Category Archives: Business

ICICI Prudential Life Launches Signature Secure, Redefining ULIPs with Guaranteed Maturity Benefits

Bangalore, June 10 : ICICI Prudential Life Insurance has launched ICICI Pru Signature Secure, Indian life insurance’s first Unit Linked Insurance Plan (ULIP) with an in-built guaranteed maturity benefit.

ICICI Pru Signature Secure is a Non Participating Linked Individual Savings Life Insurance Plan and has been designed for customers looking for the reassurance of tax efficient guaranteed benefits. The product offers a simple proposition – invest once, stay protected through life cover during the policy term and receive a maturity benefit at the end of five years. . On maturity, the customer receives the higher of the fund value or the guaranteed maturity benefit, providing the reassurance of a guaranteed outcome

For instance, a 45-year-old customer looking for a one-time investment solution can invest ₹5 lacs in ICICI Pru Signature Secure and remain protected through life cover during the policy term. The customer can choose a life cover (Sum Assured) of ₹6.25 lacs and gets a guaranteed maturity benefit of ₹7 lacs in this case.

Commenting on the launch, Mr. Vikas Gupta, Chief Product Officer, ICICI Prudential Life Insurance, said,

“Customers seeking guaranteed returns have traditionally relied on instruments such as fixed deposits, bonds and other guaranteed-return products. However, customers are increasingly looking for solutions that can help them achieve better post-tax outcomes along with guaranteed returns and financial protection. ICICI Pru Signature Secure has been designed to address this need by bringing together the benefits of a ULIP, an in-built guaranteed maturity benefit and life cover within a single proposition.

The product enables customers to make a one-time investment while remaining focused on their long-term financial goals with greater confidence. The plan also offers life cover throughout the policy term, helping customers secure the financial future of their loved ones.”

Notably, the product provides a guaranteed maturity benefit of up to 140% of the initial premium paid. At maturity, customers receive the higher of the fund value or the guaranteed maturity benefit. In addition, the product comes with zero premium allocation charges and policy administration charges.

ICICI Prudential Life Insurance remains committed to delivering superior value to its customers. The Company achieved a claim settlement ratio of 99.3% with an average turnaround time of 1.1 days in FY2026, demonstrating its commitment to supporting customers and their families when it matters the most.

Over the past 25 years, ICICI Prudential Life Insurance has had the privilege of serving customers across generations. The Company remains focused on building a future-ready organisation led by technology that continues to adapt thoughtfully, act with agility and create meaningful impact by expanding access to insurance while delivering long-term sustainable value to all stakeholders.

Former Indofast Energy CEO Anant Badjatya Takes the Helm at Spiro as Group CEO

Pune, June 10: Spiro, Africa’s  electric mobility company, today announced the appointment of Anant Badjatya as Group Chief Executive Officer.

Anant joins Spiro with more than two decades of leadership experience across India, the Middle East and Africa, building and scaling businesses across electric mobility, energy and industrial sectors. Most recently, he served as CEO of Indofast Energy, the joint venture between IndianOil and SUN Mobility, where he led the development of one of India’s largest battery-swapping networks, comprising more than 1,800 stations and serving nearly 90,000 vehicles daily.

The appointment comes at a pivotal moment for Spiro following its landmark US$215 million financing round, one of the largest investments ever made in Africa’s electric mobility sector. As Spiro is accelerating on its mission to transform mobility across Africa, Anant’s broad mandate will span battery swapping, leasing, logistics, energy, and vehicle manufacturing. As CEO Mobility, Kaushik Burman will continue to further consolidate Spiro’s leadership and fleet in Spiro’s 7 existing markets and beyond.

Under Mr. Badjatya’s leadership, Spiro aims to significantly deepen its India’s Tech hubs – both Pune which serves as the center for automotive innovation, and Bengaluru, Spiro’s center for innovation across technology. With already 100+ people, the Pune tech center is poised for rapid expansion, creating high-value jobs in EV powertrain design, battery management systems (BMS). The Bengaluru hub, already counting 50+ people, will further develop IoT-enabled cloud platforms and pilot R&D localization effort in Kenya and Nigeria.

