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New Delhi, April 28, 2025: FSSAI’s recent guidelines on use of r-PET as a food contact material, is set to give a huge fillip to circular economy in India. This guideline also aligns well with The Plastic waste Management Rules 2016 (as amended from time to time), which mandates the use of 30 per cent recycled content in rigid plastic packaging and is already effective from April 1, 2025.

Commenting on the recently released guidelines by FSSAI, Shailendra Singh, Director General of Association of PET Recyclers (Bharat) – APR Bharat, said, “It is a significant move by the regulator and is expected to fast track the adoption of recycled PET in food-contact packaging in a big way thereby giving a huge boost to the country’s circular economy.”

According to Mr. Singh, a combined investment of Rs 7500-8000 crores has been made into world class PET recycling plants, capable of making the safest grade of r-PET to be used as a food contact material. This investment is estimated to generate 10,000 new jobs and also benefit the rag picker community of over 2 million people who collect post-consumer PET bottles and send them for recycling.

The industry, which has already created a capacity of close to 4 lakh MT (commissioned), is hopeful of taking it up to 7.5 lakh MT by 2027 and further increase the installed capacity to 11 lakh MT by 2030. These capacities are being built across the country.

The current mandate requires using 30 per cent recycled content for rigid packaging, and there is more than adequate capacity available to meet emerging demand for r-PET, he said and also added that with the guidelines being notified by FSSAI a significant chunk of capacities will also be made available very soon, thereby enabling producers and brand owners to meet their targets of use of recycled PET content.

Hyderabad, April 28, 2025: UGRO Capital, a leading DataTech NBFC focused on MSME lending, today announced its robust financial performance for the quarter and financial year ended 31st March 2025. Continuing its journey toward becoming the largest small business financing institution driven by data and technology, the Company reported Assets Under Management (AUM) of INR 12,003 crore as of March 2025, reflecting a 33% year-on-year growth.

UGRO Capital recorded its highest-ever quarterly loan origination of INR 2,436 crore, compared to INR 1,554 crore in the same quarter last year — a growth of 57% YoY and 16% QoQ. Its Emerging Market LAP (formerly the Micro Enterprises business) also witnessed strong performance, with disbursements reaching INR 669 crore for Q4’FY25, up from INR 203 crore for Q4’FY24, marking a 230% YoY and 23% QoQ increase. UGRO’s embedded finance platform, MSL, continued its upward trajectory, crossing an AUM of INR 700 crore as on March 31, 2025. This reflects strong traction and reaffirms UGRO Capital’s commitment to empowering small businesses.

In terms of financials, Total Income for FY25 stood at INR 1,442 Cr (up 33% YoY), with FY24 reporting INR 1,082 Cr (up 58% from FY23). Additionally, the Company reported a Profit After Tax (PAT) of INR 144 Cr for FY25, marking 21% YoY growth. For Q4’FY25, PAT was reported at INR 41 Cr, indicating 24% YoY growth.

On the liability side, UGRO Capital mobilized its highest-ever debt of INR 1,500+ crore during Q4’FY25, bringing its total debt to INR 6,904 crore as of 31st March 2025. These robust quarterly figures, along with GNPA/NNPA metrics of 2.3%/1.6% on the total AUM, underscore the sterling quality of UGRO’s portfolio, highlighting a well-structured risk management approach. UGRO Capital’s distinctive co-lending approach, off-book accounts for 42% of AUM, and its strategic partnership with 17 Co-lending partners, 59 lenders, over 10 green anchors, and 730+ GRO partners, facilitates data-driven, tailored financial solutions for more than 150,000 MSMEs across India.

Speaking on the performance, Mr. Shachindra Nath, Founder and Managing Director of UGRO Capital, said, “Our FY25 performance underscores the strength of our DataTech-driven business model and the progress we have made in reaching underserved MSME segments. With record quarterly originations and robust AUM growth, we remain on track to expand our Emerging Markets portfolio, driving both yield enhancement and greater financial inclusion. Our diversified liability mix, and industry-leading collection efficiency demonstrate the resilience and scalability of our risk-management framework. As we set ambitious targets for FY26, backed by continuous innovation and a growing branch network, UGRO Capital is more committed than ever to empowering MSMEs across India with tailored, high-impact financial solutions.”

