Latest news with #RFS
Hamilton Spectator
a day ago
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Regula Powers Ecuador's Plan to Modernize Every Border – From Airports to Maritime Ports
RESTON, Va., July 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Ecuador's border control authorities have significantly enhanced their identity verification capabilities by deploying a suite of advanced document examination devices from Regula. The nationwide upgrade, supported by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and local partner INSETK, brings automation, precision, and speed to the country's border checkpoints, which collectively process nearly 1.5 million travelers annually. The project is a major step in Ecuador's mission to modernize all land, air, and maritime entry points, including key international airports in Quito and Guayaquil, as well as northern and southern border crossings. These strategic locations now benefit from Regula's advanced forensic devices, which enable fast and reliable detection of fraudulent documents—critical in the fight against identity-related crime. The immigration officers of Ecuador during the training on how to effectively use Regula's devices Closing the gap with a set of forensic devices Previously, document checks at Ecuador border crossings were largely manual and supported by outdated equipment, often handled by just two officers per site. This made the process slow, error-prone, and vulnerable to sophisticated fraud. To address this, Ecuador's border checkpoints were equipped with the following Regula solutions: Regula's video spectral comparators are controlled via Regula Forensic Studio (RFS), a cross-platform software solution for advanced document checks. It enables precise measurements, image comparison, report generation, and scripted workflows for faster, consistent inspections. With RFS, officers can also verify MRZs, RFID chips, barcodes, and IPI—all without extra tools. For deeper document examination, border control officers have real-time access to Regula's Information Reference System (IRS), which provides synchronized reference images and lighting presets for fast, precise comparison of travel documents. RFS also integrates with Regula Document Reader SDK to automate travel document verification and prevent fraud through data cross-verification and robust authenticity checks. Importantly, Regula's software is backed by its proprietary identity document template database—the world's largest—featuring over 15,000 templates from 252 countries and territories , ensuring reliable validation at border checkpoints. Trusted results, faster than ever Since implementing Regula's solutions, Ecuadorian border control authorities have noticed notable improvements: 'Apart from the technology upgrade and fraud detection improvement at the border crossings, our collaboration with Regula demonstrated another success. The project was fulfilled very smoothly. From the beginning, we've received full support from Regula's team—they were always ready to help with any issue, even those caused by users on the ground. It's definitely a level of service that makes a real difference,' says Diego Calderon, Chief Executive Officer at INSETK. 'Border security is where precision, speed, and trust must converge. We're proud to support Ecuador in modernizing its checkpoints with tools that meet forensic standards while being easy to use in the field. This project shows how technology can turn critical inspection tasks from time-consuming to streamlined, without compromising security,' comments Arif Mamedov, CEO at Regula Forensics, Inc. To learn more about Ecuador's improved border security through advanced identity verification, visit Regula's website for the full case study . About Regula Regula is a global developer of forensic devices and identity verification solutions. With our 30+ years of experience in forensic research and the most comprehensive library of document templates in the world, we create breakthrough technologies for document and biometric verification. Our hardware and software solutions allow over 1,000 organizations and 80 border control authorities globally to provide top-notch client service without compromising safety, security, or speed. Regula has been repeatedly named a Representative Vendor in the Gartner® Market Guide for Identity Verification. Learn more at . Contact: Kristina – ks@ A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
The Advertiser
2 days ago
- General
- The Advertiser
US firefighters' widows sue over 'tragic' plane crash
