Cabinet Clears INR 13,041 Crore Rail-Road Push to Strengthen Connectivity

Cabinet Clears INR 13,041 Crore Rail-Road Push to Strengthen Connectivity

New Delhi, Aug 19: The Union Cabinet has approved infrastructure projects worth ₹13,041 crore, giving a fresh boost to India’s rail and road connectivity and supporting the country’s broader push to strengthen logistics and economic infrastructure.

The package includes four railway multitracking projects worth ₹9,450 crore and a ₹3,590.73-crore four-laning project in Bihar. The railway projects will cover key sections across West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

The approved rail projects include the Kharagpur-Bhadrak fourth line, Bhadrak-Haridaspur fourth line, Gummidipundi-Gudur third and fourth lines, and Cuttack-Paradeep third and fourth lines. Together, they are expected to add around 410 km to the railway network and improve capacity on important passenger and freight routes.

A major focus is the Howrah-Chennai corridor, one of the country’s important rail routes. Increasing the number of tracks on busy sections is expected to ease congestion and create additional space for passenger and freight services. The approved projects are projected to add around 13 million tonnes of annual freight capacity.

The benefits are expected to extend well beyond railway operations. The government estimates that the projects will improve connectivity for around 6,448 villages with a combined population of nearly 60 lakh people. Better rail links can make daily travel easier while helping communities gain improved access to markets, education, healthcare and employment opportunities.

The Cabinet has also approved the Muzaffarpur-Sitamarhi-Sonbarsa four-lane highway project in Bihar. The 82.6-km road corridor is expected to strengthen regional connectivity and improve movement towards the Nepal border, supporting both local mobility and trade.

The projects have been planned under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, with an emphasis on coordinated infrastructure development and multimodal connectivity. Better integration between road and rail networks can help goods move more efficiently, reduce bottlenecks and improve the overall logistics chain.

For businesses, the infrastructure expansion could translate into more reliable transportation and smoother access to important markets. Improved freight capacity can also support manufacturing, agriculture, mining, trade and other sectors that depend heavily on efficient movement of goods.

The investment is also expected to generate economic activity through construction, engineering, equipment supply and related services. Over the longer term, stronger connectivity can encourage private investment and support the development of new commercial centres along upgraded transport corridors.

The latest approvals underline the government’s continued focus on infrastructure-led growth, with transport capacity being expanded alongside efforts to improve logistics efficiency.

By strengthening some of India’s busiest rail routes and adding a major highway connection in Bihar, the projects are expected to improve mobility for people, strengthen freight movement and create a more connected foundation for the country’s next phase of economic growth.

Chandigarh University Researchers Develop All-in-One Mobile System for Doorstep Vehicle Servicing, Alignment & Washing

Researchers Patent brings innovative vehicle diagnostics to Deliver Complete Vehicle Servicing at Doorstep

CHANDIGARH, India, Aug. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — A team of Chandigarh University researchers has developed a mobile ‘Vehicle Maintenance System’, designed to bring multiple vehicle maintenance services including vehicle diagnostics, engine and brake oil replacement, wheel alignment, hydraulic lifting and washing to the customer’s doorstep, thus reducing the inconvenience of queuing up at the service centres for long hours for service of the vehicle. 

Chandigarh University researchers including Prof (Dr) Payal Patial, Associate Professor in Electronics and Communication Engineering (currently deputed in CU’s University Centre for Research and Development) along with two students Suraj Rana and Supreet Bhatnagar have been granted a patent for this invention titled ‘Vehicle Maintenance System’ in May 2026 by the Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs & Trade Marks (O/o CGPDTM) which is responsible for administering the Intellectual Property Laws in India.

Sharing details, Prof (Dr) Payal Patial said, “By carrying out a series of maintenance procedures at the user’s doorstep for servicing the vehicle of the user, ‘Vehicle Maintenance System’ addresses the growing demand for convenient, time-efficient, and accessible vehicle maintenance services.”

