Wibmo, a PayU company and leading provider of payment security solutions, unveiled Wibmo Agentic Risk Intelligence Assistant (ARIA), an AI-powered platform designed to transform financial crime operations, at its flagship industry event ‘Securing Digital Payments: Innovation, Intelligence & Trust’ held at Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai.

Unveiling ARIA in Mumbai: Wibmo’s Agentic Risk Intelligence Assistant brings the power of AI to fraud, AML, KYC, and dispute operations

ARIA is designed to support risk teams at banks and PSPs, combining AI-driven analysis with human decision-making and accountability. This is highly relevant now, as digital payment fraud challenges becoming increasingly complex. With the sustained growth in the payments ecosystem, financial institutions are focused on improving operational risk efficiency while maintaining strong governance and oversight.

Early modelling shows ARIA achieving over 70% reduction in investigation time through agents acting in real-time, enabling teams to process significantly more cases per FTE per day. ARIA targets delivering recommendation accuracy close to 90%, designed to improve quality metrics across risk operations teams.

ARIA represents a fundamental shift in how financial institutions approach risk operations by introducing specialized AI agents that support data aggregation, analysis, and draft recommendations, while preserving human decision-making authority and governance controls at every critical juncture.

ARIA combines capabilities across investigation, decision support, and operational actioning. The platform gathers signals from transactions, risk models, customer and merchant history, linked transactions, and historical fraud patterns to automate data aggregation that typically consumes significant analyst bandwidth. Using frontier AI models, ARIA generates evidence-referenced verdicts, identifies emerging patterns through multi-signal reasoning, and provides transparent, auditable recommendations. The platform also enables SOP-driven resolutions, customer and merchant communications, reduction of false alerts, and proactive defence mechanisms against emerging anomalies.

Shailesh Paul, CEO, Wibmo, said, “As fraud becomes more sophisticated and regulatory expectations continue to evolve, risk operations teams must manage growing complexity with limited resources. ARIA is designed to help institutions scale intelligently by combining the speed and analytical capabilities of AI with the judgment, oversight, and accountability of human expertise. While AI agents assist with data analysis and recommendations, every critical decision continues to remain firmly under human control.”

Unlike fully autonomous AI systems, ARIA is built with a governance-first architecture designed for enterprise financial institutions. Every recommendation continues to flow through existing approval mechanisms without autonomous production actions, while all analyses are supported by transparent reasoning chains and comprehensive audit trails. The platform brings together specialized agents across fraud, AML, KYC, and disputes within a unified framework, alongside replayable audits and complete operational provenance for every agent action.

The launch event brought together more than 50 senior leaders from banks, fintechs, payment networks, and technology organizations to discuss evolving challenges in digital payment security and the future of AI-led fraud prevention. Speakers from PayU, NPCI Bharat Billpay, Visa, Mastercard, Flipkart, CSB Bank, Jio Payment Solutions, and Network International participated in discussions around acquiring fraud risk management, authentication technologies, and risk-based decisioning.

About Wibmo

Wibmo, a PayU company, operates across entities in India, the US, and Indonesia. As a global full-stack PayTech company and an industry leader in payment security and digital payments in emerging markets, Wibmo stands out for its innovation and impact.

In addition to being India’s largest authentication service provider in one of the leading digital payment markets globally, Wibmo offers comprehensive fraud and risk management solutions, digital financial services, prepaid solutions, and a broad range of merchant-acquiring services.

Learn more at: wibmo.com.

Kauvery Hospital Chennai has launched two of the world’s most advanced Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA) programme in Tamil Nadu, marking a significant milestone in the treatment of heart rhythm disorders (arrhythmias).

Kauvery Hospital launched world’s advanced Pulsed Field Ablation systems to treat heart rhythm disorders

The programme introduces two of the world’s most advanced PFA technologies-Medtronic PulseSelect™ at Alwarpet and Biosense Webster Varipulse™ at Vadapalani, the latter integrated with an advanced 3D cardiac mapping system.

This is the first time that both PulseSelect™ and Varipulse™, along with a 3D mapping-integrated PFA platform, have been introduced in Tamil Nadu. This milestone further reinforces Kauvery Hospitals’ position at the forefront of innovation in cardiac electrophysiology and advanced heart rhythm care.

To mark the launch, leading international electrophysiology experts from the United States visited Chennai and collaborated with the Kauvery Hospitals team to initiate the PFA programme and support the first procedures.

Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA) is a next-generation treatment for heart rhythm disorders, particularly atrial fibrillation (AF), one of the most common cardiac arrhythmias. Unlike conventional ablation techniques that use heat (radiofrequency ablation) or extreme cold (cryoablation), PFA uses precisely controlled electrical pulses to selectively target and eliminate the cells responsible for abnormal heart rhythms.

This process, known as electroporation, enables targeted treatment of affected heart tissue while minimising impact on surrounding structures such as the oesophagus, phrenic nerve, and blood vessels. As a non-thermal technology, PFA represents a significant advancement in both safety and procedural efficiency.

With growing global clinical experience, PFA is increasingly being recognised as one of the most important recent advances in the management of cardiac arrhythmias.

The launch event was attended by Dr. N.S. Sivakadaksham, veteran cardiologist and Chief Guest, who welcomed the introduction of this transformative technology and highlighted its potential to improve outcomes for patients with heart rhythm disorders.

During the event, he also inaugurated Kauvery Hospitals’ new “Heart Rhythm Package”—a specially designed, affordable evaluation programme aimed at enabling early diagnosis and expert care for patients experiencing symptoms such as palpitations, breathlessness, dizziness, unexplained fatigue, or episodes of rapid heartbeat.

