Category Archives: News

D2L Brightspace Approved Under AICTE’s NEAT 6.0 To Strengthen AI-Enhanced Digital Learning Across India’s Technical Institutions

All India Council for Technical Education empanels D2L to participate in the National Education Alliance for Technology 6.0 initiative

NEW DELHI, Aug. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — D2L, a global leader in learning innovation, has been empaneled under the All India Council for Technical Education’s (AICTE) National Education Alliance for Technology (NEAT) 6.0 initiative, strengthening its presence in India’s higher education ecosystem.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was formally signed between D2L and AICTE-NEAT, marking a strategic partnership to deliver outcome-based, technology-enhanced education to technical institutions across India.

“For many years, choosing an institution was the biggest factor determining how successful your education would be in India,” said Vivek Iyer, Managing Director, India at D2L. “AICTE NEAT 6.0 is an opportunity to change this. Once AI-based learning becomes available to all affiliated institutions, whether located in Mumbai or elsewhere, talent can thrive regardless of location. The best part of this partnership isn’t the technology but rather making excellence truly attainable instead of merely aspirational.”

NEAT is a flagship initiative of the Ministry of Education, Government of India, implemented through AICTE to provide higher education institutions with access to curated, high‑impact EdTech solutions. NEAT 6.0 represents the next phase of this effort, focused on accelerating digital adoption and improving learning outcomes at scale. By being empaneled under NEAT 6.0, D2L Brightspace will be positioned as an approved Learning Management System (LMS) and a strategic digital learning platform to AICTE-affiliated institutions seeking to modernize and expand their digital learning environments.

Under NEAT 6.0, D2L Brightspace will be offered as a scalable digital learning platform to support institutions in transforming teaching and learning. Built for higher education, it enables personalized learning experiences, data‑driven insights and flexible course delivery at scale. Institutions will be able to adopt D2L Brightspace through the NEAT platform under standardized pricing, enabling faster and broader access to digital learning infrastructure.

“India’s education system is at an inflexion point,” said Vivek Iyer, Managing Director, India at D2L. “While traditional models have not always ensured equitable access, digital learning platforms like D2L Brightspace can help bridge this gap. Through NEAT 6.0, we aim to enable Indian institutions to deliver high‑quality learning at scale, improve outcomes and support workforce readiness.”

D2L Brightspace is built to help institutions meet the evolving demands of higher education. It combines intelligent course design tools, AI-enhanced personalized learning pathways, accessibility features for diverse learner needs and real-time data analytics. This will help faculty and administrators track student progress, making it well-suited to serve the scale and diversity of India’s technical education ecosystem.

About AICTE-NEAT

The National Education Alliance for Technology (NEAT) is an initiative of the Ministry of Education, Government of India, implemented through AICTE. NEAT curates best-in-class EdTech solutions to improve learning outcomes in higher education, with a strong focus on ensuring equity, accessibility, and inclusion for learners across all regions of India.

About D2L   

D2L is transforming the way the world learns, helping learners achieve more than they dreamed possible. Working closely with customers all over the world, D2L is on a mission to make learning more inspiring, engaging and human. Find out how D2L helps transform lives and delivers outstanding learning outcomes in K-12, higher education and businesses.

D2L Media Contact

PR@D2L.com

X: @D2L

© 2026 D2L Corporation.

The D2L family of companies includes D2L Inc., D2L Corporation, D2L Ltd, D2L Australia Pty Ltd, D2L Europe Ltd, D2L Asia Pte Ltd, D2L India Pvt Ltd, D2L Brasil Soluções de Tecnologia para Educação Ltda and D2L Sistemas de Aprendizaje Innovadores, S. D2 R.L de C.V., and H5P Group AS.

All D2L and H5P marks are owned by the D2L group of companies. Please visit D2L.com/trademarks for a list of D2L marks. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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IBM Partners with OpenAI to Accelerate Secure AI Deployment for Enterprises Across Core Operations

• Joint go-to-market partnership embeds OpenAI frontier models like GPT-5.6 and other products into IBM Consulting’s AI delivery platform and assets to help organizations modernize applications and strengthen security
  
   
• Specialized IBM forward-deployed units trained through the OpenAI Partner Network will help organizations convert legacy workflows into AI-ready operations
  
   
• IBM launches a dedicated OpenAI Practice with thousands of consultants and engineers trained on advanced OpenAI Partner Network certifications 

ARMONK, N.Y., Aug. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced a strategic partnership with OpenAI to help enterprises deliver business outcomes by deploying AI at scale across core business operations and complex workflows, while strengthening cyber defense and resilience through programs like OpenAI Daybreak. The partnership includes joint-go-to market initiatives and creating industry-specific solutions for financial services, government, telecommunications, and retail, as well as key enterprise domains such as finance, procurement, customer operations, and HR.

