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Zydus Hospitals Sets New Benchmarks in High-Risk Pregnancy and Complex Gynaecological Care

AHMEDABAD, India, Aug. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — India has made real progress on maternal health in recent years with expanding access to healthcare and plummeting maternal mortality ratios. Yet a nation-wide analysis by the ICMR found that nearly half of all pregnancies in India are now classified as high-risk, and the country marks a maternal mortality rate of around 88 maternal deaths every 1 lakh live births. The aim is to lower it to 70 by 2030. In Western India, the department of gynaecology and obstetrics at Zydus Hospitals, Ahmedabad, has been established as a top high-risk pregnancy and IVF centre that manages a massive case load of high-risk pregnancies annually, spanning placenta abnormalities, multiple gestation, pre-existing conditions, preterm complications, and more. With an in-house blood bank, a dedicated Gynec ICU, in-house NICU, and round-the-clock specialists across obstetrics, fetal medicine, anaesthesia, and neonatology, the department is built to handle nearly any gynaecological emergency in the State.

With roughly 3 crore pregnancies and up to 2.7 crore live births annually, more than anywhere else in the world, even a small share of high-risk cases add up to an enormous number of women who need specialised care. A pregnancy is generally classified as high-risk when either the mother or the baby faces a higher-than-usual chance of complications. Common contributors include advanced or very young maternal age, a previous caesarean delivery, obesity, and pre-existing conditions such as diabetes or hypertension.

Dr. Namita Shah, Sr. Obstetrician and High-risk Pregnancy Expert, says, “Several of these factors are becoming more common in India. We handle a lot of high-risk pregnancy cases with such conditions, and recently, a 30-year-old woman in her second pregnancy, came to us for her antenatal check-up in her fifth month. Her first child was born by C-section. During the scans, we could see her placenta had invaded deeply into the uterine wall, and found that she had a rare condition known as placenta accreta spectrum along with placenta previa.”

Placenta previa becomes considerably more serious when combined with placenta accreta spectrum (PAS). A prior caesarean delivery is one of the strongest risk factors for PAS, since the placenta can implant over the old scar and burrow in more deeply than it should.

“Our fetal medicine specialist confirmed PAS layered on top of placenta previa. In such a case, we need to deliver the baby in a setup with a strong anaesthesia team, an in-house blood bank and an in-house neonatologist as PAS carries a real risk of catastrophic blood loss during delivery, and if it isn’t managed quickly, it can push a patient into haemorrhagic shock or organ injury. Fortunately, all of these facilities are available at Zydus, which also makes it a much safer setup for the patient,” says Dr. Namita. An MRI was done ahead of delivery to map the extent of the placenta’s attachment, and the team explained the inherent risks of her condition to the family.

The baby was delivered by an upper-segment caesarean section. “As anticipated, her placenta had invaded into the bladder wall, and an obstetric hysterectomy was required to control the bleeding. We had to transfuse 2.5 litres of blood and several units of fresh frozen plasma during the operation,” added Dr. Namita.

Given the extent of the bladder involvement, Dr. Kaustubh Patel, Urologist, joined the surgical team. After the delivery of the baby, the placenta was carefully separated from the bladder wall and later a hysterectomy was performed. Post-op, the mother spent two days in intensive care. Both her and the baby’s recovery were uneventful, and they were discharged in five days. “They both are doing well now,” Dr. Namita said.

Dr. Raman Patel, Sr. Gynecologist, Endoscopic and Robotic Surgeon and IVF specialist, with nearly four decades of experience, met a couple who had been trying to conceive for ten years. The wife, 31, had a history of PMOS and irregular periods; the couple were also facing male-factor infertility and higher BMIs. They had already been through three rounds of intrauterine insemination and one IVF cycle elsewhere, all unsuccessful, before coming to Zydus for a second attempt at IVF, this time under Dr. Raman and Dr. Reitu Patel, IVF and Infertility Specialist and Embryologist.

