Category: Business

Karnataka, May 15: Aequs group and the Indian Institute of Technology –Dharwad (IIT-D), have set up an advanced research and development ecosystem for materials science and manufacturing innovation at IIT-D campus.

The facility is equipped to support advanced material characterization, failure analysis, manufacturing process simulation and optimization, enabling deeper industry-academia collaboration in precision-driven manufacturing domains.

This initiative lays the foundation for a dedicated “IIT Dharwad – Aequs Research and Development Center,” in the coming days to accelerate applied research, foster innovation, and bridge the gap between laboratory science and industrial application.

Commenting on the development, Aravind Melligeri, Executive Chairman and CEO, Aequs Ltd., said: “This partnership reflects Aequs’ long-term commitment to strengthening India’s advanced manufacturing ecosystem through sustained investments in research, innovation, and skill development. The collaboration will enhance IIT Dharwad’s applied research capabilities and industry engagement apart from enabling Aequs deliver cutting-edge products to its customers.” 

Prof. Venkappayya R. Desai, Director, IIT-D, said: “The operationalization of this advanced materials R&D facility with Aequs marks an important step in strengthening industry-aligned research at IIT Dharwad. This collaboration provides our students and researchers with direct exposure to real-world manufacturing challenges, while enabling meaningful contributions to high-impact industrial innovation. We see this as a model for deep academia-industry integration in emerging areas of materials science and advanced manufacturing”. 

The center is enabling detailed insights into material behavior and failure mechanisms, contributing to improved product quality, enhanced reliability, reduced failure rates, and more efficient manufacturing processes—critical for high-precision industries.

In addition to research, the facility is actively conducting hands-on training programs for engineers, researchers, and students, strengthening capabilities in advanced analysis of metals and non-metals. Aequs continues to support the center through technical assessments, equipment performance monitoring, and maintenance oversight, ensuring high standards of scientific rigor and operational excellence.

Unified platform to align national shipbuilding capabilities to drive maritime innovation and growth

Abu Dhabi, UAE – 15 May 2026: AD Ports Group (ADX: ADPORTS), a global enabler of integrated trade, transport, industry, and logistics solutions, has announced the formation of the Consortium of UAE Shipbuilders, a unified platform across shipbuilding, vessel repair, fabrication, and marine engineering.

The Consortium brings together an initial group of national industry players spanning shipbuilding, steel production, marine engineering, and fabrication, including AD Ports Group, SAFEEN Drydocks, Premier Marine Engineering Services, Dubai Shipbuilding & Engineering (DSBE), Al Seer Marine, Dutch Oriental, JOME Engineering, Saifee, Blue Gulf Ship Builders, and MBK Marine Industries, among others.

The Consortium will enhance collaboration and strengthen the UAE’s position within the maritime industrial sector. It will improve visibility across project pipelines, enable more efficient procurement, and support coordinated execution, increasing delivery capability and overall sector competitiveness across the full maritime value chain, including increased participation by locally based small and medium-sized shipyards.

Led by Noatum Maritime, part of the Group’s Maritime & Shipping Cluster, the initiative is designed to strengthen coordination across the domestic maritime sector and provide opportunities for small and medium-sized companies to access larger and more complex projects in both local and international markets. 

Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Managing Director and Group CEO of AD Ports Group, said: “The establishment of the UAE’s first Shipbuilders Consortium reflects our commitment to advancing the nation’s industrial capabilities, in line with the vision of our wise leadership in the UAE and broader economic diversification objectives. By strengthening alignment across the sector, we are enabling greater scale, enhancing competitiveness, and positioning the UAE to play a more prominent role in global maritime trade and manufacturing. Through our maritime division, we are helping to shape a more connected and competitive national shipbuilding ecosystem.”

Noatum Maritime delivers shipbuilding and repair capabilities in the UAE through SAFEEN Drydocks, a joint venture with Premier Marine Engineering Services. Internationally, SAFEEN Drydocks has expanded its shipbuilding footprint by acquiring the Balenciaga Shipyard in Spain, further strengthening its ability to support complex vessel construction and fabrication projects across global markets.

