Archives 2025

5th February 2025: Yashoda Medicity organized an insightful health awareness TED Talk on Spine and Pain Management on 2 February 2025 at the Taj Maansingh Hotel, New Delhi. The event brought together pain management experts Prof. Sudhir Diwan, MD, FIPP, DABIPP (USA) and Dr. Neeraj Jain, MD, FIMSA, FIPP (USA), who as speakers discussed the advancements in regenerative therapy and the fundamental right to pain relief.

The event began with a welcome address by Dr. Upasana Arora (Managing Director, Yashoda Medicity), followed by an introduction by Dr. Sunil Dagar (COO, Yashoda Medicity). Dr. Neeraj Jain delivered the first TED talk, stressing the importance of accessible pain management solutions. Prof. Sudhir Diwan led the session further on Regenerative Therapy is the Future, where he emphasized the role of subchondral mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in treating degenerative joint and spine diseases.

The discussion aligned with the recent findings from a study published in the Journal of Biomedical Research and Clinical Investigation about how millions of people suffer from chronic back pain from degenerated lumbar discs. The study compared bone marrow concentrate (BMC) therapy to lumbar disc replacement (LADR) in treating discogenic back pain.

Dr. P.N. Arora, CMD, Yashoda Medicity, said, “At Yashoda Medicity, our aim is to bring the best global medical expertise to India, ensuring that patients benefit from the latest advancements in healthcare. Such events help bridge the gap between innovation and accessibility, reinforcing our commitment to excellence in pain management and regenerative medicine.”

Dr. Neeraj Jain, Director, Yashoda Spine and Management Centre, said, “Pain relief is a fundamental human right, yet millions continue to suffer due to limited awareness and access to advanced treatments. Although tremendous scientific and technological advances have been made, the knowledge and techniques are highly underutilized. By integrating cutting-edge therapies, we can significantly enhance patient outcomes and minimize the need for complex surgeries.”

Prof. Sudhir Diwan, President, Advanced Spine on Park Avenue, New York, said, “Regenerative therapy is revolutionizing the way we treat degenerative joint and spine diseases. With advancements in stem cell applications, particularly subchondral MSCs, we are moving towards long-term solutions for chronic pain. Such events highlight that the future of pain management is not just about relieving symptoms but restoring function and improving quality of life.”

Mumbai, February 05th, 2025 – The legendary MS Dhoni addressed over 3,50,000 students at ALLEN Career Institute’s first-ever pan-India student summit ‘Sangam’. Speaking at Mumbai’s SVP Stadium Dome, the former Indian captain drew from his own small-town success story to inspire students preparing for India’s most challenging competitive examinations.

 “If a boy from Ranchi can conquer the world, it shows that with the right guidance, dedication, and mindset—success is possible no matter where you come from,” Dhoni said, addressing the gathering that combined 5,000 in-person attendees with digital participants across 11 cities, including Kota.

 It was also announced that, effective immediately, ALLEN is offering free revision tools for all exam takers across India on the ALLEN App, aimed at helping students prepare for their Board exams, IIT JEE, and NEET, among others. Dhoni unveiled a showreel of the ALLEN App, spotlighting resources such as video lectures, revision notes, flashcards, mock tests, and an extensive question bank. The audience also got a sneak peek at ALLIE, an AI-powered doubt-solving bot and 24/7 personal study companion designed to assist NEET aspirants.

 During the event, ALLEN’s CEO Nitin Kukreja highlighted the organization’s ongoing commitment to making quality education accessible to students across India, including those in the most remote regions. He emphasized ALLEN’s focus on democratizing education and providing the best resources to students nationwide. Mr. Kukreja revealed that ALLEN would be launching a new ALLEN centre in Ranchi, marking a crucial step in making quality education accessible to students in the region.

 Through the event, Dhoni emphasized the importance of honesty, hard work, and meticulous planning for achieving the best results. He acknowledged that success and failure are part of life, encouraging students to learn from failures and keep moving forward.

