19, Aug 2026
Škoda Auto India ushers in the next chapter of its sedan legacy with the new Slavia
Mumbai, August 19: Škoda Auto India has unveiled the new Slavia, reinforcing its commitment to customers who appreciate the timeless appeal of sedans combined with modern technology, safety and driving pleasure. Building on the success of one of India‘s most popular sedan platforms, the new Slavia continues the brand’s tradition of delivering European engineering that is engaging to drive, practical to own and made for India’s demanding customers. The unveiling also marked a celebration of Škoda‘s global sedan heritage, with the new Slavia taking centre stage alongside two iconic nameplates marking its return to India – the Octavia RS and the all-new Superb.
Klaus Zellmer, CEO of Škoda Auto, says: “India remains one of our most important global growth markets and a great example of what Škoda Auto can achieve when we listen closely to our customers. The new Slavia builds on this approach. It strengthens a model that has become a real success story, earning the trust of customers and establishing itself as one of the best-selling sedans in its segment. This success belongs to our teams, our dealer partners and, above all, our customers. Together, we have built strong momentum. With a clear strategy and a strong local presence, I am confident that we are writing the next chapter of our growth story in India.”
A legacy of sedans
For more than 130 years, Škoda Auto has built a reputation for creating vehicles that combine engineering excellence, timeless design and rewarding driving dynamics. Sedans have played a defining role in this journey, with the Superb nameplate going as far back as 1934, making Škoda’s sedan legacy over 90 years old. The Octavia and Superb continue shaping the brand’s reputation across global markets. The Slavia proudly carries this legacy forward in India. Developed on the MQB-A0-IN platform engineered specifically for Indian conditions and ready for the world, the Slavia has established itself as one of the country’s most successful sedans. The new Slavia further strengthens this proposition with enhanced styling, new technologies, segment-first features and greater comfort, while retaining the engaging driving experience, practicality and safety that customers associate with the brand.
Martin Jahn, Škoda Auto Board Member for Sales and Marketing, says, “This update of the Slavia is the next step for our well-established and successful sedan for India. With over 80,000 cars sold to date, the Slavia has established a strong position in this dynamic segment. Building on its proven qualities, we are introducing targeted improvements in powertrain, comfort and connectivity that further enhance its appeal. We are convinced that the combination of everyday practicality, state-of-the-art technology and outstanding comfort will attract new customers looking for a modern, compelling sedan.”
Timeless design, elevated further with the Monte Carlo badge
The new Slavia builds on its sophisticated design language with a range of styling enhancements that elevate its premium appeal. The sedan features all-new LED headlamps and taillamps with sequential rear turn indicators, creating a more distinctive visual signature on the road. The front is now accentuated with a chrome strip running across the grille. In addition, the revised front and rear structures, along with the new alloy wheel designs, further enhance the sedan‘s contemporary appearance and its poised stance.
The Slavia will be offered from the start of sales with the Classic, Classic+, Signature, Sportline, and Prestige variants, and for the first time, the Monte Carlo trim will also be available, right from launch. The new Slavia brings exclusive styling elements that amplify the sedan‘s sporty character and visual appeal. Retaining its elegant silhouette, sharp character lines and timeless proportions, the Slavia continues to embody the clean European design principles that have long defined Škoda vehicles globally. The new Slavia, based on variants, will be available in Candy White, Carbon Steel, Brilliant Silver, Lava Blue, Deep Black, Cherry Red, Shimla Green, and Steel Grey. For the new Slavia, the brand is also introducing two new colours, Arctic Silver and Cappuccino Beige. Pre-bookings for the new Slavia.
Piyush Arora, Managing Director & CEO, Škoda Auto Volkswagen India, said, “Our focus remains on bringing globally benchmarked products that are engineered and manufactured to meet the evolving needs of Indian customers. The new Slavia is a strong reflection of this approach. With a combination of proven engineering excellence and meaningful enhancements, we continue to strengthen our commitment to delivering world-class mobility solutions that are designed, built and made relevant for India.”
Engineered to be rewarding to drive
The new Slavia continues to offer customers a choice of proven TSI powertrains, delivering the balance of performance, efficiency and refinement that has made the model popular among driving enthusiasts and everyday users alike. A key highlight is the introduction of an all-new eight-speed torque converter automatic transmission paired with the efficient and responsive 1.0 TSI engine, making the Slavia the first sedan in its segment to offer this combination. Customers can also opt for the six-speed manual transmission with the 1.0 TSI. For those seeking even greater performance, the Slavia continues with the 1.5 TSI engine paired with the seven-speed DSG automatic transmission. Further enhancing driving confidence, the 1.5 TSI variants now feature rear disc brakes.
Ashish Gupta, Brand Director, Škoda Auto India, said, “The new Slavia, with the all-new Superb and the iconic Octavia RS, carries forward the brand’s proud sedan legacy. For generations, our sedans have earned customer trust through their combination of timeless design, driving dynamics, safety and engineering excellence. The new Slavia builds on these foundations while introducing contemporary styling, advanced technology and enhanced comfort for today’s customers. It embodies our commitment to keeping the sedan experience fresh, relevant and aspirational, while continuing to make European engineering and innovation more accessible to a wider audience in India.”
