Ahmedabad-Based Greendot Biopak Expands 100% Bio-Based, Compostable and SUPD-Exempt Packaging Solutions for a Changing Global Regulatory Landscape

Business Wire India

Greendot Biopak Pvt. Ltd., a globally recognised material science company in the sustainable packaging space, is strengthening its focus on 100% bio-based & home compostable aqueous barrier coating and coated paper and paperboard packaging solutions for India and global foodservice markets. The company is deepening its work in this area as brands, converters and foodservice businesses look for alternatives to conventional single-use plastic products and disposables that can better meet evolving performance, sustainability and regulatory requirements.

This growing focus comes as demand rises across food delivery, quick-service restaurants (QSR), food & beverage and packaged food segments for packaging that can meet both performance and sustainability expectations. In India, this shift is being driven by growing scrutiny of single-use materials and increasing interest in compostable, repulpable and food-safe alternatives. Brands are increasingly seeking food-safe, toxin-free and compostable packaging solutions that can meet both performance and regulatory expectations.

Europe’s regulatory direction is adding further momentum. The Single-Use Plastics Directive (SUPD) has accelerated the move away from paper and board products that use synthetic polymer linings for grease and moisture resistance. At the same time, proposed revisions to the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (PPWD) seek to ensure that all packaging on the European Union market is reusable or recyclable in an economically viable way by 2030. For Indian exporters, food brands and packaging companies serving international customers, these developments are increasingly shaping material choices and product strategies.

Greendot Biopak’s coating solutions are developed entirely from renewable, bio-based raw materials and are designed to add barrier performance to paper and paperboard substrates. The company has developed a groundbreaking 100% biobased coating used in takeaway boxes, wraps, trays, cups, pouches and other single-use foodservice and packaging applications. The coating solutions are compliant with EN 13432 and IS/ISO 17088 and are designed to support home compostability requirements.

The company’s approach centres on coating chemistry made from naturally occurring, unmodified materials and ingredients such as starch, plant proteins, seaweed extracts, cellulose, waxes, oils and minerals, none of which fall under the SUPD restricted list. Greendot Biopak’s approach replaces the need for conventional barrier materials such as PE, LDPE, PP, PET, PS, EPS, PLA, PBAT, acrylics, oxo-degradable plastics, fluorine-based coatings, and other modified synthetic polymers.

Greendot Biopak’s coated solutions deliver oil and grease resistance in the 14–16 Kit range, heat sealability between 80°C and 160°C, and high repulpability. These properties make them suitable for applications ranging from foodservice packaging to flexible paper-based formats. This performance profile is aimed at addressing a gap in the market, where many existing alternatives still require a compromise between functionality, recyclability and end-of-life outcomes.

“Packaging requirements are changing rapidly, especially in food delivery, QSR and packaged food,” said Rajen Bhagyoday, Founder, Greendot Biopak Pvt. Ltd. “Brands today need solutions that can deliver barrier performance and food safety while staying aligned with the direction of global regulation. Under SUPD, any synthetic polymer that forms a separate layer may come within the scope of restriction, regardless of biodegradability claims. This is why the focus has been on pioneering compostable aqueous barrier coating technologies based on 100% biobased natural, unmodified plant polymers.”

The Indian market is also moving in the same direction. As enforcement around single-use plastics and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) strengthens, plastic-coated solutions used in foodservice and packaging are drawing greater attention, particularly where recyclability and compostability remain unclear. For businesses, the challenge is no longer only replacing plastic, but finding packaging that combines grease resistance, strength, heat sealability and a credible end-of-life pathway.

Under SUPD, paper and paperboard products that contain a synthetic lining for water, oil & grease resistance may be treated as restricted if that layer acts as a plastic component and cannot be easily separated during recycling. By contrast, 100% biobased coating that does form a distinct layer on a substrate provides a superior functional barrier against moisture, water vapor, oil & grease, oxygen, aroma transmission without the banned list of ingredients, but finding packaging that combines WVTR, MVTR, OTR, OGR, Aroma barriers with heat sealability and a credible end-of-life pathway, thus qualifies for exemption. This is creating demand for compostable, repulpable and SUPD-exempt paper-based packaging solutions across both domestic and export-oriented markets.

Greendot Biopak’s solutions are backed by certifications and validations across compostability, food contact and chemical safety. These include EN 13432 and IS/ISO 17088 for compostability, along with food-contact testing and compliance verification by ISEGA. Additional validations include PFAS-free testing and migration testing for food-contact applications.

Building on its early work in water-based barrier chemistry, Greendot Biopak is now scaling its coated paper and paperboard packaging solutions for brands and converters in India and overseas markets seeking compostable, bio-based and SUPD-exempt alternatives to conventional single-use plastic products and disposables.

SLB OneSubsea and Subsea7 Sign Collaboration Agreement with PETRONAS Suriname

Business Wire India

Global energy technology company SLB (NYSE: SLB) today announced the signing of a strategic collaboration agreement between PETRONAS Suriname E&P B.V. (“PETRONAS Suriname”), a subsidiary of PETRONAS and Subsea Integration Alliance, comprising SLB OneSubsea and Subsea7. This partnership aims to unlock resources in Suriname’s emerging frontier basin through innovative and cost-effective subsea solutions.

 

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260331210557/en/

 

 

SLB OneSubsea has signed a strategic collaboration agreement between PETRONAS Suriname E&P B.V. (“PETRONAS Suriname”), a subsidiary of PETRONAS and Subsea Integration Alliance, comprising SLB OneSubsea and Subsea7. This partnership aims to unlock resources in Suriname’s emerging frontier basin through innovative and cost-effective subsea solutions.

SLB OneSubsea has signed a strategic collaboration agreement between PETRONAS Suriname E&P B.V. (“PETRONAS Suriname”), a subsidiary of PETRONAS and Subsea Integration Alliance, comprising SLB OneSubsea and Subsea7. This partnership aims to unlock resources in Suriname’s emerging frontier basin through innovative and cost-effective subsea solutions.