The widows of two American firefighters killed in a plane crash during Black Summer are suing the NSW Rural Fire Service for negligence, alleging the crew was deployed in conditions that were too dangerous for flying. Captain Ian McBeth, 45, first officer Paul Clyde Hudson, 42, and flight engineer Rick DeMorgan Jr, 43, were killed when their firefighting tanker crashed in southern NSW on January 23, 2020. The Lockheed Martin EC-130 LAT stalled at low altitude after dropping fire retardant, likely after a "sudden and significant" wind change, an inquest found in March 2024. The inquest heard the crew was tasked to a fireground at Adaminaby, in the NSW Snowy Mountains, just as the pilot of a different fire surveillance aircraft rejected a mission to fly because of the extreme conditions. The US crew could not drop retardant at the fireground due to low visibility, before they were deployed to different blaze nearby, known as the Good Good fire, which was burning in a mountain range. It was there that the crew did a partial drop, before the plane lost power and likely stalled. Captain McBeth's widow Bowdie McBeth and Mr Hudson's widow Noreen Hudson are seeking damages, suing both the NSW RFS and the aircraft operator Coulson Aviation. A statement of claim filed in the NSW Supreme Court alleges both organisations were negligent in exposing the crew to a foreseeable and significant risk of harm. The RFS and Coulson Aviation should have taken several precautions to protect the crew, including recognising "the forecast and weather conditions in the Snowy Mountains region were hazardous and unsafe for aircraft". The men should have also been informed that the pilot of the surveillance aircraft had rejected the task to fly due to the dangerous conditions, the document said. At the inquest the RFS conceded the crew could have been given more information, but the experienced airmen knew enough to make informed decisions about flying that day. During a brief Supreme Court hearing in late June, Justice Richard Cavanagh was told Ms McBeth and Ms Hudson were no longer represented by large compensation firm Shine Lawyers. The women engaged separate lawyers and were seeking to serve fresh expert reports more than two years after the case was first filed. Barrister Greg O'Mahoney, representing Coulson Aviation, said there was a long history of non-compliance with service orders in the case and a large volume of evidence available from the inquest. But Mr O'Mahoney and Nicholas Newton, the barrister representing the RFS, acknowledged the case would fall apart if the women's new lawyers were not allowed to serve the fresh reports. Justice Cavanagh granted leave for the families' legal teams to file new expert reports on liability by September. "(This is) obviously a tragic, difficult case ... a complex case," the judge said. He set down a 10-day hearing in June 2026. The widows of two American firefighters killed in a plane crash during Black Summer are suing the NSW Rural Fire Service for negligence, alleging the crew was deployed in conditions that were too dangerous for flying. Captain Ian McBeth, 45, first officer Paul Clyde Hudson, 42, and flight engineer Rick DeMorgan Jr, 43, were killed when their firefighting tanker crashed in southern NSW on January 23, 2020. The Lockheed Martin EC-130 LAT stalled at low altitude after dropping fire retardant, likely after a "sudden and significant" wind change, an inquest found in March 2024. The inquest heard the crew was tasked to a fireground at Adaminaby, in the NSW Snowy Mountains, just as the pilot of a different fire surveillance aircraft rejected a mission to fly because of the extreme conditions. The US crew could not drop retardant at the fireground due to low visibility, before they were deployed to different blaze nearby, known as the Good Good fire, which was burning in a mountain range. It was there that the crew did a partial drop, before the plane lost power and likely stalled. Captain McBeth's widow Bowdie McBeth and Mr Hudson's widow Noreen Hudson are seeking damages, suing both the NSW RFS and the aircraft operator Coulson Aviation. A statement of claim filed in the NSW Supreme Court alleges both organisations were negligent in exposing the crew to a foreseeable and significant risk of harm. The RFS and Coulson Aviation should have taken several precautions to protect the crew, including recognising "the forecast and weather conditions in the Snowy Mountains region were hazardous and unsafe for aircraft". The men should have also been informed that the pilot of the surveillance aircraft had rejected the task to fly due to the dangerous conditions, the document said. At the inquest the RFS conceded the crew could have been given more information, but the experienced airmen knew enough to make informed decisions about flying that day. During a brief Supreme Court hearing in late June, Justice Richard Cavanagh was told Ms McBeth and Ms Hudson were no longer represented by large compensation firm Shine Lawyers. The women engaged separate lawyers and were seeking to serve fresh expert reports more than two years after the case was first filed. Barrister Greg O'Mahoney, representing Coulson Aviation, said there was a long history of non-compliance with service orders in the case and a large volume of evidence available from the inquest. But Mr O'Mahoney and Nicholas Newton, the barrister representing the RFS, acknowledged the case would fall apart if the women's new lawyers were not allowed to serve the fresh reports. Justice Cavanagh granted leave for the families' legal teams to file new expert reports on liability by September. "(This is) obviously a tragic, difficult case ... a complex case," the judge said. He set down a 10-day hearing in June 2026. The widows of two American firefighters killed in a plane crash during Black Summer are suing the NSW Rural Fire Service for negligence, alleging the crew was deployed in conditions that were too dangerous for flying. Captain Ian McBeth, 45, first officer Paul Clyde Hudson, 42, and flight engineer Rick DeMorgan Jr, 43, were killed when their firefighting tanker crashed in southern NSW on January 