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A2LA Expands Accreditation Portfolio to Include ISASecure ACSSA Certification Body and Inspection Body Programs

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DURHAM, N.C., July 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The International Society of Automation (ISA) — the leading professional society for automation — announced that current ISASecure® Accreditation Body (AB) American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA) is now offering Inspection Body (IB) and Product Certification Body (CB) accreditation for ISASecure Automation and Control System Security Assurance (ACSSA) Certification to ISA/IEC 62443-2-1, 2-2, 3-2 and 3-3. ISASecure, a wholly owned subsidiary of ISA, is a globally recognized certification program that validates conformance to the ISA/IEC 62443 series of standards for industrial automation and control systems (IACS) cybersecurity.

ISASecure’s CBs and IBs are independently accredited by ISO/IEC 17011 Accreditation Bodies (ABs) that are Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MRA) signatories of the Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated (Global ACI) for ISO/IEC 17065, ISO/IEC 17025 and ISO/IEC 17020.

A2LA is among the largest accreditation bodies in the world and the only independent 501(c)3 non-profit internationally recognized accreditation body in the United States that offers a full range of comprehensive conformity assessment accreditation services.

Established in 1978 as a public service membership society, A2LA is dedicated to the formal recognition of competent testing and calibration laboratories, biobanking facilities, inspection bodies, product certification bodies, proficiency testing providers and reference material producers. A2LA has over 4,500 actively accredited certificates representing all 50 US states and more than 50 countries. For a current listing of A2LA’s accredited organizations, please search A2LA’s directory.

All ISASecure certification testing is conducted by accredited, independent test laboratories. A2LA has been an ISASecure AB working with members to become CBs for ISASecure’s Security Development Lifecycle (SLDA), Component Security Assurance (CSA) and System Security Assurance (SSA).

“Expanding A2LA’s services to include Inspection Body and Product Certification Body accreditation for ACSSA reflects our commitment to supporting emerging cybersecurity frameworks that protect critical infrastructure,” says Trace McInturff, vice president of accreditation services, A2LA. “As automation and control systems become increasingly interconnected, independent third-party assurance is essential. We are proud to be recognized by ISASecure and to help organizations demonstrate competence, consistency and conformance in this rapidly evolving area.”

“A2LA has a great reputation for being on the leading edge of cybersecurity. We look forward to A2LA’s newest offering to ISASecure members who are looking to be an IB or CB for ACSSA,” says Dr. Mark DeAngelo, ISASecure program manager. “It’s an important milestone for ISASecure ACSSA and for the future security of critical industrial sites.”

About A2LA

A2LA is a non-profit non-governmental third-party accreditation organization offering internationally recognized accreditation services to testing and calibration laboratories, inspection bodies, biobanking facilities, stand-alone sampling organizations, proficiency testing providers, reference material producers and product certifiers. For more information, visit A2LA.org.

About ISASecure®

Founded in 2007 by the International Society of Automation (ISA), the ISASecure® mission is to provide the highest level of assurance possible for the cybersecurity of industrial automation control systems. ISASecure, a wholly owned subsidiary of ISA, is a globally recognized ISA/IEC 62443 conformance scheme, conducting certifications for off-the-shelf control system products and supplier development practices since 2010.

Founders and key supporters of ISASecure include BP, Chevron, ExxonMobil, Saudi Aramco, Shell, GSK, Honeywell, Johnson Controls, Schneider Electric, Yokogawa, Carrier, Siemens, YPF, Amazon Web Services, exida, TUV Rheinland, CSSC, FM Approvals, Synopsys, Trust CB, SecurityGate, BYHON, TUV SUD, Trane and Bureau Veritas. The program’s ISASecure designation signifies to the marketplace that industrial automation and control products conform to industry-consensus cybersecurity standards. The ISASecure trademark provides confidence to users of ISASecure certified products and systems and creates product differentiation for suppliers who conform to the ISASecure specifications.

The ACSSA assessment scheme evaluates asset owner’s control systems to the ISA/IEC 62443-2-1, 2-4, 3-2 and 3-3 asset owner operational technology (OT) cybersecurity standards. Learn more at isasecure.org.

About ISA

The International Society of Automation (ISA) is a non-profit professional association founded in 1945 to create a better world through automation. ISA’s mission is to empower the global automation community through standards and knowledge sharing. ISA develops widely used global standards and conformity assessment programs; certifies professionals; provides education and training; publishes books and technical articles; hosts conferences and exhibits; and provides networking and career development programs for its members and customers around the world. Learn more at www.isa.org.

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SOURCE The International Society of Automation

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Soprano Strengthens Global Security Credentials with Major Compliance Milestones

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Soprano Reinforces its Position as a Market-Leading Communications Provider After Achieving Four Major Global Security Accreditations

SYDNEY, July 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Australian automated communications technology company, Soprano Design, has strengthened its global security credentials after achieving four major compliance accreditations across its business, reinforcing its position as a trusted communications provider for enterprise and government organisations.

Soprano has achieved SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001:2022, IMDA Security Framework and Cyber Essentials Plus compliance, reflecting the company’s continued investment in security, governance and operational resilience.

