PROMOTING FINANCIAL INTEGRITY AND OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order promoting financial integrity, transparency, and efficiency by improving the Department of the Treasury’s ability to screen for improper payments and fraud, track transactions, and manage the Government’s disbursements.
The Order directs the Department of the Treasury to update guidance and enhance systems across the Federal Government to ensure that all payments made on behalf of agencies undergo pre-certification verification to prevent fraud and improper payments.
In order for Treasury to disburse funds, agency heads must comply with Treasury disbursement requirements, which include ensuring that sufficient funds are available before obligations are incurred, verifying payee information, standardizing information reporting formats, confirming funds are being disbursed from appropriate sources, and implementing other verification and certification measures.
Agencies must share relevant data with Treasury to enhance Treasury’s ability to detect and prevent fraud, subject to applicable law.
Agencies will consolidate core financial systems, including for non-CFO Act agencies, consolidating transactional financial management services under standardized solutions to improve financial reporting and traceability.
Non-Treasury Disbursing Offices (NTDOs) will be reduced as appropriate, with Treasury developing a plan to centralize and manage payments previously handled by NTDOs.
MANAGING TAXPAYER FUNDS RESPONSIBLY: President Trump recognizes that financial fraud threatens the integrity of Federal programs and undermines trust in government.
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) estimates the Federal Government loses up to $521 billion annually to fraud due to inadequate data and outdated systems.
The Treasury is responsible for safeguarding the General Fund (sometimes referred to as “America’s Bank Account”) but currently lacks sufficient controls to track transactions flowing through it.
Fragmented disbursing authority, with NTDOs handing 22% of Federal payments, creates duplicative reporting and diminishes Treasury’s ability to provide centralized oversight.
The Federal Government’s longstanding challenges when it comes to accessing accurate data across agencies has prevented it from more fully safeguarding taxpayer dollars against fraud and improper payments.
Transitioning to centralized systems and ensuring basic pre-certification and verification measures before funds are disbursed will enhance security and improve efficiency in managing Federal funds.
SAFEGUARDING AGAINST WASTE, FRAUD, AND ABUSE: Since Day One, President Trump has been steadfast in his commitment to get rid of waste, fraud, and abuse across the Federal Government.
President Trump implemented a cost efficiency initiative to ensure government contracts and grants are held to rigorous standards.
President Trump established the “Department of Government Efficiency” to examine how to streamline the operations of the Federal Government, eliminate unnecessary programs, and reduce bureaucratic inefficiency.
President Trump launched a 10-to-1 deregulation initiative, ensuring every new Federal rule is justified by clear benefits.
President Trump reduced unnecessarily large scopes of governmental entities and terminated numerous harmful Biden executive actions.
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah replies to the discussion on the Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2024 in the Rajya Sabha, Upper house passes the bill Under Modi ji’s leadership, India became a global leader in disaster management
Modi government is managing disasters by adopting a proactive approach instead of a reactive one and by aiming for zero casualties instead of minimising casualties
Compared to the previous regime, Modi government has given more than three times the money to the states from the central fund
In the previous regime, funds were given to the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation from PMNRF
This bill will further increase the capacity, intensity, efficiency and accuracy in disaster response
Earlier, thousands of people used to die in cyclones, but Modi government is moving towards zero casualty
The aim of this bill is to increase transparency, accountability, efficiency and cooperation in disaster management
India’s disaster management prowess has been established globally through CDRI
To deal with the changing size and scale of disasters, we will have to change the methods, systems and make institutions accountable as well as give them powers
India has had the most successful management of the COVID-19 pandemic in the entire world
Earlier, it used to take two generations for getting vaccines, but under the Modi government, India has made the COVID vaccine and also delivered it to every citizen
The Modi government has given more money than the prescribed amount to the states for disaster managementna
Posted On: 25 MAR 2025 9:24PM by PIB Delhi
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah today replied to the discussion in the Rajya Sabha on the Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2024. After the discussion, with the passage of the bill from the upper house the amendment bill was passed by the Parliament.
Speaking in the upper house during the discussion, Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that through this amendment bill, the Narendra Modi government intends to connect Centre, State governments, Panchayat and all our citizens with the cause of disaster management and there is no question of centralization of power. He said that this disaster management amendment bill is an attempt to take the fight against disasters from a reactive approach to a proactive one and also beyond to an innovative and a participatory approach.
Shri Amit Shah said that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji presented a ten-point agenda to the world for disaster risk reduction which has been accepted by more than 40 countries of the world. He said that this bill envisages participation not only from state governments and local units but also from the society. He said that the amendment bill keeps scope of minute planning at local levels too along with the national level and gives clarity on the powers and duties of institutions involved. Shri Shah said that the fight against disasters cannot be accomplished without enabling the institutions and making them better and more accountable, and both of these things have been taken care of in the bill. He said that disasters are directly related to climate change and to mitigate them, we should take steps against global warming. He said that India has been moving in this direction for thousands of years and the Modi government is working to take this tradition forward.
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that the Disaster Management Act was brought for the first time in the year 2005 and under this NDMA (National Disaster Management Authority), SDMA (State Disaster Management Authority) and DDMA (District Disaster Management Authority) were formed. He said that in this bill, the biggest responsibility in the aftermath of disasters have been given to DDMAs which is under the state government, thus there is no question of any damage to our federal system. He said that for financial assistance, National Disaster Response Fund and National Disaster Mitigation Fund were created. Shri Amit Shah said that the Finance Commission has made a scientific arrangement for disaster relief and the Modi government has not given a single penny less than the prescribed amount to any state, rather it has given more.
He said that due to global disasters like Covid-19, increasing urbanization, irregular rain-related disasters and climate change, both the size and scale of disasters have changed. Shri Shah said that to deal with the changing size and scale of disasters, we will have to change the methods and systems and also make the institutions accountable and give them powers. He said that with this objective, this bill has been brought for an effective and comprehensive solution to the disaster management problem. He said that suggestions have been incorporated from stakeholders, ministries and departments of the Central Government, all state governments, Union Territories, international organizations and national and international non-governmental organizations and this bill has been prepared comprehensively by accepting 89 percent of their suggestions.
Union Home Minister said that through this bill, Modi government wants to move from reactive response to proactive risk reduction, from manual monitoring to AI-based real-time monitoring, from radio warnings to social media, apps and mobile warnings, and from government-led response to a multi-dimensional response involving society and citizens. He said that this entire bill has been made to incorporate capacity, intensity, efficiency and accuracy in disaster response. Shri Shah said that in the last 10 years, there has been a change in disaster management in our country due to which we have emerged as a regional and global power recognized by the world. He said that this bill is necessary to maintain this success story of India for a longer time in future.
Shri Amit Shah said that this Bill will make both NDMA and SDMA effective, disaster database will be created at national and state level. It envisages creation of Urban Disaster Management Authority which will be completely under the state governments. Apart from this, this Bill will also give statutory power to NDMA and SDMA in creating a blueprint for 100% implementation of the recommendations of the 15th Finance Commission. He said that transparency, trust, credibility and accountability have been given place in it. Shri Shah also said that well-defined roles have been fixed in it and moral responsibilities have also been given place. The Home Minister said that we have also fixed responsibility for the best use of resources. He said that through this Bill, an attempt has been made to fight against disaster with synergy, between preparation, good management and coordination. Many reforms have been made on these four pillars and not a single one of these reforms is for centralization of power.
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that in the last ten years, on one hand, Prime Minister Modi Ji has done many things for environmental protection and on the other hand, he has also taken disaster management a long way forward. He said that on one hand Modi Ji talked about Mission Life in front of the world and on the other hand he also announced a ten-point disaster risk reduction agenda. He said that on one hand, a definite concrete program was given to become a pro-planet people and on the other hand, the Coalition for Disaster Resilience Infrastructure (CDRI) was presented to the world, which has 43 countries as members. Shri Shah said that Modi Ji started the International Solar Alliance and Global Biofuel Alliance and also formed a task force on Disaster Risk Reduction by hosting the G20 conference in India. He said that on both these fronts, Prime Minister Modi and the government led by him have worked in a meticulous manner with great foresight. The Home Minister said that on the one hand efforts should be made to prevent disasters by protecting the environment and on the other hand, in case of a disaster, Modi ji has made complete arrangements to fight the disaster in a scientific manner from villages to Delhi.
Shri Amit Shah said that the devastating earthquake in Bhuj, Gujarat in 2001 shook not only Gujarat but the entire country and the world. He said that at that time Shri Narendra Modi was the Chief Minister of Gujarat and he had established the Climate Change Department for the first time in India. He said that at that time Modi ji created the Climate Change Fund in Gujarat and in 2003 brought the State Disaster Management Act in Gujarat. Shri Shah said that in 2013, the country’s first city level action plan for heat wave was made in Ahmedabad and Modi ji also worked on making a detailed plan for reconstruction, community preparedness and rehabilitation after the earthquake.
Union Home Minister said that after Shri Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister in 2014, a holistic and integrated approach was introduced in the country instead of a relief-centric approach. He said that a proactive approach was adopted instead of a reactive one and disaster management was done by keeping the target of zero casualty instead of the usual target of minimum casualty of the previous regime. He said that today governments are not only focus on relief and rescue after a disaster but also make many preparations to tackle them. Shri Shah said that the Modi government has done a very good job in early warning system, prevention to the extent possible, mitigation, timely preparedness and disaster risk reduction. He said that when the Odisha Super Cyclone hit in 1999, 10 thousand people died, but when Cyclone Fani hit in 2019, only one person died, this was the result of our changed approach. He said that when Cyclone Biparjoy hit Gujarat in 2023, not a single person or animal died and we achieved the target of zero casualties in 2023. He said that there has been a 98 percent reduction in loss of life and property due to cyclones and we have also succeeded in reducing heat-related mortality significantly.
Shri Amit Shah said that the budget of SDRF was Rs 38 thousand crores during the year 2004 to 2014, which was increased to Rs 1 lakh 24 thousand crores by the Modi government during 2014 to 2024. Rs 28 thousand crores were given to NDRF during 2004 to 2014, while Rs 80 thousand crores were given during 2014 to 2024. Shri Shah said that the government has increased the total amount from Rs 66 thousand crores to more than Rs 2 lakh crores. He said that the Modi government has given more than three times the money to the states from the central funds. Shri Shah said that apart from this, a National Disaster Response Reserve of 250 crores was created, the first National Disaster Management Plan was released in 2016 which is completely in line with the Sendai framework, the Subhash Chandra Bose Disaster Management Award was established in 2018-19 and the first phase of National Cyclone Risk Mitigation was done in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh in 2018. He said that in 2020-21, the Home Ministry decided that the Inter-Ministerial Consultative Team (IMCT) will first go and do an immediate review and the Modi government made a provision to provide immediate assistance by sending 97 IMCTs within 10 days in 5 years.
Union Home Minister said that currently 16 battalions of NDRF are operational and seeing the NDRF personnel, people feel assured that they are safe now. He said that apart from this, programs have also been made for landslide risk management, glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) and civil security and training capacity building.
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), in the spirit of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, conducted ‘Operation Maitri’ during the earthquake in Nepal in 2015, ‘Operation Samudra Maitri’ in Indonesia in 2018, ‘Operation Dost’ in Turkey and Syria in 2023, ‘Operation Karuna’ in Myanmar and ‘Operation Sadbhav’ in Vietnam, due to which the governments and people of these countries praised NDRF and Modi ji. He said that NDRF has worked to get our disaster management system firmed up at a national level.
Shri Amit Shah said that the Government of India has signed agreements with Japan, Tajikistan, Mongolia, Bangladesh, Italy, Turkmenistan, Maldives and Uzbekistan to strengthen disaster management and disaster risk reduction. The geographical conditions of these countries make them prone to similar disasters which are possible in India. He said that we have tried to ensure that these countries benefit from our best practices and we benefit from their best practices. Apart from the MoUs, international seminars were also held in the years 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2023, in which disaster management experts from member countries of organizations like SAARC, BRICS, SCO also participated.
Union Home Minister said that the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) is an example of India’s global leadership in the field of disaster management. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi put forward this idea in the UN Climate Summit held in New York on 23 September 2019 and it was established in India itself. He said that so far 42 countries and 7 international organizations have become members of CDRI and through CDRI, work has been done to establish India’s leadership in this field at the global level.
Shri Amit Shah said that through the ‘Aapada Mitra’ scheme, a force of one lakh community volunteers has been created in 350 disaster prone districts at a cost of Rs 370 crore and the volunteers have been registered on the India Disaster Resource Network portal. The District Collectors have their complete details. When a disaster strikes, these volunteers reach for the help on their own. The Home Minister said that 20 percent of the one lakh ‘Aapada Mitra’ volunteers are women. Our women power is working shoulder to shoulder in the work of disaster management. He said that as a result of the ‘Aapada Mitra’ scheme, 78 thousand people were rescued from disasters and taken to safe places and 129 lives were saved by providing them timely treatment at the hospitals.
Union Home Minister said that the ‘Aapada Mitra’ scheme is being expanded. To involve the youth, more than 1300 trained ‘Aapada Mitras’ have been employed as master trainers with a budget of Rs 470 crore. In this, NCC, NSS, Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan and Bharat Scouts and Guides will train two lakh 37 thousand ‘Aapada Mitras’, which will increase the total number of community volunteers to three lakh 37 thousand.