 Responding to a student’s question on the importance of focusing on the process rather than the outcome, Dhoni advised, “Live in the present and enjoy every moment. I never thought about playing for India; I only focused on giving my best in every match I played while growing up.”

 He also highlighted the role of pressure in performance, the value of learning from failure, and the life lessons sports can teach. Dhoni stressed the importance of respect for leaders, embracing challenges, and the irreplaceable value of hard work.

Bengaluru, February 5, 2025: kritrim, India’s first AI unicorn, today announced the launch of kritrim AI Lab, the country’s first AI frontier research lab. This pioneering initiative is set to make AI research accessible, attract the best talent, and establish India as a global leader in open-source AI. As AI transforms industries worldwide, kritrim AI Lab takes a step towards creating state-of-the-art AI infrastructure, supporting the research and developer community, and building cutting-edge AI models tailored for Indic languages and real-world applications.

In line with building its growth roadmap, kritrim announced an investment of ₹2,000 Cr today (equity and debt) with a commitment of ₹10,000 Cr by next year. kritrim also strengthens its global collaborations, by announcing India’s first GB200 cluster deployment along with NVIDIA scheduled to go live by March 2025. kritrim aims to build India’s largest supercomputer in India by the end of the year.

Bhavish Aggarwal, Founder, kritrim said, “With kritrim, our vision is to develop AI for India and make it better for Indian languages, data scarcity and cultural context. While we are behind global benchmarks, we have made good progress in the last one year. With kritrim AI Lab, we hope that the entire Indian AI community collaborates to create a world-class Indian AI ecosystem.”

kritrim AI Lab champions open source AI and democratise AI innovation by fostering collaboration with academia, startups, and developers. It deploys state-of-the-art computing resources to accelerate AI capabilities. With its multilingual AI models that represent India’s diverse linguistic landscape, kritrim AI Lab ensures equitable access to AI across all Indian languages. By creating AI solutions optimised for scale and affordability, the research lab enables cost-efficient AI innovation and attracts top talent that pushes the boundaries of AI knowledge.

kritrim has open sourced new state-of-the art Indic AI models to enhance AI adoption in India:

kritrim AI Lab focuses on critical AI research domains essential for digital transformation and development of India’s first large-scale AI models, capable of competing globally. The multimodal Lab is aimed at building AI that understands and processes text, speech, and visuals across multiple languages. It also addresses India’s data scarcity challenge by digitising knowledge artefacts and creating high-quality datasets. Additionally, by incorporating AI for real-world scale, kritrim AI Lab ensures AI systems that are efficient and adaptable to India’s high-volume, resource-constrained environments.

To supercharge innovation in India, kritrim previously announced over 50 new services on kritrim cloud making it ready for most applications needed by Indian developers. The infrastructure services include Virtual Machines (VMs), cloud storage, state-of-the-art security measures for data protection and cutting-edge observability features for precise data monitoring. Additionally, the AI cloud services announced were AI Pods to enable low-cost access to best-in-class GPUs, AI studio for building compound AI applications, model catalogue with latest LLMs and vision models, and now code/low code training, finetuning, inference and model evaluation capabilities.

Pune, February 5, 2025: In a major step towards cancer prevention and early detection, Manipal Hospital, Baner, has launched a Preventive Oncology Clinic on World Cancer Day. The clinic aims to empower individuals with timely screenings, lifestyle counseling, and risk assessment to detect cancer at an early stage and improve treatment outcomes. Aligned with this year’s theme, “United by Unique,” the initiative ensures personalized, technology-driven care tailored to each patient’s needs.

The clinic was inaugurated by Dr. Mukta Puntambekar, who highlighted the importance of early intervention in a cancer patient’s journey. Dr. Amit Parasnis, Dr. Lakhan Kashyap, and Dr. Karan Chanchlani provided key insights into advanced diagnostic techniques and preventive strategies. The event witnessed participation from dignitaries, patients, and caregivers, highlighting Manipal Hospital’s commitment to accessible and proactive cancer care for the community.

