Author: Sai Krishna

Tradewind Finance Provides EUR 2 Million Export Factoring Facility to Eldohm to Support International Growth

The tailored factoring facility enables Eldohm to offer international customers payment terms of up to 120 days while maintaining the liquidity needed to pay suppliers in China earlier in the trade cycle.

MÖNCHENGLADBACH, Germany, Oct. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Tradewind Finance has provided a EUR 2 million export factoring facility, available in both euros and US dollars, to the Hong Kong subsidiary of Eldohm, a Netherlands-based international trading company. Arranged in collaboration with CRDT, the facility supports Eldohm’s international growth by providing working capital against outstanding invoices, enabling the company to manage larger orders and pursue further expansion in the United States.

Supporting Growth Across International Trade Flows

For internationally operating trading companies, managing the time between supplier payments and customer collections is a critical working capital challenge. Customers often require extended payment terms, while suppliers need to be paid much earlier in the trade cycle.

Eldohm’s Hong Kong subsidiary manages sourcing, product development and quality control, while the group’s financial administration is handled from the Netherlands. The company offers international customers payment terms of up to 120 days and can pay its suppliers in China earlier in the trade cycle.

As trading volumes grow, so does the amount of working capital required to bridge these payment cycles. This additional financing capacity enables Eldohm to accept larger orders, support growing customer demand and continue expanding its business in the United States.

An Export Factoring Solution Tailored to Eldohm

Tradewind structured the export factoring facility around Eldohm’s international trading operations.

By financing eligible export receivables issued by the Hong Kong entity, Tradewind makes working capital available before customers settle their invoices. This allows Eldohm to meet supplier payment obligations while continuing to offer competitive payment terms to its international customers.

The transaction required experience in international factoring, particularly in financing a Hong Kong entity with concentrated receivables exposure to a US-based buyer. These characteristics had made conventional financing through Dutch providers difficult to arrange.

Tradewind’s international expertise and tailored approach enabled a factoring solution aligned with Eldohm’s actual trade flows and financing requirements.

“Through factoring, we can offer our international customers the extended payment terms they need to manage their cash flow effectively when handling large volumes. At the same time, we can pay our suppliers in China earlier in the trade cycle without our own cash flow limiting growth. This creates financial flexibility on both sides of the supply chain and enables us to grow faster together with our partners,” said Pieter van den Bosch of Eldohm.

CRDT and Tradewind Combine Expertise to Deliver the Facility

The transaction was introduced to Tradewind by CRDT, which already supported Eldohm with credit management services. As Eldohm’s financing requirements developed, CRDT helped identify a financing partner with the international experience needed to support its operations.

For trading companies operating across Europe, Asia and the United States, access to appropriate financing can be complicated by differences in legal jurisdictions, corporate structures and the requirements of domestic financing providers.

CRDT’s understanding of Eldohm’s business, combined with Tradewind’s experience in international factoring, contributed to the development of a financing structure suited to the company’s needs.

“International trade requires expertise and a strong network to tailor supply chain finance to the needs of each business,” said Frans van der Hoorn, Managing Director at CRDT.

International Factoring Expertise Supporting Further Expansion

For Tradewind, the transaction demonstrates the importance of structuring financing around the way companies conduct international business.

With decades of trade finance experience and an international network of local teams, Tradewind supports exporters and importers whose financing needs extend beyond traditional domestic banking structures.

Rather than relying solely on Eldohm’s Dutch operations, Tradewind was able to finance receivables through the company’s Hong Kong subsidiary, supporting trade with a US-based buyer.

“Eldohm’s business demonstrates why export factoring needs to reflect the way goods, invoices and payments move across borders. By financing receivables through its Hong Kong entity, we have structured a facility that supports extended customer payment terms while providing the working capital needed for larger orders and further growth in the United States. Our collaboration with CRDT was instrumental in developing a solution aligned with Eldohm’s business,” said Harry Marchal, VP Sales Europe at Tradewind Finance.

The facility provides Eldohm with additional financing capacity to manage increasing order volumes, maintain supplier payments and pursue further international growth. It illustrates how tailored export factoring can improve cash flow and support companies operating across multiple markets.

To learn how Tradewind’s tailor-made trade finance solutions support international growth, visit www.tradewindfinance.com.

About Tradewind Finance

Founded in 2000, Tradewind Finance maintains a global network of offices including Bangladesh, Bulgaria, China, Hong Kong SAR, Hungary, India, Pakistan, Turkey, UAE, and the USA, alongside its headquarters in Germany. Combining financing, credit protection, and collections into one streamlined offering, Tradewind delivers flexible, best-in-class trade finance solutions to exporters and importers worldwide.

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SBC and V&V Group Announce Strategic Consolidation of Technology and AI Capabilities into a Joint-Venture Platform

14 tax-technology products and intellectual assets came together under a common AI-native integration layer, creating an integrated platform spanning transfer pricing, corporate tax, GST, e-invoicing, audit and suite of accounting products. Combined businesses served 1,500–2,000 clients, including over 350 multinational groups, and brought together nearly 500 professionals, with plans to expand into four to five jurisdictions within 24 months

HYDERABAD, India, Oct. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Steadfast Business Consulting (SBC), a Hyderabad-headquartered international tax, transfer pricing and tax-technology group, and V&V Group, a Bengaluru-based GST and audit-technology group, announced a strategic consolidation of their technology assets and artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities into a joint-venture technology platform. The initiative marks a significant step towards building an Indian-owned, AI-enabled technology enterprise that combines deep tax expertise, proprietary software and intelligent automation to serve businesses and professional services firms across global markets.