The partnership embeds OpenAI frontier models like GPT-5.6 and products like Codex and ChatGPT Work into IBM Consulting Advantage, IBM’s AI platform for delivering consulting services to clients, combining AI agents, industry assets, and cybersecurity capabilities to help organizations securely deploy AI at scale, drive business outcomes, and create new commercial models.

IBM will bring forward-deployed units of highly specialized engineers and consultants trained through the OpenAI Partner Network to work directly with clients to accelerate AI implementation across complex business workflows and highly regulated environments. IBM will also launch a dedicated OpenAI Practice, with thousands of consultants and engineers obtaining expert-level certifications under the OpenAI Partner Network.

Together, IBM and OpenAI aim to help organizations tackle one of the biggest barriers to scaling AI – turning decades of fragmented processes, legacy systems, and operational complexity into AI-driven operations that can be deployed even more safely and securely.

The partnership will focus on three key areas: 

• Transforming legacy operations into AI-ready workflows
  
  IBM will embed OpenAI frontier models like GPT-5.6 and products like Codex and ChatGPT Work into IBM Consulting Advantage, to help organizations integrate AI into daily processes with business context and redesign workflows across finance, procurement, customer operations, and HR. The capabilities within IBM Consulting Advantage can analyze operating procedures and workflows to identify inefficiencies and help teams automate and streamline work using AI.
  
   
• Application modernization and product development
  
  The companies plan to help clients modernize legacy applications and accelerate software development by bringing together OpenAI Codex and ChatGPT Work with IBM’s industry, technology and domain expertise, including integration with IBM Consulting Advantage. The collaboration is designed to help organizations simplify engineering processes and speed the delivery of new digital products and services.
  
   
• Cybersecurity and AI risk management
  
  IBM and OpenAI will expand their collaboration on cybersecurity following IBM’s participation in the OpenAI Daybreak Cyber Partner Program by combining OpenAI frontier AI capabilities with IBM Autonomous Security — a multi-agent-powered service designed to deliver coordinated decision-making, response, and intelligence at machine speed. As AI-powered attacks grow more sophisticated, the partnership will help clients manage both cyber and AI model risk, including application-layer vulnerabilities, governance gaps, and operational risks that limits AI adoption.

“While enterprises are rapidly investing in AI, they are looking for practical ways to apply it across their core operations to deliver measurable business outcomes and create new commercial models,” said Andy Baldwin, Global Senior Vice President, IBM Consulting. “The challenge is not access to AI technologies — it’s integrating AI securely and at scale into complex enterprise environments and workflows. By embedding OpenAI’s technology with IBM Consulting’s AI assets, industry solutions, and cybersecurity capabilities, we can help clients accelerate secure, AI deployments at scale.”

“The organizations pulling ahead with AI are the ones turning it into a trusted part of how their business operates,” said Denise Dresser, Chief Revenue Officer at OpenAI. “IBM Consulting and OpenAI are helping organizations make that shift, combining deep transformation expertise to deploy AI that is secure, operational, and aligned with real business priorities.”

As part of the collaboration, IBM will join OpenAI’s Elite partner tier, reflecting the companies’ shared focus on delivering secure, enterprise-ready AI at scale. 

Statements regarding IBM’s and OpenAI’s future direction and intent are subject to change or withdrawal without notice, and represent goals and objectives only.

About IBM

IBM is a leading provider of global hybrid cloud and AI, and consulting expertise. We help clients in more than 175 countries capitalize on insights from their data, streamline business processes, reduce costs and gain the competitive edge in their industries. Thousands of governments and corporate entities in critical infrastructure areas such as financial services, telecommunications and healthcare rely on IBM’s hybrid cloud platform and Red Hat OpenShift to affect their digital transformations quickly, efficiently and securely. IBM’s breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions and consulting deliver open and flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM’s long-standing commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity and service. Visit www.ibm.com for more information.

Media Contact

Elizabeth.Brophy

elizabeth.brophy@ibm.com 

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From Chinese AI to Global ETFs: STARTRADER Launches 45 New 24/7 Stock and ETF CFDs Spanning Seven Market Themes

Available from August 13, 2026, the launch covers seven distinct market themes with no trading-hour restrictions.

DUBAI, UAE, Aug. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — STARTRADER today announced the launch of 45 new 24/7 Stock and ETF CFDs, available from Monday through Sunday, 00:00–24:00 (GMT+3 platform time).

