Author: Sai Krishna

Green Cabbage Announces the Launch of the F&I (Finance & Insurance) Market Data Spend Cube

New Spend Cube Enables Global Companies to Negotiate Smarter Deals with F&I Suppliers

PITTSBURGH, Aug. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Green Cabbage, the leading procurement intelligence partner for 2,600+ organizations across North America, EMEA, APAC, and LATAM, today announced the launch of its F&I (Finance & Insurance) Market Data Spend Cube.

The F&I Spend Cube arms finance, procurement, and legal teams with independent market intelligence to identify spending patterns, eliminate overpayment, and unlock negotiation leverage across three critical spend categories: Market Data & Information Aggregators, Insurance & Financial Services Technology, and Financial Services Operations & Analytics.

“This is what speed and client value looks like,” says Eric Cunningham, CEO of Green Cabbage. “Our clients asked for this, and it went directly into product in weeks, not quarters. This is a massive opportunity for CFOs. Finance & Insurance is one of the largest, most opaque spend categories on their balance sheet, and most have zero visibility into whether they’re getting market rates. The F&I Market Data Spend Cube represents Green Cabbage moving at the pace our clients expect: fast, focused, and ready to help finance and procurement teams unlock real value and negotiate from a position of market strength.”

The F&I Market Data Spend Cube provides deep benchmarking across three strategic procurement categories:

Market Data & Information Aggregators

Capital markets data, industry research, macroeconomic intelligence, and alternative data platforms represent significant annual commitments for many organizations. The F&I Market Data Spend Cube benchmarks data license fees, identifies overlapping subscriptions across trading, research, and analytics functions, and evaluates supplier pricing against actual utilization.

Insurance & Financial Services Technology

Policy administration systems, wealth management platforms, mortgage origination tools, and trading order management systems are mission-critical and often poorly managed. The F&I Market Data Spend Cube evaluates platform licensing fees, identifies consolidation opportunities, compares total cost of ownership across competing solutions, and surfaces pricing gaps relative to transaction volume and user adoption.

Financial Services Operations & Analytics

Credit data, KYC/AML compliance platforms, actuarial and risk analytics, and collateral valuation services are essential operational tools. The F&I Market Data Spend Cube benchmarks operational data costs by volume and service tier, evaluates compliance platform fees against regulatory requirements, and identifies overlapping analytics platform subscriptions across business units.

According to Don Addington and Jim Florentine, key Executive Advisory Board members at Green Cabbage, “Our EAB represents some of the largest companies in the world, and all are seeing the same challenge: procurement and finance teams negotiating blind, renewing policy administration platforms because they don’t understand competitive alternatives, or overpaying for various data sources because they have no market reference point. This gives finance leaders the visibility and control they need to identify millions in hidden value, benchmark their actual F&I costs against peers, and drive meaningful bottom-line impact. The F&I Market Data Spend Cube closes that gap overnight.”

The F&I Market Data Spend Cube enables companies to:

• Benchmark capital markets and alternative data subscriptions against peer institutional spend and usage volume
• Identify and eliminate redundant platform licenses across finance, treasury, wealth management, and operations
• Evaluate technology platform costs on a total-cost-of-ownership basis, including implementation, integrations, and support
• Assess operational data and analytics platform contracts for scope creep and renegotiation opportunities
• Negotiate data redistribution rights, user seat terms, and enterprise license structures with concrete market leverage

About Green Cabbage

Green Cabbage, Inc. is the global leader in procurement intelligence, addressing AI, Technology, Third-Party Labor, Marketing, Travel & Expense, MRO, Employee Benefits, and Finance & Insurance spend through our Harvest Platform. Green Cabbage delivers real, tangible outcomes with market, commercial, and supplier intelligence in as little as 24 hours. Green Cabbage services 2600+ clients globally in enterprise, mid-market, private equity, and consulting firms on pricing strategy and licensing to negotiation, audit defense, legal advisory, training, and more.

For more information about Green Cabbage’s Finance & Insurance Spend Cube, contact Seth Benson at seth.benson@greencabbage.com or visit www.greencabbage.com.

Media Contact: Sheena Smith, Chief Marketing Officer, sheena.smith@greencabbage.com www.greencabbage.com

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Chandigarh University Students’ ‘Green Heart’ Wins NASSCOM’s Best Startup Award, Bags ₹5 Lakh Grant to Transform Farming with AI, Satellites & IoT

From Campus Innovation to AgriTech Breakthrough: Chandigarh University Students’ ‘Green Heart’ Wins NASSCOM’s Best Startup Award

CHANDIGARH, India, Aug. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — A Chandigarh University student startup has secured the Best Startup Award, along with a Rs 5,00,000 grant for its Al-driven smart agriculture technology platform ‘GreenHeart’ at ‘Neovation 2026’ (ThingQbator), a prestigious innovation and startup incubation initiative organized by NASSCOM, the apex body representing India’s $250-billion technology sector.