INDIA– APRIL 28, 2025 – Juniper Networks, a leader in secure, AI-Native networking, today announced that St Luke’s ElderCare (SLEC) has implemented its AI-Native Networking Platform across SLEC nursing homes, active ageing centres and senior care centres, with the rollout expected to be completed by end of 2025. Leveraging purpose-built AIOps, Juniper’s AI-Native networking solutions helped SLEC unify wired, wireless, WAN and firewalling with a common cloud to modernize and secure SLEC’s network, while providing superior user experiences for its staff, elders and IT administrators.

 Transforming elderly care with a future-ready network
With Singapore’s rapidly aging population and a forecast of around one in four Singaporeans to be aged 65 years or older by 2030, SLEC has expanded from four to over 30 locations in the last 25 years, with more care centres and nursing homes on the horizon. To support this growth, the organization required a highly secure, scalable and AI-native network to deliver seamless operations, protect sensitive healthcare data and enhance the overall user experience.

 With the need for a centralized, cloud-first approach, SLEC transitioned from an IT infrastructure with 17 disparate systems to a fully integrated Juniper AI-native network. The deployment of Juniper wired access, wireless access, WAN and firewall solutions – all driven by Mist AI ensures highly-secure, measurable and high-quality connections with end-to-end visibility into the user experience, while network and security operations are managed through Juniper Mist Cloud for scalability and performance even as SLEC’s growth continues. The solution has allowed SLEC’s lean IT team to manage the organization’s expanding infrastructure with greater ease, reducing downtime and maintenance costs.

 This transformation has delivered significant improvements, including enhanced operational efficiency, seamless connectivity across its care centres and nursing homes while strengthening cybersecurity to ensure a secure and resilient network.

 Enabling the secure implementation of innovative elderly care services
With Juniper’s high-performing AI-native network and advanced threat detection capabilities, SLEC was able to securely introduce advanced innovations like virtual reality for immersive travel experiences, advanced robotics for more effective rehabilitation and a smart transport management system to enable real-time tracking of its vehicle fleet to optimize routes and ensure the safe transportation of elders between care centers and their homes.

 Digitally empowering the future of elderly care
The successful implementation of Juniper’s AI-native networking solutions coupled with its robust security capabilities, has allowed SLEC to safely and confidently adopt emerging innovations, reinforcing its commitment to providing safety, well-being, and an enhanced quality of life for Singapore’s elderly population.

 Supporting Quotes:

“St Luke’s ElderCare’s goal is to provide holistic, high-quality care experiences that enhance the well-being of Singapore’s elderly community. By modernizing our network with Juniper’s AI-Native Networking Platform, we have transformed how we deliver care – ensuring seamless connectivity, strengthening cybersecurity and enabling innovative services for our elderly. This transformation has also empowered our caregivers with the tools they need to provide more personalized and efficient care, allowing us to future-proof our care services.”

Dr Alan Wong, Chief Operating Officer, St Luke’s ElderCare

“As we face the challenges of an aging population in Singapore, we are proud to partner with St Luke’s ElderCare (SLEC) on its journey of transformation and innovation. Juniper’s AI-Native Networking Platform will enable SLEC to cater progressively to the growing demands of elder care through the seamless scaling of its infrastructure. We look forward to continue playing a key role in SLEC’s progress they enhance their services, creating a secure, future-ready environment that benefits caregivers, staff and elders alike.”

– Perry Sui, Area Vice President, ASEAN, Hong Kong & Taiwan, Juniper Networks

Mumbai April 29, 2025 – HMD in collaboration with Free Stream Technologies (incubated at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur) and other D2M partners announces launch plans underway to meet mass consumer demand for Direct-to-Mobile (D2M) phones ahead of large-scale field trials in India. The announcement will be made at the World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025 held at Jio World Centre, Mumbai.

Direct-to-Mobile is a breakthrough Next-Generation Broadcasting technology that delivers OTT & live TV, video, audio, and text messages directly to mobile phones without requiring Wi-Fi or internet service. This aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for Viksit Bharat (economic transformation of India) and supports the ‘Make in India’ and ‘Design in India’ initiatives.

Giving a boost to the ‘Make in India’ and ‘Design in India’ efforts, low cost feature phones, smartphones and tablets are powered by Tejas Networks. This technology has undergone extensive testing in live networks by Prasar Bharati in collaboration with IIT Kanpur and Tejas Networks for several years.

 On this occasion, Ravi Kunwar, VP and CEO, HMD India and APAC expressed, “HMD has always been committed to staying ahead of the innovation curve and delivering the best consumer experience. With this philosophy at the core of our mission, we’re excited to be a part of the D2M journey. This groundbreaking, first-of-its-kind platform worldwide enables our consumers to access a vast array of multimedia content”

 “Sumeet Nindrajog, Director of FreeStream Technologies said, D2M is a technology that can transform how content & data gets consumed by the end users and the commitment from companies like HMD to establish the foundation for a robust device ecosystem is instrumental for our nationwide deployment strategy. Their ability to supply devices at scale demonstrates strong confidence in D2M’s future success.”