The consolidation brings together 14 technology products and intellectual assets spanning transfer pricing, corporate taxation, GST, e-invoicing, audit, bookkeeping and regulatory compliance. Together, the two organisations serve approximately 1,500–2,000 clients, including more than 350 multinational groups, and brings together nearly 500 professionals, comprising 40–50 chartered accountants and 40–50 engineers. Their services businesses across India, the UAE, the United States and Europe are positioned to serve as the platform’s first customers and international distribution channel.

The combined portfolio includes SBC’s TP Doc Gen AI (TAIGA), TaxMate, FixTag, SBC Track and ROC Data, alongside V&V Group’s GSTZen, WeAudit, DeskAudit, Papilio and the Tidy suite. The common AI-native integration layer is designed to connect these products, streamline workflows and reduce duplication in technology development, data infrastructure and service delivery.

Commenting on the announcement, CA Mithilesh Reddy, Founder & Managing Partner, SBC, said, “Indian firms never lacked talent. We lacked scale and ownership of our tools. This combination gave us both. By bringing together our domain expertise, proprietary technologies and AI capabilities, we took an important step towards building a globally competitive, Indian-owned technology enterprise. Our vision was to move beyond traditional consulting models and create a platform where every service engagement benefited from our own technology, enabling us to deliver greater efficiency, consistency and value to businesses worldwide.”

The combined technology estate included 51 AI agents, of which 44 are operational. The proposed common AI layer brings together regulatory knowledge, tax laws, rulings, comparables and financial data to support automation across document preparation, data processing, reporting and audit-related workflows. The architecture is designed to integrate with client enterprise resource planning systems, India’s GST and e-invoicing infrastructure, and relevant data providers.

The platform follows a human-led decision-making model: AI executed repetitive and data-intensive tasks, while qualified professionals retained responsibility for interpretation, review and final decisions. This approach sought to combine the speed and scalability of automation with professional judgement, accountability and regulatory expertise.

Vinay Thyagaraj, Co-founder, V&V Group and GSTZen, said, “Our GST, e-invoicing and audit engines already supported Indian businesses in managing their everyday compliance requirements. Bringing these capabilities together with SBC’s expertise in international taxation and transfer pricing created an opportunity to build a more comprehensive technology platform. With one AI layer and a wider global channel, we aimed to transform proven India-built solutions into scalable products that businesses and professional services firms across the world could use. Our focus remained on using technology to simplify complexity while keeping qualified professionals at the centre of decision-making.”

The organisations outlined a four-phase integration roadmap spanning 24 months. The initial 90 days focused on establishing joint technology leadership, a common data infrastructure and an integrated product roadmap. The next phase envisaged cross-selling opportunities across the combined client base and the establishment of a shared delivery centre. Within 12 months, the technology joint venture planned to introduce new products, including UAE e-invoicing, WeAudit AI and TidyBooks AI. The final phase targeted operations across four to five jurisdictions within 24 months.

TidyBooks AI is envisioned as an integrated platform connecting invoicing, accounting, financial statements, audit files and transfer pricing documentation. The roadmap also includes expanding the technology portfolio into global VAT and e-invoicing requirements, with Dubai positioned as a regional hub for the Gulf Cooperation Council market.

The consolidation is expected to generate operational efficiencies through a shared engineering team, common data stack, unified AI gateway, integrated delivery infrastructure and a single go-to-market strategy. The model followed a ‘build once, deploy everywhere‘ approach, allowing the organisations to scale technology across their combined client base without duplicating development efforts.

Beyond serving their own clients, the organisations envisage a white-label and subscription-based delivery model that enabled other professional and consulting firms to access the platform under their own brands. The approach was intended to help smaller and mid-sized firms adopt advanced technology without having to independently develop and maintain complex software infrastructure.

The initiative also seeks to strengthen India’s position as a global hub for technology-enabled professional services. By combining its accounting expertise, engineering talent and cost-efficient delivery capabilities, the group aimed to export technology-led tax and compliance solutions to international markets while creating opportunities for professionals skilled in AI, taxation and regulatory technology.

About SBC: SBC is an international tax, transfer pricing and tax-technology group with operations in Hyderabad and Dubai and a presence in the United States. It serves more than 350 multinational groups across international taxation, transfer pricing, Advance Pricing Agreements, UAE corporate tax, Pillar Two, virtual CFO services and Global Capability Centre advisory. Its technology portfolio includes TP Doc Gen AI (TAIGA) and TaxMate. SBC is a member of Kreston Global, an international network spanning more than 120 countries. Website: steadfastconsultants.in 

About V&V Group and GSTZen: V&V Group, co-founded by Vinay Thyagaraj and CA Venugopal Gella, is a Bengaluru-based technology group specializing in GST, e-invoicing, audit automation, bookkeeping, VAT and customs technology. Its portfolio includes GSTZen, WeAudit, DeskAudit and the Tidy suite of products. The group focuses on simplifying tax compliance, financial reporting and audit processes through technology-enabled solutions. Website: gstzen.in

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/in/news-releases/sbc-and-vv-group-announce-strategic-consolidation-of-technology-and-ai-capabilities-into-a-joint-venture-platform-302917845.html

PNB MetLife Launches Momentum Quality Index Fund for Long-Term Financial Goals

NEW DELHI, Oct. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — PNB MetLife India Insurance Company Limited (PNB MetLife), one of India’s leading life insurers, has launched the PNB MetLife Momentum Quality Index Fund, under its Unit Linked Insurance Plans (ULIPs)^[1]. The fund combines equity market participation with life cover and is designed for Indian customers seeking long-term capital growth through disciplined investing.