Greater comfort. Smarter technology
The Slavia now also introduces a host of comfort and convenience enhancements designed to elevate the ownership experience. Leading these updates is a segment-first Rear Seat Massage function, bringing a feature typically associated with higher vehicle classes into the premium sedan segment. The sedan also introduces a 360-degree Area View camera system, a first for a vehicle developed under the India 2.0 programme, offering greater convenience and confidence during parking and low-speed manoeuvres. Park Pilot with front parking sensors further improves ease of use in urban environments. Inside the cabin, the new Slavia features a larger 10.25-inch (26.03 cms) Digital Cockpit that delivers enhanced driving information and a more immersive digital experience.
From the Classic+ and up, the new Slavia also offers features such as rain-sensing wipers, rear defogger, all-LED lighting, auto-dimming IRVM, electric sunroof, alloy wheels, and several other convenience features as standard. Combined with its spacious cabin, premium appointments and practical features, the new Slavia continues to offer an ideal blend of comfort, convenience and technology for everyday journeys and long-distance travel.
AI Companion powered by Google Cloud
The new Slavia comes with a 10.1-inch (25.6 cms) infotainment screen featuring wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, powered by a next-generation infotainment system that delivers an enhanced digital experience for customers. Built on an advanced digital architecture, the system offers improved responsiveness, connectivity and customer interaction, delivering a seamless and intuitive in-cabin experience. At its core is an advanced Voice Assistant, powered by Google Cloud’s Automotive AI Agent. This AI agent brings Gemini into the vehicle to create next-generation, context-aware voice assistance for our customers, giving drivers and passengers direct access to real-time information such as news and trends, while also enabling hands-free operation to manage music, calls, climate control, and more. Developed with a deep understanding of local needs, the infotainment system recognises Indian English accents, ensuring inclusive and intuitive voice interactions.
Safety as standard
Carrying forward its 5-star Global NCAP safety credentials for both adult and child occupant protection, the new Slavia continues to offer a comprehensive suite of active and passive safety features designed to protect occupants across a wide range of driving conditions. More than 25 active and passive safety features, including six airbags, come as standard across the range, while higher variants offer over 40 safety features. Features such as rear defogger, rain-sensing wipers, automatic headlamps, an auto-dimming IRVM, and anti-glare ORVMs further enhance visibility and driver confidence in challenging conditions.
Celebrating performance: Octavia RS
Alongside the new Slavia, Škoda Auto India also showcased the all-new Octavia RS, one of the most celebrated performance models in the brand’s history. Representing the pinnacle of Škoda‘s performance engineering, the Octavia RS combines everyday practicality with exhilarating driving dynamics. This sedan features a 2.0 TSI engine producing 195 kW (265 PS), paired with a seven-speed DSG transmission, power-adjustable sports front seats with heating and massage function, Heads-Up Display, ADAS, and progressive dynamic steering, among others.
The enthusiastic response received from Indian customers further reinforces the enduring appeal of the RS badge among enthusiasts. The performance icon will now be available in Mamba Green, Velvet Red and Magic Black shades. With its dynamic design, powerful turbocharged engine and driver-focused character, the Octavia RS continues to embody the perfect blend of performance and practicality that has defined the nameplate for generations. Pre-bookings for the performance icon will be limited to 50 units. Customers who had placed reservations during the previous Octavia RS launch and were not allocated a vehicle due to the limited numbers will receive priority access to the booking window, opening on 18th August at 8 PM, until 5 PM on 19th August, after which the booking window will be opened to all customers, and deliveries will commence at the start of the festive season.
The return of luxury: Superb TDI
Also on display was the Superb TDI, bringing back one of Škoda Auto’s most admired luxury nameplates to India. Renowned for its spaciousness, refinement and long-distance touring capabilities, the Superb has long been a benchmark in executive mobility, with the latest iteration being equipped with LED Matrix headlamps, Cognac leather interiors, electrically adjustable heated, ventilated and massage front seats, Rear Sleep Package, Dynamic Chassis Control, along with a comprehensive suite of ADAS features.
The return of a diesel powertrain further enhances this sedan’s appeal and performance, with exceptional luxury and comfort. As Škoda‘s flagship luxury sedan, the Superb TDI represents the brand’s continued commitment to offering world-class products to discerning Indian customers. Customers are invited to express their interest in the sedan, with deliveries set to begin at the end of Q2 next year. Clearly, the build-up to the return of the Superb is being cultivated with care.
Easy ownership with Škoda Super Care
The new Slavia, Octavia RS and all-new Superb continue with Škoda Auto India’s ethos of providing a seamless ownership experience. All of the brand’s latest sedans now come with the Škoda Super Care package: best-in-class standard 4-year or 100,000-kilometre warranty, along with 4 years of Roadside Assistance, offering long-term peace of mind. In addition, customers benefit from four free labour services for up to two years or 30,000 kilometres. The warranty can be extended by another two years, taking total coverage up to six years. This is further complemented by a six-year corrosion warranty and a three-year paint warranty.
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- By Neel Achary
19, Aug 2026
ACES India Signs 25-Year Agreement with Reliance Jio to Enable 4G and 5G Connectivity across Mumbai Metro Aqua Line-3
NEW DELHI, Aug. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — ACES India Private Limited, a leading neutral digital infrastructure company and wholly owned subsidiary of ACES, today announced the signing of a 25-year agreement with Reliance Jio to enable 4G and 5G mobile connectivity across the Mumbai Metro Aqua Line-3 network.