Founded by three Chandigarh University students including Garvit Saluja (Founder), Aditya Bhandari and Prakhar Nautiyal (both Co-Founders), all final-year students of B Tech in Computer Science and Engineering (Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AIML)), this tech-enabled platform ‘GreenHeart’ has been designed to improve farm productivity and sustainability using data-driven insights, reduce water, fertilizer, and pesticide usage and detect crop stress and diseases. Besides winning Neovation 2026, this Startup also represented Chandigarh University as a finalist in the Smart India Hackathon (SIH) 2025.

Besides using real-time sensors for environmental monitoring and data collection with IoT and 5G integration, this platform processes satellite data to provide personalized recommendations for crops, fertilizers, and pest detection. This platform features a user-friendly, multilingual interface to ensure it is usable for farmers across different regions.

“Our startup is a kind of research lab for AI and hardware research. We are currently working on multiple products including a soil analysis device to measure key soil parameters including NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium) levels, soil fertility, electrical conductivity, and soil sensitivity for helping farmers make informed decisions to improve crop productivity. Our water quality monitoring device evaluates critical water parameters including heavy metal concentration, turbidity and Total Dissolved Solids (TDS). We have also designed an autonomous submarine system designed to operate in canals. It moves independently through the water and detects micro plastics present in the canal, helping monitor water pollution. We are among the first companies in India to develop such a system. Prototype of these products has been developed and successfully tested in real-world or field conditions,” Garvit Saluja said.

Green Heart Co-Founder, Aditya Bhandari said Green Heart is undertaking a pilot project to test its hardware products in agriculture fields. “Besides testing our products in multiple locations, at present we are working on a pilot project with 50 farmers in Ropar and Ludhiana to test Green Heart hardware devices. We collect the data from Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 satellites which are part of the Copernicus program (ESA) and provide free, open-access satellite data via APIs like Sentinel Hub or Google Earth Engine. From Sentinel-2 (optical imagery with 10-meter resolution), we compute vegetation indices such as Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) to monitor crop health and vegetation density. Additionally, from Sentinel-1 (SAR radar), we obtain backscatter data that helps estimate surface soil moisture and works reliably even under cloud cover, which is critical for continuous monitoring in agricultural regions. This satellite data provides spatial, large-scale validation and continuous crop condition monitoring, which complements point-based sensor data and ultimately improves the overall accuracy of agricultural decision-making,” Aditya Bhandari said.

“After that, we use our own AI models to analyse this combined data and generate detailed reports for farmers, recommending which crops are best suited for their soil and environmental conditions. We also perform weather prediction and provide farmers with actionable recommendations with the help of multiple data sources, including satellite imagery, sensor data, and historical weather patterns. So, if a farmer is currently growing a certain crop, our system may suggest an alternative crop that is better suited to the field conditions. By following these recommendations, farmers can potentially increase their crop yield and profit margins by approximately 15 to 20%. Our startup 4 to 5% from that profit farmers make on their total investments in a field on the basis of our recommendations,” he added.

Prakhar Nautiyal, Co-Founder Green Heart, said, “We chose AgriTech as our major focus because agriculture plays a very significant role in India. More than 50% of India’s population is directly or indirectly dependent on agriculture, making it one of the most important sectors in the country. The AgriTech market in India, valued at around $450 million, is growing rapidly and offers huge opportunities for innovation.”

“As a student of Chandigarh University, we used to participate in hackathons which introduced us to the startup ecosystem. As we were competing with startups that were already generating revenue of around Rs 1.5 Crore, this inspired us to build a Startup of our own. Then we received support from a government-backed MeitY seed fund of Rs 7 lakh, which became the starting point of our startup journey. Since then, it has been around one year and we have been continuously developing in multiple sectors, including AgriTech and logistics. For this, we always got the encouragement from all our teachers and higher management of the university,” said Garvit Saluja.

Congratulating Garvit Saluja, Aditya Bhandari and Prakhar Nautiyal,  Deepinder Singh Sandhu, Senior Managing Director, Chandigarh University said, “Chandigarh University’s promotes the culture of creating the jobs by nurturing entrepreneurship skills among students. The participation of these students in NEOVATION (ThingQbator), organized by NASSCOM, marked a significant milestone in their entrepreneurial journey. The achievement of securing the Best Startup Award, along with a Rs 5 lakh grant, highlights their innovation, execution capability, and startup potential. It’s even more satisfying that these students have founded Startup for developing Al-driven smart agriculture technology and contributing meaningfully to the innovation landscape at both national and global levels.”

“As a Research-Intensive University, Chandigarh University remains focused on research and innovation by fostering an entrepreneurial ecosystem which encourages its students for innovating new technologies and unlock boundless opportunities for growth. Ever since the inception of the Chandigarh University, CU students have created over 250 Start-Ups. Chandigarh University’s Technology Business Incubator (CU-TBI) is mobilising Rs 5 crore to catalyze growth in the startup ecosystem at CU,” Sandhu added.