Shri Amit Shah said that we have created many apps for weather related information. These include ‘Mausam’, ‘Meghdoot’, ‘Flood Watch’, ‘Damini’, ‘Pocket Bhuvan’, ‘Sachet’, ‘Van Agni’ and ‘Samudra’. Also, a nodal agency has been created for the study of landslides. India Quake app has been created for automated broadcasting of earthquake parameters. He said that due to the efforts of Modi ji, today all these apps have reached almost every citizen of the country. This has benefited farmers, fishermen, people living on the seashore and people living in landslide prone areas on time.
Union Home Minister said that the entire world has accepted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is leading the world in the field of environment, therefore the United Nations has honoured him with the award of Champions of the Earth. Modi ji has almost completed the task of making India free from single-use plastic. Many countries have joined the International Solar Alliance (ISA) formed on his initiative. Modi ji has worked to popularise the ‘One Sun, One Earth, One Grid’ project worldwide. The construction of Inter-Regional Energy Grid has begun for sharing solar energy across the world. Crores of people have planted trees with devotion in reverence of Mother Earth and their own mothers through the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign.
Shri Amit Shah said that India has set the target of Net Zero Carbon Emission by the year 2070. He said that we have already achieved the targets of International Solar Alliance, Global Bio-fuel Alliance and 20 percent Ethanol Blending by the year 2025. Today all our vehicles have 20 percent eco-friendly fuel. Shri Shah said that by providing 10 crore gas connections under the Ujjwala Yojana, we have stopped the smoke of cow dung cakes and coal. We have increased the Swachhata Abhiyan from 39 percent to 100 percent sanitation coverage. Along with this, the Green Hydrogen Mission has started the implementation of a new type of scheme in the entire world.
Union Home Minister said that, if the best COVID management has happened anywhere in the world, it has happened in India. Every Indian should be proud of this and the whole world praises our efforts immensely. He said that as soon as Corona arrived, we started making the vaccine. He said that during the previous regime, it used to take two generations to administer vaccines but under Modi Government India not only got the vaccine made but also ensured that it reached every citizen of the country. Shri Shah said that there is no parallel to such a precise use of technology for public welfare anywhere in the world. Due to the use of technology, the certificate was made available on the mobile as soon as the vaccine was administered and a reminder message would also come up with the time for the second vaccine.
Shri Amit Shah said that through video conference in the state’s civil hospitals and AIIMS, doctors treating minor diseases in small villages were guided about telemedicine, which saved the lives of lakhs of people. He said that the Prime Minister talked to the Chief Ministers of the states 40 times during COVID-19 and inquired about the situation. Not only the Prime Minister, the entire cabinet was involved in this work.
Union Home Minister said that due to our leadership we were able to fight the best battle against Corona in the whole world. Governments were fighting against Corona all over the world, but here the Central Government, State Government and 130 crore people were fighting together. He said that there is not a single example in independent India when an appeal by a leader has had the seriousness of a government order and the whole country followed the appeal of the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for Janta curfew with full seriousness. No leader’s appeal had ever received such a great respect.
Shri Amit Shah said that the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) was created during the previous regime. He said fund from PMNRF used to be given to Rajiv Gandhi Foundation. Shri Shah said that during Modi ji’s regime PM Cares fund was created. We spent its funds for tackling the corona epidemic, disaster relief, oxygen plants, ventilators, assistance to the poor and vaccination. Shri Shah said that under PM Cares, along with relief work, we have also provided many types of innovative assistance. There is no political interference in this.
Union Home Minister said that for Karnataka, an estimate of Rs 5,909 crore was given by a high-level committee, out of which Rs 5,800 crore was transferred. For Kerala, an estimate of Rs 3,743 crore was made, out of which Rs 2438 crore was given. For Tamil Nadu, Rs 4600 crore was given out of Rs 4817 crore. West Bengal was given Rs 5000 crore out of Rs 6837 crore. Himachal Pradesh was given Rs 1766 crore out of Rs 2339 crore. The committee has given more or less the same amount to Telangana as well.
Shri Amit Shah said that Rs 111 crore was given to Jharkhand, Rs 121 crore to Kerala, Rs 460 crore to Maharashtra, Rs 256 crore to Bihar and Rs 254 crore to Gujarat for fire-fighting measures, which was never given before. He said that other states will be given funds for fire-fighting measures next year. Shri Shah said that Rs 228 crore has been given to Tamil Nadu between the years 2019 to 2024 and a lot of assistance has been provided.
Union Home Minister said that we declared the disaster in Wayanad, Kerala as a disaster of severe nature. Rs 215 crore was immediately released from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF). Rs 36 crore was sent for debris removal, which has not been spent yet. Apart from this, assistance of Rs 153 crore was given on the basis of the IMCT report. The state government has estimated the need for Rs 2219 crore for normalizing the situation and reconstruction, out of which Rs 530 crore has been given. Along with this, other measures have been suggested to get additional assistance from a special window.
Shri Amit Shah said that for the Central Government, citizens of all states including Kerala, Ladakh, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh are equal and we do not discriminate against anyone. He said that in the Disaster Management Bill, we have paid attention to increasing human resources along with the provision of increasing technical capacity. Along with the government’s effort, provision has also been made for community effort and along with disaster-resistant construction, care has also been taken for the conservation of nature.
The Competition Commission of India has approved the proposed combination involving, inter alia, Maple Infrastructure Trust (MIT); CDPQ Infrastructures Asia III Inc. (CDPQ Asia); Maple Highways Pte. Ltd.; 360 ONE Private Equity Fund and certain road assets of the Ashoka Buildcon group.
The Proposed Combination involves the acquisition by MIT, acting through Maple Infra Invit Investment Manager Private Limited (Maple IM) of Ashoka Dhankuni Kharagpur Tollway Limited (ADKTL); Ashoka Sambalpur Baragarh Tollway Limited (ASBTL); Ashoka Belgaum Dharwad Tollway Limited (ABDTL); Ashoka Highways (Bhandara) Limited (AHBL); and Ashoka Highways (Durg) Limited (AHDL) (Proposed SPV Acquisitions) and certain inter-connected transactions.
MIT is a private trust settled under the Indian Trusts Act, 1882, and was registered as an infrastructure investment trust under the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Infrastructure Investment Trusts) Regulations, 2014, on 24thFebruary 2020. MIT is, through its special purpose vehicles, engaged in the business of owning and operating road assets in India. Maple IM is the investment manager of MIT.
CPDQ Asia is a wholly owned subsidiary of Caisse de dépôt et de placement du Québec (CDPQ). CDPQ is a global investment group that manages the funds of its depositors, primarily comprised of public and para-public pension and insurance plans from Québec.
Maple Sponsor is the sponsor of MIT for purposes of the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Infrastructure Investment Trusts) Regulations, 2014.
360 ONE Private Equity Fund is registered with the SEBI as a Category II Alternative Investment Fund and is established for the purpose of investing in various sectors in India and worldwide. The 360 ONE Private Equity Fund is managed by its investment manager, 360 ONE Alternates Asset Management Limited.
ADKTL, ASBTL, ABDTL, AHBL and AHDL are engaged by the National Highway Authority of India Limited (NHAI) to provide infrastructure concession services.
Scheme for Promotion of Research and Innovation in the Pharma Medtech sector to promote research and development (R&D) including in the areas of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning National Institutes of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) provide training in AI-based tools to build human resource capacities in these areas for the pharmaceutical sector
Posted On: 25 MAR 2025 6:58PM by PIB Delhi
The Department of Pharmaceuticals (DoP) has taken steps to promote research and development (R&D) in the sector, including in the areas of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, in the pharmaceutical sector through the Scheme for Promotion of Research and Innovation in the Pharma Medtech sector. Further, the National Institutes of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) under the aegis of DoP have introduced topics related to AI and block chain technology in their courses and they provide training to students in AI-based tools to build human resource capacities in these areas for the pharmaceutical sector. In addition, the Department of Biotechnology also supports AI-based research activities in the biotech sector, particularly in the healthcare and agriculture areas, in order to leverage emerging technologies for these sectors. Further, the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Bureau of India under the Department of Pharmaceuticals, with the assistance of the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing, has undertaken a pilot project to evaluate the feasibility of a block-chain-based track-and-trace system for Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana.
This information was given by the Union Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilizers, Smt. Anupriya Patel in Rajya Sabha in written reply to a question today.
A phase II trial to study efficacy, toxicity and imunomodulatory effect of Carctol-S in high grade serous epithelial ovarian cancer at first
serological relapse collaborative project.
The Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research and Education in Cancer & CARI, Mumbai
2.
Evaluation of Hepatoprotective activity of PTK as an add on therapy in the patients of Tuberculosis on ATT – A double blind
randomized control clinical study
K.L.E. Academy of Higher Education & Research, Belagavi
3.
Evaluating the efficacy of Ayurvedic intervention as add on to conventional treatment and explore the interaction of epigenetics, neuro/gut biomarkers and neuroimaging in pediatric ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperacidity Disorder)
National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-Sciences (NIMHANS) Bengaluru
4.
Double blind randomized placebo controlled multicentric clinical trial of Ayush M-3 in the management of Migraine.
NIMHANS, Bengaluru
5.
Ayurveda therapeutic regimen as on Add-on to optimized conventional management of Parkinson’s disease: an RCT for assessment of clinical Cortical excitability neuroimmune and Autonomic function parameters.
NIMHANS, Bengaluru
6.
Efficacy and safety of Ayurveda Formulation Trikatu as add on to standard care in Dyslipidemia – a randomized controlled trial
All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) , Bhubaneswar
7.
Efficacy of Ayurveda regimen (mild purgation and internal oleation) in comparison with Allopathic regimen (Letrozole) along with Yoga module in the management of unexplained and anovulatory female infertility: A RCT
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) , Mandi
8.
Topical Oil Pooling (Karnapurana) with Kshirabala Taila and supple mentation of Ashwagandha churna (TOPMAC) in presbycusis
– An exploratory randomized controlled trial
Institute of Communicative and cognitive Neurosciences (ICCONS), Shoranur, Kerala
9.
Prospective, Randomized, Open-Label, Blinded End Point exploratory clinical study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Ayurvedic regimen as an adjunct to Hydroxyurea in the management of Sickle cell disease.
AIIMS, Bhopal
10.
A multi-center study to assess the treatment adherence & tolerability of Ayush SR in Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
College, Kotakkal; Sri Sri College of Ayurvedic Science and Research, Bengaluru;
Adichunchanagiri Ayurvedic Medical College, Bengaluru
11.
Impact of Mukta Shukti Bhasma and Saubhagya Shunti in reversal of bone mineral density among Lactating women consuming traditional diet foods in Maharashtra: A randomized Controlled preliminary clinical study
National Institute for Research in Reproductive and Child Health (NIRRCH-ICMR), Mumbai
12.
Efficacy of Ayurveda interventions (Hridyarnava Rasa and Harityakyadi yoga) as an add-on to standard care in Stable Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) assessed through Global Longitudinal Strain Imaging Technique (GLSIT) – A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Ayurvedic Cardiac Rehabilitation Centre, Madhavbaugh, Pune
13.
Prospective double blind randomized controlled clinical study on Ayurvedic intervention (Pushkar guggulu & Haritaki churna) in the management of stable coronary artery disease.
Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi
14.
A randomized double blind placebo control clinical study to evaluate the immunomodulatory effect of Swarnaprashan in moderately malnourished children.
Sanjiv Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow
15.
Efficacy and safety of Punarnavadi Mandura alone and in combination with Drakshavaleha compared to iron folic acid in the treatment of moderate iron deficiency anaemia among non- pregnant women of reproductive age group: a community-based three arm multicentre randomized controlled trial.
Ayush-ICMR
16.
Randomized controlled trial of Anshumati Ksheer Paka in hypertension induced left ventricular hypertrophy
Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi
17.
Anemia control among adolescent girls through Ayurveda interventions in the five districts under Mission -Utkarsh
All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), New Delhi; National Institute of Ayurveda (NIA), Jaipur, Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI)’s Indian Institute of Public Health-Delhi (IIPH-D)
18.
An exploratory series of n of 1 responder restricted study of Ayurveda regimen on quality of life among elderly population in Ballabgarh district of Haryana- A community-based study.
Ministry of Ayush has taken multiple initiatives towards integration of Ayush systems of medicine with Allopathic system
Posted On: 25 MAR 2025 6:11PM by PIB Delhi
The Ministry of Ayush has taken multiple initiatives towards integration of Ayush systems of medicine including Ayurveda with Allopathic system:
The Ayush Vertical under Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), established by the Ministry of Ayush and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoH&FW), serves as a dedicated institutional mechanism for planning, monitoring, and supervising Ayush-specific public health programs. This vertical provides technical support to both Ministries in developing strategies for public health, healthcare, Ayush education, and training.
The Ministry of Ayush and MoH&FW have jointly established Integrated Ayush Departments in Central Government Hospitals to promote integrative healthcare. As part of this initiative, Department of Integrative Medicine has been set up and is operational at Vardhman Mahavir Medical College & Safdarjung Hospital and Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi through All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), New Delhi and Central Ayurveda Research Institute (CARI), Punjabi Bagh, New Delhi respectively. No separate funding is allocated for establishing these centres.
An Advisory committee was constituted under the chairpersonship of Dr. V.K. Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog to study the existing knowledge and efficacy of different models of Integrative Medicine and its benefits at large and to propose a framework of comprehensive Integrative Health Policy.
Government of India has adopted a strategy of Co-location of AYUSH facilities at Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Community Health Centres (CHCs) and District Hospitals (DHs), thus enabling the choice to the patients for different systems of medicines under a single window. The engagement of AYUSH doctors/ paramedics and their training is supported by the MoH&FW under National Health Mission (NHM), while the support for AYUSH infrastructure, equipment/ furniture and medicines are provided by the Ministry of Ayush under National AYUSH Mission (NAM) as shared responsibilities.
The Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS) has undertaken research studies such as Operational study to explore the feasibility of integrating Ayurveda with modern system of medicine in a tertiary care hospital (Safdarjung Hospital New Delhi) for the management of Osteoarthritis (Knee), Feasibility of introducing the Indian System of Medicine (Ayurveda) in the National Reproductive and Child Health services at the Primary Health Care (PHC) level in Himachal Pradesh and Integration of AYUSH systems in the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases & Stroke (NPCDCS) and Feasibility of introducing Ayurveda Intervention in Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) in PHCs of the Selected district (Gadchiroli) of Maharashtra (Effectiveness of Ayurvedic intervention for Ante-Natal care (Garbhini Paricharya) at Primary Health Care level: A Multi Centre Operational Study). Details of the collaborative projects by the Council in the last five years are given in AnnexureI.
Further, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and CCRAS has taken an initiative to set up Ayush-ICMR Advanced Centre for Integrative Health Research (AI-ACIHR), at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) to conduct research on identified areas focusing on integrative healthcare under Extra Mural research Scheme of ICMR. Under this program, four research areas in four AIIMS have been identified, which are as follows:
AIIMS Delhi:
Advanced Centre for Integrative Health Research in Gastro-intestinal Disorders
Advanced Centre for Integrative Health Research in Women and Child Health
AIIMS Jodhpur: Advanced Centre for Integrative Health Research in Geriatric Health
AIIMS Nagpur: Advanced Centre for Integrative Health Research in Cancer Care
AIIMS Rishikesh: Advanced Centre for Integrative Health Research in Geriatric Health.
In All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), New Delhi, integrative medical services are available under, Centre for Integrative Cancer Therapy, Centre for Integrative Dentistry, Centre for Integrative Critical Care & Emergency Medicine, Centre for Integrative Orthopedics, Centre for Integrative Dietetics and Nutrition and Causality OPD Section. Integrated services are also provided through Satellite Clinical Services Units established at Integrative Medical Services Unit at Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, Integrative Medical Services Unit AIIMS Jhajjar and Centre for Integrative Oncology at National Cancer Institute – AIIMS, Jhajjar.
Institute of Teaching and Research in Ayurveda (ITRA), conducts integrated research and also has visiting allopathic doctors for consultation.
The Ministry of Ayush has been implementing the Central Sector Scheme namely Ayurswasthya Yojana since 2021-22. The Scheme has 02 components viz. (i) Ayush & public health (PHI) component and (ii) Upgradation of facilities to the centre of excellence. Under the Centre of Excellence, financial assistance is provided to support creative and innovative proposals of prestigious organizations with well-established buildings and infrastructure and wish to work for Ayush systems to the level of Centre of Excellence. Nine organizations of National repute have been funded under the Centre of Excellence component of Ayurswasthya Yojana under the activity-based/research-based Centre of Excellence for research and development to integrate the knowledge of Ayurveda with the modern system of medicine. Details of organizations are given at Annexure II.
Annexure I
LIST OF COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS OF LAST FIVE YEARS 2020-21 TO 2024-25
COMPLETED PROJECTS
S.
No.
Name of Project
Name of the Collaborating Institutes
1.
Evaluation of Add on Efficacy & Safety of an Ayurvedic coded Formulation in the management of Dengue Fever & Prevention of its complications – A Double Blind Clinical Study
National Institute of Traditional Medicine, Belagavi, KLE University’s Department of Integrative Medicine, Kolar.
2.
A Randomized Placebo Controlled Prospective Phase II Clinical Study of an Ayurvedic Coded Drug ‘AYUSH-D’ on Glycemic control in Pre- Diabetic Subjects
Central Ayurveda Research Institute, Bengaluru
AIIMS, New Delhi
RRA Poddar Medical College, Mumbai
KLEU’s Shri BMK Ayurveda Mahavidyalaya, Belgavi
3.
A Randomized Placebo Controlled Phase II Clinical Study of an Ayurvedic Coded Drug ‘AYUSH-D’ in the management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus as add on Therapy to Metformin
Central Ayurveda Research Institute, Bengaluru
AIIMS, New Delhi
RRA Poddar Medical College, Mumbai
Rajiv Gandhi PG Govt Ayurveda College, Paprola
4.
Multi-centric Collaborative Double Blind study on clinical evaluation of AYUSH-SL in chronic Filarial Lymphoedema in patients receiving mass drug administration Multi-centric Collaborative Double Blind study on clinical evaluation of AYUSH-SL in chronic Filarial Lymphoedema in patients receiving mass drug administration
Calcutta School of Tropical Medicine (CSTM) in collaboration with CARI, Kolkata
Central Ayurveda Research Institute, Bhubaneswar
Regional Ayurveda Research Institute, Vijayawada
5.
Feasibility of introducing Ayurveda intervention in Reproductive and Child Health
30 PHCs of Gadchiroli District of Maharashtra
(RCH) in PHCs of selected district (Gadchiroli) of Maharashtra (Effectiveness of Ayurvedic Intervention for Ante-Natal care (Garbhini Paricharya) at Primary Health Care level: A Multi Centre Operational Study)
6.
Randomized control study to evaluate the efficacy of Ayush CCT and Rajyoga Meditation versus conventional treatment on clinical recovery and post-operative outcomes following elective adult cardiothoracic surgeries
AIIMS, New Delhi
7.
Clinical evaluation of the efficacy of “Ayush- SS Granules” in exclusively breast feeding mothers with Insufficient Lactation (Stanyalpata)-A Randomized double blind placebo control Trial”
Vardhman Mahavir Medical College & Safdarjang Hospital, New Delhi
8.
A comparative clinical study of Ayush LND a coded Ayurvedic formulation in the management of Asrigdara (Abnormal Uterine Bleeding)
Regional Ayurveda Research Institute,, Nagpur
Govt. Medical College, Nagpur
9.
A Randomized controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy of Marma therapy in Lumbar disc Herniation with Radiculopathy.
Uttrakhand Ayurved University, Dehradun
10.
Efficacy of Ayurveda nutritional supplements and Yoga protocol in the prevention and reduction of the severity of Acute Mountain Sickness: an open-label randomized controlled study
2118 field hospitals, Nimu/Leh under the AFMS, Northern Command of Indian Army
11.
A pilot study to assess the effect of intranasal oil instillation (Pratimarsha Nasya) on nasal barrier function among healthy individuals
Dr D Y Patil Vidyapeeth, Pune
12.
Prospective double blind randomized controlled clinical study on Ayurvedic intervention (Sarpagandha Mishran) vs. Amlodipine in the management of stage-I Primary Hypertension
AIIMS Delhi
13.
Randomized double blind placebo controlled clinical study Ayurvedic coded drug AYUSH-A in the management of Bronchial Asthma (Tamaka Shwasa)
AIIMS Delhi
14.
Study the physiological basis and gut bacterial modulation induced by Virechana Purgation therapy in the healthy adults: A prospective longitudinal study.
Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, Delhi
15.
Morbidity and Healthcare-seeking behaviour of
Directorate General Armed Force
the patients visiting the Ayurveda healthcare facilities of the DGAFMS Hospitals: A multicentre cross-sectional survey study
Medical Services- facilities
16.
A Randomized Controlled Study to Assess the Effect of Marsha Nasya Karma in Motor, Sensory, Memory and Cognitive Parameters elicited through f – MRI in Apparently Healthy Individuals.
Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Cochin, Kerala
17.
Evaluation of Ayush-GMH in the subjects of mild to moderate Non alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)-A double blind randomized control clinical study
KLE’s Dr. Prabhakar Kore Hospital & Medical Research Centre, Belagavi ICMR – National Institute of Traditional Medicine, Belegavi
18.
A randomized trial to evaluate the efficacy of multimodal Ayurveda interventions in Jannu Sandhigatavata (Primary Knee – osteoarthritis)
AIIMS Delhi
19.
Clinical evaluation of Ayurvedic management in Allergic Rhinitis- A Randomized controlled Trial
Vardhman Mahavir Medical College & Safdarjang Hospital, New Delhi
ONGOING PROJECTS
S.
No.
Name of Project
Name of the Collaborating Institutes
1.
A phase II trial to study efficacy, toxicity and imunomodulatory effect of Carctol-S in high grade serous epithelial ovarian cancer at first serological relapse collaborative project.
Tata Memorial Hospital ACTREC Mumbai & Central Ayurveda Research Institute, Mumbai
2.
Evaluation of Hepatoprotective activity of PTK as an add on therapy in the patients of Tuberculosis on ATT – A double blind randomized control clinical study
KLE’s Dr. Prabhakar Kore Hospital & Medical Research Centre, Belagavi
3.
Evaluating the efficacy of Ayurvedic intervention as add on to conventional treatment and explore the interaction of epigenetics, neuro/gut biomarkers and neuroimaging in pediatric ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperacidity Disorder)
National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bengaluru
4.
Double blind randomized placebo controlled multicentric clinical trial of Ayush M-3 in the management of Migraine.
National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bengaluru
5.
Ayurveda therapeutic regiman as on Add-on
to optimized conventional management of Parkinson’s disease: an RCT for assessment
National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bengaluru
of clinical Cortical excitability neuroimmune and Autonomic function parameters.
6.
Efficacy and safety of Ayurveda Formulation Trikatu as add on to standard care in Dyslipidemia – a randomized controlled trial
AIIMS, Bhubaneswar
7.
Efficacy of Ayurveda regimen (mild purgation and internal oleation) in comparison with Allopathic regimen (Letrozole) along with Yoga module in the management of unexplained and anovulatory female infertility: A RCT
IIT, Mandi
8.
Topical Oil Pooling (Karnapurana) with Kshirabala Taila and supple mentation of Ashwagandha churna (TOPMAC) in presbycusis – An exploratory randomized controlled trial
Institute for Communicative and Cognitive Neurosciences(ICCONS), Shoranur, Kerela
9.
Prospective, Randomized, Open-Label, Blinded End Point exploratory clinical study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Ayurvedic regimen as an adjunct to Hydroxyurea in the management of Sickle cell disease.
AIIMS, Bhopal
10.
A multi-center study to assess the treatment adherence & tolerability of Ayush SR in Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Shri B.M. Kankanawadi Ayurveda Mahavidyalaya, Belgavi; Vaidyaratnam PS Varier Ayurveda College, Kotakkal; Sri Sri College of Ayurvedic Science and Research, Bengaluru; Adichunchanagiri Ayurvedic Medical College, Bengaluru
11.
Impact of Mukta Shukti Bhasma and Saubhagya Shunti in reversal of bone mineral density among Lactating women consuming traditional diet foods in Maharashtra: A randomized Controlled preliminary clinical study
ICMR-National Institute for Research in Reproductive and Child Health, Mumbai
12.
Efficacy of Ayurveda interventions (Hridyarnava Rasa and Harityakyadi yoga) as an add-on to standard care in Stable Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) assessed through Global Longitudinal Strain Imaging Technique (GLSIT) – A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Ayurvedic Cardiac Rehabilitation Centre, Madhavbaugh, Pune
13.
Prospective double blind randomized controlled clinical study on Ayurvedic intervention (Pushkar guggulu & Haritaki churna) in the management of stable coronary artery disease.
Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi
14.
A randomized double blind placebo control clinical study to evaluate the immunomodulatory effect of Swarnaprashan in moderately malnourished children.
Sanjiv Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow
15.
Randomized controlled trial of Anshumati Ksheer Paka in hypertension induced left ventricular hypertrophy
Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi
16.
Anemia control among adolescent girls through Ayurveda interventions in the five districts under Mission Utkarsh
All India Institute of Ayurveda, New Delhi;
National Institute of Ayurveda, Jaipur, Public Health Foundation India’s IIPH- Delhi
17.
An exploratory series of n of 1 responder restricted study of Ayurveda regimen on quality of life among elderly population in Ballabgarh district of Haryana- A community based study.
AIIMS, Ballabhgarh
ANNEXURE II
NINE ORGANIZATIONS OF NATIONAL REPUTE FUNDED UNDER CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE COMPONENT OF AYURSWASTHYA SCHEMETO INTEGRATE KNOWLEDGE OF AYURVEDA WITH MODERN SYSTEM OF MEDICINE AYURSWASTHYA SCHEME:
S.
No.
Name of the Organization
State
Project Name
Fund Released (Amount in Crore)
2022-23
2023-24
2024-25
1.
Tata Memorial Centre, (TMC) Mumbai
Maharashtra
Centre of
Excellence for
Discovery and Development of AYUSH
Medicine for Cancer Care
–
2.00
1.62
2.
Central Drug Research Institute (CDRI),
Lucknow
Uttar Pradesh
Center of
Excellence for Fundamental and Translation Research in
Ayurveda at Central Drug Research Institute
–
2.00
1.99
3.
Jawaharlal Nehru University, (JNU) New Delhi
Delhi
Functional-based CoE on Ayurveda
and Systems Medicine
–
1.01
2.44
4.
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi
Delhi
Centre of
Excellence in Sustainable Ayush for Advanced technological solutions, startup support and net zero sustainable solutions for
Rasausadhies
–
2.00
1.14
5.
Indian Institute of Science (IISC) Bengaluru
Karnataka
Centre of
Excellence in
Diabetes and Metabolic Disorders
–
2.00
1.82
6.