The fund has been introduced under PNB MetLife’s Smart GEM – (ULIF 04519/10/26MOMENTUMQL117) and SIPP Pro – (ULIF04619/10/26PEMOMENTQL117) products. For Smart GEM, the New Fund Offer (NFO) period will run from October 19– 29, 2026, at an initial Net Asset Value (NAV) of ₹10 per unit. For SIPP Pro, the New Fund Offer (NFO) period will remain open from October 19-November 4, 2026, at an initial Net Asset Value (NAV) of ₹10 per unit^[2].

PNB MetLife Momentum Quality Index Fund tracks the BSE 500 Momentum Quality 50 Index (customised)^[3]. The fund follows a multi-factor strategy combining two complementary investment factors: momentum, which reflects market trends, and quality, which focuses on the financial fundamentals of businesses. This rule-based approach brings the two factors together within a single investment strategy.

It helps customers link today’s disciplined investing to their longer-term life goals, alongside financial protection for their family^[4]. 

Key Features: 

• Balanced Market Participation: Quality focuses on financially superior businesses, while momentum factors aim to capture growth during bullish rallies. 
• Diversified Exposure: Factor-based investing targets specific drivers of return, such as value, quality, and momentum, rather than assigning weights by company size alone. This enables exposure to be spread across multiple sectors, allowing diversification.
• Long–term Orientation: Encourages sustained investment through market cycles to support financial goals.
• Life Cover with Retirement Readiness: As a ULIP-linked fund, it combines equity growth potential with life insurance protection, helping customers work towards a dedicated long-term corpus alongside financial protection for their family. 

Investment risk in this policy is borne by the policyholder, and unit-linked products carry a five-year lock-in. Please read the sales brochure carefully before concluding a sale.

Speaking on the launch, Sourabh Lohtia, Chief Marketing Officer, PNB MetLife said, “As customers think about their financial future, they are increasingly looking for solutions that can help them pursue long-term goals while also providing life insurance protection. At PNB MetLife, our focus is on giving customers more choices to plan for important life milestones with confidence. The Momentum Quality Index Fund strengthens this proposition by bringing together a disciplined approach to investing with the protection offered through ULIPs.”

^[1] PNB MetLife Momentum Quality Index Fund is a passively managed fund with the BSE 500 Momentum Quality 50 Index (customised) as its benchmark

^[2] For Smart GEM, the NFO period will run from 19^th October – 29^th October 2026, with units being allotted at an initial NAV of ₹10 on 30^th October 2026. For SIPP Pro, the NFO period will remain open from 19^th October- 4^th November 2026, with units being allotted at an initial NAV of ₹10, on 5^thNovember 2026

^[3] Customised index created and maintained by BSE Index Services Pvt. Ltd. for PNB MetLife India to meet IRDAI investment norms

^[4] IN THIS POLICY, THE INVESTMENT RISK IN INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO IS BORNE BY THE POLICYHOLDER. The unit linked insurance products do not offer any liquidity during the ­first ­five years of the contract. Policyholder will not be able to surrender/ withdraw the money invested in unit-linked insurance products completely or partially until the end of the fifth year.

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SBC and V&V Group Announce Strategic Consolidation of Technology and AI Capabilities into a Joint-Venture Platform

14 tax-technology products and intellectual assets came together under a common AI-native integration layer, creating an integrated platform spanning transfer pricing, corporate tax, GST, e-invoicing, audit and suite of accounting products. Combined businesses served 1,500–2,000 clients, including over 350 multinational groups, and brought together nearly 500 professionals, with plans to expand into four to five jurisdictions within 24 months

HYDERABAD, India, Oct. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Steadfast Business Consulting (SBC), a Hyderabad-headquartered international tax, transfer pricing and tax-technology group, and V&V Group, a Bengaluru-based GST and audit-technology group, announced a strategic consolidation of their technology assets and artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities into a joint-venture technology platform. The initiative marks a significant step towards building an Indian-owned, AI-enabled technology enterprise that combines deep tax expertise, proprietary software and intelligent automation to serve businesses and professional services firms across global markets.

The consolidation brings together 14 technology products and intellectual assets spanning transfer pricing, corporate taxation, GST, e-invoicing, audit, bookkeeping and regulatory compliance. Together, the two organisations serve approximately 1,500–2,000 clients, including more than 350 multinational groups, and brings together nearly 500 professionals, comprising 40–50 chartered accountants and 40–50 engineers. Their services businesses across India, the UAE, the United States and Europe are positioned to serve as the platform’s first customers and international distribution channel.

The combined portfolio includes SBC’s TP Doc Gen AI (TAIGA), TaxMate, FixTag, SBC Track and ROC Data, alongside V&V Group’s GSTZen, WeAudit, DeskAudit, Papilio and the Tidy suite. The common AI-native integration layer is designed to connect these products, streamline workflows and reduce duplication in technology development, data infrastructure and service delivery.

