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Asia
The Hindu BusinessLine

Monika Alcobev Announces Partnership with Angostura, Bringing the Iconic Caribbean Brand to India

MUMBAI, India , July 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Monika Alcobev, leading importer, distributor and marketer of premium alcoholic beverage brands across the Indian subcontinent, has entered into a strategic partnership with Angostura, the globally recognized producer behind the world's leading bitters and one of the Caribbean's most awarded rum portfolios. Under the partnership, Monika Alcobev will spearhead the import, distribution, and marketing of Angostura's portfolio across key Indian markets. The portfolio includes Angostura 5-Year-Old Rum , Angostura Aromatic Bitters , and Angostura Orange Bitters . The products will initially be available in Maharashtra and Delhi, followed by a phased expansion into other states. The collaboration arrives at a time when India's premium spirits segment continues to witness rising interest in craft cocktails, authentic global labels, and elevated drinking experiences. With Angostura's deep-rooted legacy in cocktail culture and Monika Alcobev's strong distribution and market-building capabilities, the partnership is expected to strengthen the brand's presence across leading bars, restaurants, retail outlets, and hospitality destinations in the country. For Monika Alcobev, the partnership represents a larger strategic push towards expanding premium and globally respected spirits labels within India's evolving alcobev market. The company believes Angostura's legacy, versatility, and strong bartender affinity position it strongly for long-term growth in the country. Reflecting on the announcement, Kunal Patel, Managing Director, Monika Alcobev , noted, "Angostura carries a rare combination of heritage, credibility, and enduring relevance within the international spirits community. He observed that Indian consumers today are displaying far greater curiosity towards authentic brands with provenance, craftsmanship, and a strong association with evolving cocktail culture, with drinks such as the Picante and other globally influenced cocktails increasingly shaping urban consumption trends. The partnership aligns closely with Monika Alcobev's long-term approach towards building premium categories with patience, consistency, and meaningful market presence. Chief Executive Officer of Angostura, Mr. Ian Forbes said, "This partnership represents more than expanding our global distribution. It is about positioning Angostura as a premium lifestyle brand in India. We see significant opportunities to work closely with bartenders, mixologists, retailers and hospitality partners to showcase the versatility and quality that have made Angostura respected around the world." For decades, Angostura has remained a familiar presence within India's bar ecosystem quietly occupying its place behind counters, in classic cocktails, and in the repertoire of serious bartenders. Despite this longstanding presence, its availability in the market had remained largely limited through unofficial channels. That dynamic now changes with Monika Alcobev Limited bringing the brand into India through an official route, reflecting the evolving maturity of how global spirits brands are introduced and built in the country. Monika Alcobev currently represents more than 100 international brands across India and neighboring South Asian markets, with a growing portfolio spanning tequila, whiskey, gin, rum, wines, and liqueurs. The latest partnership further reinforces the company's position as a preferred partner for global alcobev brands seeking a trusted and growth-oriented route into the Indian market. Monika Alcobev is a leading importer, distributor and marketer of premium alcoholic beverage brands across the Indian subcontinent, providing end-to-end execution across HORECA, Retail and Travel Retail channels. The portfolio includes globally acclaimed brands such as Jose Cuervo, 1800 Tequila, Remy Martin, Cointreau, Choya, Botanist, Licor 43, Jinro Soju, Ron Diplomático, the VSPT Group and more. With a strong presence across key markets and over 100 world-renowned labels, the company remains at the forefront of India's premium alco-beverage landscape. The company is also a preferred Global Travel Retail partner for globally renowned Indian brands as well. In July 2025, the company achieved a major milestone with a highly successful SME IPO, ushering in the next phase of strategic growth and expansion. Founded in 1824, Angostura remains one of the most influential names in the global spirits industry, with its aromatic bitters continuing to hold cult status among bartenders and mixologists worldwide. The company's award-winning rum portfolio has also earned international acclaim over the decades. “This is a company press release that is not part of editorial content. No journalist of The Hindubusinessline was involved in the publication of this release.” Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments.