Gagan Gupta, Founder and Chairman of Spiro said:

“As Spiro is accelerating on its mission to transform mobility across Africa through clean, affordable and accessible electric transportation solutions, Anant will consolidate the Group’s strategic initiatives and guide the company through its next chapter of growth and execution in mobility, energy and tech.”

Commenting on his appointment, Anant Badjatya said:

“Africa represents the most exciting frontier for electric mobility. Spiro has built a unique platform and is exceptionally well positioned to accelerate the transition to cleaner and more accessible mobility across the continent. I look forward to working with our teams, partners and stakeholders to drive the next phase of growth and impact.“

FIA President H.E. Mohammed Ben Sulayem meets with President of the Czech Republic, Prime Minister, and government leaders in Prague

Discussions focused on motorsport development, road safety and sustainable mobility

Dubai, UAE, June 10: H.E. Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the FIA, has met with senior leaders of the Czech Republic in Prague, reinforcing the strong partnership between the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) and one of Europe’s most significant automotive and motorsport nations.

During the visit, President Ben Sulayem held discussions with the President of the Czech Republic, H.E. Petr Pavel, Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, and Minister of Education, Youth and Sports Boris Šťastný.

The meetings this week focused on shared priorities across mobility and motorsport, including road safety, sustainable transport, innovation, and grassroots participation.

Speaking following the meetings, FIA President, H.E. Mohammed Ben Sulayem said: “The Czech Republic has a proud automotive and motorsport heritage and continues to demonstrate how mobility, innovation and sport can work together.”

“I would like to thank President Pavel, Prime Minister Babiš, and Minister Šťastný for their warm welcome and constructive discussions. I look forward to continuing our collaboration as we work together to build a safer, more sustainable future for mobility and motorsport.”

As part of discussions on mobility, President Ben Sulayem outlined the FIA’s work to improve road safety outcomes through data-driven initiatives including the FIA Road Safety Index and FIA Driver Safety Index.

The programmes provide governments, organisations and road users with practical tools to measure, benchmark and improve road safety performance, supporting the ambition of reducing road traffic fatalities and injuries.

The FIA President also highlighted the contribution of the Autoklub České republiky in advocating for increased accessibility and diversity in motorsport.

Through its work in education, advocacy and competition, the Club plays a vital role in creating opportunities for participation at every level of the sport. President Jan Šťovíček plays an active role within the FIA ecosystem including service on the World Motor Sport Council (WMSC), as President of the Coordination Forum for Eastern and Central European Countries (COFO), and as a board member of the FIA Foundation.

Funded by grants from the FIA and FIA Foundation, the Autoklub CR has developed two key programmes to encourage the next generation of racers.

The Karting Academy is an educational programme that develops Karting skills and knowledge while cultivating talent, and has seen more than 1,000 children attend the programme so far, with many now competing internationally. RacerBuggy 160 is a division for children aged 5 to 8 focused on autocross training. Over the last seven years, more than 3,000 children have passed through the academy.

President Ben Sulayem praised the Autoklub’s ongoing investment in karting, national championships and youth participation programmes, which are helping to strengthen the future of Czech motorsport.

President of the Autoclub of the Czech Republic, Jan Šťovíček, said: “It was an honour to showcase the positive impact that FIA funding is having across our programmes. These grants are helping us strengthen grassroots motorsport, invest in young talent and create new opportunities for people to engage with our sport.”

The visit forms part of the FIA President’s ongoing programme of engagement with governments, Member Clubs and stakeholders worldwide, supporting the FIA’s mission to advance safe, sustainable and accessible mobility while ensuring the continued growth and development of motorsport.

Study Finds Common Infection Does Not Increase Risk of Recurrent Preterm Birth

A new study from UTHealth Houston found that the common sexually transmitted infection, Mycoplasma genitalium, also known as MGen, does not appear to increase the risk of recurrent preterm birth.