Where previous 24/7 expansions were anchored around specific themes, this one is defined by its breadth. The new instruments span seven areas: Chinese AI, AI infrastructure, technology, crypto and digital assets, energy, other equities, and ETFs.

Among the new additions are Zhipu and MiniMax, two Hong Kong-listed Chinese AI companies that debuted on HKEX in January 2026. Zhipu develops large language models for enterprise and developer markets. MiniMax is an AI company focused on artificial general intelligence (AGI), with investors including Alibaba, Tencent, and Hillhouse Capital, and has attracted sustained market attention since its listing.

STARTRADER builds its product offering around where eligible clients are directing their attention. When significant market narratives emerge in new geographies, ensuring access to them is a core part of that responsibility.

“This launch reflects a deliberate choice to keep pace with how global market interest actually moves, across regions, sectors, and timeframes simultaneously. For eligible clients, the launch provides access to a broader range of instruments across regions, sectors, and market themes.” 

– Peter Karsten, Chief Executive Officer, STARTRADER

As STARTRADER’s 24/7 product range continues to grow, the focus remains consistent: building access that reflects the global market as it is today.

Out-of-hours trading may involve wider spreads, reduced liquidity and price gaps, particularly when underlying markets are closed.

Risk Warning: Trading CFDs involves a significant risk of loss and may not be suitable for all investors. Please ensure you fully understand the risks before trading.

About STARTRADER

STARTRADER is a global multi-asset broker empowering retail and institutional partners to access global markets through a range of platforms, including MetaTrader, STARTRADER APP, and STAR Copy. STARTRADER operates through entities licensed and regulated by authorities including CMA, ASIC, FSCA, FSA and FSC, combining strong governance with a client-first approach, serving both retail clients and partners with a commitment to transparency, reliability, and long-term growth.

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From Prevention to Lifelong Care: India’s First Comprehensive LE&RN-Accredited Lymphedema Clinic Opens at Apollo Athenaa

A first-of-its-kind multidisciplinary programme brings global standards of lymphatic care to India, shifting the focus from reactive treatment to prevention for women at risk of cancer-related lymphedema

NEW DELHI, Aug. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Apollo Athenaa, Asia’s first dedicated women cancer centre by Apollo Hospitals, today announced the launch of India’s first one-stop comprehensive Lymphedema Clinic, accredited by the Lymphatic Education & Research Network (LE&RN)—an internationally recognised non-profit organisation dedicated to advancing education, research and advocacy for lymphatic diseases—setting a new benchmark in the management of cancer-related lymphedema. Designed around internationally recognised standards of care, the clinic brings together specialised surgeons, lymphedema therapists, nurses, dermatologists and rehabilitation experts under a single multidisciplinary programme, offering comprehensive care spanning prevention, early diagnosis, advanced microsurgery, rehabilitation and lifelong follow-up.

The Apollo Athenaa Lymphedema Clinic is distinguished by its integrated model of care, combining multidisciplinary clinical expertise, advanced imaging and supermicrosurgical capabilities, specialised rehabilitation, and internationally benchmarked protocols to deliver personalised care with superior clinical outcomes and an enhanced quality of life for patients. Patients have access to dedicated lymphedema assessment, manual lymphatic drainage, complete decongestive therapy, compression therapy, stage-specific rehabilitation, lymphovenous bypass surgery, vascularised lymph node transfer and liposuction for selected advanced cases. The programme is further strengthened by ultra high-frequency ultrasound technology, enabling surgeons to accurately identify lymphatic vessels and veins for performing lymphatic bypass procedures with greater precision.

India is estimated to have over one million people living with lymphedema. Of these, an estimated 400,000–600,000 are living with cancer-related lymphedema, with 30,000–50,000 new cases developing annually. As cancer survival rates continue to improve, this burden is expected to rise, underscoring the urgent need for dedicated multidisciplinary lymphedema services.

Women undergoing breast and gynaecological cancer treatment remain among the most vulnerable, as lymph node removal and radiation therapy can permanently disrupt lymphatic drainage, resulting in chronic swelling, recurrent infections, reduced mobility and a significant impact on long-term quality of life. Up to 20% to 42% of women develop arm lymphedema after breast cancer surgery, and roughly 31% to 37% of survivors of gynecological cancers experience lower-limb lymphedema. Despite this growing burden, access to specialised multidisciplinary lymphedema care remains limited in India, with patients often navigating fragmented treatment pathways that delay intervention and compromise long-term outcomes.

