Category: Artificial Intelligence

MIL-OSI: Bitdeer Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2024 Earnings Conference Call for February 25, 2025
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

SINGAPORE, Feb. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitdeer Technologies Group (NASDAQ: BTDR) (“Bitdeer” or the “Company”), a world-leading technology company for blockchain and high-performance computing, today announced that it has scheduled its fourth quarter and full year 2024 earnings conference call and webcast for Tuesday, February 25, 2025 at 8:00 AM EST. During the call, Bitdeer management will discuss the preliminary and unaudited financial and operational results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2024, followed by a question-and-answer session.

Bitdeer will release its fourth quarter and full year 2024 preliminary and unaudited results before the call at approximately 7:00 AM EST on February 25, 2025. A copy of the earnings release will be available on the Company’s Investor Relations website at https://ir.bitdeer.com.

Conference Call Information:
- Date: February 25, 2025
- Time: 8:00 AM EST / 9:00 PM SGT
- Participant Call Links:
  - Live Webcast: Link
  - Participant Call Registration: Link
Participants wishing to join the conference call by phone should register using the Participant Call Registration link provided above. After completing the registration, the participants will receive an email with the necessary details to access the call including dial-in number, passcode, and PIN. To ensure a timely start, the Company encourages all callers to connect about 5 minutes before the scheduled time.

A live and archived webcast of the conference call will be available on the Investors section of Bitdeer’s website at https://ir.bitdeer.com.

About Bitdeer Technologies Group

Bitdeer is a world-leading technology company for blockchain and high-performance computing. Bitdeer is committed to providing comprehensive computing solutions for its customers. The Company handles complex processes involved in computing such as equipment procurement, transport logistics, datacenter design and construction, equipment management, and daily operations. The Company also offers advanced cloud capabilities to customers with high demand for artificial intelligence. Headquartered in Singapore, Bitdeer has deployed datacenters in the United States, Norway, and Bhutan. To learn more, visit https://ir.bitdeer.com/ or follow Bitdeer on X @ BitdeerOfficial and LinkedIn @ Bitdeer Group.

Investors and others should note that Bitdeer may announce material information using its website and/or on its accounts on social media platforms, including X, formerly known as Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Therefore, Bitdeer encourages investors and others to review the information it posts on the social media and other communication channels listed on its website.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release about future expectations, plans, and prospects, as well as any other statements regarding matters that are not historical facts, may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words “anticipate,” “look forward to,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including factors discussed in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in Bitdeer’s annual report on Form 20-F, as well as discussions of potential risks, uncertainties, and other important factors in Bitdeer’s subsequent filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof. Bitdeer specifically disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether due to new information, future events, or otherwise. Readers should not rely upon the information on this page as current or accurate after its publication date.

For investor and media inquiries, please contact:

Investor Relations
Orange Group
Yujia Zhai
bitdeerIR@orangegroupadvisors.com

Public Relations
BlocksBridge Consulting
Nishant Sharma
bitdeer@blocksbridge.com

The MIL Network –
February 12, 2025
MIL-OSI: Delinea Enhances Enterprise Security by Giving Greater Visibility and Control Over All User Identities

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Delinea, a pioneering provider of solutions for securing human and non-human identities through centralized authorization, has introduced new capabilities on its leading cloud-native platform, including credential and password support for workforce and business users, intelligent identity lifecycle management and behavioral analytics spanning all identity types. These new features will enable enterprises to comprehensively manage the full identity lifecycle across all users from any access point while automating management and entitlements as users evolve. Additionally, with the new Delinea Platform App, the power of the platform is now available on iOS and Android devices, enabling administrators to manage access from anywhere.

Identity has become a critical pillar of cybersecurity strategies, with over half of organizations allocating 20% or more of their IT budget to identity and access management technology and processes, according to recent Delinea research. As identity-based attacks continue to surge, the latest enhancements to the Delinea platform are aimed at helping enterprises create an all-encompassing security environment to make it easier to manage all identities, enforce access policies, and respond to security threats.

“The complexity of managing digital identities is only increasing, and organizations must overcome mounting challenges related to security visibility, access control, and automation,” said Jeremy Weiss, executive security strategist, GSSO at CDW. “The new additions to the Delinea Platform will enable our customers to address these challenges head-on with agile, intuitive, and scalable solutions that strengthen security and improve organizational efficiency.”

Increase visibility with Delinea Credential Manager
Delinea Credential Manager simplifies and secures credentials while providing IT administrators and security leaders with comprehensive visibility and control over access for every identity. The enterprise-grade vault reduces risk, boosts security policy adoption with a simplified experience, and ensures seamless user access across any device, anywhere. Administrators gain centralized oversight of all credentials and user activity across the entire workforce, while business users benefit from a user-friendly interface that makes credential access both frictionless and secure.

Administrators also gain real-time visibility into all identities and can simplify credential management, minimizing shadow IT and credential fatigue. Unified access controls remove vulnerabilities business users present from disjointed credential use, improving productivity while maintaining strict security protocols.

Intelligently automate access provisioning with Identity Lifecycle Management
Identity Lifecycle Management (ILM) provides agile, centralized control over all identities, making it easy to automate joiner-mover-leaver (JML) processes and reduce the risk of overprovisioned or orphaned accounts. With the average onboarding process taking over four days, ILM drastically reduces the manual workload, providing efficient, secure, and auditable identity provisioning and de-provisioning across the organization. IT and security teams can use ILM to reduce administrative overhead, enforce security protocols, and automate key workflows that improve both efficiency and compliance.

Reduce risk with Platform Analytics
The Platform Analytics feature empowers IT and security teams to stay one step ahead of potential threats by continuously monitoring and analyzing users’ digital behaviors. By establishing a baseline for each user’s behavior, Platform Analytics detects deviations and automatically triggers customized actions to address abnormal actions in real-time.

Anywhere, Anytime Access with Delinea Platform App
The Delinea Platform App offers administrators full visibility and control over their organization’s identity security environment, no matter where they are. With this secure mobile app, administrators can monitor and manage all identities, view behavior insights, configure security workflows, and respond to access requests, ensuring privileged access is continuously monitored and protected.

“Enterprises today are facing a different kind of identity crisis in the age of AI, as they must now contend with an explosion of human and non-human identities to manage and provision,” said Phil Calvin, Chief Product Officer at Delinea. “In adding these new capabilities and mobile app to the Delinea Platform, we’re enabling our customers to be more agile. We’re constantly innovating to make it even easier to secure all identities, prevent unauthorized access to sensitive data, and streamline the management of user credentials, all while minimizing user friction.”

To learn more about the Delinea Platform, visit: https://delinea.com/products

About Delinea
Delinea is a pioneer in securing identities through centralized authorization, making organizations more secure by seamlessly governing their interactions across the modern enterprise. Delinea allows organizations to apply context and intelligence throughout the identity lifecycle across cloud and traditional infrastructure, data, and SaaS applications to eliminate identity-related threats. With intelligent authorization, Delinea provides the only platform that enables you to discover all identities, assign appropriate access levels, detect irregularities, and immediately respond to identity threats in real-time. Delinea accelerates your teams’ adoption by deploying in weeks, not months, and makes them more productive by requiring 90% fewer resources to manage than the nearest competitor. With a guaranteed 99.995% uptime, the Delinea Platform is the most reliable identity security solution available. Learn more about Delinea on delinea.com, LinkedIn, X, and YouTube.

Media Contact
Justin Ordman
Corporate Communications Director
justin.ordman@delinea.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d824fd94-e074-4f61-a7ab-3951dbbc0d72

The MIL Network –

February 12, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Government ramps up efforts to end HIV transmissions in England
Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

Over 20,000 self-testing and self-sampling kits will be made available to help end HIV transmissions by the end of the decade.
Public health campaign to end HIV transmissions in England by 2030 given £1.5 million fund from government

Funding will increase testing, reduce stigma, tackle health disparities and raise awareness

The Prime Minister became the first serving G7 leader to have an HIV test on camera

Over 20,000 self-testing and self-sampling kits will be made available to help end HIV transmissions by the end of the decade.

The packs are part of a public health campaign to end the virus transmissions in England by 2030 and has been backed by £1.5 million in government funding.

To mark National HIV Testing Week, the government has also announced it will extend the national HIV prevention programme – HIV Prevention England (HPE) by a year.

The campaign, delivered by the Terrence Higgins Trust and local partners, carries out vital work to increase testing for groups disproportionally affected by HIV and reduce stigma, as well as raise awareness of ways to prevent HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.

The Prime Minister has given his backing by becoming the first ever serving leader of a G7 nation to take a self-testing HIV test on camera, demonstrating that getting a test is quick, easy, free, and confidential.

After undertaking a test, the Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, said:

It is really important to do it, and I am pleased to have taken part too. It’s easy, it is quick, and during Testing Week you can get a test free – so it is a great time to also take part.

If people test, they will know their status, it is better that people know and that is a good thing because you can then get treatment to help meet our target to end new HIV transmissions by 2030.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said:

Getting tested for HIV is quick, free and confidential and I would like to pay tribute to the leadership of my Right Honourable Friend the Prime Minister, for becoming the first in history to take a HIV test, the first leader in the history of the G7 to take a HIV test.

As a former member of the independent HIV commission, I’m determined that this government will deliver our commitment to end new transmissions of HIV in England by 2030 and we’ll set this out shortly in our new Action Plan.

It comes as polling by YouGov, on behalf of HIV charity Terrence Higgins Trust, has found that more than 80% of adults in England are unaware it is possible to test for HIV at home. However, when prompted as an option, at-home testing was the most popular way to know your HIV status, with 44% of people saying it would be their preference.

Since the introduction of self-testing kits, home testing has increased in popularity, especially among women and some ethnic minorities who are less likely to test through their local sexual health services.

They can be ordered this week by anyone in England from www.startswithme.org.uk to use at home.

The funding follows on from £27 million announced by the Prime Minister to extend the NHS England innovative opt-out HIV testing in emergency departments, announced ahead of World Aids Day.

The move supports the government’s Plan for Change by ensuring people can get timely access to diagnostics and care if they need it, while supporting the shift from sickness to prevention. It precedes the new HIV Action Plan, which is expected later this year.

Speaking at the House of Commons today, Public Health and Prevention Minister Ashley Dalton said:

Increasing HIV testing is a vital step towards meeting our goal and will be a core element of our new HIV Action Plan published later this year.

That’s why we are investing over £4.5 million to deliver a national prevention programme.

And that’s why today, I can announce that we will extend the programme for a further year to March 2026, backed by an extra £1.5 million.

Richard Angell OBE, Chief Executive of Terrence Higgins Trust said:

National HIV Testing Week is an award-winning campaign and we are so pleased that it will be back next year. The continued success of this partnership between Terrence Higgins Trust and the Department for Health and Social Care delivers 25,000 HIV at-home tests across England and is crucial in our joint mission to end new HIV cases by 2030.

England can be the first country in the world to end the epidemic, but we are not yet on track to do so. A new HIV Action Plan for England will turbo-charge those efforts. We are delighted that Sir Keir Starmer and Wes Streeting are leading from the front in this mission.

Testing can also take place in community settings, not just at-home or at sexual health services.

The UK Health Security Agency has published its community testing survey results today, which show in 2023, testing in community settings – such as nightclubs, festivals, and voluntary sector premises – increased by 7% compared to 2022.

The report also found nearly a quarter of all tests were reported among individuals being tested for HIV for the first time. It also highlights the impact of National HIV Testing Week, noting that there was a 22% increase in the number of tests carried out in this time compared to 2022.

Dr Tamara Ðuretić, Head of HIV Section at the UK Health Security Agency, said:

HIV can affect anyone, no matter your gender or sexual orientation. It’s good to see HIV Testing Week once again highlighting the hugely important role regular testing plays in helping to prevent new infections, alongside condom use.

Testing allows people to have access to free prevention interventions such as PrEP (HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis) and, should you test positive, ensures timely access to treatment that saves lives and prevents the virus being passed on.

NHS Chief Executive, Amanda Pritchard, said:

Increasing the early detection and diagnoses of HIV, enables the NHS to provide people with better access to the latest and most effective life-saving medication, which can prevent long-term health issues and reduces the chance of unknown transmissions to others.

Boosting opportunities to test for HIV, including through home testing and the highly successful NHS emergency department testing programme, is crucial. We would encourage anyone who could be living with HIV to order a test and get checked.

Further information:

During National HIV Testing Week this week, anyone in England can order a free HIV test from www.freetesting.hiv to do at home.

Alongside free postal test kits being available during National HIV Testing Week, there are also testing events and drop-ins happening across England. A variety of online, postal and face to face testing is also available year-round through local authority commissioned sexual and reproductive health services.

The government is also supporting the international effort to ending HIV/AIDS, a further £37 million, announced in November 2024, will go to towards increasing access to vital sexual and reproductive health services and support for vulnerable and marginalised people across the globe.

This is in addition to the government’s ongoing contribution to international efforts to tackle HIV/AIDS, totalling at least £497 million in 2023, which works to tackle stigma and improve testing, enable greater access to HIV prevention pill PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) and better post-diagnosis support.

All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2071 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 29th – 30th January 2025. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+).

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Published 11 February 2025
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
February 12, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: Office of the Governor — News Release — Maui Wildfires Settlement Will Move Forward According to Hawai‘I Supreme Court Decision

Source: US State of Hawaii

Office of the Governor — News Release — Maui Wildfires Settlement Will Move Forward According to Hawai‘I Supreme Court Decision

Posted on Feb 10, 2025 in Latest Department News, Newsroom, Office of the Governor Press Releases

STATE OF HAWAIʻI
KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI

JOSH GREEN, M.D.
GOVERNOR
KE KIAʻĀINA

MAUI WILDFIRES SETTLEMENT WILL MOVE FORWARD ACCORDING TO HAWAI‘I SUPREME COURT DECISION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 10, 2025

HONOLULU – In a unanimous decision today, the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court ruled against insurance companies and in favor of the state, to allow the $4 billion dollar Maui wildfires litigation settlement to move forward.

Insurance companies had refused to enter into a settlement with the defendants, claiming that they had the right to make claims against the defendants, including the state of Hawaiʻi, to recoup what was paid out to the fire victims, a process referred to as subrogation.

All five Hawai‘i Supreme Court justices said in their written order that the exclusive remedy, under HRS 663-10, is for the property and casualty insurer to request the money paid out to be reimbursed by the insured. The settlement monies from the defendants will go directly to fire victims rather than to the insurance companies.

“As Governor of Hawai‘i, I welcome the state Supreme Court’s unanimous decision to uphold the $4 billion Maui wildfire settlement. We reached this historic settlement for the wildfire survivors on Maui through a collaborative effort to do what is right (pono), for our people, consistent with our values,” said Governor Josh Green, M.D. “The settlement came exactly one year after the fire occurred, when most felt it could take five years or more to reach agreement. Today’s decision will help our people heal much sooner, as we continue to rebuild and recover.”

Governor Green went on to say, “Going forward I will continue to work with all parties, including those who opposed the settlement, to expedite our critical recovery as a people and a state.”

“We are very pleased that this hurdle to resolving the claims of the fire victims has been cleared,” said Attorney General Anne Lopez.

The case was remanded to the Circuit Court of the Second Circuit for further proceedings. The Supreme Court decision can be found here.

# # #

Media Contacts:  
Erika Engle
Press Secretary
Office of the Governor, State of Hawai‘i
Phone: 808-586-0120
Email: [email protected]

Makana McClellan
Director of Communications
Office of the Governor, State of Hawaiʻi
Cell: 808-265-0083
Email: [email protected]

MIL OSI USA News –

February 12, 2025
MIL-OSI: UK Approved KK MINER Launches Best Free Cloud Mining for Bitcoin (BTC) and Dogecoin (DOGE)
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

LONDON, Feb. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Traditionally, cryptocurrency mining requires large capital investments, complex technical setups, and high energy consumption. However, KK MINER is changing the industry by providing accessible, cost-effective cloud mining solutions for Bitcoin (BTC) and Dogecoin (DOGE). As a UK-approved platform, KK MINER democratizes mining by removing the barriers of expensive hardware and technical expertise. With its advanced security, seamless user experience, and guaranteed daily payouts, KK MINER stands out as one of the most promising cloud mining platforms in the crypto ecosystem.

Features of KK MINER
KK MINER is designed to provide a safe, efficient and profitable mining experience for users of all levels. Some of its main features include:
- Enhanced Security: KK MINER integrates McAfee® and Cloudflare® protection to ensure that user data and mining activities are protected from potential cyber threats.
- Zero Management Fees: Unlike many other platforms that charge hidden fees, KK MINER operates with complete transparency by eliminating unnecessary fees.
- 100% Uptime Guarantee and 24/7 Technical Support: Users can enjoy continuous mining operations without downtime, ensuring continuous earnings.
- Multiple Cryptocurrency Support: KK MINER supports mining more than six cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Litecoin, and Dogecoin, etc.
- Daily Payouts and Instant Signup Bonus: New users can get a $10 signup bonus, earn $1 for free every day, and start mining immediately without upfront investment.
How to start free cloud mining with KK MINER
KK MINER provides an easy and hassle-free introduction to cloud mining. Users can start mining in just three simple steps:

Step 1: Choose a cloud mining provider
KK MINER offers a $10 free mining plan that simplifies the mining process without the need for expensive mining hardware. This free plan allows users to earn $1 in passive income per day for free without taking any financial risk.

Step 2: Register an account
The account creation process is very smooth and only requires an email address. After registration, users can immediately access KK MINER’s mining dashboard to monitor their earnings in real time.

Step 3: Select a mining contract
KK MINER offers a variety of contract options to meet the needs of different investment levels. Each contract guarantees a fixed return and predictable daily payouts, ensuring a transparent and profitable mining experience.

Why KK MINER stands out in cloud mining

Easy access
KK MINER is designed for both beginners and experienced miners. The user-friendly interface ensures that even people who have no knowledge of cryptocurrency mining can seamlessly participate and earn rewards.

Profitability and Flexibility
Unlike traditional mining setups that require long-term commitments and large investments, KK MINER offers flexible contract terms and guaranteed returns. Users can withdraw earnings daily, reinvest for higher returns, or exit at any time.

Worry-free experience
KK MINER handles all technical issues of mining, including equipment maintenance and energy costs. This allows users to focus on maximizing their earnings without having to worry about the complexity of the operation.

Will KK MINER be the next big thing in the cryptocurrency space?
The rise of cloud mining platforms like KK MINER marks a change in the way users participate in cryptocurrency mining. Several factors contribute to its potential to become a game changer in the industry:

1. Regulatory Approval and Compliance As a UK-approved platform, KK MINER offers legitimacy and trust, addressing one of the key issues associated with cloud mining – security and reliability.
2. Sustainable Mining Model Through energy-efficient cloud mining solutions, KK MINER mitigates the environmental impact of traditional mining methods, making it an attractive option for environmentally conscious investors.
3. High Adoption Rate and Market Potential An increasing number of retail and institutional users are exploring passive income opportunities in crypto mining, suggesting that platforms like KK MINER are likely to see widespread adoption in the coming years.
4. Competitive Advantages over Traditional Mining Unlike traditional mining, which requires expensive ASIC miners and high electricity consumption, KK MINER offers a cost-effective alternative that lowers barriers to entry while ensuring profitability.

Final Thoughts
KK MINER’s innovative approach to cloud mining promises to reshape the industry, making cryptocurrency mining more convenient, safer, and more profitable. With zero-cost onboarding, guaranteed daily payouts, and a user-friendly experience, KK MINER offers an attractive opportunity for those looking to earn passive income through Bitcoin (BTC) and Dogecoin (DOGE) mining.

