Terrapinn acquires FMS: the Future of Memory and Storage

Posted by Harry Baldock | Press Release, LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – Terrapinn, the global events company, is delighted to announce the acquisition of FMS: the Future of Memory and Storage from Conference Concepts Inc. FMS is widely regarded as the world’s most important and credible event dedicated to memory and storage technologies.

Held annually in Santa Clara, California, FMS has spent two decades as the essential meeting point for the global memory ecosystem – from leading semiconductor manufacturers to system architects and hyper-scalers. The acquisition comes at a pivotal moment as the industry faces an “unprecedented mismatch” in supply and demand, driven by the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) and the surge in demand for High-Bandwidth Memory (HBM).

“We are absolutely delighted to announce the acquisition of Future of Memory and Storage,” said Terrapinn CEO Greg Hitchen. “FMS is a significant addition to our global portfolio of technology events. We look forward to serving the memory and storage industry and will ensure that the technical excellence and authority of FMS is maintained, and then surpassed, as we invest in its next phase of global growth”.

FMS was created and nurtured by Lance Leventhal and Chip Stockton, principals of Conference Concepts Inc, growing it from its roots as the Flash Memory Summit into an all-encompassing industry showcase.

Chip Stockton, President of Conference Concepts Inc, said: “We have created a really important event for the memory and storage community and have carefully nurtured it over many years. But we now feel it is the right time to pass it on to a larger company for its next phase of growth. We are really impressed by Terrapinn’s commitment to the sector and are sure they are the right fit to take FMS forward while ensuring a seamless transition for all our customers and stakeholders”.

The 20th-anniversary edition, FMS 2026, is scheduled for August 4–6, 2026, at the Santa Clara Convention Center. The event will feature a multi-stream conference, a large-scale global exhibition, and a Technical Pro Series focused on the infrastructure enabling the next generation of AI, data centers, and automotive applications.

Conference Concepts Inc was represented by John McGovern of Grimes, McGovern and Associates.

Terrapinn would like to thank Chip Stockton, John McGovern, our advisers and team.

About Terrapinn: Terrapinn is a global events company with businesses in the USA, Australia, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. www.terrapinn.com

About Conference Concepts Inc: Founded in 1994, Conference Concepts is a professional conference management company focused on cutting-edge technologies and high-growth technical events.For further information please contact: rob.chambers@totaltele.com Terrapinn acquires FMS: the Future of Memory and Storage - Total Telecom

Read More........ → March 10, 2026

MTN to take control of IHS Towers for $2.2 billion

Posted by Harry Baldock: The operator says reintegrating the tower assets will strengthen its African operations and improve financial metrics

African telco giant MTN Group is set to take full control of IHS Towers, one of Africa’s largest independent tower companies, in a deal valued at $6.2 billion.

The deal will see MTN acquire the 75% stake in IHS that it doesn’t already own for $2.2 billion in cash.

“This proposed transaction is a pivotal step in further strengthening MTN Group’s strategic and financial position for a future where digital infrastructure will become ever more essential to Africa’s growth and development. This transaction gives us a unique opportunity to buy back our towers and strengthen our ability to be partners for progress to the nation states in which we operate,” said MTN CEO Ralph Mupita.

The deal is subject to the typical regulatory approvals, with watchdogs likely to look closely at the impact on competition, given IHS also rents their infrastructure to MTN’s rivals across Africa.

For MTN, the move represents something of a strategic U-turn. The operator group has pursued an asset-light approach for the past decade, selling many of its towers – largely to IHS – in multiple markets.

In recent years, however, MTN’s relationship with the tower company has grown more complicated. The operator has repeatedly complained about IHS’s corporate governance, particularly that IHS had capped its voting rights at 20%, despite MTN owning a stake of around 26% in the business.

At the same time, IHS saw major losses from the devaluation of the Nigerian naira in 2023, leading MTN to attempt to seek adjusted lease terms to reduce foreign‑currency exposure.

Given this increasingly difficult operating relationship, MTN’s stake acquisition represents an opportunity to simplify and de-risk the company’s balance sheet by removing long‑term lease liabilities.Market watchers will be watching whether MTN’s reintegration of roughly 29,000 African sites delivers the financial and strategic gains management forecasts, and whether rivals respond with selective buybacks, new sharing deals, or continued reliance on independent towercos. MTN to take control of IHS Towers for $2.2 billion - Total Telecom

Read More........ → March 03, 2026

Allianz world’s No. 1 insurance brand for 7th consecutive year

Allianz has once again been recognised as the World’s No. 1 insurance brand in the Interbrand Best Global Brands 2025 ranking, marking its seventh consecutive year at the top.

This year, Allianz achieved its highest-ever brand value and strongest growth in history, increasing by 20% from $ 23.5 billion to $ 28.2 billion, and rising two places to No. 27 globally.

This achievement reflects Allianz’s strong financial performance and the consistent execution of its global brand strategy, reinforcing its reputation for trust, innovation, and reliability worldwide. It is also a testament to the dedication and collective effort of every Allianz employee across the globe.

Allianz Insurance Lanka Ltd., is a fully owned subsidiary of Allianz SE, a global financial services provider specialising in insurance and asset management, headquartered in Munich, Germany. Allianz world’s No. 1 insurance brand for 7th consecutive year | Daily FT

Read More........ → February 25, 2026

Grid Telecom to build Artemis subsea cable connecting Crete to mainland Greece

Posted by Total Telecom Staff : Press Release, Grid Telecom, a wholesale telecommunications provider and subsidiary of IPTO, has announced the construction of ARTEMIS, an ultra-high-capacity subsea optical fiber cable system that will link Crete with mainland Greece.

As a new strategic digital corridor in the Eastern Mediterranean, ARTEMIS is set to strengthen decisively regional connectivity, enhance Greece’s geopolitical footprint, and accelerate the country’s ongoing digital transformation.

The ARTEMIS system will be equipped with subsea repeaters and will span approximately 280 kilometres, including its terrestrial segments linking the cable landing stations. Ιt will interconnect all landing stations and data centers in Crete and Attica region, enabling data transmission rates of up to 30 Tbps per fiber-pair. With a minimum of 24 fiber-pairs, ARTEMIS will deliver an overall design capacity of at least 720 Tbps, more than meeting all medium‑ and long‑term digital infrastructure needs.

Engineered to support the next generation of cutting‑edge technologies, ARTEMIS will take full advantage of the relatively short transmission distance and the capability to expand the optical spectrum. As a result, the system is poised to become the first petabit-class subsea cable in Greece and the Mediterranean, with a potential total capacity exceeding 1 petabit per second, pushing well beyond the performance limits of today’s subsea optical fiber systems, setting a new benchmark for regional and international digital connectivity.