23, 2020. The Lockheed Martin EC-130 LAT stalled at low altitude after dropping fire retardant, likely after a "sudden and significant" wind change, an inquest found in March 2024. The inquest heard the crew was tasked to a fireground at Adaminaby, in the NSW Snowy Mountains, just as the pilot of a different fire surveillance aircraft rejected a mission to fly because of the extreme conditions. The US crew could not drop retardant at the fireground due to low visibility, before they were deployed to different blaze nearby, known as the Good Good fire, which was burning in a mountain range. It was there that the crew did a partial drop, before the plane lost power and likely stalled. Captain McBeth's widow Bowdie McBeth and Mr Hudson's widow Noreen Hudson are seeking damages, suing both the NSW RFS and the aircraft operator Coulson Aviation. A statement of claim filed in the NSW Supreme Court alleges both organisations were negligent in exposing the crew to a foreseeable and significant risk of harm. The RFS and Coulson Aviation should have taken several precautions to protect the crew, including recognising "the forecast and weather conditions in the Snowy Mountains region were hazardous and unsafe for aircraft". The men should have also been informed that the pilot of the surveillance aircraft had rejected the task to fly due to the dangerous conditions, the document said. At the inquest the RFS conceded the crew could have been given more information, but the experienced airmen knew enough to make informed decisions about flying that day. During a brief Supreme Court hearing in late June, Justice Richard Cavanagh was told Ms McBeth and Ms Hudson were no longer represented by large compensation firm Shine Lawyers. The women engaged separate lawyers and were seeking to serve fresh expert reports more than two years after the case was first filed. Barrister Greg O'Mahoney, representing Coulson Aviation, said there was a long history of non-compliance with service orders in the case and a large volume of evidence available from the inquest. But Mr O'Mahoney and Nicholas Newton, the barrister representing the RFS, acknowledged the case would fall apart if the women's new lawyers were not allowed to serve the fresh reports. Justice Cavanagh granted leave for the families' legal teams to file new expert reports on liability by September. "(This is) obviously a tragic, difficult case ... a complex case," the judge said. He set down a 10-day hearing in June 2026. The widows of two American firefighters killed in a plane crash during Black Summer are suing the NSW Rural Fire Service for negligence, alleging the crew was deployed in conditions that were too dangerous for flying. Captain Ian McBeth, 45, first officer Paul Clyde Hudson, 42, and flight engineer Rick DeMorgan Jr, 43, were killed when their firefighting tanker crashed in southern NSW on January 23, 2020. The Lockheed Martin EC-130 LAT stalled at low altitude after dropping fire retardant, likely after a "sudden and significant" wind change, an inquest found in March 2024. The inquest heard the crew was tasked to a fireground at Adaminaby, in the NSW Snowy Mountains, just as the pilot of a different fire surveillance aircraft rejected a mission to fly because of the extreme conditions. The US crew could not drop retardant at the fireground due to low visibility, before they were deployed to different blaze nearby, known as the Good Good fire, which was burning in a mountain range. It was there that the crew did a partial drop, before the plane lost power and likely stalled. Captain McBeth's widow Bowdie McBeth and Mr Hudson's widow Noreen Hudson are seeking damages, suing both the NSW RFS and the aircraft operator Coulson Aviation. A statement of claim filed in the NSW Supreme Court alleges both organisations were negligent in exposing the crew to a foreseeable and significant risk of harm. The RFS and Coulson Aviation should have taken several precautions to protect the crew, including recognising "the forecast and weather conditions in the Snowy Mountains region were hazardous and unsafe for aircraft". The men should have also been informed that the pilot of the surveillance aircraft had rejected the task to fly due to the dangerous conditions, the document said. At the inquest the RFS conceded the crew could have been given more information, but the experienced airmen knew enough to make informed decisions about flying that day. During a brief Supreme Court hearing in late June, Justice Richard Cavanagh was told Ms McBeth and Ms Hudson were no longer represented by large compensation firm Shine Lawyers. The women engaged separate lawyers and were seeking to serve fresh expert reports more than two years after the case was first filed. Barrister Greg O'Mahoney, representing Coulson Aviation, said there was a long history of non-compliance with service orders in the case and a large volume of evidence available from the inquest. But Mr O'Mahoney and Nicholas Newton, the barrister representing the RFS, acknowledged the case would fall apart if the women's new lawyers were not allowed to serve the fresh reports. Justice Cavanagh granted leave for the families' legal teams to file new expert reports on liability by September. "(This is) obviously a tragic, difficult case ... a complex case," the judge said. He set down a 10-day hearing in June 2026.
