All posts by Neel Achary

Fairmont Mumbai to Host Longevity Summit India 2026

Mumbai, Aug 04: India is about to get its most ambitious longevity gathering yet. On 15–16 August 2026, Fairmont Mumbai will play host to the Longevity Summit India 2026, presented by Le Florence India in partnership with Fairmont Mumbai, sponsored by AIWO as title sponsor, Global Spa as lifestyle partner and Evavo as knowledge partner, with Decode Age, The Wellness Co. and BrainTap on board as wellness sponsors, a two-day convergence of the world’s leading longevity experts, healthcare pioneers, wellness innovators, investors and industry leaders, all under one roof. 

This is more than a traditional conference; it brings together leading voices from science, healthcare, wellness, technology and luxury hospitality. From the latest developments in longevity and preventive healthcare to immersive wellness experiences and new innovations, the summit creates a space for people from across the world to come together, share ideas and explore what the future of human health could look like. 

The world is moving past the old idea of simply living longer. The new frontier is living better with more energy, sharper focus, deeper purpose, and real vitality.Longevity Summit India 2026 has been built from the ground up around that shift, designed to make the science of longevity practical, aspirational, and personal, bringing global conversations to Indian shores while sparking real collaboration across healthcare, hospitality, wellness, and innovation. 

Anchoring the entire summit is the Five Bodies Framework, a multidimensional roadmap to longevity that forms the architecture behind the summit. The framework explores five dimensions of human potential: Earth Body, Water Body, Air Body, Fire Body and Flow Body. Every session, speaker and experience zone at the summit is mapped to one of these five dimensions. 

The Earth Body focuses on the physical foundation of longevity, including nutrition, movement, recovery and cellular health. While the Water Body explores emotional intelligence, emotional longevity and the relationship between the mind and body. The Air Body explores mental mastery through conversations on neuroplasticity, cognitive performance, digital wellbeing, breathwork, the gut-brain connection, and emerging neuroscience. The Fire Body examines purpose as a cornerstone of longevity, covering diagnostics, heart-brain coherence, and purpose-driven living. Finally, The Flow Body looks to the future of human potential, exploring flow states, consciousness, AI, quantum biology, and the science of coherence. 

The two-day programme will also feature immersive experiences including underwater meditation, Watsu therapy, breathwork circles, ice bath experiences, Cymatica sound healing, Blue Mind experiences and pool deck wellness sessions. Dedicated experience zones will let attendees explore the cutting edge of biohacking and regenerative wellness firsthand: The Wellness & Longevity Lounge, NAD+ Therapy, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, Red Light Therapy, Hydrolux Hydration Bar, Photobiomodulation for Gut and Brain, Genomic Health Zone, Smile Therapy Corner and Fairmont’s Blue Zone Experiences. 

The summit is expected to welcome 500+ curated delegates, including founders, investors, and industry leaders; doctors, scientists, and longevity experts; luxury hospitality and wellness brands; HNIs and UHNIs from India and overseas; media, publications, influencers, and thought leaders; as well as wellness enthusiasts, biohackers, and conscious-living communities from across the globe. 

Headlining the line-up are some of the most internationally acclaimed experts including Prof. Dato’ Sri Dr. Mike Chan, a pioneer in regenerative medicine and stem cell therapies; Siim Land, bestselling author and one of the world’s leading biohackers; Dr. Chris Kacher, longevity scientist and AI researcher; and Dr. Gino Yu, internationally recognised expert in consciousness and human development, alongside more than 40 global speakers, clinicians, and wellness experts. The platform will also feature 20+ influencers and thought leaders, 50+ sponsors and partners, with a projected digital reach of over 1,00,000 platforms. 

Mr. Rajiv Kapoor, General Manager, Fairmont Mumbai, added, “We are very happy to be hosting the Longevity Summit India at Fairmont Mumbai. What makes this summit special is that it brings together so many different perspectives on wellbeing, from science and healthcare to wellness and hospitality. We look forward to welcoming everyone and creating an experience that goes beyond a conventional conference.” 

Mr. Vikramjeet Sharma, Managing Director, Le Florence India, said, “For us, Longevity Summit India is about bringing the conversation on longevity closer to people. It is not just about living longer, but about understanding how we can live healthier, more purposeful and more fulfilling lives. We wanted to create a space where science, wellness and real experiences come together, and where people can take away ideas they can actually apply to their own lives.” 