Grid Telecom continues to invest in state‑of‑the‑art infrastructure with the goal of transforming Crete into a strategic digital hub, delivering network reliability, flexibility and diversity. Grid Telecom will leverage the synergies between the new ARTEMIS system and its existing Minoas East‑West and Apollo East‑West systems, which already connect the island to mainland Greece through four independent routes and a total of 96 fiber-pairs. The Minoas East‑West system links Chania to the Peloponnese, providing a low‑latency alternative route, while the Apollo East‑West system provides a direct connection between Heraklion and Attica, with no intermediate cable landing stations, adding another critical alternative path.

In line with its commitment to advancing next‑generation telecommunications services, Grid Telecom is proceeding with the immediate construction of new cable landing stations in Chania and Attica. These facilities will serve both as landing points for the ARTEMIS cable system and as critical gateways for international subsea fiber cables traversing the Eastern Mediterranean, linking Greece with the Middle East and Western Europe. ARTEMIS will incorporate Open Cable Interface Equipment (OCIE), enabling seamless integration with all international cable systems, eliminating the need for additional transmission terminal equipment and providing direct, cost‑efficient backhaul access to all data centers.

With these infrastructures in place, Grid Telecom as the premier neutral provider of wholesale telecom services in Greece, will deliver secure, open‑access landings and highly resilient connectivity through diversified fiber routes to both existing and emerging data centers in Crete, mainland Greece, and neighbouring countries. By fully leveraging its integrated terrestrial and subsea network assets, the company will ensure robust, scalable, and carrier‑grade connectivity across the region and provide comprehensive technical support and maintenance services at both infrastructure and operational levels.Keep up to date with all the latest telecoms news with the Total Telecom newsletter Grid Telecom to build Artemis subsea cable connecting Crete to mainland Greece

Read More........ → February 12, 2026

Intracom Telecom Expands Strategic Collaboration with Nova to Enhance Enterprise Connectivity

Posted by Harry Baldock, Intracom Telecom, a global technology systems and solutions provider, and Greece’s largest network infrastructure manufacturer, announces the expansion of its collaboration with Nova, a member of United Group the leading telecommunications and media provider in Southeast Europe and a pioneering provider of mobile, internet, and video services. Nova will begin deploying Intracom Telecom’s WiBAS™ G5 Smart and WiBAS™ G5 GigaConnect FWA platforms to deliver reliable high-speed enterprise connectivity over Nova’s 5G mmWave spectrum at 26.5–27.5 GHz.

This deployment marks an important step in Nova’s ongoing investment in high-speed access infrastructure, aimed at supplying business customers with highly reliable broadband services. Operating in the 26.5–27.5 GHz band, the WiBAS™ G5 platform enables Nova to unlock substantial network capacity and deliver consistent performance, ensuring robust connectivity even in demanding enterprise environments.

Since 2021, Intracom Telecom and Nova have been engaged in a multi-year network modernization program utilizing Intracom Telecom’s field-proven WiBAS™ Point-to-Multipoint (PMP) technology. This nationwide initiative has focused on expanding coverage and capacity across Greece’s major metropolitan areas, connecting thousands of business customers with next-generation wireless access solutions. The ongoing expansion reinforces Nova’s strategy to deliver resilient, ultra-fast connectivity to enterprises of all sizes.

“Our collaboration with Nova continues to grow stronger as we jointly build the foundation for a high-capacity enterprise connectivity network in Greece,” commented Ioannis Tenidis, Director for Wireless Product Line Management at Intracom Telecom. “The deployment of our WiBAS™ G5 platform will enable Nova to deliver unmatched performance and reliability to its business subscribers on valuable 5G mmWave spectrum.”

Thanos Theodoropoulos, Access & Transmission Senior Manager at Nova, added: “Intracom Telecom has been a trusted technology partner in our multi-year effort to modernize and expand our enterprise wireless services. The new WiBAS™ G5 solutions enable us to offer even higher speeds and resilient connectivity to our customers, supporting Greece’s digital transformation.” Intracom Telecom Expands Strategic Collaboration with Nova to Enhance Enterprise Connectivity - Total Telecom

Read More........ → February 06, 2026

KKR–Singtel consortium near $10bn deal for STT GDC

Posted by Harry Baldock, The move seeks to capitalise on Southeast Asia’s booming date centre market

This week, media reports suggest that a consortium led by KKR and Singtel is closing in on a deal to acquire ST Telemedia Global Data Centres (STT GDC).

Negotiations, which are already at an “advanced stage”, would value the data centre business at around $10.22 billion.

“Singtel, as part of a consortium, continues to have discussions in relation to STT GDC. While these discussions are at an advanced stage, there is no certainty that such discussions will lead to any definitive or binding agreement,” said Singtel in a statement on Sunday.

STT GDC owns and operates around 100 data centres in over 20 markets, including Singapore, Malaysia, India, Germany, Italy, and the UK, according to the company website

Rumours that KKR and Singtel were in discussions to acquire STT GDC were first reported in July last year.

Both companies already hold stakes in the business, having jointly invested $1.3 billion in 2024, with KKR owning 14.1% and Singtel 4.2%. The remaining majority stake in STT GDC is held by ST Telemedia, itself owned by Singapore’s state-owned holding company Temasek.

For Singtel, the deal would represent the operator’s latest step in its drive to become a regional AI data centre powerhouse.

The company’s Digital InfraCo unit was rebranded as Nxera in 2024, with the company aiming to expand its data centre capacity in Southeast Asia to 200MW by the end of 2027 in partnership with Nvidia.

By combining Nxera’s existing and planned data centre assets in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia with those of STT GDC, Singtel would immediately become one of the region’s largest digital infrastructure players.

KKR, on the other hand, already owns roughly 155 facilities with a pipeline of 12-gigawatts of capacity. The company has been on a spending spree in recent years to grow this capacity even further, most recently including a $1.5 billion investment in Global Technical Realty, a company specialising in building bespoke facilities for hyperscalers like Amazon, Microsoft, and Google.How is the data centre landscape evolving in 2026? Join the industry in discussion at Total Telecom’s Hyperscale Live event! KKR–Singtel consortium near $10bn deal for STT GDC - Total Telecom

Read More........ → February 03, 2026

Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy smartphone to feature new privacy feature

IANS Photo

Seoul, (IANS): Samsung Electronics said on Wednesday its upcoming Galaxy smartphone will come with a built-in privacy feature allowing users to protect on-screen information from others without the need to attach an additional film.

The South Korean tech giant said the new feature will allow users to customise display visibility to prevent "shoulder surfing," noting the feature will be "coming to Galaxy very soon."

Samsung Electronics is expected to hold a showcase event for the Galaxy S26 smartphone in February. The new feature is set to be available for the Galaxy S26 Ultra, according to sources, reports Yonhap news agency.

"With multiple settings for adjusting visibility, you can limit what others can see based on the level of privacy protection you need," the company said in a release.

The company said users can customise the feature depending on applications.

"It took over five years of engineering, testing and refining to get here," the company said. "We studied how people use their phones, what they consider private and how security should feel in everyday life."