Keen not to risk another failed cycle, the couple opted to have three embryos transferred. Despite Dr. Reitu explaining to them the potential complications of such a procedure, the couple insisted for the same. Surprisingly, all three embryos implanted. “However, in her first trimester, as she was experiencing multiple episodes of bleeding and spotting, we recommended that they consider reducing the pregnancy to twins,” says Dr. Reitu Patel. The reduction was carried out under the guidance of a fetal medicine specialist, and a preventive cervical encerclage (a stitch to reinforce and help support the pregnancy) was done at 16 weeks. The mother had subsequently developed gestational diabetes as the pregnancy progressed.

At 25 weeks and 4 days, considered extremely ultra-preterm, she began experiencing severe pain and leaking so Dr. Raman had to move ahead with a caesarean delivery. “Both twins were born ultra-preterm, weighing just 800 grams and 900 grams. At that stage, babies haven’t yet developed the ability to regulate their own body temperature or to breathe and feed without support, so we had to keep them in our in-house neonatal ICU,” he said.

“One of the twins developed pulmonary hypoxia and needed ventilator support before recovering. They both spent around three months in the NICU before they were strong enough to be handed over to their mother,” said Dr. Anita Srinivasan, Neonatologist.

“I recently spoke to the mother, and I was relieved to hear that the twin babies are doing exceedingly well,” Dr. Raman said.

In addition, the team also has state’s first MCh in Reproductive Medicine, Dr. Vivek Kakkad, IVF and Reproductive Medicine Specialist.

Though a cervical cerclage was enough to help carry that pregnancy through, for another patient who broke her waters at 4^th month of her pregnancy, things took a far more severe turn. She had undergone three miscarriages in her fourth and fifth months, including two where a vaginal cerclage had already been placed. However, in her fourth pregnancy, she came to Dr. Riddhi Shah, Maternity Obstetrician, Gynaecologist and Robotic Surgeon. “Given her history, we had to be very careful. And as she was suffering from chronic cervical insufficiency, this time around, we planned to do a laparoscopic cerclage after the first trimester,” she said. Cervical insufficiency is a condition where the cervix begins to open too early in pregnancy without contractions, often leading to second-trimester loss or extremely preterm birth. 

“Unfortunately, she began losing amniotic fluid at the 4^th month, so we moved straight to a laparoscopic abdominal cerclage,” she added. Despite the fluid loss, the patient carried the pregnancy for another 3.5 months, and was admitted for 3 months. “We regularly sent for blood and urine tests and closely monitored her for any infections and also included the infectious diseases team who supported us throughout her stay,” said Dr. Riddhi. After long and anxious hospital stay, she delivered successfully, and both the baby and the mother recovered well. Recently she celebrated her baby’s first birthday.

Beyond high-risk pregnancies, other complex gynec cases including infertility, endometriosis, ovarian cysts, fibroids, menstrual disorders, and menopause treatment are also carried out here. The department’s gynaecology team also includes Dr. Bina Mavani, Dr. Sonali Chauhan, Dr. Foram Vora, Dr. Margi Shah and Dr. Vaishali Patel, Zydus also extends their services in gynec cancer and breast cancer cases with experts like Dr. Ava Desai, Dr. Mona Shah and Dr. Priyanka Chiripal and Dr. Dhara Pandya.

As the quality of care across India remains uneven and a gap is reflected in national data as well as in individual outcomes. Zydus’s push to bring advanced infrastructure, in-house specialists and specialised gynec care to its other centres with Dr. Reshmi Banerjee and Dr. Prachi Sabnis at Zydus Vadodara and Dr. Kavya Patel at Zydus Anand, is an effort to close that gap across Western India.

To know more about their services, visit https://zydushospitals.com 

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Government of Gujarat and Automation Anywhere Partner to Democratize Access to AI and Build AI Capabilities Across Government, Education, and Industry

GANDHINAGAR, India, Aug. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Automation Anywhere, a leader in Agentic Process Automation (APA), and the Government of Gujarat today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to expand AI skills and knowledge across the state.

AI is becoming part of how governments deliver services, how businesses operate, and what skills people need to succeed. The decisions made today about who has access to AI knowledge and practical experience will shape economic opportunities for years to come. Preparing citizens for that future is a shared responsibility — one that requires government, education, and industry to work together, while ensuring AI sovereignty remains central to how the technology is adopted and scaled. That means building practical AI skills alongside the institutional capabilities needed to govern how AI operates across data, systems, and workflows.

