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Category: Vehicles

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General James Challenges Unlawful Conditions on Federal Transportation Funding

    Source: US State of New York

    EW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James and 19 other attorneys general today sued the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for unlawfully conditioning billions of dollars in critical transportation funding on state cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. On April 24, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced that DOT would cut off funding to any state that refuses to comply with the administration’s immigration agenda – a directive that threatens essential infrastructure projects nationwide. Attorney General James and the coalition argue that the administration’s attempt to tie federal transportation funds to immigration enforcement violates the constitutional separation of powers. The attorneys general are asking the court to block this unlawful attempt to coerce states into carrying out the president’s agenda in exchange for funds allocated by Congress.

    “Once again, the administration is attempting to seize Congress’ power of the purse – this time at the expense of immigrant communities and vital infrastructure projects,” said Attorney General James. “DOT’s blatant overreach threatens to divert critical resources away from public safety and undermine projects that keep our communities connected and safe. We won’t allow the federal government to hold essential funding hostage to advance a political agenda.”

    For over a century, Congress has provided federal funding to states to develop and maintain safe, reliable, and effective transportation infrastructure. Each year, state and local governments receive over $100 billion to build and maintain roads, highways, railways, airways, and bridges that connect communities and help residents travel to work and home. All of this funding is congressionally allocated, with no statutory immigration enforcement conditions attached.

    Now, Attorney General James and the coalition allege that Secretary Duffy and DOT are attempting to seize control of federal funds by imposing an immigration enforcement condition on transportation funding, including funding intended to protect firefighters, repair roads and highways, and ensure safe air travel – funds that have no connection to civil immigration enforcement. The attorneys general contend that the directive has no legal basis and is unconstitutionally coercive, forcing states to choose between protecting public safety and receiving essential federal funding.

    The attorneys general argue that DOT’s unlawful conditions put billions in federal funding necessary for vital public safety and reliable transportation projects at risk, including those that prevent injuries and deaths from traffic accidents, protect riders from train collisions, and help improve airport safety measures – a concern underscored by recent staffing and infrastructure issues at Newark Liberty International Airport that left thousands stranded and exposed critical vulnerabilities in the airport’s aging systems. Among the programs at risk due to this mandate are:

    • Federal-Aid Highway Program, which allocates over $100 billion annually for highway maintenance, safety improvements, and bridge repairs;
    • Federal Transit Administration’s grant programs, which sustain public transit systems that millions of Americans rely on;
    • Federal Railroad Administration’s Rail Crossing Elimination Grant Program, which funds crucial safety upgrades to prevent accidents and fatalities; and
    • Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport Improvement Program, which finances safety enhancements and infrastructure expansions at airports nationwide.

    Without these funds, states will have to scale back or end several critical programs and projects. The attorneys general warn that without these funds, “more cars, planes, and trains will crash,” as vital safety projects are halted or delayed.

    Attorney General James and the coalition contend that DOT is presenting states with an impossible choice. Either states forego the billions of dollars in congressionally allocated funds that keep their transportation systems running safely and smoothly, or they undermine their law-enforcement efforts by diverting resources to enforce federal immigration law. More critically, accepting these unlawful terms would destroy the trust that many states have worked hard to build between immigrant communities and law enforcement. The attorneys general emphasize that immigrants are less likely to report crimes if they fear local authorities may turn them over to federal immigration agents – a chilling effect that would jeopardize public safety.

    New York receives more than $5 billion annually in DOT funding, including $2.8 billion in federal highway funds, $2.3 billion in public transportation funding, $215 million in rail improvement funding, $18.8 million in highway safety funding, and $8.7 million in airport improvement funding.

    Attorney General James and the coalition argue recent aviation tragedies underscore the urgent need for federal transportation funding to support critical safety measures. On January 29, 2025, a mid-air collision between an American Airlines plane and a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter over the Potomac River claimed the lives of all 67 passengers aboard both aircraft. Days later, a regional airline flight crashed off the coast of Alaska, resulting in 10 fatalities. Similar incidents involving small aircraft have occurred in Arizona, Florida, Pennsylvania, and New York, illustrating the critical importance of maintaining funding for programs that prevent such disasters – funding now threatened by DOT’s unlawful directive.

    The attorneys general argue that DOT’s directive was issued without congressional authorization, blatantly disregarding Congress’ intent in allocating transportation funding. The coalition asserts that the administration is unlawfully attempting to leverage federal funds to coerce states into implementing the president’s immigration agenda, which is unlawful.

    Attorney General James and the coalition assert that this immigration enforcement mandate will have life-threatening impacts on nearly every aspect of the nation’s transportation infrastructure, from highways and railroads to airports and public transit systems. They are asking the court to prevent DOT from enforcing the new conditions and to ensure that federal transportation funds remain available to support infrastructure projects as Congress intended.

    Joining Attorney General James in filing this lawsuit are the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Washington, Wisconsin, and Vermont.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE Arizona case sends Phoenix man to 52 months in prison for alien smuggling resulting in death

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    SELLS, Ariz. — A Phoenix-area man was sentenced April 29 to 52 months in prison for his role in transporting two illegal aliens in March 2024, one of whom suffered fatal injuries after jumping out of the vehicle while it was moving. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducted the investigation in this case.

    “Human smuggling is not a victimless crime, it’s illegal and unfortunately at times ends in irreversible tragedy — a life lost in the shadows of greed and disregard,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations Arizona Special Agent in Charge Francisco B. Burrola. “HSI and our partner agencies are committed to preventing not just smuggling activity along the border but to also educate people about the dangers of human smuggling — dying isn’t worth the risk.”

    Cesar Abraam Velasquez-Munoz, 20, of Peoria, previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to transport illegal aliens for profit placing in jeopardy the life of any person and resulting in death.

    On March 6, 2024, Velasquez-Munoz and his co-defendant, Steven Beltran-Lugo, picked up two illegal aliens near the Mexican border with the intent to smuggle them further into the United States. Velasquez-Munoz drove the vehicle while he and Beltran-Lugo communicated with a Phoenix-based smuggling coordinator. At some point, Velasquez-Munoz noticed U.S. Border Patrol agents following their vehicle who verbally instructed Velasquez-Munoz to stop the vehicle. The first illegal alien jumped out of the moving car while it was traveling approximately 45 miles per hour. Velasquez-Munoz then accelerated as the second illegal alien attempted to exit the vehicle, causing him to violently strike the pavement. As a result, he suffered a brain hemorrhage and internal bleeding, ultimately succumbing to his injuries two days later in the hospital.

    The sentencing is the result of the coordinated efforts of Joint Task Force Alpha. JTFA, a partnership with the Department of Homeland Security, has been elevated and expanded by the Attorney General with a mandate to target cartels and transnational criminal organizations to eliminate human smuggling and trafficking networks operating in Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, and Colombia that impact public safety and the security of our borders. JTFA currently comprises detailees from U.S. Attorneys’ Offices along the southwest border. Dedicated support is provided by numerous components of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, led by the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section and supported by the Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, the Office of Enforcement Operations, and the Office of International Affairs, among others. JTFA also relies on substantial law enforcement investment from DHS, the FBI, DEA, and other partners. To date, JTFA’s work has resulted in more than 360 domestic and international arrests of leaders, organizers, and significant facilitators of alien smuggling; more than 330 U.S. convictions; more than 275 significant jail sentences imposed; and forfeitures of substantial assets.

    The United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, Tucson, handled the prosecution.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: 15 Years and Counting: A Unique Solution for Transportation Data Sharing

    Source: US National Renewable Energy Laboratory

    Transportation Secure Data Center Is Growing Its Data Offerings

    The National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s Transportation Secure Data Center features data from more than 19 million miles of in-vehicle and wearable GPS data, more than 26 million miles of data from household travel diaries, and more than 515,000 transit trips from transit studies.

    This year, the Transportation Secure Data Center (TSDC) turns 15 years old, continuing to increase the availability and usability of travel and transit surveys and studies from municipalities, transit agencies, and other entities that want to share their results while protecting participant privacy.

    The TSDC, developed and managed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), provides a secure platform for data owners to contribute their data and for interested researchers and others to study them from new angles, all while prioritizing security to keep survey participants’ private information safe.

    “Often, organizations conducting these surveys are reluctant to share the data because of privacy concerns or simply due to limited staffing,” said NREL’s Joe Fish, a transportation research engineer who oversees TSDC operations. “The TSDC solves these challenges in a creative way and has a strong track record of success.”

    Over the past 15 years, the TSDC has accrued more than 5,000 registered users from universities, automakers, governmental organizations, nonprofits, national laboratories, and other arenas. Building on its foundation of household travel data, the recent addition of transit data expands the variety of offerings found on the platform and informs critical crosscutting research on transportation energy, congestion mitigation, and more, while painting in ever growing detail the picture of how people get around.

    On the Cutting Edge of Transportation Data

    Even from the start, the TSDC was at the forefront of advanced transportation research. Back in the mid-2000s, the transportation data environment saw rapid change with the rise of GPS-based travel surveys. GPS sensors could generate high-fidelity, second-by-second data on people’s travel patterns. This was a boon to travel survey creators, who could use it to track people’s location information without having to rely on participants to recall and document their movements. NREL saw the potential for this detailed GPS data to inform a great variety of mobility research at the lab and beyond.

    In 2010, NREL launched the TSDC with support from the U.S. departments of Transportation and Energy. In the past decade and a half, the TSDC has grown from hosting a few datasets to providing access to more than 19 million miles of in-vehicle and wearable GPS data and more than 26 million miles of data from household travel diaries. To date, data sourced from the TSDC have informed more than 260 research projects and related publications, demonstrating the value of the platform for researchers around the country.

    For NREL, too, the TSDC has informed not only original research but also innovations in other tools and platforms. For example, other NREL-supported data offerings—such as Fleet DNA, FleetREDI, and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Livewire Data Platform—were born out of the same approach to data security as the TSDC, providing multiple layers of access to various kinds of transportation data. Additionally, results from travel studies powered by NREL OpenPATH™—an open-source platform that generates unique datasets of partially automated travel diaries—are also housed in the TSDC. Plus, the GPS data found in the TSDC has informed NREL modeling tools focused on analyzing vehicle operations and mobility behaviors in different travel environments.

    “Advanced NREL modeling tools such as FASTSim™, EVI-Pro, and RouteE were all developed and trained using the millions of data points available in the TSDC, allowing the lab to boast some of the most advanced, accurate, and adaptable tools in the field,” said NREL’s Jeff Gonder, a senior transportation research analyst and the founding project lead for the TSDC. “These tools are as robust as they are because of the TSDC.”

    Not Just a Database

    The TSDC platform provides two layers of access to meet different user needs. The public-facing portal lets anyone access cleansed travel survey data processed to remove any private location information pertaining to survey participants. It also includes detailed spatial data that users can access through the TSDC’s secure portal environment in which researchers can conduct analyses but not export raw data.

    To access the secure portal, users must submit a request to NREL explaining why they want to access the spatial data and how they will use it. Once in the portal to conduct analyses, researchers can reach out to TSDC staff for support, similar to using a digital research library.

    “Interfacing this way with external researchers allows us to better understand the types of data users are seeking and to keep our finger on the pulse of transportation research priorities and potential future partnerships,” said Brennan Borlaug, an NREL research analyst who leads advanced transportation modeling activities at the lab.

    The partners who provide data to the TSDC also benefit, knowing that their data is being carefully stewarded and used for legitimate purposes.

    “Atlanta Regional Commission fully takes advantage of the TSDC as a way to post data and especially to refer folks to the site for data requests and data downloads within a controlled environment,” said Guy Rousseau, transportation models and travel surveys manager for the Atlanta Regional Commission.

    Hands-on engagement from NREL researchers extends from fielding data requests to processing and standardizing incoming datasets. Because every organization developing a travel or transit survey words their questions and organizes their surveys and data differently, NREL processes every incoming dataset to standardize data fields, streamlining how data are presented and allowing for easier data comparisons. The TSDC’s data standardization process greatly expands the number of comparable data points available for analysis, enhancing the collected survey data into something more than the sum of its parts.

    “You don’t have to read hundreds of pages of survey documentation to understand what one data field means—we’ve done that for you,” Borlaug said. “The TSDC’s added value includes routines of data quality control checks and standardized data fields that make it faster for users to glean insights they are looking for.”

    Growing Into the Future

    The TSDC continues to expand, adding new datasets and making connections with more entities to store their data. True to the ethos of making data available for more users, in 2022, the TSDC incorporated the Metropolitan Travel Survey Archive (MTSA), a set of 70 historical travel surveys dating back to the 1960s from numerous public agencies across the United States. The archive was originally curated by a former University of Minnesota professor with funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation. MTSA was transferred to NREL to ensure its continued public availability.

    “NREL’s TSDC provides a reliable, long-term support infrastructure for the Metropolitan Travel Survey Archive,” Fish said.

    The National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s Transportation Secure Data Center recently added transit survey data to its repository. Photo by Werner Slocum, NREL

    Starting in 2023, the TSDC also branched out to include a different kind of travel survey—transit surveys. It now contains data from more than 515,000 transit trips.

    Transit surveys are usually structured differently and provide different kinds of information from household travel surveys, meriting their own new section in the TSDC. Transit agencies conduct surveys to collect data to plan operations and infrastructure and assess performance. The same transit survey data can illuminate ridership patterns, trip purpose, barriers to transit, rider preferences, and more, helping researchers connect the dots between multiple personal modes of transportation tracked in household surveys and the public transportation studied in transit surveys.

    “Transit surveys can help answer a variety of research questions,” Fish said. “It is important to understand how well transit is serving different groups, so you can look at service performance by different demographic characteristics, household characteristics, and spatial distribution around the city.”

    “Transit is also an important part of the transportation energy equation—increasing transit use and reducing single-occupancy vehicle travel could offer significant energy benefits,” Fish added. “So, understanding how the system currently is and isn’t working is valuable for informing future transit system improvements.”

    Continuously on the leading edge, the TSDC provides a means for mobility data, collected for a single use, to live on and be accessed for other purposes in support of answering new research questions and informing transportation decision-making around the country.

    Learn more about NREL’s transportation and mobility research, the Transportation Secure Data Center (TSDC), and other transportation data and tools. And sign up for NREL’s quarterly transportation and mobility research newsletter to stay current on the latest news.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: UPDATE: Man remains in custody in connection with arson attacks

    Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police

    A man arrested in connection with a series of arson attacks remains in police custody.

    The 21-year-old was arrested in the early hours of Tuesday, 13 May on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life.

    He was arrested at an address in Sydenham.

    The man was taken to a London police station, where he currently remains in police custody.

    The arrest relates to three incidents.

    On Monday, 12 May at 01:35hrs, police were alerted by the London Fire Brigade to reports of a fire at a residential address in NW5.

    Officers attended the scene. Damage was caused to the property’s entrance, nobody was hurt.

    As a precaution and due to the property having previous connections with a high-profile public figure, officers from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command are leading the investigation into this fire. Enquiries are ongoing to establish what caused it.

    The investigation team are also considering two other incidents – a vehicle fire in NW5 on Thursday, 8 May and a fire at the entrance of a property in N7 on Sunday, 11 May – and are investigating whether they may be linked to the fire in NW5 on 12 May.

    All three fires are being treated as suspicious at this time, and enquiries remain ongoing.

    Commander Dominic Murphy, Head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, said: “We are working at pace and continue to explore various lines of enquiry to establish the cause of the fires, and any potential motivation for these. A key line of enquiry is whether the fires are linked due to the two premises and the vehicle all having previous links to the same high-profile public figure.

    “We recognise that this investigation may cause concern to other public figures – particularly MPs. The protection of MPs is something we take extremely seriously across the whole of policing and I would encourage any MP who is concerned about their own safety to get in touch with their dedicated local Operation Bridger officer, who can provide further advice and support.

    “In the meantime, our investigation remains ongoing and we will continue to work closely with local officers in the areas affected. Residents can expect to see an increased police presence in those areas over the coming days, but if anyone has concerns, then please speak with a local officer, or call us.”

    Anyone with information that could assist the investigation should call police on 101 quoting CAD 441/12 May.

    We would ask the public to remain vigilant and if they see or hear anything that doesn’t look or feel right, then to report it to police – either by calling police, in confidence, on 0800 789 321 or via www.gov.uk/ACT

    In an emergency, always dial 999.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI USA: ICE, law enforcement partners arrest almost 200 alien offenders during 4-day immigration enforcement operation in Washington, D.C.

    Source: US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

    WASHINGTON — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement working with law enforcement partners apprehended 189 illegal aliens and served notices of inspection to 187 local businesses during an enhanced targeted immigration enforcement operation focusing on criminal alien offenders operating in and around Washington, D.C. May 6 to May 9.

    “The District of Columbia is exponentially safer today because of countless hours of investigative work and dedication to duty displayed by ICE Washington, D.C. and our law enforcement partners,” said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Washington, D.C. Field Office Director Russell Hott. “Working with our partner agencies, ICE officers and agents arrested 189 illegal aliens and removed them from the streets of our nation’s capital. Throughout this enhanced enforcement operation, we targeted the most dangerous alien offenders in some of the most crime-infested neighborhoods in the city of Washington, D.C. Evil is powerless if the good are unafraid. I commend the efforts of everyone involved, as all were truly committed to the success of this operation. ICE Washington, D.C. remains dedicated to our mission of prioritizing public safety by arresting and removing criminal offenders from our nation’s capital and surrounding communities.”

    During the four-day enhanced operation, ICE’s ERO and Homeland Security Investigations directorates and their law enforcement partners from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, the Virginia Department of Corrections, the FBI, the ATF, the DEA, the U.S. Marshals Service and the U.S. State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service targeted criminal alien offenders including members of transnational criminal organizations known to operate in and around Washington, D.C. These organizations include the notorious MS-13, Tren de Aragua and 18th Street gangs.

    “The success of this enhanced operation highlights the resolve of ICE and our federal partners in keeping our country safe from criminal alien offenders,” said ICE Homeland Security Investigations Washington, D.C. Acting Special Agent in Charge Christopher Heck. “Many of the aliens arrested have egregious criminal histories to include violent crimes against residents of our Washington, D.C. communities. I am exceptionally grateful for the professionalism and dedication of our ICE HSI Washington, D.C. special agents as well as the unwavering support from our law enforcement partners during this operation to remove dangerous alien offenders from our Washington, D.C. communities.”

    Aside from targeting criminal alien offenders at large, ICE also served 187 notices of inspection to Washington, D.C. business to ensure they are complying with U.S. immigration and employment laws.