Centre for
Delhi
Centre of
2.05
2.04
–
Integrative Medicine and Research (CIMR), AIIMS
New Delhi
Excellence for
Yoga &
Ayurveda
7.
National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS),
Bangalore
Karnataka
Centre of
Excellence in Ayush Research
0.85
0.37
–
8.
Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (ILBS)
Delhi
Effects of Indian Foods and Ayurvedic drugs
on healthy and diseases Liver
2.61
–
–
9.
Indian Institute of Technology, (IIT) Jodhpur
Rajasthan
Centre of
Excellence in AYURTech for Integrative Precision Health and Medicine
–
4.00
–
Total
5.51
15.42
9.01
This information was given by Union Minister of State (I/C) for Ayush, Shri Prataprao Jadhav in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.
Global Head of IBM Corporation, an American multinational Technology Company headquartered in New York with presence in over 175 countries, Shri. Arvind Krishna called on Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh to explore potential joint collaborations in Quantum, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and geospatial AI solutions Both sides acknowledge the transformation of India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi which has placed this country as a frontline nation in AI and next-generation technologies
Dr. Jitendra Singh reaffirms government’s pro-technology and forthcoming stance on innovation ecosystem with synergistic collaboration and partnership with the Private sector
S&T Minister reiterates Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s unwavering support for a deep tech enabled India with indigenous solutions
Posted On: 25 MAR 2025 5:49PM by PIB Delhi
In a significant step towards elevating India’s global position in emerging technologies, Global Head of IBM Corporation, an American multinational Technology Company headquartered in New York with presence in over 175 countries, Arvind Krishna called on Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh to explore potential joint collaboration in Quantum, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and geospatial AI solutions.
The meeting between the two delegations took place in the backdrop of India’s recently launched National Quantum Mission, positioning the country as a global leader in quantum technologies.
During the discussion, both sides acknowledged the transformation of India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi which has placed this country as a frontline nation in AI and next-generation technologies.
They deliberated on possibilities of integrating geospatial AI solutions to drive innovation and technological advancements across various sectors.
Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, and Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, reaffirmed the Government of India’s pro-technology stance and its commitment to fostering a robust innovation ecosystem. He highlighted the government’s proactive approach in welcoming private sector participation, citing recent breakthroughs in the space sector following its unlocking for private investment. He also referenced the Union Budget announcement allowing non-government sectors to participate in nuclear energy development as a testament to India’s commitment to deep-tech innovation.
Emphasizing the need for global collaboration, Dr. Jitendra Singh stated that India is now more open than ever to partnerships with private sector players to scale up technological advancements at a global level. He highlighted the role of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) in creating a strong research ecosystem and expressed confidence in the potential of Indian youth to achieve the goals of Viksit Bharat @ 2047.
The Union Minister reiterated the government’s unwavering support for a deep-tech enabled India, emphasizing indigenous solutions and self-reliance in critical technologies. He also asserted that India is at par, if not ahead, of other nations in the field of emerging technologies.
Prof. Abhay Karandikar, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology, actively participated in the discussions, assuring full support from government institutions to facilitate technological collaborations.
From the IBM delegation, Sandip Patel, Country General Manager and MD; Kishore Balaji, Executive Director – GRA; and Amith Singhee, Director, IBM Research India & CTO, were also present, expressing their commitment to deepening IBM’s engagement with India’s technology ecosystem.
The meeting marked a pivotal moment in India’s journey toward becoming a global leader in quantum computing, AI, and deep-tech innovations, with synergistic collaboration between the government and private sector driving the nation toward a technologically advanced future.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has today issued its response to the back-reference received from Department of Telecommunications (DoT) in respect of TRAI’s recommendations dated 24.04.2024 on‘Telecommunication Infrastructure Sharing, Spectrum Sharing, and Spectrum Leasing’.
Earlier, DoT, through a reference dated 07.12.2021 under Section 11 (1) (a) of the TRAl Act, 1997, requested TRAI to provide recommendations on allowing sharing of core network elements such as MSC, HLR, IN etc., among telecom operators. Subsequently, DoT, through a reference dated 10.02.2022, mentioning its earlier reference dated 07.12.2021, informed that “to promote optimum resource utilization among the licensees, it is proposed to allow sharing of all kinds of telecom infrastructure and network elements among all categories of service providers licensed under the Section 4 of Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 for provision of authorized telecom services”, and requested TRAI to provide recommendations on the subject.
Considering the request of stakeholders to permit inter-band spectrum sharing and leasing of spectrum in the country, the Authority decided to take up the issues related to spectrum sharing and spectrum leasing along with the issues related to infrastructure sharing in the stakeholders’ consultation.
After a comprehensive consultation with stakeholders, TRAI sent its recommendations on ‘Telecommunication Infrastructure Sharing, Spectrum Sharing, and Spectrum Leasing’ to DoT on 24.04.2024.
Subsequently, DoT, through a back-reference dated 13.02.2025, informed TRAI that as per Section 11(1) of the TRAI Act 1997 (as amended), such recommendations on ‘Telecommunication Infrastructure Sharing, Spectrum Sharing, and Spectrum Leasing’ dated 24.04.2024, where the Government has reached aprima-facieconclusion that these recommendations may not be accepted or may need modification are being referred back to TRAI for its reconsideration.
In this regard, after a careful examination, TRAI has sent its response to the back-reference to DoT. TRAI’s response to the back-reference has also been placed on the TRAI’s website (www.trai.gov.in).
For any clarification or information, Shri Akhilesh Kumar Trivedi, Advisor (Networks, Spectrum and Licensing), TRAI may be contacted at Telephone Number +91-11-20907758.
The DBIM framework strengthens the government’s vision of ‘Minimum Government, Maximum Governance: Jayant Chaudhary MSDE Launches DBIM-Compliant Website
Posted On: 25 MAR 2025 5:29PM by PIB Delhi
In a significant step toward strengthening India’s digital governance ecosystem, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) today launched its DBIM-compliant website, developed in alignment with the Digital Brand Identity Manual (DBIM) Version 3.0 introduced by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
Launching the revamped website, Sh. Jayant Chaudhary the Minister of State (Independent Charge), MSDE, said: “The DBIM framework strengthens the government’s vision of ‘Minimum Government, Maximum Governance’ by creating a unified and citizen-centric digital ecosystem. As India’s digital economy expands, a standardized and seamless service delivery model is crucial. Our Ministry’s website, aligned with DBIM 3.0, ensures that skilling opportunities are more accessible, inclusive, and efficient for every citizen.” Sh. Chaudhary congratulated the MSDE IT team and NIC for their efforts in making this possible. Further he encouraged all stakeholders to explore the website and leverage its enhanced features for seamless access to skilling initiatives and resources.
The newly launched website enhances accessibility, uniformity, and ease of navigation for users, featuring AI-powered search, multi-language support through Bhashini, persona-led navigation, and centralized content management. With its three-click approach, it ensures citizens can seamlessly access essential services and skilling resources.
The MSDE website serves as a one-stop digital hub showcasing all flagship schemes and initiatives of the Ministry, including Skill India Mission, Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS), and more. Each initiative is seamlessly linked to its respective dashboard, portals, and resources, ensuring real-time access to data, performance metrics, and impact stories. The website’s integrated design enhances transparency and enables stakeholders, industries, and citizens to easily explore skilling opportunities, track progress, and engage with government programs more efficiently.
The DBIM framework, introduced by MeitY, ensures a consistent digital presence across all government ministries and platforms, fostering a seamless, integrated, and transparent governance approach. MSDE is among the first five ministries to transition to this new system, reflecting its commitment to leveraging technology for efficient public service delivery.
The Minister further urged all MSDE-operated portals to adopt DBIM standards soon, ensuring standardized governance across all digital platforms under the Skill India Mission.
For more details, visit the new MSDE website: www.msde.gov.in
Government of India is implementing the National Food Security and Nutrition Mission (NFSNM) in 28 States and 2 Union Territories (UTs) viz. Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, to increase production of foodgrains through area expansion and productivity enhancement by providing incentives to the farmers, through the States/UTs, on crop production and protection technologies, cropping system-based demonstrations, distribution of certified seeds of newly released varieties/hybrids, integrated nutrient and pest management techniques, improved farm implements/tools/resource conservation machineries, water saving devices, capacity building of farmers through trainings during cropping seasons. The area under Rabi foodgrains in 2024-25 has increased by 14.35 lakh hectares, reaching a total of 565.46 lakh hectares, compared to 551.11 lakh hectares in 2023-24.
The Government is implementing “Modified Interest Subvention Scheme (MISS)’ across various States and UTs in pan India to provide concessional interest rates on short-term agricultural loans through Kisan Credit Cards. The Government of India has also implemented several measures to improve the accessibility, transparency, and efficiency of the crop insurance scheme, which includes National Crop Insurance Portal (NCIP), a centralized platform for data management, subsidy payment, coordination, and online farmer enrolment. Digiclaim Module has been introduced to monitor the claim disbursal process. District and State Level Grievance Redressal Committees has been established to resolve farmer complaints. Additionally, the Krishi Rakshak Portal and Helpline (toll-free number 14447) allows farmers to raise issues related to claims, with fixed timelines for resolution. Other technological interventions such as YES-Tech, Weather information and Network Data System (WINDS), App for Intermediary Enrolment (AIDE App) etc. have also been implemented.
Government on 31.05.2023, has approved the “World’s Largest Grain Storage Plan in Cooperative Sector. The Plan entails creation of various agri infrastructure at Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) level, including godowns, custom hiring center, processing units, Fair Price Shops, etc. The coordination between Railways and the Food Corporation of India (FCI) ensures efficient movement of foodgrains from surplus to deficit regions, addressing storage capacity, procurement, and allocations. Further, the government arranges procurement for all six mandated Rabi crops. For wheat and barley, FCI and state agencies provide price support to farmers. Procurement of pulses (Gram, Masur) and oilseeds (Rapeseed/Mustard, Safflower) is done under the Price Support Scheme (PSS) through the Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA) when market prices fall below the Minimum Support Price (MSP).
This information was given by Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmer’s Welfare, Shri Ramnath Thakur in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.
Source: US House of Representatives – Democratic Caucus
The following text contains opinion that is not, or not necessarily, that of MIL-OSI – March 25, 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, House Democratic Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar joined Vice Chair Ted Lieu for a press conference on the economy heading towards a recession while House Republicans stay silent.
CHAIRMAN AGUILAR: Good morning. I’m always pleased to be joined with the Vice Chair of the Democratic Caucus, Ted Lieu. We just left a successful Caucus meeting and had a productive conversation today. Many of our Members will be heading to Tucson tomorrow to pay respects for our colleague, Raul Grijalva. His legacy for clean air, clean water and a strong economy for working people will be greatly missed.
House Democrats spent last week talking to our constituents back home, and despite Donald Trump’s promise to lower costs that they face, it has not become any easier for anyone to buy groceries. Tariffs are making everyday goods more expensive, and illegal cuts are threatening the services that people rely on. And it’s clear: the Republican recession is becoming more and more likely, and it will make things even worse. The cost of living will be too high, and we’ll start to see more layoffs. People will lose their jobs, potentially their homes and their health care. And the Republican budget, cutting $880 billion from Medicaid, will make health care more expensive, especially for people who are out of work because of the Republican recession.
It didn’t have to be this way. Donald Trump inherited a growing economy and falling inflation, but in eight weeks, he’s made it worse across the board. Meanwhile, House Republicans are turning a blind eye to the economy while it’s going off the cliff. House Democrats are focused on bringing down the cost of living and stopping these Republican cuts to Medicaid. Vice Chair Ted Lieu.
VICE CHAIR LIEU: Thank you, Chairman Aguilar. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth should resign.
He recklessly texted operational details of military strikes, including time, place, location and sequencing of those strikes, to a journalist. Had that information gotten to the Houthis, American pilots could have been shot down, Navy sailors could have been targeted. His reckless actions endanger the lives of American troops, endanger our national security, and makes it so that our allies don’t want to share sensitive classified information with us anymore.
In addition, Signal is not approved for government use, especially for this kind of use. Before entering politics, I had a secret security clearance. I served active duty in the U.S. military, and when you go to a secure facility, the first thing they make you do is they make you put your phones outside the facility. So, you can’t have our top national security professionals using an app that’s commercially available and not authorized for this use to be discussing these kinds of war plans. They never should have been on that Signal chat to begin with, and they made it worse by having a journalist on that chat. These are reckless actions by the Secretary of Defense, and he also made it worse. Instead of accepting responsibility, he lied to the American people. He said this was all a hoax when confronted by a reporter while the White House confirmed that these Signal chats were authentic. Instead of apologizing to the American people, Hegseth lied to the American people. The cover-up is even worse—actually, I don’t think the cover-up is worse. This whole thing is really, really bad. It shows how not serious these national security professionals take our national security. Hegseth needs to resign, and everyone on that text chain needs to go take some courses on how to deal with national security and classified information.
Video of the full press conference and Q&A can be viewed here.
ADVISORY – BLAIR COUNTY – Governor Shapiro to Visit Penn England Farms, Highlight Administration’s Plan to Lower Energy Costs for Rural Communities & Farmers
Governor Josh Shapiro will visit Penn England Farms to highlight a key component of his energy plan – known as the Lightning Plan – that will help lower energy costs for agriculture producers and rural communities. The Governor’s proposal would allow Pennsylvanians to jointly share energy resources to lower their costs, such as a group of farmers using a methane digester.
