21, Aug 2026
Majority of Dubai homes under construction already sold as demand keeps pace with supply

New fäm Properties report shows 90%-100% absorption rate for thousands of apartments and villas to be handed over in 2026

Majority of Dubai homes under construction already sold as demand keeps pace with supply

 

Dubai, UAE, Aug 21: The majority of homes currently under construction in Dubai have already been sold, with a new report today showing absorption rates of 90%-100% for thousands of apartments and villas to be completed this year.

A market analysis by fäm Properties reveals that 564,072 residential properties are currently being built across Dubai, with the majority due for handover by 2028. Of these, 425,863 (75.5%) have been sold to date.

The overall absorption rate for apartments is 74.1%, with 367,514 of 495,775 units sold, rising to 85.4% for villas, with 58,349 of 68,297 also sold.

Of 96,585 homes to be delivered this year, 80,127 (82.9%) have been sold, with absorption rates of 82% for the 91,209 apartments and 95% for the 5,376 villas.

Data from DXBinteract also shows 100% absorption rates across a number of residential areas for homes to be handed over this year, including apartments in Al Wasl (637), and villas in Wadi Al Safa 5 (854), Nad Al Sheba First (235), and Al Hebiah Sixth (476).

Meanwhile, 93.5% of the 2,397 apartments to be delivered on Palm Jumeirah this year, along with 92.8% of 2,324 at Jumeirah Lakes Towers, have been sold.

“The fact that around three quarters of apartments and more than eight in ten villas currently under construction have already been sold reflects a market where demand keeps pace with development,” said Firas Al Msaddi, CEO of fäm Properties.

“Investors commit to buying properties before completion because they have confidence in Dubai, its transparent regulatory framework and the consistent quality being delivered by developers.

“Dubai’s population has now surpassed 4.58 million, and that it’s now home to more than 80,000 millionaires. All this reinforces Dubai’s position as one of the world’s most attractive destinations to live, work and invest.”

Homes under construction have also seen high absorption rates at Downtown Dubai, where 92.2% of 6,248 apartments being built have been sold, including 96.6% of the 3,981 to be handed over in 2026.

It’s a similar story in Business Bay, where 82.8% of 30,317 apartments under construction have been sold, including 88.7% of the 16,938 to be delivered this year.

Other areas recording high absorption rate for apartments under construction include Ras Al Khor (93.5% of 6,950) and Al Barsha South 2 (85% of 12,655).

Among the areas with the highest absorption rates for villas are Al Hebiah Fifth (98.7% of 2,060), Nad Al Sheba First (98.2% of 1,569), Wadi Al Safa 5 (96.4% of 8,216), Dubai South (94.5% of 5,698) and Al Yufrah (94.7% of 6,429).

 

21, Aug 2026
NTT DATA and Palo Alto Networks Sign Global Strategic Alliance to Accelerate Secure AI Transformation

Mumbai, Aug 21:NTT DATA, a global leader in AI, digital business and technology services, and Palo Alto Networks announced a multi-year strategic alliance designed to help organizations securely adopt AI, modernize cybersecurity, simplify complex technology environments and build cyber resilience for the AI era.

As Palo Alto Networks first strategic alliance of this kind with a global systems integrator, the agreement, which targets $1 billion in joint business by the end of three years, combines Palo Alto Networks AI-powered cybersecurity platforms with NTT DATA’s consulting, engineering and managed services.

Leveraging joint engineering, co-innovation and coordinated global delivery, the alliance will help clients assess cyber risk, deploy AI securely and continuously optimize security. Through these joint solutions, clients will gain a unified approach that seamlessly spans cybersecurity strategy, implementation and managed services.

Building on the companies’ Frontier AI collaboration, the alliance brings together Palo Alto Networks Unit 42® threat intelligence with NTT DATA’s global cybersecurity expertise, AI governance and managed services. Backed by joint investments, more than 2,000 certified experts, as well as dedicated Forward Deployed Engineers, the alliance will deliver a seamless approach to streamline deployments and speed client outcomes. Through direct engineering collaboration, NTT DATA will gain early access to new platform features — further accelerating the delivery of AI security services to clients.

