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Asia
The Hindu BusinessLine

Sun Mobility t3-55T electric trucks with world’s first modular battery swapping at Pravaas 5.0

Bengaluru-based battery swapping company Sun Mobility is making its biggest push yet into India’s commercial electric vehicle market with the launch of what it describes as the world’s first modular battery swapping platform for electric trucks and buses across the 3-tonne to 55-tonne segment. The company is planning to showcase the product which has been developed and demonstrated with the Tata Motors’ Starbus 12m EV. Backed by a $78 million (about ₹650 crore) investment through its IndoFast Swap Energy joint venture with Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL), the platform marks the company’s entry into the heavy commercial vehicle market after establishing its battery swapping technology in two- and three-wheelers. It will make its public debut at Pravaas 5.0 in Gandhinagar from July 9 to 11. If adopted by multiple manufacturers, the OEM-agnostic battery architecture could create a common energy infrastructure for commercial electric vehicles, replacing proprietary battery ecosystems with a shared swapping network. “We are not accelerating the transition to electric mobility. We are eliminating the barriers that slowed it down with the world’s first modular multi-battery swapping technology,” said Chetan Maini, Co-Founder and Chairman of Sun Mobility, ahead of the launch. The platform received AIS-038 certification from the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) in March, becoming the first indigenously developed high-voltage swappable battery platform for trucks and buses to secure this approval. The certification validates its thermal, electrical and mechanical safety standards, clearing a key regulatory milestone for commercial deployment. Designed for vehicles ranging from 3-tonne light commercial vehicles to 55-tonne multi-axle tractor-trailers and intercity buses, the platform supports both 330-volt and 660-volt electrical architectures. It uses modular 50 kWh and 100 kWh battery packs that can be automatically swapped in under three minutes. Sun Mobility is targeting one of the biggest hurdles to commercial vehicle electrification: battery economics. Electric buses and trucks typically use fixed battery packs of 200-400 kWh, increasing vehicle acquisition costs while reducing payload because of battery weight. Charging these vehicles can take between 90 minutes and four hours, lowering fleet utilisation for operators whose revenues depend on keeping vehicles on the road. The opportunity is significant because private operators own nearly 90 per cent of India’s commercial buses and trucks, making operating economics and vehicle uptime critical to EV adoption. Sun Mobility’s strategy mirrors a battery swapping model that has gained significant traction in China, now the world’s largest market for electric commercial vehicles. Sun Mobility’s Battery-as-a-Service (BaaS) model separates battery ownership from the vehicle. Fleet operators purchase the vehicle while paying only for the energy consumed. According to the company, the model reduces the upfront acquisition cost of an electric bus or truck by about 40 per cent, bringing prices closer to comparable diesel and CNG vehicles. Operators can also optimise payload by carrying only the battery modules required for a particular route instead of oversized fixed battery packs. Commercial deployment will be led by IndoFast Swap Energy, the company’s joint venture with IOCL, which will establish automated battery swapping stations across IndianOil’s fuel retail network, while Sun Mobility supplies the battery technology, swapping systems and manufacturing.

Sun Mobility t3-55T electric trucks with world’s first modular battery swapping at Pravaas 5.0
Asia
The Hindu BusinessLine

