All posts by K S Krishna

18th December 2024: Student Tribe, India’s largest and fastest-growing student community, is proud to announce its strategic partnership with Marut Drones, a pioneering company specializing in drone technology that has been widely appreciated by the Government of India. This collaboration creates a unique platform connecting students directly with exciting opportunities in the field of drone technology.

This partnership is more than an educational initiative; it’s a comprehensive ecosystem designed to transform how students learn, engage, and build careers in emerging technological fields. By bringing together industry expertise and student enthusiasm, the collaboration aims to create meaningful pathways for young innovators.

Students will now benefit from:

Direct exposure to professional drone technology.
Structured learning beyond traditional academic curricula.
Networking opportunities with industry experts.
Practical skills development.
A supportive community of technology enthusiasts.

Through monthly events, online platforms, and a network of Campus Ambassadors, students will gain insights and experiences that go far beyond conventional learning. The partnership’s annual Drone Fest will be a landmark event where students can interact with cutting-edge technology and showcase their own potential.

Additionally, Marut Drones offers a 5-day Drone Pilot Training (RPC) workshop. This intensive program covers:

Introduction to drones and DGCA regulations.
Flight simulator training and drone flying practice.
Hands-on field experience.
Solo field flying tests.
DGCA certification upon successful completion.

This workshop equips participants with both theoretical knowledge and practical skills, making them industry-ready in the rapidly growing drone sector. As a DGCA-approved Remote Pilot Training Organization (RPTO), Marut Drones ensures students receive the highest standard of training and certification.

Speaking on the occasion, Sri Charan Lakkaraju, Founder & CEO of Student Tribe, said, “Our vision is to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and industry requirements. We’re creating an environment where students can transform their technological interest into tangible career opportunities.”

Echoing this sentiment, Sai Kumar, Founder of Marut Drones, stated, “Marut Drones has always been at the forefront of leveraging technology to address societal challenges. By collaborating with Student Tribe, we aim to inspire young minds and provide them with the tools to imagine, innovate, and create impactful solutions for the future.”

Student Tribe and Marut Drones are committed to nurturing the next generation of technological leaders, providing them with the tools, knowledge, and community support needed to succeed in an evolving digital landscape.

Marut Drones, known for its groundbreaking contributions to the drone industry, has recently secured $6.2 Million a Series A funding from Lok Capital underscoring its commitment to advancing drone technology for diverse applications. The company’s focus on innovation and education aligns seamlessly with Student Tribe’s mission to shape the leaders of tomorrow.

18th December 2024: Arete’s Q3 2024 report reveals that the Manufacturing and Scientific & Technical Services industries were among the most targeted by ransomware groups, accounting for 19.5% and 15.6% of total incidents, respectively. Despite the challenges, both sectors demonstrated notable resilience, with Manufacturing standing out as one of the top industries capable of recovering without paying a ransom.

While no single ransomware group explicitly focused on Manufacturing, several prominent threat actors—including Play, Akira, Fog, and RansomHub—were involved in these threats. In contrast, the Professional, Scientific & Technical Services sector experienced significant activity from BianLian, which employed email-based tactics leading to comparatively lower ransom demands.

The Healthcare & Social Assistance sector also faced considerable disruption, with the Rhysida group exploiting fake Microsoft Teams applications to deploy malware, illustrating the continually evolving tactics of threat actors.

A key trend this quarter was Play’s emphasis on high-revenue organizations, with victims averaging $250 million in annual revenue and ransom demands reaching up to $1.5 million. However, Arete’s analysis indicates that ransom payment decisions were more strongly influenced by factors such as backup availability and internal recovery capabilities rather than industry type or revenue alone.

“As threat actors evolve their tactics, Arete continues to monitor their activity, analyze trends, and leverage our threat intelligence to better respond to cyber threats,” said Geoff Brown, Arete’s President and Chief Operating Officer. “Using this unique data, we are dedicated to protecting our clients, informing our partners, and contributing to the shared fight against cyber extortion.” Brown added.

In light of these findings, Arete emphasizes the need for organizations to adopt a proactive approach to cybersecurity. This includes, investing in advanced threat detection technologies, conducting regular security assessments, providing employee training to strengthen overall cyber defenses.

