Source: United States Senator for Utah Mike Lee
Legislation establishes work requirements for able-bodied SNAP beneficiaries
WASHINGTON – Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced the SNAP Reform and Upward Mobility Act, a bold piece of legislation aimed at strengthening work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and closing loopholes that have contributed to its rapid expansion. The number of SNAP beneficiaries has exploded in recent years, while the program is rife with fraud and abuse that undermines its viability and wastes taxpayer dollars. The legislation has been introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep. Josh Brecheen (R-OK).
“SNAP was designed to provide temporary relief to vulnerable people facing difficult times, not a permanent subsidy for able-bodied adults,” said Sen Lee. “Work requirements are widely supported by the American public, save taxpayer dollars, and will strengthen the program for families who really need it. Our legislation tackles fraud and abuse while promoting self-sufficiency, which should be the goal of all such programs.”
“For decades, the federal government has grossly mismanaged SNAP, loosening eligibility requirements, allowing more recipients to be totally exempt from work requirements, and overseeing massive fraud and abuse,” said Rep. Brecheen. “This has created a culture of dependency instead of opportunity. That’s why our office is introducing the SNAP Reform and Upward Mobility Act, a plan to tackle these problems by closing loopholes, expanding work requirements for able-bodied adults, enforcing federal accountability, and giving states more responsibility for program management. I’m grateful to work with Senator Lee to bring much-needed reform to SNAP. It’s time to return to commonsense policies that promote our American values of hard work and individual responsibility.”
Key provisions of SRUMA include:
Establishing a temporary bipartisan commission within the Census Bureau to improve income and poverty measurement, allocating $1 million for its operation.
Expanding general work requirements to individuals ages 16-64, and hour-based work requirements to individuals ages 18-64 with dependents over six years old.
Closing the geographic waiver loophole and reducing the percentage of the SNAP caseload that states can exempt from work requirements from 15% to 5%.
Allowing married individuals with dependents to fulfill hour-based work requirements jointly and mandating USDA reports on SNAP Employment and Training Program outcomes.
Requiring a 5% state match in SNAP benefits, increasing by 5% each year until a 50% match is reached, incentivizing states to conduct greater oversight.
Closing the “broad-based categorical eligibility” loophole in SNAP and requiring recipients to cooperate with fraud investigations.
Instituting penalties for unauthorized uses of Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) cards and enhancing fraud prevention measures for food retailers.
Reinstating the publication of annual SNAP State Activity Reports and allowing states to retain 50% of funds collected from intentional program violations for fraud prevention efforts.
You can read the one-pager HERE.
You can read the bill text HERE.
You can read the Daily Caller exclusive coverage HERE.
We’re almost down to the final week of the 2025 Legislative Session, and what’s happening at the Capitol right now affects your family, your livelihood and your well-being. That’s why I’m working hard to ensure our values and needs are front and center as we finish strong.
This past week was the last chance for legislation to make it out of committee and still have a shot at becoming law. Several key bills moved forward toward the Senate floor that I believe will make a real difference in the lives of working Georgians.
House Bill 56 is one of them. It provides tuition grants to the spouses of public safety officers, law enforcement, firefighters, and prison guards who are killed or permanently disabled in the line of duty. These men and women put their lives on the line to protect us. The least we can do is make sure their families have the opportunity to keep moving forward. Whether it’s a young widow trying to go back to school or a spouse training for a new job, this bill helps them find stability after unimaginable loss.
One of the most significant school safety measures advancing through committee this week is House Bill 268. This bill would require every public school to implement a mobile panic alert system that connects local and state emergency responders in real-time during a crisis and mandates that schools provide digital mapping data to help first responders quickly navigate campuses. It also directs GEMA to establish rules for this process and create a statewide alert system to track verified threats against schools. The bill allows school systems to be reimbursed for hiring student advocacy specialists and supports evidence-based programs for suicide awareness, youth violence prevention, and anonymous threat reporting. Additionally, it updates Georgia’s juvenile code to bring serious school-related crimes, like terroristic threats or acts, under the jurisdiction of superior courts, strengthens penalties for firearm-related offenses committed by minors, and establishes consequences for disrupting schools, buses, or bus stops. HB 268 gives our schools the tools they need to respond to emergencies and prevent them in the first place, all while keeping our children’s safety the top priority. I hope to see this measure on the Senate floor soon.
On the Senate floor, we passed House Bill 340, known as the Distraction-Free Education Act. This bill tackles something many parents and teachers are already worried about: kids glued to their phones during school. HB 340 will require public schools to set rules that keep personal devices out of reach during the school day for students in grades K–8. That might mean phones stay in lockers, locked pouches, or are temporarily disabled using school-approved apps. The goal is simple: fewer distractions, fewer discipline issues and more time spent learning. Schools that have already tried this approach are seeing real improvements in student behavior and grades. This bill gives local schools the flexibility to set the policy that works best for their community.
Our work on the state budget continued as well. In the Senate Appropriations Committee, we reviewed House Bill 68, the proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2026. I’m proud to say we’re holding the line on debt and cutting wasteful spending, while still making smart investments where they matter most: education, public safety, economic growth, and mental health services. We’re keeping Georgia the No. 1 state to do business, but we’re also making sure families in rural Georgia aren’t left behind. The full Senate body passed the FY 26 budget on Friday, and once the House agrees to our changes, it will head to Governor Kemp’s desk for his consideration.
I’m proud to report that Senate Bill 72, the “Hope for Georgia Patients Act,” which I co-sponsored to support Georgians battling life-threatening or debilitating conditions, has passed the House and is now headed to the Governor’s desk. This important legislation expands access to investigational drugs, medical devices, and treatments for patients who have exhausted other options and desperately need hope. For many families, this bill could mean one more chance—one more treatment—when traditional medicine has fallen short. It’s about compassion, medical innovation, and doing the right thing for those who need it most. Whether we’re backing law enforcement, investing in education, or making government work better for our most vulnerable neighbors, I’ll always stand up for policies that put people first.
I’m also incredibly proud to have carried House Bill 579 through the Senate. This bill tackles outdated and unnecessary red tape that has blocked too many skilled Georgians from putting their talents to work. HB 579 reforms our occupational licensing laws by streamlining how licenses are issued—allowing the licensing board division to grant licenses expeditiously when an applicant meets all licensing requirements. This means faster entry into the workforce for electricians, plumbers, HVAC technicians, and other tradespeople whose services are essential to our communities. It’s a common-sense fix that helps workers get on the job quicker, supports local businesses and entrepreneurs, and boosts our economy—especially in rural and growing areas like the 20th Senate District.
My office is here to help with any questions or concerns as we approach the finish line. Don’t hesitate to reach out—we’re working for you.
# # # #
Sen. Larry Walker serves as Secretary of the Majority Caucus and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Insurance and Labor. He represents the 20th Senate District, which includes Bleckley, Dodge, Dooly, Laurens, Treutlen, Pulaski and Wilcox counties, as well as portions of Houston County. He may be reached by phone at (404) 656-0095 or by email at Larry.Walker@senate.ga.gov.
For all media inquiries, please reach out to SenatePressInquiries@senate.ga.gov.
“I urge the House and Senate to override the Governor’s veto of SB1023 and protect the rights of Idahoans. The Medical Freedom Act is the defining bill of this session—one that would protect Idahoans from government-imposed vaccine and mask mandates. Five years ago, COVID-19 brought chaos: lockdowns, mandates, business closures, school shutdowns, and restrictions that crushed our freedoms. In hindsight, the damage to our society, children, and economy was far worse than the virus itself. I ran for Attorney General because our State failed to protect our citizens from government overreach. The legislature now has the opportunity to do the right thing.” Attorney General Raúl Labrador
The federal government’s 2024 budget shows that Canadian taxpayers have funded over $16 billion in research and development since 2016. Each year, millions of those research dollars flow from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC).
These publicly funded federal agencies each offer unique grants and programs covering different research disciplines. When they work in unison, such as when setting research guidelines and policies that apply across all three agencies like the one described in this article, they are collectively known as the Tri-Agency. This money is an investment is Canada’s future, and researchers and their institutions rely on Tri-Agency funding to conduct and share their research.
In 2015, the Tri-Agency implemented its open access (OA) policy requiring that most published research articles funded by Tri-Agency grants should be openly available in some format, and free to anyone anywhere, with no sharing or distribution restrictions.
For Canadians and readers around the world, that means no subscription fees or paywalls. This mandate enshrined the principle that publicly funded research should be available to the public. It reached across disciplines by including research supported by all three funding bodies.
Strengthening the open access mandate
Following consultation with researchers, institutions, publishers, libraries, Indigenous advisers and others, the Tri-Agency released a draft revision of its open access policy in February 2025. This update explicitly mentions that Canadians at large are part of the research audience.
Key improvements include eliminating the 12-month embargo period that allowed publishers to delay open access, and requiring researchers to use open copyright licenses (like Creative Commons). Authors must also maintain copyright over their works, including secondary publishing rights. Together these provisions ensure that research can be accessed, shared and used.
The Tri-Agency plans to implement the new policy in January 2026, leaving some time for final revisions. This presents an opportunity to make the mandate even stronger.
There is a need for researchers seeking national funding to commit to reporting on the openness of their research. (Shutterstock)
Creating opportunities from open policy pitfalls
Unfortunately, the revised policy repeats some mistakes from the past. Addressing just two key areas will improve accountability and transparency, and reinforce the commitment to making publicly funded research available to the public.
1. Meaningful monitoring and reporting: A weakness in the existing and revised policy is a lack of effective compliance measures. Research evidence shows that mandating open access reinforces compliance compared to just recommending that authors to make their research open. Many Canadian researchers are meeting this mandate, but overall the Tri-Agency has a significant open access compliance problem.
Even the Tri-Agency itself doesn’t know whether authors are meeting the current mandate.
After a decade, the mandate doesn’t seem to be very effective. And nothing in the proposed revisions empowers authors or institutions to track and report on the open access status of their publications, or demonstrate they’ve met their open access expectations.
Instead of repeating past shortcomings, a commitment to reporting and monitoring at organizational and Tri-Agency levels would help. There’s an opportunity here for collaboration.
The Tri-Agency could commit to monitoring open access outcomes, and researchers seeking national funding could commit to reporting on the openness of their research. This would improve adherence, allow the Tri-Agency to highlight the benefits of public research funding, give Canadian researchers some time in the spotlight and strengthen public trust in our institutions.
Under this model, authors must pay an extra publication fee to the journal to make their article open access, and many researchers are using research funds to pay expensive fees instead of directing that money toward more research. Similar to compliance rates, the Tri-Agency doesn’t know how much of their funding is being redirected to publishers as publication fees.
We have an opportunity to implement real change by requiring free open access in the updated mandate. With nearly 100 open research repositories registered in Canada, and over 13,000 fee-less journals registered in the Directory of Open Journals, paying to publish is unnecessary. The Tri-Agency could also limit the use of agency funding to pay these fees.
Now is the time to act
I am an academic librarian engaged in open publishing, and a researcher subject to the same funding mandate. In my professional opinion the policy updates prove that the Tri-Agency is committed to change.
Now is the time to make the open access mandate stronger, by improved monitoring and by directing researchers toward free open access publishing options.
The power to make these changes and put solutions in place all rests with the Tri-Agency. It’s in their hands. The fact that this policy is being revised right now means it’s the perfect time to explicitly support free and open access to research paid for by Canadians.
As the Tri-Agency weighs feedback from recent public consultations, let us hope that policy-makers, universities, libraries, publishers and individual researchers will come together to make free and open access the norm.
Richard Hayman has received SSHRC funding in the past. The views expressed here are his own and in no way influenced by SSHRC or any other organisation.
More people living with substance-use challenges now have access to treatment and recovery with the opening of the new Northern BC Therapeutic Community in Prince George.
The recovery program has 25 publicly funded treatment and recovery beds and opened on March 13, 2025, following building renovations and program updates.
“People living in B.C.’s northern communities need access to treatment and care as close to home as possible,” said Josie Osborne, Minister of Health. “As we expand services around the province, it is essential that people in remote communities can also connect with the right recovery options. These new beds in Prince George mean that more people will be able to access treatment and recovery services, while removing some of the significant barriers faced by people living in rural and remote communities.”
The Northern BC Therapeutic Community is located 30 kilometres southwest of Prince George on the former Baldy Hughes site. It provides a safe environment for individuals to build community while focusing on recovery from substance-use challenges, and equips participants with the tools needed to sustain long-term success in their post-care journeys.
“When people need support in their recovery journey, every barrier removed helps them get closer to reaching their goals,” said Jonny Morris, CEO, Canadian Mental Health Association of B.C. “The new publicly funded treatment and recovery beds will help people access the supports they need, while staying closer to home – closing the distance and removing the financial costs that could otherwise hold them back. We are grateful to work with the Province of B.C. and Connective Support Society in providing these accessible, life-changing supports.”
The Therapeutic Community is operated by Connective, a community-based social services non-profit organization working throughout B.C. and Yukon to create safe, healthy and inclusive communities. Program stays will last between six and 12 months, with after-care services available for one year after program completion. This new holistic model focuses on rebuilding physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being using personal and social responsibility within the recovery community as a vehicle for growth and development.
“As the toxic-drug crisis continues to cause tremendous harm in our communities, it is critical that we diversify the range of supports available for long-term recovery and stability,” said Mark Miller, CEO, Connective. “We are eager to offer this vital northern resource to those facing substance-use challenges, and to contribute our experience in response to this urgent and under-served need.”
These 25 beds are part of the 180 publicly funded beds announced in January 2024 and surpasses that for a total of 190 beds. Since 2017, the Province has added more than 750 substance-use beds, bringing the total number of publicly funded substance-use beds throughout B.C. to 3,778.
The Province is expanding treatment and recovery options in all regions of B.C. so more people can find the pathway to recovery that works for them. Adding bed-based services is one part of the government’s work to build up the entire continuum of mental-health and substance-use care for people to get the right support for them.
Quotes:
Amna Shah, parliamentary secretary for mental health and addictions –
“The network of full-service support and care for people battling substance use is increasing in B.C. The opening of this therapeutic community removes an obstacle for people in northern communities seeking help and relief from substance-use challenges.”
Debra Toporowski, parliamentary secretary for rural health –
“No matter where people live in B.C., they should have access to treatment and recovery care. The opening of the Northern BC Therapeutic Community means that now people in northern B.C. have expanded access to treatment when they are ready to take the first courageous step in their recovery. These 25 beds represent hope and healing for people struggling with substance-use challenges and provide life-saving care for those seeking support.”
Learn More:
To find mental-health and substance-use supports in B.C., visit: https://helpstartshere.gov.bc.ca/
To see the new data snapshot on mental health and substance use in B.C., visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/health/mental-health/building_a_mental_health_and_substance_use_system_of_care_snapshot.pdf
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (D-CA-53)
March 31, 2025
Reps. Sara Jacobs (CA-51) and Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Co-Chairs of the Transgender Equality Task Force, and Rep. Mark Takano (CA-39), Chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus, introduced legislation to recognize Transgender Day of Visibility on March 31st, celebrate the many contributions and achievements of the transgender and gender non-conforming communities, and affirm their human rights. 70 Members of the House have co-sponsored the resolution so far – breaking the record and setting a new threshold of support for this resolution.
Rep. Sara Jacobs, Co-Chair of the Transgender Equality Task Force, said: “It’s incredibly difficult to be transgender in today’s America. The people we expect to protect us and lead us are banning transgender kids from sports teams, kicking transgender service members out of the Armed Forces, and denying them access to health care, non-discrimination protections, and civil rights. But the transgender community is resilient. They are strong, unique, and have so much to offer our country and our world. That’s why I’m so proud to lead this resolution to recognize Transgender Day of Visibility and celebrate them. We will keep working and fighting until everyone – no matter their identity – can live big, full, and free lives.”
Rep. Pramila Jayapal, Co-Chair of the Transgender Equality Task Force, said: “On this Trans Day of Visibility, I say to every single trans person: I see you, I hear you, and I stand with you to ensure that you are protected and given the dignity and respect that all people should have. In the face of heightened attacks on the trans community by President Trump and Republicans across the country, it is more important than ever that we are in solidarity with our trans family, friends, and neighbors — because trans rights are human rights. The resilience and courage that the trans community has shown every single day consistently inspires me to keep fighting to make sure that everyone can live freely as their true, authentic selves, and I promise I will keep up that fight until we achieve our goal.”
“Transgender Day of Visibility is about celebrating the trans community and inspiring others to work towards a future where every trans person is free to be seen and live openly,” said Rep. Mark Takano, Chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus. “As the trans community continues to face relentless and obsessive attacks from Republican politicians, I want to make one thing crystal-clear to trans Americans: You are not alone in this fight. The Congressional Equality Caucus stands with the trans community, and we will keep working to build an America where every trans person is able to live openly and authentically without fear of discrimination or violence.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Pat Fallon (TX-04)
Rep. Fallon Introduces the Strengthening Agency Management and Oversights of Software Assets (SAMOSA) Act
Washington, March 27, 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Pat Fallon (TX-04), along with Reps. Gerald E. Connolly (VA-11), April McClain Delaney (MD-06), and Nancy Mace (SC-01), reintroduced the SAMOSA Act. This bipartisan legislation will improve the visibility, accountability, and oversight of agency software asset management practices.
