August 2026 - Page 113 of 120 - Media Bulletins Today News Bulletin in English

Business

Thales Builds Cryptographic Security for the Age of AI and Post-Quantum Computing

Aug 5, 2026 by Neel Achary 0 Comments

Business Wire India

Thales launches Luna 8, a new hardware security module (HSM) to provide future-ready, quantum resistant security to protect critical data and applications
Powered by a Thales designed cryptographic processor, it delivers unparalleled performance, enhanced protection and the flexibility to adapt to new security needs
As India advances its National Quantum Mission, Luna 8 arrives as a timely answer to the growing demand for quantum-safe security
Drawing on decades of cryptographic expertise, Luna 8 combines trusted security with support for emerging technologies, including post quantum cryptography

According to the 2026 Thales Data Threat Report, the threat of Harvest Now, Decrypt Later (HNDL) attacks was the top-cited risk, with 61% of organisations in India and 59% globally reporting that they are prototyping and evaluating post-quantum cryptography (PQC) algorithms to prepare for the quantum era.

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©Thales

To help organisations turn this readiness into deployment,Thales, a global leader in advanced technologies, today announced the launch of Luna 8, its next-generation hardware security module. Designed for the transition to post-quantum cryptography, Luna 8 enables organisations to securely store, protect, and manage cryptographic keys with market-leading performance, scalability, and speed.

As organisations face growing pressure from emerging quantum threats, expanding AI workloads and evolving stringent regulatory requirements, Luna 8 provides the performance, security and cryptographic agility needed to protect sensitive data, applications and digital identities.

“The rapid progress of quantum computing is creating significant risks for today’s encryption standards, making it critical for organisations to start their post-quantum security journey now,” said Ankur Kanaglekar, Vice-President – India, Thales. “As Indian enterprises and government bodies accelerate their digital transformation, cryptographic agility is essential to prepare for the post-quantum era. Powered by our custom-designed cryptographic processor, Luna 8 delivers high-performance support for both current and post-quantum algorithms, while helping customers maintain control over security.”

“The new quantum-safe HSM from Thales enables us to support multiple secure environments while simplifying operations and making more efficient use of our infrastructure,” said Jack Zhou, CIO at HKVAX. “The flexibility to support multiple use cases, applications and business needs over time helps us maximise hardware investments. The combination of predictable performance and high availability gives our IT and security teams the assurance they need to operate efficiently to deliver consistent service to our stakeholders.”

“Integration, automation and scalability are increasingly important considerations for organisations modernising their cryptographic infrastructure,” said Michela Menting, Vice President, Research, at ABI Research.“Luna 8 combines support for post-quantum cryptography with the flexibility organisations need to adapt as security requirements constantly evolve.”

Key advantages of the Luna 8 HSM include:

Quantum readiness: Luna 8 secures the cryptographic keys underpinning critical enterprise services such as PKI, certificate management, authentication, digital signing and identities; while providing a seamless path to post-quantum cryptography without disrupting existing investments.
Performance: With orders of magnitude faster cryptographic operations, Luna 8 delivers the performance needed for the most demanding applications.
Scalability: It scales effortlessly from enterprise deployments to hyperscale environments, supporting rapidly growing cryptographic workloads without compromise.
Future-proof: Its upgradeable architecture makes it easy to introduce new algorithms, standards, and capabilities, ensuring it remains secure, adaptable, and future-ready for years to come.
Portability: Seamless migration for existing customers as it uses the same ancillaries and interfaces without requiring changes to current applications.
Flexibility: Luna 8 is delivered on a unified hardware appliance designed to support a variety of cryptographic applications. Future releases will also support payShield 11K, extending the platform to payment HSMs that protect payment transactions, PINs and sensitive cryptographic keys used by banks and payment providers worldwide.

Luna 8 is the first next-generation HSM on the new Thales HSM platform. Available now as a network appliance, it provides quantum-safe, tamper-resistant security with scalable performance. Designed for the highest assurance requirements, Luna 8 is being independently assessed to meet some of the world’s most demanding security standards (including FIPS 140-3 Level 3 and EU Common Criteria).

Find out more about the technical specifications of Luna 8 here or join our webinar here.

Read more about Thales’ expertise in post-quantum cryptography:

About Thales

Thales (Euronext Paris: HO) is a global leader in advanced technologies for the Defence, Aerospace, and Cyber & Digital sectors. Its portfolio of innovative products and services helps address several major challenges: sovereignty, security, sustainability and inclusion.

