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Negotiators from India and the European Union have moved into the final stretch of talks on a long-pending free trade agreement that both sides now describe as a strategic necessity, as uncertainty over United States trade policy reshapes global supply chains and export strategies. Officials involved in the discussions say most market-access chapters are broadly settled, with remaining work focused on sensitive tariff lines, regulatory safeguards and timelines for implementation.

The proposed pact, under negotiation for more than a decade with several pauses, has regained momentum over the past two years as Brussels and New Delhi seek to reduce exposure to external shocks. For the European Union, diversifying trade ties beyond the US and China has become an explicit policy goal. For India, securing preferential access to one of the world’s largest consumer markets offers a counterweight to potential tariff pressures elsewhere.

Trade specialists say the structure of the deal reflects this shared urgency. India is expected to secure phased tariff reductions on a wide range of labour-intensive exports, including textiles, apparel, leather goods, footwear, gems and jewellery, and certain engineering products. These sectors employ millions and are among the most exposed to changes in external demand. Ajay Srivastava, a former trade official, has said that improved access to the EU market would help exporters partly offset the impact of higher duties or restrictive measures imposed by the US on selected product categories.

European manufacturers, in turn, are seeking lower tariffs and clearer rules for automobiles, high-end machinery, wines and spirits, medical devices and chemicals. Current import duties on some of these products remain among the highest faced by EU exporters in major economies. Brussels has also pressed for stronger commitments on intellectual property protection, government procurement and regulatory transparency, areas that have historically slowed progress.

People familiar with the talks say negotiators have narrowed differences on goods tariffs by agreeing to longer transition periods for politically sensitive items, allowing domestic industries time to adjust. Agriculture remains a delicate chapter, with India resisting broad concessions on dairy and certain farm products, while offering limited quotas and safeguards to protect small producers. The EU has signalled flexibility, recognising the social and political weight of agriculture in India’s economy.

Beyond goods, services and investment provisions are central to the pact’s commercial value. India is pushing for easier movement of professionals in information technology, engineering and healthcare, alongside mutual recognition of qualifications. European counterparts are cautious, balancing labour-market concerns with industry demands for skilled talent. Investment protection rules are also under discussion, with both sides aiming to avoid disputes that have characterised earlier bilateral treaties.

Geopolitics has added another layer to the negotiations. Heightened trade frictions involving the US have reinforced the case for dependable partners and rules-based commerce. European policymakers increasingly view India as a key pillar in their Indo-Pacific strategy, while New Delhi sees the EU as a stable market that complements its manufacturing and export ambitions. The alignment is evident in parallel talks on a separate investment protection agreement and a framework for cooperation on sustainable development.

Environmental and labour standards have emerged as important, though contentious, elements. The EU has sought binding commitments linked to climate goals and workers’ rights, consistent with its newer trade agreements. India has pushed back against provisions it views as intrusive or misaligned with domestic development priorities, arguing for cooperation rather than enforcement-driven clauses. Compromise language is being explored to bridge these positions without derailing the broader deal.

Economists note that the scale of potential gains is significant, though uneven across sectors. The EU is already one of India’s largest trading partners, with bilateral goods trade running into tens of billions of euros annually. A comprehensive agreement could lift trade volumes further by lowering costs, improving predictability and encouraging investment flows. Export-oriented clusters in states with strong manufacturing bases are expected to be among the main beneficiaries.

Industry groups on both sides have stepped up engagement, urging negotiators to maintain momentum. Indian exporters highlight the risk of losing market share to competitors that already enjoy preferential access to the EU. European businesses argue that delayed agreement leaves them at a disadvantage in a fast-growing market with rising consumer demand and infrastructure spending.

The strategic collaboration focuses on the research and development of enhanced L2++ autonomous driving technologies for future VinFast electric vehicles. VinFast’s current EV passenger lineup is equipped with Level 2 driving assistance features, and the upgraded L2++ system is already undergoing pilot testing on the VF 8 and VF 9 models. This partnership establishes a strong foundation for VinFast to progressively integrate more advanced autonomous capabilities across its full product portfolio, underscoring the company’s commitment to delivering safer, smarter, and more intuitive mobility experiences for customers worldwide.