The accreditations come as enterprise and government organisations place greater scrutiny on the technology platforms that manage customer, citizen and employee communications. By meeting these recognised global standards, Soprano provides customers greater assurance that its platform, processes and controls are built to support secure, business-critical communications at scale.

“Achieving these accreditations is a significant milestone for Soprano and a testament to the discipline, rigour and hard work behind our technology, operations and people,” said Mohammed Odah, Chief Technology Officer, Soprano Design.

“As security threats continue to evolve, enterprise and government organisations need to know the platforms they rely on are backed by strong controls, independently tested processes and a culture that treats security as a core responsibility,” he said.

“These accreditations are not simply badges. They represent the strength of the systems, processes and governance we have built across Soprano to protect customer data and support organisations operating in highly regulated environments.

Behind each accreditation sits a specific part of Soprano’s business, spanning its Soprano Connect and Whispir platforms, its Singapore entities and its UK operations.

“Soprano has achieved SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001:2022 across its Soprano Connect and Whispir platforms, the IMDA Security Framework across all five of its Singapore entities, and UK Cyber Essentials Plus in the United Kingdom, reflecting the company’s continued investment in security, governance and operational resilience across every market it serves,” said Simon Tipple, Director of Corporate IT and Security, Soprano Design.

“For our customers, many of whom operate in regulated industries, this is independent validation that the platforms they rely on for critical communications are built, run and continuously tested to the highest global standards.”

For more than 30 years, Soprano has supported enterprise and government organisations with secure, reliable and scalable communications technology. The latest accreditations further demonstrate the standards Soprano holds itself to as a long-standing partner to organisations managing business-critical communications.

“For three decades, Soprano has been trusted by enterprise and government organisations to support some of their most important communications,” said Dr. Richard Favero, Founder and Chairman, Soprano Design.

“That trust has always been built on more than technology alone. It comes from the standards we hold ourselves to and the responsibility we take in protecting the information that moves through our platforms,” he said.

“These latest accreditations are an important reflection of our commitment to our enterprise and government customers. They reinforce what has always been at the heart of Soprano: delivering secure, reliable and trusted communications for organisations that cannot afford to compromise.”

As organisations continue to modernise the way they communicate with customers, employees and communities, security and compliance have become increasingly important in the selection of communications technology partners.

“Our customers operate in environments where trust, security and reliability are non-negotiable,” said Antony Sault, Chief Revenue Officer, Soprano Design.

“These accreditations give them further assurance that Soprano is committed to meeting the standards required by enterprise and government organisations around the world,” he said.

“For current customers, this reinforces the confidence they already place in our platform. For organisations assessing their communication partners, it demonstrates that Soprano is built to support secure, high-volume and business-critical engagement at scale.”

These four accreditations sit alongside Soprano’s broader compliance programme, which is designed to support customers operating under regulatory frameworks including the EU’s Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA), APRA’s Prudential Standard CPS 230 in Australia, and the Australian Security of Critical Infrastructure (SOCI) Act. Together, they reflect Soprano’s commitment to secure, resilient communications for the enterprise and government organisations it serves worldwide.

Ends.

About Soprano Design

Soprano Design is a leading CPaaS provider trusted by 150+ Fortune 500 companies globally and serves over 32 billion automated interactions for its enterprise and government customers every year.

For more information about Soprano Design and its communication solutions, visit sopranodesign.com.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/soprano-strengthens-global-security-credentials-with-major-compliance-milestones-302823534.html

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FocalPoint and STMicroelectronics enter into a commercial agreement to deliver enhanced GNSS reliability for automotive applications

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The commercial agreement combines proven FocalPoint S-GNSS® Auto software with STMicroelectronics Teseo hardware to improve positioning reliability in challenging GNSS environments

CAMBRIDGE, England, July 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — FocalPoint, a UK-based leader in GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) software for automotive, wearables, and smartphones, today announced that it has entered into a commercial agreement with STMicroelectronics. The agreement marks a major step towards delivering highly reliable vehicle positioning in challenging GNSS environments. Building on the collaboration first announced in May 2025, FocalPoint and STMicroelectronics have now advanced their joint S-GNSS® Auto and Teseo solution to a full commercial offering.

The joint industry-leading solution delivers a significant leap in GNSS reliability, particularly in urban canyons, tree-lined roads, and other tough environments where conventional GNSS systems struggle. It is delivered as a simple firmware upgrade to Teseo devices, enabling automotive OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers to achieve substantially improved positioning accuracy in a straightforward and cost-efficient manner.

Backed by FocalPoint’s patented Supercorrelation® technology, S-GNSS® software has demonstrated consistent accuracy improvements in multipath and signal-degraded conditions. In recent rigorous global trials, S-GNSS® Auto on Teseo devices significantly outperformed standard commercial-grade solutions. The joint solution is advancing towards commercial deployment in both current and next-generation OEM platforms.