Meanwhile, Samsung Electronics showcased its Galaxy Z Flip 7 Olympic Edition, introducing features aimed at enhancing athletes' experience during the upcoming Winter Olympics in Italy.

The device will be provided to around 3,800 athletes from 90 countries participating in the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics and Paralympics, which will kick off Feb. 6, the South Korean tech giant said.

The new edition of the Galaxy Z Flip comes with a design reflecting "cultural resonance of Italian azure" and "the spirit of unity and sportsmanship embodied by the Olympic Games," the company said.

"The custom gold metal frame symbolises athletes' pursuit of excellence and podium moments, as well as the brand's aspiration for the best," it added.

Samsung said athletes can utilise various cutting-edge features on the device to communicate with other participants, including its interpretation app and the Galaxy Athlete Card, which allows them to easily exchange profiles.

With the smartphone, Samsung Electronics said it will run a "Victory Selfie" event, under which medal winners will take selfies on the podium.Professional photographers will also use the Galaxy S25 Ultra smartphone during the event to take photos of around 490 athletes who gave their consent. Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy smartphone to feature new privacy feature | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

Read More........ → January 30, 2026

Huawei betting big on telecoms’ Agentic AI revolution

Posted by Harry Baldock: The Chinese tech giant says AI agents will not only help telcos become more efficient, but will open crucial new revenue streams 

For many years now, the global telecommunications industry has been racing to achieve the somewhat amorphous goal of ‘digital transformation’, focused on replacing hardware with software, shift workloads to the cloud, and incorporate digital technologies. Today, in the age of AI, this digital transformation has become a mere stepping stone to a far more paradigmatic shift for telcos: the move towards comprehensive digital intelligence, incorporating AI and automation throughout operations. 

For Huawei, this is less a change in direction than it is the natural next step of digital strategy. Digitalisation of telco functions offered the industry a huge wealth of data, as well as the operational agility to begin using it effectively. Huawei first introduced a formal AI strategy back in 2018, aiming to use AI as a catalyst for this data boom across the telco sector. At that time,  AI served primarily as a reporting or analytical tool, offering insights and limited automation.   

Fast forward to 2025, and rapid advances in AI technology have seen the development of AI agents, fully collaborative operational partners capable of making data-driven decisions and acting upon them fully autonomously. The agentic AI revolution is already underway and, according to Huawei, telcos cannot afford to be left behind.   

Digital twins and Agentic AI combine for intelligent networks 

Huawei’s core AI strategy in the agentic AI era is built upon the powerful, synergistic convergence of two key technologies: digital twins and agentic AI.  

This fusion establishes a new operational paradigm where human expertise works in close collaboration with specialised, multi-layered AI agents. The digital twin acts as a virtual, real-time, and highly accurate replica of the physical network, creating a risk-free environment for experimentation.  

This virtual playground allows AI to explore complex scenarios, model failures, and test automated decisions without ever impacting live services. The AI then uses this simulation capability to move beyond simply reactive fault resolution, instead becoming a fully autonomous, intelligent system capable of accurately predicting faults, self-healing, and self-optimising in real time.  

This powerful combination, creating a new operating model for telcos, was at the heart of Huawei’s demonstrations at this year’s MWC Barcelona, including breakthroughs for both fixed and 5G networks. 

A multi-agent framework for O&M 

Operations and maintenance (O&M) is an area where this combination is particularly effective, with Huawei leveraging this dual strategy to achieve unprecedented levels of automation. The company’s approach is predicated on an AI multi-agent framework, where specialised intelligent agents operate and communicate across different network domains (e.g., transport, core, and RAN). These agents are tasked with specific functions, such as fault detection in a single domain or performance optimisation, but collaborate closely, using the predictive and simulation capabilities of the digital twin to contextualise their actions and resolve cross-domain issues. 

This collaborative structure enables a complete closed-loop automation chain, which Huawei describes as ‘perception–analysis–decision–execution’. The agents work in real time to intelligently detect subtle anomalies, rapidly demarcate complex cross-domain faults, precisely localise the root cause of issues, and initiate automated closed-loop handling.  

For operators, the benefits are significant. Faults can be identified and resolved in seconds rather than minutes, resulting in a much improved experience for customers. One customer reported consumer churn was reduced by 57% after incorporating these agents. 

AI with OSS/BSS 

The benefits of AI agents extend far beyond network management. AI agents can also be tailored for critical Business Support Systems (BSS) and Operational Support Systems (OSS) roles, driving up efficiencies and even generating new revenue streams.  

Huawei’s work in this area is built on its unified LLM Engine agent platform, which hosts numerous specialised agents. Human engineers can use simple language to present a problem to the agents on this platform and built-in Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) capabilities ensure that the agents answer the prompt using predefined data sets. This not only ensures the answers generated represent best practice, but also ensures data security, providing greater control over the data these agents interact with.  

Alongside lightweight analytics models, these agents can assist in complex, mission-critical decision-making processes. They transform cumbersome, multi-step business workflows into streamlined, intelligent interactions. 

New revenue streams with business agents 

• Leveraging a comprehensive AI-Native strategy, agents in the BSS domain can also see AI agents deployed across a range of revenue-generating contexts. For example:  
• Customer Relationship Management (CRM): agents predict churn risk, and suggest hyper-personalised product bundles, moving marketing from mass campaigns to precise, data-driven targeting. In addition, in the B2B business domain, agents help account managers gain insights into lead opportunities, prepare materials for high-level visits, generate solutions, forecast profitability, and review contract risks, significantly improving business processing efficiency and accelerating business growth.  
• Convergent Billing System (CBS):  offering Design Agents can reduce the time to market for packages, significantly accelerating operators’ business innovation and revenue realisation. Throughout the billing process, Huawei CBS enables Intelligent Bill Run Management, Intelligent Invoice Agent, Intelligent Dispute Resolution, and Intelligent Dunning and Payment. CBS deeply integrates AI into the entire billing and business operations process this creates a zero-confusion billing experience for end-users, solidifying the foundation for sustainable business growth driven by superior 
• customer experience. Artificial Intelligence Contact Center (AICC):  AI is available for agents to help drive higher productivity and an enhanced employee experience, AI performs two broad functions, real-time call guidance and robotic process automation, through capabilities like post-call summarisation, suggest scripts to agents for targeted response, support agents with the right information through knowledge recommendations, AI-powered voice/chat/video bots for outbound marketing and leverages AI-powered insights about customers’ product and channel preferences to provide personalised marketing messages.  
• Mobile Money: agents assist in fraud detection and complex transaction monitoring, assuring security while streamlining customer enrolment and service usage. 

Ultimately, we are seeing AI used to streamline core business processes, reduce the time-to-market for new services, and drive substantial new revenue streams through more precise commercial execution. For Huawei, agentic AI will form the foundation of a new telco operating and business model, one in which autonomous intelligence drives efficiency, resilience, and, crucially, sustainable growth in an increasingly competitive market. 