Initial solutions will address the most pressing cybersecurity challenges facing clients in highly regulated and critical industries, including financial services, healthcare, manufacturing and the public sector, across six strategic transformation areas:

·Autonomous Security Operations Center (SOC) – Modernize security operations with Agentic AI and managed services that help organizations detect, investigate and respond faster to increasingly sophisticated, machine-speed cyber threats while reducing operational complexity.

·AI governance – Embed governance, security and risk management throughout the AI lifecycle, helping organizations manage emerging AI risks and confidently scale AI innovation with greater accountability, transparency and control.

·Identity security – Protect human, machine and AI agent identities, including workloads and devices, through an Identity Security Framework designed to discover, manage, secure and govern identities across the enterprise.

·Zero Trust & SASE – Helps secure users, applications and data across an increasingly complex attack surface through a unified Zero trust and secure edge architecture, leveraging AI-driven threat detection and prevention.

·Resilient cloud – Enables organizations to improve visibility, compliance and autonomous risk reduction across multi-cloud environments with AI-enabled security posture management and stronger governance.

·Firewall modernization – Modernize firewall environments to reduce complexity, improve visibility and strengthen enterprise security.

AI is reshaping both business and cybersecurity, making deep ecosystem collaboration more important than ever,” said Nikesh Arora, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Palo Alto Networks. “Expanding our alliance with NTT DATA allows us to operationalize platformization at true global scale, helping enterprises eliminate legacy complexity and move fast without sacrificing safety.”

“AI is redefining every aspect of the enterprise, but it is also transforming the threat landscape at unprecedented speed. Organizations need a new approach to cyber resilience that combines AI-driven security, deep industry expertise and global scale,” said Abhijit Dubey, Chief Executive Officer and Chief AI Officer, NTT DATA, Inc. “Together with Palo Alto Networks, we’re bringing AI-powered cybersecurity innovation together with NTT DATA’s consulting, engineering and managed services capabilities to help clients securely accelerate AI adoption and stay ahead of evolving threats.”

NTT DATA brings world-class cybersecurity expertise to the collaboration, backed by over 7,500 cybersecurity professionals, 70+ delivery centers and 20+ Autonomous Cyber Defense Centers. Paired with Palo Alto Networks AI-powered platforms and Unit 42 threat intelligence, the alliance delivers the technology, expertise and global reach enterprise organizations need to securely deploy AI across complex environments.

21, Aug 2026
Why Pay More for an EV When You Can Choose Smarter

E-Went is challenging the idea that a better electric scooter has to come with a bigger price tag. Let’s be honest. The EV market has become very good at selling the future. Big Technology. Big Claims. Big Performance numbers. Bigger Price Tags.

But there’s one question most riders still ask before they buy:

“Will this actually make my life better?” That is where E-Went takes a rather different view.

Its philosophy is simple: Smartness isn’t about spending more or less. It’s about choosing better.

And two segments of scooters make that argument particularly well. In popular segment Rabbitor and in Power segment Foxy.

One is built for everyday India. The other is built for riders who want more.

THE RABBITOR: FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE BETTER THINGS TO DO THAN WORRY ABOUT THEIR SCOOTER

Rabittor

Not everyone wants their scooter to be a conversation starter. Sometimes, you just want it to start every morning. You want enough range for your commute. Enough comfort for the family. Enough practicality for everyday errands. And running costs that don’t make you miss petrol. That is the thinking behind the Rabbitor, E-Went’s Popular-range scooter.

Starting at ₹79,350 ex-showroom, it offers up to 140 km IDC range, 4–5 hour charging and an IP67-rated motor and controller designed to handle the dust, water and everyday conditions that Indian scooters actually face.

No unnecessary drama. No paying extra to look futuristic. Just a scooter designed to do its job.

Every day something you can depend on without having to think about it.

THEN THERE’S THE FOXY. WHAT IF “MORE” DIDN’T HAVE TO MEAN “MORE EXPENSIVE”? 

Foxy

This is where the conventional EV formula starts to get uncomfortable. More power usually means more money. More capability usually means a bigger price tag. More features? You guessed it. Foxy doesn’t quite follow the script.

Starting at ₹97,650, the E-Went Foxy delivers up to 60 km/h, up to 170 km IDC range and 0–40 km/h in around 4 seconds.