The Group allocates €4.5 billion per year in Research & Development in key areas, particularly for critical environments, such as Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Quantum and Cloud technologies. Thales has more than 85,000 employees in 65 countries. In 2025, the Group generated sales of €22.1 billion.

Recent images of Thales and its Defense, Aerospace and Cyber & Digital activities can be found on the Thales Media Library. For any specific requests, please contact the Media Relations team.

About Thales in India

Present in India since 1953, Thales is headquartered in Noida and has other operational offices and sites spread across Delhi, Gurugram, Bengaluru and Mumbai, among others. Over 2400 employees are working with Thales and its joint ventures in India. Since the beginning, Thales has been playing an essential role in India’s growth story by sharing its technologies and expertise in Defence, Aerospace and Cyber & Digital sectors. Thales has two engineering competence centres in India – one in Noida focused on Cyber & Digital business, while the one in Bengaluru focuses on hardware, software and systems engineering capabilities for both the civil and defence sectors, serving global needs. The Group has also established an MRO facility in Gurugram to provide comprehensive avionics maintenance and repair services to Indian airlines.

PLEASE VISIT
Thales Group
Cybersecurity Products| Thales Group
Cybersecurity Solutions | Thales Group

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Business

Sayaji Kolhapur Revives Aakhadi Culinary Traditions with Aakhad 5.0 Food Festival at Blue Lotus

Aug 5, 2026 by Neel Achary 0 Comments

Aug 5: Sayaji Kolhapur is all set to host the Aakhad 5.0 Food Festival at Blue Lotus, Kolhapur, from 3rd to 12th August 2026, inviting guests to savour the rich culinary heritage and diverse flavours of the Aakhad region. Timed ahead of the festive season of Shrawan, Ganpati, and Navratri, the festival promises a vibrant celebration of traditional Aakhadi cuisine, culture, and community during the dinner session.

Sayaji Kolhapur Revives Aakhadi Culinary Traditions with Aakhad 5.0 Food Festival at Blue Lotus

Now in its fifth edition, the Aakhad Food Festival brings together food enthusiasts, chefs, artisans, and local producers in a heartfelt tribute to the region’s culinary roots. The specially curated menu features an array of authentic Aakhadi specialities including Mutton Sukka, Kala Mutton, Chicken Lonche, Mutton Lonche, and the iconic Tambra and Pandhra Rassa, dishes that celebrate the bold, distinctive flavours that define the region’s rich gastronomic identity.

The festival experience extends well beyond the plate, with décor inspired by local monuments, traditional glass paintings, and regional artefacts that bring the cultural soul of the Aakhad region to life. Staff dressed in traditional Maharashtrian attire — kurta and dhoti, and a curated Maharashtrian-themed musical backdrop further enhance the immersive cultural ambience, making every visit a complete sensory celebration.

Speaking on the occasion, Mukesh Rakshit, General Manager, Sayaji Kolhapur, said,

“We are delighted to present the fifth edition of the Aakhad Food Festival, a celebration that honours the culinary diversity and heritage of the Aakhad region. Through this festival, we aim to offer our guests an authentic and memorable journey into the flavours, traditions, and culture that make Aakhadi cuisine truly special.”

The Aakhad 5.0 Food Festival invites families, food lovers, and culture enthusiasts to come together and experience the taste, tradition, and spirit of the Aakhad region right here in Kolhapur.

News

Hettich’s Quadro V6 Concealed Drawer Runner Offers Premium Furniture Performance

Aug 5, 2026 by Sai Krishna 0 Comments

MUMBAI, India, Aug. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — As demand for premium modular furniture evolves across residential, commercial, and hospitality projects, manufacturers are placing greater emphasis on concealed hardware that combines design flexibility, production efficiency, and long-term reliability. Interior design continues to favour cleaner, minimalist aesthetics. And many consumers are opting for concealed hardware that delivers smooth operation and quiet closing without compromising performance.

Hettich's Quadro V6 Concealed Drawer Runner combines invisible design with effortless, silent performance for modern interiors.

Designed to support modern furniture manufacturing, the Quadro V6 offers simplified installation and reliable performance, while adhering to the requirement for minimalist aesthetics. The Quadro V6 replaces conventional visible runners with a concealed full-extension solution that enhances both furniture aesthetics and user experience.

Installed beneath the drawer, the Quadro V6 eliminates visible runners and supports clean cabinet lines. Its concealed design supports clean, contemporary furniture designs, while full-extension access with integrated Silent System and Push to Open Mechanism contributes to everyday functionality.

