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Varanasi, March 26, 2025: The Sustainable Cities Challenge (SCC) — organized by the Toyota Mobility Foundation (TMF) — brought together 10 global innovators for an Innovator Academy held under the $9 million global Sustainable Cities Challenge. Developed in collaboration with the Municipal Corporation of Varanasi, Varanasi Smart City, Challenge Works, and World Resources Institute, the Varanasi Sustainable Cities Challenge aims to identify and scale data-driven solutions for managing crowd movement in the old city of Kashi.

India’s spiritual hub, Varanasi, attracts millions of visitors each year. While this influx energizes the local economy, it also results in mobility issues — making the need for innovative solutions the key to ensuring safety, accessibility, and efficiency in mobility for residents, tourists, and vulnerable communities.

A key highlight of the workshop was a crowd-mapping workshop, led by Shri Akshat Verma (IAS), Municipal Commissioner, Varanasi Municipal Corporation, and CEO & Director of Varanasi Smart City Limited. The workshop featured insights from a crowding survey conducted by WRI India and The Urban Lab, which were showcased through an interactive exhibition. The exhibit demonstrated how real-time crowding data can enhance mobility planning, improve accessibility, and transform pedestrian experiences in rapidly growing urban centers.

The workshop was also attended by dignitaries including Shri S. Rajalingam, IAS, District Magistrate, Varanasi; Shri Pramod Kumar, IPS, DCP Gomti Zone; Shri Himanshu Nagpal, IAS, Chief Development Officer Varanasi; Shri Rajesh Kumar Pandey, ADCP Varanasi; Shri Satyam Mohan, Chief Executive Officer, Varanasi Cantonment Board; Shri Shambhu Sharan, SDM, Shri Kashi Vishwanath Temple; Shri Arpit Gupta, Station Director, Varanasi Railway Station; Shri Prakash Chandra, Additional District Magistrate, Varanasi; Smt Savita Yadav, Additional Municipal Commissioner, Varanasi; and Shri Amrendra Tiwari, Chief Engineer (Civil) Varanasi Smart City Limited.

“I hope that this workshop and all our future collaborations will result in a fruitful outcome for the city of Varanasi. Through the Challenge, we will be able to solve that in due time.” said Shri Akshat Verma (IAS). “I hope that we will utilize this opportunity and bring the best from the city and from all the innovators.”

Pras Ganesh, Executive Program Director, Toyota Mobility Foundation, added, “Varanasi is a city steeped in history, yet despite the best efforts of the city administration a growing number of pilgrims and tourists have created mobility challenges that are very much of the present. The SCC Innovator Academy is giving us a glimpse into how data and technology can help reimagine movement in such a complex urban setting. By integrating insights from the community, we can create human centric data solutions that are not just efficient but also inclusive and sustainable.”

Kathy Nothstine, Director of Cities and Societies, Challenge Works, remarked, “Cities everywhere are struggling to manage crowding and mobility efficiently. What’s exciting about this initiative is how it brings together global innovators to tackle these challenges head-on. By leveraging data and technology with people’s real experiences, we can turn urban mobility problems into opportunities for smarter and more inclusive urban futures.”

“Urban mobility is evolving rapidly, and real impact comes from bridging innovative technology with on-the-ground solutions,” said Pawan Mulukutla, Executive Program Director – Integrated Transport, Clean Air & Hydrogen, WRI India. “Through the SCC Innovator Academy, we’re seeing how data-driven approaches can genuinely improve how people move in dense city environments like Varanasi.”

The workshop also provided a collaborative platform for city officials, urban planners, and mobility and technology experts to exchange knowledge on scalable solutions for urban crowding challenges. The exhibit and workshops reinforced the critical role of data-driven innovations in shaping the future of urban mobility in India.

26 March 2025 – India: Following the resounding success of its Investor Conference held last year, Arihant Capital Markets Ltd., kickstarted its much-anticipated Bharat Connect Conference – Rising Stars, a virtual gathering of industry leaders, experts, and investors from across the financial landscape. The two-day conference will see participation from more than 200 leading financial companies in India.

