WAVES 2025: Finalists Announced for “Make the World Wear Khadi” Challenge From 750 to the Best : WAVES to Honour Winning Campaigns Reimagining Khadi
Posted On: 09 APR 2025 5:00PM by PIB Mumbai
Mumbai, 9 April 2025
The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, in collaboration with the Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI), has announced the shortlist for Make the World Wear Khadi – one of the 32 Creative in India Challenges being held as part of the WAVES Summit 2025, scheduled from May 1 to 4 in Mumbai.
Shortlisted Candidates:
Iman Sengupta & Soham Ghosh – Havas Worldwide India
Kartik Sankar & Madhumita Basu – 22feet Tribal
Kajal Tirlotkar – Interactive Avenues
Tanmay Raul & Mandar Mahadik – DDB Mudra Group
Akash Mejari & Kajol Jeswani – DDB Mudra Group
Sharing insights behind their work, the participants reflected on Khadi’s evolving identity—from a symbol of India’s freedom movement to a solution for sustainable fashion.
Kajal Tirlotkar described Khadi as “a testament of time… slow, soulful, and spun with care,” while Tanmay Raul and Mandar Mahadik positioned it as the “Fabric of the Future,” highlighting its potential to address environmental degradation caused by fast fashion. Akash Mejari and Kajol Jeswani focused on Khadi as a means to “undo” ecological damage, encouraging climate-conscious action through their campaign. Meanwhile, Iman Sengupta and Soham Ghosh emphasized Khadi’s economic and cultural value, advocating for it as a premium, purpose-driven choice in global fashion.
The contest, designed to reimagine Khadi as a global icon of sustainability and identity, drew over 750 registrations from creative professionals and agencies across the country. Participants were challenged to create advertising campaigns that position Khadi not just as a fabric, but as a powerful symbol of innovation and conscious living on the world stage.
A distinguished jury of advertising industry leaders evaluated the entries based on originality, cultural depth, global appeal, and alignment with the contest’s core message. The shortlisted campaigns were praised for their strategic thinking, compelling narratives, and their potential to ignite a global movement around Khadi.
The final winners will be revealed and felicitated during the WAVES Summit 2025, where their campaigns will be presented before an elite audience of policymakers, global delegates, media leaders, and industry stakeholders.
The first World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES), a milestone event for the Media & Entertainment (M&E) sector, will be hosted by the Government of India in Mumbai, Maharashtra, from May 1 to 4, 2025.
Whether you’re an industry professional, investor, creator, or innovator, the Summit offers the ultimate global platform to connect, collaborate, innovate and contribute to the M&E landscape.
WAVES is set to magnify India’s creative strength, amplifying its position as a hub for content creation, intellectual property, and technological innovation. Industries and sectors in focus include Broadcasting, Print Media, Television, Radio, Films, Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics, Sound and Music, Advertising, Digital Media, Social Media Platforms, Generative AI, Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), and Extended Reality (XR).
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
CHP of DH responds to media enquiries on influenza vaccine safety “Influenza vaccination has been scientifically proven to be one of the most safe and effective ways to prevent seasonal influenza and its complications, and can significantly reduce the risk of hospitalisation and death from seasonal influenza. Hong Kong has established a pharmacovigilance system to monitor adverse events following immunisation. In the past five years, over 8 million doses of influenza vaccine have been administered and there have been no deaths reported after influenza vaccination. All persons aged 6 months and above (except those with known contraindications), particularly persons who have a higher risk of getting infected with influenza and developing complications, such as the elderly and children, should receive seasonal influenza vaccine every year.
“Severe cases related to seasonal influenza involving adults and cases of severe paediatric influenza-associated complication recorded in the recent flu season were significantly lower than in the influenza season before the COVID-19 pandemic. We believe that this is the result of the general public’s willingness to receive the seasonal influenza vaccine. Local data showed that the rate of severe influenza complications among children who did not receive seasonal influenza vaccination of the current season is about four times that of vaccinated children. Among the elderly, the rate of severe influenza (including death) among residents of the residential care homes aged 65 years or above who did not receive seasonal influenza vaccination of the current season is 2.3 times that of the vaccinated residents. The data highlighted the important protective role of seasonal influenza vaccination against severe infection and death.
“Influenza vaccines currently used in Hong Kong, including inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV), recombinant influenza vaccine (RIV) and live-attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV), are safe and effective. Traditional IIV has been used for decades. The vaccine has proven to be safe and reliable through repeated testing and quality assessment. The safety of the newer LAIV and RIV is comparable to that of IIV. The World Health Organization has also indicated that vaccination is the most effective means to prevent serious illness arising from influenza. Side effects of influenza vaccines are usually mild and transient. The most common side effects include pain and redness at the injection site. Some recipients may experience fever, chills, muscle pain and tiredness. Severe adverse reactions to influenza vaccines are very rare.” Issued at HKT 19:54
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
SEE’s opening remarks on food safety and environmental hygiene at LegCo Finance Committee special meeting Thank you Chairman and Honourable Members.
The Environment and Ecology Bureau is committed to ensuring food safety and environmental hygiene as well as promoting the sustainable development of the local agriculture and fisheries industries.
In the 2025-26 Estimates, about $12.32 billion is earmarked for recurrent expenditure in the policy portfolio of Environment and Food, representing an increase of about $50 million (0.4 per cent) over the previous year and accounting for about 2.1 per cent of the recurrent expenditure of the Government. To improve environmental hygiene more effectively, we conducted a comprehensive review of environmental hygiene-related legislation and put forward relevant amendments. First, we raised the fixed penalty levels for offences such as littering and shopfront extensions to enhance the deterrent effect in 2023. In the year that followed, the number of fixed penalty notices issued against shopfront extensions was 90 per cent less than that in the previous year. In 2024, we further introduced the second-stage legislative amendments to enhance enforcement effectiveness. The amendments, if passed by the LegCo, can take effect in the third quarter of this year. Departments will then be able to handle shopfront extensions more efficiently and expedite investigations into public health nuisances such as water seepage in buildings, water dripping from air-conditioners and “garbage apartments”.
As regards environmental hygiene services, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has actively stepped up cleansing and enforcement at about 240 hygiene blackspots under its purview. The conditions of most of the blackspots have been markedly improved, and follow-up work will be carried out on an ongoing basis. In addition, the FEHD has enhanced its anti-rodent work. Using various tools and methods such as new design snap traps and T-shaped bait boxes, the FEHD captured 89 600 live rodents in 2024, representing an increase of about 165 per cent as compared with 2021. In the same year, the FEHD made full use of technology by adopting thermal imaging cameras and artificial intelligence technology in conducting rodent activity surveys, to track rodent activities in a more precise manner and carry out targeted work. Among the 90 locations with active rodent activities identified in the first half of 2024, nearly 90 per cent of the conditions have been improved. We have also continued to implement the Cross-sectoral Territory-wide Anti-rodent Action to co-ordinate anti-rodent efforts among different sectors in the community, including property management companies, market/hawker stalls, the catering industry, the construction sector and the pest control trade. In 2024, we launched the Anti-rodent Charter for private residential buildings to bolster anti-rodent efforts, with 607 applications received in just two and a half months. We will continue to work hand in hand with stakeholders to create a rodent-free environment.
As regards food business licences, the FEHD launched a series of facilitating measures for the trade. For example, we expanded the scope of the Professional Certification System to cover general restaurants, so that applicants may choose a “licence first, inspection later” approach and obtain a licence about 14 days earlier. Besides, we introduced the “Composite Permit” which covers multiple restricted foods, to spare shop operators the effort to apply for a separate permit for each food item. The new measure is well received, with about 100 applications received in the first quarter. We will continue to keep a close watch on the needs of the trade and proactively improve the regime.
New public markets and Market Modernisation Programme (MMP)
In 2024, the FEHD took forward the stall enhancement project in the Queen Street Cooked Food Market under the MMP to improve its operating environment through repair and beautification works. The Queen Street Cooked Food Market resumed operation in September 2024, with footfall increased by about 20 per cent as compared with that before the works. Stall tenants indicated that the enhancement works have improved the operating environment. Many members of the public have also expressed that the enhanced cooked food market offers a contemporary feel and a clean and comfortable dining environment. The FEHD will identify other suitable venues for similar works. In addition, the FEHD continues to take forward the new market projects in Tin Shui Wai, Area 67 of Tseung Kwan O and Kwu Tung North New Development Area, with expected completion dates ranging from end-2027 to end-2028.
Agriculture and fisheries development On the agriculture front, the Government has reserved land in Sheung Shui for the construction of Hong Kong’s first multi-storey modernised and environment-friendly livestock farm by the trade, the site formation works for which are expected to be completed within 2026. The AFCD will invite open applications for the construction and operation of the concerned livestock farm shortly so that interested agricultural associations/enterprises may apply. The selected organisation may apply for financial support from the Sustainable Agricultural Development Fund. Moreover, to promote the development of leisure farming, the AFCD launched the Agri enJoy Scheme in June 2024 to facilitate farms engaged in commercial agricultural production to offer leisure farming activities as ancillary businesses. As at February 2025, 83 eligible farmers have joined this scheme.
Furthermore, the AFCD strives to set up a unified new brand for local agricultural and fisheries products and establish production standards, farming methods, as well as a certification and traceability system in the upcoming financial year (2025-26), with a view to promoting local agricultural and fisheries products and enhancing their brand value and competitiveness in the market.
Chairman, my colleagues and I are happy to answer questions from Members. Issued at HKT 19:17
Continues fight against annoying and harmful robocalls and robotexts
OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today joined a bipartisan coalition of 51 attorneys general in sending warning letters to nine companies responsible for transmitting substantial robocall traffic, including high-volume robocall campaigns concerning government and financial imposters, credit card interest rate reductions, Medicare scams, political impersonations, cable discount scams, and utility disconnect scams, among others.
“I don’t have to tell Californians that robocalls are annoying and disruptive — but it is important to also remember that many times these calls are illegal and are used to scam unsuspecting people out of their hard-earned money,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Today, my fellow attorneys general and I sent warning letters to companies responsible for facilitating robocalls concerning Medicare, cable discount, and utility scams, among other calls. I am proud to join in this national, bipartisan effort to protect consumers from unwanted robocalls and the risk of financial harm.”
In the warning letters, Attorney General Bonta and the attorneys general on the nationwide Anti-Robocall Multistate Litigation Task Force (Task Force) warn companies that they must stop transmitting unlawful call traffic immediately, as they violate state and federal laws. If these providers continue to transmit robocalls, the Task Force may pursue further legal actions against these companies and their owners. In the warning letters, the Task Force also informs the providers that it has shared the findings of its investigations with the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Enforcement Bureau.
Warning letters were sent to:
All Access Telecom
Lingo Telecom
NGL Communications
Range
RSCom Ltd
Telcast Network
Telcentris (known as Voxox)
ThinQ Technologies (known as Commio)
Global Net Holdings
The Anti-Robocall Multistate Litigation Task Force of 51 bipartisan attorneys general investigates and takes legal action against those responsible for routing significant volumes of illegal robocall traffic into and across the United States.
Attorney General Bonta is committed to enforcing consumer protections in the state of California and speaking out for consumer protections nationwide, including working to put a stop to illegal robocalls. In March, Attorney General Bonta submitted an amicus brief in support of a FCC rule which would limit unwanted robocalls and robotexts by closing a loophole that bad-acting lead generators try to use to trick a consumer into “consenting” to calls from potentially thousands of companies.
In 2024, Attorney General Bonta:
Sent warning letters to four telecom companies for transmitting suspected illegal robocall traffic on their networks — including robocalls that impersonated government officials or involved scams.
Submitted a comment letter to the FCC in support of its proposed rules to protect consumers by increasing the effectiveness of the FCC’s Robocall Mitigation Database.
Sent a warning letter to a telecom company responsible for transmitting suspected illegal robocall traffic, including robocalls that impersonated government officials.
Sent a warning letter to a company that allegedly sent New Hampshire residents scam election robocalls during the New Hampshire primary election.
Filed a comment letter to the FCC related to the potential impact of emerging artificial intelligence (AI) technology on efforts to protect consumers from illegal robocalls or robotexts.
In May 2023, Attorney General Bonta, as part of a bipartisan coalition of 49 attorneys general, announced a lawsuit against Avid Telecom for allegedly initiating and facilitating billions of unlawful robocalls that included Social Security Administration scams, Medicare scams, and employment scams.
OTTAWA, April 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Pythian Services Inc. (“Pythian”), a leading global services company specializing in data, analytics, and AI solutions, announced the launch of its Google Agentspace QuickStart service. This new offering is designed to provide businesses with a fast and efficient pathway to leverage the power of Agentspace, putting industry-leading AI and Google quality search to work for their enterprise. Pythian’s new Agentspace QuickStart service enables businesses to rapidly deploy Agentspace, unlocking enhanced productivity, improved decision-making, and faster accessibility to AI-curated insights grounded in enterprise data.
“AI-powered enterprise search presents opportunities for organizations to enhance business operations and simplify access to their internal information,” said Kevin Ichhpurani, Global Partner Organization, Google Cloud. “Pythian’s Agentspace QuickStart offers a framework for organizations looking to implement Google Agentspace and understand its impact on internal productivity.”
Powered by Google’s decades-long leadership in AI, Agentspace delivers high-quality search, insights and recommendations, driving tangible business value across numerous areas. Pythian’s Agentspace QuickStart service facilitates the creation of a unified search interface, integrating various enterprise applications and enabling a Google-like search experience with generative AI, intent-based search, conversational interfaces and clear source citations. This empowers employees to unlock enterprise expertise, search across enterprise data and public websites, and utilize expert agents for all business workflows.
“Businesses can easily license and set up Agentspace in just four weeks with our new QuickStart service,” stated Brooks Borcherding, CEO at Pythian. “Our Agentspace QuickStart service is designed to quickly boost employee productivity and provide a clear path to the organization’s success with AI Adoption.”