    “Thanks to President Trump’s leadership and this administration’s focus on law and order, these arrests represent a major step forward in making Washington, D.C., safer for legal citizens and their families,” said U.S. Attorney Edward R. Martin Jr. “These arrests make clear that violating our nation’s immigration laws will not be ignored.”

    ICE and their law enforcement partners made many of the apprehensions after local jurisdictions refused to honor immigration detainers and released the alien offenders back into their communities.

    “The Diplomatic Security Service is a key partner in the United States’ work to reduce illegal immigration and root out those who endeavor to exploit the U.S. travel system,” said Diplomatic Security Service Washington Field Office Special Agent in Charge David Richeson. “DSS proudly coordinates with our U.S. and international law enforcement partners to investigate transnational crimes and apprehend fugitives who violate U.S. law.”

    Among those arrested during the enhanced targeted operation include the following:

    • A 47-year-old illegally present Guatemalan alien whose criminal history includes drug possession, illegal reentry, aggravated assault, trespassing, disorderly conduct and sexual assault. His current criminal charges include unlawful reentry of a previously deported alien, disorderly conduct, lewd acts, possession of a controlled substance, sex abuse, assault with a dangerous weapon and possessing an open container. Additionally, he has numerous gang-affiliated tattoos on his arms, legs and chest.

    • A 25-year-old illegally present Guatemalan alien whose criminal history includes threat to kidnap, attempted possession of a prohibited weapon, threats to bodily harm and simple assault. He is currently charged with alien present without admission or parole.

    • A 30-year-old illegally present Salvadoran alien whose criminal history includes simple assault, driving while intoxicated, brandishing a machete and unauthorized use of a vehicle. He is currently charged with alien present without admission or parole. 

    • A 36-year-old illegally present Mexican alien whose criminal history includes misdemeanor larceny, misdemeanor indecent exposure, possession of an open container, simple assault, theft, unlawful entry, and possession of prohibited weapon – knife, a misdemeanor. He is currently charged with being an alien present without admission or parole.

    Members of the public can report crimes and suspicious activity by dialing 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.

    Learn more about ICE’s mission to increase public safety in our communities on X at @EROWashington.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA News: FOUR-YEAR LOW: Prices for Essentials Fall as Workers See Relief in President Trump’s Economy

    Source: The White House

    Inflation has fallen to the lowest level in more than four years as April’s Consumer Price Index smashes expectations for the third straight month in President Donald J. Trump’s Golden Age.

    Here’s what you need to know:

    • Grocery prices saw their largest decline in nearly five years.
    • Gas prices fell for the third month in a row.
    • Egg prices saw the largest one-month decline in more than four decades.
    • Workers’ real wages are up 1.9%, increasing each of the last three months.
    • Prices for airfare, energy, hotels, and used vehicles are all down compared to last year.

    Here’s what they’re saying:

    • Bloomberg’s Augusta Saraiva: “US inflation rose by less than forecast in April amid tame prices for clothing and new cars, suggesting little urgency so far by companies to pass along the cost of higher tariffs to consumers.”
    • Investopedia Editor-in-Chief Caleb Silver: “The smoke was much worse than the fire … A big part of that was the drop in gasoline prices. This is very significant for households … That drop in gasoline and energy prices — a big deal.”
    • Fox Business Network’s Maria Bartiromo: “Oil is down, eggs are down, food is down. We’re seeing that reflected, so all that hysteria over tariffs is not showing up in these numbers.”
    • USA TODAY: Inflation eased to 4-year low in April as Trump’s tariffs took effect, CPI report shows
      • “Prices for groceries, including eggs, used cars and airfares all fell sharply.”
    • Bloomberg: US Consumer Prices Rose Less Than Expected in April
      • “The pace is the slowest since the sprinsg of 2021 when inflation broke out in earnest.”
      • “Grocery prices were down 0.4% on the month, and eggs fell 12.7%, the most since 1984, validating some of President Donald Trump’s messaging.”
    • NBC News: April consumer price index report shows inflation dropped to slowest pace since 2021

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Disrupting criminal finances in Africa: INTERPOL’s Silver Notice

    Source: Interpol (news and events)

    NAIROBI, Kenya – Law enforcement and financial crime experts from across Africa have gathered for a workshop dedicated to promoting and implementing the INTERPOL Silver Notice and Diffusion.

    Organized crime in Africa, as in other regions, thrives on illicit financial flows and the laundered proceeds of crimes such as scams, illegal logging, terrorism and corruption. These crimes are increasingly supported by complex financial structures that span borders.

    Launched in January 2025, the INTERPOL Silver Notice allows participating countries to request information related to criminal assets — such as real estate, vehicles, financial accounts, or businesses — with links to individuals suspected or charged of various offences including fraud, drug trafficking and migrant smuggling. The mechanism supports cross-border intelligence exchange and can lay the groundwork for subsequent requests for asset seizure or confiscation under national legal frameworks.

    The Silver Notice, currently in pilot across 51 countries, is one of several tools—alongside the I-GRIP stop-payment mechanism—empowering agencies to move swiftly against illicit finances and fraud.

    The four-day event (13-16 May) brings together 85 participants from 12 pilot African countries including representatives from INTERPOL National Central Bureaus, financial intelligence units, prosecutors’ offices, judicial authorities and asset recovery focal points. This regional session follows similar workshops held in the Americas and Europe earlier this year.

    Mohamed I. Amin, Director of Kenya’s Directorate of Criminal Investigations, said:

    “The Silver Notice is more than a tool, it is a symbol of global solidarity against crime. By targeting illicit wealth, we strike at the heart of criminal enterprises and uphold justice. Let us commit to leveraging this mechanism, ensuring that crime never pays, anywhere, at any time.”

    Theos Badege, Director pro tempore of INTERPOL’s Financial Crime and Corruption Centre said:

    “Money is the thread that runs through almost every form of organized crime. For some, it’s the motive; for others, the means. To dismantle criminal networks, we must follow the money—identify it, trace it, and disrupt the financial systems that enable these operations to survive and expand.”

    INTERPOL Silver Notice/ Diffusion Pilot: Regional Workshop for Africa

    IFCACC Director: Theos Badege, Director pro tempore of INTERPOL’s Financial Crime and Corruption Centre

    Alena Kern, Head of Development Cooperation of the German Embassy

    DCI Director: Mohamed I. Amin, Director of Kenya’s Directorate of Criminal Investigations

    Building capacity for maximum impact

    Throughout the workshop, participants will explore how to leverage INTERPOL’s full range of capabilities—including its Notices, databases, expert networks, and operational support tools—to conduct financial investigations and disrupt criminal economies. Sessions also focus on emerging technologies, such as the use of cryptocurrencies and blockchain in laundering illicit funds.

    Interactive table-top exercises and case-based discussions are designed to encourage regional exchange, identify common challenges and stimulate the practical use of Silver Notices in ongoing cases.

    The workshop was supported by German Development Cooperation through the GIZ Global Program Combatting Illicit Financial Flows and the GIZ Program on Strengthening Good Governance in Kenya, as well as the EU-joint action SecFin Africa.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Six Defendants Sentenced for Their Roles in Drug Trafficking Organization

    Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) State Crime News

    ATLANTA – Six members of a drug trafficking organization have been sentenced for their roles in distributing deadly fentanyl and methamphetamine throughout the metro-Atlanta area.

    “These defendants distributed substantial amounts of fentanyl and methamphetamine with no regard for the grave public safety risk,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Richard S. Moultrie, Jr. “Our Office will continue to closely coordinate with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to prosecute drug traffickers and prevent dangerous narcotics from poisoning our communities.”

    “These drug traffickers endangered countless lives by distributing large quantities of deadly fentanyl and methamphetamine,” Jae W. Chung, the Acting Special Agent in Charge of the DEA Atlanta Division commented on the case. “DEA will continue to aggressively pursue the criminals that contribute to the drug crisis.”

    “This case highlights the critical role Homeland Security Investigations plays in dismantling transnational drug trafficking organizations operating in our communities,” said Steven N. Schrank, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Georgia and Alabama. “The defendants in this case were responsible for introducing massive quantities of deadly narcotics into the metro-Atlanta area—methamphetamine that was trafficked across borders, chemically altered, and distributed without regard for the devastating impact on public health and safety. Through the combined efforts of HSI and our federal, state, and local partners, we’ve disrupted a dangerous supply chain and brought key members of this organization to justice.”

    According to Acting U.S. Attorney Moultrie, the charges, and other information presented in court: In 2022, federal special agents discovered that a drug trafficking organization (DTO) was distributing drugs obtained from a Mexico-based supplier throughout metro-Atlanta. These drugs included methamphetamine which arrived from Mexico in liquid form and was converted to crystal methamphetamine.

    During an early phase of the investigation, defendant Erik Rosales-Lopez was arrested in December 2022 at a residence used to process liquid methamphetamine that had been mixed with paint. Rosales Lopez had distributed methamphetamine on three previous occasions, including to an undercover agent. During a search of his residence, investigators seized 11 kilograms of finished crystal methamphetamine. 

    In April 2023, agents surveilled defendants Brayan Garcia-Picasso and Bryan Pacheco-Carranza as they left a residence believed to be used as a methamphetamine lab. Local law enforcement then conducted a traffic stop of their vehicle. Police officers seized approximately 16 kilograms of methamphetamine during a search of the vehicle. Agents later searched the residence as well and, while doing so, confirmed that the location was a methamphetamine lab. The agents found approximately six kilograms of methamphetamine and methamphetamine conversion equipment on the premises.

    Following the arrests of Garcia-Picasso and Pacheco-Carranza, agents continued to investigate the DTO. In June 2023, defendant Alex Chamorro-Valencia was arrested after a search of a vehicle he was driving was found to contain nearly a kilogram of methamphetamine. Investigators also searched the residence from which he was seen departing and discovered a second methamphetamine lab used by the DTO. Agents recovered 15 gallons of liquid methamphetamine and 135 kilograms of finished crystal methamphetamine in the residence. Defendant Hedgarciney Gameno-Cortez was encountered in the residence and arrested.  

    The following defendants were convicted and sentenced:

    • Juventino Rodriguez was sentenced earlier today by U.S. District Judge Victoria M. Calvert to 54 months in prison followed by four years of supervised release. Rodriguez was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl after he pled guilty on December 19, 2024.
    • Garcia-Picasso was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Michael L. Brown to 12-and-a-half years in prison followed by four years of supervised release. Garcia-Picasso was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine after he pled guilty on November 7, 2023.
    • Pacheco-Carranza was sentenced by Judge Brown to six years in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Pacheco-Carranza was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine after he pled guilty on January 18, 2024.
    • Chamorro-Valencia was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Eleanor L. Ross to eight years in prison followed by four years of supervised release. Chamorro-Valencia was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine after he pled guilty on October 16, 2023.
    • Hedgarciney Gameno-Cortez was sentenced by Judge Ross to eight years in prison followed by four years of supervised release. Gameno-Cortez was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and cocaine after he pled guilty on February 28, 2024.
    • Erik Josue Rosales-Lopez was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Steven D. Grimberg to seven years in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Rosales-Lopez was convicted of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine after he pled guilty on July 31, 2023.

    The case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations, with valuable assistance from the Clayton County Police Department, Henry County Police Department, Georgia State Patrol, DeKalb County Police Department, Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, and Cobb County Sheriff’s Office.

    Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lauren E. Renaud and Sandra E. Strippoli, and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Zachary Howard, prosecuted the case. 

    This effort is part of an Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) operation. The specific mission of the David G. Wilhelm Atlanta OCDETF Strike Force (Atlanta Strike Force) is to eliminate transnational organized crime syndicates and major drug trafficking and money laundering organizations in the Atlanta metropolitan area and the Northern District of Georgia. To accomplish this mission, the Atlanta Strike Force will target these organizations’ leaders, focusing on targets designated as Consolidated Priority Organization Targets, Regional Priority Organization Targets, and their associates.  The Atlanta Strike Force is comprised of agents and officers from ATF, DEA, FBI, HSI, USMS, USPIS, and IRS, as well as numerous state and local agencies; and the prosecution is being led by the Office of the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia.

    For further information please contact the U.S. Attorney’s Public Affairs Office at USAGAN.PressEmails@usdoj.gov or (404) 581-6280.  The Internet address for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia is http://www.justice.gov/usao-ndga.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Lunenburg County — Police arrest two people from Lunenburg County for drug trafficking

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    The South Shore Integrated Street Crime Enforcement Unit has arrested two people from Lunenburg County for drug trafficking in Lunenburg and Queens Counties.

    On May 8, police conducted a targeted traffic stop in Hebbville as part of an investigation into drug trafficking in Lunenburg and Queens Counties. Officers safely arrested a 30-year-old woman and a 26-year-old man, both of Lunenburg County. A short time later, police executed a search warrant at a home on Charles Boliver Rd. in Conquerall Mills. Officers seized a quantity of cocaine, hydromorphone, cash, ammunition and mobile devices during a search of the vehicle and home.

    The woman and man were released on conditions by police to face drug trafficking charges. They are scheduled to appear in Bridgewater Provincial Court on August 20.

    The investigation, which is ongoing, is being led by the South Shore Integrated Street Crime Enforcement Unit with assistance of the Criminal Intelligence Service of Nova Scotia, Lunenburg District RCMP and the Bridgewater Police Service.

    Nova Scotians are encouraged to contact their nearest RCMP detachment or local police to report crime, including the illegal sale of drugs, in their communities. Anonymous tips can be made by calling Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers, toll-free, at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submitting a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca, or using the P3 Tips app.

    Note: The South Shore Integrated Street Crime Enforcement Unit is made up of members of the Lunenburg District RCMP and Bridgewater Police Service.

    File # 2025-503339

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Global AI In Cybersecurity Market Expected to Reach $219 Billion By 2034 as Frequency of Cyber Threats Increase

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PALM BEACH, Fla., May 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FN Media Group News Commentary – Artificial Intelligence (AI) in cybersecurity refers to the use of artificial intelligence technologies to improve the detection, prevention, and response to cyber threats. The AI in cybersecurity market revenue is witnessing rapid growth as organizations increasingly adopt AI-code tools to strengthen their defense mechanisms against evolving cyberattacks. A report from POLARIS MARKET RESEARCH said that: “The global AI in cybersecurity market was valued at USD 25.40 billion in 2024. It is expected to grow from USD 31.38 billion in 2025 to USD 219.53 billion by 2034, at a CAGR of 24.1% during the forecast period.” It continued: “One of the key drivers of this market is the rising complexity and frequency of cyber threats, which traditional methods struggle to address. A 2024 report by the International Telecommunication Sector revealed that 8 billion records were breached in 2023, with over 2,800 incidents reported. The average cost of a data breach has increased by 15% in the past three years, totaling approximately USD 3.3 million for small businesses in North America, further boosting the AI in cybersecurity market expansion. Additionally, AI-powered solutions analyze vast volumes of data in real time, identifying irregularities and patterns indicative of potential breaches, thus providing proactive protection. The IoT and the expansion of connected devices generate vast amounts of data and often lack robust security measures, making them vulnerable to exploitation and creating a larger attack surface for cyber threats. A November 2024 CSIS report revealed that the UK’s National Cyber Security Center (NCSC) identified a three-fold increase in cyberattacks compared to 2023. The NCSC supported 430 incidents, with 89 deemed nationally significant, and recognized China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea as key threats. Additionally, AI-powered cybersecurity solutions are crucial in this context as they enable real-time monitoring and threat detection across multiple endpoints.” Active companies in cybersecurity news today include Cycurion Inc. (NASDAQ: CYCU), Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG), Zscaler, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZS), F5, Inc. (NASDAQ: FFIV), CyberArk (NASDAQ: CYBR).

    POLARIS MARKET continued: “These solutions can identify and mitigate potential risks, ensuring the integrity and security of interconnected systems by leveraging machine learning algorithms. The growing reliance on IoT devices is driving the AI in cybersecurity market demand to safeguard critical infrastructures and sensitive data. Data breaches and unauthorized access lead to substantial financial and reputational damage, making robust cybersecurity measures essential. Thereby encouraging companies to invest in AI tools for cybersecurity. For instance, in August 2024, IBM launched a generative AI cybersecurity assistant to improve threat detection and response, enabling consultants to advance alert investigations. Additionally, AI enhances data protection by using advanced analytics and predictive capabilities to detect vulnerabilities and prevent unauthorized access, with the increasing volume of sensitive information being exchanged and stored digitally. Its ability to adapt to emerging threats and provide automated responses ensures comprehensive security for sensitive information, addressing the critical need for data protection.”

    Cycurion Inc. (NASDAQ:CYCU) Secures $33 Million Contract Renewal to Enhance Cybersecurity for State- Level Public Higher Education Institutions –  Cycurion (“Cycurion” or the “Company”), a trusted leader in IT cybersecurity solutions and AI, announces that it has been awarded a significant contract renewal by a major state-level public higher education group. Under this renewed agreement, Cycurion will deliver comprehensive cybersecurity services to member universities and colleges within the group, ensuring they are equipped to defend their education-focused operations and digital assets against the ever-evolving landscape of cyber threats. The renewal, valued at $33 million over the five-year term, extends Cycurion’s partnership through November 2030.

    Comprehensive Cybersecurity Services – As part of this renewed contract, Cycurion will provide an extensive suite of cybersecurity and governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) 24x7x365 managed support services, which include:

    •        Enterprise Security Strategy: Developing a holistic approach to security that aligns with institutional goals and protects valuable digital assets

    •        Risk & Vulnerability Assessment & Testing: Continuous evaluation and testing of security measures to identify vulnerabilities and enhance defenses

    •        Disaster Recovery: Strategies and solutions to restore systems and data after disruptive events

    •        Business Continuity Planning: Ensuring ongoing operations during and after a security incident

    •        Forensics and Recovery Services: Comprehensive support for incident investigation and data recovery

    •        Regulatory Compliance Analysis: Assisting institutions in meeting federal and state compliance requirements

    “We are honored to continue serving this key state-level public higher education group customer,” said L. Kevin Kelly, CEO of Cycurion. “The contract underscores the capabilities and value proposition of Cycurion’s suite of managed information technology support services and our commitment to minimizing cybersecurity risk for our education vertical clients.”

    Opportunity for Broader Access – In addition to the member institutions of this State- Level Public Higher Education Group, any university or governmental entity across the United States can leverage this contract vehicle to access our cybersecurity services. The contract provides a streamlined pathway for educational and governmental organizations to enhance their cybersecurity posture without the need for an extensive procurement process.   CONTINUED…   Read this entire press release and more news for CYCU at: https://www.financialnewsmedia.com/news-cycu/

    In other developments in the markets of note:

    Alphabet Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) – Google LLC recently announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Wiz, Inc., a leading cloud security platform headquartered in New York, for $32 billion, subject to closing adjustments, in an all-cash transaction. Once closed, Wiz will join Google Cloud.