Commenting on the announcement, CA Mithilesh Reddy, Founder & Managing Partner, SBC, said, “Indian firms never lacked talent. We lacked scale and ownership of our tools. This combination gave us both. By bringing together our domain expertise, proprietary technologies and AI capabilities, we took an important step towards building a globally competitive, Indian-owned technology enterprise. Our vision was to move beyond traditional consulting models and create a platform where every service engagement benefited from our own technology, enabling us to deliver greater efficiency, consistency and value to businesses worldwide.”

The combined technology estate included 51 AI agents, of which 44 are operational. The proposed common AI layer brings together regulatory knowledge, tax laws, rulings, comparables and financial data to support automation across document preparation, data processing, reporting and audit-related workflows. The architecture is designed to integrate with client enterprise resource planning systems, India’s GST and e-invoicing infrastructure, and relevant data providers.

The platform follows a human-led decision-making model: AI executed repetitive and data-intensive tasks, while qualified professionals retained responsibility for interpretation, review and final decisions. This approach sought to combine the speed and scalability of automation with professional judgement, accountability and regulatory expertise.

Vinay Thyagaraj, Co-founder, V&V Group and GSTZen, said, “Our GST, e-invoicing and audit engines already supported Indian businesses in managing their everyday compliance requirements. Bringing these capabilities together with SBC’s expertise in international taxation and transfer pricing created an opportunity to build a more comprehensive technology platform. With one AI layer and a wider global channel, we aimed to transform proven India-built solutions into scalable products that businesses and professional services firms across the world could use. Our focus remained on using technology to simplify complexity while keeping qualified professionals at the centre of decision-making.”

The organisations outlined a four-phase integration roadmap spanning 24 months. The initial 90 days focused on establishing joint technology leadership, a common data infrastructure and an integrated product roadmap. The next phase envisaged cross-selling opportunities across the combined client base and the establishment of a shared delivery centre. Within 12 months, the technology joint venture planned to introduce new products, including UAE e-invoicing, WeAudit AI and TidyBooks AI. The final phase targeted operations across four to five jurisdictions within 24 months.

TidyBooks AI is envisioned as an integrated platform connecting invoicing, accounting, financial statements, audit files and transfer pricing documentation. The roadmap also includes expanding the technology portfolio into global VAT and e-invoicing requirements, with Dubai positioned as a regional hub for the Gulf Cooperation Council market.

The consolidation is expected to generate operational efficiencies through a shared engineering team, common data stack, unified AI gateway, integrated delivery infrastructure and a single go-to-market strategy. The model followed a ‘build once, deploy everywhere‘ approach, allowing the organisations to scale technology across their combined client base without duplicating development efforts.

Beyond serving their own clients, the organisations envisage a white-label and subscription-based delivery model that enabled other professional and consulting firms to access the platform under their own brands. The approach was intended to help smaller and mid-sized firms adopt advanced technology without having to independently develop and maintain complex software infrastructure.

The initiative also seeks to strengthen India’s position as a global hub for technology-enabled professional services. By combining its accounting expertise, engineering talent and cost-efficient delivery capabilities, the group aimed to export technology-led tax and compliance solutions to international markets while creating opportunities for professionals skilled in AI, taxation and regulatory technology.

About SBC: SBC is an international tax, transfer pricing and tax-technology group with operations in Hyderabad and Dubai and a presence in the United States. It serves more than 350 multinational groups across international taxation, transfer pricing, Advance Pricing Agreements, UAE corporate tax, Pillar Two, virtual CFO services and Global Capability Centre advisory. Its technology portfolio includes TP Doc Gen AI (TAIGA) and TaxMate. SBC is a member of Kreston Global, an international network spanning more than 120 countries. Website: steadfastconsultants.in 

About V&V Group and GSTZen: V&V Group, co-founded by Vinay Thyagaraj and CA Venugopal Gella, is a Bengaluru-based technology group specializing in GST, e-invoicing, audit automation, bookkeeping, VAT and customs technology. Its portfolio includes GSTZen, WeAudit, DeskAudit and the Tidy suite of products. The group focuses on simplifying tax compliance, financial reporting and audit processes through technology-enabled solutions. Website: gstzen.in

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/in/news-releases/sbc-and-vv-group-announce-strategic-consolidation-of-technology-and-ai-capabilities-into-a-joint-venture-platform-302917845.html

QFocus Technologies Scales Global Engineering Business, Plans to Triple Workforce in 2027 to Support Growing Customer Demand

BENGALURU, India and SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — QFocus Technologies LLC (QFocus), headquartered in the USA, is strengthening its global engineering operations following continued business growth across its key markets. The company has doubled its customer base to include top OEMs and CMs across AI infrastructure, medical devices and industrial products, adding multiple new customer engagements over the past 12 months.

Since its inception, QFocus has built relationships with leading global organizations across the technology and manufacturing ecosystem, supporting engineering programs for a global electronics manufacturing and supply chain solutions provider, a leading computational software company serving the semiconductor design industry, a frontier AI company advancing AI infrastructure and computing, and a global medical technology company, amongst others.

These customer programs also offer QFocus engineers opportunities to work on real-world engineering challenges for global organizations, gain exposure to international engineering practices and contribute to technologies and products with applications across industries. By working alongside experienced Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) and supporting demanding customer requirements, engineers can deepen their technical capabilities while gaining experience across the product development and manufacturing lifecycle.