“Instead of requiring vehicle owners to visit conventional service centres and wait in long queues for hours, this system brings essential maintenance and diagnostic services directly to the user’s doorstep, thereby saving time and improving convenience. The ‘Vehicle Maintenance System’ has been designed to not only provide convenience to vehicle owners but also promote preventive maintenance and improving vehicle reliability.” 

“This concept also supports modern on-demand service models. Our ‘Vehicle Maintenance System’ has potential applications in smart mobility ecosystems as it integrates multiple automotive servicing operations into a single mobile platform that recreates the functionality of a conventional service station at the customer’s doorstep. Unlike existing mobile service units that offer only basic maintenance, this system provides comprehensive servicing, diagnostics, wheel alignment, hydraulic lifting, and rescue capabilities in one integrated vehicle.” 

“The ‘Vehicle Maintenance System’ will consist of a movable unit which will serve like an on-the-go vehicle service station which can be easily moved from one place to another for providing doorstep vehicle maintenance service to customer. This ‘Vehicle Maintenance System’ has been designed for servicing a wide range of passenger vehicles. Its integrated Hydraulic lifting mechanism will help in safe inspection and maintenance. Its Hydraulic locking system will ensure operational safety. Besides an onboard wheel alignment system, engine oil, brake oil, air filter, and oil filter replacement facilities, this mobile all-in-one ‘Vehicle Maintenance System’ will have computerized vehicle diagnostics for real-time fault detection and preventive maintenance. Its adjustable body-on-frame structure will accommodate different vehicle sizes. In addition, this system also includes dust-free washing facility and roadside rescue or towing functionality with heavy-duty towing equipment for stranded vehicles.”

“Besides doorstep vehicle servicing, this ‘Vehicle Maintenance System’ will also be useful for preventive maintenance of passenger vehicles, fleet maintenance services, emergency roadside assistance, rural and remote automotive service delivery as well as corporate and institutional vehicle maintenance,” she concluded.  

Congratulating Prof (Dr) Payal Patial, Suraj Rana and Supreet Bhatnagar for being granted the Patent for their innovative ‘Vehicle Maintenance System’, Deepinder Singh Sandhu, Senior Managing Director, Chandigarh University said, “It’s a matter of pride that Chandigarh University’s students and faculty members have filed more than 6,100 patents out of which 5800 patents have been published and 260 patents have been granted. Chandigarh University is ranked number one as a single institution in India for filing highest number of patents. CU’s 44 faculty members featured in Stanford University–Elsevier list of the world’s top 2% scientists. This achievement reflects the strong research and innovation ecosystem at Chandigarh University to support research excellence and intellectual property generation for advancement of technology,”.

 “Making research a core pillar of education, Chandigarh University nurtures next-generation leaders in emerging domains with its research-intensive, innovation-driven and unique experiential learning model. Chandigarh University has established a strong presence in global academic databases by producing over 25,000 scholarly documents in key areas including engineering, computer science, life sciences, physical sciences, social sciences and management. Over 1.53 lakh Scopus citations of CU’s diverse research output reflects a robust and growing research ecosystem. The range of research activities at Chandigarh University is wide-ranging and profound. University scholars conduct research in practically every domain, and pursue to develop human knowledge through investigation, invention, and understanding. Chandigarh University is recognized as Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (SIRO) by the Union Ministry of Science and Technology’s Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) for promoting and advancing the research. To amplify research, Chandigarh University has dedicated an annual budget of Rs 15 Crore for research and has also 60 Research Centres and 15 Centres of Excellence. CU’s research initiatives are further strengthened by 67 projects funded by the corporate sector and government bodies with Rs 90 Crore,” he added.