A benchmark for digital intelligence transformation in telecoms 

Huawei’s recent recognition at the World Communication Awards reinforces that its vision for digital intelligence is already taking shape with global operators. The company secured the Silver Award for Total Experience, demonstrating how intelligent agents can transform enterprise engagement and service assurance. By reducing business processing time and speeding up repair cycles, these agents enable faster, more responsive interactions for enterprise customers.   

The second Silver Award, in the Best Digital Transformation Programme category, points to structural change within network operations. By combining automated diagnostics with closed-loop execution, operators are cutting manual workloads and accelerating fault resolution, while strengthening the commercial foundations for new digital services.   Together, the wins underline how far Huawei has come since first introducing its AI strategy in 2018. What began with analytics and automation has evolved into collaborative AI agents that elevate customer experience, reshape O&M, and drive commercial outcomes. For operators pursuing digital intelligence, these awards signal a mature and scalable model for AI adoption, and a glimpse of the new operating model the industry is moving toward.  Huawei betting big on telecoms’ Agentic AI revolution

Read More........ → January 26, 2026

Amway India's loss widens to Rs 74.25 crore in FY25

IANS Photo

Mumbai, (IANS): Amway India’s losses widened further in FY25 as it reported a total loss of Rs 74.25 crore for the financial year ended March 31, 2025, compared with a loss of Rs 53.38 crore in the previous financial year.

Its revenue from operations fell 10.56 per cent to Rs 1,148.16 crore in FY25 from Rs 1,283.75 crore in FY24, according to financial data accessed through business intelligence platform Tofler.

The company’s total income, which includes other income, declined 9.2 per cent to Rs 1,174.85 crore during the year.

Despite the fall in revenue, the company managed to cut several costs during the year. Its spending on advertising and sales promotion dropped sharply by 40.6 per cent to Rs 36.20 crore in FY25.

The royalty paid to its US-based parent company was also reduced by 15.7 per cent to Rs 55.43 crore, compared with Rs 65.74 crore in the previous financial year.

Payments made to Amway India’s sole selling agents declined marginally by 2.73 per cent to Rs 366.91 crore in FY25, from Rs 377.22 crore a year earlier.

Overall, the company’s total expenses came down 7.3 per cent to Rs 1,249.10 crore during the year, according to the financial data.

Amway India is a wholly owned subsidiary of Alticor Global Holdings Inc, headquartered in Ada, Michigan, and is one of the world’s largest direct selling companies. The Indian arm remains an unlisted entity.

Segment-wise, the company saw a decline across all major categories. Revenue from its largest segment, nutrition and wellness, fell 10 per cent to Rs 703.58 crore in FY25.

The personal care segment, the second largest, saw a sharper decline of 13.6 per cent, with revenue at Rs 189.22 crore, as per it’s financial data.Revenue from home care products slipped 2.65 per cent to Rs 120.29 crore, while the beauty segment reported a 12 per cent fall to Rs 96.59 crore during the financial year. Amway India's loss widens to Rs 74.25 crore in FY25 | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

Read More........ → January 18, 2026

Nissan to invest $17.6 bn in EV development over next 5 years

IANS Photo

Tokyo, (IANS): As the adoption of electric vechicles enters top gear globally amid rising petrol-diesel prices, Japanese auto-maker Nissan on Monday said it will invest $17.6 billion (2 trillion Yen) in developing new EVs and battery technology over the next five years.

Unveiling the 'Nissan Ambition 2030' plan, the company announced it will launch 23 new electrified models, including 15 new EVs, aiming for 50 per cent electrification mix, by fiscal year 2030.

"We will drive the new age of electrification, advance technologies to reduce carbon footprint and pursue new business opportunities. We want to transform Nissan to become a sustainable company that is truly needed by customers and society," said Makoto Uchida, Nissan CEO.

Over the next 10 years, Nissan aims to deliver exciting, electrified vehicles and technological innovations while expanding its operations globally.

The vision supports Nissan's goal to be carbon neutral across the life cycle of its products by fiscal year 2050.

With the introduction of 20 new EV and e-POWER equipped models in the next five years, Nissan intends to increase its electrification sales mix across major markets by fiscal year 2026, including Europe by more than 75 per cent of sales, Japan by more than 55 per cent of sales, China by more than 40 per cent of sales and the US by 40 per cent of EV sales in fiscal year 2030.

"With our new ambition, we continue to take the lead in accelerating the natural shift to EVs by creating customer pull through an attractive proposition by driving excitement, enabling adoption and creating a cleaner world," said Nissan COO Ashwani Gupta.

Representing the next stage of Nissan's electrified future, the company also unveiled three new concept cars that offer enhanced experiences through sophisticated technology packaging.

Nissan aims to launch EV with its proprietary all-solid-state batteries (ASSB) by fiscal year 2028 and ready a pilot plant in Yokohama as early as fiscal year 2024.

With the introduction of breakthrough ASSB, Nissan will be able to expand its EV offerings across segments and offer more dynamic performance.

"By reducing charging time to one-third, ASSBs will make EVs more efficient and accessible. Further, Nissan expects ASSB to bring the cost of battery packs down to $75 per kWh by fiscal year 2028 and aims to bring it further down to $65 per kWh to achieve cost parity between EV and gasoline vehicles in the future," the company announced.

Nissan intends to increase its global battery production capacity to 52 GWh by fiscal year 2026, and 130 GWh by fiscal year 2030.

Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from news agency feeds and has not been edited by The Morung Express.Source: IANS Nissan to invest $17.6 bn in EV development over next 5 years | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

Read More........ → January 15, 2026

Diversity in Workplace

Diversity in Workplace.(photo:IANSLIFE)

New Delhi, (IANSlife) The current state of the planet may be among its most tumultuous in recent memory. Every ingrained standard in life and the workplace has been rattled and tested over the last two years. A number of new orders arose and disintegrated. The secret to surviving in the modern world is to adapt to anything new that comes along. In order to survive the upheaval of the previous two years, organisations had to reinvent themselves.

The business world has made significant efforts to securely navigate through the turbulent waters of recent times, from adopting new work cultures and upskilling the workforce to extensively investing in R&D and offering new products & services. Nevertheless, not every organisation was successful, despite their best efforts. Unfortunately, a lot of organisations either completely failed or suffered serious harm. What, then, was the difference? The answer to this query is workplace diversity.

Significance of diversity in the workforce

Any organisation can greatly benefit from workplace diversity, especially during trying times. Many organisations give little attention to diversity, while others have very limited views of it. Diversity includes having workers from various cultural and racial origins as well as having adequate or equal representation of both genders (or other genders) in the workforce. Additionally, demographic diversity is a key component.