As the cryptocurrency space continues to grow, KK MINER could become a key player in the cloud mining space, offering an attractive alternative to traditional mining setups. Whether you are a beginner exploring cryptocurrency mining for the first time, or a seasoned investor seeking a low-risk, high-return opportunity, KK MINER is worth considering as the next big thing in the cryptocurrency space. Visit the official website: https://kkminer.top/

Contact:
KK MINER
Email: info@kkminer.top
Website: https://kkminer.top/

Disclaimer: This press release is provided by KKMiner. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the sponsor and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing in cloud mining and related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2d91f593-be07-4bf7-a401-d5042b902cb6
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1cfa8316-a13a-437d-a29d-fb7525b9712d
https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/463e5de5-b7f1-443d-8ab6-7f9a55a30fcc

The MIL Network –
February 12, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: Thales and Bharat Dynamics Ltd Agree on Initial Supply of Man Portable Air Defence systems to India
Source: Thales Group

Headline: Thales and Bharat Dynamics Ltd Agree on Initial Supply of Man Portable Air Defence systems to India

11 Feb 2025

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- Thales and Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) will provide a first supply of Laser Beam Riding MANPAD (LBRM) Very Short Range Air Defence (VSHORAD) Missiles and launchers to the Indian Ministry of Defence. This is a major success, following on from the signing of the Partnership Agreement in 2021 between Thales and BDL to work on the LBRM, with the support of the Indian and UK Governments.
- This agreement will improve India’s Air Defence capabilities to enable them to enhance their national security with a highly accurate and countermeasure-resistant up-to-date technology.
- LBRM, manufactured up to 60% in India, are short-range, man-portable, air-defence systems and optimised to provide defence against air threats, including fixed-wing Fighter Ground Attack aircraft and late unmasking Attack Helicopters, as well as drones.
©Thales

Bengaluru, 10 February 2025: Thales and Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) are proud to announce the signing of an initial supply of Laser Beam Riding Man Portable Air Defence systems (LBRM) in response to a requirement set out by the Indian Government to support India’s air defence capabilities.

This initial supply of High Velocity Missiles (STARStreak) and launchers will be delivered this year and represents the first time that India has received this latest VSHORAD capability. This step confirms the foundation of a long-term collaboration and manufacturing partnership between Thales and BDL. In the spirit of the ‘Make in India’ initiative, this partnership will serve the current and future requirements of the Indian Ministry of Defence.

Thales, together with BDL, is committed to the transfer of technology (ToT) of battle proven capabilities to India to equip the Indian Armed Forces.

This contract represents the first major agreement since the establishment of the United Kingdom’s Defence Partnership-India, a bespoke programme office breaking down barriers to trade and offering government-to-government contracting, where appropriate, further solidifying the defence and security relationship between the two nations. This contract also reflects Thales’ long-term partnership of 70+ years with India, serving as a testimony to its continued growth.

A production partnership with India will also increase UK production at the Thales Belfast site, where LBRM is designed.

Lord Vernon Coaker, Minister of State for Defence, said: “This exciting collaboration is just one of the ways that we are growing our defence relationship and partnership with India. While supporting India’s air defence capability and global security, this agreement also demonstrates defence as an engine for growth and delivers on the government’s Plan for Change.”

“This is a momentous occasion for all the stakeholders involved in the development of LBRM Air Defence solutions. It signifies the beginning of an exciting chapter in our collaboration with BDL, contributing to the Aatmanirbhar Bharat vision. The UK-India strategic partnership finds renewed strength through this contract, which is poised to make a significant impact in the domain of air defence in India.” declared Pascale Sourisse, President & CEO, Thales International.

“We are pleased to take our collaboration with Thales to this next significant step, enhancing our contribution to the defence ecosystem and our ability to support existing and future LBRM Air Defence customers. This initiative aligns perfectly with our Government’s ‘Make in India,’ ‘ease of doing business,’ and ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ programmes, giving a major boost to the local industry through partnerships with global organisations like Thales.” said Cmde A Madhavarao (retd.), Chairman and Managing Director, Bharat Dynamics Limited.

“The signing of this contract with BDL and Thales to support India’s air defence capability is a huge stride forward in strengthening our partnership with India. I am proud to see that Thales’ expertise in the domain of Air defence will bring vital, battle proven capabilities to India.” said Phil Siveter, CEO of Thales in the UK.

About LBRM

High Velocity Missiles (STARStreak) are a truly versatile, complex weapon system. Designed for very short-range air defence, they are the fastest missiles in their class at Mach >3.0. They are best suited to address late unmasking threats such as fixed and rotary wing targets, Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and pop-up attack helicopters.

Thales is a world leader in the provision of Air Defence solutions and in particular of complex weapon systems and has been a trusted partner of forces in this field for more than 60 years.

About Thales

Thales (Euronext Paris: HO) is a global leader in advanced technologies specialized in three business domains: Defence & Security, Aerospace, and Cyber & Digital.

It develops products and solutions that help make the world safer, greener and more inclusive.

The Group invests close to €4 billion a year in Research & Development, particularly in key innovation areas such as AI, cybersecurity, quantum technologies, cloud technologies and 6G.

Thales has close to 81,000 employees in 68 countries. In 2023, the Group generated sales of €18.4 billion.

About BDL

BDL, right from its inception in the year 1970, has been in the forefront of Defence Technology to manufacture state of the art, cost-effective Missile systems, underwater weapons and allied defence equipment to the Indian Armed Forces. With the domain expertise, BDL participates in the indigenously developed missile programs by DRDO, ToT from Foreign OEMs or co-developed using in house R&D and manufactures the world class products for the domestic and international market.

About Thales in India

Present in India since 1953, Thales is headquartered in Noida and has other operational offices and sites spread across Delhi, Bengaluru and Mumbai, among others. Over 2200 employees are working with Thales and its joint ventures in India. Since the beginning, Thales has been playing an essential role in India’s growth story by sharing its technologies and expertise in Defence, Aerospace and Cyber & Digital markets. Thales has two engineering competence centres in India – one in Noida focused on Cyber & Digital business, while the one in Bengaluru focuses on hardware, software and systems engineering capabilities for both the civil and defence sectors, serving global needs.

PRESS CONTACTS

Bharat Dynamics Ltd

Homnidhi Sharma

+91 94939 84976

bdlbd-pr@bdl-india.in

Thales, Group Media Relations

Defence

Camille Heck

+33 6 73 78 33 63

camille.heck@thalesgroup.com

Thales, Communications in India

Pawandeep Kaur

+91 9990098828

pawandeep.kaur@thalesgroup.com
MIL OSI Economics –
February 12, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addresses inaugural session of India Energy Week 2025

Source: Government of India (2)

Posted On: 11 FEB 2025 4:17PM by PIB Delhi

The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi delivered his remarks at the inauguration of third edition of India Energy Week 2025 via video message today. Addressing the gathering at Yashobhoomi, he emphasized that the attendees are not just part of the Energy Week, but are also integral to India’s energy ambitions.

India Energy Week was envisioned as more than just another industry conference—it was designed to be a dynamic platform redefining global energy dialogues. In just two years, this self-funded initiative has achieved precisely that, becoming the world’s second-largest energy event. IEW 2025, scheduled from February 11-14, 2025, at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi, represents a significant milestone in shaping the global energy narrative.

Highlighting that experts worldwide are asserting that the 21^st century belongs to India, Shri Modi remarked, “India is driving not only its growth but also the growth of the world, with the energy sector playing a significant role”. He emphasized that India’s energy ambitions are built on five pillars: harnessing resources, encouraging innovation among brilliant minds, economic strength and political stability, strategic geography making energy trade attractive and easier, and commitment to global sustainability. The Prime Minister noted that these factors are creating new opportunities in India’s energy sector.

“India has grown from the tenth largest to the fifth largest economy in the past decade”, remarked Shri Modi. He highlighted that India’s solar energy generation capacity has increased thirty-two times in the last ten years, making it the third-largest solar power generating nation in the world. He noted that India’s non-fossil fuel energy capacity has tripled and that India is the first G20 country to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement. The Prime Minister emphasized India’s achievements in ethanol blending, with a current rate of nineteen percent, leading to foreign exchange savings, substantial farmer revenue, and significant reductions in CO2 emissions. He highlighted India’s goal of achieving a twenty percent ethanol mandate by October 2025. He remarked that India’s biofuels industry is ready for rapid growth, with 500 million metric tonnes of sustainable feedstock. He further noted that during India’s G20 presidency, the Global Biofuels Alliance was established and is continuously expanding, now involving 28 nations and 12 international organizations. He highlighted that this alliance is transforming waste into wealth and setting up Centers of Excellence.

Highlighting that India is continuously reforming to fully explore the potential of its hydrocarbon resources, Shri Modi highlighted that major discoveries and extensive expansion of gas infrastructure are contributing to the growth of the gas sector, increasing the share of natural gas in India’s energy mix. He noted that India is currently the fourth largest refining hub and is working to increase its capacity by 20 percent.

Pointing out that India’s sedimentary basins hold numerous hydrocarbon resources, some of which have already been identified, while others await exploration, the Prime Minister highlighted that to make India’s upstream sector more attractive, the Government introduced the Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP). He emphasized that the Government has provided comprehensive support to the sector, including opening the Exclusive Economic Zone and establishing a single-window clearance system. Shri Modi noted that changes to the Oilfields Regulation & Development Act now offer stakeholders policy stability, extended leases, and improved financial terms. He emphasized that these reforms will facilitate the exploration of oil and gas resources in the maritime sector, increase production, and maintain strategic petroleum reserves.

Prime Minister underlined that due to several discoveries and the expanding pipeline infrastructure in India, the supply of natural gas is increasing. He emphasized that this will lead to a rise in the utilization of natural gas in the near future. He also highlighted that there are numerous investment opportunities in these sectors.

Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas, in his address at the event, highlighted the growing significance of the event, which has rapidly become the second-largest energy conference in the world in just three years. This year’s edition has drawn over 70,000 energy professionals from more than 50 countries, including over 20 Ministers and 100 CEOs from Fortune 500 energy companies, making it a key forum 6for discussions on the evolving global energy landscape.

Shri Puri underscored that IEW 2025 comes at a crucial juncture amid major geopolitical shifts that have reshaped the global energy order. He stressed that the conference offers a unique opportunity for policymakers, industry leaders, and stakeholders to engage in meaningful dialogue, exchange ideas, and chart a course for a balanced and inclusive energy transition. While reaffirming India’s commitment to sustainability, he emphasized that the transition must be pragmatic, recognizing the continued role of hydrocarbons alongside renewables, hydrogen, and biofuels. He cited the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) projection of global energy investment surpassing USD 3 trillion in 2024, with USD 2 trillion dedicated to clean energy technologies, as a clear indication of the accelerating shift toward cleaner energy sources.

The Minister highlighted India’s leadership in driving energy innovation and entrepreneurship, noting that major global energy firms like BP, Shell, ExxonMobil, and Chevron operate Global Capability Centres in India, employing thousands of Indian engineers to develop cutting-edge solutions for energy efficiency, data analytics, and sustainable operations. He also acknowledged the role of 500+ entrepreneurs participating in start-up challenges such as Avinya and Vasudha, and the 700 exhibiting companies, including over 100 start-ups, showcasing AI-driven energy solutions, quantum computing applications, and advancements in biofuels and battery technologies.

A key theme of his address was energy justice, where he warned against fragmented energy policies that could deepen inequality by leaving developing economies behind in the transition. He emphasized the need for resilient supply chains in critical minerals, semiconductors, and emerging energy technologies, calling for global collaboration to prevent disruptions that could hinder progress. He also pointed out that India is strategically investing in diverse energy sources, including scaling up biofuel production, increasing its gas share from 6% to 15%, and targeting 5 million metric tonnes of hydrogen production by 2030 to ensure a smooth transition without compromising energy security.

Concluding his remarks, Shri Puri urged all stakeholders to leverage India Energy Week as a platform for forging transformative partnerships and shaping the global energy agenda. He invited the 6,000+ delegates to engage in the conference’s discussions over the next four days, focusing on strategies to stabilize energy markets, drive technological advancements, and enhance international cooperation. With India playing an increasingly central role in the global energy ecosystem, IEW 2025 is set to be a landmark event for defining the future of energy.

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MONIKA

(Release ID: 2101769) Visitor Counter : 48

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

February 12, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: HIGH PRIORITY PROJECTS UNDER SAGARMALA

Source: Government of India (2)

Posted On: 11 FEB 2025 4:09PM by PIB Delhi

The Sagarmala programme is the flagship programme of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways to promote port-led development in the country through harnessing India’s 7,500 km long coastline, 14,500 km of potentially navigable waterways and strategic location on key international maritime trade routes. As a part of Sagarmala Programme, around 839 projects at an estimated cost of around 5.5 lakh crore have been identified for implementation. These projects are implemented by Central Ministries, IWAI, Indian Railways, NHAI, State Government and Major Ports etc. As of now, 272 projects have been completed, which account for an investment of approximately Rs. 1.41 lakh crores.

For timely execution of projects, Ministry on regular intervals interacts with State Maritime Boards (SMBs)/State Govts/UTs’Administration/Central Line Ministries by organizing project based and State level meetings to understand their concerns and aiding to resolve the issues concerning Government of India in timely manner. Ministry from time to time holds Maritime States Development Council (MSDC) meetings and also encourage coastal States/UTs to hold State Sagarmala Committee meetings for creating synergy among various stakeholders for expeditious implementation of Sagarmala projects. To date, twenty meetings of MSDC have been held with State Governments and other stakeholders. Further, at the top of the Sagarmala framework, a National Sagarmala Apex Committee has been constituted for overall policy guidance and high-level coordination, and to review aspect of planning and implementation of the plan and projects.

Sagarmala Programme core focus is economic and infrastructural development, which has indirect strategic significance. By modernizing and expanding Indian ports, India strengthens its position in the Bay of Bengal, Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean region. The programme aims to boost maritime trade within India and internationally, improving its standing as a global maritime hub, which directly competes with neighbouring countries.

This information was given by the Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal in Rajya Sabha, today.

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G.D. Hallikeri/Henry

(Release ID: 2101762) Visitor Counter : 43

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

February 12, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Raksha Mantri invites global community to co-develop & co-produce advanced systems in India

Source: Government of India (2)

Raksha Mantri invites global community to co-develop & co-produce advanced systems in India

Present global security scenario demands innovative approaches & stronger partnerships: Shri Rajnath Singh at Defence Ministers’ Conclave

“India does not believe in transactional relationships; Its approach emphasises mutual capacity building, prosperity and security of partner nations”

“Our commitment extends beyond Indian Ocean Region, it serves as a blueprint for fostering global partnerships on equality, trust, mutual respect & adherence to international law”

Posted On: 11 FEB 2025 3:55PM by PIB Delhi

Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh has exhorted the global community to join India in the co-development and co-production of advanced systems, emphasising that the present global security scenario demands innovative approaches & stronger partnerships. He was addressing the Defence Ministers’ Conclave ‘Building Resilience through International Defence and Global Engagement (BRIDGE)’, organised as part of the 15^th Aero India in Bengaluru, Karnataka on February 11, 2025. The event witnessed the participation of over 162 delegates from 81 countries, including 15 Defence Ministers, 11 Deputy Defence Ministers, 15 Permanent Secretaries, and 17 Service Chiefs.

“Increasing number of conflicts, new power plays, new methods & means of weaponisation, growing role of non-state actors and the emergence of disruptive technologies have made the world order more fragile. The distinction between border security and internal security is getting blurred as hybrid warfare has the ability to target critical national infrastructure even during peace time. Cyberspace and Outer space are challenging the established definition of sovereignty,” said Raksha Mantri.

Shri Rajnath Singh added that disruptive technologies such as Al, quantum technologies, hypersonic and directed energy are transforming the character of warfare, creating new vulnerabilities. He stressed that these changes would have a deep impact on future warfare, forcing reassessment of the capabilities required to meet the challenges.

Raksha Mantri pointed out that international order and peace cannot be ensured from a position of weakness, and the Government of India, under Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, is leaving no stone unturned to transform defence capabilities. “We have put in place a conducive policy regime which encourages investment and production of an entire range of modern state-of-the-art land, maritime & air systems. India’s emergence as a global hub for R&D and innovation in defence is a testament to our capabilities and aspirations,” he said.

Shri Rajnath Singh said India possesses a vibrant defence start-up ecosystem which has the third largest number of unicorns in the world. He highlighted the unparalleled opportunities for collaboration offered by the thriving Indian aerospace and defence sectors, supported by a significant R&D base and an entrepreneurial spirit. “Our skill base enables us to produce at highly competitive costs. India is committed to share state-of-the-art defence equipment, hardware, services, and technology with our friends and partners,” he told the Defence Ministers and other foreign delegates.

Raksha Mantri voiced India’s vision of peace, security and development, which is inclusive & collaborative, stating that it is guided by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s dynamic five ‘S’ approach: Samman (Respect), Samvaad (Dialogue), Sahyog (Cooperation), Shanti (Peace) and Samriddhi (Prosperity). These principles, he added, form the cornerstone of India’s international engagements and resonate strongly in today’s world, which is increasingly witnessing divisions.

Shri Rajnath Singh asserted that India has embraced the vision of ‘Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR)’ for the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), focussing on key areas such as maritime security, economic development and blue economy. He added that India’s collaborative efforts in combating non-traditional threats such as piracy, terrorism, illegal & unregulated fishing, and climate-related challenges underline the commitment for global cooperative action beyond IOR. “Our commitment extends beyond IOR and serves as a blueprint for fostering global partnerships built on equality, trust, mutual respect, and adherence to international law,” he said.

Raksha Mantri laid stress on the fact that India does not believe in transactional relationships or imposing solutions, and its approach emphasises on mutual capacity building, prosperity and security for the sovereignty of partner nations. He stated that the aim is to empower its partners to chart their own paths, through support that aligns with their national priorities. He described equitable partnership as the foundation of defence collaboration, whether it involves supplying Indian-made ships and aircraft, sharing expertise or conducting joint training programmes.

Shri Rajnath Singh highlighted that India’s position as a preferred partner for defence exports is reinforced by its adherence to quality, reliability, and commitment to the specific needs of partners. “Our defence industry is well-equipped to meet diverse requirements from cutting-edge technology to cost-effective solutions. We take pride in offering customised support that strengthens the capabilities of our partner nations, enabling them to address their security challenges effectively,” he said.

Raksha Mantri termed the BRIDGE initiative as the commitment to transforming dialogue into actionable outcomes, fostering partnerships that are resilient, adaptable, and forward-looking. Challenges ranging from terrorism and cyber-crime to humanitarian crises and climate-induced disasters transcend borders, and they demand a united response.

During the meeting, the Defence Ministers lauded the efforts of Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence for organising Aero India and providing an opportunity to world-class manufacturers for showcasing latest innovations and technologies under one roof. They appreciated the concept of BRIDGE which promises to work for peace and prosperity for all. They expressed their willingness to work with India for their defence and other requirements, reaffirming their commitment to further deepen the ties with New Delhi.

The delegates conveyed their desire for Transfer of Technology and co-development & co-production of latest equipment and products, terming India as a partner in resilient supply chain. They acknowledged India’s role in peacekeeping and its efforts towards upgrading the capabilities of many countries in various fields, including defence, health and education.

Shared security concerns also figured during the deliberations, with the Ministers unanimously agreeing to avoid armed conflict, describing it as anti-people and anti-development. Various challenges such as illegal drug trafficking, illicit fishing, terrorism and cybercrime were discussed, with the nations pledging to fight together against these menaces. They collectively agreed to move forward together with the idea of ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’, which was the theme of India’s G20 Presidency.