The company plans to triple the number of its engineers globally over the next 12 months, strengthening its capabilities across AI/ML & software engineering, data science & engineering, ASIC hardware & embedded software design, validation & verification, and manufacturing & quality engineering. The expansion will support QFocus’ growing portfolio of global customer programs while further positioning it as a premier SME-led engineering services provider globally.

Founder & CEO Ajit Chandorkar said, “We see tremendous opportunities to support customers navigating complex development and manufacturing environments. Our delivery model pairs industry-recognized SMEs directly with agile engineering teams, combining strategic foresight with technical execution to address our customers’ most intricate challenges. Expanding our product engineering team alongside our AI capabilities will further strengthen this approach, enabling our customers to accelerate time-to-market, elevate product quality and improve operational efficiency. As we continue to build our engineering capabilities, we remain focused on fostering a high-caliber team that delivers world-class solutions and creates lasting value for our customers.”

QFocus is also continuing to build relationships with academic institutions and engineering partners globally to strengthen its talent pipeline and create opportunities for engineering professionals to work on emerging technology areas.

About QFocus Technologies

QFocus is a US-based design and manufacturing engineering service provider, delivering consulting-led services that help clients achieve faster time-to-market and improved process and product quality. QFocus’ comprehensive service portfolio spans embedded systems & AI, manufacturing/quality engineering, factory data analytics, and operational excellence. QFocus serves clients across Medical & Life Sciences, AI Infrastructure and CE, and Industrial & Transport sectors.

QFocus fosters a vibrant environment of joy, excitement, creativity, and innovation, placing inclusion, empathy, and empowerment for every employee and partner at the heart of its growing culture. We are a team of Go-Getters in the making!

For more information about QFocus and its services, visit www.qfocustech.com or contact ops@qfocustech.com. 

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Baccarat Hotel & Residences Maldives Unveils New Campaign featuring Adriana Lima

A new visual campaign captures the vision of unique island living, through light, water and Baccarat’s world of crystal – shot by world-renowned photographer Russell James

DUBAI, UAE, Oct. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Baccarat Hotel & Residences Maldives unveils a new brand campaign starring internationally renowned model Adriana Lima, offering a cinematic interpretation of residential ownership and the distinctive way of life imagined for Baccarat’s first island in the Maldives.

Shot against the natural landscape of the Indian Ocean, by iconic photographer Russell James, the campaign explores the interplay between light, water and nature and Baccarat’s world of crystal, craftsmanship and French artistry. Across a series of intimate visual moments, Lima brings to life the rituals of residential living in the Maldives – from quiet mornings and time spent with family to swimming, exploring and gathering together by the water – from the luxury of your own home.

At its heart, the campaign presents how owning a residence in the Maldives can be a way of life, rather than simply a place to stay. The residences are conceived around the rhythms of the Maldivian landscape, with the natural environment providing the backdrop to everyday life. All 62 turnkey residences, ranging from two to five bedrooms, embody the maison’s timeless sophistication with light-filled interiors that bring the outside in. Expansive layouts with 20-metre private infinity pools, dual outdoor showers, fire pits for starlit gatherings, personal yoga pavilions, and fully equipped bars for seamless al fresco indulgence create the idyllic island lifestyle.

For the first time, the campaign reveals the Maldives’ only golf residences. A collection of five homes situated around the island’s private nine-hole golf course, curated entirely for those who embrace daily active living to the backdrop of the Maldives’ most desirable settings.

Russell James is a globally recognized fine art and fashion photographer known for expertly capturing human experience and the true essence of places and people. Russell James comments: “The extraordinary beauty of Adriana immersed in the perfect nature of the Maldives is one of the most authentic and logical photographic series I have had the pleasure to create.” 

Baccarat Hotel & Residences Maldives comprises a collection of five islands across 125 acres in the South Malé Atoll, with 62 private residences and 50 villas enveloped by the Indian Ocean. As the first Baccarat-branded residences in the Indian Ocean, the project carries over 250 years of the Maison’s heritage and artistry. Designed by world-renowned partners including 1508 London, HKS, L’Observatoire International, and Marcel Wanders, the destination embodies timeless sophistication and contemporary craftsmanship.

The new campaign featuring Adriana Lima is now live on baccaratmaldivesresidences.com | @baccaratmaldivesresidences.

Baccarat Hotel & Residences Maldives is managed by Starwood Hotels, the property offers a curated lifestyle of culinary excellence and holistic wellbeing, with seven specialty restaurants led by Michelin-starred chefs, a state-of-the-art spa and wellness center, and an array of sports and leisure facilities. Every detail reflects Baccarat’s enduring commitment to the art of living beautifully. 

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SBI Life’s new film shines a light on the ‘Anokhe Heere’, honouring the undying spirit of the Indian para-athletes

The new film brings alive the power of determination and the promises that drive individuals to pursue their aspirations, reinforcing SBI Life’s commitment to protecting what matters most.

MUMBAI, India, Oct. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — SBI Life Insurance, one of India’s most trusted private life insurers, has unveiled a new film spotlighting the ‘Anokhe Heere‘ — Indian para-athletes whose indomitable spirit and determination enable them to overcome challenges, pursue their aspirations and honour their promises. The film highlights how true brilliance goes beyond what meets the eye, shining through the strength of one’s intentions and the resolve to turn them into action.