    This acquisition represents an investment by Google Cloud to accelerate two large and growing trends in the AI era: improved cloud security and the ability to use multiple clouds (multicloud).

    Both cybersecurity and cloud computing are rapidly growing industries with a vast range of solutions. The increased role of AI, and adoption of cloud services, have dramatically changed the security landscape for customers, making cybersecurity increasingly important in defending against emergent risks and protecting national security.

    Zscaler, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZS), the leader in cloud security, recently published its Zscaler ThreatLabz 2025 Phishing Report, analyzing over two billion blocked phishing attempts between January and December 2024 captured by the Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange™, the world’s largest cloud security platform. The annual report exposes how cybercriminals are using Generative AI to launch surgical, targeted attacks against high-impact business functions – and why a Zero Trust + AI defense strategy is mission critical. The report uncovers a shift from high-volume email blasts to targeted, AI-fueled attacks designed to evade defenses and exploit human behavior. It also offers actionable insight to help organizations defend against this evolving threat landscape.

    “The phishing game has changed. Attackers are using GenAI to create near-flawless lures and even outsmart AI-based defenses,” said Deepen Desai, CSO and Head of Security Research, Zscaler. “Cybercriminals are weaponizing AI to evade detection and manipulate victims, which means organizations must leverage equally advanced AI-powered defenses to outpace these emerging threats. Our research reinforces the importance of adopting a proactive, multi-layered approach—combining robust zero trust architecture with advanced AI-driven phishing prevention—to effectively combat the rapidly evolving threat landscape.”

    F5 (NASDAQ: FFIV) recently unveiled broad cybersecurity enhancements to the F5 Application Delivery and Security Platform (ADSP) that significantly improve organizations’ ability to identify and remediate vulnerabilities and threats to AI and other modern applications. These new enhancements enable enterprises to strengthen security for business-critical applications in an increasingly risky threat landscape. The F5 ADSP is the industry’s only platform that fully converges high-performance load balancing and traffic management with advanced app and API security capabilities.

    The F5 ADSP is the most complete application security offering for enterprises looking to address the increasingly complex cybersecurity challenges inherent in today’s AI-driven hybrid multicloud world. Similar to Endpoint Protection Platforms (EPP) built to secure endpoints and Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) platforms built to secure network access, F5’s ADSP is built to consolidate disparate tools for securing apps and APIs into a single comprehensive platform, enabling organizations to simplify their security footprint while offering broader protection against enhanced threats.

    CyberArk (NASDAQ: CYBR), the global leader in identity security, recently announced its 2024 Partner of the Year Award winners. The awards honor top-performing CyberArk partners who have consistently delivered exceptional customer value, spearheading new identity security transformation and adoption to help customers defend against the rapidly expanding attack surface.

    CyberArk partners play a critical role in helping organizations strengthen their identity security programs. By driving value and modernizing customers’ identity security strategies, they position organizations to keep pace with evolving threats—all powered by a unified platform built to secure every identity, across humans, AI and machines. The CyberArk Partner Network is one of the industry’s largest global networks of security-focused partners, with more than 1,800 global systems integrators (GSIs), managed service providers (MSPs), solution providers, strategic outsourcers, advisories and distributors, as well as global and regional marketplaces.

    About FN Media Group:

    At FN Media Group, via our top-rated online news portal at www.financialnewsmedia.com, we are one of the very few select firms providing top tier one syndicated news distribution, targeted ticker tag press releases and stock market news coverage for today’s emerging companies. #tickertagpressreleases #pressreleases

    Follow us on Facebook to receive the latest news updates: https://www.facebook.com/financialnewsmedia

    Follow us on Twitter for real time Market News: https://twitter.com/FNMgroup

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    DISCLAIMER: FN Media Group LLC (FNM), which owns and operates Financialnewsmedia.com and MarketNewsUpdates.com, is a third party publisher and news dissemination service provider, which disseminates electronic information through multiple online media channels. FNM is NOT affiliated in any manner with any company mentioned herein. FNM and its affiliated companies are a news dissemination solutions provider and are NOT a registered broker/dealer/analyst/adviser, holds no investment licenses and may NOT sell, offer to sell or offer to buy any security. FNM’s market updates, news alerts and corporate profiles are NOT a solicitation or recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities. The material in this release is intended to be strictly informational and is NEVER to be construed or interpreted as research material. All readers are strongly urged to perform research and due diligence on their own and consult a licensed financial professional before considering any level of investing in stocks. All material included herein is republished content and details which were previously disseminated by the companies mentioned in this release. FNM is not liable for any investment decisions by its readers or subscribers. Investors are cautioned that they may lose all or a portion of their investment when investing in stocks. For current services performed FNM was compensated fifty two hundred dollars for news coverage of the current press releases issued by Cycurion Inc. by a non-affiliated third party.  FNM HOLDS NO SHARES OF ANY COMPANY NAMED IN THIS RELEASE.

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

    Contact Information:

    Media Contact email: editor@financialnewsmedia.com – +1(561)325-8757 

    SOURCE: FN Media Group

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Growing Prevalence of Cyber Threats Causing Tech Companies to Invest Heavily in AI-Powered Cybersecurity Solutions

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PALM BEACH, Fla., May 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — FN Media Group News Commentary – The Artificial Intelligence (Al) in cybersecurity market is rapidly expanding as organizations increasingly adopt Al-driven solutions to improve threat detection, prevention, and response to evolving cyber risks. The network security segment dominated the Al in cybersecurity market expansion in 2024 due to the critical need to safeguard organizational networks from evolving cyber threats. A report from an industry insider said that: “The global AI in cybersecurity market assessment, based on type, includes network security, endpoint security, application security, and cloud security. The network security segment dominated the AI in cybersecurity market expansion in 2024 due to the critical need to safeguard organizational networks from evolving cyber threats. Securing networks against malware, phishing, and ransomware attacks has become a top priority as enterprises increasingly adopt digital transformation initiatives and cloud-based infrastructures. AI-powered network security solutions excel in real-time traffic analysis, abnormality detection, and proactive threat mitigation, ensuring robust protection of sensitive data and operational continuity. This essential role in securing core systems and communications highlights the network security segment’s dominance. The global AI in cybersecurity market evaluation, based on application, includes identity & access management, risk & compliance management, data loss prevention, unified threat management, fraud detection/ anti-fraud, threat intelligence, others. The data loss prevention segment is expected to witness the fastest AI in cybersecurity market growth during the forecast period due to the rising emphasis on safeguarding sensitive and confidential information.”   Active companies in cybersecurity news today include Cycurion Inc. (NASDAQ: CYCU), Cloudflare, Inc. (NYSE: NET), Palo Alto Networks® (NASDAQ: PANW), Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ: AVGO), CrowdStrike (NASDAQ: CRWD).

    The report continued: “Organizations face heightened risks of accidental leaks or intentional data breaches with increasing volumes of data being generated and exchanged. AI-driven DLP solutions offer advanced capabilities to monitor, identify, and prevent unauthorized data transfers or exposure, ensuring compliance with strict data protection regulations such as Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDPA), California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), and others. This growing need for robust data security across industries positions the DLP segment for accelerated adoption during the forecast period.   North America dominated the AI in cybersecurity market revenue in 2024 due to the region’s advanced technological infrastructure and high adoption of innovative security solutions. The presence of major cybersecurity companies such as IBM and AWS and early adopters of AI-driven technologies across industries such as finance, healthcare, and government especially contributed to market dominance.”

    Cycurion Inc. (NASDAQ:CYCU) Secures $33 Million Contract Renewal to Enhance Cybersecurity for State- Level Public Higher Education Institutions – Cycurion (“Cycurion” or the “Company”), a trusted leader in IT cybersecurity solutions and AI, announces that it has been awarded a significant contract renewal by a major state-level public higher education group. Under this renewed agreement, Cycurion will deliver comprehensive cybersecurity services to member universities and colleges within the group, ensuring they are equipped to defend their education-focused operations and digital assets against the ever-evolving landscape of cyber threats. The renewal, valued at $33 million over the five-year term, extends Cycurion’s partnership through November 2030.

    Comprehensive Cybersecurity Services – As part of this renewed contract, Cycurion will provide an extensive suite of cybersecurity and governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) 24x7x365 managed support services, which include:

    •        Enterprise Security Strategy: Developing a holistic approach to security that aligns with institutional goals and protects valuable digital assets

    •        Risk & Vulnerability Assessment & Testing: Continuous evaluation and testing of security measures to identify vulnerabilities and enhance defenses

    •        Disaster Recovery: Strategies and solutions to restore systems and data after disruptive events

    •        Business Continuity Planning: Ensuring ongoing operations during and after a security incident

    •        Forensics and Recovery Services: Comprehensive support for incident investigation and data recovery

    •        Regulatory Compliance Analysis: Assisting institutions in meeting federal and state compliance requirements

    “We are honored to continue serving this key state-level public higher education group customer,” said L. Kevin Kelly, CEO of Cycurion. “The contract underscores the capabilities and value proposition of Cycurion’s suite of managed information technology support services and our commitment to minimizing cybersecurity risk for our education vertical clients.”

    Opportunity for Broader Access – In addition to the member institutions of this State- Level Public Higher Education Group, any university or governmental entity across the United States can leverage this contract vehicle to access our cybersecurity services. The contract provides a streamlined pathway for educational and governmental organizations to enhance their cybersecurity posture without the need for an extensive procurement process.   CONTINUED…   Read this entire press release and more news for CYCU at: https://www.financialnewsmedia.com/news-cycu/

    In other developments in the markets of note:

    Cloudflare, Inc. (NYSE: NET), the leading connectivity cloud company, recently announced a wave of global technology companies, including Asana, Atlassian, Block, PayPal, Sentry, Stripe, and more, are working with Cloudflare to create powerful AI experiences through Anthropic’s AI assistant, Claude. These software companies are enabling Claude and other AI assistants to securely interact with their services on behalf of users, through connections built on Cloudflare Workers. Now users can complete tasks and interact with their favorite business tools through natural conversations with Claude, rather than working directly in the application.

    AI is already transforming the way we work by helping to edit emails, generate code, and analyze data. However, it still often requires the user to switch between multiple applications, tabs, and tools to implement the actions it recommends. For truly autonomous, agentic AI experiences, AI tools should be able to act on the user’s behalf. That can only happen if AI tools can directly interact with business software tools. MCP servers allow AI platforms to connect directly to the popular tools where data resides so the user can send an email, answer a question about a marketing campaign, or create invoices–all without leaving the AI assistant. But delivering reliable, low-latency, and secure access to external tools and data is a significant technical challenge, especially at global scale.

    Palo Alto Networks® (NASDAQ: PANW), the global cybersecurity leader, and the National Hockey League (NHL®) recently unveiled Cortex XSIAM® 3.0, the next evolution of its industry-leading SecOps platform, bolstered with proactive exposure management and advanced email security, enabling customers to further consolidate on Cortex for significantly better, faster and more cost-effective security operations.

    Three years ago, Palo Alto Networks anticipated the future of security operations by introducing Cortex XSIAM, which consolidates and normalizes all cybersecurity data to fuel advanced, real-time analytics and automation, making disjointed point products obsolete. The best-selling platform surged past $1 billion cumulative bookings in FY25 Q2, making it our fastest offering to reach this milestone. Earlier this year, Palo Alto Networks doubled down on cloud security with the introduction of Cortex Cloud, converging its industry-leading CNAPP and CDR capabilities on the unified Cortex platform.

    Broadcom Inc. (NASDAQ: AVGO) recently announced Incident Prediction, an industry-first security capability that extends Adaptive Protection, a unique feature of Symantec Endpoint Security Complete (SES-C), by leveraging AI to identify and disrupt living-off-the land (LOTL) attacks and other cyberthreats.

    Trained on a catalog of over 500,000 real-world attack chains built by the world-class Symantec Threat Hunter Team, Incident Prediction puts the advantage back in defenders’ hands by: predicting attackers’ behaviors, preventing their next move in the attack chain even when they’re using legitimate software, and then quickly returning the enterprise to its normal state. With Incident Prediction, SES-C delivers exceptional cyber resilience against motivated adversaries.

    CrowdStrike (NASDAQ: CRWD) recently released its 2025 State of SMB Cybersecurity Report, uncovering a widening gap between cybersecurity awareness and readiness among small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). While 93% of SMBs consider themselves knowledgeable about cybersecurity risks and 83% report having a plan in place, just 36% are investing in new tools – and only 11% have adopted AI-powered defenses.

    Based on insights from SMB decision-makers across industries and company sizes, the research reveals that despite rising awareness, most SMBs still lack the budget, tools and in-house expertise to stop modern threats. With attacks becoming more advanced and frequent, SMBs need protection that’s easy to use, affordable to deploy and built to scale with their business.

    About FN Media Group:

    At FN Media Group, via our top-rated online news portal at www.financialnewsmedia.com, we are one of the very few select firms providing top tier one syndicated news distribution, targeted ticker tag press releases and stock market news coverage for today’s emerging companies. #tickertagpressreleases #pressreleases

    Follow us on Facebook to receive the latest news updates: https://www.facebook.com/financialnewsmedia

    Follow us on Twitter for real time Market News: https://twitter.com/FNMgroup

    Follow us on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/financialnewsmedia/

    DISCLAIMER: FN Media Group LLC (FNM), which owns and operates Financialnewsmedia.com and MarketNewsUpdates.com, is a third party publisher and news dissemination service provider, which disseminates electronic information through multiple online media channels. FNM is NOT affiliated in any manner with any company mentioned herein. FNM and its affiliated companies are a news dissemination solutions provider and are NOT a registered broker/dealer/analyst/adviser, holds no investment licenses and may NOT sell, offer to sell or offer to buy any security. FNM’s market updates, news alerts and corporate profiles are NOT a solicitation or recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities. The material in this release is intended to be strictly informational and is NEVER to be construed or interpreted as research material. All readers are strongly urged to perform research and due diligence on their own and consult a licensed financial professional before considering any level of investing in stocks. All material included herein is republished content and details which were previously disseminated by the companies mentioned in this release. FNM is not liable for any investment decisions by its readers or subscribers. Investors are cautioned that they may lose all or a portion of their investment when investing in stocks. For current services performed FNM was compensated fifty two hundred dollars for news coverage of the current press releases issued by Cycurion Inc. by a non-affiliated third party.  FNM HOLDS NO SHARES OF ANY COMPANY NAMED IN THIS RELEASE.

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

    Contact Information:

    Media Contact email: editor@financialnewsmedia.com – +1(561)325-8757 

    SOURCE: FN Media Group

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Transforming the Royal Navy’s electromagnetic warfare capabilities

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Case study

    Transforming the Royal Navy’s electromagnetic warfare capabilities

    Dstl has been part of a major MOD programme which will fundamentally change electromagnetic warfare surveillance and anti-ship missile defence capabilities.

    In a significant advancement for UK maritime defence, the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) has played a crucial role in revolutionising the Royal Navy’s electromagnetic warfare (EW) capabilities through the Maritime EW Programme (MEWP).

    Working alongside industry partners, Dstl has provided operational analysis, technical expertise and advice to help the UK and allies maintain operational advantage.

    Meeting modern challenges

    Modern naval operations face an increasingly crowded and contested electromagnetic environment. In order to better sense and understand this complex picture for improved situational awareness and to better react to growing threats from sophisticated anti-ship missiles and EW systems, the Royal Navy needed to significantly upgrade its capabilities.

    This fundamental reappraisal, informed and spearheaded by Dstl’s evidence and analysis, has led to a comprehensive modernisation programme that addresses the technical capabilities and allows future capability spirals via an open architecture approach; as well as the operational frameworks for maritime EW. MEWP doesn’t just replace equipment, it reimagines how EW integrates into the command chain.

    A 2-pronged approach

    MEWP represents an unprecedented investment in naval EW capabilities, following 2 complementary tracks:

    • Maritime EW System Integrated Capability (MEWSIC), which will replace the Navy’s existing EW system and deliver improved sense and understanding together with advanced EW command and control.
    • EW Counter Measures (EWCM), which will ensure Royal Navy ships are fitted with enhanced decoy launchers (Ancilia) to provide rapid protection (right effect, right place, right time) against hostile threats including modern anti-ship missiles and directed energy weapons.

    Technological leap forward

    The programme represents a generational leap in capabilities. MEWSIC will equip 21 ships, including:

    • 2 Queen Elizabeth class carriers
    • 6 Type 45 destroyers
    • 8 Type 26 frigates
    • 5 Type 31 frigates

    The Type 45, 26 and 31s will each receive 2 Ancilia launchers to ensure complete coverage.

    A key innovation is the shift from fixed decoy launchers to trainable systems that can place the right effector in the right place at the right time to deceive incoming anti-ship missiles. This approach is already generating international interest and is being proposed as a NATO standard.

    HMS Queen Elizabeth and Type 45 destroyer HMS Diamond in the North Sea.

    Transforming information processing

    The new technology fundamentally changes how EW information is collected and presented to decision-makers. This will provide:

    • more time to plan
    • more time to react
    • a clearer picture
    • better information
    • a higher level of automation

    Dstl helped drive the shift in EW surveillance capability by defining what needed to be sensed. This included not just threat emissions but also defined the EM operating environment – seeing the wood from the trees – and how command and control needs to use the detected emissions and enabling machine-speed warfare by moving to the use of machine-readable data.

    Dstl has created a new template for describing EW effectors in a digital format, enabling automatic weapon allocation and streamlined threat evaluation. By automating elements of sense and understand, the highly skilled operators are freed to manage ‘on the loop’ rather than struggling with data manipulation ‘in the loop’.

    This improved system provides commanders with enhanced situational awareness, allowing for faster and better-informed decision-making in complex environments.

    Open architecture for future growth

    MEWP adopts an open architecture approach that facilitates continuous innovation and growth throughout the system’s lifecycle. This design choice reduces the barriers to entry for emerging technologies, particularly lower Technology Readiness Level innovations such as novel threat evaluation and weapon assignment algorithms. This enables early testing of improved techniques in areas such as signal detection and processing, command and control, and decision aids for force defence.

    Dstl and its partners are already exploring potential incremental developments, including artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms.

    Other longer-term plans under consideration could provide persistent offboard radio frequency countermeasures for task group defence. Dstl has already begun research into potential concepts, including maritime recoverable decoys deployable from uncrewed vehicles.

    Collaborative approach delivering mission success

    The success of MEWP relies on strong relationships across the defence enterprise.