Delivering the closing remarks, Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Sanjay Seth expressed gratitude to the attending dignitaries for their participation. He thanked the Defence Ministers, senior officials, and distinguished guests for their engagement and contributions to the conclave. He emphasised the spirit of collaboration embodied by the theme BRIDGE and expressed optimism for continuing existing partnerships while exploring new areas of mutual prosperity through cooperation.

Secretary (Defence Production) Shri Sanjeev Kumar delivered the welcome address.

Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal AP Singh, Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh and Secretary, Department of Defence R&D and Chairman DRDO Dr Samir V Kamat were also among the dignitaries present on the occasion.

The conclave provided a platform to discuss key aspects such as defence capacity building through investment, joint ventures & co-production, collaboration in R&D, training & technological advancements in AI & space, Maritime security cooperation and strategic partnerships.

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VK/SPS/Savvy

(Release ID: 2101749) Visitor Counter : 75

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

February 12, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Second India-France AI Policy Roundtable held on the sidelines of AI Action Summit 2025 in Paris, France

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 11 FEB 2025 12:27AM by PIB Delhi

The Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Government of India in partnership with Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, IndiaAI Mission and Sciences Po Paris organised an official side-event to the AI Action Summit 2025, titled ‘2nd India-France AI Policy Roundtable’ on 10th February 2025 at the Sciences Po Paris university campus.

The roundtable discussion started with opening remarks by PSA Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood where he highlighted India’s priorities in global AI policy and governance, including responsible AI development and deployment, equitable benefit sharing, adoption of a techno-legal framework for AI governance, interoperable data flows, and collaboration on AI safety, research, and innovation. Prof. Sood also stressed upon the potential for India and France to synergize on various policy positions and technological initiatives, fostering benefits not only at the bilateral level but also on a global scale by leveraging complementary knowledge and skill sets.

Shri Amit A. Shukla, Joint Secretary, Cyber Diplomacy Division, Ministry of External Affairs of the Government of India and H.E. Henri Verdier, Ambassador for Digital Affairs, French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs gave co-chairs remarks highlighting (a) DPI for AI; (b) AI foundation models; (c) global AI governance and (d) Priority areas, such as integrating AI in addressing global challenges. They also mentioned cross-border data flows lacking arbitration mechanisms and the importance of aligned views on data sovereignty.

Following the co-chair remarks, interventions were made by Dr. Preeti Banzal (Adviser/Scientist G, Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India); Smt. Kavita Bhatia (Scientist ‘G’ & Group Coordinator, AI & Emerging Technology and Bhashini, MeitY, Government of India); Mr. Clément Bacchi (International Digital Policy Lead, Directorate General of Enterprises, Ministry of the Economy and Finance); Ms. Hélène Costa (Project Director, French ministry for the ecological transition); Mr. Sharad Sharma (Co-Founder, iSPIRT Foundation); Mr. Francis Rousseaux (International Technical Expert on AI, iSPIRT Foundation); Dr. Sarayu Natarajan (Founder, Aapti Institute); Mr. Charbel-Raphaël Segerie (Executive Director, Centre pour la Sécurité de l’IA); Mr. Saurabh Singh (Head, Digital and AI Policy, AWS India & South Asia); Mr. Alexandre Mariani (International Affairs Manager, Sciences Po Paris); Kapil Vaswani (Principal Researcher, Microsoft Research); Sunu Engineer (Entrepreneur, Co-Founder, Transforming.Legal); Vivek Raghavan (Co-Founder, Sarvam AI).

The interventions emphasized the need for democratized access to AI resources, and capacity building while recognizing the importance of techno-legal frameworks. The participants highlighted the significance of sovereign AI models, ethical AI deployment and the need to define globally accepted terminologies and standards. Speakers also aligned on multilingual LLMs, federated AI compute infrastructure, and interoperable access to AI research, datasets, and high-performance computing resources. The meeting also covered key discussions on collaboration between India and France. Opportunities mentioned included creating indigenous foundation models and adopting a balanced governance approach to minimize risks while fostering innovation. Sustainable AI and energy-efficient computing was highlighted, alongside the importance of cross-border cooperation in AI research, datasets, and startups. The conversation also touched on AI’s societal impact, data governance, and the role of global institutions in shaping AI safety frameworks.

The Second Roundtable built upon key objectives from the First Roundtable organised in IISc, Bengaluru during Technology Dialogue 2025 on 25th January 2025. The First Roundtable discussion focussed on inclusive AI frameworks, diverse datasets, infrastructure and skills, and foundational models. It also addressed governance and innovation, public-private partnerships, sustainability and health, and academic and data collaboration. Both discussions highlighted ethical and responsible AI, along with sector-specific and long-term goals.

For more information, visit: https://technologydialogue.in/ai-rt-feb.html

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MJPS/ST

(Release ID: 2101570) Visitor Counter : 61

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

February 12, 2025

MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: MILK PRODUCTS

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 11 FEB 2025 5:35PM by PIB Delhi

The productivity of Indigenous bovine breeds in the country is low compared to advanced dairy nations globally and this is mainly due to low genetic potential of dairy animals and animals are maintained on low plane of nutrition. However, the total productivity of Bovines in the country has increased from 1640 kilograms per animal per year in 2014-15 to 2072 kilograms per animal per year in 2023-24 that is by 26.34% which is the highest productivity gain by any country in the world. The productivity of the indigenous and non-descript cattle has increased from 927 kilograms per animal per year in 2014-15 to 1292 kilograms per animal per year in 2023-24 that is by 39.37 %. The productivity of the buffaloes has increased from 1880 kilograms per animal per year in 2014-15 to 2161 kilograms per animal per year in 2023-24 that is by 14.94%. Milk production in the country has increased from 146.31 Million Tonnes in 2014-15 to 239.30 Million Tonnes in 2023-24 that is by 63.55 % during the last 10 years. Rashtriya Gokul Mission envisages to achieve productivity of bovines upto 3000 kilograms of milk per animal per year by 2030.

In order to complement and supplement the efforts of the States and Union Territories to improve the nutrition, management practices, genetic potential of local cattle breeds and to provide training and support to dairy farmers in adopting best practices, the details of the steps undertaken and schemes being implemented by Government of India is as under:

1. Rashtriya Gokul Mission: The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying is implementing Rashtriya Gokul Mission since December 2014 for development and conservation of indigenous bovine breeds, genetic upgradation of bovine population and enhancement of milk production and productivity of bovines. Following efforts are being made under the scheme to enhance milk production and productivity of bovines:

(i) Nationwide Artificial Insemination Program: Under the Rashtriya Gokul Mission, the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying is expanding artificial insemination coverage to boost the milk production and productivity of bovines, including indigenous breeds.

(ii) Progeny Testing and Pedigree Selection: This program aims to produce high genetic merit bulls, including bulls of indigenous breeds. Progeny testing is implemented for Gir, Sahiwal breeds of cattle, and Murrah, Mehsana breeds of buffaloes. Under the Pedigree selection programme Rathi, Tharparkar, Hariana, Kankrej breed of cattle and Jaffarabadi, Nili Ravi, Pandharpuri and Banni breed of buffalo are covered.

(iii) Implementation of In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Technology: To propagate elite animals of indigenous breeds, the Department has established 22 IVF laboratories. The technology has important role in genetic upgradation of bovine population in single generation. Further, to deliver technology at reasonable rates to farmers Government has launched IVF media.

(iv) Sex-Sorted Semen Production: The Department has established sex sorted semen production facilities at 5 government semen stations located in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh. 3 private semen stations are also producing sex sorted semen doses.

(v) Genomic Selection: To accelerate genetic improvement of cattle and buffaloes, the Department has developed unified genomic chips—Gau Chip for indigenous cattle and Mahish Chip for buffaloes—specifically designed for initiating genomic selection in the country.

(vi) Multi-purpose Artificial Insemination Technicians in Rural India (MAITRIs): Under the scheme MAITRIs are trained and equipped to deliver quality Artificial Insemination services at farmers’ doorstep.

(vii) Accelerated Breed Improvement Programme using sex sorted semen: This program aims to produce female calves with up to 90% accuracy, thereby enhancing breed improvement and farmers’ income. Farmers receive support for assured pregnancy upto 50% of the cost of sex sorted semen.

(viii) Accelerated Breed Improvement Programme using In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) technology: This technology is utilized for the rapid genetic upgradation of bovines and an incentive of Rs 5,000 per assured pregnancy is made available to farmers interested in taking up IVF technology.

2. National Livestock Mission (NLM): National Livestock Mission (NLM) aims to create employment generation, entrepreneurship development, increase in per-animal productivity and thus targeting increased production of meat, goat milk, egg and wool under the umbrella scheme Development Programme. The scheme envisages following three submissions: (i) Sub-Mission on Breed Development of Livestock and Poultry; (ii) Sub-Mission on Feed and Fodder Development and (iii) Sub-Mission on Innovation, Extension. Details of the activities covered under these submissions are as under:

(A) Sub-mission on Breed Development of Livestock and Poultry: This Sub-Mission has following activities: (I) Establishment of Entrepreneurs for breed development: under this activity following sub activities are included (i) Establishment of Entrepreneurs for breed development of Rural Poultry and (ii) Establishment of Entrepreneur for breed development in small ruminant sector (sheep and goat farming). (II) Genetic Improvement of Sheep and Goat breeds: under this activity following are the sub activities: (i) Establishment of Regional Semen Production Laboratory and Semen Bank for sheep and goat; (ii) Establishment of State Semen Bank: (iii) Propagation of Artificial Insemination through existing cattle and buffalo Artificial Insemination centers and (iv) Import of exotic sheep and goat germplasm. (III) Promotion of Piggery Entrepreneur. (IV) Genetic Improvement of Pig breeds: Under this activity following activities are implemented: (i) Establishment of pig semen collection and processing lab and (ii) Import of exotic pig germplasm. (V) Establishment of Entrepreneurs for horse, donkey, mule and camel. (VI) Genetic Improvement of Horse, Donkey, Mule, Camel: (i) Regional Semen Station for Horse, donkey and camel; (ii) Nucleus Breed Farm for Conservation of Horse/Donkey/Camel germplasm and (iii) Breed Registration Society.

(B) Sub-Mission on feed and fodder development: The Sub-Mission of the feed and fodder is covering the following activities: (I) Assistance for quality Fodder seed production. (II) Entrepreneurial activities in feed and fodder. (III) Establishment of Entrepreneurs for Fodder Seed processing Infrastructure (processing and grading unit/ fodder seed storage godown). (IV) Fodder production from Non-Forest Wasteland / Rangeland / Non-arable Land” and “Fodder Production from Forest Land.

(C) Sub Mission on Innovation and Extension: Under this Sub-Mission the following are the activities: (I) Research and Development and innovations. (II) Extension activities. (III) Livestock Insurance programme.

3. National Programme for Dairy Development: This scheme focuses on creating dairy infrastructure for the procurement, processing, and marketing of milk and milk products in the cooperative dairy sector inter alia training and awareness programs for dairy farmers, input services such as cattle-feed and mineral mixtures, and assistance for quality testing of milk and milk products, thereby improving the economic condition of dairy farmers enrolled in cooperatives.

4. Livestock Health and Disease Control (LH & DC): The scheme is implemented for providing assistance for control of animal diseases like Foot and Mouth Disease, Brucellosis and also to provide assistance to State Governments for Control of other infectious diseases of livestock including dairy animals. Mobile Veterinary Units are established under the scheme to deliver quality livestock health services at farmers doorstep. Under the vaccination programme: (i) more than 100 crore vaccinations have been done against FMD including 35 crore vaccination performed during current year; and (ii) about 4.3 crore calves vaccinated against Brucellosis under brucellosis control programme including 1.3 crore calves vaccinated during current year. Under the component of Establishment and Strengthening of Veterinary Hospitals and Dispensaries (ESVHD- MVU), 100% financial assistance is provided towards procurement & customization of Mobile Veterinary Units (MVUs) with recurring operational expenditure in the ratio of 90:10 for North Eastern & Himalayan States; 60% for other States, and 100% for UTs for delivery of veterinary healthcare services through Mobile Veterinary Units (MVUs) through a Toll-Free Number (1962) at farmers’ doorsteps which include disease diagnosis, treatment, vaccination, minor surgical interventions, audio-visual aids and extension services. So far, 4016 MVUs are operational in 28 states and 65 lakh farmers benefitted. This helps in increasing productivity

5. Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF) The scheme is to facilitate incentivisation of investments to establish (i) Dairy processing and product diversification infrastructure, (ii) Meat processing and product diversification infrastructure and (iii) Animal Feed Plant (iv) Breed Improvement Technology and Breed Multiplication Farm, (v) Veterinary Vaccine and Drugs production facilities, (vi) Animal waste to wealth management (Agri-waste Management). Keeping in view of the success of AHIDF, the erstwhile Dairy Processing Infrastructure Development Fund has been subsumed with the AHIDF on 01.02.2024. Now total size of the fund is Rs 29110 cr.

The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying is implementing Centrally Sponsored Scheme National Livestock Mission with a Sub-Mission on Feed and Fodder Development. Under the Submission, fodder development activity is undertaken through strengthening of fodder seed chain (Breeder-Foundation-Certified) thereby improving the availability of certified/quality fodder seeds required for production of high quality and nutritious fodder. Approx. 1.03 lakh Tons of fodder seeds were produced under the Component Assistance for Quality Fodder Seeds Production since 2021-22 with release of funds of Rs.636.83 crores. The details of the progress under the component is at Annexure-I

Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)- Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute ( IGFRI) Jhansi along with its All India Co-ordinated Research Project (AICRP) on Forage Crops & Utilization with 22 coordinated centers located in 21 states of the country are dedicatedly working on development of high yielding and nutritious fodder crop varieties for different agro-climatic conditions of the country and many varieties have been released for cultivation. Different approaches of crop improvement viz. speed breeding, apomixes; gene editing, SS markers, transgenic etc. are being used to develop high yielding trait specific cultivars. Major thrust are being placed for the development of varieties with attributes of high yielding, nutritionally superior, climatically resilient and resistant for different biotic factor. Till now more than 400 improved varieties in 40 fodder crops has been developed for different parts of the country and out of these about 200 varieties are in seed production chain. During last five years (2019-2024) nutritionally better and high yielding 86 varieties/ hybrids in 17 fodder crops have been identified/ notified for the cultivation in different agro-climatic regions of the country.

Annexure-I

Progress under component Assistance for Quality Fodder seeds Production under realign National Livestock Mission (NLM)

Physical Progress – Year and Class wise Fodder Seed Production (Qtls)

Class of seeds	2021-22	2022-23	2023-24	2024-25	Total
Breeder	530.13	0	0	0	530.13
Foundation	6120.87	21864.75	15312.89	12832.06	56130.57
Certified	104852.2	303222.4	407874.5	159383.0	975332.1
Total	111503.2	325087.2	423187.4	172215.1	1031993

Financial Progress – Year-wise Release of funds

Year	Release of funds (Rs.in crores)
2021-22	100.44
2022-23	159.99
2023-24	156.07
2024-25 (As on 4.2.2025)	220.31
Total Releases	636.83

This information was given by the Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh, in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

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Read this release in: Hindi

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

February 12, 2025

MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: DAIRY VALUE CHAIN

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 11 FEB 2025 5:33PM by PIB Delhi

Animal Husbandry is an important sub-sector of Indian agricultural economy and plays a multifaceted role in providing nutrition and livelihood support to the rural population. Milk plays an important role in nutritional security as it is important source of animal protein. Milk is a near complete food and has high nutritive value. It contains body building proteins, bone forming minerals, health giving vitamins, furnishes energy giving lactose and milk fat. Milk and dairy products are vital sources of nourishment for billions globally, benefiting people of all ages, from young children to older adults, by supporting health and active lifestyles. Nutrient-dense and energy-rich, milk provides high-quality protein along with essential micronutrients, including calcium, magnesium, potassium, zinc, and phosphorus, all in forms that the body can readily absorb. Numerous studies highlight the key role of milk and dairy in supporting healthy nutrition and development throughout life, particularly during childhood. As of date per capita availability of milk has increased to 471 gram / day higher than, ICMR recommendation of 300 gram/ day. The livestock sector apart from contributing to national economy in general and to agricultural economy in particular also provides employment generation opportunities, asset creation, handling mechanism against crop failure and social and financial security. The benefit of the schemes has been accruing to all farmers engaged in dairying in terms of enhancement in milk production and productivity of bovines. Value of output of milk is more than Rs.11.16 lakh crore during 2022-23 (As per National Accounts Statistics 2024) which is the highest of the agriculture produce and even more than the combined value of Paddy and Wheat. The schemes are playing important role in enhancing milk production and productivity of bovines to meet growing demand of milk and making dairying more remunerative to the rural farmers of the country.

In order tostrengthen the dairy value chain right from quality feed, breed, processing, value addition to market linkages the following steps are undertaken by Government of India:

1.         Rashtriya Gokul Mission:        Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India is implementing Rashtriya Gokul Mission since December 2014 for development and conservation of indigenous breeds, genetic upgradation of bovine population and enhancement of milk production and productivity of bovines. Following steps are taken under the scheme to enhance milk production and productivity of bovines:

(i)         Nationwide Artificial Insemination Program: Under the Rashtriya Gokul Mission, the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India is expanding artificial insemination coverage to boost the milk production and productivity of bovines, including indigenous breeds. As on date, 8.32 crore animals have been covered, with 12.20 crore artificial inseminations performed, benefiting 5.19 crore farmers.

(ii)        Progeny Testing and Pedigree Selection: This program aims to produce high genetic merit bulls, including bulls of indigenous breeds. Progeny testing is implemented for Gir, Sahiwal breeds of cattle, and Murrah, Mehsana breeds of buffaloes. Under the Pedigree selection programme Rathi, Tharparkar, Hariana, Kankrej breed of cattle and Jaffarabadi, Nili Ravi, Pandharpuri and Banni breed of buffalo are covered. So far 3,988 high genetic merit bulls have produced and inducted for semen production.

(iii)       Implementation of In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Technology: To propagate elite animals of indigenous breeds, the Department has established 22 IVF laboratories. The technology has important role in genetic upgradation of bovine population in single generation. Further, to deliver technology at reasonable rates to farmers Government has launched indigenously developed IVF media.

(iv)       Sex-Sorted Semen Production: The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India has established sex sorted semen production facilities at 5 government semen stations located in Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh. 3 private semen stations are also producing sex sorted semen doses. So far 1.15 crore sex-sorted semen doses from high genetic merit bulls have been produced and made available for Artificial Insemination.

(v)        Genomic Selection: To accelerate genetic improvement of cattle and buffaloes, the Department has developed unified genomic chips—Gau Chip for indigenous cattle and Mahish Chip for buffaloes—specifically designed for initiating genomic selection in the country.

(vi)       Multi-purpose Artificial Insemination Technicians in Rural India (MAITRIs): Under the scheme MAITRIs are trained and equipped to deliver quality Artificial Insemination services at farmers’ doorstep. During the last 3 years 38,736 MAITRIs have been trained and equipped under Rashtriya Gokul Mission.

(vii)      Accelerated Breed Improvement Programme using sex sorted semen: This program aims to produce female calves with up to 90% accuracy, thereby enhancing breed improvement and farmers’ income. Farmers receive support for assured pregnancy upto 50% of the cost of sex sorted semen. As of now, 341,998 farmers have been benefited from this program. Government has launched indigenously developed sex sorted semen technology to deliver sex sorted semen at reasonable rates to farmers.

(viii)     Accelerated Breed Improvement Programme using In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) technology: This technology is utilized for the rapid genetic upgradation of bovines and an incentive of Rs 5,000 per assured pregnancy is made available to farmers interested in taking up IVF technology.