Solution design: design a solution architecture unique to the customer’s environment to meet the outlined business and technical requirements including specifics around the security and system designs, data model design, and connector configuration.
Solution development: Configure platforms and the identity provider for Agentspace. Configure and connect each of the identified data sources to Agentspace, ensuring each connector supports user-specific access.
Testing and optimization: Configure and test data source connections within Agentspace ensuring user-specific access and proper access controls. Evaluate the solution against a customer-provided dataset and refine based on feedback, with ongoing technical assistance provided throughout testing.
Deployment: The project will conclude with a knowledge transfer meeting to review goals, lessons learned and deliverables, including a Technical Design Document. Operational guidelines will be provided alongside regular status reports and meetings throughout the project lifecycle.
Get started today with Pythian’s Agentspace QuickStart, and visit Pythian in booth #2787 at Google Cloud Next 25 in Las Vegas from April 9 to 11 to discuss Agentspace.
“Agentspace enterprise search connects the hundreds to thousands of applications businesses use,” said Paul Lewis, chief technology officer at Pythian. “With Agentspace, employees have easier and faster access to information, can make better decisions with greater data accuracy and availability, enhance customer experiences by empowering customer-facing roles, and save significant developer time.”
Agentspace ensures data privacy with Google Cloud’s robust commitments: customers own their data, Google Cloud guards against insider access, never sells customer data and does not use customer data for model training or advertising.
The enterprise AI adoption is undergoing a rapid transformation. AI spending has surged to $13.8 billion, an increase of 600 percent from the previous year. Enterprises are shifting from AI proof of concepts (PoC) to execution, integrating AI into their core business strategies.
“One of the biggest challenges business leaders face, specifically CIOs, is delivering real results from AI investments,” said Lewis. “The AI services Pythian offers have high impact, delivering appreciated ROI to demonstrate clear business outcomes. Organizations need to demystify the complex concept of AI and think about its immediate impact, starting from within their organization.”
The greatest impact of AI will be to drive adoption within an organization. Pythian’s Agentspace QuickStart service aims to deliver clear improvements in productivity and employee satisfaction, driving internal demand to onboard more applications onto the platform to improve access to information and data–boosting productivity and better decision-making.
About Pythian
Founded in 1997, Pythian is a leading data and AI services provider specializing in digital transformation and operational excellence for enterprise customers. We help organizations optimize their data estates, helping them to drive AI enablement, innovation, and growth. Through strategic consulting, managed services and cloud migrations, we enable cost savings, risk reduction and seamless operations while preparing businesses to adopt AI and for the future of data management. A Google Cloud Premier Partner with multiple Specializations, including Data Analytics, Marketing Analytics, Machine Learning, Data Management, Infrastructure, Cloud Migration and a certified Google Cloud MSP, we’ve delivered thousands of professional and managed services projects for leading enterprises. For more information, visit www.pythian.com or follow us on X, LinkedIn, and our Blog.
Pythian Media Contacts
Matt Malanga Senior Vice President, Marketing mmalanga@pythian.com
Elisabeth Grant Branch Out Public Relations egrant@branchoutpr.com +1 612-599-7797
Source: US Department of Health and Human Services – 2
Media Advisory Wednesday, April 9, 2025
NIH-funded project helps unraveling the brain’s wiring, giving clues to how we see the world.
What In a massive scientific effort funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), hundreds of researchers have helped to map the connections between hundreds of thousands of neurons in the mouse brain and then overlayed their firing patterns in response to visual stimuli. This breakthrough is a critical piece of foundational science to build toward understanding how our brains process visual information to reconstruct the images we see every day. Information processing in the human brain occurs via electrical firing of 86 billion neurons that make trillions of connections with each other. The secrets of how our brain enable us to think, feel, and act lie hidden in the complexity of its wiring diagram and the barrage of electrical signals that move across it in millisecond time frames. While the current findings focus on a tiny fraction of the brain, they reveal the complex connections between the cells and show how those connections are wired to produce functional responses. This information, which was previously beyond our reach, could help us understand how the brain functions normally and offer a guide to what goes wrong as the result of various disorders or injuries. To carry out the study, researchers presented video clips to mice genetically engineered for their neurons to emit light when they fire. The neuron firing patterns in areas on the brain surface that are associated with vision were optically recorded across a cubic millimeter – about the size of a grain of sand. Within this deceptively small amount of tissue lies remarkable complexity: four kilometers of axons, the processes that nerve cells use to communicate with each other, intertwined to make more than 524 million connections called synapses across more than 200,000 cells. To map these connections teams worked 12-hour shifts for 12 straight days to carefully cut and image ultra-thin slices of the brain tissue using electron microscopes (EM). Reconstruction was the most challenging next step, as it required accurate stitching together almost 28,000 EM images to align the connections that cross the volume of brain tissue. This was followed by months of tracing the connections using deep learning algorithms followed by manual, and automated proofreading. Deep learning predictive models that explain visual information processing in the cortex were constructed and validated. In total, the sheer amount of data collected to create this tiny map comes out to 1.6 petabytes, roughly the equivalent of 22 years of continuous HD video. These results come at a time when maps of neurons and their connections are increasingly revealing the mysteries of the brain. In 2023, research funded by the National Institutes of Health Brain Research Through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies® Initiative, or The NIH BRAIN Initiative®, produced the first complete cell atlas of the mouse brain, including the types and locations surveyed from more than 32 million cells. Last year, the NIH BRAIN Initiative “Flywire” project led to the complete mapping of the common fruit fly brain, demonstrating the unique value of mapping the whole brain in its entirety. Funding for this project was provided through the Machine Intelligence from Cortical Networks (MICrONS) Program of the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity and the NIH BRAIN Initiative. The findings, published in a package of 10 papers published in the Nature family of journals, represent more than seven years of work performed by more than 150 scientists around the world. The mouse connectome data detailed in this press release can be visualized online using the MICrONS Explorer resource. Who John Ngai, Ph.D., director of The NIH BRAIN Initiative, is available for comment. Article The MICrONS Consortium et al. papers can be found here. The NIH BRAIN Initiative, a multidisciplinary collaboration across 10 NIH Institutes and Centers, is uniquely positioned for cross-cutting discoveries in neuroscience to revolutionize our understanding of the human brain. By accelerating the development and application of innovative neurotechnologies, The BRAIN Initiative® is enabling researchers to understand the brain at unprecedented levels of detail in both health and disease, improving how we treat, prevent, and cure brain disorders. The BRAIN Initiative involves a multidisciplinary network of federal and non-federal partners whose missions and current research portfolios complement the goals of the NIH BRAIN Initiative. About the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS): NINDS is the nation’s leading funder of research on the brain and nervous system. The mission of NINDS is to seek fundamental knowledge about the brain and nervous system and to use that knowledge to reduce the burden of neurological disease. About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation’s medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov. NIH…Turning Discovery Into Health® ###
1 / 8Show Caption +Hide Caption –The M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) fires live rounds during an air-to-ground rehearsal exercise in Ben Ghilouf, Tunisia May 09, 2024. African Lion 2024 marks the 20th anniversary of U.S. Africa Command’s premiere joint exercise led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), running from April 19 to May 31 across Morocco, Ghana, Senegal and Tunisia, with over 8,100 participants from 27 nations and NATO contingents. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Lukas Sparks) (Photo Credit: Spc. Lukas Sparks) VIEW ORIGINAL2 / 8Show Caption +Hide Caption –Paratroopers with 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 9th Psychological Operations Battalion, Utah National Guard, and 2e Brigade d’infanterie Parachutiste (2e BIP), Moroccan Royal Armed Forces, greet each other in the drop zone near Ben Guerir, Morocco, after a successful combined airborne operation during African Lion 2024 (AL24). AL24 marks the 20th anniversary of U.S. Africa Command’s premier joint exercise led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), running from April 19 to May 31 across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia, with over 8,100 participants from 27 nations and NATO contingents. (Image by U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Nathaniel Free) (Photo Credit: Staff Sgt. Nathaniel Free) VIEW ORIGINAL3 / 8Show Caption +Hide Caption –A remotely controlled Micro Tactical Ground Robot goes down a staircase in a tunnel operation during the culminating exercise at African Lion 2024 (AL24) near Tifnit, Morocco, May 27-28, 2024. The training featured subterranean warfare, psychological operations, building clearing, combined assaults, fast-rope insertion, rappelling, and hostage rescue during AL24, the U.S. Africa Command’s premier combined, joint exercise led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), running from April 19 to May 31 across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia, with over 8,100 participants from 27 nations and NATO contingents. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Jake Seawolf) (Photo Credit: Staff Sgt. Jake SeaWolf) VIEW ORIGINAL4 / 8Show Caption +Hide Caption –U.S. Army Capt. Spencer Cline, a family medicine physician with the State Headquarters Medical Readiness Detachment (MRD), Utah National Guard, inspects the ear of a Moroccan patient during the humanitarian civic assistance mission as part of exercise African Lion 2024 (AL24) in Tata, Morocco, May 23, 2024. The Utah National Guard has been partners with Morocco through the Department of Defense State Partnership Program since 2003 and led the effort to partner with the Moroccan Royal Armed Forces for a humanitarian civic assistance (HCA) operation during African Lion 2024 (AL24). The HCA event enables U.S. military personnel to work with their Moroccan counterparts to provide medical services to civilian populations who may lack access to medical care, while improving the operational readiness of participating service members. AL24 marks the 20th anniversary of U.S. Africa Command’s premier joint exercise led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), running from April 19 to May 31 across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia, with over 8,100 participants from 27 nations and NATO contingents. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Trevor Rapp) (Photo Credit: Staff Sgt. Trevor Rapp) VIEW ORIGINAL5 / 8Show Caption +Hide Caption –U.S. Army Spc. Frances Burnett, a unit supply specialist assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry Regiment, 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, New York Army National Guard, holds the battalion’s colors before a formation of all its Soldiers during exercise African Lion in Tantan, Morocco, May 30, 2024. African Lion 2024 marks the 20th anniversary of U.S. Africa Command’s premier joint exercise led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), running from April 19 to May 31 across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia, with over 9,100 participants from 27 nations and NATO contingents. (U.S. Army photo by Avery Schneider) (Photo Credit: Avery Schneider) VIEW ORIGINAL6 / 8Show Caption +Hide Caption –U.S. Army Soldiers and Marines pose for a group photo with Ghana Armed Forces soldiers after completing a civil military operations course during African Lion 2024 (AL24) in Tamale, Ghana, May 21, 2024. AL24 marks the 20th anniversary of U.S. Africa Command’s premier and largest annual combined, joint exercise. This year’s exercise is scheduled from April 29 to May 31 and is hosted across Morocco, Ghana, Senegal and Tunisia, with more than 8,100 participants from over 27 countries, including contingents from NATO. African Lion 24 aims to enhance readiness between the U.S. and partner nation forces. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Cade Castillo) (Photo Credit: Spc. Cade Castillo) VIEW ORIGINAL7 / 8Show Caption +Hide Caption –U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Justin Feese, maintenance advisor, and Staff Sgt. Devin Sasser, network communications systems specialist, both assigned to Maneuver Combat Advisor Team 2310, 2nd Security Force Assistance Brigade (2nd SFAB), assemble a microwave satellite terminal to increase tactical communication to support exercise African Lion 2024 (AL24) in Dodji, Senegal, May 27, 2024. The 2nd SFAB provides critical advising in support of a joint team to build and test strategic readiness and ultimately deploy, fight and win in complex, multi-domain environments. Currently, Maneuver Combat Advisor Team 2310 is in Senegal as part of a 9-month employment rotation to advise the Armed Forces of Senegal [Forces armées du Sénégal] throughout the country and plays and integral role during AL24. AL24 marks the 20th anniversary of U.S. Africa Command’s premier joint exercise led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), running from April 19 to May 31 across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, and Tunisia, with over 8,100 participants from 27 nations and NATO contingents. (U.S. Army Reserve photo by Sgt. 1st Class Nicholas J. De La Pena) (Photo Credit: Nicholas J. De La Pena) VIEW ORIGINAL8 / 8Show Caption +Hide Caption –An Armed Forces of Senegal [Forces armées du Sénégal] soldier fires a M249 Squad Automatic Weapon while Maryland National Guardsman Sgt. Mathew Angell, a team leader with Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 175th Infantry Regiment, serves as a range safety officer during a live-fire weapons familiarization led by U.S. Army Soldiers and members of the Royal Netherlands Army as part of exercise African Lion 2024 (AL24) in Dodji, Senegal, May 23, 2024. The weapons range provided an opportunity to conduct realistic, dynamic and collaborative readiness training in an austere environment. AL24 marks the 20th anniversary of U.S. Africa Command’s premier joint exercise led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), running from April 19 to May 31 across Ghana, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia, with over 8,100 participants from 27 nations and NATO contingents (U.S. Army Reserve photo by Sgt. 1st Class Nicholas J. De La Pena) (Photo Credit: Nicholas J. De La Pena) VIEW ORIGINAL
VICENZA, Italy – African Lion 25, U.S. Africa Command’s premier annual exercise, officially kicks off April 14, 2025, in Tunisia, with activities in Ghana, Senegal, and Morocco beginning in May. With more than 10,000 troops from over 40 nations—including seven NATO allies—this year’s iteration will be the largest in the exercise’s history.
Led by the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), AL25 enhances interoperability, strengthens readiness, and builds strategic partnerships through realistic, multi-domain training. Exercises span land, air, maritime, space, and cyber domains, supporting the shared goal of increased security and stability on the continent.
“African Lion 25 is AFRICOM’s largest multinational, combined joint exercise in Africa. It demonstrates the capabilities of the total force by building strategic readiness and interoperability with our African partners and allies to deploy, fight, and win in a complex multi-domain environment,” said Maj. Gen. Andrew C. Gainey, commanding general, SETAF-AF.