Then comes the practical stuff that matters when the brochure is forgotten: 272 kg loading capacity.
36-litre boot space.
Rugged steel tubular chassis.
Triple-lens projector headlamps. And big seat for the Indian middle class commuters.

It is designed for potholes, monsoons, stop-start traffic, heavy loads and the everyday unpredictability of Indian roads. In other words for the Real India.

What if buying an EV didn’t mean choosing between affordable and capable? What if you could choose according to your needs instead?

Choose Rabbitor, and the thought is: “I got everything I actually need.”

Choose Foxy, and the thought becomes: “I got more without paying just for a badge.”

Different riders. Different priorities. Same outcome:

“I made the smarter choice.”

THE NUMBERS MAKE THE ARGUMENT HARDER TO IGNORE.

E-Went isn’t building this proposition on marketing alone. There are already 20,000+ vehicles on Indian roads, backed by a warranty claim rate below 1.5%.

The company has built a network of 250+ dealer partners across seven states—West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Assam.

And every vehicle is tested and certified by ICAT and CIRT under full ISO compliance.

That matters because an EV isn’t just a purchase. And E-Went’s ambition is to make that relationship dependable—from the first test ride to years of ownership.

E-Went is building across Retail, Commercial and Enterprise, bringing products and services discipline to individual riders, rental operators and businesses deploying EVs at scale.

It’s about changing the way people think about value in electric mobility. Not cheapest. Not most expensive. Not most futuristic. Smartest for the person buying it.

MAYBE THE REAL EV UPGRADE ISN’T MORE TECHNOLOGY.

Maybe it’s simply making a better decision. A scooter that costs less to run. A vehicle built for Indian conditions. A product that gives you the features you actually need. A service network that doesn’t disappear after delivery. And a price that doesn’t make “smart choice” feel like a luxury. That is the switch E-Went wants riders to make.

Because the smartest EV isn’t necessarily the one with the biggest claim. It’s the one that makes the most sense when you take it home.

E-WENT – SMARTNESS KA SWITCH ON.

Ready to test the difference?

Visit e-went.com, book a test ride, or use the EMI and savings calculators to see what switching could mean for your pocket.

21, Aug 2026
RAKEZ business community grows to 50,000 companies, reinforcing Ras Al Khaimah’s position as a leading global business destination

RAKEZ business community grows to 50,000 companies, reinforcing Ras Al Khaimah’s position as a leading global business destination

 

Ras Al Khaimah, Aug 21: Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ) has reached a defining moment in its growth journey, with 50,000 active companies now part of its business community. This milestone reflects sustained investor confidence in Ras Al Khaimah’s business ecosystem and the emirate’s ability to attract entrepreneurs, SMEs, manufacturers, and multinational enterprises from around the world.

Commenting on the milestone, RAKEZ Group CEO Ramy Jallad said, “Reaching 50,000 companies is an important milestone that reflects the trust we have built with the business community over the years. What we value most is not the number itself, but what it represents: businesses, ambitions and investments that have chosen to grow within an ecosystem designed to respond to their needs and support their future plans. We are proud to be part of their success journeys. As these businesses grow, they create opportunities, generate jobs, advance industries and strengthen their contribution to the economy and the wider community. That is the real impact of a 50,000-strong business community.”

He added, “We see this milestone as the beginning of a new chapter, and as a responsibility to keep raising the bar. Our focus will remain on enhancing the customer experience, expanding our digital capabilities, strengthening our infrastructure and building strategic partnerships that open up greater opportunities for businesses to grow, while supporting Ras Al Khaimah’s long-term economic diversification. There is much more we want to achieve.”

This focus on supporting businesses at every stage is reflected in the scale and diversity of RAKEZ’s community, spanning more than 100 countries and over 50 sectors. Its industrial and manufacturing ecosystem continues to expand across a broad range of activities, including engineering and industrial equipment, building materials, food and beverage, electronics and electrical, metals, apparel, and advanced and light manufacturing. The wider business community also includes companies operating in general trading, e-commerce, media and marketing, wholesale and distribution, management consultancy and professional services, reflecting the breadth of economic activity supported by RAKEZ.