WHO: Governor Josh Shapiro Secretary Russell Redding, Department of Agriculture Mark Heeter, Blair County Farm Bureau Steven McKnight, Blair County Alliance for Business & Economic Growth Yvette Longenecker, Penn-England Farms
WHEN: Wednesday, March 26, 2025, at 11:30 AM
WHERE: Penn England Farms 10290 Fox Run Road, Williamsburg, PA 16693
LIVE STREAM: pacast.com/live/gov governor.pa.gov/live/
RSVP: Press who are interested in attending must RSVP with the names and phone numbers for each member of their team to ra-gvgovpress@pa.gov.
Sextortion Scams More Threatening in 2025, Fueled by AI-Powered Attacks and Data Breaches
AUCKLAND, 25 March 2025 – Sextortion scams are becoming more common – and more threatening – as cybercriminals exploit artificial intelligence (AI) and large-scale data breaches to develop highly convincing scams. A recent analysis by Avast, a leader in digital security and privacy and part of Gen (NASDAQ: GEN), found that in 2025 so far, the risk of being targeted with sextortion scams in the NZ has risen 137%.
New Zealand is not alone: Avast researchers are seeing countries around the world being impacted by these highly manipulative scams. In the US, the likelihood of being targeted by sextortion scammers also increased 137% in the first few months of 2025. The UK and Australia’s risk rose 49% and 34% respectively. Avast also revealed the top 10 countries most vulnerable to these scams, with Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, South Africa, Italy, Australia, UAE, the UK, Switzerland and Czech Republic facing the highest risk ratios for sextortion in the last calendar year.
New Threatening and Intrusive Tactics
Criminals are refining their tactics, thanks to the help of AI and a wealth of personal data available from recent large-scale breaches. As the sophistication of AI increases, so do the explicit extortion emails scammers are sending. AI is being used by scammers to create ‘deepfake’ images, fake explicit photos created by superimposing a victim’s face onto another body, coupled with threatening messages to distribute them.
Michal Salat, Threat Intelligence Director for Avast comments: “Our analysis reveals that sextortion victims frequently receive threatening messages claiming access to their private videos and images. These scams are made even more convincing with the use of stolen passwords from past data breaches, lending an alarming sense of credibility.”
“Fear of exposure, especially when personal details appear accurate, often pressures victims into complying with ransom demands. However, we strongly advise against engaging with these scammers, no matter how real the threats may seem.”
One of the latest techniques used by cybercriminals involves Google Maps and is designed to employ a more invasive and personalised approach that can really shock and intimidate their victims into complying with demands.
Criminals – utilizing names, addresses, and emails readily available on the Dark Web due to data breaches – can create very targeted emails to victims containing fabricated footage and unsettling information and images of their real homes. Scammers will also claim to have gained access to victims’ devices to extort their victims by threatening to share sexual content or information about them. Cybersecurity experts at Avast have identified over 15,000 unique Bitcoin wallets associated with the Google Maps scam, though the scope of the operation is likely much larger.
Avast experts emphasise the importance of proactive protection against sextortion scams and urge people to never engage with messages that could be from scammers. The following actions help to combat sextortion efforts:
Do not pay ransom demands or respond to threats.
Do not engage with these emails, texts or calls or open any associated PDF attachments.
Always report such crimes to the relevant cybercrime units including the NZ Police and Netsafe for support.
Use a reputable password manager to ensure unique passwords for all accounts and prevent reuse.
Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) wherever possible to enhance account security.
Monitor your data for breaches by using dark web monitoring services, through products such as Avast Secure Identity, to be alerted when personal information is exposed so you can act quickly to help protect your accounts.
Do not panic – stay informed and take action to secure your accounts.
As sextortion scams become more advanced, it is crucial for individuals to remain cautious and take steps to safeguard their digital privacy. Public awareness and vigilance remain critical in combating these threats.
About Avast Avast is a leader in digital security and privacy, and part of Gen™ (NASDAQ: GEN), a global company dedicated to powering Digital Freedom with a family of trusted consumer brands. Avast protects hundreds of millions of users from online threats, for Mobile, PC or Mac and is top-ranked and certified by VB100, AV-Comparatives, AV-Test, SE Labs and others. Avast is a member of the Coalition Against Stalkerware, No More Ransom and Internet Watch Foundation. Learn more at Avast.com. Visit: www.avast.com.
HOUSTON, March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Amplify Energy Corp. (NYSE: AMPY) (“Amplify” or the “Company”) today posted a new presentation on its website, providing additional information on its previously announced definitive agreement to acquire Juniper Capital’s upstream Rocky Mountain portfolio companies.
The presentation, which can be found on the Company’s investor relations page of its website at https://www.amplifyenergy.com/Amplify-Rockies-Transaction-Highlights/, details the expected financial and diversification benefits of the merger and how it is expected to enhance Amplify’s ability to generate long-term shareholder value. Key highlights include:
Free cash flow and value accretion:
2025 free cash flow per share projected to increase from $0.50 per share to greater than $0.70 per share1
Total proved reserve value projected to increase ~89% from $688 million to $1.3 billion2
Greater portfolio flexibility:
New Rockies asset base allows Amplify the opportunity to accelerate value creation through portfolio optimization
Lower operating cost to improve resiliency of asset base in low or high commodity price environment
Organic growth potential:
Juniper assets include multi-year inventory of identified, high quality undeveloped drilling locations
Proved undeveloped drilling locations adjacent to premier public company operators
Meaningful operating synergies:
Pro-forma Adjusted EBITDA per BOE expected to increase 40% due to higher oil weighting and lower cost structure3
Pro-forma G&A per BOE expected to decrease >20% due to economies of scale4
Path to enhance shareholder value:
Increased free cash flow and scale, along with expected refinancing, projected to increase liquidity and flexibility
Free cash flow provides optionality to reduce leverage and return capital to shareholders
Amplify also reminds shareholders to vote on the two proposals regarding the merger. The Special Meeting of Shareholders to approve the proposals is scheduled to take place virtually on April 14, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. Central Time. The methods for voting and submitting proxies are described in the distributed proxy materials for the Special Meeting.
The Board unanimously recommends that shareholders vote “FOR” both proposals. The proposals are critical to the completion of the merger agreement, which the Board has unanimously determined to be in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders.
Each vote is important, regardless of how many shares owned, and whether or not shareholders expect to attend the Special Meeting. Amplify asks that all shareholders vote as soon as possible “FOR” both proposals, to ensure that their shares are represented at the Special Meeting.
About Amplify Energy
Amplify Energy Corp. is an independent oil and natural gas company engaged in the acquisition, development, exploitation and production of oil and natural gas properties. Amplify’s operations are focused in Oklahoma, the Rockies (Bairoil), federal waters offshore Southern California (Beta), East Texas / North Louisiana, and the Eagle Ford (Non-op). For more information, visit www.amplifyenergy.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes “forward-looking statements.” All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included in this press release that addresses activities, events or developments that the Company expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Terminology such as “could,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate,” “expect,” “may,” “continue,” “predict,” “potential,” “project” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the Company’s expectations of plans, goals, strategies (including measures to implement strategies), objectives and anticipated results with respect thereto. These statements address activities, events or developments that we expect or anticipate will or may occur in the future, including things such as projections of results of operations, plans for growth, goals, future capital expenditures, competitive strengths, references to future intentions and other such references. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause the Company’s actual results or financial condition to differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, forward-looking statements contained in this press release specifically include the expectations of plans, strategies, objectives and growth and anticipated financial and operational performance of the Company and its affiliates. Please read the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, and if applicable, the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, which are available on the Company’s Investor Relations website at https://www.amplifyenergy.com/investor-relations/default.aspx or on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov, for a discussion of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from those in such forward-looking statements. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. All forward-looking statements in this press release are qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation and does not intend to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future results or otherwise.
Cautionary Note on Reserves and Resource Estimates
The SEC permits oil and gas companies, in their filings with the SEC, to disclose only proved, probable and possible reserves. Any reserve estimates provided in this press release that are not specifically designated as being estimates of proved reserves may include estimated reserves or locations not necessarily calculated in accordance with, or contemplated by, the SEC’s latest reserve reporting guidelines. You are urged to consider closely the oil and gas disclosures in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and our other reports and filings with the SEC.
Important Additional Information Regarding the Mergers Will Be Filed With the SEC.
In connection with the proposed mergers, the Company has filed a definitive proxy statement. The definitive proxy statement has been sent to the stockholders of record of the Company. The Company may also file other documents with the SEC regarding the mergers. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF AMPLIFY ARE ADVISED TO CAREFULLY READ THE DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT MATERIALS FILED WITH THE SEC WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE MERGERS, THE PARTIES TO THE MERGERS AND THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH THE MERGERS. Investors and security holders may obtain a free copy of the definitive proxy statement and other relevant documents filed by Amplify with the SEC from the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. Security holders and other interested parties will also be able to obtain, without charge, a copy of the definitive proxy statement and other relevant documents (when available) by (1) directing your written request to: 500 Dallas Street, Suite 1700, Houston, Texas or (2) contacting our Investor Relations department by telephone at (832) 219-9044 or (832) 219-9051. Copies of the documents filed by the Company with the SEC will be available free of charge on the Company’s website at http://www.amplifyenergy.com.
Participants in the Solicitation.
Amplify and certain of its respective directors, executive officers and employees may be considered participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the proposed transaction. Information regarding the persons who may, under the rules of the SEC, be deemed participants in the solicitation of the stockholders of Amplify in connection with the transaction, including a description of their respective direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, is included in the definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC. Additional information regarding the Company’s directors and executive officers is also included in Amplify’s Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and 2024 Proxy Statement, which was filed with the SEC on April 5, 2024. These documents are available free of charge as described above.
Footnotes
1) Based on Amplify March 5, 2025 guidance and full year 2025 Juniper forecast at flat pricing; (NYMEX WTI, HH) – $71.00, $3.75. Free cash flow is a non-GAAP measure. Amplify believes that a quantitative reconciliation of such forward-looking information to the most comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP cannot be made available without unreasonable efforts. A reconciliation of this non-GAAP financial measure would require Amplify to predict the timing and likelihood of future transactions and other items that are difficult to accurately predict. This forward-looking measure, or its probable significance, can be quantified with a reasonable degree of accuracy. Accordingly, a reconciliation of the most directly comparable forward-looking GAAP measures is not provided. 2) 2024 Year End reserves are evaluated at flat pricing: (NYMEX WTI, HH) – $70.00, $3.50. 3) Based on Amplify 3Q24 reported results, 3Q24 Juniper unaudited results adjusted for G&A synergies (pro-forma G&A excluding synergies equal to $3.38/Boe). 4) Based on Amplify G&A per BOE in 3Q24, assuming $1 MM of incremental G&A post-merger and Juniper production in 3Q24.
HOUSTON, March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Evolution Petroleum Corporation (NYSE American: EPM) (“Evolution” or the “Company”) announced today that members of the Company’s management team plan to participate in several upcoming events.
Water Tower Research Fireside Chat – March 26, 2025 Evolution will participate in a virtual fireside chat hosted by Water Tower Research (“WTR”) on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. CT. The event will feature an in-depth conversation with Company management regarding its pending acquisition of non-operated assets in New Mexico, Texas, and Louisiana and the ongoing development activity in the Chaveroo field and the SCOOP/STACK play along with management’s outlook to build value through the asset acquisition market. This event is open to all investors. Registration for the event is available here. Replays of the webcast will also be available after the event.
A.G.P.’s Virtual Energy Conference – April 2, 2025 Management will host one-on-one meetings with institutional investors during A.G.P.’s Virtual Energy Conference on Wednesday, April 2, 2025. Investors interested in scheduling a meeting should contact their A.G.P. representative or the Company’s investor relations contact listed below.
2025 Louisiana Energy Conference – May 27-29, 2025 Evolution will participate in the 2025 Louisiana Energy Conference, held in New Orleans, Louisiana, from May 27–29, 2025. Management is scheduled to participate in a panel discussion and conduct one-on-one meetings with attending investment professionals. Additional event details and registration information are available at louisianaenergyconference.com.
Evolution’s latest investor presentation is available on the “Events & Presentations” page of Evolution’s IR website at ir.evolutionpetroleum.com.
About Evolution Petroleum
Evolution Petroleum Corporation is an independent energy company focused on maximizing total shareholder returns through the ownership of and investment in onshore oil and natural gas properties in the U.S. The Company aims to build and maintain a diversified portfolio of long-life oil and natural gas properties through acquisitions, selective development opportunities, production enhancements, and other exploitation efforts. Properties include non-operated interests in the following areas: the SCOOP/STACK plays of the Anadarko Basin in Oklahoma; the Chaveroo Oilfield located in Chaves and Roosevelt Counties, New Mexico; the Jonah Field in Sublette County, Wyoming; the Williston Basin in North Dakota; the Barnett Shale located in North Texas; the Hamilton Dome Field located in Hot Springs County, Wyoming; the Delhi Holt-Bryant Unit in the Delhi Field in Northeast Louisiana; as well as small overriding royalty interests in four onshore Texas wells. Visit www.evolutionpetroleum.com for more information.
Saskatoon, SK, March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Draganfly Inc. (NASDAQ: DPRO) (CSE: DPRO) (FSE: 3U8A) (“Draganfly” or the “Company”), an award-winning, industry-leading developer of drone solutions and systems, announced today that it will host a shareholder update call on March 27th, 2025, at 5:30 PM EST.
Draganfly CEO Cameron Chell will lead the call, providing an overview of the Company’s 2024 milestones, strategic initiatives, and its outlook for 2025. CFO Paul Sun will present the Q4 2024 financial results, along with a full-year review, which is scheduled for release after market close on March 27th, 2025. Pre-submitted investor questions will also be addressed during the call.