The agreement marks a significant milestone in strengthening next-generation telecom infrastructure across one of Mumbai’s most critical urban transportation corridors. Under this long-term partnership, Reliance Jio will deliver 4G and 5G services over the mobile infrastructure deployed by ACES India, enabling seamless, high-capacity connectivity across the metro’s underground stations and tunnels.
Spanning approximately 33.5 kilometres with 27 stations, from Aarey JVLR to Cuffe Parade, Mumbai Metro Aqua Line-3 connects key commercial, residential and transportation hubs across the city. The network infrastructure is built to serve an ultimate capacity of more than 625 million passengers annually.
The deployment will support high-speed data, voice and digital services across stations, platforms, concourses and underground tunnels, providing reliable connectivity throughout the commuter journey.
Dr. Akram Aburas, Group CEO, ACES, said, “The signing of this 25-year agreement with Reliance Jio reinforces our vision of building future-ready digital infrastructure in high-density urban environments. Enabling seamless 4G and 5G connectivity across Mumbai Metro Aqua Line-3 will help redefine the connected commuter experience.”
Mr. Mohammed N. Mazher, Managing Director, ACES India, said, “This agreement reflects ACES India’s capabilities in delivering sophisticated telecom infrastructure for complex environments. Our focus is to provide a robust, scalable and future-ready platform supporting seamless connectivity and the evolving digital requirements of Mumbai’s commuters.”
The partnership further reinforces ACES India’s position as a neutral digital infrastructure provider, creating a scalable ecosystem capable of supporting growing mobile data consumption and next-generation digital services across Mumbai’s metro network.
Media Contact : pradnya.whitecrowpr@gmail.com
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19, Aug 2026
Centre Rolls Out Incentive Plan to Expand Piped Gas Access Across Homes
New Delhi, August 19, 2026: The Central government has approved a new Incentive Scheme for Promotion of Domestic PNG Connections aimed at accelerating the expansion of piped natural gas (PNG) connections among households across the country.
The scheme, approved by the government on August 18, will come into effect from September 1, 2026, and is designed to encourage City Gas Distribution (CGD) entities to expand their household PNG networks and convert unbilled or inactive connections into active, billed connections.
Under the initiative, eligible CGD entities will receive an additional allocation of domestic APM gas for incremental billed domestic PNG connections. The incentive is intended to reduce gas sourcing costs for distributors and improve the financial viability of expanding household PNG infrastructure.
The scheme will be implemented in two six-month tranches. The additional domestic gas allocation is expected to help CGD companies reduce their dependence on relatively more expensive LNG for their overall gas requirements, thereby improving the economics of domestic PNG expansion.
According to the government, the financial benefit could significantly shorten the investment payback period for domestic PNG connections. Investments that currently take around 10 years to recover could see the payback period reduced to nearly three years, creating a stronger incentive for CGD companies to expand their networks.
The initiative is expected to support the government’s broader objective of increasing access to clean, safe and affordable cooking fuel. PNG offers households a continuous piped fuel supply and can reduce dependence on conventional LPG cylinders.
The scheme is also expected to encourage CGD companies to extend networks into new areas where household PNG penetration remains limited. By improving the commercial viability of new connections, the government hopes to accelerate the rollout of piped gas infrastructure and bring more households into the country’s expanding city gas distribution network.
The move comes as India continues to expand the use of natural gas as part of its efforts to diversify the energy mix and promote cleaner fuels. The government expects the incentive mechanism to provide both consumers and gas distribution companies with greater momentum toward wider adoption of domestic PNG.
19, Aug 2026
RailTel Wins Rs 166.8 Crore Order from EPFO for IaaS Solutions
New Delhi, August 19, 2026: RailTel Corporation of India Ltd has secured a work order worth Rs 166.8 crore, including taxes, from the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) for providing Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS), strengthening the public sector telecom company’s presence in government digital infrastructure projects.
The order involves a one-year extension of RailTel’s existing IaaS engagement with EPFO, along with additional components. The contract is valid up to February 2027, according to information available on the order.
Under the arrangement, RailTel will provide infrastructure required to support EPFO’s technology operations and digital services. The company has previously been associated with EPFO for infrastructure and managed IT services, including IaaS support for its Passbook and Management Information System (MIS) services.
EPFO documents have also referred to RailTel’s role in providing IaaS infrastructure for initiatives including the Centralised IT Enabled System (CITES) 2.01, Employment Linked Incentive (ELI) Scheme and Centralised Pension Payment Scheme (CPPS).
The latest order adds to RailTel’s growing portfolio of government technology and digital infrastructure contracts. The company has been securing orders across telecom, ICT and infrastructure-as-a-service segments, supporting its strategy of expanding beyond its traditional railway-focused connectivity business.
The EPFO contract is also significant as government organisations increasingly rely on scalable IT infrastructure to support digital delivery of services, large databases and citizen-facing platforms. RailTel’s continued engagement with EPFO reflects the company’s role in providing technology infrastructure for critical public-sector applications.
For RailTel, the order provides additional revenue visibility while reinforcing its position as a government-focused technology and infrastructure service provider.