Across India, Automation Anywhere has invested in partnerships that help Indians build practical AI and automation skills — from working with NxtWave to provide more than 100,000 students with enterprise AI and automation training, to supporting AI Kiran’s goal of preparing one million people, with a focus on women and youth, for AI careers by 2030. The partnership with Gujarat extends that commitment by bringing together government, academia, startups, and industry to help prepare students, public servants, entrepreneurs, and professionals for an AI-powered future.

“Many organizations are beyond experimenting with AI and are now focused on using it to create real value,” said Mihir Shukla, CEO and Co-founder of Automation Anywhere. “In Gujarat, we have a government that understands the answer isn’t technology alone — it requires people who know how to use AI, leaders who know how to govern it, and institutions ready to bring all of it together. That’s what this partnership is built to do.”

Under the agreement, the parties will collaborate on training programs, workshops, bootcamps and certification-oriented learning, bringing together government, academia, startups and industry across Gujarat.

“Our vision is to ensure Gujarat remains at the forefront of innovation,” said Shri Arjunbhai Modhwadia, Hon’ble Minister, Science and Technology Government of Gujarat, under the leadership of whom this initiative is happening. “This partnership reflects our commitment to investing in people and creating new opportunities for students, professionals, startups and public servants. Together, we are building the capabilities that will support better public services, continued economic growth, and Gujarat’s long-term future.”

The partnership is intended to help ensure that AI adoption in Gujarat under the vision of Hon’ble CM Shri Bhupendrabhai Patel and Hon’ble Deputy CM Shri Harshbhai Sanghvi, is not only broader, but more responsible, more locally governed, and more capable of delivering meaningful outcomes for citizens, businesses, and institutions. To learn more about Automation Anywhere’s work in AI skilling and responsible AI adoption, visit http://automationanywhere.com/company/responsible-ai.

About Automation Anywhere

Automation Anywhere has been committed to defining the future of work by unleashing human potential through automation for over 20 years. The company enables this future through its leading Agentic Process Automation (APA) System for IT leaders and developers as well as purpose-built agentic solutions for business leaders in finance, customer service, IT and HR. Learn more at www.automationanywhere.com 

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Media Contact: 

Rachel Morrison, Corporate Communications

Press@AutomationAnywhere.com  

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HDFC Securities Launches ‘MTF T20’, Offers 0% Interest for 20 Days on Eligible Margin Trading Facility Transactions

MUMBAI, India, Aug. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Independence is not just about having the freedom to choose; it is also about having the flexibility to act on those choices. Taking this thought to investing, HDFC Securities Limited has introduced ‘MTF T20’, an offering that gives eligible investors greater flexibility to participate in the equity markets with 0% interest on eligible Margin Trading Facility (MTF) purchase transactions for the first 20 calendar days.

Speaking on the launch, Dhiraj Relli, MD & CEO, HDFC Securities, said, “Financial independence relies on having both the access to opportunities and the flexibility to capitalize on them. With ‘MTF T20’, we are enhancing capital efficiency for our retail investors by offering a zero-interest window for the first 20 days. This initiative reflects our commitment to continuously democratizing trading tools and delivering value-driven digital solutions.”

Under the MTF T20 offering, eligible customers can avail the interest-free benefit for the first 20 calendar days from the execution of each eligible MTF purchase transaction. A brokerage of 0.50% on the buy transaction value and 0.50% on the sell transaction value will apply to eligible trades under the offer. From the 21st calendar day onwards, the applicable MTF interest rate under the customer’s prevailing tariff plan will be charged.

Available on HDFC Securities’ trading platform InvestRight, the offering is designed to give investors greater room to manage their positions and make investment decisions with additional flexibility, subject to applicable eligibility criteria and terms and conditions.

MTF allows investors to take positions in eligible securities by paying the required margin, with the balance funded by the broker. With MTF T20, HDFC Securities is bringing an extended interest-free window to this facility, giving eligible investors more flexibility in managing their market positions.

The offering is subject to applicable terms and conditions (https://www.hdfcsec.com/mtf-t20-terms-conditions). Statutory levies, exchange transaction charges, GST, stamp duty, SEBI charges, and other applicable charges will continue to apply. Market risks remain applicable, and the interest-free period does not assure profits or protect against losses.

