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Business Wire India

Sentinel Midstream LLC (Sentinel) today announced the commencement of its Texas GulfLink deepwater port (Texas GulfLink or the Project), marking a significant milestone enabled by funding received pursuant to the U.S.—Japan Trade Agreement.

 

The project advances in coordination with the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Government of Japan and reflects the shared commitment to strengthening global energy security and expanding U.S. export infrastructure. Sentinel will lead the development of Texas GulfLink, overseeing construction, commercial operations, and long-term management of the terminal.

 

 

Funding provided under the U.S.—Japan Trade Agreement, pursuant to Executive Order 14345 signed on September 4, 2025, underscores continued international confidence in U.S. energy infrastructure and supports the expansion of American crude oil exports to global markets.

 

 

Upon this commencement, Texas GulfLink will immediately begin construction of its deepwater crude oil export terminal, unlocking a new level of market access for U.S. producers, creating high-quality American jobs, and reinforcing the United States’ role as a reliable global energy supplier.

 

 

Howard Lutnick, United States Secretary of Commerce, said:

 

 

“The historic U.S.-Japan Trade Deal is driving another investment forward. This time into another American energy supplier. The milestone will bring jobs and acceleration to the Gulf of America for years to come, and I look forward to Japan and Sentinel Midstream’s progress ahead in delivering clean, affordable and efficient energy production to American consumers in this win for the Trump Administration.”

 

 

John Cornyn, United States Senator of Texas, said:

 

 

“Today’s announcement from the U.S. Department of Commerce that the Texas GulfLink project will commence construction is great news for Texas and a testament to the Trump administration’s continued commitment to unleashing American energy. Texas GulfLink will bring well-paying jobs to Brazoria County and help generate billions of dollars in American crude oil exports, and I look forward to welcoming the new export terminal to the Lone Star State.”

 

 

Ted Cruz, United States Senator of Texas, said:

 

 

“Dallas-based Sentinel Midstream is playing a critical role in expanding Texas’s energy infrastructure and exporting American energy to our allies. When I became the top Republican on the Senate Commerce Committee, I made securing federal approval for deepwater port projects one of my top priorities and fought to move them forward. Texas Gulf Link is now coming to fruition—supporting thousands of jobs and delivering billions in investment across Texas.”

 

 

Randy Weber, United States Representative of Texas 14th District, said:

 

 

“Investment is pouring into the United States, and you can see it right here on the Texas Gulf Coast. Just 30 miles off our coast, a new deepwater terminal will load the largest crude carriers in the world and move American energy to our allies, backed by partners in Japan and stakeholders here at home. This project shows exactly what Southeast Texas brings to the table with world class ports, a skilled workforce, and the energy infrastructure that keeps investment coming and America producing.”

 

 

Jeff Ballard, Chief Executive Officer of Sentinel Midstream, said:

 

 

“Texas GulfLink is about more than infrastructure, it is about unlocking the full potential of American energy. This project creates a direct path from one of the most liquid crude hubs in the world to global markets, strengthening our allies, improving trade dynamics, and reinforcing the United States as the supplier of choice in an increasingly uncertain energy landscape. We are proud to be a trusted partner of both the U.S. and Japan Governments and help lead the next chapter of American oil exports.”

 

 

A Generational Asset

 

 

Texas GulfLink’s deepwater crude oil export terminal (the Terminal) will be located approximately 30 miles off the coast west of Freeport, Texas, in the Gulf of America. Once complete, it will have the capability to fully load Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) offshore, eliminating the need for costly and inefficient lightering operations. This direct-loading capability enhances global competitiveness while significantly reducing emissions associated with traditional export methods.

 

 

By enabling efficient, large-scale exports, the Terminal will serve as a critical conduit connecting global markets to reliable, North American-produced crude oil. It is expected to expand market access across Asia and Europe, strengthen trade relationships with key allies, and reinforce the role of the United States as a stable, long-term energy supplier.

 

 

Once operational, Texas GulfLink is anticipated to support billions of dollars in annual export value, improve the U.S. trade balance, and drive sustained economic growth across the Gulf Coast and beyond.

 

 

About Sentinel Midstream LLC

 

 

Sentinel Midstream LLC is a Dallas-based developer and operator of integrated energy infrastructure, with deep capabilities across commercial development, project execution, and operations. Through its affiliated companies, Sentinel owns and operates crude oil transportation and terminal systems across Texas and Louisiana, connecting U.S. supply to Gulf Coast refineries and global markets.

 

 

Partnered with Cresta Fund Management, Sentinel brings together institutional capital, strong commercial relationships, and proven operating expertise to deliver critical infrastructure at scale. Jones Day advised Sentinel in connection with the advancement of Texas GulfLink.

 

 

For more information, please visit www.sentinelmidstream.com and www.texasgulflink.com.

 

 

 

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260505397578/en/

 

Business Wire India

Qatar Foundation’s Doha Debates continues the rollout of its weekly Doha Debates Podcast episodes, airing every Tuesday through June 2. Since launching on January 6, the season has brought leading global thinkers into direct conversation on the defining questions of our time.

 

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260505299576/en/

 

 

 

The Doha Debates Podcast extends themes first explored in Doha Debates’ flagship debates and town halls, offering deeper, sustained exchanges that connect disciplines, regions and worldviews through open, truth-seeking dialogue.

 

The latest episode, “Do conspiracy theories have any value?”, moderated by Dareen Abughaida, brings together Heather Berlin, Alex Berenson, Nuurrianti Jalli and Andrea Kitta to examine the growing influence of conspiracy theories, misinformation and so-called “fake news” in shaping public discourse.