Narrated through the innocent curiosity of a young boy, Aksh, searching for extraordinary diamonds, the film unfolds as a heartwarming journey of this discovery. Looking for brilliance in everyday objects, the boy gradually discovers a different kind of sparkle at a para-athlete training centre. He witnesses the determination, discipline and perseverance of para-athletes, realising that these are the true ‘Anokhe Heere’ — individuals whose resolve enables them to pursue their aspirations and honour the promises they make to their loved ones. The film brings alive the thought, “Yehi toh hai Anokhe Heere, jo apne iraadon ki chamak se vaadon ko nibhate hain,” highlighting how the strength of one’s resolve can turn aspirations into action.

Click here to view SBI Life’s new film: https://youtu.be/TRgnKEw4ndc 

Commenting on the launch of the new film, Mr. Ravindra Sharma, EVP & Chief of Brand, Corporate Communication & CSR, SBI Life Insurance said, “Every aspiration carries a promise — to oneself and, often, to the people who matter most. The journeys of our para-athletes demonstrate how determination and an unwavering belief in oneself can help individuals move beyond limitations and pursue what they truly aspire to achieve. They are our ‘Anokhe Heere‘, whose resolve shines through their actions and gives meaning to the promises they make. At SBI Life, our association with para-sport stems from a shared belief in the power of human potential and the importance of enabling individuals to pursue what matters to them. Through this film, we hope to bring this belief to life and connect with people through a simple yet meaningful thought — that every aspiration deserves to be pursued, and every promise to our loved ones holds significance. This is the spirit behind the brand’s core philosophy – Apne Liye, Apno Ke Liye.”

The new film draws a connection between the determination of para-athletes and the promises that inspire individuals to keep moving forward. It brings alive the thought that pursuing one’s aspirations often goes hand in hand with fulfilling commitments to loved ones, with SBI Life’s association reinforcing the importance of protecting what matters most along the journey. The new film captures this role through the thought, “Aur inhi sabhi anokhe iraadon ki suraksha karta hai SBI Life,” positioning the brand as a thoughtful partner in helping individuals protect their commitments that matter to them.

As the Principal Partner of the Indian Contingent at the Para Commonwealth and Asian Games 2026, SBI Life continues to strengthen its association with para-sport and the values of aspiration, resilience and determination. Through this FILM, the brand brings the focus to the human stories behind sporting achievements — the personal resolve, unwavering commitment and promises that inspire individuals to keep moving forward.

The film closes on a simple yet powerful thought: true brilliance lies in the conviction to keep moving towards one’s dreams. Through ‘Anokhe Heere’, SBI Life pays tribute to India’s para-athletes whose journeys reflect resilience, purpose, and the courage to keep going.

About SBI Life Insurance

SBI Life Insurance (‘SBI Life’ / ‘The Company’), one of the most trusted life insurance companies in India, was incorporated in October 2000 and is registered with the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) in March 2001.

Serving millions of families across India, SBI Life’s diverse range of products caters to individuals as well as group customers through Protection, Pension, Savings and Health solutions.

Driven by ‘Customer-First’ approach, SBI Life places great emphasis on maintaining world class operating efficiency and providing hassle-free claim settlement experience to its customers by following high ethical standards of service. Additionally, SBI Life is committed to enhance digital experiences for its customers, distributors and employees alike.

SBI Life strives to make insurance accessible to all, with its extensive presence across the country through its 1,241 offices, 29,055 employees, a large and productive network of about 2,93,443 agents, 81 corporate agents and 9 bancassurance partners with more than 40,000 partner branches, 161 brokers and other insurance marketing firms.

In addition to doing what’s right for the customers, the company is also committed to provide a healthy and flexible work environment for its employees to excel personally and professionally.

SBI Life strongly encourages a culture of giving back to the society and has made substantial contribution in the areas of child education, healthcare, disaster relief and environmental upgrade. In 2025-26, the Company touched over 20,500 direct beneficiaries through various CSR interventions.

Listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange (‘BSE’) and the National Stock Exchange (‘NSE’), the company has an authorized capital of ₹ 20.0 billion and a paid up capital of ₹ 10.0 billion. The AuM is ₹ 5,248.5 billion.

For more information, please visit our website: www.sbilife.co.in and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

(Numbers & data mentioned above are for the period ended June 30, 2026)

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Ford Foundation Charts New Course to Support Preconditions for Thriving Democracies

New strategy will refocus the foundation’s mission to protect and strengthen democratic values, fundamental freedoms, and inclusive economies worldwide

NEW YORK, Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Ford Foundation today unveiled its new strategic direction to support the preconditions necessary for democracies to thrive. The foundation will refocus its institutional mission to protect and strengthen democratic values, fundamental freedoms, and inclusive economies worldwide, so people are empowered to shape their futures.

Developed in response to the unprecedented geopolitical, economic, and societal factors of this moment, this new strategy is anchored in protecting and strengthening the core principles that sustain democracy and the rule of law. It comes one year after Heather Gerken was appointed the foundation’s 11th president. The strategy features seven interconnected funding areas: Protecting Democratic Governance and the Rule of Law; Building Just and Inclusive Economies; Defending Information as a Public Good; Securing Safety, Justice, and Fairness; Accelerating Gender Equality; Fostering Global Cooperation; and Advancing Racial Justice.

The foundation’s deep, decades-long commitment and ongoing support for social justice and marginalized communities will be embedded across all seven new funding areas—bringing this work to scale across all of our grantmaking.