About HDFC Securities: 

HDFC Securities, a subsidiary of HDFC Bank, is one of India’s leading stockbrokers, with 26 years of expertise in the Indian equity market. Serving around 6 million customers in over 100 cities, the company operates a robust network of more than 120 branches. HDFC Securities provides a comprehensive range of investment products and trading services tailored to meet diverse financial needs. Over its 26-year history, HDFC Securities has played a crucial role in empowering investors with more than 30 distinct financial solutions. These offerings include equities, gold, mutual funds, currency derivatives, non-convertible debentures (NCDs), fixed deposits, bonds, basket investing, global investing, and acts as a distributor of the National Pension System (NPS), each designed to align with various investment goals. Dedicated to providing seamless and future-ready trading experiences, HDFC Securities features cutting-edge platforms such as InvestRight and HDFC SKY (discount broking), along with mobile apps, a user-friendly website, Integrated Trading Solutions (ITS), and ProTerminal. In addition, HSL Prime Research offers best-in-class investment opportunities, backed by comprehensive fundamental and technical analysis conducted by a team of seasoned analysts, many of whom have been with HDFC Securities for over a decade. The company has also launched its investment advisory service, HDFC TRU, focusing on high-net-worth individuals (HNIs), ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNIs), family offices, and treasury clients. HDFC Securities also maintains a strong social media presence, proactively sharing market updates and educational content to promote financial literacy. The company engages with its audience through platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. For more information, visit https://www.hdfcsec.com/article/disclaimer-1795.

Investment in securities market is subject to market risks, read all the related documents carefully before investing.

Neither the information, nor any opinion contained on this website or in the research reports / calls constitute a solicitation or offer by HDFC Securities Ltd. or its owners / affiliates to buy or sell any securities, futures, options or other financial instruments or provide any investment advice or service. 

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upGrad Crosses ₹2,000 Cr Gross Revenue in FY26; Grows EBITDA 8X to 123 Cr

MUMBAI, India, Aug. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — upGrad, one of Asia’s largest integrated skilling and lifelong learning majors, reported a decisive step-up in profitability for FY26. Ind-AS EBITDA rose more than eight-fold to INR 123 crore, from INR 15 crore on the same basis in FY25. Net loss narrowed 52% to INR 130 crore – the third consecutive year in which losses have more than halved year on year, down from a peak of INR 1,142 crore in FY23.

The company reported Gross Revenue of INR 2,070 crore (inclusive of taxes), up 7% year-on-year and the post Ind-AS accounting closed at a total income of INR 1,732 crore. upGrad also carries INR 530 crore of collected and yet to be recognised revenue to be recognised in future years. In terms of business scale, the company now has, at any given time – more than 100,000 concurrent learners across its online skilling & degree, study abroad & offline skilling programs and on the B2B business front more than 700 enterprises chose upGrad Enterprise for their employee skilling, recruitment and workforce-development needs in FY26. Underpinning that scale is a wide range of offerings – from university-led undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, MBAs and doctorates to bootcamps, diplomas and professional certificates, delivered both online and offline, spanning disciplines from Technology, Data and AI to Management, Finance and Law.

AI now runs through both what upGrad teaches and how it operates. In the curriculum, AI is embedded across more than 80% of upGrad’s programs and spans every price point, with strong demand across the range. On the operating side, upGrad’s own adoption of AI is making the business structurally more efficient. Both marketing and technology costs came down year-on-year, even as revenue grew.

“FY26 has been a strong year on profitability, built on disciplined execution and right cost management. It’s a result of the strong execution over the last three years, and reflects the profitability discipline that has got us here – one we will carry forward as we scale”, said Mukesh Mundra, Chief Financial Officer, upGrad.

Adding to that, Ronnie Screwvala, Co-founder & Chairperson, upGrad, said, “FY26 has brought us to a strong basecamp – in financial position and in business scale. Over the next few years, our focus is growth – both organic and through acquisitions, including Internshala and Unacademy, which we are now closing. With these, we complete upGrad’s integrated story: serving learners across their entire lifecycle. From this base we intend to compound across India and global markets.”

