IV Obninsk NEW‑2026 Youth Forum Wraps Up with Record International Turnout

Over 700 delegates from 85 countries gathered in Russia’s first science city

Moscow, July 01: The fourth Obninsk NEW‑2026 International Youth Forum has concluded in Obninsk, Kaluga Region. The event focused on building a skilled workforce for the global nuclear power industry and was supported by Rosatom, the Government of the Kaluga Region, and the National Research Nuclear University MEPhI.

More than 700 participants fr om 85 countries took part in person, alongside high‑level delegations from 10 nations. Thousands more students joined online through 25 partner broadcasting platforms, making this year’s forum the largest to date.

The speaker line‑up underscored the forum’s growing international prestige. Attendees heard addresses from Mikhail Mishustin, Chairman of the Russian Government; Rafael Grossi, Director General of the IAEA; and Sama Bilbao y León, Director General of the World Nuclear Association. A high‑level plenary session featured IAEA Deputy Director General Mikhail Chudakov, as well as heads of national nuclear agencies from partner countries, including Almasadam Satkaliev (Kazakhstan) and Azim Akhmedhadzhaev (Uzbekistan).

The programme was split into two parts. The morning sessions explored youth engagement: how young communities are reshaping the nuclear industry, what joint projects can emerge from international cooperation, and what role Obninsk could play in building a global network of young nuclear leaders. The afternoon was given over to expert panel discussions with representatives from various nuclear organisations. One standout contribution came from Alexander Alekseev, Deputy Director of the Science and Integration Department at the ITER Organization, who spoke about the importance of thermonuclear research and voiced his hope that fusion would become a lifelong mission for talented scientists and engineers.

The forum also served as the centrepiece of a 10‑day educational marathon for young professionals from around the world who are building careers in nuclear and related fields. As part of that marathon, the first modules were launched of the joint Rosatom Academy–IAEA programme on human resource management for newcomer countries, the Obninsk Tech Summer University, and the international female camp “Invisible Force”.

Tangible outcomes included two agreements signed in the presence of Rosatom, Minister of Science and Higher Education Valery Falkov, and Kaluga Region Governor Vladislav Shapsha. The documents are designed to promote Russian engineering education in nuclear technologies abroad and to give further momentum to the Obninsk Tech project, which is being developed with IAEA support.

A separate highlight was the meeting between Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev and the new members of the Impact Team 2050 International Youth Council – 13 young leaders from 13 countries. They discussed ways to spread the message of peaceful atomic energy among younger generations and to contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Another notable event was the presentation of the book Principles in Action – a collection of real‑life stories and practices showing how the ideas of the Youth Declaration of Nuclear Cooperation have been applied in education, science, medicine and environmental protection.

Alexey Likhachev: “Our mission is to meet the global challenge of training qualified specialists for the nuclear industry. The world’s growing reliance on nuclear power requires not only new technologies, but also a robust international education system. In Obninsk – Russia’s first science city – we are building exactly that kind of open, modern, forward‑looking environment. The Obninsk Tech international education cluster is already taking shape here with IAEA support, and the agreements signed today will help us scale up Russian nuclear engineering education abroad.”

Vladimir Shevchenko, Rector of MEPhI: “The world is changing tectonically, and we cannot afford to be passive observers. I am confident that Obninsk Tech will become a place wh ere our own and international students not only study, but also regularly exchange experience and build the horizontal ties that turn a group of individuals into a team of creators. This is more than just a MEPhI campus project – it is a national‑scale effort involving leading universities, especially members of the Rosatom partner university consortium. By bringing together the best programmes, faculty and practices for working with international students, Obninsk Tech will strengthen Russia’s nuclear leadership through educational leadership.”