Speaking on the launch, Mr. Anand Mote, Cluster Director, Manipal Hospitals said, “Cancer prevention starts with the right knowledge and timely action. With this clinic, we aim to help individuals understand their risks, make informed lifestyle changes, and take proactive steps to safeguard their health.”

Mumbai, February 05, 2025: Poonawalla Fincorp, a leading NBFC focused on Consumer & MSME Lending, is working with ServiceNow the AI Platform for business transformation and global digital workflow leader, to implement Generative AI-powered solutions aimed at enhancing audit and governance capabilities. This strategic collaboration will drive greater efficiency, automation, and compliance, reinforcing Poonawalla Fincorp’s commitment to leveraging technology for operational excellence.

With the global AI in Audit market projected to reach USD 11.7 billion by 2033 at a CAGR of 27.9%, as mentioned in the market.us ‘Global AI in Audit’ report , many attribute this growth to GenAI’s ability to pinpoint high-risk areas and detect anomalies, enabling a sharper focus on critical issues that might otherwise go unnoticed.

By integrating ServiceNow’s AI-driven workflows, Poonawalla Fincorp will not only strengthen its risk management framework and streamline internal audits but also optimize governance mechanisms. This transformation will enhance the accuracy and reliability of audit outcomes, building trust with clients and regulatory bodies. Generative AI goes beyond analyzing existing data and aims to create new content for the auditors that resembles the patterns and characteristics of the data it was exposed to. These models learn patterns and features from large datasets, enabling them to generate new content which enriches the overall governance mechanism.

The adoption of Generative AI-based automation shall enable:

• Automated Audit Report generation & risk assessments with greater accuracy and speed.

• Smarter Anomaly Detection & outliers

• Data-Driven Insights for Decision-Making: AI-powered analytics will provide predictive insights, enabling auditors to forecast potential risks and take proactive governance measures.

Speaking on the collaboration Arvind Kapil MD & CEO, Poonawalla Fincorp, said: “At Poonawalla Fincorp, we continuously invest in digital transformation to enhance operational efficiency and governance. By leveraging ServiceNow’s Generative AI solutions, we will significantly improve the accuracy, speed, and depth of our audit processes. This will not only help in proactive risk identification but also ensure seamless compliance with evolving regulations.”

Ganesh Lakshminarayanan – GVP, Sales and Managing Director, India and SAARC – ServiceNow added: “We are excited to work with Poonawalla Fincorp as they continue to set new benchmarks in governance and risk management by embracing Generative AI-powered solutions. Their governance-first and risk-first approach reflects a deep commitment to operational excellence, regulatory compliance, and trust. The ServiceNow platform will help enhance the accuracy and efficiency of audit processes and transform financial operations with intelligent automation, enabling Poonawalla Fincorp to navigate the evolving regulatory landscape with confidence and agility. We look forward to working together to drive innovation and deliver meaningful, long-term value.”

Mumbai, February 5, 2025: Moscow continues to reinforce its status as a premier travel destination, experiencing a substantial rise in international tourist arrivals. In the first nine months of 2024 alone, the Russian capital welcomed 19.7 million visitors, including 1.9 million foreign tourists — a 19% increase compared to the previous year. India has emerged as one of Moscow’s top two non-CIS inbound tourism markets, with over 61,000 Indian travelers visiting the city during this period.

Building on this momentum, Moscow made a strong impression at OTM 2025, held in Mumbai from January 30 to February 1, by captivating the Indian travel trade industry with its rich cultural heritage and diverse tourism offerings. The Moscow City Tourism Committee presented an engaging showcase of the city’s cultural, leisure, and business tourism opportunities, emphasizing its partiality towards the Indian market.