    Dstl’s expertise has been crucial in generating the evidence needed to shift the Royal Navy from fixed EW decoy launchers to more flexible systems. Simultaneously, Dstl has pushed a paradigm shift in the human system interface engaging closely with naval EW operators to understand the current and future challenges they face in relation to data presentation, understanding and decision making. This will enable MEWP to better deal with future challenges, such as the need to deal with directed energy weapons–and to see how technology could be applied to maximise the skills of the human operator.

    Through operational analysis, Dstl provides impartial, evidence to support capability planning and inform equipment procurement decisions, ensuring the Royal Navy receives capabilities that are truly fit for purpose.

    A fundamental shift in approach

    The MEWP programme represents more than just new equipment. It’s a complete rethinking of how EW integrates with naval operations.

    The shift to a new open architecture system will facilitate continuous innovation and development throughout the system’s lifespan. By removing previous constraints in EW information processing, the Royal Navy will be better prepared to face evolving threats in the electromagnetic domain.

    With initial operational capability planned for 2027, this Dstl-supported programme ensures the Royal Navy remains at the forefront of maritime EW capability, able to operate effectively in increasingly challenging environments.

    Find out more about how Dstl delivers mission success through science and technology advantage.

    Updates to this page

    Published 13 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Lim Cosmic Rhapsody: this orchestral journey to outer space aims to deliver hope amid global crisis – but falls short

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Gavin Williams, Lecturer in Music, King’s College London

    On the evening of May 5, I took my seat in London’s Barbican Centre to experience a programme of interplanetary music. The concert began with the world premiere of Lim Cosmic Rhapsody, a piece by composer Manu Martin, and ended with Gustav Holst’s The Planets (completed in 1916 and first performed in 1920). Athwart these large orchestral works, lasting about 50 minutes each, lay a century’s worth of knowledge about space and music.

    Lim Cosmic Rhapsody is a piano concerto, which aspires to tell, according to the work’s creative director Susan Lim, a “compelling story of climate change and humanity’s search for solutions beyond Earth”. Following the premiere, the piece has been released as an album.

    Its first performance saw celebrated pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet command the stage in an iridescent dark-blue jacket and crystal-encrusted black slippers. The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, led by conductor Robert Ziegler, was excellent and extended for the occasion by a huge choir drawn from the City of London Choir and London Voices, together with duduk (a type of flute), theremin (an electronic instrument), a drum kit and electric guitar and bass.

    Additional vocal stylings were supplied by Matthieu Eymard and Britain’s Got Talent 2023 finalist Tom Ball. They jointly closed the concerto with a rock-inspired number celebrating human-alien hybrids.

    But it began, with stern minor blows from the piano and an orchestral flurry reminiscent of Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg. They were intended to conjure up, as the programme notes explained, a “futuristic space lab in California in 2035”.

    Looking for something good? Cut through the noise with a carefully curated selection of the latest releases, live events and exhibitions, straight to your inbox every fortnight, on Fridays. Sign up here.

    The notes told us to expect the “arrival of a Humanimate” – an apparently friendly alien with an “expanded genetic code” containing human and “inanimate” elements. Cue oohs and aahs from the choir. The overall effect was that of a Hollywood soundtrack by James Horner, the composer for Titanic and Avatar.

    Using the orchestra to tell stories is an established practice in contemporary film music, and in an earlier tradition of 19th-century programme music. The idea of using orchestral music to narrate global, environmental stories is, however, relatively new — an early example being Michael Abel’s Global Warming (1990), which juxtaposes musical idioms from across the world.

    More recent orchestral works in this area, by contrast, tend to avoid “symphonising” the climate crisis – melding together musical differences into optimistic stories about “humanity” overcoming Earth – by sounding out specific ecologies under threat.

    In Lim Cosmic Rhapsody, music and story are tightly woven, as in film music. But without the visual dimension, the story is hard to follow. I have reconstructed the following from the album pre-recorded by the record label Decca and released to coincide with the premiere.

    The story of the concert follows a purple alpaca named Lavvy, brought back to life by a 3D printer, who guides a delegation from Earth to her homeland on a far-off planet, known as Purple Cave. A Song of a Lost Tribe pays tribute to the indigene-alpaca and her kind. Composed by Indian songwriter Joi Barua and orchestrated by Manu, it sets a melody in the shakuhachi, a Japanese bamboo flute (here expertly played by Andrew Findon), against slow-burn motor rhythms and faux-ethnic chanting.

    We arrive at the Purple Cave. A martial beat recalls Darth Vader but soon dissolves into an uplifting riff, as Lavvy the resurrected alpaca prepares for her immortalisation. At the work’s peak, she obligingly blows herself up, becoming Star Among the Cosmic Clouds (a twinkling piano Alberti bass paints the scene) and releasing life-saving purple dust to rescue the Earthlings.

    Star Among Cosmic Clouds from Lim Cosmic Rhapsody.

    The work was conceived by Singaporean composer and surgeon Susan Lim in the early days of lockdown from the ski slopes of Courchevel, France. In this moment of global crisis, she found hope in SpaceX’s Crew Dragon flight, that delivered Nasa astronauts to the International Space Station in May 2020.

    Lim prepared for the event by releasing a carefully timed animated tweet that caught the attention of SpaceX’s owner Elon Musk. He replied with a quote from Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody: “Open your eyes, look up to the skies.”

    From this digital acorn, the Alan trilogy, of which Lim Cosmic Rhapsody is the second instalment, was born and continues to grow. A third part, Lim Symphony of the Oceans, is on the way.

    Creativity and privilege

    The series’ large creative team includes distinguished artists but is clearly led by Lim and other medics who have “never created art before” (according to the album’s liner notes). This speaks to the money and the power behind the project, together with the ego and eccentricity of its creative director.

    Beyond this work’s neocolonial fantasy of an exploding alpaca, it also speaks to the privilege of those who can afford to indulge in implausibly optimistic stories of technocratic overcoming. I was reminded of Indian writer Amitav Ghosh’s argument for the need for new ways to narrate the climate crisis as an urgent problem of human understanding. The combination of music and story on offer here was a serious misstep in this regard.

    It was a relief to step back a hundred years in music history and listen with fresh ears, in the second half of the concert, to Gustav Holst’s orchestral take on the galaxy, produced during another time of global crisis, the first world war, albeit on more slender means. Holst’s astrology-inspired suite felt imaginative, fresh and crisp in the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra’s thoroughly committed performance.

    As I transitioned from the cosmic clouds and back into the city fumes, ecological questions hung in the air. But not the questions the creators of Lim Cosmic Rhapsody might have hoped (how to save humanity? will science save the day? where to start space mining?) but rather that of the music’s own ecological footprint.

    Conspicuous in this last respect was the mindless printing of hundreds of 33rpm records of the work, given away as party favours during a champagne reception before the concert and during the interval. How many times will these records, pressed from fresh plastics derived from oil, be played? Given the large stack left on the table at the end of the evening, I suspect some may never be played even once.

    Gavin Williams 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. Lim Cosmic Rhapsody: this orchestral journey to outer space aims to deliver hope amid global crisis – but falls short – https://theconversation.com/lim-cosmic-rhapsody-this-orchestral-journey-to-outer-space-aims-to-deliver-hope-amid-global-crisis-but-falls-short-256384

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Business fined thousands of pounds by court after ignoring council fly tipping penalty

    Source: City of Wolverhampton

    Two men, using a van that had been hired by business Sergiu Razvan Ed Ltd, dumped bags of rubbish at night in Byrne Road, Blakenhall.

    The incident was caught on a camera that had been installed by City of Wolverhampton Council to monitor fly tipping. Officers were able to trace the vehicle to a hire company and identify who had control of the van at the time of the incident.

    The director of the business, Sergiu Razvan, admitted to leaving items on the footpath and agreed to pay a £400 Fixed Penalty. However, after several weeks, the fine remained unpaid.

    As a result, a fly tipping prosecution was brought against the company itself, and the business was found guilty in its absence during a hearing at Dudley Magistrates Court on 2 May.

    The business was fined £5,000, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £2,000 and costs of £1,851.88. The costs awarded to the council will be reinvested back into its environmental crime service.

    Magistrates were told that at 9.40pm on 27 February, 2024 a van was driven from Napier Road to Byrne Road where 2 men dumped refuse sacks of waste on the footpath. The van then drove off.

    Despite the council issuing a £400 Fixed Penalty Notice and a reminder letter, no payment was received from the business and the prosecution was brought.

    The recent court action supports ongoing work under the council’s Shop a Tipper campaign where anyone suspected of dumping rubbish will have their images shared to appeal for information to help identify them.

    If the information provided leads to successful identification, and Fixed Penalty Notices are issued and paid or a prosecution takes place, residents receive a £100 Enjoy Wolverhampton Gift Card.

    Residents can contact 01902 552700 with information or report online at Fly-Tipping – Shop a Tipper.

    Councillor Bhupinder Gakhal, cabinet member for resident services at City of Wolverhampton Council, said: “The courts have sent out a very strong message in this case.

    “If the business responsible had paid the Fixed Penalty Notice, the council would not have had to prosecute. But as a result, the company is now facing a significant financial penalty.

    “I welcome the decision of the courts to take this tough approach. This case clearly shows fly tippers that they should not ignore contact from us and simply hope we will go away.

    “Fly tipping is a blight on the local environment and we are continually working to tackle this unpleasant and illegal behaviour. We will take all necessary measures to keep our city clean for residents to enjoy.”

    Residents are reminded that waste can be disposed of free of charge at our Household Waste and Recycling Centres (tips) which are open 7 days a week from 8am to 4pm. Centres are at Anchor Lane, Lanesfield, Bilston and Shaw Road, Wolverhampton.

    A bulky item collection service to dispose of big unwanted items is also available, find out more at Bulky item collection.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: 2025 Eurovision ‘a record-breaking moment for linguistic diversity’, says researcher The endurance of the European Song Contest and its place in the hearts of so many countries provides the ‘ideal lens for analysing cultural identities, memory, and heritage’, says Dr BárbaraBarreiro León.

    Source: University of Aberdeen

    Dr Bárbara Barreiro LeónThe endurance of the European Song Contest and its place in the hearts of so many countries provides the ‘ideal lens for analysing cultural identities, memory, and heritage’, says Dr BárbaraBarreiro León.
    The lecturer in Lecturer in Film & Visual Culture at the University of Aberdeen is currently writing a book exploring how identities are represented through film, music and other contemporary arts, including Eurovision.
    She says each year of the content – which has been running since 1956 – offers ‘a truly inexhaustible source of research’ and she will attend the 2025 event as part of the press group and will present at an academic conference being held at the University of Basel.
    “Comparing different years, countries, performances, and styles of hosting significantly enriches my research focus on memory, cultural heritage, and identity within Eurovision,” Dr León added.
    “When I last attended in 2023, the UK hosted on behalf of Ukraine—a moment filled with symbolic weight. This year, Switzerland takes on the role, bringing the contest full circle as the country that hosted the very first Eurovision in 1956. Being behind the scenes in these contexts offers a unique form of fieldwork—one that is immersive, dynamic, and unlike any other.”
    She said that the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest stands out as ‘a record-breaking moment for linguistic diversity in the competition’.
    Dr León said: “Out of 37 entries, 24 feature lyrics in languages other than English. Some countries are embracing their native tongues for the first time in years—or even decades—like Germany.
    “Others are showcasing regional dialects, such as Sweden’s entry, which is performed in Vörå, a unique blend of Finnish and Swedish. In a surprising twist, some nations are even singing in the native languages of other countries, with Estonia, for example, presenting a song in Italian.”
    [embedded content]
    Dr León’s previous work has focused primarily on Ukraine but she has expanded this focus to encompass themes such as European belonging, diaspora and migration, and the visual politics of flag representation.
    “It is a competition which may not always be taken seriously here but which has very different meanings across the countries taking part,” she added.
    “It is still the biggest musical event in the world and was founded to bring Europe back together following the Second World War.
    “There is nothing comparable which has run for so many years and which has such an enormous fan base crossing a huge number of national borders.
    “From that perspective it is the ideal vehicle to look at more than seven decades of change in our societies and culture with each edition of the contest bringing fresh examples that continuously enrich and deepen the broader conversation.”
    Further details of the conference at the University of Basel can be found at https://www.eurovisions.eu/programme-2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • PM Modi hails armed forces’ heroism, says India’s response to terror will be on its own terms

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his visit to the Air Force Station at Adampur on Monday, hailed the valour and professionalism of the armed forces, declaring that the success of Operation Sindoor had sent a strong and irreversible message to India’s enemies: the country will respond to terror and provocation decisively, on its own terms.
     
    Addressing air warriors and soldiers, PM Modi said the chant of ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ was not just a slogan, but a solemn pledge taken by every soldier and citizen to serve and protect the nation. “This slogan is not mere words—it is a vow. It is the voice that echoes from the battlefield, the roar that follows our missiles, and the resolve that terrifies our enemies,” he said.
     
    Referring to the recent military operation, the Prime Minister said the country’s armed forces had demonstrated exceptional courage and capability. “The success of Operation Sindoor is not just a military achievement—it is a reflection of India’s policy, intent and decisive power,” he said, adding that the Indian Army, Air Force, and Navy had acted in perfect coordination to dismantle terror networks deep within Pakistani territory.
     
    He asserted that Indian drones and missiles had struck with such precision and force that the enemy was left stunned. “In just 20-25 minutes, our forces hit their targets with absolute accuracy. The enemy never saw it coming,” he said.
     
    PM Modi revealed that the operation destroyed nine major terrorist hideouts and eliminated over 100 terrorists. “The masterminds of terrorism must now understand that provoking India will lead only to one consequence—total destruction,” he said. He also praised the restraint and responsibility shown by the armed forces during the operation, especially while Pakistan used civilian aircraft to shield its military infrastructure. “Our soldiers operated with precision and caution, upholding both strength and humanity,” he said.
     
    Calling Operation Sindoor a turning point in India’s defence posture, the Prime Minister said the country’s response to future provocations would be guided by three clear principles. “First, if India is attacked, the response will be on our terms. Second, we will not tolerate nuclear blackmail. Third, we will make no distinction between terrorist masterminds and the governments that shelter them,” he said.
     
    He underlined that the Pakistani army, which had long harboured terrorists, had been decisively pushed back. “There is no safe haven left for them. India will strike them in their own territory if necessary,” PM Modi said, adding that the success of Operation Sindoor had not only neutralised threats but also shattered the morale of the enemy.
     
    Addressing the personnel from the Air Force, Navy, Army, and the Border Security Force, PM Modi said, “You have filled every Indian’s heart with pride. The entire country stood with you, praying and supporting your mission. It is because of you that every Indian walks taller today.”
     
    He also paid tribute to India’s military tradition, invoking the legacy of Guru Gobind Singh. “He said, ‘I will make one warrior fight against 125,000… I will make sparrows defeat hawks.’ That spirit lives on in every Indian soldier,” he said.
     
    PM Modi acknowledged the technological edge India has built over the years, crediting the past decade’s reforms and acquisitions for strengthening the armed forces. “Today, the Indian military has some of the most advanced systems in the world. With the Akash missile systems and S-400 air defence platforms, our borders are secure, and our enemies have been forced to retreat,” he said.
     
    He added that India’s modern warfare now extends beyond traditional firepower. “We don’t just fight with weapons anymore—we fight with data, with drones, with intelligence. Our forces have mastered this new battlefield,” he said.
     
    The Prime Minister emphasized that while the current military action has been paused in response to Pakistan’s appeal, India’s forces remain fully alert. “Let me be clear—if there is any further provocation or attack, India’s response will be swift, firm, and uncompromising,” he said.
     
    PM Modi urged the armed forces to continue their vigilance. “This is a new India—an India that seeks peace but will not hesitate to strike back if humanity is threatened,” he said.

  • MIL-OSI Security: Clarenville — Clarenville RCMP tickets off-road vehicle operator not wearing a helmet; RCMP NL reminds operators of Off-Road Vehicles Act

    Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police

    A 32-year-old man was ticketed by Clarenville RCMP for not wearing a helmet while operating a side-by-side all-terrain vehicle (ATV) on May 10, 2025.

    Shortly before 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, police stopped the ATV which was traveling on the shoulder of the Trans-Canada Highway near Clarenville. In addition to not wearing a helmet, the driver was unable to provide proof of insurance. He was ticketed for the violations.

    With the expected increased use of off-road vehicles heading into the Victoria Day Weekend and continuing over the summer, RCMP NL reminds operators of the province’s Off-Road Vehicles Act. Off-road vehicles include dirt bikes, quads, side-by-sides and snowmobiles.

    All occupants of off-road vehicles are required to wear helmets, as well as seat belts where available. Children who are required to use a child seat restraint system, such as a booster seat, under the Highway Traffic Act are required to follow that same legislation as a passenger of an off-road vehicle.

    It is illegal to operate an ATV on a roadway, except to cross from one side to the other, and the operator must have registration, insurance, a driver’s licence and not less than one hundred and fifty metres of visibility to do so. To access a trail, an ATV can be operated on the shoulder of a roadway for a maximum distance of 1 kilometre and at a maximum speed of 20 kilometres an hour, all while yielding to motor vehicle traffic.

    More information about the Off-Road Vehicles Act and Highway Traffic Act can be found here:

    https://www.assembly.nl.ca/Legislation/sr/statutes/o05-1.htm

    https://www.assembly.nl.ca/legislation/sr/statutes/h03.htm

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Ozop Energy Solutions, Inc. Issues a Shareholder Update

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Warwick, NY, May 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Ozop Energy Solutions, Inc. (OTC: OZSC) (“Ozop” or the “Company”), a Company focused in the renewable energy sector, today provided an update to its shareholders on recent strategic milestones and upcoming initiatives. With a diverse portfolio of innovative energy solutions, Ozop remains focused on capturing a share of the rapidly growing renewable energy market.

    Ozop’s wholly owned subsidiary, Automated Room Controls, Inc. (DBA ARC), has made substantial progress, achieving ETL certification on its first attempt. Since its launch, ARC has submitted $580,000 in bids and secured its first $40,000 in orders, including a recently fulfilled $10,000 shipment. The division continues to refine its technology through ongoing research, development, and internal testing. ARC is scheduled to showcase its latest innovations at Lightstock, a leading Lighting and Controls Expo, in Canandaigua, NY, on June 25th, 2025.

    Empire Auto Protect, a trusted name in the automotive sector with a 17-year history of providing premium vehicle service protection plans, is expanding its portfolio to include Ozop Plus’s Electric Vehicle (EV) coverage. In collaboration with Ozop Plus, Empire has integrated the Fully Charged VSC, aligning backend quoting systems to offer a comprehensive suite of EV protection options. This partnership will enhance Empire’s ability to meet the growing demand for EV coverage.

