Category Archives: News

PHDCCI Delegation Meets Piyush Goyal at India–SACU PTA ToR Signing

New Delhi, August 14, 2026: A delegation from the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) met Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal at Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi, on August 12 during the signing of the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the proposed India–Southern African Customs Union (SACU) Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA).

The delegation included Dr. Ranjeet Mehta, CEO and Secretary General, PHDCCI; Sandeep Aggarwal, Senior Managing Committee Member; Sunil Mangla, Chair, Manufacturing Committee; Sanat Kumar, Chief Economist; and Rakesh Shukla, Secretary, PHDCCI.

The signing of the ToR marks an important step towards restarting formal trade negotiations between India and the five-member SACU bloc comprising South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho and Eswatini. The framework is expected to guide discussions aimed at improving trade relations and expanding economic cooperation between the two sides.

During the meeting, the PHDCCI delegation congratulated Goyal on the development and appreciated the government’s efforts to widen India’s international trade partnerships and create greater market access for domestic businesses.

The proposed India–SACU trade arrangement could open new avenues for Indian exporters in sectors including automobiles and auto components, pharmaceuticals, engineering products, machinery, electrical equipment, chemicals and textiles.

PHDCCI reiterated its commitment to working with the government and industry stakeholders to strengthen India’s export ecosystem and help businesses identify and capitalise on emerging opportunities in Southern African markets.

President Murmu Honours Eminent Artists With Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowships and Awards

New Delhi, August 14, 2026: President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday conferred the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowships and Awards for 2024 and 2025 on eminent artists at a ceremony in New Delhi, recognising their contribution to India’s rich performing arts heritage.

The honours recognise achievements across music, dance, theatre, folk and tribal arts, puppetry and traditional performing arts. Seven distinguished artists were selected for the Akademi Fellowship, while the awards covered a wide range of artistic disciplines and traditions from across the country.

Addressing the gathering, President Murmu described artists as custodians of India’s collective memory and important contributors to the country’s cultural future. She highlighted how generations of artists have preserved traditions, languages, stories and artistic practices while allowing them to evolve with changing times.

The President also called upon senior artists and gurus to make systematic efforts to mentor and nurture the next generation, stressing that the continuity of India’s diverse artistic traditions depends on passing knowledge and skills to young practitioners.

The ceremony underscored the importance of performing arts not only as cultural expressions but also as a living link between India’s heritage and its future.

Chamoli Tunnel Tragedy Leaves Seven Dead as Rescue Teams Search for Missing Worker

Chamoli, August 14, 2026: Seven workers have died after a sudden rush of water and debris entered an under-construction tunnel at the THDC hydropower project in Mayapur, Pipalkoti, in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district. One worker is still reported missing, while rescue teams continue operations at the site.

Officials said the incident occurred after a landslide created a cavity that allowed water and debris to surge into the tunnel. Fourteen workers were rescued and taken to a hospital in Gopeshwar for treatment.

Teams from the NDRF, SDRF, police, CISF, ITBP and Army have been deployed for the search and rescue operation. Authorities are working in difficult conditions as water continues to pose challenges inside the tunnel.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has directed agencies to intensify relief and rescue efforts and is scheduled to inspect the affected site. The administration is closely monitoring the situation as rescue personnel continue efforts to locate the missing worker.

Maharashtra Moves Toward One Digital Identity for Easier Access to Public Services

Mumbai, August 14, 2026: The Maharashtra government is preparing to roll out ‘Maha-ID’, a digital identity framework designed to give citizens a simpler way to access government services and welfare programmes.

The initiative seeks to reduce the administrative burden on citizens by creating a common digital identity that can be used across multiple government departments. Instead of repeatedly providing the same information and documents for different services, residents could use their Maha-ID for streamlined verification.

The proposed system will be connected with Aadhaar, helping authorities authenticate beneficiaries and improve the accuracy of service delivery. The government expects the digital approach to reduce paperwork, shorten processing times and bring greater transparency to citizen-facing services.