2.         National Livestock Mission (NLM): The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India is implementing NLM scheme since the financial year 2014-15. In view of the present need of the sector the NLM scheme has been revised and realigned from financial year 2021-22. The National Livestock Mission along with along other components and subcomponents of the scheme covers Sub-Mission on feed and fodder development.

The Sub-Mission of the feed and fodder is covering the following activities:

Activity I:        Assistance for quality Fodder seed production: 100% incentivization for production of all categories of fodder seed production by Central and State Govt. institutions;

Activity II:       Entrepreneurial activities in feed and fodder: One time 50% capital subsidy up to Rs 50 lakh is provided to the Individuals. SHG, FCOs JLG, FPOs, Dairy Cooperative societies, section 8 companies are incentivized for the value addition such as Hay/Silage/Total Mixed Ration(TMR)/ Fodder Block.

Activity III: Establishment of Entrepreneurs for Fodder Seed processing Infrastructure (processing and grading unit/ fodder seed storage godown): One time 50% capital subsidy up to Rs 50 lakh is provided to companies, start-ups/ SHGs/FPOs/FCOs/JLGs/ Cooperative societies Section 8 companies and other credible organizations for establishing fodder seed processing infrastructure.

Activity IV:      Fodder production from Non-Forest Wasteland / Rangeland / Non-arable Land” and “Fodder Production from Forest Land: The Central assistance is provided for production of various fodder in the degraded non-forest wasteland / rangeland / grassland/ non-arable land and forest land to enhance the vegetation cover of problematic soils like saline, acidic and heavy soil.

The Scheme National Livestock Mission also provides assistance to States/ UTs for livestock Insurance and component is implemented on 60:40 sharing basis between the Central Government and States and 90:10 sharing basis for North-Eastern and Himalayan States. Along with other livestock species dairy animals including cattle buffaloes are covered under the component.

3.         National Programme for Dairy Development: This scheme focuses on creating dairy infrastructure for the procurement, processing, and marketing of milk and milk products in the cooperative dairy sector inter alia training and awareness programs for dairy farmers, input services such as cattle-feed and mineral mixtures, and assistance for quality testing of milk and milk products, thereby improving the economic condition of dairy farmers enrolled in cooperatives.

4.         Livestock Health and Disease Control (LH & DC): The scheme is implemented for providing assistance for control of animal diseases like Foot and Mouth Disease, Brucellosis and also to provide assistance to State Governments for Control of other infectious diseases of livestock including dairy animals. Mobile Veterinary Units are established under the scheme to deliver quality livestock health services at farmers doorstep. Under the vaccination programme: (i) more than 100 crore vaccinations have been done against FMD including 35 crore vaccination performed during current year; and (ii) about 4.3 crore calves vaccinated against Brucellosis under brucellosis control programme including 1.3 crore calves vaccinated during current year. Under the component of Establishment and Strengthening of Veterinary Hospitals and Dispensaries (ESVHD- MVU), 100% financial assistance is provided towards procurement & customization of Mobile Veterinary Units (MVUs) with recurring operational expenditure in the ratio of 90:10 for North Eastern & Himalayan States; 60% for other States, and 100% for UTs for delivery of veterinary healthcare services through Mobile Veterinary Units (MVUs) through a Toll-Free Number (1962) at farmers’ doorsteps which include disease diagnosis, treatment, vaccination, minor surgical interventions, audio-visual aids and extension services. So far, 4016 MVUs are operational in 28 states and 65 lakh farmers benefitted.

5.         Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF) The scheme is to facilitate incentivisation of investments to establish (i) Dairy processing and product diversification infrastructure, (ii) Meat processing and product diversification infrastructure and (iii) Animal Feed Plant (iv) Breed Improvement Technology and Breed Multiplication Farm, (v) Veterinary Vaccine and Drugs production facilities, (vi) Animal waste to wealth management (Agri-waste Management). Keeping in view of the success of AHIDF, the erstwhile Dairy Processing Infrastructure Development Fund has been subsumed with the AHIDF on 01.02.2024. Now total size of the fund is Rs 29110 crore. So far 131 projects of dairy processing with the total project cost of Rs 5976 crore has been sanctioned under the scheme and 77 breed improvement projects with the total project cost of Rs 1027.82 crore.

This information was given by the Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh, in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

*****

AA

(Release ID: 2101849) Visitor Counter : 25

Read this release in: Hindi

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

February 12, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: EU launches InvestAI initiative to mobilise €200 billion of investment in artificial intelligence

Source: European Commission

European Commission Press release Paris, 11 Feb 2025 Today, at the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Summit in Paris, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has launched InvestAI, an initiative to mobilise €200 billion for investment in AI, including a new European fund of €20 billion for AI gigafactories.

MIL OSI Europe News –

February 12, 2025
MIL-OSI: Bitget Wallet Simplifies BNB Memecoin Trading with MemeX and Zero-Fee On-Ramp

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

VICTORIA, Seychelles, Feb. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget Wallet, a leading Web3 non-custodial wallet, has launched the BNB Chain Meme Token List, providing real-time tracking and one-click trading for the most popular meme tokens. As meme tokens surge in popularity on BNB Chain, this feature — alongside the powerful MemeX discovery tool, limit orders, and a zero-fee BNB on-ramp event — ensures users have the right tools to stay ahead of the market and discover early-stage tokens.

The Meme Token List is a real-time leaderboard that shows the top-performing and emerging meme tokens on BNB Chain. It’s designed to make trading simple by helping users easily find trending tokens and understand market movements. By offering quick and easy access to token insights, Bitget Wallet helps users discover new opportunities without missing key moments.

To further boost the memecoin trading experience, Bitget Wallet includes MemeX and limit order support for BNB Chain. MemeX is an exclusive discovery tool that finds new, high-potential tokens within seconds of their creation. It also filters out high-risk tokens, giving users added safety when trading. The limit order feature allows users to set a target price for buying or selling, and trades will automatically execute when the market hits their set price. This helps users stay in control, especially when the market is moving fast.

To make it easier and cheaper to trade meme tokens, users can buy BNB directly within Bitget Wallet with zero on-ramp fees. Bitget Wallet has partnered with Simplex and OnMeta for a special BNB on-ramp event running from February 12, 20:00 to February 19, 20:00 (UTC+8). During this period, users benefit from zero-fee BNB purchases and the chance to win a share of the $5,000 $BGB prize pool. This streamlined, cost-effective on-ramp removes fees and delays, giving users a head start in the fast-moving meme token market.

“Meme tokens are entering a new era where virality and fun will continue, but the big wins will come from smart strategies and early moves,” said Alvin Kan, COO of Bitget Wallet. “We expect trends like cross-vertical memes, AI-driven tokenomics, and sustainable community models to define the next wave of memecoin trading. Our goal is to give users the best tools to capture these opportunities and stay ahead of the next big trend.”

About Bitget Wallet
Bitget Wallet is the home of Web3, uniting endless possibilities in one non-custodial wallet. With over 60 million users, it offers comprehensive onchain services, including asset management, instant swaps, rewards, staking, trading tools, live market data, a DApp browser, an NFT marketplace and crypto payment. Supporting over 100 blockchains, 20,000+ DApps, and 500,000+ tokens, Bitget Wallet enables seamless multi-chain trading across hundreds of DEXs and cross-chain bridges, along with a $300+ million protection fund to ensure safety of users’ assets. Experience Bitget Wallet Lite to start a Web3 journey.
For more information, visit: X | Telegram | Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn | TikTok | Discord | Facebook
For media inquiries, please contact media.web3@bitget.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/715e20ac-07d0-4a57-ab07-7e15ac959754

The MIL Network –

February 12, 2025
MIL-OSI Europe: MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on the further deterioration of the political situation in Georgia – B10-0107/2025

Source: European Parliament

B10‑0107/2025

European Parliament resolution on the further deterioration of the political situation in Georgia

(2025/2522(RSP))

The European Parliament,

– having regard to its previous resolutions on Georgia, in particular that of 28 November 2024 on Georgia’s worsening democratic crisis following the recent parliamentary elections and alleged electoral fraud [1],

– having regard to the European Council conclusions of 14 and 15 December 2023 and of 27 June 2024,

– having regard to the Commission communication of 8 November 2023 entitled ‘2023 Communication on EU Enlargement Policy’ (COM(2023)0690) and to the accompanying Commission staff working document of 8 November 2023 entitled ‘Georgia 2023 Report’ (SWD(2023)0697),

– having regard to the joint statement of 8 November 2023 by the Chair of the Delegation for relations with the South Caucasus and the European Parliament’s Standing Rapporteur on Georgia on the Commission recommendation of 8 November 2023 on the EU membership application of Georgia,

– having regard to the Association Agreement between the European Union and the European Atomic Energy Community and their Member States, of the one part, and Georgia, of the other part [2], which entered into force on 1 July 2016,

– having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, in particular Article 215(2) thereof, and to the Treaty on European Union, in particular Article 29 thereof,

– having regard to the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Conflict in Georgia and to its September 2009 report,

– having regard to the final conclusions of the international election observation mission relating to the parliamentary elections of 26 October 2024,

– having regard to Rule 136(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

A. whereas the exercise of freedom of opinion, expression, association and peaceful assembly is a fundamental right enshrined in the Georgian constitution;

B. whereas Georgia, as a signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the European Convention on Human Rights and a member of the Council of Europe and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), has committed itself to the principles of democracy, the rule of law and respect for fundamental freedoms and human rights;

C. whereas Russia has illegally occupied Abkhazia and South Ossetia since the August 2008 conflict that followed Georgia’s attack on Tskhinvali on the night of 7 to 8 August 2008;

D. whereas in June 2014, the EU and Georgia signed an Association Agreement that entered into force on 1 July 2016;

E. whereas in December 2023, the European Council granted Georgia the status of EU candidate country;

F. whereas in March 2017, the EU visa facilitation agreement with Georgia came into effect, following Georgia’s successful implementation of all the benchmarks set in its visa liberalisation action plan;

G. whereas on 27 January 2025, the Council decided to suspend parts of the EU-Georgia visa facilitation agreement, specifically affecting diplomats and officials, who may now be required to apply for a visa when travelling to the EU;

H. whereas on 28 November 2024, in response to the European Parliament’s November 2024 resolution on Georgia, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced that Georgia would suspend accession talks until the end of 2028 and refuse all EU budget support; whereas he also stated that by 2028, Georgia would be ‘more prepared than any other candidate country to open accession talks with Brussels and become a Member State in 2030’;

I. whereas the parliamentary elections held on 26 October 2024 were the first to take place in Georgia under a fully proportional electoral system and were also the first elections to be held since Georgia was granted the status of EU candidate country in December 2023;

J. whereas the legal framework in Georgia provides an adequate basis for conducting democratic elections, but several long-standing recommendations of the OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the Venice Commission remain unaddressed, despite numerous reforms;

K. whereas on 16 November 2024, the Georgian electoral authority announced the official results of the country’s parliamentary elections, confirming that the ruling Georgian Dream party had won 89 seats in the 150-seat parliament after receiving 53.93 % of the vote, while four opposition parties had passed the 5 % threshold and had received a combined 37.44 % share of the vote;

L. whereas the international election observation mission on the parliamentary elections in Georgia comprised 529 observers from 42 countries, including 380 expert observers deployed by the ODIHR, 60 parliamentarians and staff from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, 39 from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, 38 from the NATO Parliamentary Assembly and 12 from the European Parliament;

M. whereas the election campaign in Georgia was competitive and generally allowed contestants to campaign freely, but was marred by the use of highly divisive rhetoric and imagery, as well as isolated incidents of violence, event disruptions, verbal abuse and the destruction of campaign materials, as reported by both ruling and opposition parties;

N. whereas the administration of the elections was generally orderly, but they took place in a tense environment, with overcrowding in many polling stations and several incidents of physical altercations and intimidation;

O. whereas President Salome Zourabichvili publicly accused the Georgian Government of electoral fraud and irregularities in the recent parliamentary elections; whereas President Zourabichvili subsequently refused to testify before the Georgian Prosecutor’s Office regarding these allegations;

P. whereas Mikheil Kavelashvili was sworn in as President of Georgia on 29 December 2024; whereas the outgoing President, Salome Zourabichvili, refused to step down despite the official end of her term of office; whereas opposition parties boycotted the Georgian Parliament in protest;

Q. whereas Georgia has over 26 000 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) – 1 for every 142 citizens, which is greater than the EU average;

R. whereas following the 2020 parliamentary elections, the NGO International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy, which received external funding, challenged the official election results and questioned their legitimacy, but later admitted that it had made a significant error in its calculations;

S. whereas the Parliament of Georgia adopted the ‘transparency of foreign influence’ law, which was signed into law on 3 June 2024 despite the President’s veto; whereas the law was met with protest from parts of Georgian civil society; whereas the law requires organisations receiving more than 20 % of their funding from overseas to register as ‘agents of foreign influence’;

T. whereas on 17 September 2024, the Parliament of Georgia adopted the ‘family values and the protection of minors’ law, which bans gender transition, prohibits adoption by gay and transgender people, nullifies, on Georgian territory, same-sex marriages performed abroad, and provides a legal basis for the authorities to outlaw Pride events and public displays of the LGBTQI+ rainbow flag and to impose the censorship of films and books;

U. whereas the Venice Commission stresses that, in accordance with international standards, the state has a positive obligation to ensure gender equality; whereas on 4 April 2024, the Parliament of Georgia repealed the 2020 amendments introducing gender quotas for candidate lists in parliamentary and local elections, and abolished the associated financial incentives for political parties;

V. whereas the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has been operating in Georgia since 1992; whereas Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze claimed that USAID funding was not directed toward genuine humanitarian objectives but was instead being used to ‘stage revolutions, sow disorder and destabilise countries, including Georgia’; whereas US President Donald Trump implemented a 90-day freeze on US foreign assistance to reassess its alignment with national interests;

1. Recalls that the EU accession process is based on objective criteria; regrets the European Council’s decision to suspend financial assistance to Georgia; underlines the benefits of the visa facilitation agreement and the need to maintain it; emphasises the need for a constructive dialogue between the Government of Georgia and the EU; calls on the Government of Georgia to uphold its commitments to reform and continue implementing the necessary measures for its EU accession process;

2. Stresses that Georgia’s future must be determined by the will of its people, free from external pressure or interference; emphasises that Georgia’s sovereignty and political trajectory should reflect the aspirations of its citizens; condemns any attempts, whether foreign or domestic, to undermine Georgia’s democratic institutions;

3. Takes note of the final report of the international election observation mission, which stated that the overall legal framework in Georgia provides an adequate basis for conducting democratic elections, that voters were offered a wide choice of 18 candidate lists, that contestants could generally campaign freely and that the administration of the elections was generally orderly; is alarmed that these elections took place in a polarised environment and on an uneven playing field, and that there were reports of pressure on voters and cases where ballot secrecy was potentially compromised;

4. Takes note of the results of the parliamentary elections that took place in Georgia on 26 October 2024; calls on all sides to work together constructively and peacefully and observe the rule of law, and to address the long-standing recommendations of the ODIHR and the Venice Commission with regard to elections and the increasing polarisation of Georgian society; calls for the EU to enter into a holistic and purposeful dialogue with the new Government of Georgia; calls on all foreign actors to respect the outcome of the elections;

5. Rejects, with deep concern, the adoption of the ‘family values and the protection of minors’ law, and considers it an attack on the LGBTQI+ community and a threat to civil liberties as a whole; rejects, furthermore, the law’s implications for the media, given that it imposes censorship by banning broadcasters from reporting freely on LGBTQI+ issues; reiterates that media freedom and tolerance towards sexual minorities are key features of a functioning democracy;

6. Notes that the ‘transparency of foreign influence’ law entails the risk that NGOs, civil society organisations, opposition media outlets and other organisations that receive funds from other countries will be labelled ‘foreign agents’;

7. Emphasises that the rights to freedom of expression and assembly and to peaceful protest are fundamental freedoms and must be respected in all circumstances; expresses concern over reports of the unnecessary and disproportionate use of force against demonstrators; highlights the statement by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, that ‘[a]ny restrictions to these rights must abide by principles of legality, necessity and proportionality’ and that ‘[t]he use of force during protests should always be exceptional and a measure of last resort when facing an imminent threat’;

8. Emphasises that foreign assistance for humanitarian and development purposes must be allocated on the basis of need and human dignity, not geopolitical interests; stresses that such aid should remain impartial, transparent and focused on social and economic well-being, rather than serving as a tool for political leverage or interference;

9. Regrets the Georgian Parliament’s decision to abolish mandatory gender quotas; reiterates the need for balanced gender representation in political participation; regrets the under-representation of women in the electoral process; calls on the Government of Georgia to undertake initiatives in this regard;

10. Takes note of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s statements at a press conference at the UN General Assembly in New York and the corresponding willingness of Georgian officials to resolve outstanding issues in a peaceful, diplomatic way; encourages both sides to undertake solid initiatives to this end;

11. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Council, the Commission, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the Council of Europe, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe and the President, Government and Parliament of Georgia.

MIL OSI Europe News –

February 12, 2025

MIL-OSI: Royalty Pharma Reports Q4 and Full Year 2024 Results

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Portfolio Receipts of $742 million in Q4 2024 and $2,801 million for FY 2024
Royalty Receipts growth of 12% in Q4 2024 and 13% for FY 2024
Net cash provided by operating activities of $743 million in Q4 2024 and $2,769 million for FY 2024
Full year 2025 guidance: Portfolio Receipts expected to be $2,900 to $3,050 million excluding future transactions

NEW YORK, Feb. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Royalty Pharma plc (Nasdaq: RPRX) today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full year 2024 and introduced full year 2025 guidance for Portfolio Receipts.

“We had an incredibly successful 2024, delivering double-digit growth in Royalty Receipts, which was significantly above our initial guidance, and deploying $2.8 billion of capital on value-enhancing royalties” said Pablo Legorreta, Royalty Pharma’s founder and Chief Executive Officer. “We are very excited for the opportunities ahead as the fundamentals of our business have never been stronger. Additionally, we have already taken two major steps at the start of 2025 to enhance shareholder value, announcing the acquisition of our external manager, which is expected to result in multiple financial and strategic benefits, and a new $3 billion share repurchase program, which highlights the confidence we have in our business and the attractive value we see in our shares. With a robust transaction pipeline and significant financial flexibility, I am confident that Royalty Pharma is well positioned to deliver attractive, compounding growth over the long term.”

Strong Royalty Receipts growth; Portfolio Receipts growth impacted by a high base of comparison

Royalty Receipts grew 12% to $729 million in the fourth quarter and 13% to $2,771 million for full year 2024, driven by strong performance from Evrysdi, the CF franchise, Trelegy, Tremfya and new royalty acquisitions.
Portfolio Receipts increased 1% to $742 million in the fourth quarter of 2024; Portfolio Receipts decreased 8% from $3,049 million to $2,801 million for full year 2024, largely reflecting $525 million in Biohaven-related milestone payments received in 2023.

Capital Deployment of $2.8 billion in 2024 with royalties on eight new therapies added to the portfolio

Record year for synthetic royalty transactions for Royalty Pharma with $925 million announced in 2024.
Significantly expanded development-stage portfolio by acquiring royalties on four potential new therapies.

Exciting new product launches expected across the royalty portfolio in 2025

Royalty Pharma to benefit in 2025 from new product launches, including Servier’s Voranigo, Bristol Myers Squibb’s Cobenfy, Ascendis’ Yorvipath, Syndax and Incyte’s Niktimvo and Geron’s Rytelo.

Financial guidance for full year 2025 (excludes contribution from future transactions)

Royalty Pharma expects 2025 Portfolio Receipts to be between $2,900 million and $3,050 million, representing expected growth of 4% to 9%.

