Apr 20 (BNP): In a symbolic moment highlighting growing India–South Korea business ties, Lee Jae-yong took a selfie with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung during a state luncheon at Samsung’s Noida facility on Monday.
The interaction underscored the importance of India as a major global manufacturing hub for Samsung, particularly in the electronics and smartphone segment. The Noida facility has been a key production base for the company since 1996, manufacturing a wide range of devices, including budget smartphones and premium foldable models.
The luncheon followed high-level bilateral discussions and brought together business leaders from both countries, serving as a platform to deepen economic engagement and explore future investment opportunities.
As part of the broader engagement, industry leaders from major Korean conglomerates also participated in the Korea–India Business Forum, which saw attendance from around 250 business representatives, including top executives from leading Korean corporations.
The South Korean President is currently on a state visit to India and Vietnam, accompanied by a high-level business delegation, aimed at strengthening trade, technology, and investment cooperation between the countries.
During his visit, the President also paid tribute at Raj Ghat, honouring Mahatma Gandhi and reaffirming commitment to global peace and cooperation.
The visit reflects a growing strategic and economic partnership between India and South Korea, with a strong focus on manufacturing, technology collaboration, and supply chain integration.
The Indian Trust for Rural Heritage and Development (ITRHD) celebrated World Heritage Day with a special programme in New Delhi, bringing together policymakers, scholars and cultural voices to deliberate on the preservation of India’s rural heritage, aligned with this year’s theme — “Emergency Response for Living Heritage in Contexts of Conflicts and Disasters.” The occasion also marked 15 years of ITRHD’s work in the field of heritage conservation.
The event was graced by Manish Tewari, Member of Parliament, as the Chief Guest, in the presence of Padma Bhushan Shri S. K. Misra, Chairman, ITRHD.
The programme featured addresses by distinguished speakers including Dasho Sonam Kinga (Former Chairman of the National Council of Bhutan), Geshe Dorji Damdul (Head of Tibet House, New Delhi), and Kartikeya Vajpai (Author). The event was also attended by Archana Capoor (Member Secretary, ITRHD) and members and representatives of ITRHD.
Addressing the gathering, Manish Tewari highlighted the urgent need to prioritise heritage conservation in the context of ongoing global conflicts. “Given the scale of ongoing international conflicts since 2022, the conservation of historical sites and heritage places, especially in conflict zones, must become a priority—even though, when such crises unfold, it is often the last thing on anyone’s mind,” he said.
He further pointed to the gap between policy and implementation in India, adding, “While India has a fairly robust legal architecture for heritage conservation, there remains a clear lack of consciousness and sensitivity when it comes to preserving, protecting and promoting our heritage, particularly in rural areas.”
Speaking on the occasion, Padma Bhushan Shri S.K. Misra emphasised the broader responsibility associated with heritage preservation. “World Heritage Day is not just a symbolic observance; it is an occasion to renew our collective responsibility to preserve our heritage for future generations, especially in a country like India where such immense cultural wealth cannot be allowed to remain unattended,” he said.
Highlighting ITRHD’s approach, he added, “We see rural heritage as a catalyst for rural development. Our effort is to identify neglected heritage sites, particularly those linked to Buddhist traditions, and reintegrate them into community life by building awareness and local participation.”
Dasho Sonam Kinga said that in Bhutan, the preservation of Buddhism has been sustained through the close integration of community life, cultural practices and state support, particularly in rural areas. He pointed out that heritage continues as a living tradition because communities actively practice and pass it on across generations.
Geshe Dorji Damdul said that heritage goes beyond physical structures and carries deeper human values such as compassion, wisdom and harmony. He explained that preserving heritage is important not only for protecting history but also for sustaining the values that shape human society.
Kartikeya Vajpai, author of The Unbecoming, said that preservation should begin with safeguarding the philosophical and spiritual essence of heritage. He said that when people, especially the youth, engage with this wisdom through experience and introspection, cultural continuity follows naturally.
The discussions explored the intersection of heritage, identity and its contemporary relevance, with a particular focus on rural ecosystems and traditional knowledge systems. Speakers highlighted how India’s rural heritage, spanning monuments, agricultural practices, crafts, languages, performing arts and indigenous knowledge, remains a largely underutilised resource in the country’s development narrative.