Maha-ID is also expected to improve coordination among government departments by enabling information to be accessed through a more integrated digital framework. This could make it easier to identify eligible beneficiaries and minimise duplication in the delivery of government schemes.

The initiative forms part of Maharashtra’s broader digital-governance strategy, with technology increasingly being used to shift public services from department-centric processes to a more unified, citizen-focused model.

Colombia Earthquake Death Toll Rises to 273 as Rescue Efforts Continue

Bogota, August 14, 2026: The death toll from the powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck Colombia on Monday has risen to 273, while rescue teams continue searching for people still trapped or missing in affected areas.

According to Colombia’s National Unit for Disaster Risk Management, 3,824 people have been injured and 377 remain missing. The disaster has affected more than 97,500 people, with over 40,000 families reporting impacts from the quake.

The earthquake caused extensive damage to infrastructure, destroying 12,584 homes and damaging nearly 75,000 others. At least 172 buildings collapsed, while schools, healthcare facilities, community centres and airports were also affected.

Search-and-rescue teams, supported by rescue dogs and emergency equipment, continue to work through damaged areas as authorities assess the scale of the destruction and coordinate relief operations. A further 4.2-magnitude tremor was also recorded in the Chocó region, where the main quake was centred.

2026 International Congress of Basic Science Opens in Beijing

BEIJING, Aug. 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The 2026 International Congress of Basic Science (ICBS 2026) opened on August 9 in Beijing, bringing together four Fields Medalists — Shing-Tung Yau, Maxim Kontsevich, Martin Hairer and Caucher Birkar — and Turing Award laureate Robert Tarjan, alongside Li Luming, president of Tsinghua University. More than 80 recipients of the Shaw Prize, Wolf Prize and Dirac Medal, some 400 internationally recognized scholars, and more than 800 researchers and students from over 30 countries and regions gathered for the flagship event.

On behalf of Tsinghua University, Li Luming welcomed the Chinese and international scientists attending the event and emphasized the important role that leading research universities should play in advancing basic research in the era of AI. In recent years, Tsinghua has deepened its commitment to fundamental disciplines by increasing investment, attracting world-class researchers, harnessing AI to accelerate scientific discovery, and enhancing its capacity for independent talent cultivation. Looking ahead, Tsinghua will strengthen its capacity for original innovation, cultivate future talent for basic research, and make greater contributions to expanding the frontiers of human knowledge and advancing human civilization.

In his remarks, ICBS President Yau noted that China has expanded its support for basic research through increased funding, policy initiatives, talent development and investments in research infrastructure. While AI can dramatically accelerate mathematical deduction and theorem proving, it does not replace the human capacity for creativity, intuition and the timeless pursuit of questions whose answers are not yet known. Major leaps in basic science always emerge at the intersection of disciplines and the willingness to venture into uncharted territory.

Two major honors were conferred during the ceremony: the ICBS Medal and the Frontiers of Science Award.

Nine scientists received the inaugural ICBS Medal for contributions spanning mathematics, physics and engineering: Claire Voisin, Horng-Tzer Yau, Shouwu Zhang, Andrea J. Liu, Yifang Wang, Xiao-gang Wen, Zhenan Bao, Xiaowei Zhuang and Feng Zhang. Four of this year’s medalists are women.

The Frontiers of Science Awards recognized 111 high-impact original research papers from more than 20 countries and regions. Nineteen of the recognized papers were authored by researchers from 17 Chinese institutions, including two papers featuring five scholars from Tsinghua University, spanning fields such as geometric analysis, quantum theory, large AI models, and computer vision.