Chandigarh University

Chandigarh University is a NAAC A+ Grade University and QS World Ranked University. This autonomous educational institution is approved by UGC and is located near Chandigarh in the state of Punjab. It is the youngest university in India and the only private university in Punjab to be honoured with A+ Grade by NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council). CU offers more than 109 UG and PG programs in the field of engineering, management, pharmacy, law, architecture, journalism, animation, hotel management, commerce, and others. It has been awarded as The University with Best Placements by WCRC.

Website address: https://www.cuchd.in/

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Octillion Power Systems Opens Third India Manufacturing Plant, Expanding EV Battery Capacity in Gujarat

New 13,000-square-meter facility built in under eight months adds more than 3 GWh of annual battery capacity, reinforcing India’s electric mobility supply chain across passenger, commercial truck/LCV, and bus segments

RICHMOND, Calif., Aug. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Octillion Power Systems (“Octillion”), a global Tier 1 supplier of electric vehicle (EV) battery systems, today announced the opening of its third manufacturing plant in India, located in Halol, Gujarat. The facility, spanning more than 13,000 square meters, was transformed from an empty structure into a fully operational battery manufacturing plant in less than eight months — further strengthening India’s EV supply chain and expanding Octillion’s global production footprint.

At full capacity, the Gujarat plant will produce more than 48,000 battery systems annually, contributing over 3 GWh of energy storage capacity each year. Combined with Octillion’s two existing India facilities, the company’s annual production in the country is expected to exceed 150,000 battery systems and approximately 9 GWh of battery capacity in India alone — supporting the passenger vehicle, trucks/LCVs, and bus segments that are driving India’s electrification push.

“India is one of the most important growth markets in the global transition to electric mobility, and this facility reflects our long-term commitment to building capacity where our customers need it most,” said Paul Beach, Global President of Octillion Power Systems. “Delivering a fully operational plant in under eight months is a testament to the discipline of our team and our ability to execute at speed without compromising the quality standards our customers depend on.”

India’s E-Mobility Market Is Accelerating Across Every Segment

The Halol facility comes online as India’s EV market enters a period of rapid, broad-based growth. According to JMK Research, India’s EV sales rose 43% year-over-year in the first half of 2026, reaching more than 1.54 million units and pushing overall EV penetration past 11%. Electric passenger cars led the surge, up 83% year-over-year in the same period, while electric buses climbed 42% on the strength of large-scale deployments under the government’s PM E-Bus Sewa and PM E-DRIVE programs — which allocated more than 4,200 e-buses in June 2026 alone, coinciding with the highest-ever monthly e-bus sales on record. Electric trucks, still an early-stage segment, posted the fastest relative growth of all, with cumulative sales up more than 300% year-over-year as logistics, e-commerce, and industrial fleets pursue decarbonization and total-cost-of-ownership gains.

That momentum is underpinned by ambitious national targets: India aims for EVs to account for 30% of private car sales, 70% of commercial vehicle sales, 40% of bus sales, and 80% of two- and three-wheeler sales by 2030, supported by programs such as PM E-DRIVE and the Advanced Chemistry Cell (ACC) Production-Linked Incentive scheme. For battery suppliers, that trajectory translates directly into sustained demand across every vehicle class Octillion serves in the country.

Building a More Resilient Battery Supply Chain in India

Manufacturing capacity is only part of the equation. India remains heavily dependent on imported lithium, cobalt, and nickel for battery production, and net localization for high-value components such as cells, motors, and controllers remains below 20% for many manufacturers, according to research from the International Institute for Sustainable Development. Closing that gap is now a national priority: the government’s National Critical Minerals Mission is funding domestic exploration and processing capacity, customs duties have been eliminated on 25 critical minerals, and a dedicated battery mineral processing policy is expected to be finalized in the coming months to build a complete local value chain for battery-grade materials.

Against that backdrop, Octillion’s approach to the Gujarat facility — and to its broader India footprint — is designed to go beyond assembly. The plant integrates the company’s standardized production process, extensive thermal modeling, and fully integrated battery management systems directly into the local supply base, reducing lead times, improving responsiveness to customers, and building the kind of redundant, in-country capacity that OEMs increasingly require as they de-risk their sourcing strategies.

“A resilient EV supply chain in India can’t just mean more square footage — it means depth: local sourcing, local quality control, and local engineering talent working side by side with our global standards,” said Nikhil Parchure, SVP at Octillion Power Systems. “That’s what we’ve built in Halol. As India moves toward its 2030 electrification targets across cars, trucks, and buses, our customers need a partner who can scale with them without exposing them to global supply chain volatility, and that is exactly the role we intend to play.”