Rep. Pat Fallon commented, “The reintroduction of the SAMOSA Act will not only improve efficiency and reduce unnecessary costs, but will also strengthen our cybersecurity assets. This bill takes a common sense approach to reduce wasteful government spending by requiring federal agencies to assess their software assets and eliminate redundancies.”
“Its passage would be a crucial step in ensuring that our government operates in a more effective and transparent manner,” said Rep. Fallon
This legislation previously passed the House in December, 2024.
Every NASA mission represents a leap into the unknown, collecting data that pushes the boundaries of human understanding. But the story doesn’t end when the mission concludes. The data carefully preserved in NASA’s archives often finds new purpose decades later, unlocking discoveries that continue to benefit science, technology, and society. “NASA’s science data is one of our most valuable legacies,” said Kevin Murphy, NASA’s chief science data officer at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “It carries the stories of our missions, the insights of our discoveries, and the potential for future breakthroughs.”
NASA’s science data is one of our most valuable legacies.
Kevin Murphy Chief Science Data Officer, NASA Science Mission Directorate
NASA’s Science Mission Directorate manages an immense amount of data, spanning astrophysics, biological and physical sciences, Earth science, heliophysics, and planetary science. Currently, NASA’s science data holdings exceed 100 petabytes—enough to store 20 billion photos from the average modern smartphone. This volume is expected to grow significantly with new missions. This vast amount of data enables new discoveries, connecting scientific observations together in meaningful ways. Over 50% of scientific publications rely on archived data, which NASA provides to millions of commercial, government, and scientific users.
Managing and stewarding such massive volumes of information requires careful planning, robust infrastructure, and innovative strategies to ensure the data is accessible, secure, and sustainable. Continued support for data storage and cutting-edge technology is key to ensuring future generations of researchers can continue to explore using science data from NASA missions. Modern technology, such as image processing and artificial intelligence, helps unlock new insights from previous observations. For example, in 1986, NASA’s Voyager 2 spacecraft conducted a historic flyby of Uranus, capturing detailed data on the planet and its environment. Decades later, in the early 2000s, scientists used advanced image processing techniques on this archival data to discover two small moons, Perdita and Cupid, which had gone unnoticed during the initial analysis. In 2024, researchers revisited this 38-year-old archival data and identified a critical solar wind event that compressed Uranus’s magnetosphere just before the Voyager 2 flyby. This rare event, happening only about four percent of the time, provided unique insights into Uranus’s magnetic field and its interaction with space weather.
NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), launched in 2009, continues to provide data that reshapes our understanding of the Moon. In 2018, scientists analyzing the LRO’s archival data confirmed the presence of water ice in permanently shadowed regions at the Moon’s poles. In 2024, new studies out of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, showed widespread evidence of water ice within the permanently shadowed regions outside the lunar South Pole, further aiding lunar mission planners. This discovery not only holds implications for lunar exploration but also demonstrates how existing data can yield groundbreaking insights.
NASA’s data archives uncover the secrets of our own planet as well as others. In 2024, archaeologists published a study revealing a “lost” Mayan city in Campeche, Mexico that was previously unknown to the scientific community. The researchers identified the city in archival airborne Earth science data, including a 2013 dataset from NASA Goddard’s LiDAR Hyperspectral & Thermal Imager (G-LiHT) mission. The Harmonized Landsat and Sentinel-2 (HLS) project provides frequent high-resolution observations of Earth’s surface. Data from HLS has been instrumental in tracking urban growth over time. By analyzing changes in land cover, researchers have used HLS to monitor the expansion of cities and infrastructure development. For example, in rapidly growing metropolitan areas, HLS data has revealed patterns of urban sprawl, helping planners analyze past trends to predict future metropolitan expansion.
These discoveries represent only a fraction of what’s possible. NASA is investing in new technologies to harness the full potential of its data archives, including artificial intelligence (AI) foundation models—open-source AI tools designed to extract new findings from existing science data. “Our vision is to develop at least one AI model for each NASA scientific discipline, turning decades of legacy data into a treasure trove of discovery,” said Murphy. “By embedding NASA expertise into these tools, we ensure that our scientific data continues to drive innovation across science, industry, and society for generations to come.” Developed under a collaboration between NASA’s Office of the Chief Science Data Officer, IBM, and universities, these AI models are scientifically validated and adaptable to new datasets, making them invaluable for researchers and industries alike. “It’s like having a virtual assistant that leverages decades of NASA’s knowledge to make smarter, quicker decisions,” said Murphy.
The team’s Earth science foundation models—the Prithvi Geospatial model and Prithvi Weather model—analyze vast datasets to monitor Earth’s changing landscape, track weather patterns, and support critical decision-making processes. Building on this success, the team is now developing a foundation model for heliophysics. This model will unlock new insights about the dynamics of solar activity and space weather, which can affect satellite operations, communication systems, and even power grids on Earth. Additionally, a model designed for the Moon is in progress, aiming to enhance our understanding of lunar resources and environments. This investment in AI not only shortens the “data-to-discovery” timeline but also ensures that NASA’s data archives continue to drive innovation. From uncovering new planets to informing future exploration and supporting industries on Earth, the possibilities are boundless. By maintaining extensive archives and embracing cutting-edge technologies, the agency ensures that the data collected today will continue to inspire and inform discoveries far into the future. In doing so, NASA’s legacy science data truly remains the gift that keeps on giving. By Amanda Moon AdamsCommunications Lead for the Office of the Chief Science Data Officer
Florida Hurricane Recovery Marc 31, 2025 (Distributed on Mondays) Key MessagesMore than 1,100 FEMA staff are on the ground in Florida to help survivors recover from Hurricanes Milton, Helene and Debby
FEMA will continue to process applications, receive and manage appeals, conduct inspections and assist applicants and local officials with questions and information about recovery programs
FEMA may call Floridians who applied for disaster assistance from unknown phone numbers
It is important to answer these calls
Survivors should return any missed phone calls
Survivors who applied for FEMA assistance should continue to stay in touch with the agency to update their application
Missing or outdated information could result in delays
Homeowners and renters can update their contact information online at DisasterAssistance
gov,by using the FEMA App or by phone at 800-621-3362
Lines are open every day and help is available in most languages
Hazard Mitigation Community Education Outreach FEMA Mitigation staff are onsite at big box stores to help homeowners learn ways to build back stronger against future storms
These specialists can offer free improvement tips and proven methods for rebuilding in a way that can lessen damage from future disasters
Insurance specialists are also available to answer NFIP questions
As of March 31, the state of Florida has removed more than 36 million cubic yards of debris
FEMA specialists will be available from March 27 through April 5 from 8:00 a
m
to 4:30 p
m
ET, Monday – Friday and on Saturday from 8:00 a
m
to 2:30 p
m
ET, at the following location:Charlotte County: Home Depot, 12621 McCall Road, Port Charlotte, FL 33981FEMA specialists will be available from March 31 through April 12 from 8:00 a
m
to 4:30 p
m
ET, Monday – Friday and on Saturday from 8:00 a
m
to 2:30 p
m
ET, at the following location:Lee County: Lowe’s, 285 SW 25th Lane, Cape Coral, FL 33914Debris RemovalAppealsSurvivors who applied for FEMA assistance will receive a decision letter in the mail or via email
If survivors disagree with the decision about their eligibility, they can appeal within 60 days from the date on that letter
If survivors have questions about their letter or how to appeal, they can call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362
FraudWe encourage survivors to be aware of fraud and scams and report any suspicious activity to local authorities
For more information, visit: Be Alert to Fraud After Florida Hurricanes | FEMA
govIndividual AssistanceAs of March 31, FEMA has approved a total of more than $1
5 billion to help Floridians with losses from Milton, Helene and Debby, including: $734
3 million approved for Hurricane Milton $753
7 million approved for Hurricane Helene $56
8 million approved for Hurricane DebbyFEMA may provide financial assistance to help displaced survivors rent temporary housing
FEMA Rental Assistance is intended to cover the monthly rent amount, which may include a security deposit, at a place other than a damaged home
The rental can be near the survivor’s job, home, school and place of worship
The assistance may include essential utilities such as gas, oil, trash, sewer, electricity, and water, but not cable or Internet
Public AssistanceFEMA has obligated over $1 billion in Public Assistance funds to aid Florida’s recovery from Hurricane Milton
In just over two months from the date Hurricane Milton was presidentially declared, Public Assistance was able to obligate more than $1 billion to the state of Florida – something that has never been done before in Florida
This rapid response highlights the partnership with the State of Florida to aid local governments’ efforts to help communities recover
Milton: Category A (Debris) total obligated: $338,280,729 Milton: Category B (Emergency Protective Measures) total obligated: $647,677,699Helene: Category A (Debris) total obligated: $86,995,225 Helene: Category B (Emergency Protective Measures) total obligated: $348,183,066National Flood Insurance ProgramAs of March 31, NFIP has paid $6
6 billion in claims to 60,884 claimants from Milton, Helene and Debby
NFIP Information available online at https://www
floodsmart
gov/
U
S
Small Business AdministrationDR-4806DR-4828DR-4834Applications: 1,949Applications: 21,361Applications: 44,612Dollars Approved: $39,401,071Dollars Approved: $758,941,081Dollars Approved: $672,442,659Additional ResourcesActivate Hope: Displaced survivors can apply for State Non-Congregate Sheltering by visiting the Activate Hope website at hopeflorida
com and filling out the Assistance Request Form or by calling the Hope Florida support line at 833-GET-HOPE (833-438-4673)
Florida 211: Whether it’s a natural or human-caused disaster, a mental health issue, searching for job training or a food pantry, Florida 211 connects people to help, with a caring human on the other end of the phone
It’s a go-to, 24/7 free resource that can connect you with a wide range of social services and resources, including food, housing, utilities payment assistance, health care, transportation, childcare, employment opportunities, mental health crises, disaster information and assistance, and more
Clean & Sanitize: FEMA may be able to provide up to $300 in one-time financial assistance to help with cleanup
Clean and Sanitize Assistance | FEMA
gov
Multi-Agency Resource Centers: Florida Division of Emergency Management and local communities are operating these centers to assist residents with storm recovery
FEMA specialists are available at most centers
U
S
Department of Agriculture/Farm Services Agency: emergency_disaster_designation_declaration_process-factsheet
pdf FEMA & Citizenship: You or a member of your household must be U
S
citizen, non-U
S
citizen national or qualified non-citizen to qualify for FEMA assistance
FEMA Rumor Response: Know what’s true and what isn’t
Hurricane Rumor Response | FEMA
govSmall Business Hurricane Recovery Grant Program FAQs | U
S
Chamber of Commerce FoundationMental health resources for Floridians For help with cleanup: Call 833-GET HOPETips for Mold CleanupFlorida Division of Emergency Management Updates: floridadisaster
Source: US Government environment energy and agriculture
WASHINGTON, March 27, 2025 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released the 2023 Census of Agriculture data for the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) today.
The most widely used statistics in the agriculture industry, the Census of Agriculture, is conducted every five years and provides the most comprehensive and impartial agriculture data at the island level. “We thank the producers who gave their time to complete the questionnaire. The Census of Agriculture data tells their agriculture story,” said NASS Administrator Joseph Parsons. “The agricultural census data provides vital data that helps shape policies, allocate resources, and support the growth and sustainability of agriculture in the U.S. Virgin Islands.”
Federal and local governments, agribusinesses, organizations, universities, and many more use the Census of Agriculture data to support funding research and programs to improve farming techniques and equipment, building infrastructure for high-speed internet, providing effective production and distribution systems as well as natural disaster preparation, response, and recovery assistance.
Highlights from the 2023 Census of Agriculture for USVI:
There were 619 farms, up by 54 farms from the last census. Land in farms totaled 8,092 acres, with an average farm size of 13.1 acres.
The total value of sales was $4.2 million, with an average value of $6,787 per farm.
Vegetables represented the largest category of production, with sales of $2.2 million.
The Census of Agriculture in USVI defined a farm as any place from which $500 or more of agricultural products were produced and sold, or normally would have been sold, in 2023.
The full Census of Agriculture report as well as publication dates for additional data products from the census can be found at nass.usda.gov/AgCensus.
Governor Polis also signed a law to increase healthcare access for children with disabilities and complex medical conditions
DENVER – Today, Governor Polis signed the following bipartisan bills into law during a ceremony in the Governor’s Office.
HB25-1093 – Limitations on Local Anti-Growth Land Use Policies, sponsored by Representatives Rebekah Stewart and Carlos Barron, and Senators Matt Ball and Nick Hinrichsen.
“We are building on our historic progress to break down government barriers that block new housing so that we can build more housing that Coloradans can afford. This bill will help unlock the housing supply, lower costs, and expand access to homes for Coloradans and families. We know that cost of housing is a top concern for Coloradans, and I am proud to sign this legislation to continue lowering costs for hardworking families,” said Governor Polis.
HB25-1091 – Designation of State Mushroom, sponsored by Representative Jacque Phillips and Senator Kyle Mullica.
“Today, Agaricus Julius, or the Emperor Mushroom Formerly Known as Prince, joins the iconic Rocky Mountain Columbine, Lark Bunting, Bighorn Sheep, Colorado Blue Spruce, and others as a symbol of our beautiful state. Designating a state mushroom helps us celebrate the important and diverse plants and animals that make up and strengthen the lands and ecosystems that make the landscapes of our state so vibrant and inspiring. Our state mushroom has coloring similar to a portobello, a cherry-almond aroma, and it’s delicious,” said Governor Polis.
(Photos Courtesy of the Denver Botanic Gardens)
Finally, Governor Polis signed HB25-1003 – Children Complex Health Needs Waiver, sponsored by Representatives Rebekah Stewart and Max Brooks, and Senator Lisa Cutter.
“In Colorado, we are committed to ensuring every child has access to the high-quality care needed to live a healthy life. This new law will increase access to important services for kids with disabilities and complex medical conditions, help administer services more efficiently, and lower the cost. In our Colorado for all, everyone should have access to the care needed to thrive, and this bill does exactly that,” said Governor Polis.
Governor Polis also signed the following bills administratively:
HB25-1131 – Eliminate Student Cap at Colorado State University’s Veterinary Program, sponsored by Representatives Andrew Boesenecker and Dusty Johnson, and Senators Cathy Kipp and Byron Pelton. This bill is bipartisan.
HB25-1063 – FDA-Approved Crystalline Polymorph Psilocybin Use, sponsored by Representatives Anthony Hartsook and Kyle Brown, and Senator Dafna Michaelson Jenet. This bill is bipartisan.
HB25-1070 – Electroconvulsive Treatment for Minors, sponsored by Representatives Mary Bradfield and Gretchen Rydin, and Senator Dafna Michaelson Jenet. This bill is bipartisan.
HB25-1040 – Adding Nuclear Energy as a Clean Energy Resource, sponsored by Representatives Alex Valdez and Ty Winter, and Senators Dylan Roberts and Larry Liston. This bill is bipartisan.
HB25-1009 – Vegetative Fuel Mitigation, sponsored by Representatives Tisha Mauro and Junie Joseph, and Senators Lisa Cutter and Nick Hinrichsen. This bill is bipartisan.
HB25-1015 – Ability to Pay Bond Online Clarifications, sponsored by Representatives Javier Mabrey and Yara Zokaie, and Senators Robert Rodriguez and Julie Gonzales. This bill is bipartisan.
HB25-1016 – Occupational Therapist Prescribe Medical Equipment, sponsored by Representative Katie Stewart, and Senators Dafna Michaelson Jenet and Janice Rich. This bill is bipartisan.
SB25-180 – Population Growth Calculation, sponsored by Senators Barbara Kirkmeyer and Judy Amabile, and Representatives Rick Taggart and Emily Sirota. This bill is bipartisan.
Jefferson City — Today, Governor Mike Kehoe announced six appointments to various boards and commissions and the appointment of the Andrew County Circuit Clerk.
Tannah Buhman, of St. Joseph, was appointed as the Andrew County Circuit Clerk.
Ms. Buhman is currently serving as the interim circuit clerk for the Andrew County Circuit Court having been appointed by the Presiding Judge after a year as deputy court clerk. She previously worked as a patient care representative for Mosaic Life Care in St. Joseph, Missouri, and holds certifications as a Certified Nurse Assistant and Certified Medication Technician.
Paul Fitzwater, of Potosi, was appointed to the MissouriSentencing Advisory Commission.
Mr. Fitzwater currently serves as a member of the Board of Probation and Parole and is a former state representative for Iron, Washington, Wayne, and Reynolds counties. Before entering public service, he owned and operated Fitzwater and Son Concrete Contracting. Fitzwater is also a retired teacher and coach with nearly 30 years of experience in education. He is an active member of several organizations including the National Rifle Association and the Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Fitzwater earned his bachelor’s degree in education from Tarkio College.