The findings were published in The American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Mycoplasma genitalium is a common sexually transmitted disease caused by a tiny bacteria that can infect the urethra or reproductive tract. Most people with the condition have no symptoms, but when it does cause symptoms, it can lead to irritation or inflammation that needs treatment.

Preterm birth is defined as delivery before 37 weeks and is a leading cause of infant illness and death. Earlier research suggested that certain Mycoplasma species might contribute to preterm labor, but those studies were limited.

“These findings provide important new insight into the role of Mycoplasma genitalium in pregnancy,” said Irene Stafford, MD, MPH, first author of the study and assistant professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences with McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston. “Given its links to HIV acquisition and growing antimicrobial resistance, continued study of this emerging infection remains an important public health priority.”

Mycoplasmas are a group of tiny bacteria that can live in the genital tract. Unlike most bacteria, they don’t have a cell wall, which makes them harder to detect and treat. Because of mycoplasma genitalium’s link to inflammation, researchers questioned whether mycoplasma genitalium might play a role in pregnancy complications, including recurrent preterm birth.

To better understand the connection, researchers conducted a first-of-its-kind prospective study in nearly 500 pregnant individuals with a history of preterm birth or related complications. The patients were enrolled between July 2023 and December 2025. Participants were tested early in pregnancy for Mycoplasma genitalium using an FDA?cleared vaginal swab test.

The study found that 12% of participants tested positive for Mycoplasma genitalium. The infection was significantly more common among those who had experienced a prior preterm birth. However, Mycoplasma genitalium did not increase the risk of having another spontaneous preterm birth or a second?trimester loss caused by cervical insufficiency, which the study also explored.

The findings suggest that while Mycoplasma genitalium may be associated with past pregnancy complications, it does not appear to drive recurrent preterm birth in subsequent pregnancies. Researchers note that Mycoplasma genitalium may pose more risk during a first-time or incident infection, when the body has not yet developed an immune response.

“This study provides important clarity for patients and clinicians,” said Stafford, who is a maternal-fetal medicine physician. “For individuals already at high risk of preterm birth, Mycoplasma genitalium infection alone does not seem to increase the likelihood of another early delivery.”

Researchers emphasize that more studies are needed, as preterm birth is complex and influenced by many factors. Still, these results offer reassurance and help guide future screening and treatment decisions.

Other UTHealth Houston researchers on the study include Sean Blackwell, MD; Han-Yang Chen, PhD; Sahana Kodali, BS; and Mason Collie, BS.

Additional contributors are Erik Munson, PhD, with Marquette University, and Damon Getman, PhD, with Hologic Inc.

Tata Power Powers Over 414 Million Green Miles Through Its EV Charging Network Across India

Chandigarh, June 10: India‘s energy future is being shaped not just by policy ambition, but by the everyday choices of millions of citizens increasingly aware of the cost and consequences of conventional fuel dependence. As running costs continue to favour electric mobility, India‘s EV adoption is moving from the margins to the mainstream and the latest industry numbers make the shift unmistakable.

Tata Power, one of India‘s largest Integrated Power Companies and the operator of one of India‘s largest EV charging networks, is enabling this transition at scale. Through its expanding charging infrastructure, the company has facilitated over 7.5 lakh charging sessions and 414 million green miles across the country, while helping avoid approximately 50,000 tonnes of CO₂ tailpipe emissions.

Today, Tata Power‘s EV charging ecosystem spans more than 5,500 public charging points across over 700 cities and towns, making EV charging increasingly accessible across urban centres, highways, workplaces, commercial destinations and residential communities. In partnership with leading automotive OEMs, the company has also introduced end-to-end home charger installation services and has installed over 2.3 lakh home chargers across India, supporting a seamless charging experience for EV owners and strengthening the country’s overall EV charging ecosystem.