“We’re delighted to enter this commercial agreement with ST in addition to becoming an ST Authorized Partner, taking our collaboration to the next level. Our joint solution addresses the GNSS reliability pain points experienced by many OEMs when architecting their ADAS solutions,” said Scott Pomerantz, CEO at FocalPoint. “Together, we deliver significant improvements that make autonomous and connected vehicles safer and more reliable.”

“Through our commercial agreement with FocalPoint, and by leveraging the flexibility of Teseo’s open platform, we are expanding our portfolio with S-GNSS® Auto-powered products that help customers push performance beyond traditional GNSS receiver limits and gain a real competitive edge in the market,” said Luca Celant, Digital Audio and Signal Solutions Division General Manager, STMicroelectronics. “By adding the S-GNSS roadmap and innovations such as Precise+® to the state-of-the-art Teseo portfolio, we are working to deliver sub-meter accuracy in the toughest environments. Together, we’re helping OEMs add value and accelerate ADAS and V2X capabilities with confidence.”

This collaboration strengthens both companies’ commitment to enabling safer automated vehicles as well as improving everyday navigation.

More details are available on FocalPoint’s ST Partner page.

Evaluation kits (EVKs) integrating FocalPoint’s S-GNSS® Auto software on Teseo V and Teseo VI are now available for OEMs, Tier 1s, and ecosystem partners on the FocalPoint website.

Contact FocalPoint at contact@focalpointpositioning.com for the full results report of S-GNSS® Auto on Teseo devices.

About FocalPoint

FocalPoint develops advanced software that ensures GNSS reliability in the most challenging environments. Their flagship S-GNSS® Auto software delivers the positioning accuracy required to advance vehicle autonomy, especially in urban canyons and forest roads. Integrated onto STMicroelectronics Teseo V and Teseo VI devices, this joint solution is offered as a seamless firmware upgrade, empowering OEMs to advance their ADAS and V2X capabilities. Headquartered in Cambridge, UK, FocalPoint is backed by a strategic investment from GM Ventures and has earned multiple awards and recognition from the Royal Institute of Navigation and the Institute of Navigation.

Website: focalpointpositioning.com

Media contact
Ramya Sriram; contact@focalpointpositioning.com

 

 

SOURCE Focal Point Positioning Ltd

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CGTN AMERICA & CCTV UN: Decades-old Radio Records Prove China’s Longstanding Sovereignty over Huangyan Dao

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A decades-old piece of amateur radio history has resurfaced as evidence that the Philippines once formally acknowledged Huangyan Dao was not within the Philippine territory, according to archival records revealed by a Chinese expedition leader in an interview with China Media Group (CMG)

WASHINGTON, July 13, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — (This material is distributed by MediaLinks TV, LLC on behalf of CCTV. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.)

CGTN America & CCTV UN releases “Decades-old Radio Records Prove China’s Longstanding Sovereignty over Huangyan Dao”

A decades-old piece of amateur radio history has resurfaced as evidence that the Philippines once formally acknowledged Huangyan Dao was not within the Philippine territory, according to archival records revealed by a Chinese expedition leader in an interview with China Media Group (CMG).

Chen Ping, leader of several Chinese amateur radio expeditions to Huangyan Dao in the 1990s, said the Philippine Amateur Radio Association had consulted relevant government departments after the Chinese Radio Sports Association applied to register Huangyan Dao as a separate entity under the internationally recognized DXCC (DX Century Club) program.

According to Chen, the Philippine side’s reply confirmed that Huangyan Dao was not within the territorial sovereignty of the Philippines, clearing the way for the registration process.

The application was submitted in 1994. In January 1996, the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), which administers the DXCC program, officially recognized Huangyan Dao as a separate DXCC entity and approved the unique amateur radio callsign BS7H.

Under the international amateur radio system, callsigns are assigned according to territorial jurisdiction. The prefix “B” denotes China and character “H” stands for Huangyan Dao. Therefore, “BS7H” specifically identifies Huangyan Dao as part of China’s amateur radio callsign system.

Chen said Chinese amateur radio operators conducted four expeditions to Huangyan Dao between 1994 and 2007 after receiving approval from Chinese authorities to establish temporary radio stations on the island.

Recalling the 1997 expedition, Chen said Philippine personnel approached the Chinese team after arriving by patrol vessel and aircraft. He said the personnel asked about the team’s activities but made no territorial claim or demand before leaving.

Chen said he carried extensive documentary records during later expeditions, including correspondence related to the DXCC application, as evidence of China’s exercise of jurisdiction over Huangyan Dao.

The amateur radio callsign BS7H remains officially recognized today and, Chen said, stands as a lasting record of China’s presence and activities on Huangyan Dao.

Click here to watch the video: https://news.cgtn.com/news/2026-07-13/Decades-old-radio-records-prove-China-s-sovereignty-over-Huangyan-Dao-1OK0EG5LaOA/share_amp.html

Media Contact

Pan, CGTN America, 1 2023931850, distribution@cgtnamerica.com

View original content:https://www.prweb.com/releases/cgtn-america–cctv-un-decades-old-radio-records-prove-chinas-longstanding-sovereignty-over-huangyan-dao-302824303.html

SOURCE CGTN America

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