About Chandigarh University

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

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

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Toy Story | PEACEMINUSONE: THE FIRST FAN Project Makes Its Fourth Global Tour Stop at Harbour City

HONG KONG, Aug. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — From 14 August to 6 September 2026, “Toy Story | PEACEMINUSONE: THE FIRST FAN” arrives at Harbour City in Hong Kong for its fourth global tour stop. Created in collaboration between Disney and G-DRAGON’s PEACEMINUSONE, the limited-time event features three must-visit experiences: “THE FIRST FAN” Dream House, “THE FIRST FAN” Official Pop-up Store, and “THE FIRST FAN Photo Zone” Art Exhibition — blending contemporary art, childhood nostalgia, and creative aesthetics into a multisensory fan experience.

Against the spectacular backdrop of Victoria Harbour, Ocean Terminal Forecourt is transformed into “THE FIRST FAN” Dream House, featuring an illuminated entrance inspired by Andy’s house that stands over 5.5 metres tall. A message wall presented by Buzz Lightyear and Jessie carries the quote: “We may have been small, but our dreams were big. It was the friendships we formed then that made us who we are today”. Inside, Toy Story characters installations gather around a 3-metre-tall illuminated PEACEMINUSONE Daisy. Popular installations from the Seoul stop — including a 3-metre-tall chest of drawers inspired by Andy’s bedroom, a 1.6-metre-tall Woody sculpture, and the iconic Pixar Ball — also make their Hong Kong debut. The experience continues at the Daisy Garden, where the staircase is transformed into a playful floral landscape featuring beloved Toy Story characters.

“THE FIRST FAN” official pop-up store at the Ocean Terminal Lobby recreates the artistic concept from the Seoul stop, featuring approximately 70 fashion, lifestyle, and collectible items from the Toy Story x PEACEMINUSONE collection, along with the debut of exclusive merchandise available only at the Hong Kong stop.

Meanwhile, “THE FIRST FAN Photo Zone” at Gallery by the Harbour features nearly 2-metre-tall sculptures of Woody and Buzz Lightyear, a time-travelling elevator installation, and more than 20 Daisy-themed artworks showcased exclusively in Hong Kong. A dedicated “THE FIRST FAN” Dream Wall invites fans to leave personal messages for their favourite Toy Story characters and PEACEMINUSONE, while an interactive colouring installation also invites visitors to unleash their creativity.

#HarbourCity #thefirstfan #PEACEMINUSONEDOTCOM #SAKASAKA #playinthebox #disneystylehk #KKdayhk @harbourcity @thefirstfan_official @peaceminusonedotcom @sakasaka_hk @playinthebox_official @disneystylehk @kkdayhk

Event Details: https://www.harbourcity.com.hk/en/article/toy-story-peaceminusone-the-first-fan/

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STATETRON INTRODUCES ANDROMEAN CLASS™

A NEW ERA OF INDUSTRIALISATION

Qatar 2030: Statetron unveils a new blueprint for autonomous, intelligent and energy-native industry

DOHA, Qatar, Aug. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Statetron today introduces Andromean Class™, a new industrial architecture designed to usher in a new era of industrialisation where artificial intelligence, robotics, autonomous logistics, energy storage and digital intelligence converge within a single manufacturing ecosystem.

The first proposed Andromean Class facility is being developed for Qatar, with an initial development concept of approximately 10 hectares and an architecture designed from inception for multi-gigawatt-scale expansion.

Statetron’s ambition is not simply to build another battery assembly plant. It is to create a new generation of industrial infrastructure in which the factory itself becomes an intelligent, energy-integrated system.

“The first industrial revolution mechanised production. The digital revolution connected it. The next era will make industry intelligent, autonomous and energy-native.”

Lars Carlstrom, CEO, Statetron

THE ANDROMEAN CLASS

The Andromean Class integrates AI-driven production, robotic assembly, autonomous material movement, digital-twin technology, automated quality control and intelligent energy management into one coordinated industrial environment.

The objective is to replace fragmented manufacturing processes with a continuously connected system in which production, logistics, energy, data and maintenance are optimised together.