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India Unveils First Guide to Grasslands and Open Natural Ecosystems at UNCCD COP17

Ulaanbaatar, August 18: India has launched its first-ever Guide to Grasslands and Other Open Natural Ecosystems (ONEs) of India at the 17th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP17) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

Launched on August 17, the guide highlights the ecological diversity, biodiversity value and socio-economic importance of India’s grasslands, savannas, deserts, scrublands, ravines and other open natural ecosystems. The initiative is aimed at strengthening their conservation, restoration and sustainable management.

The launch was preceded by a video message from Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav, who said grasslands, scrublands and ravines have often been judged merely by the absence of trees despite their critical ecological and livelihood functions.

Yadav said these ecosystems support unique biodiversity, pastoral communities and climate resilience, adding that modern science has reinforced traditional knowledge about the importance of healthy grasslands.

Recalling his childhood in Ajmer, Rajasthan, the minister said he had grown up around grazing lands and desert scrub that were frequently described as “wasteland”. He also highlighted traditional Oran and gauchar landscapes, where communities protected common lands and understood the interdependence of land, livestock and livelihoods.

The minister described the guide as an important step towards recognising open natural ecosystems alongside forests and called for their science-based conservation.

The guide was launched at an official UNCCD COP17 side event under the guidance of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC).

The publication and event were organised by the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE) in collaboration with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Centre of Excellence on Sustainable Land Management (CoE-SLM), Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) and the Space Applications Centre (SAC), ISRO.

The event brought together representatives from government agencies, scientific and research institutions, international organisations and civil society.

Discussions focused on the diversity and geographical distribution of India’s grasslands and other open natural ecosystems, their ecological importance and the role of restoration in achieving India’s Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) targets.

Participants also stressed the need to strengthen scientific knowledge, improve land-degradation assessment and adopt landscape-level planning for conservation and restoration.

The publication provides information on major open natural ecosystems across India, including their geographical settings, ecological characteristics, biodiversity and the communities and tribes associated with them.

It covers ecosystems ranging from Himalayan and Terai grasslands to the Thar and Banni landscapes, Deccan savannas, rocky plateaus, ravines, scrublands, coastal ecosystems and desert landscapes.

The guide also contains thematic sections covering pastoralism, fire ecology and carbon sequestration.

India’s open natural ecosystems support diverse plant and animal species, contribute to soil and water processes and store significant amounts of carbon in their soils. They also support pastoral, livestock-based and agricultural livelihoods across several regions.

The COP17 side event featured two fireside discussions involving national and international experts, scientific institutions, civil society groups and community-focused organisations.

The discussions examined grassland and dryland conservation, people-centred rangeland governance, climate resilience and the institutional, scientific and policy measures required for landscape-scale conservation.

The launch reinforced India’s commitment to a science-informed and landscape-based approach to land restoration and sustainable land management.

It also highlighted the need to bring grasslands, rangelands and other open natural ecosystems into mainstream policy discussions on land degradation, biodiversity conservation, climate resilience and sustainable livelihoods.

The guide is expected to serve as a resource for policymakers, researchers, conservation practitioners, development agencies and local communities involved in the conservation, restoration and sustainable management of India’s grasslands and other open natural ecosystems.

Its launch at UNCCD COP17 also gives India a platform to showcase the diversity of its open ecosystems and strengthen their representation in global discussions on land restoration, rangelands and Land Degradation Neutrality.

CEC Gyanesh Kumar Calls on Academia to Boost Informed Democratic Participation

Patna, August 18: Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar on Monday called upon educational institutions to play a greater role in strengthening electoral literacy, building trust in the electoral process and promoting informed democratic participation among young citizens.

The Election Commission of India (ECI) launched Electoral Literacy Clubs (ELC) 2.0 at a conference on “Electoral Literacy Clubs and ECINet” held at Gyan Bhawan in Patna.

Addressing the conference, Kumar said India’s elections are conducted strictly in accordance with the Constitution, laws and instructions issued by the Election Commission. He said the electoral process is carried out transparently, with political parties, candidates and their representatives having opportunities to participate in and audit the process at various stages.

The CEC stressed the need to familiarise students and young voters with India’s electoral system, democratic values, voter registration, polling and counting procedures, as well as the role and functioning of the Election Commission.