The package has been developed to promote early detection and timely treatment, which can significantly improve long-term outcomes and quality of life.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Deep Chandh Raja, Director of Cardiac Electrophysiology, Kauvery Hospitals, said, “Three patients were successfully treated at both centers with these procedures. One of the patients is a 69-year female with recurrent palpitations for 2 years. She tried different medicines for her irregular heart beats without any success. PFA procedure was performed within one hour through a key hole access in the right groin. She got discharged the very next day on minimum medicines. The safety, efficacy and fastness makes PFA a unique technology. We are proud to bring this next-generation treatment to Tamil Nadu.”

In addition to Pulsed Field Ablation, Kauvery Hospitals’ Department of Cardiac Electrophysiology offers comprehensive heart rhythm care, including advanced diagnostic services such as ECG, Holter monitoring, and electrophysiology studies, along with specialised arrhythmia clinics. The team also performs a wide range of complex ablation procedures and device therapies such as pacemakers, defibrillators, and cardiac resynchronisation therapy. Supported by state-of-the-art 3D mapping systems and a multidisciplinary team, the department delivers end-to-end care for even the most complex heart rhythm disorders. 

Dr. Aravindan Selvaraj, Co Founder and Executive Director, Kauvery Group of Hospitals, added, “At Kauvery Hospitals, we are committed to bringing proven, evidence-based innovations to our patients. Technologies that simplify procedures, enhance safety, and improve outcomes are central to our approach. The introduction of PFA reflects our continued commitment to delivering world-class cardiac care and ensuring access to the latest global advancements.”

With the simultaneous launch of both PulseSelect™ and Varipulse™ platforms, Kauvery Hospitals continues to strengthen its leadership in advanced cardiac care, offering patients across Tamil Nadu, neighbouring states, and international destinations access to some of the most innovative heart rhythm treatments available today.

Today, Truecaller Ads announced the global launch of Call-to-Cart, an AI-backed intelligent commerce solution that transforms everyday communication moments into seamless commerce experiences.

Truecaller Call-to-Cart: A brand-new AI-driven solution that enables direct advertisers on Truecaller to move consumers from discovery to checkout in just two steps

Every additional click between ad exposure and checkout increases the likelihood of consumer drop-off. Yet most mobile commerce journeys still require users to navigate multiple screens, search for products, and switch between apps before completing a purchase.

Built around Truecaller’s unique position as the world’s leading communication platform, Call-to-Cart enables brands to connect with consumers during two of mobile’s most attentive moments: when a user receives a call and immediately after a call ends. By combining these high-attention touchpoints with AI-powered targeting and commerce integrations, Call-to-Cart reduces the path from discovery to purchase to just two steps.

“Millions of purchase decisions begin outside shopping environments. Communication moments represent an effective commerce surface, and through Call-to-Cart we enable that opportunity. It is a product purpose-built for our largest advertiser category base of FMCG, D2C beauty, pharma, fintech, and mobility, where relevance and timing play a significant role in consumer journey across the full funnel,” said Hemant Arora,VP & Global Head, Truecaller Ads.

What makes Call-to-Cart work is the proprietary technology powering it. “Behind every Call-to-Cart experience is adVantage, an intelligence platform developed in-house by Truecaller to power relevance across the entire journey. Combining an advanced recommendation engine, AI driven personalization and relevant first party signals, adVantage helps connect users with the right offers at the right moment. The result is a commerce experience that feels seamless for consumers and delivers stronger outcomes for advertisers, turning communication moments into measurable commerce opportunities,” said Liniker Seixas, Engineering Director, adVantage, Truecaller Ads.

A Global Launch for a Global Advertiser Base
Call-to-Cart is the first Truecaller Ads solution to launch globally for direct advertisers across its 150+ countries user base. With over 500 million active users worldwide & billions of daily advertising opportunities across its platform, Truecaller offers brands access to communication-driven moments at an unmatched scale.

Exclusive access
Call-to-Cart is highly customisable. In its first phase, Truecaller has whitelisted a select group of ‘always-on’ direct advertisers across key markets to participate in the program. These partners benefit from dedicated onboarding support, bespoke integrations, direct access to the adVantage program, and priority privileges across the platform’s full suite of customization capabilities. This access enables direct advertisers to tailor the experience to their specific business objectives.

About Truecaller and Truecaller Ads
Truecaller is an essential part of everyday communication for over 500 million active users, with more than a billion downloads since launch and 68 billion spam and fraud calls identified in 2025 alone. The company has been headquartered in Stockholm since 2009 and has been publicly listed on Nasdaq Stockholm since October 2021. Advertising is the primary revenue stream for Truecaller. Truecaller Ads serves over 5 billion impressions every day and is trusted by over 10,000 brands.

Visit advertisers.truecaller.com for more information.

Hong Kong SAR
The Caravel Group, a diversified global conglomerate with core businesses in maritime services, commodity trading and investment management, today released its fifth annual Responsibility Report, Encompass. The report details the Group’s progress, key achievements and future targets in running a sustainable and resilient business, with a particular focus on its ship management subsidiary, Fleet Management Limited.
 

The Caravel Group’s 5th Annual ESG Report Outlines Strategic Resilience in Global Shipping
 

Guided by the four core pillars of the Encompass strategy—Navigating Responsibly, Evolving Environmental Stewardship, Safeguarding People and Working Together—the 2025 report demonstrates how the Group has successfully translated high-level ESG ambitions into measurable, accountable day-to-day operational practices across ship and shore.

Dr. Harry S. Banga, Founder & Executive Chairman of The Caravel Group, said, “Five years ago, we established Encompass as our guiding compass. This fifth annual report is a testament to how we have built a business trusted to perform responsibly, adapt with discipline and remain relevant in a volatile maritime industry. By formally embedding ESG metrics into performance reviews for all onshore employees and establishing strategic initiatives like our LNG bunkering joint venture, we have ensured that responsibility and performance are no longer separate conversations.”