    Ozop Plus has successfully completed state approvals with F&I Sentinel, enabling its EV Warranty to be included in auto manufacturers’ financing nationwide. This milestone clears the path for the upcoming launch of Triple-EV.com, a cost-effective, monthly roadside assistance program designed specifically for the EV market. In partnership with Nation Safe Drivers, Triple-EV will offer exclusive services, including roadside charging, flatbed towing, and member-only benefits.

    Strategic Growth and New Opportunities:

    Ozop Energy Solutions is currently having discussions with a potential acquisition target that is expected to generate approximately $3 million in annual revenue if completed. This acquisition is part of the Company’s ongoing strategy to expand its product range and increase shareholder value.

    CEO Statement

    Brian Conway, CEO of Ozop Energy Solutions, Inc., commented, “With the changing economic landscape, we’ve learned to pivot effectively when one area faces challenges, like solar and energy storage. As we move beyond years of intensive R&D, we are focused on scaling our sales and marketing efforts to bring innovative solutions to market.”

    About Ozop Energy Solutions.

    Ozop Energy Solutions (Ozop Energy Solutions (http://ozopenergy.com/) is the flagship company that oversees a wide variety of products in various stages of development in the renewable energy sector. Our strategy focuses on capturing a significant share of the rapidly growing renewable energy market as a provider of assets and infrastructure needed to store energy.

    About Empire Auto Protect

    Empire Auto Protect is at the forefront of transforming the auto warranty landscape by integrating cutting-edge technology into every aspect of our services. Much like how Apple revolutionized consumer electronics and Tesla redefined automotive innovation, we are setting new standards in the warranty sector.

    Our advanced digital platforms streamline the warranty process, making it more efficient and user-friendly for customers. By harnessing data analytics and seamless online tools, we empower consumers with tailored warranty solutions that meet their unique needs. This commitment to innovation not only enhances customer experience but also positions Empire Auto Protect as the leading technology provider in the automotive warranty industry, driving it into a new digital age.

    https://empireautoprotect.com/

    About Automated Room Controls, Inc.

    Also known as ARC, Inc. its mission is to deliver cutting-edge technology that simplifies complex control needs, ensuring seamless integration and exceptional performance. We aim to lead the industry by continuously innovating and providing solutions that meet the evolving demands of our customers. Our vision is to make control systems smarter, more efficient, and more accessible to everyone.

    www.ARControl.com

    About Ozop Energy Systems, Inc.

    Ozop Energy Systems is a manufacturer and distributor of Renewable Energy products in the Energy Storage, Solar, Microgrids, and EV charging Station space. We offer a broad portfolio of Renewable Energy products at competitive prices with a commitment to customer satisfaction from selection, to ordering, shipping, and delivery.

    About Ozop Engineering and Design

    Ozop Engineering and Design engineers’ energy efficient, easy to install and use, digital lighting controls solutions for commercial buildings, campuses, and sports complexes throughout North America. Products include relays panels, controllers, occupancy/vacancy sensors, daylight sensors and wall switch stations. Ozop has a dedicated design team that produces system drawings and a technical support group for product questions and onsite system commissioning. Our mission is to be recognized for our deep understanding of power management systems and ability to provide the right solution for each facility.

    www.ozopengineering.com

    About Ozop Capital Partners

    Ozop Capital Partners, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, and wholly owns EV Insurance Company, Inc. (“EVIC”). EVIC, DBA Ozop Plus is licensed as a captive insurer that reinsures. www.OzopPlus.com

    https://twitter.com/OzopEnergy

    https://www.facebook.com/OzopEnergy/

    Safe Harbor Statement

    “This press release contains or may contain, among other things, certain forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties. Such statements may include, without limitation, statements with respect to the company’s plans, objectives, projections, expectations and intentions and other statements identified by words such as “projects,” “may,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “intends,” “plans,” “potential” or similar expressions. These statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of the company’s management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties, including those detailed in the company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results may differ significantly from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that are subject to change based on various factors (many of which are beyond the company’s control). The company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.”

    Investor Relations Contact – Ozop
    The Waypoint Refinery, LLC
    845-397-2956
    Visit our Discord:
    https://discord.gg/waypoint

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: POET Appoints Ghazi Chaoui, PhD, as Senior Vice President – Global Manufacturing and Digital Transformation

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, May 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — POET Technologies Inc. (“POET” or the “Company“) (TSX Venture: PTK; NASDAQ: POET), a leader in the design and implementation of highly-integrated optical engines and light sources for artificial intelligence networks, today announced the appointment of Ghazi M. Chaoui, PhD, MBA as its Senior Vice President of Global Manufacturing and Digital Transformation. Dr. Chaoui recently concluded a multi-year assignment as Chief Procurement Officer of Coherent Corp.

    An industry veteran of nearly 40 years, Dr. Chaoui (widely known as “Ghazi”) brings his considerable experience and stellar reputation to POET as it gears up manufacturing in Penang, Malaysia, where he will be stationed, reporting to Dr. Suresh Venkatesan, POET’s Chairman & Chief Executive Officer.   Ghazi will plan, direct, coordinate, and oversee all operations tied to order fulfillment, and ensure the development and implementation of efficient operations and cost-effective systems to meet the high demand for 800G and 1.6T transceivers needed by hyperscalers and AI cluster operators. Sundar Natarajan Yoganandan, POET’s Director of External Manufacturing and NPI, also a resident of Malaysia, will report directly to Ghazi.

    “We are thrilled to welcome Ghazi to the POET team,” said Dr. Venkatesan. “Our relationship with Globetronics in Malaysia is off to a strong start, with a suite of wafer-level assembly and test equipment installed and operational. With full production capacity expected to be on line this quarter, this is the ideal time for Ghazi and Sundar to staff an organization in Penang and establish the systems we need to ensure delivery of optical engines to customers. We have established POET Technologies Sdn. Bhd. as a wholly owned subsidiary and have begun resourcing it accordingly.”

    Ghazi holds PhD and MS degrees in mechanical and electrical engineering and an MBA. He began his career as an R&D lead designer and manager with AT&T Bell Labs and AT&T Microelectronics in Reading, PA. Over the next 40 years Ghazi held key manufacturing and supply chain roles in several countries with Lucent Technologies, Corvis Corporation/Broadwin Communications, Infinera, Oclaro, Teraxion, Kaiam Corp. and Macom Technology Solutions Holdings.

    “I am pleased to be joining POET at this time to help build a great company in photonics and optoelectronics, serving many customers that I know well and interacting with many suppliers with whom I have strong relationships,” said Dr. Chaoui. “By semiconductorizing optical engine assembly, I am confident we can supply high performance optical engines at high volumes on time to customers.”

    About POET Technologies Inc.
    POET is a design and development company offering high-speed optical modules, optical engines and light source products to the artificial intelligence systems market and to hyperscale data centers.  POET’s photonic integration solutions are based on the POET Optical Interposer™, a novel, patented platform that allows the seamless integration of electronic and photonic devices into a single chip using advanced wafer-level semiconductor manufacturing techniques. POET’s Optical Interposer-based products are lower cost, consume less power than comparable products, are smaller in size and are readily scalable to high production volumes. In addition to providing high-speed (800G, 1.6T and above) optical engines and optical modules for AI clusters and hyperscale data centers, POET has designed and produced novel light source products for chip-to-chip data communication within and between AI servers, the next frontier for solving bandwidth and latency problems in AI systems.  POET’s Optical Interposer platform also solves device integration challenges in 5G networks, machine-to-machine communication, self-contained “Edge” computing applications and sensing applications, such as LIDAR systems for autonomous vehicles.  POET is headquartered in Toronto, Canada, with operations in Allentown, PA, Shenzhen, China, and Singapore.  More information about POET is available on our website at www.poet-technologies.com.

    Forward-Looking Statements
    This news release contains “forward-looking information” (within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws) and “forward-looking statements” (within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). Such statements or information are identified with words such as “anticipate”, “believe”, “expect”, “plan”, “intend”, “potential”, “estimate”, “propose”, “project”, “outlook”, “foresee” or similar words suggesting future outcomes or statements regarding any potential outcome. Such statements include the Company’s expectations with respect to the success of its senior leadership appointments in Malaysia, the success of its newly established Malaysia subsidiary, the success of its agreement with Globetronics, and the Company’s product development efforts, the performance of its products, operations, meeting revenue targets, and the expectation of continued success in the financing efforts, the capability, functionality, performance and cost of the Company’s technology as well as the market acceptance, inclusion and timing of the Company’s technology in current and future products and expectations regarding its successful development of high speed transceiver solutions and its penetration of the Artificial Intelligence hardware markets.

    Such forward-looking information or statements are based on a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions which may cause actual results or other expectations to differ materially from those anticipated and which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things, the success of its senior leadership appointments in Malaysia, the success of its newly established Malaysia subsidiary, the success of its agreement with Globetronics, and the completion of its development efforts with its customers, the ability to build working prototypes to the customer’s specifications, and the size, future growth and needs of Artificial Intelligence network suppliers. Actual results could differ materially due to a number of factors, including, without limitation, the failure of operations in Malaysia to scale to production as expected, the failure of its technology to meet performance requirements, the failure to produce optical engines on time and within budget, the failure of Artificial Intelligence networks to continue to grow as expected, the failure of the Company’s products to be included in products aimed at AI and datacom networks, operational risks in the completion of the Company’s projects, the ability of the Company to generate sales for its products, and the ability of its customers to deploy systems that incorporate the Company’s products. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information or statements are reasonable, prospective investors in the Company’s securities should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements because the Company can provide no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking information and statements contained in this news release are as of the date of this news release and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise this forward-looking information and statements except as required by law.

    Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Starlink’s partnership strategy will benefit both telco expansion and underserved customers in India and Africa, observes GlobalData

    Source: GlobalData

    Starlink’s partnership strategy will benefit both telco expansion and underserved customers in India and Africa, observes GlobalData

    Posted in Technology

    Airtel Africa is the latest in the line of telecoms operators partnering with LEO (low-earth orbit) operator Starlink to expand its reach and services. The deal was facilitated by parent company Bharti Airtel, which struck its own agreement with Starlink in India in March. The tie-up between Airtel and Starlink will benefit both companies as well as enterprise customers and businesses, pending regulatory approval in India and five African markets within Airtel Africa’s footprint markets where Starlink is not yet currently licensed, according to GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

    Ismail Patel, Senior Analyst, Enterprise Technology and Services at GlobalData, comments: “For Starlink, partnering with telcos will give it access to points of sale on the ground as it competes with other LEO satellite systems that are vying for position globally. For telcos like Airtel, Starlink can help expand its reach to business customers with rural presence, educational institutions, health centers, logistical firms, agricultural and mining workers, remote tourist hotspots, and others generally requiring a more robust quality of service. There is also an opportunity for the Airtels of both India and Africa to improve their cellular backhaul through Starlink.”

    GlobalData analysis revealed the massive micro, small, and medium business opportunity in India, with roughly similar metrics for the African markets where Airtel operates. Airtel Africa and Starlink partnership has the potential to increase digitalization in rural and semi-rural regions in the 14 countries where Airtel Africa operates, especially for micro, small, and medium businesses.

    In India, the Confederation of Indian Industry states that of 63 million MSMEs in the country, over 51% are based in rural areas. Fixed broadband penetration of household units in India stood at just 9% as of end-2024, according to GlobalData.

    Patel concludes: “Starlink is trying to get a foothold in the global market with a clever combination of D2C and B2B strategies. It already has struck several partnerships with operators in the US, Canada, Japan, Australia, and Ukraine. It wants to maximize the head start it has on its rivals – like Amazon Kuiper, AST SpaceMobile, Telesat Lightspeed, and Eutelsat OneWeb (which itself is partly owned by Bharti Airtel) – that are at various stages of deployment and geographical breadth.

    “Competition is expected to heat up rapidly as telcos and satellite vendors will be striking a myriad of partnerships with one another to boost connectivity, which will only serve to benefit business and enterprise customers more. With this backdrop, those telcos and LEOs who stand to gain the most are those who get their foot in the door before others and leverage their first-mover advantage.”

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Where tomorrow’s scientists prefer to live − and where they’d rather not

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Christopher P. Scheitle, Associate Professor of Sociology, West Virginia University

    Many students have strong feelings about where they want to move after graduation. Tony Garcia/Stone via Getty Images

    Graduate students interested in an academic career after graduation day have often been told they need to be open to moving somewhere they may not want to live. This advice is because of how hard it is to get a tenure-track professor position.

    These days, this advice may be less relevant as graduate students are increasingly pursuing and ending up in careers outside of academia.

    Where graduate students want to settle post-graduation has potential consequences for communities and states across the country that depend more and more on a steady stream of skilled workers to power their economies. Locations seen as undesirable may struggle to attract and retain the next generation of scientists, engineers, professors and other professions filled by today’s graduate students.

    We are sociologists who are examining some of the factors that influence graduate students’ educational and career paths as part of a research project supported by the National Science Foundation. In March 2025 we distributed a survey to a sample of U.S.-based graduate students in five natural and social science disciplines: physics, chemistry, biology, psychology and sociology.

    As part of our survey, we asked students to identify states they would prefer to live in and places where they would be unwilling to go. To some extent, our findings match some past anecdotes and evidence about the varying number of applications received for academic positions across different states or regions.

    But little data has directly assessed students’ preferences, and our survey also provides some evidence that some states’ policies are having a negative impact on their ability to attract highly educated people.

    Most preferred, most unwilling

    For our study, we built our sample from the top 60 graduate programs for each of the five disciplines based on rankings from U.S. News and World Report. We received responses from nearly 2,000 students. Almost all of these students – 98%, specifically – are pursuing Ph.D.s in their respective fields.

    As part of our survey, we asked students to identify locations where they would “prefer” to live and also those where they would be “unwilling” to live after finishing their graduate program. For each of these questions, we presented students with a list of all states along with the option of “outside of the United States.”

    Just looking at the overall percentages, California tops the list of preferred places, with 49% of all survey-takers stating a preference to live there, followed by New York at 45% and Massachusetts with 41%.

    On the other hand, Alabama was selected most often as a state students said they’d be unwilling to move to, with 58% declaring they wouldn’t want to live there. This was followed by Mississippi and Arkansas, both with just above 50% saying they’d be unwilling to move to either state.

    Clusters of preference

    While the two lists in many respects appear like inversions of one another, there are some exceptions to that. Looking beyond the overall percentages for each survey question, we used statistical analysis to identify underlying groups or clusters of states that are more similar to each other across both the “prefer” and “unwilling” questions.

    One cluster, represented by California, New York and Massachusetts, is characterized by a very high level of preference and a low level of unwillingness. About 35% to 50% of students expressed a preference for living in these places, while only 5% to 10% said they would be unwilling to live in them. The response of “outside of the United States” is also in this category, which is noteworthy given recent concerns about the current generation of Ph.D. students looking to leave the country and efforts by other nations to recruit them.

    A second cluster represents states where the preference levels are a bit lower, 20% to 30%, and the unwillingness levels are a bit higher, 7% to 15%. Still, these are states for which graduate students hold generally favorable opinions about living in after finishing their programs. This cluster includes states such as Colorado, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Maryland and New Jersey.

    A third group of states represents locations for which the rate of preference is similar to the rate of unwillingness, in the range of 10% to 20%. This cluster includes states such as Minnesota, Delaware and Virginia.

    The fourth and fifth clusters consist of states where the rate of unwillingness exceeds the rate of preference, with the size of the gap distinguishing the two clusters. In the fourth cluster, at least some students – 5% to 10% – express a preference for living in them, while around 30% to 40% say they are unwilling to live in them. This cluster includes Florida, Montana, South Carolina and Utah.

    Almost no students express a preference for living in the states contained in the fifth cluster, while the highest percentages – 40% to 60% – express an unwillingness to live in them. This cluster includes Alabama, Kansas, Oklahoma and South Dakota.

    Signs of current politics

    Many factors influence our preferences for where we want to live, including family, weather and how urban, rural or suburban it is. The politics of a community can also influence our perceptions of a place’s desirability.

    Indeed, political factors may be of particular concern to graduate students. In recent years, some states have taken a more hostile stance toward specific academic disciplines, institutions of higher education in general, or professions that are of interest to graduate students. While states such as Florida and Texas have been leading such efforts, many others have followed.

    Interestingly, our statistical grouping of states finds that students’ unwillingness to live in states such as Texas, Florida, Georgia and Ohio is higher than we would expect given those states’ corresponding preference levels. For example, about 10% of students selected Texas as a place they would prefer to live in after graduation. Looking at other states with similar preference levels, we would expect about 10% to 20% of students to say they are unwilling to live in Texas. Instead, this percentage is actually 37%. Similarly, 5% of students say they would prefer to live in Florida. Other states with this preference rate have an unwillingness rate of around 35%, but Florida’s is 45%.

    Although our data does not tell us for sure, these gaps could be a function of these states’ own policies or alignment with federal policies seen as hostile to graduate students and their future employers.

    These findings suggest that communities and employers in some states might continue to face particularly steep hurdles in recruiting graduate students for employment once they finish their degrees.

    Christopher P. Scheitle receives funding from the National Science Foundation and the John Templeton Foundation. This article is based on a study supported by the National Science Foundation (Award #2344563).

    Katie Corcoran receives funding from the National Science Foundation, the John Templeton Foundation, and the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute.

    Taylor Remsburg receives funding from the National Science Foundation and the John Templeton Foundation as a research assistant. This article is based on a study supported by the National Science Foundation (Award #2344563).

    – ref. Where tomorrow’s scientists prefer to live − and where they’d rather not – https://theconversation.com/where-tomorrows-scientists-prefer-to-live-and-where-theyd-rather-not-254431

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI USA: What They’re Saying: Investing in NYC Transportation

    Source: US State of New York

    overnor Kathy Hochul recently signed new legislation as part of the FY26 Enacted Budget to make transformative investments in transportation infrastructure. In keeping with her record of leading on pro-transit investments, the FY26 Enacted Budget includes historic investments in New York City’s public transportation system with the biggest capital investment in New York’s transportation history by fully funding the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) $68.4 billion 2025-29 Capital Plan.

    State Senator Jeremy Cooney said, “Millions of New Yorkers rely on the MTA every day, both passengers downstate and manufacturers upstate who rely on MTA contracts to support their employees. This budget is forward thinking about the future needs of the MTA and I’m grateful for Governor Hochul’s leadership in making these investments possible to create the kind of modern system New Yorkers deserve.”

    State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal said, “A functioning public transit system is essential to a functioning New York City and State. I applaud Governor Hochul, Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins, and Speaker Heastie for working together to fully fund the MTA’s $68.4 billion Capital Plan. Under this agreement we will be able to make more subway stations accessible, including many stations in my district, modernize the signal system to reduce wait times, and purchase more electric buses. These changes will make a tremendous difference to the millions of people across the tristate area who use our public transit system every single day.”

