese shipyards to invest in India, while collaboration on port digitization and green port initiatives will enhance the sustainability of our maritime logistics network.”

    The meeting also emphasized sustainable technologies and disaster-resilient infrastructure, with both sides discussing the development of Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep as Smart Islands. Leveraging Japan’s expertise in island development, the collaboration aims to integrate renewable energy, smart mobility systems, and digital infrastructure while prioritizing ecological conservation and regional maritime security.

    Vice Minister Terada expressed Japan’s keen interest in expanding maritime collaboration, particularly in shipbuilding and seafarer training. “India and Japan share an intimate relationship, and we are very interested in the maritime sector,” he said, noting positive discussions on mutual cooperation. Japan, already a key partner in India’s railway infrastructure, is now looking to strengthen its presence in the maritime domain.

    A key focus of the talks was the upskilling and employment of Indian seafarers in Japan. With over 154,000 trained seafarers, India is well-positioned to support Japan’s maritime workforce. Sonowal proposed structured training programs by Japanese maritime leaders to enhance the skills of Indian engineers and workers, further solidifying bilateral ties.

    The ministers also discussed India’s ambitious National Maritime Heritage Museum (NMHC) at Lothal, Gujarat, aimed at showcasing the country’s rich maritime legacy. Sonowal invited Japan to partner in this project and expressed hope for an early MoU to formalize the collaboration. Additionally, he extended an invitation to Vice Minister Terada for the India Maritime Week 2025, to be held in Mumbai from October 27-31, 2025, to explore further opportunities for investment and innovation in the maritime sector.

    The talks underscored the deep Indo-Japanese partnership, rooted in shared values of democracy, freedom, and cultural ties. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to regional maritime security and economic integration through frameworks like the Quad and the India-Japan-Australia Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (SCRI). Sonowal highlighted India’s alignment with Japan-led initiatives such as the International Solar Alliance (ISA), Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), and Leadership Group for Industry Transition (LeadIT).

    “Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is transforming its maritime sector through initiatives like Maritime India Vision 2030 and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047,” said Sonowal. “With Japan’s partnership, we aim to scale new heights, targeting five trillion yen (₹3.2 lakh crore) in investments by 2027 for a sustainable and mutually beneficial future.”

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Companies House appoints Luisa Fulci as Director of Transformation and Business Change

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    Companies House appoints Luisa Fulci as Director of Transformation and Business Change

    Luisa Fulci joins Companies House as Director of Transformation and Business Change during a key phase of digital and operational change.

    Companies House has appointed Luisa Fulci as its new Director of Transformation and Business Change.  

    Luisa brings a wealth of experience from both the public and private sectors. As Digital Customer and Commercial Services Director at Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council, she led the modernisation of digital and commercial services across housing, adult social care, environmental services, public health and corporate operations. 

    Prior to this, Luisa spent 16 years at Royal Mail, where she held several senior leadership roles. As Commercial Director, she implemented major reform initiatives to customer services and delivered commercial and digital strategies that prioritised customer needs.  

    Luisa is currently a non-executive board member at HM Courts and Tribunals Service, having been appointed in April 2024. Her previous non-executive roles include board positions at East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust and Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust. At CILEx Regulation, she also advised on digital transformation and aided efforts to improve diversity in the legal profession. 

    Luisa has joined the Executive team at Companies House at a significant period of renewal. Her appointment reflects the organisation’s commitment to improving digital processes, ensuring operational efficiency and creating quality services for customers and stakeholders. 

    Reflecting on her appointment, Luisa said:

    I’m delighted to be joining Companies House at such a pivotal time of change. I’m looking forward to collaborating with my new colleagues to build on the substantial work that has already begun to create a more modern, digital and customer-focused organisation.

    Updates to this page

    Published 2 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Landmark government trial shows AI could save civil servants nearly 2 weeks a year

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 2

    Press release

    Landmark government trial shows AI could save civil servants nearly 2 weeks a year

    More than 20,000 civil servants took part in a government-led trial using generative AI to support their daily work – with early results showing time savings equivalent to nearly 2 working weeks per person, per year.

    • Over 20,000 civil servants were given the latest AI tech for 3 months, using it to draft documents, summarise meetings and more
    • from policy officials using it to cut through jargon and streamline consultations, to Work Coaches speeding up support for job seekers – officials said the tech boosted their ability to deliver the Plan for Change
    • comes as expansive research shows half of office work can be helped by AI, as government continues push to save £45 billion by creating a lean, modern state using tech

    AI can significantly reduce time spent on government tasks – freeing up time, capacity and boosting productivity, with a landmark trial of 20,000 civil servants showing they could save nearly 2 weeks each annually by using the technology. 

    This is the equivalent of giving 1,130 people a full year back – every year – to focus on higher-value tasks, innovation or public service impact, rather than admin-based work – with the potential for this to rise significantly if used across the entire civil service, transforming productivity and public service delivery at scale.  