The workplace is safer and more encouraging for everyone to offer their best effort when there is a good balance of all the genders in the workforce. This enables an organisation to take corrective action by better understanding the problems faced by persons of various genders (and orientations). People of different genders frequently approach a subject from a variety of perspectives. In this manner, an organisation can work with as many different viewpoints as possible to complete a task or resolve a problem. This aids any organisation in avoiding future social, legal, or cultural issues.

Diversity goes beyond gender diversity

Imagine a situation where an organisation is forced to hunt for new markets to sell its goods or services due to a regional economic collapse. Organisations with members from various cultural or racial origins will find it simpler to explore new terrain in such circumstances. People from various backgrounds provide more expertise about emerging markets, increasing the likelihood that an organisation will locate and establish itself in one.

Groupthink behaviour is among the most hazardous things for any organisation. Groupthink and similar thinking have been documented in organisations with homogeneous workforces. Groupthink behaviour frequently exhibits a highly limited view of the world and results in negative outcomes. A diverse workforce has a lower propensity for this type of behaviour. Groupthink is avoided by the diverse perspectives that people of different sexes, races, age groups, and cultures contribute to each scenario.

For every organisation, having people from all age groups is also crucial. Teams with elder members add stability, maturity, and experience while those with younger members add dynamism and adaptability. People in their middle years serve as a bridge between the aforementioned two quite dissimilar generations. All of these components must be present for any business to run smoothly.

The globe is changing at an unprecedented rate, but people are also becoming more sensitive to things like religion, culture, and legacy. Businesses must take great care to avoid offending any faith or community when launching any new product or service, marketing initiative, or public relations campaign. A workforce with diverse cultures and values can internally alert management to any such error before it becomes widely known. In the event that such an error is made and a community is insulted, the appearance of someone from that community can help to diffuse the situation.Nearly all business executives recognise the value of diversity in the workplace, and historically the most successful organisations have been those that include a good mix of employees from all genders, ages, and backgrounds. Recent economic and pandemic instability and pandemic have restored this ancient knowledge's legitimacy. Diversity in Workplace | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

Read More........ → January 15, 2026

Paytm wants Sri Lanka to build “world’s most seamless travel corridor” for Indian tourists

Paytm CEO for Travel and COO for Consumer Payments Vikash Jalan – Pic by Ruwan Walpola

• Says modern tourism depends on seamless, invisible payments and destinations become more attractive when travellers do not worry about currency or acceptance
• Notes with UPI acceptance in Sri Lanka, Indian arrivals boosted; opines country could attract 1 m Indians annually if payments become fully frictionless
• Stresses digital payments must reach micro-merchants and SMEs, enabling homestays, guides, tuk-tuk drivers and fishermen to earn instantly, become visible to all
• Suggests creating a national fintech-tourism task force to build a unified digital journey for travellers, make India-Sri Lanka travel corridor most seamless in the region

By Charumini de Silva: Paytm CEO for Travel and COO for Consumer Payments Vikash Jalan on Wednesday urged Sri Lanka to position itself as the “most frictionless, trusted, and convenient overseas destination” for Indian travellers, insisting that digital payments and fintech infrastructure will be just as critical as flights, hotels, and marketing in shaping the country’s next phase of tourism growth.

Speaking at the India-Sri Lanka Tourism Connect forum on the theme “Role of Fintech in Tourism Experiences,” Jalan said modern tourism is increasingly defined by action and ease, not advertising, and that seamless payment experiences are now fundamental to destination choice, visitor satisfaction, and spending levels.

“A traveller shouldn’t have to worry about currency, conversion, or acceptance. When payments disappear into the background, destinations become instantly more attractive,” he pointed out.

He explained that payments are often invisible when they work smoothly, but “painfully visible” when they don’t; affecting not only the individual tourist, but also a destination’s revenue, reputation, and repeat visitation.

A frictionless payment layer, he said, creates a self-reinforcing cycle; destination choices expand, travellers increase, revenues rise, and experience quality improves, helping that destination win in a highly competitive regional market.

Jalan stressed that India’s payments ecosystem is now among the most advanced in the world, driven by Unified Payments Interface (UPI), which processed 85 billion transactions last year, accounting for over 83% of all non-cash retail payments.

“India has gone from ‘cash-first to mobile-first in less than a decade’ and Sri Lanka’s rapid progress in digital payments places it on a parallel track,” he said.

He said over 67% of Sri Lanka’s merchant transactions now run through digital channels, and with UPI acceptance enabled in Sri Lanka in 2024, Indian travellers can simply ‘scan and pay’ as they would at home.

“This changes everything,” Jalan said, pointing to the sharp rise in Indian arrivals.

He noted that Sri Lanka saw 430,000 Indian visitors in 2024, up from 300,000 the previous year, and has already welcomed over 450,000 Indians in the first 10 months of 2025. “If Sri Lanka reaches its projected 3 million annual tourist arrivals, at least 1 million could come from India alone, especially if Sri Lanka becomes a fully frictionless UPI-enabled destination,” he added.

Jalan described the opportunity as transformational, particularly with the next wave of outbound Indian travellers emerging from tier-2 and tier-3 cities. These new travellers are value-conscious, but digitally confident.

“They trust Indian apps, Indian payment systems and Indian digital journeys. If Sri Lanka gets the experience right, it becomes closer than Bangkok, more convenient than Dubai and more interesting than many Southeast Asian markets,” he said.

To unlock this potential, Jalan argued that payment acceptance must be universal, extending beyond hotels and big retailers to micro-merchants, homestays, guides, tuk-tuk drivers, craft sellers, fishermen and local eateries.

He outlined how fintech can bring thousands of Sri Lankan small and medium enterprises (SMEs) into the formal digital economy, making them discoverable and bookable, while enabling transparent pricing and instant settlements.

“Imagine a fisherman in Jaffna getting paid instantly through QR, or a small homestay in Yala earning digitally from Indian travellers. When you solve trust and transparency, participation increases and prices stabilise naturally,” he opined.

He added that digital payments generate valuable insights to personalise tourism offerings whether for families heading to beaches, couples preferring hill country, or younger groups seeking nightlife and adventure. “A mature payments ecosystem allows Sri Lanka to curate experiences at scale,” he said.

Jalan proposed developing a national fintech–tourism task force bringing together Government, tourism authorities, banks, fintech companies and travel platforms to address issues such as cross-border settlements, QR standardisation, and merchant on-boarding and regulatory clarity.

He said this could evolve into a unified marketplace allowing travellers to discover, book, pay and experience everything in one digital journey.

Jalan said fintech is no longer an add-on, but the invisible backbone of modern tourism. “Imagine a traveller who plans on Paytm, lands in Colombo, discovers local gems, moves around easily, pays instantly, books the next experience on the go and returns home already planning the next visit. That is what happens when payments and travel work together,” he said.