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Elliott Management Statement on Northern Star Resources Ltd

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., Aug. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Elliott Investment Management L.P. (“Elliott”), which manages funds that together hold an investment of approximately 5.6% in Northern Star Resources Ltd (“Northern Star” or the “Company”), today issued the following statement in response to the Company’s announcements on August 13:

Northern Star’s August 13 letter asks investors to trust the very directors who presided over years of profound underperformance to oversee a Board “renewal” process on terms they alone control, consisting of directors appointed solely at their discretion. This is not renewal. It is entrenchment.

Elliott remains willing to work constructively with Northern Star toward a genuinely strengthened Board equipped to realize the Company’s full potential – for investors, employees and all who depend on its success.

Elliott’s full perspectives on Northern Star and its unique value-creation opportunity can be accessed at ElliottLetters.com/NST.

About Elliott

Elliott Investment Management L.P. (together with its affiliates, “Elliott”) manages approximately $80.3 billion of assets as of June 30, 2026. Founded in 1977, it is one of the oldest funds under continuous management. The Elliott funds’ investors include pension plans, sovereign wealth funds, endowments, foundations, funds-of-funds, high net worth individuals and families, and employees of the firm.

Media Contacts:

London

Stijn van de Grampel

Elliott Advisors (UK) Limited

T: +44 20 3009 1061

svdgrampel@elliottadvisors.co.uk

New York

Stephen Spruiell

Elliott Investment Management L.P.

T: +1 (212) 478-2017

sspruiell@elliottmgmt.com

Sydney

Annabel Clunies-Ross

Hanbury Strategy

T: +61 428 295 517

nst@hanburystrategy.com

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Iyuno Details the Architecture Behind CLOE, a Multi-Agent AI System for Consistent Content Workflows

Company outlines a system designed to maintain continuity across scenes, episodes, and languages

BURBANK, Calif., Aug. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Iyuno today shared new details on the architecture behind CLOE, its AI platform designed to address a key challenge in content production: maintaining consistency at scale.

While AI tools can generate outputs quickly, they often struggle to preserve continuity across longer-form content—leading to inconsistencies in tone, character, and narrative across workflows.

“At scale, content breaks when understanding resets,” said Iyuno CEO, David Lee. “We approached this as a system design problem, not just a model problem.”

CLOE is built on a multi-agent framework that structures how content is interpreted before outputs are created. The system operates across three core layers:

• Sensory layer: captures inputs across dialogue, visuals, and audio
• Fusion layer: connects those inputs, tracking relationships and narrative flow
• Memory layer: stores this understanding as a persistent, reusable knowledge base

This approach enables CLOE to maintain a continuous representation of content, allowing multiple workflows—such as subtitling, dubbing, and accessibility—to draw from the same underlying context.

“One of the biggest challenges in global content is that every version starts from zero—each team has to relearn the same story,” said Lee. “CLOE allows that understanding to persist, so every version starts with context instead of rebuilding it.”

CLOE supports a growing set of modular AI capabilities, or “skills,” across the content lifecycle, with each operating from the same shared foundation.

Iyuno is continuing to expand the platform’s capabilities as it scales deployment across global content workflows.

ABOUT IYUNO

Iyuno (www.iyuno.com) is a leading provider of localization services for the media and entertainment industry. Trusted by top entertainment brands and creators worldwide, Iyuno offers comprehensive end-to-end localization services from 45 offices across 29 countries. Backed by a team of exceptional creative and technical talent, state-of-the-art facilities, and cutting-edge technologies, Iyuno proudly boasts the largest global footprint amplifying its dubbing, subtitling and media services offerings.

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TERREPOWER Culminates Its Brand Evolution with Tagline ‘Reimagine What’s Possible’

DAPHNE, Ala., Aug. 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — TERREPOWER today announced the launch of its new corporate tagline, “Reimagine What’s Possible,” reflecting its transformation from remanufacturing pioneer to global leader in sustainable manufacturing. The milestone marks the pinnacle of the company’s ongoing brand evolution. Reinforcing the entrepreneurial spirit and innovative mindset that have fueled TERREPOWER’s growth, the tagline epitomizes the aftermarket company’s success in spreading the power of sustainable manufacturing at scale.

