13, Aug 2026
ETS Hosts TOEFL Experience Day in Delhi as Students Navigate an Increasingly Diverse Global Study Landscape

New Delhi, August 13: ETS, a global education and talent solutions organisation and the creator of the TOEFL iBT test, hosted a TOEFL Experience Day at Sheraton New Delhi on August 12, 2026. The event brought together 119 participants from Delhi’s education and study-abroad community to deepen their understanding of the enhanced TOEFL iBT test and strengthen the guidance and preparation support available to students pursuing international education.
Delhi NCR is an important study-abroad market in India, with Delhi among the country’s major urban centres driving international student mobility. The region attracts undergraduate, postgraduate and working professional aspirants and reflects a broad mix of destinations and academic interests. As students and families increasingly weigh factors such as changing visa policies, education costs, employability and long-term opportunities, the need for informed guidance and reliable assessment information continues to grow.
Led by ETS experts and senior leaders from its South Asia team, the structured sessions introduced participants to the four strategic pillars of TOEFL: Fair, Agile, Smart and Tailored (FAST), alongside focused guidance on the four skills assessed by the TOEFL iBT test: Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening. Participants also explored the enhanced test format, delivery and assessment approach and clarified test-related questions. They received official TOEFL preparation and classroom-support resources, helping them translate the sessions into more structured preparation support for test takers.
ETS currently has four active TOEFL test centres in Delhi, strategically placed across key locations to provide students with greater accessibility to the test. The region is also supported by 30+ active TOEFL Market Ambassadors, whose role has evolved beyond referrals to include student engagement, TOEFL preparation sessions, campus outreach, mock tests and digital advocacy. ETS plans to further expand its ambassador network across NCR and strengthen local accessibility and engagement for students and the education community.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Karan Lalit, Executive Director, South Asia, TOEFL and GRE, ETS, said, “Delhi NCR is an important centre for students pursuing international education, with learners exploring a wide range of destinations, academic disciplines and career pathways. As students and families navigate an increasingly complex international education landscape, access to accurate test information and informed guidance is more important than ever. Through the TOEFL Experience Day, we are bringing ETS’s assessment expertise closer to the educators and counsellors who support students every day, while strengthening local access through our test-centre and Market Ambassador network. Our aim is to help students make confident choices and prepare effectively for opportunities in international education.”
The Delhi TOEFL Experience Day forms part of ETS’s continued engagement with education communities across key study-abroad markets. By combining local access with direct engagement and official test guidance, ETS aims to help educators and counsellors better support students as their international education choices become more diverse.
- 0
- By Neel Achary
13, Aug 2026
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.
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.
View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/in/news-releases/from-prevention-to-lifelong-care-indias-first-comprehensive-lern-accredited-lymphedema-clinic-opens-at-apollo-athenaa-302850640.html

13, Aug 2026
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/
View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/in/news-releases/ifsca-grants-nexent-capital-gift-city-investment-banking-license-302850643.html

13, Aug 2026
Xtovia Puts Indian Hair Innovation on the Global Stage
Aug 13: As India’s beauty industry moves from manufacturing-led growth towards original research and intellectual property, Xtovia has emerged as the flag bearer of this shift, becoming India’s first beauty and personal care company to secure INCI names for two of its synthesised molecules: Arginine Thioctate & Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine Thioctate.

For Xtovia, this milestone validates the novelty of its molecules and places the brand in the company of global beauty innovators that have developed their own proprietary actives, including Olaplex and K18. Historically Indian companies have relied mainly on imported actives developed by international suppliers and used them to create different formulations.
INCI is the globally recognised system used to identify cosmetic ingredients on product labels. Securing an INCI name formally recognises a molecule as a distinct cosmetic ingredient and enables it to be labelled and marketed across international markets.
The significance extends beyond the registration itself. India’s beauty and specialty chemical ecosystem has historically been recognised for manufacturing, generics and raw material supply. Xtovia’s INCI registrations signal a move further up the value chain, towards creating original molecules through in-house R&D and building proprietary technologies with global commercial potential.
“India has historically been known more for product development than for creating original science and intellectual property. But that is changing. We are seeing a growing deep-tech ecosystem that is enabling companies to move beyond using existing technologies to developing proprietary science of their own. We are glad that Xtovia is at the forefront of bringing this change to the beauty and personal care industry, not just by building great beauty products, but by creating the science and intellectual property that powers them,” said Navneet Misra, Founder, Xtovia.
This innovation-first approach is embodied in TriLayerX™ HairTech, Xtovia’s patent-pending multi-layer hair repair technology powered by three Alpha Lipoic Acid-based actives. Xtovia sees the evolution of hair repair science progressing from bond-building technologies pioneered by Olaplex, to biomimetic peptide technology pioneered by K18, and now towards multi-active platforms that address multiple dimensions of hair damage.
TriLayerX brings together three proprietary technologies: NanoEncapX, designed for deep cortex repair; CutiCloneX, powered by the INCI-registered Arginine Thioctate for precision cuticle repair; and LipidMimicX™, featuring the INCI-registered Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine Thioctate to recreate a protective barrier identical to hair’s lipid layer.
Together, the technologies are designed to address hair repair across the cortex, cuticle and lipid layer, creating a multi-mechanism approach rather than relying on a single repair pathway.
Xtovia’s innovation extends beyond its proprietary hair repair platform. The company has filed a total of five patents, including three global patent applications, covering its in-house developed technologies, with one patent already granted. Xtovia has also developed what it describes as the world’s first visual hair repair test, alongside an Elastometer-based testing methodology to measure improvements in hair strength. These developments reflect Xtovia’s focus on building not just products, but the underlying science, technologies and measurement systems that can advance hair repair.
As India approaches Independence Day, Xtovia sees its INCI milestone as part of a larger shift in the beauty landscape – one where Indian companies are not simply manufacturing for the world, but developing the molecules, technologies and intellectual property that can shape the future of global beauty.
13, Aug 2026
AAEON Release PICO-ADN2, a Robust 2.5” Single-Board for Space-Constrained Rugged Deployments
Targeting transportation, automation, and outdoor kiosk deployment, the PICO-ADN2 is designed for stable operation in unpredictable environments.

