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Apr 28 – Accountants and financial advisers are increasingly switching to allowing monthly fee payments to help ease the financial pressure on clients and themselves, new research* from Premium Credit, a leading provider of finance for businesses, shows.

 Nearly two out of five (37%) questioned said cashflow at their business suffered last year and almost all (95%) said clients struggling to pay fees was the main or a contributory factor in the squeeze on cashflow.

 However more than four out of five (85%) expect cashflow to improve over the next 12 months including 15% expecting cashflow to improve significantly over the period. More than half (52%) say that their client base has expanded over the past three years. Just 4% say their client base has shrunk.

 The improvements are against a backdrop of more accountants and financial advisers allowing clients to pay fees monthly. Almost all (97%) say they allow clients to pay fees monthly over an extended period of time. Research** last year found just 70% were doing so.

 Almost all (96%) questioned say they would consider allowing clients to pay fees monthly if asked – that compares to 68% in last year’s survey. There was similar strong support (98%) for offering clients the option to spread the cost of tax bills through instalments.

 The study found that accountants and financial advisers are seeing signs of financial strain among clients as the table below shows. More than 25% say that over five in 10 clients are in poor health or on the verge of failing.

 Nearly two out of three (66%) accountants and financial advisers surveyed say HMRC is getting tougher on tax arrears and debts. That is double the 33% who believe HMRC has become more understanding.

 Recent tax rises affecting SMEs such as Employers’ National Insurance and increases in the minimum wage have hit SME businesses, the survey found. Around half of accountants and financial advisers surveyed (48%) say the Government changes have reduced staff and recruitment at firms they work with while 47% say it has cut profits.

 Jennie Hill, Chief Commercial Officer, Premium Credit (Specialist Finance) said: “Accountants and financial advisers continue to show real flexibility and creativity in how they support clients, while also ensuring their own fees are paid on time.

 “We’re seeing increasing use of monthly payment options being offered, and it’s clearly making a difference. More accountants and advisers are feeling optimistic about their cashflow for the year ahead. Enabling clients to spread the cost of fees through convenient monthly payments benefits everyone — it improves affordability for clients, supports timely payment, and reduces risk to both the business and the client relationship.”

New Delhi, Apr 27 (BNP): India has witnessed a strong rise in women’s participation in the workforce, with the women’s employment rate increasing to 39% in 2025 from 22% in 2017, Labour and Employment Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said on Tuesday.

Speaking at an event in the capital, the Minister said the improvement reflects expanding job opportunities for women across sectors and growing inclusion in both formal and informal employment.

He said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, several enabling reforms and initiatives have helped improve women’s access to employment and economic participation.

Steady Rise in Workforce Participation

Mandaviya also highlighted that the Female Labour Force Participation Rate (FLFPR) has increased from 23.3% in 2017–18 to 40% in 2025, indicating a steady improvement in women’s engagement in the labour market.

He said the trend reflects a broader structural shift in India’s economy, with more women entering diverse sectors, including services, digital platforms, and emerging industries.

Focus on Digital and Platform Economy

The Minister was speaking at the SwigStree event in New Delhi, which focused on women’s participation in the platform and gig economy.

Officials noted that increasing involvement of women in such sectors is contributing to financial independence and broader economic empowerment.

The government said continued focus on skill development, digital access, and employment-linked initiatives will further strengthen women’s participation in India’s workforce in the coming years.

Apr 28: Cleartrip, a Flipkart company and one of India’s fastest-growing online travel platforms, today announced the launch of train ticket bookings in partnership with Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), the official ticketing arm of Indian Railways. 

Leveraging IRCTC‘s strong infrastructure, this integration offers both reliability at scale and a simplified, user-friendly experience. Cleartrip will allow users to search for, book, and manage their train journeys effortlessly within the app, marking a significant step towards becoming a unified, multi–modal travel platform. 

With this launch, travellers can access train ticket bookings across routes in India, including General and Tatkal quotas as prescribed by the guidelines of the Ministry of Railways, alongside essential services such as real-time seat availability, fare insights, PNR status tracking, berth preferences, and secure digital payments, all in a single, intuitive interface. 