The strategies for each area will be launched and implemented on a rolling basis over the course of 2027. This will be the first strategic refresh of the foundation’s areas of work in over a decade.

The public report, “How We Meet This Moment,“ outlines the strategy and its development and reflects on Ford’s history in critical moments alongside its current work. Senior leaders at the foundation conducted the review, in partnership with staff and experts across the sector, to set the course for the foundation’s next chapter.

The strategy reflects a renewed commitment to the foundation’s roots, exemplified by the Gaither Report, commissioned by the foundation’s Board of Trustees in 1950, another turbulent period in world history. At that time, the Ford Foundation’s trustees charged the foundation with “the advancement of the ideals and principles of democracy.”

“The Ford Foundation’s new vision is an evolution, not a revolution, of our work, and a reflection of this era’s rapidly changing global landscape,” said Heather Gerken, president of the Ford Foundation and a nationally recognized expert in democracy and constitutional law. “Conditions have changed since our last strategy review, and we are marshaling all of our resources to respond to these new challenges while staying true to our legacy as a social justice foundation.”

“We believe this new strategy reflects the fundamental convictions that have guided Ford for generations,” said Ursula Burns, chair of the Board of Trustees of the Ford Foundation. “This strategy reflects the ambition, dedication, and experience of the leadership team and is exactly what this moment requires.”

Operationally, the foundation will respond by delivering larger, multiyear general operating support; executing well-integrated and adaptive strategies for impact; and driving continuous innovation and investment across the philanthropic sector through its newly created Office of Innovation.

The Ford Foundation’s Seven Funding Areas

The seven new funding areas address what the foundation describes as the necessary preconditions for democracy in a period marked by growing autocracy, intensifying inequality, and the overall erosion of public trust.

Protecting Democratic Governance and the Rule of Law: The Ford Foundation will work to ensure democracy lives up to its promise and that people and communities are able to shape the policies that affect their lives. This depends on the rule of law, vibrant democratic representation, civil rights and civil liberties, and effective governance to bring people back into the political process, restore trust in government, and rebuild governing institutions that have been dismantled or degraded.

Building Just and Inclusive Economies: Severe economic inequality is both a product of democratic decline and a force that accelerates it. The Ford Foundation will prioritize approaches that create fairer economic rules, advance opportunities for people with disabilities, and help workers and marginalized communities adapt to fast-changing realities, while addressing the concentration of economic power that leaves too many behind.

Defending Information as a Public Good: A healthy democracy requires an informed citizenry, and the erosion of shared, trustworthy information has undermined public faith in government itself. The Ford Foundation will defend an information and media environment to strengthen rather than undermine democracy. The strategy will work to change how digital technologies are designed, deployed, and governed so they serve the public good.

Securing Safety, Justice, and Fairness: There is strong public support for a pragmatic approach to safety and justice that moves beyond the false binary of tough-on-crime versus soft. The Ford Foundation will advance solutions that keep communities safe, reduce criminalization and incarceration, and ensure people receive the support and justice they need and deserve.

Accelerating Gender Equality: Democratic backsliding has gone hand in hand with attacks on gender equality worldwide, depriving many of the basic dignity and essential freedom to build stable, meaningful lives. The Ford Foundation will protect the rights and autonomy of women and LGBTQ+ people, including expanding to support the full spectrum of reproductive health care while shifting social norms and closing gaps in the law that allow gender-based violence to persist globally.

Fostering Global Cooperation: The multilateral institutions built for the previous world order have lost power and legitimacy at a time when cross-border challenges like climate change, artificial intelligence, and sovereign debt demand global cooperation. The Ford Foundation will work to rebuild effective multilateralism and support regional coalitions and plurilateral partnerships that ensure the Global South has a seat at the table.

Advancing Racial Justice: Building on the Ford Foundation’s legacy in the fights for civil rights and against apartheid, the foundation will continue that tradition by establishing a racial justice fund. Ford will deploy dedicated staff to support the field and integrate this work across the foundation’s entire portfolio. To counter a growing crisis of historic erasure and retreat from honest reckoning, this institution-wide commitment will operate across all of the Ford Foundation’s grantmaking.

“Our commitment to social justice and to communities that have been pushed to the margins, denied equal justice or economic opportunity, will remain a throughline across all of our areas of work,” said Gerken. “Those commitments are essential to building healthy, vibrant democracies and societies.”

Changing How Ford Funds: Advancing Grantmaking Excellence

Alongside the shift to the foundation’s areas of work, the Ford Foundation is evolving its approach to grantmaking to meet its renewed mission while helping philanthropy respond more effectively to an evolving nonprofit sector.

“The Ford Foundation is committed to driving impact across the philanthropic sector,” said Nicholas Turner, executive vice president, programs of the Ford Foundation. “Today, that requires continuing to trust our grantees and adapting how we work so we can move quickly and better support the grantees and communities we serve.”

The Ford Foundation is also transforming how it works. Under its new strategy, Ford will commit to flexible funding and more closely integrated, flexible teams to ensure its grantmakers can pivot quickly and respond to real-time changes. The foundation will expand its general operating support, increase multiyear funding, make larger grants, and continue to strengthen the institutional capacity of its grantees and the sector at large. This approach builds on decades of research and learning showing that grantees with flexible, long-term funding were far better equipped to respond to unexpected challenges.