Dr. Preetha Reddy, Executive Vice Chairperson, Apollo Hospitals Group, said, “At Apollo, we have always believed that advancing healthcare means continually raising standards across every stage of the patient journey. As cancer outcomes continue to improve, our focus must also extend to helping patients live healthier, fuller lives beyond treatment. Apollo Athenaa, Asia’s first dedicated cancer centre for women, was created with this vision of delivering comprehensive, women-centric cancer care. The launch of India’s first LE&RN-accredited Lymphedema Clinic is a natural extension of that commitment. By bringing together specialised expertise, advanced technology and internationally recognised standards of care within a multidisciplinary programme, we are addressing an important aspect of survivorship that has often been overlooked, while ensuring women receive the highest quality of care throughout their recovery.”

Dr. Venkat Ramakrishnan, Consultant Plastic & Breast Reconstruction Surgeon, Apollo Athenaa, said, “Traditionally, lymphedema surgery has largely been considered only after the condition develops, when irreversible tissue changes may have already occurred. At Apollo Athenaa, we are changing this paradigm by introducing a preventive approach through Prophylactic Lymphovenous Bypass (LVB) for eligible patients undergoing cancer surgery who are at high risk of developing lymphedema. Performed at the time of axillary lymph node dissection, this super microsurgical procedure restores lymphatic drainage during cancer surgery itself, helping reduce the future risk of arm lymphedema rather than waiting for the condition to manifest. This shift from reactive treatment to preventive lymphatic surgery has the potential to significantly improve long-term outcomes and quality of life for women undergoing breast cancer treatment.”

Dr. Samarth Gupta, Senior Consultant Plastic & Breast Reconstruction Surgeon, Apollo Athenaa, said, “Lymphedema care cannot be delivered in isolation. It requires timely diagnosis, specialised rehabilitation, precision surgery and long-term follow-up working together as one coordinated programme. At Apollo Athenaa, we have brought together every aspect of lymphedema care—from dedicated assessment and specialised physiotherapy to advanced imaging, microsurgical reconstruction and survivorship support—under one roof. By combining evidence-based protocols with technologies such as high-frequency ultrasound, we are able to deliver highly personalised care while helping patients regain function, confidence and quality of life.”

With the launch of the LE&RN-accredited comprehensive Lymphedema Clinic, Apollo Athenaa continues to strengthen its women-centric oncology ecosystem by advancing survivorship care through integrated prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and long-term follow-up. By bringing globally benchmarked standards of lymphatic care to India, the centre aims not only to improve long-term functional recovery and quality of life for women living with or at risk of cancer-related lymphedema, but also to enable them to return to their everyday lives with greater confidence, dignity and well-being- reflecting Athenaa’s commitment to care beyond cure.

ABOUT APOLLO ATHENAA

Apollo Athenaa, a unit of Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd, is Asia’s first dedicated cancer centre for women, rooted in empathy and powered by science. It is not just a facility—it’s a mission. Apollo Athenaa is envisioned as a safe, specialised space exclusively for women, combining cutting-edge oncology expertise with compassion, dignity, and privacy. Women are the cornerstones of families and communities, and their health directly impacts the strength of the nation. Recognising the need for timely, specialised, and compassionate care, Apollo has taken a pioneering step forward. Apollo Athenaa provides comprehensive women-focused cancer care, from preventive screenings and advanced diagnostics to surgical oncology, breast oncoplasty, fertility preservation, and reconstructive care. Supported by multidisciplinary expertise and precision oncology, the centre also offers nutrition, physiotherapy, onco-psychology, and palliative care, ensuring a continuum of services that place women’s health, dignity, and well-being at the forefront.

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IFSCA Grants Nexent Capital GIFT City Investment Banking License

IFSCA registration enables the firm to advise on and manage cross-border capital market transactions from India’s International Financial Services Centre (IFSC).

GIFT CITY, India, Aug. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Nexent Capital IFSC Private Limited (“Nexent Capital”), the GIFT City-based arm of U.S.-based Nexent Capital Management, today announced that it has received formal registration from the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) to operate as an Investment Banker within India’s International Financial Services Centre (IFSC). The registration was granted on July 31, 2026, under the IFSCA (Capital Market Intermediaries) Regulations, 2025, enabling the firm to undertake regulated investment banking activities from GIFT City.

With this registration, Nexent Capital is authorized to undertake a broad range of investment banking activities permitted under the CMI Regulations, including managing initial public offerings (IPOs), follow-on public offerings (FPOs), SPAC listings, secondary listings, depository receipt issuances, debt capital market transactions, and other capital market advisory mandates within GIFT City’s regulatory framework.