ISMA defends E20 fuel, silent on mileage drop

In a statement on Wednesday, ISMA said that according to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG), India’s Ethanol Blending with Petrol Programme (EBP) is scientifically validated, rigorously tested, and continuously monitored, in consultation with oil marketing companies (OMCs), automakers, fuel testing agencies, and other stakeholders. The Indian Sugar and Bio-Energy Manufacturers Association (ISMA) has dismissed the public concern over E20 ethanol blended petrol saying the ongoing public conversation should be guided by scientific evidence, verified data and official clarifications, rather than misinformation being circulated on social media. Of late, there has been a major concern over drop in mileage attributed to adoption of E20 fuel even as auto makers claim it to be very marginal 3-3.5 per cent whereas people are claiming it to be 20-30 per cent. An social media user on X said: “Hybrid system is inherently highly efficient, boasting an official fuel economy to 23.24 kmpl. However, because ethanol delivers lower thermal energy per litre than pure petrol, real-world E20 mileage drops to around 16–18 kmpl depending on driving conditions.” Several people have shared on social media that their cars have a reduced mileage of 2-3 km (or 20-30 per cent) after shifting to E20. Former Delhi chief minister and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday wrote to 29 automobile manufacturers, seeking their response on the impact of E20 fuel on vehicle mileage and performance and asked them to reply within seven days. Sharing his letter with Toyota Kirloskar Motor’s Vikram Gulati, Kejriwal asked the company if a pre-2023, non-E20-compliant vehicle experiences a mileage drop of more than 10 per cent after using E20 fuel, would be compensated for the loss. In a statement on Wednesday, ISMA said that according to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG), India’s Ethanol Blending with Petrol Programme (EBP) is scientifically validated, rigorously tested, and continuously monitored, in consultation with oil marketing companies (OMCs), automakers, fuel testing agencies, and other stakeholders. “The government said no incidents of engine failure or vehicle breakdown had been linked to E20 petrol since its rollout. ​The ministry said that fuel-grade ethanol is produced through industrial processes such as fermentation and distillation and does not resemble its original agricultural feedstock. It is made from multiple sources, including sugarcane juice, molasses, broken rice, and maize, and must meet fuel-quality standards before being blended with petrol, ISMA said. ​ Highlighting the recent press briefing by select automobile manufacturers, ISMA said the automakers, OMCs, Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), Federation of Indian Petroleum Industry (FIPI) and the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) have publicly defended E20, saying concerns about vehicle breakdowns stem from ‘hearsay, misinformation and misunderstanding’. ​ Industry representatives said mileage variation, where observed, was marginal, while E20 helps cut emissions, reduce oil imports, save foreign exchange and support farmer incomes. “India’s ethanol programme is one of the country’s most successful examples of aligning energy security, farmer welfare and cleaner mobility,” ISMA Director General Deepak Ballani said in the statement. “It is therefore important that public debate is anchored in facts and not fear.” he said adding E20 had been introduced through a calibrated, science-backed process involving the government, OMCs, automakers and testing agencies and that claims the fuel was unsafe or unregulated were not supported by evidence. “Misinformation of this nature risks undermining a programme that has helped India reduce crude import dependence, save foreign exchange and create value for the rural economy,” he said. ​ The Ethanol Blending Programme was launched to cut India’s dependence on imported crude oil, strengthen energy security and promote cleaner fuels. Ethanol blending has helped India save more than Rs 1.4 lakh crore in foreign exchange by reducing crude oil imports, according to government estimates, while generating demand for agricultural feedstocks and additional income for farmers, ISMA said. Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments. We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of TheHindu Businessline and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.

ISMA defends E20 fuel, silent on mileage drop
Europe
BBC Business

Victims of 23andMe data breach to get $47m payout, judge rules

Victims of a 2023 data hack at genetics testing company 23andMe are set to receive a multi-million payout from the firm. A California bankruptcy court judge ruled on Tuesday that Chrome Holding, which last year took control of 23andMe after its bankruptcy, should pay out $46.75m (£35m) in compensation. 23andMe compiles genetic profiles of people through DNA testing kits, but it was heavily criticised after as many as 6.9 million people had their data breached in the 2023 hack. Chrome Holding, which operates under the name TTAM Research Institute, is operated by 23andMe's co-founder, Anne Wojcicki. She won the company's assets last year through a bankruptcy auction with a bid of $305m. The ruling said the settlement will be first paid to Kroll Restructuring, which is representing the victims, within five business days from Tuesday. The appointment of companies like Kroll is typical in corporate bankruptcy proceedings. The BBC has contacted the legal team representing the victims to ask how many people will receive the payout. 23andMe early last year filed for bankruptcy, about 18 months after hackers were able to access roughly 14,000 user accounts. Because the company offered "comprehensive" genetic profiles of people who submitted their DNA, including genetic markers related to their health and family history, some of the information accessed by hackers was highly personal. While the number of accounts accessed directly in the breach only represented a small fraction of 23andMe's total users, the hackers were able to access the profiles of those users' relatives. That gave them access to millions of profiles that 23andMe hosted. The breach led to investigations and fines, including a £2.31m fine by the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), a UK watchdog. The ICO said 23andMe had failed to put adequate measures in place to secure sensitive user data prior to the incident.