Key Product Features

Concealed design for wooden drawers and wire baskets.
Robust steel ball runners with full-extension movement.
Integrated Silent System and Push to Open Mechanism for smooth, quiet closing.
High-precision runners ensure balanced and stable operation.
Maintenance-free steel ball bearings for long-lasting user convenience.
Special Quadro profile geometry provides excellent tracking and stability.
30 kg load capacity, certified to EN 15338 standards.
Proven Hettich reliability, tested for consistent long-term performance.

“The furniture industry is evolving rapidly as manufacturers balance higher design expectations with the need for efficient production and consistent quality,” said Andre Eckholt, Managing Director, Hettich India, SAARC, Middle East & Africa. “Quadro V6 is a concealed drawer runner designed to help manufacturers move beyond conventional telescopic runner technology to a premium concealed motion solution. It reflects Hettich’s commitment to delivering advanced product solutions that support evolving demands in modern living and working spaces.”

The Quadro V6 is suitable for premium residential kitchens, wardrobes, office furniture, and hospitality interiors. Backed by Hettich’s German engineering and consistent manufacturing standards, it also helps OEMs and furniture manufacturers standardise hardware across projects while simplifying inventory management. With this standout system, dealers and distributors can offer customers a premium concealed runner solution, while architects, interior designers, and carpenters gain greater design flexibility for modern furniture usage.

About Hettich

Hettich is a 138-year-old family-owned German lifestyle brand, being one of the world’s largest manufacturers of Furniture Fittings.

Hettich’s product portfolio comprises a repertoire of Furniture Fittings, Architectural Hardware, Blaupunkt Built-in Appliances and Furniture Lights, providing magical interior solutions for all residential and commercial spaces.

It is the recipient of ET Edge ‘Best Brands’ (2022 – 2025), ‘Most Preferred Brand’ 2025 and ‘Most Trusted Brands of India’ (2023 – 2027) by Marksmen Daily, recognitions for its unwavering customer trust and strong brand equity. Hettich India has also been recognised among the Top 50 India’s Best Workplaces™ in Manufacturing (Large Category).

LinkedIn – https://www.linkedin.com/company/hettich-india

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/HettichIndiaPrivateLimited

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/hettichindia

Hettich India Website – https://hettichindiaonline.com

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Hettich's Quadro V6 Concealed Drawer Runner Offers Premium Furniture Performance

Business

Development Once Considered Too Risky for Knoxville Sells for $24.4 Million After Surpassing Expectations

Aug 5, 2026 by Neel Achary 0 Comments

KNOXVILLE, TN — August 5, 2026 — PWA Properties, a fully integrated commercial real estate firm specializing in design, development and brokerage services, on Tuesday announced its Multifamily Team has closed the $24.4 million sale of Strawberry Meadows Townhomes, an 85-unit Class A rental community in Knoxville, Tennessee. The sale validates a development that many initially believed would not succeed.

When Strawberry Meadows was first proposed, many questioned whether the Strawberry Plains community in Knoxville could support a Class A rental townhome community commanding premium rents. While some lenders remained skeptical, the seller believed Knoxville’s rapid growth would create demand for a higher-end rental product, and PWA Properties’ Multifamily Team shared that vision.

As the first development of its kind in the area, Strawberry Meadows ultimately surpassed expectations, exceeding its original pro forma, achieving rental rates above projections and leasing rapidly. The community’s performance not only validated the development strategy but also generated strong investor demand, leading to the successful $24.4 million sale.

“Strawberry Meadows is a prime example of why PWA Properties believes in the long-term growth of East Tennessee,” said Jay Benson, CEO of PWA Properties. “Despite skepticism from lenders, our Multifamily Team and the seller/developer bet that this part of Knoxville was ready for premium rental housing. This development and sale proved that vision right.”

The seller, who also served as the project’s general contractor, invested in his family’s future in Strawberry Meadows from the start. After relocating to Tennessee, the family lived on-site and worked alongside crews to help build the community, even demolishing their own home to make room for additional townhome units.

The transaction reflects broader shifts across East Tennessee, where sustained population growth, expanding employment and limited housing supply continue to reshape investor interest in high-quality multifamily developments.