Commenting on the development, Abhimanyu Tyagi, Director, Nexent Capital IFSC Private Limited, said, “This registration marks an important milestone for Nexent Capital. It enables us to help international companies access global capital through GIFT City while strengthening India’s position as a global financial centre. We look forward to supporting innovative, high-growth businesses as they leverage GIFT City’s evolving capital markets ecosystem.”

The registration comes as GIFT City continues to strengthen its position as a gateway for global capital markets, offering international companies an alternative venue to access investors through India’s IFSC ecosystem. Leveraging its newly acquired license, Nexent Capital plans to expand its cross-border investment banking platform by supporting high-growth companies, particularly from the United States and Europe, seeking capital-raising and listing opportunities through GIFT City’s exchanges.

The firm currently has an active pipeline of companies across high-growth sectors, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cybersecurity, Data Centers, Quantum Computing, Space Technology, and Energy. Through its investment banking platform, Nexent Capital aims to provide end-to-end advisory services, ranging from transaction structuring and listing readiness to execution and post-listing capital markets support.

About Nexent Capital:

Nexent Capital is a financial services firm specializing in investment banking, financial advisory, alternative asset management, and institutional equities. With offices in San Francisco, California, and GIFT City, Gujarat, the firm provides strategic capital market solutions to entrepreneurs, growth-stage businesses, and institutional clients, supported by cross-border expertise and a global network. http://nexentcap.com/

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Farizon Hits 600,000 Production Milestone, Celebrates 10th Anniversary with Homtruck Rollout

HANGZHOU, China, Aug. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Farizon New Energy Commercial Vehicle Group hosted its 10‑year‑anniversary roll‑off ceremony at its Ma’anshan manufacturing plant, with on‑site employees on hand to witness the landmark 600,000th unit — a Homtruck heavy truck calibrated to satisfy EU regulations and local fleet‑operation demands — come off the assembly line. The milestone cements Farizon as the world’s‑first new energy commercial vehicle manufacturer to reach this cumulative production mark.

As Farizon’s flagship electric long‑haul tractor, the Homtruck packs the brand’s most advanced core‑system technology engineered for European logistics operations. Fitted with a 600‑kWh battery pack that delivers a 500‑kilometer driving range, dual fast‑charging ports and a 1.5‑million‑kilometer B10 service life, the truck improves operational efficiency, running‑cost performance and safety. It creates new industry standards for energy consumption and will help speed heavy truck electrification across Europe. Tailored for European market demands, the Homtruck is coming soon to Europe.

Representing ten years of solid industrial growth, the 600,000‑unit milestone strengthens Farizon’s global competitive edge. Going forward, the brand will keep driving worldwide commercial vehicle electrification via upgraded technology and full‑scale localized customer support.

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Kavalan Mizunara Oak Single Cask Strength: When Mizunara Meets the Flight of Butterflies

A collaboration with Japanese artist Takahide Komatsu

TAIPEI, Aug. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Kavalan, the Taiwanese pioneer of New World whisky, has collaborated with Japanese contemporary artist Takahide Komatsu on the label design for its latest Mizunara Oak whisky collection.

The limited release brings together rare Mizunara oak matured whiskies and original artwork inspired by Taiwan’s native butterflies.

The collection comprises two single cask strength expressions: one produced from unpeated malt and the other from peated malt, offering two distinctive interpretations of Mizunara maturation. Each bottle features specially commissioned artwork by Takahide Komatsu depicting twelve butterfly species native to Taiwan. The artwork reflects Taiwan’s extraordinary biodiversity while capturing the grace and vitality of butterflies in flight.

“At Kavalan, we believe whisky making shares a natural connection with artistic creation,” said Mr. YT Lee, Chairman of King Car Group. “Mizunara oak is one of the rarest and most demanding casks in whisky making. Its rarity lies not only in the exceptional skill required to craft each cask, but also in the time it takes for the trees to mature. In Kavalan’s subtropical climate, Mizunara oak develops a character shaped by Taiwan’s unique maturation conditions. Through Takahide Komatsu’s butterfly artwork, this release also celebrates the richness of Taiwan’s natural world.”

Mizunara oak grows in the cool forests of northern Japan and often requires more than a century before it can be crafted into casks. Its porous grain structure makes coopering extremely difficult, which contributes to the rarity of Mizunara casks. When Kavalan new make spirit matures in Mizunara oak within Taiwan’s warm and humid climate, the whisky gradually develops notes of sandalwood, incense and coconut alongside the distillery’s characteristic tropical fruit aromas. This interaction between Japanese oak and Taiwan’s subtropical ageing conditions creates a whisky shaped by two distinct environments.