Monika Alcobev Announces Partnership with Angostura, Bringing the Iconic Caribbean Brand to India
Asia-Pacific
The Straits Times

Orchard Central tenants from levels 5 to 12 to move out by end-November; space planned for office use

The tenants are on varying lease terms, with some expiring at the year end, others extended until the mall’s last day of operations, while others have leases that run beyond Nov 30. SINGAPORE – As early as March, there were murmurs among some tenants of Orchard Central mall about a feasibility study being done by their landlord, though no one knew what it was about or if tenants would be affected. Inquiries about their leases were met with delayed or holding responses from the leasing team, according to some tenants who spoke to The Straits Times the week of July 13. Then, a letter dated June 1 arrived from the mall’s landlord, Far East Organization (FEO), informing some tenants that they would have to vacate their units by Nov 30. The letter, a copy of which ST has seen, said that the landlord will be renovating and refurbishing the mall as part of an asset enhancement initiative, with works to commence on Dec 1. Tenants on the fifth to eighth floors, as well as levels 11 and 12, will be affected, according to those who spoke to ST. The mall’s carpark occupies its ninth floor. The tenants are on varying lease terms, with some expiring at the year end, others extended until the mall’s last day of operations, while others have leases that run beyond Nov 30. The Business Times reported on July 10 that Deloitte has secured a permanent space in Orchard Central, where it will occupy several upper-level floors. Deloitte said in a social media post the same day that the move will take place in 2027. Far East Organization, in a July 24 reply to ST, said its planned enhancements, subject to approval from the authorities, include fresh dining options, integration of new public art, and improved pedestrian connectivity to the future revamped Istana Park via a new pedestrian link bridge. The mall is currently approved for retail, F&B and lifestyle use. In-principle approval has been granted by the Urban Redevelopment Authority for the introduction of offices, alongside existing retail uses. Marc Boey, FEO’s executive director of property services, said the group believes the next phase of growth for Orchard Road will come from an even stronger mix of retail and lifestyle offerings, homes and workplaces across the precinct.

Orchard Central tenants from levels 5 to 12 to move out by end-November; space planned for office use
Europe
BBC Business

Why Andy Burnham will find it so tricky to unite Britain

ByEvan Davis Presenter of BBC Radio 4's Common GroundDid you get to see the 2024 film Civil War, with its dystopian depiction of a present day USA in the midst of a violent meltdown? What made it such an effective thriller was that it all seemed so frighteningly real. Although the two sides in that civil war were fictitious, it hit a raw nerve precisely because of the very obvious divides that scar modern day America. But interestingly it was actually written and directed by a British film-maker, Alex Garland, and he expressed worries about his home country, as well as the US. In both countries, he told the Guardian, "there's a lot to be very concerned about". He's not alone. If you are an avid user of social media, you could almost believe that we are a nation disunited enough to have a full-on civil war of our own. And even away from the exaggerated adversarialism online, there are plenty of people worried that Britain is gripped by uncontrollable rage. It's a sense of discord that Britain's new prime minister, Andy Burnham, seems to recognise. Since announcing his run for the Makerfield seat in May, he's repeatedly urged Britons to forget about party labels or factional identities and instead unite around pride in their local area. "Place first, not party first", is how he puts it. And as he entered Downing Street on Monday, he called for a "new national sense of unity, of common purpose and positivity". Evan Davis travels across the UK exploring the forces that are driving the UK apart, and he hears ideas to improve our sense of "social cohesion". Some talk as though the population is ready to wield the pitchforks; that we are close to social breakdown; that a small spark could lead to a serious fire. Last year, a commission co-chaired by the former Home Secretary, Sir Sajid Javid, warned in a report: "The bonds that hold society together - civic participation, and a shared sense of belonging - are under growing pressure." Well, I have just had the privilege of spending a month journeying - literally and figuratively - through some of the divisions that define modern Britain, for a Radio 4 series. Is there any common ground left in the country that Burnham has now inherited - or are we polarised to the point of no-repair? For a long time, Britain had a clear, defining split: social class. What kind of job you had, how you spoke, what time you had your evening meal, what you watched on TV, how you voted… it was all pre-determined by your working or middle class background.