The conference started today virtually between 10 AM and 5 PM, offering opportunities for investors to connect with leaders from over 200 companies and gain in-depth insights into growth strategies, industry trends, and future prospects.

Commenting on the conference, Arpit Jain, Joint Managing Director, Arihant Capital Markets Ltd, said “At Arihant Capital, we are committed to bridging the gap between companies and investors by providing an interactive platform. We are working towards creating powerful dialogue, learning, and new opportunities for the investors. Bharat Connect Conference is designed to empower investors with firsthand access to market insights while also helping companies enhance their visibility among key stakeholders.”

Investor conferences hosted by Arihant Capital provide a wealth of insights and opportunities for a broad spectrum of market participants, including FIIs, mutual funds, insurance companies, banks, HNIs, family offices, and retail investors. The conference offers:

• Access to Key Information – Gain a deeper understanding of company fundamentals, growth strategies, and market dynamics.
• Enhanced Company Visibility – A valuable platform for both listed and unlisted companies to engage with potential investors.
• Diverse Market Cap Coverage – Insights into businesses across large-cap, mid-cap, and emerging sectors.

“Our virtual conferences have been instrumental in fostering meaningful discussions and unlocking investment opportunities. With this upcoming edition, we aim to continue building a strong, insightful, and inclusive platform where investors and companies can connect seamlessly to drive growth and innovation,” said Shruti Jain, CSO Arihant Capital.

Hyderabad, March 2025: The best of the Telugu film industry – Rana Daggubati, Priya Mani and director Pradeep Maddali – were honored for their stellar work on OTT at the prestigious OTTplay Awards 2025, which was held at JW Marriott, Sahar, Mumbai.

The star-studded event honored outstanding performers and storytellers from across India and Tollywood actors brought home major laurels, with Rana Daggubati, Priya Mani and Pradeep Maddali winning the awards for Best Talk Show Host, Best Actor in a Comedy (Movie) and Best Director (Series), respectively.

While Rana, who had won the honor for The Rana Daggubati Show, could not attend the event, wife Miheeka Daggubati, who was also an integral part of the show, collected the award on his behalf.

Meanwhile, Priya Mani had won the award for her performance in the Aha show Bhaamakalapam 2, collected the trophy in the presence of her Family Man S1 co-stars Manoj Bajpayee and Neeraj Madhav. Cheering her on were South actors Nimisha Sajayan, Jyotika, Vedhika and Parvathy Thiruvothu, who had also won major categories at the third edition of OTTplay Awards.

Kochi, 26- 03- 2025: Aster Medcity organized TRAUMAX 2025, a five-day conference dedicated to advancing trauma care practices. The event was organized in collaboration with the Association of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons of India, Kerala State Branch, and the Departments of Craniomaxillofacial Surgery and Emergency Medicine at Aster Medcity, Kochi.

Management of craniomaxillofacial trauma is a complex procedure necessitating the coordinated care by the emergency medicine specialist, intensive care specialist and anaesthesiologist along with neurosurgeon and craniomaxillofacial surgeon.

The aim of Traumax 2025 was to provide an insight into the care of a trauma victim. One of the highlights of the program was the group discussions focusing on various aspects of craniomaxillofaical trauma, virtual surgical planning and trauma in special age groups, including geriatric and pediatric patients. The conference offered hands-on sessions, featuring 3D models, to provide practical experience in applying the principles of reduction and fixation in maxillofacial trauma cases.

Hyderabad, March 26th, 2025 –– Arete, a pioneering leader in incident response, counter extortion services, and cyber risk management, released its 2024 Annual Crimeware Report, highlighting key trends and notable shifts in the cyber threat landscape. Arete’s global teams gather data and insights from every aspect of the threat lifecycle, providing comprehensive visibility to inform analysis of the threat landscape. Leveraging data collected from Arete’s response to ransomware and extortion attacks throughout 2024, the report explores data and insights from the frontlines of incident response, including median demands and payments, notable threat actor tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs), the most impacted industries, and frequently observed malware and tools.