“Engaging young citizens and ensuring their trust and informed participation in the electoral process is an investment in the future of democracy,” the CEC said.

A new logo for the Electoral Literacy Club was also unveiled during the programme. The initiative carries the tagline “Learn Democracy. Lead Democracy.”, reflecting its objective of enabling young and first-time voters to understand democratic processes and participate meaningfully in them.

Earlier, Kumar held a meeting with Booth Level Officers (BLOs) at the Rajgir International Convention Centre in Nalanda. During his two-day visit to Bihar on August 16 and 17, he also undertook field visits to Madhubani, Vaishali and Nalanda.

ELC 2.0 seeks to transform Electoral Literacy Clubs into structured, visible and digitally enabled platforms across schools, colleges and universities. The programme envisages year-round activities to promote electoral awareness among young citizens and extend awareness to their families, institutions and communities.

The initiative will leverage ECINet, the Election Commission’s digital platform providing election-related services covering the electoral process from roll to poll. A dedicated ELC portal on ECINet will facilitate the creation of a streamlined pan-India network of Electoral Literacy Clubs.

The initiative assumes significance given the scale of India’s education system. The country has around 15 lakh schools with nearly 25 crore students and more than one crore teachers. The higher education sector comprises nearly 1,500 universities and around 70,000 educational institutions, with an estimated enrolment of 4.33 crore students.

Through this extensive institutional network, ELC 2.0 aims to promote factual and experiential electoral education and enhance awareness about the transparency, integrity and credibility of India’s electoral system.

The clubs will also disseminate information on different stages of elections, including voter registration, polling and counting, besides creating awareness about the ECINET App and other key initiatives of the Election Commission.

The ECI expects the expanded network of Electoral Literacy Clubs to help young citizens become informed participants and ambassadors of democratic participation.

Goodyear India Introduces Ultra Grip Tractor Tire

GURUGRAM, India, Aug. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Goodyear India today announced the launch of its new Ultra Grip tractor tire, designed to meet the everyday demands of Indian farming.

Developed with Indian farmers in mind, the Ultra Grip tractor tire combines dependable traction, durability, and longer service life to help maximize productivity across a wide range of agricultural applications and field conditions.

“Indian farmers need tires they can rely on every day, season after season,” said Arvind Bhandari, Managing Director of Goodyear India. “With Ultra Grip, we are bringing a tractor tire that delivers the grip, durability, and confidence farmers need to perform their work efficiently in diverse agricultural environments.”

The Ultra Grip tractor tire is engineered to provide reliable performance across varied Indian soils and terrains, offering:

• Reliable Grip: A rugged tread design delivers strong traction to help maintain performance, even in challenging field conditions.
• Durable Construction: Built with enhanced puncture protection and a cut-resistant tread compound, Ultra Grip is designed to withstand demanding agricultural operations.
• Enhanced Control: Improved stability and handling help operators maintain better control and confidence while working in the field.

The Ultra Grip tractor tire is now available in 14.9-28 size through Goodyear India’s dealer network across key agricultural markets, with additional sizes expected to be introduced in the future.

* Ultra Grip performance claims are based on tests conducted under standard testing conditions and controlled supervision.

About The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company

Goodyear (NASDAQ: GT) is one of the world’s largest tire companies. It employs about 63,000 people and manufactures its products in 48 facilities in 19 countries around the world. Its two Innovation Centers in Akron, Ohio, and Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg, strive to develop state-of-the-art products and services that set the technology and performance standard for the industry. For more information about Goodyear and its products, go to www.goodyear.com/corporate.

About Goodyear India Limited

Goodyear India Limited has had a presence in India for over 104 years. Its manufacturing facility, located in Ballabgarh, Faridabad, produces automotive tires, including farm tires and commercial truck tires. In the farm segment, the Company supplies tires to all major tractor OEMs in India. Additionally, Goodyear India trades in passenger car tires and offers technologically advanced products designed to enhance the driving experience. For more information about Goodyear India and its products, go to www.goodyear.co.in.

Goodyear in India also operates a manufacturing plant in Aurangabad, Maharashtra, where it manufactures consumer tires. Furthermore, Goodyear has established a Technology Centre in Hyderabad to support innovation and development.