Why Andy Burnham will find it so tricky to unite Britain
Europe
BBC Business

'I made £100,000 of TikTok sales in one day': The business of live shopping

Daisy Kelly's business was inspired by a personal problem - for years she'd been pulling out her eyelashes. She hid her habit with lash extensions, but when beauty salons closed during Covid Daisy decided to create a serum to help her eyelashes grow back. She started Glow For It from her mother's kitchen table in 2020 while she was a student and now her business generates £6m a year in sales. More than 40% of Daisy's sales come from TikTok Shop UK and increasingly from livestreams. "I think live shopping gives people that connection and interaction that we're all craving... We actually generated over £100,000 revenue in one 12 hour TikTok live," says Daisy, 27. Daisy's business goes live from a studio for a minimum of six hours a day with different presenters interacting with shoppers, from showing off products to answering their questions. There are a host of platforms and marketplaces now offering livestreams connecting sellers and customers, from Instagram Live, YouTube Shopping, to eBay and Amazon Live. They're all different. Live shopping, it seems, is becoming part of everyday consumer behaviour for many. According to new research from retail agency Savvy Marketing, 30% of shoppers surveyed said they'd bought something from a live shopping event. "The big retailers have got to grab hold of this," says Catherine Shuttleworth, CEO of Savvy. "It's grown from nothing to a huge thing really quickly. If you haven't got a strategy for live selling, you're going to miss out." TikTok Shop says its UK sales grew by more than 30% year-on-year in June, with live shopping the fastest-growing format. At an event in the centuries old Covent Garden market, it hosted 20 small businesses with stalls who were also selling live to customers all over the UK.

'I made £100,000 of TikTok sales in one day': The business of live shopping
North America
CNBC Finance

Anthropic moves closer to mega-IPO as bankers line up investor meetings

Anthropic is lining up meetings with investors ahead of a potential initial public offering later this year, a person with knowledge of the plans told CNBC. Bankers leading the offering are scheduling meetings between prospective investors and executives of the artificial intelligence firm behind the popular Claude models, said the person, who declined to be identified speaking about the process. The meetings suggest Anthropic's IPO preparations are advancing, as bankers begin sounding out investor demand before a formal roadshow and eventual share sale. Anthropic confidentially filed its IPO prospectus with the Securities and Exchange Commission last month, but hasn't disclosed when it plans to debut. The giant AI startup could hit the public markets as soon as October, though the timing could change, according to Bloomberg, which first reported the investor meetings. An Anthropic spokesperson declined to comment. An Anthropic listing would build on momentum from June's massive SpaceX IPO and further open the public markets to companies at the center of the AI boom. It follows years in which the industry's biggest names remained private while raising hundreds of billions of dollars from investors. Anthropic appears poised to beat rival OpenAI to the public markets, which could be an advantage for the startup if AI enthusiasm later wanes. OpenAI also confidentially filed for an IPO with the SEC in June, but it has not disclosed any additional details. Anthropic was founded in 2021 by a group of executives and researchers who defected from OpenAI over concerns about the company's direction. Anthropic has found early success selling to enterprises, in large part due to its popular coding assistant, Claude Code. The company closed a $65 billion funding round at a $965 billion valuation in May, pushing it above OpenAI's $852 billion valuation for the first time. Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley and JPMorgan Chase, the three biggest Wall Street banks by revenue, are involved in the IPO planning. The AI spending boom has fueled a resurgence in profit for Wall Street firms as they seek to satisfy investors clamoring for ways to fund the buildout and invest in or hedge aspects of the theme. Get this delivered to your inbox, and more info about our products and services. Data is a real-time snapshot *Data is delayed at least 15 minutes. Global Business and Financial News, Stock Quotes, and Market Data and Analysis.

Anthropic moves closer to mega-IPO as bankers line up investor meetings
North America
CNBC Finance

Here's why the housing market is hurting so much this summer

Two different reads on the housing market released Thursday point to the same problem, one that appears to be getting worse. Housing is just too expensive — to own and to build. Pending home sales in June, a measure of signed contracts on existing homes, fell 5.4% from May, according to the National Association of Realtors. Sales were down 0.3% from June 2025 and were well below analysts' expectations. This read is based on people out shopping for homes in June and making the decision to sign a deal, so it is the most timely measure on the state of the market. "The highest mortgage rates in nearly a year and the record-high national median home price together are contributing to a tepid housing market that is especially difficult for first-time homebuyers," NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun said in a release. Mortgage rates in June bounced around a narrow but higher range, with the average rate on the popular 30-year fixed mortgage starting the month at 6.6% and ending at the exact same rate, according to Mortgage News Daily. It had been as low as 5.99% at the end of February, the day before the Iran war started. Mortgage demand from homebuyers has been weakening in the past month. Last week, applications for a mortgage to buy a home were 2% lower than they were the same week the year before, even though mortgage rates were slightly higher last year. Meanwhile, sentiment among the nation's single-family builders fell in July, according to another report released Thursday from the National Association of Home Builders. It dropped to 34, down from an upwardly revised reading of 36 in June. Sentiment has stayed below 40 for 15 consecutive months, the longest such stretch since 2012. Anything below 50 is considered negative sentiment. "Affordability remains the home building industry's primary challenge, as elevated mortgage rates, costly land, rising material prices, and persistent skilled labor shortages continue to affect the market," Robert Dietz, NAHB's chief economist, said in a release. CNBC's Property Play with Diana Olick covers new and evolving opportunities for the real estate investor, delivered weekly to your inbox. A rising share of builders, 37%, cut prices in July, up from 35% in June and 32% in May. The use of sales incentives was 63% in July, up slightly from 62% in June and marking the 16th consecutive month that share has reached 60% or higher, according to the NAHB. Dietz said the newly enacted housing legislation from Congress, which attempts to cut red tape and help localities speed up permitting for housing, "is a positive step that will help expand housing supply and lower overall housing costs, although more policy change is needed at the state and local level." Prices for existing homes continue to rise, with the median hitting a new record in June, according to the NAR. While there are local pockets of weakness, low supply of housing in general is keeping upward pressure on prices.

