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Asia
The Hindu BusinessLine

Lighthouse Learning Expands Footprint Through Strategic Partnership with The Khaitan School

Lighthouse Learning (formerly EuroKids International), India’s leading Early Childhood and K-12 Education Group, today announced a strategic partnership with The Khaitan School, Noida. The collaboration brings together The Khaitan School’s distinguished legacy and Lighthouse Learning’s scale, expertise and educational capabilities to support the school’s next phase of growth and strengthen learning opportunities for its students and educators. Founded by the Khaitan family in 1995, The Khaitan School was established with a vision to deliver holistic, values-led education rooted in academic excellence and character. Over the years, the school has built a strong reputation for its academic outcomes, co-curricular breadth and values-led culture. Its campus features modern science and computing laboratories, well-stocked libraries, interactive digital classrooms, and state-of-the-art sports and arts infrastructure. Through this partnership, The Khaitan School will draw on Lighthouse Learning’s integrated platform capabilities and best practices from across the group. These include a dedicated Health & Safety framework supported by audits and certification; a specialist central education team that supports pedagogy, curriculum design, assessment and faculty capability building; the Centre of Well-Being, which strengthens inclusive practices and supports children’s social-emotional and mental well-being, helping every child feel included, understood and able to thrive; Lighthouse Digital Labs, the Group’s in-house technology team, which develops secure, child-centred solutions to enhance teaching and learning. The collaboration will also focus on school leadership development and create opportunities for students and educators to benefit from Lighthouse Learning’s wider national network. Through the exchange of ideas, research, professional development and shared pedagogical practices, the two organisations will build on The Khaitan School’s founding ethos while strengthening educational experiences and outcomes for the years ahead. Speaking on the partnership, Prajodh Rajan, Founder and Group CEO, Lighthouse Learning Group, said, “The Khaitan School has built a strong legacy grounded in academic excellence, values and a deep commitment to nurturing young learners. We are proud to partner with an institution that shares our belief in delivering high-quality, future-ready education. Through this partnership, we will bring together specialist academic expertise, robust health and safety systems, leadership development and purpose-built technology to further enrich the learning experience. We look forward to building on the school’s existing strengths and supporting its next chapter of growth.” Commenting on the collaboration, Vedant Khaitan, Vice Chairman, Khaitan Welfare Foundation, said, “This partnership marks a proud and important milestone in our journey. Building on the vision with which the Khaitan family founded The Khaitan School, our collaboration with Lighthouse Learning will bring fresh perspectives, best-in-class practices and enhanced opportunities for our students and educators. We look forward to working together as the school enters its next phase of growth and learning impact.” LoEstro Advisors acted as the exclusive strategic advisor for the partnership. Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas served as the legal advisor to Lighthouse Learning Group and Quillon Partners acted as Legal Advisors for The Khaitan School, while Ernst & Young LLP acted as the financial advisor to the Group. Lighthouse Learning Group, formerly known as EuroKids International, is India’s leading Early Childhood and K-12 Education Group. Guided by its purpose, “To Unlock human potential and ignite the love for learning,” the Group is working towards its mission, “To ignite the love for learning in 1 Million Children.” Its portfolio includes leading brands such as EuroKids, Kangaroo Kids, Mother’s Pet Kindergarten, Early Learning Village, EuroSchool, Billabong High International School, Centre Point Group of Schools, Heritage Xperiential Schools, Phoenix Greens School of Learning and Finland International School Maldives. Nurturing over 200,000 students every day, Lighthouse Learning places children at the centre of its approach, with a strong focus on innovative pedagogy, child safety and high-quality learning experiences. With over 2,000 preschools and 60 K-12 schools, the Group empowers 1,850 women entrepreneurs and supports a direct and indirect workforce of over 25,000 people. Global investment firm KKR first invested in Lighthouse Learning in 2019, with a subsequent investment in 2025. “This is a company press release that is not part of editorial content. No journalist of The Hindu businessline was involved in the publication of this release.” 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.