In addition, the partnership will explore and develop the “Robo-Car” system — a first-of-its-kind AI architecture that eliminates the need for costly LiDAR, radar arrays, or HD maps. Instead, the system leverages seven standard cameras and a compact, high-performance computing chip capable of processing approximately 20 trillion operations per second, enabling advanced autonomous functionality at a fraction of the cost and complexity of traditional systems.

The Robo-Car system is powered by Autobrains’ Agentic AI architecture, which adapts to real-time driving scenarios with humanlike precision while minimizing computational demand and removing the need for costly hardware. Combined with Autobrains’ Air-to-Road localization, a camera-based mapping technology that fuses real-time visual data with satellite imagery to eliminate HD map dependence, this foundation enables a scalable and affordable Level 4 autonomous solution for both emerging and advanced markets. VinFast and Autobrains are now testing the Robo-Car in controlled zones in Hanoi, with plans to expand trials to larger cities and international markets.

Prof.-Dr. Nguyen Van Duong, Global Deputy CEO of VinFast and Director of ADAS/AD Research Institute, said:”VinFast’s strategic partnership with Autobrains is helping shape a disruptive approach to affordable autonomous driving that fits our long-term vision for global mobility. We aim to move advanced driving technology from early adopters to everyday drivers. VinFast is committed to making autonomous mobility safe, affordable, and available to all.”

Mr. Igal Raichelgauz, CEO of Autobrains, said: “The Robo-Car we’re developing with VinFast is performing autonomous driving in real traffic with confidence and precision. It marks meaningful progress toward a future where drivers everywhere can enjoy safety, comfort, and freedom through autonomy. It also reflects our shared mission of making advanced autonomous capability accessible to everyone.”

VinFast is accelerating its global growth by expanding production capacity, broadening its product portfolio, and strengthening its presence in key international markets. The company continues to build momentum by working with leading local and international partners to integrate advanced technologies, enhance service quality, and elevate the overall vehicle experience. These collaborations allow VinFast to combine global expertise with its own rapid innovation, supporting the company’s mission to deliver high-quality, intelligent, and accessible electric vehicles to customers worldwide.

Hashtag: #VinFast

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About VinFast

VinFast (NASDAQ: VFS), a subsidiary of Vingroup JSC, one of Vietnam’s largest conglomerates, is a pure-play electric vehicle (“EV”) manufacturer with the mission of making EVs accessible to everyone. VinFast’s product lineup today includes a wide range of electric SUVs, e-scooters, and e-buses.

VinFast is currently embarking on its next growth phase through rapid expansion of its distribution and dealership network globally and increasing its manufacturing capacities with a focus on key markets across North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

Learn more at: https://vinfastauto.com/

About Autobrains

Autobrains is a leading AI company in the automotive industry. The company developed a paradigm-shifting AI technology called Agentic AI, backed by more than 300 patents addressing core autonomous driving challenges. Autobrains’ solutions for ADAS and autonomous driving offer advanced perception capability, low compute requirements, and sensor and SoC flexibility. The company is supported by strategic investors including Temasek, Knorr-Bremse AG, BMW i Ventures, Toyota Ventures, VinFast, Continental AG, and Autel.

Learn more at: http://www.autobrains.ai/

UABBHK 2025 transformed traditional architectural exhibitions into a dynamic civic performance, positioning artificial intelligence (AI) not as a tool, but as a platform to co-create ethical, inclusive, and human-centred futures. Through immersive installations, public workshops, and experimental formats, UABBHK 2025 invited audiences to participate in the design of the city — in real time.

“The Biennale has not only showcased the possibilities of design in the AI era, but also activated a civic platform where architecture, technology and public imagination intersect,” said Ar. Allen Poon, Chairman of The Hong Kong Institute of Architects Biennale Foundation, during the ceremony. “Today’s conclusion marks both a milestone and a beginning — a new phase of creative exploration among Hong Kong, Shenzhen and the world.”