InvestYadnya Appoints Former Kotak Mahindra Bank’s DIFC Branch Dubai CEO Amul Sharma to Strengthen Financial Leadership and Growth Strategy

India, July 01 : InvestYadnya, a rapidly growing investment advisory and wealth management platform, has announced the appointment of Amul Sharma, former CEO of Kotak Mahindra Bank’s DIFC Dubai branch, to its leadership advisory ecosystem as the company looks to strengthen its financial leadership and accelerate long-term growth initiatives.

With over two decades of experience across banking, wealth management, strategic business leadership, and financial governance, Sharma brings extensive expertise spanning Indian financial markets, investor-focused banking, and global financial ecosystems. His appointment marks a significant milestone for InvestYadnya as it continues to strengthen its research-led and investor-centric approach in India’s evolving wealth management landscape.

Over the course of his career within the Kotak Mahindra Group, Sharma has held leadership responsibilities across retail banking, wealth advisory, customer relationship management, and strategic business transformation. His experience in understanding investor behaviour, building long-term financial relationships, and navigating evolving market dynamics is expected to contribute meaningfully to InvestYadnya’s vision of enabling informed investing and sustainable wealth creation for Indian investors.

“Amul Sharma Sir’s leadership experience and deep understanding of financial markets bring tremendous strategic value to Invest Yadnya,” said Parimal Ade, Founder – InvestYadnya.in. “His perspective on investor trust, wealth management, and long-term value creation aligns closely with our mission of building a transparent and future-ready investment platform for Indian investors.”

Commenting on his association with Invest Yadnya, Amul Sharma said, “India’s investment ecosystem is undergoing a significant transformation as more individuals actively participate in wealth creation and financial planning journeys. InvestYadnya has built a strong foundation around research, transparency, and investor education. I look forward to contributing to its next phase of growth and supporting its vision of creating long-term value for investors through credible and research-backed financial insights.”

As India witnesses rising retail participation in capital markets and increasing awareness around long-term financial planning, InvestYadnya sees Amul Sharma’s appointment as an important step toward enhancing its strategic capabilities, investor engagement, and research-driven financial ecosystem.

Amul Sharma has also played key leadership and governance roles across international financial centres, including serving as CEO of Kotak Mahindra Bank’s Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) branch. In addition, he has been associated with board-level oversight responsibilities across entities in Abu Dhabi Global Markets (ADGM) and Mauritius, bringing valuable experience in regulatory governance, cross-border financial ecosystems, and strategic growth frameworks.

With Amul Sharma joining its advisory leadership ecosystem, InvestYadnya aims to further strengthen its capabilities across investment research, investor education, strategic growth initiatives, and technology-led financial innovation for the Indian market.

Uber Launches Record My Ride and Ambulance Assistance in Major Safety Push

Chandigarh, July 01: Uber today continued its effort to raise the bar on safety with new and industry-first safety features designed to make every trip safer for riders and drivers. The company has introduced Record My Ride, an industry-first feature that enables drivers to securely record encrypted in-cab video within the Uber app during trips using their own phones. Additionally, in an initiative to strengthen emergency response, Uber has partnered with medical logistics provider Dial 4242 to integrate Ambulance Assistance directly within its platform.

The new launches build on Uber’s continued leadership in safety innovation in recent years, with industry-first features such as Audio Recording, Women Rider Preference, Helmet Selfie Verification and Seatbelt Reminders, alongside a suite of other technology-led and human interventions designed to improve safety and accountability on every trip.

Beyond technology, Uber continues to invest in partnerships and programmes that promote safer mobility. The company has been a proud partner to the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways on the Sadak Suraksha Abhiyaan using its platform to spread awareness on prioritising safety over speed, while continuing to strengthen safety for drivers and build dedicated experiences for families through products such as Uber for Teens and Uber for Seniors.

Union Minister for Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, Shri Nitin Gadkari, said, “Following traffic rules, wearing seat belts and helmets, sound simple but play a big role in reducing fatalities in road accidents. Technology can play an important role in spreading awareness and making our roads safer. I appreciate Uber’s continued partnership on Sadak Suraksha Abhiyaan and its efforts to introduce innovations that promote safer road behaviour and improve support during emergencies.”