At the centre of the platform is Statetron’s modular 5 MW Power Block architecture, designed for large-scale energy-storage applications across utility, industrial, renewable-energy and grid-infrastructure markets.

The manufacturing platform is designed to support configurable storage durations and progressively expanding production capacity as demand develops.

THE FACTORY AS AN ENERGY SYSTEM

The Andromean Class concept goes beyond manufacturing.

The facility itself is designed to integrate renewable generation, energy storage and intelligent power management, allowing Statetron’s technology to become part of the energy infrastructure operating the factory.

This creates a closed technological ecosystem:

energy powers the factory the factory produces energy infrastructure and digital intelligence connects the entire system.

Qatar provides a compelling environment for this vision. Qatar Free Zones Authority identifies advanced manufacturing, AI, robotics, IoT, data analytics and clean technology among its strategic emerging-technology sectors. The Umm Alhoul Free Zone, adjacent to Hamad Port, is positioned for heavy manufacturing, logistics and emerging technologies.

BUILT FOR THE NEXT INDUSTRIAL ERA

The proposed Qatar facility is conceived as a scalable industrial platform rather than a fixed-capacity factory. Production, automation, logistics and energy infrastructure can be expanded progressively toward multi-gigawatt-scale manufacturing.

Statetron believes this convergence of intelligence, autonomy and energy represents the next step in industrialisation.

“We don’t want to build another battery factory. We want to build the blueprint for how industry itself will operate in the next decade.”

Lars Carlstrom, CEO, Statetron

ANDROMEAN CLASS™

A NEW ERA OF INDUSTRIALISATION

STATETRON

Powering a New World

www.statetron.com

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STARPRIME Completes Beta Testing of Market-Maker Model

The model is designed to help brokers manage liquidity costs, execution, and market exposure across different types of client flow.

PORT LOUIS, Mauritius, Aug. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — STARPRIME (www.starprime.com) has completed beta testing of its Market-Maker Model with selected clients, following a review of execution quality, pricing, and risk-management outcomes under different market conditions. 

The model addresses a challenge for retail brokers: deciding when to retain client flow internally and when to externalise it to banks, ECNs or other liquidity providers.

Externalising flow can reduce a broker’s direct market exposure, but spreads, margin requirements and other terms available from institutional providers may differ from those offered to retail clients. Sometimes, this can make certain trades less economical to externalise.

STARPRIME’s Market-Maker Model provides another execution option, with pricing closer to retail trading conditions while STARPRIME manages external liquidity relationships.

The model reflects changes in retail trading behaviour. With greater access to market information and AI-based tools, brokers may need to reconsider when to retain client flow and when to externalise it.

During beta testing, clients identified segments where externalising flow reduced market exposure and supported efficient risk and flow management. Results varied according to client flow, market conditions and execution requirements.

Compared with STP execution under comparable conditions, STARPRIME observed faster price updates, tighter spreads during volatility, more efficient execution of larger orders, and lower market impact. These findings were specific to beta-testing scenarios and may vary with market conditions, order flow and execution requirements.

“The industry’s move toward lower execution costs is accelerating. Our focus is on giving brokers another way to manage client order flow while maintaining transparency around pricing, liquidity and execution.” — Jay Mawji, CEO of STARPRIME.

STARPRIME plans to expand the execution data and user cases available through its Pricing Section to give prospective clients more information when assessing the model. (https://www.starprime.com/spread/)

About STARPRIME

STARPRIME (www.starprime.com) was built around a clear understanding: institutional clients need more than access to liquidity. They need a partner that understands their business, responds to their changing requirements, and provides the infrastructure and expertise they can rely on as they grow.

Today, STARPRIME is an established institutional CFD liquidity provider and market maker, combining deep multi-asset liquidity with advanced pricing technology, low-latency execution, and dedicated client coverage. Its solutions are shaped around each client’s flow, scale, and market requirements, with a focus on transparency, consistent performance, and lasting partnerships.