    The findings show the use of AI across the Civil Service will directly support the government’s Plan for Change by driving innovation, fostering economic growth, and modernising how public services operate. 

    The trial found that using generative AI such as Microsoft 365 Copilot to assist with everyday tasks – including drafting documents, summarising lengthy emails, updating records, and preparing reports – saved users an average of 26 minutes per day. That adds to nearly 2 weeks of time saved per year per person, delivering a significant productivity boost when scaled across the public workforce.  

    At Companies House, staff use Copilot to handle routine customer queries and speed up tasks like drafting responses and updating records. At the Department for Work and Pensions, work coaches are using it to personalise advice for jobseekers – helping them get faster, more tailored support.   

    Technology Secretary Peter Kyle highlighted the findings in a keynote discussion at SXSW London today, where he joined former Prime Minister Tony Blair to discuss reimagining government and public service delivery in the age of AI.

    Commenting on the results he said:  

    These findings show that AI isn’t just a future promise – it’s a present reality. Whether it’s helping draft documents, preparing lesson plans, or cutting down on routine admin, AI tools are saving civil servants time every day. That means we can focus more on delivering faster, more personalised support where it really counts.  

    As we deliver our Plan for Change, we’re backing innovation like this to boost productivity and growth – not just in the private sector, but in public services too. AI is changing the way government operates, helping us work smarter, reduce red tape, and make better use of taxpayers’ money.

    Darren Hardman, CEO, Microsoft UK said:  

    AI is the most transformative technology of our time and we’re already seeing its potential to reshape public service delivery. Whether that’s DWP work coaches helping more jobseekers into work, local authorities improving social care for the most vulnerable in society or NHS clinicians with more time to see patients, the potential is profound. 

    As a strategic technology partner to the UK government, we have an amazing opportunity to help improve both the quality of the services people receive and the way they access them. This could unlock new levels of growth, efficiency, and innovation for the country.  

    The government’s Microsoft 365 Copilot experiment shows what’s possible when people are empowered with the right tools: 26 mins per day (almost 2 weeks per year) less time on admin, more time delivering what matters. And the really exciting part is, this is just the beginning.

    A DWP Work Coach involved in the trial said:

    Using Copilot, I was able to help a self-employed customer – Customer X – revitalise her small business. Together, we created tailored social media posts to boost her online presence and used AI to identify cost-saving opportunities. Within a week, she’d secured 7 new client bookings. She’s now using Copilot to streamline admin and manage bookings – freeing up time to grow her business. It’s a powerful example of how AI can deliver real results for the people we support.

    Complementing these findings, research from the Alan Turing Institute published today finds that AI could support up to 41% of tasks across the public sector, offering significant time savings. In schools, for example, teachers spend nearly 100 minutes a day on lesson planning – up to 75% of which could be supported by AI, freeing more time for the classroom. Civil servants spend around 30 minutes daily on emails, where AI could cut this effort by over 70%. From drafting documents to updating records, the research shows AI is well-placed to handle routine admin – supporting public servants across departments.  

    This forms part of the government’s broader effort to modernise the state and achieve £45 billion in savings by making public services faster, simpler, and more accessible—across health, education, and beyond – while rolling out digital tools like the GOV.UK App, Chat, and Wallet, and tackling outdated legacy systems that currently cost billions in lost productivity.

    Notes to editors

    Figures are derived from self-reported daily time savings provided by participants, averaged across the full cohort of 20,000 individuals.

    The £45 billion figure is composed of 3 main levers:

    1. Simplify and automate delivery across public sector (£36 billion)
    2. Migrate service processing to cheaper online channels (£4billion)
    3. Reduce fraud and error with digital compliance solutions (£6 billion)

    For further context and detailed analysis, please refer to:

    DSIT media enquiries

    Email press@dsit.gov.uk

    Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 6pm 020 7215 3000

    Updates to this page

    Published 2 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Lloydminster — Lloydminster RCMP advising public of increased police presence – Update #2

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    On May 2, 2025, Lloydminster RCMP responded to a request for assistance from the Wilton Police Service after a vehicle fled a traffic stop related to a series of break and enters in Onion Lake, Sask.

    Lloydminster RCMP General Duty members, along with the General Investigation Section and Police Dog Services, deployed to the area to assist. Officers were advised that the suspect vehicle had crashed through a fence and that two masked individuals had fled the scene on foot.

    Out of an abundance of caution, Lloydminster RCMP liaised with nearby schools to initiate hold and secure protocols while the investigation was ongoing.

    One male suspect has been taken into custody. A second suspect has been identified, and efforts to locate and arrest him are continuing. At this time, there is no ongoing risk to public safety.