Manjari Singhal, Chief Growth and Business Officer, Cleartrip, said, “Train travel is a critical part of India’s mobility ecosystem, and this launch marks an important step towards realizing our vision of becoming a unified, multi–modal travel platform. With our partnership with IRCTC, we are focused on simplifying the booking experience and making it more accessible to millions of travellers.” 

Gaurav Patwari, Chief Business Officer, Air, Cleartrip, said, “With over 800 million reserved passengers travelling by train every year, the opportunity isn’t just about scale; it’s about delivering a differentiated experience. By embedding seamless booking experience, predictive intelligence, and personalization into the platform, we are ensuring that every step, from discovery to post-booking support, is fast, reliable, and stress-free.” 

India’s rail network is one of the world’s most complex mobility systems, serving 23 million passengers daily and 7 billion annually, making it one of the world’s largest transportation systems. Cleartrip aims to capitalize on this enormous demand by integrating train bookings into its services. The company plans to extend this offering to its web platform soon, ensuring a seamless cross-platform experience for users.

Mumbai, April 28: Vikran Engineering Limited (VEL), one of India’s emerging multi sector EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) companies, has announced the  execution of a Share Purchase Agreement to acquire a 49% equity stake in NOPL Solar Projects  Private Limited for INR 4.9 crore, marking a strategic expansion of its presence in India’s  renewable energy sector. 

NOPL Solar Projects Private Limited is engaged in the development, operation, and  maintenance of solar power projects and is associated with a 969 MW (AC) grid-connected  solar power project under Component C of the PM-KUSUM Scheme in Maharashtra. 

The strategic investment aligns with Vikran Engineering’s long-term vision of diversifying  beyond its core engineering operations and building a meaningful presence in high-growth,  future-focused sectors. As India accelerates its clean energy transition and renewable capacity  addition, the acquisition positions Vikran Engineering to participate more actively in the  country’s solar infrastructure buildout. 

Commenting on the development, Mr. Rakesh Markhedkar, CMD, Vikran Engineering  Limited, said:  

“This acquisition reflects our intent to deepen Vikran Engineering’s presence in sectors that will define  India’s next phase of infrastructure growth. Renewable energy continues to emerge as one of the most  compelling long-term opportunities within India’s infrastructure landscape, and this investment  enables us to strengthen our foothold in the solar segment. Through this partnership, we aim to  capitalize on the expanding solar ecosystem, enhance our project execution capabilities, and create  sustainable long-term value for all stakeholders.” 

The transaction also builds on Vikran Engineering’s growing momentum in the renewable  energy segment, following the company’s execution of solar power projects during FY 2025– 26. By partnering with NOPL Solar Projects, Vikran Engineering aims to enhance its  participation across the renewable energy value chain and further strengthen its capabilities  in delivering next-generation infrastructure solutions. 

Keturah founder says year-on-year gains reflect resilience amid regional uncertainty

Dubai, UAE, 29^th April; 2026: Dubai’s standing as one of the world’s leading luxury real estate markets is being underlined by sustained demand across key price segments.

A new market analysis from the Keturah luxury brand highlights a clear acceleration in developer sales in recent weeks, with strong year-on-year growth in both value and volume despite regional uncertainty. 

Data from DXBinteract shows that developer sales above AED5 million reached AED25.04 billion between March 1 and April 15, a 21.4% increase on the same period last year, while transaction volumes rose 59.7% to 1,813 deals.

The AED5–10 million segment recorded the strongest growth, with value rising from AED3.43 billion to AED7.91 billion year-on-year and volume increasing from 503 to 1,153 transactions across the full March to April 15 period.

In the AED20–50 million range, value grew from AED5.38 billion to AED7.20 billion, with volume up from 211 to 236 transactions. The AED50–100 million bracket saw value climb from AED1.55 billion to AED2.63 billion, with transaction volumes rising from 24 to 42 deals across the period.

“In the current environment, the consistency of activity across these key segments is a strong indicator of underlying stability,” says Talal M. Al Gaddah, CEO and Founder of the Keturah luxury brand.

“The scale of growth across three distinct price bands tells you a great deal about the buyers driving it. These are committed, purposeful people taking a long-term view, and that level of sustained, broad-based confidence is a very encouraging sign.” 