 Parag Naik, co-founder of erstwhile Saankhya Labs and Executive Vice President, Tejas Networks, said, “The phones are powered by Saankhya Labs’ award winning SL-3000 chipset, which is the foundational D2M enabler. We have also developed the Core Network platform that will enable delivery of targeted Ads, CDN offload, educational content, emergency alerts and other apps that will empower the consumers furthering PM Modi’s vision of a digitally empowered India. Our collaboration with HMD has truly been path breaking and we truly expect the best out of it.”

 Chris Ripley, President and CEO, Sinclair, Inc. expressed, “Large scale adoption of ATSC 3.0 in affordable mobile devices vindicates Sinclair’s forethought in leading US and global deployment of this broadcast standard as “mobile first” and in investing in Made by India technology.  To meet future 6G goals, we are spearheading the next release of the standard – “Broadcast to everything” (B2X) which will unleash next generation broadcast apps for numerous verticals. We are proud to have companies like HMD as our partners in this initiative.”

The implementation of D2M technology will enable Indian consumers to access entertainment, sports, educational programming, and emergency alerts directly on their mobile devices through terrestrial TV broadcast airwaves. This technology has been under development and testing in India for several years, with HMD now positioning itself as one of the first device manufacturers ready to bring this capability to market.

New Delhi, 28th April 2025: FUJIFILM India, a leader in printing excellence, has officially launched a new range of Four A4 Multifunction Devices and Two A4 Printers at the Dehradun Partnership Summit 2025, comprising four multifunction devices and two printers available in both colour and monochrome options. Engineered to deliver high performance in compact space, the new series is tailored for space-conscious environments such as retail counters, offices, and customer-facing service points. Available in the market from April 25, 2025, these new devices combine productivity, efficiency, and advanced features, making them ideal for businesses that demand performance without sacrificing workspace.

Equipped with the newly introduced Fast Boot Mode technology, users can use the products within seven seconds after power-on, and the control panel can be activated within one second from low power mode. Printing is enabled almost simultaneously, and they are ideal for users who have customers waiting for the printouts at receptions or counter operations. These products provide the same operability and major functions as A3 multifunction devices to contribute to business process optimisation.

Mr. Koji Wada, Managing Director, FUJIFILM India, stated, “At FUJIFILM India, we are committed to delivering innovative products and solutions that embody our Group purpose of ‘Giving our world more smiles.’ By blending diverse ideas, unique capabilities, and extraordinary people, we aim to create solutions that bring joy and smiles to the world. We are constantly innovating to provide high-performance, and reliable printing solutions that cater to the growing demands of businesses in India.”

Mr. Priyatosh Kumar, Associate Director and Head of Graphic Communications and Device Technology, FUJIFILM India, further commented, “These devices offer high-speed printing, secure document handling, and seamless print management capabilities, making them ideal for a wide range of business environments. With Fast Boot Mode and automatic duplex scanning, we are confident that these solutions will significantly improve business productivity and contribute to smoother operations. We are excited to bring these advanced solutions to India, where they will help businesses optimize their processes.”

The A4 multifunction devices, Apeos C4030 / C3530 and Apeos 5330 / 4830, streamline operations to support diversified workstyles. For example, scanned data can be converted to PDF format with OCR (optical character recognition) processing, allowing easy search and edit on the Excel or Word documents. Users can also print from anywhere with Universal Print by Microsoft, a cloud-based print solution eliminating print servers and printer drivers’ installation.

Covestro has announced the launch of Desmopan® FLY, an advanced Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) series specifically engineered for supercritical fluid (SCF) foaming technology. This high-performance material solution addresses the growing demand for lightweight, performance, and sustainable footwear design while expanding possibilities across sport gears, furniture and electronic products.

Desmopan® FLY features an advanced formulation that enables superior supercritical fluid dispersion during the molding process, resulting in uniform fine-cell structured foams with outstanding mechanical properties. For footwear applications, this translates into midsoles with superior cushioning and energy return properties, and long-lasting comfort performance. The absence of chemical blowing agents and crosslinking additives ensures recyclability of the midsole; when combined with soft TPU outsole, the whole sole system supports circular economy initiatives.