Exhibition Highlights: Tech Meets Imagination

UABBHK 2025 unfolded across two venues, Oil Street Art Space (Oi!) and the newly opened East Kowloon Cultural Centre (EKCC), showcasing 25 curated exhibits by architects, artists, researchers, and technologists from Hong Kong and beyond. Teams from 10+ regions, including Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong, Taiwan, as well as Australia, Austria, Italy, Japan, Singapore, the Netherlands, the UK, and the USA, explored how AI can be integrated into architectural thinking, spatial storytelling, and participatory design. Among the highlights were 4 video screening works that extended the exhibition’s themes through cinematic and documentary perspectives, addressing topics such as displacement and homecoming, the entanglement of code and culture, and speculative futures shaped by collective memory and student-led design fictions. Interactive installations like Prompt[Pond]ering, Sentient Mirror, and Collaborative Ephemeral Pavilion invited audiences to co-design spaces through AI-driven interactions. Works such as LANdLine Project and Flower Market Imaginaries grounded these future-facing visions in Hong Kong’s unique community and cultural context.

“In curating UABBHK 2025, we imagined AI not as a threat, but as a collaborator — a partner in rehearsing the future of our cities,” shared by Dr. Jimmy Ho and Ar. Aron Tsang, Lead Curators of UABBHK 2025. “We are proud to have created a platform that enables technology to be tangible, and civic imagination visible.”

Extending Impact: Public Programmes on Innovation & Collaboration

To extend the UABBHK 2025’s engagement beyond the galleries, two flagship public programmes were launched to bring AI and urban thinking into action: the ArchiTech Hackathon and the Hetao Vision: AI Video Competition.

ArchiTech Hackathon: Bridging Architecture and AI

Held earlier on the 24 January morning and co-hosted with Google Developer Group Hong Kong (GDGHK), the ArchiTech Hackathon was a first-of-its-kind 3-hour collaborative event that brought together 40 architects, developers and students — half from the HKIA Young Architects Group (YAG) and half from GDGHK — to explore how AI can support architectural workflows. The participants learned to use Google’s Gemini model and no-code platforms to build AI agents for architectural design code compliance.

Led by Mr. Frankie Wu from GDGHK, Ms. Adeline Chan and Ar. Owen Lam, Executive Curators of UABBHK 2025, the event embodied UABBHK’s vision by fostering cross-disciplinary collaboration between the tech and design communities, showcasing AI as a practical and imaginative tool for the built environment.

The winning team is Mr. Eric Chan and Ar. Toby Chiu. They successfully built the AI ​​agent for the competition in an astonishing time of 3 minutes, 56.32 seconds within a 60-minute timeframe, and was able to answer 10 questions, as required by the competition, completing the complex professional architect exam questions with 90% accuracy under four minutes.

Hetao Vision: Innovative AI Video Competition

Also announced during the ceremony were the winners of the Hetao Vision AI Video Competition, which invited creators to imagine the future of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone (HSITP). All entries were required to be fully AI-generated — both visually and aurally — using tools such as Runway, Pika Labs, Suno, and Udio.

The competition explored how AI can democratise futurology, letting creators of all backgrounds envision interconnectivity, innovation, and inclusiveness across the “one river, two banks” vision of Hetao.

The winning video,titled 深港河脈：一河兩岸的科創樞紐宏圖(Shenzhen-Hong Kong River Network: A Grand Vision for a Science and Technology Innovation Hub Across Both Banks) by Mr. Zhang Xiaoshan, was praised for utilising AI to create a convincing narrative of a cross-border innovation hub, demonstrating a profound understanding of the development of the Hetao area. Two additional finalists were also recognised for their distinctive storytelling and technical creativity.

A public screening of the shortlisted videos will be held in the Hetao Science and Technology Innovation Centre, in February 2026, allowing the public to reflect on the role of AI in imagining future urban life.

What’s Next: Visit UABBSZ and Explore the Living Archive

UABBHK 2025 will continue its journey in the Shenzhen & Hong Kong Bi-City Biennale of UrbanismArchitecture (Shenzhen) (UABBSZ) from January to March 2026. Whether you participated in the Hong Kong Edition or missed it, we warmly welcome you to visit the parallel venue of UABBSZ, at the Shenzhen Hetao Science and Technology Innovation Centre. Come and view the selection of UABBHK 2025 exhibits, continuing the creative dialogue and collaboration between Hong Kong and Shenzhen.

In addition, UABBHK 2025’s ideas and output will remain accessible through a dedicated digital gallery website and a forthcoming archive booklet, both will preserve the curatorial vision, exhibited works, and public interactions from this edition. These resources will serve as an open, living archive — a springboard for future conversations across architecture, AI, and urban futures.