Here's why the housing market is hurting so much this summer
Europe
The Guardian

‘Brazen corruption’: critics denounce Trump Media plan to sell priority access to Truth Social posts

Donald Trump holding up a printout of a Truth Social post this month. Photograph: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty ImagesView image in fullscreenDonald Trump holding up a printout of a Truth Social post this month. Photograph: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty ImagesDonald Trump‘Brazen corruption’: critics denounce Trump Media plan to sell priority access to Truth Social postsMove would allow Wall Street trading firms and other institutions to potentially profit from seeing president’s posts first Donald Trump’s media company is planning to charge for special high-speed access to Truth Social posts, including possibly his own, affecting national security and financial markets. The move announced on Thursday would allow Wall Street trading firms and other institutions to get news first from top Truth Social contributors so they could profit off subsequent moves in stocks, bonds and interest rates. Called Truth PSI, the new service comes amid a flurry of other deals by Trump and his family company that critics say are exploiting the presidency for profit. It follows similar offers of paid access on rival platforms, although with one key difference: the most popular Truth Social poster is the president himself, and, as the biggest shareholder of the publicly traded parent company, he would benefit directly. “He’s selling expedited, privileged access to information about what he is doing as president,” said Kathleen Clark of the Washington University School of Law and an expert in government conflict of interest rules. “It’s yet more brazen corruption, an improper exploitation of government power to enrich himself.” Followers of Trump can already choose to get push notifications alerting them when new posts have been published. The Trump family company declined to comment about whether the new feature was profiting off the presidency. Truth Social’s public parent, Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG), did not respond to emailed questions by Associated Press, including whether Trump’s posts would be excluded from the offering. A press release states the new service would allow traders to see “the highest-ranking Truth Social accounts” before other people. The US president has the most followers – 12.9 million – followed by his eldest son, Donald Jr, and, close behind, his son Eric. Trump regularly uses Truth Social to announce major decisions that affect markets, such as posts about the Iran war and tariffs. Last year Trump made more than 100 posts in a single day as global stock markets fell sharply amid fears his economic policies could produce a “Trumpcession” in the US. The Iran posts in particular are impactful because investors are worried that higher oil prices will continue to stoke inflation and possibly force the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates.

‘Brazen corruption’: critics denounce Trump Media plan to sell priority access to Truth Social posts
Asia
The Hindu BusinessLine

‘We are committed to ensuring financial stability’