Key Sustainable Milestones in 2025

1. Evolving Environmental Stewardship & Accelerated Decarbonisation

• The Group achieved a 42% reduction in managed ship GHG emission intensity from its 2008 baseline, significantly exceeding its established 2030 target of a 30% reduction.

• Currently, 74% of the managed fleet is equipped with advanced Energy Saving Devices (ESDs), including high-performance hull paint, Propeller Boss Cap Fins (PBCFs) and variable speed motors, keeping the Group firmly on track to equip 100% of its fleet by 2030.

• The Caravel Group entered a strategic joint venture with Celsius Shipping to co-own and operate a new fleet of high-specification LNG bunkering vessels, supporting the maritime sector’s wider transition towards cleaner fuels.

2. Navigating Responsibly & Digital Innovation

• The Group continued the active pilot deployment of Captain’s Eye, an AI-powered maritime safety solution using onboard CCTV to detect smoke, leaks and safety hazards in real-time.

• Upgrades to PARIS (integrated fleet management platform) and NOVA (data analytics) provided vessel owners with real-time financial, EU ETS and FuelEU Maritime compliance reporting, bolstering transparency and proactive risk management.

3. Safeguarding People & Safety Excellence

• Port State Control (PSC) detentions across the fleet plummeted from 22 in 2023 to just 5 in 2025, driven by the Group’s increasingly rigorous safety protocols and strengthened reporting discipline.

• The Group recorded an exceptional 91% wellbeing score in its annual employee survey, surpassing its 78% target set for 2028 ahead of schedule.
   

4. Working Together, Talent & Community Engagement

• Following its landmark acquisition of the International Maritime Institute (IMI) in India, the Group integrated a highly reliable, Group-aligned talent channel, welcoming over 500 job-ready cadets to Fleet Management in 2025.

• The Caravel Group recorded a 92% employee engagement score and a 93% Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) score.

• In line with its pledge to commit at least 2% of average net profits over the previous three years to social causes, the Group contributed USD 1,529,993 to community partnerships, education initiatives and disaster relief programmes.

Mr. Angad Banga, Group Chief Executive Officer of The Caravel Group, added, “In today’s market, sustainability is no longer a future consideration—it is an active operating condition. Regulatory frameworks like FuelEU Maritime and EU ETS carry real economic consequences, and our clients look to us for the systems, judgment and commercial depth to navigate this landscape. By pairing digital tools with a robust talent pipeline through the IMI, we are building organisational capability before the moment it is needed, creating a lasting competitive advantage.”

To explore the detailed performance data, future targets, and the full version of the Encompass: Responsibility Report 2025, please visit The Caravel Group Website: www.caravel-group.com/our-impact/responsibility-reports

About The Caravel Group Limited

The Caravel Group, headquartered in Hong Kong, is a privately held and globally diversified group with operations across maritime services, dry bulk commodity trading, institutional investment management, and philanthropy. Its maritime division includes Fleet Management Limited, one of the world’s largest third‑party ship managers, with more than 500 vessels under management, and strategic investments, including a major stake in Pacific Basin (HKEX: 2343). Caravel also owns the International Maritime Institute (IMI) in India, reinforcing its commitment to maritime talent development. Through Caravel Asset Management, the Group invests globally across public markets and private equity, while its philanthropic arm, The Caravel Foundation, supports the education and well-being of underprivileged youth across Hong Kong, China, and India.
 

Learn more: www.caravel-group.com.

About Fleet Management Limited

Fleet Management Limited, part of The Caravel Group, is one of the world’s largest third‑party ship managers, with more than 500 vessels under management. This scale bears testament to the resilience and commitment of thousands of seafarers and onshore maritime professionals serving shipowners worldwide.
 

Fleet manages a range of vessels, including bulk carriers, containers, car carriers, oil tankers, gas carriers and chemical tankers from 600 to 320,000 DWT in size – with many being young and energy-efficient with an age profile below the industry average. The company also has a dynamic newbuilding supervision department.
 

Learn more: www.fleetship.com.

• Three in ten employers (30%) spend more than eight hours each week compensating for workforce skills gaps.

• More than half (56%) of employers say entry-level workers aren’t prepared for work.

• 77% of employers in frontline-heavy industries say their skills training is effective – but 71% of employees say it had no impact on their pay or role.

• 45% of employers and more than one-third (35%) of employees say they have considered quitting due to stress caused by understaffing or skills gaps.

• More than one-quarter (26%) of employers say the skills gap in their sector is “serious” or at “crisis level.”

New research from Chegg, a global learning and workforce skilling company, reveals a significant skills gap that is placing pressure on employers and employees in frontline-heavy industries across the U.S. The consequences are already being felt: three in ten employers (30%) say they spend more than eight hours every week compensating for workforce skills gaps.

Chegg’s Frontline Workers Skills Index is based on a survey of 1,000 U.S. employers and 1,005 U.S. employees

Chegg’s Frontline Workers Skills Index, based on a survey of 1,000 U.S. employers and 1,005 U.S. employees across ten frontline-heavy industries, including retail, manufacturing, and finance, uncovers a widening perception gap between employers and employees on skills gaps, AI adoption, and training effectiveness, suggesting that traditional approaches are no longer enough. By employers, the survey refers to respondents who are fully or partly involved in hiring decisions at their organization; employees refer to those with no responsibility for hiring.

“The most important finding in this research is that employers and employees are often looking at the same workforce challenges but diagnosing completely different problems,” said Dan Rosensweig, Chief Executive Officer of Chegg. “Employers are focused on AI readiness, adaptability, and operational performance, while employees are focused on career mobility, leadership, and advancement. Neither side is wrong – but most training programs were never designed to bridge that gap.”