 

The agreement establishes a long-term framework for collaboration across the project lifecycle. This approach enables early involvement to co-develop and co-create cost-effective solutions, accelerate field development, and enhance project economics.

 

“Collaboration and simplification are key to unlocking resources faster,” said Mads Hjelmeland, chief executive officer of SLB OneSubsea. “This agreement strengthens our long-standing relationship with PETRONAS Suriname and enables us to align on shared goals to improve project performance, enhance safety, and deliver sustainable outcomes.”

 

 

Under this framework, Subsea Integration Alliance may provide full engineering, procurement, construction, installation, and commissioning (EPCIC) solutions for multiple discoveries in Suriname. The scope includes subsea production systems (SPS) as well as subsea umbilical, riser, and flowlines (SURF) components.

 

 

Olivier Blaringhem, CEO of Subsea Integration Alliance, said, “This is an exciting and important step for the development of the significant opportunities of PETRONAS Suriname in the country’s frontier basins. The combined deepwater expertise and collaborative, agile approach of Subsea7 and SLB OneSubsea will maximize value as the developments secure vital energy resources in the region.”

 

 

 

Key points

 

 

  • SLB OneSubsea and Subsea7 have signed a strategic collaboration agreement with PETRONAS Suriname E&P B.V. to accelerate subsea oil and gas developments in Suriname
  • The agreement enables early engagement to enhance delivery certainty, improve efficiency, and unlock greater value across the portfolio of PETRONAS Suriname portfolio
  • The partnership leverages technology expertise and integrated execution to reduce risk, shorten timelines, and deliver cost-effective subsea solutions

 

 

About SLB

 

SLB (NYSE: SLB) is a global technology company that has driven energy innovation for 100 years. With a global footprint in more than 100 countries and employees representing almost twice as many nationalities, we work each day on innovating oil and gas, delivering digital at scale, decarbonizing industries, and developing and scaling new energy systems that accelerate the energy transition. Find out more at slb.com.

 

 

About SLB OneSubsea

 

 

SLB OneSubsea is driving a new subsea era leveraging digital and technology innovation to optimize our customers’ oil and gas production, reduce emissions in subsea operations, and unlock the large potential of subsea solutions to shape a sustainable energy future. SLB OneSubsea is a joint venture backed by SLB, Aker Solutions, and Subsea7 headquartered in Oslo and Houston, with 10,000 employees across the world. Find out more at onesubsea.slb.com.

 

 

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements:

 

 

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws — that is, statements about the future, not about past events. Such statements often contain words such as “expect,” “may,” “can,” “estimate,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “will,” “potential,” “projected” and other similar words. Forward-looking statements address matters that are, to varying degrees, uncertain, such as forecasts or expectations regarding the deployment of, or anticipated benefits of, SLB’s new technologies and partnerships; statements about goals, plans and projections with respect to sustainability and environmental matters; forecasts or expectations regarding energy transition and global climate change; and improvements in operating procedures and technology. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the inability to achieve net-negative carbon emissions goals; the inability to recognize intended benefits of SLB’s strategies, initiatives or partnerships; legislative and regulatory initiatives addressing environmental concerns, including initiatives addressing the impact of global climate change; the timing or receipt of regulatory approvals and permits; and other risks and uncertainties detailed in SLB’s most recent Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K filed with or furnished to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. If one or more of these or other risks or uncertainties materialize (or the consequences of such a development changes), or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual outcomes may vary materially from those reflected in our forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release, and SLB disclaims any intention or obligation to update publicly or revise such statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

 

 

 

 

Nadia Karkar Joins 500 Global as Managing Partner

Business Wire India

500 Global today announced the appointment of Nadia Karkar as Managing Partner as the firm expands its global investment platform. Nadia’s appointment follows the recent announcement of the appointment of Atul Mehta — former Chief Investment Officer of the International Finance Corporation — to 500 Global’s Board of Directors, and reflects the firm’s continued build-out of the leadership and capabilities required to deliver on its next stage of global growth.

 

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260407719214/en/

 

 

Nadia Karkar Joins 500 Global as Managing Partner

Nadia Karkar Joins 500 Global as Managing Partner

 

Nadia joins from TPG Rise, the $31 billion impact investing platform of TPG Inc., where she most recently served as Head of Business Development, responsible for product innovation, strategic partnerships and corporate development. She played a central role in building TPG Rise Climate’s Global South Initiative, a blended finance vehicle designed to catalyze at-scale institutional capital for investments in climate solutions across emerging markets. Before TPG Inc., Nadia was a Partner at Kirkland & Ellis LLP, one of the world’s leading law firms.

 

Nadia brings a unique combination of skills to 500 Global and will play a key role in defining and executing the firm’s strategic agenda. Her track record includes developing high trust partnerships with some of the world’s largest sovereign and institutional funders, and she brings expertise across venture, private equity, and infrastructure asset classes – a lens that maps directly onto 500 Global’s strategic evolution as a firm.

 

 

“Institutional and sovereign investment strategies should not only include backing great founders, but focus on aligning capital, policy, and innovation at scale,” said Courtney Powell, Chief Operating Officer and Managing Partner of 500 Global. “Nadia has spent her career at the intersection of all three, and she understands that unlocking investment in complex, high-growth economies requires convening the right partners around a shared thesis and translating that into models that can be repeated across sectors.”

 

 

“We’re seeing a turning point in how institutional capital engages with emerging markets – moving from a conversation organized around risk to one organized around what’s possible when the right capital, talent and infrastructure converge,” said Nadia. “To make that real, we need to move from one-off projects to durable platforms, and to redesign blended finance around aspiration rather than anxiety. 500 Global has spent fifteen years doing the hardest part — building local presence, earning founder trust, and investing in the ecosystems that make great companies and sustainable growth possible. I’ve arrived at just the right time to help build the next layer – the partnerships and platforms that move institutional capital into emerging markets and sectors at scale – and in so doing, create real, lasting impact in the places where it matters most.”