Core events include field training exercises, airborne and amphibious operations, special operations forces, HIMARS rapid insertion (HIRAIN), humanitarian civic assistance, and medical readiness engagements. New capabilities being tested include integrated cyber defense training and next-generation systems such as the Army’s Next Generation Squad Weapon (NGSW).
Participating countries include Benin, Brazil, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Cote d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, France, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Kenya, Liberia, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Netherlands, Nigeria, Portugal, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Spain, The Gambia, Togo, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and United States. Observers include Algeria, Belgium, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, India, Qatar, Republic of Congo, and Turkey, reflecting broad interest in regional military cooperation.
African Lion began in 2004 and has evolved into the U.S. military’s most significant exercise on the continent. This year’s events reinforce the U.S. commitment to enduring partnerships and demonstrate our ability to respond to crises and deter threats by promoting peace through strength.
For media inquiries or to request interviews or embed opportunities, contact:
African Lion 25 is U.S. Africa Command’s premier annual exercise, led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), that strengthens the U.S. military’s ability to respond rapidly, operate forward, and train alongside allies and partners. Designed to address shared security challenges, African Lion 25 enhances readiness, reinforces strategic reach, and fosters innovative solutions.
PARIS, April 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — TSplus is proud to announce the launch of its newly redesigned online documentation platform, now enhanced with cutting-edge AI-powered features that make it easier than ever for users around the globe to access, search, and share information.
This major innovation reflects TSplus’ ongoing commitment to improving the user experience by delivering intuitive solutions that hide technical complexity and make powerful software easy to use, deploy, and maintain.
A New Era of Smarter Documentation for TSplus User
The new TSplus Documentation is more than a facelift – it’s a complete rethinking of how users interact with support resources. Key new features include:
AI-powered automatic translation in 8 languages for truly global support
Multilingual smart search – find relevant content instantly, in your preferred language
Downloadable multilingual PDFs – easy sharing and offline access
An integrated AI Chat Assistant – get instant answers and guidance 24/7
Dark/Light Mode – choose your preferred reading experience
Enhanced code block formatting & one-click copy – faster implementation for IT professionals
A sleek, modern interface – faster loading, more intuitive navigation, and mobile-friendly
These enhancements are designed to make the search for information faster and more natural; while also improving the way users can share or embed knowledge across teams, clients, and platforms.
While redirects from the old address (docs.terminalserviceplus.com) are in place, TSplus encourages users and partners to update their bookmarks and website links to ensure a seamless experience.
Designed With the TSplus User in Mind
This launch is the direct result of feedback from customers and partners around the world.
“We’ve listened to our users,” says Amine Boukhari, the developer behind the project. “They needed faster access to help articles, better multilingual support, and easier ways to find and share information. This new platform delivers all that – and more.”
The initiative perfectly aligns with the TSplus philosophy: making enterprise-grade remote access and IT management tools accessible — not just in terms of pricing and platform compatibility, but in usability. TSplus products are designed to simplify IT operations by hiding technical complexity behind clean, easy-to-use interfaces, empowering organizations of all sizes to work smarter and more efficiently.
TSplus provides secure, cost-effective, and user-friendly remote access, application delivery, and system monitoring solutions to over 500,000 businesses and public organizations worldwide. With a focus on simplicity, innovation, and customer satisfaction, TSplus is redefining what remote access should look like — accessible, powerful, and easy to use.
Northfield, Illinois, April 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Hoopis Performance Network (HPN), a leading provider of professional development and performance improvement solutions in the financial services industry, has announced a strategic partnership with Moody’s Learning Solutions, a global leader in financial training and education throughout the world. This collaboration aims to deliver cutting-edge educational content and training resources tailored to meet the evolving needs of financial professionals worldwide.
Hoopis Performance Network announces Strategic Partnership with Moody’s Learning Solutions to Elevate Professional Development in the Financial Services Industry
The partnership brings together HPN’s extensive experience in delivering practical, results-driven training solutions with Moody’s unparalleled insight in financial analysis, credit risk assessment, and market insights. By combining their strengths, the two companies will develop innovative learning solutions designed to enhance critical skills, boost productivity, and foster professional development among financial professionals.
“We are thrilled to partner with Moody’s Learning Solutions,” said Harry Hoopis, CEO at HPN. “This collaboration aligns with our commitment to providing top-tier training and development programs that empower financial professionals to excel in an increasingly complex and competitive environment.”
The joint solutions will include interactive courses, virtual training modules, and comprehensive certification programs that integrate real-world scenarios and industry best practices. By leveraging digital platforms and AI-driven tools, these programs will offer personalized learning experiences that adapt to the unique needs of each participant.
“Our partnership with HPN is an exciting opportunity to leverage both organizations’ insights to deliver impactful learning experiences to financial professionals,” said Andrew Stewart, Managing Director at Moody’s Learning Solutions. “Together, we will equip professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to navigate the financial landscape with confidence.”
The partnership between HPN and Moody’s Learning Solutions represents a commitment to innovation and excellence in professional development within the financial services industry. For more information on upcoming programs and initiatives, visit Moody’s Learning Solutions.
Hoopis Performance Network
About Hoopis Performance Network
Hoopis Performance Network is a trusted leader in professional development, delivering training and consulting solutions to organizations worldwide. With a focus on empowering leaders, enhancing team performance, and driving sustainable growth, HPN provides cutting-edge tools and strategies for success. For more information, visit https://www.hoopis.com/
London, UK / Princeton, NJ, April 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Orbital Materials, a company that uses its proprietary AI platform to develop new advanced materials and technologies, and Civo, the company reimagining cloud computing, have announced a strategic partnership to pilot Orbital’s carbon removal technology at its data center and support the development of new data center decarbonization and efficiency solutions.
This pilot comes in the wake of global AI policy announcements, including the AI Opportunities Action Plan recently announced by the UK government.
Data centers are currently responsible for approximately 1% of overall greenhouse gas emissions. The data center boom is projected to produce approximately 2.5 billion tons of Co2-equivalent emissions globally through the end of 2030, according to research by Morgan Stanley.
As part of the partnership, Civo will deploy Orbital’s carbon removal technology for data centers and support its efforts to develop new materials and technologies to improve the sustainability and efficiency of data centers. Orbital will have access to Civo’s data centers, to pilot and test these solutions.
“We are excited to partner with Civo to deploy our carbon removal technology for data centers which will help the data center industry transition to a more sustainable future. Our partnership with Civo will accelerate the development of our data center decarbonization and efficiency technologies,” said Jonathan Godwin, CEO and Co-Founder of Orbital.
Orbital has already achieved a 10x improvement in the performance of its carbon capture material through the use of its AI platform – an order of magnitude faster than traditional development and breaking new ground in carbon removal efficacy. Orbital plans to deploy and test its carbon removable technology at Civo’s UK-based data center by the end of 2025. As part of the partnership, Civo will provide Orbital with a high performance compute cluster with H200 NVIDIA GPUs to support its AI model training.
“We are thrilled to partner with Orbital Materials, a true innovator in the field of sustainable materials and technologies. Together, we can make a significant impact on reducing carbon emissions and driving a more sustainable future for our planet. With the growing investment in UK data centers and the UK government’s AI action plan, we must implement solutions now to reduce the environmental impact of the UK’s expanding data center capacity,” said Mark Boost, CEO of Civo.
Better advanced materials, such as semiconductors, batteries, and catalysts, are the building blocks of the next generation of transformational technologies. However, the development of advanced materials and technologies has historically taken years, even decades, of slow trial and error in the lab. Orbital leverages its proprietary AI technologies at its advanced materials R&D facility in Princeton, NJ to design, develop and deploy new advanced materials and technologies faster and more accurately than is possible with human input alone.
About Orbital: Launched at the end of 2022, Orbital Materials (Orbital) leverages AI to accelerate and redefine the discovery, testing, and deployment of advanced materials and technologies. Traditional methods of discovering these technologies have long relied on time-consuming trial and error processes in the lab, often resulting in years of experimentation before success is achieved. By leveraging its proprietary AI technologies at its advanced materials R&D facility in Princeton, Orbital designs, synthesizes and deploys end-to-end technologies quicker than possible with human input alone.
Learn more:
About Civo: Civo is the cloud provider built for the cloud-native era, delivering fast, reliable, and scalable infrastructure with simplicity at its core. Offering both public and private cloud solutions, Civo ensures organizations have full control over their data while maintaining flexibility and compliance. Designed to challenge traditional cloud models, Civo prioritizes fairness, data sovereignty, and transparent pricing, enabling businesses to scale without hidden costs. Trusted by DevOps teams and enterprises worldwide, Civo provides lightning-fast Kubernetes, high-performance AI/ML GPUs, and cutting-edge managed machine learning solutions. With a commitment to sustainability and innovation, Civo empowers businesses to navigate the complexities of modern cloud computing with confidence.
Source: Government of Ireland – Department of Jobs Enterprise and Innovation
9th April 2025
Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Peter Burke, and Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, James Lawless, today announced funding of €17 million for two additional projects under Call 7 of the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund (DTIF).
The announcement took place in the National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training (NIBRT), Co. Dublin. NIBRT is a partner in the “Can-Vas” project which has been awarded €10.7m
This first of its kind in-human study treats infants with a type of brain damage, as well as expanding the pipeline of cell and gene therapies for rare and seriously debilitating diseases. NIBRT are working with three other partners on this project – Deantusaiocht Slainte HiTech Teoranta, University College Cork, INFANT Research Centre and the lead partner, HAON Life Sciences.
An additional project – LOTUS – has been awarded €6.4m which will develop a complete smart system to facilitate at-home anti-cancer treatment (SACT) with monitoring, enabling cancer patients to self-administer treatment in their own home. Representatives of the consortium comprised of Luminate Medical – the lead partner, Gentian Health, University of Galway and Trinity College Dublin were also in attendance at today’s event.
Announcing today’s projects, the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke said:
“I am delighted to announce awards of over €17 million to two exciting and hugely innovative projects under Call 7 of the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund. These two projects demonstrate the importance of the fund in leveraging emerging technologies for the well-being of our citizens. The technology in these projects will provide life-changing solutions for patients undergoing cancer treatment and for new and expectant parents where the safety and well-being of their unborn child is paramount. By funding these projects, the Government is maintaining its commitment to investing in cutting-edge technologies, with consequent benefits for the health care sector and other national research priority areas.
Since the Fund launch in 2018, my Department has awarded over €393 million in funding to 107 collaborative DTIF projects. Importantly, the fund is giving enterprises and research institutions opportunities to engage and connect with some of the brightest minds in Ireland, to conceive ideas, build relationships and foster knowledge-sharing for the benefit of all.”
James Lawless, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science added:
“It is great to see projects with a strong potential to deliver impactful health care solutions becoming recipients of the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund. We are now financing 404 project partners from our enterprise and research sectors which are bringing forward novel and innovative ideas that will not only benefit our health services but focus on tackling wider sectoral and economic challenges associated with demands emerging around developments with Artificial Intelligence, sustainability and digitalisation. What makes this Fund unique is its ability to foster collaborative research that builds strong relationships that will benefit our citizens, our economy and generating high quality jobs for our graduates.”
The projects announced today bring the total number awarded to 107. This is no small feat. It underscores the critical role of disruptive technologies, on a national scale, and recognises the Government’s continued commitment to advancing and supporting the development of these transformative and lifechanging technologies.”
Kevin Sherry, interim CEO, Enterprise Ireland said:
“Enterprise Ireland is proud to support the Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund, which continues to drive impactful collaborations between Ireland’s leading enterprises and research institutions. These newly funded projects exemplify the power of innovation in addressing critical healthcare challenges, from advancing cancer treatment solutions to pioneering life-saving therapies for newborns. By investing in cutting-edge technologies, we are strengthening Ireland’s position as a global leader in innovation, fostering high-value job creation, and delivering real-world benefits for patients and society. We look forward to seeing these transformative projects progress and make a lasting impact.”
DTIF Call 7 remains open for project applications which can be submitted at any time up to the closing date of 30 April 2025.
Note to Editors
The Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund (DTIF) is a €500 million fund established under the National Development Plan (NDP) in 2018. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment manages the DTIF with administrative support from Enterprise Ireland.
The purpose of the Fund is to drive collaboration between Ireland’s world-class research base and industry as well as facilitating enterprises to compete directly for funding in support of the development and adoption of these technologies. The aim is to support investment in the development and deployment of disruptive technologies and applications on a commercial basis.
DTIF Call 7 applications are assessed by panels of international experts against four criteria – quality of the disruptive technology, excellence of overall approach, economic impact and sustainability, and strength of the collaboration.
Since the Fund was launched in 2018, a total of 107 projects have been awarded funding of over €393m. The 404 project partners involved are operating in every region across the country, with 60% of those partners located outside of Dublin.
Prospective applicants can obtain detailed information on the Fund and on the application process through enterprise.gov.ie/DTIF.
Disruptive Technologies Innovation Fund (DTIF) Call 7 Award Details
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Demosthenes Koutsogeorgis, Associate Professor of Photonic Technologies, School of Science & Technology, Nottingham Trent University
Electronic microchips are at the heart of the modern world. They’re found in our laptops, our smartphones, our cars and our household appliances. For years, manufacturers have been making them more powerful and efficient, which increases the performance of our electronic devices.
But that trend is now faltering because of the increased cost and complexity of manufacturing chips, as well as performance limits set by the laws of physics. This is happening just as there’s a need for increased computing power because of the boom in artificial intelligence (AI).
An alternative to the electronic microchips we currently use are photonic chips. These use light instead of electricity to achieve higher performance. However, photonic chips have not yet taken off due to a number of hurdles. Now, twopapers published in Nature address some of these roadblocks, offering essential stepping stones to achieving the computing power required by complex artificial intelligence systems.