CONTACT:

HELEN PEI

+86-18149784088

HELEN_PEI@GOODYEAR.COM 

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Aon Announces CFO Transition

–  Nadin Virani appointed Interim CFO

–  Reaffirms full-year 2026 financial guidance

DUBLIN, Aug. 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Aon plc (NYSE: AON), a leading global professional services firm, today announced that Edmund Reese will transition from his role as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, effective immediately, to pursue opportunities outside the firm. Aon appointed Nadin Virani as Interim CFO, effective immediately, and Reese will serve as senior advisor to Aon President and CEO Greg Case, through August 16, 2027, to support the transition.

“I want to recognize Edmund for his many contributions to our firm,” said Case. “Through consistent execution of our 3×3 Plan and a relentless and disciplined focus on performance, Edmund has helped to enhance our capabilities, accelerate growth and deliver meaningful value for our shareholders.”

“It has been a privilege to serve as CFO of Aon,” said Reese. “I am proud of the significant progress we have made building on the firm’s strong financial foundation, strengthening our growth engine and enhancing our capacity to invest in long-term value creation. With a winning strategy and an experienced financial leadership team in place, Aon is well positioned to continue delivering strong results and creating value for clients, colleagues and shareholders.”

Virani brings deep financial leadership expertise and a wealth of experience in the financial services industry to his new role, having previously served as the firm’s Global Head of Corporate Planning and Analytics with oversight of financial planning and analysis, forecasting processes, cash management and budgeting. Prior to joining Aon, Virani served as Head of Corporate Planning and Analytics at Broadridge Financial and General Manager for the Delta Amex Co-Brand portfolio at American Express, where for 18 years he held a number of CFO positions in London, Frankfurt and New York, supporting areas such as international and U.S. lending, loyalty, insurance and merchant pricing.

“As Global Head of Corporate Planning and Analytics and a member of our Aon Executive Committee, Nadin has played a central role in strengthening our financial performance and developing our strategy to drive sustainable growth across our firm,” said Case. “His financial expertise and proven leadership will be invaluable as we continue to accelerate our Aon United strategy and create better outcomes for clients and shareholders.”

Virani will report to Case and lead Aon’s Finance organization, while working closely with the Aon Executive Committee to ensure continuity and oversight of the firm’s financial strategy. Aon has also engaged a leading executive search firm to conduct a comprehensive internal and external search for a permanent CFO.

“I am honored to serve as Interim CFO of Aon and build on the strong foundation we have established across our Finance organization,” said Virani. “We will remain focused on financial discipline and thoughtful investment in the business as we continue to support Aon’s growth and create long-term shareholder value.”

Consistent with the update provided in its second quarter earnings release on July 29, 2026, Aon reaffirmed its full-year 2026 guidance.

About Aon

Aon plc (NYSE: AON) exists to shape decisions for the better — to protect and enrich the lives of people around the world. Through actionable analytic insight, globally integrated Risk Capital and Human Capital expertise, and locally relevant solutions, our colleagues provide clients in over 120 countries with the clarity and confidence to make better risk and people decisions that help protect and grow their businesses.

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Sonata Software Appoints Hariprasad Rebala as Chief AI Officer

Appointment strengthens Sonata’s AI leadership as the company accelerates its transformation into an AI-native enterprise

BENGALURU, India, Aug. 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Sonata Software (NSE: SONATSOFTW) (BSE: 532221) today announced the appointment of Hariprasad Rebala (Hari) as Chief AI Officer.

In his role, Hari will lead Sonata’s end-to-end AI-led business transformation, shaping and executing the company’s AI strategy across offerings, service delivery, platforms, capabilities, ecosystem, and partnerships. His focus will be on driving AI-led business outcomes and AI-native delivery, helping enterprises translate AI adoption into enterprise velocity and measurable business value.

Hari brings more than three decades of experience spanning IT services, enterprise technology and the startup ecosystem. Most recently, he served as Chief of AI Solutions and Growth at a deep-tech AI startup, and earlier co-founded Forfend, where he helped build IoT and conversational AI platforms. He has also held senior leadership roles at (erstwhile) Mindtree, Capgemini, and Wipro, where he scaled businesses, built industry practices and led large transformation programs, particularly across Banking and Financial Services.