With nearly 70% of India’s population residing in rural areas, many of which continue to face economic challenges, the need to recognise heritage as a valuable economic and social asset was strongly underscored.
Observed globally on April 18 under the aegis of the International Council on Monuments and Sites and UNESCO, World Heritage Day underscores the importance of protecting cultural and natural heritage.
New Delhi, Apr 20: Garmin, a global leader in GPS-enabled wearables and performance technology, has announced the launch of its Exclusive brand store, marking a significant step in strengthening its retail presence in the region. Located at No. 6, C Block, Middle Circle, Connaught Place, New Delhi, the store is designed as an immersive experience centre, bringing together Garmin’s full ecosystem of performance and navigation technologies, enabling consumers to engage with solutions built for endurance, precision, and real-world conditions.
The store will feature Garmin’s complete portfolio of GPS-enabled smartwatches, which includes the Fenix series built for extreme endurance, Forerunner for advanced training insights, Instinct for rugged outdoor use, and the luxury MARQ collection. Wellness-focused ranges such as Venu Series and Vívoactive Series will also be available.
Extending beyond wearables, the store showcases Garmin’s broader ecosystem, including precision-driven golf technologies such as launch monitors and simulators, indoor cycling solutions from the Tacx range, including the Tacx Neo Bike Plus, as well as handheld GPS devices and marine systems designed for navigation in demanding environments.
The store is designed to function as a hands-on environment where consumers can experience how Garmin’s technologies perform across disciplines from endurance training and performance tracking to golf analytics, cycling efficiency, and outdoor navigation in real-world scenarios.
Commenting on the launch, Mr. Deepak Raina, Director, AMIT GPS & Navigation LLP, said, “Today’s consumers are moving beyond basic tracking to solutions that deliver accuracy, consistency, and actionable performance insights. With this Exclusive store, we are creating an environment where customers can experience how Garmin’s technologies operate as an integrated ecosystem, supporting everything from everyday fitness to high-performance training and outdoor exploration”.
Garmin’s continued retail expansion aligns with the growing demand for precision-led wearables and performance technology in India through various offline retail channels like its Garmin Exclusive stores, Just in Time, Helios watch, Reliance Digital, Malabar Watches, etc.
In the online space, platforms like Garmin India Website, Amazon and Flipkart driven by a rising base of Healthy Lifestyle enthusiasts, serious fitness enthusiasts, endurance athletes, and outdoor users who prioritise reliability and data accuracy over basic tracking. This expansion also builds on Garmin’s growing ecosystem partnerships in India, including its recent collaboration with Giant Bicycles, further strengthening its presence within the cycling and performance community.
New Delhi, Apr 20 (BNP): India’s macroeconomic outlook continues to show resilience despite ongoing global uncertainties, even as domestic equity markets appear to be entering a phase of near-term correction, according to a latest assessment by HDFC Securities.
The report observed that India’s growth remains supported by strong domestic demand, steady consumption trends, and continued government-led infrastructure spending. These factors are helping cushion the economy from external shocks such as geopolitical tensions and volatile global commodity prices.
At the same time, the brokerage cautioned that equity markets may be undergoing a valuation reset after a period of sustained upward movement. Elevated valuations in select segments, combined with global risk-off sentiment, are contributing to increased volatility and profit-booking.
Market participants are expected to remain cautious in the near term, with global developments likely to influence sentiment and trigger intermittent corrections.
Despite short-term market fluctuations, the broader economic narrative for India remains constructive, supported by structural drivers such as urban consumption growth, investment activity, and policy stability.
Overall, the outlook highlights a clear divergence between a resilient real economy and a more cautious, volatility-prone equity market environment.
New Delhi, Apr 20 (BNP): India’s trade engagement with its Free Trade Agreement (FTA) partners has strengthened, with their share in the country’s overall trade rising to 28.8%, according to an assessment by NITI Aayog.
The report highlights that while trade diversification is gradually improving, India’s export basket remains heavily concentrated in gems and jewellery, indicating continued reliance on a limited range of high-value export products.
Officials noted that FTAs have played a significant role in expanding market access and deepening trade linkages with key global economies. However, the concentration of exports in select sectors underscores the need for broader product diversification to enhance long-term trade resilience.
The findings also suggest that increasing integration with FTA partners is contributing to higher trade volumes, but structural challenges remain in expanding India’s export base across manufacturing and high-technology sectors.