 

 

Conspiracy theories used to be dismissed as paranoid fringe thinking. But in recent years, they’ve migrated to the mainstream. Claims about election meddling, public health and the deep state circulate on the internet and are even repeated by government officials.

 

 

This episode asks whether conspiracy theories have any actual value in a world where uncertainty is high and institutional accountability is low. Do they only make the spread of misinformation and disinformation worse? Or are they a way for people to express real suspicion toward systems that often feel hidden or unaccountable?

 

 

Heather Berlin points to the cognitive roots of conspiracy thinking, explaining, “Such narratives are inherently appealing because they create a sense of order and closure, making complex or uncertain realities feel coherent and understandable.”

 

 

Nuurrianti Jalli highlights the role of digital platforms in amplifying and sustaining these narratives, noting, “Conspiracy-driven content fuels engagement on these platforms, directly contributing to their advertising revenue.”

 

 

Upcoming episodes this season cover themes including social justice movements, resistance, contemporary art, childlessness and football, each exploring how cultural, social and political shifts are reshaping societies and identities.

 

 

Additional debates will continue to examine how information ecosystems, media narratives and emerging technologies are influencing public opinion, trust and collective identity in an increasingly complex global landscape.

 

 

Together, the season reflects Doha Debates’ commitment to creating space for thoughtful, truth-seeking dialogue—where complex issues can be explored with depth, nuance and a diversity of perspectives.

 

 

“Do conspiracy theories have any value?” is available now, along with all episodes released this season, across major podcast platforms, on YouTube and at DohaDebates.com.

 

 

Doha Debates
Website:DohaDebates.com
X/Twitter:@DohaDebates
Instagram:@DohaDebates
Facebook:Facebook.com/DohaDebates
YouTube:YouTube.com/DohaDebates
Threads:Threads.net/@dohadebates
TikTok:@DohaDebates

 

 

About Doha Debates

 

 

Doha Debates engages a vanguard of intellectually curious truth-seekers to constructively debate differences in order to build a better future. We emphasize unity over division, encouraging conversations that bring us together rather than drive us apart.

 

 

Learn more at DohaDebates.com

 

 

*Source: AETOSWire

 

 

 

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260505299576/en/

 

Business Wire India

Buddy4Study, India’s premier AI-powered educational funding platform, marked a historic milestone at its 4th Annual Scholars Day, announcing the successful disbursement of over INR 900 crore in cumulative scholarships to more than 1.70 lakh students since 2011.

The announcement was made during Buddy4Study’s 4th annual scholars’ day, where more than 200 scholars, including alumni scholars working for prestigious institutions and organisations such as ISRO, EY, Supreme Court of India, etc., spoke to a new generation of scholars.

The event, themed ‘Bharat Bhagya Vidhata: Empowering Scholars to Drive Lasting Impact,’ convened over 200 scholars, policy makers, educators and CSR leaders from global giants including HDFC Bank, Alstom, Rolls Royce, and Bharti Airtel.

The event was graced by two distinguished Guests of Honour from the Ministry of Education, Government of India.

Dr. Pankaj KP Shreyaskar – DDG (Stats) is a senior bureaucrat and policy expert with more than 20 years of service.

“I congratulate Buddy4Study for this remarkable initiative that truly contributes to nation-building. While government scholarships are widely promoted, their complex application process can be discouraging. What Buddy4Study has built goes beyond a platform; it’s a powerful force of trust, uniting CSR funders and ensuring the right students receive support,” he said.

Mr. Magan Lal Meena, Director at the Department of School Education and Literacy and Mrs Hema Malini SK Deepak, Under Secretary in the Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education, Government of India, were also present at the event.

During the event Mr. Ashutosh Burnwal, Founder and CEO of Buddy4Study, addressed scholars and partners alike.

He said, “As we stand here today, each one of you carries the power to shape the future of this nation. At Buddy4Study, we’ve already made a significant impact, supporting over 1.7 lakh students with scholarships and managing more than INR 900 crore in CSR funds. But we’re not stopping here. To ensure that even more students can benefit from our initiatives, we’re revamping our application and selection processes to make them simpler and faster. By leveraging advanced AI, we aim to reduce a process that typically takes months to just 3 to 6 days. Additionally, through the VidyaDaan Foundation, we are expanding our commitment to mentorship, providing scholars with not just financial support but also the guidance they need to excel.”

The event featured an inspiring address by Mr Deepak Ranjan Sahoo, Scientist at Indian Space Research Organisation and a Buddy4Study alumni scholar, whose journey from financial hardship to contributing to satellite-based forest fire detection systems moved the audience.

Scholars’ Day 2026 featured engaging sessions, from talent showcases to insightful discussions, focused on inspiring and empowering scholars.

A CSR Funders’ Roundtable, moderated by Ashish Jha – Chief Content Strategist at Buddy4Study, brought together CSR leaders from Alstom India, HDFC Bank, Corteva Agriscience, Rolls-Royce India, Schneider Electric India Foundation and Bharti Airtel Foundation to discuss holistic, beyond-funding approaches to empowering scholars.

As Sameer Shah, Head, Program Operations, Bharti Airtel Foundation, shared, “The question is…. are we as organisations able to create confident, resilient, and lifelong learners who want to give back to society?… the answer to that, for me, will be the real case of success.”