Key findings within the report:

· Only 29% of ransomware and extortion victims made a payment to the threat actor in 2024, down from 32% in 2023. As organizations continue to improve their cybersecurity posture and recovery capabilities, threat actors come away empty-handed more often than not

· Threat actors adapted to the increase in law enforcement pressure, with new threat groups rapidly emerging, partnerships forming between groups, and an air of distrust enveloping the threat landscape.

· Most ransomware and extortion activity in 2024 was opportunistic in nature, with threat actors targeting certain technologies or exploiting vulnerabilities as opposed to focusing on a specific industry.

“This report synthesizes Arete’s frontline data from thousands of cyber engagements in 2024,” said Chris Martenson, Arete’s Chief Data Officer. “Using these unique insights, we will continue to protect our clients, inform our partners, and evolve our solutions to combat cyber extortion.” Martenson added.

India.com, one of India’s leading digital news platforms, has emerged as the fastest-growing website among the top 50 English-language sites globally, with an exceptional 191.4% year-on-year growth in February 2025. This milestone solidifies India.com’s position as a trusted and engaging platform for audiences worldwide, driven by its commitment to delivering impactful and diverse news coverage.

According to the latest global rankings, India.com ranked 15th among the most-visited websites in February 2025, surpassing major international media platforms in growth rate. The platform’s comprehensive and dynamic reporting across key verticals—including Entertainment, IPL, Travel, Lifestyle, Education, Sports, and Auto—has significantly contributed to this remarkable surge in audience engagement.

Powering growth through Impactful Journalism

The surge in India.com’s readership is a direct result of its bold, insightful, and people-centric journalism. By breaking major stories, providing exclusive interviews, and offering in-depth analysis, India.com has consistently delivered content that resonates with millions.

From the Delhi Legislative Assembly Election, where the BJP secured a two-thirds majority, to the Bijapur clash that highlighted the challenges of insurgency in Chhattisgarh, India.com provided real-time updates and in-depth insights. The platform also extensively covered Prime Minister Modi’s U.S. visit, analyzing its impact on India-U.S. relations and trade policies. Economic developments were a key focus, with detailed reports on Union Budget 2025 and RBI’s interest rate decisions, offering readers a clear perspective on India’s financial trajectory. Additionally, India.com shed light on environmental concerns, such as the postponement of national winter games in Kashmir and coverage of the grand Kumbh Mela 2025, ensuring that readers stayed informed on issues shaping India’s present and future.

Arnav Mathur, Chief Digital Growth Officer, ZMCL expressed immense pride in the platform’s rapid rise and its unwavering commitment to journalistic integrity, stating, “Our team has consistently delivered deeply researched, data-driven, and people-centric stories across diverse beats—be it politics, economy, entertainment, or global affairs. We don’t just report the news; we provide context, analysis, and narratives that matter. This milestone reinforces our mission to keep pushing boundaries in digital reporting, ensuring our readers receive accurate, timely, and engaging content that shapes conversations and drives meaningful impact.”

Rajesh Sareen, Chief Revenue Officer, lauded India.com’s achievement, emphasizing the platform’s role in shaping the digital news landscape: “In an era of information overload, India.com stands out by providing credible, high-quality, and engaging content. This growth reinforces our vision to push the boundaries of digital reporting, making India.com a trusted destination for impactful stories that inform, inspire, and drive change.”

As India.com continues to scale new heights, its focus remains on expanding its reach, enhancing content personalization and fostering deeper audience engagement. With a vision to be the most preferred digital news destination, India.com is committed to maintaining the highest standards of journalism while adapting to the ever-evolving digital landscape.

Mumbai, March 26th, 2025: Sekel Tech has launched an innovative hyperlocal marketing solution, specifically designed to empower real estate professionals with cutting-edge marketing tools. Aimed at addressing the evolving needs of the real estate sector, the solution combines advanced data analytics with automated marketing to enhance digital engagement and drive sales.

 The platform delivers real-time insights that enable real estate businesses to enhance their marketing efforts using digital strategies as homebuyers increasingly rely on smartphones to search for properties, compare prices, and assess amenities. Sekel Tech offers a comprehensive platform that combines data analytics with automated marketing to help developers, brokers, and agents stay ahead of the curve.