For PWA Properties, Strawberry Meadows demonstrates the advantage of an integrated approach that combines design, development and brokerage expertise under one roof. By guiding projects from concept through disposition, the firm identifies opportunities earlier, creating greater long-term value and delivering developments that meet evolving market demands

Business

Handling a company’s board can be much tougher than presenting a business idea to sharks: Ghazal Alagh, Founder of Mamaearth

Aug 5, 2026 by Neel Achary 0 Comments

Handling a company’s board can be much tougher than presenting a business idea to sharks: Ghazal Alagh, Founder of Mamaearth

Hyderabad, Aug 5: India’s entrepreneurial journey is entering an exciting new phase where women are not only building successful businesses but are also redefining leadership and creating enterprises with purpose, said Ghazal Alagh, Founder of Mamaearth, while addressing an interactive session on “From Idea to IPO – Building Beyond Boundaries”, organised by the FICCI Ladies Organisation (FLO), Hyderabad Chapter, at Hotel Daspalla on Tuesday.

The session was moderated by Dr. Suman Rangabhashyam, a corporate leader and witnessed enthusiastic participation from members of FLO Hyderabad, entrepreneurs and business professionals.

Reflecting on the origins of Mamaearth, Ghazal Alagh shared a personal story that resonated with aspiring entrepreneurs. “When you buy a washing machine, it comes with an instruction manual. But when you become a parent, no one hands you a manual,” she said.

She recalled that becoming a first-time mother sparked the idea that eventually became Mamaearth. In the early days, with little support, she would cradle her baby in one arm while speaking to customers and clients on her mobile phone with the other.

“That’s how our journey began. Today, that small idea has grown into one of India’s leading beauty and personal care companies, with thousands of people working across our organisation,” she said.

Sharing her entrepreneurial journey, Ghazal Alagh said that despite having no prior background in the FMCG industry, she and her co-founder built the business entirely from scratch.

Neither of us came from an FMCG background. Everything was built from the ground up. What started as an idea has grown into a company with revenues of a few thousand crore rupees. It has been a tough but incredibly rewarding journey,” she said.

On what contributed most to Mamaearth’s success, she said identifying the right market opportunity was crucial.

My biggest success was identifying a category where there wasn’t much competition. Building a successful business is not just about having a good product; it is about finding the right category, solving a genuine consumer problem and executing consistently,” she observed.

Speaking about fundraising, Ghazal advised entrepreneurs to be disciplined and raise capital only when it is genuinely required.

Raise funds only when your business truly needs them. Your numbers determine how investable your company is. Investors look beyond the idea—they want evidence that the business can scale sustainably,” she said.

Sharing her perspective as an investor, she said she evaluates startups on three key parameters.

I look at three fundamentals before deciding whether a company is investable—the attractiveness of the category, the strength of the business model, the company’s numbers, and above all, the credibility of the founders,” she said.

Responding to a question on the uncomfortable or biased questions women entrepreneurs sometimes face while seeking investments, Ghazal noted that the ecosystem has evolved significantly.

Things are changing. Today, many more women are building meaningful businesses, and the extent of such embarrassing questions has reduced considerably. My advice to aspiring women entrepreneurs is simple—listen to everyone’s advice, but ultimately trust your own instincts and follow your gut,” she said.

Recalling her experience as a judge on Shark Tank India, she said the experience was both enjoyable and insightful.

“It was a lot of fun. Handling a company’s board can be much tougher. Compared to that, handling the Sharks was much easier,” she remarked, drawing laughter from the audience.

Welcoming the gathering, Seetha Reddy, Chairperson, FLO Hyderabad, said that entrepreneurship is a journey of resilience, innovation and continuous learning.

Empowerment is not a destination—it is a journey. It begins with an idea, grows through determination, survives setbacks, embraces change and, for a few extraordinary businesses, reaches milestones that once seemed unimaginable. Today’s session celebrates that very journey,she said.

She observed that India is witnessing one of the most exciting phases of its economic growth, with innovation increasingly being driven by individuals who identify real problems and create meaningful solutions.

Highlighting the significance of National Handloom Day, celebrated this week, she said promoting India’s handloom heritage is not merely about preserving tradition but about sustaining livelihoods, celebrating craftsmanship and creating opportunities for artisan communities.

Our handlooms carry stories of skill, culture and generations of excellence. They deserve a place not only in our history but also in our future. Through our specially curated Handloom Pavilion, we hope to inspire members to embrace handloom products in their everyday lives and become ambassadors of India’s remarkable textile heritage,” she added. Decision rest your.

Sharing a major milestone for FLO Hyderabad, Seetha Reddy said one of the defining moments of our Silver Jubilee celebrations was our meeting with the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Telangana, Shri Revanth Reddy. We are delighted that FLO Hyderabad has been allotted 1,000 square yards of land near Shilparamam for our chapter office and one acre at Bharat Future Park. This landmark achievement reflects the growing stature and vision of our chapter and opens exciting possibilities for the future,” she said.