Victims of 23andMe data breach to get $47m payout, judge rules
Europe
BBC Business

Airbnb data identifies illegal social home sublets

Local councils and Airbnb have begun sharing data to identify the illegal subletting of social homes on the short-term rental platform. The scheme, coordinated by the Cabinet Office's fraud team, external, allows councils to cross-check social housing records against Airbnb listings in an effort to tackle what the government calls "social housing fraud." It is suspected nearly 6,000 social homes in England are illegally sublet on short-term rental platforms, according to the Tenancy Fraud Forum, a not-for profit organisation. Early results suggest 470 cases of social housing fraud have been identified so far across participating local authorities, with offenders facing penalties including eviction, fines and up to two years in prison. However, some campaign groups say tackling illegal subletting will have "very little impact on the acute housing crisis." According to the Cabinet Office, whether a tenant can sublet a room depends on the terms of their individual tenancy agreement and may require the council's permission, but subletting an entire social housing property is an offence. Fraudsters could include people who have more than one home or are living abroad. The government estimates on average, each case costs taxpayers around £78,300 - a figure which could include paying for temporary accommodation for genuine applicants, the legal costs to recover property, and rent foregone during the void period between tenancies. The Tenancy Fraud forum estimates at least 1,000 social homes are illegally advertised for short term lets on Airbnb in London over a period of a year, but if other platforms are included, this number is likely to be far greater. BBC London has spoken to residents who are convinced illegal holiday lets are operating in their buildings. They describe lockboxes appearing outside flats, a constant stream of unfamiliar people arriving with suitcases, and in some cases antisocial behaviour. Geraldine Girardi has lived in a mixed-tenure Notting Hill Genesis block in King's Cross for 26 years. A leaseholder and member of the Social Housing Action Campaign, she believes one social housing flat has been illegally sublet as short-term accommodation.

Airbnb data identifies illegal social home sublets
Europe
BBC Business

Australia dock workers call for 28-hour week in AI talks

Australian dock workers are demanding a 28-hour work week with no loss of pay as the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and automation expands across the country's ports. The AI push is being led by port logistics giant DP World, which the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) said has put workers' jobs "in the crosshairs". The union said: "If DP World wants AI and automation, then they must pay the social dividend. The new technology doesn't have to cost our members their jobs or put their livelihoods at risk just so a terminal operator can boost profits." DP World, which is based in Dubai, is increasingly testing AI tools to manage employees and work schedules in its operations, according to a study by the Centre For International Corporate Tax Accountability and Research, which was commissioned by the MUA. The automation programme is part of a pattern of pushing AI into operations "without genuine consultation" and that it threatens up to a thousand jobs or more than 60% of the dock and maintenance workforce, the study said. The company has also proposed the use of AI-assisted remote-control cranes and driverless vehicles, it added. The technology "should be used to improve workers' lives, not destroy them," the union said in a statement on 3 July as it called for a 28-hour work week. DP World dock workers are believed to currently work around 32 to 35 hours a week, depending on their location, according to the Australian Financial Review, which first reported the negotiations. The state-owned DP World is one of the world's largest port operators and is ultimately controlled by Dubai's ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. In Australia, it moves millions of shipping containers each year through its ports in Sydney, Melbourne and other parts of the country. With operations in 84 countries and more than 126,000 employees around the world, the firm handles around a tenth of global container traffic.