Today, Octillion is the leading supplier of EV battery packs in India across passenger vehicles, buses, and commercial trucks. The addition of the Halol facility further expands the company’s ability to support the country’s growing transportation electrification efforts, while reinforcing the redundancy and scale required to serve a market moving toward mass adoption across every vehicle category.

Building for the Future

The rapid completion of the Gujarat facility demonstrates Octillion’s ability to execute large-scale manufacturing projects efficiently while maintaining the quality, safety, and operational standards required for advanced battery production. More importantly, the facility represents an investment in the future — supporting the continued growth of electric mobility, creating new opportunities across the EV value chain, and helping meet increasing demand for battery systems both in India and globally.

As demand for electrification continues to grow worldwide, Octillion remains focused on expanding manufacturing capacity, supporting customers closer to their markets, and delivering the advanced battery systems that power the global energy transition.

A video of the Gujarat facility’s transformation is available to view alongside this release.

About Octillion Power Systems, Inc.

Octillion, headquartered in Richmond, California, is a Tier 1 supplier of advanced high-density energy storage systems focused on the electrification of cross-sector electric mobility — spanning passenger vehicles, commercial trucks, transit buses, marine craft, and heavy industrial machinery. With 9 global manufacturing facilities, Octillion has delivered more than 2.7 million batteries to the global EV market, over 45 billion kilometers driven on its systems, and 24 GWh of annual production capacity in 2024. Octillion is a turnkey battery supplier for the transportation market, providing its customers with a bridge from design to mass-scale manufacturing. Octillion products undergo a robust design process, including extensive thermal modeling, fully integrated battery management systems, and a standardized production process that offers a customized-package solution. Learn more at www.octillion.us.

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Cambrex Milan Celebrates 80th Anniversary with Construction of New $30 Million R&D Facility

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J., Aug. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Cambrex, a leading global contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), today announced the start of construction on a new research and development (R&D) facility at its Milan, Italy site. This $30 million investment will add advanced analytical development and process R&D capabilities, alongside upgrades to multiple production plants, reinforcing Cambrex’s commitment to supporting the pharmaceutical industry’s most complex small molecule development.

The Milan R&D expansion is expected to be completed in the second half of 2027. To accommodate future growth and rising demand for CDMO services, Cambrex has also acquired additional land adjacent to the site, ensuring the capacity to expand and innovate for years to come.

The Cambrex Profarmico Milano site, which marks its 80th anniversary this year, has a distinguished legacy of supporting pharmaceutical development and manufacturing for its global client base. The Milan team recently gathered to celebrate this milestone, reflecting on eight decades of scientific achievement and dedication to advancing human health.

Claudio Russolo, Chief Operating Officer at Cambrex, commented: “Breaking ground on this new facility is a testament to the enduring legacy and expertise of our Milan team. For 80 years, this site has been a cornerstone of pharmaceutical manufacturing in Europe. With this expansion, we are investing not only in new technologies and capabilities, but in the future of our people and our partners.”

The investment builds on Cambrex’s legacy of scientific expertise and manufacturing excellence while positioning the company for its next chapter of growth. By expanding R&D capabilities in Milan, Cambrex is strengthening its ability to address the increasing complexity of today’s small molecule therapies.

About Cambrex

Cambrex is a leading global contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) that provides drug substance development and manufacturing across the entire drug lifecycle, as well as comprehensive analytical services.

With over 45 years of experience and a team of 2,000 experts servicing global clients from North America and Europe, Cambrex offers a range of specialized drug substance technologies and capabilities, including continuous flow, controlled substances, peptide synthesis, solid-state science, biocatalysis, material characterization, complex synthetics, and highly potent APIs.

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KuCoin Strengthens Operational Resilience with ISO 22301:2019 Certification

Internationally recognized business continuity certification reinforces KuCoin’s trust framework, advancing resilient infrastructure for trusted digital asset services.

PROVIDENCIALES, Turks and Caicos Islands, Aug. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As digital assets become increasingly integrated into the global financial system, operational resilience has become an essential foundation of trust. In a market that operates 24/7, users expect platforms not only to safeguard their assets, but also to remain available, reliable and responsive when facing unexpected disruptions.

Against this backdrop, KuCoin, a leading global cryptocurrency exchange, today announced that it has successfully achieved ISO 22301:2019 Business Continuity Management Systems (BCMS) certification, an internationally recognized standard for business continuity management. The certification marks another important milestone in KuCoin’s ongoing commitment to strengthening operational resilience, ensuring service continuity, and delivering trusted digital asset services to users worldwide.

ISO 22301 provides organizations with a structured framework to identify operational risks, establish effective business continuity plans, and strengthen their ability to recover critical services quickly during unexpected disruptions. Rather than focusing solely on preventing incidents, the standard emphasizes preparedness, resilience and continuous improvement, enabling organizations to maintain business-critical operations in the face of cyber incidents, infrastructure failures, third-party service disruptions and other unforeseen events.