To deepen engagement across these markets and open new opportunities for investors, RAKEZ has expanded its international outreach through strategic roadshows, business missions and partnerships in key regions including India, Europe and China. These efforts continue to connect global businesses with Ras Al Khaimah’s growing investment landscape and strengthen the emirate’s role as a globally connected destination for enterprise and industry.

Together, this scale, diversity and international reach provide a strong foundation for RAKEZ’s next phase of growth. With 50,000 companies now part of its community, RAKEZ is well positioned to deepen its contribution to Ras Al Khaimah’s economic development, connect more businesses with opportunities in the emirate and strengthen its role within the wider regional and global business landscape.

 

 

21, Aug 2026
Indian Bank Celebrates Customers’ Day, Reaffirms Commitment to Customer-Centric Banking

Chennai, Aug 21: Reinforcing its customer-first approach, Indian Bank celebrated Annual Customers’ Day on Thursday, August 20, 2026, across all its branches in India and overseas. The initiative provided an opportunity for direct interaction with customers, gathering their valuable feedback and understanding their expectations to further strengthen customer service.

Indian Bank Celebrates Customers’ Day, Reaffirms Commitment to Customer-Centric Banking

On this occasion, the Bank expressed its gratitude to customers for their continued trust, loyalty and support. Senior management emphasised the importance of customer feedback and invited suggestions to further improve the quality and delivery of banking services. The initiative reflects Indian Bank’s commitment to excellence through continuous customer engagement and a culture of listening and improvement.

The Customers’ Day programme in Chennai was attended by the top executives of the Bank at Alwarpet, Nungambakkam, Mylapore and Ethiraj Salai Branches. The Bank’s overseas branches in Singapore, Jaffna and Colombo also organised Customers’ Meets, providing an opportunity to strengthen relationships with its global customer base.

During the interactions, the leadership team listened to customers’ views on their day-to-day banking requirements, products and services. The discussions also helped identify opportunities to further streamline processes and strengthen service delivery.

By bringing its senior leadership closer to customers, Indian Bank reaffirmed its commitment to listening, responsiveness and continuous improvement. The engagement reflects the Bank’s endeavour to ensure that customer perspectives remain central to the enhancement of its products, services and overall banking experience.

21, Aug 2026
Flooding Disrupts Several Madhya Pradesh Districts, Thousands Moved to Safety

Bhopal/Rewa, Aug 21: Flooding has affected several districts in eastern Madhya Pradesh, leading authorities to carry out large-scale rescue and relief operations.

Flooding Disrupts Several Madhya Pradesh Districts, Thousands Moved to Safety

Pic Credit: Pexel 

Rewa, Dindori, Panna, Satna and Chhatarpur are among the affected districts, where rising river levels and waterlogging have disrupted normal life.

In Rewa, more than 4,000 people have been rescued from affected areas and moved to safer locations. Around 3,000 people are staying in 27 relief camps, according to the district administration.

Rescue teams, police personnel and revenue officials have been deployed in vulnerable areas to assist residents and monitor the situation.

In Mauganj, the rising Ashtabhuja River flooded Naigarhi village, leaving four construction workers stranded. One worker was swept away by the strong current, officials said.

In Dindori, rising water levels in the Khermer River forced the closure of the Dindori-Mandla State Highway after water crossed a bridge. Schools up to Class 12 were also closed as a precaution. Schools were similarly closed in parts of Panna.

In Chitrakoot, the Mandakini River entered the market area, while the Gupt Godavari caves were closed to visitors as a safety measure.

The India Meteorological Department has forecast further rainfall in Madhya Pradesh through August 25, particularly in eastern parts of the state. The weather system has been linked to a well-marked low-pressure area over northeast Madhya Pradesh and adjoining areas, along with the monsoon trough.

Authorities are continuing rescue and relief operations and monitoring areas that remain vulnerable to flooding. Residents in affected locations have been advised to follow safety instructions issued by local authorities.