“India has fintech. Sri Lanka has the most charming destination. It’s time to connect them and build the world’s most seamless travel corridor,” he added. Paytm wants Sri Lanka to build “world’s most seamless travel corridor” for Indian tourists | Daily FT

Read More........ → December 20, 2025

The High-End Fashion Industry’s Reaction to Economic Turmoil

Illustration by Ruhi Bishnoi

While inflation has pinched the wallets of many, it’s ironically fueling the growth of luxury fashion. As most consumers scale back on spending due to rising costs, iconic brands like Chanel, Rolex, and Hermès are boldly raising their prices, sometimes surpassing inflation itself. For some, it's a response to economic pressures; for others, it’s a strategic move to preserve their elite status.

Luxury brands excuse their price inflation by claiming inflation pressures and rising material costs, but their figures do not hold up. Consider, for instance, Chanel in 2019, the average price for a Classic Flap bag stood at $5,800. At present, it has reached about $10,200, a phenomenal increase of about 76% in price. Chanel justified this by claiming a commitment to quality and exclusivity. This argument was pushed by the CEO, Leena Nair for the price hike, she said "We use exquisite raw materials and our production is very rigorous, laborious, handmade-so we raise our prices according to the inflation that we see." But is there more to it? Many consumers and analysts suspect otherwise, wondering whether such price bounds are truly to do with keeping up with cost or simply to maintain their ultra-high-end status.

The watch market is no different. Patek Philippe and Rolex rank among the world's most desirable brands, but to purchase them at retail is effectively impossible for someone who lacks any insider affiliation. On the secondary market, though, such timepieces tend to fetch two to three times their retail price. Are these brands genuinely facing supply chain restrictions, or do they limit production on purpose to keep demand strong? Most industry professionals believe the latter.

Beyond the realm of economics, luxury brands have learned a thing or two about price psychology. Economists call it the Veblen Effect; as the price for some luxury items rises, so does their demand. In contrast to mass-market items, a client does not buy Chanel handbags or Rolex watches just for their fine craftsmanship; he or she buys them for their prestige. Price hikes aren’t just about inflation; they create an aura of exclusivity around such goods. In short, the higher the price, the more desirable they become.

Hermès exemplifies this strategy. The brand, synonymous with scarcity and strict pricing, increased the price of an average Birkin bag by nearly 10% in 2023, exceeding inflation rates. A close examination of the discourse further reveals the possible truth that these bags do not just serve as accessories but genuine investments, worth holding and appreciating. Louis Vuitton had equally to trade from a playbook wherein multiple price raises go within a year despite the depressing foreign retail markets. These luxury goods stack up nowadays according to Business of Fashion on an average basis for around fifty-four percent more than they did during 2019. Yet, sales remain booming-some even argue more than ever. Why? Because these have successfully groomed the idea that affordability in hand and wrist should become a tag as status hallmark for completion in being successful. However, it too ends up being an ethical debate. Should luxury companies literally be allowed to raise prices this steeply while others are still cash-strapped? Some would just say that this is merely a business concept as the saying goes"If you find someone willing to pay, why not charge him more?" while some see it as a deliberate ploy to keep out regular buyers, thus making it all the more desired by ultra-high-net-worth individuals.

So, what’s next in the future? Will brands continue to push prices higher, or are we approaching a breaking point? History suggests that as long as affluent consumers remain eager to buy into exclusivity, luxury brands will continue raising prices, regardless of economic conditions. But there’s always the risk of alienating aspirational buyers, the ones who save up for a dream luxury purchase, if prices keep climbing.

Indeed, changes in behavior control the portion of this high drama. The industry remains high-class and entry-level as long as there is pursuit by people to be status seekers, this profit will always be there for these brands, be it a recession or not.Ruhi Bishnoi is a Data Science, Economics, and Business student at Plaksha University, set to graduate in 2027. She is passionate about leveraging data-driven insights to drive strategic business decisions and create meaningful impact. The High-End Fashion Industry’s Reaction to Economic Turmoil | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

Read More........ → November 17, 2025

Maruti Suzuki's Jimny 5-door export from India surpasses 1 lakh units milestone

IANS Photo

New Delhi, (IANS): In a landmark achievement, the Jimny 5-door SUV has surpassed a cumulative export of 1 lakh units from India, Maruti Suzuki India Limited said on Thursday.

Jimny 5-door export journey began in 2023, shortly after the SUV made its debut in India. The SUV, manufactured exclusively in India, has been shipped across more than 100 countries, including Japan, Mexico, and Australia.

"Jimny 5-door’s entry in Japan in January 2025, under the name 'Jimny Nomade', sparked off an overwhelming response with orders crossing the 50,000 mark within days of introduction. This reflects Jimny’s strong resonance in one of the world’s most evolved and quality-conscious automobile markets," the company said.

According to Maruti Suzuki, the Jimny 5-door is built for performance, combining a ladder-frame chassis with Suzuki’s proven ALLGRIP PRO (4WD), offering superior off-road dynamics and stability.

Powered by a 1.5-litre petrol engine, it embodies a balance of durability, simplicity and dependable performance, traits that appeal to both rugged terrain drivers and global customers attuned to quality and functionality.

“The Jimny has over half a century of heritage globally. Jimny 5-door crossing 1 lakh export mark is a proud achievement for Maruti Suzuki. We are deeply thankful to customers around the world for their trust in this acclaimed SUV," Maruti Suzuki India Limited Managing Director and CEO, Hisashi Takeuchi, said.

Jimny’s strong off-road DNA, reliable performance and uncompromising quality have earned admiration in over 100 countries, he added.

The Jimny, along with 16 other models exported by Maruti Suzuki, stands as a shining example of ‘Make in India for the World’.

The year-on-year rise in the company’s exports reflects the love and confidence of customers in our products and highlights India’s rise as a hub for world-class automobile manufacturing, Takeuchi said.

This achievement reinforces Maruti Suzuki’s robust and sustained export growth trajectory.

With over 2 lakh vehicles exported in H1 FY 2025-26, the company grew by around 40 per cent and recorded its highest-ever half-yearly export volume. In FY 2024-25, the Company had exported over 3.3 lakh vehicles.Maruti Suzuki commands over 46 per cent share in India’s passenger vehicle exports.Maruti Suzuki's Jimny 5-door export from India surpasses 1 lakh units milestone | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

Read More........ → November 12, 2025

TPG suffers data breach impacting 280,000 customers

Posted by Harry Baldock : Attackers reportedly hacked into an order management system from TPG’s subsidiary, the broadband provider iiNet Australia’s TPG has become the latest telco to suffer a major cybersecurity breach this weekend, with data having been exfiltrated from its ISP subsidiary, iiNet.

The breach occurred on August 16, where reports suggest it was quickly detected and contained. Nonetheless, the attack reportedly compromised around 280,000 active email addresses; 20,000 active landline phone numbers; 10,000 iiNet customer names, street addresses, and phone numbers; and 1,700 modem setup passwords.