 

 

500 Global’s investment platform is rooted in the markets where it invests, comprising approximately 140 team members in more than 20 countries, with over 50% of its managing partners and senior leadership roles held by women. The firm’s platform spans the full investment environment – from catalyzing early opportunities, to scaling high-growth companies, to architecting sovereign mandates and national transformation strategies – underpinned by a dedicated ecosystem development and policy advisory infrastructure. It is this combination of local presence, representative leadership, and integrated capabilities that 500 Global relies on to help source high-quality opportunities and structure the partnerships required to scale them.

 

 

This next phase of 500 Global’s growth will focus on sectors where the convergence of institutional capital and entrepreneurial innovation creates not just commercial opportunity, but lasting economic and social impact, including climate resilience, global health, digital infrastructure, and financial inclusion.

 

 

About 500 Global

 

 

500 Global is a global asset manager with $2.2 billion in assets under management, investing across venture and growth strategies in technology-driven companies worldwide. Since 2010, the firm has backed more than 5,000 founders across 3,000+ companies in 80+ countries — including 35+ unicorns and 165+ companies valued above $100 million.1 Beyond capital, 500 Global partners with governments, sovereign funds, and institutions to design and manage platforms aligned with long-term economic development priorities. Its portfolio spans AI, fintech, digital infrastructure, climate innovation, and the sectors defining the next era of global competitiveness. Learn more: 500 Global.

 

 

THE CONTENT IN THIS PRESS RELEASE IS PROVIDED FOR GENERAL INFORMATIONAL OR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. 500 GLOBAL MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS AS TO THE ACCURACY OR INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN AND WHILE 500 GLOBAL HAS TAKEN REASONABLE STEPS TO ENSURE THAT THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS ACCURATE AND UP-TO-DATE, NO LIABILITY CAN BE ACCEPTED FOR ANY ERROR OR OMISSIONS. UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED IN THIS PRESS RELEASE, ANY PREDICTIONS, FORECASTS, CONCLUSIONS, VIEWS OR OPINIONS EXPRESSED REPRESENT THE CURRENT VIEW AND THINKING OF 500 GLOBAL WITH REGARD TO THE SUBJECT MATTER THEREIN AND/OR ANALYSIS WHICH HAS NOT BEEN INDEPENDENTLY VERIFIED, AND WHICH IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT ANY TIME.

 

 

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD ANY OF THE CONTENT IN THIS PRESS RELEASE BE CONSTRUED AS LEGAL, TAX OR INVESTMENT ADVICE FROM 500 GLOBAL OR ANY OF ITS AFFILIATES. 500 GLOBAL DOES NOT GUARANTEE ANY FUTURE RESULTS FOR ANY DECISIONS MADE BASED IN WHOLE OR IN PART ON THE CONTENT OR INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN. ALL READERS OF THIS PRESS RELEASE SHOULD CONSULT WITH THEIR OWN COUNSEL, ACCOUNTANT OR OTHER PROFESSIONAL ADVISORS BEFORE TAKING ANY ACTION IN CONNECTION WITH THIS PRESS RELEASE.

 

 

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD ANY INFORMATION OR CONTENT IN THIS PRESS RELEASE, BE CONSIDERED AS AN OFFER TO SELL OR SOLICITATION OF INTEREST TO PURCHASE ANY SECURITIES ADVISED BY 500 GLOBAL OR ANY OF ITS AFFILIATES OR REPRESENTATIVES. FURTHER, NO CONTENT OR INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PRESS RELEASE IS OR IS INTENDED AS AN OFFER TO PROVIDE ANY INVESTMENT ADVISORY SERVICE OR FINANCIAL ADVICE BY 500 GLOBAL. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD ANYTHING HEREIN BE CONSTRUED AS FUND MARKETING MATERIALS BY PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS CONSIDERING AN INVESTMENT INTO ANY 500 GLOBAL INVESTMENT FUND. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD ANY CONTENT BE INTERPRETED AS TESTIMONIALS OR ENDORSEMENT OF THE INVESTMENT PERFORMANCE OF ANY 500 GLOBAL FUND BY A PROSPECTIVE INVESTOR CONSIDERING AN INVESTMENT INTO ANY 500 GLOBAL INVESTMENT FUND.

 

 

____________________

1Based on internal estimates as of December 31, 2025, which have not been independently verified.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mouser Electronics Explores How Artificial Intelligence Shapes Everyday Technologies and Experiences

Business Wire India

Mouser Electronics, Inc., the authorized global distributor with the newest electronic components and industrial automation products, today announced the first 2026 installment of its Empowering Innovation Together (EIT) technology series, Engineering AI for Daily Life. This installment explores how artificial intelligence is increasingly embedded in everyday products and services, from assisted search and messaging tools to healthcare wearables that monitor personal well-being. As AI capabilities expand across consumer and connected devices, engineers continue to design systems that make these technologies more useful, intuitive, and trustworthy in real-world applications.

 

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260407524737/en/

 

 

This installment of Empowering Innovation Together explores how AI is increasingly embedded in everyday products and services, from assisted search and messaging tools to healthcare wearables.

This installment of Empowering Innovation Together explores how AI is increasingly embedded in everyday products and services, from assisted search and messaging tools to healthcare wearables.

 

“AI is quickly moving from experimental technology into products people rely on every day, and engineers play a major role in shaping how it’s applied,” said Jeff Newell, President of Mouser Electronics. “As AI becomes embedded across consumer devices and connected systems, it’s important that these technologies are designed to support human expertise while remaining reliable and trustworthy. This EIT segment helps engineers explore the tools and insights they need to build the next generation of AI-enabled solutions.”

 

As AI agents and intelligent tools become integrated into homes, connected devices, and digital services, engineers are developing systems that enhance user judgment and keep users in control while maintaining transparency and privacy. New AI-powered platforms already demonstrate this potential – turning simple conversations into complete travel itineraries or providing deeper health insights through connected devices.

 

 

On The Tech Between Us podcast, Raymond Yin, Director of Technical Content at Mouser Electronics, and Dr. Marisa Tschopp, Senior Researcher at scip AG in Zurich, examine the new role of AI in human interaction and day-to-day experiences. They explore how AI advancements shape technology-enabled collaboration, including the long-term impact of daily integration and applications for mental health.