Matthew Haase, of Kansas City, was appointed to the Jackson County Sports Complex Authority.
Mr. Haase is currently the director of strategic relations for Kansas City University, having previously served as the senior director of external relations at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Haas dedicated 18 years to public service under the leadership of former U.S. Senator Roy Blunt as a senior legislative assistant in his congressional office and later as a state director in his Senate office. He was appointed to the 16th Circuit Judicial Commission by Governor Parson and currently serves on the Local Investment Commission. Mr. Haase earned his Bachelor of Science in Economics from Missouri State University in Springfield.
Steven Oslica, of St. Louis, was appointed to the Missouri Community Service Commission.
Mr. Oslica is a business consultant based in St. Louis. He previously served as executive director of the Hawthorn Foundation for Missouri, which helps to fund the sitting governor’s economic development priorities and assists in improving state operation efficiencies. His career includes over 30 years in oil and gas construction materials as a global marketing director for Pittsburgh Corning Corporation and the director of international business for H.B. Fuller. Osclica currently serves on the Board of Trustees for Culver-Stockton College and Board of Advisors for Love the Lou. Mr. Oslica earned his bachelor’s degree in history and political science from Culver-Stockton College.
Victor Pasley, of Columbia, was reappointed to the Lincoln University Board of Curators.
Mr. Pasley retired from Xerox Corporation in 2010 after a 32-year career as a member of its executive team. Prior to his corporate career, he worked as an instructor and assistant principal in Elgin Public Schools and served as a Captain in the United States Army, including a tour of duty in Vietnam. He has served on the Lincoln University Board of Curators since 2019. Mr. Pasley earned a Bachelor of Science in Education from Lincoln University, a Master of Science in Education from Northern Illinois University, and completed the Professional Management Development Program at Harvard Business School.
Richard Popp, of Tebbetts, was reappointed to the Lincoln University Board of Curators.
Mr. Popp is a retired Executive Vice President of Central Bank, where he was employed for 37 years. He is a member of the Missouri Bar Association and Jefferson City Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Popp has served as a member of the Lincoln University Board of Curators for six years. He holds two degrees from the University of Missouri: accounting and plant science. He also earned his Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School in 1977.
John M. Raines, of Senath, was appointed to the University of Missouri Board of Curators.
Mr. Raines’ leadership in agriculture and food spans nearly four decades, most recently retiring as president of TELUS Ag & Consumer Goods. Prior to TELUS, Raines served as the chief commercial officer at The Climate Corporation, now part of Bayer, a leading global provider of agricultural products. Raines serves on the board of directors for several companies including FMC Corporation, Sydenstricker Nobbe Partners, and TPNB Bank, as well as the advisory board for the University of Missouri Fisher Delta Research, Extension and Education Center. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from the University of Missouri in Columbia.
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Four individuals have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering, Acting United States Attorney Troy Rivetti announced today.
Defendant Yonel Burnett, 28, of Jamaica, was charged in a two-count Indictment with conspiracy to commit mail fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering. Defendants Omar McKenzie, 34, of Lauderdale Lakes, Florida; Shemeca Shields, 29, of East Hartford, Connecticut; and Nicole Lamont, 30, of Eastham, Massachusetts, each were charged in a one-count Indictment with conspiracy to commit money laundering. Burnett and McKenzie were both arrested in Florida, on March 14 and March 27, 2025, respectively. Lamont was arrested in Massachusetts on March 23, 2025. Shields was arrested in Connecticut on March 26, 2025. The Indictments are related to those announced in December 2023 naming seven other co-conspirators, three of whom were extradited from Jamaica. (Read the release regarding the earlier Indictments here.)
According to the Indictments, the defendants and their co-conspirators executed a fraud scheme that stole more than $4.5 million from elderly and vulnerable victims in the Western District of Pennsylvania and elsewhere in the United States. As part of that scheme, conspirators, including Burnett, contacted the victims and falsely told them that they had won a million- or multi-million-dollar sweepstakes, but needed to pay certain taxes and fees before they could claim their prize. These claims were often reinforced with forged documents purporting to describe the sweepstakes winnings and required taxes and fees, some of which bore the seals of government agencies. The conspirators then directed the victims to send money, including cash, checks, and money orders, to people designated by the conspirators. Some of these people were earlier victims of the lottery scam who had been unwittingly fooled into accepting and moving money on behalf of the members of the conspiracy. Others, including McKenzie, Lamont, and Shields, were themselves members of the conspiracy. After being laundered through a network of bank accounts and money mules, victim money was withdrawn by members of the conspiracy living in Jamaica.
The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to twice the pecuniary loss to any victim, or both. Under the federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed would be based upon the seriousness of the offense(s) and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant United States Attorney Jeffrey R. Bengel is prosecuting this case on behalf of the government.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Postal Inspection Service, and Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation leading to the Indictments.
The charges stem from the Department of Justice’s wide-ranging efforts to protect older adults from fraud and financial exploitation. Last week, for example, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania also announced the Indictment of a Dominican Republic man living in Cleveland, Ohio, for his participation in an organized crime group operating across Pennsylvania and Ohio to defraud victims out of tens of thousands of dollars through a grandparent fraud scam. As part of that scheme, scammers called a grandparent and impersonated their grandchild in a crisis such as an accident or arrest, and then asked the grandparent to send immediate financial assistance, which conspirators arranged to be picked up in Pennsylvania and delivered by Lyft and Uber drivers to the defendant in various locations in Northern Ohio. (Read the grandparent fraud scam release here.)
An indictment is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
TEL-AVIV, Israel, March 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Ellomay Capital Ltd. (NYSE American; TASE: ELLO) (“Ellomay” or the “Company”), a renewable energy and power generator and developer of renewable energy and power projects in Europe, Israel and USA, today reported the publication in Israel of financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2024 of Dorad Energy Ltd. (“Dorad”), in which Ellomay currently indirectly holds approximately 9.4% through its indirect 50% ownership of Ellomay Luzon Energy Infrastructures Ltd. (formerly U. Dori Energy Infrastructures Ltd.) (“Ellomay Luzon Energy”).
On March 31, 2025, Amos Luzon Entrepreneurship and Energy Group Ltd. (the “Luzon Group”), an Israeli public company that currently holds the remaining 50% of Ellomay Luzon Energy, which, in turn, holds 18.75% of Dorad, published its annual report in Israel based on the requirements of the Israeli Securities Law, 1968. Based on applicable regulatory requirements, the annual report of the Luzon Group includes the financial statements of Dorad for the same period.
The financial statements of Dorad for the year ended December 31, 2024 were prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards. Ellomay will include its indirect share of these results (through its holdings in Ellomay Luzon Energy) in its financial results and financial statements for this period. In an effort to provide Ellomay’s shareholders with access to Dorad’s financial results (which were published in Hebrew), Ellomay hereby provides a convenience translation to English of Dorad’s financial results.
Dorad Financial Highlights
Dorad’s revenues for the year ended December 31, 2024 – approximately NIS 2,863.8 million.
Dorad’s operating profit for the year ended December 31, 2024 – approximately NIS 620.3 million.
Based on the information provided by Dorad, the demand for electricity by Dorad’s customers is seasonal and is affected by, inter alia, the climate prevailing in that season. Since January 1, 2023, the months of the year are split into three seasons as follows: summer – June-September; winter – December-February; and intermediate (spring and autumn) – March-May and October-November. There is a higher demand for electricity during the winter and summer seasons, and the average electricity consumption is higher in these seasons than in the intermediate seasons and is even characterized by peak demands due to extreme climate conditions of heat or cold. In addition, Dorad’s revenues are affected by the change in load and time tariffs – TAOZ (an electricity tariff that varies across seasons and across the day in accordance with demand hour clusters), as, on average, TAOZ tariffs are higher in the summer season than in the intermediate and winter seasons. Due to various reasons, including the effects of the increase in the Israeli CPI impacting interest payments by Dorad on its credit facility, the results included herein may not be indicative of full year results in the future or comparable to full year results in the past.
The financial statements of Dorad include a note concerning the war situation in Israel, which commenced on October 7, 2023, stating that Dorad estimated, based on the information it had as of February 27, 2025 (the date of approval of Dorad’s financial statements as of December 31, 2024), that the current events and the security escalation in Israel have an impact on its results but that the impact on its short-term business results will be immaterial. Dorad further notes that as this event is not under the control of Dorad, and factors such as the war and hostilities being resumed may affect Dorad’s assessments, and that as of the date of its financial statements, Dorad is unable to assess the extent of the impact of the war on its business activities and on its medium and long-term results. Dorad continues to regularly monitor the developments and is examining the effects on its operations and the value of its assets.
In December 2024, Dorad received payment in an amount of approximately $130 million pursuant to an arbitration ruling in a derivative claim submitted by certain of its shareholders, which increased Dorad’s net profit for 2024 by approximately NIS 215.6 million (after the effect of taxes).
A convenience translation to English of the financial results for Dorad as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 and for each of the three years ended December 31, 2023 is included at the end of this press release. Ellomay does not undertake to separately report Dorad’s financial results in a press release in the future. Neither Ellomay nor its independent public accountants have reviewed or consulted with theLuzon Group, Ellomay Luzon Energy or Dorad with respect to the financial results included in this press release.
About Ellomay Capital Ltd. Ellomay is an Israeli based company whose shares are registered with the NYSE American and with the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange under the trading symbol “ELLO”. Since 2009, Ellomay focuses its business in the renewable energy and power sectors in Europe, USA and Israel.
To date, Ellomay has evaluated numerous opportunities and invested significant funds in the renewable, clean energy and natural resources industries in Israel, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands and Texas, USA, including:
Approximately 335.9 MW of operating solar power plants in Spain (including a 300 MW solar plant in owned by Talasol, which is 51% owned by the Company) and approximately 38 MW of operating solar power plants in Italy;
9.375% indirect interest in Dorad Energy Ltd., which owns and operates one of Israel’s largest private power plants with production capacity of approximately 850MW, representing about 6%-8% of Israel’s total current electricity consumption;
Groen Gas Goor B.V., Groen Gas Oude-Tonge B.V. and Groen Gas Gelderland B.V., project companies operating anaerobic digestion plants in the Netherlands, with a green gas production capacity of approximately 3 million, 3.8 million and 9.5 million Nm3 per year, respectively;
83.333% of Ellomay Pumped Storage (2014) Ltd., which is involved in a project to construct a 156 MW pumped storage hydro power plant in the Manara Cliff, Israel;
Solar projects in Italy with an aggregate capacity of 294 MW that have reached “ready to build” status;
Solar projects in the Dallas Metropolitan area, Texas, USA with an aggregate capacity of approximately 27 MW that are placed in service and in process of connection to the grid and additional 22 MW are under construction.
Information Relating to Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve substantial risks and uncertainties, including statements that are based on the current expectations and assumptions of the Company’s management. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release regarding the Company’s plans and objectives, expectations and assumptions of management are forward-looking statements. The use of certain words, including the words “estimate,” “project,” “intend,” “expect,” “believe” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in the forward-looking statements and you should not place undue reliance on the Company’s forward-looking statements. Various important factors could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those that may be expressed or implied by the Company’s forward-looking statements, including changes in electricity prices and demand, continued war and hostilities and political and economic conditions generally in Israel, regulatory changes, the decisions of the Israeli Electricity Authority, changes in demand, technical and other disruptions in the operations of the power plant operated by Dorad, competition, changes in the supply and prices of resources required for the operation of the Dorad’s facilities and in the price of oil and electricity, changes in the Israeli CPI, changes in interest rates, seasonality, failure to obtain financing for the expansion of Dorad and other risks applicable to projects under development and construction, and other risks applicable to projects under development and construction, in addition to other risks and uncertainties associated with the Company’s and Dorad’s business that are described in greater detail in the filings the Company makes from time to time with Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 20-F. The forward-looking statements are made as of this date and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Issues guidance following a transformative year with the Company adding two new business lines, significantly strengthening the Balance Sheet and demonstrating enhanced operational capabilities for additional services and consulting related to the fast power business.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., March 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Duos Technologies Group, Inc. (“Duos” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: DUOT) a provider of machine vision and artificial intelligence that analyzes fast moving vehicles, Edge Data Centers and power solutions, reported financial results for the fourth quarter (“Q4 2024”) and full year ended December 31, 2024.
Fourth Quarter 2024 and Recent Operational Highlights
Signed Asset Management Agreement (“AMA”) with New APR Energy and Fortress Investment Group value at up to $42 million to manage 850MW of Gas-Powered Turbines. This agreement includes a 5% equity stake in the parent of New APR Energy and is the largest contract in the Company’s history.
Secured a $5 million advance payment for future services related to the AMA providing low-cost interim working capital as the Company grows.
Initiated marketing campaign targeted at the Tier 3 and Tier 4 data center markets for the provision of Duos Edge AIEdge Data Centers (“EDC”s).
Acquired six EDCs for initial deployments to Texas Regional Schools as “anchor” locations for service provisions.
Installed an initial EDC site in Amarillo, Texas with contract to include primary power for the support of installation site in addition to backup power.
Developing a high-density Data Center Park in Pampa, Texas in cooperation with New APR Energy and the Pampa Energy Center. The project includes the deployment of two Edge Data Centers and up to 500MW of bridging and permanent power, to support growing AI hyperscalers and HPC demands.
Added further intellectual property with patents covering the Railcar Inspection Portal (“RIP®”) and issued potential “IP Infraction” letters to a Class 1 railroad and its technology partner.
Scanned almost 10 million railcar images on over 700,000 unique railcars for the full year. This metric encompasses all railcars scanned at locations across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, representing approximately 44% of the total freight car population in North America.
Entering 2025, the Company estimates $50.5 million of revenue in backlog including near-term extensions.
Completed an At-The-Market (“ATM”) capital raise for approximately $7.5 million with an average price of greater than $5.00 per share and low issuance costs.
Fourth Quarter 2024 Financial Results It should be noted that the following Financial Results represent the consolidation of the Company with its subsidiaries Duos Technologies, Duos Edge AI, Inc., and Duos Energy Corporation.
Total revenue for Q4 2024 decreased 4% to $1.46 million compared to $1.53 million in the fourth quarter of 2023 (“Q4 2023”). Total revenue for Q4 2024 includes approximately $1.43 million in recurring services and consulting revenue, an increase of 9% over the same period. The increase in recurring services and consulting revenues was driven by new revenue from power consulting work, which was not present in the comparative period.
Cost of revenues for Q4 2024 increased 47% to $1.79 million compared to $1.22 million for Q4 2023. The increase in costs year-over-year stems from $548,121 in amortization expenses recorded in Q4 2024 to offset site revenue related to a nonmonetary transaction for the new services and data agreement signed during the second quarter of 2024. The Company also generated $415,580 in services and consulting revenue from power consulting work, which was provided at cost, further increasing the cost of revenue for services and consulting, which was also not present in the corresponding period of Q4, 2023.
Gross margin for Q4 2024 decreased 209% to negative $330,000 compared to $303,000 for Q4 2023. The decline in margin during the quarter was a direct result of lower business activity timing in the technology systems area of the business as well as $415,580 in services and consulting revenue from power consulting work, which was largely provided at cost, and had a onetime dilutive effect on gross margin. These same project revenues and subsequent margin impacts were absent during Q4, 2023.
Operating expenses for Q4 2024 decreased 21% to $2.76 million compared to $3.48 million for Q4 2023. The decrease in expenses is attributed to reductions in development and administrative costs due to the completion of certain activities and the impact of previously implemented cost reductions. The decrease in operating expenses was slightly offset by additional investments in sales resources for expansion of the commercial team in preparation of the business expansions planned for Power and Data Centers. Beginning in late Q3 2024 and throughout all of Q4 2024 the Company allocated personnel costs, typically recorded under operating expenses, to costs of revenue associated with power consulting efforts, allowing the Company to recover costs that it would not have otherwise allowing the Company to maintain certain key resources required for anticipated business growth.
Net operating loss for Q4 2024 totaled $3.09 million compared to net operating loss of $3.18 million for Q4 2023. The decrease in net operating loss was as a result of planned reductions in operating expenses offset by anticipated lower revenues which resulted in an overall decrease in operating loss compared to the same quarter in 2023.
Net loss for Q4 2024 totaled $3.41 million compared to a net loss of $3.16 million for Q4 2023 as a result of higher interest costs related to the acquisition of 3 Edge Data Centers.
Cash and cash equivalents at December 31, 2024 totaled $6.27 million compared to $2.44 million at December 31, 2023. As of year-end, the Company had an additional $0.40 million in receivables, bolstering its liquidity position to approximately $6.67 million. Duos also had an additional $0.80 million of inventory as of December 31, 2024, consisting primarily of long-lead items for future RIP installations.
Across January and February of 2025, the Company issued an aggregate of 633,683 shares of common stock at a weighted average price of $6.24 per share through its ATM offering program, generating total net proceeds of approximately $3,836,032.