“Leading sports brands are driving unprecedented demand for materials that combine elite performance with strong environmental credentials,” says Wilson Chan, Head of Business Development TPU Asia Pacific at Covestro. “Desmopan® FLY brings exceptional lightweight and resilience properties while maintaining dimensional stability and durability throughout the product lifecycle. Its optimized processing enables efficient production through automated injection molding, allowing brands to create high-performance, recyclable footwear that meets demanding consumer expectations.”

In a pioneering industry move, Covestro has installed the advanced SCF injection foaming system at its TPU Asia-Pacific R&D Center in Taiwan. This state-of-the-art facility enables Covestro to provide comprehensive R&D support and rapid application services for customers’ specific requirements, demonstrating Covestro’s ongoing commitment to advancing footwear material solutions and supporting the industry’s evolution.

“Our investment in the SCF injection foaming system marks another milestone in Covestro’s continuous innovation journey,” explains Dr. Christian Haessler, Head of Global Innovation TPU at Covestro. “This in-house capability enables us to optimize TPU material properties with precise SCF processing parameters. By being among the first in the industry to integrate this advanced technology within our R&D center, we can effectively combine TPU material and SCF injection expertise to accelerate customers’ development from concepts to commercial production.”

The combination of SCF foaming technology and Desmopan® FLY delivers an energy-efficient manufacturing process that reduces the overall carbon footprint. The automated injection process integrates multiple components in a single step, enabling substantial production efficiency while maintaining consistent, high-quality output.

Desmopan® FLY is now commercially available, supported by Covestro’s comprehensive technical expertise and advanced in-house facilities. This integrated material and technology platform empowers sports brands in their journey toward advanced footwear solutions, combining performance, sustainability and production efficiency.

Mumbai, April 28, 2025: Sony SAB continues to bring fresh, engaging, and heartwarming narratives to its viewers, and its soon to launch show ‘Ufff… Yeh Love Hai Mushkil’ is no exception. The show is set to captivate viewers with its blend of humor, romance, and family drama. Known for her impactful performances and a strong screen presence, noted actor Ashi Singh will be seen essaying the role of Kairi Sharma , an ambitious and spirited aspiring lawyer.

Kairi is a strong-willed and compassionate young woman raised in a middle-class Delhi household. Having taken on the responsibility of raising her three younger siblings at a young age, Kairi is fiercely independent and deeply rooted in her values. Ashi is set to play the female lead opposite Shabir Ahluwalia who will be essaying the character of Yug – a character which is a departure from his usual “adarsh” roles.

Speaking about her role in Ufff… Yeh Love Hai Mushkil, Ashi Singh said, “The moment I read about Kairi, I knew she was someone I wanted to bring to life. Kairi is someone who is managing the chaos of raising her family, working part-time, and excelling in her studies. She is in final year law and is determined to become a lawyer. She believes in doing what’s right and never backs down from standing up for herself or others, especially when unsolicited opinions come her way, this is something I find very inspiring. What also What excites me is the quirky, offbeat love story at the heart of the show. As an actor, I always look for roles that push me to grow, and Kairi is definitely doing that for me.”

‘Ufff… Yeh Love Hai Mushkil’ to light up your television screens soon on Sony SAB!

28th April, 2025: Buzzlab, Asia’s first content led growth firm has launched a brand-new multipurpose studio in Bengaluru. This new facility has been carefully designed to provide a one stop destination to the growing community of content creators and brands looking to create content for their ads, YouTube, Instagram across the region. This is ideal for creators and brands who are looking for a professional recording environment.

Importantly, this marks the first time Buzzlab has launched a studio specifically built to create content using AI and their proprietary content playbook—an innovation aimed at helping founders, C-suite individuals and other high-impact voices craft and scale their content effortlessly. The studio is equipped with all modern features, including a completely soundproof room, ambient lighting, acoustic paneling for crystal-clear audio and high-end camera and microphone setups to ensure premium production quality.

Buzzlab’s studio also offers in-house production support, with a skilled Director of Photography (DOP) and a dedicated audio assistant available to guide creators through seamless sessions—whether they’re recording a podcast, shooting a conversation, or utilizing the green screen setup.

Speaking on the launch, a spokesperson from Buzzlab said, “Our goal with the new studio is to help creators and brands with a space that blends comfort, quality, and creativity. We’re excited to welcome podcasters, influencers, and brands to experience a studio environment tailored specifically to their needs.”

With this launch, Buzzlab strengthens its commitment to growing content creation and community engagement in India’s growing digital media landscape.