An Institution Roundtable, moderated by Shruti Pandey, brought together faculty from Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar College, Kirori Mal College, and Gargi College to discuss integrating financial aid as a strategic pillar, leveraging AI, and ensuring equitable access.

“To develop a strategic approach to embedding financial aid into the higher education ecosystem, we need a dedicated navigator to spot eligible students right from the admission stage. And with NEP 2020 now letting students take up multiple courses at once, it is time we moved beyond CGPA as the basis for identifying deserving candidates and started looking at the accumulated credits each student has instead,” said Dr. Mohit Abrol, Assistant Professor, English Department, Gargi College, University of Delhi.

During the event, an Alumni Panel Discussion featured alumni sharing key lessons with scholars. It also included felicitation of outreach enablers and Student Financial Aid Office (SFAO) partners, followed by a Scholar Oath Ceremony, certificate distribution, a vote of thanks, and a closing photo session.

An Alumni Achievers Award 2026 session was also held, honouring distinguished scholars.

Business Wire India

 

Laserfiche — the leading SaaS provider of intelligent content management — has been positioned as a Leader in the 2026 Magic Quadrant for Document Management. Laserfiche believes this recognition underscores the company’s commitment to empowering organizations to transform complex, operational business processes through AI-powered content management.

 

“It’s incredible to see Laserfiche recognized during the same week as our annual Empower conference, where we announced our latest agentic AI capabilities,” said Thomas Phelps, senior vice president of corporate strategy and chief information officer at Laserfiche. “We believe being positioned as a Leader — and receiving the highest overall rating among 16 vendors in Gartner Peer Insights, with a 4.7 out of 5.0 based on over 1,300 reviews as of April 30, 2026 — reflects our relentless focus on product innovation and delivering value to our customers.”

 

 

As the document management market continues to evolve and expand, the ability to bridge the gap between static content and actionable enterprise intelligence has become a defining competitive advantage. In the report, Gartner noted, “A key challenge for organizations is harnessing the potential of unstructured data (content) using AI, while simultaneously mitigating risks through robust control and governance.”

 

 

Governance-first AI Innovation

 

 

Laserfiche continues to accelerate its product capabilities to meet the demands of modern IT environments, focusing on features that turn structured and unstructured content into an enterprise asset. These features prioritize the rigorous information governance, security and compliance standards required by the world’s most demanding industries, including government, financial services and manufacturing.

 

 

The platform now features advanced AI-enabled data extraction via Smart Fields, the Smart Chat AI assistant, improved metadata experiences, and enhanced data lookups, all designed to optimize content, making it structured, accessible and ready for AI consumption.

 

 

The company’s roadmap includes the expansion of Laserfiche AI Agents functionality including the ability to embed agentic tasks directly into workflows, and the ability to run Agents in the background, monitoring the system for the specified conditions and then completing tasks ambiently. Laserfiche will also introduce additional security advancements in Q3 of 2026. These updates will further solidify Laserfiche’s ability to support highly regulated industries with secure, governed AI deployment.

 

 

“Laserfiche has served as the backbone of our finance operations for years, delivering the stability and granular governance we require for our critical documentation,” said Desiree Champaco, VP of information technology and supply chain at Diamond of California. “As Diamond optimizes how we work with suppliers, production partners and customers, Laserfiche’s AI capabilities will play a larger role in how we capture, deliver and leverage accurate, reliable data.”

 

 

“As a Top Digital City, Scottsdale is dedicated to using world-class technology to provide our residents with a responsive, modern experience,” said Bianca Lochner, chief information officer for the City of Scottsdale. “Laserfiche has been a collaborative partner in our digital evolution, providing a secure framework to transform complex data into better citizen services. This innovation helps us to continue to scale operations and deliver on our mission of excellence for our community.”

 

 

Empowering Modern Enterprises with High-Impact, User-Centric Solutions

 

 

Gartner® Peer Insights™ captures customer experience with Gartner-verified ratings and reviews. As of May 5, 2026, Laserfiche reviews include the following:

 

 

• “Laserfiche transformed the way we worked, it provided the possibility to unify our Financial Services into one site and one set of work standards. Support has been great when I have had issues I could not solve on my own.” — Senior Finance Manager in Manufacturing [read full review]
• “Laserfiche is an incredibly robust Forms solution that allows us to provide innovative automated processes and to improve existing legacy business processes. We have been thrilled with this product.” IT Manager in Healthcare and Biotech [read full review]

 

 

For More Information

 

• Download a complimentary copy of the report, 2026 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Document Management.
• Learn why Laserfiche was named as a Customers’ Choice in the 2025 Gartner Peer Insights™ ‘Voice of the Customer’: Document Management report.
• Learn more about Laserfiche AI at laserfiche.com/ai.

 

 

Gartner Disclaimer

 

Gartner, Magic Quadrant for Document Management, Tim Nelms, Jed Cawthorne, Marko Sillanpaa, Rachel O’Farrell, Stephen Emmott, 30 April 2026

 

 

Gartner, Voice of the Customer for Document Management, Peer Contributors, 2025, 25 June 2025

 

 

This graphic was published by Gartner, Inc. as part of a larger research document and should be evaluated in the context of the entire document. The Gartner document is available upon request from Laserfiche. Gartner, Magic Quadrant and Peer Insights are trademarks of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates. Gartner Peer Insights content consists of the opinions of individual end users based on their own experiences, and should not be construed as statements of fact, nor do they represent the views of Gartner or its affiliates. Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in this content nor makes any warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this content, about its accuracy or completeness, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

 

 

About Laserfiche

 

 

Laserfiche is a leading enterprise platform for document management and content-centric workflow automation. Through scalable workflows, forms, no-code templates and AI-enabled capture, the Laserfiche® platform accelerates how business gets done.