 

 

“AI is moving beyond experimental settings into the products people rely on every day,” said Yin. “Our first EIT navigates the next era in AI innovation, looking at how to use the technology to enhance people’s abilities and rethink how we can live for the better.”

 

 

In addition to the podcast, the EIT series includes an in-depth video, technical articles, a topic-related infographic, as well as subscriber-exclusive content, diving into everyday AI. By examining the range of cases where AI can level up technical expertise, engineers can build a class of tools to help reshape how people think, decide, and create while protecting privacy and control.

 

 

Established in 2015, Mouser’s Empowering Innovation Together program is one of the electronic component industry’s most recognized educational programs. To learn more, visit https://www.mouser.com/empowering-innovation/engineering-ai-daily/ and follow Mouser on Facebook, LinkedIn, X, and YouTube.

 

 

For more Mouser news and our latest new product introductions, visit https://www.mouser.com/newsroom/.

 

 

As a global authorized distributor, Mouser offers the widest selection of the newest semiconductors, electronic components and industrial automation products. Mouser’s customers can expect 100% certified, genuine products that are fully traceable from each of its manufacturer partners. To help speed customers’ designs, Mouser’s website hosts an extensive library of technical resources, including a Technical Resource Center, along with product data sheets, supplier-specific reference designs, application notes, technical design information, engineering tools and other helpful information.

 

 

Engineers can stay abreast of today’s exciting product, technology and application news through Mouser’s complimentary e-newsletter. Mouser’s email news and reference subscriptions are customizable to the unique and changing project needs of customers and subscribers. No other distributor gives engineers this much customization and control over the information they receive. Learn about emerging technologies, product trends and more by signing up today at https://sub.info.mouser.com/subscriber/.

 

 

About Mouser Electronics

 

 

Mouser Electronics is an authorized semiconductor and electronic component distributor focused on New Product Introductions from its leading manufacturer partners. Serving the global electronic design engineer and buyer community, the global distributor’s website, mouser.com, is available in multiple languages and currencies and features more than 6.8 million products from over 1,200 manufacturer brands. Mouser offers 28 support locations worldwide to provide best-in-class customer service in local language, currency and time zone. The distributor ships to over 650,000 customers in 223 countries/territories from its 1 million-square-foot, state-of-the-art distribution facilities in the Dallas, Texas, metro area. For more information, visit https://www.mouser.com/.

 

 

Trademarks

 

 

Mouser and Mouser Electronics are registered trademarks of Mouser Electronics, Inc. All other products, logos, and company names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

 

 

 

 

 

Finish Announces Bollywood Star Ayushmann Khurrana as Brand Ambassador, Launches Campaign to Show India the Right Way to Dishwash

Business Wire India

Finish, Reckitt’s No.1 auto-dishwashing# detergent brand worldwide, has announced Bollywood star Ayushmann Khurrana as its brand ambassador, launching a new campaign built around the idea of “The Right Way to Dishwash”. Through its new campaign, Finish showcases the cleaning performance of Finish Ultimate Plus tablets with Bosch dishwashers on tough cooking stains, while addressing misconceptions among dormant dishwasher users and uninitiated audiences sitting on the fence due to existing certain pre-dispositions around the effectiveness of dishwashers.

 

Finish’s new campaign featuring Ayushmann brings relatability to the category in an entertaining way, while highlighting the powerful combination of Finish Ultimate Plus dishwasher tablets and Bosch dishwashers that can tackle tough cooking stains without the need for pre-rinsing. In the film, Ayushmann Khurrana accepts a challenge – if Finish tablets and a Bosch dishwasher can clean tough cooking stains, he will become Finish’s brand ambassador and promote the product; if they don’t, he gets a big fat cheque for doing nothing. When the powerful combination successfully cleans the toughest stains, Ayushmann loses the challenge and sets out to residential societies to demonstrate how the Finish and Bosch combination can tackle even the most stubborn cooking stains2.

 

Indian cooking is known for its rich flavours, but also for the stubborn stains it leaves behind, from burnt-onII residues to heavy grease. This has led many consumers to believe that dishwashers may not be powerful enough for Indian kitchens, prompting them to pre-rinse utensils before loading them into the machine and making the process seem more time-consuming and less convenient.

 

Addressing this concern, Finish Ultimate Plus tablets deliver powerful cleaning through three Power Chambers^, designed to tackle burnt-on stains||, remove greasy residues and leave utensils with a shine. Designed to work effectively without pre-rinsing, Finish complements Bosch’s 70-degree hot water wash*, helping tackle stubborn cooking residues and making automatic dishwashing both effective and convenient for Indian households.

 

Speaking about the campaign, Ayushmann Khurrana said, “I only recently discovered that there’s no need to pre-rinse dishes before putting them in the dishwasher. Do you wash your clothes before sending them for dry cleaning? No, right? That analogy just blew my mind. I wasn’t aware of the effectiveness of the Finish + Bosch combination until I experienced it during the making of this campaign. It’s been great partnering with Finish to show how something as simple as the right dishwasher tablet can make everyday kitchen clean-up so much easier.”

 

Commenting on the launch, Gautam Rishi, Marketing Director, Hygiene, Reckitt – South Asia, said, “Indian cooking often leaves behind tough stains, which has led many to doubt whether dishwashers can meet the needs of our kitchens. But consumer habits are changing, and people are seeking smarter, more convenient solutions. As India’s leading automatic dishwashing detergent brand, Finish delivers powerful, reliable cleaning that fits seamlessly into modern lifestyles without the need for pre-rinsing. We are excited to have Ayushmann Khurrana onboard as the brand ambassador for Finish, and through our partnership with Bosch, we bring a powerful and dependable solution for Indian consumers.”

 

Nitin Pradhan, Group Executive Creative Director, Creative Head – Delhi, Leo Burnett, further added: “Finish Ultimate Plus, is one of the most advanced dishwashing innovations for Indian households. With Ayushmann Khurrana on board, we’ve added an interesting tonality and a common-man connect to the campaign, ensuring that everyone who has a dishwasher or a bias against it sits up and takes notice.”