By using light (photons) instead of electricity (electrons) for the transport and processing of information, photonic computing promises higher speeds and greater bandwidths with greater efficiency. This is because it does not suffer from the loss of electrical current due to a phenomenon known as resistance, as well as unwanted heat loss from electrical components.
Photonic computing is also particularly suited for performing what are known as matrix multiplications – mathematical operations that are fundamental to AI.
Those are some of the benefits. The challenges, however, are not trivial. In the past, the performance of photonic chips has generally been studied in isolation. But because of the dominance of electronics in modern technology, photonic hardware will need to be integrated with those electronic systems.
However, converting photons into electrical signals can slow down processing times since light operates at higher speeds. Photonic computing is also based around analogue operations rather than digital ones. This can reduce precision and limit the type of computing tasks that can be carried out.
It’s also difficult to scale them up from small prototypes because large-scale photonic circuits cannot currently be fabricated with sufficient accuracy. Photonic computing will require its own software and algorithms, compounding the challenges of integration and compatibility with other technology.
The two new papers in Nature address many of these hurdles. Bo Peng, from Singapore-based company Lightelligence, and colleagues demonstrate a new type of processor for photonic computing called a Photonic Arithmetic Computing Engine (Pace). This processor has a low latency, which means that there is a minimal delay between an input or command and the corresponding response or action by the computer.
The large-scale Pace processor, which has more than 16,000 photonic components, can solve difficult computing tasks, demonstrating the feasibility of the system for real world applications. The processor shows how integration of photonic and electronic hardware, accuracy, and the need for different software and algorithms can be resolved. It also demonstrates that the technology can be scaled up.
This marks a significant development, despite some speed limitations of the current hardware.
In a separate paper, Nicholas Harris, from California-based company Lightmatter, and colleagues describe a photonic processor that was able to run two AI systems with accuracy similar to those of conventional electronic processors. The authors demonstrated the effectiveness of their photonic processor through generating Shakespeare-like text, accurately classifying movie reviews and playing classic Atari computer games such as Pac-Man.
The platform is also potentially scalable, though in this case limitations of the materials and engineering used curtailed one measure of the processor’s speed and its overall computational capabilities.
Both teams suggest that their photonic systems can be part of scalable next generation hardware that can support the use of AI. This would finally make photonics viable, though further refinements will be needed. These will involve the use of more effective materials or designs.
The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
In 2024-25, Alberta’s government invested a ground-breaking $9.8 million in 81 projects through the Northern and Regional Economic Development (NRED) program, creating new opportunities and strengthening Alberta’s local economies. This investment triples the program’s annual $3-million budget and doubles the number of grants awarded from the previous fiscal year. NRED grants now provide up to $300,000 in funding for projects designed to help businesses, municipalities and organizations expand, communities grow and industries innovate.
Alberta’s government recognizes that regional communities face unique challenges. Workforce shortages, aging infrastructure and barriers to investment attraction can threaten long-term economic opportunity. By investing in northern and regional communities, the government helps build stronger, more resilient communities that contribute to the overall prosperity of the province.
“The NRED program is empowering communities to attract investment, grow economies and create high-value, stable jobs for Albertans. This program unlocks new opportunities for Albertans in every corner of the province, ensuring Alberta remains the best place to live, work, invest and raise a family.”
Through NRED grants, Alberta’s government allows communities to apply for programming that suits their unique needs. Some of the 2024-25 projects funded through the NRED program include:
The Town of Taber received $17,500 for its “Think Taber” project to attract global investment to the community.
Slave Lake Regional Tourism Society received $38,400 for a regional promotional project.
NeurAlberta Tech’s project received $250,000 to unite students, graduates, SMEs and partners to drive innovation in neurotechnology and AI.
Chiniki First Nation received $281,300 for infrastructure planning for an Indigenous affordable housing plan.
Lethbridge Economic Development Initiative Society (LEDI) was awarded two grants, one for $50,000 and one for $97,600, for building creative industries and for business retention programming.
Alberta’s government has listened to and learned from northern and regional communities who have called for the NRED program to be expanded. Not only did Alberta’s government expand the number of programs receiving NRED grants this year, but some key enhancements were made to make NRED grants more accessible and flexible. Specifically, the application process has been simplified, the maximum funding amount per project was increased by $100,000, the grant amount range was expanded to between $10,000 and $300,000, and grant applicants can now apply for up to three years of funding.
By broadening eligibility and improving access, Alberta’s government is enabling communities to pursue both large-scale economic initiatives and targeted programs that address unique local needs.
“Our government’s investment in the NRED program strengthens local businesses, creates jobs and enhances tourism opportunities across Alberta. This program is making a real difference in communities, especially in northern Alberta, by fostering innovation and economic resilience.”
“Support from the NRED program is helping us lay the foundation for long-term economic success in Fort McMurray Wood Buffalo. It’s enabling us to attract new investment, expand tourism initiatives, and support local businesses that are driving growth and diversification in our region.”
The NRED program is driving long-term growth by investing in local businesses, infrastructure and job creation across Alberta’s regions. This funding empowers communities to thrive, attract investment and build a stronger, more resilient economy for future generations.
Quick facts
In 2024-25, the NRED program invested a total of $9.8 million in 81 projects that supported regional economic growth and diversification. This one-time increase includes:
$2.7 million to 27 municipalities
$4.8 million to 41 not-for-profits
$1.4 million to eight First Nations
$0.9 million to five Metis Settlements
Twenty-nine of these projects are considered northern, with total grant funding of $3.8 million.
The program provides up to 50 per cent of total eligible project costs.
Projects led by Indigenous communities will receive up to 75 per cent of total eligible project costs.
Budget 2025 commits $3 million annually over the next three years to the NRED program, ensuring ongoing support for communities looking to grow and diversify their economies.
Since its launch in 2022, the NRED program has supported 225 economic initiatives that have fostered local business success, boosted tourism and built long-term capacity for economic growth.
Related information
Northern and Regional Economic Development Program
Related news
Investing nearly $5B in Alberta’s north (March 18, 2025)
Sparking opportunity in northern Alberta (Dec. 9, 2024)
Alberta fund gets major boost to drive regional growth (Aug.21, 2024)
Regional economic growth bolstered by grant program (Apr. 9, 2024)
INFORMATION RELATING TO THE TOTAL NUMBER OF VOTING RIGHTS AND SHARES FORMING THE SHARE CAPITAL
(Article L. 233-8 II of the French Commercial Code and article 223-16 of the General Regulation of the French financial markets authority (AMF))
This declaration cancels and replaces the previous one dated April 4, 2025
Corporate name and address of the company: SOITEC Parc Technologique des Fontaines – Chemin des Franques 38190 Bernin (FRANCE)
Statement date
Total number of shares forming the share capital
Total number of voting rights
03/31/2025
35,726,462(1)
Number of theoretical (gross) voting rights (2): 45,641,575
Number of exercisable (net) voting rights (3): 45,567,342
35,726,462 ordinary shares of €2.00 par value each, listed on the Euronext Paris regulated market under ISIN code FR0013227113 and the mnemonic “SOI”.
The total number of theoretical voting rights (or “gross” voting rights) is used as the basis for calculating the crossing of shareholding thresholds. In accordance with article 223-11 of the General Regulation of the French Financial Markets Authority (Autorité des Marchés Financiers – AMF), this number is calculated on the basis of all shares to which single or double voting rights are attached, including shares without voting rights (for example, treasury shares, liquidity contract, etc.).
The total number of exercisable voting rights (or “net” voting rights) is calculated after taking into account the number of shares entitled to double voting rights, and after deduction of the shares without voting rights (for example, treasury shares, liquidity contract, etc.).
# # #
About Soitec
Soitec (Euronext – Tech Leaders), a world leader in innovative semiconductor materials, has been developing cutting-edge products delivering both technological performance and energy efficiency for over 30 years. From its global headquarters in France, Soitec is expanding internationally with its unique solutions, and generated sales of 1 billion Euros in fiscal year 2023-2024. Soitec occupies a key position in the semiconductor value chain, serving three main strategic markets: Mobile Communications, Automotive and Industrial, and Edge and Cloud AI. The company relies on the talent and diversity of its 2,300 employees, representing 50 different nationalities, working at its sites in Europe, the United States and Asia. Soitec has registered over 4,000 patents. Soitec, SmartSiC™ and Smart Cut™ are registered trademarks of Soitec.
For more information visit our Website and follow us on LinkedIn and X
PALO ALTO, Calif., April 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — NEC X, the Silicon Valley venture studio backed by NEC’s advanced technologies and global businesses, today announced a strategic investment in SeafoodAI, an innovative startup revolutionizing sustainable seafood with real-time biometric data and AI-powered traceability. The announcement coincides with SeafoodAI’s graduation from NEC X’s prestigious Elev X! Ignite program.
CrabScan360 – Automated crab scanning and sorting system for verifiable, traceable harvests
SeafoodAI addresses the seafood industry’s $50 billion in annual losses due to outdated, manual processes that hinder compliance, traceability and efficiency—starting with the crab fisheries sector, valued globally at $11.5 billion. Leveraging AI-powered biometric scanning technology, SeafoodAI’s flagship solution, CrabScan360, automates crab measurement, sorting and data recording, replacing error-prone manual processes. This transformative solution significantly enhances traceability, simplifies regulatory compliance and delivers precise operational insights to stakeholders across the supply chain.
Leading retailers, including Whole Foods, Walmart and Costco, have committed to exclusively selling sustainably certified seafood by 2027 or earlier. SeafoodAI’s innovative approach enables fisheries and processors to achieve verifiable sustainability certifications rapidly, efficiently and at scale, meeting the growing demand for transparent seafood sourcing.
SeafoodAI is revolutionizing seafood sourcing with advanced technology, enhancing sustainability and profitability through real-time data insights and instant verification.
“Seafood sustainability is no longer optional; it’s imperative,” said Rob Terry, CEO and Founder of SeafoodAI. “With CrabScan360, we’re digitizing what was once a manual, labor-intensive process—bringing accuracy, transparency and trust directly to the seafood industry. The strategic investment and technical expertise from NEC X significantly accelerate our ability to drive meaningful change across seafood supply chains.”
NEC X’s Elev X! Ignite program provides early-stage startups with strategic guidance, cutting-edge technology access and business resources to drive innovation. SeafoodAI directly leveraged NEC X’s expertise in image recognition and artificial intelligence, rapidly advancing its technology during the program as part of cohort Batch 9.
“SeafoodAI represents the impactful innovation that NEC X is committed to nurturing,” said Shintaro Matsumoto, CEO of NEC X. “Their biometric scanning technology unlocks new value across seafood supply chains by addressing global challenges with scalable, AI-driven solutions. We’re excited to support SeafoodAI’s journey toward redefining seafood supply chain standards.”
Alongside its new investment from NEC X, SeafoodAI is gaining significant momentum. The company successfully launched a beta of its field scanner, is rapidly advancing its digital logbook and is adapting its scanner for aquaculture in collaboration with the University of Mississippi. A graduate of Techstars’ Water Tech and Sustainability cohort, SeafoodAI is also part of Blue Swell’s Sea Ahead program and is working with partners like Hyperion to enhance its AI-powered seafood scanner for factory automation.
SeafoodAI is actively collaborating with leading certification bodies and seafood industry stakeholders, including Aruna, ASIC and Where Food Comes From, to implement digital verification solutions.
Beyond hardware, SeafoodAI is building a scalable data infrastructure—laying the groundwork for a trusted digital verification marketplace that connects harvesters, processors, regulators and retailers with real-time, actionable data. The startup is also expanding its biometric scanning innovations to additional seafood markets such as tuna, salmon and shrimp. It is in pilot discussions with government agencies and recently won the Open Sphere Startup Awards 2024.
SeafoodAI generates revenue through a hybrid model of hardware sales and recurring SaaS subscriptions, supporting long-term growth across the $12B seafood tech market.
For more information on SeafoodAI and its groundbreaking technology, visit https://seafoodai.com/.
About SeafoodAI SeafoodAI provides AI-powered tools and technologies that enable a smarter, more connected seafood economy. Its intelligent scanners, sorters, graders, and digital logbooks help producers and processors improve efficiency while seamlessly capturing critical, verifiable data across every stage of the supply chain.
By embedding productivity tools that enhance operations and generate ground-truth insights, SeafoodAI supports real-time traceability, streamlined compliance, and data-driven decision-making from harvest to distribution. The company’s solutions help reduce waste, accelerate sustainability certification, and unlock access to premium markets.
With inefficiencies and data gaps costing the global seafood industry over $50 billion annually, SeafoodAI addresses a major need in an underserved, high-value sector. Its hybrid business model—combining hardware sales or leasing with recurring software subscriptions—positions the company for scalable, defensible growth.
About NEC X NEC X is an innovation powerhouse and curator of disruptive startups backed by the global technology leadership of NEC. Leveraging 125 years of IT and network technologies expertise, NEC X’s startup-focused approach transforms visionary ideas into commercial successes that revolutionize how we work and live. Since its inception in 2018, NEC X has helped launch and grow more than 150 startups.
Their Silicon Valley programs – Elev X! Ignite and Elev X! Boost – equip early-stage startup founders with the tools to fast-track their tech development and adoption. Elev X! fuels startup success from inception to launch, connecting innovators with NEC’s 45,000 patents; global network of partners, mentors and advisors; reach into 55+ international markets; and $8 billion R&D ecosystem.
About NEC Corporation NEC Corporation has established itself as a leader in the integration of IT and network technologies while promoting the brand statement of “Orchestrating a brighter world.” NEC enables businesses and communities to adapt to rapid changes taking place in both society and the market as it provides for the social values of safety, security, fairness and efficiency to promote a more sustainable world where everyone has the chance to reach their full potential.