By staying ahead of evolving threats and preparing for potential incidents, organizations can better protect critical assets and ensure faster recovery from disruptions.

Arete advocates for a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy that prioritizes prevention as well as incident response, safeguarding both data and operations in an increasingly interconnected world.

18th December 2024: Fortis Hospital, Bannerghatta Road successfully treated a 93-year-old male patient with gallstones and an infected gallbladder using advanced robot-aided surgery. The patient, who had a history of heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, had previously undergone cardiac bypass surgery and angioplasty. Dr. Sreedhara V, Director – Minimal Access & Robotic General Surgery at Fortis Hospital, Bannerghatta Road, performed a complex minimally invasive surgery and the patient was discharged in a stable condition just two days after the procedure.

Patient Somesh had been experiencing severe abdominal pain and discomfort for 4-6 days. Despite undergoing multiple diagnostic tests and treatments over the days, the source of the patient’s discomfort remained unclear and misdiagnosed as a cardiac issue and a urinary tract infection. After visiting multiple hospitals without finding an effective treatment, he finally approached Fortis Hospital, Bannerghatta Road for relief.

Upon a detailed evaluation at Fortis Hospital, Bannerghatta Road, an infected gallbladder with gallstones was identified as the root cause of the discomfort. The patient’s condition was further complicated by his age and multiple medical conditions, including kidney failure. Given the high risks associated with traditional surgery, Dr. Sreedhara decided to perform robotic surgery, an advanced minimally invasive technique that offers precision, enables quicker recovery, and reduces complications.

Giving details of the case, Dr. Sreedhara V, Director – Minimal Access & Robotic General Surgery at Fortis Hospital, Bannerghatta Road said, “This case presented unique challenges due to the patient’s multiple underlying health issues. The timely identification of gallstones with infection and the infected gallbladder was crucial. The procedure, which lasted only 20-30 minutes, ensured the patient’s quick recovery and allowed for a faster return to normal activities. This surgery demonstrated the tremendous potential of robotic surgery in addressing multiple medical issues simultaneously, offering patients a safer, faster recovery with fewer disruptions to their daily life.”

Mr. Akshay Oleti, Business Head, Fortis Hospitals, Bengaluru said, “At Fortis Hospitals, we are committed to providing world-class medical care tailored to the specific needs of each patient. This case highlights our dedication to using cutting-edge technologies such as robotic surgery to ensure faster recovery, reduced risks, and the best possible outcomes. Our skilled team worked together to provide the patient with the highest standard of care, enabling him to recover rapidly despite his complex medical history.”

18th December 2024: Ambuja Cements, the cement and building material company of the diversified Adani Portfolio, today announced separate Schemes of Arrangement of its subsidiaries Sanghi Industries Limited (SIL) and Penna Cement Industries Limited (PCIL). The proposed Schemes inter alia provide for the Amalgamation of SIL and PCIL with Ambuja Cements.

Mr. Ajay Kapur, CEO – Cement Business, Adani Group, said, “This merger aims to make our company more competitive and efficient, ultimately enhancing shareholder value. Enhanced working capital management and internal funds will support the growth of our business operations. Unified cash flow management will pool resources for faster expansion and cost savings in administration and governance, thereby simplifying compliance requirements. This advancement through a larger entity will increase market competitiveness and deliver greater value to our shareholders.”

SIL has a clinker capacity of 6.6 MTPA, a cement capacity of 6.1 MTPA, and limestone reserves of ~1 billion tonnes. SIL’s Sanghipuram plant is India’s largest single-location cement and clinker unit by capacity, with a captive jetty and captive power plant.

Penna has four integrated plants in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, along with a grinding unit in Maharashtra. It has an operational capacity of 10 MTPA. Additionally, two plants, with a capacity of 2 MTPA each, are under construction in Krishnapatnam and Jodhpur, expected to be completed within next 8-12 months. It also has five bulk cement terminals at Kolkata, Gopalpur, Karaikal, Kochi, and Colombo (Sri Lanka).