Hashtag: #UABBHK

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About The Hong Kong Institute of Architects Biennale Foundation

The Hong Kong Institute of Architects Biennale Foundation is a non-profit making organisation established and incorporated in 2014 for charitable purposes. The objects for which the Biennale Foundation is established are:

• To promote creativity and advance the understanding, appreciation and interest of architectural and design excellence
• To encourage cross-border and cross-disciplinary dialogue and collaboration among creative professionals from Hong Kong, other parts of the Greater China region and overseas
• To support art, design, architectural and cultural education for students and youth, the community, and policy makers
• To create a favourable environment for study, research and experimentation of design, art and architectural works in an exhibition scale
• To energise and revitalise specific sites of interests by introduction of cultural and creative events

About the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency

The Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA), formerly known as Create Hong Kong (CreateHK) since 2009, was established in June 2024. CCIDA is a dedicated office under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR Government) to provide one-stop services and support to the cultural and creative sectors with a mission to foster a conducive environment in Hong Kong to facilitate development of the arts, culture and creative sectors as industries. CCIDA’s strategic foci are nurturing talent and facilitating start-ups, exploring markets, promoting cross-sectoral and multi-disciplinary collaboration, promoting industrialisation of the arts, culture and creative sectors under the industry-oriented principle, and fostering a creative atmosphere in the community, thereby reinforcing Hong Kong as Asia’s creative capital and our positioning as the East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange.

As a lead candidate under Immuno Cure’s patented “PD-1-Enhanced DNA Vaccine Technology Platform”, ICVAX aims to achieve sustained, immune-mediated HIV-1 virological control without the need of antiretroviral therapy. Following the successful first-in-human ICVAX Phase I clinical trial in Shenzhen that showed exceptional safety and immunogenicity profiles, this clinical study will explore the safety and immunogenicity of ICVAX in HIV-infected volunteers in Hong Kong, to be administered by three distinct delivery systems. This comparative approach will provide essential data on the optimal delivery method for ICVAX, and hence potentially identifying the most effective, patient-friendly and scalable option for enhancing immunotherapeutic responses in people living with HIV.

The clinical study will be conducted at Prince of Wales Hospital and will be led by Dr Grace LUI, Head of the Division of Infectious Diseases at CUHK Medicine’s Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, as the Principal Investigator. This is a randomized clinical study to evaluate the immunogenicity and safety of ICVAX in a total of 22 HIV-infected volunteers using three delivery systems: Teresa-EPT-1 electroporation device, PharmaJet’s Tropis, a WHO pre-qualified needle-free injection system, and PapiVax’s TriGrid EP device.

This study has been granted ΗΚ$4.2 million funding under the Public Sector Trial Scheme of the Innovation and Technology Fund of the HKSAR Government (project reference number: UTT/002/23GM). Professor Zhiwei CHEN, Director of the HKU AIDS Institute and Principal Scientific Advisor of Immuno Cure, serves as the Project Coordinator for this funding. This study is also partially supported by Theme-based Research Scheme (TRS) of the Research Grants Council under the University Grants Committee of the Education Bureau (project reference number: T11-702/24-N).

“This Phase I clinical study is an important landmark, being the first evaluation of ICVAX in Hong Kong volunteers and incorporating multiple innovative delivery technologies,” said Dr Grace LUI. “By testing these devices, we aim to optimize safety, immunogenicity, and patient experience for this promising HIV therapeutic DNA vaccine candidate.”

“ICVAX is built on the innovative PD-1-Enhanced DNA vaccine technology invented and developed locally at the HKU,” said Professor Zhiwei CHEN. “This study will help optimize delivery of ICVAX, paving the way for broader international deployment.”

“The launch of this clinical study is a major milestone of vaccine development for Immuno Cure,” said Dr Xia JIN, CEO of Immuno Cure. “By testing ICVAX for the first time in Hong Kong and comparing three innovative delivery devices this study not only advances our understanding of the performance of our DNA medicines, but also significantly supports the global commercialization of ICVAX and our other DNA medicines. Immuno Cure is committed to leading innovation in immunotherapy to combat infectious diseases and cancers.”