Further strengthening its EV charging footprint across key mobility corridors and urban centres, Tata Power EZ Charge will inaugurate new charging stations at Kopa Mall in Pune, IOCL locations on both sides of the Ahmedabad–Vadodara Expressway, and a Shapoorji Pallonji Mini Hub in Kolkata equipped with six charging guns. These additions are aimed at enhancing charging accessibility across city hubs and high-traffic travel routes, supporting a more convenient and reliable EV ownership experience for both daily commuters and long-distance travellers.

EV sales in India surpassed 2.55 million units in FY2026, with all four vehicle segments registering double-digit growth. Demand for zero-emission passenger vehicles was especially strong, with retail sales rising significantly during the year.

As more Indians look toward electric mobility for both environmental and economic reasons, Tata Power‘s charging network is ensuring that the infrastructure keeps pace with intent. From residential communities and commercial campuses to highways and urban hubs, the company’s charging footprint is helping create a future where mobility is cleaner, smarter, and more resilient.

Galgotias University Partners with 247VC to Launch Entrepreneurship & Venture Excellence (EVE) Program

Strategic partnership aims to create venture-backed startups from Galgotias University and enable the campus as a premier destination for venture-ready talent in India

Greater Noida, June 10: Galgotias University and 247VC, a leading seed stage venture capital fund, announced a long term partnership. The collaboration encompasses the launch of the Entrepreneurship & Venture Excellence (EVE) Program, a structured initiative designed to equip students with startup-building frameworks, investor mentorship, and access to institutional capital.

Commenting on the partnership, Dr. Dhruv Galgotia, CEO, Galgotias University said, “Our partnership with 247VC is a one-of-its-kind initiative where a venture capital fund will have an active engagement presence within the University ecosystem itself, enabling students to interact directly with investors, startup mentors, founder networks, and venture-building experts.

As part of this initiative, the University will facilitate dedicated on-campus engagement spaces to enable regular interaction between students and venture capital professionals. Having venture capital presence directly on campus will help students move ideas, research, and prototypes closer to real-world execution, mentorship, and venture creation.”

The partnership is designed to bridge a critical gap in entrepreneurship education within Indian universities by providing students with practical, investor-validated frameworks rather than theoretical knowledge.

Commenting on the collaboration, Yagnesh Sanghrajka, Managing Partner, 247VC, said, “We are truly elated to partner with a premier institution like Galgotias University. With its 50,000+ students, across various disciplines, having state of the art technologies available to them, this collaboration presents a unique opportunity to nurture the next gen of entrepreneurs.

This model will become a blueprint for how universities should partner with venture capital. We’re committed to bringing our real-world venture investing experience and our deep founder networks directly to Galgotias’ students, transforming entrepreneurship from an aspiration into a structured, achievable outcome.”

Matrix Design Group and Hyundai Material Handling Announce Technology Partnership

HiVision powered by OmniPro® Vision AI highlights the importance of integrated collision avoidance technology during National Forklift Safety Day

NEWBURGH, Ind. — In recognition of National Forklift Safety Day, Matrix Design Group LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Alliance Resource Partners, L.P. (NASDAQ: ALRP), and Hyundai Material Handling are highlighting a partnership focused on reducing warehouse collisions caused by blind spots, congested aisles and limited operator reaction time.

Through HiVision® powered by OmniPro®, Hyundai and Matrix are integrating edge-based pedestrian, vehicle and object detection into lift truck operations, creating a foundation for safer, more connected and more efficient material handling fleets.

“The value of this technology extends well beyond collision avoidance,” said Mark Watson, CEO of Matrix Design Group. “By integrating OmniPro Vision AI into the lift truck platform, we are helping customers create a foundation for safer operations, better visibility and more productive facilities.”

At MODEX 2026 in Atlanta, Matrix and Hyundai demonstrated the technology on a Hyundai lift truck configuration, showing how the system can identify forward and rear obstacles, escalate visual alerts from green to yellow to red and trigger speed reduction via CAN-bus integration as proximity becomes critical.