KAVALAN Mizunara Oak Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky

Colour: Deep amber.

Nose: Vanilla and fresh coconut lead the aroma, followed by sandalwood and light incense. Floral tones appear alongside ripe pineapple and mango, with hints of honey and cinnamon.

Palate: Creamy toffee and soft oak open the palate. Hawthorn, dark chocolate and caramel sweetness follow, while citrus peel emerges toward the finish.

KAVALAN Peated Malt Mizunara Oak Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky

Colour: Reddish amber.

Nose: Gentle peat smoke meets sandalwood and vanilla. Notes of dried longan and caramel develop alongside tropical fruits.

Palate: Soft peat integrates with oriental oak and light spice. Peach, propolis and cream appear on the palate, followed by syrup sweetness and a smooth, lingering finish.

Collector’s Editions

Both expressions are presented in 700ml bottles. In Taiwan, the collection is offered as a Classic Single Bottle Edition and a limited Hand-painted Collector’s Double Set featuring labels individually hand-painted and signed by Takahide Komatsu.

About Takahide Komatsu

Born in Miyazaki Prefecture, Japan, Takahide Komatsu is a contemporary artist whose work is inspired by butterflies and the natural world. Combining the Rinpa painting tradition with contemporary techniques, he has developed a distinctive artistic style. His work has been exhibited internationally, including at the United Nations Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in 2010.

Availability

The Kavalan Mizunara Oak Single Cask Strength collection is available through Kavalan’s official channels in Taiwan, including the Kavalan Distillery Shop, Kavalan Whisky Shops, Kavalan Whisky Bar, and select local liquor stores. 

About Kavalan Whisky

Kavalan Distillery in Yilan County has been pioneering the art of single malt whisky in Taiwan since 2005. Our whisky, aged in intense humidity and heat, sources the crystal meltwaters of Snow Mountain and is enhanced by sea and mountain breezes. These conditions combine to create Kavalan’s signature creaminess. Taking Yilan County’s old name, our distillery is backed by more than 45 years of beverage-making under parent company, King Car Group. We have collected 1,000 gold or higher awards from the industry’s most competitive contests.

Media Contacts

Kaitlyn Tsai 

kaitlyn@kingcar.com.tw

Wendy Wang 

wendywa@kingcar.com.tw

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HTX Ventures Examines Open USD: How Stablecoin Revenue and Rule-Setting Are Being Redistributed

APIA, Samoa, Aug. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — HTX Ventures, the global investment arm of HTX, has released a new report titled Open Infrastructure, Closed Financial Rails: Open USD, Revenue Redistribution, and Participant Governance, examining the shifts underway in stablecoin revenue distribution, channel relationships, and governance following the June 30, 2026 unveiling of Open USD (OUSD).

The report finds that while blockchain technology has established open, global, and programmable technical infrastructure, the industry’s next phase will be determined by how participants contest control rights and the allocation of economic benefits. The technical layer has opened; the economic layer is only beginning to.

Closed Economic Structures atop Open Technology

Stablecoins have moved from settlement tools within crypto trading into instruments for cross-border payments, corporate treasury management, and institutional back-office clearing. Visa’s stablecoin settlement pilot reached an annualized run rate of approximately $7 billion by April 2026 across nine blockchains, while Swift, the Canton Network, Fnality, and Project Agorá explore how tokenized deposits and central bank money can settle within shared environments.

Economic rights, however, remain distributed along established lines. Issuers mint stablecoins against user dollars and allocate reserves into cash and short-term Treasuries, with reserve yields accruing solely to them. Yet the system depends on exchanges and wallets for user access, payment companies to connect merchants, banks for fiat on/off-ramps, custodians for reserves, and market makers for secondary depth. These institutions bear integration, compliance, and liquidity costs, and currently capture revenue mainly through bilateral commercial agreements — where bargaining power depends heavily on their own user scale.

Three Institutional Shifts in OUSD’s Design

Under Open Standard’s framework, enterprises can mint and redeem OUSD free of charge and without volume limits. Open Standard charges a small management fee, with the remaining reserve yields earmarked for partners who adopt and promote OUSD, as well as select partners planning to join its board of directors. The published partner roster exceeds 140 entities, including Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Stripe, Coinbase, BlackRock, and BNY.

HTX Ventures breaks the design into three shifts:

• From fee-based access to subsidized distribution, using reserve yields to offset the genuinely expensive investments in customer acquisition, liquidity, regional compliance, and fiat rails;
• From bilateral negotiations to network-wide revenue sharing, bringing mid-sized payment companies, regional banks, and vertical wallets into a unified framework where partners share revenue based on contribution;
• From issuer governance to participant governance, giving institutions that bear business and regulatory responsibility a voice in rule-making.