The event also featured a Handloom Pavilion showcasing the richness, versatility and contemporary appeal of Indian handloom textiles as part of FLO Hyderabad’s National Handloom Day celebrations.

Business

SK Telecom Announces Q2 2026 Results

Aug 5, 2026 by Neel Achary 0 Comments

SEOUL, Korea, Aug 5 — SK Telecom (NYSE: SKM, hereinafter “SKT”) today announced its consolidated earnings for the second quarter of 2026, based on Korean International Financial Reporting Standards (K-IFRS): revenue of KRW 4.3591 trillion, operating income of KRW 566.0 billion, and net income of KRW 466.0 billion.

Compared with the same period last year, revenue increased by 0.5%, driven by growth in the data center business. Through efficient, profitability‑focused management, operating income rose 5.3% quarter over quarter (QoQ). Year over year (YoY), it surged 67.3%, supported in part by a favorable base effect from one‑off expenses in the prior year.

The telecommunications business, which has remained focused on restoring customer trust, showed a clear turnaround driven by efforts to enhance customer value and improve profitability. The AI business also recorded robust growth as execution accelerated under the company’s strategy of focus and prioritization.

On a non-consolidated basis, the company reported revenue of KRW 3.1170 trillion, operating income of KRW 427.7 billion, and net income of KRW 310.6 billion. The second-quarter dividend is KRW 830 per share,unchanged from the first quarter.

AI data center business gains momentum, fueling growth through rapid execution

The AI data center (AIDC) business is the fastest-growing segment among SKT’s business areas. In the second quarter, AIDC revenue reached KRW 136.2 billion, up 92.5% year over year, driven by expanded operations.

As generative AI adoption spreads across industries and demand for high-performance computing infrastructure surges, timely delivery of AI infrastructure for customers such as global Big Tech companies has never been more critical.

Last month, SKT established SK Hyper to spearhead AIDC business development, strengthening the company’s execution engine. SK Hyper will proactively secure key resources, including land and power capacity, and attract global customers to accelerate execution and seize market leadership.

Led by SK Hyper, SKT has set an initial goal of bringing AIDCs online in phases starting in 2029, targeting a combined capacity of 5 GW.

The telecommunications business continues to deliver qualitative growth centered on customer lifetime value (CLV). Through efficient marketing activities such as identifying new customer segments and running differentiated campaigns, it achieved net additions in mobile subscribers amid a stable market environment.

Customer Lifetime Value represents the total value a customer generates over the entire period of using a particular service, serving as a critical metric that reflects the depth of the relationship between the company and its customers.

In particular, SKT launched integrated 5G and LTE plans in July to reorganize its overall pricing structure while continuously enhancing customer value by improving customer experience and service accessibility.

“In the first half of the year, we focused on strengthening our fundamentals based on stable telecommunications business profitability while laying the foundation for the rapid expansion of our AI data center business,” said Park Jong-seok, CFO of SK Telecom. “Going forward, we will make every effort to play a leading role in enabling Korea to emerge as an AI infrastructure hub in Asia.”

※The conference call regarding SKT’s Q2 2026 earnings will be available on SKT’s website on Wednesday, August 5, at 16:00 KST.

https://irsvc.teletogether.com/skt/skt2026Q2eng.php

1. Summary of Consolidated Income Statement (Unit: KRW billion)

Type	26.2Q	25.2Q	YoY	26.1Q	QoQ
Revenue	4,359.1	4,338.8	0.5%	4,392.3	△0.8%
Operating Income	566.0	338.3	67.3%	537.6	5.3%
Net Income	466.0	83.2	459.8%	316.4	47.3%

2. Summary of Non-Consolidated Income Statement (Unit: KRW billion)

Type	26.2Q	25.2Q	YoY	26.1Q	QoQ
Revenue	3,117.0	3,135.1	△0.6%	3,105.8	0.4%
Operating Income	427.7	250.9	70.5%	409.5	4.4%
Net Income	310.6	36.9	742.2%	332.7	△6.6%

News

Hard Rock Cafe and Coca-Cola® Launch Hard Rock Rising Music Competition for Emerging Artists

Aug 4, 2026 by Sai Krishna 0 Comments

Full press release

HOLLYWOOD, Fla., Aug. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Hard Rock Cafe and Coca‑Cola today launched Hard Rock Rising. The music competition spans 34 countries and 64 Hard Rock Cafes, giving emerging artists a career‑launching stage.