18, Aug 2026
Piramal Pharma Limited Completes Acquisition of Controlling Stake in Yapan Bio Private Limited
- Yapan Bio Private Limited specializes in process development, characterization, and phase I and II GMP manufacturing services for vaccines and biologics.
- Piramal has held a stake in Yapan Bio since 2021, enabling the Company to provide a broad range of capabilities across biologics development and manufacturing.
- This acquisition transforms Yapan Bio from Piramal’s associate company to its subsidiary, enhancing the Company’s ability to offer complex, integrated large molecule CDMO services.
MUMBAI, India, Aug. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Piramal Pharma Ltd. (NSE: PPLPHARMA) (BSE: 543635) (“PPL) has completed the acquisition of an incremental 40.67% stake in Yapan Bio Private Limited (“Yapan Bio”), a Hyderabad-based CDMO specializing in vaccines and biologics for an aggregate cash consideration of ₹76 crore, or $7.95M USD. As a result of this transaction, PPL now owns 74% of Yapan Bio’s equity, making Yapan Bio a subsidiary of PPL.
Finalized on August 18, 2026, the acquisition marks a major step forward in PPL’s long-range plan to expand its presence in the biologics sector. With the finalization of this deal, PPL will fully embed the subsidiary’s advanced large molecule capabilities into its integrated service offering, enabling the Company to offer customers broader services in the space and expanding its ability to develop and scale complex biologic therapies with greater efficiency. The subsidiary will continue to operate within the structure of Piramal Pharma Solutions (PPS), the CDMO arm of PPL.
Yapan Bio also directly supports ADCelerate™ — PPS’s fixed-price, integrated platform that streamlines Phase I ADC development from R&D to GMP in as little as 12 months. This acquisition further enhances ADCelerate™ and reinforces PPL’s ability to deliver life-saving ADCs to market with speed and consistency.
“This strategic investment doesn’t just fuel our long-term growth; it also puts Patient Centricity into action,” said Peter DeYoung, CEO, Piramal Global Pharma. “By integrating Yapan Bio’s specialized expertise into our global network, we’re empowering our partners to meet a rising global demand for complex biologics and helping patients worldwide secure continued access to the therapies they need.”
About Piramal Pharma Solutions
Piramal Pharma Solutions (PPS) is a Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) offering end-to-end development and manufacturing solutions across the drug life cycle. We serve our customers through a globally integrated network of facilities in North America, Europe, and Asia. This enables us to offer a comprehensive range of services including drug discovery solutions, process and pharmaceutical development services, clinical trial supplies, commercial supply of APIs, and finished dosage forms. We also offer specialized services such as the development and manufacture of highly potent APIs, antibody-drug conjugations, sterile fill/finish, peptide products and services, and potent solid oral drug products. PPS also offers development and manufacturing services for biologics including vaccines and gene therapies, made possible through Piramal Pharma Limited’s subsidiary, Yapan Bio Private Limited.
For more information visit: Piramal Pharma Solutions | LinkedIn| Facebook | X
About Piramal Pharma Limited
Piramal Pharma Limited (PPL, NSE: PPLPHARMA I BSE: 543635), offers a portfolio of differentiated products and services through its 17 global development and manufacturing facilities and a global distribution network in over 100 countries. PPL includes Piramal Pharma Solutions (PPS), an integrated contract development and manufacturing organization; Piramal Critical Care (PCC), a complex hospital generics business; and the Piramal Consumer Healthcare business, selling over-the-counter consumer and wellness products. In addition, one of PPL’s associate companies, Abbvie Therapeutics India Private Limited, a joint venture between Abbvie and PPL, has emerged as one of the market leaders in the ophthalmology therapy area in the Indian pharma market.
For more information, visit: Piramal Pharma | LinkedIn
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18, Aug 2026
Kat Florence Hotel Enters Its Next Chapter, Introducing The Kat Florence Reserve, Imperial Jade Manor and Every-Night Star Chef Dinners Included
The acclaimed Elora haven evolves with 100-acre private nature conservation, a historic Canadian manor for private escapes, a museum-worthy collection of 7 figure gemstones in the hotel walls, and an elevated culinary programme of rotating star Chef dinners including newly arrived Royal Chefs.
ELORA, ON, Aug. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Kat Florence Hotel, the intimate luxury retreat built by seven-time world record-breaking rare gemstone artist Kat Florence, unveils its most significant evolution since opening. On September 1, the hotel will introduce The Kat Florence Reserve, a private 100-acre wilderness sanctuary; the Imperial Jade Manor, an exclusive, 1870’s Canadian heritage residence featuring jaw-dropping restorations like a 6-figure custom stone hot bath beneath the stars and Canada’s first Top Chef Winner as guests’ Private On-Site Chef; an evolving collection of some of the world’s most extraordinary, multi-million-dollar Kat Florence gemstones imbedded in the hotel’s very walls; and a series of stay-inclusive, nightly culinary experiences led by internationally acclaimed celebrity and Royal Chefs.
Together, the additions represent a natural evolution for the celebrated boutique hotel, further establishing it as one of Canada’s most high end, private, ultra-rarity-seekers’ travel destinations where fine artistry, royal hospitality, and nature’s beauty exist in remarkable harmony.