 

With this campaign, Finish aims to encourage Indian consumers to embrace the right way to dishwash, trusting their dishwashers to tackle tough stains without pre-rinsing and making the shift from traditional handwashing to smarter, more efficient automatic dishwashing solutions.

 

TVC Link: https://youtu.be/PirTDPivun4?si=mkTzJBk5pejxhElL

 

Disclaimers:

 

#Finish brand is #1 global value sales in the Dishwashing category (Source: NielsenIQ RMS Data 2024).

2Tested under lab conditions on representative stains and dishes.

IITackles burnt stains.

^Tested under lab conditions on selected food stains & dishes.

*The ‘Intensive Kadhai Programme’ of Bosch Dishwasher with its 70°C hot water cleans all the greasy and oily residue of kadhai, chhani, etc.

IKS Health Announces Launch of Audit-Ready Autonomous Coding Capabilities

Business Wire India

IKS Health, a global leader in care enablement solutions across the patient journey, is proud to announce the launch of its AI-driven revenue cycle management (RCM) audit-ready coding engine that delivers up to 95% coding accuracy while reducing denials. With the average denial rate for U.S. claims at 12%, the IKS Health autonomous coding engine, now integrated with Epic and available in the Epic Connection Hub, combines AI-driven code assignment with expert human review to deliver accurate, audit-ready codes from chart to claim.

By using structured and coding-ready clinical documentation, IKS Health AI and rule-based logic smartly analyzes patient charts and suggests CPT, ICD, and E/M codes, providing a confidence score on every code. Human coders review low-confidence codes, while AI-approved codes flow through rules and payer validation. Accuracy is ensured through a pre-bill review layer, revenue rules check, compliance validation, and payor propensity analysis. IKS Health’s autonomous coding engine accepts charts from any source and is inherently audit ready with justification reports citing specific charted clinical evidence.

“Our AI-driven autonomous coding engine is frictionless and allows clinicians to be clinicians while keeping administrative and financial operations flowing and on track,” said Mayank Pant, Executive Vice President, Product Management. “We’ve created a sophisticated autonomous coding engine with human expertise that preactively overcomes denials and other claims issues, giving healthcare organizations much needed sustainability. Every code is scored, validated, and backed by clear justification for compliant, clean claims with shared accountability for results.

 

The IKS Health autonomous coding engine is vendor agnostic and integrates with IKS Health’s Scribble Now ambient AI scribe solution, creating an agentic AI–powered workflow from chart to code to revenue that unlocks exponential value. IKS Health autonomous coding creates audit-ready claims with:

  • Up to 95% coding accuracy
  • 100% audit trail on every claim
  • More than 80% of charts automatically coded

“Our new autonomous coding workflow is a key part of our full RCM platform, and is a total win for accuracy and reimbursement,” said Sachin K. Gupta, Founder and Global CEO of IKS Health. “Using AI-driven technology combined with human expertise removes unnecessary burdens from clinicians while strengthening the administrative and financial aspects of healthcare organizations, enabling them to operate more effectively and deliver better care to the patients they serve.”

 

Epic is a registered trademark of Epic Systems Corporation.

New South Asia Heat and Health Hub Launched to Strengthen Regional Response to Extreme Heat

Business Wire India

  • CEEW, one of Asia’s leading think tanks, will host the South Asian hub of the Global Heat Health Information Network, in collaboration with partners SFC, NRDC, BRAC JPGSPH and UNESCAP, and in tandem with IITM and IMD.
  • The Hub is an initiative of the Global Heat Health Information Network, led by the WHO-WMO Climate and Health Joint Programme.

 

Across South Asia, summer temperatures are already rising, and the science confirms what communities have already experienced for years. The past 11 years of record-breaking global temperatures are collectively the hottest humanity has ever measured, according to the World Meteorological Organization’s recent flagship report. This is why today, on World Health Day, a consortium of leading research, policy, and development organisations launched a new South Asia Hub of the Global Heat Health Information Network (GHHIN). Funded by Wellcome, the new Regional Hub is being hosted in New Delhi by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW).

 

Together, the five coordinating partners—CEEW, the Sustainable Futures Collaborative (SFC), Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), BRAC James P. Grant School of Public Health (BRAC JPGSPH), and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP)—will unify actors across government, academia, private enterprise, and civil society to improve shared learning and inform policy change.

 

The Hub will work in tandem with the South Asia Climate and Health Desk at the Indian Institute for Tropical Meteorology (IITM) and the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to ensure heat early warnings and heat science are used to generate impactful solutions for communities.
 

Serving as the region’s platform for knowledge exchange and good practice, the Hub will connect local actors to inform policy, implement practical interventions, and reduce heat risks, particularly for vulnerable populations.

 

Turning heat science into health action

 

Asia is warming at twice the rate of the rest of the world, and between 1990 and 2021, it accounted for more than half of all global heat-related deaths. South Asia bears the sharpest edge of the heat crisis: nearly 90 per cent of its population is projected to face extreme heat exposure by 2030. Yet, regional policy and response coordination often remain fragmented, and most national systems or structures still lack health-triggered warnings.

 

In India alone, 57 per cent of Indian districts—home to nearly three-quarters of the population—already face high to very high heat risk, according to CEEW research, with rising night-time temperatures and increasing humidity compounding heat stress, reducing the body’s ability to recover, and placing additional strain on health systems. Bangladesh has seen ‘felt temperatures’ climb by 4.5°C in the last four decades. Even Nepal and Bhutan, both high-altitude Himalayan countries, now regularly record temperatures surpassing 40°C.

 

Starting operations in April 2026, the South Asia GHHIN Hub will work with regional and national partners to deliver tangible benefits for families, workers, schools, hospitals, and city officials by enabling clearer alerts, safer work hours, timely cooling actions, and strengthened policy advice for better-prepared health services. The Hub will focus on, among others:

 

  • Building a regional network of institutions, practitioners, and policymakers across South Asia — connecting climate, health, and urban planning sectors to share and build skills, foster knowledge exchange, peer learning, and coordinated heat action to safeguard health.
  • Translating science into policy, working with local and regional governments to move from data to decisions through pilot projects, and pre- and post-heat season briefings and information for actionable preparedness action for governments and communities.
  • Strengthening heat-health early warning systems by working with regional climate centres to close the gap between meteorological forecasting and public health response.
  • Documenting and scaling what works — collecting lessons from local partners, contributing to cross-regional best practice synthesis, and ensuring South Asia’s frontline experience feeds into global knowledge platforms.

