In 1969, Apollo 11 astronaut Neil Armstrong stepped onto the moon's surface ' a momentous engineering and science feat marked by his iconic words: "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." Now, NASA is making history again. With the successful launch of NASA's Artemis II mission yesterday, four astronauts are set to become the first humans to travel to the moon in more than 50 years. In 2022, the uncrewed Artemis I mission demonstrated that NASA's new Orion spacecraft could travel farther into space than ever before and return safely to Earth. Building on that success, the 10-day Artemis II mission will pave the way for future Artemis missions, which aim to land astronauts on the moon to prepare for a lasting lunar presence, and eventually human missions to Mars. As it orbits the moon, the Orion spacecraft will carry an optical (laser) communications system developed at MIT Lincoln Laboratory in collaboration with NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Called the Orion Artemis II Optical Communications System (O2O), the system is capable of higher-bandwidth data transmissions from space compared to traditional radio-frequency (RF) systems. During the Artemis II mission, O2O will use laser beams to send high-resolution video and images of the lunar surface down to Earth....

Accel-KKR, which first backed Smart Communications in 2016 following its carve-out from Thunderhead, will retain a minority stake in the business. During their nine-year partnership, Smart achieved over 5x revenue growth and completed three international acquisitions, expanding its presence across North America, Australia, the DACH region, and the Nordics. 'We have been delighted to work with the outstanding Smart Communications management team' and look forward to continuing to participate in the company's growth,' said Tom Barnds, Co-Managing Partner at Accel-KKR. Smart Communications' flagship platform, Conversation Cloud', is designed for regulated enterprises across industries such as insurance, healthcare, and financial services. The platform supports over 60 billion customer communications globally and integrates with major systems including Salesforce, Guidewire, and Pega. Accel-KKR has now completed nearly 90 software deals in Europe, with recent exits including JAGGAER, Kerridge Commercial Systems, and Episerver. The transaction remains subject to customary regulatory approvals and closing conditions....

The deal, initially announced in April, sees Blackstone and institutional partners take a 49.9% equity stake ' representing 20% of voting rights ' in the unit holding Rogers' internet and wireless assets. Rogers retains a 51.1% ownership stake and 80% voting control. The Canadian telecoms giant has the option to repurchase Blackstone's interest after eight years. The Blackstone-led investor group includes the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB), Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec (CDPQ), the Public Sector Pension Investment Board (PSP), British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (BCI), and the Investment Management Corporation of Ontario (IMCO). 'This transaction demonstrates the confidence investors have in Rogers and our world-class assets,' said Tony Staffieri, CEO of Rogers Communications. 'With this significant investment, we are unlocking the unrecognised value of critical assets and executing on our commitment to de-lever our balance sheet.' Subscribe to our Newsletter to increase your edge. Don't worry about the news anymore, through our newsletter you'll receive weekly access to what is happening. Join 120,000 other PE professionals today....

Reports that prominent American national security officials used a freely available encrypted messaging app, coupled with the rise of authoritarian policies around the world, have led to a surge in interest in encrypted apps like Signal and WhatsApp. These apps prevent anyone, including the government and the app companies themselves, from reading messages they intercept. The spotlight on encrypted apps is also a reminder of the complex debate pitting government interests against individual liberties. Governments desire to monitor everyday communications for law enforcement, national security and sometimes darker purposes. On the other hand, citizens and businesses claim the right to enjoy private digital discussions in today's online world. The positions governments take often are framed as a 'war on encryption' by technology policy experts and civil liberties advocates. As a cybersecurity researcher, I've followed the debate for nearly 30 years and remain convinced that this is not a fight that governments can easily win....