“Everything I make, I make because it exists only once,” says Kat Florence. “That’s true of the stones I set, and it’s true of this hotel. I do not build for more guests. I build so the guests I do have receive something that can’t be repeated anywhere else. Every layer I’ve added is something I’d want for someone I love staying under my own roof.”
At the heart of the experience is the Kat Florence Reserve, an exclusive 100-acre private nature sanctuary that extends the guest experience beyond the hotel’s historic limestone.
Accessible only to selected hotel guests and by invite-only, the Reserve estate includes Kat’s personal residence, and encompasses protected forest and wildlife, 2500 linier feet of secluded riverbanks and 100 acres of a private natural reserve of the famous Elora Gorge. Invited guests will experience the grounds with Kat’s Private Reserve Guide, exclusively one couple or suite at a time (to protect the land), to enjoy restorative forest walks, local wildlife spotting, and luxury picnics at the Gorge river. The conservation is not and will never be intended for the masses; Kat Florence passionately purchased this land in her hometown to ensure it never gets corporation-developed on, and that this sanctuary of her childhood remains lovingly cared for but vastly untouched for the plant and wildlife within.
Imperial Jade Manor
Complementing the introduction of the Reserve is Imperial Jade Manor, a meticulously Kat-restored heritage residence (formerly Rosemount Cottage, est. 1870’s, and later Saint Margaret’s All Girls School) the artist personally lived in and hosted numerous VIP gem clients and celebrities in over the years. The acre estate was raised in the Italianate Revival style from limestone quarried close to home – the same stone that has given Elora its character since the mid-nineteenth century.
In addition to expected grandiose elements like in-residence spa facilities, 6-figure custom stone hot bath beneath the stars, 60 foot swimming pool and much more, the Imperial Jade Manor houses its own, celebrity Private Chef to cater to those staying in residence: Chef Dale Mackay, Canada’s first Top Chef winner, the formerly youngest ever recipient of the Relais & Chateaux Grand Chef designation, former Head Chef for Gordon Ramsey in New York and Japan, former Executive Chef of Daniel Boulud’s Dinex Group and many more.
Nightly, Star Chef Dinners Included For All Hotel Guests (And The New, Royal Chef)
Every stay at The Kat Florence Hotel is accompanied by a multi-course tasting dinner each and every night, prepared and led by a team of her rotating Master Chefs. Renowned names of her Chef fleet including Anthony Bish (as seen on Master Chef, Iron Chef, cooking for royal families and more) and Chef Marc Collyer (formerly of twice Michelin starred The Manor House UK), and newly arrived to the fleet is Private Chef to the stars and royals around the globe as well as international television personality Neill Anthony. Chef Neill comes from decades of Michelin fine dining abroad (with Gordon Ramsay, Marcus Wareing and Alyn Williams), and has cooked for an endless list of the world’s most private and wealthy include Britain’s King Charles, Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Kate, Elton John, Madonna, U2, Paul McCartney, been on tour with Middle Eastern Royal families as their private on-call Chef, and much more.For those fortunate to get an invite, royalty-regular Chef Neill will be cooking at Don & Kat’s Private Dining escape on the river, a tranquil riverside space, with private terrace overlooking the Grand River.
The new Library on the River offers an additional peaceful setting for hotel guests to read, work, relax and take in the surrounding landscape. Complimentary Sundowners happen once or multiple times during your stay inspired by luxury safari lodges of Southern Africa, where guests gather and mingle for outdoor drinks before supper.
When you stay at the house of Kat Florence, you never know which of her Master Chefs will be entertaining you that evening, or what inspired ingredients and flavours you’ll be experiencing. You just know you’ll be sitting down to the rarest of elite Chef dining experiences on Earth, every night you’re staying in her haven – her gift to all her guests.
A Living Gemstone Gallery
Art has always been at the heart of Kat Florence’s vision, and beginning this season, guests will discover an evolving collection of museum-worthy, 7 figure value gemstones displayed throughout the hotel’s original 1848 limestone walls, transforming the historic building’s Living Room into a living gallery unlike any other in North America.
Carefully curated from the Kat Florence Atelier, the rotating collection includes the largest, flawless 424.8 carat Royal Velvet Blue Tanzanite ever offered at auction, the largest matching pair of Flawless Unheated Paraiba earrings to ever go to auction and the world’s largest flawless 52.48 carat Jeremejevite set in D flawless diamonds. Rather than sitting behind traditional museum displays, these extraordinary works instead provide inviting moments of unexpected discovery as guests move through the property.
Since opening, Kat Florence Hotel has earned international recognition for its intimate, highly personalized approach to ultra-rare travel experiences and royal hospitality. This expansion builds on that vision while further establishing both the hotel and Elora as one of Canada’s most compelling, exclusive tourism destinations.
Press here for full photo gallery of Coco Rocha and Kat Florence
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About Kat Florence Hotel (www.katflorencehotels.com / @katflorencehotels)
Nestled along the banks of the Grand River in the heart of Elora, Ontario, Kat Florence Hotel is an intimate prestige retreat founded by world-renowned jewellery designer and seven-time world record-breaking rare gemstone artist Kat Florence. Housed within a meticulously restored 1848 limestone building, the hotel seamlessly blends heritage architecture with contemporary luxury through thoughtfully designed accommodations, exceptional dining and deeply personalized service.