The new tagline builds on a multi-year initiative to reshape the company’s identity, expand its capabilities and strengthen its position as the world’s largest sustainable manufacturer by volume. Since rebranding from BBB Industries in February 2025, TERREPOWER has continued to diversify beyond its automotive roots by applying its value proposition and sustainable manufacturing process to industrial end markets, growing its portfolio to include EV battery lifecycle solutions, energy storage, and solar solutions while remaining grounded in the principles that have defined its business for decades.

“More than a tagline, ‘Reimagine What’s Possible’ captures how we think, how we innovate and how we create value for customers, employees, partners, investors and the communities we serve,” said Duncan Gillis, CEO of TERREPOWER. “Throughout our history, we have challenged conventional thinking and assumptions to uncover opportunities where others saw limitations. Whether extending the life of critical components, advancing solar remanufacturing or developing new industrial applications such as EV battery lifecycle solutions, our success comes from asking a simple question: What if there’s a better way?”

The tagline reflects a journey of continuous improvement driven by measurable results and a willingness to rethink traditional product lifecycles. Founded in 1987, the company built its reputation through remanufacturing and restoring automotive parts to like-new or better-than-new condition while conserving resources and reducing waste.

Today, that expertise has broadened into a sustainable manufacturing model that encompasses remanufacturing, strategic reengineering and material recovery across multiple industries.

Key milestones in TERREPOWER’s evolution include:

• Growing from a regional automotive remanufacturer into a global enterprise serving customers in more than 90 countries
• Scaling our expertise beyond high-performance, sustainably manufactured and new parts for automotive applications into some of the most demanding industrial segments, including mining, construction, agriculture, oil & gas, energy storage systems, and solar 
• Rebranding from BBB Industries to TERREPOWER in 2025 to better reflect its commitment to innovation, sustainability and the circular economy
• Establishing a leadership foothold through a combination of operational scale, engineering expertise and environmental stewardship

The new tagline will serve as TERREPOWER’s external brand promise while reinforcing the same mindset internally through the company’s newly introduced Shared Purpose initiative. By intentionally aligning culture and brand under a common idea, TERREPOWER aims to ensure that the spirit that drives innovation inside the company is the same promise it delivers to customers, partners and communities worldwide.

As TERREPOWER enters its next phase of growth, “Reimagine What’s Possible” provides a unifying message that connects the company’s heritage, expertise and future ambitions. It reflects a belief that products can have longer lives, resources can create greater value and industries can rethink established assumptions to achieve better outcomes for customers and society.

About TERREPOWER

TERREPOWER, formerly BBB Industries, is the largest sustainable manufacturer in the world by volume. Founded in 1987 on a legacy of innovation, TERREPOWER is a global pure play aftermarket leader specializing in providing high-quality components to the automotive and industrial markets. With an extensive operational footprint throughout North America and Europe, including 19 sustainable manufacturing facilities, 14 distribution centers, and 28 brands with products sold in more than 90 countries, TERREPOWER is committed to strengthening supply chain resilience, reducing waste and advancing the circular economy. Learn more at www.terrepower.com

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Thailand Advances Toward Global Digital Asset Standards as Bitazza Achieves Travel Rule Readiness with Sumsub

BANGKOK, Aug. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Thailand’s digital asset industry is entering a new phase of regulatory maturity as the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) prepares to implement the Travel Rule later this year. Developed in line with the recommendations of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the regulation requires digital asset business operators to collect and securely exchange specific information relating to qualifying digital asset transfers in order to strengthen Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Counter-Terrorist Financing (CTF) measures.

The implementation of the Travel Rule marks an important milestone in Thailand’s digital asset regulatory framework, reinforcing transparency, enhancing transaction traceability, and aligning the country’s digital asset ecosystem with internationally recognised compliance standards adopted across leading financial centres worldwide.