Hashtag: #ImmunoCure

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About Immuno Cure

Immuno Cure is a clinical stage biotechnology group based in the Hong Kong Science Park, focusing on research and development of innovative DNA medicines and antibody immunotherapies to fight against cancers, inflammatory and infectious diseases based on its patented PD-1-enhanced DNA Vaccine Platform and Anti-Δ42PD1 Antibody Platform

To learn more about Immuno Cure, please visit http://www.immunocure.hk.

About CUHK Medicine

Established in 1981, CU Medicine has achieved international recognition in teaching, research, and clinical practice and is the youngest medical school ranked among the world’s top 25 in many global rankings. In the “Best Global Universities Subject Rankings 2025-26” by U.S. News and World Report, its “Gastroenterology and Hepatology”, “Endocrinology and Metabolism” and “Clinical Medicine” programmes rank 1st in Asia, while Gastroenterology and Hepatology claims 2nd globally.

The Faculty comprises 14 clinical departments and five schools, delivering a world-class environment for teaching and research with a strong emphasis on interdisciplinary, interprofessional, and international collaboration. To date, it has cultivated over 6,000 medical graduates who are making an impact across local and global healthcare systems. The Faculty is dedicated to driving innovation by translating groundbreaking research into real-world clinical applications. Its contributions have reshaped medicine — evidenced by the filing of 3,000 patents, strategic patent acquisitions, and the establishment of more than 20 start-ups. Its pioneering research has not only rewritten international clinical guidelines but also revolutionised the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of numerous diseases.

To learn more about CU Medicine, please visit http://www.med.cuhk.edu.hk.

About HKU AIDS Institute

HKU AIDS Institute was established in November 2007 to take HKU in a new strategic direction in fighting this global epidemic and help to make it a leader in the region in AIDS research, education and prevention. Scientists at the AIDS Institute are fully committed to conducting basic and applied research that facilitates the understanding of AIDS pathogenesis and the development of effective AIDS vaccines. Currently, the Institute is leading the Hong Kong Theme-based Research Scheme entitled “Potentiating Host Immunity for HIV-1 Functional Cure”.

To learn more about HKU and AIDS Institute of HKU, please visit https://www.hku.hk/ and https://www.med.hku.hk/aidsinst/.

About BAY TRIAL

BAY TRIAL is a key initiative in implementing the “Notice of the State Council on Issuing the Development Plan for the Shenzhen Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone” (State Council [2023] No. 12). It serves as strong support for Shenzhen’s development as an international science and technology innovation centre and for promoting the high-quality development of the biopharmaceutical industry in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). Located in the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Cooperation Zone, BAY TRIAL leverages the zone’s unique geographical and policy advantages to integrate clinical trial innovation resources across the GBA, deepen Shenzhen-Hong Kong science and technology collaboration, and establish a one-stop clinical trial platform.

To learn more about BAY TRIAL, please visit: https://baytrial.smart.org.cn/about/index.html

Alibaba Cloud and NVIDIA as Key Technology Partners. Usher in a New Era of Industrial AI.

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 26 January 2026 – AsiaInfo Technologies Limited (“AsiaInfo Technologies” or the “Company”; HKEX stock code: 01675), a leading provider of software products, solutions, and services, and ABB Robotics jointly established the “Embodied Intelligence Laboratory” and held its inauguration ceremony at AsiaInfo Plaza in Beijing on 25 January.

Tian Suning, Chairman of AsiaInfo Technologies, and Dr. Ouyang Ye, Chief Executive Office and Chief Technology Officer of AsiaInfo Technologies, together with Han Chen, Vice President of ABB Group and President of ABB Robotics China, jointly held an unveiling ceremony for the laboratory. Li Li, Vice President of the Government-Enterprise Business Unit at Alibaba Cloud Intelligence Group, attended the ceremony as key technology partners, witnessing this milestone that ushers in a new phase of integration between Physical AI technologies and the real economy.

ABB Robotics is one of the world’s leading robotics suppliers, offering a comprehensive and integrated portfolio that includes industrial and collaborative robots, autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), controllers, application solutions, services, and equipment. Powered by its intelligent software, its technologies help businesses across industries from automotive to electronics and logistics to become more resilient, flexible, and efficient.