Ahead of the upcoming Monetary Policy Committee meeting in August, Reserve Bank of India Governor Sanjay Malhotra sat down with businessline on Sunday for a comprehensive interview at the central bank’s headquarters in Mumbai. Malhotra underlined that price stability remains the central bank’s foremost priority even as it seeks to support growth as inflation risks re-emerge and global uncertainties cloud the economic outlook. He stressed that monetary policy decisions will remain data-dependent, highlighted the $32 billion mobilised through recent foreign capital measures, expressed confidence that the rupee is not overvalued, and outlined the RBI’s roadmap on liquidity, CBDC adoption, banking reforms and financial stability. Does the current repo rate meet your objective of keeping inflation under check while supporting growth? The present rate is the appropriate rate as assessed by the MPC in view of the prevailing growth-inflation dynamics and outlook in June 2026 amid heightened global uncertainties. Our primary mandate is price stability. Although generalised inflation pressures continue to remain modest so far, the risk of higher food, fuel and other input prices translating to a broad-based inflation environment is real. But our team is assessing the growth-inflation dynamics. We are heading into our next Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting shortly. We will take an appropriate decision based on the data available and the outlook. Inflation has breached the mid-point of the MPC’s tolerance band. Would you look through it? The response of monetary policy to a supply shock is needed when it feels that inflation is getting generalised, or it is de-anchoring expectations. As I said, we are seeing some signs, but they are modest. Let’s wait for more data and let’s not pre-empt the MPC. In recent times, the MPC has placed a premium on growth versus inflation. You have been helped by the fact that inflation has been benign. Now, going forward, if there is a threat to growth, what will be your approach to the growth-inflation dynamic? First of all, I would say that our primary mandate is inflation and price stability. Even in the past period, we have been guided by that and not so much by growth. We are required to keep growth in mind while we endeavour to meet our primary objective of price stability. As you rightly mentioned, inflation was very benign and so we could continue, therefore, to support growth by reducing the policy rate by 125 basis points. However, as I mentioned, it is price stability which is our primary mandate. Growth is certainly a consideration. Therefore, we will do whatever is required first, to maintain price stability and then, to see to what extent we can support growth. However, as I mentioned, it is price stability which is our primary mandate. Growth is certainly a consideration. Therefore, we will do whatever is required first, to maintain price stability and then, to see to what extent we can support growth. If you increase the repo rate down the line, will it be preceded by a change in stance? As indicated last year in my statement of April 2025, the stance of monetary policy signals the intended direction of policy rates going forward. MPC is maintaining neutral stance right now, which gives flexibility to maintain status quo, or move policy rates either way. Therefore, it may not be necessary to change stance before taking any policy action. But, of course, all decisions on policy rate and the stance will be taken by the MPC after taking cognisance of the incoming data and the domestic inflation-growth dynamics. How are you treading this path where the rupee is subject to volatility due to dollar appreciation, FPI outflows and demand for the greenback from importers? I will make four points in this regard. One, most emerging market economies and Asian currencies have been under pressure since the outbreak of the West Asia conflict for reasons well known to all. The rupee is not an outlier or an exception. In fact, it has performed better than many Asian peers. Two, the depreciation in the rupee this year is not a reflection of India’s sound economic fundamentals. It has been largely driven by the expectations channel. India’s current account recorded a surplus of $2.8 billion in April-May 2026 against a deficit of $4.1 billion in the corresponding period of last year. Surplus in current account has accrued on account of strong services exports and remittances. Goods exports have also grown. Similarly, FDI in the first two months of this financial year recorded a net inflow of around $6.5 billion against $2.5 billion in the same period last year. External commercial borrowings (ECBs) also recorded net inflows during this period. Three, for a number of reasons, the medium-term outlook on the external sector, including BoP and forex reserves, is favourable and, therefore, we expect the real economy channel to remain positive and expectations channel to improve. Four, regarding our policy on exchange rate, I must reiterate that it remains unchanged. In the last policy, you announced five measures to attract foreign capital. What outcomes do you expect from each of those measures?

‘We are committed to ensuring financial stability’
Asia
The Hindu BusinessLine

UltraTech Cement plans its biggest rupee debt funding, bankers say

UltraTech Cement is in talks with merchant bankers ​and arrangers to raise what would be its ‌biggest rupee bond funding, two bankers aware ​of the matter said on ⁠Monday, as it seeks to tap debt markets ahead of the central bank’s policy decision next ‌week. The country’s largest cement producer by capacity plans to raise an aggregate ‌₹5,000 crore ($517.80 million) through bonds maturing ‌in ⁠two-and-a-half years, three-and-a-half years and five ⁠years, the sources said requesting anonymity as the talks are still private. It is targeting ₹1,500 crore ​each in the ‌shorter two tranches at annual coupons of 7.22 per cent and 7.23 per cent, respectively, and ₹2,000 crore in the five-year tranche at 7.25 per cent. The bankers ‌said UltraTech aimed to complete ​the sale before the Reserve Bank of India’s monetary policy decision on ⁠August 5. The company did not respond to a Reuters email seeking comment outside regular business hours. The ‌bonds are rated AAA by Crisil and may attract demand from mutual funds seeking high-quality credit, the bankers said. In March 2025, UltraTech raised ₹1,000 crore each through three-year and five-year bonds at an ‌annual coupon of 7.34 per cent. It has ₹3,500 crore ​of bonds outstanding, including ₹500 crore due within a month. The cement maker ⁠reported a nearly 17 per cent rise in first-quarter profit ⁠earlier this month as it used its scale and market position to ‌absorb higher fuel costs linked to the Middle East conflict better than smaller rivals. Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments. We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of TheHindu Businessline and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.

UltraTech Cement plans its biggest rupee debt funding, bankers say