For the digital asset industry, business continuity is particularly critical. Unlike traditional financial markets with defined trading hours, cryptocurrency markets never close, requiring platforms to support uninterrupted trading, payments and asset services across global time zones. At the same time, operational risks have become increasingly complex, extending beyond cybersecurity to include cloud service interruptions, node failures, third-party dependencies, payment infrastructure availability and cross-regional operational challenges.

Around the world, operational resilience is also becoming an increasingly important regulatory priority. Frameworks such as the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) and Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA), together with guidance from financial authorities including the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA), continue to place greater emphasis on business continuity as a core capability for trusted financial services. Achieving ISO 22301 certification reflects KuCoin’s commitment to aligning with internationally recognized best practices while continuously strengthening the resilience of its global operations.

“Trust is built not only through security, but also through consistency and reliability,” said BC Wong, CEO of KuCoin. “As the digital asset industry continues to mature, operational resilience is becoming just as important as security. Achieving ISO 22301 certification marks another milestone in strengthening our ability to prepare for unexpected events, recover efficiently and continue delivering reliable digital asset services to users around the world. Guided by our philosophy of ‘Trust First. Trade Next.’, we will continue investing in the infrastructure that supports long-term trust.”

The certification further strengthens KuCoin’s comprehensive Trust Framework, reinforcing three critical pillars that underpin trusted digital asset services:

• ISO/IEC 27001:2022 — Information Security Management
• SOC 2 Type II — Operational Reliability
• ISO 22301:2019 — Business Continuity Management

Together, these internationally recognized standards reinforce KuCoin’s ability to protect information, strengthen service reliability and enhance operational resilience across its global platform. By continuously advancing its governance framework, KuCoin is building an always-on digital asset infrastructure designed to deliver reliable and resilient digital asset services for users worldwide.

About KuCoin

Founded in 2017, KuCoin is a leading global crypto platform built on trust and security, serving over 45 million users across 200+ countries and regions. Known for its reliability and user-first approach, the platform combines advanced technology, deep liquidity, and strong security safeguards to deliver a seamless trading experience. KuCoin provides access to 1,500+ digital assets through a broad product suite and remains committed to building transparent, compliant, and user-centric digital asset infrastructure for the future of finance, backed by SOC 2 Type II, ISO/IEC 27001:2022, and ISO/IEC 27701:2019 Certifications. In recent years, we have built a strong global compliance foundation, marked by key milestones including AUSTRAC registration in Australia, a MiCA license in Europe, and regulatory progress in other markets.

Learn more at www.kucoin.com.

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The Ellinikon Sports Park Opens to All as Europe’s Largest Urban Regeneration Project Accelerates Toward Completion

ATHENS, Greece, Aug. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Ellinikon, Europe’s largest urban regeneration project and spearheaded by LAMDA Development, has reached a major milestone with the opening of The Ellinikon Sports Park, the project’s first large-scale public sports and wellness destination. The debut marks a significant step in transforming the former Athens International Airport into a next-generation coastal city, while construction continues at pace across residential neighborhoods, landmark retail destinations, and the iconic Riviera Tower.

Spanning 287,000 square meters, The Ellinikon Sports Park has been designed as an open, accessible destination designed for high-performance and recreational athletes alike, as well as families, tourists, and all Athenians, reinforcing sport, wellness, and public space as defining elements of the project’s vision for a 15-minute city. The park features a completed track and field complex, football pitches, and throwing field, alongside free-play courts for tennis and basketball, athletes’ dorms, flexible recreation areas, and 115,000 square meters of expansive landscaped and open green space.

The Sports Park already demonstrated its ability to host world-class events earlier this year when it welcomed thousands of spectators for the EKO Super Special Stage of the 2026 FIA World Rally Championship Acropolis Rally, offering an early glimpse of the international competitions, community programming, and public events the venue will accommodate.

Odisseas Athanasiou, CEO of LAMDA Development, stated: “The delivery of the first phase of the Sports Park to the public marks an important and highly symbolic milestone for The Ellinikon. This is the moment when The Ellinikon truly opens its doors to the public, giving citizens the opportunity to experience first-hand the first tangible elements of the new way of life taking shape within Europe’s largest urban regeneration project. For all of us, this is a major step in a journey that began years ago, driven by vision, perseverance, and a deep belief in our goal.”

As the Sports Park opens its doors, construction continues to accelerate across every district of The Ellinikon, with residential neighborhoods expanding, landmark retail destinations advancing toward completion, and Riviera Tower reaching its final height.

Residential Neighborhoods Continue to Expand

The Ellinikon’s residential portfolio continues to grow with the recent launch of The Courtyards, the newest offering within the Little Athens neighborhood. Designed by acclaimed Greek practice AUDO Architects, the development comprises 324 contemporary residences across 11 buildings, featuring one- to four-bedroom homes inspired by modern Mediterranean living. Select penthouses include expansive rooftop terraces, while 35 ground-floor residences offer private gardens with either a swimming pool or jacuzzi. All homes include underground parking and dedicated storage.