Draganfly Inc. (NASDAQ: DPRO; CSE: DPRO; FSE: 3U8A) is a pioneer in drone solutions, AI-driven software, and robotics. With over 24 years of innovation, Draganfly has been at the forefront of drone technology, providing solutions for public safety, agriculture, industrial inspections, security, mapping, and surveying. The Company is committed to delivering efficient, reliable, and industry-leading technology that helps organizations save time, money, and lives.
ARCHBOLD, Ohio, March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Board of Directors of Farmers & Merchants Bancorp, Inc., (Nasdaq: FMAO) the holding company of F&M Bank, with total assets of $3.36 billion at December 31, 2024, today announced that it has approved the Company’s quarterly cash dividend of $0.22125 per share. The first-quarter dividend is payable on April 20, 2025, to shareholders of record as of April 4, 2025.
About Farmers & Merchants State Bank: Farmers & Merchants Bancorp, Inc. (Nasdaq: FMAO) is the holding company of F&M Bank, a local independent community bank that has been serving its communities since 1897. F&M Bank provides commercial banking, retail banking and other financial services. Our locations are in Butler, Champaign, Fulton, Defiance, Hancock, Henry, Lucas, Shelby, Williams, and Wood counties in Ohio. In Northeast Indiana, we have offices located in Adams, Allen, DeKalb, Jay, Steuben and Wells counties. The Michigan footprint includes Oakland County, and we have Loan Production Offices in West Bloomfield, Michigan; Muncie, Indiana; and Perrysburg and Bryan, Ohio.
Safe Harbor statement Farmers & Merchants Bancorp, Inc. (“F&M”) wishes to take advantage of the Safe Harbor provisions included in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements by F&M, including management’s expectations and comments, may not be based on historical facts and are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21B of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Actual results could vary materially depending on risks and uncertainties inherent in general and local banking conditions, competitive factors specific to markets in which F&M and its subsidiaries operate, future interest rate levels, legislative and regulatory decisions, capital market conditions, or the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and its impacts on our credit quality and business operations, as well as its impact on general economic and financial market conditions. F&M assumes no responsibility to update this information. For more details, please refer to F&M’s SEC filing, including its most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. Such filings can be viewed at the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov or through F&M’s website www.fm.bank.
Company Contact: Lars B. Eller President and Chief Executive Officer Farmers & Merchants Bancorp, Inc. (419) 446-2501 leller@fm.bank
Investor and Media Contact: Andrew M. Berger Managing Director SM Berger & Company, Inc. (216) 464-6400 andrew@smberger.com
ADELAIDE, South Australia – CH4 Global has been named as one of Time Magazine’s Top GreenTech Companies for the second year in a row – in recognition of continued progress towards scaling, including the development of its Louth Bay EcoPark to grow its seaweed-based cattle feed supplement that reduces enteric methane emissions by up to 90 per cent.
The second annual GreenTech rankings, prepared by TIME and Statista, considered more than 4,000 companies and evaluated them based on their positive environmental impact, financial strength and innovative ability. CH4 Global was among 250 companies selected for the award.
CH4 Global’s inclusion in the 2025 ranking highlights the company’s continued progress in scaling Methane Tamer , its Asparagopsis-based feed additive, which reduces enteric methane emissions from cattle by up to 90 per cent.
The distinction comes just weeks after CH4 Global opened phase one of its Louth Bay EcoPark, on Eyre Peninsula, where it has begun to grow and process Asparagopsis in 10 large-scale cultivation ponds with a combined capacity of 2 million litres – capable of producing 80 metric tonnes of the seaweed each year.
Over the next year, the facility will expand to 100 ponds capable of producing enough Asparagopsis to serve 45,000 cattle per day – a significant step toward meeting demand from CH4 Global’s existing commercial partners in Australia and beyond. With additional investment, the facility could eventually expand to 500 ponds capable of serving hundreds of thousands of cattle per day.
“This recognition by TIME Magazine for the second year running underscores the urgency of tackling livestock methane emissions and the effectiveness of our solution at scale,” said CH4 Global CEO Steve Meller.
“The momentum behind our solution is building, and we are on course to deliver gigatonne-scale climate impact within the next decade by making methane reduction practical, affordable and widely accessible.“In Australia, the CH4 Global team has worked tirelessly to develop the EcoPark and to start growing Asparagopsis at scale, while working with our partners in South Korea, South America, Japan, the Asia Pacific, the UK and the US, to be able to reach as many cows as possible in the coming years as we work to mitigate climate change.”
CH4 Global is working to reduce methane emissions from cows, which is naturally-produced in their stomachs and released through burping. Methane is more than 80 times more potent than CO2 in trapping heat in the atmosphere over a 20-year period, making it a critical target of efforts to combat global warming.
The full list of TIME’s America’s Top GreenTech Companies 2025 is available at TIME.com.
About CH4 Global
CH4 Global, founded in 2018, is on an urgent mission to bend the climate curve, through collaboration with strategic partners worldwide. Led by a world-class team of senior business builders, scientists and entrepreneurs, the company delivers market-disruptive products that enable the food industry value chain to radically reduce GHG emissions.
The company’s first innovation, Methane Tamer feed additives for feedlot cattle, harnesses the power of Asparagopsis seaweed to reduce enteric methane emissions by up to 90 per cent. CH4 Global is headquartered in Henderson, Nevada, with facilities to grow Asparagopsis in Australia at Louth Bay, Arno Bay and at Lonsdale in South Australia, and in Bluff and Bream Bay in New Zealand. To learn more, visit
Headline: Media Advisory: Secretary Noem Announces Trip to El Salvador, Colombia, and Mexico
ASHINGTON, DC – This week, the Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem will travel to El Salvador, Colombia, and Mexico
Below are more details on the Secretary’s trip
Travel Pool: Print: The Wall Street Journal, Michelle Hackman Photo: AP, Alex Brandon TV: Fox News, Krista Garvin, Ali Rad, and Mahreon Johnson
DAILY GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE Wednesday, March 26th: El Salvador Secretary Noem tours Terrorist Confinement Center CECOT with the Minister of Justice Gustavo Villatoro Secretary Noem meets with President Nayib Bukele Thursday, March 27th: Colombia Secretary Noem meets with Foreign Minister Laura Sarabia, Defense Minister Pedro Sanchez, National Police General Carlos Fernando Triana, and Migration Director Nigeria Renteria Secretary Noem meets with President Gustavo Petro Friday March 28th: Mexico Secretary Noem meets with President Sheinbaum and Foreign Minister Juan Ramon De La Fuente
DLNR News Release – INFRASTRUCTURE REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE FOR MAUI STATE FOREST RESERVES SCHEDULED IN APRIL, March 24, 2025
Posted on Mar 24, 2025 in Latest Department News, Newsroom
STATE OF HAWAIʻI
KA MOKU ʻĀINA OHAWAIʻI
DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURALRESOURCES
KA ‘OIHANA KUMUWAIWAI‘ĀINA
JOSH GREEN, M.D. GOVERNOR
DAWNCHANG CHAIRPERSON
INFRASTRUCTURE REPAIRS AND MAINTENANCE FOR MAUI STATE FOREST RESERVES SCHEDULED IN APRIL
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 24, 2025
KAHULUI – Sites in upcountry Maui will close for the month of April to allow for trail repairs and fuel mitigation work. The DLNRDivisions of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) and State Parks (DSP) will close the Kula State Forest Reserve, Waipoli Access Road, Kahikinui Forest Reserve – Papaʻanui Tract, and Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area (SRA) from Tuesday, April 1, 2025 through Wednesday, April 30, 2025 to allow for work to be completed.
Any forest or park permits for Polipoli Spring SRA for that period are being canceled. All roads, hunting areas, trails and facilities and activities including hiking, biking, camping and hunting that are associated with these areas will be affected by these closures.
The Waipoli Access Road will be closed from the Waipoli access road gate (white) to the Skyline Trailhead gate.
For more information, contact the Maui Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) office at 808-984-8100. To report violations, the public is advised to contact the Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) at 808-873-3990. Closure dates and times may be subject to change on short notice.
NEWS RELEASE: HAWAIʻI STATE COMMISSION ON FATHERHOOD ANNOUNCES 2025 AWARDS AND SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Posted on Mar 24, 2025 in Latest Department News, Newsroom
STATE OFHAWAIʻI
KA MOKU ʻĀINA OHAWAIʻI
DEPARTMENT OF HUMANSERVICES
KA ʻOIHANA MĀLAMA LAWELAWEKANAKA
JOSH GREEN, M.D.
GOVERNOR
KEKIAʻĀINA
RYAN I.YAMANE
DIRECTOR
KA LUNA HOʻOKELE
JOSEPH CAMPOS II
DEPUTY DIRECTOR
KA HOPE LUNA HOʻOKELE
TRISTA SPEER
DEPUTY DIRECTOR
KA HOPE LUNA HOʻOKELE
HAWAIʻI STATE COMMISSION ON FATHERHOOD ANNOUNCES
2025 AWARDS AND SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 24, 2025
HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i State Commission on Fatherhood (HS-COF) is pleased to announce its 2025 awards and sponsorship opportunities, which recognize and support fathers, businesses and nonprofit organizations dedicated to strengthening families and communities throughout the state. These awards serve to highlight the commission’s commitment to promoting healthy family relationships by underscoring the vital role fathers play in the lives of their children.
Applications must be submitted no later than Friday, April 16, 2025.
Aloha Father of the Year Award The Aloha Father of the Year Award celebrates outstanding fathers and father figures from various counties and districts who have prioritized their ‘ohana while balancing careers and community involvement. Fathers, as defined by this award, include any male caregivers who exemplify dedication and love for their families. Nominations are now open, and community members are encouraged to recognize inspiring fathers who make a difference.
Parent-Friendly Business of the Year Award This award recognizes businesses that prioritize the well-being of employees and their families, demonstrating leadership in fostering a supportive work environment and community. Eligible businesses must:
Be in good standing and reputable in the state of Hawai‘i.
Have leadership and policies that emphasize positive and healthy role models.
Make significant contributions to the community or the state of Hawai‘i.
Commit to strengthening families through educational programs or family support initiatives.
Serve as ambassadors of aloha, fostering inclusivity and equity for all.
Sponsorship Award – Up to $1,500 for Nonprofits The HS-COF is offering financial support to Hawai‘i-based nonprofit organizations that provide programs or services related to fathers. Organizations may apply for funds up to $1,500 to support Father’s Day events, fatherhood programs, or other community initiatives. Funds must be used for non-payroll expenses related to the event or program.
Eligibility and Restrictions:
Organization must be registered as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating in the state of Hawai‘i.
Events, programs, or services must be conducted or offered in Hawai‘i.
Awarded funds must be used by October 30, 2025, with preference given to programs taking place by June 30, 2025.
How to Apply:
Complete and sign the application(s) below – by April 16, 2025.
Aloha Father of the Year – click here
Parent-Friendly Business of the Year – click here
Sponsorship Award – click here
Submit applications via email to [email protected] or by mail to: Hawaiʻi State Commission on Fatherhood Chair / P.O. Box 339/Honolulu, HI 96809-0339.
If mailed, follow-up by email or call 808-550-0080 to confirm receipt.
# # #
For More Information:
Chair, Jeff Esmond
[email protected]
https://humanservices.hawaii.gov/fatherhood/
For Media Inquiries Only:
Amanda Stevens, Public Information Officer
Hawai‘i Department of Human Services
[email protected]
About the Commission on Fatherhood An increasing body of evidence indicates that children are more likely to thrive with the support, guidance and nurturing of both parents. Yet, many children across the country are growing up without fathers. As a result, they may lack appropriate male role models and face greater risks of health, emotional, educational, and behavioral problems during their developmental years. Motivated by a renewed understanding of a father’s vital role in family and community life, the 2003 Hawaiʻi State Legislature established the Commission on Fatherhood through Act 156; in June 2007, Hawaiʻi Act 190 made it permanent.
NOTICE: This information and attachments are intended only for the use of the individual or entity to which it is addressed, and may contain information that is privileged and/or confidential. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, any dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited and may be punishable under state and federal law. If you have received this communication and/or attachments in error, please notify the sender via email immediately and destroy all electronic and paper copies.
2025-44 ATTORNEY GENERAL LOPEZ LEADS FIGHT TO STOP PRESIDENT TRUMP FROM SHUTTING DOWN THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Posted on Mar 24, 2025 in Latest Department News, Newsroom
STATE OF HAWAIʻI
KA MOKU ʻĀINA O HAWAIʻI
DEPARTMENT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
KA ʻOIHANA O KA LOIO KUHINA
JOSH GREEN, M.D. GOVERNOR
KE KIAʻĀINA
ANNE LOPEZ
ATTORNEY GENERAL
LOIO KUHINA
ATTORNEY GENERAL LOPEZ LEADS FIGHT TO STOP PRESIDENT TRUMP FROM SHUTTING DOWN THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
AG Lopez Leads Coalition Seeking Preliminary Injunction to Block Mass Layoffs and the Elimination of Core Services at the Department of Education
News Release 2025-44
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 24, 2025
HONOLULU –Attorney General Lopez today led a coalition of 20 other attorneys general in filing amotion for a preliminary injunctionas part of its lawsuit to stop the dismantling of the Department of Education (ED).