Financial & Liquidity Summary

	Three Months Ended December 31,			Twelve Months Ended December 31,
	(unaudited)
*($ and shares in millions)*	2024	2023	Change	2024	2023	Change
Portfolio Receipts	742	736	1%	2,801	3,049	(8)%
Net cash provided by operating activities	743	773	(4)%	2,769	2,988	(7)%
Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP)*	669	682	(2)%	2,565	2,806	(9)%
Portfolio Cash Flow (non-GAAP)*	678	687	(1)%	2,452	2,708	(9)%
Weighted average Class A ordinary shares outstanding – diluted	589	598	(1)%	594	603	(1)%

*See “Liquidity and Capital Resources” section. Adjusted EBITDA and Portfolio Cash Flow are non-GAAP liquidity measures calculated in accordance with the credit agreement.

Portfolio Receipts Highlights

			Three Months Ended December 31,
			(unaudited)
*($ in millions)*			2024	2023	Change
Products:	Marketers:	Therapeutic Area:
Cystic fibrosis franchise	Vertex	Rare disease	237	207	14%
Trelegy	GSK	Respiratory	74	60	23%
Tysabri	Biogen	Neuroscience	61	68	(11)%
Evrysdi	Roche	Rare disease	56	20	182%
Xtandi	Pfizer, Astellas	Cancer	46	38	20%
Imbruvica	AbbVie, J&J	Cancer	46	50	(10)%
Promacta	Novartis	Hematology	44	44	(1)%
Tremfya	Johnson & Johnson	Immunology	39	35	11%
Cabometyx/Cometriq	Exelixis, Ipsen, Takeda	Cancer	20	18	11%
Spinraza	Biogen	Rare disease	15	17	(13)%
Orladeyo	BioCryst	Rare disease	11	8	36%
Trodelvy	Gilead	Cancer	11	10	10%
Erleada	Johnson & Johnson	Cancer	11	9	25%
Nurtec ODT/Zavzpret	Pfizer	Neuroscience	7	5	49%
Other products⁽⁵⁾			54	63	(14)%
Royalty Receipts			729	651	12%
Milestones and other contractual receipts			13	84	(85)%
Portfolio Receipts			742	736	1%

Results for full year 2024 and 2023 are shown in Table 5. Amounts shown in the table may not add due to rounding.

Royalty Receipts was $729 million in the fourth quarter of 2024, an increase of 12% as compared to $651 million in the fourth quarter of 2023. The increase was primarily driven by strong growth from Evrysdi, the cystic fibrosis franchise, Trelegy, Xtandi and Tremfya. Royalty receipts from Evrysdi included the benefit of the additional royalties acquired in October 2023 and June 2024.

Portfolio Receipts was $742 million in the fourth quarter of 2024, an increase of 1% as compared to $736 million in the fourth quarter of 2023. The increase was primarily driven by the same Royalty Receipts increases noted above, offset by a decrease in milestones and other contractual receipts, which reflected a $50 million payment related to the oral formulation of zavegepant in the prior period.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Royalty Pharma’s liquidity and capital resources are summarized below:

As of December 31, 2024, Royalty Pharma had cash and cash equivalents of $929 million and total debt with principal value of $7.8 billion.

During the fourth quarter of 2024, Royalty Pharma repurchased approximately two million Class A ordinary shares for $50 million. For full year 2024, Royalty Pharma repurchased approximately eight million Class A ordinary shares for $230 million. The weighted-average number of diluted Class A ordinary shares outstanding for the fourth quarter of 2024 was 589 million as compared to 598 million for the fourth quarter of 2023. The weighted-average number of diluted Class A ordinary shares outstanding for full year 2024 was 594 million as compared to 603 million for full year 2023.

In January 2025, Royalty Pharma’s Board of Directors authorized a new share repurchase program under which Royalty Pharma may repurchase up to $3.0 billion of its Class A ordinary shares. Royalty Pharma intends to repurchase $2.0 billion of its shares in 2025, subject to market conditions. The total value of shares repurchased will depend on the discount to the intrinsic value at which its Class A ordinary shares are trading. This new share repurchase program replaces the unused $465 million of the company’s original $1.0 billion share repurchase program that was announced in March 2023.

Liquidity Summary

	Three Months Ended December 31,		Twelve Months Ended December 31,
	(unaudited)
*($ in millions)*	2024	2023	2024	2023
Portfolio Receipts	742	736	2,801	3,049
Payments for operating and professional costs	(72)	(54)	(236)	(243)
Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP)	669	682	2,565	2,806
Interest received/(paid), net	8	5	(113)	(98)
Portfolio Cash Flow (non-GAAP)	678	687	2,452	2,708

Amounts may not add due to rounding.

Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) was $669 million in the fourth quarter of 2024. Adjusted EBITDA is calculated as Portfolio Receipts minus payments for operating and professional costs.
Portfolio Cash Flow (non-GAAP) was $678 million in the fourth quarter of 2024. Portfolio Cash Flow is calculated as Adjusted EBITDA minus interest paid or received, net. This measure reflects the cash generated by Royalty Pharma’s business that can be redeployed into value-enhancing royalty acquisitions, used to repay debt, returned to shareholders through dividends or share purchases, or utilized for other discretionary investments.

Refer to Table 4 for Royalty Pharma’s reconciliation of each non-GAAP measure to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, net cash provided by operating activities.

Capital Deployment was $522 million in the fourth quarter of 2024, consisting primarily of the acquisitions of royalties on Niktimvo and Rytelo. Capital Deployment reflects cash payments during the period for new and previously announced transactions. Capital Deployment was $2.8 billion for full year 2024.

The table below details Capital Deployment by category:

Capital Deployment

	Three Months Ended December 31,		Twelve Months Ended December 31,
	(unaudited)
*($ in millions)*	2024	2023	2024	2023
Acquisitions of financial royalty assets	(496)	(1,002)	(2,506)	(2,116)
Development-stage funding payments – upfront and milestone	—	—	—	(50)
Development-stage funding payments – ongoing	(1)	(1)	(2)	(2)
Purchases of available for sale debt securities	—	—	(150)	—
Milestone payments	(25)	—	(75)	(12)
Investments in equity method investees	—	(2)	(11)	(13)
Acquisitions of other financial assets	—	—	(18)	—
Contributions from legacy non-controlling interests – R&D	0	0	1	1
Capital Deployment	(522)	(1,005)	(2,761)	(2,192)

Amounts may not add due to rounding.

In January 2025, Royalty Pharma announced the sale of the MorphoSys Development Funding Bonds for $511 million in upfront cash (press release). This payment, combined with payments previously received, results in total cash proceeds of $530 million on the $300 million investment that was made in September 2022. The proceeds strengthen Royalty Pharma’s balance sheet and provide added flexibility to pursue its disciplined capital allocation strategy.

Royalty Transactions

For full year 2024, Royalty Pharma announced new transactions of up to approximately $2.8 billion. The announced transactions amount reflects the entire amount of capital committed for new transactions during the year, including potential future milestones.

Recent transactions include:

In November 2024, Royalty Pharma acquired a synthetic royalty on Rytelo from Geron Corporation for an upfront payment of $125 million (press release). Rytelo is approved for the treatment of certain adult patients with low- to intermediate-1 risk myelodysplastic syndromes with transfusion-dependent anemia. Following the acquisition, Royalty Pharma is entitled to receive tiered royalties on U.S. net sales on Rytelo.
In November 2024, Royalty Pharma acquired a synthetic royalty on Niktimvo from Syndax Pharmaceuticals, Inc. for an upfront payment of $350 million (press release). Niktimvo is approved for the treatment of chronic graft-versus-host disease and will be co-commercialized by Incyte. Following the acquisition, Royalty Pharma is entitled to receive royalties on U.S. net sales on Niktimvo.

The information in this section should be read together with Royalty Pharma’s reports and documents filed with the SEC at www.sec.gov and the reader is also encouraged to review all other press releases and information available in the Investors section of Royalty Pharma’s website at www.royaltypharma.com.

Internalization Transaction

In January 2025, Royalty Pharma agreed to acquire its external manager, RP Management, LLC (the “Manager”) (press release). This transaction to simplify Royalty Pharma’s corporate structure is expected to result in multiple benefits for shareholders. On a financial basis, the acquisition is expected to reduce costs and enhance economic returns on investments. Specifically, the acquisition will generate cash savings of greater than $100 million in 2026, rising to greater than $175 million in 2030 and driving cumulative savings of greater than $1.6 billion over ten years. The acquisition also increases shareholder alignment, enhances corporate governance, ensures management continuity and simplifies Royalty Pharma’s corporate structure.

The total transaction value of approximately $1.1 billion⁽⁷⁾ consists of approximately 24.5 million shares of Royalty Pharma equity that will vest over five to nine years, approximately $100 million in cash⁽⁸⁾, and the assumption of $380 million of the Manager’s existing debt.

The closing of the internalization transaction is subject to shareholders’ approval of the issuance of the share consideration and other customary closing conditions, including required regulatory approvals. The transaction is estimated to close during the second quarter of 2025.

Key Developments Relating to the Portfolio

The key developments related to Royalty Pharma’s royalty interests are discussed below based on disclosures from the marketers of the products.

TEV-‘749	In January 2025, Teva announced that TEV-‘749 (olanzapine LAI) achieved Phase 3 targeted injections without PDSS (post-injection delirium/sedation syndrome), and the full safety presentation is expected in the second quarter of 2025.
Cystic fibrosis franchise	In December 2024, Vertex announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of the new triple-combination modulator Alyftrek (vanzacaftor triple) for the treatment of cystic fibrosis in people ages 6 and older with at least one responsive mutation. In November 2024, Vertex announced that it had completed regulatory submissions for the vanzacaftor triple in the European Union, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Switzerland, and reviews are underway.
Skytrofa	In December 2024, Ascendis announced the U.S. FDA accepted for review its supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) in adult growth hormone deficiency for Skytrofa. The FDA set a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) goal date of July 27, 2025.
aficamten	In December 2024, Cytokinetics announced that the FDA accepted its New Drug Application (NDA) for aficamten for the treatment of Obstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. The FDA has assigned the NDA a Prescription Drug User Fee Act date of September 26, 2025. Additionally, the European Medicines Agency validated the Marketing Authorization Application for aficamten, and it will now be reviewed by the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP).
Trodelvy	In November 2024, Gilead announced plans to voluntarily withdraw the U.S. accelerated approval of Trodelvy for use in pre-treated adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer, following the results of the Phase 3 TROPiCS-04 trial.
Airsupra	In October 2024, AstraZeneca announced that positive high-level results from the BATURA Phase 3b trial showed Airsupra met the primary endpoint, demonstrating a statistically significant and clinically meaningful reduction in the risk of a severe exacerbation when used as an as-needed rescue medication in response to symptoms compared to as-needed albuterol. These positive results triggered a milestone payment from AstraZeneca, of which Royalty Pharma received its pro rata portion of $27 million in January 2025.
MK-8189	In October 2024, Merck updated its public disclosures to remove MK-8189 from its pipeline chart and Royalty Pharma does not anticipate making a further investment in this program.
pelabresib	In October 2024, Novartis announced that based on its review of 48-week data from the Phase 3 MANIFEST-2 study, longer follow-up time is needed to determine the regulatory path for pelabresib in myelofibrosis. Novartis will continue to follow patients in MANIFEST-2 and evaluate the potential for additional studies to support registration.
trontinemab	In October 2024, Roche presented its latest Phase 1b/2a interim results for trontinemab at the Clinical Trials on Alzheimer’s Disease (CTAD) conference, which demonstrated rapid and robust amyloid plaque depletion after 12 to 28 weeks of treatment and an overall favorable safety profile with very limited amyloid related imaging abnormalities (ARIA-E) observed.

2025 Financial Outlook

Royalty Pharma has provided guidance for full-year 2025, excluding new transactions and borrowings announced after the date of this release, as follows:

	Provided February 11, 2025
Portfolio Receipts	$2,900 million to $3,050 million (Growth of ~+4% to 9% year/year)
Payments for operating and professional costs	Approximately 10% of Portfolio Receipts⁽¹⁾
Interest paid	$260 million

The above Portfolio Receipts guidance represents expected growth of 4% to 9% in 2025. Royalty Pharma’s full-year 2025 guidance reflects a negligible estimated foreign exchange impact to Portfolio Receipts, assuming current foreign exchange rates prevail for the rest of 2025.

2025 guidance for payments for operating and professional costs and interest paid does not reflect the impact of the internalization transaction announced on January 10, 2025 and will be updated following the closing of the internalization transaction, which is expected to be in the second quarter of 2025.

Total interest paid is based on the semi-annual interest payment schedule of Royalty Pharma’s existing notes and is anticipated to be approximately $260 million in 2025. Interest paid is anticipated to be approximately $138 million in the first quarter of 2025, which includes the first interest payment on the $1.5 billion notes issued in June 2024. Interest paid in the third quarter of 2025 is anticipated to be $119 million. De minimis amounts are anticipated in the second and fourth quarter of 2025. These projections assume no additional debt financing in 2025, including no drawdown on the revolving credit facility. In 2024, Royalty Pharma collected interest of $46 million on its cash and cash equivalents.

Royalty Pharma today provides this guidance based on its most up-to-date view of its prospects. This guidance assumes no major unforeseen adverse events or changes in foreign exchange rates and excludes the contributions from transactions announced subsequent to the date of this press release.

Financial Results Call

Royalty Pharma will host a conference call and simultaneous webcast to discuss its fourth quarter and full year 2024 results today at 8:30 a.m., Eastern Time. Please visit the “Investors” page of the company’s website at https://www.royaltypharma.com/investors/events to obtain conference call information and to view the live webcast. A replay of the conference call and webcast will be archived on the company’s website for at least 30 days.

About Royalty Pharma plc

Founded in 1996, Royalty Pharma is the largest buyer of biopharmaceutical royalties and a leading funder of innovation across the biopharmaceutical industry, collaborating with innovators from academic institutions, research hospitals and non-profits through small and mid-cap biotechnology companies to leading global pharmaceutical companies. Royalty Pharma has assembled a portfolio of royalties which entitles it to payments based directly on the top-line sales of many of the industry’s leading therapies. Royalty Pharma funds innovation in the biopharmaceutical industry both directly and indirectly – directly when it partners with companies to co-fund late-stage clinical trials and new product launches in exchange for future royalties, and indirectly when it acquires existing royalties from the original innovators. Royalty Pharma’s current portfolio includes royalties on more than 35 commercial products, including Vertex’s Trikafta, GSK’s Trelegy, Roche’s Evrysdi, Johnson & Johnson’s Tremfya, Biogen’s Tysabri and Spinraza, AbbVie and Johnson & Johnson’s Imbruvica, Astellas and Pfizer’s Xtandi, Novartis’ Promacta, Pfizer’s Nurtec ODT and Gilead’s Trodelvy, and 14 development-stage product candidates.

Forward-Looking Statements

The information set forth herein does not purport to be complete or to contain all of the information you may desire. Statements contained herein are made as of the date of this document unless stated otherwise, and neither the delivery of this document at any time, nor any sale of securities, shall under any circumstances create an implication that the information contained herein is correct as of any time after such date or that information will be updated or revised to reflect information that subsequently becomes available or changes occurring after the date hereof.

This document contains statements that constitute “forward-looking statements” as that term is defined in the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements that express the company’s opinions, expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions or projections regarding future events or future results, in contrast with statements that reflect historical facts. Examples include discussion of Royalty Pharma’s strategies, financing plans, growth opportunities, market growth and plans for capital deployment, plus the benefits of the benefits of the internalization transaction, including expected accretion, enhanced alignment with shareholders, increased investment returns, expectations regarding management continuity, transparency and governance, and the benefits of simplification to its structure. In some cases, you can identify such forward-looking statements by terminology such as “anticipate,” “intend,” “believe,” “estimate,” “plan,” “seek,” “project,” “expect,” “may,” “will,” “would,” “could” or “should,” the negative of these terms or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s current beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to the company. However, these forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of Royalty Pharma’s performance, and you should not place undue reliance on such statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to many risks, uncertainties and other variable circumstances, and other factors. Such risks and uncertainties may cause the statements to be inaccurate and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements. Many of these risks are outside of the company’s control and could cause its actual results to differ materially from those it thought would occur. The forward-looking statements included in this document are made only as of the date hereof. The company does not undertake, and specifically declines, any obligation to update any such statements or to publicly announce the results of any revisions to any such statements to reflect future events or developments, except as required by law.

Certain information contained in this document relates to or is based on studies, publications, surveys and other data obtained from third-party sources and the company’s own internal estimates and research. While the company believes these third-party sources to be reliable as of the date of this document, it has not independently verified, and makes no representation as to the adequacy, fairness, accuracy or completeness of, any information obtained from third-party sources. In addition, all of the market data included in this document involves a number of assumptions and limitations, and there can be no guarantee as to the accuracy or reliability of such assumptions. Finally, while the company believes its own internal research is reliable, such research has not been verified by any independent source.

For further information, please reference Royalty Pharma’s reports and documents filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) by visiting EDGAR on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

Portfolio Receipts

Portfolio Receipts is a key performance metric that represents Royalty Pharma’s ability to generate cash from Royalty Pharma’s portfolio investments, the primary source of capital that is deployed to make new portfolio investments. Portfolio Receipts is defined as the sum of Royalty Receipts and Milestones and other contractual receipts. Royalty Receipts includes variable payments based on sales of products, net of contractual payments to the legacy non-controlling interests, that are attributed to Royalty Pharma.

Milestones and other contractual receipts include sales-based or regulatory milestone payments and other fixed contractual receipts, net of contractual payments to legacy non-controlling interests, that are attributed to Royalty Pharma. Portfolio Receipts does not include proceeds from equity securities or proceeds from purchases and sales of marketable securities, both of which are not central to Royalty Pharma’s fundamental business strategy.

Portfolio Receipts is calculated as the sum of the following line items from Royalty Pharma’s GAAP statements of cash flows: Cash collections from financial royalty assets, Cash collections from intangible royalty assets, Other royalty cash collections, Proceeds from available for sale debt securities and Distributions from equity method investees less Distributions to legacy non-controlling interests – Portfolio Receipts, which represent contractual distributions of Royalty Receipts, milestones and other contractual receipts to RPSFT and the Legacy Investors Partnerships. Distributions to RPSFT substantially ended in December 2023 when Royalty Pharma acquired the remaining interest in RPCT held by RPSFT.

Use of Non-GAAP Measures

Adjusted EBITDA and Portfolio Cash Flow are non-GAAP liquidity measures that exclude the impact of certain items and therefore have not been calculated in accordance with GAAP.

Management believes that Adjusted EBITDA and Portfolio Cash Flow are important non-GAAP measures used to analyze liquidity because they are key components of certain material covenants contained within Royalty Pharma’s credit agreement. Royalty Pharma cautions readers that amounts presented in accordance with the definitions of Adjusted EBITDA and Portfolio Cash Flow may not be the same as similar measures used by other companies or analysts. These non-GAAP liquidity measures have limitations as analytical tools, and you should not consider them in isolation or as a substitute for the analysis of Royalty Pharma’s results as reported under GAAP.

The definitions of Adjusted EBITDA and Portfolio Cash Flow used by Royalty Pharma are the same as the definitions in the credit agreement. Noncompliance with the interest coverage ratio, leverage ratio and Portfolio Cash Flow ratio covenants under the credit agreement could result in lenders requiring the company to immediately repay all amounts borrowed. If Royalty Pharma cannot satisfy these covenants, it would be prohibited under the credit agreement from engaging in certain activities, such as incurring additional indebtedness, paying dividends, making certain payments, and acquiring and disposing of assets. Consequently, Adjusted EBITDA and Portfolio Cash Flow are critical to the assessment of Royalty Pharma’s liquidity.