Ambuja Cements will issue 12 equity shares of the face value of Rs. 2/- each for every 100 equity shares of SIL of face value Rs. 10/- each as recommended by the valuers and accepted by the Board and thereby, the eligible shareholders of SIL will become the shareholders of Ambuja Cements.

These transactions will be effected with requisite approvals from related stakeholders and authorities, anticipated to be completed within 9-12 months.

17th December 2024: Pastiche, a one-of-a-kind cultural and culinary destination, is set to open its doors, promising a blend of art, culture, and an exquisite European-inspired elevated café experience. True to its name, Pastiche embodies the idea of transforming traditional influences into fresh, modern expressions. Drawing inspiration from the word itself—meaning a work of art that combines elements from diverse styles—the restaurant brings a new dimension to the city’s dining scene by merging classical European elegance with a distinctly modern twist.

Step into a world where culture and cuisine dance together, crafting unforgettable flavors and stories on every plate. With décor influenced by European bistros, featuring textured walls, warm lighting, and vintage-style chairs, the ambiance exudes charm and elegance, complemented by thoughtfully placed artistic touches.

Here, each wall transforms into a dynamic display, reinterpreting classic masterpieces into something unique—a vision perfectly aligned with Pastiche’s culinary philosophy.

Behind the unique concept of Pastiche are three visionary founders: Dhruv Sharma, Shirin Sharma, and Guido Van Steijn. Driven by a shared passion for travel and uncovering one-of-a-kind experiences around the world, the trio draws inspiration from their global adventures to craft unique spaces and concepts in India. Pastiche reflects this ethos—a harmonious blend of influences, reimagined to create a vibrant community hub in Gurgaon where food, culture, and connection come alive.

Under the culinary guidance of Chef Madhav, who brings experience from Michelin-starred kitchens and a flair for inventive European fusion, Pastiche reimagines classic dishes with bold, unexpected twists. Highlights include the Mushroom Cappuccino Soup, a velvety starter topped with pepper chantilly and paired with black garlic brioche; Green Goddess Salad, a fresh mix of kale, avocado, and confit lemon vinaigrette; and the Lobster Ravioli, served with a luxurious saffron bisque. For those craving something heartier, the Pressed Pork Belly with port sauce offers a rich, decadent main course option. Each dish is crafted to surprise and delight, with ingredients and techniques inspired by Chef Madhav’s extensive culinary journey.

Pastiche’s menu is a fusion of nostalgia and curiosity, evoking the comfort of traditional European flavors with a creative, modern approach. With curated cocktails featuring premium spirits thoughtfully paired with each dish, the dining experience is elevated to a holistic sensory journey that lingers long after the meal.

The restaurant’s ambiance and menu invite guests to enjoy more than just a meal—it’s a space where flavors, stories, and experiences come together to spark moments of discovery and connection. Pastiche aspires to be more than a restaurant—it’s a cultural hub where the flavors, art, and stories behind each dish spark conversation and foster a deeper sense of community.

• It houses an ATM, available 24×7

Chhatarpur: ICICI Bank has set up a new branch at Panna road in Chhatarpur. The branch, which is the second of the Bank in the city, and fourth in the district, is equipped with an ATM.

The branch was inaugurated by Mr. Sachin Upadhyay, Zonal Head (Retail- MP East), ICICI Bank.

The branch, located in the agricultural belt of Madhya Pradesh, offers a comprehensive range of accounts and deposits including savings and current accounts, fixed and recurring deposits and loans like, Kisan Credit Card (KCC) loan, tractor loan, gold loan, business loan, home loan, personal loan, auto loan and education loan along with remittance and card services. It also provides locker facility at its premises. It operates from 9:30 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. on Monday to Friday and on the first, third and fifth Saturdays of the month.

The branch also offers Tab Banking facility that provides nearly 100 services at the customer’s place by an employee through a tablet device. The services include opening of accounts and Fixed Deposit (FD), raising chequebook request, generation of e-statements and change of address, among others.

ICICI Bank has more than 290 branches, and over 490 ATMs and cash recycling machines (CRMs) in Madhya Pradesh.