On March 13, Attorney General Lopez and the coalition filed the lawsuit after the Trump administration announced plans to eliminate 50 percent of ED’s workforce. Following a March 20 Executive Order directing the closure of ED and President Trump’s March 21 announcement that, in addition to implementing layoffs, the ED must “immediately” transfer student loan management and special education services outside of ED, Attorney General Lopez and the coalition are seeking a court order to immediately stop the mass layoffs and transfer of services.
“The Department of Education is essential, and it cannot be eliminated or incapacitated by the Trump administration without violating federal law,” said Attorney General Lopez. “The 50% cut to the department’s workforce and transfer of department functions to other agencies causes grave harm to our state and our students. We are asking the court to step in to halt the department’s destruction.”
“Closing the U.S. Department of Education is a potentially catastrophic blow to students, especially those who rely on federal aid and support services to access higher education. At the University of Hawaiʻi, this decision threatens over 100 critical programs and hundreds of jobs across our campuses. We strongly support this legal challenge to defend the future of public education and the communities we serve,” said University of Hawaiʻi President Wendy Hensel.
“The move to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education threatens critical programs that directly support our students, including those with disabilities, English learners, students experiencing unstable housing, and those in our highest-need schools,” said Hawai‘i Department of Education Superintendent Keith T. Hayashi. “In addition to funding, we rely on the department’s guidance to ensure compliance, plan for the school year, and sustain essential services across the state. Even with assurances that core programs will continue, a shift of this magnitude risks serious disruptions. We appreciate Attorney General Lopez’s leadership in standing up for the stability our schools depend on, and we remain committed to working with our partners to protect educational opportunities for all students.”
As Attorney General Lopez and the coalition assert, the Trump administration’s attacks on ED have already had serious consequences for families and students throughout the country. Mass layoffs of ED staff have led to the closure of ED’s Office for Civil Rights locations throughout the country. Critical funding for state school systems has also been delayed. As the attorneys general argue, states rely on billions of dollars every year in funding for elementary and secondary education, services for children with disabilities, vocational education, adult education, and other crucial services. All of these programs will be severely disrupted if the administration’s incapacitation of ED is not stopped.
Attorney General Lopez and the coalition argue in their lawsuit and motion for a preliminary injunction that the Trump administration’s attacks on ED are illegal and unconstitutional. ED is an executive agency authorized by Congress, with numerous laws creating its various programs and funding streams. The coalition’s lawsuit asserts that the executive branch does not have the legal authority to unilaterally dismantle it without an act of Congress. In addition, the attorneys general argue that ED’s mass layoffs violate the Administrative Procedures Act.
The state of Hawaiʻi is represented in this litigation by Solicitor General Kalikoʻonālani Fernandes, Deputy Solicitors General Ewan Rayner and Caitlyn Carpenter, and Special Assistant to the Attorney General Dave Day.
Joining Attorney General Lopez in filing the lawsuit and today’s motion are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia.
# # #
Media contacts:
Dave Day
Special Assistant to the Attorney General
Office: 808-586-1284
Email:[email protected]
Web:http://ag.hawaii.gov
Toni Schwartz Public Information Officer Hawai‘i Department of the Attorney General Office: 808-586-1252 Cell: 808-379-9249 Email:[email protected]
The National Pest Surveillance System (NPSS) has been launched on 15th August, 2024 by the Hon’ble Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare to enhance the surveillance and management of pest diseases across the country. The system utilizes latest digital technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI and ML) to provide quick and instant solution regarding pest attacks, crop diseases, crop damages etc. by issuing real time crop protection advisory to the farmers. It includes a user-friendly mobile app and a portal for identification of pests and disease mitigation.
NPSS is being used by the farmers across the country for identification of pests and diseases in 61 crops and pest management advisories for 15 major crops namely cotton, paddy, wheat, maize, pigeon pea, moong, soyabean, sugarcane, brinjal, tomato, apple, banana, grapes, pomegranate. NPSS is currently available in four languages namely English, Hindi, Marathi and Punjabi. So far, 10154 pest management advisories have been issued through NPSS for the benefit of farmers.
The Government has formulated six point strategy for the welfare of farmers and development of agriculture. Strategies for increasing farmer incomes include improving crop productivity, reducing cost of production, agricultural diversification, adaptation to climate change for sustainable agriculture and compensation of farmers’ losses. Further, Ministry has formulated various schemes and programs to ensure effective coordination between the union and state governments and to address agricultural challenges at the grassroot level and also to incentivize and encourage farmers to grow a variety of crops. The list of schemes/ programmes implemented by DA&FW is enclosed at Annexure-I.
Agriculture is a State subject and Government of India supports the efforts of States through appropriate policy measures, budgetary allocation and various schemes/ programmes. The various schemes/ programmes of the Government of India are meant for the welfare of farmers by increasing production, remunerative returns and income support to farmers. The Government has substantially enhanced the budget allocation of Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare(DA&FW) from Rs. 21933.50 crore BE during 2013-14 to Rs. 1,22,528.77 crore BE during 2024-25. Major schemes/programmes initiated by DA&FW to increase the income of farmers including small and marginal farmers and for the development of agriculture Sector in India are as under:
11. Agri Fund for Start-Ups & Rural Enterprises’ (AgriSURE)
12. Per Drop More Crop (PDMC)
13. Sub-Mission on Agriculture Mechanization (SMAM)
14. Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY)
15. Soil Health & Fertility (SH&F)
16. Rainfed Area Development (RAD)
17. Agroforestry
18. Crop Diversification Programme (CDP)
19. Sub-Mission on Agriculture Extension (SMAE)
20. Sub-Mission on Seed and Planting Material (SMSP)
21. National Food Security and Nutrition Mission (NFSNM)
22. Integrated Scheme for Agriculture Marketing (ISAM)
23. Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH)
24. National Mission on Edible Oils (NMEO)-Oil Palm
25. National Mission on Edible Oils (NMEO)-Oilseeds
26. Mission Organic Value Chain Development for North Eastern Region
27. Digital Agriculture Mission
28. National Bamboo Mission
Indian Council on Agricultural Research (ICAR) has released a compilation of success stories of 75,000 farmers who have increased their income more than two times by convergence of schemes being operated by Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and the allied Ministries/Departments.
The National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) conducted a Situation Assessment Survey (SAS) of Agricultural Households during NSS 77th round (January, 2019 – December, 2019) with reference to the agricultural year July, 2018- June, 2019 in the rural areas of the country.
According to these surveys, the estimated average monthly income per agricultural household increased from ₹6,426 in 2012-13 (NSS 70th round) to ₹10,218 in 2018-19 (NSS 77th round).
As per NSSO Survey on House hold Consumption Expenditure (2023-24), a comparison of the estimates of all-India average Monthly Per Capita Consumption Expenditure (MPCE) is as under:
Sector
Average MPCE (Rs.) over different period
2011-12 NSS
(68th round)
2023-2024
Rural
1,430
4,122
Urban
2,630
6,996
Difference as % of Rural MPCE
83.9
69.7
This information was given by Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmer’s Welfare, Shri Ramnath Thakur in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.
Founded in 1670 as a fur-trading enterprise, Hudson’s Bay grew into one of Canada’s most iconic department store chains. But with nearly all locations set to close by June 30 and its loyalty programs suspended, the future of Hudson’s Bay remains uncertain.
The retailer’s financial troubles raise broader questions about the viability of traditional department stores in an increasingly fast-paced, digitally driven retail environment.
In recent years, Hudson’s Bay attempted to modernize by blending its physical retail footprint with a growing digital presence. This included launching a revamped e-commerce platform and creating an online marketplace that allowed third-party sellers to broaden its product assortment.
But despite these efforts, Hudson’s Bay has struggled to differentiate its online platform in an overcrowded and highly competitive digital landscape, all while maintaining its physical presence.
The large investments required in distribution capabilities has made it increasingly difficult for smaller competitors, such as Hudson’s Bay, to match the delivery speeds and product assortments of these retail heavyweights.
Ikea, Wayfair and other direct-to-consumer brands lead the online home goods and furniture market, while Canadian-based Holt Renfrew and France-based LVMH are both leaders in the luxury market.
With almost all of its stores closing and its loyalty programs suspended, the future of Hudson’s Bay is in question. While its brand recognition remains strong, it’s unclear whether it will be able to come back from the brink it’s now on.
For any struggling legacy retailer looking to survive in today’s evolving market, reinvention is essential. Department stores and legacy retailers will need to reinvent themselves across five key dimensions:
1. Reposition the brand: Canadian retailers can redefine their core value propositions, emphasizing what makes them unique. Their uniqueness may lie in their Canadian heritage, for instance. Brands like Roots and Canada Goose have been successful with this strategy.
3. Optimize physical presence: Strategic location decisions are crucial. Physical retailers must right-size their physical footprints — closing underperforming locations while reinvesting in high-traffic, high-return outlets. Future expansion should favour asset-light, data-informed models based on actual consumer demand.
4. Improve in-store experiences: To draw customers back into stores, shopping must become experiential. Immersive displays, personalized service and community-centric events could make a visit to a physical store more memorable and engaging for customers.
5. Integrating physical and digital channels: A cohesive digital and physical strategy is essential. Technologies such as augmented reality fitting rooms, virtual showrooms, click-and-collect options and AI-powered personalization could bridge the gap between online and in-store shopping.
A defining moment for Canadian retailers
Canadian retailing stands at a pivotal crossroads. The collapse of legacy department stores, the dominance of e-commerce giants and the rise of off-price and digital-first competitors all signal a permanent shift in how consumers shop.
A long legacy alone does not secure survival. As seen with the collapses of Sears, Eaton’s and now Hudson’s Bay, failure to adapt can lead to obsolescence. The retail landscape is now defined by agility, innovation and the ability to meet consumers where they are.
For retailers still standing, the lesson is clear: nostalgia is not a business model. Shoppers are now more price-conscious, convenience-driven and digitally engaged than ever before. Companies unwilling or unable to evolve will likely face the same fate as the retail giants that came before them.
The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
Victims of Slavery and Transatlantic Slave Trade
Detained and Missing Staff
Syria/Security Council
Occupied Palestinian Territory
UN Interim Force In Lebanon
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo / Mediation
Burundi
Sudan
South Sudan
Ukraine
Myanmar
Ecuador
Child Mortality
VICTIMS OF SLAVERY AND TRANSATLANTIC SLAVE TRADE
Today is the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade. The Secretary-General spoke at the General Assembly event to mark the Day and said that the transatlantic slave trade is an indelible stain on the conscience of humanity.
Today, he said, we remember the women, children, and men forced to work in agonizing conditions, savagely punished, and deprived of their dignity and human rights, and we take strength in their resistance and demands for justice.
The Secretary-General said the obscene profits derived from chattel slavery and the racist ideologies that underpinned the trade are still with us, and he urged everyone to play their part in building inclusive societies free from the evils of racism.
DETAINED AND MISSING STAFF
Today is the International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members. One hundred and one personnel were arrested or detained last year alone. In total, at least 52 of UN personnel are still in detention globally.
In his message, the Secretary-General says we stand with all those detained, and with their families and loved ones, as we call for their immediate release and safe return.
He urges governments to ensure the safety and security of UN personnel, and to continue pursuing accountability and justice for these crimes, while enhancing support and protection.
And in a video message, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, said that the rights of all U.N. staff must be fully respected.
Out of the 52 detained colleagues, 23 as you know are arbitrarily detained in Yemen alone. Eight of those are from the Human Rights Office. “Their continued detention is a grave injustice,” Mr. Türk said.
On this Day, the UN renews the calls for their immediate and unconditional release.
SYRIA/SECURITY COUNCIL
This morning at the Security Council, the UN Special Envoy for Syria, Geir Pedersen, told Council members that Syria stands at a crossroads: either to return to violence or to overcome the conflict and revive the economy. To take the right path, Syria needs increased and continued international support, he said.
For his part, the Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Tom Fletcher, said that we are making progress on the humanitarian front. We are now using more routes to deliver aid.
He added that the reality is still grim. 16 million people – nearly three-quarters of the Syrian population – lack sufficient food, water, shelter, and medicine. We need to move with greater urgency, while we can – he said.
Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=25%20March%202025
AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND. March 26th, 2025 – The 2025/26 Beyond Recruitment Economic & Labour Report reveals cautious optimism and resilience among New Zealand employers, despite ongoing economic uncertainty and an accelerating evolution of jobs across multiple sectors.
Beyond Recruitment’s annual Economic & Labour Report provides insights into employer sentiment about the economy, hiring and the state of New Zealand’s workforce.
The latest report highlights a stabilisation in employer confidence since the post-pandemic recovery, with fewer organisations (58%) describing the past year as challenging, down from 71% in 2023. Small to medium enterprises (SMEs) and large organisations reported the highest levels of confidence, contrasting with slightly lower optimism among very large organisations (1,001+ employees).
The economic slowdown emerged as the leading concern (31%) for employers, alongside rising operational costs and regulatory changes (both at 25%). Balancing cost management and growth is a central challenge, with 37% of organisations aiming to keep headcount stable, while 28% are planning headcount expansion. SMEs show the strongest appetite for workforce growth.
Usage of artificial intelligence has surged, with 83% of organisations either exploring or implementing AI tools, up significantly from previous years. Despite initial fears, employers view AI as predominantly complementary to human roles, with 43% upskilling their employees to meet the demands of an AI enhanced workplace.
CE of Beyond Recruitment, Liza Viz, said: “While organisations are prudent in their hiring strategies, their resilience is clear. Employers are strategically positioning themselves to capitalise on anticipated market improvements, particularly through workforce development and increased adoption of technology like artificial intelligence (AI).