SAN FRANCISCO, April 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Tessell, the leading next-generation multi-cloud database-as-a-service (DBaaS) that enables enterprises and startups to accelerate database, data, and application modernization journeys at scale, today announced its $60 million Series B funding round, bringing total funding to $94 million. The round was led by WestBridge Capital, with continued strong participation from Lightspeed Venture Partners and new investments from B37.vc and Rocketship.vc. This capital will accelerate Tessell’s go-to-market expansion and fuel research and development in AI-powered data management within the evolving enterprise data ecosystem.
“Enterprises today struggle with siloed data and rigid database solutions that are incomplete, lacking performance, resilience, governance, and flexibility,” said Bala Kuchibhotla, Co-Founder and CEO of Tessell. “At Tessell, we are redefining cloud data management by creating a seamless, secure, high-performant AI-driven platform that supports both operational and analytical workloads—powering a true data ecosystem. This funding enables us to scale faster and continue pioneering the future of enterprise data management.”
“We could not be more excited to partner with Tessell to build the next generational data platform,” said Sumir Chadha, Co-founder and Managing Partner at WestBridge Capital. “Prior to Tessell, few companies could challenge incumbents in database management despite their inefficiencies. Now, enterprises are shifting to Tessell for a high-performing and cost-effective solution, spending less time managing their databases and creating more business value.”
Tessell was created to address a fundamental challenge: while cloud adoption has surged, managing enterprise databases in the cloud remains archaic and expensive. Tessell’s fully managed, multi-cloud database platform eliminates these pain points by offering:
Modern cloud DB platform for AI apps with vector extensions to popular DB engines, and providing conversational query capabilities.
High-performance, scalable cloud database compatible with PostgreSQL and MySQL, powered by patented technology to eliminate provisioned IOPS
A unified control plane for seamless management of multiple cloud providers, database engines, and infrastructures
Comprehensive data ecosystem, connecting mission-critical operational data with analytical/decision-making systems (data lakes, warehouses)
Zero RPO/RTO high availability & disaster recovery services for uninterrupted operations
Enterprise-grade security and compliance with custom policies
Lift & Shine for your data estate to achieve significant TCO reduction
“Tessell is solving one of the most pressing challenges today in enterprise cloud adoption: data fragmentation and inefficiency,” said Rishit Desai, Partner at WestBridge Capital. “Their platform brings unprecedented performance, flexibility, and automation to AI-powered database management, helping enterprises unlock the full potential of their data. We’re thrilled to support their next phase of growth.”
Tessell has already built an enterprise-grade cloud database service and data ecosystem with a consumer-grade interface. Now, it is advancing these solutions through AI and Conversational Data Management (CoDaM), allowing enterprises to manage and interact with their data through an intuitive, conversation-grade experience. This funding will accelerate the development of AI-driven capabilities that make data management more accessible, intelligent, and interactive, empowering businesses to seamlessly harness the full potential of their data through natural, AI-powered interactions.
“We are just getting started,” added Kuchibhotla. “This funding marks a major milestone, but it’s only the beginning of our journey. The future of enterprise data management is being rewritten, and we’re excited to be a part of that driving force. We will make it “Conversational”, “Affordable”, and “Prescriptive”, defying CAP theorem for enterprise data management. With AI at the core of our platform, we’re making data more accessible, more powerful, and more intuitive than ever before. The opportunities ahead are limitless, and we can’t wait to continue pushing the boundaries of what’s possible for our customers.”
About Tessell Tessell is a multi-cloud DBaaS platform redefining enterprise data management with its comprehensive suite of AI-powered database services. By unifying operational and analytical data within a seamless data ecosystem, Tessell enables enterprises to modernize databases, optimize cloud economics, and drive intelligent decision-making at scale. Through AI and Conversational Data Management (CoDaM), Tessell makes data more accessible, interactive, and intuitive, empowering businesses to harness their data’s full potential easily.
About WestBridge Capital WestBridge Capital is a global investment firm with over $7 billion in assets under management and offices in Silicon Valley, Bangalore, and Mauritius. For over 20 years, WestBridge has partnered with transformative entrepreneurs at every stage across both private and public markets. WestBridge’s long-term investment approach is enabled by the fund’s unique evergreen and crossover structure, allowing for partnerships that span decades. WestBridge has a long-standing track record of leading investments and advising companies as their largest institutional partner. Some notable investments in the US include Innovaccer, Turing, zScaler, and Freshworks. For the full portfolio and more information, visit www.westbridgecap.com.
Media Contact Len Fernandes Firecracker PR for Tessell len@firecrackerpr.com
BILLINGSHURST, WEST SUSSEX, UNITED KINGDOM, April 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Energys Group Limited (NASDAQ: ENGS) (“Energys Group” or the “Company”), a vertically integrated energy efficiency and decarbonization solutions provider for the built environment, today announced that it has entered into a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to acquire a 49% equity interest in Energys Spectrum Limited (the “Target Company”), a Hong Kong-based energy-saving technologies and services provider.
The Target Company specializes in providing end-to-end retrofitting solutions aimed at reducing energy consumption, carbon emissions, and operating costs for both public and private sector clients. As the exclusive licensee of Energys Group in Hong Kong and Macau, the Target Company actively promotes the Energys brand by procuring products and solutions from the Company’s wholly-owned operating subsidiary and recommending them to its clients.
The MOU is non-binding and remains subject to the negotiation and execution of a definitive agreement and customary closing conditions. The consideration for the shares to be purchased by the Company will be determined with reference to the valuation of the shares as determined by a professional valuator to be engaged by the Company, and is subject to negotiation between the parties. Among other conditions, the acquisition of the shares is contingent on (i) the Company and the Target Company having agreed on the purchase price for the shares; and (ii) the Company being satisfied with the results of its due diligence review of the Target Company’s financial position and business condition.
The Company has paid a refundable deposit of US$5.5 million, which will be applied towards the purchase price of the shares, unless it is forfeited due to the Company not having fulfilled its obligations under the MOU. The MOU provides that the acquisition is to be consummated no later than December 31, 2025.
Upon completion, the acquisition is expected to further strengthen the Company’s presence and competitiveness in the Hong Kong and Macau markets, while securing higher margins from product and solution sales to the Target Company.
Michael Lau, Executive Director and Chief Technology Officer of Energys Group Limited, commented, “We are delighted to have reached an MOU with our key partner in Hong Kong. If the acquisition is completed, it is expected to further strengthen Energys’ brand profile in the regional market. It is also expected to generate a financial return through increasing product adoption and expanding margins as a result of value chain consolidation and streamlined operations. We hope that this will be the first of many acquisitions, and we will continue to accelerate regional decarbonization efforts while driving shareholders’ return.”
About Energys Group
Founded in 1998 as an energy conservation consultancy, Energys Group has since transitioned into a vertically integrated energy efficiency and decarbonization solutions provider for the built environment. Serving organizations from both the private and public sectors, including schools, universities, hospitals, and offices, primarily in the UK, the Company’s vision is to deliver innovative solutions that reduce carbon emissions, lower costs, and support the Net Zero agenda – alongside improving the wellbeing of building users within the built environment.
Forward-Looking Statements
All statements other than statements of historical fact in this announcement are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and are based on current expectations and projections about future events and financial trends that the Company believes may affect its financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, and financial needs. Investors can identify these forward-looking statements by words or phrases such as “may,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “aim,” “estimate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “potential,” “continue,” “is/are likely to,” or other similar expressions. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent occurring events or circumstances, or changes in its expectations, except as may be required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot assure you that such expectations will turn out to be correct, and the Company cautions investors that actual results may differ materially from the anticipated results and encourages investors to review other factors that may affect its future results in the Company’s registration statement and in its other filings with the SEC.
For more information, please contact: DLK Advisory Phone: +852-2857-7101 Email: ir@dlkadvisory.com
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., April 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Locus Technologies, the leader in sustainability and Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) compliance software, announced that as of today, Locus clients have collectively contributed 3,000,000 validated Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) records to the company’s environmental database, making it the most extensive real-time, aggregated global analytical and geospatial PFAS information source. The records are secured in Locus’s sophisticated, multitenant SaaS database.
Locus’s expansive PFAS dataset includes all 430 chemicals identified in the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) PFAS inventory, collected from 38,553 global sites, predominantly in the United States. By combining advanced geographic information system (GIS) tools and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven analytics, Locus provides unmatched capabilities for identifying contamination sources, tracking environmental accumulations in water, soil, and living organisms, and visualizing critical “hot spots” for strategic remediation.
“This milestone underscores our commitment to advancing environmental safety through technology innovation,” said Neno Duplan, founder and CEO of Locus Technologies. “Our multitenant SaaS infrastructure uniquely positions Locus as the only platform capable of aggregating, analyzing, and reporting critical PFAS data in real-time. With three million records, we’ve reached an unprecedented capability for understanding and managing this global health threat.”
Locus Technologies’ multitenant SaaS platform enables individual organizations to securely manage and report their PFAS sampling data and compliance requirements while gaining broader insights from aggregated data. The company’s unique software architecture empowers clients to stay ahead of stringent regulatory frameworks, including emerging EU directives and global ESG reporting demands, while ensuring the absolute privacy of their proprietary information.
“Emerging research indicates the PFAS health crisis will be more significant than Asbestos, lead, and tobacco combined. Empowering organizations to effectively track and manage this data is imperative,” said Duplan. By leveraging the real-time analytical power of Locus, utilities, government agencies, and enterprises can proactively manage PFAS risks, streamline regulatory compliance, and safeguard public health and environmental ecosystems worldwide.
To learn more about Locus Technologies, please visit locustec.com.
About Locus Technologies Locus Technologies, the global environmental, social, governance (ESG), sustainability, and EHS compliance software leader, empowers companies of every size and industry to be credible with ESG reporting. From 1997, Locus pioneered enterprise software-as-a-service (SaaS) for EHS compliance, water management, and ESG credible reporting. Locus apps and software solutions improve business performance by strengthening risk management and EHS for organizations across industries and government agencies. Organizations ranging from medium-sized businesses to Fortune 500 enterprises, such as Sempra, Corteva, Chevron, DuPont, Chemours, San Jose Water Company, The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Port of Seattle, and Los Alamos National Laboratory, have selected Locus. Locus is headquartered in Mountain View, California. For further information regarding Locus and its commitment to excellence in SaaS solutions, please visit http://www.locustec.com or email info@locustec.com.
Media Contact: Brenda Mahedy Locus Technologies media@locustechnologies.net
COFACE SA: Combined Shareholders’ Meeting on Wednesday, May 14, 2025 at 02.00pm
Paris, April 9, 2025 – 17.45
COFACE SA’s shareholders are hereby informed that the Combined Shareholders’ Meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 14, 2025 at 02.00pm at the Group’s headquarters and registered office:
1 Place Costes et Bellonte
92270 Bois-Colombes – France
The notice of meeting containing the agenda and draft resolutions was published in the Bulletin des Annonces Légales Obligatoires (French Bulletin of Mandatory Legal Notices – BALO) No.42 on 7 April 2025 (announcement No. 2500820).
Shareholders may attend the meeting regardless of the number of shares they own, under the conditions described in the notice of meeting.
We advise the shareholders to:
To vote on the resolutions by post or online, using either the postal voting form or the Votaccess platform. They can also appoint the Chairman of the Shareholders’ Meeting to represent them.
To submit written questions by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt at: COFACE SA, for the attention of the Investors Relations department, 1 place Costes et Bellonte, 92270 Bois-Colombes, France or electronically to the following address: investors@coface.com on May 8, 2025, at the latest. To be taken into account, these questions must be accompanied by a book-entry certificate justifying the share ownership.
Q1-2025 results: 5 May 2025 (after market close) Annual General Shareholders’ Meeting: 14 May 2025 H1-2025 results: 31 July 2025 (after market close) 9M-2025 results: 3 November 2025 (after market close)
FINANCIAL INFORMATION This press release, as well as COFACE SA’s integral regulatory information, can be found on the Group’s website: http://www.coface.com/Investors
For regulated information on Alternative Performance Measures (APM), please refer to our Interim Financial Report for H1-2024 and our 2024 Universal Registration Document (see part 3.7 “Key financial performance indicators”).
Regulated documents posted by COFACE SA have been secured and authenticated with the blockchain technology by Wiztrust. You can check the authenticity on the websitewww.wiztrust.com.
COFACE: FOR TRADE As a global leading player in trade credit risk management for more than 75 years, Coface helps companies grow and navigate in an uncertain and volatile environment. Whatever their size, location or sector, Coface provides 100,000 clients across some 200 markets. with a full range of solutions: Trade Credit Insurance, Business Information, Debt Collection, Single Risk insurance, Surety Bonds, Factoring. Every day, Coface leverages its unique expertise and cutting-edge technology to make trade happen, in both domestic and export markets. In 2024, Coface employed ~5,236 people and registered a turnover of €1.84 billion.
COFACE SA is listed in Compartment A of Euronext Paris ISIN: FR0010667147 / Ticker: COFA
DISCLAIMER – Certain declarations featured in this press release may contain forecasts that notably relate to future events, trends, projects or targets. By nature, these forecasts include identified or unidentified risks and uncertainties, and may be affected by many factors likely to give rise to a significant discrepancy between the real results and those stated in these declarations. Please refer to chapter 5 “Main risk factors and their management within the Group” of the Coface Group’s 2024 Universal Registration Document filed with AMF on 3 April 2025 under the number D.25-0227 in order to obtain a description of certain major factors, risks and uncertainties likely to influence the Coface Group’s businesses. The Coface Group disclaims any intention or obligation to publish an update of these forecasts, or provide new information on future events or any other circumstance.
Capgemini expands strategic partnership with Google Cloud to revolutionize CX across industries with agentic AI
Paris, April 9, 2025 –Capgeminitoday announced a strategic agentic AI initiative with Google Cloud to transform customer experience (CX) into a key value driver for clients. Building on its existing partnership, Capgemini will create industry-specific agentic AI solutions designed to handle customer requests across all communication channels (web, social, phone etc.) and improve employee productivity. Underpinned by Google Cloud’s AI technology, Capgemini will develop bespoke solutions designed to enhance customer services with intelligent automation and deep customer insights, enabling organizations to deliver more personalized, efficient, and effective CX to elevate brand perception, increase loyalty, and drive revenue growth.