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Colt Data Centre Services Appoints Quy Nguyen as Chief Executive Officer

LONDON, Aug. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Colt Data Centre Services (Colt DCS) today announced the appointment of Quy Nguyen as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective immediately. Nguyen has served as Acting CEO since April 2026, following the retirement of Niclas Sanfridsson. After a comprehensive succession process, the Board of Directors appointed Nguyen as CEO, underscoring its confidence in his leadership and vision for the company’s next phase of growth.

Since joining the company in 2016, Nguyen has held a number of senior leadership positions, successfully leading teams across sales and marketing, customer experience, design, and delivery. Most recently, as Chief Sales Officer (CSO), he played a pivotal role in accelerating growth by strengthening the company’s commercial strategy and deepening customer relationships. Prior to joining Colt DCS, Nguyen held senior leadership roles spanning finance, strategy, and general management, providing him with broad experience in scaling businesses and delivering sustainable growth.

As CEO, Nguyen will lead Colt DCS through its next stage of growth, with a focus on scaling the company’s global platform and supporting customers’ rapidly evolving digital infrastructure needs.  With nearly 800MW of capacity under development across key global markets, Colt DCS is well positioned to support growing demand for digital infrastructure driven by continued cloud adoption and the rapid expansion of AI workloads across Europe and Asia.

Tim Cohen, Chairman of Colt DCS, commented:

“Quy has demonstrated exceptional leadership during a period of significant growth and transformation for Colt DCS. His deep understanding of our customers, our people, and our business, combined with his strategic vision and proven track record of execution, made him the outstanding choice to lead the company. As demand for digital infrastructure continues to accelerate globally, we are confident that Quy will build upon our strong foundations and position Colt DCS for continued long-term success.”

Quy Nguyen, CEO of Colt DCS, said:

“I am honoured to be appointed CEO of Colt DCS at such an exciting time for our company and industry. We have built a strong track record for delivering world-class digital infrastructure, fostering trusted customer relationships, and executing ambitious growth plans across key markets.

As demand for sustainable cloud and AI infrastructure continues to accelerate, we are uniquely positioned to support our customers’ evolving needs through continued investment, operational excellence, and innovation. I look forward to working alongside our talented teams around the world to build on our strong foundations, expand our global platform, and deliver long-term value for our customers, partners, and stakeholders.”

About Colt DCS 

We design, build and operate data centres for global hyperscalers and large enterprises.

Our global portfolio includes 15 operational data centres, with an additional 12 sites under development across 9 cities in the UK, Europe, and the APAC region. 

We enable our customers to effectively plan for the growth of their business while also providing them with peace of mind. We provide secure, resilient, well-connected infrastructure with planned future capacity growth potential. We have over 25 years of experience in the data centre industry, delivering on our vision of being the most trusted and customer-centric data centre operator in the market. 

We put the environment at the heart of everything we do by recognising this as a fundamental responsibility towards our planet. That’s why we’re taking ownership to reduce our environmental impact globally and make sustainability a key strategic driver. As part of our sustainability planning, Colt DCS has set comprehensive near-and long-term Science Based Targets to cut our emissions in line with the SBTi’s latest Net Zero Standard.

https://www.coltdatacentres.net 

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HTX Hot Listings Weekly Recap (Aug 10-16): BTCFi Leads the Rally as DeFi and AI Sectors Heat Up

APIA, Samoa, Aug. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As broader market sentiment stabilized, the cryptocurrency market staged a rebound during the second week of August (Aug 10–16), with capital rotating into several high-performing sectors.

According to data from HTX, representative tokens across the BTCFi, DeFi, GameFi, and AI sectors ranked among the week’s top gainers, pointing to clear rotation of capital between sectors.

BTCFi Leads the Week’s Gainers: BTW Surges 64%

BTCFi was the strongest-performing narrative of the week, led by BTW, which gained 64% to top the weekly gainers list.