 

 

Laserfiche pioneered the paperless office with enterprise content management. Today, Laserfiche’s cloud-first development approach incorporates innovations in machine learning and AI to enable organizations globally to transform into digital businesses. Customers in every industry — including government, education, financial services, healthcare and manufacturing — use Laserfiche to boost productivity, scale their business and deliver digital-first customer experiences.

 

 

Laserfiche employees are committed to the company’s vision of empowering customers and inspiring people to reimagine how technology can transform lives.

 

 

Connect with Laserfiche:

 

 

Laserfiche Blog | X | LinkedIn | Facebook

 

 

 

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260505339086/en/

 

Business Wire India

 

OPAQUE, the Confidential AI company headquartered in San Francisco, California, today announced it has acquired advanced cryptographic AI technologies from the Technology Innovation Institute (TII), the applied research pillar of Abu Dhabi’s Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC). The acquired technology — already proven in real-world use cases — adds two critical capabilities to OPAQUE’s platform: confidential AI model training powered by advanced cryptographic techniques such as multi-party computation and fully homomorphic encryption, as well as post-quantum cryptographic protections.

 

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260504705475/en/

 

 

 

Founded by researchers from UC Berkeley’s RISELab, and now with this acquisition, OPAQUE supports Confidential AI workflows across training and inference, moving enterprises from isolated AI experiments to production deployment 4-5x faster.

 

The acquisition was overseen by H.E. Faisal Al Bannai, Adviser to UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Secretary General of ATRC, and Ion Stoica, Co-Founder and Board Member of OPAQUE, Co-Founder of Databricks, and Professor of Computer Science at UC Berkeley. It marks the first time cryptographic AI technologies developed in the UAE have been acquired and deployed at scale by a US-based technology company.

 

 

“This acquisition reflects what the UAE has set out to do — produce foundational technology that the world adopts,” said H.E. Faisal Al Bannai, Adviser to the UAE President and Secretary General of ATRC. “Cryptographic AI capabilities developed in Abu Dhabi are now being deployed at global scale by a leading US technology company. The UAE is not only adopting the AI economy — we are leading. ATRC will continue to invest in the research that defines the next generation of trusted AI.”

 

 

“The future of AI depends on unlocking the data organizations have never been able to touch,” said Ion Stoica, Co-Founder of OPAQUE. “Most enterprises sit on a corpus of data too sensitive to use and too valuable to ignore. With this acquisition, OPAQUE is the only platform delivering hardware-attested cryptographic evidence across the full AI lifecycle — training, fine-tuning, inference, and agents — with protections engineered to withstand quantum-era threats. That combination doesn’t exist anywhere else in the market today.”

 

 

“AI agents are extraordinarily powerful: they operate at machine speed with human-like capabilities, delivering in days what entire teams would struggle to complete in a year,” said Aaron Fulkerson, Chief Executive Officer of OPAQUE. “That same power is exactly why they are so difficult to move into production. An agent connected to sensitive systems or regulated data — patient records, clinical research, financial claims — can do damage in days that a team of malicious actors couldn’t match in a year. The only way to safely deploy them is with hardware-enforced, verifiable rules: provable evidence of what ran, where it ran, and which rules were enforced. Building on primitives from every major cloud provider, OPAQUE makes it possible to move agents into production — even on the most sensitive and most regulated systems and data.”

 

 

Enterprises sit on vast amounts of sensitive data — patient records, financial transactions, classified intelligence, proprietary research — that could transform their AI capabilities. But using that data across the full AI lifecycle has required stitching together point solutions from multiple vendors, each covering a different phase: one for training, another for inference, another for agent workflows. The result is gaps, complexity, and risk that compliance teams won’t sign off on.

 

 

OPAQUE eliminates those gaps. The acquired technology extends OPAQUE’s confidential AI platform across training, fine-tuning, inference, and AI agent execution. It delivers verifiable guarantees at every stage, backed by post-quantum cryptography that protects workloads against current and future threats. For example, ServiceNow runs OPAQUE in production to extend AI capabilities to its enterprise customers without exposing their data. A national healthcare system can train diagnostic models on patient data across jurisdictions, run inference across facilities, and deploy AI agents on live clinical data — all on a single platform. The platform generates hardware-attested evidence aligned with SOC 2, ISO 27001, ISO 42001, GDPR Article 32, and EU AI Act high-risk obligations, proving data remained private, policies were enforced, and regulatory requirements were met.

 

 

Critically, OPAQUE’s architecture means cryptographic enforcement is rooted in hardware, not in vendor trust. Customer data — including data processed by sovereign AI programs and regulated enterprises — remains protected by Trusted Execution Environments and verifiable attestation that even OPAQUE itself cannot access. This makes the platform deployable on sovereign cloud infrastructure worldwide with cryptographic proof of data residency, enabling national AI programs to adopt confidential AI without surrendering on-soil data control or jurisdictional sovereignty.

 

 

Across high-stakes industries, the same challenges arise wherever AI systems rely on sensitive data: banks training fraud models across regulatory jurisdictions, defense contractors fine-tuning on classified intelligence, software vendors embedding AI into products that touch customer data.