Experts believe that improving export diversification, strengthening manufacturing capabilities, and boosting value-added production will be crucial for sustaining trade growth and reducing dependency on a narrow set of commodities.
Overall, the report points to steady progress in India’s global trade integration, while also highlighting the need for a more balanced and diversified export strategy.
STL Optical Connectivity NA, LLC, (STLOC), a U.S. subsidiary of STL (Sterlite Technologies Ltd.)[NSE: STLTECH], a leading connectivity solutions provider for AI-ready digital infrastructure, today announced the U.S. launch of Neuralis, its flagship suite of data center connectivity solutions, at Data Center World 2026 in Washington, D.C.
As AI, hyperscale computing, and edge workloads redefine the digital landscape, STL Neuralisemerges as the “central nervous system” for modern data centers. Drawing its name from the intricate, interconnected pathways of a neural network, STL Neuralis portfolio is designed to provide the seamless connectivity and ultra-high-speed processing power required to sustain today’s most demanding data center environments.
Neuralis is the result of deep co-creation with STL’s customers, solving density and space challenges for data center builders. With a nationwide presence, STLOC is committed to helping U.S. Data Center operators scale their AI infrastructure with speed, reliability, and high-quality products.
Modern AI data centers are shifting from traditional North-South traffic to intensive East-West traffic patterns, driven by front-end and back-end networks and AI training workloads. Neuralis addresses these challenges by offering a robust, integrated foundation that scales effortlessly.
The STL Neuralis suite is categorized into two mission-critical pillars:
Maximizing the AI Whitespace: Utilizing ultra-high-density, MMC and MPO cabling, Neuralis supports the massive fiber counts required by GPU clusters. By moving terminations to the factory, STL reduces onsite labor risks and accelerates deployment timelines.
High-Speed Data Center Interconnect (DCI): Engineered for the Data Center campus edge, this infrastructure ensures petabyte-scale data moves seamlessly. The flagship Celesta IBR series leads the industry with ultra-compact cables featuring up to 6,912 rollable ribbon fibers, available in SM A2 fiber with 8,12 & 16F ribbon, designed to withstand the intense thermal and safety demands of AI deployments.
With the launch of STL Neuralis, STL further establishes its unique position as a fully vertically integrated partner with its customers, incorporating the entire lifecycle of connectorization:
Ultra-Pure Preform: Creating the glass preform from silica.
Fiber Drawing: Precision-pulling fiber to exacting standards.
Advanced Cabling: Integrating fibers into the Celesta IBR series.
Connectorization: Delivering tested, plug-and-play pre-terminated assemblies and associated connectivity hardware.
“AI demands a level of precision and density that traditional cabling simply cannot meet,” said Ankit Agarwal, Managing Director, STL. “With STL Neuralis, we are providing the high-speed, low-latency foundation that allows GPU clusters to perform at their peak, moving complexity out of the field and into a controlled, high-precision factory environment.”
The launch of STL Neuralis marks a significant milestone in STL’s journey to enable customers in North America. By combining its state-of-the-art manufacturing capabilities in Lugoff, South Carolina, STL ensures that hyperscalers and Neoclouds providers can build future-ready AI infrastructure that meets the specific demands of the US digital economy.
Apr20(BNP): Tensions between the United States and Iran have further intensified after U.S. President Donald Trump stated that a U.S. Navy destroyer fired on and seized an Iran-flagged cargo vessel attempting to evade a naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz. The vessel reportedly ignored repeated warnings before being disabled and taken into custody by U.S. forces.
The incident marks a major escalation in the ongoing maritime standoff, with U.S. operations reportedly aimed at restricting Iranian shipping activity in the strategically critical waterway, which plays a vital role in global energy supply chains.
In response, Iran has vowed to retaliate once the safety of the vessel’s crew and passengers is ensured, according to state media reports, further heightening regional tensions.
Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts remain uncertain. President Trump indicated that a U.S. delegation, including Vice President JD Vance and senior officials, is expected to travel to Pakistan for renewed peace talks. However, Iran’s Foreign Ministry has firmly stated that there are “no plans” for negotiations at this stage.
The proposed discussions face several critical sticking points, including the status of Iran’s uranium stockpiles and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, where disruptions have already impacted global energy flows for weeks. The current ceasefire framework, already strained by mutual accusations of violations, is set to expire soon, adding further uncertainty to the diplomatic process.