Rising artists worldwide can enter Hard Rock Rising for a grand prize including a Coke Studio recording session, $10,000, a Hard Rock Orlando performance and more.

For more than five decades, breakthrough artists and legends have taken the stage at Hard Rock Cafes. Coca‑Cola has built a global platform for musicians through Coke Studio L.A. Live. Now, the two brands are joining forces to help singer‑songwriters, bands and DJs launch their careers.

Hard Rock Rising unfolds as a series of performances at participating Cafes. Local fan votes advance artists round by round. The Coke Studio team then selects one grand prize winner who earns a recording session, $10,000, a performance at Hard Rock Orlando and more.

Artist submissions are open now through August 18, with live competition rounds running September 2, 9, 16 and 23. The global winner will be announced October 5.

“Hard Rock Cafes have always connected people through the power of music with local artist residencies, open mic events, Battle of the Bands competitions, and pop culture memorabilia,” said Eric Martino, President of Hard Rock Cafe and Retail at Hard Rock International. “Now, Hard Rock Rising is a natural extension of that mission to empower emerging artists to perform their original music. Together with Coca-Cola, we’re proud to provide a platform where musicians can be seen, heard and celebrated in their communities, and for the winner, around the world.”

Multi‑platinum, GRAMMY‑ and Juno‑nominated executive producer Rob Rettberg leads the Coke Studio team.

“This partnership taps into Hard Rock’s unparalleled reach and iconic stages while leveraging Coke Studio’s production expertise to transform talented musicians into the next generation of recording artists,” said Rettberg.

The competition is amplified by a full Hard Rock Rising lineup, from a limited-time menu with cocktails made with Coca-Cola products to merchandise available at Rock Shops® and shop.hardrock.com.

Extending the competition’s celebration of music and self-expression beyond the stage, Hard Rock is partnering with Cult of Individuality, the streetwear brand renowned for its roots in music culture. Together, the brands will launch a Hard Rock Rising tee and a co-branded apparel collection.

Artists ready to take the stage can apply through August 18. Each application must include two original songs. For submissions, rules, competition details and participating Cafe locations, visit cafe.hardrock.com/hard‑rock‑rising.

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Hard Rock Cafe and Coca-Cola® Launch Hard Rock Rising Music Competition for Emerging Artists

News

Agthia Reports Stronger H1 2026 Financial Position and Raises Interim Dividend 14.4%

Aug 4, 2026 by Sai Krishna 0 Comments

ABU DHABI, UAE, Aug. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Agthia Group PJSC (AGTHIA: UH), one of the region’s leading food and beverage companies, today reported its first-half and second-quarter of 2026 results, reflecting the growing impact of its multi-year transformation, with stronger cash generation, a materially healthier balance sheet, and a 14.4% increase in the interim dividend.

The Group’s transformation gathered pace in H1 2026, as Agthia advanced its portfolio reset while navigating external challenges and cost pressures. For the first half, Group Revenue increased 7.4% year-on-year to AED 2.6 billion, underpinned by one-off sales under the UAE food security program. EBITDA climbed 35.8% to AED 310.5 million, with EBITDA Margin expanding 250 basis points to 11.9%, while Net Profit reached AED 121.4 million, up 147.4% year-over-year. For the second quarter, Group revenue increased 11.9% year-on-year to AED 1.3 billion. EBITDA increased 172.5% to AED 117.2 million, with margin expanding 542 basis points to 9.2%, while Net Profit reached AED 24.5 million.

Free cash flow turned strongly positive at AED 521.4 million, from an outflow a year earlier, and the Group cut its net debt-to-EBITDA to 1.8x from 2.9x in December 2025. Agthia closed the first half of 2026 with AED 869.6 million in cash. Group Total Assets continue to grow, reaching AED 6.5 billion as of 30 June 2026.

Across the Group, strong growth in core businesses was complemented by continued progress in selected transformation initiatives. Water and Food led the way, with revenue up 38.9% in the second quarter, as Al Ain, Agthia’s first billion-dirham brand, extended its lead in bottled water and gained 2.0 percentage points of value market share versus the same period last year. Protein and Frozen advanced 22.0% in the second quarter, led by Nabil at 32.5% and supported by gradual improvement in Atyab, up 8.1% year-on-year, and the ramp-up of the Group’s Saudi protein facility. Agri-Business rose 11.0% on strong feed demand, with Agrivita feed sales up 23.3%. During the quarter, Snacking remained focused on transforming the Al Foah and BMB businesses, laying the foundation for long-term value, while Abu Auf maintained its strong growth trajectory, with revenue rising 23.7% year-over-year in Q2 2026.