A recent report by the Capgemini Research Institute found that although customer service is considered strategically important, less than half of organizations feel prepared to integrate AI and generative AI into the function.1 Recognized as the Global Industry Solution Partner of the Year 2025 by Google Cloud, Capgemini will combine its deep industry expertise and technical capabilities to develop solutions powered by Google Agentspace and Customer Engagement Suite with Google AI. This will accelerate adoption of secure, trusted agentic AI capabilities that are interoperable with a client’s existing technology infrastructure and can support a variety of industry and regulatory needs. The agentic AI solutions will be designed to significantly optimize business processes and unlock commercial value by enhancing organizations’ own search capabilities, automating complex workflows, as well as understanding and proactively anticipating customer needs.
“Capgemini is entering the next phase of its strategic partnership with Google Cloud and this new collaboration focuses on driving revenue for our clients by elevating customer service to a strategic value driver in industries where CX is paramount,” said Fernando Alvarez, Chief Strategy and Development Officer and Group Executive Board Member at Capgemini. “The customer service function is undergoing a transformative shift as business leaders increasingly recognize its importance in unlocking commercial potential. Agentic systems can play a key role in this, and the future of customer service will require a strategic blend of human and virtual agents, enhanced by generative and agentic AI. By understanding the potential of agentic AI and the business realities of our clients, we’re expertly placed to maximize its value and deliver genuine impact.”
“Businesses require a combination of technical expertise and advanced technology to fully realize the benefits of agentic AI within their current IT infrastructure. Through Agentspace and our new Agent2Agent interoperability protocol, our partnership with Capgemini will provide clients with AI solutions that drive long-term value across industries,” said Kevin Ichhpurani, President, Global Partner Organization, Google Cloud.
Primarily focused on telco, retail, and financial services, the partnership is intended to expand into further industries such as life sciences and utilities, with a goal of accelerating business outcomes by enabling customer services transformation. This includes areas such as:
Improving productivity in telco: New solutions to optimize call routing and resolution in contact centers by leveraging conversational AI to improve intent and understanding, increase call containment and assist agents. Organizations can benefit from reduced handling time and improved first-call resolution rates, while human agents are freed-up to focus on higher value tasks. Capgemini’s research finds that around 9 in 10 organizations using gen AI are already seeing improved first contact resolution rates or expecting to see this benefit in the future.1
Personalizing CX in retail: AI agents to help better personalize shopping experiences by using AI to analyze customer data and provide tailored product recommendations, promotions, and support interactions across all channels (online, in-store, mobile).
Enhancing security in financial services Using Google Cloud’s AI, financial services clients can improve risk assessment and fraud detection with agents that analyze customer transactions and identify suspicious patterns, improving security and regulatory compliance.
Google Cloud’s new Agent2Agent interoperability protocol will enable AI agents to successfully communicate with one another, safely exchange information, and coordinate actions no matter which platform they are running on or built on top of. As agentic AI becomes more widely adopted, this protocol will ensure agent functionality across diverse and separate data sources and applications.
Google Cloud recognizes Capgemini as a trusted partner for driving clients’ large-scale transformation, with the company winning three Google Cloud Partner of the Year awards in 2025. The awards celebrate Capgemini’s expertise in creating compelling solutions that make an impact for joint clients worldwide:
Global Industry Solutions Partner of the Year
Global Industry Solutions Partner of the Year for Sustainability
Country Partner of the Year in Denmark
About Capgemini Capgemini is a global business and technology transformation partner, helping organizations to accelerate their dual transition to a digital and sustainable world, while creating tangible impact for enterprises and society. It is a responsible and diverse group of 340,000 team members in more than 50 countries. With its strong over 55-year heritage, Capgemini is trusted by its clients to unlock the value of technology to address the entire breadth of their business needs. It delivers end-to-end services and solutions leveraging strengths from strategy and design to engineering, all fueled by its market leading capabilities in AI, generative AI, cloud and data, combined with its deep industry expertise and partner ecosystem. The Group reported 2024 global revenues of €22.1 billion. Get The Future You Want | www.capgemini.com
1 “Unleashing the value of customer service: The transformative impact of Gen AI and Agentic AI”, Capgemini Research Institute, March 2025
MUNICH, Germany, April 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Solix DePIN, a pioneer in decentralized physical infrastructure networks, has secured $29.5 million in funding from Eclip Foundation. This investment will accelerate the development of Solix’s groundbreaking MODEL CONTEXT PROTOCOL (MCP) technology, which enables intelligent bandwidth sharing without affecting users’ internet experience.
Founded with the mission to transform how internet bandwidth is shared and monetized, Solix has created a platform where users can contribute their unused bandwidth and earn rewards through a simple browser extension. This approach addresses critical challenges in today’s internet landscape, including bandwidth inequality and inefficient resource allocation.
“We designed Solix with simplicity and accessibility as core principles,” said David Rodriguez, CEO of Solix DePIN. “By removing technical barriers to entry, we’re enabling anyone with an internet connection to participate in the decentralized economy and be rewarded for sharing resources they already have.”
The MODEL CONTEXT PROTOCOL at the heart of Solix’s technology represents a significant advancement in the DePIN space. This innovative protocol connects AI models to real-time contextual data about internet usage, allowing for dynamic, intelligent decision-making on bandwidth allocation. Unlike traditional bandwidth sharing solutions that operate on fixed rules, MCP ensures that users’ internet experience remains uncompromised.
Our MODEL CONTEXT PROTOCOL implementation is what truly sets Solix apart in the DePIN ecosystem,” explained Emily Richardson, Chief Technology Officer at Solix. “MCP allows for sophisticated real-time analysis of bandwidth availability, creating an optimal balance between sharing resources and maintaining exceptional user experience.”
The company’s user-friendly approach has driven impressive adoption metrics. Solix currently boasts over 100,000 active users across more than 63 countries, processing approximately 275 TB of data daily. These figures demonstrate both the robust infrastructure and growing demand for decentralized bandwidth solutions.
Eclip Foundation, known for backing transformative Web3 technologies, recognized Solix’s potential to reshape internet resource distribution. “Solix represents exactly the kind of innovation we aim to support – solutions that combine technical excellence with practical utility and broad market potential,” said James Wilson, Managing Partner at Eclip Foundation.
The $29.5 million investment will fund several key initiatives on Solix’s roadmap. These include enhancing the core technology, expanding global reach, and introducing advanced features such as smart bandwidth allocation and AI-powered network optimization. The company also plans to establish strategic partnerships with cloud service providers and content delivery networks to create broader use cases for its decentralized bandwidth marketplace.
As internet bandwidth demands continue to grow exponentially with the rise of AI, streaming services, and IoT devices, Solix’s decentralized approach offers a scalable and sustainable alternative to traditional bandwidth provisioning. The platform’s ability to dynamically adjust to network demands ensures optimal performance while maximizing rewards for contributors.
Participating in the Solix network is straightforward – users simply download and activate the Solix browser extension. Once running, the extension intelligently allocates a portion of the user’s unused bandwidth to the network, automatically earning them SLIX Points for their contribution.
With this significant funding round, Solix is positioned to lead the next wave of innovation in decentralized infrastructure, creating a more accessible, efficient, and equitable internet experience for users worldwide.
About Solix DePIN
Solix DePIN is a decentralized physical infrastructure network enabling users to share and monetize their excess bandwidth. As the first DePIN project implementing MODEL CONTEXT PROTOCOL (MCP), Solix creates a more accessible, efficient, and equitable internet experience. Solix is committed to building a user-centric sharing economy for digital resources.
HOUSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Phillips 66 (NYSE:PSX) (the “Company”) today responded to a letter released by Gregory J. Goff to Phillips 66 Shareholders. The Board of Phillips 66 has issued the following statement:
“Gregory Goff is clearly affiliated with Elliott Management. As of this morning, he remains featured as CEO of Amber Energy, an entity that Elliott has backed in its bid for Citgo, a Phillips 66 competitor. This important and obvious fact about a clear conflict of interest was never mentioned in Mr. Goff’s communication and is plainly misleading to shareholders. The notion he is an investor independent of Elliott is obviously false. This stunt reflects Elliott’s growing desperation to convince real investors to support its shortsighted, rushed breakup of Phillips 66. We will continue to engage with all investors on the facts and remain confident that those investors value the reliable $43 billion1 dollars of value we have returned through volatile market cycles.”
About Phillips 66
Phillips 66 (NYSE: PSX) is a leading integrated downstream energy provider that manufactures, transports and markets products that drive the global economy. The company’s portfolio includes Midstream, Chemicals, Refining, Marketing and Specialties, and Renewable Fuels businesses. Headquartered in Houston, Phillips 66 has employees around the globe who are committed to safely and reliably providing energy and improving lives while pursuing a lower-carbon future. For more information, visit phillips66.com or follow @Phillips66Co on LinkedIn.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws relating to Phillips 66’s operations, strategy and performance. Words such as “anticipated,” “committed,” “estimated,” “expected,” “planned,” “scheduled,” “targeted,” “believe,” “continue,” “intend,” “will,” “would,” “objective,” “goal,” “project,” “efforts,” “strategies” and similar expressions that convey the prospective nature of events or outcomes generally indicate forward-looking statements. However, the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements included in this news release are based on management’s expectations, estimates and projections as of the date they are made. These statements are not guarantees of future events or performance, and you should not unduly rely on them as they involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecast in such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements include: changes in governmental policies or laws that relate to our operations, including regulations that seek to limit or restrict refining, marketing and midstream operations or regulate profits, pricing, or taxation of our products or feedstocks, or other regulations that restrict feedstock imports or product exports; our ability to timely obtain or maintain permits necessary for projects; fluctuations in NGL, crude oil, refined petroleum, renewable fuels and natural gas prices, and refining, marketing and petrochemical margins; the effects of any widespread public health crisis and its negative impact on commercial activity and demand for refined petroleum or renewable fuels products; changes to worldwide government policies relating to renewable fuels and greenhouse gas emissions that adversely affect programs including the renewable fuel standards program, low carbon fuel standards and tax credits for renewable fuels; potential liability from pending or future litigation; liability for remedial actions, including removal and reclamation obligations under existing or future environmental regulations; unexpected changes in costs for constructing, modifying or operating our facilities; our ability to successfully complete, or any material delay in the completion of, any asset disposition, acquisition, shutdown or conversion that we have announced or may pursue, including receipt of any necessary regulatory approvals or permits related thereto; unexpected difficulties in manufacturing, refining or transporting our products; the level and success of drilling and production volumes around our midstream assets; risks and uncertainties with respect to the actions of actual or potential competitive suppliers and transporters of refined petroleum products, renewable fuels or specialty products; lack of, or disruptions in, adequate and reliable transportation for our products; failure to complete construction of capital projects on time or within budget; our ability to comply with governmental regulations or make capital expenditures to maintain compliance with laws; limited access to capital or significantly higher cost of capital related to illiquidity or uncertainty in the domestic or international financial markets, which may also impact our ability to repurchase shares and declare and pay dividends; potential disruption of our operations due to accidents, weather events, including as a result of climate change, acts of terrorism or cyberattacks; general domestic and international economic and political developments, including armed hostilities (such as the Russia-Ukraine war), expropriation of assets, and other diplomatic developments; international monetary conditions and exchange controls; changes in estimates or projections used to assess fair value of intangible assets, goodwill and property and equipment and/or strategic decisions with respect to our asset portfolio that cause impairment charges; investments required, or reduced demand for products, as a result of environmental rules and regulations; changes in tax, environmental and other laws and regulations (including alternative energy mandates); political and societal concerns about climate change that could result in changes to our business or increase expenditures, including litigation-related expenses; the operation, financing and distribution decisions of equity affiliates we do not control; and other economic, business, competitive and/or regulatory factors affecting Phillips 66’s businesses generally as set forth in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Phillips 66 is under no obligation (and expressly disclaims any such obligation) to update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Additional Information
On April 8, 2025, Phillips 66 filed a definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A (the “Proxy Statement”) and accompanying WHITE proxy card with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) in connection with its 2025 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the “2025 Annual Meeting”) and its solicitation of proxies for Phillips 66’s director nominees and for other matters to be voted on. This communication is not a substitute for the Proxy Statement or any other document that Phillips 66 has filed or may file with the SEC in connection with any solicitation by Phillips 66. PHILLIPS 66 SHAREHOLDERS ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT (AND ANY AMENDMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTS THERETO) AND ACCOMPANYING WHITE PROXY CARD AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT SOLICITATION MATERIALS FILED WITH THE SEC AS THEY CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Shareholders may obtain copies of the Proxy Statement, any amendments or supplements to the Proxy Statement and other documents (including the WHITE proxy card) filed by Phillips 66 with the SEC without charge from the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Copies of the documents filed by Phillips 66 with the SEC also may be obtained free of charge at Phillips 66’s investor relations website at https://investor.phillips66.com or upon written request sent to Phillips 66, 2331 CityWest Boulevard, Houston, TX 77042, Attention: Investor Relations.
