Regulatory Update

Allen-Vanguard Adopts Zero-Tolerance Modern Slavery Policy

Ottawa – October 22, 2026 -- Allen-Vanguard has published a board-approved statement committing to a zero-tolerance approach to modern slavery across its own operations and all of its supply chains, in line with its disclosure obligations under the Modern Slavery Act.

Allen-Vanguard operates from Canada and the United Kingdom

The company supplies customized technical solutions that protect end users from Radio Frequency based threats. Defense forces and public safety and security agencies worldwide use them. Its head office and international sales unit are in Ottawa, Ontario, and its UK office is in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire.

Three policies anchor the compliance framework

Allen-Vanguard has implemented a Modern Slavery Policy, a Corporate Code of Conduct and a Whistleblowing Policy. The company says it will enforce systems and controls to ensure modern slavery does not exist in its business or supply chains.

OBSI Closes Loss-Calculation Consultation Tied to 2021 Review

Canada – October 22, 2026 -- OBSI has completed two public consultations since 2022, on board governance and on investor loss calculations, and both trace back to its 2021 independent review.

Loss-calculation consultation closed Nov. 21, 2024 after a Sept. 26 launch

The consultation examined how OBSI calculates investor losses in complaints involving unsuitably sold illiquid exempt market securities. It described how the approach was developed, the feedback OBSI had received and the considerations for an appropriate methodology.

OBSI is using the exercise to test whether better alternatives exist to its current process. The 2021 independent expert external review recommended the consultation.

Business Jet Services Wins FAA Acceptance of Safety System

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Business Jet Services Wins FAA Acceptance of Safety System

Dallas – October 21, 2026 -- Business Jet Services (BJS) has become one of only 20 operators nationwide to receive Federal Aviation Administration acceptance of its Safety Management System (SMS), according to the company.

The acceptance letter was signed on August 9, 2019. BJS says it reflects nearly a decade of work on the system.

BJS manages 14 aircraft, 8 of them on its Part 135 charter certificate

The Dallas Love Field-based operator offers turn-key aircraft management and charter services. It reports significant demand for both. The company has 52 employees, 50% of whom are pilots.

Hangar space at sister company Business Jet Center expands capacity at KDAL

BJS says the recent opening of hangar space at sister company Business Jet Center lets it accommodate more clients bringing aircraft to Dallas Love Field (KDAL).

CloudFit: CMMC Phase II Pause Leaves DFARS, NIST Duties Intact

United States – October 21, 2026 -- CloudFit said the Department of War's pause on parts of the CMMC rollout does not change cybersecurity obligations for the more than 220,000 organizations in the Defense Industrial Base (DIB) that are entrusted with protecting Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI).

CloudFit says DFARS and NIST requirements remain in force

The company said the implementation timeline for portions of CMMC may be changing, but obligations to safeguard sensitive information under DFARS and NIST requirements have not been paused. It added that cyber threats have not paused either.

Cost and complexity block adoption across the DIB

CloudFit argues that compliance mandates alone will not secure the DIB. It says many companies have had to choose between expensive custom implementations, delaying security investments, or attempting compliance on their own. In its view, that model does not scale to the size of the DIB.

California Forces Social Platforms to Act on Verified Child-Risk Reports

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California Forces Social Platforms to Act on Verified Child-Risk Reports

Sacramento – October 19, 2026 -- Large social media platforms operating in California must answer verified child-safety reports within 72 or 24 hours from January 1, 2026, after Governor Gavin Newsom signed the Youth Social Media Protection Act (AB 2481) into law.

Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal authored the bill, which the Organization for Social Media Safety sponsored.

AB 2481 creates a verified reporting channel for school and mental health staff

Platforms must set up a system that lets school principals, most school counselors and licensed mental health professionals report content posing a severe risk to a child. Reporting is voluntary for these professionals. Covered threats include cyberbullying, suicide-related content, drug trafficking, violence and sexual predation.

The response deadline, 72 or 24 hours, depends on the severity of the risk. Every report also requires human review by the platform.

Pepco Approves ConnectDER Meter Adapters for Washington, D.C.