    The RCMP would like to thank members of the public for their cooperation and assistance during this investigation. Anyone with information related to this incident is asked to contact the Lloydminster RCMP at 780-808-8400 or your local police detachment. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), online at www.P3Tips.com, or through the “P3 Tips” app available on the Apple App Store or Google Play.

    To report a crime online or to access RCMP news and information, download the Alberta RCMP app from the Apple App Store or Google Play.

    Background

    May 2, 2025

    Lloydminster RCMP advising public of increased police presence – Update

    Lloydminster RCMP is advising that the police incident is now over. Thank-you for your cooperation.

    There will be an update with further information in the days to come.

    Background

    May 2, 2025

    Lloydminster RCMP advising public of increased police presence

    Lloydminster RCMP is advising the public that there is an increased police presence in the south west corner of the city as they search for a suspect who has fled. It is not believed that there is a threat to the general public at this time.

    Please avoid the area and refrain from posting the actions of police on social media. An update will be sent when the incident is over.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Parkland County — Alberta RCMP Major Crimes Unit Investigate homicide in Parkland County – Update #2

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    One year later and the Alberta RCMP continue the investigation into the found remains of 19-year-old Eric Moonias who was located in a treed area south of Spruce Grove in Parkland County on May 15, 2024.

    The body of Eric Moonias was located in a container, and RCMP believe he was transported there from a different location.

    “The Alberta RCMP Major Crimes Unit continue our investigation into the homicide of Eric Moonias” says Constable Peter Crockford of the Alberta RCMP Major Crime Unit, “Anyone with information about his death and his activities in the weeks leading up to his death are asked to call police.”

    If you have any information about the whereabout and activities of Eric Moonias or have information about this crime please call the Parkland RCMP at 825-220-7267. If you want to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), online at www.P3Tips.com or by using the “P3 Tips” app available through the Apple App or Google Play Store.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Invesco Ltd: Form 8.3 – Thruvision Group PLC; Public dealing disclosure

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    FORM 8.3

    PUBLIC DEALING DISCLOSURE BY
    A PERSON WITH INTERESTS IN RELEVANT SECURITIES REPRESENTING 1% OR MORE
    Rule 8.3 of the Takeover Code (the “Code”)

    1. KEY INFORMATION  
       
    (a) Full name of discloser: Invesco Ltd.  
    (b) Owner or controller of interests and short positions disclosed, if different from 1(a):
    The naming of nominee or vehicle companies is insufficient. For a trust, the trustee(s), settlor and beneficiaries must be named.    		    
    (c) Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates:
    Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree    		 Thruvision Group plc  
    (d) If an exempt fund manager connected with an offeror/offeree, state this and specify identity of offeror/offeree:    
    (e) Date position held/dealing undertaken:
    For an opening position disclosure, state the latest practicable date prior to the disclosure    		 30.05.2025  
    (f) In addition to the company in 1(c) above, is the discloser making disclosures in respect of any other party to the offer?
    If it is a cash offer or possible cash offer, state “N/A”    		 N/A  
       
    2. POSITIONS OF THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE  
       
    If there are positions or rights to subscribe to disclose in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 2(a) or (b) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security.  
    (a) Interests and short positions in the relevant securities of the offeror or offeree to which the disclosure relates following the dealing (if any)  
       
    Class of relevant security: 1p ordinary GB00B627R876  
      Interests Short Positions  
      Number % Number %  
    (1) Relevant securities owned and/or controlled: 7,805,872* 4.49      
    (2) Cash-settled derivatives:          
    (3) Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell:          
      Total 7,805,872* 4.49      
    *The change in the holding of 2,332,836 shares since the last disclosure on 14.01.2025 is due to the transfer in of a discretionary holding at 1.45 GBP.  
       
    All interests and all short positions should be disclosed.

    Details of any open stock-settled derivative positions (including traded options), or agreements to purchase or sell relevant securities, should be given on a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions).

    		  
       
       
    (b) Rights to subscribe for new securities (including directors’ and other employee options)  
       
    Class of relevant security in relation to which subscription right exists:    
    Details, including nature of the rights concerned and relevant percentages:    
       
    3. DEALINGS (IF ANY) BY THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE  
       
    Where there have been dealings in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 3(a), (b), (c) or (d) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security dealt in.

    The currency of all prices and other monetary amounts should be stated.