ICICI Bank services its large customer base through a multi-channel delivery network of branches, ATMs, call centers, internet banking (www.icicibank.com), and mobile banking.

December 17, 2024 – Qlik, a global leader in data integration, analytics, and artificial intelligence (AI), today unveiled research of 4,200 C-Suite executives and AI decision-makers globally. An independent study conducted in November 2024, examined AI adoption challenges and opportunities, including attitudes toward ‘buy-to-build’ deployment strategies. It covered 19 markets and focused on key sectors such as IT, financial services, manufacturing, retail, and healthcare.

In India, 57% of executives view AI as essential for achieving strategic goals and boosting profitability. However, many organizations struggle to transition from planning to execution due to challenges such as skills gaps, governance issues, trust deficits, and resource constraints. Alarmingly, 20% of businesses report having 51 to over 100 AI projects stalled at the planning stage, while 12% have scrapped or halted projects entirely. To address these hurdles, Indian companies are increasingly adopting ready-made AI solutions to expedite implementation and achieve measurable ROI.

Key Barriers Hindering AI Adoption: Skills, Trust, and Governance

The research highlights critical gaps preventing AI adoption in India. It reports that 31% of Indian businesses lack the talent required to develop AI, 18% face difficulties in rolling out developed solutions and 26% of AI decision-makers cited insufficient access to trusted data as additional obstacle. Furthermore, 28% of respondents cited data governance challenges as a major roadblock, while 25% pointed to budget constraints as a critical hurdle.

The study reveals that 41% of senior managers and 38% of less senior employees lack confidence in AI, while 16% of businesses report concerns about customer trust in AI-driven systems. Notably, 57% of respondents indicated that these trust issues have led to reduced AI investments.

‘Ready-Made’ AI Solutions and Training: A Path Forward

To overcome these barriers, 78% of Indian AI leaders see value in leveraging ‘ready-made’ AI solutions as a starting point to accelerate deployment and ROI. Building trust is another critical focus, with organizations looking to promote AI benefits internally and externally.

Upskilling and Government Support for AI Development

Upskilling is also seen as pivotal to addressing the skills gap, while securing government support is also crucial to overcoming barriers to AI adoption in India. 79% of AI decision makers believe India has the potential to lead the world in AI skills in the next five years. To achieve this, 80% believe their industries need to be better at nurturing and upskilling staff for AI, and 78% advocate for increased government funding and AI training programs.

Unlocking AI’s Potential with Agentic AI

“Business leaders know the value of AI, but they face a multitude of barriers that prevent them from moving from proof of concept to deployment of the technology. The first step to creating an AI strategy is to diagnose where the potential blockades are – be it skills, resource,s or data governance issues. By creating a multifaceted picture of the organization’s challenges, you start to build trust and win management buy-in to help you succeed,” said James Fisher, Chief Strategy Officer at Qlik.

“India has the talent and ambition to play a key role in the global AI landscape. To make this happen, we need to focus on developing AI skills, building trust in AI, and helping businesses address challenges around governance and resources. AI is already making an impact across industries, but to fully realize its potential, organizations must tackle issues of trust, data governance, and skills shortages. Our findings emphasize the importance of collaboration between businesses, governments, and educational institutions to strengthen AI capabilities and build trust in these technologies,” said Varun Babbar, Managing Director, India at Qlik.

The survey included insights from 250 senior managers and board-level executives in India who are directly involved in overseeing AI projects at large enterprises with 500 to 4,999 employees. These participants represented diverse industries, including IT and telecommunications (16%), financial services (12%), manufacturing (11%), retail (7%), construction and engineering (7%), as well as healthcare and pharmaceuticals (6%), providing a comprehensive view of AI adoption across key sectors.

17th December 2024: Mahindra University has announced the launch of the School of Hospitality Management in Hyderabad today. The school introduced a B.Sc. (Hons.) in Culinary and Hospitality Management, which aims to equip students with an integrated culinary excellence offering in the dynamic hospitality management business. The course is designed to nurture versatile global professionals combining traditional and core skills with modern technological advancements. This new school will open doors to exciting global opportunities, with a focus on innovation, analytics, and sustainability.