Sooraj Nair, Head – Safety Operations, Uber India & South Asia, said, “What feels innovative today becomes expected tomorrow. That’s exactly how safety should evolve. Our belief is simple: safety innovation should become the industry’s baseline, not remain a differentiator. Our industry-first safety features and partnerships highlight our commitment to continually raise the bar. As expectations evolve, we hope the industry will rise up to meet them.”

New features:

• Record My Ride: Drivers can now securely record encrypted in-cab video using their own phones within the Uber app if they feel unsafe during a trip. The recording remains compliant with applicable laws, encrypted, meaning neither the driver nor Uber can access them and is only accessible if the driver chooses to submit it as part of a safety report, ensuring strong privacy protections.
• Ambulance Assistance: In partnership with Dial 4242, Uber has introduced Ambulance Assistance to help riders and drivers quickly request medical support following an accident during a trip on the platform. The feature is available through Uber’s existing 24×7 Safety Line.
• Don’t Type & Drive: To mitigate distracted driving, the Uber driver app will restrict manual typing functionalities while the vehicle is in motion, prompting drivers to pull over safely before responding to messages.
• Set Your Own PIN: Riders can now manually customize, manage, and mandate their own unique trip-verification PINs, ensuring full control over the trip validation process.

Alongside these new features, Uber continues to offer a range of safety features that have helped shape the expectations of ride-hailing experience over the years. Features such as RideCheck, 24×7 Safety Line, Safety Preferences, Phone and Address Anonymisation, continue to support riders and drivers before, during and after every trip. Many of these innovations were first introduced by Uber and have since become part of what riders increasingly expect from mobility platforms.

These initiatives reinforce Uber’s dedication to enhanced safety through use of technology and collaboration with experts.

Peer-Reviewed Study Identifies Guardian FLEX SoftShox Chinstrap as Best-Performing for Facemask Impact Protection

Sports protective leader Guardian Sports & Stanford founded SoftShox achieves up to a 35% reduction in Head Acceleration Response Metric

ATLANTA (July 01) – Guardian Sports, the company leading sports safety at all levels of play, announces its inclusion in a new peer-reviewed study published in the Annals of Biomedical Engineering, highlighting statistically significant effects of the Guardian FLEX SoftShox Chinstrap, including up to a 35% reduction in HARM (Head Acceleration Response Metric) during laboratory testing. 

In 2024, the NFL found that 44% of in-game concussions were caused by facemask-to-facemask blows, and 50% of all impacts are facemask-to-facemask. The facemask zone is the most underdeveloped impact location on the modern football helmet. The new Guardian FLEX SoftShox Chinstrap aims to address that gap.

The new publication evaluated fourteen different chinstraps as part of official laboratory impact testing, with head kinematics recorded to calculate HARM rates. The results demonstrated statistically significant impact reductions among bottom straps compared to top straps, as well as thicker chin cup liners compared to thinner models.

The study found that the Guardian FLEX SoftShox Chinstrap achieved a 35% reduction in HARM at 3.0 m/s and a 31% reduction in HARM at 7.3 m/s, providing peer-reviewed evidence of its impact-mitigating performance.

Guardian Sports COO Jake Hanson shares, “This study marks a major milestone in sports safety & our quest to improve athlete protection & performance, providing scientific validation for the safety benefits of the Guardian FLEX SoftShox Chinstrap. We’re thankful to collaborate with the innovative team at SoftShox to achieve this milestone and look forward to seeing the Guardian FLEX SoftShox Chinstrap on football fields across the country this Fall.”

With teams across the U.S., from high school athletes to professional leagues, planning to wear the chinstrap during the upcoming 2026 season, this new data is expected to further support adoption.