    		  
    (a) Purchases and sales  
       
    Class of relevant security Purchase/sale Number of securities Price per unit  
    1p ordinary GB00B627R876 Sale 230,851 0.01 GBP  
       
    (b) Cash-settled derivative transactions  
       
    Class of relevant security Product description e.g. CFD Nature of dealing e.g. opening/closing a long/short position, increasing/reducing a long/short position Number of reference securities Price per unit  
               
       
    (c) Stock-settled derivative transactions (including options)
     
    (i) Writing, selling, purchasing or varying
     
    Class of relevant security Product description e.g. call option Writing, purchasing, selling, varying etc. Number of securities to which option relates Exercise price per unit Type e.g. American, European etc. Expiry date Option money paid/ received per unit
                   
       
    (ii) Exercise  
       
    Class of relevant security Product description e.g. call option Exercising/ exercised against Number of securities Exercise price per unit  
               
       
    (d) Other dealings (including subscribing for new securities)  
                 
    Class of relevant security Nature of dealing e.g. subscription, conversion Details Price per unit (if applicable)  
             
       
    4. OTHER INFORMATION  
       
    (a) Indemnity and other dealing arrangements  
       
    Details of any indemnity or option arrangement, or any agreement or understanding, formal or informal, relating to relevant securities which may be an inducement to deal or refrain from dealing entered into by the person making the disclosure and any party to the offer or any person acting in concert with a party to the offer:
    Irrevocable commitments and letters of intent should not be included. If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”    		  
    None  
       
    (b) Agreements, arrangements, or understandings relating to options or derivatives  
       
    Details of any agreement, arrangement or understanding, formal or informal, between the person making the disclosure and any other person relating to:
    (i) the voting rights of any relevant securities under any option; or
    (ii) the voting rights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative is referenced:
    If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state “none”    		  
    None  
       
       
    Is a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions) attached? NO  
       
    Date of disclosure 02.06.2025  
    Contact name Philippa Holmes  
    Telephone number +441491417447  
       

    Public disclosures under Rule 8 of the Code must be made to a Regulatory Information Service.

    The Panel’s Market Surveillance Unit is available for consultation in relation to the Code’s disclosure requirements on +44 (0)20 7638 0129.

    The Code can be viewed on the Panel’s website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: ASUS Wins 41 Prestigious Red Dot Design Awards for Product Design 2025, Showcasing World-Class Excellence

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, June 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ASUS today announced that it has been honored with 41 Red Dot Design Awards for Product Design 2025, reinforcing the company’s long-standing reputation for pushing the boundaries of innovation and excellence in product design. These wins highlight the ASUS commitment to creating technology that excels in both form and function, in line with its In Search of Incredible spirit.

    The awards were earned across a wide range of Product Design categories: Computer and Information Technology (35 awards), Mobile Phones, Tablets and Wearables (3), Luggage and Bag (1), TV and Home Entertainment (1), and Communication Technology (1).

    Each product recognized demonstrates a high standard of design, reflecting the ASUS dedication to user-centric innovation and quality craftsmanship.

    About the Red Dot Design Award for Product Design 2025

    The Red Dot Design Award for Product Design is one of the most respected international design competitions, celebrating outstanding product design since 1955.

    This year, entries were submitted from over 60 countries and evaluated by a jury of 43 independent experts from 21 nations — including designers, professors, journalists, and consultants.

    Products were assessed based on four key principles of good design: quality of function, quality of seduction, quality of use, and quality of responsibility.

    Each submission underwent a rigorous evaluation process, with criteria such as innovation, usability, and sustainability playing a central role. The jury carefully reviewed each entry through hands-on testing and in-depth discussions.

    The official list of winners will be published on July 8, 2025, in the Red Dot Winners Section.

    For more information and updates, visit www.asus.com/ca-en/

    2025 Red Dot Design Awards for Product Design Winners
    Accessories ASUS Master Thunderbolt 5 Dock DC510
    ROG SLASH Backpack series
    Displays ROG Swift OLED 27/32 series
    ProArt Display PA27UCGE/PA32UCE
    ProArt Display OLED 32/27 series
    ZenScreen Duo OLED MQ149CD
    ZenScreen Smart MS27UC/ MS32UC
    Networking RT-BE58 Go
    PC cases ProArt PA401
    Storage ASUS Cobble Enclosure
    Gaming PCs ASUS TUF Gaming T5 series
    ROG G7 series
    Commercial laptops ASUS ExpertBook P5 series – P5405
    ASUS ExpertBook P3 series
    ASUS ExpertBook P1 series
    ASUS ExpertBook B3 series
    ASUS ExpertBook B5 series
    ASUS Chromebook CX1 series
    ASUS ExpertBook B1 series
    All-in-one PCs ASUS AiO VM6 Series
    ASUS ExpertCenter AiO P4 series
    Gaming laptops ASUS TUF Gaming A14 (FA401)
    ROG FLOW Z13 (GZ302)
    ROG Strix Scar 16/18 G16/18
    Consumer laptops ASUS Vivobook 14/16 Flip
    ASUS Vivobook Classic series
    ASUS V16
    ASUS Zenbook S 14/16 (UX5406/UX5606)
    ASUS Zenbook A14 (2025)
    Smartphones Zenfone 12 Ultra
    ROG PHONE 9
    ROG PHONE 9 Pro
    Mini PCs ASUS ExpertCenter PN54
    ASUS NUC ASUS NUC 15 Pro
    ASUS NUC 15 Pro+
    Peripherals ROG Azoth Extreme
    ROG Harpe Ace Extreme
    Motherboards ProArt Z890-CREATOR WIFI
    Graphics cards ROG Astral RTX 50 series
    ROG Astral LC RTX 50 series
    TUF Gaming RTX 50 series