Australia dock workers call for 28-hour week in AI talks
Europe
BBC Business

Hundreds of jobs at risk as John Lewis plans to cut some services

Image source, Bloomberg via Getty ImagesByMitchell LabiakBusiness reporterPublished2 hours agoAround 200 John Lewis staff could lose their jobs as the retailer looks to close its in-store money exchange services and dedicated gift wrapping areas. No final decision has been made but the job cuts will happen in the autumn if the redundancy plans it is consulting on are approved. John Lewis said the decision to close its in-store bureaux de change was due to falling demand and that it would move gift-wrapping services from a specialised area to its tills. A spokesperson said it would support affected staff "throughout the consultation process and support redeployment where possible". They added: "As we focus on modernising this proposition to meet our customers' changing needs, we're proposing to close our in-store foreign exchange bureaus as well as our gift wrapping service. "As a result, we're regretfully consulting with partners who currently deliver these services." The retailer said customers were increasingly ordering foreign currency online and collecting it in store. It also said some other customers were choosing instead to use their credit cards or digital payments while abroad. It added that the changes to its gift wrapping services would make it more accessible. The money exchange closure will affect 30 shops while the gift wrapping services closure will affect 25 shops. The retailer has been going through many changes under its chair. Jason Tarry, who took over in 2024 after a tough few years that saw it cut jobs and close several stores It closed its housebuilding arm in February, in a move which also led to some job losses. And, in March, the retailer said it would be awarding its staff a bonus for the first time in four years as its profits and sales improved. The bonus had been scrapped during the Covid pandemic, marking the first time this had happened since 1953.

Hundreds of jobs at risk as John Lewis plans to cut some services
Asia
The Hindu BusinessLine

EPFO processing interest payment on provident funds for FY26; members can check updates by next week

Retirement fund body EPFO is processing the interest payment on provident funds for FY26, and members can check the updated amount online by July 15, Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said on Wednesday. The online access of provident fund accounts has been enabled with the implementation of 2.01 CITES (centralised IT-enabled services) by the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO), the minister told reporters here. CITES project is designed to enhance convenience, improve EPFO's operational efficiency, and deliver transparent and seamless services to members. "Annual interest for FY26 at the rate of 8.25 per cent to 34 crore member accounts, estimated at over ₹1.44 lakh crore, will be auto-processed and then verified by Field Authorities before being credited to the member account balances. Members will be able to view the interest credit in their passbook by July 15," the minister said. Last month, the government approved the 8.25 per cent interest payment on provident funds. According to the minister, interest payments were previously processed in October–November after government approval. He explained that before CITES, the EPFO had a decentralised architecture with separate databases at each field office. Now, the EPFO has migrated its entire database of member records to the new centralised database. With the updated systems, members will be able to avail services from any authorised location across the country, similar to banking services where customers do not have to visit a particular bank branch. Now, members will have access to a unified digital interface to view their details, PF balances, claim status, pensionable service records, and benefits availed, thereby ensuring transparency and access to information about their PF accounts and the submission of claims. Claim payments will be processed through the centralised architecture and routed through faster electronic payment channels, ensuring secure, efficient, and timely credit of settlement amounts directly into members' bank accounts. Under the revised system, interest in final PF settlements will now be calculated up to the date of payment authorisation. Earlier, interest was calculated only up to the last day of the previous month. Also, the 13 categories for partial withdrawals have been streamlined into three - essential needs (such as illness, education, and marriage), housing needs, and special circumstances, making the withdrawal process simpler and easier for members to understand.