Lighthouse Learning Expands Footprint Through Strategic Partnership with The Khaitan School
Asia
The Hindu BusinessLine

Torrent Pharma raises investment in Torrent Urja 27 to ₹11.88 cr to acquire 26% stake

Torrent Pharmaceuticals Ltd has increased its proposed investment in Torrent Urja 27 Pvt Ltd to ₹11.88 crore to acquire a 26 per cent stake, following an increase in project capacity, according to a regulatory filing on Monday. The company had earlier entered into an agreement to invest ₹7.9 crore for the stake. An amendment agreement to the share subscription and shareholders' agreement was executed on Monday to enhance the investment to ₹11.88 crore from ₹7.9 crore for 1,18,79,010 Class A equity shares of face value Rs 10 each, the filing said. Torrent Urja 27 is setting up a captive hybrid (solar and wind) power project in Gujarat. The transaction aims to enhance Torrent Pharma's share of renewable power sources and fulfil the regulatory criteria for a captive user under Indian electricity laws, it said. The acquisition is being done on an arm's length basis for cash consideration and is expected to be completed in 18-21 months. Torrent Urja, currently a wholly owned subsidiary of Torrent Green Energy Private Ltd, is a special purpose vehicle formed for setting up captive power projects in Gujarat. 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.

Torrent Pharma raises investment in Torrent Urja 27 to ₹11.88 cr to acquire 26% stake
Europe
BBC Business

Canadian province sues OpenAI over Tumbler Ridge school shooting

Image source, ReutersByRachel ClunBusiness reporterPublished22 September 2026, 02:44 BSTA Canadian province is suing OpenAI over its alleged failure to notify authorities about concerning user interactions on ChatGPT prior to the Tumbler Ridge mass shooting. The company has previously apologised for not flagging Jessie Van Rootselaar's account to law enforcement before the 18-year-old killed eight people, including six children, in February. British Columbia attorney general Niki Sharma said the lawsuit, filed to a US federal court on Monday, raised questions about "the responsibilities of technology companies when they become aware of credible threats of serious violence". Families of those killed or injured in the shooting have filed separate lawsuits against OpenAI. Media reports revealed that Van Rootselaar's ChatGPT activity was flagged by OpenAI's safety team for references to gun violence months before the attack, but the company did not alert local authorities. In April, OpenAI's chief executive Sam Altman apologised to the families of the victims. "I am deeply sorry that we did not alert law enforcement," Altman wrote in an open letter. "To date, OpenAI has not taken meaningful steps to address the concerns raised by survivors, families and the Tumbler Ridge community," Sharma said in a statement. "The company still has an opportunity to demonstrate accountability by strengthening safeguards, improving transparency and taking concrete action to help prevent similar tragedies in the future." Speaking to reporters on Monday, Sharma said she had not read the contents of the OpenAI chats. "We have asked OpenAI to disclose these chats. They have refused. We should all be asking them: Why?" she said, according to CBC, external. Sharma said the lawsuit was filed in California, as the alleged decision not to report the shooter's ChatGPT account occurred in that US state, according to AFP.

Canadian province sues OpenAI over Tumbler Ridge school shooting
Europe
BBC Business

Flights at major US airports delayed after cable cut by construction workers

Hundreds of flights have been delayed at major airports in the US after construction workers accidentally cut a cable needed for air traffic control. Ground stops and delays were issued on Monday afternoon for airports in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Massachusetts. Hours later, US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the cable had been repaired and airports would resume normal operations, though delays were still expected. The major east coast disruption came ahead of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York City on Tuesday, which is expected to be attended by scores of world leaders arriving into New York-area airports. That includes UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who managed to board his flight before the delays began and arrived as planned. The delays happened after the damaged cable impacted the Terminal Radar Approach Control system, which is used to guide planes during takeoff and landing, transport officials said. New Jersey public transportation agency NJ Transit told CBS News, the BBC's US partner, that its construction workers had accidentally severed the line and that markers had been wrongly placed at the digging site. Duffy earlier said the damage was caused by workers from Amtrak, the US national operator of intercity railroad service, who were doing the construction work. This "caused a telecom outage" which forced the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to ground flights, Duffy posted on X. An Amtrak spokesperson said in a statement, reported by US media, that the incident involved a NJ Transit contractor. Telecommunications company Verizon, which owns the cable, also said it was not responsible. The severed cable was actually a backup network, and the error was only discovered after the primary circuit failed, according to the head of the FAA, Bryan Bedford. Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey - one of the three major airports that services New York City - was the most heavily impacted by today's air traffic control disruptions, according to flight-tracking website FlightAware. It reported that 267 departing flights were delayed today, while a further 257 flights destined for Newark were also delayed.