    NOTES TO EDITORS

    ASUS Laptops: https://www.asus.com/ca-en/store/laptops/
    ASUS Business Laptops: https://www.asus.com/ca-en/business/laptops/all-series/
    ASUS Gaming Laptops: https://www.asus.com/ca-en/laptops/for-gaming/all-series/
    ASUS Gaming Desktops: https://www.asus.com/us/site/gaming/rog/gaming-desktops/
    ASUS Pressroom: http://press.asus.com
    ASUS Canada Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/asuscanada/
    ASUS Canada Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asus_ca
    ASUS Canada YouTube: https://ca.asus.click/youtube
    ASUS Global X (Twitter): https://www.x.com/asus

    About ASUS

    ASUS is a global technology leader that provides the world’s most innovative and intuitive devices, components, and solutions to deliver incredible experiences that enhance the lives of people everywhere. With its team of 5,000 in-house R&D experts, the company is world-renowned for continuously reimagining today’s technologies. Consistently ranked as one of Fortune’s World’s Most Admired Companies, ASUS is also committed to sustaining an incredible future. The goal is to create a net zero enterprise that helps drive the shift towards a circular economy, with a responsible supply chain creating shared value for every one of us.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/668122c4-0236-4d9f-9f07-e41124cc54b8

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Check Point Software Technologies Recognized as a Best Company to Work For by U.S. News & World Report

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    REDWOOD CITY, Calif., June 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Check Point® Software Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ: CHKP), a pioneer and global leader of cyber security solutions, today announced that U.S. News & World Report has named the company among its 2025-2026 list of Best Companies to Work For. In addition, Check Point was also recognized as a Best Company to Work For in the IT industry.

    This recognition highlights Check Point’s commitment to fostering a culture of innovation, inclusion, and continuous growth across its global workforce. The U.S. News rankings evaluate companies based on metrics that matter most to employees, including quality of pay and benefits, work-life balance, professional development, and workplace culture.

    “We are honored to be recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the Best Companies to Work For,” said Tom DiMartino, Head of Human Resources, Americas at Check Point Software Technologies. “At Check Point, we believe our people are our greatest asset. That’s why we invest deeply in creating an environment where employees can thrive, innovate, and make a real impact.”

    This recognition adds to a series of accolades for Check Point, including being named one of America’s Best Cybersecurity Companies in 2025 by Newsweek and Statista, one of the World’s Best Companies by TIME and Statista in 2024 and earning a spot on the Forbes list of the World’s Best Employers for five consecutive years.

    Check Point continues to grow its global team, offering career opportunities across engineering, cyber threat research, sales, and more. This award underscores the company’s dedication to attracting and retaining top talent in the cybersecurity industry.

    To learn more about career opportunities at Check Point, visit: https://careers.checkpoint.com/

    Follow Check Point via:
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/check-point-software-technologies
    X: https://www.twitter.com/checkpointsw
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/checkpointsoftware
    Blog: https://blog.checkpoint.com/
    YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/CPGlobal

    About Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. 

    Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. (http://www.checkpoint.com/) is a leading protector of digital trust, utilizing AI-powered cyber security solutions to safeguard over 100,000 organizations globally. Through its Infinity Platform and an open garden ecosystem, Check Point’s prevention-first approach delivers industry-leading security efficacy while reducing risk. Employing a hybrid mesh network architecture with SASE at its core, the Infinity Platform unifies the management of on-premises, cloud, and workspace environments to offer flexibility, simplicity and scale for enterprises and service providers.

    Legal Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements  
    This press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements generally relate to future events or our future financial or operating performance. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements related to our expectations regarding future growth, the expansion of Check Point’s industry leadership, the enhancement of shareholder value and the delivery of an industry-leading cyber security platform to customers worldwide. Our expectations and beliefs regarding these matters may not materialize, and actual results or events in the future are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those projected. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are also subject to other risks and uncertainties, including those more fully described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 2, 2024. The forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to Check Point as of the date hereof, and Check Point disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Mimecast Partners with Zscaler to Mitigate Multi-Vector Cyber Threats

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LEXINGTON, Mass., June 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Mimecast, a global cybersecurity leader transforming the way businesses manage and secure human risk, today announced a new strategic integration with Zscaler™. Building on Mimecast’s extensive library of technology integrations, the partnership will help deliver real-time protection by automatically exchanging security intelligence between Mimecast’s email and collaboration security and Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange™ platform.