All guest stays at Kat Florence Hotel famously include:
*Chef’s Tasting Dinner by one of Kat’s world-renowned star Chefs every night you stay
*Breakfast baskets, freshly baked & delivered to your room each morning, just-made by Chef Marc Collyer (formerly of Michelin “The Manor House” in The Cotswolds)
*Chilled welcome bottle of Veuve Clicquot Champagne, love Kat x
*60 Minute, La Mer-infused massage in your suite by Kat’s personal, Master Masseuses
*Outdoor Nordic spa hot & cold therapy pools, sauna and fireplace
*Limitless, day to night access to edible art at the hotel’s ‘Infinity Patisserie’ by Chef Marc
*Rolls Royce & Bentley chauffer and valet service
*Personal concierge service for your every errand or need
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18, Aug 2026
/UPDATE — ETS/
In the news release, ETS and Passage Announce Strategic Partnership to Revolutionize Global Talent Pathways, issued 18-Aug-2026 by ETS over PR Newswire, the original version contained incorrect information introduced by PR Newswire during transmission. The complete, corrected release follows, with additional details at the end:
ETS and Passage Announce Strategic Partnership to Revolutionize Global Talent Pathways
PRINCETON, N.J., Aug. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — ETS, a global education and talent solutions organization, and Passage, the AI infrastructure for human potential, today announced a strategic partnership designed to connect millions of students with life-changing opportunities and give institutions the intelligence to find them.
By bringing together trusted TOEFL and GRE assessment insights with Passage’s advanced AI processing, matching, and engagement capabilities, the partnership will help institutions more effectively identify and connect with best-fit students at scale. Students will gain a faster, more transparent path from discovery to enrollment.
ETS selected Passage as its exclusive strategic AI and technology partner to extend the reach and utility of TOEFL and GRE within the education ecosystem. Through the collaboration, TOEFL and GRE will be integrated with Passage’s technology, creating new opportunities to use trusted assessment information within AI-enabled workflows, while maintaining ETS’s existing role in assessment delivery and administration.
This fall, ETS and Passage will introduce the first of these capabilities for both institutions and students.
ETS will retain full ownership and operational control of its assessments, including test development, delivery, scoring, security, psychometric research, and validity standards, reinforcing its role as the research-backed trusted assessment owner of TOEFL and GRE.
“Our partnership with Passage reflects ETS’s commitment to helping students and institutions navigate a rapidly evolving global enrollment landscape,” said Janet Garcia, President of ETS. “Together, we aim to support institutions by using the latest technology to unlock stronger global recruitment pathways while also expanding access to educational opportunities for students around the world.”
“Our mission is to provide access to life-changing opportunities. Fifty years ago, my father took the TOEFL, and it opened the door to his engineering degree. Fifteen years ago, I took the same test, and it opened the door to mine,” said Martin Basiri, CEO of Passage. “For decades, TOEFL and GRE have given students a way to signal their academic readiness to institutions around the world. Passage is building the AI infrastructure that turns that into opportunity at a scale neither of us could have imagined, so millions of students can find the institutions already looking for them.”
To get updates on the official release of Passage solutions for institutions, register at www.passage.com/institutions.
About ETS
ETS is a global education and talent solutions organization enabling lifelong learners to be future ready. Our mission – advancing the science of measurement to power human progress – ensures our focus to enable everyone, everywhere, to demonstrate their skills and chart their path to future readiness for life. We are committed to readying 100M+ people for the next generation of jobs by 2035. We deliver on this commitment through trusted assessments and skills solutions – including TOEFL, TOEIC, GRE, Praxis and Futurenav – and groundbreaking initiatives powered by our Research Institute. With a robust global footprint, including subsidiaries (PSI), offices and operations in more than 200 countries and territories, we help over 50 million individuals each year measure their proficiency and unlock new opportunities. Discover how we expand our worldwide impact: www.ets.org
About Passage
Passage is on a mission to provide access to life-changing opportunities. Passage is the AI infrastructure for human potential, giving institutions the intelligence to find qualified students they have no way to reach today, and giving those students a direct path to the opportunities that fit. Learn more at www.passage.com.
Correction: The quote from Martin Basiri was inadvertently omitted from the original distribution.
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/ets-and-passage-announce-strategic-partnership-to-revolutionize-global-talent-pathways-302854229.html
18, Aug 2026
GameChange Energy Breaks Ground on Major EHV Transformer Factory Expansion — Securing Critical Power Infrastructure for Customers Worldwide
Production is scheduled to begin in Q1 2028, with EHV Power Transformers rated up to 300 MVA and 500 kV available for ordering now
NORWALK, Conn., Aug. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — GameChange Energy, a global provider of renewable energy infrastructure solutions, announced that it has broken ground on a major expansion of its transformer manufacturing operations in Mumbai. The company is making a substantial capital investment in a new 300,000-square-foot EHV transformer factory to expand production capacity and help meet growing global demand for critical power infrastructure.
The factory will produce EHV Power Transformers rated up to 300 MVA and 500 kV, with a planned annual capacity of 150 medium to large power transformers. Production is scheduled to begin in Q1 2028, and the company is accepting orders now.
The site is also designed to accommodate a future expansion of GameChange Energy’s existing medium-voltage (MV) transformer operations, adding capacity for an additional 500 transformers per year to support growing demand for pad-mounted transformer production.
