All posts by Neel Achary

Kochi: Samsung, India’s largest consumer electronics brand, today announced a partnership with Instamart, India’s pioneering quick commerce platform, to make the Galaxy range of products available instantly across key cities.

Through this collaboration, Samsung will offer quick and convenient access to a wide portfolio of Galaxy smartphones, tablets, wearables and accessories. Customers can order select Galaxy devices on Instamart and have them delivered to their doorstep within minutes.

“At Samsung, we are driven by meaningful innovations that are accessible to everyone. Our partnership with Instamart is another step towards strengthening our omnichannel strategy and making Galaxy experience available to users in a matter of minutes. We are bringing our most loved devices closer to the users,” said Rahul Pahwa, Director, MX Business, Samsung India.

“At Instamart, our goal has always been to anticipate and adapt to the changing lifestyles of our consumers. By partnering directly with Samsung, we’re ensuring that high-quality devices are now just a few taps and 10 minutes away, redefining what convenience in tech truly means,” said Manender Kaushik, AVP, Instamart. 

The partnership aligns with Samsung’s commitment to extend its omnichannel presence and cater to the evolving needs of consumers who value speed, and accessibility. Samsung strengthens its retail ecosystem by partnering with Instamart and ensures that consumers across price segments can experience Galaxy technology with convenience.

HYDERABAD, Dec 9,: JLL, a leading global commercial real estate and investment management company, today announced it has signed a lease for a major new office facility in Hyderabad. JLL plans to create over 1,600 highly skilled positions focused on advanced business operations by the end of Q1 2026. The new 120,000 sq. ft facility for JLL Business Services (JBS) – JLL’s global operations delivery platform – will span two floors in the Prestige Sky Tech building within Hyderabad’s Financial District. The location will serve as JBS’s ‘s second strategic hub in India. This marks a significant evolution from traditional support services to strategic business operations that drive JLL’s global real estate consulting excellence.

Once operational, this expansion will position Hyderabad alongside JLL’s other Shared Service Centers across six countries employing over 6,000 professionals with over 50% based in India. JBS, the company’s Global Capability Center (GCC), delivers advanced analytics, technology-enabled solutions, and strategic advisory services including finance operations, HR operations, Project and Development services, lease administration, and complex business processes that support JLL’s worldwide client operations.

“This commitment reflects our confidence in India’s exceptional talent pool and Hyderabad’s emergence as a global business center,” said Matthew Rees, Chief Shared Service Center Officer, JLL Business Services. “We are not simply adding office space – we’re planning to create opportunities for professionals to contribute to world-class operations that directly influence commercial real estate decisions across global markets. Our future Hyderabad team will tackle sophisticated challenges in data analytics, financial modeling, and operational excellence that shape the future of our industry,” he added.

This expansion reflects India’s remarkable transformation as a talent destination for global enterprises. The country’s unique combination of technical expertise, cultural alignment with collaborative work, and cost efficiency has made it an indispensable partner for multinational operations.

“India’s emergence as a global innovation hub is powered by the world’s largest pool of STEM talent, with over 2.5 million graduates entering the workforce annually,” said Dheeraj Popli, Head, Global Service Center, India, JLL Business Services. “Indian professionals now spearhead cutting-edge R&D, AI development, and complex business operations that directly influence global decision-making. Our workforce’s combination of deep technical skills and collaborative cultural values makes India the preferred destination for high-value functions across the real estate industry,” he added.

Advanced workplace design supports innovation

The planned facility will incorporate cutting-edge workplace design aligned with JLL’s research on employee preferences and productivity. Key features will include collaborative spaces designed for hybrid work environments, advanced technology infrastructure supporting real-time global operations, LEED-certified sustainable design elements, comprehensive wellness amenities including fitness facilities and quiet zones, and flexible spaces that accommodate diverse work styles from focused individual work to large team collaboration.