Adjusted EBITDA and Portfolio Cash Flow are used by management as key liquidity measures in the evaluation of the company’s ability to generate cash from operations. Management uses Adjusted EBITDA and Portfolio Cash Flow when considering available cash, including for decision-making purposes related to funding of acquisitions, debt repayments, dividends and other discretionary investments. Further, these non-GAAP liquidity measures help management, the audit committee and investors evaluate the company’s ability to generate liquidity from operating activities.

The company has provided reconciliations of these non-GAAP liquidity measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, being net cash provided by operating activities in Table 4.

Royalty Pharma Investor Relations and Communications

+1 (212) 883-6772
ir@royaltypharma.com


Royalty Pharma plc Condensed Consolidated Operations (unaudited) Table 1

	Three Months Ended December 31,		Twelve Months Ended December 31,
*($ in millions)*	2024	2023	2024	2023
Income and other revenues
Income from financial royalty assets	562	523	2,149	2,198
Other royalty income and revenues	32	73	114	157
Total income and other revenues	594	596	2,264	2,355
Operating expense/(income)
Provision for changes in expected cash flows from financial royalty assets	164	(77)	732	561
Research and development funding expense	1	1	2	52
General and administrative expenses	68	59	237	250
Total operating expense/(income), net	232	(17)	971	862
Operating income	362	613	1,292	1,492
Other (income)/expense
Equity in earnings of equity method investees	(32)	(0)	(30)	(29)
Interest expense	66	47	226	187
Other income, net	(7)	(152)	(234)	(366)
Total other expense/(income), net	27	(105)	(38)	(208)
Consolidated net income before tax	334	718	1,331	1,700
Income tax expense	—	—	—	—
Consolidated net income	334	718	1,331	1,700
Net income attributable to non-controlling interests	126	223	472	565
Net income attributable to Royalty Pharma plc	208	494	859	1,135

Amounts may not add due to rounding.


Royalty Pharma plc Selected Balance Sheet Data (unaudited) Table 2

*($ in millions)*	As of December 31, 2024	As of December 31, 2023
Cash and cash equivalents	929	477
Total current and non-current financial royalty assets, net	15,911	14,827
Total assets	18,223	16,382
Current portion of long-term debt	998	—
Long-term debt, net of current portion	6,615	6,135
Total liabilities	7,880	6,298
Total shareholders’ equity	10,342	10,084


Royalty Pharma plc Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited) Table 3

	Three Months Ended December 31,		Twelve Months Ended December 31,
*($ in millions)*	2024	2023	2024	2023
Cash flows from operating activities:
Cash collections from financial royalty assets	777	747	2,983	3,201
Cash collections from intangible royalty assets	0	0	15	1
Other royalty cash collections	30	75	109	159
Distributions from equity method investees	—	—	13	19
Interest received	9	8	46	72
Development-stage funding payments – ongoing	(1)	(1)	(2)	(2)
Development-stage funding payments – upfront and milestone	—	—	—	(50)
Payments for operating and professional costs	(72)	(54)	(236)	(243)
Interest paid	(1)	(3)	(160)	(169)
Net cash provided by operating activities	743	773	2,769	2,988
Cash flows from investing activities:
Distributions from equity method investees	3	5	24	44
Investments in equity method investees	—	(2)	(11)	(13)
Purchases of equity securities	—	—	(63)	—
Proceeds from equity securities	—	—	99	—
Purchases of available for sale debt securities	—	—	(150)	—
Proceeds from available for sale debt securities	13	1	20	1
Proceeds from sales and maturities of marketable securities	—	—	—	24
Acquisitions of financial royalty assets	(496)	(1,002)	(2,506)	(2,116)
Acquisitions of other financial assets	—	—	(18)	—
Milestone payments	(25)	—	(75)	(12)
Other	—	(2)	2	(2)
Net cash used in investing activities	(506)	(1,000)	(2,678)	(2,073)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Distributions to legacy non-controlling interests – Portfolio Receipts	(81)	(92)	(362)	(377)
Distributions to continuing non-controlling interests	(31)	(24)	(125)	(120)
Dividends to shareholders	(94)	(89)	(376)	(358)
Repurchases of Class A ordinary shares	(53)	(30)	(230)	(305)
Contributions from legacy non-controlling interests – R&D	0	0	1	1
Contributions from non-controlling interests – other	1	1	4	7
Cash acquired in connection with purchase of non-controlling interest	—	5	—	5
Proceeds from revolving credit facility	—	350	—	350
Repayment of revolving credit facility	—	(350)	—	(350)
Repayment of long-term debt	—	—	—	(1,000)
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt, net of discount	—	—	1,471	—
Debt issuance costs and other	0	(2)	(13)	(2)
Other	0	—	(9)	—
Net cash (used in)/provided by financing activities	(258)	(232)	361	(2,149)
Net change in cash and cash equivalents	(21)	(459)	452	(1,234)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	950	936	477	1,711
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	929	477	929	477

Amounts may not add due to rounding.


Royalty Pharma plc GAAP to Non-GAAP Reconciliation (unaudited) Table 4

	Three Months Ended December 31,		Twelve Months Ended December 31,
*($ in millions)*	2024	2023	2024	2023
Net cash provided by operating activities (GAAP)	743	773	2,769	2,988
Adjustments:
Proceeds from available for sale debt securities⁽⁶⁾	13	1	20	1
Distributions from equity method investees⁽⁶⁾	3	5	24	44
Interest (received)/paid, net⁽⁶⁾	(8)	(5)	113	98
Development-stage funding payments – ongoing	1	1	2	2
Development-stage funding payments – upfront and milestone	—	—	—	50
Distributions to legacy non-controlling interests – Portfolio Receipts⁽⁶⁾	(81)	(92)	(362)	(377)
Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP)	669	682	2,565	2,806
Interest received/(paid), net⁽⁶⁾	8	5	(113)	(98)
Portfolio Cash Flow (non-GAAP)	678	687	2,452	2,708

Amounts may not add due to rounding.


Royalty Pharma plc Fourth Quarter and Full Year Portfolio Receipts Highlights (unaudited) Table 5

	Three Months Ended December 31,			Twelve Months Ended December 31,
*($ in millions)*	2024	2023	Change	2024	2023	Change
Products:
Cystic fibrosis franchise	237	207	14%	857	771	11%
Trelegy	74	60	23%	284	203	40%
Tysabri	61	68	(11)%	262	279	(6)%
Imbruvica	46	50	(10)%	191	210	(9)%
Evrysdi	56	20	182%	174	66	163%
Xtandi	46	38	20%	169	146	15%
Promacta	44	44	(1)%	158	161	(2)%
Tremfya	39	35	11%	140	116	20%
Cabometyx/Cometriq	20	18	11%	73	66	10%
Spinraza	15	17	(13)%	45	45	1%
Trodelvy	11	10	10%	43	33	30%
Erleada	11	9	25%	39	27	42%
Orladeyo	11	8	36%	39	29	32%
Nurtec ODT/Zavzpret	7	5	49%	26	18	39%
Other products⁽⁵⁾	54	63	(14)%	273	277	(1)%
Royalty Receipts	729	651	12%	2,771	2,449	13%
Milestones and other contractual receipts	13	84	(85)%	31	599	(95)%
Portfolio Receipts	742	736	1%	2,801	3,049	(8)%

Amounts may not add due to rounding.

Royalty Pharma plc
Description of Approved Indications for Select Portfolio Therapies
Table 6

Cystic fibrosis franchise	Cystic fibrosis
Trelegy	Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma
Tysabri	Relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis
Evrysdi	Spinal muscular atrophy
Xtandi	Prostate cancer
Imbruvica	Hematological malignancies and chronic graft versus host disease
Promacta	Chronic immune thrombocytopenia purpura and aplastic anemia
Tremfya	Plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis and ulcerative colitis
Cabometyx / Cometriq	Kidney, liver and thyroid cancer
Spinraza	Spinal muscular atrophy
Orladeyo	Hereditary angioedema
Trodelvy	Breast and bladder cancer
Erleada	Prostate cancer
Nurtec ODT/Zavzpret	Acute and preventative treatment of migraine

Notes

⁽¹⁾Portfolio Receipts is a key performance metric that represents Royalty Pharma’s ability to generate cash from Royalty Pharma’s portfolio investments, the primary source of capital that Royalty Pharma can deploy to make new portfolio investments. Portfolio Receipts is defined as the sum of Royalty Receipts and Milestones and other contractual receipts. Royalty Receipts include variable payments based on sales of products, net of contractual payments to the legacy non-controlling interests, that are attributed to Royalty Pharma (“Royalty Receipts”). Milestones and other contractual receipts include sales-based or regulatory milestone payments and other fixed contractual receipts, net of contractual payments to the legacy non-controlling interests, that are attributed to Royalty Pharma. Portfolio Receipts does not include proceeds from equity securities or proceeds from purchases and sales of marketable securities, both of which are not central to Royalty Pharma’s fundamental business strategy.

Portfolio Receipts is calculated as the sum of the following line items from Royalty Pharma’s GAAP statements of cash flows: Cash collections from financial royalty assets, Cash collections from intangible royalty assets, Other royalty cash collections, Proceeds from available for sale debt securities and Distributions from equity method investees less Distributions to legacy non-controlling interests – Portfolio Receipts, which represent contractual distributions of Royalty Receipts and milestones and other contractual receipts to RPSFT and the Legacy Investors Partnerships. Distributions to RPSFT substantially ended in December 2023 when Royalty Pharma acquired the remaining interest in RPCT held by RPSFT.

⁽²⁾Adjusted EBITDA is defined under the credit agreement as Portfolio Receipts minus payments for operating and professional costs. Operating and professional costs reflect Payments for operating and professional costs from the GAAP statements of cash flows. See GAAP to Non-GAAP reconciliation in Table 4.

⁽³⁾Portfolio Cash Flow is defined under the credit agreement as Adjusted EBITDA minus interest paid or received, net. See GAAP to Non-GAAP reconciliation in Table 4. Portfolio Cash Flow reflects the cash generated by Royalty Pharma’s business that can be redeployed into value-enhancing royalty acquisitions, used to repay debt, returned to shareholders through dividends or share purchases or utilized for other discretionary investments.

⁽⁴⁾Capital Deployment is calculated as the summation of the following line items from Royalty Pharma’s GAAP statements of cash flows: Investments in equity method investees, Purchases of available for sale debt securities, Acquisitions of financial royalty assets, Acquisitions of other financial assets, Milestone payments, Development-stage funding payments – ongoing, Development-stage funding payments – upfront and milestone less Contributions from legacy non-controlling interests – R&D.

⁽⁵⁾Other products primarily include Royalty Receipts on the following products: Cimzia, Crysvita, Emgality, Entyvio, Farxiga/Onglyza, IDHIFA, Lexiscan, Nesina, Prevymis, Soliqua and distributions from the Legacy SLP Interest, which is presented as Distributions from equity method investees on the GAAP statements of cash flows.

⁽⁶⁾The table below shows the line item for each adjustment and the direct location for such line item on the GAAP statements of cash flows.

Reconciling Adjustment	Statements of Cash Flows Classification
Interest received/paid, net	Operating activities (Interest paid less Interest received)
Distributions from equity method investees	Investing activities
Proceeds from available for sale debt securities	Investing activities
Distributions to legacy non-controlling interests – Portfolio Receipts	Financing activities

⁽⁷⁾ The total transaction value of approximately $1.1 billion is based on the closing price of Royalty Pharma plc common stock of $26.20 on January 8, 2025.

⁽⁸⁾ Consists of $200 million in cash less the amount of the management fees paid to the Manager from January 1, 2025 through the closing of the transaction.

The MIL Network –

February 12, 2025

MIL-OSI Europe: DPG Media signs new loan agreement with EIB

Source: European Investment Bank

DPG Media Group has signed a new lending agreement with the European Investment Bank (EIB). Built around financing eight core priorities, the EIB finances investments that support EU policy goals, including digitalisation. After a first loan signed in 2022 to support the Group’s digitalisation of media platforms, DPG has now signed a further €120 million in the framework of further digitalisation and innovation of its media.

DPG Media plans to spend a total of €392 million in this regard over the period 2024-2026, of which 30% will be financed with an EIB loan. This financing will allow DPG Media to accelerate its digital transformation and continue to play a leading role in digital innovation as a local player. As part of the project, DPG Media expects to increase its knowledge and expertise in artificial intelligence and content distribution, in alignment with the objectives of the Digital Europe Programme.

EIB vice-president Robert de Groot: “Digitalisation and the development of advanced technologies play a key role in Europe’s competitiveness. These technologies must be an intrinsic part of the broad support for European entrepreneurs and companies. DPG’s investments to digitise its offering and services are in line with European ambitions. EIB loans are meant to foster this type of development.”

Erik Roddenhof, CEO of DPG Media: “We are delighted with this new long-term loan from the European Investment Bank for our investments in our further digital transformation. We deem this necessary to be able to successfully offer independent and strong media as a local media player in a rapidly changing market that is increasingly dominated by global players. With this loan, the group diversifies its debt financing, both in terms of creditors and tenors. We regard the support of the European Investment Bank primarily as a quality stamp, not only for the creditworthiness of DPG Media, but especially for our digital efforts.”

Looking ahead, DPG will invest to further develop its digital platform for end-users and advertisers, including with AI and text-to-speech applications.

In recent years the investments in DPG’s advertising platform ‘Trusted Web’ marked a crucial and unique step to reduce dependence on big tech: advertisers no longer need to use third-party big tech purchasing platforms and tools to buy advertising campaigns at DPG Media.

Furthermore, DPG invested heavily in audio technology, the digitalisation of its magazines and improvement of its streaming platforms on smart TVs, and the platform now also serves multiple users (besides VTM GO, Streamz and RTL Play also use the same platform). DPG Media has also implemented a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy to ensure its platforms remain resistant to emerging threats.

Background information

The European Investment Bank (ElB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by its Member States. Built around eight core priorities, it finances investments that contribute to EU policy objectives by bolstering climate action and the environment, digitalisation and technological innovation, security and defence, cohesion, agriculture and bioeconomy, social infrastructure, high-impact investments outside the EU, and the Capital Markets Union.  

All projects financed by the EIB Group are in line with the Paris Climate Agreement, as pledged in our Climate Bank Roadmap. Almost 60% of the EIB Group’s annual financing supports projects directly contributing to climate change mitigation, adaptation, and a healthier environment.  

DPG Media Group’s mission is to inform, entertain and inspire people. The headquarters of the international media group, which is active in the Belgian, Dutch and Danish markets, are in Antwerp. DPG Media Group has a workforce of 5,396 employees and a portfolio of 90 strong publishing, broadcasting and services brands. Every day, the DPG Media Group brands reach a total of 15 million media users, both online and offline.

MIL OSI Europe News –

February 12, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Opening Address by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi at the AI Action Summit, Paris

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 11 FEB 2025 3:41PM by PIB Delhi

Excellencies,

Friends,

Let me begin with a simple experiment.

If you upload your medical report to an AI app, it can explain in simple language, free of any jargon, what it means for your health. But, if you ask the same app to draw an image of someone writing with their Left hand, the app will most likely draw someone writing with their Right hand. Because that is what the training data is dominated by.

It shows that while the positive potential of AI is absolutely amazing, there are many biases that we need to think carefully about. That is why I am grateful to my friend, President Macron, for hosting this summit. And for inviting me to co-chair it.

Friends,

AI is already re-shaping our polity, our economy, our security and even our society. AI is writing the code for humanity in this century. But, it is very different from other technology milestones in human history.

AI is developing at an unprecedented scale and speed. And being adopted and deployed even faster. There is also a deep inter-dependence across borders. Therefore, there is a need for collective global efforts to establish governance and standards, that uphold our shared values, address risks, and build trust.

But, Governance is not just about managing risks and rivalries. It is also about promoting innovation, and deploying it for the global good. So, we must think deeply and discuss openly about innovation and governance.

Governance is also about ensuring access to all, especially in the Global South. It is where the capacities are most lacking – be it compute power, talent, data, or the financial resources.

Friends,

AI can help transform millions of lives by improving health, education, agriculture and so much more. It can help create a world in which the journey to Sustainable Development Goals becomes easier and faster.

To do this, we must pool together resources and talent. We must develop open-source systems that enhance trust and transparency. We must build quality data sets, free from biases. We must democratise technology and create people-centric applications. We must address concerns related to cyber security, disinformation, and deep fakes. And, we must also ensure that technology is rooted in local ecosystems for it to be effective and useful.

Friends,

Loss of jobs is AI’s most feared disruption. But, history has shown that work does not disappear due to technology. Its nature changes and new types of jobs are created. We need to invest in skilling and re-skilling our people for an AI-driven future.

Friends,

There is no doubt that the high energy intensity of AI needs to be looked into. This will require green power to fuel its future.

India and France have worked together for years through initiatives like the International Solar Alliance to harness the power of the sun. As we advance our partnership to AI, it is a natural progression from sustainability to innovation to shape a smarter and responsible future.

At the same time, Sustainable AI does not only mean using clean energy. AI models must also be efficient and sustainable in size, data needs and resource requirements. After all, the human brain manages to compose poetry and design space ships using less power than most lightbulbs.

Friends,

India has successfully built a Digital Public Infrastructure for over 1.4 billion people at a very low cost. It is built around an open and accessible network. It has regulations, and a wide range of applications to modernize our economy, reform governance and transform the lives of our people.

We have unlocked the power of data through our Data Empowerment and Protection Architecture. And, we have made digital commerce democratic and accessible to all. This vision is the foundation of India’s National AI Mission.

That is why, during our G20 Presidency, we built a consensus on Harnessing AI Responsibly, for Good, and for All. Today, India leads in AI adoption, and techno-legal solutions on data privacy.

We are developing AI applications for public good. We have one of the world’s largest AI talent pools. India is building its own Large Language Model considering our diversity. We also have a unique public-private partnership model for pooling resources like compute power. It is made available to our start-ups and researchers at an affordable cost. And, India is ready to share its experience and expertise to ensure that the AI future is for Good, and for All.

Friends,

We are at the dawn of the AI age that will shape the course of humanity. Some people worry about machines becoming superior in intelligence to humans. But, no one holds the key to our collective future and shared destiny other than us humans.

That sense of responsibility must guide us.

Thank you.

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MJPS/SR

(Release ID: 2101740) Visitor Counter : 114

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

February 12, 2025

MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Measures taken by the government to stop food adulteration

Source: Government of India

Measures taken by the government to stop food adulteration

Regular surveillance, monitoring, inspection, and random sampling of food products are conducted by FSSAI through its regional offices and State/ UTs; penal action taken against defaulting Food Business Operators

Mobile food testing labs “Food Safety on Wheels” (FSWs) provided to extend the reach of basic testing facilities in remote areas

Pan-India Surveillance of food products conducted by FSSAI, especially on staple foods and commodities prone to adulteration

Mechanisms for receiving and addressing food adulteration complaints by consumers in place through the FSSAI helpline or Food Safety Connect mobile app

Mandatory registration certification and licensing by FSSAI for food businesses; regular reviews of the certification process and improvement based on the stakeholder feedback in place

Various campaigns launched by FSSAI to raise consumer awareness about food adulteration

Posted On: 11 FEB 2025 3:38PM by PIB Delhi

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) through its regional offices and State/ Union Territories conducts regular surveillance, monitoring, inspection, and random sampling of food products. In cases where food samples are found to be non-conforming, penal action is taken against the defaulting Food Business Operators as per the provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, Rules and Regulations.