    State Senator Andrew Gounardes said, “It’s never been more important to invest in our transit system. With so much uncertainty in Washington, New Yorkers are looking to us to offer the safe, reliable, accessible service that they need and deserve. That means new trains, upgraded signals, and long-overdue investments in station elevators and other improvements. This is a long-term investment in the future of our city, our economy and our communities, and I’m glad to work with Governor Hochul and my colleagues in the legislature to deliver it.”

    State Senator Robert Jackson said, “Our subways and buses are not luxuries—they are lifelines. Fully funding the MTA’s Capital Plan is more than an investment in concrete and steel; it’s a commitment to working people, to mobility, to equity. For the essential workers who kept this city alive, for the students racing to class, for the elders who deserve dignity in every ride—this is what putting people first looks like. This robust investment will help the MTA deliver on that promise: expanding ADA accessibility at subway stations across the district I serve, upgrading to clean electric bus fleets, and strengthening the rails and roads that keep my constituents moving. I’m proud to support a plan that moves New Yorkers forward—not just in transit, but in justice.”

    State Senator Cordell Cleare said, “We are hoping that this funding will extend to much needed projects like the Second Avenue Subway expansion, and other long-requested and necessary MTA accessibility upgrades and transportation alternatives, plus efforts to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and pressing forward with modernizing the subway system and improving overall air quality. My constituents in the 30th District are awaiting the implementation of these improvements.”

    State Senator Kristen Gonzalez said, “I’m proud to have advocated for the full funding of the $68 billion MTA Capital Plan. This pro-transit investment will result in infrastructure improvements that will benefit my constituents, including Midtown tunnel upgrades and Communications-Based Train Control (CBTC) modernization. I’m grateful to advocates, Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins, and Governor Hochul for this funding to move our city and state forward.”

    Assemblymember Deborah J. Glick said, “The MTA is vital not only to New York City residents who depend on it for their daily commute, but for the entire metro area. Many New Yorkers rely on the MTA to enter the city to work, dine, and recreate. Fully funding the MTA capital plan will provide the resources that are needed to expand and modernize services, while increasing the environmental benefits gained by supporting a reliable public transit system. I thank Governor Hochul for her work in securing this critical funding.”

    Assemblymember Rodneyse Bichotte-Hermelyn said, “Public transportation is critical for many of my constituents, and for the millions of New Yorkers (and beyond) who rely on MTA’s infrastructure to keep moving forward. I applaud Governor Hochul and my colleagues for passing this legislation to make critical, record-high investments to improve transit for all New Yorkers, with a fully-funded 2025-29 Capital Plan. These prudent policies and transformative investments will ensure New York City’s largest public transportation system is continually improving, modernizing, and making our commutes better – all while creating good-paying jobs.”

    Assemblymember Yudelka Tapia said, “This historic investment in our transit infrastructure is a game changer for the Bronx. Fully funding the MTA’s Capital Plan means safer and more reliable service for our residents who rely on public transportation every day. I’m proud to support a budget that delivers the resources our communities need.”

    Assemblymember Brian Cunningham said, “A fully funded MTA Capital Plan is an important step toward delivering the transit improvements our communities deserve. For residents in my district, systemwide investments in accessibility and upgraded infrastructure will mean more dependable service and stronger connections to opportunity. The Interborough Express will bring new, much-needed transit options to Brooklyn residents who have long lacked efficient cross-borough service. This plan lays the groundwork for meaningful improvements in my district of Crown Heights, Prospect Lefferts Gardens, Flatbush, as well as across New York City’s transit system.”

    Assemblymember Tony Simone said, “The 2025-2029 MTA Capital Plan is essential for both riders and our local economy. This historic investment by Governor Hochul and the Legislature will address the significant infrastructure issues our aging system faces, enabling it to make large strides towards becoming a truly 21st century system worthy of our great city.”

    Assemblymember George Alvarez said, “I want to thank Governor Hochul for her strong support for, and meaningful investment in, New York City’s public transit system. The Governor clearly understands that improvements in transit translate to more opportunity, a better quality-of-life, and a stronger economy for all New Yorkers.”

    New York City Comptroller Brad Lander said, “For decades, Albany underfunded the MTA and neglected the needs of our transit system, creating a multibillion-dollar backlog of deferred maintenance that led to several preventable system failures — most notably, the infamous ‘Summer of Hell’ in 2017. By fully funding the 2025-2029 Capital Plan, the FY2026 Budget brings much-needed stability to the MTA’s finances and will deliver billions in subway accessibility, safety, and state-of-good repair improvements. Thanks to the efforts of Governor Hochul and the Legislature, a more accessible, reliable, and safer transit system is finally within reach.”

    Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine said, “There is no New York City without mass transit, so I am thrilled that this year’s state budget will fully fund the MTA’s 2025-29 Capital Plan. This plan will improve service, safety, and reliability for the millions of New Yorkers who take transit every day, with investments like making at least 60 stations fully accessible, modernizing signals to speed up service, replacing 40+ year old subway cars, and more. I commend the Governor, legislature, and MTA for getting this done.”

    New York City Council Deputy Speaker Diana Ayala said, “I commend Governor Hochul for her leadership and commitment to strengthening public transit infrastructure across New York City. The full funding of the MTA’s $68.4 billion Capital Plan marks a historic investment that will directly benefit the people of East Harlem and the South Bronx—communities that rely heavily on our transit system every single day. This funding will improve service, accessibility, and safety, helping to close long-standing transit equity gaps and ensuring that our constituents can commute, work, and live with the reliability and dignity they deserve.”

    Council Member Gale Brewer said, “This investment in the MTA is a huge win for New Yorkers who rely on public transit every day. Fully funding the Capital Plan means safer, more reliable service, and long-overdue upgrades that will benefit every borough. I thank Governor Hochul for her leadership and continued commitment to a more equitable, accessible, and resilient transportation system.”

    Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee to the MTA Executive Director Lisa Daglian said, “The region’s riders have a lot to be thankful for in the state budget. Governor Hochul, Senate Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Heastie clearly understand the importance of the MTA to the millions of New Yorkers who use transit everyday, to our economy, and to employers across New York State. We are grateful for their steadfast support. Fully funding the 2025-29 MTA Capital Plan ensures the $1.5 trillion asset that keeps our region moving is kept in a state of good repair and brought into the 21st century – especially important in light of unwarranted threats to transportation programs from the federal government. Funding critical safety programs and support services will help riders feel and be safe underground — progressing what we have already begun to see. We look forward to continuing to work with Governor Hochul and the Legislature to advance more equitable access to affordable transit, especially for the New Yorkers who need it most.”

    Transportation Alternatives Executive Director Ben Furnas said, “A fully-funded MTA Capital Plan is existential for the future of our city. Congratulations to Governor Hochul and the legislature for their leadership. New York as we know it is only possible with mass transit. Our bridges and subways need to be brought into a state of good repair, and we need to be able to expand bus and train service in order to grow as a city without adding more cars to the road.”

    Brooklyn Center for Independence of the Disabled Executive Director Joe Rappaport said, “A fully funded 2025-2029 capital budget means the MTA will meet its legal requirement to add elevators at dozens of stations across the city. It will get the MTA closer to meeting its ultimate goal of making virtually all subway stations accessible, as it agreed to do as part of a 2022 settlement with disability advocates, including BCID. It’ll also pay for other improvements that all riders need, whether or not they have a disability. We applaud Gov. Hochul’s and the legislature’s vision in passing this vitally needed funding.”

    Regional Plan Association President and CEO Tom Wright said, “As RPA’s recent research has shown, the 2025-2029 MTA Capital Plan will enable the region’s 2.1 million riders who live in the MTA service area and regularly take transit to work to earn $187 billion in wages, powering the economy of the New York region. Thanks to the determination and dedication of Governor Hochul and the New York State Legislature, all the region’s riders will be able to rely on the vital infrastructure investments secured in this year’s New York State budget that will make taking transit more reliable, comfortable, safe, and accessible.”

    Riders Alliance Executive Director Betsy Plum said, “Public transit riders organized and Governor Hochul and the legislature heard us loud and clear. This budget builds on New York’s successful congestion relief program to keep fixing the subway that millions of us depend on every day. We’re grateful to the governor for her leadership in funding and maintaining a safe, affordable, reliable, accessible public transit system for all New Yorkers.”

    General Contractors Association of New York Executive Director Robert G. Wessels said, “We have worked hard in Albany, Washington, and right here in New York City to support funding for many MTA Capital Programs since its first five year plan in 1982, yet this one is particularly satisfying given its extraordinary level of investment. We commend the Governor for her efforts in getting this done, and our over 250 members and 25,000 skilled trades workers look forward to continuing to help New York rebuild and expand the nation’s premier transportation system.”

    New York Building Congress President and CEO Carlo Scissura said, “We are thrilled to see our partners in state government heed our industry’s call to ensure the MTA gets the funding it needs for the world class transit future New Yorkers deserve. Fully funding the MTA’s 2025–2029 Capital Program in the State Budget will generate over $106 billion in economic activity and support nearly 73,000 good-paying jobs across New York State, while delivering much-needed improvements to our transit infrastructure. The Capital Plan is essential to the continued growth of the region and is one of our strongest economic drivers. Building Congress members are ready to roll up their sleeves and get to work building a transportation network we can continue to be proud of. We thank Governor Hochul, Speaker Heastie, Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins, and the entire legislature for their leadership and commitment to New York’s future.”

    Felice Farber Executive Director Subcontractors Trade Association said, “We applaud Governor Hochul, Speaker Heastie, Majority Leader Stewart Cousins and the state legislature for their leadership in passing a budget that fully funds the MTA capital program. This critical investment not only ensures a safer, more reliable, and modernized transit system for millions of New Yorkers, but also fuels job growth and economic opportunity across the state. For subcontractors and small businesses, full funding means expanded access to projects, more predictable work pipelines, and a stronger foundation for long-term growth and innovation in the transportation infrastructure sector.”

    American Institute of Architects New York Chapter Executive Director Jesse Lazar said, “AIANY applauds Governor Hochul, Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins, Speaker Heastie, and the Members of the New York State Legislature for their demonstrated commitment to our public transportation system. This investment in the 2025-2029 Capital Plan will have critical impacts on the resiliency of our transit system with signal modernization and new rail cars as well as valuable expansion projects such as the Interborough Express. The design community is eager to continue its work with the MTA to ensure our region’s infrastructure is well-maintained and quality is prioritized.”

    Real Estate Board of New York President Jim Whelan said, “A world class transit infrastructure network is essential for attracting and retaining residents and businesses, and will help encourage investment for new real estate developments. REBNY commends the Governor and State Legislature for outlining a sustainable funding plan for the MTA as part of the budget.”

    Associated General Contractors of New York State President and CEO Mike Elmendorf said, “The fact that the enacted state budget fully funds the MTA Capital Program is welcome news for New York’s commuters and economy. This, coupled with the budget’s inclusion of increased funding for core NYSDOT capital needs and for local roads and bridges—highlights just how critical infrastructure is to our communities and economy. We commend Governor Hochul and the Legislature for recognizing this reality and for their forward-looking action.”

    American Council of Engineering Companies of New York President and CEO John T. Evers said, “New York’s economic future depends on the efficiency and effectiveness of our transportation systems, and that’s why we would like to applaud the steadfast leadership of Governor Kathy Hochul and our legislative leaders for their diligent work to significantly increase in the budget of $800 million for the state Department of Transportation’s Capital Plan and adopt the five-year MTA Capital Plan. This funding will enable necessary upgrades to our aging network of roads, bridges and tunnels statewide, ensuring millions of New Yorkers can move forward in a safer and more sustainable manner. Improving our infrastructure means improving our quality of life, and as leaders in design and engineering, our members commend our government partners for securing the funds to better protect generations to come.”

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Apple unveils powerful accessibility features coming later this year

    Source: Apple

    Headline: Apple unveils powerful accessibility features coming later this year

    May 13, 2025

    PRESS RELEASE

    Apple unveils powerful accessibility features coming later this year

    New features include Accessibility Nutrition Labels on the App Store, Magnifier for Mac, Braille Access, and Accessibility Reader; plus innovative updates to Live Listen, visionOS, Personal Voice, and more

    CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA Apple today announced new accessibility features coming later this year, including Accessibility Nutrition Labels, which will provide more detailed information for apps and games on the App Store. Users who are blind or have low vision can explore, learn, and interact using the new Magnifier app for Mac; take notes and perform calculations with the new Braille Access feature; and leverage the powerful camera system of Apple Vision Pro with new updates to visionOS. Additional announcements include Accessibility Reader, a new systemwide reading mode designed with accessibility in mind, along with updates to Live Listen, Background Sounds, Personal Voice, Vehicle Motion Cues, and more. Leveraging the power of Apple silicon — along with advances in on-device machine learning and artificial intelligence — users will experience a new level of accessibility across the Apple ecosystem.

    “At Apple, accessibility is part of our DNA,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “Making technology for everyone is a priority for all of us, and we’re proud of the innovations we’re sharing this year. That includes tools to help people access crucial information, explore the world around them, and do what they love.”

    “Building on 40 years of accessibility innovation at Apple, we are dedicated to pushing forward with new accessibility features for all of our products,” said Sarah Herrlinger, Apple’s senior director of Global Accessibility Policy and Initiatives. “Powered by the Apple ecosystem, these features work seamlessly together to bring users new ways to engage with the things they care about most.”

    Accessibility Nutrition Labels Come to the App Store

    Accessibility Nutrition Labels bring a new section to App Store product pages that will highlight accessibility features within apps and games. These labels give users a new way to learn if an app will be accessible to them before they download it, and give developers the opportunity to better inform and educate their users on features their app supports. This includes VoiceOver, Voice Control, Larger Text, Sufficient Contrast, Reduced Motion, captions, and more. Accessibility Nutrition Labels will be available on the App Store worldwide, and developers can access more guidance on the criteria apps should meet before displaying accessibility information on their product pages.

    “Accessibility Nutrition Labels are a huge step forward for accessibility,” said Eric Bridges, the American Foundation for the Blind’s president and CEO. “Consumers deserve to know if a product or service will be accessible to them from the very start, and Apple has a long-standing history of delivering tools and technologies that allow developers to build experiences for everyone. These labels will give people with disabilities a new way to easily make more informed decisions and make purchases with a new level of confidence.”

    An All-New Magnifier for Mac

    Since 2016, Magnifier on iPhone and iPad has given users who are blind or have low vision tools to zoom in, read text, and detect objects around them. This year, Magnifier is coming to Mac to make the physical world more accessible for users with low vision. The Magnifier app for Mac connects to a user’s camera so they can zoom in on their surroundings, such as a screen or whiteboard. Magnifier works with Continuity Camera on iPhone as well as attached USB cameras, and supports reading documents using Desk View.

    With multiple live session windows, users can multitask by viewing a presentation with a webcam while simultaneously following along in a book using Desk View. With customized views, users can adjust brightness, contrast, color filters, and even perspective to make text and images easier to see. Views can also be captured, grouped, and saved to add to later on. Additionally, Magnifier for Mac is integrated with another new accessibility feature, Accessibility Reader, which transforms text from the physical world into a custom legible format.

    A New Braille Experience

    Braille Access is an all-new experience that turns iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Vision Pro into a full-featured braille note taker that’s deeply integrated into the Apple ecosystem. With a built-in app launcher, users can easily open any app by typing with Braille Screen Input or a connected braille device. With Braille Access, users can quickly take notes in braille format and perform calculations using Nemeth Braille, a braille code often used in classrooms for math and science. Users can open Braille Ready Format (BRF) files directly from Braille Access, unlocking a wide range of books and files previously created on a braille note taking device. And an integrated form of Live Captions allows users to transcribe conversations in real time directly on braille displays.

    Introducing Accessibility Reader

    Accessibility Reader is a new systemwide reading mode designed to make text easier to read for users with a wide range of disabilities, such as dyslexia or low vision. Available on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Vision Pro, Accessibility Reader gives users new ways to customize text and focus on content they want to read, with extensive options for font, color, and spacing, as well as support for Spoken Content. Accessibility Reader can be launched from any app, and is built into the Magnifier app for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, so users can interact with text in the real world, like in books or on dining menus.

    Live Captions Arrive on Apple Watch

    For users who are deaf or hard of hearing, Live Listen controls come to Apple Watch with a new set of features, including real-time Live Captions. Live Listen turns iPhone into a remote microphone to stream content directly to AirPods, Made for iPhone hearing aids, or Beats headphones. When a session is active on iPhone, users can view Live Captions of what their iPhone hears on a paired Apple Watch while listening along to the audio. Apple Watch serves as a remote control to start or stop Live Listen sessions, or jump back in a session to capture something that may have been missed. With Apple Watch, Live Listen sessions can be controlled from across the room, so there’s no need to get up in the middle of a meeting or during class. Live Listen can be used along with hearing health features available on AirPods Pro 2, including the first-of-its-kind clinical-grade Hearing Aid feature.

    An Enhanced View with Apple Vision Pro

    For users who are blind or have low vision, visionOS will expand vision accessibility features using the advanced camera system on Apple Vision Pro. With powerful updates to Zoom, users can magnify everything in view — including their surroundings — using the main camera. For VoiceOver users, Live Recognition in visionOS uses on-device machine learning to describe surroundings, find objects, read documents, and more.1 For accessibility developers, a new API will enable approved apps to access the main camera to provide live, person-to-person assistance for visual interpretation in apps like Be My Eyes, giving users more ways to understand their surroundings hands-free.