West Australian
2 days ago
- General
- West Australian
US firefighters' widows sue over 'tragic' plane crash
The widows of two American firefighters killed in a plane crash during Black Summer are suing the NSW Rural Fire Service for negligence, alleging the crew was deployed in conditions that were too dangerous for flying. Captain Ian McBeth, 45, first officer Paul Clyde Hudson, 42, and flight engineer Rick DeMorgan Jr, 43, were killed when their firefighting tanker crashed in southern NSW on January 23, 2020. The Lockheed Martin EC-130 LAT stalled at low altitude after dropping fire retardant, likely after a "sudden and significant" wind change, an inquest found in March 2024. The inquest heard the crew was tasked to a fireground at Adaminaby, in the NSW Snowy Mountains, just as the pilot of a different fire surveillance aircraft rejected a mission to fly because of the extreme conditions. The US crew could not drop retardant at the fireground due to low visibility, before they were deployed to different blaze nearby, known as the Good Good fire, which was burning in a mountain range. It was there that the crew did a partial drop, before the plane lost power and likely stalled. Captain McBeth's widow Bowdie McBeth and Mr Hudson's widow Noreen Hudson are seeking damages, suing both the NSW RFS and the aircraft operator Coulson Aviation. A statement of claim filed in the NSW Supreme Court alleges both organisations were negligent in exposing the crew to a foreseeable and significant risk of harm. The RFS and Coulson Aviation should have taken several precautions to protect the crew, including recognising "the forecast and weather conditions in the Snowy Mountains region were hazardous and unsafe for aircraft". The men should have also been informed that the pilot of the surveillance aircraft had rejected the task to fly due to the dangerous conditions, the document said. At the inquest the RFS conceded the crew could have been given more information, but the experienced airmen knew enough to make informed decisions about flying that day. During a brief Supreme Court hearing in late June, Justice Richard Cavanagh was told Ms McBeth and Ms Hudson were no longer represented by large compensation firm Shine Lawyers. The women engaged separate lawyers and were seeking to serve fresh expert reports more than two years after the case was first filed. Barrister Greg O'Mahoney, representing Coulson Aviation, said there was a long history of non-compliance with service orders in the case and a large volume of evidence available from the inquest. But Mr O'Mahoney and Nicholas Newton, the barrister representing the RFS, acknowledged the case would fall apart if the women's new lawyers were not allowed to serve the fresh reports. Justice Cavanagh granted leave for the families' legal teams to file new expert reports on liability by September. "(This is) obviously a tragic, difficult case ... a complex case," the judge said. He set down a 10-day hearing in June 2026.