Full Year 2024 Financial Results
Total revenue for the full year 2024, decreased 3% to $7.28 million, down from $7.47 million for 2023. Much of the decrease in overall revenues was due to ongoing customer-driven delays beyond the Company’s control related to the deployment of two high-speed transit-focused Railcar Inspection Portals (RIPs). Although the systems were largely ready in 2023, installation was delayed due to customer site preparation issues, which has prevented the Company from recognizing the next phase of revenue. However, in 2024, the Company secured an equitable adjustment as partial compensation for those delays and increased the total contract value by $1.4 million, a substantial portion of which was recognized during the year. The customer is now nearing completion of site preparation, and field installation is expected to progress in 2025 with anticipated completion in 2026. Meanwhile, the Company continued its transition toward a greater focus on AI software and support services. Services and consulting revenues increased by 31% compared to 2023, driven by the addition of new AI and subscription customers, higher service contract pricing, and $921,562 in new revenue from power consulting work, all which was not present in for the full year in 2023. Underlying recurring revenues also continued to grow as new maintenance contracts are being established on installations coming online during 2025. The Company anticipates continued growth in service revenue from both new and existing customers, supported by upcoming renewals, a growing backlog, and the next generation of technology systems currently in production and expected to be completed in 2025.
Cost of revenues for the full year 2024, increased 11% to $6.81 million, up from $6.16 million in the same period of 2023. The increase in cost of revenues was driven by $1,569,311 in amortization expenses recorded in 2024 to offset site revenue related to a non-monetary transaction for the new services and data agreement signed during the second quarter of 2024. The Company also generated $921,562 in services and consulting revenue from power consulting work, which although was provided at cost, was partially performed by existing Duos staff. Part of the work was the retention of outside consultants further increasing the cost of revenue for services and consulting, which was also not present in the corresponding period of 2023, but prepared the Company for the signing of the Asset Management Agreement and expected significant revenue increases in 2025 and beyond. The Company continues to put into service additional artificial intelligence algorithms and maintenance and support services which are high margin and represent only marginal increases in the requisite costs to deliver these services. Cost of revenues on technology systems decreased during the period compared to the equivalent period in 2023 in line with the decline in project revenues. The decline in costs generally follows the same year-over-year trend as project revenues due to timing differences in major project work. This is primarily related to the procurement and manufacturing of transit-focused RIPs. As we are near the end of the manufacturing cycle and begin preparations for field installation in 2025, the cost of revenues for technology systems decreases accordingly. In contrast, during the same period in 2023, the Company was still progressing through the advanced stages of procurement and manufacturing for these RIPs.
Gross margin for the full year 2024, decreased 64% to $469,000, down from $1.31 million in the same period of 2023. As noted above, the decline in margin was primarily driven by the timing of business activity related to the two high-speed, transit-focused Railcar Inspection Portals. In 2024, activity centered on the advanced stages of procurement and manufacturing for these systems, but customer driven delays in installation deferred the recognition of higher-margin revenue. Additionally, the Company generated $921,562 in services and consulting revenue from power consulting work that was provided at cost, which further diluted overall gross margin. These power consulting revenues, and their margin impacts were not present in 2023. The gross margin for 2024 was approximately 6%, compared to 18% in 2023. This decline also reflects the fixed nature of certain departmental costs and the evolving stage of project completion. When comparing year-over-year results, the timing of manufacturing and installation milestones should be taken into consideration, as they can significantly impact the gross margin profile in any given period.
Operating expenses for the full year 2024, decreased 10% to $11.45 million, down from $12.76 million in the same period of 2023. There was a 43% increase in sales and marketing driven by continued investment in the commercial team, including the addition of professionals with extensive experience and leadership across the rail, Edge data center, and power industries. Research and development expenses declined by 16%, primarily due to lower personnel costs allocated to R&D and reduced testing as a result of completion of certain activities for prospective technologies. General and administration costs decreased by 18%, influenced by reductions in headcount and related personnel expenses, as well as a decline in non-cash amortization charges associated with the forfeiture of approximately 781,323 share options during 2024. Further contributing to the decrease were reductions in consulting and legal expenses compared to 2023.
Net operating loss for the years ended, December 31, 2024 and 2023 were $10,983,526 and $11,446,566, respectively. The decrease in losses from operations during the year was the result of planned decreases in operating expenses, which offset the impact of lower revenues recorded in the period as a consequence of delays in going to field for the two high-speed RIPs for a passenger transit client, and the short term lower gross margins from the impact of the initial power industry consulting.
Net loss for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 was $10,764,457 and $11,241,718, respectively. The decrease in overall net loss was primarily attributable to a decrease in operating costs. Net loss per common share was $1.39 and $1.56 for the years ended December 31, 2024, and 2023, respectively, an improvement of $0.17 per share (basic).
Financial Outlook At the end of 2024, the Company’s contracts in backlog represented approximately $50.5 million in revenue, of which approximately $22.6 million is expected to be recognized in calendar 2025 not including an estimated $8.0 – $9.0 million in expected near-term awards and renewals. The remaining contract backlog consists of multi-year service and software agreements, along with project revenues extending through fiscal 2025, related to Duos Technologies, Duos Edge AI, and Duos Energy.
Based on these committed contracts and near-term pending orders that are already performing or scheduled to be executed throughout the course of 2025, the Company is in a position to reinstate revenue expectations for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025. The Company expects total revenue for 2025 to range between $28 million and $30 million, representing an increase of 285% to 312% from 2024. Duos expects this improvement in operating results to be reflected over the course of the full year in 2025.
Management Commentary
“Over the past several months, we have made significant progress across all three of our business lines—rail, edge computing, and power—while also expanding our investor base and analyst coverage,” said Duos Chief Executive Officer Chuck Ferry. “Our Railcar Inspection Portal continues to gain traction, with growing interest from both rail operators and government agencies, despite the industry’s slow adoption cycle. Meanwhile, Duos Edge AI is scaling quickly, with strong demand for our Edge Data Centers, particularly in underserved rural areas. We remain on track to deploy 15 pods by the end of 2025 and are actively exploring opportunities to accelerate that growth. At the same time, Duos Energy is capitalizing on unprecedented demand for behind-the-meter power solutions, securing contracts for 390MW in just the first three months of operation, with additional deals in negotiation. The synergies between our power and edge computing businesses have exceeded expectations, opening doors to new opportunities across both sectors. With strong execution and a diversified portfolio, we are well-positioned for continued growth and profitability in 2025 and beyond.”
Conference Call The Company’s management will host a conference call today, March 31, 2025, at 4:30 p.m. Eastern time (1:30 p.m. Pacific time) to discuss these results, followed by a question-and-answer period.
Date:
Monday, March 31, 2025
Time:
4:30 p.m. Eastern time (1:30 p.m. Pacific time)
U.S. dial-in:
877-407-3088
International dial-in:
201-389-0927
Confirmation:
13751912
Please call the conference telephone number 5-10 minutes prior to the start time of the conference call. An operator will register your name and organization.
If you have any difficulty connecting with the conference call, please contact DUOT@duostech.com.
The conference call will be broadcast live via telephone and available for online replay via the investor section of the Company’s website here.
About Duos Technologies Group, Inc. Duos Technologies Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: DUOT), based in Jacksonville, Florida, through its wholly owned subsidiaries, Duos Technologies, Inc., Duos Edge AI, Inc., and Duos Energy Corporation, designs, develops, deploys and operates intelligent technology solutions for Machine Vision and Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) applications including real-time analysis of fast-moving vehicles, Edge Data Centers and power consulting. For more information, visit www.duostech.com, www.duosedge.ai and www.duosenergycorp.com.
Forward- Looking Statements
This news release includes forward-looking statements regarding the Company’s financial results and estimates and business prospects that involve substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. Forward-looking statements relate to future events and typically address the Company’s expected future business and financial performance. The forward-looking statements in this news release relate to, among other things, information regarding anticipated timing for the installation, development and delivery dates of our systems; anticipated entry into additional contracts; anticipated effects of macro-economic factors (including effects relating to supply chain disruptions and inflation); timing with respect to revenue recognition; trends in the rate at which our costs increase relative to increases in our revenue; anticipated reductions in costs due to changes in the Company’s organizational structure; potential increases in revenue, including increases in recurring revenue; potential changes in gross margin (including the timing thereof); statements regarding our backlog and potential revenues deriving therefrom; and statements about future profitability and potential growth of the Company. Words such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “should,” “plan,” “aim,” “will,” “may,” “should,” “could,” “intend,” “estimate,” “project,” “forecast,” “target,” “potential” and other words and terms of similar meaning, typically identify such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and there are important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern, the Company’s ability to generate sufficient cash to continue and expand operations, the competitive environment generally and in the Company’s specific market areas, changes in technology, the availability of and the terms of financing, changes in costs and availability of goods and services, economic conditions in general and in the Company’s specific market areas, changes in federal, state and/or local government laws and regulations potentially affecting the use of the Company’s technology, changes in operating strategy or development plans and the ability to attract and retain qualified personnel. The Company cautions that the foregoing list of risks, uncertainties and factors is not exclusive. Additional information concerning these and other risk factors is contained in the Company’s most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K, subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, recent Current Reports on Form 8-K, and other filings filed by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), which are available at the SEC’s website, http://www.sec.gov. The Company believes its plans, intentions and expectations reflected in or suggested by these forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions. No assurance, however, can be given that the Company will achieve or realize these plans, intentions or expectations. Indeed, it is likely that some of the Company’s assumptions may prove to be incorrect. The Company’s actual results and financial position may vary from those projected or implied in the forward-looking statements and the variances may be material. Each forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date of the particular statement. We do not undertake or accept any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in our expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any forward-looking statement is based, except as required by law. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements concerning the Company or other matters attributable to the Company or any person acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements above.
DUOS TECHNOLOGIES GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
For the Years Ended
December 31,
2024
2023
REVENUES:
Technology systems
$
2,252,357
$
3,618,022
Services and consulting
5,028,528
3,853,176
Total Revenues
7,280,885
7,471,198
COST OF REVENUES:
Technology systems
2,818,078
4,352,247
Services and consulting
3,993,592
1,810,070
Total Cost of Revenues
6,811,670
6,162,317
GROSS MARGIN
469,215
1,308,881
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Sales and marketing
2,138,431
1,493,309
Research and development
1,531,390
1,812,951
General and administration
7,782,920
9,449,187
Total Operating Expenses
11,452,741
12,755,447
LOSS FROM OPERATIONS
(10,983,526
)
(11,446,566
)
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSES):
Interest expense
(286,114
)
(7,159
)
Change in fair value of warrant liabilities
245,980
0
Gain on extinguishment of warrant liabilities
379,626
0
Other income, net
(120,423
)
212,007
Total Other Income (Expenses), net
219,069
204,848
NET LOSS
$
(10,764,457
)
$
(11,241,718
)
Basic and Diluted Net Loss Per Share
$
(1.39
)
$
(1.56
)
Weighted Average Shares-Basic and Diluted
7,736,281
7,204,177
DUOS TECHNOLOGIES GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
December 31,
December 31,
2024
2023
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash
$
6,266,296
$
2,441,842
Accounts receivable, net
403,441
1,462,463
Contract assets
635,774
641,947
Inventory
605,356
1,526,165
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
176,338
184,478
Note Receivable, net
–
–
Total Current Assets
8,087,205
6,256,895
Inventory – non current
196,315
–
Property and equipment, net
2,771,779
726,507
Operating lease right of use asset – Office Lease
4,028,397
4,373,155
Financing lease right of use asset – Edge Data Centers
– Grew Total Revenue 8% Year-over-Year to $45 Million in the Fourth Quarter 2024 –
– Assets Under Management (“AuM”) Increased 13% Year-over-Year to $27 Billion –
– GAAP Net Loss of $1.1 Million in the Fourth Quarter –
– Grew Adjusted EBITDA*43% Year-Over-Year to $2.0 Million in the Fourth Quarter –
NEW YORK, March 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Binah Capital Group, Inc. (“Binah”, “Binah Capital” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: BCG; BCGWW), a leading financial services enterprise that owns and operates a network of industry-leading firms empowering independent financial advisors, today announced results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2024.
“As we celebrate the one-year anniversary of our successful public listing, we’re pleased to deliver our 2024 fourth quarter results,” stated Craig Gould, Chief Executive Officer of Binah Capital Group. “Beyond our solid financial performance, we’ve accomplished several key milestones over the past year: closing of the business combination, forming Binah Capital Group, Inc. and listing on the NASDAQ, successful recruiting efforts, significantly reducing our cost of funding through the successful refinancing of our senior credit facility at favorable terms, and maintaining a mature and stable business despite ongoing market volatility.”
“Looking ahead, we are off to a strong start in 2025, with a robust acquisition and recruiting pipeline. We continue to uncover many significant opportunities to onboard additional new businesses as we execute on our external growth strategy. Moreover, our hybrid-friendly business model, coupled with the favorable market for opportunities in our sector, we believe positions us well to deliver profitable, long-term growth as we work to create significant value for our shareholders.”
________________________________ *Non-GAAP Financial Measures. Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure defined as net income (loss) attributable to Binah adjusted for depreciation expense, amortization, interest expense, income tax and other non-cash and non-recurring items that in the judgement of management significantly impact the period-over-period assessment of performance and operating results that do not directly relate to business performance within Binah’s control. See the section captioned the “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below for a detailed description and reconciliation of such Non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, as required by Regulation G.
Fourth Quarter 2024 Key Highlights Compared to Prior Year Period
Total advisory and brokerage assets in the fourth quarter grew 13% year-over-year to $27 billion.
Total revenue increased 8% year-over-year to $45 million.
Gross profit of $8.5 million, compared to $9.0 million in the prior year period.
Total operating expenses were $9.6 million, compared to $7.8 million in the prior-year period. The change in operating expenses was primarily due to costs related to the re-financing of senior credit facility and public company operating expenses incurred in the fourth quarter but not incurred in the prior year.
GAAP net loss of $1.1 million, compared to GAAP net loss of $1.1 million in the prior year.
Adjusted EBITDA* grew 43% year-over-year to $2.0 million, which was primarily attributable to revenue growth, partially offset by higher expenses.
Full Year 2024 Key Highlights Compared to 2023
Total revenue rose 1% year-over-year to $169 million.
Gross profit increased 1% year-over-year to $32 million.
Total operating expenses were $35 million, compared to $31 million in the prior-year. The change was primarily driven by costs related to the successful business combination, refinancing and public company related costs occurred in 2024 but were not incurred in 2023.
GAAP net loss of $5.3 million, compared to GAAP net income of $0.6 million in the prior year.
Adjusted EBITDA* of $6.3 million, compared to Adjusted EBITDA of $8.4 million in the prior year.
Further optimized the balance sheet through the successful refinance of its $20.0 million senior notes at more favorable terms than the prior facility.
Liquidity and Capital
The Company had cash and cash equivalents of $8 million and outstanding long-term debt of $25 million, as of December 31, 2024.
_______________ * See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below for additional information and a reconciliation to GAAP for all Non-GAAP metrics.
About Binah Capital Group
Binah Capital Group (“Binah Capital”, “Binah” or the “Company,” is a financial services enterprise that owns and operates a network of industry-leading firms that empower independent financial advisors. As a national broker-dealer aggregator, Binah specializes in delivering value through its innovative hybrid-friendly model, making it an optimal platform for RIAs navigating today’s complex financial landscape. Binah’s portfolio companies are built to help advisors run, manage, and execute commission-based business seamlessly while providing best in class resources to support their advisory practice. We don’t just offer tools—we cultivate partnerships. Binah Capital Group stands alongside RIAs as a trusted ally, delivering the structure, flexibility, and cutting-edge solutions they need to succeed in an increasingly competitive marketplace.
EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP financial measures, defined as net income (loss) attributable to Binah adjusted for depreciation expense, amortization, interest expense, income tax and other non-cash and non-recurring items that in our judgement significantly impact the period-over-period assessment of performance and operating results that do not directly relate to business performance within Binah’s control. The Company presents EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA because management believes that it can be a useful financial metric in understanding the Company’s earnings from operations. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are not a measure of the Company’s financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to net income or any other performance measure derived in accordance with GAAP. The principal limitations of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are that they exclude certain expenses that are required by U.S. GAAP to be recorded in our consolidated financial statements. In addition, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are subject to inherent limitations as these metrics reflect the exercise of judgment by management about which expenses are excluded or included in determining EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA. A reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to Net income attributable to Binah Capital, the most directly comparable GAAP measure, and Adjusted EBITDA to EBITDA appears below.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended that are intended to be subject to the “safe harbor” created by those sections and other applicable laws. These forward-looking statements rely on a number of assumptions concerning future events and are subject to a number of uncertainties and factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements, many of which are outside the control of Binah. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to statements regarding: Binah’s financial and operational outlook; Binah’s operational and financial strategies, including planned growth initiatives and the benefits thereof, Binah’s ability to successfully effect those strategies, and the expected results therefrom. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words “believe,” “project,” “estimate,” “expect,” ”intend,” “anticipate,” “goals,” “prospects,” “will,” “would,” “will continue,” “will likely result,” and similar expressions (including the negative versions of such words or expressions).