 

Over the next few years, the Hub aims to bring together more than 60 institutions, train over 500 professionals, and strengthen heat action plans across South Asia.

 

The South Asia Heat and Health Hub will be chaired by Dr Vishwas Chitale, Fellow, CEEW, who has led pioneering work on district-level heat risk assessments and heat action planning in India.

 

Dr Arunabha Ghosh, CEO, Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), said: “Extreme heat is not a seasonal hazard; it is a systemic risk to public health, economic productivity, and infrastructure across South Asia. What makes heat particularly dangerous is that it cuts across sectors — climate, health, labour, and urban development — yet responses often remain fragmented. At CEEW, we have been building the data, analytics, and policy partnerships needed to understand heat risk at a granular level, and we are honoured to host the South Asia Hub for the Global Heat Health Information Network to bring that evidence together with regional collaboration. By convening governments, researchers, and practitioners across South Asia, we hope to turn heat science into coordinated heat action that protects the most vulnerable.”

 

Alejandro Saez Reale, Global Heat Health Information Network (GHHIN) Coordinator, said: “The launch of the South Asia Hub is a milestone for the expansion of GHHIN’s global network. Some of the world’s most heat-exposed cities and communities are in this region — and access to the best available science, tools, and peer knowledge is essential to protect people’s lives. This Hub creates the architecture for that exchange, linking actors and institutions across South Asia to a growing global community of practitioners and policymakers – many of them coming together at the upcoming Global Heat and Cooling Forum in New Delhi later this month – working to make heat a visible, actionable priority.”

 

Dr Joy Shumake-Guillemot, WHO-WMO Climate and Health Joint Programme, said: “Climate change is driving more intense and more frequent heat – with dramatic consequences for our environment and health. We have the tools to respond – through heat action plans, early warning systems, and cross-sectoral sharing – but these tools only work if institutions are connected and pulling in the same direction – which is exactly what the South Asia Hub and its partners have set out to do.”

 

Dr Catharina Cora Boehme, Officer-in-Charge, World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for South East Asia, said: “Extreme heat is one of the most urgent public health risks of our time, yet it often remains invisible in policy and planning. Strengthening the link between science and public health action is essential. This Hub reflects the spirit of World Health Day, standing with science to protect lives.”

 

Dipa Singh Bagai, Country Director, NRDC India, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), said: “Extreme heat is no longer a distant climate threat—it is a present and growing danger to lives, livelihoods, and economic stability across South Asia. NRDC’s experience in India has shown that well-designed Heat Action Plans—grounded in science, early warning systems, and community partnerships—can save lives. The launch of the South Asia Heat and Health Hub is an important step toward scaling these proven solutions across the region. By strengthening collaboration amongst South Asia’s climate adaptation and public health leaders, this partnership will help the region move from reactive responses to proactive, coordinated action that protects the most vulnerable communities.”

 

Dr Bhargav Krishna, Convenor, Sustainable Futures Collaborative (SFC), said: “Extreme heat is already a public health emergency with projections indicating increasingly more frequent and intense heatwaves in coming years. India has shown leadership in managing the fallout of heat in recent years, but building systems that chart a path to long-term heat resilience is essential if we are to forestall the harmful effects of heat on health, livelihoods, and economic productivity. This hub aims to bring together cutting-edge epidemiology with thoughtful analysis of institutions, governance mechanisms, and policies that can foster equitable and evidence-based management of current and future heat in India and South Asia.”

 

Mr. Kiyoung Ko, Director, ICT and Disaster Risk Reduction Division, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), said: “Extreme heat is a regional, cross-border risk. By bringing countries together, the Hub can strengthen cooperation, align policies, and integrate heat into broader disaster risk and climate resilience frameworks across Asia-Pacific.”

 

Dr Farzana Misha, Associate Professor and Lead, Climate Change, Environment and Health Hub, BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health (BRAC JPGSPH), said:Extreme heat is not a future risk; it is already here. Unlike cyclones or floods, it is less visible, and therefore often underestimated, yet its impacts are far-reaching. It directly affects human health while placing sustained pressure on health systems and disrupting food and water security. In South Asia, one of the most climate-vulnerable and least-prepared regions, this challenge is particularly urgent. The GHHIN South Asia hub is an important step toward bringing together regional knowledge, shared experiences, and collective action to better respond to this growing threat.

 

As heat risks intensify across South Asia, the Hub marks a shift from fragmented responses to coordinated, regional-level science-led heat-centered action. Serving as the region’s anchor for knowledge exchange, policy innovation, and capacity building, it will foster a robust, interconnected ecosystem of practitioners, policymakers, and researchers, strengthening regional collaboration for evidence-based, equitable solutions that reach the most vulnerable.

Riskified Partners with Outpayce from Amadeus to Enable and Secure Payments for Airlines and Travel Merchants Worldwide

Business Wire India

 

Riskified, a leader in ecommerce fraud and risk intelligence, today announced a partnership with Outpayce from Amadeus. This partnership boosts Outpayce’s trusted travel payment platform with Riskified’s AI-powered fraud prevention suite and Chargeback Guarantee model, creating a game-changing solution for airlines worldwide. The landscape of airline payments is evolving, and we’re proud to share a major milestone that will reshape the way airlines approach fraud management.

 

Outpayce from Amadeus is a global travel payments orchestrator and specialized fintech enabler, empowering airlines and travel merchants to streamline complex payment processes, optimize costs, and enhance customer experiences. Purpose-built for the travel industry, Outpayce delivers innovation, flexibility, and seamless integration within the Amadeus ecosystem, supporting secure, efficient, and scalable payment operations across the entire traveler journey.