OUSD is slated for launch later in 2026. Notably, it shares the OUSD code with Origin Protocol’s Origin Dollar, launched in 2020, though the two are distinct products.

Execution Details Will Determine Whether the Model Holds

According to HTX Ventures, the model’s viability depends on several specific mechanisms. Revenue-sharing rules directly determine who captures value: allocation by balance favors institutions with greater capital resources, while allocation by transaction volume can be distorted by internal transfers that generate activity without real payments. A workable mechanism would weigh balance retention, actual payments, new customers, and regional compliance investments together. The governance arrangement likewise rests on what the board can actually decide, not on how many institutions appear on the roster.

More fundamentally, a considerable distance separates joining a consortium from migrating core business. What ultimately determines network value is stable balances, real payment volume, market-making depth, and smooth redemptions.

Value Chain Revenue Faces Redistribution

If revenue-sharing models generate sustained payment volumes, the room for issuers to retain the full reserve yield spread will narrow. Exchanges, wallets, and payment companies that control access to users, liquidity, and payment use cases may shift from distribution tools to participants in revenue-sharing and governance arrangements. For banks the impact is two-sided — deposits and correspondent banking revenue may erode, but stablecoins still require reserve custody, fiat on/off-ramps, and FX liquidity. Card networks face limited direct impact, given their role in authorization, fraud management, and merchant acceptance. Across clearing, custody, and data services, fees based on proprietary records may decline while services tied to security and liability expand.

The Next Dimension of Competition

Open USD raises a question that extends beyond stablecoins: when banks, payment processors, exchanges, asset managers, and custodians provide the underlying assets, customer relationships, liquidity, and compliance capabilities, how will the value chain distribute profits and control?

Such shifts are most likely in middle- and back-office infrastructure, where multiple institutions are required and no single platform can independently provide customer reach, regional licensing, fiat rails, and counterparty networks. Institutions need shared infrastructure, yet remain reluctant to cede core operations, client data, and risk authority to a direct competitor. Consortium governance and revenue sharing are therefore not ideological commitments to decentralization, but pragmatic commercial prerequisites for cross-institutional networks.

HTX Ventures notes that along this trajectory, stablecoin competition will move beyond issuance scale and on-chain liquidity toward who contributes network value, who shares infrastructure revenue, who retains customers and data, and who sets operating rules. The next generation of financial infrastructure need not be fully decentralized; more likely, it evolves from single-company control toward networks where regulated participants connect, share returns, and govern major decisions through tiered arrangements. As a research and investment firm with a long-standing focus on payment infrastructure and institutional settlement networks, HTX Ventures will continue tracking how this redistribution of revenue, customers, and rule-setting shapes the industry’s direction.

About HTX Ventures

HTX Ventures is the global investment arm of HTX, integrating investment, incubation, and research to identify and discover the best and most innovative projects in the market. Visit us here.

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Hexaware and upGrad Enterprise Expand Collaboration for Global Enterprise AI Programs

Focused on joint upskilling, experimentation, go-to-market, and enterprise transformation

MUMBAI, India, Aug. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Hexaware Technologies (NSE: HEXT), an AI-first digital and IT services company, and upGrad Enterprise, the Corporate Skilling and Workforce Transformation division of global skilling major upGrad, announced an expanded collaboration to deliver AI skilling and enterprise transformation programs for Hexaware clients worldwide. This initiative is designed to lay the foundation for long-term advancements in AI expertise and workforce transformation.

The two parties previously teamed up to strengthen AI capabilities across Hexaware’s workforce, including enterprise-wide GenAI upskilling and the launch of the Agentic AI Academy–this new initiative builds directly on that foundation. Under the new arrangement, upGrad will become Hexaware’s preferred partner for enterprise AI capability development, with both the companies working together on go-to-market initiatives, and client engagement—transitioning the relationship from a vendor-buyer arrangement focused on internal skilling toward a broader global go-to-market alliance.