Construction is advancing across The Ellinikon’s residential projects, with the first properties expected to be delivered in early 2027, followed by the phased delivery of additional residences throughout 2027. Marking another important milestone, the first fully completed showcase residence at Promenade Heights in Little Athens has now been unveiled, offering the inaugural finished home experience within The Ellinikon and providing a first glimpse of the quality, design, and craftsmanship that will define the community.

Landmark Retail Destinations Advance

Construction also continues on Riviera Galleria, a premium retail and dining destination designed by renowned Japanese architect Kengo Kuma. Spanning 23,000 square meters, it aspires to bring together a curated mix of international and Greek fashion, lifestyle, and dining concepts, from daytime to evening. Its undulating architectural canopy is inspired by the movement of water. Scheduled for construction completion in early 2027, Riviera Galleria has already signed Heads of Terms representing 76 percent of its gross leasable area.

Elsewhere within The Ellinikon, construction is now underway on The Ellinikon Mall, designed by internationally acclaimed architectural office Aedas. Set to become Greece’s largest and most advanced retail destination and one of Southern Europe’s premier shopping, entertainment, and leisure destinations, the project recently marked the start of construction following community engagement sessions that outlined implementation timelines, environmental monitoring measures, and traffic management plans. Spanning 100,000 square meters of gross leasable area, the mall will combine indoor and outdoor environments through a sustainable, hybrid design that seamlessly integrates retail, dining, entertainment, and green public space. Signed Heads of Terms have already reached 70 percent of the mall’s total gross leasable area, reflecting strong retailer demand ahead of its anticipated completion in 2029.

The opening of The Ellinikon Sports Park, alongside the structural completion of Riviera Tower, construction completion of Riviera Galleria, the commencement of construction on The Ellinikon Mall, the continued advancement of residential neighborhoods, and the launch of LAMDA Labs, demonstrates the accelerating realization of one of the world’s most ambitious mixed-use developments.

For more information about The Ellinikon, please visit https://theellinikon.com.gr/

For more information about LAMDA Development, please visit https://www.lamdadev.com

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Xinhua Silk Road: Culture ignites vitality, high-quality development in E. China’s Quanzhou

BEIJING, Aug. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — In Quanzhou, a city famed as the maritime emporium during the Song and Yuan dynasties, cultural diversity and fruitful preservation and inheritance have paved the way for vibrant and high-quality urban development.

For years, the city home to multiple world- and national-level intangible cultural heritages (ICH) has been engaged in holistic protection, systemic inheritance and innovative revitalization of local historical and cultural heritages.

With concrete efforts, Quanzhou managed to preserve the original appearance of historical and cultural relics.

For instance, the renovated Dacheng Hall of Confucius Temple there reserves the original style and the recovered historical and cultural streets well balance the needs of daily life and landscape protection.

Such pragmatic preservation practices together with the establishment of protection centers of various levels help the city craft a “living ancient city” and a basket of model zones for stellar cultural relics protection.

In the ancient-style alleys and streets there, cultural heritage is brought into everyday lives of locals, who are free to immerse themselves in the slow-paced but elegant melody of Quanzhou Nanyin, dramas of lifelike puppets, or the engaging beauty of floral wreaths from Xunpu Village.

When a well-planned public culture regime functions smoothly, exquisite cultural works flourish in Quanzhou where cultural and art teams and talents gather for cultural communication activities and diverse performances.

Currently, rich cultural heritages-driven cultural industry has grown as a competitive engine propelling high-quality development of the city.

In Anxi County, Tieguanyin represents not only a popular tea, but also a burgeoning sector encompassing tea manors, cultural study tours and homestays.

In Yongchun County, potential of traditional incense-making culture was unlocked through incense product R&D, incense therapy-based wellness, creative incense cultural products production, and related sales at home and abroad.

In Dehua County, white porcelains have walked into modern home furnishings market, artistic collections, and creative fashion products sector and became a sensation amid the trending China-chic.

Last year, output value of Anxi’s tea industry, Yongchun’s incense industrial chains and Dehua’s ceramic industrial clusters reached 46.05 billion yuan, 13.5 billion yuan and 76 billion yuan respectively.

In Quanzhou, other ICHs such as stone carvings from Hui’an County are also being explored to contribute to the clustering of local cultural industries with distinctive characteristics.

Original link: https://en.imsilkroad.com/p/351667.html

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Canara HSBC Life Insurance Launches ‘The Viral Parivar’, a Digital-First Micro-Drama Series Bringing Financial Preparedness into Everyday Conversations

The humorous digital micro-drama series highlights why financial preparedness is essential in a rapidly changing world

NEW DELHI, Aug. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Canara HSBC Life Insurance Company Limited (“Canara HSBC Life Insurance”) has launched The Viral Parivar, a digital micro-drama series that captures the everyday realities of India’s middle-class families as they navigate the opportunities and uncertainties of an increasingly digital-first world. Through relatable humour, family-centric storytelling and socially relevant themes, the campaign explores concerns around social media influence, digital scams, impact of AI on jobs and evolving financial priorities of modern Indian families.