 

 

With Riskified integrating into Outpayce’s ecosystem, carriers all over the world can benefit from AI-decisioning and a risk management solution that creates revenue predictability through guaranteed defined approval rates, while significantly reducing complexity and the cost of fraud. With this new partnership, Riskified becomes the first chargeback guarantee solution in Outpayce’s ecosystem, elevating its value to airlines across the globe.

 

 

“Our innovation-first collaboration with Riskified is a major step forward in helping airlines combat fraud more effectively,” said Vasken Tokatlian, VP Partnerships at Outpayce from Amadeus. “By integrating Riskified into Outpayce’s ecosystem we are expanding the choice available to airlines worldwide—equipping them with additional tools to reduce fraud losses, lower operational costs, and seamless, secure payment experiences.”

 

 

“By partnering with Outpayce from Amadeus, we are giving airlines the confidence to grow their business, secure in the knowledge that every transaction is protected from fraud,” said Max Meister Admoni, Global Head of Partnerships at Riskified.

 

 

A major Asia-Pacific international airline will be the first merchant to go live with the integration in 2026. This launch paves the way for successful implementation with other merchants looking to enhance the traveler experience with advanced AI capabilities.

 

 

This partnership delivers value to airlines executing on growth strategies and with variable risk profiles. For carriers in high-risk areas, where chargeback volumes often create significant financial and administrative challenges, Riskified’s technology offers a way to reduce fraud losses, streamline operations, and expand confidently into new territories. Meanwhile, every airline stands to benefit from the highest accuracy in fraud detection, an intelligent, adaptive checkout flow that maximizes bookings, a reduction in manual reviews, and peace of mind that comes with Riskified’s Chargeback Guarantee protection.

 

 

High ticket values, frequent card-not-present transactions, and the attractiveness of travel bookings to fraudsters create a perfect storm for elevated fraud and chargeback rates. And fraudsters continue to find creative and sophisticated ways to exploit gaps in airline policies and processes. One Riskified analysis found that flight bookings over the past year were +14% riskier than the previous year.

 

 

This is where the collaboration between Riskified and Outpayce provides a much-needed solution for the industry. Together, they offer a sophisticated, technology-driven approach to tackling fraud and chargebacks, addressing these challenges head-on.

 

 

  • Advanced fraud prevention: Using state-of-the-art machine learning and AI technology, Riskified delivers precise fraud detection with faster, more accurate decision-making that surpasses traditional, rules-based systems.
  • Guaranteed chargeback protection: Riskified provides Chargeback Guarantee services, eliminating the financial risk for airlines as stated in What is a chargeback guarantee? – Riskified.
  • Sector expertise: Together, Outpayce and Riskified’s global merchant network offer a strong concentration of travel-related transactions from airlines, OTAs, transportation providers, tour and event operators, and more, giving unprecedented intelligence into the identities of travelers purchasing flights and fraud detection accuracy.
  • Improved operational efficiency: By automating fraud detection and reducing reliance on manual reviews, Riskified helps airlines focus on higher-value tasks while saving valuable time and resources.

 

 

At a time where booking patterns and payment preferences are frequently changing, Riskified and Outpayce enable businesses to stay agile while keeping fraud under control. Interested in joining the growing list of airlines transforming their fraud prevention approach? Speak with one of our experts at Riskified or Outpayce from Amadeus.

 

About Riskified
Riskified (NYSE:RSKD) empowers businesses to unleash ecommerce growth by outsmarting risk. Many of the world’s biggest brands and publicly traded companies selling online rely on Riskified for guaranteed protection against chargebacks, to fight fraud and policy abuse at scale, and to improve customer retention. Developed and managed by the largest team of ecommerce risk analysts, data scientists, and researchers, Riskified’s AI-powered fraud and risk intelligence platform analyzes the individual behind each interaction to provide real-time decisions and robust identity-based insights. Learn more at riskified.com.

 

 

About Amadeus
Amadeus makes the experience of travel better for everyone, everywhere by inspiring innovation, partnerships and responsibility to people, places and planet. Our technology powers the travel and tourism industry. Inspiring more open ways of working. More connected ways of thinking, centered around the traveler. Our open platform connects the global travel and hospitality ecosystem. From startups to big industry players and governments too. Together, transforming how travel works. We are working to make travel a force for social and environmental good. A collective responsibility to protect and improve the people and places we visit, ensuring travel continues to make positive contribution to our world. We apply innovation to meet new needs, to solve real challenges. Our truly diverse global workforce, made up of 150 nationalities, is passionate about travel and technology. We are an IBEX 35 company, listed on the Spanish Stock Exchange under AMS.MC. We have also been recognized by the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for the last 13 years. Amadeus. It’s how travel works better.

 

 

Learn more about Amadeus at www.amadeus.com

 

 

 

 

 

From Crisis to Opportunity: How Agricultural Innovation Can Buffer the Global Shock of the Iran War

Opinion piece: From Crisis to Opportunity - How Agricultural Innovation Can Buffer the Global Shock of the Iran War

Opinion piece by Dr Himanshu Pathak, Director General of the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics

April 7: The war in the Persian Gulf is already being felt far beyond the region, reflected in rising fertilizer prices in rural India and in the shifting planting decisions of farmers across Africa and well beyond.

For those working on the front-lines of dryland agriculture, including scientists at ICRISAT, these impacts are unfolding in real time.

What began as a disruption to energy corridors has rapidly cascaded through fertilizer markets, shipping routes and farm economies, driving up production costs, restricting access to inputs and heightening food security risks, particularly for the most vulnerable across Asia, Africa and beyond.

At this critical moment, it is important to recognize the leadership of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research as a close partner of ICRISAT in commissioning a timely study on short term, medium term, and long-term strategies for India’s agricultural development in the context of the West Asia crisis.

While the analysis focuses on India, the implications and lessons are highly relevant across other regions facing similar vulnerabilities, particularly in Africa where exposure to imported inputs and external shocks remains acute.

This creates an important opportunity for ICRISAT and its partners to extend these insights and adapt them to diverse agroecological and socioeconomic contexts.

Disruptions have already reduced shipments dramatically, pushing energy prices higher and tightening fertilizer availability.