“What workers are telling us very clearly is that generic training without practical application or measurable career impact no longer works. At a time when AI is rapidly reshaping the workplace, organizations need training that helps employees perform better in the roles they have today, while building the capabilities needed for tomorrow. That is exactly the problem Chegg Skills was built to solve.”

The Business Costs of Skills Gaps
The research shows that workforce skills shortages are already creating significant operational and human costs across industries. Nearly one-third of employers (30%) say they spend more than eight hours per week, the equivalent of a full working day, compensating for workforce skills gaps. In manufacturing, that figure rises to 46%.

The consequences are being felt across day-to-day operations. Employers identified increased mistakes and rework (34%), increased stress and burnout (33%), heavier workloads or covering for others (31%), and overtime or longer shifts (29%) as some of the most common impacts of skills shortages at their organization.

The strain is also affecting morale and retention. Nearly half of employers (45%) and more than one-third of employees (35%) say they have considered quitting due to stress caused by understaffing or workforce capability gaps. In food service and hospitality, 57% of employers and 43% of employees reported they had considered leaving their role, the highest among all sectors surveyed.

Training Programs Are Failing Workers – And Employees Know It
The workforce skills shortages begin before employees even enter the workplace. More than half of employers (56%) say entry-level workers are not adequately prepared for work, while more than one-quarter (26%) describe the skills gap in their sector as either “serious” or at “crisis level.”

Once employees enter the workforce, the picture does not improve. While employers overwhelmingly believe workforce training programs are working, employees are less convinced, pointing to a deeper problem in how training is designed and delivered.

More than three-quarters of employers (77%) say training programs are effective overall, compared to 58% of employees. However, most employees (71%) say that training has led to no change in their pay or role.

The findings suggest the issue is not a lack of investment or motivation, but a lack of relevance and practical impact. From those who say it was not effective, 51% of employees say their training is too general or not connected closely enough to their day-to-day responsibilities. Employees also cite not enough hands-on practical learning (39%), insufficient coaching (34%), and weak managerial support (27%) as barriers to successful training outcomes.

Employers and Employees Agree There’s a Skills Problem, But Not on What It Is
The research reveals a growing perception gap between employers and employees about which skills are most urgently needed in today’s workplace.

While both groups agree that workforce capability gaps exist, they differ significantly on where the problem lies. Employers identified AI and automation skills (36%) and digital or IT capabilities (24%) as the most lacking in their workforce, reflecting the growing pressure to adapt to rapidly changing technologies.

Employees, however, pointed to leadership and people management (25%) as the biggest deficiency in their workplace, followed by communication and teamwork skills (24%). The findings suggest many workers see the challenge not only as a technical skills issue but also as a management and workplace culture issue.

At the same time, employers ranked problem-solving and critical thinking (36%) and communication and teamwork (34%) as the two most important skills for long-term success – highlighting demand for both durable human skills and technical fluency.
 

AI Is Accelerating Faster Than Workers Are Adapting
The report also reveals a disconnect between how quickly employers are embracing AI and how slowly employees are adapting to it in their day-to-day work.

While 83% of employers say they feel confident using AI tools in their current role, only 44% of employees say the same. The divide is even more striking when it comes to career urgency: surprisingly, just 3% of employees believe AI proficiency is becoming critical to advancement in their role, compared to 18% of employers who say the same.

The findings suggest the biggest challenge may not simply be an AI skills gap but an awareness gap. Many employees do not yet recognize how rapidly workplace expectations are changing around them. More than half of employees (52%) say AI is not currently used in their role at all, meaning they have little opportunity to build practical fluency with the technology on the job.

At the same time, employers are integrating AI into workplace operations and decision-making. Only 14% of employers say AI is not currently used in their role at all, and one-quarter (25%) say AI use is already becoming expected in their role.

Following its participation at the India International Cargo Show (IICS) 2026, held in New Delhi from June 04th–06th, 2026, Parekh Global today announced its strategic transition into a unified global platform, marking a defining milestone in positioning the organisation for accelerated international expansion, governance-led scale, and technology-driven transformation.

L-R: Yogesh Parekh, Naresh Parekh and Yash Parekh, Directors, Parekh Global

The India International Cargo Show (IICS) is one of India’s leading logistics, cargo, and supply chain industry events, bringing together policymakers, logistics providers, freight forwarders, infrastructure developers, technology innovators, and global trade stakeholders to discuss emerging opportunities, industry challenges, and the future of integrated logistics. The event serves as a key platform for fostering collaboration, showcasing innovations, and strengthening India’s position in global supply chains.

The move represents a structural evolution of the legacy enterprise into an integrated global identity designed to enhance operational agility, strengthen compliance frameworks, and align more closely with shifting global trade dynamics and evolving client expectations. As supply chains realign and regulatory landscapes grow increasingly complex, the company is restructuring to operate with greater cohesion and responsiveness across markets.

“This is not merely a transition exercise; it is a strategic recalibration for the future,” said Mr. Naresh Parekh, Director, Parekh Global. “For over 70 years, Parekh legacy has been deeply rooted in India’s trade and logistics ecosystem, building a legacy founded on trust, resilience and expertise. Today, we are leveraging that strong Indian foundation to scale confidently into global markets.

As international trade corridors evolve and client expectations become more sophisticated, we are expanding our geographic reach, upgrading our technology infrastructure, and actively evaluating strategic acquisitions to align with global benchmarks. India remains a significant growth engine for us, but our vision now extends far beyond domestic boundaries. We are strengthening our talent pool, enhancing operational capabilities, and investing in advanced systems to ensure we not only meet but exceed international standards. Our goal is clear — to transform Parekh Global into a future-ready, globally competitive enterprise that delivers integrated, world-class solutions across markets.”