While Binah believes that the assumptions concerning future events are reasonable, it cautions that there are inherent difficulties in predicting certain important factors that could impact the future performance or results of its business. The factors that could cause results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: our ability to comply with supervisory and regulatory compliance obligations, the risk we may be held liable for misconduct by our advisors; poor performance of our investment products and services; our ability to effectively maintain and enhance our brand and reputation; our ability to expand and retain our customer base; our future capital requirements and sources and uses of cash; the risk that an increase in government regulation of the industries and markets in which we operate could negatively impact our business; the impact of worldwide and regional political, military or economic conditions, including declines in foreign currencies in relation to the value of the U.S. dollar, hyperinflation, devaluation and significant political or civil disturbances in international markets; and the effectiveness of Binah’s control environment, including the identification of control deficiencies.
These forward-looking statements are also affected by the risk factors, forward-looking statements and challenges and uncertainties set forth in documents filed by Binah with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time, including the Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and subsequent periodic reports. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Binah cautions you not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and Binah assumes no obligation and, except as required by law, does not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Binah does not give any assurance that it will achieve its expectations.
Binah Capital Group Consolidated Balance Sheet
BINAH CAPITAL GROUP, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION DECEMBER 31, 2024 AND 2023
(in thousands, except share amounts)
2024
2023
ASSETS
Assets:
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
$
8,486
$
7,621
Receivables, net:
Commissions receivable
9,198
8,220
Due from clearing broker
873
631
Other
938
1,587
Property and equipment, net
599
974
Right of use assets
3,730
4,332
Intangible assets, net
1,021
1,580
Goodwill
39,839
39,839
Other assets
1,993
2,626
TOTAL ASSETS
$
66,677
$
67,410
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Liabilities:
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities
$
10,208
$
9,082
Commissions payable
11,468
10,676
Operating lease liabilities
3,820
4,381
Notes payable, net of unamortized debt issuance costs of $739 and $645 as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively
19,561
20,822
Promissory notes-affiliates
5,442
12,177
Due to members
—
5,169
TOTAL LIABILITIES
50,499
62,307
Mezzanine Equity:
Redeemable Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.0001, 2,000,000 shares authorized, 1,555,000 shares outstanding at December 31, 2024
14,947
—
Stockholders’ Equity and Members’ Equity:
Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.0001, 500,000 shares authorized, 150,000 shares outstanding at December 31, 2024
1,500
—
Common stock, $0.0001 par value, 55,000,000 authorized, 16,602,460 issued and outstanding at December 31, 2024
—
—
Additional paid-in-capital
22,984
—
Accumulated deficit
(23,253
)
—
Members’ Equity attributed to Legacy BMS Management Services LLC
—
5,103
Total Stockholders’ Equity, Mezzanine Equity and Members’ Equity Attributable to BMS Management Services LLC
16,178
5,103
TOTAL LIABILITIES, MEZZANINE EQUITY AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
$
66,677
$
67,410
Binah Capital Group Consolidated Statement of Operations
BINAH CAPITAL GROUP, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2024 AND 2023 (in thousands, except per share amounts)
2024
2023
Revenues:
Revenue from Contracts with Customers:
Commissions
$
139,452
$
138,191
Advisory fees
24,939
21,668
Total Revenue from Contracts with Customers
164,391
159,859
Interest and other income
4,512
8,096
Total revenues
168,903
167,955
Expenses:
Commissions and fees
136,932
136,169
Employee compensation and benefits
15,544
13,385
Rent and occupancy
1,150
1,189
Professional fees
6,971
4,709
Technology fees
1,292
2,457
Interest
4,026
5,119
Depreciation and amortization
1,019
1,216
Other
5,116
3,225
Total expenses
172,050
167,469
(Loss) income before provision for income taxes
(3,147
)
486
Provision (benefit) for income taxes
1,415
(85
)
Net (loss) income
$
(4,562
)
$
571
Net income attributable to Legacy BMS Management Services LLC members
730
—
Net loss attributable to Binah Capital Group, Inc.
$
(5,292
)
—
Net loss per share basic and diluted
$
(0.32
)
—
Weighted average shares basic and diluted
16,593
—
Binah Capital Group Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA
EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP financial measures. EBITDA is defined as net income plus interest expense, provision for income taxes, and depreciation and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as EBITDA plus non-recurring costs related to our business combination as well as re-financing the senior credit facility costs. The Company presents EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA because management believes that it can be a useful financial metric in understanding the Company’s earnings from operations. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are not a measure of the Company’s financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to net income or any other performance measure derived in accordance with GAAP.
Below is a reconciliation of net income to EBITDA and EBITDA to Adjusted EBITDA for the periods presented (in millions):
MIAMI, March 31, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Wrap Technologies, Inc, (NASDAQ: WRAP) (“Wrap” or, the “Company”), a global leader in innovative public safety technologies and non-lethal tools, today announced financial and operating results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2024.
Q4 2024 Financial Results:
Revenue increased 47%, from $0.6 million in 2023 to $0.9 million in 2024.
Gross Profit improved by $0.7 million, rising from $(0.3) million in 2023 to $0.4million in 2024
Total Operating Expenses decreased 21%, from $6.3million in 2023 to $5.0million in 2024
Sales, General & Administrative (SG&A) Expenses declined 19%, from $5.8million in 2023 to $4.7million in 2024
Net Loss from Operations improved by $10.8million, decreasing from $(18.4) million in 2023 to $(7.6) million in 2024
2024 Financial Results:
Revenue was $4.5 million in 2024, down 27% from $6.1million in 2023.
Cost of Revenue decreased 37%, from $3.2million in 2023 to $2.0million in 2024.
Gross Margin increased by over 7 percentage points, rising from 47% to over 54%.
Operating Loss improved 17%, decreasing from $(18.7) million in 2023 to $(15.6) million in 2024,
Net Loss improved 81%, from $(30.2) million in 2023 to $(5.9) million in 2024,
Recent Operational Highlights:
October 2024: Wrap regained compliance with Nasdaq’s continued listing requirements.
November 2024: announced Wrap’s Go-Forward Strategy, including a new advanced manufacturing facility in Wise, Virginia, focused on innovation, job creation, and expanding Wrap’s presence in defense, education and public safety markets.
February 2025: introduced Wrap’s Managed Safety and Response (MSR) connected ecosystem, bringing together tools, technology and training to deliver real-time, integrated public safety support.
February 2025: acquired W1 Global, LLC, integrating former FBI, DEA, and DoD leadership into Wrap’s organization and enhancing its ability to deliver Made-in-America, end-to-end public safety and defense solutions.
February 2025: closed a $5.8 million private placement of the Company’s securities to support the execution of its go-forward strategy.
March 2025: expanded Wrap’s leadership in managed services with the addition of Joseph Bonavolonta, a 27-year FBI veteran, and Rob Heuchling, a 15-year FBI career, to scale the Company’s support offerings.
March 2025: appointed Stephen M. Renna, former Executive at the Export-Import Bank of the United States, to lead Wrap’s international growth and financing strategy, strengthening its global expansion efforts.
2024 Management Commentary Summary:
2024 was a transformational year for Wrap. The Company made a deliberate choice to restructure. This reset led to a significant reduction in monthly cash burn to approximately $600,000 on an annualized cash basis, which we believe allows for the rebuild of a sustainable and high-performing business.
Despite a 27% decline in revenue to $4.5 million, we believe Wrap dramatically improved financial discipline, reducing cost of revenue by 37%, operating losses by 17%, and net losses by 81%. We believe these improvements show the success of the restructuring strategy.
The Company’s BolaWrap remains as an entry-point into a broader public safety platform. Usage data collected by the Company shows officers deploy the device more frequently than any other on their belt when Wrap provides full support. Demand is expanding, both domestically and internationally, as restrictive use-of-force policies create a market need for early-stage de-escalation tools paired with robust training.
Wrap’s product roadmap is evolving into an integrated, end-to-end solution, with agencies requesting complementary tools such as VR training, body cameras and additional services. The Company has begun to engage with U.S. government resources like EXIM Bank and the DoD’s Office of Strategic Capital to scale international expansion and support “Made in USA” public safety initiatives.
Wrap revitalized every leadership role, assembling what we believe to be a high-caliber team with backgrounds across elite public and private sector institutions. The acquisition of W1 Global, LLC has already yielded new opportunities and expanded the Company’s reach into critical law enforcement networks, both domestic and global.
Outlook: As we enter 2025, we believe Wrap is well positioned to capitalize on the groundwork laid during its transformation year. We anticipate measurable progress each quarter as we execute our strategy and scale operations.
Key priorities for 2025 include:
Scaling Integrated Solutions: we expect to continue expanding beyond the BolaWrap into a full ecosystem of de-escalation tools, including training, VR simulation, and more.
Global Growth: we are leveraging U.S. government partnerships and resources (e.g., EXIM Bank, DoD) to support our international strategy. Several late-stage international deals are in motion, and we anticipate converting those into significant revenue opportunities.
Federal and Strategic Engagements: our recent additions to the team opens the door to U.S. federal funding programs and public safety initiatives, which we believe enables Wrap to serve as a trusted vendor for government-backed public safety efforts globally.
Innovation: the expanded talent bench is expected to provide new capabilities in high-trust, high-security sectors. We plan to productize and monetize these capabilities through partnerships, contracts and services.
Performance and Accountability: we are building a culture that rewards execution with compensation structures dependent upon results. We expect KPIs around product deployment, training efficacy, customer satisfaction and recurring revenue will guide our actions and investments.
We believe the public safety market is at an inflection point, and believe that Wrap is positioned to lead a new era of non-lethal policing solutions. We believe our value proposition is more relevant than ever—officers and agencies need tools that de-escalate situations without force and communities are demanding safer outcomes.
Our confidence is not theoretical—it’s reflected in the capital, commitment, and conviction of our leadership team.
About Wrap Technologies, Inc. Wrap Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: WRAP) is a global leader in public safety solutions, bringing together cutting-edge technology with exceptional people to address the complex, modern day challenges facing public safety organizations.
Wrap’sBolaWrap® solution is a safer way to gain compliance—without pain. This innovative, patented device deploys light, sound, and a Kevlar® tether to safely restrain individuals from a distance, giving officers critical time and space to manage non-compliant situations before resorting to higher-force options. The BolaWrap 150 does not shoot, strike, shock, or incapacitate—instead, it helps officers operate lower on the force continuum, reducing the risk of injury to both officers and subjects. Used by over 1,000 agencies across the U.S. and in 60 countries, BolaWrap® is backed by training certified by the International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training (IADLEST), reinforcing Wrap’s commitment to public safety through cutting-edge technology and expert training.
Wrap Reality™ VRis an advanced, fully immersive training simulator designed to enhance decision-making under pressure. As a comprehensive public safety training platform, it provides first responders with realistic, interactive scenarios that reflect the evolving challenges of modern law enforcement. By offering a growing library of real-world situations, Wrap Reality™ equips officers with the skills and confidence to navigate high stakes encounters effectively, leading to safer outcomes for both responders and the communities they serve.
Wrap’s Intrensicsolution is an advanced body-worn camera and evidence management system built for efficiency, security, and transparency. Designed to meet the rigorous demands of modern law enforcement, Intrensic seamlessly captures, stores, and manages digital evidence, ensuring integrity and full chain-of-custody compliance. With automated workflows, secure cloud storage, and intuitive case management tools, it streamlines operations, reduces administrative burden, and enhances courtroom credibility.
Trademark Information Wrap, the Wrap logo, BolaWrap®, Wrap Reality™ and Wrap Training Academy are trademarks of Wrap Technologies, Inc., some of which are registered in the U.S. and abroad. All other trade names used herein are either trademarks or registered trademarks of the respective holders.
Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Statements – Safe Harbor Statement This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “expect,” “anticipate,” “should”, “believe”, “target”, “project”, “goals”, “estimate”, “potential”, “predict”, “may”, “will”, “could”, “intend”, and variations of these terms or the negative of these terms and similar expressions are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. Moreover, forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which involve factors or circumstances that are beyond the Company’s control. The Company’s actual results could differ materially from those stated or implied in forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including but not limited to: the expected benefits of the acquisition of W1 Global, LLC, the Company’s ability to maintain compliance with the Nasdaq Capital Market’s listing standards; the Company’s ability to successfully implement training programs for the use of its products; the Company’s ability to manufacture and produce products for its customers; the Company’s ability to develop sales for its products; the market acceptance of existing and future products; the availability of funding to continue to finance operations; the complexity, expense and time associated with sales to law enforcement and government entities; the lengthy evaluation and sales cycle for the Company’s product solutions; product defects; litigation risks from alleged product-related injuries; risks of government regulations; the business impact of health crises or outbreaks of disease, such as epidemics or pandemics; the impact resulting from geopolitical conflicts and any resulting sanctions; the ability to obtain export licenses for counties outside of the United States; the ability to obtain patents and defend intellectual property against competitors; the impact of competitive products and solutions; and the Company’s ability to maintain and enhance its brand, as well as other risk factors mentioned in the Company’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K, subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and other Securities and Exchange Commission filings. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this release and were based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts, and projections as well as the beliefs and assumptions of management. Except as required by law, the Company undertakes no duty or obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release as a result of new information, future events or changes in its expectations.
Headline: WTO members make progress in revitalizing trade and development work
Members examined special and differential treatment provisions across WTO agreements based on an analysis by the WTO Secretariat. Welcoming insights from the WTO Secretariat, members called for further examining other provisions. It was noted that special and differential treatment provisions were an integral part of WTO rules designed to help developing economies participate more fully in global trade.
Members also continued debating the relevant WTO rules under which the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Customs Union could be considered. They welcomed the WTO Secretariat’s note on this issue and will continue exploring how to consider this trading arrangement.
The WTO’s Institute for Training and Technical Cooperation provided an update on the financial situation of the Global Trust Fund, which finances WTO-led training programmes for government officials from developing economies to help them participate in international trade. It also talked about preparations for the next technical assistance plan for 2026 and 2027. Members called for innovative solutions for the delivery of technical assistance and said they would consider exploring additional support depending on needs expressed by beneficiaries.
Members also continued debating the relevant WTO rules under which the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Customs Union could be considered. They welcomed the WTO Secretariat’s note on this issue and will continue exploring ways of considering this trading arrangement.
The WTO’s LDC Group updated members on their request to resume preparations for the duty-free and quota-free market access for LDCs report. The objective is to facilitate the annual review of the steps members are taking to provide LDCs with market access free of duties and quotas. Members noted that consultations are ongoing with interested delegations to find a way forward.
The Committee on Trade and Development considered two requests from India on improving the functioning of the Committee and on the Work Programme on Electronic Commerce. Members will continue informal consultations on these requests.
Members also considered the Economic Complementarity Agreement between Argentina and Mexico based on the WTO Secretariat’s factual presentation.
Members elected Ambassador Mzukisi Qobo of South Africa as the chair of the Committee on Trade and Development and re-elected Ambassador Ib Petersen (Denmark) as chair of the Sub-Committee on Least- Developed Countries.
Small economies
Members welcomed the WTO Secretariat report entitled “Challenges and opportunities for small economies in using e-commerce and digital ecosystem to drive competitiveness” on 27 March.
“Many small and vulnerable economies still face high costs to access the internet, inadequate digital infrastructure and gaps in digital literacy, all of which hinder their ability to participate effectively in the global digital economy,” said Ana Libertad Guzman Villeda from Guatemala, which coordinates the Small, Vulnerable Economies. “Addressing these challenges requires targeted investments, capacity-building initiatives and policies that foster inclusive digital transformation,” she added.
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) highlighted its work to support small economies in building their digital capacities, including several key initiatives ranging from implementation of national single windows for customs processes to upgrading e-commerce laws. The role of UNCTAD’s eTrade Reform Tracker in supporting developing economies with their e-commerce strategies was underscored. Members also drew attention to expanding coverage of UNCTAD’s eTrade Readiness Assessments, which provide a snapshot of the e-commerce ecosystem in developing economies.
Protecting human rights and safeguarding civil society in Central Asian countries must be at the heart of the first ever EU-Central Asia Summit, scheduled to take place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on 3-4 April, Amnesty International said today.
“Central Asia stands at a pivotal moment as the European Union seeks to deepen its political and economic engagement with the region. Long-term progress depends not only on diplomacy, investment and trade – it also requires respect for human rights and space for civil society to develop and operate freely and without fear,” Marie Struthers, Amnesty International’s Eastern Europe and Central Asia Director, said.
Long-term progress depends not only on diplomacy, investment and trade – it also requires respect for human rights and space for civil society to develop and operate freely and without fear
Marie Struthers, Amnesty International’s Eastern Europe and Central Asia Director
“The overall situation in the region remains concerning. Authorities maintain tight control over the media and civil society, suppress dissent, peaceful assembly, and freedom of association, and consistently fail to carry out human rights due diligence – that is, they do not take adequate steps to identify, prevent, and respond to potential human rights violations linked to their actions, laws or policies.”