As AI rapidly moves from the digital realm into the physical world, Physical AI, as the key bridge linking AI capabilities with real‑world industries, is becoming a core engine driving the intelligent upgrade of manufacturing sector. Against this backdrop, AsiaInfo Technologies has established a strategic partnership with ABB Robotics to jointly set up the Embodied Intelligence Laboratory, integrating both parties’ core strengths in foundation AI large models, industrial automation, communications technologies and robot control. The laboratory will focus on cutting‑edge areas such as industrial simulation and Physical AI, aiming to break through bottlenecks in the perception, decision‑making and execution capabilities of intelligent agents in complex real‑world scenarios. It will build an end‑to‑end innovation system spanning technology research and development (“R&D”), technology commercialization and large‑scale industrial deployment, thereby injecting strong AI‑driven momentum into high‑quality development.

As a leader in full‑stack digital‑intelligence capabilities, AsiaInfo Technologies will take AI large model application as the core lever, deeply integrating its strengths in 5G‑A telecommunications technology and network security to drive technology integration and large‑scale deployment at the laboratory. By developing replicable, scalable scenario‑based solutions, the Company will accelerate the rollout and value realisation of innovation in the intelligent manufacturing sector. Leveraging its global expertise in industrial automation and flexible control, ABB Robotics will provide the laboratory with real‑world, production‑line use cases and strong engineering support capabilities, enabling efficient validation, optimisation and iteration of technical solutions, and achieving deep coupling and mutual empowerment between technology and application scenarios.

The laboratory will leverage external technology partners to reinforce its R&D capabilities. By utilising Alibaba Cloud’s massive data processing power and cutting‑edge algorithmic frameworks such as Vision‑Language‑Action (VLA), and NVIDIA accelerated computing technology for training optimisation, it will significantly speeding up the industrialisation of Physical AI technologies.

The Embodied Intelligence Laboratory jointly established by AsiaInfo Technologies and ABB Robotics has been officially launched, marking the shift of their strategic partnership into a practical stage of implementation based on previous research. This collaboration represents not only a forward-looking initiative by both parties to deploy cutting-edge technologies and fulfill their industrial responsibilities, but also a pivotal step in advancing Physical AI from the laboratory into real-world applications on the factory floor. Looking forward, AsiaInfo Technologies together with partners including ABB Robotics and Alibaba Cloud, will use the laboratory as a core platform to deepen technical collaboration and scenario co‑creation, drive large‑scale deployment of Physical AI in industry, build a globally impactful benchmark for industrial intelligence, and help shape an open and collaborative Physical AI ecosystem.
Hashtag: #AsiaInfo

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UNESCO has approved an emergency assistance package worth about US$740,000 to help safeguard cultural heritage sites in Vietnam threatened by climate stress, environmental degradation and development pressures, according to officials briefed on the decision. The funding is designed to support urgent conservation work, technical assessments and community-led protection measures at vulnerable locations across the country.

The package, cleared under UNESCO’s emergency assistance mechanisms, will prioritise sites exposed to flooding, erosion and extreme weather, challenges that have intensified along Vietnam’s long coastline and river systems. Heritage specialists involved in the programme said the initiative aims to stabilise damaged structures, document at-risk artefacts and strengthen local capacity to respond to future threats, rather than focus solely on restoration.

Vietnam is home to eight UNESCO-recognised World Heritage properties, including Ha Long Bay, the Complex of Hué Monuments, Hoi An Ancient Town and My Son Sanctuary. Many of these sites combine natural and built heritage, making them particularly sensitive to environmental change and tourism pressures. Officials familiar with the emergency package said the funding will be channelled to areas where immediate intervention can prevent irreversible loss.

UNESCO representatives said the programme reflects a broader shift towards preventative heritage protection, integrating scientific monitoring with traditional conservation practices. Technical teams are expected to work alongside Vietnamese authorities to conduct rapid risk assessments, improve drainage and structural support where needed, and deploy digital documentation tools to create detailed records of vulnerable assets.

Climate-related risks have become a growing concern for heritage managers in Southeast Asia. Rising sea levels threaten coastal archaeological remains, while heavier rainfall has increased the frequency of landslides and subsidence in historic towns. In Vietnam’s central regions, typhoons have repeatedly damaged ancient structures, prompting calls for faster international support mechanisms.