Taipei, Taiwan – Aug 13: AAEON, an industry-leading provider of embedded solutions, has released the PICO-ADN2, the latest addition to its line of Pico-ITX boards. The board is available with a choice of the 15W Intel Core i3-N305 or 12W Intel Processor N97, the board is designed to balance performance, thermal efficiency, and energy consumption in unpredictable environments. In line with this, AAEON has positioned the PICO-ADN2 as a platform well-suited for deployment in transportation, digital signage, industrial automation, and smart kiosk applications.
Of particular note is the PICO-ADN2 offers the option of a 2-pin header for an external supercapacitor that can be sized to provide at least 48 hours of RTC runtime, which may make it an attractive option for integrators that require an alternative to conventional battery-based backup, especially in environments that encounter power interruptions.

While the PICO-ADN2’s I/O is primarily connector-based, aside from a single HDMI 1.4 port, AAEON notes that it features lockable pin headers. This is to provide greater stability when the board is installed in high-vibration environments, a design philosophy that extends to the board’s system memory, which is 16GB of soldered LPDDR5.
The PICO-ADN2’s I/O provides an 8-pin header that exposes two LAN interfaces (one Intel Ethernet Controller I226-IT, one Realtek RTL8111H-CG), four USB headers (two for USB 3.2 Gen 1, two for USB 2.0 signals), and two serial port headers for RS-232/422/485. In addition to these, the PICO-ADN2 hosts a GPIO 4-bit and SMBus header (co-lay I2C).
As noted, the primary display option for the board is an HDMI port. However, an LVDS connector, co-laid with eDP, is also available, offering 1920 x 1200 at 60 Hz and 3840 x 2160 at 60 Hz, respectively.
Where expansion is concerned, the PICO-ADN2 supports the installation of Wi-Fi add-on cards via an M.2 2230 E-Key, as well as storage modules via a full-size mSATA slot, which can also accommodate an mPCIe module, configurable through the system’s BIOS settings.
13, Aug 2026
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.
View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/farizon-hits-600-000-production-milestone-celebrates-10th-anniversary-with-homtruck-rollout-302850599.html

13, Aug 2026
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
View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/kavalan-mizunara-oak-single-cask-strength-when-mizunara-meets-the-flight-of-butterflies-302836139.html

13, Aug 2026
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.
View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/htx-ventures-examines-open-usd-how-stablecoin-revenue-and-rule-setting-are-being-redistributed-302850628.html

13, Aug 2026
OZiva Brings Clinical Credibility to the Growing Glutathione Conversation in Tamil Nadu with Glutathione Antioxidant Fizzy Tablets
Aug 13: As consumers increasingly prioritise science-backed wellness solutions over invasive cosmetic procedures in states like Tamil Nadu, the conversation around skin health is shifting from quick fixes to clinically validated nutrition. Leading this evolution is OZiva, India’s leading clean and plant-based wellness brand, which has built its product portfolio on the foundations of plant science, clinical research and transparent formulations. Strengthening its commitment to evidence-based skin wellness in Tamil Nadu, the brand is bringing greater focus to Glutathione + Antioxidants Fizzy Tablets- a clinically proven effervescent glutathione supplement developed to deliver visible improvements in skin radiance for Indian skin within just three months.

Positioned as a safe alternative to glutathione IV drips, OZiva’s Glutathione + Antioxidants combines clinically studied glutathione with plant-based bioactives in a convenient fizzy tablet. The easy-to-consume effervescent supplement eliminates the need for needles or clinic visits while bringing together five powerful antioxidants to support healthier, more radiant-looking skin.
In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, two-Arms Clinical Study, the formulation delivered measurable improvements across multiple skin health indicators within three months, including
●32% improvement in skin radiance.
●27.68% reduction in melasma severity
●19% reduction in skin melanin levels
●53% improvement in skin hydration
Beyond its clinical credentials, Bioactive Gluta Fizzy has also earned strong consumer trust across leading beauty and wellness platforms with 4.1 star rating on Amazon. It is also Amazon’s choice, reflecting growing consumer confidence in science-backed, plant-based skin nutrition.
Dr Ratna Upadhyay, Sr. Manager R&D at OZiva
“Categories earn consumer trust when they are built on evidence, not excitement. While glutathione has emerged as one of the fastest-growing conversations in skin wellness, there is an equally important need to educate consumers about what makes a formulation truly effective. At OZiva, we invested in developing a clinically proven, plant-based glutathione formulation that is especially designed for Indian skin and delivers measurable results without invasive procedures. We believe the next phase of growth for this category will be driven by transparency, clinical validation and products that seamlessly fit into everyday lifestyles rather than temporary interventions.”
As the skin wellness category continues to evolve, OZiva remains focused on developing clinically proven nutrition solutions that address the unique needs of Indian consumers. Through Glutathione + Antioxidants , the company is championing a safer, science-led and more convenient approach to skin radiance that places efficacy, transparency and consumer trust at its core.
13, Aug 2026
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.
View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/in/news-releases/hexaware-and-upgrad-enterprise-expand-collaboration-for-global-enterprise-ai-programs-302850577.html