Mr. C.Sivasankaran, Founder, Aircel Mentor, AIWO Health “Longevity is not a trend we are chasing, it is a subject we have lived with for years now, both personally and as something we believe India is ready to engage with more seriously. AIWO Health’s involvement in this summit felt like a natural extension of that belief. What draws us to this space is the same instinct that drew us to build Aircel all those years ago, the sense that we are standing at the edge of something the country has not fully explored yet. We hope this summit gives people in India a real, grounded starting point for thinking about how they want to live, not just how long.” 

Dr. Arpit Bansal, Scientific Chair, Longevity Summit India 2026, also commented, “When we talk about longevity, we often focus on one aspect of health at a time. But the reality is that our physical health, gut, brain, emotions and purpose are all connected. The idea behind this summit is to bring these conversations together and help people understand longevity in a more complete and practical way.” 

With Le Florence India’s two decades of expertise curating world-class luxury experiences, and Fairmont Mumbai’s reputation for delivering elevated hospitality with wellness-led experiences, Longevity Summit India 2026 promises something India has never seen before: a first-of-its-kind stage where science, wellness, luxury, and community collide. 

Event Details Venue: Fairmont Mumbai, Mumbai 

Date: 15–16 August 2026 

Time: 9:00 AM onwards 

AAEON’s 2026 Customer Satisfaction Survey Prize Winner Announced

Taipei, Taiwan – Aug 4:To help understand key market needs and maintain its customer-centric approach to delivering both high-quality products and efficient support for its customers, award-winning edge AI solutions provider AAEON (Stock Code: 6579) provides its customers with an annual satisfaction survey.

The questionnaire, which is a vital source of feedback regarding everything from the company’s product quality to its technical support and logistical efficiency, saw the company receive a 92.8% satisfaction rate among responders. Even with this positive outcome, AAEON continues to evaluate and improve its operations to achieve its goal of providing a world class, agile approach to addressing customer needs.

AAEON is delighted to announce that of the survey’s 113 entrants, one lucky customer will receive the grand prize of a Garmin Venu® 4 Advanced Health and Fitness GPS Smartwatch.

The winner of 2026’s grand prize is Ms. Tang of Suzhou Hailiko Automation Equipment Co., Ltd.

AAEON would like to thank all of its customers that took the time to complete the survey, as it grants valuable insight into how AAEON can provide customers with the best possible service. AAEON looks forward to continuing its push to innovate and bring industry-leading solutions to market going forward.

Disney Consumer Products India Celebrates Themed Merchandise Marking The Release of Spider-Man: Brand New Day

India, Aug 04: Disney Consumer Products India has announced a wide-ranging slate of themed merchandise marking the theatrical release of Spider–Man: Brand New Day. Teaming up with over 26 leading brands across categories, including Bata, Bewakoof, Flipkart, Gritzo, Hamleys, Hasbro, ITC Sunfeast, Lenskart, Lifestyle, Myntra House of Brands, MINISO, Milton, Pidilite, Pantaloons, The Souled Store and Reliance among others, the lineup spans fashion, accessories, toys, collectibles, and lifestyle products, showcasing a broad selection of licensed products for fans in India. 

Nearly 65 years later, Spider–Man remains one of the most beloved and universally recognizable Marvel Super Heroes – quick-witted, endearing, curious and driven by the belief that ordinary people are capable of extraordinary things. This character arc has evolved across comics pages, web series and blockbuster films, connecting with generations of fans. Bringing that legacy to life, this latest merchandise offers something for every kind of Spider–Man fan. 

Tan Wee, Executive Director, Brand Commercialization, Disney Consumer Products shares, “The return of Spider–Man is more than a movie moment – it’s a cultural event for millions of fans across India. These collaborations bring that excitement beyond the cinema, allowing fans to celebrate their favourite Super Hero through fashion, collectibles, and everyday products, while reinforcing our commitment to growing a vibrant character licensing business in India.” 