    Although email remains the number one attack vector, the rise of collaboration tools has increased the attack surface for cybercriminals. According to Mimecast’s 2025 State of Human Risk Report, 61% of organizations say it’s inevitable or likely that their organization will suffer a negative business impact from an attack linked to a collaboration tool in 2025. Mimecast processes seven billion signals across the collaborative landscape each day. In order to fully protect employees, however they work, these signals are shared with technology partners, like Zscaler, to reduce risk, reduce operational complexity, and improve organizational control.

    When the Mimecast platform identifies a threat, a signal will be automatically sent to Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange™ platform to prevent the threat succeeding through another attack vector. For example, if Mimecast blocks a credential harvesting URL, the domain will be shared with Zscaler, so when the threat actor pivots to another vector, such as Teams, Slack or a personal email account, Zscaler will block access based on the signal from Mimecast.

    “Single-point attacks are a thing of the past in cybersecurity. Organizations now face sophisticated and targeted threats that leverage multiple entry points to cast a wider net,” said Mimecast’s Chief Product & Technology Officer Ranjan Singh. “By integrating with Zscaler, joint customers gain essential threat sharing capabilities that will ensure their employees can work confidently regardless of which tool they’re using.”

    In addition to threat mitigation, this technology integration also helps organizations address data loss prevention (DLP) across email and collaboration tools. Layering atop Mimecast’s strong outbound email protections, Zscaler’s DLP provides a view into the content of data in both email text and attachments, scanning them as they leave the customer’s environment. If sensitive content is found, Zscaler provides Mimecast with intelligence and enforces protection based on a wide spectrum of potential orchestrated policy actions.

    The Mimecast – Zscaler technology integration is built to provide joint customers with:

    • Defense in Depth – Best-in-class threat intelligence, based on Mimecast’s processing of 1.8 billion emails per day and 4.6 billion inbound malicious email blocked every month, is shared with Zscaler, providing essential visibility and helping prevent future threats.
    • Operational Efficiency – Security teams benefit from automated protection and control, eliminating the need for multiple policies and manual correlation between platforms, allowing employees to focus on mission-critical tasks.
    • Consistent Data Protection – Organizations can implement consistent data protection policies across and between email, sensitive data, cloud applications and web services. Threat data will be shared between Mimecast and Zscaler aligned with organizational policies to protect employees.

    “Safeguarding data from ongoing threats in a modern, distributed enterprise requires a comprehensive data protection program and threat management as part of the zero-trust architecture,” said Venkat Krishnamoorthi, Vice President, Product Management, Zscaler. “Through the Zscaler and Mimecast partnership, customers can leverage Zscaler’s industry-leading data protection and security platform to inspect specific email traffic, ensuring it is thoroughly reviewed for sensitive content.”

    Mimecast is a gold sponsor at Zenith Live ‘25 from June 2 – 5, 2025 in Las Vegas. Join the company at booth G3 to see the integration in action and to learn more about securing human risk. Mimecast’s VP, Technology Alliances & API Joe Tibbetts will be presenting a session on ‘Integrated Security for Cloud-First Organizations’ on June 3rd at 1:30 p.m. PT.

    About Mimecast 

    Mimecast is a leading cybersecurity company transforming the way businesses manage and secure human risk. Its AI-powered, API-enabled connected human risk platform is purpose-built to protect organizations from the spectrum of cyber threats. Integrating cutting-edge technology with human-centric pathways, our platform enhances visibility and provides strategic insight.

    By enabling decisive action and empowering businesses to protect their collaborative environments, our technology safeguards critical data and actively engages employees in reducing risk and enhancing productivity. More than 42,000 businesses worldwide trust Mimecast to help them keep ahead of the ever-evolving threat landscape.

    From insider risk to external threats, customers get more with Mimecast. More visibility. More agility. More control. More security.

    Mimecast is either registered trademarks or trademarks of Mimecast Services Limited in the United States and/or other countries. All other third-party trademarks and logos contained in this press release are the property of their respective owners. The use of the word ‘partner’ does not imply a partnership relationship between Mimecast and any other company.

    Press Contacts

    Tim Hamilton
    Principal, Global Corporate Communications Manager
    +1 603-918-6757
    thamilton@mimecast.com

    General inquiries
    press@mimecast.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Triller Group Completes Strategic Review and Enters Into an Accelerated Development Phase Focusing on Social Media, Fintech, and Combat Sports

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Los Angeles, June 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Board of Triller Group Inc (Nasdaq: ILLR) (“Triller Group”, “the Group” or “the Company”) is pleased to announce the completion of its strategic review, resulting in the reorganization of the Group into three interconnected core business units: 

    • Social Media (Triller App)
    • Fintech/Financial Service (AGBA Group)
    • Combat Sports (BKFC)

    The Board of the Company extends its gratitude to Mr. Bobby Sarnevesht for his contributions since the acquisition of the predecessor of the Company, or Triller Inc., from its founders in 2019 and wishes him success in his future endeavors.