To extend the reach of basic testing facilities even in remote areas, FSSAI has provided mobile food testing labs called Food Safety on Wheels (FSWs). FSSAI also conducts periodic Pan-India Surveillance of food products especially on staple foods and commodities that are prone to adulteration.

FSSAI has also established mechanisms for receiving and addressing complaints related to food adulteration. Consumers can lodge complaints through the FSSAI helpline or Food Safety Connect mobile app, which are promptly investigated and acted upon as per FSS Act, Rules and Regulations. Further, FSSAI has launched various campaigns to raise consumer awareness about food adulteration.

Details of samples analysed, found non-conforming and penal action taken during last 4 years are as below:

Year	No. of Samples Analysed	No. of Samples found non-conforming	No. of Civil Cases launched	No. of Criminal Cases launched
2020-21	1,07,829	28,347	24,195	3,869
2021-22	1,44,345	32,934	28,906	4,946
2022-23	1,77,511	44,626	38,053	4,817
2023-24	1,70,513	33,808	33,750	4,737

As per the FSS Act 2006, no person can commence a food business without holding a license under the Act. Accordingly, petty food businesses such as petty retailers, hawkers, itinerant vendors or temporary stall holders, etc with a turnover of less than 12 lakhs per annum have to take a registration certificate before starting any food business whereas food businesses having an annual turnover of more than 12 lakh need FSSAI license.

A Food Business Operator (FBO) submits an online application through the Food Safety Compliance System (FoSCoS) portal, providing necessary documents, undergoing an inspection by FSSAI officials at their premises, and upon approval, receiving a registration certificate or license depending on their business type and turnover.

FSSAI regularly reviews the certification process and improves it based on stakeholder feedback.

The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Shri Prataprao Jadhav stated this in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.

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HFW/ Measures taken by the government to stop food adulteration/11 February 2025/4

(Release ID: 2101739) Visitor Counter : 79

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

February 12, 2025

MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Budget 2025-26 Strengthens Gender-Focused Allocations: Union Minister Smt. Annpurna Devi Highlights Key Measures for Women and Child Development
Source: Government of India (2)

Union Budget 2025-26 Strengthens Gender-Focused Allocations: Union Minister Smt. Annpurna Devi Highlights Key Measures for Women and Child Development

Transforming Lives, Strengthening India: MoWCD’s Revolutionary Steps in Budget 2025-26

From Nutrition to Entrepreneurship: MoWCD Unveils Comprehensive Vision for Women & Children

Posted On: 11 FEB 2025 3:12PM by PIB Delhi

The Union Minister for Women and Child Development, Smt. Annpurna Devi, addressed the media today in New Delhi, outlining the key provisions of the Union Budget 2025-26 and introducing new initiatives aimed at enhancing child and maternal nutrition while fostering women entrepreneurship.

The Union Budget 2025-26, presented by Union Minister of Finance, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, reflects a significant rise in gender-focused allocations. The Gender Budget now constitutes 8.86% of the total budget, increasing from 6.8% in FY 2024-25. Union Minister Smt. Annpurna Devi emphasized that the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) plays a key role in advancing these efforts, with a considerable share of its budget dedicated to empowering women and girls through various targeted initiatives. This reaffirms the government’s unwavering commitment to gender equality and women-led development.

A record allocation of ₹4.49 lakh crore has been designated for women’s welfare, reflecting a 37.25% increase from the previous year. Ministry of Women and Child Development remains at the forefront, allocating 81.79% of its budget towards gender-focused programs.

Highlighting the Government’s vision for economic and social empowerment of women, Smt. Annpurna Devi stated, “Women entrepreneurs are a driving force behind India’s economic progress. By providing targeted financial support and skill-building programs, we are fostering an inclusive and equitable entrepreneurial ecosystem.”

The Union Minister also announced the 7^th Poshan Pakhwada, to be observed from 18th March to 2nd April 2025, with outcome-based activities around four key themes:
- Focus on First 1000 Days of Life
- Popularization of Beneficiary Module
- Management of Malnutrition through implementation of the CMAM module
- Healthy Lifestyle to Address Obesity in Children
Furthermore, continued sensitization activities for communities will be conducted from Poshan Pakhwada 2025 until the announcement of 1000 Suposhit Gram Panchayats in late 2025.

As part of its commitment to tackling malnutrition, the Ministry introduced the Suposhit Panchayat Scheme during the national event for Veer Baal Diwas on 26^th December, 2024 at Bharat Mandapam. The initiative aims to identify and award the Top 1000 Gram Panchayats across the country as ‘Suposhit Gram Panchayats’ for their exceptional efforts in improving nutrition and health indicators at the grassroots level.

Under the 100-day campaign to celebrate ten years of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, over 1,342 programmes have been conducted nationwide, engaging more than 13 lakh participants, including 1,410 public representatives. The activities encompassed a diverse range of initiatives, including:
- Sensitization programs on menstrual hygiene and the PC/PNDT Act
- Plantation drives promoting environmental sustainability
- Recognition of meritorious girl students to encourage academic excellence
The campaign has been instrumental in furthering gender equality, fostering awareness, and strengthening the resolve to ensure the well-being and empowerment of young girls across the country.

Further showcasing the Ministry’s initiatives, the Union Minister referenced the Ministry’s award-winning tableau from the Republic Day parade, which beautifully illustrated the life-cycle continuum approach of its schemes and reinforced the theme of Women-Led Development, demonstrating Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s commitment to empowering women and children.

The tableau prominently featured key MWCD schemes such as One Stop Centre, Women Helpline (181), Child Helpline (1098), Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, Saksham Anganwadi, and Poshan Abhiyaan. It also celebrated the 10^th anniversary of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao and the 50^th anniversary of the Anganwadi Scheme while showcasing women’s growing participation in cutting-edge fields such as artificial intelligence, technology, and various professional sectors.

Union Minister Smt. Annpurna Devi reiterated the government’s dedication to women and child development by highlighting key initiatives such as the Chintan Shivir, held from January 10-12, 2025, in Udaipur, Rajasthan. The event brought together delegations from 32 States and Union Territories, including 16 State Ministers from Women and Child Development Departments, to deliberate on important issues relating to the welfare and development of women and children.

The Chintan Shivir provided a platform for the exchange of innovative ideas, shared experiences, avenues for policy improvements, and the dissemination of best practices across states to ensure the effective implementation of these missions.

The Ministry of Women and Child Development honoured over 200 field functionaries from across the nation as Special Guests at the Republic Day Ceremony on 26^th January 2025. These dedicated individuals, including Anganwadi Workers, Child Development Project Officers, and District Programme Officers, were recognized for their invaluable contributions to the empowerment of women and children.

Further highlighting its commitment to women’s empowerment, the Ministry has also curated a digital exhibition at Mahakumbh 2025 in Prayagraj. This exhibition presents a compelling narrative of India’s progress in women-led development, showcasing various schemes, policies, and programs through an engaging and interactive experience.

The Ministry of Women and Child Development remains resolute in its mission to promote holistic development, nutritional security, and economic empowerment for women and children. In alignment with the Prime Minister’s vision of Viksit Bharat, MoWCD continues to drive forward its agenda of building a healthier, stronger, and more empowered India.

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SS/MS

(Release ID: 2101713) Visitor Counter : 49

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –
February 12, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: 45 Crore Devotees at Maha Kumbh 2025

Source: Government of India (2)

45 Crore Devotees at Maha Kumbh 2025

Maha Kumbh 2025 Witnesses Record-Breaking Footfall

Posted On: 11 FEB 2025 2:11PM by PIB Delhi

The Maha Kumbh 2025 has become one of the largest religious gatherings in history, with over 450 million (45 crore) devotees participating in the bathing rituals as of February 11, 2025. The state government was expecting the number of devotees to reach 45 crore in 45 days but this number has already been achieved within one month, with 15 days still remaining for the Maha Kumbh to conclude. With its blend of spiritual significance, grand rituals, and cutting-edge technological interventions, this Kumbh Mela has set new benchmarks in crowd management, sanitation, and digital facilitation.

With the number of visitors surpassing 45 crore, crowd management has been a major focus. The next Amrit Snan is on February 12, 2025, Magh Purnima Snan, which is renowned for its connection with the veneration of Guru Brahaspati and the belief that the Hindu deity Gandharva descends from the heavens to the sacred Sangam. To ensure smooth crowd management during the Magh Purnima Snan, the state government has designated the mela area as a ‘no vehicle zone’ from the morning of February 11, 2025, allowing only essential and emergency services.

Indian Railways is also operating at full capacity to manage the Maha Kumbh 2025 crowd. On February 9, around 330 trains transported 12.5 lakh pilgrims, with 130 more departing by 3 PM on February 10. Preparations for the upcoming Amrit Snan on February 12, 2025 were reviewed by the officials and the Union Minister. All eight stations, including Prayagraj Junction, are fully operational, while Prayagraj Sangam station is temporarily closed around major bathing dates for crowd management.

The state government, in collaboration with various agencies, implemented a multi-tier security and monitoring system. A network of AI-powered CCTV cameras, drone surveillance, and real-time analytics ensured the safe movement of pilgrims across designated sectors. The administration also introduced a digital token system to streamline access to bathing ghats, reducing overcrowding. Special provisions were made for senior citizens and differently-abled devotees, ensuring that the Kumbh remained an inclusive spiritual experience.

Adding to the historical significance of Maha Kumbh 2025, the honourable President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu participated in the religious festivities on February 10, 2025. Her visit included a sacred dip at the Triveni Sangam, reinforcing the event’s spiritual importance at the highest levels of governance. The President also paid homage at key religious sites, and interacted with saints and devotees. Apart from President Murmu, several union ministers, chief ministers, and governors, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh have also taken a holy dip in the Sangam. Celebrities from Bollywood and the Indian sports fraternity have also marked their presence, engaging in religious rituals and public interactions. The participation of revered saints and spiritual leaders has further amplified the sanctity and grandeur of the event.

Kalpavas, a period of fasting and spiritual discipline, holds deep significance during Maha Kumbh. This year, over 10 lakh devotees observed Kalpavas at the Triveni Sangam, concluding on Magh Purnima, with a final holy dip, pujan, and daan. As per tradition, Kalpvasis will perform Satyanarayan Katha, Havan Puja, and offer donations to their Tirthpurohits. The barley sown at the start of Kalpavas is immersed in the Ganga, and the Tulsi plant is taken home as a divine blessing. The twelve-year Kalpavas cycle culminates in Maha Kumbh, followed by a community feast in their villages.

Over 7 lakh pilgrims have received medical care through extensive healthcare services. This includes treatment of more than 4.5 lakh individuals at 23 allopathic hospitals, with over 3.71 lakh undergoing pathology tests, and the successful completion of 3,800 minor and 12 major surgeries. Additionally, 20 AYUSH hospitals have provided Ayurveda, Homeopathy, and Naturopathy treatments to over 2.18 lakh pilgrims. The integration of specialists from AIIMS Delhi, IMS BHU, and international experts from Canada, Germany, and Russia has ensured world-class healthcare. Services such as Panchakarma, yoga therapy, and the distribution of health awareness materials have been well-received, enhancing the overall well-being of attendees.

Aiming to make this the cleanest Kumbh Mela ever, authorities have enforced a stringent waste management plan. Over 22,000 sanitation workers have been deployed, ensuring that the premises remain free of litter. A large-scale water treatment initiative has also been implemented to keep the river water clean and suitable for the sacred dips. Eco-friendly practices, such as banning plastic and using biodegradable cutlery, have been strictly enforced. The Swachh Bharat Mission’s influence is evident in the installation of thousands of bio-toilets and automated garbage disposal units across the Kumbh grounds.

Throughout the event, cultural programs featuring classical dance performances, folk music, and spiritual discourses take center stage, captivating devotees and visitors alike. Renowned artists, including Padma awardees and folk troupes from various states, showcase the diverse traditions of India through Kathak, Bharatanatyam, and traditional folk dances like Lavani and Bihu. The Kumbh Mela is also hosting various literary gatherings, where scholars discuss ancient scriptures, Vedic philosophy, and the relevance of Sanatan Dharma in contemporary times. Artisans set up stalls displaying handicrafts, handloom products, and religious artifacts, turning the mela into a vibrant cultural confluence.

Maha Kumbh 2025 is not just a religious gathering; it is a monumental example of meticulous planning, cultural preservation, and technological innovation. With over 45 crore devotees already participating and more expected before its conclusion, this Kumbh stands as a testament to India’s ability to blend tradition with modernity, ensuring a spiritually enriching and seamless experience for all.

References

Department of Information & Public Relations (DPIR), Government of Uttar Pradesh

https://kumbh.gov.in/en/bathingdates

Maha Kumbh Series: 23/Feature

Click here to see PDF.

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Santosh Kumar | Sarla Meena | Rishita Aggarwal

(Release ID: 2101679) Visitor Counter : 83

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

February 12, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Parliament Question: Accessibility for Disabled People

Source: Government of India (2)

Posted On: 11 FEB 2025 1:50PM by PIB Delhi

The Government of India has taken several measures to promote the cause of accessibility for Divyangjans in different public transportation systems. So far, all 35 International Airports and 55 Domestic Airports have been provided with accessibility facilities like Ramps, Toilets and Lifts. 709 A1, A and B categories of Railway Stations have been provided with many short-term facilities like Ramps, Toilets, Lifts, Helpdesk, Parking, Non-slippery walkways, Drinking Water facilities). As many as 42,000 and more buses have been made partially accessible and 8695 buses are fully accessible. Out of 3533 bus stations, 3120 have been made accessible across the country.

Under the Accessible India Campaign, Central Government conducted access audit of State/UT Government owned Public Buildings and provided financial assistance to State/UT Governments for making 1314 buildings accessible. In addition, Central Public Works Department, Government of India has retrofitted 211 Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA)-owned buildings and 889 buildings of other Departments/ Ministries maintained by CPWD.

To ensure incorporation of accessibility features several Ministries/Departments have taken many measures. Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) vide GSR 287(E) , GSR 367(E) , GSR 959(E) etc., notified AIS-052-Code for accessible Bus Body Design which contains special provisions for Disabled Passengers such as priority seats for persons with disabilities, seats designated for disabled passengers with appropriate sign(s), priority seats to be provided with appropriate facility for securing crutches, canes, walkers etc. to facilitate convenient travel for persons with disabilities with provision of handrails and / or stanchions. GSR 959 (E) mandates the verification provisions regarding accessibility features at the time of fitness certification. GSR 240 (E) notified the provision required for Alteration to Motor Vehicle for conversion into Adapted Vehicle.

Indian Railways has also notified ‘Guidelines on accessibility of Indian Railway Stations and facilities at stations for differently abled persons (Divyangjans) and passengers with reduced mobility’, which has provisions of facilities for Divyangjans and passengers with reduced mobility such as entrance ramps, accessible parking, low height ticket counter/help booths, toilets, drinking water booth, sub-ways/foot over bridges with ramps/lifts, standard signages including Braille signages and tactile pathways for visual impairment, etc.

Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, in the Metro/RRTS projects have designed user-friendly mass transport system which can ensure accessibility to persons with disabilities, as well as people with temporary mobility problems and the elderly persons. The design standards for Metro/RRTS facilitates universal access to Public Transport Infrastructure including related facilities and services, information, etc. benefitting the people using public transport.

PM-eBus Sewa Tender specifies accessibility features and equipment as per AIS 052 & AIS 153 so as to deploy 100% 12m & 9m Buses with accessibility features including wheelchair accessibility.

The National Institute of Labour Economics Research and Development conducted the review of the implementation of Accessible India Campaign as a third-party evaluation. Some key findings of this evaluation were:

· During the study, it was seen that 80.51% of the buildings were funded for retrofitting.

· The campaign covered major government buildings across the country.

· A positive attitudinal change was observed amongst government functionaries and general public towards the right of persons with disabilities to safe and easy access to public places due to this campaign.

This information was provided by UNION MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT, SHRI B.L. VERMA, in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

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VM

(Lok Sabha US Q1334)

(Release ID: 2101662) Visitor Counter : 75

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

February 12, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: USING OF STEEL FOR KUMBH MELA

Source: Government of India (2)

Posted On: 11 FEB 2025 1:09PM by PIB Delhi

Steel is a de-regulated sector and the role of the Government is to facilitate the steel industry by laying down the policy guidelines and establishing the institutional mechanism/structure for creating conducive environment for fostering steel production, consumption and improving efficiency of the steel sector in the country. Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) has a dedicated marketing set-up responsible for marketing of carbon, alloy and special steel products produced by their steel plants.

SAIL has supplied approximately 45,000 tonnes of steel for the Mahakumbh Mela 2025, being held in Prayagraj mostly to the Public Works Department (PWD), Uttar Pradesh State Bridges Corporation, Electricity Board and their suppliers.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Steel and Heavy Industries, Shri Bhupathiraju Srinivasa Varma in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.

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TPJ/NJ

(Release ID: 2101644) Visitor Counter : 62

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

February 12, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: INVESTMENT BY SAIL

Source: Government of India (2)

Posted On: 11 FEB 2025 1:08PM by PIB Delhi

Capex of Rs. 5,700 crore and Rs. 7,500 crore have been approved for SAIL for financial years 2024-25 and 2025-26 respectively. Capex includes expenditure against Milestone payments for completed schemes, progress payment for on-going schemes, Capital Repair/Spares and SAIL’s portion in capital expenditure in Joint Ventures.

Steel industry has filed petitions to initiate investigations concerning imports with the designated authority on imports of flat steel products, CRNO and hot rolled coils.

Steel is a de-regulated sector and the government acts as a facilitator by creating a conducive policy environment for the development of steel sector. Decisions regarding setting up of steel plants are taken by the industry based on techno-commercial considerations taking into consideration factors such as raw material availability, ease of logistics, access to market etc.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Steel and Heavy Industries, Shri Bhupathiraju Srinivasa Varma in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.

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TPJ/NJ

(Release ID: 2101642) Visitor Counter : 50

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

February 12, 2025

MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: WELFARE WORK UNDER CSR

Source: Government of India (2)

Posted On: 11 FEB 2025 1:05PM by PIB Delhi

Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) carries out Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects conforming to provisions in Section 135 of Companies Act, 2013 and the CSR Rules and its amendments, mainly in the periphery of steel townships and mines. The thrust areas are promotion of education and health, women empowerment, sustainable income generation through self-help groups, assistance to divyangjan (people with special abilities), access to water and sanitation facilities, village development, environment sustenance, sports coaching, promotion of traditional art and culture. The details of SAIL’s CSR expenditure, thrust area-wise during the last three years is as follows: –

(Rs. Lakh)

No.	SAIL CSR Thrust Area-wise Expenditure	21-22	22-23*	23-24*	24-25 (H1)
1	Healthcare, Drinking Water, Sanitation & Social Security (Sr. Citizens & PwDs)	6648	4676	3592	357
2	Education	850	3041	4398	1157
3	Livelihood Generation/Skills Development and Women Empowerment	333	1574	1739	92
4	Sports, Art & Culture	213	2695	3288	124
5	Rural Development & Environment Sustenance	1211	3616	2885	98
6	Administrative Overheads, etc.	169	644	291	9
	Total	9424	16246*	16193*	1837

*(includes Rs.51.73 cr. in FY 22-23 & Rs.78.26 cr. in FY 23-24 w.r.t. ongoing CSR projects)

SAIL has undertaken CSR projects in the aspirational districts namely Kanker, Narayanpur, Rajnandgaon Districts in the state of Chhattisgarh; Bokaro, West Singhbhum and Ranchi Districts in the state of Jharkhand, and Banka District in the state of Bihar in the year 2023-24. In the state of Bihar, SAIL has taken three projects under CSR in the year 2023-24.