FMCG

Rolled out through a multi-format campaign, Pidilite’s Fevicol MR launched four special edition Spider–Man–themed packs featuring character art and QR-enabled craft tutorials that encourage young fans to explore their creativity. ITC Sunfeast Fantastik unveiled its themed Spider–Man–themed pack, brought to life through its ‘Unlock Your Fantastik’ campaign, using storytelling to inspire young audiences to discover the hero within themselves. Gritzo expanded its existing Marvel-themed SuperMilk range with a Spider–Man-inspired variant, bringing epic storytelling to everyday nutrition. 

Retail & Accessories

Spider–Man’s instantly recognizable visual identity, cross-generational appeal and relatable personality make the character a strong fit for lifestyle collaborations. Lenskart joined in with sleek shades and optical frames, for both young adults and kids, featuring the character’s signature red, blue and black colours. 

Retailers got in on the action as well, with Lifestyle, Reliance Yousta, Pantaloons and FirstCry introducing dedicated collections for kids and young adults, available in their respective retail stores and online platforms. Bata stepped up the excitement with all-new Spidey-themed sneakers for kids and SocksXpress added a fun touch with themed socks. 

E-commerce

On the fashion e-commerce front, The Souled Store launched standout designs with a range of tees, sweatshirts, sneakers, and a backpack drawing from Spider–Man’s defining visual cues and colours. Myntra House of Brands and Flipkart’s Metronaut have launched extensive clothing ranges through their respective labels. Bewakoof and Bonkers Corner introduced themed graphic tees, relaxed fits, and oversized sweatshirts. 

Toys & Collectibles

Playtime gets a Super Hero upgrade as Hamleys rolled out Spider–Man–themed pop-ups across cities, bringing its expansive merchandise range nationwide. Hasbro joined in with its Marvel Go Local range of collectible cars featuring fan-favourites such as Spider–Man and Hulk. MINISO’s assortment of lifestyle products and Milton’s hydration range set to be a hit among young adults. Gearing up for school and on-the go essentials, Cello Kidzbee and Basil brought Spider–Man’s signature style to bento lunchboxes and bottles. Mirada brought a playful touch with keychains, plush, and bag clips and Bonus Playing Cards rolled out a Spider–Man–themed playing card deck – together delivering a world of imaginative play for young fans! 

This latest wave of merchandise and campaigns will gear fans up for a thrilling year of Marvel, bringing Spider–Man fans new ways to engage with their favourite Super Hero across categories and experiences and deepening the fandom.

Sticky Inflation, Resilient Growth to Support Global Equities; Diversified Fixed-Income Strategy Recommended: Report

New Delhi, Aug. 4: Persistent inflation and resilient global economic growth are expected to continue supporting equity markets, while investors should adopt a diversified approach to fixed-income investments amid evolving interest rate dynamics, according to a recent market report.

 Representational Image

The report notes that despite inflation remaining above central bank targets in several economies, steady economic expansion and robust corporate earnings are likely to sustain investor confidence in global equities over the medium term.

However, the outlook for fixed-income markets remains more nuanced due to uncertainty surrounding monetary policy, inflation trends, and bond yields. As a result, investors are advised to diversify their fixed-income portfolios across different maturities, credit segments, and geographies to better manage risk and enhance potential returns.

Market experts highlighted that maintaining a balanced asset allocation across equities and fixed income could help investors navigate volatility while capitalising on opportunities in a changing global investment landscape.

The report further emphasises that portfolio diversification and disciplined investment strategies will remain critical as markets respond to shifting macroeconomic conditions and central bank policy decisions.

Yotta Data Services Launches INR 10,000 Free Credits Program for Shakti Studio, India’s Largest AI Development and Inferencing Platform

• Serverless GPUs – H100 and L40S instances billed per minute, scaling to zero when idle, with no reservations or lock-in
• AI Endpoints – OpenAI-compatible APIs across the model catalogue, billed per token
• Fine-Tuning and LoRA – full fine-tuning or LoRA adapters on proprietary data, on catalogue models or custom checkpoints
• Bring Your Own Checkpoint – deployment of custom or externally fine-tuned models on serverless GPUs
• Developer Portal – API key generation and console access for teams to go from signup to first inference token in three steps

• AI startups can prototype and ship without locking capital into reserved GPU infrastructure, scaling to zero when workloads are idle.
• GCCs can build AI solutions for global parent organizations while keeping workloads and data within India’s borders, with local support and INR billing.
• Enterprises in regulated sectors can fine-tune proprietary models without sensitive data leaving Indian infrastructure.
• Researchers and independent developers get on-demand access to enterprise-grade compute without infrastructure management overhead.