    As the Company enters into an exciting new phase of growth, it is implementing an accelerated 6-month timeline for development, financing, and rapid scaling of the Group’s three core units.

    Social Media (Triller App)

    Under the leadership of Mr. Sean Kim since December 2024, the Triller app has undergone a significant and rapid transformation. The Triller app now offers one of the best product experience ever compared to its peers. The app is redefining content creation, distribution, and monetization, positioning itself as the premier and distinctive challenger in the U.S.-based social media market. Notably, Triller’s commitment and policy to user data ownership firmly distinguished itself from platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. Mr. Kim and his team are preparing for a comprehensive marketing campaign, building on the success of the January 2025 SaveMySocials.com initiative.

    Fintech/Financial Services

    Triller Group’s seasoned management team brings decades of expertise in integrating cutting edge financial technologies into traditional financial services businesses. The team is in advanced stages to leverage the success of the Triller app and is in the process of developing and launching a cryptocurrency for the Triller community with an industry-leading partner.

    Combat Sports

    BKFC is experiencing another banner year and is rapidly expanding its passionate global audience, spurred on by its visionary leader David Feldman. BKFC has significant synergies with Triller Group’s two other core businesses, and the Company is working to support and explore additional revenue streams for BKFC. The Company believes 2025 will be another breakthrough year for BKFC, and it is not exploring any scenarios that would affect its majority control over BKFC. 

    For the remainder of 2025, the Triller Group management team will focus on (a) delivering marketing-led growth of Triller’s premier suite of product and services, (b) pursuing strategic acquisitions and partnerships to amplify the Group’s core offerings, (c) fostering synergies among the Group’s core business units, (d) strengthening the Group’s financial position and capital efficiency, and (e) minimizing and eliminating any legacy liabilities.

    “Our new strategic roadmap centers on three key objectives: growth, product expansion and financial strength.” stated Wing-Fai Ng, CEO of Triller Group.  “Sean and his team are at the forefront of making our Triller app the most compelling alternative to TikTok. Integrating cryptocurrency into our Triller community will be one of our top priorities in 2025, creating revenue streams for creators and strengthening user engagement. We are also actively pursuing multiple acquisitions and partnerships to accelerate our technological and market leadership, while Sean and I are actively recruiting top talent and reevaluating all aspects of our brand”.

    The Board is currently working with leading executive search professionals to identify and appoint additional Board members, who align with the Company’s vision and add significant value to the business.

    While current and future shareholders should anticipate a period of unprecedented rapid development, the Company’s exciting strategic blueprint marks not the beginning, but an acceleration of the vision outlined since the merger in October 2024.

    Triller Group is committed to its core principles of collaboration, innovation, and transparency, with further updates to be shared in the coming months.

    For additional information, please visit the Investor Relations website at https://trillercorp.com/ir/.

    # # #

    About Triller Group Inc.        

    Nasdaq: ILLR. Triller Group is a U.S.-based company that operates three main businesses: the U.S.-based Triller social media app (“Triller App”), fintech and financial services under the AGBA brand in Hong Kong (“AGBA”), and Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (“BKFC”), one of the fastest growing combat sports franchises in the world.

    Triller App is a next-generation, AI-powered, social media and live-streaming event platform for creators. Pairing music culture with sports, fashion, entertainment, and influencers through a 360-degree view of content and technology, Triller App uses proprietary AI technology to push and track content virally to affiliated and non-affiliated sites and networks, enabling them to reach millions of additional users. For more information, please visit www.trillercorp.com

    Established in 1993, AGBA is a leading, multi-channel business platform in Hong Kong that incorporates cutting edge machine-learning and offers a broad set of financial services and healthcare products to consumers through a tech-led ecosystem, enabling clients to unlock the choices that best suit their needs. Trusted by over 400,000 individual and corporate customers, the Group is organized into four market-leading businesses: Platform Business, Distribution Business, Healthcare Business, and Fintech Business. For more information, please visit www.agba.com.

    Bare-Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) is a Philadelphia-based combat sports franchise dedicated to preserving the historical legacy of bare-knuckle fighting, while utilizing a specifically created rule set that emphasizes fighter safety. BKFC has held over 100 events across the world with record-breaking attendance. For more information, please visit www.bkfc.com.