Cultural officials in Hanoi have welcomed the assistance, noting that emergency funding complements longer-term conservation programmes already under way. Vietnam has invested heavily in heritage tourism over the past decade, positioning historic sites as key economic drivers for local communities. However, the pace of visitor growth has also strained infrastructure and conservation budgets, particularly at smaller or less prominent locations.

Experts involved in the UNESCO initiative said community engagement would be central to the programme’s success. Local residents, custodians and artisans are expected to take part in risk-mitigation planning and training, ensuring that emergency measures align with traditional knowledge and livelihoods. This approach is intended to reduce dependence on external interventions while strengthening stewardship at the grassroots level.

The emergency package also includes provisions for knowledge-sharing with other countries facing similar challenges. UNESCO officials said lessons from Vietnam’s experience will inform future responses in the region, where heritage sites increasingly sit at the intersection of climate vulnerability and rapid economic development.

International heritage bodies have emphasised that emergency assistance is not a substitute for sustained conservation funding. While the US$740,000 allocation is modest compared with the scale of risks, specialists said it can play a critical role in stabilising sites and buying time for more comprehensive interventions. The funds are expected to be disbursed in phases, with progress reviews guiding subsequent activities.

India’s largest information technology services firms together reported a net reduction of close to 3,000 employees in the third quarter of the 2025–26 financial year, underscoring a structural shift in hiring as companies rebalance workforces around artificial intelligence, cloud platforms and higher-value digital engineering.

Quarterly disclosures showed that headcount at several bellwether firms edged lower despite stable deal pipelines. The combined net decline, modest by historical standards, contrasted sharply with the aggressive campus hiring and broad-based workforce expansion that defined the sector for more than a decade. Executives and analysts pointed to a “barbell” pattern in demand, with strong hiring at the high end for niche digital and AI skills and limited intake, or attrition-led pruning, in legacy application maintenance and commoditised services.

At Tata Consultancy Services, the country’s largest IT services exporter by revenue, total employee strength slipped during the quarter as voluntary attrition stayed elevated in certain service lines and fresh hiring remained selective. Infosys also reported a marginal fall in headcount, reflecting a focus on utilisation, internal redeployment and productivity improvements rather than large-scale lateral recruitment. Wipro and HCLTech posted similar trends, with management teams emphasising skill transformation over volume growth.

The net reduction came even as revenue growth stabilised sequentially for most firms, helped by cost optimisation deals, vendor consolidation and demand for cloud migration. Industry executives said the hiring slowdown was not a signal of weakening fundamentals but a recalibration after years of overcapacity built during the post-pandemic surge in digital spending.

What is different this cycle, analysts argue, is the depth of the technology shift reshaping delivery models. Generative AI tools, low-code platforms and automation frameworks are beginning to decouple revenue growth from headcount expansion. Routine coding, testing and support tasks are increasingly automated, reducing the need for large teams, while boosting productivity per employee.

This dynamic has produced the barbell model now widely discussed in boardrooms. On one end, firms are competing fiercely for specialists in data engineering, AI model deployment, cybersecurity, semiconductor design services and advanced cloud architecture. On the other, demand for entry-level roles tied to traditional application development and infrastructure support has softened, leading to fewer campus offers and limited backfilling of exits.

Management commentary during earnings calls reinforced this shift. Several chief executives highlighted large internal reskilling programmes, with tens of thousands of employees undergoing training in AI, machine learning and cloud-native technologies. The emphasis has moved from hiring for scale to building depth in targeted capabilities that command higher billing rates and longer-term client commitments.

Client behaviour has also played a role. Enterprises in North America and Europe, which account for the bulk of export revenues, continue to scrutinise technology budgets amid macroeconomic uncertainty. Discretionary projects have faced delays, while spending has been redirected toward efficiency-led initiatives where automation is central. This has compressed demand for traditional staff-augmentation models that once absorbed large numbers of engineers.

Despite the headline job losses, the sector remains a major employer, with total headcount across the top firms still running into the millions. Analysts caution against interpreting the quarterly decline as a broad-based contraction. Instead, they see a transition phase in which workforce pyramids are being reshaped to align with evolving client needs and delivery economics.

Wage dynamics reflect the same adjustment. Salary hikes have been measured, variable pay has been linked more closely to utilisation and skill relevance, and onsite deployments have been rationalised. At the same time, niche talent continues to command premiums, widening pay dispersion within firms.