Admissions for the first academic session, 30 seats, will open in January 2025, with classes starting in February 2025. The regular academic session, 60 seats, will begin in August 2025.

All students after their 10+2 across all streams from any statutory board with an 80% score are eligible to apply for the course. They can avail of admission through a valid NCHMCT JEE entrance examination score or by qualifying for the Mahindra University Hospitality Management Entrance Test-2025 (MUHET 2025). A panel interview for shortlisted candidates will follow this. Students can apply online at www.mahindrauniversity.edu.in by filling out the application form.

The School of Hospitality Management has academic partnerships with some of the most prestigious institutions in the world, including Virginia Tech, Conrad N. Hilton College of Global Hospitality Leadership at the University of Houston, Swiss Hotel Management School, César Ritz Colleges and Culinary Arts Academy, Switzerland. The school has also partnered with Mahindra Holidays and Club Mahindra, two of India’s most renowned hospitality brands. These collaborations offer students invaluable industry insights, hands-on training, and opportunities for students to have direct exposure to operational aspects of hospitality, helping them bridge the gap between academic learning and industry practices.

According to Dr. Yajulu Medury, Vice Chancellor, of Mahindra University, “The School of Hospitality is a remarkable addition to our portfolio of cutting-edge programs, designed to seamlessly integrate industry expertise with academic excellence. This new school will empower its students to master the latest trends and technologies in this ever-evolving field. Guided by renowned faculty, our students will experience an exceptional learning environment through masterclasses, interactive workshops, and immersive real-world simulations, equipping them to lead and innovate in this dynamic field.”

Chef K. Thirugnanasambantham, Dean, the School of Hospitality, at Mahindra University, said, “The hospitality industry is evolving rapidly, and to stay ahead of the curve, we need to equip our students with a comprehensive skill set that includes technical expertise and strategic thinking. This program is designed to develop culinary skills and cultivate leadership, entrepreneurship, and sustainable practices. We aim to inspire students to think critically and innovatively, positioning them to lead and create impactful change in the hospitality industry.”

“Our program will also focus on emerging and futuristic areas, such as enhancing customer experiences through technology and culinary product innovation to address lifestyle diseases. By exploring the intersection of technology and culinary arts, we will empower students to design innovative solutions that elevate guest experiences while contributing to health and wellness trends. This forward-thinking approach ensures that our graduates are prepared for today’s challenges and equipped to lead the future of the hospitality industry. Launching the B.Sc. (Hons.) in Culinary and Hospitality Management at the School of Hospitality, Mahindra University, marks a significant step in transforming hospitality education in India. With its unique combination of academic rigor, industry partnerships, and a focus on leadership and entrepreneurship, this program promises to be a game-changer for students aspiring to succeed in the global hospitality landscape,” he added.

India’s hospitality and culinary sector generates approximately $250 billion annually, representing around 7.5% of the nation’s GDP. Driven by the expanding domestic and international tourism markets, the industry is set to create over 10 million new jobs by 2033. The sector plays a pivotal role in the global economy, contributing significantly to employment generation, entrepreneurship opportunities, and skill development.

December 17, 2024 – Trend Micro Incorporated, a global cybersecurity leader, today warned that highly customized, AI-powered attacks could supercharge scams, phishing and influence operations in 2025 and beyond.

Sharda Tickoo, Country Manager for India & SAARC, Trend Micro: “As generative AI makes its way ever deeper into enterprises and the societies they serve, we need to be alert to the threats. Hyper-personalized attacks and agent AI subversion will require industry-wide effort to root out and address. Business leaders should remember that there’s no such thing as standalone cyber risk today. All security risk is ultimately business risk, with the potential to impact future strategy profoundly.”

Trend’s 2025 predictions report warns of the potential for malicious “digital twins,” where breached/leaked personal information (PII) is used to train an LLM to mimic the knowledge, personality, and writing style of a victim/employee. When deployed in combination with deepfake video/audio and compromised biometric data, they could be used to convince identity fraud or to “honeytrap” a friend, colleague, or family member.