• BTW (+64%): Bitway is an innovative infrastructure project designed to bring Bitcoin liquidity into DeFi markets worldwide. The project recently launched its Core Alpha incentive program, supporting the development of its multi-chain, non-custodial wallet ecosystem.

As a key part of the effort to financialize the Bitcoin ecosystem, BTCFi has continued to draw market attention, and its price action suggests growing interest in derivative applications and financial infrastructure built on the Bitcoin ecosystem.

DeFi Recovers Broadly: COW, OBT, and LINK Post Solid Gains

DeFi, a cornerstone of the crypto market, also recorded broad rallies during the week.

• COW (+40%): CoW Protocol is a decentralized exchange (DEX) operating across Ethereum and EVM-compatible chains. Leveraging its unique intent-based architecture and MEV-protection mechanism, COW surged 40% this week, proving that innovation driven by improved trading experience in the DEX space continues to attract strong market backing.
• OBT (+30%): The 30% increase signals that capital is actively scouting for undervalued opportunities across the DeFi sector. Orbiter Finance, a decentralized cross-chain bridge powered by zero-knowledge proofs, is designed to enable high-speed, low-cost transactions across Ethereum’s multi-layered ecosystem as well as other Layer 1 and Layer 2 networks.
• LINK (+12%): As the clear leader among oracles and a large-cap blue chip, LINK rose a steady 12% this week. In a volatile market, that move is being read as a mark of institutional confidence in DeFi infrastructure over the long term.

AI Narrative Maintains Momentum: NIL and GRIFFAIN Rise

AI-related assets carried over their earlier momentum. The convergence of artificial intelligence and blockchain also remained a focus for the market.

• NIL (+31%): Nillion is a decentralized data processing and privacy protection network centered on “Blind Compute,” with applications in decentralized AI model training, Web3 identity verification, and similar use cases.
• GRIFFAIN (+17%): Griffain is a widely followed platform on Solana for creating and deploying AI agents.

Capital and attention are clearly concentrated in the AI infrastructure and AI application layers. That suggests the AI sector may have moved on from pure narrative speculation to competing on real technology deployment and application ecosystems.

GameFi Rebounds: BIGTIME Up 35%

In GameFi, as blockchain gaming and the broader Web3 gaming ecosystem continue to explore new product formats and business models, several highly watched GameFi projects saw notable moves during the week, creating new trading opportunities for the market.

• BIGTIME (+35%): Big Time is a multiplayer online role-playing blockchain game built on Ethereum and the Open Loot ecosystem. A veteran play-to-earn (P2E) title, the project is shifting its focus toward richer in-game content in 2026.

HTX Monitors New Opportunities as Multi-Sector Rotation Continues

Taken together, the August 10–16 gainers list shows clear rotation across sectors, led by BTCFi, active DeFi, and growing GameFi and AI.

As a trading platform offering a diverse range of assets and exposure to emerging sectors, HTX closely monitors shifts in market structure and the development of new sectors, providing users with a broader range of trading opportunities and market insights. HTX also reminds users that short-term price gains do not necessarily reflect long-term value. When evaluating strong-performing assets, traders should consider factors such as market liquidity, project fundamentals, capital flows, and sector momentum, while remaining mindful of the volatility risks that can follow sharp short-term rallies.

About HTX

Founded in 2013, HTX has evolved from a virtual asset exchange into a comprehensive ecosystem of blockchain businesses that span digital asset trading, financial derivatives, research, investments, incubation, and other businesses.

As a world-leading gateway to Web3, HTX harbors global capabilities that enable it to provide users with safe and reliable services. Adhering to the growth strategy of “Global Expansion, Thriving Ecosystem, Wealth Effect, Security & Compliance,” HTX is dedicated to providing quality services and values to virtual asset enthusiasts worldwide.

To learn more about HTX, please visit https://www.htx.com/ or HTX Square, and follow HTX on X, Telegram, and Discord. 

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