    Additional Updates

    • Background Sounds becomes easier to personalize with new EQ settings, the option to stop automatically after a period of time, and new actions for automations in Shortcuts. Background Sounds can help minimize distractions to increase a sense of focus and relaxation, which some users find can help with symptoms of tinnitus.
    • For users at risk of losing their ability to speak, Personal Voice becomes faster, easier, and more powerful than ever, leveraging advances in on-device machine learning and artificial intelligence to create a smoother, more natural-sounding voice in less than a minute, using only 10 recorded phrases. Personal Voice will also add support for Spanish (Mexico).2
    • Vehicle Motion Cues, which can help reduce motion sickness when riding in a moving vehicle, comes to Mac, along with new ways to customize the animated onscreen dots on iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
    • Eye Tracking users on iPhone and iPad will now have the option to use a switch or dwell to make selections. Keyboard typing when using Eye Tracking or Switch Control is now easier on iPhone, iPad, and Apple Vision Pro with improvements including a new keyboard dwell timer, reduced steps when typing with switches, and enabling QuickPath for iPhone and Vision Pro.
    • With Head Tracking, users will be able to more easily control iPhone and iPad with head movements, similar to Eye Tracking.
    • For users with severe mobility disabilities, iOS, iPadOS, and visionOS will add a new protocol to support Switch Control for Brain Computer Interfaces (BCIs), an emerging technology that allows users to control their device without physical movement.
    • Assistive Access adds a new custom Apple TV app with a simplified media player. Developers will also get support in creating tailored experiences for users with intellectual and developmental disabilities using the Assistive Access API.
    • Music Haptics on iPhone becomes more customizable with the option to experience haptics for a whole song or for vocals only, as well as the option to adjust the overall intensity of taps, textures, and vibrations.
    • Sound Recognition adds Name Recognition, a new way for users who are deaf or hard of hearing to know when their name is being called.
    • Voice Control introduces a new programming mode in Xcode for software developers with limited mobility. Voice Control also adds vocabulary syncing across devices, and will expand language support to include Korean, Arabic (Saudi Arabia), Turkish, Italian, Spanish (Latin America), Mandarin Chinese (Taiwan), English (Singapore), and Russian.
    • Live Captions adds support to include English (India, Australia, UK, Singapore), Mandarin Chinese (Mainland China), Cantonese (Mainland China, Hong Kong), Spanish (Latin America, Spain), French (France, Canada), Japanese, German (Germany), and Korean.
    • Updates to CarPlay include support for Large Text. With updates to Sound Recognition in CarPlay, drivers or passengers who are deaf or hard of hearing can now be notified of the sound of a crying baby, in addition to sounds outside the car such as horns and sirens.
    • Share Accessibility Settings is a new way for users to quickly and temporarily share their accessibility settings with another iPhone or iPad. This is great for borrowing a friend’s device or using a public kiosk in a setting like a cafe.

    Celebrate Global Accessibility Awareness Day with Apple

    Apple Retail is introducing dedicated tables spotlighting accessibility features on a variety of devices in select store locations throughout the month of May. Additionally, Apple offers accessibility sessions year-round through Today at Apple for deeper learning, tips, and feature customization. Sessions can be scheduled at all Apple Store locations worldwide through Group Booking or by visiting a nearby store.

    Apple Music shares the story of artist Kiddo K and the power of music haptics for users who are deaf or hard of hearing, unveils updates to its Haptics playlists, and launches a brand-new playlist featuring ASL interpretations of music videos alongside Saylists playlists.

    Apple Fitness+ welcomes Chelsie Hill as a guest in a Dance workout with Fitness+ trainer Ben Allen. Hill is a professional dancer and founder of Rolettes, an L.A.-based wheelchair dance team that advocates for disability representation and women’s empowerment. The workout is available now in the Fitness+ app.

    Apple TV+ shares a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the new Apple Original film Deaf President Now!, which premieres on Apple TV+ on May 16. The documentary tells the story of the greatest civil rights movement most people have never heard about, which unfolded across eight tumultuous days in 1988. At the world’s only Deaf university, four students must find a way to lead an angry mob — and change the course of history.

    Apple Books, Apple Podcasts, Apple TV, and Apple News will spotlight stories of people with disabilities and those who are working to make the world more accessible for everyone.

    The App Store is sharing a collection of apps and games designed to be accessible to everyone, in addition to featuring the story of Klemens Strasser, a developer guided by a philosophy of making accessible apps and games like The Art of Fauna.

    The Shortcuts app adds Hold That Thought, a shortcut that prompts users to capture and recall information in a note so interruptions don’t derail their flow. The Accessibility Assistant shortcut has been added to Shortcuts on Apple Vision Pro to help recommend accessibility features based on user preferences.

    New videos on the Apple Support accessibility playlist include features like Eye Tracking, Vocal Shortcuts, and Vehicle Motion Cues, as well as a library of videos to help everyone personalize their iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple Vision Pro to work best for them.

    About Apple Apple revolutionized personal technology with the introduction of the Macintosh in 1984. Today, Apple leads the world in innovation with iPhone, iPad, Mac, AirPods, Apple Watch, and Apple Vision Pro. Apple’s six software platforms — iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, visionOS, and tvOS — provide seamless experiences across all Apple devices and empower people with breakthrough services including the App Store, Apple Music, Apple Pay, iCloud, and Apple TV+. Apple’s more than 150,000 employees are dedicated to making the best products on earth and to leaving the world better than we found it.

    1. Live Recognition should not be relied on in high-risk or emergency situations, in circumstances where the user may be harmed or injured, or for navigation.
    2. Personal Voice can only be used to create a voice that sounds like the user on device, using their own voice, and for their own personal, noncommercial use.

    Press Contacts

    Will Butler

    Apple

    willbutler@apple.com

    Apple Media Helpline

    media.help@apple.com

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Apple unveils powerful accessibility features coming later this year

    Source: Apple

    Headline: Apple unveils powerful accessibility features coming later this year

    May 13, 2025

    PRESS RELEASE

    Apple unveils powerful accessibility features coming later this year

    New features include Accessibility Nutrition Labels on the App Store, Magnifier for Mac, Braille Access, and Accessibility Reader; plus innovative updates to Live Listen, visionOS, Personal Voice, and more

    CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA Apple today announced new accessibility features coming later this year, including Accessibility Nutrition Labels, which will provide more detailed information for apps and games on the App Store. Users who are blind or have low vision can explore, learn, and interact using the new Magnifier app for Mac; take notes and perform calculations with the new Braille Access feature; and leverage the powerful camera system of Apple Vision Pro with new updates to visionOS. Additional announcements include Accessibility Reader, a new systemwide reading mode designed with accessibility in mind, along with updates to Live Listen, Background Sounds, Personal Voice, Vehicle Motion Cues, and more. Leveraging the power of Apple silicon — along with advances in on-device machine learning and artificial intelligence — users will experience a new level of accessibility across the Apple ecosystem.

    “At Apple, accessibility is part of our DNA,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “Making technology for everyone is a priority for all of us, and we’re proud of the innovations we’re sharing this year. That includes tools to help people access crucial information, explore the world around them, and do what they love.”

    “Building on 40 years of accessibility innovation at Apple, we are dedicated to pushing forward with new accessibility features for all of our products,” said Sarah Herrlinger, Apple’s senior director of Global Accessibility Policy and Initiatives. “Powered by the Apple ecosystem, these features work seamlessly together to bring users new ways to engage with the things they care about most.”

    Accessibility Nutrition Labels Come to the App Store

    Accessibility Nutrition Labels bring a new section to App Store product pages that will highlight accessibility features within apps and games. These labels give users a new way to learn if an app will be accessible to them before they download it, and give developers the opportunity to better inform and educate their users on features their app supports. This includes VoiceOver, Voice Control, Larger Text, Sufficient Contrast, Reduced Motion, captions, and more. Accessibility Nutrition Labels will be available on the App Store worldwide, and developers can access more guidance on the criteria apps should meet before displaying accessibility information on their product pages.

    “Accessibility Nutrition Labels are a huge step forward for accessibility,” said Eric Bridges, the American Foundation for the Blind’s president and CEO. “Consumers deserve to know if a product or service will be accessible to them from the very start, and Apple has a long-standing history of delivering tools and technologies that allow developers to build experiences for everyone. These labels will give people with disabilities a new way to easily make more informed decisions and make purchases with a new level of confidence.”

    An All-New Magnifier for Mac

    Since 2016, Magnifier on iPhone and iPad has given users who are blind or have low vision tools to zoom in, read text, and detect objects around them. This year, Magnifier is coming to Mac to make the physical world more accessible for users with low vision. The Magnifier app for Mac connects to a user’s camera so they can zoom in on their surroundings, such as a screen or whiteboard. Magnifier works with Continuity Camera on iPhone as well as attached USB cameras, and supports reading documents using Desk View.

    With multiple live session windows, users can multitask by viewing a presentation with a webcam while simultaneously following along in a book using Desk View. With customized views, users can adjust brightness, contrast, color filters, and even perspective to make text and images easier to see. Views can also be captured, grouped, and saved to add to later on. Additionally, Magnifier for Mac is integrated with another new accessibility feature, Accessibility Reader, which transforms text from the physical world into a custom legible format.

    A New Braille Experience

    Braille Access is an all-new experience that turns iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Vision Pro into a full-featured braille note taker that’s deeply integrated into the Apple ecosystem. With a built-in app launcher, users can easily open any app by typing with Braille Screen Input or a connected braille device. With Braille Access, users can quickly take notes in braille format and perform calculations using Nemeth Braille, a braille code often used in classrooms for math and science. Users can open Braille Ready Format (BRF) files directly from Braille Access, unlocking a wide range of books and files previously created on a braille note taking device. And an integrated form of Live Captions allows users to transcribe conversations in real time directly on braille displays.

    Introducing Accessibility Reader

    Accessibility Reader is a new systemwide reading mode designed to make text easier to read for users with a wide range of disabilities, such as dyslexia or low vision. Available on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Vision Pro, Accessibility Reader gives users new ways to customize text and focus on content they want to read, with extensive options for font, color, and spacing, as well as support for Spoken Content. Accessibility Reader can be launched from any app, and is built into the Magnifier app for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, so users can interact with text in the real world, like in books or on dining menus.

    Live Captions Arrive on Apple Watch

    For users who are deaf or hard of hearing, Live Listen controls come to Apple Watch with a new set of features, including real-time Live Captions. Live Listen turns iPhone into a remote microphone to stream content directly to AirPods, Made for iPhone hearing aids, or Beats headphones. When a session is active on iPhone, users can view Live Captions of what their iPhone hears on a paired Apple Watch while listening along to the audio. Apple Watch serves as a remote control to start or stop Live Listen sessions, or jump back in a session to capture something that may have been missed. With Apple Watch, Live Listen sessions can be controlled from across the room, so there’s no need to get up in the middle of a meeting or during class. Live Listen can be used along with hearing health features available on AirPods Pro 2, including the first-of-its-kind clinical-grade Hearing Aid feature.

    An Enhanced View with Apple Vision Pro

    For users who are blind or have low vision, visionOS will expand vision accessibility features using the advanced camera system on Apple Vision Pro. With powerful updates to Zoom, users can magnify everything in view — including their surroundings — using the main camera. For VoiceOver users, Live Recognition in visionOS uses on-device machine learning to describe surroundings, find objects, read documents, and more.1 For accessibility developers, a new API will enable approved apps to access the main camera to provide live, person-to-person assistance for visual interpretation in apps like Be My Eyes, giving users more ways to understand their surroundings hands-free.

    Additional Updates

    • Background Sounds becomes easier to personalize with new EQ settings, the option to stop automatically after a period of time, and new actions for automations in Shortcuts. Background Sounds can help minimize distractions to increase a sense of focus and relaxation, which some users find can help with symptoms of tinnitus.
    • For users at risk of losing their ability to speak, Personal Voice becomes faster, easier, and more powerful than ever, leveraging advances in on-device machine learning and artificial intelligence to create a smoother, more natural-sounding voice in less than a minute, using only 10 recorded phrases. Personal Voice will also add support for Spanish (Mexico).2
    • Vehicle Motion Cues, which can help reduce motion sickness when riding in a moving vehicle, comes to Mac, along with new ways to customize the animated onscreen dots on iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
    • Eye Tracking users on iPhone and iPad will now have the option to use a switch or dwell to make selections. Keyboard typing when using Eye Tracking or Switch Control is now easier on iPhone, iPad, and Apple Vision Pro with improvements including a new keyboard dwell timer, reduced steps when typing with switches, and enabling QuickPath for iPhone and Vision Pro.
    • With Head Tracking, users will be able to more easily control iPhone and iPad with head movements, similar to Eye Tracking.
    • For users with severe mobility disabilities, iOS, iPadOS, and visionOS will add a new protocol to support Switch Control for Brain Computer Interfaces (BCIs), an emerging technology that allows users to control their device without physical movement.
    • Assistive Access adds a new custom Apple TV app with a simplified media player. Developers will also get support in creating tailored experiences for users with intellectual and developmental disabilities using the Assistive Access API.
    • Music Haptics on iPhone becomes more customizable with the option to experience haptics for a whole song or for vocals only, as well as the option to adjust the overall intensity of taps, textures, and vibrations.
    • Sound Recognition adds Name Recognition, a new way for users who are deaf or hard of hearing to know when their name is being called.
    • Voice Control introduces a new programming mode in Xcode for software developers with limited mobility. Voice Control also adds vocabulary syncing across devices, and will expand language support to include Korean, Arabic (Saudi Arabia), Turkish, Italian, Spanish (Latin America), Mandarin Chinese (Taiwan), English (Singapore), and Russian.
    • Live Captions adds support to include English (India, Australia, UK, Singapore), Mandarin Chinese (Mainland China), Cantonese (Mainland China, Hong Kong), Spanish (Latin America, Spain), French (France, Canada), Japanese, German (Germany), and Korean.
    • Updates to CarPlay include support for Large Text. With updates to Sound Recognition in CarPlay, drivers or passengers who are deaf or hard of hearing can now be notified of the sound of a crying baby, in addition to sounds outside the car such as horns and sirens.
    • Share Accessibility Settings is a new way for users to quickly and temporarily share their accessibility settings with another iPhone or iPad. This is great for borrowing a friend’s device or using a public kiosk in a setting like a cafe.

    Celebrate Global Accessibility Awareness Day with Apple

    Apple Retail is introducing dedicated tables spotlighting accessibility features on a variety of devices in select store locations throughout the month of May. Additionally, Apple offers accessibility sessions year-round through Today at Apple for deeper learning, tips, and feature customization. Sessions can be scheduled at all Apple Store locations worldwide through Group Booking or by visiting a nearby store.

    Apple Music shares the story of artist Kiddo K and the power of music haptics for users who are deaf or hard of hearing, unveils updates to its Haptics playlists, and launches a brand-new playlist featuring ASL interpretations of music videos alongside Saylists playlists.

    Apple Fitness+ welcomes Chelsie Hill as a guest in a Dance workout with Fitness+ trainer Ben Allen. Hill is a professional dancer and founder of Rolettes, an L.A.-based wheelchair dance team that advocates for disability representation and women’s empowerment. The workout is available now in the Fitness+ app.

    Apple TV+ shares a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the new Apple Original film Deaf President Now!, which premieres on Apple TV+ on May 16. The documentary tells the story of the greatest civil rights movement most people have never heard about, which unfolded across eight tumultuous days in 1988. At the world’s only Deaf university, four students must find a way to lead an angry mob — and change the course of history.

    Apple Books, Apple Podcasts, Apple TV, and Apple News will spotlight stories of people with disabilities and those who are working to make the world more accessible for everyone.

    The App Store is sharing a collection of apps and games designed to be accessible to everyone, in addition to featuring the story of Klemens Strasser, a developer guided by a philosophy of making accessible apps and games like The Art of Fauna.

    The Shortcuts app adds Hold That Thought, a shortcut that prompts users to capture and recall information in a note so interruptions don’t derail their flow. The Accessibility Assistant shortcut has been added to Shortcuts on Apple Vision Pro to help recommend accessibility features based on user preferences.

    New videos on the Apple Support accessibility playlist include features like Eye Tracking, Vocal Shortcuts, and Vehicle Motion Cues, as well as a library of videos to help everyone personalize their iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple Vision Pro to work best for them.

    About Apple Apple revolutionized personal technology with the introduction of the Macintosh in 1984. Today, Apple leads the world in innovation with iPhone, iPad, Mac, AirPods, Apple Watch, and Apple Vision Pro. Apple’s six software platforms — iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, visionOS, and tvOS — provide seamless experiences across all Apple devices and empower people with breakthrough services including the App Store, Apple Music, Apple Pay, iCloud, and Apple TV+. Apple’s more than 150,000 employees are dedicated to making the best products on earth and to leaving the world better than we found it.

    1. Live Recognition should not be relied on in high-risk or emergency situations, in circumstances where the user may be harmed or injured, or for navigation.
    2. Personal Voice can only be used to create a voice that sounds like the user on device, using their own voice, and for their own personal, noncommercial use.

    Press Contacts

    Will Butler

    Apple

    willbutler@apple.com

    Apple Media Helpline

    media.help@apple.com

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • Blood Money: Pakistan’s Shadow Economy and the Trade that Fuels Terrorism

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    A Hidden Artery that Predates 9/11

    Islamabad has long claimed that terrorist finance seeped in from Afghanistan only after the Twin Towers fell. Yet the sluice gates were prised open a decade earlier. In 1991, then-Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said he received a “blueprint” from Army Chief General Aslam Beg and ISI Director-General Asad Durrani: fund covert wars by selling heroin overseas, according to NATO’s study Narco-Insecurity, Inc. Sharif maintains he rejected the proposal; the generals deny it; but the episode revealed a mindset in which narcotics were deemed an acceptable coin of statecraft—ten years before 9/11 and far from any Afghan battlefield.

    The prime minister might have disowned the scheme, yet his party was deeply enmeshed in the narcotics trade. Sharif later admitted to The Washington Post in 1994 that ISI-backed drug profits financed covert operations. Through the ISI, the Pakistan Army set up narcotics routes to bankroll terror campaigns in Jammu & Kashmir and Afghanistan.

    Narco-Politics: Heroin as Statecraft

    Until the Taliban imposed a ban in August 2022, Afghanistan produced about 80 per cent of the world’s opium, and the cheapest road to blue water runs through Pakistan’s south-western badlands. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime research on the “southern route” names Iran and Pakistan as key springboards for Afghan heroin bound for the Gulf and Europe, generating windfalls well into the billions. By cautious estimates, smuggling through Pakistan alone spins off more than a billion US dollars of largely untaxed cash each year. Militants who guard convoys or refine opium into export-grade heroin take their cut; so do civilians and men in uniform who provide protection.

    Moreover, a United Nations report notes that despite the Taliban edict, opium cultivation in 2024 still rose by 19 per cent over the 2023 figure.

    Counterfeit Nation: A War Printed Across the Border

    If heroin yields a harvest within Pakistan, counterfeit rupees sow chaos next door. In May 2019 Nepalese police seized INR 76.7 million in near-perfect Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN) from Kathmandu trafficker Yunus Ansari and three Pakistani couriers. Investigators traced the notes to Karachi presses reportedly run by Dawood Ibrahim’s crime syndicate under ISI protection.

    The objective, officials say, is two-fold: finance jihadist allies such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, and erode confidence in India’s currency—a variety of “economic jihad” achievable with little more than a printing plate and diplomatic deniability. The ISI funnels FICN through Nepal and Bangladesh via illicit networks that span their borders with India. In February 2015 a Pakistani diplomat was withdrawn from the High Commission in Dhaka after it was proved he was an ISI operative engaged in terror financing and FICN circulation.