 

 

The acquisition follows OPAQUE’s $24 million Series B at a $300 million valuation and builds on a customer base that includes ServiceNow, Anthropic, Accenture, and Encore Capital. With the acquired technology, OPAQUE supports Confidential AI workflows across training, fine-tuning, inference, and agents — moving enterprises and sovereign AI programs from isolated experiments to production deployment 4-5x faster, with verifiable security and post-quantum protection.

 

 

For TII and ATRC, the transaction validates a deliberate strategy: invest in foundational cryptography research, prove it on world-class large language models, then deliver it globally through partners with the platform and customer base to scale it. Foundational AI technology developed in Abu Dhabi will now be deployed across financial services, healthcare, government, and enterprise SaaS — on every continent — with the UAE established as a producer of the cryptographic infrastructure powering the next generation of trusted AI.

 

 

“We developed these cryptographic technologies to address a fundamental challenge in AI: how to enable powerful models to work with highly sensitive data without compromising confidentiality or trust,” said Dr. Najwa Aaraj, Chief Executive Officer of TII. “OPAQUE was the right partner to bring this to market because it has already built the enterprise platform and customer base to deploy it at scale. This is what applied research is for — foundational technology developed in Abu Dhabi, now moving from the lab into real-world global deployment.”

 

 

The announcement was amplified at Make it in the Emirates, underscoring the journey of Abu Dhabi-developed technology from UAE laboratories to international deployment, and reinforcing the country’s growing role as a producer of advanced technologies built in the UAE and adopted by the world.

 

 

Source: AETOSWire

 

 

 

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260504705475/en/

 

Business Wire India

IKS Health, a global leader in care enablement solutions supporting clinical, administrative, and financial efficiencies across the patient journey, today announced a strategic multi-year clinical and revenue optimization platform partnership with Holyoke Medical Center, an independent, non-profit, 219-bed community hospital in Western Massachusetts serving the region since 1893.

The partnership’s primary focus is on reducing clinical and administrative burden and maintaining financial stability to best serve the needs of Holyoke and surrounding communities. The organizations will work together to lower costs and unlock new opportunities to drive revenue, allowing Holyoke Medical Center to continue providing high quality care throughout the region.

“We are excited to partner with IKS Health to deepen our focus on consistent outcomes, reduce operating costs, and foster innovation and growth to improve the health of all people in our community,” said Carl R. Cameron, FACHE, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Holyoke Medical Center. “We are dedicated to providing the best and most cost effective care for our patients.”

The partnership assists Holyoke Medical Center to:

• Focus on organic growth and strategic partnership alignment
• Maintain competitive advantage with respect to recruitment and retention thereby lowering unnecessary burden across the organization
• Improve performance and quality by leveraging visionary and innovative financial and clinical care models
• Uncover new opportunities to drive revenue and lower costs
• Reduce administrative burden by unlocking bandwidth for leadership and key personnel to focus on strategic objectives

“We are pleased to work with Holyoke Medical Center to drive clinical efficiencies and streamlined workflows, particularly in partnership with its EHR,” said Sachin K. Gupta, Founder and Global CEO of IKS Health. “It’s critical for independent hospitals and medical centers to create a scalable infrastructure built on AI-driven and human-in-the-loop solutions, designed to adapt and grow seamlessly without compromising on quality and results.”

Business Wire India

Merck Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, in partnership with the Africa’s First Ladies, also the Ambassadors of “Merck Foundation more Than a Mother” announced the winners of their Fashion, Song, and Film Awards 2025, under two themes: “More Than a Mother” and “Diabetes & Hypertension”. The theme of “More Than a Mother” Awards was to raise awareness on social issues such as: Breaking Infertility Stigma, Supporting Girl Education, Women Empowerment, Ending Child Marriage, Ending FGM, and/or Stopping GBV at all levels. The theme of “Diabetes and Hypertension” Awards was to promote a healthy lifestyle and raise awareness about prevention and early detection of Diabetes and Hypertension in African countries.

Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej (Ret.) expressed, “I am incredibly proud to announce the winners of the 2023 Merck Foundation Fashion, Song and Film Awards together with my dear sisters, African First Ladies, who are also the Ambassadors of “Merck Foundation More Than a Mother”.

I congratulate our 51 winners from 15 African countries. I am truly impressed by the quality and quantity of the entries we received this year. Our winners have creatively and effectively conveyed important social and health awareness messages through their work. I have always believed that fashion and art play a crucial role in raising awareness about health and sensitive social issues.”

Merck Foundation also announced the Call for Applications for the 2026 Edition of Merck Foundation Fashion, Song & Film Awards ‘More Than a Mother’ and ‘Diabetes & Hypertension’, in partnership with First Ladies of Africa and Asia.

“We invite the young talents to submit their creative work, carrying powerful messages that break the silence,” she added.

Here is the list of Merck Foundation FASHION Awards “More Than a Mother” 2025 Winners:

• Ropafadzo Mapira, ZIMBABWE, First Position
• Adebayo Balikis Ireti, NIGERIA, First Position
• Christianah Adebimpe Dare, NIGERIA, First Position
• Mame Bara Gaye, SENEGAL, Second Position
• Serigne Modou Diouf, SENEGAL, Second Position
• Johannes Medard Tairo, TANZANIA, Second Position
• Niyigena Angella, UGANDA, Second Position
• Giovanni Peter Gazigile, TANZANIA, Third Position
• Kutesa Tyson Vicent, UGANDA, Third Position
• Linda Ngwira, ZAMBIA, Third Position
• Gibstar Makangila, ZAMBIA, Third Position
• Mercy Duke, ZIMBABWE, Third Position
• Oluwatosin Oloruntobi Adeyanju, NIGERIA, Third Position
• Ngatendwe Hope Gowera, NAMIBIA, Third Position