At the same time, shipping constraints and rising freight and insurance costs are slowing the movement of essential inputs and food commodities.

For countries such as India, which remains heavily dependent on imports for key farm inputs and edible oils, the exposure is significant. Potash is almost entirely imported, around 90 percent of fertilizer raw materials come from abroad, and edible oil dependence remains above 50 percent.

Similar vulnerabilities are seen in fertilizer import dependent regions such as Kenya, Malawi, and Niger, where the consequences are immediate.

Higher costs reduce margins, while uncertainty around supply affects planting decisions.

In the near term, stabilizing access to critical inputs remains essential.

Protecting upcoming cropping seasons requires coordinated measures to ensure fertilizer availability, manage price spikes, and support farmers in maintaining productive capacity.

Without such efforts, reductions in fertilizer use could translate into lower yields and tighter food supplies later in the year, reinforcing upward pressure on food prices, with subsistence farmers facing the greatest risk as declining productivity directly affects both their incomes and household food security.

But this crisis also points to a deeper issue in that global agriculture still depends far too heavily on external inputs and a handful of concentrated supply chains.

Building resilience requires a shift toward systems that are more diversified, resource efficient, and locally grounded, an area where ICRISAT’s innovations and long-standing partnerships are well positioned to support countries in accelerating this transition.

Crop diversification offers a clear and immediate pathway.

Expanding pulses, oilseeds and millets can reduce dependence on imported fertilizers and energy, particularly in input-intensive crops like wheat and rice, while strengthening nutrition and farm incomes.

These crops require fewer external inputs and support more resilient production systems.

Pulses contribute to soil fertility through biological nitrogen fixation, lowering the need for synthetic inputs.

Oilseeds play a critical role in reducing import dependence and stabilizing food prices, particularly in countries where edible oil imports remain high.

Importantly, these crops support a transition toward more balanced production systems that are better aligned with both environmental conditions and economic realities.

Scaling this transition would benefit from stronger policy support. Expanding market incentives for farmers to grow low-input, nutritious crops such as pulses and oilseeds would increase adoption and lower costs over time.

At the same time, improving the efficiency of input use remains equally important.

The current disruption to fertilizer markets reinforces the need to move from volume-based application to precision-based management.

ICRISAT’s work in Ethiopia demonstrates how targeted fertilizer advisory systems, built on soil data and digital tools, can guide farmers toward more efficient nutrient use.

These approaches help maintain productivity while reducing costs and environmental impact.

Scaling precision nutrient management across regions facing fertilizer constraints can significantly reduce overall demand while sustaining yields.

This offers an opportunity to produce more with fewer external inputs, an area where ICRISAT is actively leading through its science and partnerships.

The energy dimension of the crisis is also reshaping agriculture. Rising fuel costs are increasing expenses across irrigation, transport, storage, and processing.

ICRISAT’s experience in bioethanol production from sorghum provides one pathway forward.

Through the development of high biomass and high sugar sorghum varieties, and the promotion of sweet sorghum as a viable ethanol feedstock, ICRISAT has demonstrated how dryland crops can support both food and energy systems while strengthening farmer incomes.

Sorghum is a climate resilient crop that performs well in dryland conditions and requires relatively low external inputs.

Opinion piece: From Crisis to Opportunity - How Agricultural Innovation Can Buffer the Global Shock of the Iran War

 It can support food, feed, and energy systems simultaneously, creating opportunities for rural economies while contributing to energy security.

Complementary approaches such as solar powered irrigation, renewable energy for cold chains, and more efficient rural logistics can further reduce dependence on fossil fuels and strengthen system resilience.

Beyond production, strengthening agro-industrial capacity is equally important.

Building up local processing, storage, and value addition for crops like oilseeds can help reduce exposure to external shocks while creating new opportunities for farmers and businesses. Stronger local value chains ensure that gains in production translate into real economic resilience.

Across all these areas, innovation remains central. ICRISAT’s work on climate resilient crop varieties, digital advisory systems, and integrated farming approaches offers practical solutions that can be deployed at scale.

These innovations support farmers in managing risk, optimizing resources, and adapting to rapidly changing conditions.

Partnerships are equally important. Collaboration across countries, including through platforms such as the ICRISAT Centre of Excellence for South South Cooperation in Agriculture, ISSCA, enables the sharing of knowledge and the scaling of practical solutions.

Developed by ICRISAT in partnership with the Research and Information System for Developing Countries and supported by the Ministry of External Affairs, ISSCA provides a platform for advancing cooperation across the Global South.

It is designed to address precisely these kinds of challenges, enabling innovations developed in similar agroecological contexts to be adapted and scaled efficiently across regions, particularly in Africa where many countries rely heavily on imported fertilizers and are highly sensitive to price increases.

The current crisis also underscores the importance of data, market monitoring, and early warning systems. Timely information enables governments and farmers to respond proactively to changing conditions, manage risks, and make informed decisions in uncertain environments.

Looking ahead, aligning short term actions with long term strategies is essential.

Immediate efforts to stabilize input access and protect farmers must be complemented by medium term investments in diversification and reduced import dependence.

Over time, agriculture must evolve toward systems that are less energy intensive, less dependent on external inputs, and more resilient to international shocks.

The global food system is entering a period where geopolitical shocks, climate pressures, and market volatility are increasingly interconnected.

Against this backdrop resilience becomes a foundational principle for agricultural development and is at the core of what ICRISAT aims to achieve through its frontier science for the drylands.

From Crisis to Opportunity: How Agricultural Innovation Can Buffer the Global Shock of the Iran War

The science, innovation, and experience developed across semi-arid regions offers a clear pathway forward.

By strengthening crop diversity, improving input efficiency, and integrating energy and agriculture, it is possible to build systems that are both productive and resilient.

The human and economic toll of the unfolding crisis demands coordinated action and a shared commitment to scale solutions that are already proven to work, drawing on the experience of ICRISAT, ICAR and their partners.

If we act on what we already know, agriculture, and especially dryland agriculture can move beyond vulnerability and become a source of stability in an increasingly uncertain world.