Certain Information Regarding Participants
Phillips 66, its directors, its director nominees and certain of its executive officers and employees may be deemed to be participants in connection with the solicitation of proxies from Phillips 66 shareholders in connection with the matters to be considered at the 2025 Annual Meeting. Information regarding the names of such persons and their respective interests in Phillips 66, by securities holdings or otherwise, is available in the Proxy Statement, which was filed with the SEC on April 8, 2025, including in the sections captioned “Beneficial Ownership of Phillips 66 Securities” and “Appendix C: Supplemental Information Regarding Participants in the Solicitation.” To the extent that Phillips 66’s directors and executive officers who may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation have acquired or disposed of securities holdings since the applicable “as of” date disclosed in the Proxy Statement, such transactions have been or will be reflected on Statements of Changes in Ownership of Securities on Form 4 or Initial Statements of Beneficial Ownership of Securities on Form 3 filed with the SEC. These documents are or will be available free of charge at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
1 Shareholder distribution through dividends paid on common stock and repurchases of common stock.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3
Press release
Now is the time to generate growth together with India
£400m of trade and investment wins from UK-India Economic and Financial Dialogue set to boost the British economy.
£400m of trade and investment wins set to boost the British economy and deliver economic growth and security for working people.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announces joint statement unlocking cooperation across a range of business sectors.
Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds and Minister Sitharaman bring together key business leaders from both the UK and India to drive economic growth.
£400m of trade and investment wins are set to boost the British economy and deliver economic growth and security for working people as the government vows to back British business through uncertain global times.
Today (Wednesday 09 April), the Chancellor took part in the 13th UK-India Economic and Financial Dialogue (EFD), marking a significant moment in unlocking opportunities as the two countries look to strengthen economic ties and secure a Free Trade Agreement and Bilateral Investment Treaty.
Rachel Reeves, Chancellor of the Exchequer, said:
In a changing world, it is imperative we go further and faster to kickstart economic growth. We have listened to British businesses, which is why we’re negotiating trade deals with countries across the world, including India, so we can support them and put more money in people’s pockets as part of our Plan for Change.
Our relationship with India is longstanding and broad and I am delighted with the progress made throughout this dialogue to develop it further.
Today’s EFD was Chancellor Reeves’ first with India. It saw the signing of a joint statement unlocking cooperation across a range of business sectors, including defence, financial services, education and development, and strengthened governmental collaboration across growth, economic resilience and international financial issues.
The government is working to make Britain the best country in the world to do business, already bringing in more stability, offering an open trading economy and creating the right conditions for investment.
At the London Stock Exchange today, the Chancellor and her Indian counterpart set out plans to generate growth, improve our Financial Services ties and deepen policy cooperation on the UK Industrial Strategy, tax, sustainable finance and illicit finance.
The total commercial package from this dialogue is made up of new announcements worth £128m in export deals and investments, as well as recent deals worth £271m. This includes:
Paytm, India’s largest digital payment app, announced plans to invest in the UK to accelerate access to affordable digital payments and credit for small businesses.
Barclays Bank PLC India announced on 18 March a further capital injection of over £210M into its Indian operations, affirming its long-term commitment to India. This capital investment will grow its businesses across the Investment and Private Banking in India.
HSBC Bank will expand its presence from the current 14 cities to 34 cities in India. This significant expansion will enable the bank to cover approximately 95% of India’s wealth market, reinforcing their commitment to India.
Standard Chartered Bank today announced that it has shifted to larger office premises at GIFT City, reinforcing its long-term commitment to India’s premier international financial services hub.
Mphasis, an Indian tech business, are setting up a quantum centre of excellence in London and exploring an office in Nottingham which will support 100 jobs.
British International Investment Plc (BII) is committing $10m to the agritech start up, Grow Indigo, to pilot an innovative carbon credit programme to promote regenerative agricultural practices in India.
WNS, a global digital-led business transformation services company founded in India with a $2.7bn market cap, will expand their London HQ presence with a new office and open a state-of-the-art AI design hub to expand the UK’s AI and digital talent pool to drive growth and create jobs.
Revolut announced that they are gearing up for launch in India later this year, following authorisation this week from Reserve Bank of India.
UK firm Wise announces plans to open a new office in Hyderabad, India as part of broader mission to transform the trillion-pound international money movement market.
Prudential’s announcement of launching their first fully owned global services hub in Bengaluru and third joint venture in India establishing a standalone health insurance business.
British International Investment invest $15m investment in vehicle dedicated to investing in India based on inclusion-focused early-stage companies.
The UK welcomes India paving the way to allow Indian companies to list internationally and exploring listing at the London Stock Exchange. The India-UK Financial Partnership published its report ‘Catalysing Bilateral Growth: Connecting India and the UK’s Equity Capital Markets report’. The report aims to lay the foundation for advancing capital account connectivity and strengthening confidence in both markets and will be presented following the EFD.
Coventry University announced today that it is set to become the first English university to be granted a licence to open a campus in India, as UK universities are being granted licences to open a campus in India’s new GIFT city. And the London School of Economics announced that Tata Trusts is continuing its enduring partnership with LSE by awarding a Corpus Grant to support scholarships for Indian students at the School.
Agreement for both sides to continue excellent collaboration as co-chairs of the G20’s Framework Working Group and to work closely together to promote discussion and build consensus around responses to risks to the global macroeconomic outlook.
New ambitions set for joint investments in green enterprises, tech start-ups and climate adaptation building on the success of the UK-India Green Growth Equity Fund (GGEF).
Secretary of State for Business and Trade Jonathan Reynolds and Minister Sitharaman also today hosted a business roundtable, bringing together key leaders from the financial and professional business services sectors including Tide, HSBC, Aviva, Vodafone, WNS, and Mizuho International. Attendees recognised the strength of the economic relationship between the UK and India, as well as the opportunity for closer collaboration – including through an ambitious trade deal.
Areas for collaboration on defence were also identified, as both sides looked forward to the finalisation of the India-UK Defence Industrial Roadmap, set to strengthen ties between industrial sectors and integrate supply chains.
Secretary of State for Business and Trade Jonathan Reynolds said:
I was delighted to meet with Minister Sitharaman, hear from businesses, and discuss how we can strengthen the strong economic bonds between our two nations.
Both the UK and India are committed to delivering economic growth and giving businesses the confidence and stability they need to expand.
That is why we are continuing to negotiate towards an ambitious trade deal that unlocks opportunities both at home and abroad for British businesses and supports our Plan for Change.
The UK and India have strong economic, cultural, and education links, with India being a key trading partner for the UK with over £40bn worth of UK-India trade last year alone. The UK’s long-standing programme of EFDs with India is the critical forum to deliver continuous economic gains over time.
The EFD follows a recent visit to Delhi by Jonathan Reynolds, the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, which relaunched UK-India trade negotiations.
Keshav R. Murugesh, Group CEO, WNS said:
The UK and India stand as natural partners, and this re-energized trade and investment relationship marks a pivotal stride in our already strong alliance. The potential before us is immense. By formalizing our collaboration in pioneering fields like AI, we will not only fuel innovation and generate high-skilled jobs in both our nations, but also solidify our joint leadership in this transformative era. This is indeed a thrilling chapter for the UK-India partnership.
Bill Winters, Group Chief Executive, Standard Chartered said:
In the face of global developments, it is imperative that we think creatively and act in partnership. The UK and India’s focus on strengthening financial ties and deepening cooperation between our governments, regulators, industry leaders and experts, plays an important role in driving economic progress, setting global benchmarks for stability and innovation and paving the way for greater trade and investment in both countries.
The Rt Hon The Lord Mayor of London, Alderman Alastair King,
We had a highly constructive discussion with Hon. Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and The Rt. Hon. Jonathan Reynolds, joined by leaders from across the financial services sector. There is a strong, shared commitment to deepen our economic partnership and drive greater prosperity—particularly in key areas such as green finance, infrastructure investment, and fintech.
Global trade is entering a new era, where strategic alliances and trade agreements are more crucial than ever. As we look ahead to the UK-India Economic and Financial Dialogue and continue FTA negotiations, our focus remains on sustaining momentum and delivering tangible outcomes in the months to come.”
David Schwimmer, CEO, LSEG said:
LSEG is honoured to host the 13th UK-India Economic and Financial Dialogue at the London Stock Exchange as part of our continued support for initiatives that promote collaboration and connectivity between UK and Indian financial markets. Through deepened partnership, the governments and regulators from both countries can help to build an environment which delivers real benefits to their financial markets and economies.
LONDON, April 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As decentralized finance (DeFi) continues to develop, 2025 is expected to introduce a wave of innovation focused on user empowerment, smart automation, and deeper integration across blockchain ecosystems. Backed by firms such as VC VentureX, a prominent Web3 venture capital firm, new platforms are emerging that aim to make DeFi more accessible and reward-driven.
AI-Powered Automation in DeFi
One of the most notable trends in 2025 is the growing use of AI to enhance automation in DeFi platforms. By introducing smart tools for trading, risk management, and yield optimization, AI is helping users navigate complex protocols more easily. These systems can react in real-time to market conditions, reducing the need for manual intervention and increasing efficiency for both new and seasoned participants.
MEV-Based Yield Opportunities Gain Traction
Maximal Extractable Value (MEV) is also receiving renewed attention as a powerful source of yield. Platforms like ZENMEV, which recently received a $140 million strategic investment from VC VentureX, are leveraging MEV events—such as arbitrage and transaction reordering—to benefit users directly.
ZENMEV’s Zenbots Shield engine identifies and captures MEV opportunities, redistributing the profits to stakers and liquidity providers through transparent and automated processes. This method contrasts with older models that allowed MEV gains to be dominated by a handful of sophisticated actors. VC VentureX’s support signals strong confidence in this MEV-sharing approach and its potential to transform the DeFi rewards landscape.
Cross-Chain Integration Accelerates
Another key trend for 2025 is the expansion of DeFi protocols across multiple blockchains. As interoperability tools mature, users can more easily move assets between ecosystems to access broader financial opportunities. ZENMEV plans to expand its MEV infrastructure to additional chains, enabling users to benefit from a wider range of staking and yield options.
Toward a Regulation-Ready Future
The industry is also seeing more platforms prepare for potential regulation by building features such as identity verification, auditing systems, and transaction reporting. These changes reflect a growing focus on trust, security, and scalability. ZENMEV and other VC VentureX portfolio companies are aligning with industry standards while continuing to prioritize decentralization and user rewards.
Simplified Interfaces for Mainstream Access
Improved user experience is another trend gaining momentum. DeFi platforms are simplifying dashboards, staking processes, and earnings reports to help users better understand where their profits come from. ZENMEV, for instance, is working on UI improvements that make it easier to track MEV-based rewards and make informed decisions in real time.
Looking Ahead
With trends like MEV-based yield distribution, AI-powered tools, and cross-chain connectivity shaping the market, DeFi in 2025 is on a path toward wider participation and smarter reward systems. VC VentureX’s investment in forward-thinking platforms like ZENMEV highlights a broader shift toward sustainable and user-focused innovation in decentralized finance.
ZENMEV is an innovative DeFi platform that transforms Maximal Extractable Value (MEV) opportunities into user rewards. Using its proprietary Zenbots Shield engine, ZENMEV captures MEV events such as arbitrage and reordering, redistributing profits to stakers and liquidity providers. The platform is focused on transparency, scalability, and delivering real yield to the broader DeFi community.
RESTON, Va., April 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Science Applications International Corp. (NASDAQ: SAIC), a premier mission integrator driving our nation’s digital transformation across the defense, space, civilian and intelligence markets, is pleased to announce the appointment of Kathleen McCarthy as the company’s new Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, effective May 12, 2025.
In this role, McCarthy will report directly to Chief Executive Officer Toni Townes-Whitley and will spearhead all human resources initiatives, employee engagement strategies and talent acquisition operations at SAIC. She will focus on evolving the workforce strategy to deliver the brightest talent, with the highest capabilities to our government customers to help them achieve their missions.
“Kathleen brings a great depth of experience in cultivating and inspiring exceptional talent which is pivotal in driving both substantial business value and innovation,” said Toni Townes-Whitley, CEO of SAIC. “Her proven track record of leadership and strategic foresight position her well to further enhance our employee engagement initiatives and lead our efforts in upskilling and developing critical skills within our workforce. I am delighted to welcome Kathleen to SAIC, where her insights and expertise will be invaluable to ensuring we continue to meet the evolving needs of our industry.”
McCarthy joins SAIC from GE Aerospace, where she served as Chief Human Resources Officer for the Defense & Systems business. Prior to that, she was Chief Human Resources Officer for GE Aviation and earlier in her GE tenure, she served as Chief Human Resources Officer of GE Digital, leading the business to profitability and defining its vision around the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT).
Her career also includes executive roles at American Express as SVP and Chief Talent Officer, where she led global workforce strategy, and at Thomson Reuters where she led talent management and acquisition. McCarthy began her career at Bain & Company and McKinsey & Company, later heading HR at the tech startup eFinanceWorks.
Recognized as a leader in her field, McCarthy is a member of World 50, G100, and The Learning Forum’s Executive Council Network. She has also served on the advisory board for CEB Talent Management, now part of Gartner for HR, and is a frequent speaker on talent development and HR best practices.
About SAIC SAIC is a premier Fortune 500® mission integrator focused on advancing the power of technology and innovation to serve and protect our world. Our robust portfolio of offerings across the defense, space, civilian and intelligence markets includes secure high-end solutions in mission IT, enterprise IT, engineering services and professional services. We integrate emerging technology, rapidly and securely, into mission critical operations that modernize and enable critical national imperatives.
We are approximately 24,000 strong; driven by mission, united by purpose, and inspired by opportunities. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, SAIC has annual revenues of approximately $7.4 billion. For more information, visit saic.com. For ongoing news, please visit our newsroom.
Samsung Electronics UK is excited to announce a range of exclusive Easter offers across its premium product categories. From cutting-edge Neo QLED and OLED TVs to innovative home appliances and state-of-the-art monitors, Samsung is offering unbeatable discounts and bundles to enhance your home entertainment and lifestyle experience.