He adds: “Dubai’s luxury market has durability because developers are thinking differently about what they build. There is more focus on how homes are actually lived in, and less reliance on short-term demand cycles. You can see that in the quality and consistency of what is coming to market.” 

Keturah’s two major luxury projects currently under development in Dubai sit directly within this market environment. Keturah Resort, a wellness-certified community along Dubai Creek adjacent to the Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary, is designed around long-term living in a natural waterfront setting, while Keturah Reserve, the AED5.7 billion bio-living community in Mohammed Bin Rashid City’s District 7, is structured around controlled supply, residential privacy and end-user demand rather than short-term turnover. 

Together, they reflect where the market is heading, with greater emphasis on how people live at home day to day, and how developments are structured to support that. 

“Dubai continues to attract long-term capital because the fundamentals are stable and predictable,” says Talal. “The infrastructure is in place, the regulatory environment is transparent, and there is a long-term approach to how the city is planned and delivered. That combination gives investors and end-users a level of certainty they can rely on.”

Edinburgh, United Kingdom, April 28^th 2026. pureLiFi, the global leader in LiFi technology, today announced a landmark partnership with Askey, a leading manufacturer of advanced network communications equipment, to revolutionise the Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) market. Askey will pioneer the demonstration of a fully integrated “all-in-one” solution that combines a high-performance 5G modem and pureLiFi’s proprietary through-window bridging technology in a streamlined self-installable solution.

Moving at an accelerated pace, Askey and pureLiFi are working to solve the industry’s “last-metre” challenge: delivering gigabit broadband indoors without the need for drilling holes, cabling, or professional installations. This addresses the broadband providers’ need for easy install solutions to slash their waitlists.  This system utilises LiFi technology and wireless power to transmit data through windows, effectively bridging the 5G gap for users globally. Broadband subscribers may significantly enhance their service by relocating their Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) outdoors, which can deliver substantial benefits.

Disrupting the FWA Business Model

Unlike existing solutions that require separate accessories, such as pureLiFi’s Bridge XC Flex, this new collaboration integrates the bridging capabilities directly into Askey CPE. This “all-in-one” approach allows Telcos to provide self-installable units that increase network capacity by up to 6x. By eliminating the need for technician “truck rolls,” the solution allows operators to onboard users faster and more affordably while also lowering CO2 emissions.

This collaboration marks a significant milestone in wireless infrastructure, combining Askey’s leading Netcom expertise and global reach with pureLiFi’s pioneering innovation. Leadership from both organisations emphasised that this partnership is designed to fundamentally change how high-speed 5G internet is delivered and consumed.

Robert Lin, CEO of Askey, said that “Askey is committed to staying at the cutting edge of connectivity by working with global innovators like pureLiFi. We’ve been working for 5 years to solve the problem of bringing outdoor FWA signals indoors. pureLiFi’s LiFi bridge is the answer. Our combined system will enable carriers to get users connected cost-effectively and quickly while improving the overall 5G experience.  By being the first to demonstrate ‘all-in-one’ FWA CPE with an integrated LiFi bridge, we will disrupt the FWA business model.

Ron Schaeffer, CEO of pureLiFi, added: “This partnership builds on pureLiFi’s pioneering position as innovators in the LiFi space and Askey’s excellence in 5G consumer premises equipment. Our proprietary wireless bridging technology is the key to unlocking the full potential of 5G FWA indoors. Together, we are providing a solution that is secure, unjammable, reliable, and incredibly simple for the end-user to install. We are proud to work with Askey to make better broadband connectivity a reality through the 5G spectrum with help from LiFi.”

Improved Access and User Experience

The Askey system is designed to provide reliable, gigabit-class data throughput, ensuring that users in urban, suburban and rural environments can access high-speed broadband regardless of modern building materials that block 5G signals. By integrating the modem and bridge into one unit, Askey is simplifying the user journey and ensuring that high-speed 5G is more accessible than ever before.

Availability

Units will be available for demonstration and testing with telecommunications carriers around the world within the first half of 2026. Both organisations are ready to revolutionise FWA, helping more users get online without requiring additional infrastructure investment.