Here are the Winners of Merck Foundation FASHION Awards “Diabetes & Hypertension” 2025:

• Christianah Adebimpe Dare, NIGERIA, First position
• Lynn Chipendo, ZIMBABWE, First position
• Beatricia Lucas, NAMIBIA, Second Position
• Tinotenda Nissi Mafusire, ZAMBIA, Second Position
• Oloyede Eniola Sunday, NIGERIA, Second Position
• Isabel Mawusinu Kulafe, GHANA, Third Position
• Mercy Njeri Daniel, KENYA, Third Position
• Hezra Carolina Gove, MOZAMBIQUE, Third Position

Here is the list of winners of Merck Foundation ‘More Than a Mother’ Song Awards 2025:

English Language

• Vincent Owino, KENYA, First Position
• Alice Eze, NIGERIA, First Position
• Maureen Kabasiita, UGANDA, Second Position
• Warren Frank Kawiche, TANZANIA, Third Position
• OBED Murphy Agai, NIGERIA, Third Position
• Christianah Adebimpe Dare, NIGERIA, Third Position
• Cardi Shembazè, NIGERIA, Third Position
• Neema Nasirumbi, KENYA, Third Position

French Language

• Kumbuka Bashonga Jeremie, DRC, First Position
• Ndiouga FALL, SENEGAL, First Position
• Brake Mackaya, GABON, Second Position
• Natty Stelle KOKOLO, SENEGAL, Third Position

Local Language

• Coumba Coly, SENEGAL, First Position
• Bigirimana Linah Blanche, BURUNDI, First Position

Here is the list of winners of Merck Foundation ‘Diabetes & Hypertension’ Song Awards 2025:

English Language

• Jasmin Dally Koech, KENYA, First Position
• Omotola Ijaola, NIGERIA, Second Position
• Dr Ndumiso Tshuma, SOUTH AFRICA, Third Position

French Language

• Étienne Kasereka, DRC, First Position
• Nantenaina Andriamorasata, MADAGASCAR, Second Position

Here is the list of winners of Merck Foundation ‘More Than a Mother’ Film Awards 2025:

English Language

• Calvin Oyula, KENYA, First Position
• Temitope Adebisi Adeyanju, NIGERIA, Second Position
• Bartholomew Sey, GHANA, Third Position

French Language

• Baderhwa Benoit, GABON, First Position
• David LeGrand F, GABON, First Position
• Thierno Seydou Nouro SY, SENEGAL, Second Position
• Meye Fabien, GABON, Second Position

Here is the list of winners of Merck Foundation ‘Diabetes & Hypertension’ Film Awards 2025:

• Mukendi Wabiuma Josué Yann, GABON, First Position
• Stephano Bloquet, MAURITIUS, Second Position
• Denis Manuel, NAMIBIA, Second Position

As part of their Community Awareness Program, Merck Foundation has released more than 30 songs in English, French, Portuguese, and local languages, with the aim to address important issues like Breaking Infertility Stigma, Supporting Girl Education, Women Empowerment, and Diabetes Awareness.

Click here to listen to Merck Foundation Songs:

https://merck-foundation.com/videos/Merck-Foundation-Songs

Moreover, Merck Foundation has also released a series of Animation Films in English, French, Portuguese, Swahili, and Spanish to address a wide range of social and health issues.

Watch Merck Foundation’s More Than a Mother Animation Film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ri1vnt7VM-M

Merck Foundation CEO has also conceptualized, produced, directed, and co-hosted ‘Our Africa by Merck Foundation,’ a pan-African TV program designed to feature African Fashion Designers, Singers, and prominent experts from various fields with the aim of raising awareness and creating a culture shift across Africa. Watch the Promo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RIoIMbFd2Q

The TV program has been broadcasted on prime TV stations in several countries, capturing the attention and hearts of millions of viewers across the continent. “Our Africa” TV Program is also available on social media handles of Dr. Rasha Kelej (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube) and Merck Foundation (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube).

Details of Merck Foundation Awards 2026:

1. Merck Foundation Africa Media Recognition Awards “More Than a Mother” 2026: Media representatives and media students from African Countries are invited to showcase their work to raise awareness about one or more of the following social issues, such as: Breaking Infertility Stigma, Supporting Girl Education, Women Empowerment, Ending Child Marriage, Ending FGM, and/ or Stopping GBV at all levels.

Submitting multiple applications will increase the chances of winning the award.

Submission deadline: 30^th September 2026.

2. Merck Foundation Film Awards “More Than a Mother” 2026: All African Filmmakers, Students of Film Making Training Institutions, or Young Talents of Africa are invited to create and share a long or short FILMS, either drama, documentary, or docudrama to deliver strong and influential messages to address one or more of the following social issues such as: Breaking Infertility Stigma, Supporting Girl Education, Women Empowerment, Ending Child Marriage, Ending FGM, and/ or Stopping GBV at all levels.

Submission deadline: 30^th September 2026.

3. Merck Foundation Fashion Awards “More Than a Mother” 2026: All African Fashion Students and Designers are invited to create and share designs to deliver strong and influential messages to raise awareness about one or more of the following social issues such as: Breaking Infertility Stigma, Supporting Girl Education, Women Empowerment, Ending Child Marriage, Ending FGM, and/ or Stopping GBV at all levels.