“We unreservedly apologise to our iiNet customers impacted by this incident,” TPG said in a statement to the Australian Securities Exchange. “We will be taking immediate steps to contact impacted iiNet customers, advise of any actions they should take and offer our assistance. We will also contact all non-impacted iiNet customers to confirm they have not been affected.”

No sensitive customer information, like bank details or personal identity documents, was impacted by the breach, as this data was not stored in the iiNet order management system.

“We do not currently have any evidence to suggest an impact to our broader systems or other customers,” TPG said.

TPG says it is working closely with the Australian Cyber Security Centre, National Office of Cyber Security, Australian Signals Directorate, and the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner to better understand the breach and take appropriate action.

Investigations into how the attackers gained access to these systems are underway, with early indications suggesting that account credentials had been stolen from an employee.

The first half of this decade has not been kind to TPG when it comes to cybersecurity. The company’s Hosted Exchange service, which provides email hosting for iiNet and Westnet business customers, was notably hacked at the end of 2022, impacting around 15,000 business customers. The attackers appeared to be accessing customers’ cryptocurrency and financial information.

Investigations into this attack are still ongoing.

Both attacks combined, however, still pale in comparison to that experienced by TPG’s rival Optus in 2022, when bad actors gained access to the data of up to 10 million of the company’s current and former customers. Illegally obtained information included customers’ names, dates of birth, home addresses, and more.

While a ransom of $1.5 million was initially demanded for the return of the data, the attacker ultimately backed down, allegedly deleting the stolen data due to the unwanted attention it garnered from law enforcement.Keep up with all the latest telecoms news with the Total Telecom newsletter TPG suffers data breach impacting 280,000 customers | Total Telecom

Read More........ → November 12, 2025

Indian entrepreneurs outpace global counterparts on adopting luxury lifestyles, mobility

Image/IANS)

New Delhi, (IANS) Unlike their global counterparts, entrepreneurs in India are overwhelmingly positive about their personal wealth outlook, with 95 per cent predicting their wealth will grow over the next few years, a report showed on Monday.

Among them, 56 per cent believe their wealth will improve significantly, while 39 per cent expect moderate growth.

Rich entrepreneurs in India are spending their wealth on luxury lifestyle as their optimism and global outlook help them expand their horizons across borders, according to research from HSBC Private Bank.

The HSBC’s 'Global Entrepreneurial Wealth Report 2025' reveals that allocations toward real estate for personal use (64 per cent), health and wellness (61 per cent), and luxury experiences (59 per cent) are significantly higher among entrepreneurs in India compared to their global counterparts.

“Their investments in luxury lifestyles, global mobility, and diversified portfolios signal not just confidence in their wealth trajectory but also their readiness to capitalize on the next wave of global opportunities and deepening international wealth corridors as globalisation enters a new phase,” said Sandeep Batra, Head of International Wealth and Premier Banking, HSBC India.

This optimism is particularly pronounced in markets such as the UK, the UAE, India, and Singapore. Key drivers of this optimism in India are opportunities for new investments and ventures (64 per cent), positive performance of investment portfolios (56 per cent), favourable economic outlook for the local economy (54 per cent) and positive business performance (43 per cent).

According to the report, entrepreneurs in India have a particularly global outlook, with 73 per cent holding multi-residency status — significantly higher than the global average of 56 per cent. The vast majority are open to relocating abroad, with the UK and US emerging as the top destinations, followed by Switzerland, UAE, and Singapore.Among those entrepreneurs looking to make a personal move, the primary motivations for cross border movements include better quality of life for themselves and their families (78 per cent); access to new investment opportunities (75 per cent); and expansion of business into new markets (71 per cent).Indian entrepreneurs outpace global counterparts on adopting luxury lifestyles, mobility | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

Read More........ → October 18, 2025

VE Commercial Vehicles to invest Rs 544 crore to boost manufacturing in India

IANS Photo

New Delhi, (IANS): VE Commercial Vehicles (VECV), a joint venture between Volvo Group and Eicher Motors, on Thursday announced an investment of Rs 544 crore (about 576 million Swedish Krona) to set up a new factory for the production and final assembly of Volvo Group’s advanced 12-speed Automated Manual Transmission (AMT) systems.

The greenfield facility will come up at the Vikram Udyogpuri Integrated Industrial Township near Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh.

This new plant marks another milestone in the 18-year-long successful partnership between Volvo Group and Eicher Motors, strengthening India’s position as a key manufacturing hub for the global automotive industry.

Sofia Frandberg, Chairperson of VE Commercial Vehicles and Senior Leader at Volvo Group, said that the new investment reflects the growing trust and synergy between the two partners.

“This investment represents another win-win collaboration with the Volvo Group and leverages the strong technical and industrial capabilities we have built over the past 18 years,” she said.

Siddhartha Lal, Chairman of Eicher Motors, said the initiative further strengthens the joint venture’s technological foundation.

“Since its inception in 2008, our partnership has consistently delivered advanced programmes. This new AMT project is built on trust and capability and marks another important step towards our vision of becoming a leading commercial vehicle player in India and other emerging markets,” he said.

Jens Holtinger, Executive Vice President of Group Trucks Technology and Volvo Group CTO, said the new AMT facility demonstrates the Volvo Group’s commitment to efficient and collaborative global manufacturing.

“VECV has become a core part of Volvo Group’s supply chain over the years, and this investment marks a new chapter in our successful relationship,” he said.

Vinod Aggarwal, Managing Director and CEO of VE Commercial Vehicles, highlighted the transformative impact of the AMT technology on the Indian commercial vehicle industry.

“As the market moves towards higher-capacity vehicles, Eicher truck customers and drivers will benefit from Volvo Group’s world-class AMT technology, which enhances fuel efficiency, reduces driver fatigue, and improves productivity,” he said.

The new facility will be built to Volvo Group’s global standards and aligns with the Government of India’s ‘Make in India’ vision.The plant will have an initial capacity to produce up to 40,000 units annually, with production and local sourcing to be ramped up gradually in line with Volvo’s quality benchmarks. VE Commercial Vehicles to invest Rs 544 crore to boost manufacturing in India | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

Read More........ → October 13, 2025

AI regulatory violations to push 30 pc rise in tech firms' legal disputes by 2028

IANS Photo

New Delhi,  (IANS): Artificial Intelligence (AI) regulatory violations will result in a 30 per cent increase in legal disputes for tech companies by 2028, a report said on Monday.

Over 70 per cent of IT leaders indicated that regulatory compliance is within their top three challenges for their organisation’s widespread GenAI productivity assistants deployment.

Meanwhile, only 23 per cent of them are very confident in their organisation’s ability to manage security and governance components when rolling out GenAI tools in their enterprise applications, Gartner, a business and technology insights company, said in a report.

“Global AI regulations vary widely, reflecting each country’s assessment of its appropriate alignment of AI leadership, innovation and agility with risk mitigation priorities,” said Lydia Clougherty Jones, Senior Director Analyst at Gartner.