Hyderabad, 28th April 2025: Bringing the promise of world-class education closer home, the University of Southampton Delhi, one of the UK’s top Russell Group universities and India’s first UGC-approved international university, hosted an exclusive Academic Discovery Day in Hyderabad. The event attracted a large gathering of enthusiastic students and parents, all eager to explore how globally ranked undergraduate and postgraduate programmes can now be pursued without leaving India. Students had the opportunity to explore a range of flagship undergraduate courses, including BSc Accounting & Finance, BSc Economics, BSc Business Management, and BSc Computer Science, as well as leading postgraduate offerings such as MSc International Management and MSc Finance.

During the event, Dr. Vishal Talwar, Chief Operating Officer, University of Southampton Delhi, delivered an insightful talk on the University’s unique Triple Helix model, which integrates academic excellence, industry engagement, and global opportunities. He highlighted how this model ensures that students gain the skills, experience, and global perspective necessary for enhanced employability. Vishal also emphasized the strong connections the University has with global employers, which provides students with access to a wide range of career opportunities both in India and abroad.

The event also featured personalised academic profile reviews, career counselling sessions, and curriculum briefings conducted by senior faculty and advisors from the University of Southampton Delhi. Students gained insights into the global employability focus of each programme, the availability of merit-based scholarships, on-campus accommodation plans, and the opportunity to undertake part of their degree at the University’s UK campus.

Highlighting the city’s strategic importance, Dr. Vishal Talwar, Chief Operating Officer, University of Southampton Delhi, said, “Hyderabad is a thriving academic and innovation hub, and we’re thrilled by the enthusiasm shown by students here. The city represents the aspirations of a new generation that values global exposure without compromising local accessibility. With our presence in India, we aim to empower students from Hyderabad and beyond with globally recognised qualifications, practical learning, and access to international networks. We see tremendous potential here and look forward to nurturing future leaders from this region.”

The University of Southampton Delhi is set to commence its inaugural academic session in August 2025 at the International Tech Park in Gurgaon. The new campus will feature modern infrastructure including a student hub, collaborative spaces, a comprehensive library, IT labs, and research areas – all designed to foster innovation, learning, and global employability.

Ranked among the Top 100 universities globally (QS World University Rankings 2025) and Top 125 for graduate employability, the University of Southampton is also one of the Top 10 UK universities most targeted by leading employers. To support meritorious Indian students, the University has introduced scholarships such as the Delhi Presidential Scholarship and Future Talent Scholarship for undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. Applications for the first Delhi cohort are currently open, with an early bird deadline of 28th April 2025.

As the temperatures rise, nothing beats the comfort of a refreshing homemade drink, and Dhampur Green’s Clear Liquid Sugar is here to make your summer moments even sweeter.

Crafted from pure cane sugar and completely sulphur-free, Dhampur Green’s Clear Liquid Sugar is the perfect solution for easy, natural sweetness. With its crystal-clear appearance and neutral taste, it blends seamlessly into a wide variety of summer beverages – from traditional shikanji and chilled iced teas to modern lemonades, smoothies, mocktails, and more. Unlike regular sugars, it dissolves instantly, leaving no grains behind, making it ideal for both cold and hot preparations.

But the magic of Dhampur Green’s Clear Liquid Sugar doesn’t end with beverages. It’s a secret ingredient for bakers and dessert enthusiasts as well. In fruit cakes, it helps maintain moisture, enhances texture, boosts flavor, and extends the freshness of the product. In ice creams, it lowers the freezing point, prevents the formation of ice crystals, and results in a smoother, creamier scoop — just what you need for a perfect summer treat!

Shrey Gupta, Head of Sales and Operations at Dhampur Green shared, “Summer is a season of vibrant flavors and cooling refreshments, and our Clear Liquid Sugar is designed to enhance these experiences effortlessly. It’s all about making everyday moments a little sweeter, without any fuss or compromise on quality.”

Convenient, versatile, and health-conscious, Dhampur Green’s Clear Liquid Sugar is a must-have for every kitchen, café, and catering setup during the hotter months. Whether you are whipping up a quick glass of nimbu pani at home, preparing large batches of beverages for a party, or adding a finishing touch to desserts, this easy-to-use syrup ensures perfect sweetness every time.

With a legacy of purity and innovation, Dhampur Green continues to inspire kitchens across India. The Clear Liquid Sugar is a reflection of the brand’s commitment to offering natural, clean-label solutions that support healthier, tastier living. This summer, stock your pantry with Dhampur Green’s Clear Liquid Sugar and let every sip and every bite be a little celebration of sweetness, simplicity, and good taste.