As hospitality jobs evolve faster than ever, Glion strengthens the bridge between academia and industry

• Grisha Davidoff, Owner & CEO, Utopian Hotels (Lisbon)
• Gaëlle Devins, Chief Customer Officer & Member of the Executive Board, Breitling (Grenchen)
• Amanda Hyndman, Chief Operating Officer, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group (Hong Kong)
• Sybille de Margerie, President & CEO, Sybille de Margerie Interior Design (Paris)
• Nicholas Northam, former Executive Vice President International, Aimbridge Hospitality (London)
• Anthony Torkington, Managing Director, Relais & Châteaux (Paris)
• Jeffrey Wielgopolan, Service Director, Meadowood Estate Napa Valley (California)

UTEP Researchers 3D-Print Battery Component That Could Reshape How Devices Are Powered

 EL PASO, Texas June 30: A team of researchers at The University of Texas at El Paso has developed a way to 3D-print an essential battery component in nearly any shape. Their innovation could free engineers from the constraints of standard rechargeable battery sizes and allow energy storage to be built directly into the devices the batteries power.

The work, detailed in a study published in Communications Engineering, part of the Nature family of journals, centers on gel polymer electrolytes, the material inside a battery that carries the ions (the particles which carry the electrical charge) between the electrodes – the two terminals where chemical reactions occur and electricity enters or leaves the battery. Conventional electrolytes are liquids that must be sealed inside rigid casings, a design that limits battery shapes and raises safety concerns about leaks. The UTEP team instead created a printable gel by combining a light-curable resin with a lithium-based liquid electrolyte, then hardened it layer by layer using a technique called vat photopolymerization.

The printed material performed on par with electrolytes made by conventional methods, reaching ionic conductivities of up to 3.4 × 10⁻³ siemens per centimeter, close to the performance of the liquid electrolytes it could replace. The researchers also pinpointed an optimal recipe, a one-to-four ratio of resin to electrolyte, that balanced strong electrochemical performance with clean, reliable printing.

Just as important for real-world use, the team printed the electrolytes in ordinary laboratory air rather than inside a sealed, oxygen-free chamber, and the material kept its performance. To showcase the design freedom the method offers, the researchers printed simple discs, an open honeycomb lattice and a solid one-centimeter cube, illustrating how future batteries could be shaped to fit a wearable, a medical device or an aerospace part rather than forcing the device to accommodate the battery.

“For years, the shape of a battery has dictated the shape of the device it powers,” said Alexis Maurel, Ph.D., the study’s lead researcher and a faculty member in UTEP’s Department of Metallurgical, Materials and Biomedical Engineering. “We are showing that you can print a high-performing electrolyte battery component with any shape and place it almost anywhere you want. That changes what designers are able to imagine.”

The work also clarified how the choice of solvent shapes both printability and battery behavior, a question the authors note had gone largely unexamined in earlier research on printable electrolytes. One formulation proved especially stable during repeated testing, helping the team identify the most promising path forward.

“This research demonstrates how advanced manufacturing and energy technologies are merging to create entirely new possibilities for battery design,” said Kenith Meissner, Ph.D., dean of the Miguel A. Loya College of Engineering. “By developing a scalable method to 3D-print battery electrolytes in virtually any shape, Dr. Maurel and his collaborators are helping position UTEP at the forefront of next-generation energy storage research while providing our students with hands-on experience in technologies that are critical to the future of aerospace, transportation, and advanced manufacturing.”

The research was led by UTEP scientists in collaboration with Sandia National Laboratories. The team plans to refine its formulations and work toward incorporating these printed electrolytes into complete battery cells.

The study is part of Maurel’s portfolio of projects focused on 3D printing of batteries, which includes a workforce development grant from the National Science Foundation’s Research Experiences for Undergraduates program. The funding established a partnership between UTEP and Texas A&M University that offers paid, research-intensive summer internships for students from both institutions.