“This expansion is a significant investment in the manufacturing capacity needed to address industry-wide transformer supply constraints,” said Phillip Vyhanek, Chief Executive Officer of GameChange Energy. “Customers can order the EHV transformers now, giving them the opportunity to secure critical equipment for upcoming projects as we prepare to begin production in Q1 2028. By significantly expanding our EHV transformer manufacturing capacity, we will help our customers build reliable, resilient power infrastructure while strengthening our global supply chain and long-term commitment to advanced manufacturing in India.”
About GameChange Energy
GameChange Energy is a global energy infrastructure company delivering integrated, highly engineered solutions for utility-scale renewable energy and critical power applications. Through our portfolio of operating companies, we provide solar trackers, fixed-tilt mounting systems, eBOS solutions, transformers, drone-based asset inspection, and customized infrastructure solutions for renewable energy plants, data centers, and battery energy storage systems (BESS). Our technologies are designed to reduce risk, improve performance, and deliver reliable operation worldwide. GameChange Energy is engineering the future of clean energy infrastructure.
For more information about GameChange Energy, visit www.gamechangeenergy.com.
Media Contact
Lisa Andrews
Director of Marketing, GameChange Energy
lisa.andrews@gamechangeenergy.com
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18, Aug 2026
GenScript Reports 27.3% First-Half 2026 Revenue Growth as AI Drug Discovery Business Doubles
Adjusted net profit surges 203.3% as Gene-to-Protein generates two-thirds of GenScript Life Science Group revenue
PISCATAWAY, N.J., Aug. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — GenScript Biotech Corporation (HKEX: 1548) reported first-half revenue of approximately US$404.2 million on a comparable basis, up 27.3% year over year, while adjusted net profit rose 203.3% to approximately US$62.5 million. The results reflect strong growth across its core businesses, improved operating efficiency, and accelerating demand for AI-enabled drug discovery services.
The AI-enabled drug discovery business doubled year over year and maintained rapid growth for a third consecutive half-year reporting period, driven by demand from AI-focused biotechnology companies and pharmaceutical innovators. Gene-to-Protein accounted for approximately 66% of GenScript Life Science Group revenue and remained the company’s primary growth engine.
GenScript’s Gene-to-Protein platform combines scientific expertise, automation, and global manufacturing capacity in an integrated workflow spanning discovery, experimental validation, early development, and production support. As AI increases the scale and complexity of drug discovery, these capabilities help customers validate candidates and advance programs with greater speed and reliability.
“Our first-half results reflect strong execution across the portfolio, with our core businesses driving both revenue growth and improved profitability,” said Sherry Shao, Rotating CEO of GenScript. “We see significant long-term opportunity as AI reshapes life sciences and increases demand for experimental validation and development services. By expanding our global Gene-to-Protein platform, automation, digital manufacturing, and delivery network, we are strengthening GenScript’s role as a critical infrastructure partner for AI-enabled drug discovery.”
First-Half 2026 Highlights
GenScript Life Science Group
- Revenue of approximately US$319.0 million, up 28.8%
- Adjusted gross profit of approximately US$184.5 million, up 46.1%
- Adjusted operating profit of approximately US$94.0 million, up 102.8%
- Gene-to-Protein accounted for approximately 66% of segment revenue and remained the primary growth engine
AI-Enabled Drug Discovery
- AI-enabled drug discovery business doubled year over year and maintained rapid growth for a third consecutive half-year reporting period
- Growth reflects deeper engagement with AI drug discovery companies and increasing demand for protein engineering, biologics discovery, and development services, reinforcing GenScript’s position as a validation and infrastructure partner within the AI drug discovery ecosystem
ProBio
- Revenue increased 34.2% on a comparable basis to approximately US$61.1 million
- New orders increased 54%
- Adjusted operating loss narrowed 22.5% to US$24.3 million
- Continued order growth and improving operating efficiency support ProBio’s expectation of achieving positive adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) by 2027
Bestzyme
- Revenue of approximately US$30.4 million, up 7.4%
- Adjusted gross profit of approximately US$13.0 million, up 14.0%
Integrated Capabilities Support Growth Across the Portfolio
The recovery in global biopharmaceutical research activity and the expanding use of AI are increasing the number and complexity of programs moving from computational design into experimental validation, development, and production. This shift is creating demand for integrated scientific, automation, and manufacturing infrastructure that can support customers across the drug-development workflow.
GenScript connects gene synthesis, protein production, antibody discovery, biologics development, automation, and global manufacturing in a single workflow. This infrastructure enables AI-focused biotechnology companies and pharmaceutical innovators to validate more candidates, identify viable programs, and advance them through early development and production without coordinating multiple service providers.
To support rising demand, GenScript continues to invest across its global discovery and manufacturing network, expanding capacity, shortening turnaround times, and enhancing automation and digital workflows. These investments are improving consistency and scalability as AI-driven customer projects grow increasingly complex.
Across the portfolio, ProBio benefited from growing demand for biologics development and manufacturing services while improving operating performance and building an order base that supports future revenue growth. Bestzyme continues to invest in enzyme engineering and AI-enabled synthetic biology technologies designed to improve research efficiency, reduce production costs, and accelerate new product development.