EPFO processing interest payment on provident funds for FY26; members can check updates by next week
Asia
The Hindu BusinessLine

MAHE and Novo Nordisk GBS expand collaboration in pharmacometrics

Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) and Novo Nordisk Global Business Services (GBS) have expanded their collaboration in pharmacometrics, a specialised scientific discipline that applies data, modelling and simulation to support drug development and clinical decision-making. Under the collaboration, Novo Nordisk GBS will provide financial support of ₹1.75 crore over five years to enhance specialised talent development, research capacity and advanced infrastructure in quantitative drug development. As drug discovery and development become increasingly data-driven, pharmacometrics has emerged as a critical discipline for optimising clinical trial design, understanding treatment responses across patient populations and enabling informed decisions throughout the drug development lifecycle. A major component of the collaboration is the establishment of an advanced pharmacometrics computing facility at the Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences (MCOPS), Manipal. The facility will strengthen research, training and scientific collaboration in quantitative drug development while providing researchers with access to advanced computational resources. The initiative will also support one full-time PhD scholar and one post-doctoral fellow every year. In addition, MCOPS will introduce four to six specialised learning modules under the theme ‘Innovation for quantitative drug development’. The curriculum will include model-informed drug development, systems modelling approaches and translational frameworks for emerging therapeutic modalities, including cell and gene therapies and multi-specific therapies. Quoting John Dawber, Vice President and Managing Director of Novo Nordisk GBS, a media statement said: “India has become an increasingly important part of Novo Nordisk’s global value creation engine, and our GBS in Bengaluru continues to play an extensive role across our value chain. Through this collaboration with MAHE, we aim to build the next layer of specialised capability in pharmacometrics and quantitative sciences, which is not only essential for India but also connects with our global teams and strengthens our support for R&D across Novo Nordisk. This collaboration brings together exceptional talent, strong academic partnerships and real business challenges so that the work undertaken here delivers meaningful value for our colleagues, the wider Novo Nordisk GBS ecosystem and, ultimately, patients around the world.” Sharath K Rao, Vice-Chancellor of MAHE, said: “This collaboration marks an important milestone in advancing research and training in one of the fastest-growing areas of pharmaceutical sciences. By combining academic excellence with industry expertise, we will strengthen India’s capabilities in pharmacometrics, create opportunities for cutting-edge research and prepare the next generation of scientists to contribute to global drug development.” Through this expanded collaboration, MAHE and Novo Nordisk GBS aim to build a strong ecosystem for pharmacometrics research, accelerate innovation in quantitative drug development and contribute to improving healthcare outcomes globally, the statement added. Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments. We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of TheHindu Businessline and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.

MAHE and Novo Nordisk GBS expand collaboration in pharmacometrics
Asia-Pacific
The Straits Times

Prabowo touts Batam as Indonesia’s next global maritime, investment gateway

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto (centre) emphasised that Batam should serve as a national model for downstream industrialisation, investment acceleration, regulatory reform and logistics efficiency. JAKARTA – Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has placed the island of Batam at the centre of the next phase of Indonesia’s economic transformation, positioning the island as a future global maritime, logistics and investment hub. During a meeting with the Batam Development Authority (BP Batam) on July 7, the President emphasised that Batam should become a national model for downstream industrialisation, investment acceleration, regulatory reform and logistics efficiency, supported by world-class infrastructure and faster public services. A key priority is the modernisation of Batam’s port system, including the development of an international port integrated with industrial estates, advanced manufacturing, a hyperscale data centre and global shipping networks. The strategy aims to strengthen Batam’s role in regional supply chains by reducing logistics costs, improving export competitiveness and reinforcing its position as one of South-east Asia’s most strategic production and distribution hubs. BP Batam highlighted that the region’s investment ecosystem had strengthened following the implementation of a government regulation: Investment services have become faster and more predictable, while the digital Land Management System is improving transparency, accountability and ease of access for investors. Investment momentum has remained strong, with Batam recording 69.3 trillion rupiah (S$5 billion) in realised investment in 2025, followed by 17.48 trillion rupiah in the first quarter of 2026, a year-on-year increase of 102.85 per cent. Investment continues to concentrate in high-value sectors including electronics and machinery, digital infrastructure, energy and industrial estates. The meeting also reinforced Batam’s pilot role in the country’s investment reform agenda. By combining digital public services, risk-based regulation, integrated infrastructure and interministerial coordination, the government aims to transform Batam into a globally competitive gateway for manufacturing, maritime logistics and strategic investment.

Prabowo touts Batam as Indonesia’s next global maritime, investment gateway