“Now is the time for employers to invest in their people and focus on future-proofing their workforce. The competition for talent will heighten once again, making skills development and building future talent pools a key priority for Aotearoa organisations.”
Hybrid work models are now standard, adopted by 77% of organisations, with flexible work hours and remote options firmly established as key employee benefits. Office spaces continue to evolve, reflecting new norms rather than temporary adjustments.
Other key insights from the report include:
Pay rises are levelling at around 3%, with 38% of organisations planning this range of increase. Employer satisfaction with local talent is growing, with reliance on international recruitment easing. Organisations have increased their focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion within executive teams, which is considerably influencing executive search and recruitment strategies.
The Beyond Recruitment Economic & Labour Report 2025/26 gathered responses from over 500 employment leaders nationwide, representing various sectors including government, healthcare, manufacturing, technology, and professional services.
About Beyond Recruitment:
Beyond Recruitment is one of New Zealand’s largest 100% Kiwi owned recruitment agencies. Established in 2003, Beyond Recruitment’s specialist recruiters support sectors including technology, finance, HR, customer experience, marketing, engineering, and construction nationwide from offices in Auckland, Wellington, Tauranga, and Christchurch.
Source: Switzerland – Department of Foreign Affairs in English
Swissnex, Switzerland’s global network for education, research, and innovation, continued its mission in 2024 with impactful initiatives worldwide. The year was defined by a growing focus on climate action, artificial intelligence, and deepened global partnerships. The Swissnex Annual Report 2024 highlights the network’s key contributions to international collaboration and knowledge exchange, reinforcing Switzerland’s role as a global leader in innovation.
Boston, MA, March 25, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Finnovate Acquisition Corp. (“Finnovate”) (OTC: “FNVUF”, “FNVTF”, “FNVWF”) announced today that its upcoming extraordinary general meeting of shareholders (the “Special Meeting”) to approve its proposed initial business combination which was initially scheduled for January 30, 2025 and had been postponed to March 27, 2025, will be further postponed to 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time on Friday, March 28, 2025. At the Special Meeting, shareholders of Finnovate will be asked to vote on proposals to approve, among other things, its proposed initial business combination (the “Business Combination”) with Scage International Limited, a Cayman Islands exempted company (“Scage International” or the “Company”), Scage Future, a Cayman Islands exempted company (“Pubco”), Hero 1, a Cayman Islands exempted company and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Pubco (“Merger Sub I”), and Hero 2, a Cayman Islands exempted company and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of Pubco (“Merger Sub II”) pursuant to a Business Combination Agreement (as amended, the “Business Combination Agreement”). There is no change to the location, the record date, the purpose or any of the proposals to be acted upon at the Special Meeting.
On March 13, 2025, Scage International received approval for listing from the China Securities Regulatory Commission. CSRC approval is one of the conditions for consuming the Business Combination. Now the CSRC approval has been received, Finnovate has decided to postpone the Special Meeting to allow more time for the parties to proceed to satisfy the remaining closing conditions under the Business Combination Agreement, including obtaining approval for the listing of Pubco’s securities on Nasdaq.
As a result of this change, the Special Meeting will now be held at 10:00 a.m., Eastern time, on Friday, March 28, 2025, at the office of Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP located at 1345 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10105 and via a live webcast at https://www.cstproxy.com/finnovateacquisition/2025. Also, as a result of this change, the deadline for holders of Finnovate’s Class A ordinary shares issued in its initial public offering to submit their shares for redemption in connection with the Business Combination is being further extended to 5:00 p.m., Eastern time, on Wednesday March 26, 2025.
The proposed resolutions to be considered at the Special Meeting remains the same as that set out in the definitive proxy statement and other relevant documents that was been mailed to shareholders of Finnovate as of the record date of January 6, 2025. SHAREHOLDERS OF FINNOVATE AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES ARE URGED TO READ, THE DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT, AND AMENDMENTS THERETO IN CONNECTION WITH FINNOVATE’S SOLICITATION OF PROXIES FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING OF ITS SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD TO APPROVE THE BUSINESS COMBINATION, a copy of which can be accessed via the following link: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1857855/000121390025001247/ea0226944-01.htm.
Finnovate plans to continue to solicit proxies from shareholders during the period prior to the Special Meeting. Only the holders of Finnovate’s ordinary shares as of the close of business on January 6, 2025, the record date for the Special Meeting, are entitled to vote at the Special Meeting.
About Finnovate Acquisition Corp.
Finnovate Acquisition Corp. is a blank check company incorporated in the Cayman Islands with the purpose of acquiring one and more businesses and assets, via a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, and reorganization.
Forward-Looking Statements
The information in this Press Release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as “estimate,” “plan,” “project,” “forecast,” “intend,” “may,” “will,” “expect,” “continue,” “should,” “would,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “seek,” “target,” “predict,” “potential,” “seem,” “future,” “outlook” or other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding estimates and forecasts of financial and performance metrics and projections of market opportunity and market share; references with respect to the anticipated benefits of the proposed transactions contemplated by the Business Combination Agreement (the “Business Combination”) and the projected future financial performance of Finnovate and the Company’s operating companies following the proposed Business Combination; changes in the market for the Company’s products and services and expansion plans and opportunities; the Company’s ability to successfully execute its expansion plans and business initiatives; ability for the Company to raise funds to support its business; the sources and uses of cash of the proposed Business Combination; the anticipated capitalization and enterprise value of the combined company following the consummation of the proposed Business Combination; the projected technological developments of the Company and its competitors; ability of the Company to control costs associated with operations; the ability to manufacture efficiently at scale; anticipated investments in research and development and the effect of these investments and timing related to commercial product launches; and expectations related to the terms, approvals and timing of the proposed Business Combination. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified in this press release, and on the current expectations of the Company’s and Finnovate’s management and are not predictions of actual performance. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as, and must not be relied on by any investor as, a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the control of the Company and Finnovate. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the Business Combination Agreement; the risk that the Business Combination disrupts current plans and operations as a result of the announcement and consummation of the transactions described herein; the inability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the Business Combination; the ability to obtain or maintain the listing of the Pubco’s securities on The Nasdaq Stock Market, following the Business Combination, including having the requisite number of shareholders; costs related to the Business Combination; changes in domestic and foreign business, market, financial, political and legal conditions; risks relating to the uncertainty of certain projected financial information with respect to the Company; the Company’s ability to successfully and timely develop, manufacture, sell and expand its technology and products, including implement its growth strategy; the Company’s ability to adequately manage any supply chain risks, including the purchase of a sufficient supply of critical components incorporated into its product offerings; risks relating to the Company’s operations and business, including information technology and cybersecurity risks, failure to adequately forecast supply and demand, loss of key customers and deterioration in relationships between the Company and its employees; the Company’s ability to successfully collaborate with business partners; demand for the Company’s current and future offerings; risks that orders that have been placed for the Company’s products are cancelled or modified; risks related to increased competition; risks relating to potential disruption in the transportation and shipping infrastructure, including trade policies and export controls; risks that the Company is unable to secure or protect its intellectual property; risks of product liability or regulatory lawsuits relating to the Company products and services; risks that the post-combination company experiences difficulties managing its growth and expanding operations; the uncertain effects of certain geopolitical developments; the inability of the parties to successfully or timely consummate the proposed Business Combination, including the risk that any required shareholder or regulatory approvals are not obtained, are delayed or are subject to unanticipated conditions that could adversely affect the combined company or the expected benefits of the proposed Business Combination; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against the Company, Finnovate, Pubco or others following announcement of the proposed Business Combination and transactions contemplated thereby; the ability of the Company to execute its business model, including market acceptance of its planned products and services and achieving sufficient production volumes at acceptable quality levels and prices; technological improvements by the Company’s peers and competitors; and those risk factors discussed in documents of Pubco and Finnovate filed, or to be filed, with the SEC. If any of these risks materialize or our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. There may be additional risks that neither Finnovate nor the Company presently know or that Finnovate and the Company currently believe are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements reflect Finnovate’s, Pubco’s and the Company’s expectations, plans or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this press release. Finnovate, Pubco and the Company anticipate that subsequent events and developments will cause Finnovate’s, Pubco’s and the Company’s assessments to change. However, while Finnovate, Pubco and the Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, Finnovate, Pubco and the Company specifically disclaim any obligation to do so. Readers are referred to the most recent reports filed with the SEC by Finnovate. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Additional Information
Pubco and the Company filed with the SEC a Registration Statement on Form F-4, which has been declared effective by SEC (the “Registration Statement”). The Registration Statement includes a definitive proxy statement of Finnovate and a prospectus in connection with the proposed Business Combination involving Finnovate, Pubco, Hero 1, Hero 2 and the Company pursuant to the Business Combination Agreement. The definitive proxy statement and other relevant documents has been mailed to shareholders of Finnovate as of the record date of January 6, 2025. SHAREHOLDERS OF FINNOVATE AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES ARE URGED TO READ, THE DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT, AND AMENDMENTS THERETO IN CONNECTION WITH FINNOVATE’S SOLICITATION OF PROXIES FOR THE SPECIAL MEETING OF ITS SHAREHOLDERS TO BE HELD TO APPROVE THE BUSINESS COMBINATION BECAUSE THESE DOCUMENTS WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT FINNOVATE, THE COMPANY, PUBCO AND THE BUSINESS COMBINATION.
Participants in The Solicitation
Pubco, Finnovate, the Company, and their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the shareholders of Finnovate in connection with the Business Combination. Information regarding the officers and directors of Finnovate is set forth in the Registration Statement. Additional information regarding the interests of such potential participants are also included in the Registration Statement and other relevant documents to be filed or has been filed with the SEC.
No Offer Or Solicitation
This Press Release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which the offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
INVESTOR RELATIONS CONTACT
Finnovate Acquisition Corp. Calvin Kung 265 Franklin Street Suite 1702 Boston, MA 02110 +1 (424) 253-0908
The text-to-image model DALL-E uses generative adversarial networks (GANs) to generate images.(Shutterstock)
In the age of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI), the phrase “I’ll believe it when I see it” no longer stands. Not only is GenAI able to generate manipulated representations of people, but it can also be used to generate entirely fictitious people and scenarios.
GenAI tools are affordable and accessible to all, and AI-generated images are becoming ubiquitous. If you’ve been doom-scrolling through your news or Instagram feeds, chances are you’ve scrolled past an AI-generated image without even realizing it.
As a computer science researcher and PhD candidate at the University of Waterloo, I’m increasingly concerned by my own inability to discern what’s real from what’s AI-generated.
My research team conducted a survey where nearly 300 participants were asked to classify a set of images as real or fake. The average classification accuracy of participants was 61 per cent in 2022. Participants were more likely to correctly classify real images than fake ones. It’s likely that accuracy is much lower today thanks to the rapidly improving GenAI technology.
We also analyzed their responses using text mining and keyword extraction to learn the common justifications participants provided for their classifications. It was immediately apparent that, in a generated image, a person’s eyes were considered the telltale indicator that the image was probably AI-generated. AI also struggled to produce realistic teeth, ears and hair.
But these tools are constantly improving. The telltale signs we could once use to detect AI-generated images are no longer reliable.
Improving images
Researchers began exploring the use of GANs for image and video synthesis in 2014. The seminal paper “Generative Adversarial Nets” introduced the adversarial process of GANs. Although this paper does not mention deepfakes, it was the springboard for GAN-based deepfakes.
Some early examples of GenAI art which used GANs include the “DeepDream” images created by Google engineer Alexander Mordvintsev in 2015.
But in 2017, the term “deepfake” was officially born after a Reddit user, whose username was “deepfakes,” used GANs to generate synthetic celebrity pornography.
In 2019, software engineer Philip Wang created the “ThisPersonDoesNotExist” website, which used GANs to generate realistic-looking images of people. That same year, the release of the deepfake detection challenge, which sought new and improved deepfake detection models, garnered widespread attention and led to the rise of deepfakes.
About a decade later, one of the authors of the “Generative Adversarial Nets” paper — Canadian computer scientist Yoshua Bengio — began sharing his concerns about the need to regulate AI due to the potential dangers such technology could pose to humanity.
Hao Li, deepfake pioneer and one of the world’s top deepfake artists, conceded in a manner eerily reminiscent of Robert Oppenheimer’s famous “Now I Am Become Death” quote:
“This is developing more rapidly than I thought. Soon, it’s going to get to the point where there is no way that we can actually detect ‘deepfakes’ anymore, so we have to look at other types of solutions.”
The new disinformation
Big tech companies have indeed been encouraging the development of algorithms that can detect deepfakes. These algorithms commonly look for the following signs to determine if content is a deepfake:
Number of words spoken per sentence, or the speech rate (the average human speech rate is 120-150 words per minute),
Facial expressions, based on known co-ordinates of the human eyes, eyebrows, nose, lips, teeth and facial contours,
Reflections in the eyes, which tends to be unconvincing (either missing or oversimplified),
Image saturation, with AI-generated images being less saturated and containing a lower number of underexposed pixels compared to pictures taken by an HDR camera.
But even these traditional deepfake detection algorithms suffer several drawbacks. They are usually trained on high-resolution images, so they may fail at detecting low-resolution surveillance footage or when the subject is poorly illuminated or posing in an unrecognized way.
Disinformation isn’t new, but the modes of propagating it are constantly changing. Deepfakes can be used not only to spread disinformation — that is, to posit that something false is true — but also to create plausible deniability and posit that something true is false.
It’s safe to say that in today’s world, seeing will never be believing again. What might once have been irrefutable evidence could very well be an AI-generated image.