    Extortion City: Karachi’s Cash Cow

    Drugs and forged money form the overture; raw fear provides the steady bass line. Bank robberies in Karachi once netted the Pakistani Taliban and allied outfits more than US $800,000 after commanders in the tribal belt ordered urban cells to abandon foreign donations and fund themselves through crime, reports the ‘Combating Terrorism Centre at West Point’ in its analysis, The Pakistani Taliban’s Karachi Network. The raids were the visible crest of a broader wave of “bhatta parchis”—monthly protection money squeezed from transporters, timber merchants and even school principals. Karachi’s takings underwrote bombs that shredded markets in Peshawar and ambushes that bled police in Khyber. The pattern never vanished; it migrated. In March 2025 the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan sent letters to sugar-mill owners in Dera Ismail Khan: pay us, not the government, or watch your factories burn.

    Hawala: The Invisible Artery

    Moving cash is effortless when the state prefers the informal. Terrorist groups draw billions of rupees through hawala, cash couriers and black-market currency dealers; narcotics, kidnapping and extortion are core revenue streams. Hawala’s genius lies in its invisibility: one telephone call links a donor in Dubai to a broker in Lahore, and rupees materialise—unrecorded, untaxed, unseen. The same networks move political kick-backs and corporate tax evasion, ensuring institutional silence so long as every stakeholder’s share arrives on time.

    Balochistan and Other Wild Frontiers

    Farther west, a smuggler’s paradise of desert tracks and deep-water coves bankrolls both sides of Balochistan’s low-burn insurgency. The Baloch Liberation Army, analysts say, enjoys “well-funded support mechanism”: levies on coal trucks, tolls on diesel convoys and a system to keep the rebellion alive. Every barrel of fuel taxed on the Makran coast, every tonne of chromite shifted from a lawless quarry — deposits fresh ammunition in the rebels’ accounts—and justifies larger counter-insurgency budgets for the security establishment run by the Pakistani generals. Conflict has become profitable to the state here as well.

    Who Holds the Purse-Strings?

    Official spokesmen of the country blame “rogue elements” or “hostile foreign agencies” for terror finance. Yet evidence places Pakistan’s power elite at every collection point. From the 1991 heroin blueprint to the Jamaat-ud-Dawa and Lashkar-e-Taiba donation buckets in Lahore’s mosques and Jaish-e-Mohammed’s seminary in Bahawalpur, terrorism has long been treated as a strategic hedge, not an existential threat. Only when the guns turned inward did the establishment discover the lexicon of compliance.

    Under international pressure, the Financial Action Task Force removed Pakistan from its grey list in October 2022. Television viewers saw frozen accounts, a few celebrity militants behind bars and choreographed press conferences about hawala raids. Yet these gestures were skin-deep. The deeper arteries still pulse: the Pahalgam terror attack traced back to Pakistan is a reminder, and the world community should move to grey-list Islamabad again.

    Turning Off the Tap—or Pretending To

    Pakistan’s terror economy is no single pipe to be welded shut; it is an underground river fed by narcotics, fake currency, extortion, smuggling and the state’s own cynical bargains. The generals who toyed with heroin, the politicians who wink at hawala donors and the bureaucrats who auction customs posts have all drunk from its waters. Could it end? With an economy edging towards default and a state apparatus that still wields covert terror as policy, the prospect appears bleak. Only an uncompromising audit of power can stem the blood money coursing through Pakistan’s shadow state—yet such scrutiny remains a distant chord in a pseudo-civilian order orchestrated by the army and its ISI handlers.

  • MIL-OSI: Auto and Property Insurance Shopping in First Quarter 2025 Elevated Compared to One Year Ago

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    CHICAGO, May 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Auto insurance shopping in Q1 2025 increased 10% compared to the same period in 2024. Home insurance shopping was up 5% year over year, according to TransUnion (NYSE: TRU) research.

    While the trend of elevated shopping levels has been consistent for some time, a key difference emerged over the last quarter for auto insurance. Higher-risk consumers are once again the most active shoppers for the first time since Q4 2021. Insurers may have returned to traditional practices of focusing rate increases on higher risk segments, rather than across the board.

    As a result, higher-risk customers are still shopping for lower rates, while mid- and low-risk customers may have seen their rates stabilize. These findings and more are included in TransUnion’s latest quarterly Insurance Personal Lines Trends and Perspectives Report.

    “As rates have settled for the majority of auto insurance customers, we are experiencing a return to historical insurance shopping patterns, which correlate price sensitivity closely to relative insurance risk,” said Patrick Foy, senior director of strategic planning for TransUnion’s Insurance business. “However, uncertainty in the cost and availability of parts for vehicle and home repairs, could eventually lead to a return of broad-based price increases, and weather-related catastrophes—while still unpredictable—have also become a far more common and costly phenomenon.”

    The report notes that natural disasters have increased substantially, with 27 observed $1 billion dollar-plus disasters in 2024. This is more than double the 2010-2019 average of 13 disasters per year. The overall 2024 total cost was around $183 billion—also more than double the average annual cost in the 2010s.1 

    Generational shifts in homeownership
    The home insurance landscape is facing other changes as well. In 2009 more than half of Gen X consumers owned homes. However, in 2024, only 41% of Millennials at a similar age were homeowners. This is primarily due to the increasing size and cost of housing inventories that led to delays in homeownership or have priced many young adults out of the housing market entirely.

    As a result, there is a shift in home composition, with two- and even three-generation households becoming more common. Only 38% of credit-active occupants were living alone as of 2024, compared to 45% in 2009. Consumers seem to expect this trend to continue. According to a recent TransUnion consumer survey,18% of Gen X, 26% of Millennials and 35% of Gen Z plan to provide financial support to parents and grandparents in the next five years.2

    “As consumers are readjusting their lifestyles in the face of new economic realities, insurers must also become flexible with their policy offerings,” said Foy. “Multi-generational households represent a different risk profile as well as a different audience segment for their marketing.”

    By acknowledging this emerging trend in household composition, insurers can design products that more effectively price the inherent risks. They can also design advertising campaigns that better reach and resonate with their desired customers.

    Insurers can achieve more effective marketing with TransUnion’s TruAudience® suite of marketing solutions that help with identity resolution, audience building and measurement.

    Read the latest Insurance Personal Lines Trends and Perspectives Report.

    1. Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters | Time Series | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)
    2. 2025 TransUnion Insurance Summit Consumer Survey

    About TransUnion’s Insurance Personal Lines Trends and Perspectives Report
    This quarterly publication examines trends in the personal lines insurance industry, including shopping, migration, violation, credit-based insurance stability and more. The Trends and Perspectives Report research is based almost entirely on TransUnion’s extensive internal data and analyses. It includes information on insurance shopping transactions from October 2023 to March 2025. However, the report excludes shopping data from insurance customers in California, Hawaii (auto), Massachusetts (auto), and Maryland (property), where credit-based insurance scoring information is not used for insurance rating or underwriting.

    About TransUnion (NYSE: TRU)
    TransUnion is a global information and insights company with over 13,000 associates operating in more than 30 countries. We make trust possible by ensuring each person is reliably represented in the marketplace. We do this with a Tru™ picture of each person: an actionable view of consumers, stewarded with care. Through our acquisitions and technology investments we have developed innovative solutions that extend beyond our strong foundation in core credit into areas such as marketing, fraud, risk and advanced analytics. As a result, consumers and businesses can transact with confidence and achieve great things. We call this Information for Good® — and it leads to economic opportunity, great experiences and personal empowerment for millions of people around the world. http://www.transunion.com/business

     

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New tech to make rail replacement travel more accessible

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    New tech to make rail replacement travel more accessible

    Four innovative projects set to share £800,000 to improve accessible information for passengers using rail replacement coaches.

    • four projects selected to help roll out accessible information on board rail replacement coaches
    • £800,000 will be allocated across the 4 projects to develop new onboard information technology
    • part of the government’s Plan for Change, aimed at delivering bold ambitions to improve transport accessibility

    Today’s announcement (13 May 2025) will break down the barriers to opportunity – as part of our Plan for Change – by improving accessible travel on rail replacement coaches for disabled people, thanks to £800,000 of government funding for new technology innovations – including a 3D animated avatar that allows passengers to ask questions through voice interaction or access audio via apps or QR codes.

    Local Transport Minister Simon Lightwood has today confirmed the funding will go to 4 selected projects which will help to roll out audible and visible information for passengers onboard coach services – transforming public services and driving efficiency.

    While many buses in the UK already offer these features, coach services used for rail replacement often lack the technology needed to deliver the same standard of information. This can leave passengers, especially those with visual or cognitive impairments, without the support they need to travel independently and confidently.

    The new technology will offer flexible solutions that work in different vehicles, helping operators meet the requirements set out in the Public Service Vehicles (Accessible Information) Regulations 2023.

    The Department for Transport (DfT) introduced the Public Service Vehicles (Accessible Information) Regulations 2023, requiring local bus and coach services to provide clear and accessible audible and visible onboard information. This includes details such as the route, direction of travel and upcoming stops.

    The projects were selected following the competition run by Innovate UK, which combined established solutions with newer technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI) and a new Bluetooth feature, Auracast, to deliver real-time information in a variety of accessible formats. These projects will be completed by March 2026.

    As part of the government’s Plan for Change, these projects will enable more people to travel independently for work, education, and leisure.

    Making transport more accessible and inclusive not only benefits disabled passengers, but also helps unlock wider economic benefits – from increasing workforce participation to boosting local tourism and supporting businesses across the country.

    Local Transport Minister, Simon Lightwood, said:

    There are around 16 million disabled people in the UK and many depend on coach services to get around. It’s vital that these services provide clear, accessible information for everyone, particularly on rail replacement journeys where the route and stops can change.

    To help rail replacement coach operators make this transition smoothly, we are providing £800,000 of funding as part of the government’s Plan for Change to explore technology that helps all passengers, regardless of their needs, travel with confidence and independence. Public transport should be accessible for all and we’re committed to making that a reality – clearing away barriers to growth.

    This government is securing our future through the Plan for Change by making transport more accessible through initiatives like Access for All, which has delivered step-free access at over 260 stations, and new measures in the Bus Services (No. 2) Bill. The bill will require disability awareness and assistance training for drivers and staff providing direct assistance to passengers and require local authorities to pay regard to new bus stop safety and accessibility guidance.

    Rail media enquiries

    Media enquiries 0300 7777878

    Switchboard 0300 330 3000

    Updates to this page

    Published 13 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Purple Pepe listed on major crypto exchanges, enters US real estate market

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., May 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The viral crypto project Purple Pepe (PURPE) continues its rise with multiple new exchange listings and a historic leap into real-world utility. Less than a year since its launch, the community-driven memecoin is now making headlines not just online, but in commercial real estate.

    Now trading on Poloniex, LBank, BitMart, Coinstash, Biconomy, Slingshot app, Gate.io, Coinbase Wallet, Robinhood Wallet, PURPE is gaining momentum across major crypto exchanges. With a holder base of over 48,000 and a previous all-time high market cap of $140 million, the token draws interest from Tier-1 platforms and mainstream investors alike.

    Real-world utility

    Missouri-based real estate developer Daniel Westermier has officially listed a commercial property in Sedalia, MO (ZIP 65301) for sale, accepting PURPE as a form of payment. This marks one of the first known US property listings accepting a memecoin.

    “Accepting PURPE for real estate isn’t a gimmick—it’s the beginning of a new economic layer where community coins have real-world value,” said Daniel Westermier, the first US property developer to list a commercial building for memecoin payment.

    The property listing is available here.

    Interested parties may contact: dwestermier@gmail.com

    This real-world development comes as PURPE prepares for a major appearance at the Bitcoin Conference in Las Vegas (May 27–29), where the project plans a full-scale community-driven campaign. The effort is backed by one of the largest and most vocal communities in finance—the WallStreetBets Facebook group, boasting over 560,000 members.

    What started as a meme became a mission. PURPE isn’t just riding the hype cycle—we’re building something with staying power,” said Christopher Berrios, founder of the WallStreetBets Facebook group and a driving force behind PURPE’s explosive growth.

    About Purple Pepe (PURPE)

    Purple Pepe (PURPE) is a community-powered memecoin launched in 2024 that quickly transformed from a viral joke into a serious crypto project. Known for its engaged following and real-world use cases, PURPE is proving that memes can be more than internet culture—they can be financial vehicles with a tangible impact.

    Website: www.purpe.xyz
    Telegram: https://t.me/Purpe_SOL
    X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/PurplePepeS0L
    WallStreetBets Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/16QrnBvMue/

    Media Contact
    Christopher Berrios
    CTO
    Christopher@purpe.xyz

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    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Increase in admissions at MSF centre specialised in treating people for extreme violence in Mexico City

    Source: Médecins Sans Frontières –

    Mexico City – The number of mental health consultations and new patients admitted to the Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Comprehensive Care Centre (CAI, in Spanish) for victims of extreme violence, based in Mexico City, Mexico, has increased significantly in the last six months. MSF attributes the increase to continued violence at the hands of various armed groups — both organised crime groups and security forces — along the migration route through Central America and Mexico, fuelled by a slew of harsh changes to immigration policies by the United States (US) and other governments in the region. As needs increase, we urge public entities and NGOs to strengthen assistance to people in Mexico who have been victims of violence and are seeking safety.  

    In the first quarter of 2025, MSF teams provided 485 individual mental health sessions to patients at the CAI, including to migrants in transit through or stranded in Mexico and Mexican citizens. This represents a 36% increase compared with the number of sessions provided in the three months prior. Throughout 2024, MSF provided an average of 300 to 350 individual mental health sessions each quarter. Between January and March this year, the most common conditions people presented with were post-traumatic stress disorder (48%) and depression (39%), as well as acute stress reactions (7%), grief, and anxiety. 

    “Since the end of January, we have treated people with severe mental health issues due in large part to the impact of restrictive immigration policies recently implemented by the US and other governments in the region,” says Joaquim Guinart, coordinator of the CAI.  

    48 %

    48%

    Post-traumatic stress disorder

    39 %

    39%

    Depression

    7 %

    7%

    Acute stress reactions

    A flurry of executive actions taken by US President Donald Trump in January included the declaration of a national emergency at the US southern border—effectively militarising immigration enforcement— and the temporary suspension of refugee admissions to the US. 

    Even before the executive orders were issued, the new administration took swift action to shut down the CBP One app that, despite its flaws, was the only way to apply for asylum at the US southern border. The impact of these restrictions is further compounded by funding cuts to humanitarian programmes, severely affecting access to shelter and basic healthcare needs. 

    “These abrupt changes have left many people trapped in legal limbo, with no pathway to seek asylum and no access to essential services or protection,” says Guinart.  

    These combined measures further erode access to asylum and increase the risks for migrants—particularly children and other vulnerable groups—as people are pushed towards using increasingly dangerous routes and methods to seek asylum or trapped in unsafe locations where they are at heightened risk of kidnappings, extortion, and sexual violence.

    The CAI opened in 2016 to provide comprehensive care for survivors of extreme violence and torture, including medical care, psychology sessions, and physical therapy, among other services. The goal is to help patients regain their autonomy and heal physically and emotionally. Most people receive three to six months of treatment, and there are between 30-50 patients admitted at any one time. In 2024, MSF teams identified 4,500 victims of moderate to extreme violence through our projects in different points of attention in Mexico or through partners. We admitted 186 to the CAI for comprehensive treatment, others were provided care through mobile and fixed clinics or referred to other organisations for care.  

    Although most patients admitted are migrants, since the last quarter of 2024, the CAI has also focused on treating Mexican patients who are displaced or affected by violence occurring in various parts of the country. This coincides with a significant increase in admissions to the CAI during that period—64 in total, which represents an increase of more than 50 per cent over the usual quarterly average of 40.

    “The goal is for patients to regain their functionality and reintegrate into society,” says Guinart. “The CAI is a refuge for those affected by violence. Kidnappings, extortion, abuse, sexual violence, and other forms of violence affect many people along the migratory route from the south of the continent to Mexico’s northern border with the United States.”  

    “At the CAI we find extremely vulnerable people,” says Guinart. “Women and children make up the bulk of the cohort. We also care for many LGBTQI+ people. Violence leaves deep scars, not only causing physical damage, but also serious psychological disorders. Specialised care is required as many patients experience changes in their perception of safety, trust, and well-being,”.

    “I didn’t know if I would be able to trust people again,” says Elena*, a patient at the CAI. “The violence made me feel unworthy of love or respect.” Through therapy, Elena has begun to regain her self-esteem. “I’ve learned that my past doesn’t define me and that I can build a better future.”  

    “Every day is a struggle,” says another patient. “Anxiety consumes me, but here I feel I have a safe space to express myself and heal.”

    “The difficulty in accessing adequate care makes recovery for many people affected by extreme violence much more arduous,” says Henry Rodríguez, MSF’s general coordinator in Mexico. “In these challenging times of cuts in humanitarian aid, it is essential to recognise the importance of providing comprehensive support and cooperation between public entities and non-governmental organisations to direct these people to the few services available.” 

    *Name has been changed.  

    MSF’s work in the region: Between January 2024 and February 2025, MSF teams in Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica, and Panama treated nearly 3,000 victims and survivors of sexual violence and provided more than 20,000 individual mental health consultations, many of them precipitated by violence, displacement, and difficulties in the migration process. 

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI: Form 8.3 – [GLOBALDATA PLC – 12 05 2025] – (CGWL)

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    FORM 8.3

    PUBLIC OPENING POSITION DISCLOSURE/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: CANACCORD GENUITY WEALTH LIMITED (for Discretionary clients)
    (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.    		 N/A
    (c)   Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates:
            Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree    		 GLOBALDATA PLC
    (d)   If an exempt fund manager connected with an offeror/offeree, state this and specify identity of offeror/offeree: N/A
    (e)   Date position held/dealing undertaken:
            For an opening position disclosure, state the latest practicable date prior to the disclosure    		 12 MAY 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: 0.01p ORDINARY
      Interests Short positions
    Number % Number %
    (1)   Relevant securities owned and/or controlled: 11,080,280 1.3738    
    (2)   Cash-settled derivatives:        
    (3)   Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell:        
    TOTAL: 11,080,280 1.3738    

    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
    0.01p ORDINARY SALE 900 190.15p
    0.01p ORDINARY PURCHASE 1,510 190.74p

    (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
    NONE        

    (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
    NONE              

    (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)
    NONE      

    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

    (c)        Attachments

    Is a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions) attached? NO
    Date of disclosure: 13 MAY 2025
    Contact name: MARK ELLIOTT
    Telephone number: 01253 376539

    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 –