Earlier this month, Kazakhstan signed a memorandum of understanding with the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) in which it agreed to use the ECtHR’s rulings as guidance in Kazakhstan’s domestic legal system. Meanwhile, Kyrgyzstan is seeking to strengthen the role of the Ombudsperson’s office, critical for ensuring that state bodies do not use their powers to curtail human rights, and Uzbekistan has achieved visible progress in addressing the issue of forced labour in the cotton industry.
However, even in countries demonstrating positive steps, recent trends are disturbing. In Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, authorities routinely suppress the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and crack down on independent media.
Several Central Asian governments have adopted legislation and policies under the guise of protecting “traditional values” that restrict human rights and target marginalized groups. In Kyrgyzstan, a law modelled on Russia’s “foreign agent” legislation has since 2024 imposed onerous requirements on foreign-funded NGOs, leading to closures and self-censorship. Authorities across the region have also used similar rhetoric to justify violations of the rights of LGBTI people, who face discrimination, lack of protection from violence and restrictions on their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
Across Central Asia, Eastern Europe and in the European Union (EU), government responses to concerns about national security or public morality have led to increased repression
Marie Struthers, Amnesty International’s Eastern Europe and Central Asia Director
“Across Central Asia, Eastern Europe and in the European Union (EU), government responses to concerns about national security or public morality have led to increased repression. Wherever “foreign agent” legislation has been enacted, it has led to the stigmatization of NGOs, the intimidation of activists and the slow suffocation of a vibrant civil society,” Marie Struthers said.
“If Central Asian governments and the EU, its institutions and national governments are truly committed to human rights, the path forward lies not in stifling civil society but in empowering it – by committing to human rights due diligence, fostering open dialogue, building trust between the state and the public and ensuring a safe environment for civil society to thrive. The European Union and Central Asian governments must ensure that human rights remain a core pillar of their enhanced cooperation.”
By Montse Ferrer, Deputy Asia-Pacific Director at Amnesty International
In 2020, North Korean authorities reportedly executed a fishing boat captain by firing squad in front of 100 of his colleagues. His crime: secretly listening to Radio Free Asia (RFA), the US government-funded news outlet that has an estimated 50 million-plus listeners across Asia-Pacific.
We only know about the fisherman’s fate because RFA broke the story, based on interviews with sources inside North Korea, including the law enforcement official who confirmed it. RFA was one of the only global media outlets, if not the only one, to have the resources and access to uncover the facts.
But today, someone tuning in to RFA from the seas around the Korean peninsula – or anywhere else – is more likely to find dead air. President Trump’s executive order to close the station down, along with sister broadcasters Voice of America (VOA), Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Marti covering Cuba, and stations broadcasting into the Middle East, is extinguishing cherished connections with the outside world for millions of people in “closed” countries. In many cases, their only connection.
VOA was established in 1942 with a mandate to combat Nazi propaganda. RFA followed in 1994, initially triggered by the Chinese government’s censorship of the bloody Tiananmen crackdown five years earlier.
In the Asia-Pacific of 2025, RFA’s core purpose remains just as relevant.
Chinese authorities, like those in North Korea, continue to firewall their people from the global internet, while feeding them a dedicated diet of state media propaganda. They are both, along with Myanmar and Viet Nam, in the bottom 10 the global press freedom index. Cambodia and Laos place only slightly higher.
Until now, the most accessible alternative to state media for many people in these countries was RFA and VOA. The irony of President Trump now denouncing these outlets as “radical propaganda” will not be lost on the listeners and readers who have relied upon it for independent reporting for decades.
Not that Trump’s decision is without support in Asia.
The Beijing state newspaper Global Times reveled in the news that VOA had been “discarded by its own government like a dirty rag”. Meanwhile, Cambodia’s former ruler Hun Sen hailed the order as a “big contribution to eliminating fake news”.
Fake news. The catch-all truth denier popularized by President Trump himself, now being gleefully parroted back to him by unlikely US allies around the globe.
VOA has been bundled in with Trump’s many perceived enemies in the “radical” or “liberal” media, but this executive order appears at odds with his administration’s supposedly hawkish approach on China and foreign policy in general.
Consider, for example, that it was federal funding which enabled RFA to report on human rights violations by the Chinese government in China’s Uyghur region, information which has in turn played a key role in the way civil society and Uyghur communities have successfully pushed for stronger US policies on China. Only this month, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced sanctions on Thai officials who facilitated the deportation of 40 Uyghur men to China, where they are at risk of torture and enforced disappearance. Five other Uyghur refugees are still facing the same risk; despite threats to their existence, RFA and VOA continue to cover their stories.
The US President’s decision to pull the plug on one of the key outlets uncovering human rights violations across Asia, and not least crimes against humanity in China, hints at a certain incoherence in White House thinking. That Trump has surrendered a tried-and-tested tool of soft US power decades in the making, a brand trusted by overseas audiences amid the ongoing battle for ideas, can only be good news for those who RFA’s reporting sought to combat. It also creates an information vacuum that other ambitious, well-resourced governments could seek to fill to their own ends. Is it any wonder the celebrations are ringing out in Beijing?
As for the Trump administration’s proclaimed advocacy for free speech, there are similar contradictions.
RFA has often been one of the few journalistic voices reporting on stifled stories: from air strikes in Myanmar, to state-linked corruption in Viet Nam, to the killing of activists in Laos. Its shutdown will have an immediate impact in places where governments employ authoritarian policies to maintain control over the news and the narrative. Places where freedom of expression – and that of the press – is suppressed to quash any dissent. Places where there is no independent media, and where VOA and RFA are the lifeline that can tether listeners to reality and the outside world; one that exists beyond state propaganda.
Listeners like the North Korean fisherman, who reportedly confessed to enjoying RFA’s broadcasts for more than 15 years, the open sea acting as his buffer against detection.
Not only will those listeners be deprived of independent journalism; we will all be deprived of hearing their stories. Like the tree that falls in the forest with no one to hear it, the fisherman shot dead by the firing squad will now go down without a sound.
This article was originally published by The Diplomat
Source: The Conversation – USA – By Jonathan P. Stewart, Professor of Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles
The 6.9 magnitude Loma Prieta earthquake near San Francisco in 1989 caused about $6.8 billion in damage and 63 deaths.J.K. Nakata/U.S. Geological Survey
Earthquakes and the damage they cause are apolitical. Collectively, we either prepare for future earthquakes or the population eventually pays the price. The earthquakes that struck Myanmar on March 28, 2025, collapsing buildings and causing over 2,000 deaths, were a sobering reminder of the risks and the need for preparation.
In the U.S., this preparation hinges in large part on the expertise of scientists and engineers in federal agencies who develop earthquake hazard models and contribute to the creation of building codes designed to ensure homes, high-rises and other structures won’t collapse when the ground shakes.
Local communities and states decide whether to adopt building code documents. But those documents and other essential resources are developed through programs supported by federal agencies working in partnership with practicing engineers and earthquake experts at universities.
First, seismologists and earthquake engineers at the U.S. Geological Survey, or USGS, produce the National Seismic Hazard Model. These maps, based on research into earthquake sources such as faults and how seismic waves move through the earth’s crust, are used to determine the forces that structures in each community should be designed to resist.
A steering committee of earthquake experts from the private sector and universities works with USGS to ensure that the National Seismic Hazard Model implements the best available science.
In this 2023 update of the national seismic risk map, red areas have the greatest chance of a damaging earthquake occurring within 100 years. USGS
Second, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, supports the process for periodically updating building codes. That includes supporting the work of the National Institute of Building Sciences’ Provisions Update Committee, which recommends building code revisions based on investigations of earthquake damage.
More broadly, FEMA, the USGS, the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the National Science Foundation work together through the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program to advance earthquake science and turn knowledge of earthquake risks into safer standards, better building design and education. Some of those agencies have been threatened by potential job and funding cuts under the Trump administration, and others face uncertainty regarding continuation of federal support for their work.
It is in large part because of the National Seismic Hazard Model and regularly updated building codes that U.S. buildings designed to meet modern code requirements are considered among the safest in the world, despite substantial seismic hazards in several states.
This paradigm has been made possible by the technical expertise and lack of political agendas among the federal staff. Without that professionalism, we believe experts from outside the federal government would be less likely to donate their time.
These programs and the federal agencies supporting them have benefited from a high level of staff expertise because hiring and advancement processes have been divorced from politics and focused on qualifications and merit.
This has not always been the case.
For much of early U.S. history, federal jobs were awarded through a patronage system, where political loyalty determined employment. As described in “The Federal Civil Service System and The Problem of Bureaucracy,” this system led to widespread corruption and dysfunction, with officials focused more on managing quid pro quo patronage than governing effectively. That peaked in 1881 with President James Garfield’s assassination by Charles Guiteau, a disgruntled supporter who had been denied a government appointment.
The passage of the Pendleton Act by Congress in 1883 shifted federal employment to a merit-based system. This preference for a merit-based system was reinforced in the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978. It states as national policy that “to provide the people of the United States with a competent, honest, and productive workforce … and to improve the quality of public service, Federal personnel management should be implemented consistent with merit system principles.”
The shift away from a patronage system produced a more stable and efficient federal workforce, which has enabled improvements in many critical areas, including seismic safety and disaster response.
Merit-based civil service matters for safety
While the work of these federal employees often goes unnoticed, the benefits are demonstrable and widespread. That becomes most apparent when disasters strike and buildings that meet modern code requirements remain standing.
A merit-based civil service is not just a democratic ideal but a proven necessity for the safety and security of the American people, one we hope will continue well into the future. This can be achieved by retaining federal scientists and engineers and supporting the essential work of federal agencies.
Jonathan P. Stewart has received funding from NSF and USGS. He is the chair of the Steering Committee for the National Seismic Hazard Model, a member of the National Institute of Building Sciences’ Provisions Update Committee, and a member of the federal Advisory Committee for Earthquake Hazard Reduction (ACEHR). His contributions to this article draw upon his experience and do not reflect the views of the Steering Committee, Provisions Update Committee, or ACEHR.
Lucy Arendt has received funding from NSF and the Applied Technology Council. She is a member and current chair of the federal Advisory Committee for Earthquake Hazard Reduction (ACEHR). Her contributions to this article reflect her professional expertise and do not reflect the views of ACEHR.
Sumas First Nation (Semá:th) and the Province are strengthening their relationship through the return of the sacred Lightning Rock site.
After purchasing it last year, the Province has now successfully returned the 36-hectare Lightning Rock site to the Nation. This land holds deep cultural and spiritual significance to Semá:th and serves as a repository of traditions and narratives passed down through generations.
“The return of this sacred place is of great significance to the Semá:th, the Stó:lō, the Salish, and to First Nations people in general,” said Semá:th Chief Dalton Silver. “The respect and recognition evident here with this agreement is something our peoples have sought for too long. I’m thankful for the support from so many who’ve all played a part in making this a reality.”
The site contains a transformer stone that came to be known as Lightning Rock and is one of more than 100 sites where Stó:lō history says ancestors were transformed to stone. The site also holds the ancestral burial place of smallpox victims dating back to the 18th century.
Semá:th and the Province have worked in close collaboration to chart a path forward for the site’s protection since signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in 2017. In March 2024, the Province announced the purchase of the Lightning Rock site as part of ongoing negotiations with the intention to transfer the lands to Semá:th First Nation.
Now, the Province is returning the land to Semá:th First Nation. To make this historic moment possible, the Province and Semá:th signed a reconciliation agreement and a road agreement last fall. Since then, the Province and Semá:th First Nation have been working together to finalize the terms of the land transfer and engage with local interest holders so the agreement and the Lightning Rock return could be announced at the same time.
“Semá:th First Nation has spent decades advocating for this sacred land to be protected, and I am grateful to Chief Silver for his leadership in getting us to this point on our shared reconciliation journey,” said Christine Boyle, Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation. “This agreement is helping to protect this site, making a real difference for Semá:th members and providing certainty for everyone in the region.”
Through the reconciliation agreement, the Province and Semá:th First Nation have reaffirmed their commitment to building a strengthened government-to-government relationship and protecting the Lightning Rock site.
Part of the agreement includes a commitment for the Province and Semá:th First Nation to establish a special initiative to plan for the stewardship of Sumas Mountain. This initiative will be co-ordinated under the S’ólh Téméxw Stewardship Alliance – British Columbia (STSA-BC) Collaborative Stewardship Forum, a partnership between B.C. and 17 Stó:lō First Nations.
Other terms of the agreement include:
transferring ownership of the Lightning Rock site to Semá:th First Nation;
working together to formally protect the Lightning Rock site;
facilitating discussions between Semá:th First Nation and quarry operators about quarrying activity and potential economic opportunities; and
supporting the development of a cultural education and healing centre through a $1-million provincial contribution.
In addition to a reconciliation agreement, the Province, Semá:th First Nation and the City of Abbotsford have finalized a road agreement to explore alternative routes for the quarry access road that runs through the Lightning Rock site. The access route is used by gravel-hauling vehicles travelling to and from five quarries on Sumas Mountain and Highway 1.
“We are pleased to celebrate this significant milestone with Semá:th First Nation as these lands transfer from the Province today,” said Ross Siemens, mayor of Abbotsford. “As neighbours, the City of Abbotsford remains committed to working closely with Semá:th First Nation to address ongoing considerations in this culturally significant area in Semá:th traditional territory.”
The Province, Semá:th First Nation and the City of Abbotsford have agreed to contract a third party that will investigate the potential for mutually acceptable alternate routes for the access road. This process is expected to begin this year.
Learn More:
To learn more about Semá:th First Nation, visit: https://sumasfirstnation.com/
To learn more about the STSA-BC Collaborative Stewardship Forum, visit: https://thestsa.ca/stsa-operations/csf/
To learn more about agreements between the Province and Semá:th First Nation, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/environment/natural-resource-stewardship/consulting-with-first-nations/first-nations-negotiations/first-nations-a-z-listing/sumas-first-nation
F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, a top contender for the title of Great American Novel, turns 100 on April 10.
A century later, it is invoked to help make sense of a world that still confuses “material enterprise with moral achievement” – as critic Sarah Churchwell wrote in the foreword to Gatsby’s centennial edition.
A Meta insider’s memoir takes its title, Careless People, from Fitzgerald’s novel. The same phrase circulated on social media and in The New York Times during Donald Trump’s first presidency, referring to his administration’s downplaying of COVID-19.
In 2018, The Atlantic compared Trump to Tom Buchanan, one of Fitzgerald’s “careless people”, describing “an eerie symmetry […] as if the villain of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s 1925 novel had been brought to life in a louder, gaudier guise for the 21st century”. More recently, others have compared Trump to Gatsby himself.
The Great Gatsby tells the tale of a lovesick man striving for social acceptance, believing personal reinvention and riches can help to rewrite the past. It is a story of longing: not just for lost love, but for an unattainable ideal.
The centenary couldn’t be more timely for this literary masterpiece, preoccupied by the same things we are: immense affluence, privilege, the limits of social mobility and the hidden underbelly of the American Dream. The Great Gatsby, while a relative literary failure in Fitzgerald’s lifetime, is enduringly popular today, with at least 25 million copies sold to date, numerous film and stage adaptations (and literary riffs), and a staple position on school and university reading lists.
“What we think about Gatsby illuminates what we think about money, race, romance and history,” wrote The New York Times’ A.O. Scott recently. “How we imagine him has a lot to do with how we see ourselves.”
The Great Gatsby is set against the backdrop of Roaring Twenties America: an era Fitzgerald famously dubbed the Jazz Age.
Fuelled by the infectious rhythms of jazz, driven by the economic forces of market prosperity and mass consumerism, and heady on the alcoholic vapours and illicit thrills associated with Prohibition-era nightlife, the 1920s were a decade where American fortunes were made and lost.
It was also, as Fitzgerald’s novel outlines, a period where individual ambition burned as fiercely as desire.
Picryl
The plot follows the enigmatic Jay Gatsby, a spotlight-eschewing, self-made millionaire whose seemingly breezy approach to life masks a singular obsession: the rekindling of a lost romance with a beautiful woman from his past.
Born James Gatz, Fitzgerald’s charismatic protagonist reinvents himself in the hope of winning back the love of his life, wealthy socialite Daisy Buchanan. Taken at face value, Gatsby’s world is one of incredible luxury and dazzling excess – lavish parties, fast cars and ostentatious attire – all designed to lure Daisy back into his arms.
But as we begin to scratch beneath the surface, the glittering facade Gatsby has constructed gives way to something far more fragile and tragic: an impossible fantasy driven by jealously, obsession and self-deception.
As the reader comes to appreciate, Gatsby’s accumulated gains may grant him partial access to the world of old money, but he will never truly be accepted by America’s elite. No matter how hard he might try, he cannot surmount the barriers of class and entitlement.
Ultimately, Gatsby’s misguided belief that he can somehow crowbar his way into the upper echelons of high society while simultaneously turning back the hands of time leads to his downfall. In Fitzgerald’s words, he ends up paying “a high price for living too long with a single dream”.