“India remains a key market for Moscow’s tourism strategy, and we are pleased to see a steady increase in Indian visitors to our city. Through strategic partnerships, customized travel experiences, and immersive initiatives, we look forward to welcoming more Indian tourists and providing them with an unforgettable experience in our vibrant and historically rich city,” stated Evgeny Kozlov, First Deputy Head of the Office of the Mayor and the Government of Moscow, Chairman of the Moscow City Tourism Committee.

He further highlighted Moscow’s active engagement with the Indian market, including participation in SATTE 2024 and initiatives such as the Meet Global MICE Congress: BRICS Edition and the Moscow International Film Festival (MIFW), where India played a key role. The participation of the Moscow delegation at OTM 2025 further solidified the city’s commitment to fostering ties with Indian travelers and industry professionals.

On the sidelines of the exhibition, the Moscow City Tourism Committee finalized two significant agreements aimed at bolstering tourism cooperation with Indian partners. A landmark cooperation agreement was signed with the State of Maharashtra, India’s second most populous and third-largest state. This strategic partnership is designed to foster mutual growth and promote tourism between Moscow and Maharashtra, with a special emphasis on enhancing travel links between the Russian capital and Mumbai.

 In addition, the Moscow delegation signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Thomas Cook India Group, the country’s largest tour operator. This pivotal agreement marks the beginning of collaborative effort to develop tailored travel products for Indian tourists, facilitate the exchange of expertise and best practices, and increase awareness of Moscow’s diverse tourism offerings. Special focus will be placed on promoting the city’s MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) potential among key stakeholders in the Indian travel industry.

At OTM 2025, Moscow’s delegation included key tourism stakeholders, featuring six leading tour operators, including Tari Tour and FUN & SUN, along with three premier hotels such as Swissôtel Krasnye Holmy and VEGA Hotel & Convention Center. Visitors to the Moscow stand could explore exclusive tour packages, luxury accommodations, and uniquely curated travel experiences tailored for Indian tourists.

Throughout the event, the Moscow stand hosted over 2000 business meetings and negotiations, facilitating direct engagement between Moscow’s tourism representatives and their Indian counterparts. Experts presented the city’s flagship projects, including the Moscow Tea Time Project, which revives Moscow’s historic tea traditions, the Moscow Estates Festival, an iconic cultural event drawing over 100,000 visitors annually, the City of Discoveries educational initiative, and the RUSSPASS travel planning service. Of special note is the project “Russian Holidays. From Moscow to Siberia”, facilitating joint tours to Moscow and Tyumen region, which have been gaining significant popularity among Indian travelers. The Moscow+ initiative was also showcased at the trade show, promoting the concept of interregional travel and thus enriching the tourist trips to Moscow with new and unusual experiences.

Additionally, the stand highlighted key attractions such as the VDNH Complex, which merged Soviet-era architectural marvels with contemporary interactive museums, and Moskino Cinema Park, increasingly recognized by the Indian film industry as a promising filming destination. To enrich the visitor experience, the Moscow stand also offered traditional Russian tea and delicacies as part of the Moscow Tea Time initiative, providing attendees with a taste of the city’s famed hospitality.

Ahead of OTM 2025, Moscow hosted a Business Mission on January 28, bringing together 14 Moscow-based travel companies and 109 foreign travel agencies. As a result, business contacts were established and more than 1,200 negotiations were held.

India remains a priority market in Moscow’s tourism outreach strategy. With strong cultural, strategic, and economic partnerships, Moscow actively participates in key Indian travel events such as BLTM, SATTE, OTM, and MILT Congress to deepen ties and gain insights into Indian traveler preferences. Business missions, familiarization trips, and B2B negotiations further strengthen these connections, fostering growth in both leisure and MICE tourism.