Sensex, Nifty End Lower as IT Stocks Weigh; Markets Track US–Iran Talks

Mumbai, June 30: Indian equity benchmarks ended lower on Monday, weighed down by selling pressure in information technology stocks, while investors closely monitored developments around upcoming US–Iran talks.

Market sentiment remained cautious throughout the session as weak performance in key IT counters dragged the broader indices. Analysts noted that profit booking and global uncertainty contributed to the decline.

Investors also tracked geopolitical developments, particularly the scheduled US–Iran discussions, which are expected to influence global crude oil prices and broader risk sentiment in the coming days.

Despite the downturn, selective buying was seen in some defensive and sector-specific stocks, helping limit deeper losses in the broader market.

Market experts said volatility is likely to persist as global cues, currency movements, and geopolitical factors continue to shape investor sentiment.

transcosmos completes registration as a Financial Services Intermediary

Tokyo, Japan, June 30: transcosmos announced that it has completed registration as a Financial Services Intermediary with the Kanto Local Finance Bureau (Registration No. 27). The Financial Services Intermediary business involves operations that directly handle customers’ assets and transactions, and therefore requires a highly robust operational foundation, including adequate financial capacity, guarantee arrangements, and rigorous compliance and internal control systems.

Under these requirements, transcosmos has completed its registration and will commence support for licensed operations across deposit, lending, and securities areas. Through these services, transcosmos will contribute to expanding the customer base of financial institutions while providing integrated support from the design of digital customer touchpoints to back-office operations.

Background

In recent years, amid changes in the interest rate environment, competition in financial products and services has intensified, while customer needs have become increasingly diverse and sophisticated. Against this backdrop, there is a growing need to expand opportunities for customer proposals, deliver seamless and efficient operations in contract-related support and procedures, enhance customer experience (CX) through digital channels, and drive continuous improvement by leveraging Voice of the Customer (VoC).

Overview of registered business and services

[Intermediation Services for Deposits and Loans]

– Acceptance and processing of new applications for housing loans and deposit accounts
– Document verification, data entry, and handling incomplete or missing information
– Provision of product information and implementation of initiatives to promote applications

[Securities Intermediation Services]

– Administrative procedures and customer support related to the opening of securities accounts
– Inquiry handling and order intermediation via telephone
– Support for applications and promotion of investment trusts and NISA (Nippon Individual Savings Account) accounts

transcosmos’s strengths

• Extensive track record in financial operations
  Leveraging expertise gained through supporting the operations of financial institutions, transcosmos provides efficient and stable operational frameworks
• Integration of digital (Web/CX) and operations
  transcosmos delivers end-to-end services—from the design of customer touchpoints to back-office operations—enhancing CX and advancing operational capabilities
• One of the largest contact center infrastructures in Japan
  transcosmos provides high-quality, large-scale customer support and multichannel operations, including chat support, voice bots, and social media engagement

Next steps

Going beyond traditional outsourcing, transcosmos will work closely with financial institutions to address both management and operational challenges, while promoting the development of sustainable operational models. With this registration, transcosmos will expand its support in the CX domain to include licensed operations and establish an operating model that integrates digital and back-office functions. Through these initiatives, transcosmos will create an environment that enables financial institutions to concentrate on their core businesses, while contributing to the delivery of financial services that are clear, accessible, and reliable for consumers.

* transcosmos is a trademark or registered trademark of transcosmos inc. in Japan and other countries.
* Other company names and product or service names used here are trademarks or registered trademarks of respective companies.

BlaBlaCar Announces Global Expansion Into 20 New Countries

June 30: BlaBlaCar announces expansion into 20 new countries as carpooling emerges as a mainstream solution to persistent economic and environmental pressures on consumers. This deployment marks the company’s first major wave of new market entries in a decade, driven by artificial intelligence to accelerate localization and operational scaling, and brings global presence to 41 countries.

The expansion builds on mature regional operations where the platform has successfully established localized networks. By broadening its geographic reach, BlaBlaCar aims to address structural transport challenges in high-growth areas while completing its network coverage across Europe.