F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel is still invoked to help make sense of a world that often confuses ‘material enterprise with moral achievement’. Nickolas Muray/Picryl
F. Scott Fitzgerald, literary celebrity
Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, on September 24 1896. The son of middle-class Catholic parents, he spent much of his youth living in upstate New York. In 1913, he enrolled at Princeton University, where he formed a lasting friendship with future literary critic Edmund Wilson.
More absorbed in literary and dramatic endeavours than his studies, Fitzgerald’s grades suffered and he dropped out in 1917 – though not before falling deeply in love with Ginevra King, an heiress who would leave an indelible imprint on his writing. She would inspire many of his fictional female characters, including Daisy Buchanan.
Fitzgerald first encountered King during a winter vacation in St. Paul in January 1915. The debutante daughter of a wealthy Chicago stockbroker, she quickly became the object of Fitzgerald’s intense devotion (much to the disapproval of her family, who thought him beneath her).
In the wake of his heartbreak after the relationship broke down, Fitzgerald enlisted in the United States Army, earning a commission as a second lieutenant. During his military service, he met Zelda Sayre, the woman he would eventually marry. Meanwhile, he began work on his first novel, This Side of Paradise.
Released in 1920, Fitzgerald’s formally adventurous debut was a critical success and cultural sensation, capturing the restless energy and shifting moral landscape of a cohort coming of age in the wake of World War I.
The novel’s transparently autobiographical narrative centres on Amory Blaine, a young Midwesterner whose intellectual and romantic adventures at Princeton – especially a doomed affair with the beautiful, elusive Isabelle Borgé – struck a chord with readers. It turned Fitzgerald into a media celebrity and unofficial spokesman for his generation.
Two years later, Fitzgerald published The Beautiful and Damned. It details the disintegration of a wealthy, aimless couple – Anthony and Gloria Patch – whose hedonistic lifestyle and misplaced belief in their own brilliance leads to ruin.
Fitzgerald’s tonally pessimistic second novel was again shaped by his own experiences, drawing heavily on his tempestuous marriage to Zelda, who was exhibiting symptoms of profound mental instability.
However, in stark contrast to This Side of Paradise, The Beautiful and Damned sold well, but received a lukewarm reception from reviewers. Some found its characters unappealing and its plot depressing.
By then, the Fitzgeralds had grown accustomed to the finer things in life. Which meant they needed money. Lots of it. To keep up with their lavish spending, Fitzgerald started to churn out short stories for popular magazines at a rapid pace. While this move provided him with a degree of financial security, some critics and contemporaries questioned whether he was squandering his literary gifts. Ernest Hemingway, for one, was “shocked” by his friend’s willingness to pander to commercial tastes and imperatives.
‘I want to write something new’
That said, while he was generating copy for mass-market publication, Fitzgerald was also hard at work on The Great Gatsby. In July 1922, he declared:
I want to write something new – something extraordinary and beautiful and simple + intricately patterned.
Determined to prove his worth as an artist, Fitzgerald, who wanted “to write a novel better than any ever written in America”, began to play with “form and emotion”. As his ideas for the new novel – which at one point bore the working title Trimalchio – took shape, Fitzgerald set up shop in Great Neck, Long Island. This location became the inspiration for East and West Egg, the fictionalised island communities that are the novel’s primary setting.
Fitzgerald, clearly not lacking in confidence, set his sights high for his third novel, taking inspiration from James Joyce’s Ulysses and T.S. Eliot’s The Waste Land.
Departing from conventional realism, Fitzgerald experimented with modernist techniques, layering his narrative with symbolic depth, synesthetic imagery, fragmented storytelling and complex characterisation.
The result was a work both lyrical and impressionistic. Here’s a vivid, illustrative excerpt:
The lights grow brighter as the earth lurches away from the sun, and now the orchestra is playing yellow cocktail music, and the opera of voices pitches a key higher. […] The groups change more swiftly, swell with new arrivals, dissolve and form in the same breath; already there are wanderers, confident girls who weave here and there among the stouter and more stable, become for a sharp, joyous moment the center of a group, and then, excited with triumph, glide on through the sea-change of faces and voices and color under the constantly changing light.
Fitzgerald’s Midwestern narrator, Nick Carraway, is describing one of Gatsby’s legendary West Egg parties. He is renting the house next to Gatsby’s mansion,
“a colossal affair by any standard”, with “a marble swimming pool, and more than forty acres of lawn and garden”.
At first, Nick is fascinated by his enigmatic neighbour, drawn in by the sheer force of Gatsby’s optimism and his unrelenting faith in the transformative power of love and the trappings of wealth. But as the novel progresses, events lead Nick to reevaluate. He describes his charming friend as possessing “one of those rare smiles with a quality of eternal reassurance in it, that you may come across four or five times in life”.
He continues, outlining attributes essential to a good confidence man:
It understood you just so far as you wanted to be understood, believed in you as you would like to believe in yourself, and assured you that it had precisely the impression of you that, at your best, you hoped to convey.
When he isn’t with Gatsby, Nick is often with his cousin Daisy and her husband, Tom, the embodiment of American aristocracy and snobbery. They are, in Nick’s damning estimation, “careless” and “rotten” people.
An unreconstructed white supremacist prone to casual displays of extreme prejudice and physical violence, the adulterous Tom – who wouldn’t be out of place in the more dismal real-world and online recesses of today – is, in particular, deeply suspicious of Gatsby, regarding him as an interloper with dubious intentions.
The Atlantic wrote that Tom, “the Yale man, the football star, the spender of old money, the scion of what he calls the Nordic race – embodies the peak of social status in his century”. And that “Trump – the former Playboy-cover subject, the billionaire celebrity, the most powerful man in America – does the same for his”.
And their shared personality traits are the product of their shared relationship to power – the casual unreflective certainty that comes from inheritance, and enables its holders to wield its blunt force as both a weapon and a shield.
Tom’s “little investigation” into Gatsby’s background and finances reveals they are not what they seem. This leads to unintended, disastrous consequences.
Nick, our disillusioned observer, doesn’t quite know what to make of it all. We take leave of him at the end of the novel, on “the beach and sprawled out on the sand”, reminiscing about “Gatsby’s wonder when he first picked out the green light at the end of Daisy’s dock”.
‘A flying leap into the future’
Fitzgerald knew he had achieved something special with The Great Gatsby. His peers did too. T.S. Eliot considered it “the first step” forward “American fiction has taken since Henry James”. Edith Wharton concurred, calling it “a flying leap into the future.”
Yet, for all this critical acclaim, The Great Gatsby failed to resonate with the reading public – much to Fitzgerald’s dismay. By October, the book had sold less than 20,000 copies. (By comparison, This Side of Paradise had sold nearly 50,000 copies, across multiple printings.) As his biographer Arthur Mizener observed, by February 1926, “a few thousand more copies had been sold and the book was dead”. It was a blow the writer never really recovered from.
Fitzgerald’s personal life was tumultuous, marred by alcoholism, Zelda’s mental health issues and financial debt. This had a negative effect on his work. While he completed one more novel in 1934 – the excellent, darkly romantic Tender is the Night, arguably his best book – Fitzgerald struggled to be productive.
Following several failed suicide attempts, in 1940 he died of a heart attack, believing himself an abject failure and his career a total write-off. His most recent royalty cheque had been for $13.13. He was 44.
In the immediate aftermath of his death, writers and critics began to reassess Fitzgerald’s accomplishments. This effort was initially spearheaded by his friends, notably Edmund Wilson, who, in 1941, organised a series of tributes to be published in The New Republic.
In 1945, Viking Press released The Portable F. Scott Fitzgerald, edited by Dorothy Parker, which brought Fitzgerald to the attention of a new generation of readers. At the same time, the US military distributed 150,000 copies of The Great Gatsby to American servicemen during World War II as part of their Armed Services Editions.
Before long, The Great Gatsby made its way into the classroom, where it remains a staple of countless high school and university syllabuses. It continues to inspire readers, many of whom encounter it at a formative stage in their lives.
Amazon
It has been adapted for the screen on multiple occasions – with mixed results. Jack Clayton’s 1974 version, starring Robert Redford as the eponymous Gatsby, was faithful to Fitzgerald’s vision, but utterly lifeless, while Baz Luhrmann’s 2013 adaptation, a hollow exercise in audiovisual bluster, failed to do justice to the novel’s subtleties. For all their shortcomings, these films helped cement Gatsby’s place in the popular imagination.
An ‘uncannily prescient’ enduring classic
Novelist Jesmyn Ward suggests Fitzgerald’s novel is
a book that endures, generation after generation, because every time a reader returns to The Great Gatsby, we discover new revelations, new insights, new burning bits of language.
I agree – and I think Fitzgerald would have had rich material to work with, had he been alive today. Ours, lest we forget, is a world where ersatz robber barons hoard nearly all our shared available assets and resources, where racist discourse resounds, and where rampant consumerism remains unchecked.
Last year America magazine argued Gatsby himself “gives the greatest insight into why Mr. Trump is still popular”, comparing Trump’s “fraudulent real estate deals” to Gatsby’s nefarious way of making his money, and Gatsby’s huge parties to Trump’s rallies. Both, the writer argued, are nouveau riche outsiders, “hell-bent on being accepted by the Manhattan set”, and scorned by the elites. (Though Trump’s second presidency seems to be ushering in a new elite.)
Thinking aloud, perhaps it’s more accurate to say Trump is a weird combination of characters. On one hand, he resembles Gatsby: a self-mythologising social climber, nostalgic for a past that never really existed. On the other, he shares much with Tom Buchanan: unscrupulous, self-interested and protected by his wealth.
In a historical moment that mirrors his own in many ways, Fitzgerald’s essentially tragic masterwork, which ends suggesting we are all forever “borne back ceaselessly into the past”, strikes me as uncannily prescient and relevant today.
Alexander Howard does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Yuri Trutnev arrived in Namibia on a working visit.
Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation – Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Russian Federation in the Far Eastern Federal District, Co-Chairman of the Intergovernmental Russian-Namibian Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation Yuri Trutnev arrived in Namibia on a working visit. During the working visit, meetings with the leadership of Namibia are planned to discuss the development of Russian-Namibian economic cooperation.
Immediately upon arrival, Yuri Trutnev visited the memorial composition “Heroes’ Acre” in Windhoek and laid a wreath at the Eternal Flame – a symbol of memory of the patriots who died in the struggle for self-determination, freedom and independence of a united Namibia. The Deputy Prime Minister also laid flowers at the graves of the first President of Namibia Sam Nujoma and the third President of Namibia Hage Gottfried Geingob.
Answering journalists’ questions, Yuri Trutnev said that he met the first President of Namibia, Sam Nujoma, more than 20 years ago. “The first President of Namibia was the man who led the liberation struggle in Namibia, who gave freedom to the people of Namibia. Mr. Sam Nujoma remembered well the role of the Soviet Union in the liberation struggle of Namibia, and maintained constant friendly ties with our country. Since at the time when the first President of Namibia passed away, I was unable to travel to Namibia, I took the first opportunity to pay my respects to this great man,” he noted.
During the trip, Yuri Trutnev plans to meet with Minister of International Relations and Trade Selma Ashipala-Musavi.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The governments of Guangdong and Hong Kong today (March 31) held the Commemoration Ceremony of the 60th Anniversary of Dongjiang Water Supply to Hong Kong and the Launching Ceremony of Dancing Water Drops Exhibition at the Central Government Offices, Tamar, to celebrate this remarkable and important occasion.
The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee; the Governor of Guangdong Province, Mr Wang Weizhong; the Minister of Water Resources, Mr Li Guoying; the Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government (LOCPG) in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Mr Zheng Yanxiong; Member of the Office Leadership of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, Mr Xiang Bin; the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan; Deputy Director of the LOCPG in the HKSAR Mr Qi Bin; Vice-Governor of Guangdong Province Mr Zhang Shaokang; the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn; and the Mayor of the Shenzhen Municipal Government, Mr Qin Weizhong, officiated at the ceremony.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Lee said that the country has been providing Hong Kong with reliable and stable supply of Dongjiang water over the past 60 years. Currently accounting for about 70 to 80 per cent of the fresh water consumption in Hong Kong, Dongjiang water supports the sustainable economic development of Hong Kong, and nourishes the citizens, allowing them to live and work in a better place. Dongjiang water supply to Hong Kong is not only a water engineering project, but also an epitome of the strong blood ties between the country and Hong Kong. He said that Hong Kong citizens will cherish the country’s care and express their gratitude by making greater contributions to the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
Mr Wang said that, over the past 60 years, Guangdong has been resolutely implementing the strategic decisions of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, and has made it a priority to ensure the safety of water supply to Hong Kong, guaranteeing stable supply of high-quality Dongjiang water to Hong Kong. Standing at a new starting point, Guangdong will always stay true to the aspirations of General Secretary Xi Jinping, and will fully, faithfully and resolutely implement the principle of “one country, two systems”, and effectively manage the Dongjiang-Shenzhen Water Supply Scheme. This will ensure that Hong Kong citizens continue to have access to safe and high-quality water, providing strong support for the long-term prosperity and stability of Hong Kong.
Mr Li said that, over the past 60 years, the Ministry of Water Resources has resolutely implemented General Secretary Xi Jinping’s water regulating approach of “Prioritising water conservation, Balancing spatial distribution, Taking systematic approaches, Promoting government-market synergy”. Under the sincere care of the Central Authorities, the quantity and quality of water supply to Hong Kong and emergency support capabilities have been continuously enhanced. The Ministry of Water Resources will strengthen co-operation on water resources with the HKSAR Government on all fronts, and will continue to enhance the water safety security system in the Greater Bay Area while ensuring stable, safe and quality water supply to Hong Kong.
A lighting ceremony for the Dancing Water Drops Exhibition was also held at the event. The large-scale art installations exhibition was specially created by internationally acclaimed artist Simon Ma in celebration of the 60th anniversary of Dongjiang water supply to Hong Kong. The display of water drop-shaped installations of various sizes symbolises the vitality that Dongjiang water brings to Hong Kong and social inclusion. The setting and number of water drop-shaped installations will vary at different stages of the exhibition period from April to June. Installations for the first stage include an 18.8-metre-tall water drop-shaped installation and over 100 small never-fall water drop-shaped installations, which will be on display from tomorrow (April 1). The highlight of the exhibition is a 28.8-metre-tall giant water drop-shaped art installation. It is by far the largest of its kind among similar exhibitions and will be on display for the first time in May. The exhibition will be held from tomorrow to June 13 at Tamar Park and the Central and Western District Promenade (Central Section).
In addition to the Dancing Water Drops Exhibition, a series of activities in celebration of the 60th anniversary of Dongjiang water supply to Hong Kong have been held under the theme “Dongjiang River – An Inseparable Bond, Our Blessed Origin” since September last year. These activities included a roving exhibition, thematic talks and Mainland study tours. Upcoming celebration activities will be the International Water Pioneers Summit, which will be held tomorrow, and a study tour on national water engineering projects, culture and technology, which will be held within this year.
Andhra Pradesh Health Minister Satya Kumar calls on Dr. Jitendra Singh, Seeks Greater Collaboration with Centre to Boost Biotechnology Centre to Extend Full Support for Andhra Pradesh’s Biotechnology Push: Dr. Jitendra Singh
Posted On: 31 MAR 2025 4:25PM by PIB Delhi
Andhra Pradesh’s Health Minister, Y. Satya Kumar, called on Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh in the national capital, seeking greater collaboration in the field of biotechnology.
During their discussion, the two leaders explored ways to upscale biotechnology-related projects in the state and enhance ongoing initiatives with central support.
Expressing gratitude to the Modi government for its continued assistance, Satya Kumar highlighted Andhra Pradesh’s commitment to leveraging biotechnology for healthcare advancements and industrial applications. He stressed the need for increased cooperation to bring cutting-edge innovations to the state.
Dr. Jitendra Singh assured full support from the Centre, reaffirming that biotechnology remains a priority sector under the present government. He emphasized the transformative potential of biotechnology in sectors like healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and sustainable StartUps, noting that Andhra Pradesh could play a crucial role in driving such advancements.
Dr. Jitendra Singh noted that, over the years, Andhra Pradesh has emerged as a key player in India’s biotechnology sector, in areas such as biopharmaceutical research, marine biotechnology, and agricultural biotech solutions. The State hosts several biotech incubators and research institutions that have been instrumental in promoting innovation and entrepreneurship.
With initiatives like the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) funding and national biotech missions, Andhra Pradesh has witnessed significant growth in biotech startups and industry partnerships, the Minister said. The renewed push for collaboration aims to further integrate the state into India’s broader biotechnology roadmap, he added.
The meeting comes at a time when India is pushing for self-reliance in biotechnology and expanding its global footprint in research and innovation. With Andhra Pradesh seeking to strengthen its biotech ecosystem, the discussions signal a fresh impetus to state-centre collaboration in this high-growth sector.