Outlook
GenScript enters the second half of 2026 with continued momentum across GenScript Life Science Group, ProBio, and Bestzyme, supported by a growing order base across its core businesses.
The company expects higher demand, increased utilization across its global network, and further operating leverage to support continued revenue growth and profitability improvement. Ongoing investment in technology, automation, and capacity is expanding GenScript’s ability to support larger and more complex AI-enabled drug discovery programs, while ProBio’s growing order base and Bestzyme’s enzyme engineering and AI-enabled synthetic biology capabilities provide additional platforms for long-term growth. As adoption expands across these businesses, GenScript expects to deepen customer relationships, strengthen global delivery, and build its position as a critical infrastructure partner supporting next-generation therapeutic and biotechnology innovation.
Additional financial information, including consolidated and segment results, is available in GenScript’s First-Half 2026 Results Announcement published on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited on August 16, 2026, as well as on the GenScript website.
About GenScript Biotech Corporation
Founded in New Jersey in 2002, GenScript Biotech Corporation supports biotechnology and healthcare innovation through its integrated portfolio of research, development, and manufacturing services. Guided by its mission to Make People and Nature Healthier Through Biotechnology, GenScript has more than 6,100 employees and serves over 200,000 customers across more than 100 countries and regions, including the world’s top 20 pharmaceutical companies. For more information, visit www.genscript.com.
Investor and Media Contacts
Investor Relations
Email: ir@genscript.com
Media Contact
Kate Grusich, Senior Corporate Communications Manager
Katherina.Grusich@genscript.com
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18, Aug 2026
TestMu AI Launches Agent Assurance to Verify AI Agents Before They Ship
The new product verifies both the AI agents that talk to customers and the agents that act on systems, generating test scenarios directly from code, grading every action against real evidence, and reporting an assurance gap for everything it could not verify
SAN FRANCISCO and NOIDA, India, Aug. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — TestMu AI (formerly LambdaTest), the world’s first Agentic AI-native Quality Engineering platform, announces Agent Assurance, a product built to answer the question every engineering team shipping AI agents now faces: is this agent safe to ship? Agent Assurance covers both kinds of agent in one product: the Conversational Agent category – which evaluates human-facing agents across chat, voice, phone, video, and image; and the new Autonomous Agent category, which verifies agents that act on systems: calling tools, writing files, hitting APIs, and opening pull requests.
Most teams today test autonomous agents by reading the agent’s own account of what it did: a transcript, or a judge’s score over its final message. Agent Assurance grades the effect instead. Pointed at a codebase, it works out what the agent does, generates an end-to-end agent testing suite that spans agent functional testing, non-functional checks, and adversarial scenarios, invokes the agent for real, and judges every criterion against observed evidence: files that changed on disk, artifacts produced, and tool calls verified against the agent’s own declared tool surface.
Alongside pass and fail, Agent Assurance reports a third verdict, unable to verify, excluded from the pass rate and published as a number: the assurance gap. Every result in a report is one that was actually observed, and because the gap reflects how much an agent records about its own actions, teams can shrink it by making their agents more observable.
“Engineering teams are accumulating validation debt at exactly the layer where the stakes are highest. An agent’s account of what it did is the weakest evidence available about what it did – it is the one party with a reason to be wrong,” said Vipul Verma, Group SVP Of Engineering, TestMu AI. “Every tool in this space reports a pass rate. Agent Assurance reports the pass rate and the size of its own blind spot, because that is the only way the number becomes one you can trust to move.”
With Agent Assurance, teams can:
- Test without writing tests — agent automation testing where the suite is derived from the codebase; the only input is how to invoke the agent, whether a command, an HTTP endpoint, an MCP server, or a workflow built on platforms like n8n.
- Cover the adversarial surface by default — prompt injection, tool misuse, and instruction-override scenarios are generated as a first-class family, not an add-on.
- Gate releases in CI — continuous agent testing in every pipeline, from agent smoke testing on each commit to full pre-release runs, with headless commands and exit codes that distinguish “the agent did something wrong” from “the harness could not test it.”
- Track change with confidence — agent regression testing with run-over-run diffs that separate newly failing, newly fixed, and flaky results, since flakiness and regression call for opposite responses.
The Conversational Agent category is also expanding to the newest surface where software meets people: agents that appear on camera. With the platform’s new Video Agent Testing (Link) capability, a simulated human with a realistic face and voice joins a live video agent’s session, holds a genuine conversation, and grades the agent against team-defined success criteria, with every verdict traced to the exact moment in the recording that earned it. Anything unverifiable from the recording is deliberately counted as not met, a strict standard for a category where the recording is the evidence: a video agent never earns credit for a moment the evaluator could not observe.
The Conversational Agent category is generally available on the TestMu AI platform today. The Autonomous Agent category is available in early access and runs from the terminal as rook, with models executing in the TestMu AI controller so no provider API keys are needed locally. To get started, visit Link.
About TestMu AI
TestMu AI is the world’s first Agentic AI-native Quality Engineering platform, designed to enable organizations to automate and scale testing with intelligence at its core. By combining autonomous capabilities with seamless integration across modern development workflows, TestMu AI empowers teams to deliver faster, more reliable, and secure software in an AI-first world.
For more information, visit TestMu AI
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