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Pepco Approves ConnectDER Meter Adapters for Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C. – October 19, 2026 -- ConnectDER's full line of meter socket adapters is now approved for installation across Pepco's service territory in Washington, D.C., a market where 100-amp panels can force main service upgrades costing $1,800 to $5,800 before solar, storage or EV charging equipment can be connected. D.C. becomes the 54th utility in ConnectDER's network, which reaches nearly 40 million households.

The approval covers three products: the Solar MSA, the EV MSA and the IslandDER MSA. Each adapter plugs into the existing meter socket on the outside of the home. According to the company, this avoids main panel upgrades, service upsizing, circuit relocations, backup load panels and system controllers.

Scientific Games' Atlanta Plant Earns Top WLA Security Certification

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Scientific Games' Atlanta Plant Earns Top WLA Security Certification

Atlanta – October 19, 2026 -- Scientific Games' U.S. instant scratch game production facility, which serves nearly every U.S. state lottery, has achieved Level 2 certification under the World Lottery Association Security Control Standard 2024 (WLA-SCS:2024). Level 2 is the highest certification level for lottery suppliers under the standard.

The plant, located at the company's global headquarters in metro Atlanta, is the world's largest lottery scratch game production facility. It has held WLA security certification since 2011.

Standard combines ISO 27001:2022 with lottery-specific integrity controls

WLA-SCS:2024 Level 2 merges the ISO/IEC 27001:2022 information security requirements with lottery-specific security and integrity controls set by the WLA. It specifies the practices needed for a security management structure that protects the integrity, availability and confidentiality of information critical to a lottery operator.

Empyrean Files 510(k) for Vektra Robotic Brachytherapy System

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Empyrean Files 510(k) for Vektra Robotic Brachytherapy System

Boca Raton – October 19, 2026 -- Empyrean Medical Systems has submitted a 510(k) premarket notification to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for Vektra, its robotically assisted brachytherapy and intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) system, completing a planned milestone in the company's move into clinical radiation oncology.

Vektra targets a segment treating about 15% of radiation oncology patients

Empyrean describes Vektra as the world's first robotically assisted, rapid beam-sculpting X-ray photon platform for brachytherapy and IORT. The system is designed to deliver conformal doses to malignant tumors while limiting dose to healthy tissue and organs at risk. Brachytherapy and IORT together treat approximately 15% of patients receiving radiation oncology care, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) figure cited by the company.

Twenty Labs wins FedRAMP Class C, opens Polycore to US agencies

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Twenty Labs wins FedRAMP Class C, opens Polycore to US agencies

Miami – October 19, 2026 -- Twenty Labs has achieved Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) Class C Certification through Knox Systems, opening its Polycore composable government platform to federal agencies after deployments across 9+ states and territories.

Knox partnership shortens the FedRAMP compliance path for Twenty Labs

Twenty Labs worked with Knox Systems, which describes itself as the largest, longest-running federal managed cloud. According to the release, Knox removed the FedRAMP certification bottleneck and significantly reduced compliance timelines and costs for Twenty Labs. That allows its forward-deployed engineers and policy, program and design experts to concentrate on agency outcomes. Knox says it delivers FedRAMP authorization in 90 days.

FDA Clears Protego's PROT-001 IND for Pivotal AL Amyloidosis Study

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FDA Clears Protego's PROT-001 IND for Pivotal AL Amyloidosis Study

San Diego – October 19, 2026 -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has cleared Protego Biopharma's Investigational New Drug application for PROT-001, allowing the company to start SHIELD-AL, a global pivotal Phase 2/3 study in newly diagnosed light chain (AL) amyloidosis patients.

PROT-001 is an oral, investigational, first-in-class lambda light chain stabilizer. Protego will test it as an add-on to standard-of-care plasma cell-directed therapy, which reduces light chain production.

SHIELD-AL combines safety confirmation and pivotal efficacy testing in one randomized trial

The study is randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled, and enrolls newly diagnosed patients with lambda AL amyloidosis. Part A is an initial safety and dose confirmation study. Part B is the pivotal safety and efficacy study.