Bangalore – 5h February 2025 – RummyCulture, India’s leading rummy app from the house of Gameskraft – the online skill-based gaming and entertainment company, announced its latest accolade as ‘India’s Number One Rummy App’ as per the latest research by Unomer in partnership with CyberMedia Research (CMR). This certification highlights RummyCulture’s continued excellence in offering a superior gaming experience to its users.

The comprehensive research survey, conducted from October 14 to 23, 2024, involved 1,044 real money gamers across seven major Indian cities—Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, New Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Pune. The survey connected with individuals aged between 21 to 35 years, focusing on their gaming behaviors, spending patterns, and app preferences.

Participants were invited to take part in a mobile in-app survey, with strict screening criteria to qualify for the study. The survey employed Unomer’s digital river sampling methodology, ensuring a randomized and unbiased selection of respondents. This method eliminates interviewer bias and social desirability bias, leading to more genuine responses. The survey questions were neutrally worded to further enhance the accuracy of the results.

Real money gamers in India dedicate an average of 12 hours per week to gaming on smartphones, driven primarily by the expectation to win rewards (76%), followed by entertainment (69%) and relaxation (59%). A significant majority (93%) are comfortable playing real money games, with UPI emerging as the preferred payment method, followed by digital wallets, credit/debit cards, and net banking.

Divya Alok, Co-Founding Member, Gameskraft, said ” Being recognized as ‘India’s Number One Rummy App’ is a remarkable achievement that underscores the trust and loyalty of our users. This accolade reflects our dedication to providing a top-tier gaming platform that prioritizes user experience, security, and innovation. We are committed to continually enhancing our offerings to ensure that RummyCulture remains the preferred choice for rummy enthusiasts across the country. Our goal is to consistently deliver a seamless, secure, and enjoyable gaming environment, and this recognition motivates us to push the boundaries even further to exceed our users’ expectations.”

In the research study, RummyCulture was identified as ‘India’s Number One Rummy App’ based on in-app spends. The study covered various aspects of the real money gaming market, including revenue, profitability, and brand preference among rummy apps. RummyCulture emerged as the leader, with higher spending rates and user engagement compared to its competitors. The survey results underline RummyCulture’s dominance in the rummy segment and its strong financial performance.

In the world of television, there are moments when fiction feels all too real, and Shemaroo Umang’s popular show Main Dil Tum Dhadkan recently brought one such moment to life. The gripping episodes transported viewers into the depths of a family’s worst nightmare—echoing similar real-life tragedies.

In this storyline, Kanha, played by the talented child actor Kavish, is pushed into an open borewell by Pankaj, who wants to take revenge on Vrinda. What follows is a heart-wrenching sequence in which the family’s joy-filled world is turned upside down. As the rescue team works tirelessly to save the little boy, his parents, Vrinda and Keshav, are left grappling with a storm of helplessness, fear, and desperation.

Speaking about the intense sequence, Radhika Muthukumar, who plays Kanha’s mother Vrinda, shared her deeply personal connection to the scene “Honestly, the emotions came very naturally. It’s been almost two months since I started working with Kavish, and I’ve grown to feel like his real mother on set. When I learned about this sequence, I did some research and watched interviews of parents and villagers involved in such tragedies. It helped me understand the gravity of the situation. While shooting, I could genuinely feel the helplessness of a parent in such a moment. My heart goes out to families who have faced such unimaginable circumstances.”

The scene not only tugged at heartstrings but also reminded audiences of the resilience of families and communities in moments of crisis. While the rescue team works tirelessly, Vrinda and Keshav leave no stone unturned to save Kanha and pray for his safe return.

Bengaluru, India – February 05, 2025: Samsung, India’s largest consumer electronics brand, today commenced early deliveries of its flagship Galaxy S25 series smartphones for customers who had pre-ordered the devices. Samsung is committed to bringing utmost delight to its customers by delivering its latest flagship smartphone to early bird customers, ahead of the official sale date of February 07, 2025.