Flights at major US airports delayed after cable cut by construction workers
North America
CNBC Finance

J.B. Hunt stock plunges 13% after company warns third-quarter earnings will fall

Shares of J.B. Hunt plunged 13% on Wednesday after the trucking company said it expects its earnings to drop in the third quarter. "We kind of want to be transparent with investors and give an update that in light of these costs that are sort of hitting us, we are expecting our Q2 to Q3 earnings to actually drop 5% to 10%," Chief Financial Officer Brad Delco said at the Morgan Stanley Industrials conference. Delco said between recruiting, advertising, onboarding, training and sign-on bonuses, the company expects to see about $25 million more in the third-quarter costs compared with the second quarter. He said that means J.B. Hunt is "preparing for growth." Still, he added the company has also seen "some of the most radical and abnormal swings" in fuel prices that it has ever seen and record-high diesel prices, which are causing at least a $10 million headwind. Delco said he expects volumes to improve sequentially to offset the incremental pressures. "It really is more of a timing issue," he said. "I think you can look at a glass half-empty or a glass half-full. I'm really glad that we have visibility to these costs right now." Delco also said J.B. Hunt is working on repairing its margins, though he believes the company still has a long way to go. Get this delivered to your inbox, and more info about our products and services. Data is a real-time snapshot *Data is delayed at least 15 minutes. Global Business and Financial News, Stock Quotes, and Market Data and Analysis.

J.B. Hunt stock plunges 13% after company warns third-quarter earnings will fall
Europe
BBC Business

Tories pledge to bring back tax-free shopping for tourists

The Conservative Party has pledged to bring back tax-free shopping for tourists from outside the European Union. The Tories said the decision to scrap the scheme in 2021 left the UK less competitive than European destinations. Leader Kemi Badenoch, who was a Treasury minister when the tax relief was abolished, said businesses were being "let down by a tax policy that is chasing their customers away". The VAT Retail Export Scheme - which allowed overseas visitors to get a VAT refund on items they had bought in Great Britain and took home in their luggage - was scrapped for non-EU visitors under the previous Conservative government in 2021, while it was also not extended for EU visitors. At the time, Badenoch said it was "a costly relief which does not benefit the whole of GB equally". However, the Conservatives have now set out plans to restore VAT refunds for eligible visitors from outside the EU. The party said that if evidence confirms the scheme "pays its way", this would be extended to visitors from the EU by the end of the next Parliament. It said the cost of reintroducing the scheme would be offset by cracking down on "NHS health tourism", including more consistent charging of patients ineligible for free treatment, minimum recovery targets for debts and requiring full repayment of debts before visa applications or renewals will be considered. The remaining costs would be funded from a package of savings set out by the Tories last year. The party also argued the move would benefit shops, hotels, restaurants and the wider tourism industry. It pointed to research by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr), which suggested fully restoring tax-free shopping for tourists could attract up to 2.35 million extra visitors and generate £4.1bn in extra spending. The report from earlier this month also estimated that for every £1 of VAT refunded, this could generate £1.54 in other taxes.

Tories pledge to bring back tax-free shopping for tourists
Europe
BBC Business

I'd rather pay thousands on a holiday: Meet the pensioners spending the kids' inheritance

Happily retired, Sarah Moorhouse is using her private pension "to go places and do nice things at the drop of a hat". While other retirees with a decent monthly pension income may choose to build up an inheritance for their children, Sarah, 64, and her husband Geoff are opting to spend their money on living life to the max. "We like going to Scotland," says Sarah, a retired school administrator. "We've been down to Cambridgeshire, which was lovely. We go up to the Lake District quite regularly to a holiday cottage, and we're planning to go to Norfolk." The couple, who live in the Yorkshire Dales, go on holiday four or five times a year, spending hundreds of pounds each time because, in Sarah's view, "you only have one opportunity at life". They did recently sell their vintage Sunbeam Alpine sports car. But only so they could replace it with a more modern, sporty two-seater convertible, a Mazda MX-5. "I'm of an age where I'm going to friends' and acquaintances' funerals, and I think you just need to live life and enjoy it while you can, because it's a very precious commodity," says Sarah. Sarah and Geoff are part of a global personal finance phenomenon that has been dubbed "skiing", which stands for spending the kids' inheritance. It is challenging the notion that assets will get handed down to the next generation. One in seven UK parents of children of all ages (15%) now plan to prioritise enjoying their money in their retirement over leaving an inheritance, according to a March report, external by pension provider Standard Life. And in the US, the number of people expecting to get an inheritance from their parents dropped to 20% last year, from 25% in 2024, according to a study, external by financial services firm Northwestern Mutual. Sarah and Geoff have two adult daughters. One of them, Poppy, tells the BBC that she couldn't be happier that her parents are out and about having fun. She firmly rejects the notion that she and her sister should expect an inheritance. "To me that's wild. It never even crossed my mind that I'll get money when my mum and dad die. I'd so much rather them do what they want to do." Mike Ambery, retirement and savings director at Standard Life, believes that the move towards skiing in the UK has been driven by the disappearance of final-salary pensions, which provide guaranteed monthly pension payments that last for as long as the retiree lives.