The latest developments have raised serious concerns over regional stability, maritime security, and global oil supply, as tensions continue to build in one of the world’s most sensitive strategic corridors.
New Delhi, Apr 20 (BNP): A nationwide appeal to encourage a shift towards cleaner cooking fuel has gained strong response, with more than 39,000 piped natural gas (PNG) users voluntarily surrendering their LPG connections, according to official data.
The initiative, aimed at promoting cleaner and more efficient energy usage, is part of the government’s broader push to expand the adoption of piped natural gas as a primary cooking fuel in urban households.
Authorities noted that the growing preference for PNG reflects increasing awareness about convenience, safety, and environmental benefits associated with cleaner fuel alternatives compared to traditional LPG usage.
Officials said the response highlights a gradual behavioural shift among consumers, supported by expanding gas distribution infrastructure and improved last-mile connectivity across cities.
The move is also aligned with India’s long-term energy transition goals, which focus on reducing dependence on high-emission fuels and encouraging cleaner household energy solutions.
Industry observers believe that as PNG networks expand further, more households are likely to transition, supporting both sustainability objectives and energy efficiency targets.
Overall, the trend indicates rising acceptance of cleaner cooking fuel solutions, marking a steady shift in India’s domestic energy consumption patterns.
New Delhi, Apr 20 (BNP): E-commerce platform Meesho has allotted 94,79,380 equity shares to eligible employees under its Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), reinforcing its focus on employee participation in long-term value creation.
According to a regulatory filing, the allotment was approved by the company’s Nomination and Remuneration Committee through a circular resolution. The shares, with a face value of ₹1 each, have been issued upon the exercise of vested stock options under the company’s ESOP 2024 plan.
The company stated that the newly allotted shares will rank pari passu with existing equity shares, ensuring equal rights for shareholders across all parameters.
With this allotment, Meesho’s issued and paid-up equity capital has increased, reflecting continued expansion in its employee ownership structure as part of its broader talent retention and incentive strategy.
The move highlights the growing trend among Indian new-age technology companies to use stock-based compensation as a key tool to attract, retain, and reward talent in a competitive startup ecosystem.
Overall, the ESOP allotment underscores Meesho’s emphasis on aligning employee interests with long-term business growth and value creation.
Himalaya Wellness Company hosted the Delhi edition of the ‘Mindful Strides 5K Walkathon’ today at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium. Now in its fourth year, the 5K walkathon, inaugurated by KG Umesh, Director–Human Resources, Dr. Babu U V, Director–R&D, and Dr. Rangesh, Director–Intellectual Property, Himalaya Wellness Company. This event brought together over 4,000 participants from across the city to promote mental well-being and raise awareness about mental health.
Delhi was chosen as the host city, having been identified as India’s most stressed city with 37.7% of residents reporting significant stress levels according to Himalaya’s nationwide Stress Test. This highlighted an urgent need for proactive mental health conversations and solutions in the capital.
The walkathon started at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, covered C-Hexagon, Kartavya Path, and the Janpath crossing, and concluded at the National Stadium.
“Mental well-being is an essential aspect of overall health, and we believe in fostering awareness through community-driven initiatives like the Mindful Strides Walkathon,” said KG Umesh, Director–Human Resources, Himalaya Wellness Company. “Walking together, even for a single morning, can build mental resilience and help break the stigma surrounding mental health. It can spark vital conversations that genuinely shift how people think about their mental well-being and encourage them to seek support.”
Mindful Strides has demonstrated consistent growth, originating in Bengaluru in 2023, followed by Chennai in 2024, and Mumbai in 2025. The Delhi edition attracted a diverse group from across the city, including corporate professionals, fitness enthusiasts, students, families, and mental health advocates, reflecting a growing public appetite for open discussions on mental health. Many expressed gratitude for an initiative that provided a safe, supportive, and accessible platform to address mental health concerns openly.
More than just a fitness event, Mindful Strides primarily aims to break the pervasive stigma surrounding mental health. While research consistently highlights the positive link between regular physical activity and reduced stress, anxiety, and depression, the successful Delhi edition marked another milestone in Himalaya Wellness Company’s broader commitment to making mental health awareness a mainstream, everyday conversation across India.