Offers will be available via Samsung.com and at Samsung KX:
TV & Monitors Offers:
Neo QLED & OLED TVs: Enjoy up to 20% off selected Neo QLED and OLED TVs[1]
The Frame TVs: Get up to 20% off selected The Frame TVs[1]
Monitors: Save up to £200 on selected Monitors[2]
Monitors: Save up to 20% on selected Monitors with code EASTER[3]
Home Appliances Offers:
Home Appliances Bundle: Save 20% when you buy 3 selected home appliances together, or 15% when you buy 2[4]
Washing Machine & Tumble Dryer Bundle: Save 15% when you buy a selected washing machine and tumble dryer together[4]
Cooking Appliances: Save up to £200 on selected cooking appliances and get 15% off when you buy a selected oven and hob together[4]
Refrigeration: Save up to £500 on selected fridge freezers and get up to £200 off when you recycle your old one for free[5]
Vacuum Cleaners: Save up to £150 on selected vacuum cleaners and get up to £200 off when you recycle your old one for free[5]
Mobile Offers:
Galaxy Watch, Buds3, or Buds3 Pro: Get free Galaxy Buds3 Pro when you buy the Galaxy S25 Ultra[6]
Galaxy Tab S10 Series: Save £150 – £200 on the Galaxy Tab S10 series6 and get £150 off when you trade in any tablet or Android smartphone.[7]Galaxy Watch Ultra: Get free Galaxy Buds3 Pro when you buy the Galaxy Watch Ultra[8]
Galaxy Watch7: Get a guaranteed £50 off the Watch7 when you trade in any smartwatch in any condition[9]
Galaxy Ring: Save £80 on the Galaxy Ring with code SPRINGSAVE[10]
Galaxy Tab S10 FE series: Claim a Slim Keyboard Cover worth £169 when you buy the Galaxy S10 FE or S10 FE+ by 13/05/2025[11]
Galaxy Tab S10 FE series: Get a guaranteed £100 off the Galaxy S10 FE series when you trade in any tablet or Android smartphone in any condition by 13.05.25[12]
Computing Offers:
Galaxy Book5 Series: Get a free Galaxy Tab S6 Lite when you buy from the Galaxy Book5 series[13]
Galaxy Book4 Edge: Save £100 – £200 when you buy the Galaxy Book4 Edge[14]
Don’t miss out on these incredible Easter offers from Samsung UK! Visit samsung.com/uk/offers to explore the full range of products and take advantage of these limited-time deals.
[1]Use code EASTERTV at checkout on samsung.com/uk by April 22, 2025. While stocks last.
[2]Purchase from Samsung.com/uk by 22.04.25
[3]Purchase from Samsung.com/uk by 22.04.25. Enter code at checkout. Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer.
[4]Purchase from samsung.com/uk by April 29, 2025. Discount applied automatically at checkout when two or more qualifying products are in the basket. Excludes all vacuum cleaners, microwaves, and accessories. Not in conjunction with any other offer. While stocks last.
[5]Purchase from samsung.com/uk by April 29, 2025. Customers must apply the Trade Up discount on the product page before checking out. Recycled products are non-returnable and have zero value. You must make sure it is ready for collection at the same time we deliver your new product. We reserve the right to refuse the delivery if you fail to do so. You will be required to pay a surcharge equal to the amount of the discount you received, if you do not recycle or have your product ready for recycling. Offer cannot be combined with multi-buy promotions for Home Appliances. Each household may only recycle one of each type of product and will receive only one Trade Up discount for each product type recycled. The Trade Up discount is an incentive to recycle it is not a Trade In value for the recycled product.
[6]Purchase from Samsung.com by 15.04.25. Free Buds3 Pro automatically added at basket. Colour and size assigned at random and could differ from imagery. Product might ship separately.
[7]Purchase from Samsung.com by 13.05.25. £150 value based on any tablet or Android smartphone, in any condition. Charges apply if you don’t send us your Trade In device. T&Cs apply.
[8] Purchase from Samsung.com by 22.04.25. Free Buds3 automatically added at basket. Colour and size assigned at random and could differ from imagery. Product might ship separately.
[9]Purchase from Samsung.com by 22.04.25. £50 value based on any smartwatch in any condition. £100 value based on any smartwatch in any condition. Values can vary by model and condition of Trade In device, and on purchases of exclusive colour devices. Charges apply if you fail to send us your Trade In device. T&Cs apply.
[10]Purchase from Samsung.com by 22.04.2025. Apply code at checkout to redeem. Voucher codes cannot be combined with any other offer.”
[11]Purchase a Samsung Galaxy Tab S10 FE or Tab S10 FE+ device by 13/05/2025. Claim an AI Book Cover Keyboard Slim in Black by visiting www.samsungoffers.claims/TabS10FELaunchOffer within 30 days of purchase. UK/ROI. 18+ only.
[12]Purchase from Samsung.com by 13.05.25. £100 value based on any tablet or android smartphone, in any condition. Charges apply if you don’t send your Trade In device. T&Cs apply.
[13]Purchase from samsung.com by April 29, 2025. Free Tab S6 Lite (Model SM-P620NZAAEUB) will be added automatically in the basket. Items may be delivered separately. While stock lasts.
[14]Purchase from Samsung.com by 29.04.25
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
The Flute is one of Canberra’s French-style cafes. Image: VisitCanberra
If the 2024 Olympic Games have you wishing you were in Paris enjoying everything France has to offer, you’re not alone. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to get your French fix here in Canberra!
From visiting a delicious French café, to pretending you’re cycling in the Tour de France, find some French inspiration right here.
Visit a French café
Canberra is home to many French cafes that will serve you up a French macaroon, eclair and more! Dive headfirst into sweet treats from the following venues:
Dine at a French Restaurant
Feeling a bit fancy? Enjoy various French meals and dishes at one of Canberra’s French-inspired restaurants. You may still be in Canberra but your taste buds will take a trip to France.
Learn French
Bonjour, au revoir, merci. Did you know over 30 per cent of English words come from the French language? Even if you aren’t planning a trip to France, learning a new language can challenge your mind and even enhance your memory and problem-solving skills.
Alliance Francaise has a French course for all levels and ages. You can book for a one-on-one class, young learners or adult classes all with different levels and experiences.
Canberra Institute of Technology also provides French language courses and will teach you speaking, listening, reading and writing. You’ll learn the basics of French as well as appropriate sociocultural knowledge and sensitivity.
Head to a French art exhibition
Gauguin’s World: Tōna Iho, Tōna Ao is on display at the National Gallery of Australia from 29 June 2024 until 7 October 2024. Explore French Post-Impressionist Paul Gauguin’s art and controversial legacy through talks, programs, films and his collection of works, plus artwork from contemporary artists from the Pacific.
The Alliance Francaise also has a gallery of its own. French, Francophiles and Australian artists alike are invited to display their work on the Alliance’s exhibition rooms.
Enrol in a French cooking class
Learn to whip up delicious French cuisine in the comfort of your own home. You can learn online or in person and wow your friends and family at your next dinner party.
The French Cooking Academy allows you to boost your kitchen skills right at home. You’ll learn about iconic French flavours, authentic recipes and upskill your cooking.
Make your own Tour de France
The Tour de France is iconic in France and would be a great way to see the country, but unfortunately in Canberra you need to watch from afar. Instead, why not create your own Tour de France right here and explore Canberra by bike? There are many bike paths throughout the city with tracks available for beginners all the way to advanced cyclists.
Catch Olympic fever at the AIS
No Paris? No problem. Head over to the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) Arena for the full Olympic experience. The AIS will host two watch parties for the Olympic Games, where visitors are invited to relax on a bean bag and watch the Games on the big screens. You can also head along to the AIS Visitor Centre to watch the Channel 9 broadcast of the Games. It will be screening until 11 September.
PALO ALTO, Calif., April 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Enterprises face an emerging challenge: how to maintain control over sensitive data as it traverses data estates, domains, and systems without violating regulatory policies or disrupting operations. At Google Cloud Next 2025, Striim is showcasing how Sentinel AI and Sherlock AI—two governance AI agents powered by Google Cloud’s Vertex AI platform—help organizations detect, tag, and safeguard sensitive data in motion, reducing exposure risks, avoiding penalties and reputational damage, and supporting compliance in a continuous, ongoing manner.
Before businesses can manage sensitive data effectively, they need visibility into where the data resides. Sherlock AI provides transparency by identifying sensitive data within datasets prior to sharing or moving the data through integration or streaming pipelines in enterprise data stores as well as third-party-managed databases and SaaS environments. This helps organizations assess potential risks and apply the appropriate governance measures proactively.
“Smart AI and Analytics require data integration and sharing. Data governance starts with knowing where your sensitive information is,” said Alok Pareek, co-founder and Executive Vice President of Engineering and Products at Striim. “The new AI-based Sherlock agent eliminates blind spots by discovering sensitive data prior to data sharing or movement, helping businesses reduce risk before it ever becomes a problem. But since data doesn’t stay in one place, Striim’s Sentinel AI agent complements Sherlock by protecting sensitive information as it moves through enterprise data pipelines in real time.”
Once data is in motion, Sentinel AI continuously analyzes live data streams to detect and protect sensitive information as it moves—automating encryption, masking, and compliance enforcement in real time. Using Google Cloud’s Vertex AI, it detects sensitive data anywhere in the pipeline events, even if misplaced or mislabeled—something rules-based controls can easily miss. Therefore, it automatically prevents exposure and helps businesses meet GDPR, CCPA, and HIPAA-related data governance requirements without adding complexity.
With Sherlock AI and Sentinel AI, Striim is giving businesses the speed, safety, and accuracy they need to secure their data pipelines in real time. These AI-powered agents work together to proactively mitigate risk, helping organizations stay compliant and in control of their data.
To see Striim 5.0 in action, visit Striim at booth #3067 at Google Cloud Next in Las Vegas from April 9-11.
ABOUT STRIIM, INC. Striim pioneers real-time intelligence for AI by unifying data across clouds, applications, and databases via a fully managed, SaaS-based platform. Striim’s platform, optimized for modern cloud data warehouses, transforms relational and unstructured data into AI-ready insights instantly with advanced analytics and ML frameworks, enabling swift business action. Striim leverages its expertise in real-time data integration, streaming analytics, and database replication, including industry-leading Oracle and Microsoft CDC technology, to achieve sub-second latency in processing over 100 billion daily events for ML analytics and proactive decision-making. To learn more, visit www.striim.com.
Media Contact: Dianna Spring, Vice President of Marketing at Striim Phone: (650) 241-0680 ext. 354 Email: press@striim.com
CHICAGO, April 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — VelocityEHS®, the global leader in EHS & ESG software solutions, is proud to announce its recognition as a 2025 USA TODAY Top Workplaces winner. This prestigious award, based entirely on employee feedback collected through the Energage Workplace Survey, highlights VelocityEHS’s dedication to fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and employee well-being.
“At VelocityEHS, our people are the driving force behind our success,” said Rachel Kaiser, SVP and Chief People Officer at VelocityEHS. “Being recognized as a USA TODAY Top Workplace affirms our commitment to fostering an environment where employees feel empowered to make a meaningful impact every day.”
More than 42,000 organizations were invited to participate in the Top Workplaces USA survey, which recognizes organizations with 150 or more employees that have established outstanding workplace cultures. Winners are selected solely based on employee feedback gathered through Energage’s employee engagement survey, which measures core statements including benefits and pay, feelings of respect and support, opportunities for growth and development, empowerment to execute, overall engagement, and more.
“Earning a Top Workplaces award is a true mark of distinction because it comes directly from employees,” said Eric Rubino, CEO of Energage. “In today’s competitive landscape, fostering a workplace where employees feel heard and valued is essential. Top Workplaces achieve this, and the benefits are immeasurable.”
Relied on by over 10 million users worldwide, VelocityEHS is the global leader in true SaaS enterprise EHS & ESG technology. The VelocityEHS Accelerate® Platform sets the industry standard, delivering best-in-class software solutions for Safety, Ergonomics, Chemical Management, and Operational Risk. Additionally, VelocityEHS offers world-class applications for Contractor Safety & Permit to Work, Environmental Compliance, and ESG.
The VelocityEHS team boasts unparalleled industry expertise, with more certified professionals in health, safety, industrial hygiene, ergonomics, sustainability, AI, and machine learning than any other EHS software provider. Recognized as a Leader in the Verdantix 2025 Green Quadrant Analysis, VelocityEHS continues to drive innovation and thought leadership in the EHS industry. The company’s stringent security protocols, including SOC 2 Type II attestation, ensure the highest levels of privacy and data protection.
Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, VelocityEHS has additional locations in Ann Arbor, Michigan; Tampa, Florida; Oakville, Ontario; London, England; Perth, Australia; and Cork, Ireland. For more information, visit www.EHS.com.
About Energage
Making the world a better place to work—together.™ Energage is a purpose-driven company that helps organizations transform employee feedback into actionable insights and credible employer recognition through Top Workplaces. Backed by 18 years of culture research and insights from 27 million employees across 70,000 organizations, Energage provides the industry’s most accurate competitive benchmarking. With patented analytics and expert guidance, Energage enables companies to foster engaged workplaces and gain recognition for their commitment to culture.
For more information or to nominate your organization, visit energage.com or topworkplaces.com.
Media Contact Jennifer Sinkwitts jsinkwitts@ehs.com
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, April 9 — The 137th edition of the China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, is scheduled to take place from April 15 to May 5 in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou, with some 31,000 participating firms, the China Foreign Trade Center said on Wednesday.
The total exhibition area will span 1.55 million square meters with about 74,000 booths, including nearly 73,000 for exports and about 1,600 for imports.
This fair will be divided into three phases: the first will focus on advanced manufacturing, the second on quality home furnishings, and the third on products that promote a better quality of life, involving 172 product zones.
The number of participating firms is up by nearly 900 compared with the previous fair.
For the first time, a special zone for service robots will be added in the first phase to focus on the latest achievements of China’s AI development.
Established in 1957, the Canton Fair is held twice a year in Guangzhou. It is the longest-running of several comprehensive international trade events in China, and has been hailed as the barometer of China’s foreign trade.