Programs for Technical and Business Teams

The portfolio is intended to include:

• Verticalized AI learning tracks tied to industry use cases in Hexaware sectors
• Role-based Agentic AI programs for technical, business, and corporate functions
• Executive AI Innovation Labs and co-design workshops for C-suite leaders
• An AI-enabled Coding Center of Excellence, co-created AI experimentation environments, AI sandbox experimentation, and sandbox tooling
• Rapid prototyping, build-day formats, components of a joint AI playbook, and custom enterprise transformation programs

Ecosystem Collaboration and Enterprise Outcomes

The programs are designed to support enterprises in scaling their AI business and service lines by upskilling Cloud Architects toward GenAI Architects roles and developers toward AI engineering capabilities. Technical leaders will have the opportunity to learn to design data- and AI-first solutions. At the same time, teams across business functions will apply GenAI tools and low-code autonomous agents to build simple automated workflows and automate multi-step decisions with less dependence on specialist technology teams.

“Enterprise AI programs are increasingly constrained by execution capacity,” said R. Srikrishna, CEO & Executive Director, Hexaware. “Clients need architecture, engineering, and business teams aligned to a common delivery agenda—a synergy that embeds workforce readiness directly into that strategy.”

Hexaware and upGrad Enterprise delivered a three-day AI training program in March this year for executives and senior engineering managers from a major banking client, reflecting the growing demand for enterprise AI capabilities across the financial services sector.

Hexaware and upGrad Enterprise will also work with hyperscalers and AI-native venture partners. Beyond improving engineering outcomes—which aim to deliver ~ 30–40% faster releases, better code quality, and fewer bugs—these combined efforts will support enterprises scale GenAI responsibly with stronger governance while improving productivity and innovation.

“Enterprise skilling has to influence how people make decisions, design solutions, and deliver work,” said Arushee Aggarwal, CEO, upGrad Enterprise. “With Hexaware, we can build that rigor into programs spanning executive priorities, engineering practice, and functional adoption.”

About Hexaware

Hexaware is a global technology and business process services company. Every day, Hexawarians wake up with a singular purpose: to create smiles through great people and technology. With offices across the world, we empower enterprises worldwide to realize digital transformation at scale and speed by partnering with them to build, transform, run, and optimize their technology and business processes. Learn more about Hexaware at https://hexaware.com.

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Global AI & Cybersecurity Capture-the-Flag Competition Opens with ₹10 Lakhs+ Prize Pool

• Winning team to receive a cash prize of ₹2 lakh.
• Global online competition culminates in an onsite Grand Finale at the UST campus in Thiruvananthapuram, India. 

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, India, Aug. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — UST, a leading AI and technology transformation solutions company, has opened registrations for the GenCyS 2.0 Global Capture-The-Flag (CTF) competition, the flagship event of its GenCyS 2.0 AI & Cybersecurity Conference. The competition offers a prize pool worth more than ₹10 lakhs, including a ₹2 lakh cash prize for the winning team. The size and scope of this year’s competition reflect UST’s continued prioritization of investment in developing practical AI and cybersecurity skills through hands-on challenges that mirror modern enterprise security environments. 

Unlike traditional Capture-The-Flag competitions, GenCyS 2.0 CTF is designed around a realistic attack surface discovery model. Participants will be given a single target domain and challenged to identify vulnerabilities through realistic reconnaissance, web security, cloud, and AI security exercises.

The competition begins with online qualifying rounds, enabling participants to compete remotely from all over the world. The highest-performing teams will advance to the Grand Finale at the GenCyS 2.0 AI & Cybersecurity Conference held from September 5-6, 2026, at the UST campus in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. The conference will feature keynote sessions, technical talks, expert-led workshops, panel discussions, innovation showcases, AI and cybersecurity villages, and hands-on experiences focused on the evolving cybersecurity landscape.

The GenCyS 2.0 Global CTF features a total prize pool worth more than ₹10 lakhs, including a ₹2 lakh cash prize for the winning team and ₹8 lakhs worth of vouchers and rewards from leading cybersecurity partners. 

Registration for the GenCyS 2.0 Global Capture-The-Flag Competition is now open. 

Learn more and register at https://events.ust.com/gencys2026  

About UST

Since 1999, UST has worked side by side with the world’s best companies to make a powerful impact through transformation. Powered by technology, inspired by people, and led by our purpose, we partner with our clients from design to operation. Our digital solutions, proprietary platforms, engineering, R&D, products, and innovation ecosystem turn core challenges into impactful, disruptive business outcomes. With deep industry knowledge and a future-ready mindset, we infuse expertise, innovation, and agility into our clients’ organizations —delivering measurable value and positive lasting change for them, their customers, and communities around the world. Together, with 30,000+ employees in 30+ countries, we build for boundless impact — touching billions of lives in the process. Visit us at www.UST.com 

Media Contacts, UST India: 

Neha Misri 

+44-7733907820 

SomSekhar CV 

+91-9037888244 

Roshni Das K 

+91 7736795557 

media.relations@ust.com 

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