I'd rather pay thousands on a holiday: Meet the pensioners spending the kids' inheritance
Asia
The Hindu BusinessLine

Sollfege Smart Electronics IPO to raise ₹21.7 cr, open on Sep 30

The public offer is entirely a fresh issue of up to 39.60 lakh equity shares and priced at ₹55 per share, aggregating to ₹21.78 crore. Kolkata-based Sollfege Smart Electronics will raise ₹21.78 crore through an initial public offering to fund its retail network expansion plans, according to a statement. The initial public offering (IPO) will open for subscription on September 30 and conclude on October 5. The shares will be listed on the BSE SME platform with a tentative listing date of October 8. The public offer is entirely a fresh issue of up to 39.60 lakh equity shares and priced at ₹55 per share, aggregating to ₹21.78 crore. The net proceeds from the issue, around ₹9.67 crore, will be used by Sollfege Smart Electronics to fund its working capital requirements, and ₹8.54 crore will be utilised to accelerate the expansion of its retail network by launching 12 new showrooms. "As we enter the next phase of our journey, our focus will remain on strengthening our market presence, enhancing the customer experience and building Sollfege as a trusted name in premium home entertainment and smart living solutions," said Umesh Kumar Agarwal, Managing Director, Sollfege Smart Electronics Ltd. Established in 2012, Sollfege Smart Electronics is in the business of premium audio, video and home automation solutions. Its total income increased from ₹12.74 crore in FY23 to ₹21.28 crore in FY25. During the same period, Sollfege's profit after tax rose from ₹36 lakh to ₹2.13 crore. The company said the planned retail expansion will help strengthen its presence and widen customer reach as demand for premium home entertainment and connected-living solutions grows. Finshore Management Services is the sole book-running lead manager for the IPO. 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.

Sollfege Smart Electronics IPO to raise ₹21.7 cr, open on Sep 30
North America
CNBC Finance

Beauty, health and wellness are converging into one retail category

As consumers become more educated about the products they're buying and look to make more holistic purchases, a new retail category is emerging. What were once three separate sections — beauty, health and wellness — have converged into one large category as consumers look for products that serve multiple purposes. That change in consumer behavior is creating more competition for companies racing to win over the corresponding share of customers' wallets, industry experts said. According to a new study from consulting firm AlixPartners, nearly 100% of consumers surveyed believe that the category is just one budget item, whereas it was three before. The survey, conducted jointly between CEW and AlixPartners between May and June, sampled 1,000 consumers age 18 and over and split across gender, age, income brackets and regions. The survey also polled 127 executives in the beauty, health and wellness industries. "What we found in the data is a consumer is just as likely to trade off a night cream for another night cream as a night cream for a personal trainer," Lindy Firstenberg, co-lead of the company's beauty, health and wellness practice, told CNBC. "Anything in beauty, health and wellness is within the consideration set." As wellness becomes more mainstream, 40% of consumers in the survey said they want traditional beauty companies to expand their reach in terms of the products they offer. At the same time, the AlixPartners study found that 42% of executives said they wanted their companies to stay in their lane. "What that shows is a fundamental disconnect that consumers are asking for more; they're asking for different, they're asking for a new playbook, and executives are saying, 'No, that's way too scary. That's not going to happen,'" Firstenberg said. Firstenberg said she believes companies may be hesitant to take on a big bet that won't necessarily immediately pay off on a quarterly cycle. It's a move that would also include lengthy time for research and development and consumer profiling. "They're not willing to look outside of themselves in order to see that broader beauty, health and wellness bucket, which is the exact opposite of consumers," Firstenberg said. That trend comes as consumers are also becoming more knowledgeable about the products they're buying and integrating a more science-backed approach to their beauty purchases, a trend AlixPartners calls the "consumer PhD." Firstenberg said people are also looking to other consumers, especially on social media, for which products to buy and which ones will have the best results, instead of relying on the brands. Some companies are choosing to team up with existing brands on the other side of the sector to expand their offerings.

Beauty, health and wellness are converging into one retail category