“As Hyundai looks ahead, working with Matrix as an official technology partner helps shift the approach from standalone point solutions to a more cohesive strategy,” said Lewis Byers, Executive Vice President and COO of Hyundai Material Handling. “Collision avoidance is the starting point, but the roadmap extends well beyond into a more connected and intelligent machine ecosystem.”

Matrix and Hyundai say the partnership supports safer warehouse operations while helping facilities prepare for smarter fleet technologies and future automation.

Connected, optimistic, human: a snapshot of hospitality’s future from 750 hoteliers at Mews Unfold

[Amsterdam, 9 June 2026] – Mews, the hospitality operating system, shared findings from a live audience poll held during Mews Unfold 2026, the company’s annual [RL1] hospitality forum. The event brought together more than 750 hoteliers, operators and industry leaders in Amsterdam. Mews polled attendees throughout the day and their answers show how a room of industry experts sees the forces reshaping hospitality: the role of new technology, the place of AI in a people-first business, and the move from fragmented software to connected systems. 

Appetite for new technology is high. 

80% of respondents said they are excited about the role new technologies will play in hospitality. The finding matches Mews’ wider hotelier research, in which 92% said they were optimistic about AI in hospitality.¹ 

That enthusiasm reflects a wider change in what hoteliers expect technology to do. The conversation on stage returned to a single idea: hotels sell the whole trip, not only the room. Guests book an experience and a moment, and the room is one part of it. The opportunity is to serve more of that trip, through new services and partnerships that meet guests where their expectations already sit. Mews’ new partnership with Uber brings ride booking inside the operating system. The trip to and from the property becomes part of the stay, not a separate transaction outside the hotel. Food and beverage, local experiences, transport and wellness are all revenue that leaves through the door today. For hoteliers, the wider experience is where the growth sits. 

Most believe technology will make hospitality more human. 

At the start of the day, 60% of attendees felt that new technology would make hospitality more human. By the close, that figure rose to 80%. The change across a single day of talks, presentations and workshops is clear, and it reframes one of the industry’s oldest worries. 

Many fear that technology erodes the human core of hospitality. The case made at Unfold was the opposite. AI is now hard to avoid, and doing it well is the real test. Technology providers need the right architecture, clean data and sound processes, not more systems stacked on top of one another. Hotels need their data in order and a clear view of where AI helps. Staff need the willingness to change and experiment. Roles will not disappear, but they will change. The front desk agent becomes a host, the revenue manager becomes a strategist. 

Hoteliers are moving from fragmented tools toward connected systems. 

At the start of the day, just over half of attendees (51%) said that having all their tools work together mattered more than assembling best-of-breed point solutions. After Mews introduced the Mews Operating System, 83% said the operating system strategy was the right fit for their business. The two questions are not a direct comparison, but the movement points to a real change in mindset over the day. 

That change sits at the heart of what Unfold set out to argue: For forty years, hotel software has run on a category map of acronyms: PMS, RMS, CRS, CRM, POS. The five product launches at Unfold collapse that map into one platform, one data model and one bill. The comparison made on stage was direct: the iPhone did not improve the phone, it made the old device obsolete. An operating system for hospitality does the same to the old stack. The data suggests that hoteliers increasingly believe that technology can be both seamlessly connected and provide best-in-class capabilities. 

“The results are a clear snapshot of where the industry stands. The appetite for new technology is real, and our customers are optimistic, not anxious,” said Richard Valtr, Founder of Mews. “They see that technology, and AI in particular, will make hospitality more human by giving teams back the time to do what they do best. And they are ready to move on from a category map drawn forty years ago, toward systems that finally work as one. The mandate from this room was clear, and we will deliver on it.” 

“Mews Unfold 2026 was an inspiring gathering of hospitality innovators, industry leaders, and passionate professionals, all coming together to shape the future of hospitality while building meaningful connections.” added Luca Molinari, Hotel Manager at Glamp Nusa. 

Save the date: Mews will return to Amsterdam on May 12, 2027.  