21, Aug 2026
Institutional-Grade Allocation in a Single Account: BiFu’s Wealth Suite Takes Shape, Bringing Managed Funds and RWA Under One Roof

HONG KONG, Aug. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — BiFu, an all-asset trading platform, has completed the build-out of its Wealth suite, which runs on two product lines: a Wealth product line offering five funds managed by licensed asset management institutions across fixed income, gold, quantitative strategies, Hong Kong IPOs, and foreign exchange; and an RWA (real-world assets) product line that brings tokenized private-market equity on-chain, opening a category once reserved for institutions and high-net-worth investors.

These are not two separate features. They answer the same question: once a user’s capital crosses a certain threshold, what else can an exchange offer?

The Industry Backdrop: RWA Is Now a $38 Billion Market

According to industry data platform RWA.xyz, as of August 2026, total on-chain RWA value stands at roughly $38 billion, total asset holders have surpassed 2 million, up more than 60% in 30 days, and asset issuers number 281.

Two numbers deserve a closer look. First, holder growth is far outpacing growth in total value: new inflows are dominated by smaller tickets, and RWA is moving from an institutional niche toward retail adoption. Second, 281 issuers against two million holders means supply remains scarce, which helps explain why leading offerings fill their subscription windows quickly.

The asset mix, however, is a reminder that RWA is not shorthand for “low risk.” US Treasuries, at roughly $14.7 billion, are a conservative core holding; but commodities, private credit, equities, private equity, and alternative funds sit closer to the medium-to-high end of the risk spectrum.

BiFu’s read: Treasuries and commodities solve a yield problem, but the real growth frontier lies in private equity and alternative funds, because those solve an access problem. What retail investors lack is not an extra point of yield. It is access to assets they simply cannot buy.

The Wealth Line: Five Funds, Five Distinct Sources of Return

BiFu’s Wealth product line currently hosts five funds, all rated Medium Risk, whose underlying assets do not overlap: a compact allocation shelf rather than a product list.

FX Stable Return Fund: expected annualized rate of return of 8.00% to 10.00%, a 365-day offering cycle, initial investment of 10,000 USDT, and a subscription quota of 5,000,000 USDT. The fund invests in a master fund established by Trivesta Group in the Cayman Islands, managed through foreign exchange (FX) and precious metals (including gold) trading strategies within an established risk management framework focused on controlling volatility and drawdowns.

Gold Spot Enhanced Fund: It adopts a classic strategy of “gold spot base holdings + dynamic option yield enhancement (e.g., covered calls)”, capturing gold’s long-term appreciation Beta through spot positions while earning option premium Alpha during market consolidation. Managed by Duxton Asset Management.

Ark One Quantitative Fund: expected annualized rate of return of 15.00%, a 365-day cycle, initial investment of 20,000 USDT, a quota of 5,000,000 USDT, and recruitment progress of 69.85%. The only fund with digital assets as the underlying, it is an arbitrage yield-enhanced quantitative fund of funds combining “steady arbitrage + flexible timing enhancement” to navigate bull and bear cycles. Primary manager Wellspring Asset Management holds a BVI Approved Manager license, with over 7 years of crypto quantitative experience and historical AUM exceeding USD 140 million; Shenwan Hongyuan Securities (Singapore) acts as co-manager.

Stable Yield Fixed Income Fund: expected annualized rate of return of 7.00%, a 180-day cycle, initial investment of 5,000 USDT, a quota of 5,000,000 USDT, and recruitment progress of 75.39%. The only six-month product, it adopts the MAS-regulated VCC structure and invests in supply chain finance assets with a real trade background, targeting counter-cyclical industries such as packaging, plastics, and deep processing of agricultural products. Duxton Asset Management is primary manager, with Shenwan Hongyuan Securities (Singapore) as co-manager.

HKEX Anchor Investment Flagship Fund: expected annualized rate of return of 15.00%, a 365-day cycle, initial investment of 10,000 USDT, a quota of 5,000,000 USDT, and recruitment progress of 56.92%. Managed by Duxton Asset Management, it directly participates in the offline anchor placement of high-quality unicorn IPOs on the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing (HKEX), capturing initial offering dividends while avoiding long-term secondary market volatility.

The shelf has a clear layered design: fixed income, FX, Hong Kong IPOs, gold, and crypto quant each contribute a distinct return stream, with entry points tiered from 1,000 to 20,000 USDT.