Perth Now
2 days ago
- General
- Perth Now
US firefighters' widows sue over 'tragic' plane crash
The widows of two American firefighters killed in a plane crash during Black Summer are suing the NSW Rural Fire Service for negligence, alleging the crew was deployed in conditions that were too dangerous for flying. Captain Ian McBeth, 45, first officer Paul Clyde Hudson, 42, and flight engineer Rick DeMorgan Jr, 43, were killed when their firefighting tanker crashed in southern NSW on January 23, 2020. The Lockheed Martin EC-130 LAT stalled at low altitude after dropping fire retardant, likely after a "sudden and significant" wind change, an inquest found in March 2024. The inquest heard the crew was tasked to a fireground at Adaminaby, in the NSW Snowy Mountains, just as the pilot of a different fire surveillance aircraft rejected a mission to fly because of the extreme conditions. The US crew could not drop retardant at the fireground due to low visibility, before they were deployed to different blaze nearby, known as the Good Good fire, which was burning in a mountain range. It was there that the crew did a partial drop, before the plane lost power and likely stalled. Captain McBeth's widow Bowdie McBeth and Mr Hudson's widow Noreen Hudson are seeking damages, suing both the NSW RFS and the aircraft operator Coulson Aviation. A statement of claim filed in the NSW Supreme Court alleges both organisations were negligent in exposing the crew to a foreseeable and significant risk of harm. The RFS and Coulson Aviation should have taken several precautions to protect the crew, including recognising "the forecast and weather conditions in the Snowy Mountains region were hazardous and unsafe for aircraft". The men should have also been informed that the pilot of the surveillance aircraft had rejected the task to fly due to the dangerous conditions, the document said. At the inquest the RFS conceded the crew could have been given more information, but the experienced airmen knew enough to make informed decisions about flying that day. During a brief Supreme Court hearing in late June, Justice Richard Cavanagh was told Ms McBeth and Ms Hudson were no longer represented by large compensation firm Shine Lawyers. The women engaged separate lawyers and were seeking to serve fresh expert reports more than two years after the case was first filed. Barrister Greg O'Mahoney, representing Coulson Aviation, said there was a long history of non-compliance with service orders in the case and a large volume of evidence available from the inquest. But Mr O'Mahoney and Nicholas Newton, the barrister representing the RFS, acknowledged the case would fall apart if the women's new lawyers were not allowed to serve the fresh reports. Justice Cavanagh granted leave for the families' legal teams to file new expert reports on liability by September. "(This is) obviously a tragic, difficult case ... a complex case," the judge said. He set down a 10-day hearing in June 2026.
Sky News AU
4 days ago
- Politics
- Sky News AU
Former NSW Rural Fire Service commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons overlooked for return as NSW government eyes candidates to replace top cop
Former NSW Rural Fire Service commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons was passed over for a return to the state's top firefighting job, Sky News can reveal. The Minns government instead appointed career emergency executive Trent Curtin to lead the 70,000-strong volunteer force. Mr Fitzsimmons, who became a national figure during the 2019–20 Black Summer bushfires and later led Resilience NSW, was among the applicants for the commissioner role. Long-serving chief Rob Rogers will step down on July 14, and be replaced by Mr Curtin, who previously served as the head of SafeWork NSW. His appointment has drawn attention given he was a relative outsider being brought in to lead the RFS. The leadership change at the RFS comes amid broader upheaval across NSW emergency services, with Police Commissioner Karen Webb also stepping down. While there has been speculation about NSW Police also looking outside the ranks for the commissioner role, Sky News Sunday Agenda understands that is unlikely. Internal candidates being considered to replace Ms Webb include Acting Police Commissioner Peter Thurtell, and deputy commissioners Mal Lanyon, Paul Pisanos and Peter Cotter. Emergency Services Minister Jihad Dib announced his decision to appoint Mr Curtin on Thursday, citing his 'extensive experience as an emergency services leader in NSW and Victoria'. 'Mr Curtin started his firefighting career 30 years ago as a volunteer,' Mr Dib said in a statement after the appointment. 'I look forward to working with him as he brings his emergency service expertise to an organisation at the frontline of bushfire response.' 'I am honoured to be appointed Commissioner of the NSW Rural Fire Service,' the incoming commissioner, Mr Curtin, said in a statement. 'The RFS plays a vital role in our communities, responding in the most difficult circumstances to help others in their time of need.'