Deepfakes and AI could also be leveraged in large-scale, hyper-personalized attacks to:
· Enhance business compromise (BEC/BPC) and “fake employee” scams at scale.
· Identify pig butchering victims.
· Lure and romance these victims before handing them off to a human operator, who can chat via the “personality filter” of an LLM.
· Improved open-source intelligence gathering by adversaries.
· Capability development in pre-attack prep will improve attack success.
· Create authentic-seeming social media personas at scale to spread mis/disinformation and scams.

Elsewhere, businesses that adopt AI in greater numbers in 2025 will need to be on the lookout for threats such as:
· Vulnerability exploitation and hijacking of AI agents to manipulate them into performing harmful or unauthorized actions.
· Unintended information leakage (from GenAI)
· Benign or malicious system resource consumption by AI agents, leading to denial of service.

Outside the world of AI threats
The report highlights additional areas for concern in 2025, including:

Vulnerabilities
· Memory management and memory corruption bugs, vulnerability chains, and exploits targeting APIs
· More container escapes
· Older, simpler vulnerabilities like cross-site scripting (XSS) and SQL injections
· The potential for a single vulnerability in a widely adopted system to ripple across multiple models and manufacturers, such as a connected vehicle ECU

Ransomware
Threat actors will respond to advances in endpoint detection and response (EDR) tooling by:
· Creating kill chains that use locations where most EDR tools aren’t installed (e.g., cloud systems or mobile, edge, and IoT devices)
· Disabling AV and EDR altogether
· Using bring your own vulnerable driver (BYOVD) techniques.
· Hiding shellcodes inside inconspicuous loaders
· Redirecting Windows subThe result will be faster attacks with fewer steps in the kill chain that are harder to detect.system execution to compromise EDR/AV detection.

Time for action
In response to these escalating threats and an expanding corporate attack surface, Trend recommends:
· Implementing a risk-based approach to cybersecurity, enabling centralized identification of diverse assets and effective risk assessment/prioritization/mitigation
· Harnessing AI to assist with threat intelligence, asset profile management, attack path prediction, and remediation guidance—ideally from a single platform.
· Updating user training and awareness in line with recent AI advances and how they enable cybercrime.
· Monitoring and securing AI technology against abuse, including security for input and response validation or actions generated by AI
· For LLM security: hardening sandbox environments, implementing strict data validation, and deploying multi-layered defenses against prompt injection
· Understanding the organization’s position within the supply chain, addressing vulnerabilities in public-facing servers, and implementing multi-layered defenses within internal networks
· Facilitating end-to-end visibility into AI agents
· Implementing Attack Path Prediction to mitigate cloud threats

December 17th, 2024: This week, royalty collection agencies from the Asia-Pacific region convened in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, for the annual CISAC and APMA conference. The event also marked a special milestone—the 35th anniversary of the Malaysian sister society, Music Authors’ Copyright Protection Berhad (MACP).

To commemorate the occasion, Shri Javed Akhtar, Chairman of the Indian Performing Right Society Ltd. (IPRS), and Shri Rakesh Nigam, CEO of IPRS, presented the MACP Chairman with a stunning marble statue of Maa Saraswati, the goddess of learning and patron of arts and music. The gesture symbolized IPRS’s dedication to fostering cultural bonds and honoring the shared artistic heritage of the region.

During the ceremony, Shri Javed Akhtar delivered an inspiring speech highlighting the significance of Saraswati Devi in Indian culture as a guiding force for creativity and wisdom. He extended his heartfelt wishes for MACP’s continued success and growth, underscoring the unity and collaboration between copyright societies in Asia.

Reflecting on Reflecting on IPRS’s participation, lyricist, screenwriter, actor, and IPRS Board Member Mayur Puri said, said, “This conference is a testament to the unity of creators across borders. By honoring our shared artistic heritage, we reaffirm not just our dedication to protecting the rights of creators, but also our responsibility to enrich the cultural fabric of our region. The presentation of Maa Saraswati’s statue embodies IPRS’s commitment to celebrating creativity and wisdom while building lasting cultural bonds.”

IPRS remains steadfast in its mission to represent Indian music creators globally and promote Indian values and culture, strengthening international partnerships and advancing the rights of creators worldwide.