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah unveils the grand statue of Maharaja Agrasen, inaugurates the newly constructed ICU, and lays the foundation stone for the PG hostel in Hisar, Haryana The land of Haryana has worked to enrich and preserve India’s culture, values, and traditions since ancient times
Maharaja Agrasen paved the way for the prosperity and welfare of every individual without burdening the state
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi is also following the path shown by Maharaja Agrasen and working towards the development of the country
The Modi government has spent 64,000 crore rupees on public health centers and community health centers, building a strong foundation for medical infrastructure
In the next 5 years, there will not be a single district in the country without a medical college
In the double-engine government, Haryana is the best example of politics based on principles by like-minded people
The Saini government in Haryana provided 80,000 jobs to youth in a transparent manner, without bribes or recommendations
OP Jindal established the values of caring for the people before profit, caring for society before business, and prioritizing
In the Agarwal community, most people are entrepreneurs who are contributing to the service of the nation with a spirit of dedication
Posted On: 31 MAR 2025 5:00PM by PIB Delhi
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah today unveiled the grand statue of Maharaja Agrasen, inaugurated the newly constructed ICU, and laid the foundation stone for the PG hostel in Hisar, Haryana. On this occasion, several distinguished individuals, including Haryana’s Chief Minister Shri Nayab Singh Saini, were present.
In his address, Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah said the land of Haryana has worked to enrich and preserve India’s culture, values, and traditions since ancient times. He said, from Mahabharata time to the freedom struggle and even after independence, Haryana’s contribution to the development of the country has always been far greater than that of the larger states.
Shri Amit Shah said that in this large hospital, where nearly 5 lakh people avail OPD services, 180 children graduate in medical education every year, and patients receive various types of modern medical facilities, all of this is possible due to the foundation laid by O.P. Jindal. He mentioned that today, along with the statue of Maharaja Agrasen, the newly constructed ICU has been inaugurated, and the foundation stone for the PG hostel has also been laid. He added that these initiatives represent another step towards advancing this institution.
Union Home Minister said that Maharaja Agrasen was a unique kind of ruler, and it is said that in his time, the capital had a population of 1 lakh people. Whenever a new person arrived there, they were given a brick and one rupee by every individual to help them build a house. Shri Shah said, Maharaja Agrasen paved the way for the prosperity and welfare of every individual without burdening the state. He said that Maharaja Agrasen worked to nurture the values of the entire state. Maharaja Agrasen ensured that no one in his kingdom went to bed hungry, no one lived without a roof over their head, and no one was without work. He said that these three things were guaranteed by Maharaja Agrasen through his good governance. Home Minister added that today, every individual in all the clans of the Agarwal community is an entrepreneur, dedicated to the country, serving others, and contributing to the nation’s development.
Shri Amit Shah said that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi is also following the path shown by Maharaja Agrasen. He mentioned that during Prime Minister Modi’s 10-year tenure, 25 crore people in the country have risen above the poverty line. He said that Prime Minister Modi has provided 4 crore houses, 5 kg free ration per person per month to 81 crore people, gas connections to 11 crore families and toilets to 12 crore families. He said that the first government in the country to provide toilets in every house was the Haryana Government. He added that the Modi government has provided 15 crore people with piped water, health coverage of up to 5 lakh for 60 crore people, electricity to every household, and is now working through cooperatives to provide self-employment to every household.
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that under Prime Minister Modi’s tenure, the country has seen transformative changes in various sectors over the past 10 years. He mentioned that the Modi government has taken a holistic approach to the health of the citizens. He explained that the government first provided a gas cylinder to every household, which is directly related to the health of women. Following that, yoga was popularized worldwide, then the Fit India Mission, the Nutrition Campaign, Mission Indradhanush, and the Ayushman Bharat Yojana, which provides health coverage up to 5 lakh, were introduced. He stated that all these initiatives are related to health, and Prime Minister Modi has worked to weave them all together as a unified approach.
Shri Amit Shah said that the Modi government has made significant strides in the field of medical infrastructure. He said, the Modi government has spent 64,000 crore rupees on public health centers and community health centers, building a strong foundation for medical infrastructure. He also highlighted the establishment of 730 integrated public health labs, 4,382 block public health units, and 602 new critical care boxes over the past 10 years. He further stated that in the year 2013-14, the country’s health budget was 33,000 crore rupees, which Prime Minister Modi has more than tripled, raising it to 1 lakh 33 thousand crore rupees in the 2025-26 budget.
Union Home Minister said that in 2014, there were 7 AIIMS in the country, while in 2024, there are 23 AIIMS. Similarly, in 2014, there were 387 medical colleges in the country, and today there are 766. He mentioned that the number of MBBS seats, which was 51,000 in 2014, has now increased to 1.15 lakh and an additional 85,000 seats will be added over the next 5 years. He also stated that in 2014, there were 31,000 PG seats, which have now increased to 73,000. Shri Shah assured that in the next 5 years, there will not be a single district in the country without a medical college.
Shri Amit Shah said that Haryana is the best example of politics based on principles, with like-minded people in the double-engine government. He mentioned that in previous governments, corruption in jobs was due to casteism, and jobs were obtained through bribes and recommendations. Shri Shah said that Saini government in Haryana provided 80,000 jobs to youth in a transparent manner, without bribes or recommandations. Shri Shah also pointed out that Haryana’s athletes have won three times more medals in the last 10 years, Haryana is the largest exporter of Basmati rice, and one in every 10 soldiers in the army is from Haryana. He added that Haryana is the state where the highest number of 24 crops is purchased at the minimum support price (MSP). Furthermore, Haryana was the first state to give land ownership rights within the red lines (Lal Dore), ensured that no Panchayat head is illiterate, and has 50 per cent participation of women in Panchayats.
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that between 2004 and 2014, Haryana received 41,000 crore rupees from the central government, while the Modi government has provided Haryana with 1 lakh 43 thousand crore rupees between 2014 and 2024. He added that in addition to this, infrastructure work worth 1 lakh 26 thousand crore rupees, road construction worth 72 thousand crore rupees, and railway projects worth 54 thousand crore rupees have also been carried out in Haryana.
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah says our relentless hunt against the drug trade continues In line with the Modi government’s zero tolerance against drugs, a major narco-network busted in Delhi-NCR
NCB and Delhi Police grabbed the gang by its throat and recovered methamphetamine, MDMA, and cocaine worth ₹27.4 crore and arrested five people
I applaud NCB and Delhi Police for this major breakthrough: Home Minister
Posted On: 31 MAR 2025 4:53PM by PIB Delhi
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah said that our relentless hunt against the drug trade continues.
In his post on ‘X’ platform Home Minister said “In line with the Modi government’s zero tolerance against drugs, a major narco-network was busted in Delhi-NCR. The NCB and Delhi Police grabbed the gang by its throat and recovered methamphetamine, MDMA, and cocaine worth ₹27.4 crore and arrested five people. I applaud NCB and Delhi Police for this major breakthrough”.
Our relentless hunt against the drug trade continues.
In line with the Modi government’s zero tolerance against drugs, a major narco-network was busted in Delhi-NCR. The NCB and Delhi Police grabbed the gang by its throat and recovered methamphetamine, MDMA, and cocaine worth…
On receipt of an input about an imminent exchange of high-quality Methamphetamine in Chhatarpur area of Delhi a joint team of Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and Special cell of the Delhi Police mounted surveillance on the suspects leading to interception of a vehicle carrying 5.103 kilograms of High-quality Crystal Methamphetamine valued at Rs. 10.2 crore (appx.). Five occupants of the vehicle including four African Nationals belonging to influential family of Nigeria have been arrested.
Sustained on-the-spot, interrogation and technical backtracking revealed that this contraband was sourced from an African Kitchen in the Tilak Nagar area of West Delhi. Search at this kitchen led to recovery of 1.156 kilograms Crystal Methamphetamine, 4.142 kilograms Afghan Heroine and 5.776 kilograms MDMA (Ecstasy pills) valued at Rs 16.4 crore (appx.). Further, a follow-up search at a rented apartment at Greater Noida led to a recovery of 389 grams of Afghan Heroin and 26 grams of cocaine.
Investigation revealed about involvement of this syndicate in facilitating African Youth peddling drugs and narcotics, in getting student visas for study at major private universities of National Capital Region (NCR) as well as Punjab. For some of the students, the visa was only a cover for their stay in India where as they were involved in supplying drugs and Crypto conversions. Further, investigations to identify the backward and forward linkages of this drug syndicate is underway.
The seizure exemplifies the NCB’s commitment to successfully dismantle drug networks. To fight against drug trafficking, NCB seeks support of the citizens. Any person can share information related to sale of narcotics by calling on MANAS- National Narcotics Helpline Toll Free Number-1933.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released the latest figures on retail sales today (March 31).
The value of total retail sales in February 2025, provisionally estimated at $29.4 billion, decreased by 13.0% compared with the same month in 2024. The revised estimate of the value of total retail sales in January 2025 decreased by 3.1% compared with a year earlier. For the first two months of 2025 taken together, it was provisionally estimated that the value of total retail sales decreased by 7.8% compared with the same period in 2024.
Of the total retail sales value in February 2025, online sales accounted for 7.8%. The value of online retail sales in that month, provisionally estimated at $2.3 billion, decreased by 7.3% compared with the same month in 2024. The revised estimate of online retail sales in January 2025 increased by 2.8% compared with a year earlier. For the first two months of 2025 taken together, it was provisionally estimated that the value of online retail sales decreased by 2.4% compared with the same period in 2024.
After netting out the effect of price changes over the same period, the provisional estimate of the volume of total retail sales in February 2025 decreased by 15.0% compared with a year earlier. The revised estimate of the volume of total retail sales in January 2025 decreased by 5.1% compared with a year earlier. For the first two months of 2025 taken together, the provisional estimate of the total retail sales decreased by 9.9% in volume compared with the same period in 2024.
In interpreting these figures, it should be noted that retail sales tend to show greater volatility in the first two months of a year due to the timing of the Chinese New Year. Consumer spending in the local market normally attains a seasonal high before the Festival. As the Chinese New Year fell on January 29 this year but on February 10 last year, it is more appropriate to analyse the retail sales figures for January and February taken together in making year-on-year comparison.
Analysed by broad type of retail outlet in descending order of the provisional estimate of the value of sales and comparing the combined total sales for January and February 2025 with the same period a year earlier, the value of sales of other consumer goods not elsewhere classified decreased by 2.0%. This was followed by sales of jewellery, watches and clocks, and valuable gifts (-15.8% in value); commodities in supermarkets (-4.4%); wearing apparel (-5.4%); electrical goods and other consumer durable goods not elsewhere classified (-5.3%); commodities in department stores (-9.9%); fuels (-8.5%); motor vehicles and parts (-49.9%); footwear, allied products and other clothing accessories (-12.3%); books, newspapers, stationery and gifts (-10.9%); furniture and fixtures (-25.6%); Chinese drugs and herbs (-9.1%); and optical shops (-7.6%).
On the other hand, the value of sales of food, alcoholic drinks and tobacco increased by 0.7% in the first two months of 2025 over the same period a year earlier. This was followed by sales of medicines and cosmetics (+0.6% in value).
Based on the seasonally adjusted series, the provisional estimate of the value of total retail sales decreased by 2.0% in the three months ending February 2025 compared with the preceding three-month period, while the provisional estimate of the volume of total retail sales decreased by 4.0%.
Commentary
A government spokesman said that the value of total retail sales increased further in February 2025 over the preceding month on a seasonally adjusted comparison. The year-on-year decline in the value of total retail sales in February 2025 widened, partly due to the earlier arrival of Chinese New Year in late January this year as compared to mid-February last year. Taking the first two months of 2025 together to remove this effect, the value of total retail sales saw a narrower decline on a year-on-year basis than December 2024.
Looking ahead, the spokesman said that the various measures by the Central Government to boost the Mainland economy and benefit Hong Kong, the SAR Government’s proactive efforts to promote tourism and mega events, and the sustained increases in employment earnings in local labour market, would benefit the retail sector, though it would continue to face challenge from the change in consumption patterns of visitors and residents.
Further information
Table 1 presents the revised figures on value index and value of retail sales for all retail outlets and by broad type of retail outlet for January 2025 as well as the provisional figures for February 2025. The provisional figures on the value of retail sales for all retail outlets and by broad type of retail outlet as well as the corresponding year-on-year changes for the first two months of 2025 taken together are also shown.
Table 2 presents the revised figures on value of online retail sales for January 2025 as well as the provisional figures for February 2025. The provisional figures on year-on-year changes for the first two months of 2025 taken together are also shown.
Table 3 presents the revised figures on volume index of retail sales for all retail outlets and by broad type of retail outlet for January 2025 as well as the provisional figures for February 2025. The provisional figures on year-on-year changes for the first two months of 2025 taken together are also shown.
Table 4 shows the movements of the value and volume of total retail sales in terms of the year-on-year rate of change for a month compared with the same month in the preceding year based on the original series, and in terms of the rate of change for a three-month period compared with the preceding three-month period based on the seasonally adjusted series.
The classification of retail establishments follows the Hong Kong Standard Industrial Classification (HSIC) Version 2.0, which is used in various economic surveys for classifying economic units into different industry classes.
These retail sales statistics measure the sales receipts in respect of goods sold by local retail establishments and are primarily intended for gauging the short-term business performance of the local retail sector. Data on retail sales are collected from local retail establishments through the Monthly Survey of Retail Sales (MRS). Local retail establishments with and without physical shops are covered in MRS and their sales, both through conventional shops and online channels, are included in the retail sales statistics.
The retail sales statistics cover consumer spending on goods but not on services (such as those on housing, catering, medical care and health services, transport and communication, financial services, education and entertainment) which account for over 50% of the overall consumer spending. Moreover, they include spending on goods in Hong Kong by visitors but exclude spending outside Hong Kong by Hong Kong residents. Hence they should not be regarded as indicators for measuring overall consumer spending.
Users interested in the trend of overall consumer spending should refer to the data series of private consumption expenditure (PCE), which is a major component of the Gross Domestic Product published at quarterly intervals. Compiled from a wide range of data sources, PCE covers consumer spending on both goods (including goods purchased from all channels) and services by Hong Kong residents whether locally or abroad. Please refer to the C&SD publication “Gross Domestic Product by Expenditure Component” for more details.
Users who have enquiries about the survey results may contact the Distribution Services Statistics Section of C&SD (Tel: 3903 7400; E-mail : mrs@censtatd.gov.hk).
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) today (April 1) strongly condemns the United States (US) for including six Central Authorities and HKSAR officials in a so-called “sanctions” list in an attempt to intimidate the relevant officials safeguarding national security. It, once again, clearly exposed the US’ barbarity under its hegemony, which is exactly the same as its recent tactics in bullying and coercing various countries and regions. The HKSAR despises such so-called “sanctions” and is not intimidated by such despicable behaviour. The HKSAR officials will continue to resolutely discharge the duty of safeguarding national security. The HKSAR Government will make every effort to protect the legitimate rights and interests of all personnel.
A spokesman for the HKSAR Government pointed out, “The specified absconders mentioned in the US statement are wanted and have arrest warrants issued by the court against them not because they ‘exercised their freedom of speech’, but because they have been at large in the US, the United Kingdom (UK) and Australia, etc. and continue to blatantly engage in activities endangering national security, including inciting secession and requesting foreign countries to impose ‘sanctions’ or blockade and engage in other hostile activities against the People’s Republic of China and the HKSAR. The US, however, gives cover for them who have committed these evil deeds. It is therefore necessary for the HKSAR to take all lawful measures in accordance with the law, including measures specified under section 89 of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, to strongly combat such acts. The specified measures aim at addressing, combating, deterring and preventing acts of abscondment by suspects, and procuring the return of the absconded persons to Hong Kong to face judicial proceedings. All specified measures align with human rights requirements; and quite a number of countries including the US, the UK and Canada would also impose such measures on wanted criminals. The US deliberately smeared and spread irresponsible remarks on the measures and actions taken by the HKSAR Government in accordance with the law in an attempt to mislead the public. The HKSAR Government strongly disapproves of such acts.”
The spokesman also pointed out, “The fact is that the US has been ignoring the non-interference principle under international law, interfering with other countries’ internal affairs, grooming agents, instigating ‘colour revolutions’, creating social unrest and multiple humanitarian disasters through economic and military coercion, causing suffering to people in many countries. With the Central Authorities having enacted the Hong Kong National Security Law and the HKSAR having completed the legislative exercise to implement Article 23 of the Basic Law, Hong Kong has strengthened the legal regime in safeguarding national security and prevented the US from succeeding. The false accusation thereafter against the HKSAR personnel safeguarding national security dutifully, faithfully and in accordance with the law and, on top of that, the imposition of the so-called ‘sanctions’ in the guise of defending human rights and democracy indeed constitute a demonstration of shameless hypocrisy with double standards on the part of the US.
“The HKSAR Government has the responsibility to pursue, in accordance with the law, those who are suspected to have committed offences endangering national security and absconded overseas. The HKSAR law enforcement agencies have been taking law enforcement actions based on evidence and strictly in accordance with the law in respect of the acts of the persons or entities concerned, which have nothing to do with their political stance, background or occupation. The Department of Justice of the HKSAR is in charge of criminal prosecutions under Article 63 of the Basic Law, with all its prosecutorial decisions made on an objective analysis of all admissible evidence and applicable laws.”