 To ensure the solutions enable businesses deliver unmatched precision and efficiency, Sekel has integrated AI-driven targeting with location-specific property listings and proximity-based benefits, allowing marketers establish meaningful connections with potential buyers at the most opportune moments. Further streamlining outreach, the platform offers multi-channel capabilities, including direct posting to Google My Business and the ability to manage paid ad campaigns across platforms such as Google, Facebook, and Instagram—all from a single, user-friendly dashboard.

 Rakesh Raghuvanshi, Founder and CEO of Sekel Tech, commented on the launch, saying, “Today’s real estate market is rapidly evolving, and digital engagement has become a critical aspect of business success. Our hyperlocal marketing solutions are designed to offer real estate professionals the ability to connect with potential buyers in a meaningful way, leveraging AI and automation to deliver personalised experiences while maintaining the human touch. We are committed to helping our clients navigate this transformation with confidence and efficiency.”

 A core feature of the new solution is its advanced automation, which ensures personalised buyer interactions powered by AI-driven insights. The use of geo-fencing and real-time data analytics, helps Sekel Tech’s platform ensure that property listings, pricing insights, and other critical information are delivered directly to prospective buyers. The platform offers the integration of Google Search, social media, WhatsApp, and SMS resulting in streamlined customer engagement, instant delivery of property related information, interactive maps, and organising virtual tours.

 Sekel’s real estate solution also features robust data security measures in compliance with the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act. Sekel Tech has partnered with industry-leading data protection services to ensure that all consumer data is securely stored and processed. Advanced encryption technologies and stringent compliance protocols are integral to maintaining transparency and trust. As the real estate sector continues to embrace digital transformation, Sekel Tech is committed to leading the way by providing intelligent solutions that empower real estate marketers to optimise their strategies, nurture leads effectively, and close deals faster.

National – 26th, March 2025: Fortune Foods, India’s leading edible oil and food brand of AWL Agri Business Ltd (formerly known as Adani Wilmar Ltd.), one of India’s largest food and FMCG companies, in collaboration with Blinkit, a quick commerce company, has launched a heartwarming Ad film that captures the festive fervour of the Eid season. The campaign also highlights the convenience of purchasing Fortune products through Blinkit, ensuring a seamless shopping experience for its consumers.

Set in Hyderabad, the film captures the joy of Eid festivities and the spirit of sharing food. Ibrahim visits Taufiq Chacha, known for his legendary biryani, only to find that his memory is not what it used to be. Taufiq Chacha has even forgotten to prepare his iconic biryani. Determined to recreate the iconic dish, Ibrahim quickly orders Fortune Biryani Special Basmati rice via Blinkit and starts cooking. As the family gathers to eat, Taufiq Chacha suddenly recalls that the true spirit of Eid biryani lies in sharing it with others before enjoying it themselves. Overwhelmed, Ibrahim and Taufiq Chacha’s family order disposable boxes from Blinkit, pack the biryani, and prepare to share it with friends and family. The campaign concludes with a message from Blinkit – ‘Iss Eid, khushiyaan baante!’

Commenting on the Ad film, Jignesh Shah, Head – Media and Digital Marketing, AWL Agri Business Ltd, said, “Our collaboration with Blinkit shows our commitment to providing consumers with easy access to Fortune’s premium range of products. This film not only reflects the superior quality of our offerings, but also showcases how technology is reshaping grocery shopping, making it faster and more reliable. It perfectly captures the role food plays in uniting people during festive occasions. Biryani, so intrinsic to Eid celebrations, takes center stage, highlighting the spirit of sharing that defines the festival.”

Consumers can have Fortune products delivered instantly, ensuring they never have to compromise on their favourite meals. With just a tap on the Blinkit app, they can place their orders effortlessly.

The ad film is now live across digital and social media platforms and will be further extended to other mediums, maximizing its reach and engagement. Fortune Foods and Blinkit are inviting consumers to experience the future of grocery shopping—quick, hassle-free, and always reliable.