To evaluate the overall impact of the CSR Programmes/Projects carried out by SAIL in terms of its alignment with the needs of society and the CSR policy of SAIL, impact assessment survey is undertaken for select projects.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Steel and Heavy Industries, Shri Bhupathiraju Srinivasa Varma in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.

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TPJ/NJ

(Release ID: 2101637) Visitor Counter : 46

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

February 12, 2025

MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah chairs Parliamentary Consultative Committee for Ministry of Home Affairs on ‘Cyber Security and Cyber Crime’ in New Delhi

Source: Government of India

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah chairs Parliamentary Consultative Committee for Ministry of Home Affairs on ‘Cyber Security and Cyber Crime’ in New Delhi

Under the leadership of Modi Ji, the country is witnessing a ‘digital revolution’, to face the challenges of cyber security one needs to understand its size and scale

AI will be used to identify and close the mule accounts before they are made operational

To prevent cybercrime, Home Minister stresses on raising awareness on Modi Ji’s mantra of ‘Stop-Think-Taje Action’

Modi government is moving forward with a four-pronged strategy to tackle cybercrimes: Convergence, Coordination, Communication, and Capacity

Union Home Minister says that to prevent cybercrimes, there should be a greater focus on increasing awareness among the public and promoting the Cyber Helpline ‘1930’

The three basic elements of cyberspace – software, services, and users are important in tackling cyber frauds

The members gave suggestions on issues related to ‘Cyber Security and Cyber Crime’ and appreciated the steps taken by the Govt.

Posted On: 11 FEB 2025 11:41AM by PIB Delhi

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah chaired a meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Home Affairs on the topic of ‘Cyber Security and Cyber Crime’ in New Delhi. The meeting was attended by Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Shri Nityanand Rai, Shri Bandi Sanjay Kumar, members of the Committee, the Union Home Secretary, and senior officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs. The committee discussed various issues related to ‘Cyber Security and Cyber Crime’ during the meeting.

Addressing the meeting, Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah said that in recent years, there has been an expansion of digital infrastructure in India, which has naturally led to an increase in the number of cyber attacks. He said that when we look at cyberspace from a different perspective, it forms a complex network of ‘software,’ ‘services,’ and ‘users.’ He emphasized that until we consider controlling cyber fraud through ‘software,’ ‘services,’ and ‘users,’ it will be impossible to resolve the issues of cyberspace. Shri Shah further mentioned that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the Ministry of Home Affairs has taken several significant steps towards making India a cyber-safe nation.

Shri Amit Shah said that cybercrime has erased all geographical boundaries. He stated that it is a ‘borderless’ and ‘formless’ crime, as it has no limits or fixed form. He mentioned that India has witnessed a ‘digital revolution’ in the last decade. Without understanding the size and scale of the ‘digital revolution,’ we cannot face the challenges in the cyber domain.

Union Home Minister said that today, 95 per cent villages in the country are digitally connected, and one lakh gram panchayats are equipped with Wi-Fi hotspots. In the past ten years, the number of internet users has increased by 4.5 times. He mentioned that in 2024, a total of 246 trillion transactions worth ₹17.221 lakh crore were made through UPI. In 2024, 48 per cent of the global digital transactions took place in India. He also said that in terms of the startup ecosystem, India has become the third-largest country in the world. In 2023, the contribution of the digital economy to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was around ₹32 lakh crore, which is 12 per cent, and nearly 15 million jobs were created.

Shri Amit Shah said that today India has become the third-largest country in terms of digital landscape in the world. The digital economy contributes 20 per cent to the total economy of India. He also mentioned that the Ministry of Home Affairs’ goal is to ensure zero cybercrime cases and their FIRs.

Union Home Minister said that to tackle cybercrime, we have adopted four types of strategies, which include Convergence, Coordination, Communication, and Capacity. All of these are being implemented with clear objectives and a strategic approach. He mentioned that inter-ministerial and inter-departmental coordination within the Ministry of Home Affairs has been strengthened, ensuring seamless communication and smooth flow of information.

Shri Amit Shah said that a healthy tradition of exchange of information between the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Electronics and IT, CERT-IN, I4C, and departments like Telecom and Banking has led to successfully tackling many cybercrime cases.

Union Home Minister emphasized the importance of raising awareness among the public to prevent cybercrime and requested all the members of the committee to promote the I4C helpline number 1930. He stated that in light of cyber financial fraud, the ‘1930’ helpline provides a one-point solution offering various services, such as blocking cards.

Shri Amit Shah said that efforts are underway to use Artificial Intelligence for identifying mule accounts, in coordination with the Reserve Bank and all banks, to establish a system for their detection. He mentioned that we will ensure the closure of mule accounts before they are even operational. Union Home Minister stated that the government has also ensured that people are made aware of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s mantra ‘STOP-THINK-TAKE ACTION’ in order to make them more vigilant against cybercrimes.

Union Home Minister stated that a total of 1 lakh 43 thousands FIRs have been registered on the I4C portal, and over 19 crore people have used this portal. He mentioned that, for national security reasons, 805 apps and 3,266 website links have been blocked based on I4C’s recommendations. Additionally, 399 banks and financial intermediaries have come on board. Over 6 lakh suspicious data points have been shared, more than 19 lakh mule accounts have been caught, and suspicious transactions worth ₹2,038 crore have been prevented.

Shri Amit Shah said that Cyber Crime Forensic Training Labs have been established in 33 states and union territories. On the ‘CyTrain’ platform, a “Massive Open Online Course (MOOC)” platform, 101,561 police officers have registered, and over 78,000 certificates have been issued.

The committee members gave their suggestions on issues related to ‘Cyber Security and Cyber Crime’ and appreciated the important steps taken by the government for enhancing cyber security.

***

RK/VV/ASH/PR/PS

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Read this release in: Hindi

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

February 12, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: PRESS RELEASE – Vodafone Samoa: Samoa’s Trusted Business Partner shares its Business Solutions with the Business Community

Source: Government of Western Samoa

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(6th February 2025)

Apia, Samoa – The Samoa Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SCCI) held its first monthly Members Meeting for the 2025 calendar year on Monday 3rd February 2025. This meeting, hosted by Vodafone Samoa at the Tanoa Tusitala Hotel, shared Vodafone Samoa’s significant journey during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in 2024 and shared business products and solutions.

The evening began with an opening prayer from SCCI Finance Manager Faraimo Leaia, followed by a policy presentation from the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour consultant Leilani Vaa-Tamati on the Foreign Investment Amendment Bill 2025. This opportunity for dialogue strengthens

SCCI’s Public-Private Partnership with the Government of Samoa and ensures future inclusion to provide feedback on relevant legislation.

The meeting’s main event was a special presentation from Vodafone Samoa’s Chief Commercial Officer Mr. Tangavel Lutchmoodoo on Vodafone’s Business Solutions and new ICT services. As the Telecom and Digital Partner for CHOGM, Mr. Lutchmoodoo shared their CHOGM story where they played an important role in designing and developing the official website and registration portal as well as officially launching 5G during this period. Mr. Lutchmoodoo then presented Vodafone’s communications and enterprise solutions which included Vodafone as an authorized reseller for Starlink as well as its Cloud Hosting services. “The benefits of moving to Cloud are cost efficiency, innovation, transformation and performance. It will help minimize costs and maximize the return on your spending”, said Mr. Lutchmoodoo as he spoke on Vodafone’s Cloud Solutions.

The SCCI Members Meetings serve as a forum for its members and the business community, to be given an update on the work conducted by the SCCI Executive Council and Secretariat. The meeting was chaired by Chamber Vice President Tagaloa Nadia Meredith-Hunt and was followed by a networking session.

ENDS

SOURCE – Samoa Chamber of Commerce and Industry

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February 11, 2025

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

February 12, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: Cloud emerged as a key driving force for TMT deal activity in 2024, finds GlobalData

Source: GlobalData

Cloud emerged as a key driving force for TMT deal activity in 2024, finds GlobalData

Posted in Strategic Intelligence

Amidst the rising mergers and acquisitions (M&A) deal activity in the tech, media, and telecom (TMT) sector, the cloud has emerged as one of the dominant themes. However, persistent inflation, relatively high interest rates, regulatory scrutiny and geopolitical tensions have created a challenging backdrop for the M&A market in 2024. At the same time, the demand for cloud computing continues to surge as businesses seek greater scalability, agility, and operational efficiency, reveals GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

GlobalData’s latest report, “Global TMT M&A Deals 2024 – Top Themes and Predictions – Strategic Intelligence,” highlights that cloud-related deals totaled $61 billion in 2024, making it the second-largest theme among the top 100 deals and reflecting a 221% growth from the previous year. The total global TMT M&A deal value grew 27% in 2024 to $514 billion, compared to $403 billion in the previous year. Similar trends were seen in deal volume, which totaled 512 deals in 2024, and grew 14% from 2023.

Priya Toppo, Analyst, Strategic Intelligence at GlobalData, comments: “In today’s fast-paced market, adopting cloud-based solutions is essential for maintaining a competitive edge, while those slow to adapt risk falling behind. To enhance cloud performance, companies have invested in AI-driven IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS solutions, alongside expanding hyperscale cloud infrastructure and edge AI capabilities.”

The biggest cloud deal was Blackstone’s acquisition of AirTrunk for $16 billion. This deal was also the biggest in APAC (excluding China) region in 2024. It was followed by IBM’s acquisition of HashiCorp for $6.4 billion and Clearlake Capital Group and Insight Partners’s acquisition of Alteryx for $4.4 billion.

Toppo continues: “A significant amount of M&A deal activity was driven by the application software sector in TMT, accounting for $253 billion across 230 deals. This was followed by the telecom services, IT services, music, film & TV, and gaming sectors.”

By studying the themes that are currently driving the M&A market, the report also identifies potential future acquisition targets along with their thematic rationale.

Toppo concludes: “Although the TMT sector saw growth in M&A activity in 2024, cloud deals played a crucial role, with major companies like Microsoft, Google, Amazon, and Oracle acquiring AI-native cloud firms, cybersecurity providers, and data analytics companies to strengthen their cloud ecosystems. marked by a substantial decline in both deal value and volume. The outlook for M&A activity in 2025 remains subdued; however, easing inflation and lower interest rates may lead to a gradual recovery.”

MIL OSI Economics –

February 12, 2025
MIL-OSI: ThreeD Capital Inc. Provides Update on TODAQ Investment

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

TORONTO, Feb. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — ThreeD Capital Inc. (“ThreeD” or the “Company”) (CSE:IDK) (OTCQX:IDKFF), a Canadian-based venture capital firm focused on opportunistic investments in companies in the junior resources and disruptive technologies sectors, is pleased to congratulate TODAQ Micro Inc. (“TODAQ Micro”) on the successful commercialization of its technology.

ThreeD is an investor in TODAQ Micro. Additionally, ThreeD owns 478,739 preferred shares in TODAQ Holdings Inc. (“TODAQ Holdings”), the parent company of TODAQ Micro, as well as owning five TODA Note Royalty Certificates (“TDN Royalties”) with an aggregate maximum value of USD$279,613,283. Each TDN Royalty entitles the holder to receive royalty payments over time to the holder’s micropayment node, subject to certain terms and conditions. Each TDN has been fixed at $USD 1 per TDN by TODAQ Holdings.

TODAQ Micro is now releasing its groundbreaking TAPPTM micropayments solution to address long-standing inefficiencies in the digital economy.

The company’s first commercial deployment is in the entertainment industry, where TODAQ Micro is enabling a revolutionary “fair trade Netflix” experience with a new video platform called Truce Plus (‘Truce+’). Producers, studios and distributors that own Tier 1 movie, show, and documentaries face multiple headwinds trying to sell to the leading content platforms. These challenges include poor negotiating power, loss of relationship with the viewing customer, low upfront payments and poor revenue share terms, delayed payments, and limited transparency and recourse to name just a few. By embedding micropayments into Truce+ digital content transactions, TODAQ Micro enables these content owners to go directly to consumer (DTC) with a frictionless, real-time, pay as you go model that also enables users to instantly buy and rent content in a few seconds without needing to subscribe or login. The content producers are paid in real time and can also instantly micro distribute those revenues to cast, crew and other supply chain payees eliminating nearly all back office costs. The first commercial movie powered by TAPP will be available in February and is called the Flamingo Effect and is produced by Truce Studios in Denver, CO. The first half dozen content titles that include both American and Canadian Tier 1 producers of movies and TV shows will be available in Q1 with over 100 titles being put on the platform by the end of the year. The Truce+ platform can also provide instant referral bonuses and awards to studios and viewers that bring in additional followers. Fortune Business Insights values the global video streaming market size at USD 674 billion in 2024 with growth to USD 2,661 billion by 2032, exhibiting a CAGR of 18.7% during the forecast period, driven by Increasing Demand for Video on Demand (VoD) streaming services.

“There are almost too many places TAPP can be applied. Given the massive size and growth rate of the streaming industry it was a natural first place to focus. In addition, the market pain felt by the subscription fatigued consumer and the content producers who feel that they are not getting a fair deal means we have a unique ability to make the market much better and larger for both parties. TAPP represents the only deeptech powered platform capable of enabling full microtransaction VoD (or MVoD) as a new streaming market category,” said Hassan Khan, CEO of TODAQ Micro.

TODAQ Micro has garnered significant recognition, recently being named a Top 8 FinTech Startup by the Government of Canada and sent to Silicon Valley as part of the Canadian Technology Accelerator Program with the Canadian Consulate in San Francisco. The company boasts strong strategic partnerships and finalized a partnership with Oracle in the summer of 2024 to ensure it has massive capacity to scale, and to provide the streaming industry with micropayable data labelling for video content and AI conversational agents that can close movie sales, take payments, and initiate micro-distributions. TODAQ Micro has deployed its technology on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) and successfully demonstrated multi-cloud transactions between OCI and Amazon AWS without reliance on traditional payment processors or blockchain networks. This innovation enables businesses to monetize micro-services without locking customers into subscriptions, providing a cost-efficient, pay-as-you-go alternative.

Traditionally, enabling secure, private online web payments with a 5 second checkout for a consumer have not been possible and micro-payments of less than a dollar are impractical due to high processing costs. TODAQ’s technology eliminates intermediaries, enabling seamless transactions for businesses and consumers alike. Rather than using a blockchain, TODAQ solved the problem by returning to the original architecture of the World Wide Web and added a new Web Application Protocol called ADOT to coexist alongside HTTPS, SMTP and other older protocols built to handle websites, emails and other data. TODAQ also added another cryptographic technology called TODA to ensure portable integrity for these new web asset transactions. Together TODA and ADOT enable any software system to create, update, verify and transfer unique digital assets without requiring payment and authentication rails, or blockchains. This project took over six years, and involved collaboration with Cambridge University researchers at the Cambridge Centre for Redecentralization (CRDC) and support from the UK Research and Innovation Ministry alongside private investment. TAPP is the first ADOT Web native commercial application created.

Sheldon Inwentash, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ThreeD, commented: “TODAQ Micro has made tremendous advancements, achieving major milestones with the commercialization of its technology and attracting tier one strategic partners. It has emerged as a leader in providing micropayment solutions without the high costs traditionally associated with such transactions. We are very pleased to have been an early-stage investor in TODAQ and look forward to seeing the company continue to scale and disrupt the industry.”

More information about TODAQ Micro can be found through the ThreeD YouTube channel where Hassan Khan, CEO of TODAQ Micro, is interviewed.

About ThreeD Capital Inc.

ThreeD is a publicly-traded Canadian-based venture capital firm focused on opportunistic investments in companies in the junior resources and disruptive technologies sectors. ThreeD’s investment strategy is to invest in multiple private and public companies across a variety of sectors globally. ThreeD seeks to invest in early stage, promising companies where it may be the lead investor and can additionally provide investees with advisory services and access to the Company’s ecosystem.

For further information:

Jakson Inwentash
Vice President Investments
jinwentash@threedcap.com
Phone: 416-941-8900 ext 107

The Canadian Securities Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release and accepts no responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy hereof.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively referred to herein as “forward-looking statements”) within the meaning of Canadian securities laws including, without limitation, statements with respect to future investments by the Company. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. Often, but not always, these forward looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as “believe”, “believes”, “estimate”, “estimates”, “estimated”, “potential”, “open”, “future”, “assumed”, “projected”, “used”, “detailed”, “has been”, “gain”, “upgraded”, “offset”, “limited”, “contained”, “reflecting”, “containing”, “remaining”, “to be”, “periodically”, or statements that events, “could” or “should” occur or be achieved and similar expressions, including negative variations.

Undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements, which are inherently uncertain, are based on estimates and assumptions, and are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties (both general and specific) that contribute to the possibility that the future events or circumstances contemplated by the forward-looking statements will not occur. Although the Company believes the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance they will prove accurate. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable law. The forward-looking statements contained herein are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

The MIL Network –

February 12, 2025
MIL-OSI: Lantronix Appoints Steve Burrington as Vice President of Global Research and Development

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

IRVINE, Calif., Feb. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Lantronix Inc. (NASDAQ: LTRX) (“the Company”), a global leader of compute and connectivity for IoT solutions enabling AI Edge Intelligence, is proud to announce the appointment of Steve Burrington as Vice President of Global Research and Development. Burrington will oversee all aspects of product development and will play a key role in defining the Company’s technology direction as it continues to deliver innovative solutions to meet the demands of an evolving market.

“Steve’s deep expertise in advanced product development and engineering leadership perfectly complements our Edge AI focus and mission to drive technological innovation and operational excellence,” said Saleel Awsare, Chief Executive Officer and President at Lantronix. “His leadership will be instrumental as we continue to align our technology and product strategies to achieve sustainable growth and market leadership in enabling Edge Intelligence with compute and connect.”

Burrington brings more than 25 years of experience in engineering and technology leadership, specializing in LTE IoT, telematics, video product development and global engineering management. He has a proven ability to lead diverse, cross-functional teams and has successfully driven product innovations from concept through high-volume manufacturing. His leadership has consistently delivered results aligned with cost, schedule and performance objectives.

During his career, Burrington has held senior leadership roles at Sierra Wireless and Netgear, where he managed global teams of over 150 engineers, directed operating budgets exceeding $35 million, and spearheaded the development of industry-leading hardware and firmware products. His extensive experience working with chipset vendors, ODMs, and structured development environments positions him well to enhance Lantronix’s R&D capabilities.

“I am honored to join Lantronix during such an exciting time for the Company,” said Burrington. “I look forward to collaborating with the talented team here to innovate, execute and deliver products that define the future of Industrial IoT and Edge AI Intelligence. Together, we will continue to set the standard for excellence in our field.”

About Lantronix

Lantronix Inc. is a global leader of compute and connectivity IoT solutions that target high-growth markets, including Smart Cities, Enterprise and Transportation. Lantronix’s products and services empower companies to succeed in the growing IoT markets by delivering customizable solutions that enable AI Edge Intelligence. Lantronix’s advanced solutions include Intelligent Substations infrastructure, Infotainment systems and Video Surveillance, supplemented with advanced Out-of-Band Management (OOB) for Cloud and Edge Computing.

For more information, visit the Lantronix website.

Lantronix Media Contact:
Gail Kathryn Miller
Corporate Marketing &
Communications Manager
media@lantronix.com

Lantronix Analyst and Investor Contact:
investors@lantronix.com

© 2024 Lantronix Inc. All rights reserved. Lantronix is a registered trademark, and SLB and SLC are trademarks of Lantronix Inc. Other trademarks and trade names are those of their respective owners.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b21a60c7-74c8-4d08-9648-e5e8b8798774

The MIL Network –

February 12, 2025

Category: Artificial Intelligence

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