Agthia’s Board of Directors has recommended an interim cash dividend of 11.792 fils per share for the six months ended 30 June 2026, a 14.4% increase year-on-year and a second consecutive period of higher returns following the 10.0% rise recommended for the second half of 2025.

Khalifa Sultan Al Suwaidi, Chairman of Agthia’s Board, commented: “Raising the interim dividend for a second consecutive period speaks to the discipline with which Agthia is being run and to the Board’s belief in its long-term value. Even in a demanding environment, the Group is generating the cash to reward shareholders and fund its own growth.”

Salmeen Alameri, Managing Director and CEO of Agthia Group, added: “The transformation we set in motion a year ago is delivering tangible results, with stronger earnings, expanding margins, and improved cash generation strengthening our balance sheet. We maintained uninterrupted supply, supported our customers, and advanced the UAE’s food security agenda when it mattered most. We also accelerated our sustainability agenda, reducing our emissions ratio by 26.7% year-on-year.”

Jeroen Nijs, Chief Financial Officer of Agthia Group, commented: “Agthia’s financial profile strengthened considerably during the first half of 2026. Alongside higher earnings, we generated AED 521 million of free cash flow, while reducing Net Debt-to-EBITDA from 2.9x to 1.8x. With AED 870 million of cash & cash equivalents, Agthia is well positioned to navigate the current regional disruption, execute our strategic transformation programs and enhance shareholder returns.”

Salmeen Alameri, Managing Director and CEO of Agthia Group

Agthia - H1 2026 - Press - Infographic - EN

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Agthia Reports Stronger H1 2026 Financial Position and Raises Interim Dividend 14.4%

News

Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Appoints Inaugural Museum Director

Aug 4, 2026 by Sai Krishna 0 Comments

ABU DHABI, UAE, Aug. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi today announced the appointment of Dr. Valerie Hillings as the inaugural Director of Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.

Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Appoints Inaugural Museum Director

Guggenheim Abu Dhabi is a cornerstone of Saadiyat Cultural District, one of the world’s greatest concentrations of cultural institutions. Alongside Louvre Abu Dhabi, Zayed National Museum, Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi and teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi, it affirms Abu Dhabi’s cultural vision.

As Director, Dr. Hillings will bring this vision to life leading the museum’s strategic direction, overseeing its inaugural exhibitions and programmes, and establishing an institution that is rooted in Abu Dhabi and connected to the world, one that connects cultures, inspires people and celebrates art from the 1960s to the present.

Dr. Hillings brings deep familiarity with Guggenheim Abu Dhabi to the role. From 2009 to 2018, she served as the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation’s Curator and Associate Director of Curatorial Affairs, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Project, working closely with the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi on the collection strategy and acquisitions, pre-opening programming and the Frank Gehry-designed building. Earlier, she spent five years on the Guggenheim’s curatorial staff in New York.

Since 2018, Dr. Hillings has served as Director of the North Carolina Museum of Art, where she led the reimagination of its permanent collection galleries, added some 400 works to the collection and oversaw a doubling of annual attendance to 1.2 million visitors. She holds a PhD and MA in Art History and Archaeology from the Institute of Fine Arts, New York University, and an AB in Art History from Duke University, with a specialisation in modern and contemporary art.

Dr. Valerie Hillings said: “I am honoured to return to Abu Dhabi to complete the once-in-a-lifetime journey of founding and opening Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, a museum developed in the United Arab Emirates by colleagues from both the region and around the world. I look forward to welcoming local and global audiences to the magnificent Frank Gehry-designed building and inviting them to explore points of interconnection and unique stories through the lens of art from the 1960s to our time.”

Through Guggenheim Abu Dhabi’s collection, exhibitions, commissions, research and public programmes, the museum will foster dialogue across cultures and generations while reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s role as a global centre for artistic innovation, creative production and cultural exchange. Housing 30 galleries across 11,600 square metres of interior exhibition space, alongside 23,000 square metres of outdoor exhibition areas, Guggenheim Abu Dhabi will provide one of the world’s most significant platforms for modern and contemporary art upon its opening.

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www.guggenheimabudhabi.ae

For more information about the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi and the destination, please visit: dctabudhabi.ae and visitabudhabi.ae and abudhabiculture.ae

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Guggenheim Abu Dhabi Appoints Inaugural Museum Director

News

Major Multi-Hospital System Selects 3CLogic to Modernize IT Service Operations with Voice AI for ServiceNow

Aug 4, 2026 by Sai Krishna 0 Comments

The deployment embeds real-time transcription, live-agent automation, and unified analytics directly within ServiceNow, helping a major healthcare provider resolve IT issues faster and lower the cost of support.