As part of its broader marketing approach, Canara HSBC Life Insurance is leveraging content formats and platforms that resonate with today’s consumers. Recognising the popularity of short-form video content, the brand is using storytelling-led digital content to encourage conversations around financial wellness and preparedness in a way that feels relevant and accessible. Short-form formats such as Reels enable the brand to engage audiences through everyday stories and cultural moments that naturally lend themselves to sharing and discussion.

The Viral Parivar is anchored on platforms such as Instagram and YouTube shorts, which have become important spaces for self-expression, community engagement and cultural conversations. For younger, digitally native audiences, content often resonates most when it reflects their everyday experiences, aspirations and challenges. Through relatable characters, familiar situations and bite-sized narratives, the series seeks to make conversations around financial protection and long-term planning more relevant and relatable.

Through this initiative, Canara HSBC Life Insurance continues to strengthen its commitment to helping customers safeguard their financial future and fulfil the promises they make to their loved ones. The campaign reflects the company’s philosophy of being a ‘Promises Ka Partner‘, empowering families with the confidence that comes from long-term financial protection in an ever-changing world.

The campaign is now live across Canara HSBC Life Insurance’s Instagram, Facebook and YouTube channels.

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DbvSqIVvWE-/?igsh=MWZleHNrMGkwcTlldA%3D%3D 
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/19KjvHNBN8/
• YouTube: AI vs Human | The Viral Parivar Episode 1 | Canara HSBC Life Insurance

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Madden NYC Launches in India

Steve Madden’s accessible fashion brand launches on 11^th  August 2026, introducing trend-driven women’s footwear inspired by the energy of New York City.

MUMBAI, India, Aug. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Madden NYC, the accessible fashion brand from Steve Madden, will make its India debut on 11^th August 2026, launching with a women’s footwear collection available online and at select retailers across the country. Inspired by the energy of New York City, the brand offers fashion-forward footwear for shoppers who embrace personal style on their own terms.

Designed for consumers who express their personal style with confidence, Madden NYC celebrates individuality through fashion-forward, easy-to-wear styles for every mood, moment and occasion.

The debut collection includes everything from everyday sneakers and effortless slides to statement heels and elevated essentials. Featuring metallic finishes, woven textures, denim details, animal prints and playful pops of color, Madden NYC delivers fashion-forward style at an accessible price point of ₹5,000-₹7,000.

“The Indian fashion consumer is increasingly looking for brands that combine global relevance with accessible style. Madden NYC fills an exciting whitespace in the market with its fashion-forward aesthetic, strong value proposition and broad appeal. We are confident the brand will resonate with a new generation of consumers and establish a strong presence across both digital and physical retail in India,” Sumeet Yadav, Head – Reliance Brands Limited.

“India has become one of the most exciting fashion markets in the world, and we’re thrilled to introduce Madden NYC to consumers looking for accessible, trend-driven style,” says Ian Funk, President of International at Steve Madden. “We’re excited to partner with Reliance to bring a brand inspired by the energy of New York City to a new generation of consumers. This launch marks an important milestone in our continued international growth, and we look forward to building the brand together.”

Madden NYC launches digital-first via https://stevemadden.in/sections/madden-nyc, with the collection also available at select retail destinations across Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai, New Delhi, Ahmedabad, Pune, Kolkata and other cities. The launch builds on Steve Madden’s growing retail footprint in India with 35 current exclusive stores across 16 cities, bringing the brand’s trend-driven aesthetic to more consumers than ever.

This debut marks the first phase of Madden NYC in India, with new product drops, additional categories and consumer activations to follow later this year.

 About Reliance Brands Limited (RBL)

Reliance Brands Limited (RBL), a subsidiary of Reliance Retail Ventures Ltd. (RRVL), was established in 2007 with a mandate to launch, scale, and nurture global fashion and lifestyle brands in India across the luxury to premium spectrum. Its portfolio today includes some of the world’s most iconic names such as Armani Exchange, Balenciaga, Bally, Bottega Veneta, Brooks Brothers, Burberry, Canali, Coach, Diesel, EA7, Elan Cafe, Emporio Armani, Ferragamo, Gas, Giorgio Armani, Hamleys, Hugo Boss, Hunkemoller, Iconix, Jimmy Choo, Kate Spade, La Martina, Lenscrafters, Maje, Max&Co., Michael Kors, Mothercare, Muji, Paul & Shark, Paul Smith, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, Pret A Manger, Sandro, Stella McCartney, Steve Madden, Superdry, Tiffany & Co., Tod’s, Tory Burch, Tumi, Valentino, Versace, Villeroy & Boch, West Elm, Zegna, and more.