Submission deadline: 30^th September 2026.

span style=”font-size:12pt”>4. Merck Foundation Song Awards “More Than a Mother” 2026: All African Singers and Musical Artists are invited to create and share a SONG with the aim to address one or more of the following social issues such as: Breaking Infertility Stigma, Supporting Girl Education, Women Empowerment, Ending Child Marriage, Ending FGM, and/ or Stopping GBV at all levels.

Submission deadline: 30^th September 2026.

5. Merck Foundation Media Recognition Awards “Diabetes & Hypertension” 2026:

Media representatives from African, Asian, and Latin American Countries are invited to showcase their work through strong and influential messages to promote a healthy lifestyle, raise awareness about the prevention and early detection of Diabetes and Hypertension.

Submitting multiple applications will increase the chances of winning the award.

Submission deadline: 30^th October 2026.

6. Merck Foundation Film Awards “Diabetes & Hypertension” 2026: All African Filmmakers, Students of Film Making Training Institutions or Young Talents of Africa are invited to create and share a long or short FILMS, either drama, documentary or docudrama to deliver strong and influential messages to promote a healthy lifestyle, raise awareness about prevention and early detection of Diabetes and Hypertension.

Submission deadline: 30^th October 2026.

7. Merck Foundation Fashion Awards “Diabetes & Hypertension” 2026: All African Fashion Students and Designers are invited to create and share designs to deliver strong and influential messages to promote a healthy lifestyle, raise awareness about prevention and early detection of Diabetes and Hypertension.

Submission deadline: 30^th October 2026.

8. Merck Foundation Song Awards “Diabetes & Hypertension” 2026: All African Singers and Musical Artists are invited to create and share a SONG with the aim to promote a healthy lifestyle, raise awareness about prevention and early detection of Diabetes and Hypertension.

Submission deadline: 30^th October 2026.

Apply: https://merck-foundation.com/Awards-Online-Application-Form

Entries can also be submitted via email to:

submit@merck-foundation.com

Click the link below to Download Merck Foundation App

https://www.merck-foundation.com/MF_StoreRedirection

Join the conversation on our social media platforms below and let your voice be heard

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Website: www.merckfoundation.com

Business Wire India

• FY26: Highest-ever revenue of INR 550.9 crore, up 10.5% YoY; record EBITDA of INR 71.9 crore with 13.2% margin
• Cash flow: Strong operating cash flow generation, supported by disciplined execution and working-capital rigor
• Q4 FY26: Total revenue of INR 139.0 crore, reflecting YOY growth of 6.9%

Onward Technologies Limited (BSE: 517536) (NSE: ONWARDTEC), a global digital engineering and ER&D services partner, announced today its financial results for the Fourth Quarter and Full Year of FY26 ended 31^st March 2026.

Commenting on the results, Mr. Jigar Mehta, Managing Director, Onward Technologies, said, “FY26 marks our strongest annual performance to date, delivering record revenue of INR 550.9 crore and record EBITDA of INR 71.9 crore, with EBITDA growing 60.9% YoY and margins expanding to 13.2%. This performance was anchored in execution excellence, operating leverage and sharp cost discipline, while maintaining strong cash generation from the business.

This outcome reflects a revenue CAGR of 15.3% and an EBITDA CAGR of 35.4% over the last four years (FY22-FY26), with our overall headcount at 2,485.

During the year, we saw sustained momentum across ER&D and digital engineering services, supported by deeper engagement with strategic accounts. We continue to invest in strengthening our capabilities and expanding our presence across the US and Europe.

In line with our capital allocation priorities and commitment to consistent shareholder returns, the Board has recommended a record dividend of INR 8 per share, our 11^th consecutive annual dividend and an increase over last year.

While the macro environment remains dynamic, demand for engineering services remains resilient. As we enter FY27, we will continue to focus on delivery-led growth, scaling our offshore model, deepening strategic accounts and strengthening vertical specialization, aimed at driving sustained double-digit growth in Revenue and EBITDA.”

Consolidated Financial Highlights for the Quarter Ended 31^st March 2026

Particulars (in INR Crore)	Q4 FY26	Q3 FY26	Q4 FY25	YoY Growth	FY26	FY25	YoY Growth
Total Revenue	139.0	136.1	130.0	6.9%	550.9	498.5	10.5%
EBITDA	15.3	19.6	13.9	10.1%	71.9	44.7	60.9%
EBITDA Margin (%)	11.2%	14.6%	10.9%	24 bps	13.2%	9.1%	412 bps
Profit After Tax (PAT)	9.5	12.6*	10.6	(10.4%)	46.7*	27.1	72.3%
PAT Margin (%)	6.9%	9.4%*	8.3%	(140 bps)	8.6%*	5.5%	307 bps
EPS (INR) – Diluted	4.23	5.87*	4.56	(7.2%)	20.57*	11.80	74.3%

* Excluding one-time exceptional item due to new labour code in Q3 FY26

Key Highlights – Q4 / FY26

• FY26
  • Total revenue growth of 10.5% YoY to INR 550.9 crore
  • EBITDA margin of 13.2%, with EBITDA at INR 71.9 crore
  • PAT* at INR 46.7 crore with growth of 72.3% YoY
  • Strong operating cash flow generation, reflecting disciplined execution and working-capital focus
  • Board recommended record dividend of INR 8 per share for the 11th consecutive year
• Q4 FY26 total revenue was INR 139.0 crore, reflecting a growth of 6.9% YoY, with an EBITDA margin of 11.2% and EBITDA growth of 10.1 % YoY.
• Top 25 clients contribute 88% of total revenues.
• Total headcount stood at 2,485 employees.
• Attrition at 14.85% (LTM).