ROCKVILLE, Md., Aug. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — 3CLogic, the leading AI-powered voice platform purpose-built for ServiceNow, today announced that a northeastern health network has selected its Voice AI and contact center solution to modernize its IT service desk and unify voice with its existing ServiceNow® platform. The selection comes as the healthcare provider moves to consolidate vendors, retire aging telephony, and bring AI-driven automation to the team that keeps its clinical and administrative workforce running.

Modernizing Support for a Large, Time-Sensitive Workforce

The organization’s IT Service Desk is the front line for tens of thousands of clinicians, staff, and suppliers across its network of hospitals and regional clinics. A comparatively small, specialized team is responsible for sourcing, triaging, and resolving consistently high call volumes from password resets and access issues to requests that can directly affect patient care.

Because the legacy telephony operated separately from ServiceNow, agents had to verify callers manually, move between disconnected systems, and log details by hand, while leaders assembled performance data from multiple tools. For the lean IT team serving a much larger and time-sensitive audience, that inefficiency carried a measurable operational and financial cost that compounded with every added minute of handle time, every request that could have been automated, and every manually created report. Modernizing those workflows, the health system recognized, was as much a cost-reduction initiative as a service-quality one.

AI and Automation, Native to ServiceNow

After evaluating competing platforms, the health system selected 3CLogic for its native ServiceNow integration and its ability to bring AI directly into the flow of every interaction. The deployment will deliver:

ServiceNow-Integrated Contact Center with Intelligent Voice Workflows: Modern, self-service voice flows for high-frequency requests such as password resets, plus automated outage deflection that detects an active major incident, links callers to the master ticket, creates a child incident, and returns an incident ID without live-agent involvement.

Real-Time Transcription with Live-Agent Automation: Every call is transcribed and summarized as it happens, surfacing in-the-moment context and next-best-action guidance for agents and auto-generating notes and resolution details, so time is spent resolving issues rather than documenting them.

AI-Powered Sentiment Analysis: Providing supervisors visibility into caller experiences and coaching opportunities at scale.

Unified Analytics Integrated with ServiceNow Platform Analytics: Contact center data flows directly into Platform Analytics to create a single, real-time source of truth across voice and digital channels, replacing labor-intensive manual reporting.

Priority Routing for Critical Care: Requests tied to time-sensitive patient care are identified and escalated quickly using data already in ServiceNow.

Proven Results in Healthcare

The health system joins a growing roster of healthcare organizations modernizing service operations with 3CLogic. At Cleveland Clinic, which deployed 3CLogic’s platform natively within ServiceNow, first-call resolution rose from under 60% to more than 86%, more than 20% of incoming calls were resolved through voice self-service, and monthly reporting that once required a full week was reduced to 45 minutes, the kind of efficiency and cost gains the health system aims to achieve.

“Healthcare providers are under enormous pressure to do more with lean, specialized teams, and the IT service desk is no exception,” explains Bob Doherty, Vice President of Global Sales at 3CLogic. “By embedding real-time transcription, live-agent automation, and unified analytics directly into ServiceNow, we’re helping this health system turn every call into actionable intelligence, resolving issues faster, reducing manual work, and lowering the operational cost of delivering support at scale.”

3CLogic is a ServiceNow certified Elite Build Partner with offerings available for ServiceNow IT Service Management, CRM and Industry Workflows, and HR Service Delivery . The organization will attend ServiceNow’s upcoming World Forums in New York City, Chicago, London, and Amsterdam where it will showcase its latest voice platform an AI innovations.

For more information, visit 3CLogic.com.

About 3CLogic

3CLogic transforms customer and employee experiences with its patented and award-winning AI-powered cloud contact center solutions purpose-built to enhance today’s leading CRM and Customer Service Management platforms. Globally available and leveraged by the world’s leading brands, its offerings empower enterprise organizations with innovative capabilities, such as intelligent self-service, Voice AI, agent automation & coaching, real-time transcription, and AI-powered sentiment analytics—all designed to lower operational costs, maximize ROI, and deliver better, faster, and more personalized interactions for IT, employee, and customer service. For more information, please visit www.3clogic.com.

ServiceNow, the ServiceNow logo, and other ServiceNow marks are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of ServiceNow, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries.

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Major Multi-Hospital System Selects 3CLogic to Modernize IT Service Operations with Voice AI for ServiceNow

Archive: August 5, 2026