New Delhi, India, March 26, 2025: The 2nd Asian Yogasana Sports Championship, originally scheduled for March 29-31, 2025, will now take place on April 25th – 27th 2025 in New Delhi. The revised dates accommodate requests from international teams for additional preparation time and ensure wider participation, while also being mindful of the holy month of Ramadan.

Organized by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India, in collaboration with the Sports Authority of India (SAI) and Yogasana Bharat, the championship aims to further establish Yogasana as a global competitive sport while honouring its deep-rooted traditions.

The event will bring together top Yogasana athletes from across Asia, providing a platform to showcase their strength, flexibility, and precision. It is a step toward positioning Yogasana as a mainstream sport and advancing efforts for its inclusion in global multi-sport competitions.

Dr Sanjay Malpani, President of Asian Yogasana, highlighted the championship’s growing significance, “The shift in dates reflects our commitment to making the event truly inclusive and competitive. With greater participation, the championship will further strengthen Yogasana’s presence as a serious global sport. We look forward to welcoming athletes from across Asia to New Delhi for a world-class event.”

Dr Jaideep Arya, Secretary General, World Yogasana, stated, “This championship is a celebration of Yogasana’s transformation from an ancient practice to a globally recognized sport. The extended timeline ensures athletes are better prepared, leading to a more competitive and inspiring event. We remain dedicated to advancing Yogasana as a mainstream sporting discipline.”

Mr. Udit Sheth, President of Yogasana Bharat, expressed his vision: “India continues to lead the way in establishing Yogasana as a competitive sport. The revised dates are fantastic to allow all nationalities to participate at their best such that we have a world class event with complete participation.”

With Yogasana gaining global recognition, this championship is expected to attract significant attention from the international sporting community, reinforcing its place in competitive sports and paving the way for its inclusion in future multi-sport events.

Antica Ceramica, a leading name in the tile and surface industry, has unveiled its latest Stone Wall Panels, a collection that seamlessly merges craftsmanship with contemporary design. These panels are designed to elevate interior spaces, offering a blend of luxury, tradition, and modern innovation, making them a perfect choice for architects, interior designers, and decor enthusiasts.

The collection features four distinct designs, each crafted with precision to enhance walls with sophistication and depth. The CNC Carved Natural Stone Panel (Abstract Elegance) presents a stunning abstract design, meticulously carved into natural stone to create a striking focal point. This panel is ideal for lobbies and dining areas and offers complete customization in size and pattern, ensuring a bespoke touch that complements any décor. Whereas the CNC Carved Natural Stone Panel (Dynamic Waves) features a fluid, wave-like pattern, adding a sense of movement and dimension to walls. The high precision of CNC carving brings out every detail, making this panel a versatile choice that suits both modern and classic interiors.

For those who appreciate intricate textures, the Sandblasted Stone Wall Design (Textured Floral Masterpiece) is a perfect choice. This panel is crafted from premium-quality stone, featuring delicately carved floral patterns that are enhanced through a refined sandblasting process. A durable paint finish further accentuates the craftsmanship, making each panel unique and perfect for both residential and commercial settings.

Bringing traditional Indian artistry into contemporary spaces, the Thikri Work Wall Panel pays homage to Rajasthan’s iconic mirror inlay craft. This panel features small, precisely cut mirror pieces embedded in elaborate design patterns, forming a mesmerizing reflective mosaic. Fully customizable in size, it adds a majestic cultural charm to interiors, making it an exquisite addition to both traditional and modern decors.

Mr. Rahul Bhugra, Director of Antica Ceramica, emphasized the brand’s commitment to innovative design, stating, “With these exquisite Stone Wall Panels, we aim to provide decor lovers, architects, and interior designers with versatile, high-quality solutions that redefine interior spaces. This collection seamlessly blends heritage with contemporary innovation, ensuring each space tells a unique story of craftsmanship and elegance.”

The Stone Wall Panels collection is now available at Antica Ceramica showrooms and authorized dealers nationwide. As a brand that continues to push the boundaries of surface design, Antica Ceramica remains dedicated to offering solutions that harmonize aesthetics with functionality.