* Excluding one-time exceptional item due to new labour code in Q3 FY26

Business Wire India

• A pioneer in smoke-free tobacco products, Philip Morris International is the only company that has received modified risk tobacco product authorizations for heated tobacco products.
• In their order, FDA concluded that: “Scientific studies have shown that switching completely from conventional cigarettes to the IQOS system significantly reduces your body’s exposure to harmful or potentially harmful chemicals.”

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it has authorized the renewal of modified risk tobacco product (MRTP) orders previously granted to PMI for two versions of the IQOS device and three variants of the tobacco consumables, commercialized under the HEETS brand. This renewal allows PMI to continue sharing reduced-exposure information with U.S. adults 21+ who use traditional tobacco products, such as combustible cigarettes.

The agency concluded that renewing the IQOS and HEETS MRTP authorizations is appropriate to promote public health and is expected to benefit the health of the population as a whole, taking into account both users of tobacco products and persons who do not currently use tobacco products.

“As the only company to have successfully secured and maintained MRTP authorizations for heated tobacco products in the U.S., we are confident that our science-based alternatives can help adult smokers transition away from combustible cigarettes,” said Stacey Kennedy, CEO, PMI U.S. “This decision from the FDA reflects both the rigorous scientific foundation supporting IQOS and our ongoing commitment to responsibly deliver smoke-free choices to adult consumers.”

In issuing the MRTP renewal orders for IQOS, the FDA reaffirmed that “the scientific evidence that is available without conducting long-term epidemiological studies demonstrates that a measurable and substantial reduction in morbidity or mortality among individual tobacco users is reasonably likely.”

The IQOS 2.4 system was the first heated tobacco product authorized via the FDA’s MRTP process in 2020 as “appropriate for the promotion of public health,” following its authorization through the premarket tobacco product application (PMTA) process in 2019. The IQOS 3 system secured MRTP authorization in 2022, following premarket authorization in 2020. The FDA continues to review PMTAs for IQOS ILUMA, and given its strong application and demonstrated track record of converting legal age smokers to a better alternative, PMI believes the application warrants expeditious FDA action.

PMI’s MRTP submission included an extensive body of scientific evidence indicating that the IQOS system produces aerosol with substantially lower levels of harmful and potentially harmful constituents compared with cigarette smoke. While no tobacco product is risk-free, a growing body of real-world data—including from markets such as Japan—indicates that the availability of heated tobacco products has been associated with notable reductions in combustible cigarette consumption.

Heated tobacco products, such as IQOS, heat tobacco without burning it, significantly reducing the formation of the harmful chemicals created by combustion while delivering real tobacco taste and nicotine satisfaction. The renewed authorization covers the following products:

• IQOS 2.4 System Holder and Charger
• IQOS 3.0 System Holder and Charger
• HEETS: Amber, Green Menthol, Blue Menthol

PMI U.S. is focused on providing better options than traditional tobacco products to America’s 45 million legal-age nicotine consumers—approximately 25 million of whom still smoke cigarettes, by far the most harmful way to consume nicotine.

Since 2008, PMI has invested over $16 billion globally to develop, scientifically substantiate, and commercialize innovative smoke-free products for adults who would otherwise smoke, with the goal of completely ending the sale of cigarettes.

PMI first entered the U.S. market in 2022, following its acquisition of Swedish Match—a leader in oral nicotine delivery—creating a global smoke-free champion. PMI’s ambition is that all adults who would otherwise continue to smoke leave cigarettes behind for good by either quitting altogether or switching completely to scientifically substantiated smoke-free products as soon as possible. Regulatory policies and decisions can substantially accelerate the speed and magnitude of this historic change.

Business Wire India

• ATLAS participated as an exclusive Cornerstone investor in United Utilities’ equity placement, expanding its existing investment to establish a significant minority shareholding.
• ATLAS was pleased with the strong support for the transaction from other long-term shareholders signalling broad support for United Utilities’ investment and growth strategy.
• United Utilities’ fully funded capital investment program underpins a strong multi-year growth trajectory¹.

 

ATLAS Infrastructure (“ATLAS”) is a specialist Global Listed Infrastructure investor managing capital on behalf of its funds and long-term institutional clients. ATLAS has been an investor in UU since 2019 and, following the recent equity placement, ATLAS’s actively managed accounts hold a ~6.6% voting and economic interest in United Utilities plc (“UU”).

 

ATLAS recognises the positive new direction established for the UK water sector and welcomes the opportunity to support UU management’s investment plan which will deliver the critical infrastructure required to support housing and industrial growth across North West England, as well as playing a crucial role in supporting nationally important initiatives related to AI data centres and sustainable energy.

 

 

ATLAS strongly supports UU’s decision to raise new equity in order to accelerate its investment program through providing significant balance sheet capacity and financial flexibility through to the end of AMP8 in 2030. ATLAS values the opportunity to deepen its relationship with the company through ATLAS’ cornerstone role in the recent equity placement.

 

 

“The Water sector globally is facing unprecedented challenges caused by population growth and climate change at the same time as needing to continuously improve environmental performance. We are pleased to have been able to deliver the funding to allow United Utilities to accelerate their investment program to meet these challenges and deliver the outcomes expected by customers, regulators and Government stakeholders”.
– Rod Chisholm, Partner ATLAS Infrastructure

 

 

¹ ATLAS estimates

 

 

 

 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260505262496/en/