“This leads to inconsistent and often incoherent compliance obligations, complicating alignment of AI investment with demonstrable and repeatable enterprise value and possibly opening enterprises up to other liabilities," Jones added.

At the same time, the impact of the geopolitical climate is steadily growing, but the ability to respond lags.

As many as 57 per cent of non-US IT leaders highlighted that the geopolitical climate at least moderately impacted GenAI strategy and deployment, with 19 per cent of respondents reporting it has a significant impact.

Yet, nearly 60 per cent of those respondents reported that they were unable or unwilling to adopt non-U.S. GenAI tool alternatives, the report highlighted.

The report was prepared based on inputs from 360 IT leaders involved in the rollout of generative AI tools.

In a separate poll, Gartner found that 40 per cent of the 489 respondents indicated that their organisation's sentiment to AI sovereignty - defined as the ability of nation-states to control the development, deployment, and governance of AI technologies within their jurisdictions - is “positive”, and 36 per cent indicated their organisation’s sentiment was “neutral”.

While 66 per cent of them indicated they were proactive and engaged in response to sovereign AI strategy, and 52 per cent indicated that their organisation was making strategic or operating model changes as a direct result of sovereign AI. AI regulatory violations to push 30 pc rise in tech firms' legal disputes by 2028 | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

Read More........ → October 08, 2025

Oklo announces plans for Tennessee fuel recycling plant

A rendering of the recycling facility (Oklo Inc)

Oklo Inc has announced plans to design, build, and operate a facility at Oak Ridge in Tennessee to recycle used nuclear fuel into fuel for fast reactors like the company's own Aurora powerhouse, and is teaming up with TVA to look into recycling the utility's used fuel.

The fuel recycling facility will be the first phase of a USD1.68 billion advanced fuel centre, the company said.

It is also exploring opportunities with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) to recycle the utility's used fuel at the new facility and to evaluate potential power sales from future Oklo powerhouses in the region to TVA, a collaboration which Oklo says would be the first time a US utility "has explored recycling its used fuel into clean electricity using modern electrochemical processes".

"Fuel is the most important factor in bringing advanced nuclear energy to market," said Oklo co-founder and CEO Jacob DeWitte. "By recycling used fuel at scale, we are turning waste into gigawatts, reducing costs, and establishing a secure US supply chain that will support the deployment of clean, reliable, and affordable power. Tennessee is showing the nation that recycling can be done to support new nuclear development and growth."

Oklo said it has completed a licensing project plan for the fuel recycling facility with the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and is currently in pre-application engagement with the regulator's staff.

The Aurora powerhouse is a fast neutron reactor that uses heat pipes to transport heat from the reactor core to a supercritical carbon dioxide power conversion system which can generate both electricity and usable heat using fuel made from either fresh high-assay low-enriched uranium or used nuclear fuel. Oklo is planning to build its first Aurora powerhouse on a site at Idaho National Laboratory for which it has previously said it intends to submit a combined construction and operating licence application to the NRC later this year. Oklo is one of the 11 initial companies selected by the Department of Energy for support through the Nuclear Reactor Pilot Program, which aims to see at least advanced reactor projects achieve criticality in less than one year from now.

Attendees at the announcement of the planned advanced nuclear fuel centre included state and federal representatives (Image: Oklo Inc)

More than 94,000 tonnes of used nuclear fuel is currently stored at US nuclear power plant sites, and these contain considerable reserves of recyclable fuel. The fuel recycling facility will be the first phase of a multi-facility campus aimed at supporting recycling and fuel fabrication, Oklo said.

The US government halted reprocessing of used fuel from commercial reactors in 1977, as part of its stance against nuclear proliferation, but there have been several policy shifts since the early 2000. The Executive Orders signed by President Donald Trump earlier this year included directions to the Department of Energy to bring forward national policies on the management of used fuel and high-level waste and evaluate private-sector reprocessing options, amongst other things.

Government-owned TVA is the largest public power company in the USA, with a diverse generating portfolio including nuclear, hydro, coal, gas, solar and advanced technologies. Earlier this year, it submitted an application for a permit to construct an SMR at Clinch River, near Oak Ridge, using GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy's BWRX-300 technology. More recently, it has signed a collaborative agreement with ENTRA1 Energy to deploy up to 6 GW of NuScale SMR capacity, and has also signed a power purchase agreement with Kairos Power for up to 50 MW of electricity from Kairos Power's Hermes 2 demonstration reactor, which is to be built at Oak Ridge.

"The next generation of nuclear technologies are being built and developed right here in our own backyard," said TVA President and CEO Don Moul. "Our partnership with Oklo represents yet another step forward in shaping the future of nuclear energy and ensuring a secure energy future for the Valley and beyond."The facility in Tennessee is expected to begin producing metal fuel for Aurora powerhouses by the early 2030s, following regulatory review and approvals, the company said. Oklo announces plans for Tennessee fuel recycling plant

Read More........ → October 01, 2025

India's tyre industry projected to see robust growth in current fiscal

New Delhi, (IANS): Driven by consistent investments in capacity expansion, improved manufacturing efficiency and a stronger focus on R&D capabilities, India's tyre industry is projected to see a robust growth in the current fiscal (FY26).

According to sector leaders, citing industry data, the domestic tyre industry is expected to achieve strong growth on the back of the strong domestic replacement demand despite muted OE (original equipment) offtakes.

The replacement demand will likely be supported by factors like favourable rural sentiments, festive demand, and expected rate cut effect on consumption, even as urban demand is soft, according to analysts.

The festive season, recent repo rate cuts, and favourable monsoon conditions are expected to boost consumer sentiment.

A recent Crisil Ratings report mentioned that India’s tyre sector will see steady revenue growth of 7-8 per cent during the current financial year, driven by replacement demand that accounts for half of annual sales.

Rising premiumisation is expected to give a slight leg-up to realisations. However, escalating trade tensions and the risk of dumping by Chinese producers diverting inventories because of US tariffs could pose challenges, the report states.

Operating profitability is likely to remain steady at 13-13.5 per cent, supported by stable input costs and healthy capacity utilisation.

“This, along with strong accruals, lean balance sheets and calibrated capital spending, should help sustain the sector’s stable credit outlook,” according to the report.

The report was based on an analysis of India’s top six tyre makers, catering to all vehicle segments and accounting for 85 per cent of the sector’s approximately Rs one lakh crore revenue. Domestic demand remains the mainstay, propelling around 75 per cent of total volume, with exports making up the rest.According to Crisil Ratings senior director Anuj Sethi. volume growth is seen at 5-6 per cent this fiscal, mirroring last fiscal. The replacement segment, accounting for around 50 per cent of volume, is set to grow 6-7 per cent on the back of a large vehicle base, strong freight movement and rural recovery. India's tyre industry projected to see robust growth in current fiscal | MorungExpress | morungexpress.com

Read More........ → September 05, 2025