In preparation for the upcoming regulation, Bitazza Thailand, a digital asset broker licensed by the Ministry of Finance and regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), has completed the development of its Travel Rule infrastructure ahead of the official enforcement timeline, reaffirming the Company’s long-standing commitment to responsible innovation and regulatory compliance.

Since 2025, Bitazza Thailand has been working with Sumsub, the first AI-powered trust infrastructure for compliance at scale, to strengthen its capabilities across customer verification, Anti-Money Laundering (AML), and risk management. Building on this strategic collaboration, the Company has expanded its implementation to include Sumsub’s Travel Rule solution in preparation for the SEC’s upcoming regulatory requirements. Backed by the largest Travel Rule directory of over 2,100 virtual asset service providers (VASPs), the solution enables secure information exchange between VASPs, strengthening transaction monitoring, customer protection, and compliance with internationally recognised standards ahead of the SEC’s regulatory deadline.

“We have always believed that mass adoption of digital assets must be built on trust, transparency, and responsible regulation,” said Mr. Tanawat Sutuntivorakoon, Chief Executive Officer of Bitazza Thailand. “The implementation of the Travel Rule represents another important step in strengthening Thailand’s digital asset ecosystem. We have proactively invested in upgrading our compliance infrastructure ahead of the official implementation to ensure our customers continue to receive services that meet international standards while maintaining the highest levels of security, transparency, and trust.”

“Thailand’s move to implement the Travel Rule reflects a broader shift across Southeast Asia toward regulated, interoperable digital asset markets,” said Ms. Penny Chai, Vice President, APAC at Sumsub. “Through our partnership with Bitazza Thailand, we’re combining secure cross-border data exchange with the identity verification and risk management capabilities regulated businesses need to scale confidently. As more regulators across the region adopt similar frameworks, this kind of trust infrastructure will be essential to keeping Thailand’s digital asset ecosystem competitive and internationally connected.”

Beyond regulatory compliance, the Travel Rule plays an increasingly important role in enabling greater interoperability between regulated digital asset service providers globally. By improving the traceability of digital asset transactions, the framework helps detect and prevent illicit financial activities, including money laundering, terrorist financing, fraud, and the misuse of digital assets through mule accounts or other criminal networks.

The adoption of internationally recognised Travel Rule standards also supports Thailand’s broader ambition of becoming a trusted regional digital asset hub. By aligning domestic regulations with global best practices, the framework strengthens institutional confidence, facilitates international cooperation, and creates a more credible environment for innovation, investment, and responsible digital asset adoption.

The Thailand Digital Asset Association (TDA), the industry’s leading non-profit association representing Thailand’s digital asset ecosystem, welcomed the implementation of the Travel Rule as an important step toward strengthening industry standards and international competitiveness. “The implementation of the Travel Rule represents another significant step in advancing Thailand’s digital asset market toward internationally recognized standards. Beyond strengthening regulatory oversight, it helps build greater confidence among users, investors, and financial institutions, both domestically and internationally. As digital asset businesses operate under the same compliance framework adopted by leading global financial centers, Thailand’s digital asset industry will become increasingly credible, creating greater opportunities for cross-border collaboration, investment, and innovation.” said Mr. Nares Laopannarai, President of the Thai Digital Asset Association.

As part of its broader compliance strategy, Bitazza Thailand has continuously worked alongside key regulatory and public sector agencies, including the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Bank of Thailand (BOT), the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO), and other relevant authorities to strengthen transaction monitoring, enhance customer protection, and develop systems capable of identifying suspicious activities.

“With our Travel Rule infrastructure now in place, we are confident in our readiness to support Thailand’s next phase of digital asset regulation,” Mr. Tanawat added.

“We remain committed to working alongside regulators, technology partners, and the wider industry to help build a transparent, secure, and internationally trusted digital asset ecosystem that benefits both Thailand and the broader global financial community.”

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