RBL currently operates over 1,855 doors across India, including standalone stores and shop-in-shops. In addition to building international brand partnerships, the company has invested in leading Indian designer labels and made key global acquisitions, including Hamleys, the world’s oldest toy retailer, now operating across 12 countries with over 175 stores globally.

About Steve Madden

Steve Madden designs, sources and markets fashion-forward footwear, accessories and apparel. In addition to marketing products under its own brands including Steve Madden®, Kurt Geiger London®, Dolce Vita®, Betsey Johnson®, Carvela®, Blondo® and ATM®, Steve Madden licenses footwear, handbags and other accessory categories for the Anne Klein® brand. Steve Madden also designs and sources products under private label brand names for various retailers. Steve Madden’s wholesale distribution includes department stores, mass merchants, off-price retailers, shoe chains, online retailers, national chains, specialty retailers and independent stores. Steve Madden also directly operates brick-and-mortar retail stores and e-commerce websites. In addition, Steve Madden licenses certain of its brands to third parties for the marketing and sale of certain products in the apparel, accessory and home categories.

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Piramal Realty Delivers The Royal Polo Pavilion, a 30,000 sq. ft. Polo-Inspired Clubhouse at Piramal Mahalaxmi

MUMBAI, India, Aug. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Piramal Realty, the real estate development arm of the Piramal Group, has delivered The Royal Polo Pavilion, a 30,000 sq. ft. resident’s clubhouse at Piramal Mahalaxmi. Designed by globally renowned British design studio Conran and Partners, the three-level clubhouse overlooks the iconic Mahalaxmi Racecourse and Arabian Sea. The delivery of the Royal Polo Pavilion further reinforces Piramal Realty’s design-led, delivery-focused philosophy, reflected in over 5,800 delivered homes across 24 towers spanning over ~9.3 Mn sq. ft., of Area.

More than a resident’s clubhouse, the Royal Polo Pavilion was envisioned as a place that belongs to Mahalaxmi – a space inspired by the character, history and enduring spirit of one of Mumbai’s most iconic neighborhoods.

The Royal Polo Pavilion draws inspiration from the enduring legacy of polo, a sport deeply rooted in the history of the Mahalaxmi Racecourse. Over the decades, the sport has become synonymous with the Racecourse’s identity, reflecting a timeless tradition built on grace, discipline, teamwork, precision and sportsmanship. This legacy is the foundation for the clubhouse’s design vision.

Commenting on the delivery, Abhijeet Maheshwari, CEO, Piramal Realty, said:

“For us, design is not just about architecture or interiors; it is about storytelling. For the Royal Polo Pavilion, our inspiration came not from global trends but from the neighbourhood itself. The Racecourse, the heritage of polo, the Gulmohar trees motif representing the tree lined South Mumbai, carefully commissioned artworks with Piramal Art Foundation and thoughtfully crafted interiors all became part of a larger narrative. Every detail was intentionally designed to celebrate the character of Mahalaxmi, creating a clubhouse that feels deeply connected to its setting while offering a contemporary lifestyle for our residents.”

As residents explore the clubhouse, every space tells part of this story. Echoing the spirit of polo, The Chukker, (Gym), takes its name from the sports periods of play in a polo match, while the Colt & Filly club (Kids play area) reflects the curiosity and energy of the young residents. Every space has been thoughtfully named to celebrate the traditions and timeless legacy of polo.  

The clubhouse also features a private theatre, resident’s lounge, banquet hall, spa, yoga studio, indoor games room, squash court and multipurpose court, bringing together a range of experiences that enrich everyday living.

The interior design draws from the elegance and heritage of polo, translating its spirit through a carefully curated palette of materials and finishes. Warm timber, natural stone, handcrafted textiles and subtle equestrian references come together to create interiors that feel both timeless and deeply connected to their surroundings. Thoughtfully curated artworks, developed in collaboration with the Piramal Art Foundation, complete the overall design narrative. Together, these elements create interiors inspired by the rich traditions of polo.

With the delivery of the Royal Polo Pavilion, Piramal Realty continues to bring its design-led, delivery-focused philosophy to life, creating thoughtfully designed destinations where architecture, community and curated experiences come together to enrich everyday living.

 About Piramal Realty

Founded in 2012, Piramal Realty, the real estate development arm of Piramal Group is one of India’s leading developers with ~12 Mn sq. ft. of residential real estate under development in and around Mumbai. Piramal Realty aims to set a gold standard in design, quality, safety, and customer centricity in both residential and commercial real estate. Piramal Realty’s innovative developments not only capture a cutting-edge and contemporary ethos but also aim to adopt a more intuitive interpretation of luxury. This distinctive approach celebrates the harmonious integration of nature, greenery, spaciousness, natural light, ventilation and the inherent connection with biophilia encapsulating the essence of community living.

Official Website: https://www.piramalrealty.com/ 

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