All product information is drawn from BiFu’s public website and does not constitute investment advice or any promise of returns. Expected annualized rates are projections, not guarantees; past performance is not indicative of future results, and investments involve the risk of principal loss.

The Manager Lineup: A Licensed Roster Rarely Seen in Crypto Wealth Products

Duxton Asset Management, founded in 2009, is dually regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS, holding a CMS license) and Australia’s ASIC. Its core team originated from the Asset Management division of Deutsche Bank, with 17 years in cross-border investment and wealth management. Shenwan Hongyuan Securities (Singapore) is a holding subsidiary of a large comprehensive securities firm directly under China Investment Corporation (CIC) and Central Huijin. Wellspring Asset Management holds a BVI Approved Manager license and specializes in digital asset quantitative hedging. Trivesta Group covers the FX and precious metals mandate and issues two equity projects on the RWA line.

Under BiFu’s roadmap, the Wealth suite will operate as an open venue: the platform provides the compliance rails, user base, and settlement infrastructure, and invites additional licensed asset managers to issue products and assets.

The RWA Line: Turning Private-Market Tickets into Stablecoin-Sized Shares

BiFu’s RWA Project List currently features three investable projects, all structured as funds and rated Medium Risk:

StepFun Equity Project: initial investment of $15,000, issued by Trivesta Group, scale upper limit of $5,000,000, recruitment progress 56.91%. It invests in the Pre-IPO equity of StepFun, a leading unicorn in China’s Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) sector, standing in the domestic first tier for multi-modal large model technology.

Sunrise Equity Project: initial investment of $20,000, also issued by Trivesta Group, scale upper limit of $5,000,000, recruitment progress 41.65%. It invests in Sunrise, a scarce target in China’s AI computing infrastructure sector focused on the independent R&D of dedicated GPUs for large model inference.

Musk Unicorn Opportunities Fund: initial investment of $50,000, managed by Duxton Asset Management, scale upper limit of $10,000,000, now marked Fundraising Closed. A Pre-IPO unicorn opportunities fund holds scarce equity of pre-listing tech giants through a compliant fund structure.

All three are private-market equity that ordinary investors can barely reach through traditional channels. This is where RWA delivers its most tangible value: allocations that once started at a million dollars compress to $15,000 to $50,000, subscribable in stablecoins. It converts what people could not buy into products they can hold by the share. Private-market equity remains medium-to-high risk, and expected annualization figures do not constitute any guarantee of returns.

For Asset Issuers: BiFu’s Next Phase

RWA is a two-sided market. BiFu has laid out the path it will offer asset issuers going forward, in three steps: asset tokenization, market trading, and investment allocation. Projects move from application through compliance structuring to token issuance; tokens then list, connect to liquidity, and open to global investors, who allocate in stablecoins and can exit through the secondary market. 

BiFu’s support spans compliance architecture, smart contracts, and full-cycle issuance services, underpinned by partner law firms, auditors, and custodians. For asset owners, fundraising and liquidity get solved together: a tokenized issuance creates a continuously tradable market the moment the raise completes.

The Second Half for Exchanges Is a Contest of Asset Supply

As the industry settles into a battle for existing users, pure trading-efficiency gains yield less and less. BiFu’s Wealth suite points to a different path: the core competency of an exchange is shifting from matching trades to organizing assets. Whoever can source assets others cannot, and package institutional-grade structures into retail-accessible shares, will keep the users with the largest balances.

Users still need only one account. What that account can hold is expanding from crypto to gold, foreign exchange, supply chain finance, Hong Kong IPOs, and private-market equity.

About BiFu

BiFu is a next-generation all-asset trading platform connecting trading, assets, and future markets. Through a unified account system, BiFu offers crypto derivatives, FX CFDs, tokenized stocks and RWA, prediction markets, Earn, and copy trading.

One Account, Trade the World.

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21, Aug 2026
Akshay Kumar partners with Acer for smarter, easier and healthier tech Into Home

Akshay Kumar partners with Acer for smarter, easier and healthier tech Into Home

Acer is all set to welcome Akshay Kumar as their brand ambassador at a time when the global technology conglomerate celebrates 50 years of innovation and 27 years in India. With the brand extending its footprint from personal computing to a broader ecosystem of products for the modern home, the partnership blends the dynamic, performance-driven persona of Akshay with the long-standing legacy of technology and innovation. House of Acer combines Acer’s technology and Acerpure’s complete home appliances under one roof, with the mission to make everyday life smartereasier and healthier.