¹ Mews Hotelier Survey, Q1 2026. N=500 hoteliers from US, CA, FR, DE, UK

Relm Insurance Launches ALPHA Policy for Investment Managers Across AI, Biotech, Digital Assets and Other Emerging Sectors

HAMILTON, Bermuda — June 9, 2026: Relm Insurance (‘Relm’), the leading specialty insurer supporting emerging and innovative industries, today announced the launch of ALPHA, a consolidated investment management insurance policy designed for firms operating across emerging asset classes.

Investment managers are increasingly deploying capital into areas such as AI, biotech, fintech, digital assets, and the space economy. Following the earlier release of ALPHAWEB3, which was developed for investment managers operating in blockchain-based and digital asset strategies, Relm has expanded the product into a broader framework designed for firms investing across both emerging and traditional sectors. While the underlying risks remain rooted in established financial lines exposures, many firms now operate across complex structures where insurance solutions can be fragmented, with separate policies covering different parts of the platform. This can create gaps or duplication at the worst possible time, during a claim.

ALPHA has been developed to support investment managers putting capital to work in emerging industries, combining Relm’s underwriting appetite for these sectors with a consolidated policy structure. 

The product includes investment advisor professional liability, fund coverage, management liability, employment practices liability, and crime within a single, integrated framework, with extensions for areas such as pre-claim expenses, public relations costs, and loss mitigation. The policy is structured to align with how these firms operate in practice, where exposures often overlap across advisory, fund, and management activities.

“Investment managers play a critical role in financing the innovative industries that Relm serves,” said Shane Doyle, Relm’s Chief Underwriting Officer. “Supporting the firms that allocate capital into these sectors is, in turn, how we support the industries themselves. The launch of ALPHA, alongside the refresh of ALPHAWEB3, expands Relm’s ability to serve investment managers operating across digital assets and other frontier sectors, with insurance solutions designed to reflect how modern investment platforms manage risk.”

Relm’s approach combines a proprietary policy form with underwriting expertise in emerging sectors, and capacity of up to $5 million across multiple currencies.

The product is designed to support organizations from early-stage managers through to established firms, with underwriting tailored to different strategies, structures, and stages of growth.

Rohit Aggarwal Steps Down as Managing Director of Lite Bite Foods Pvt. Ltd. After 24 Years of Building India’s F&B Powerhouse

Mr. Rohit Aggarwal, Co–Founder and Managing Director of Lite Bite Foods Pvt. Ltd., one of India’s largest and most dynamic food and beverage companies, announced his retirement. After 24 years of building, leading, and shaping one of the most recognised F&B groups in the country, Mr. Aggarwal steps down from his executive role, closing a chapter that has left an indelible mark on India’s hospitality industry.

Lite Bite Foods was founded in 2002 by Mr. Amit Burman and Mr. Rohit Aggarwal – two friends united by a shared vision of bringing world-class dining experiences to India. What began as a pioneering foray into organised food retail has since grown into a company with 19 owned and 5 managed brands, over 160+ outlets across 19 cities in India, and an international presence in Singapore, Washington DC, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Bangkok. The company today employs over 4500+ people and has served more than a crore guests.

Over the course of 24 years, Mr. Amit Burman and Mr. Rohit Aggarwal led Lite Bite Foods with complementary strengths and a shared purpose, one steering the strategic and financial direction of the company, the other driving its operations, brand-building, and growth on the ground. Together, they built a portfolio of critically acclaimed brands including Punjab Grill, YouMee, Zambar, Asia Seven, and Street Foods by Punjab Grill each distinct in identity, each a reflection of the quality, culinary integrity, and vision that both founders brought to this company from its very first day.

“ Every brand we built, every team we grew, every guest we welcomed – it was all driven by a single belief: that food has the power to bring people together in the most beautiful way. I leave with a full heart, immense gratitude for every person who has been part of this journey, and complete faith in the extraordinary team that will carry this company forward.” 

— Mr. Rohit Aggarwal, Co–Founder & Managing Director, Lite Bite Foods Pvt. Ltd