The unveiling of Parekh Global marks the consolidation of diverse capabilities under a single global platform designed to drive operational efficiencies, standardise governance processes, and present a cohesive market-facing identity. The integrated structure is expected to enable faster decision-making, strengthen cross-border coordination, and support disciplined capital allocation, while preserving the entrepreneurial strengths that have long defined the organisation’s legacy.

As geopolitical shifts reshape global trade and compliance requirements intensify across jurisdictions, Parekh Global is positioning itself as a structured, compliance-first enterprise capable of navigating volatility with resilience. Strengthened governance architecture and enhanced risk management frameworks form a central pillar of the transition.

“Scale must be accompanied by structure,” said Mr. Yogesh Parekh, Director, Parekh Global. “Our evolution into Parekh Global strengthens our governance architecture while enhancing our ability to operate seamlessly across markets. This integrated model allows us to balance growth ambitions with robust oversight.”

The company emphasised that the transition ensures continuity of leadership, operational teams, and long-standing client relationships. Existing stakeholders will experience seamless integration under the new identity, now supported by enhanced capabilities designed to foster long-term strategic partnerships rather than transactional engagements.

Over the next five years, Parekh Global plans to expand into priority international markets, forge strategic partnerships, accelerate digital transformation initiatives, and deepen investments in leadership development and sustainable growth practices. The company aims to leverage India’s expanding role in global trade while building operational depth across key overseas regions.

“Our objective is to build a globally integrated organisation that can scale responsibly,” Mr. Yash Parekh, Director, Parekh Global said. “We remain committed to delivering value with integrity while shaping an enterprise that reflects both our heritage and our forward-looking ambitions.”

By combining legacy strength with structural modernisation, Parekh Global is seeking to position itself as a resilient Indian enterprise with growing global relevance.

About Parekh Global

Parekh Global is a legacy-driven enterprise with over 70 years of industry experience. The organisation has evolved into a unified global platform focused on governance-led growth, innovation, and client-centric service integration, with a long-term strategy centered on international expansion and digital transformation.

A new robotaxi partnership involving VinFast highlights four major shifts transforming the automotive industry, from software-defined vehicles to the growing push for autonomous mobility in emerging markets.
 

The automotive industry is moving away from an era where value was defined mainly by engines, mechanical engineering and factory scale. Instead, cars are becoming rolling computers, with software controlling everything from entertainment and navigation to safety systems and autonomous driving.
 

Vietnam’s VinFast announced a strategic partnership with NVIDIA and AI company Autobrains to develop a Level 4 robotaxi platform for Southeast Asia
 

One of the clearest signs of this transition arrived recently from an unexpected corner of the world. At NVIDIA GTC Taipei 2026, Vietnam’s VinFast announced a strategic partnership with NVIDIA and AI company Autobrains to develop a Level 4 robotaxi platform for Southeast Asia. Built on NVIDIA DRIVE Hyperion 10 and powered by Autobrains’ Agentic AI software, the program aims to tackle one of the world’s most challenging traffic environments while making advanced autonomous mobility more scalable and cost-effective.
 

Beyond the announcement itself, the deal shines a light on several big changes happening all at once, from software-defined vehicles and AI-powered mobility to new partnerships and the push to bring autonomous driving into the real world.
 

Software-defined vehicles are becoming the industry’s next battleground

For much of automotive history, competition revolved around engines, manufacturing efficiency and mechanical engineering. Increasingly, however, vehicles are becoming software platforms that can continuously evolve through over-the-air updates, AI-driven features and cloud connectivity.
 

According to IoT Analytics’ Software-defined Vehicles Adoption Report 2026, 45% of automotive OEMs and suppliers now rank software-defined vehicles (SDVs) as their top strategic priority, ahead of both autonomous driving and electrification.
 

This shift is particularly significant for EV manufacturers. Unlike internal combustion vehicles, EVs already rely heavily on software-controlled systems for battery management, energy optimization, thermal management and vehicle performance. In many ways, today’s EV is starting to look less like a traditional car and more like a smartphone with seats and wheels.
 

As vehicles become software-defined platforms, competitive advantage is increasingly determined by computing power, AI capabilities and software architecture, creating new opportunities for EV-first brands such as VinFast.
 

Emerging markets are becoming the next frontier for autonomous mobility

The first generation of robotaxis largely focused on cities such as Phoenix, San Francisco, Shanghai and Beijing, where infrastructure is relatively structured and regulations are more mature.
 

Now comes the harder test: proving autonomous driving can work reliably in dense, highly unpredictable environments filled with motorcycles, informal driving behavior, pedestrians and mixed traffic conditions.
 

Southeast Asia represents challenges, but also a substantial commercial opportunity. According to IMARC Group, the Southeast Asian autonomous vehicle market reached approximately US$4.6 billion in 2025 and is projected to grow to US$27.3 billion by 2034.
 

For VinFast, this presents an opportunity to develop autonomous driving systems tailored to the realities of emerging markets while remaining equally effective in Western urban environments. The company itself highlighted this point when announcing the partnership, describing Southeast Asia’s dense traffic, diverse road behavior and highly dynamic urban environments as a demanding validation ground for autonomous driving.
 

Think of it this way: teaching a robotaxi to drive on wide, orderly roads is one thing. Teaching it to handle a busy Southeast Asian intersection, where scooters seem to appear from every direction at once, is an entirely different challenge.
 

If autonomous systems can succeed in Southeast Asia, they may become significantly easier to deploy across many other developing markets.
 

The industry is moving from standalone automakers to technology ecosystems

Autonomous driving has become too complex for any single company to master alone. Successful programs increasingly combine multiple areas of expertise:

• Automakers for vehicle integration and production

• AI specialists for autonomous software

• Semiconductor companies for computing platforms

• Mapping, simulation and cloud providers for supporting infrastructure
   

The VinFast-NVIDIA-Autobrains collaboration reflects this growing industry model. For newer EV brands, these ecosystems offer a shortcut to innovation by allowing them to leverage world-class technology partners rather than building every capability from scratch.
 