Gold Market Volatility Changes Buying Habits, Small Investments Gain Traction

New Delhi, Aug 4: Gold prices are hovering around Rs 1.43 lakh per 10 grams in the domestic market, with changing price trends encouraging retail investors to adopt a more disciplined approach of making small and regular purchases rather than investing a large amount at once.

The precious metal has witnessed significant volatility in recent months, influenced by global factors such as interest rate expectations, movements in the US dollar and geopolitical developments. Although gold prices remain below their recent peak, investor interest continues due to its traditional role as a safe-haven asset.

For many households, the challenge of predicting price movements has led to a shift in investment behaviour. Instead of waiting for the “right time” to buy, investors are increasingly spreading their purchases over time to manage market fluctuations and build their gold holdings gradually.

Digital gold platforms have further simplified access by allowing customers to purchase small quantities of 24-karat gold at prevailing market rates. Features such as recurring gold savings plans and flexible investment amounts have made gold investment accessible to first-time and small-scale investors.

Industry experts said that gold continues to attract interest during periods of economic uncertainty, but investors should consider it as part of a diversified financial plan rather than their only investment option.

With global markets expected to remain sensitive to economic and geopolitical developments, steady accumulation through smaller investments is emerging as a preferred strategy among retail investors seeking long-term exposure to gold.

UIC Nationally Recognized for Degree Pathway Program

The University of Illinois Chicago has received national commendation for its leadership in ensuring equitable student success along the path to completing a bachelor’s degree.

UIC is one of two inaugural recipients of the Association for Undergraduate Education at Research Universities’ Carl E. Wieman Award for Excellence, which honors university departments and offices for their commitment to teaching excellence and high-quality undergraduate education. The honor was presented on Aug. 3 during the association’s leadership summit in Fort Collins, Colorado.

UIC, along with the University of Colorado at Boulder, “demonstrate that excellence in undergraduate education is not the product of isolated innovators, but of intentional systems, leadership and accountability,” said Steven P. Dandaneau, the association’s executive director and associate provost at Colorado State University.

The Office of the Senior Vice Provost for Academic Programs, Student Success, and Effectiveness at UIC was recognized for its role in Chicago Roadmap 2.0. This is the university’s partnership with Chicago Public Schools and the City Colleges of Chicago which provides structured pathways to four-year degrees at UIC in key fields such as education, healthcare, business and computer science.

“This recognition reflects what is possible when institutions embrace a shared responsibility for student success and commit to working together,” said UIC Chancellor Marie Lynn Miranda. “Through our partnership with Chicago Public Schools and City Colleges of Chicago, we are creating seamless pathways that reduce barriers and improve the transfer experience while expanding access to world-class education at UIC.”

With coordinated proactive advising, personalized degree planning and targeted student support services, Chicago Roadmap 2.0 eliminates barriers to credit transfer and ensures students stay on track for degree completion. This collaborative initiative, launched last year, has emerged as a national model for student success and educational equity, according to the association.

“At its core, Chicago Roadmap 2.0 reimagines the transfer experience through system change, innovation and collaboration. By removing institutional barriers, aligning support across sectors, and leveraging innovative tools, we are helping students navigate the journey to a bachelor’s degree with greater clarity, efficiency and confidence,” said Nikos Varelas, senior vice provost for academic programs, student success, and effectiveness at UIC.

The Wieman Award is named for Carl E. Wieman, Nobel Laureate, Stanford emeritus professor and pioneering scholar of science education. It honors his enduring impact on teaching and learning while reflecting the association’s commitment to evidence-based instruction, student success and excellence in undergraduate education.

“This award emphasizes accountability, an often-overlooked component of educational excellence,” said Wieman, who was on hand to present the awards. “Virtually every institution claims to provide an outstanding undergraduate education, but there are few ways for students to distinguish between aspiration and demonstrated achievement. By recognizing departments that have built systems to support and assess excellence in teaching and learning, this award shines a light on models worthy of attention and emulation.” 

The Wieman Award was established to advance the vision outlined in the Association for Undergraduate Education at Research Universities’ Boyer 2030 Commission Report, which provides a blueprint for research universities to unite equity and excellence in undergraduate education through student-centered innovation, improved access and evidence-based practices.