It comes at a critical time when carpooling is emerging as an affordable and efficient solution for intercity travel amid the current context of rising fuel prices for the foreseeable future. Carpooling is a collaborative mobility alternative in which several individuals share a vehicle to complete the same journey and split the travel expenses. The average distance of BlaBlaCar journeys is around 150–250 kilometers. Through its technology, the platform optimizes and facilitates the connection between passengers and drivers who list their empty seats for trips they were already planning to make with other users who need to travel to the same destination in a more direct or economical way than other forms of travel can offer.

Since March 2026, BlaBlaCar registered more than 875,000 new drivers globally, demonstrating the impact of the platform in offsetting travel costs by sharing them.

“Our model works because it solves an economic reality for the consumer,” said Nicolas Brusson, CEO of BlaBlaCar. “Last year alone, our drivers saved over €568 million in travel expenses. As we scale into 20 new markets, we are unlocking massive, untapped economic relief for millions of travelers and commuters.”

The international rollout scales across four major geographical regions:

Latin America: The expansion follows a decade of operations in Brazil, where more than 25 million passengers used the platform in 2025. Brazil has become the second-largest global market for the group’s carpooling and bus offerings and this regional rollout introduces BlaBlaCar’s shared mobility infrastructure to neighboring countries, including Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay.

Southeast Asia: the company is launching services in several new countries. New market entries include Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. Structural transit gaps, particularly between big and mid-size cities, present high demand for shared travel solutions and carpooling offers an untapped opportunity in the region.

Europe: BlaBlaCar is expanding into several additional markets to complete its regional footprint across historical market, Europe. New entries include Albania, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Greece, Macedonia, and Moldova.

North Africa: The company is launching operations for the first time in Africa, starting with Morocco. The expansion leverages geographical proximity and existing similar travel patterns in the French and Spanish markets.

“Our mission is to optimize every empty seat on the road,” says Nicolas Brusson. “The growth we’ve seen in the last months demonstrates that consumers find the cost-sharing model more relevant than ever. And we are excited to see new communities form across new countries around the same concept.”

India, BlaBlaCar’s Largest Carpooling Market Globally

India has experienced 47% year-on-year growth in 2025 surpassing all European markets with 19 million passengers in 2025, thereby emerging as BlaBlaCar’s largest carpooling market globally.

In 2026, this momentum has only accelerated the platform now serves over 2 million passengers per month, with 315,000 new drivers joining since March alone. Remarkably, this growth has been driven entirely by word of mouth, reflecting the depth of demand for affordable intercity travel across the country. BlaBlaCar’s reach in India now extends well beyond metros, with shared mobility becoming a mainstream solution for travelers connecting cities like Pune, Jaipur, Kolhapur, Aurangabad, Chittoor, Meerut, Anantpur, amongst others.

Mumbai Property Registrations Hit Highest Level Since 2013, Up 6 pc in H1 2026

Mumbai, June 30: Property registrations in Mumbai increased by 6% in the first half of 2026, reaching their highest level since 2013, according to recent data released by industry sources.

The growth reflects sustained momentum in the residential real estate sector, supported by stable interest rates, improved buyer sentiment, and continued infrastructure development across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. Market observers said that consistent housing demand has played a key role in maintaining strong registration numbers.

Demand was seen across both mid-income and premium housing segments, with end-user purchases contributing significantly to overall transactions. Developers also reported steady sales performance during the period, indicating stable market activity despite broader economic uncertainties.

Experts noted that ongoing infrastructure projects, better connectivity, and urban development initiatives have further strengthened confidence among homebuyers and investors. The real estate market has shown resilience, even amid inflationary pressures and global economic challenges.

Going forward, the sector is expected to maintain stable growth, though factors such as interest rate changes, affordability constraints, and policy developments will continue to influence market trends. Analysts will closely monitor upcoming data to assess whether the current momentum sustains in the coming quarters.