As the lead entity, Noatum Maritime is well-positioned to define the governance and commercial framework for the Consortium, ensuring alignment with the UAE’s strategic goals for industrial growth and economic diversification.

India, May 15: Saudi welcomes Miraval The Red Sea today on Shura Island, marking the wellness brand’s first property outside the United States. The opening represents a significant milestone for Saudi’s growing luxury and wellness tourism offering, while further reinforcing The Red Sea’s positioning as a leading regenerative destination focused on immersive, experience-led travel.

The adults-only retreat features 180 rooms, suites, and villas designed around mindfulness, movement, nutrition, and rest, offering guests personalised wellness experiences within a nature-led setting on the shores of the Red Sea. The resort combines luxury hospitality with wellbeing-focused programming, including the Body Mindfulness Center, Life in Balance Culinary Kitchen, Serenity and Aquatic Centers, spa facilities, mindfulness workshops, movement experiences, and water-based activities. The property also operates as a digital device-free environment designed to encourage presence, restoration, and self-discovery.

The opening reflects Saudi’s continued expansion into high-value tourism segments and growing international confidence in the destination’s luxury and wellness offering. It also comes amid strong tourism momentum across the Kingdom, with occupancy at The Red Sea destination reaching 82% during the final 10 days of Ramadan, ahead of an expected increase in demand during Eid Al-Adha.

Located at the heart of The Red Sea destination, Miraval The Red Sea is accessible via Red Sea International Airport (RSI), followed by a 25–30-minute EV transfer. Additional flights have been added to RSI for the upcoming Eid period, alongside a curated programme of dining, entertainment and cultural experiences for guests staying at the destination.

Miraval The Red Sea also supports Saudi’s broader tourism diversification strategy by strengthening the destination’s appeal among luxury and wellness travellers seeking transformative, nature-driven experiences.

New Delhi, 15 May : Divyansh Group, a prominent real estate developer in the Delhi-NCR region, today announced the successful delivery of over 5.7 million square feet of residential development across Ghaziabad, Noida, and other NCR micro-markets. Since its inception in 2001, the company has consistently catered to mid and upper-mid-income homebuyers by delivering thoughtfully designed and quality homes.

Over the past 25 years, Divyansh Group has established a strong presence by successfully completing numerous residential projects and builder floors. Its portfolio includes developments such as Divyansh Onyx, Divyansh Flora, Divyansh Fabio, Divyansh Arc Angels, Ska Divya Tower, and Skardi Greens. Each project represents the company’s dedication to timely delivery, quality construction, and homes that meet the evolving needs of modern families. 

Commenting on the success, Mr. Chanderjeet Pathak, Chairman of Divyansh Group said, 

“True success is not just about the scale of projects but delivering them with integrity and quality. My career began on construction sites, which gave me hands-on experience that continues to guide our approach. We prioritize realistic timelines, maintain high construction standards, and consistently honour our commitments to buyers. As we enter a new phase of growth amid a competitive market, our focus remains on building homes that stand the test of time.”

Currently, Divyansh Group has approximately 4.4 million square feet of residential development underway, which includes ongoing projects such as Divyansh Green Heights and Divyansh Orion Homes, along with upcoming developments in Siddharth Vihar, Hapur, and Wave City. This pipeline reflects the company’s continued focus on expanding its presence while delivering well-planned residential communities.

Looking ahead, Divyansh Group aims to deliver more than 2,200 homes over the next three years, reinforcing its position as a trusted builder in the Delhi-NCR region and its dedication to meet the housing needs of its customers.

Mumbai, India May 15: Homegrown luxury watch brand Argos Watches has launched Olympus II, its latest automatic watch collection, continuing the brand’s strong growth in India’s affordable luxury segment.

Following the rapid sell-out of previous collections including Olympus I and Apollo III, the new launch witnessed over 34,000 pre-launch sign-ups, highlighting the growing demand for premium automatic watches among Indian consumers.