The future of EV innovation is increasingly being built through strategic technology ecosystems, and VinFast is leveraging global partnerships to accelerate the development of advanced autonomous capabilities.
 

The robotaxi industry is moving from experimentation to commercialization

Perhaps the most important trend is that robotaxis are moving beyond experimentation and toward commercial scale.
 

The evidence is increasingly visible. Fully autonomous ride-hailing services are now completing hundreds of thousands of paid passengers trips every week across multiple cities, while operators continue expanding into new markets. At the same time, industry analysts project strong growth for the global robotaxi sector over the coming decade as more cities transition from pilot programs to commercial deployments.
 

Yet much of this progress remains concentrated in developed markets or relatively controlled operating environments. Large-scale deployment in emerging markets, where traffic patterns are more complex and less predictable, remains one of the industry’s next major challenges.
 

This is where VinFast’s approach stands out. By developing a Level 4 robotaxi platform specifically for Southeast Asia, the company is targeting a region that could become one of the most demanding proving grounds for autonomous mobility. And rather than positioning autonomous driving solely as a luxury technology, the company is pursuing an approach centered on broader deployment and real-world usability.
 

That aligns with a wider industry movement toward democratizing advanced mobility technologies and making autonomous transportation accessible to a larger population. After all, technologies tend to have the biggest impact not when they stay in premium products, but when ordinary people can use them in everyday life.

Pramerica Life Insurance today announced the launch of Pramerica Life Invest Shield, a hybrid life insurance plan that combines term-level life protection with a unit-linked investment component in a single policy. The plan is structured so that the life cover operates as a separate term insurance layer, while the investment component functions as a ULIP with nine fund options across equity, debt, and balanced allocations.

Pramerica Life Insurance Launches ‘Invest Shield’

Invest Shield is designed for individuals aged in their early 30s to mid 40s who want both life protection and long-term wealth creation within a single policy, rather than managing a standalone term plan and a separate investment product. The plan offers a life cover of up to 100 times the annualised premium, though the actual multiple depends on the policyholder’s age at entry, chosen premium level, and policy term. Premium payment terms and policy duration are customisable.

Key Features

• Upto 100x Life Cover: Financial protection through a life cover of up to 100 times the annualised premium, ensuring substantial coverage for the family throughout the policy tenure. 

• Return of Charges: Return of mortality charges and premium allocation charges to the policyholder, helping enhance the overall fund value. 

• Loyalty Boosters: Persistency boosters and maturity benefits that reward customers for remaining invested over the long term. 

• Flexible Investment Options: Flexibility to choose between two investment strategies and nine fund options across equity, debt, and balanced allocations, catering to diverse risk profiles and investment preferences. 

• Customisable Premium Payment Terms and Policy Duration: Flexibility to align the plan with individual life stages, financial priorities, and long-term financial goals. 

Pankaj Gupta, MD & CEO, Pramerica Life Insurance, said, “Pramerica Life Insurance Invest Shield reflects where we believe the life insurance conversation in India needs to go. For too long, customers have been asked to make a choice that should not exist – between protecting their family and building their wealth. Customers today think about their financial future as a whole. Pramerica Life Invest Shield is built for that mindset. This launch also reflects our commitment to listening closely to evolving customer needs and responding with solutions that are genuinely differentiated. We are at an exciting point in Pramerica Life’s journey – three consecutive years of strong, quality growth across every pillar of our business. That foundation gives us both the confidence and the responsibility to bring genuinely differentiated products to market.”

Karthik Chakrapani, Chief Business Officer, Pramerica Life Insurance, said, “Pramerica Life Invest Shield has been designed for customers who are looking for a more integrated approach to financial planning — one that combines meaningful life protection with long-term wealth creation at a stage in life where both priorities become increasingly important. At Pramerica Life, we remain committed to expanding insurance access across India through solutions that are relevant to evolving customer needs and supported by a diversified distribution ecosystem. Through our channels Prahri and Param, catering to the armed forces and paramilitary services respectively, our agency network across Tier 2 and Tier 3 markets, broker and corporate agent relationships, and our direct-to-consumer channel, we are making Pramerica Life Invest Shield accessible to customers across markets and geographies through the mode of engagement that best aligns with their preferences and financial needs.“

The launch arrives at a moment of sustained momentum for Pramerica Life – three consecutive years of double-digit growth, built on the quality and sustainability of the business being written. New Business Premium grew 19% year-on-year to Rs. 1,471 crore, while Annualised Premium Equivalent rose 29%. Assets under Management expanded 12% YoY and individual New Business Premium grew 30%. Through this period of growth, the company has maintained a Claims Paid Ratio of 99.29% – rising year-on-year for three consecutive years – a measure of the discipline and customer commitment that has accompanied the scale. 

Alongside this growth, the company has remained focused on societal inclusion and extending financial protection to traditionally underserved customer groups and regions. With an average ticket size approximately 42% lower than the industry median, Pramerica Life has consciously built offerings aimed at broadening accessibility across customer segments. The company’s long-standing association with the armed forces and paramilitary community is reflected through specialised protection solutions and second-career opportunities, with more than 60% of individual lives covered belonging to the defence forces community and over 8,500 veterans employed since inception. Nearly 90% of lives covered by Pramerica Life are from rural India, reflecting its continued focus on deepening penetration across underpenetrated and hard-to-reach regions. Pramerica Life Invest Shield is a direct extension of this philosophy — a product built around genuine customer relevance and long-term value creation.