 
For Akshay, who balances a demanding schedule of films, travel, fitness and family, technology has increasingly become an integral part of everyday life. The association reflects his own belief that technology should simplify life rather than complicate it, be it with helping people work, unwind, stay comfortable or manage their homes more efficiently.
 
Speaking about his association with AcerAkshay Kumar said, “My life is always moving. There is work, travel, fitness and family, and when I come home, I want things to be simple. Technology should make life easier, not add more to your list. What I like about Acer is that it has evolved with the way people live. The House of Acer brings together technology that can become a natural part of your everyday life, from the way you work and entertain yourself to the way you live at home. That is what makes this association exciting for me.”
 
The House of Acer showcased the brand’s expanding ecosystem, bringing together laptops and computing products with televisions, air conditioners, washing machines and other home appliances. Rather than viewing technology as individual products, the concept brings them together as part of one seamless home experience.
 
The partnership also comes at a milestone moment for Acer. With 50 years of global legacy and 27 years in India, the brand has evolved alongside changing consumer needs and technology. There is a nice parallel with Akshay’s own journey. Both have lasted because they have kept up with the times. Akshay has moved across genres and generations without getting stuck in one image which mirrors in the brand’s ethos too. What connects the two is that sense of staying relevant while continuing to evolve.
 
Harish Kohli, President & Managing Director, Acer India Group, said, “For 50 years globally and 27 years in India, Acer has continued to evolve with the changing needs of consumers. Today, technology is no longer confined to the desk but is an integral part of how we work, relax, entertain ourselves and live. The House of Acer brings this evolution together, creating a home where technology is designed to make everyday life smartereasier and healthierAkshay Kumar embodies qualities such as performance, discipline, reliability and constant evolution, making him a natural partner for this next chapter of Acer.”
 
As Akshay steps into the House of Acer, the partnership marks the beginning of a new chapter for the brand, one where Acer‘s five decades of technology expertise comes home. And who better to do it with than a man who has remained a constant across seasons, generations and demographics, always evolving, yet always relevant.
21, Aug 2026
Gujarat, Walmart Explore Global Market Access for MSMEs and Artisans

Gandhinagar: The Gujarat government and global retail major Walmart have discussed a roadmap to expand international market opportunities for the state’s micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and artisans, with the proposed collaboration expected to be showcased at the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2027.

The discussions focused on identifying sector-specific opportunities that can help local businesses improve their export readiness, strengthen product capabilities and gain access to international supply chains. The initiative is aimed at connecting Gujarat’s small enterprises and traditional artisans with wider global markets.

Walmart Executive Vice-President Dan Bryant highlighted the company’s supplier-development efforts in India, while Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel discussed the state’s industrial ecosystem and the potential for greater participation of MSMEs in global trade.

The proposed roadmap is expected to be presented during the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2027, providing a platform to explore further collaboration between the state, global retailers and local enterprises. The initiative could strengthen export opportunities for Gujarat’s MSMEs and artisans while supporting their integration into international value chains.

21, Aug 2026
Domestic Air Travel Demand Slips 4.8 percent in July

Domestic Air Travel Demand Slips 4.8 percent in July

 

New Delhi: India’s domestic air passenger traffic declined 4.8 per cent year-on-year in July 2026, with airlines carrying around 1.20 crore passengers compared with 1.26 crore in the same month last year, according to data released by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

The decline came after domestic traffic touched a record monthly level of about 1.54 crore passengers in May. Industry data indicates that seasonal weakness and relatively high airfares contributed to the moderation in demand during July.

Despite the July decline, the overall passenger count for the first seven months of 2026 remained slightly higher than the corresponding period last year. Domestic airlines carried 984.03 lakh passengers between January and July, compared with 977.79 lakh during the same period in 2025, marking growth of 0.64 per cent.

The latest figures point to a softer phase for India’s aviation sector, although passenger volumes for the year so far continue to remain above last year’s levels.