    Safe Harbor Statement

    This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements that are other than statements of historical facts. When the Company uses words such as “may,” “will,” “intend,” “should,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “project,” “estimate” or similar expressions that do not relate solely to historical matters, it is making forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations discussed in the forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to uncertainties and risks including, but not limited to, the following: the Company’s goals and strategies; the Company’s future business development, including the development and launch of our cryptocurrency; product and service demand and acceptance; changes in technology; economic conditions; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against us; expectations regarding our strategies and future financial performance, including its future business plans or objectives, prospective performance and opportunities and competitors, revenues, products, pricing, operating expenses, market trends, liquidity, cash flows and uses of cash, capital expenditures, and our ability to invest in growth initiatives and pursue acquisition opportunities; reputation and brand; the impact of competition and pricing; government regulations; fluctuations in general economic and business conditions in the U.S., Hong Kong and the international markets the Company plans to serve and assumptions underlying or related to any of the foregoing and other risks contained in reports filed by the Company with the SEC. For these reasons, among others, investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements in this press release. Additional factors are discussed in the Company’s filings with the SEC, which are available for review at www.sec.gov. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly revise these forward–looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that arise after the date hereof.

    Investor & Media Relations:

    Bethany Lai
    ir@triller.co
    investorrelations@triller.co

    # # #

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Pacvue Expands to Discovery Commerce with TikTok Shop & Advertising Integration

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LOS ANGELES, June 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Pacvue, the leading commerce acceleration platform that integrates retail media, commerce management and measurement, today announced the integration of TikTok Shop and Shop Ads into its commerce SaaS solution. Enterprise brands and agencies can now manage their TikTok Shop account operations and advertising through Pacvue’s comprehensive platform, offering a unified view of performance across commerce channels. This integration effort goes beyond just enterprise capabilities, also empowering SMB sellers to expand their ecommerce strategy to TikTok Shop through Helium 10, a Pacvue company. The new integration enables brands and sellers of all sizes to manage their shoppable social campaign strategies, tap into new audiences and optimize performance with Pacvue’s advanced features and tools.

    “Pacvue is a leading platform that seamlessly integrates layers of TikTok Shop and TikTok Shop Ads alongside advanced retail media and commerce activations for 100+ global marketplaces,” said Sunava Dutta, Chief Product Officer at Pacvue. “Brands and agencies are now empowered to unlock the massive potential of discovery commerce, receive 360° insights across their digital presence and gain a significant advantage in the rapidly evolving commerce landscape.”

    This integration of TikTok Shop and TikTok Shop Ads, combined with Pacvue’s existing retail media and commerce activation capabilities, provides a central hub for launching, optimizing and tracking advertising efforts.

    For emerging brands and SMBs, Helium 10, a Pacvue company, delivers the most accessible and powerful way to expand existing ecommerce operations to TikTok Shop. For the first time, sellers will have access to listing tools, financial reporting solutions and inventory management with creator discovery within one subscription through Helium 10.

    “At Helium 10, we’re empowering entrepreneurs worldwide to start, grow and scale their ecommerce businesses, and we’re thrilled to announce that sellers can now expand their ecommerce operations to TikTok Shop directly through Helium 10,” said Zoe Lu, EVP at Helium 10. “Pacvue and Helium 10 can deliver increased sales and revenue, a competitive advantage and data-driven insights to track how campaigns are performing. And we’re excited to bring the power of TikTok Shop to more users.”

    Key features of the integration include:

    • TikTok Shop Setup & Management: Pacvue and Helium 10 offer a seamless TikTok Shop setup directly within the platform, featuring centralized inventory management and leveraging existing marketplace inventory data.
    • TikTok Shop Ads Creation & Management: End-to-end campaign creation, management and optimization for TikTok Shop Ads with access to Pacvue’s advanced tools and capabilities enabling cross-channel consistency.
    • Unified Platform Integration: Holistic management of TikTok Shops and Ads within the same platform used to manage advertising and operations for other marketplaces, including Amazon, Walmart, Target and 100+ other global retailers.

    Together, Pacvue and Helium 10 offer solutions for brands looking to join TikTok Shop for businesses of every size, all powered by one fully integrated commerce operating system trusted by over 70,000+ brands and agencies and a community of 2M+ Chrome extension users.

    To learn more about Pacvue’s TikTok integration and to book a demo, visit: https://pacvue.com/book-a-demo/.

    About Pacvue:
    Pacvue is the leading commerce acceleration platform that integrates retail media, commerce management and measurement. The company’s first-to-market platform drives incrementality, profitability and market share for brands, while turning insights into actionable recommendations. Backed by a global team of experts, Pacvue works with over 70,000 brands and agencies across 95+ retailers worldwide including Amazon, Walmart, Target and Instacart. With the incorporation of Pacvue’s enterprise solution with Helium 10 for SMBs, Pacvue is now the most comprehensive commerce and retail media platform available in the market. Founded in 2018, their global presence includes locations in Seattle, New York, Los Angeles, Washington DC, London, Shanghai and Tokyo. For more information, visit www.pacvue.com.

    The MIL Network –