Rajsekhar Datta Roy, Chief Executive Officer, Sonata Software, said:

“Transforming Sonata Software into an AI-native organization is foundational to our growth trajectory. Hari brings a unique combination of AI startup and IT services expertise, with deep context of enterprise-grade AI platforms and engineering, delivering to outcome-based models. His addition to our leadership significantly strengthens our executive team as we rapidly transform to an AI-native organization.”

Hariprasad Rebala, Chief AI Officer, Sonata Software, said:

“AI is rapidly moving from experimentation to becoming fundamental to how enterprises compete, operate and create value. AI alone will not define the winners — the ability to translate AI into enterprise velocity will. Sonata brings together AI engineering and modernization capabilities, deep industry expertise and strategic technology partnerships to help clients make that shift at scale. My focus will be on building differentiated AI capabilities and platforms with our customers and partners, turning AI investments into measurable business outcomes and sustained competitive advantage.”

This appointment is part of Sonata’s broader strategy to embed AI across its engineering, platforms, delivery model and client solutions.

About Sonata Software Limited

Headquartered in Bengaluru, India, Sonata Software Limited is a USD 1.2 billion+ AI-first modernization engineering company with nearly 40 years of expertise rooted in a deep product engineering DNA. Powered by its proprietary Platformation™ framework, the company’s 6,400+ AI engineers support global delivery across the US, UK, India, Malaysia, Mexico, Australia, DACH, and the Nordics. With deep AI partnerships across Microsoft, AWS, Salesforce, and Snowflake, Sonata delivers enterprise velocity, enabling the world’s leading companies in the Retail & Manufacturing (RMD), Tech & Telecom (TMT), Healthcare (HLS), and Financial Services (BFSI) sectors to gain a competitive edge.

For more information, please visit https://www.sonata-software.com/ 

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Azure Power Global Limited to hold 2026 Annual Meeting on September 30, 2026

GURUGRAM, India, Aug. 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Azure Power Global Limited (the “Company” or “Azure Power Global”), an independent sustainable energy solutions provider and renewable power producer in India, today announced that it will hold its Annual Meeting of shareholders at 11:30 AM (India Standard Time) on September 30, 2026 at its Gurugram office.

The Company will propose at the Annual Meeting (i) to adopt the Audited Financial Statements of the Company for the year ended March 31, 2026, along with the Report of the Board of Directors and the Report of the Auditors (ii) re-appointment of ECOVIS (Mauritius), a member firm of ECOVIS International, as the independent auditor of the Company for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2027, and fix their remuneration (iii) re-election of Mr. Ambuj Agrawal as a director on the Company’s Board of Directors (iv) re-election of Mrs. Kamnee Dhotah-Matabudul as a director on the Company’s Board of Directors (v) re-election of Mr. Jean-Francois Joseph Boisvenu as a director on the Company’s Board of Directors (vi) to adopt a new business plan for the Company (vii) to adopt an amended Constitution for the Company and (viii) to transact such other business as may properly come before the Annual Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.

Only shareholders on record of the Company’s equity shares on the close of business on August 24, 2026 (Eastern Standard Time) (the “Record Date”) are entitled to receive notice and vote at the Annual Meeting or any adjournment. Shareholders are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting or entitled to appoint a proxy to attend and act for and on behalf of them at the meeting or can vote by Internet by following the steps as outlined in the notice of the Annual Meeting.

A notice of the Annual Meeting describing the matters to be considered at the meeting along with the Audited Financial Statements of the Company for the year ended March 31, 2026, along with the Report of the Board of Directors and the Report of the Auditors, New Business Plan and amended Constitution will be available on Azure Power Global website at Azure Power

About Azure Power Global

The Azure Power Group is one of India’s leading utility scale renewable energy project developer and operators. The Azure Power Group builds, owns, and operates large grid-scale renewable energy projects that supply clean energy to India’s power grid. The Azure Power Group developed India’s first utility-scale solar power project in 2009 and has grown to achieve substantial scale in the Indian renewable industry.

For more information about Azure Power Global, visit: Azure Power

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements. Words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “likely,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” “believes” and similar expressions are used to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations and beliefs and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Actual results may vary materially from those expressed or implied by the statements in this press release. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to the Company as of the date hereof, and the Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

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