Galaxy S25 is available in colours such as Icyblue, Silver Shadow, Navy and Mint. Galaxy S25+ is available in Navy and Silver Shadow while Galaxy S25 Ultra comes in Titanium Silverblue, Titanium Gray, Titanium Whitesilver and Titanium Black.

Consumers buying Galaxy S25 Ultra through Samsung.com will also get the option of choosing from three exclusive colours – Titanium Jadegreen, Titanium Jetblack & Titanium Pinkgold. Those buying Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25+ from Samsung.com will also get the option of three exclusive colours – Blueblack, Coralred & Pinkgold.

Customers pre-ordering Galaxy S25 Ultra will get pre-order benefits worth INR 21000. This includes a storage upgrade worth INR 12000 wherein customers will be able to get 12GB 512GB variant at the price of the 12GB 256GB variant; along with an INR 9000 upgrade bonus.

Customers pre-ordering Galaxy S25+ will get benefits worth INR 12000 as they will get 12GB 512GB variant at the price of 12GB 256GB variant. Meanwhile, customers pre-ordering Galaxy S25 will get benefits worth INR 11000 as an upgrade bonus.

Galaxy S25 series changes the way users interact at every touchpoint by seamlessly integrating AI agents and multimodal capabilities. A first-of-its-kind customized Snapdragon® 8 Elite Mobile Platform for Galaxy chipset delivers greater on-device processing power for Galaxy AI and superior camera range and control with Galaxy’s next-gen ProVisual Engine.

Bangalore, February 05, 2025: In observance of World Cancer Day, HCG Cancer Centre Bengaluru organized a successful cancer awareness heath mela providing free oral and breast cancer screenings for over 1,000 road transport workers across Karnataka along with an informative health awareness session. The event aimed to raise awareness about cancer prevention, early detection, and the significance of regular screenings. Held in association with KSRTC, the HCG cancer awareness health mela was inaugurated in the presence of Ms. Manisha Kumar, Chief Operating Officer of Karnataka and Mr. V. Anbu Kumar, IAS, Managing Director of KSRTC. The dignitaries underscored the importance of cancer awareness and the vital role of early intervention in saving lives.

The event saw the enthusiastic participation of over 1,000 road transport workers, making it one of the largest cancer awareness initiatives for the road transport workforce. Throughout the day, participants attended an informative health awareness talk on cancer, delivered by Ms. Manisha Kumar, Dr. Mahesh Bandemegal and other senior doctors from HCG Cancer Centre, and benefited from free oral and breast cancer screenings. The health mela aimed to detect early signs of cancer, empowering road transport workers to take charge of their health and seek timely medical intervention when needed.

Ms. Manisha Kumar, Chief Operating Officer Karnataka, Healthcare Global Enterprises Limited said “At HCG Cancer Centre, we are committed to making a positive impact on the community by offering the support needed to take charge of one’s health. By focusing on cancer prevention and early detection, we can significantly improve treatment outcomes. Through today’s health mela, we aim to equip individuals with the knowledge they need to make proactive health choices and take steps toward a healthier future. We believe that every small step, whether it’s getting screened or learning about early warning signs, can make a significant difference in the fight against cancer. We are honored to initiate and support road transport workers in taking control of their health.”

Mr. V. Anbu Kumar, IAS, Managing Director of KSRTC said, “This health mela organized by HCG Cancer Centre is a remarkable opportunity for our employees to become more aware of cancer, its symptoms, and the critical role that early detection plays in treatment. We recognize the importance of supporting our workforce’s health, and this collaboration with HCG Cancer Centre is an essential step in our ongoing efforts to improve their well-being.”

Dr. Mahesh Bandemegal, Surgical Oncologist, HCG Cancer Centre, KR Road, Bangalore said “”Early detection of cancer significantly enhances the chances of successful treatment and improves the patient’s quality of life. Regular screenings and timely medical intervention can make a significant difference in the fight against cancer.”