About Pramerica Life Insurance Limited

Pramerica Life Insurance Limited is a joint venture between DIL, a wholly owned subsidiary of Piramal Finance Limited (erstwhile Piramal Capital and Housing Finance Limited) and Prudential International Insurance Holdings, Ltd. (PIIH), a fully owned subsidiary of Prudential Financial, Inc. (PFI). It represents the coming together of two renowned financial services organizations with a legacy of business excellence spread over decades. Pramerica Life Insurance Limited, started operations in India on September 1, 2008 and has a pan India presence through multiple distribution channels which have been customized to address the specific insurance needs of diverse customer segments. The Company is committed to providing protection and quality financial advice to its customers. Pramerica is the brand name used in India and select countries by PFI.

For more details, please visit www.pramericalife.in

About Piramal Finance Limited

Piramal Finance Limited is a retail-led upper-layer NBFC with a pan-India presence, having served over 5 million customers across 26 states. The company manages Assets under Management (AUM) of over Rs. 1,00,000 Cr and operates a distinctive phygital model – combining high-touch engagement across 13,000+ pin codes with high-tech capabilities including machine learning models, agentic AI tools and real-time dashboards. In retail lending, Piramal Finance offers home loans, loans against property, used car loans, personal loans, digital loans and small business loans, with a strong focus on metro-adjacent, semi-urban and rural markets. In wholesale lending, the company provides asset-backed, data-driven solutions across real estate and select non-real estate sectors, with a focus on mid-segment residential projects and capital solutions for mid-market corporates. With its digital-first approach and AI-enabled platforms, Piramal Finance is committed to expanding access to affordable credit and driving inclusive growth across India.

For more information visit: piramalfinance.com

About Prudential Financial, Inc.

Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU), a global financial services leader and premier active global investment manager with approximately USD 1.4 trillion in assets under management as of December 31, 2022, has operations in the United States, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Prudential’s diverse and talented employees help make lives better by creating financial opportunities for more people by expanding access to investing, insurance, and retirement security. Prudential’s iconic Rock symbol has stood for strength, stability, expertise, and innovation for nearly 150 years.

For more information, please visit news.prudential.com

As Indian families diligently monitor their parents’ blood pressure, administer medications, and schedule cardiology appointments, one question consistently goes unasked: What are we doing for their brain?
 

A team of physicians led by Dr. Sweta Sahu is determined to change that — one daily activity at a time.
 

A doctor-led brain wellness initiative designed to support healthy ageing
 

Their initiative, ActiveMind Daily — part of the healthcare venture BlueprintRx — is now inviting 50 founding families to join a 10-day pilot of a doctor-designed brain wellness programme built specifically for older adults in Indian homes. Simple, screen-free, and grounded in science, the programme delivers one short daily activity targeting memory, language, attention, reflection, and family connection.
 

Filling a Need Families Don’t Know they have
India’s elderly population is expanding at an unprecedented rate — yet conversations around brain health prevention remain largely absent from everyday elder care. Clinically, conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease are routinely managed. Cognitive engagement, combating loneliness, and meaningful mental stimulation rarely receive the same attention — until decline becomes impossible to ignore.
 

Built for Real Indian Families
Unlike conventional wellness applications, ActiveMind Daily requires no login and no screen time from seniors. The programme is designed around the rhythms of Indian family life. Activities can be completed independently, with light family support, or through a brief phone call between a parent and an adult child living away from home.
 

Daily prompts draw on culturally familiar themes — childhood festival memories, beloved songs, regional proverbs, and food traditions — crafted to feel like conversation, not clinical exercises.
 

Reminders are delivered via WhatsApp or phone call, and progress is easy to track. Families who remain consistent through the first seven days receive a surprise gift. And if a day is missed, the programme accommodates catch-up sessions — because the goal, as the team emphasises, is rhythm, not perfection.
 

A Doctor-led Team with a Long-term Commitment

ActiveMind Daily is built by physicians who share a common belief: that brain health deserves the same everyday attention we give to the heart.
 

Dr. Sweta Sahu, Founder, is a physician and researcher with research and clinical experience at Johns Hopkins, the Cleveland Clinic, and the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She is a recipient of the American Heart Association’s 2025 Paul Dudley White International Scholar Award and has contributed to over 100 publications spanning cardiovascular medicine, gastroenterology, and population health.
 

“Brain wellness cannot wait for symptoms. Our goal is to make daily cognitive engagement as natural as a morning cup of chai — familiar, effortless, and something the whole family looks forward to.’”

Dr. Sri Sravya Thungathurthi, Physician and Co-founder of ActiveMind Daily, combines clinical training with a strong interest in healthy aging and preventive medicine. Through her exposure to healthcare systems in both India and the United States, she became increasingly interested in how early, proactive approaches to health can improve quality of life long before disease develops. Through ActiveMind Daily, she is helping raise awareness and build practical tools that promote cognitive wellness and meaningful family engagement for older adults in India.
 

“We designed these activities to meet families where they are—not in a clinic, but in their living rooms, around their dining tables, and in their everyday moments. Brain health is one of the most overlooked aspects of healthy ageing in India. In a world increasingly driven by short-form content, constant distractions, and passive consumption, we risk losing curiosity, creativity, and meaningful mental engagement. To me, ActiveMind Daily is a way to encourage a culture where keeping the mind active becomes a daily habit—not out of fear of decline, but as a celebration of lifelong learning, curiosity, and connection.”
 

ActiveMind Daily is supported by an expanding network of doctors, young medical interns, and students of Indian origin studying in U.S. high schools who work alongside its physician leadership team to contribute to research, programme development, participant feedback, and ongoing improvements. Together, they help ensure the initiative continues to evolve, adapt, and remain deeply relevant to the real-world needs of Indian seniors and their families.
 

The programme’s activity framework is guided by evidence-based public health guidance on cognitive health and healthy ageing from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the National Institute on Ageing (NIA).
 