Inspired by Japanese watchmaking, the Argos team travelled to Japan earlier this year as part of the development process behind Olympus II. The collection features Japanese Miyota automatic movement technology, open-heart dials, sapphire crystal glass, fluted detailing, and refined finishing that combine timeless craftsmanship with modern aesthetics.

Olympus II reflects the brand’s focus on making premium automatic watches more accessible to a new generation of consumers.

The launch also marks Argos Watches’ entry into women’s automatic watches under the Olympus line, carrying forward the same craftsmanship and detailing in a more compact design.

“Olympus II is a reflection of what our community has consistently asked for – elevated finishing, stronger movements, and thoughtful design,” shared the team at Argos Watches.

Backed by strong community demand and repeated sold-out launches, Argos Watches is steadily emerging as one of India’s fastest-growing independent watch brands.

Stronger job visibility, improving infrastructure and simpler loan processes are helping first‑time homebuyers in Bengaluru take decisions sooner, according to Kotak Mahindra Bank. The bank is seeing more Gen Z and younger millennials move from renting to owning earlier than before.

“Across the country, we’re seeing homebuyers get younger,” said Nakul Saxena, Head – Home Loans, Kotak Mahindra Bank. “In Bengaluru as well, more first‑time buyers are choosing to move earlier instead of waiting for the perfect time. They are clearer about their budget, preferred locations and what matters in a home.”

What’s driving confidence in Bengaluru

Bengaluru’s strong job market continues to support this shift. Growth in global capability centres, startups is helping professionals build stable incomes earlier in their careers. This is making it easier for many younger buyers to plan for home ownership.

At the same time, ongoing infrastructure work—especially metro expansion and road connectivity projects—is changing how buyers look at the city. Places that earlier felt like long commutes are now within acceptable travel time.

“We are seeing more interest in North and East Bengaluru, where buyers feel they can get better space and still stay connected to work,” Saxena said. “As connectivity improves, people are more open to exploring new locations rather than focusing only on established areas.”

Changing rent vs EMI mindset

Rents in parts of Bengaluru have risen sharply over the last few years, especially in key job corridors. For many households, the decision is about affordability as well as long‑term certainty.

Owning a home can offer more predictability compared to rising rents in high‑demand areas. As a result, some first‑time buyers are choosing to act sooner rather than waiting indefinitely.

What buyers really look for

Kotak’s interactions with home loan customers show that while modern amenities and community living continue to attract buyers—especially those upgrading from rentals—the final decision is still based on a few basics:

• Thorough due diligence of all legal aspects related to the land and the property
• Getting possession on time
• Good construction quality
• Homes with natural light and ventilation

“These are the factors that give buyers comfort,” Saxena said. “Amenities are important, but they also want clarity and confidence in their decision. The final decision depends on how the home will work for the family over time.”

Priyanka Gohil and Aman Aragonda responded to a UN OCHA brief in 24 hours, pitching a digital campaign to mobilise USD $23 billion and save 87 million lives across Asia-Pacific

Schbang has clinched the Digital category win at Cairns Hatchlings 2026, the Asia-Pacific creative competition held at the Cairns Convention Centre in Australia, marking a significant moment for Indian creative talent on the international stage.

Cairns Hatchlings is one of the most pressure-tested creative competitions in the region. Finalists receive a brief and have exactly 24 hours to go from ideation to execution to live presentation. This year’s brief was driven by OCHA and supported by the UN Foundation, challenging teams to develop a culturally resonant idea to motivate the private sector and the public across Asia-Pacific to collectively raise USD $23 billion and save 87 million lives in 2026, built around the campaign platform Reunite for Humanity.