“Throughout the strategy review process, it became abundantly clear that this unpredictable and volatile period requires much from philanthropy,” said Turner. “We will work strategically, ambitiously, and nimbly, so we can make a meaningful difference for people of color, people with disabilities, and for those who have been sidelined from our democratic and economic systems.”

In addition, Ford will invest directly in strengthening the nonprofit sector itself, funding and building in areas ripe for collective action, including shared infrastructure, strategic consolidation and partnership, workforce support, and ethical technology tools.

The foundation will continue to adopt innovative mechanisms to drive financial resources to the sector, including impact investing, engagement with private markets, and unlocking new capital-allocation mechanisms for its grantmakers.

Starting January 2027, program staff across the foundation will shift to three functional units focused on strategy design, transitional grantmaking, and responsible sunsetting of areas of work.

This restructure aims to support Ford’s mission and grantees at this crucial moment. It will allow program staff to develop full strategies quickly while ensuring ongoing grantmaking continues.

Details of the Ford Foundation’s new strategic vision are fully outlined in the public report, “How We Meet This Moment,” available to read at fordfoundation.org.

About the Ford Foundation

The Ford Foundation is an independent global organization that protects and strengthens the democratic values, fundamental freedoms, and inclusive economies that empower people to shape their own futures. For 90 years, it has promoted human dignity, human rights, and human achievement by supporting leaders, ideas, and organizations on the frontlines of social change. Today, with an endowment of $18 billion, the foundation has headquarters in New York and 10 regional offices across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East. Learn more at http://www.fordfoundation.org.

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Seatrium and Karpowership Sign Contract for a Series of Whale Class Powership Conversion and Integration Projects

SINGAPORE, Oct. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Seatrium Limited and its strategic partner, floating power leader Karpowership, have strengthened their longstanding collaboration with the award of a contract for the development, major conversion and integration of Karpowership’s third-generation hydrogen-ready Whale Class Powerships, reinforcing both companies’ commitment to delivering reliable, flexible and sustainable energy solutions to meet growing global electricity demand.

Under the contract, Seatrium will undertake the major conversion work and integration of five Whale Class Powerships. Seatrium’s scope of work encompasses equipment integration, mechanical completion and pre-commissioning works. Engineering activities are currently underway – both parties are working closely to advance the project’s execution phase progressively, with the first vessel in the series targeted for arrival in Seatrium Tuas Boulevard Yard in December 2027.

Powerships are floating power plants equipped with hydrogen-ready multi-fuel generation systems and integrated onboard substations that connect directly to national electricity grids. Leveraging Karpowership’s plug-and-play design, they can begin generating electricity in as little as 30 days. The next-generation Whale Class offers Karpowership’s highest capacity, engineered to deploy up to 600 MW of immediate, grid-ready power using an ultra-efficient footprint optimised for seamless, continuous fuel supply.

By combining advanced power generation technologies with maritime engineering excellence, these vessels will enhance energy security while providing the flexibility to support diverse market requirements.

Mr Alvin Gan, Executive Vice President, Repairs and Upgrades, Seatrium, said, “This significant milestone marks Seatrium’s first major conversion work and integration of Karpowership’s Whale Class Powerships. We are proud to support Karpowership’s drive to pioneer innovative floating power solutions and the next phase of its fleet development, bringing our capabilities in complex vessel integration and offshore engineering to the project. We thank Karpowership for the continued trust and look forward to advancing cutting-edge floating solutions that bolster energy resilience worldwide.”

Building on a strategic relationship established in 2018, Seatrium and Karpowership share an ambition to deepen their partnership and shape the next generation of energy infrastructure, strengthening energy resilience in Singapore and worldwide.

Mr Gokhan Kocak, Chief Technical Operations Officer, Karpowership, said, “Karpowership has transformed global power generation with its innovative Powership model, delivering fast-track and dependable electricity solutions to millions worldwide. The next-generation Whale Class Powerships demonstrate our continued commitment to innovation, operational excellence and energy security. We are pleased to build on our strong partnership with Seatrium, whose proven expertise in complex vessel integration make them an ideal partner.”

The contract marks the next step following an earlier Letter of Intent (LOI) signed in August 2025, solidifying the long-term partnership between the two companies. The LOI had provided for three FSRU conversions and the potential integration of up to six new-generation Powerships. Since 2018, Seatrium has successfully delivered seven FSRU conversion projects to Karpowership, with the eighth and ninth FSRU conversion projects secured this year.

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Quantinuum to Report Third Quarter Financial Results on November 5, 2026

BROOMFIELD, Colo., Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Quantinuum Inc. (NASDAQ: QNT) (“Quantinuum”) today announced it will release its financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2026, on November 5, 2026, after market close.

Quantinuum will host a conference call at 5:00 PM Eastern time that same day to discuss its financial results. The call will be available through a live webcast available here.

An archive replay of the webcast will be made available on the Quantinuum Investor Relations website following the call and will remain available for one year.

About Quantinuum

Quantinuum is a leading quantum computing company offering a full-stack platform designed to make quantum computing deployable in real-world environments. The company has commercially deployed multiple generations of quantum systems built on the well-established QCCD architecture, which it has implemented with novel designs and capabilities to achieve the industry’s highest accuracy levels based on average two-qubit gate fidelity as of December 31, 2025. Quantinuum has active engagements with market leaders across pharmaceuticals, material science, financial services, and government and industrial markets. Quantinuum’s headquarters is in Broomfield, Colorado, with additional facilities across the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, Qatar and Singapore.

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