Join the founding pilot
The 10-day founding families pilot is now open and strictly limited to 50 families in the first batch. Families may begin with a free 30-second brain wellness check and sample three activities at no cost, or register directly through the ActiveMind Daily website.

Website: activeminddaily.in/check

EuroSchool, one of India’s leading K-12 school networks, commemorated 15 years of educational excellence at its Thane campus, celebrating a legacy of academic achievement, holistic development, and meaningful community impact. The milestone event brought together students, parents, alumni, educators, and distinguished guests to reflect on the school’s journey and achievements over the past decade and a half.

EuroSchool Thane celebrates 15 years

Guided by EuroSchool’s philosophy of “Discover Yourself“, the school has consistently focused on creating a balanced learning environment that extends beyond academic achievement. Through a blend of academic rigour, experiential learning, leadership opportunities, sports, arts, and life skills development, EuroSchool Thane has empowered students to discover their strengths, pursue their passions, and develop into confident, well-rounded individuals prepared for the future.

The milestone celebration brought together students, parents, alumni, educators, staff members, and distinguished guests to commemorate the school’s journey and celebrate the community that has contributed to its success over the past decade and a half. The event reflected the strong partnerships and shared commitment that have helped shape EuroSchool Thane into a trusted institution for generations of families.

Distinguished guests included Mr. Prajodh Rajan, Co-Founder and CEO, Lighthouse Learning; Ms. Perin Bagli, Secretary and Treasurer, Association of ICSE Schools in Maharashtra (AISM) and Regional Coordinator for Maharashtra, Goa and UAE, CISCE; Mr. Sadashiv Nayak, CEO – K-12, Lighthouse Learning; and Ms. Natasha Mehta, Head – Central Education Team (CEdT).

The programme featured a welcome ceremony, leadership addresses, a keynote session on the evolving relevance of the ICSE curriculum and future-ready education, and a special presentation chronicling EuroSchool Thane’s 15-year journey. The event also recognised board toppers and outstanding student achievers. 

Jyotsna Mayadas, Principal, EuroSchool Thane, said, “This milestone is a celebration of every student, parent, educator, alumnus, and staff member who has contributed to making EuroSchool Thane what it is today. Over the last 15 years, we have remained committed to creating a nurturing environment where children can learn, grow, and discover their unique strengths. We are grateful for the trust of our parent community and look forward to continuing our journey of educational excellence together.”

Ms Perin Bagli, Principal- Activity High School & Secretary and Treasurer of the Association of ICSE Schools in Maharashtra (AISM), said, “I am delighted to have been invited to EuroSchool Thane for this special occasion. Having previously visited EuroSchool Airoli and been deeply impressed by the institution’s commitment to holistic education, I was eager to be here once again. Celebrating 15 glorious years is a remarkable milestone, reflecting the dedication, perseverance, and collective efforts of the teachers, leadership team, parents, and the entire school community. I would also like to commend Mr. Rajan, Co-founder and Group CEO of this institution whose progressive vision and educational philosophy have played a pivotal role in shaping its journey. Today, he introduced us to the powerful concept of grit, a value that I am confident will continue to inspire and empower future generations of learners.” 

Over the last 15 years, EuroSchool Thane has remained focused on fostering academic excellence while nurturing creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, and character development. The school’s balanced approach to education has enabled generations of students to excel not only in academics but also across sports, performing arts, leadership initiatives, and community engagement programmes.

As EuroSchool Thane embarks on its next chapter, it remains committed to building on its legacy of excellence while continuing to innovate and evolve to meet the changing needs of learners. With a strong foundation rooted in academic quality, holistic development, and community trust, the school will continue to nurture confident, responsible, and future-ready individuals.

Today, EuroSchool nurtures more than 30,000 students with the support of over 1,800 educators across campuses in Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Surat.

About EuroSchool
EuroSchool is one of India’s leading K–12 school networks, with campuses across Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Surat.

30,000 students | 1,800+ educators | 1000+Digital Classes | 480+ GPS Buses | 111,000+ Library Books

Guided by the philosophy of “Discover Yourself”, EuroSchool empowers children to explore their potential and discover their dreams and talents. From Nursery to Grade 12, EuroSchool is dedicated to nurturing curiosity, building confidence, and preparing every child for a rapidly evolving world.

Its Balanced Schooling approach — anchored in the proprietary Learn–Reinforce–Practice–Apply–Experience (LRPAX) methodology — seamlessly blends academic excellence with co-curricular and extracurricular learning. It offers an extensive range of opportunities to develop life skills, creativity and leadership. With a strong focus on child safety – being India’s first school network to earn the global ‘Safe School’ certification, EuroSchool provides secure spaces where children can truly flourish.

All EuroSchool campuses are affiliated with either the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) or the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE), ensuring globally benchmarked academic standards with the flexibility and care that today’s learners need.

For more information, visit: www.euroschoolindia.com.

About Lighthouse Learning Group
Lighthouse Learning Group, formerly known as EuroKids International, is India’s leading Early Childhood & K-12 Education group, backed by global investment firm KKR. Driven by its purpose to unlock human potential by igniting the love for learning through its institutions, which include leading brands like EuroKids Preschool, Kangaroo Kids Preschool, EuroSchool and Billabong High International, Mother’s Pet Kindergarten, Centre Point School, Heritage International Xperiential School, Heritage Xperiential Learning School, Finland International School, Maldives and Phoenix Greens School of Learning, Hyderabad. Nurturing over 200,000 students every day, Lighthouse Learning emphasises a ‘Child First’ philosophy, innovative pedagogy, and child safety. With 1,850 Preschools and 60 K-12 Schools, it empowers 1,650 women entrepreneurs and employs a direct and indirect workforce of over 22,000 people.