Schbang’s Digital category entry, led by Priyanka Gohil and Aman Aragonda, zeroed in on a tension at the heart of the brief: in a world where digital connectivity is widening the gap between people, how do you use that same world to bring them together for a cause? Their answer was AI. Observing that AI platforms are today used universally, from wealthy individuals to large private sector organisations, the duo proposed using AI as the connective layer between those who have the means to give and the 87 million people who are offline and in critical need. The platform would channel funds directly to the UN’s humanitarian efforts, while ensuring donors could see the real-world impact of their contribution.

The judges called it “a seriously impressive piece of strategic reframing and problem solving, unique and fresh.”

Priyanka Gohil said, “The brief was about solidarity, but the digital world is doing the opposite. It’s pulling people further apart. We wanted to flip that. What made this harder was that I am a product designer and Aman is a graphic designer – neither of us works on campaigns day to day. This was completely out of our comfort zone. But we used every insight we had from our industry, stayed up through the entire 24 hours, and trusted the strategy we had built.”

Aman Aragonda added, “We did not sleep for a single minute. The moment the 24 hours ended, we were straight into our presentation. But the exhaustion didn’t matter because we had built something we believed in. We started from a very difficult reality, designed the entire flow of our presentation to be strategic from start to finish, and even asked the judges for feedback at the end. That kind of conviction, I think, is what carried us through.” 

Dipshika Ravi, National Creative Director at Schbang, said, “Winning is one thing. But what makes this special is the idea Priyanka and Aman brought to the table. Using AI not as a tool for the privileged, but as a bridge to those who have nothing. That kind of thinking, done in 24 hours, on a brief of this magnitude, is what Schbang is built on. I could not be more proud of them and of what this team represents. “

Schbang placed two teams in the Cairns Hatchlings 2026 finals, with Priyanka and Aman in Digital and Beverly Coutinho and Sneiden D’souza in Publishing. It is a marker of how far Indian creative talent has come, and a sign of where it is headed. 

Pune, India, 14 May 2026: Kia India, one of the country’s leading mass-premium automakers, is set to bring an immersive cultural experience to Pune as part of its ongoing partnership with HYBE INDIA. Designed to celebrate creativity, self-expression, and youth culture, the initiative will come alive through the ‘Kia Vibe Studio’ at the Kia Engagement Zone at the HYBE INDIA Pop-Up Park.

The HYBE INDIA Pop-Up Park will take place on 16th – 17th May at Phoenix Marketcity, Liberty Square, Pune transforming the location into a vibrant hub of music, fandom, and interactive experiences. With entries starting 04:00 pm onwards, visitors will have the opportunity to engage with a range of interactive formats, including live experiences, participative activities, and curated engagements designed to bring together entertainment and innovation in a high-energy environment.

At the heart of this experience is the Kia Vibe Studio stationed at the Kia Engagement Zone, uniquely housed inside the 2026 Kia Syros. This in-car content creation setup enables visitors to record and instantly create high-quality, shareable performance videos, turning the vehicle into a space for creativity and self-expression. The 2026 Kia Syros strengthens its value-led, mass-premium positioning with a more distinctive SUV appeal with sporty and rugged design enhancements, wider variant choice, and improved accessibility to automatic transmissions, including diesel AT options. Reflecting Kia India’s youthful and progressive ethos, it builds on its core strengths of spacious interiors, five-star BNCAP safety, and enhanced feature distribution—blending everyday practicality with connected technology and comfort.

Following the Pop-Up Park, HYBE INDIA will conduct on-ground auditions on 17th May 2026 at Novotel Pune Nagar Road, Pune offering aspiring participants an opportunity to showcase their talent as part of its initiative to discover and launch India’s next global girl group. More information is available on HYBE INDIA [https://india.hybeaudition.com/en] website.

The Pune leg, following successful showcases in Guwahati and Mumbai, is part of a larger 10-city journey across India, creating a platform for emerging talent to step onto the world stage. Through such initiatives, Kia India continues to strengthen its connect with young audiences by going beyond mobility to engage with culture, creativity, and new-age aspirations.

With this activation, Kia India reinforces its position as a youthful and progressive brand, building meaningful cultural connections and engaging with a new generation driven by passion and ambition.