These design choices directly reflect insights from JLL’s Workforce Preference Barometer 2025, which surveyed 8,700 employees across 31 countries, including 626 respondents from India. The research reveals that 83% of Indian employees express positive attitudes toward return-to-office requirements, significantly higher than the 75% Asia-Pacific average, driven by strong cultural values around teamwork and collaborative problem-solving.

Hyderabad’s strategic advantages

JLL’s planned investment capitalizes on Hyderabad’s transformation into one of India’s premier business and technology centers. The city offers world-class infrastructure, abundant skilled workforce, and business-friendly policies that support complex global operations while maintaining competitive costs. The Financial District location will position JLL alongside Fortune 500 companies and serves as the Indian headquarters for global organizations across multiple industries.

This expansion aligns with broader trends in India’s Global Capability Center landscape, where the country now hosts over 1,950 GCCs employing more than 1.9 million professionals. International companies increasingly view India as an innovation partner rather than a cost center, with cities like Hyderabad leading this strategic evolution alongside established centers in Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Chennai.

Mumbai/ Hyderabad, Dec 9: EBG Group, a fast-growing Indian conglomerate with diversified interests across Mobility, Health, Realty, Lifestyle, Food, Services, Technology, and Education, today announced the launch of ‘Naari Shakti’, a nationwide women empowerment mission led by the EBG Foundation. The Group has committed USD 1 million for FY 2025–26 towards the programme, aimed at empowering 1,00,000 women across India in its first phase. As part of the initiative, EBG also unveiled Suraksha Line — a 24/7 national SOS helpline (7777777963) dedicated to ensuring real-time assistance, guidance, and safety for women.

The initiative was launched in Hyderabad by Padma Shri awardee and professional badminton player PV Sindhu, who unveiled the mission and the national helpline.

Speaking at the launch, Dr. Irfan Khan, Chairman & Founder, EBG Group, said: “Seventy-five years after Independence, countless women still live without safety, voice, financial independence, healthcare, legal protection, and dignity. Naari Shakti was created to change this reality through action – not charity. The programme does not raise public funds; instead, the EBG Foundation invests resources earned through our businesses with complete transparency and accountability.

The initiative is inspired by what we see within EBG, where women already power our growth. With over 60% of our workforce being women, we wanted to extend our learnings to build a national platform that enables economic independence, health access, education, safety, legal recourse, and dignity – all in one continuum.”

PV Sindhu added: “Naari Shakti represents dignity in action. When a woman can earn from home, safeguard her health, restart her education, seek help without fear, assert her legal rights, and age with respect, society rises with her. I am proud to unveil an initiative that delivers real power – not promises – to women.”

Naari Shakti: Six-Pillar Framework for Women’s Progress

• Kaam & Kamaai: Work-from-home income opportunities
• Sehat & Swachhta: Basic health checks and dignity kits
• Padhna & Badalna: Second-chance education and digital skills
• Suraksha Line: 24/7 national SOS helpline — 7777777963
• Kanoon & Hakk: Legal support for safety and rights
• Saath & Sahara: Care for abandoned or elder women through Naari Shakti Homes

Naari Shakti is open to women across all ages, backgrounds, and communities without discrimination. Priority will be given to domestic violence survivors, widows, single mothers, abandoned elder women, those without income, and young women whose education was disrupted due to early marriage or financial hardship.

Through its six-pillar model and USD 1 million commitment, EBG Foundation aims to build a scalable, measurable, and self-sustaining empowerment framework that can be replicated across India.

New Delhi, Dec 09: Doctors at Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh pulled off a medical miracle when they revived a 55-year-old man who had suffered multiple cardiac arrests following a minor procedure at another city-based hospital in Delhi. Despite being given less than 5% chances of survival, the patient made a complete recovery, owing to the swift action, coordinated teamwork, and advanced cardiac support provided by the Fortis cardiology and critical-care teams.

The patient, a known diabetic, had undergone a routine procedure to remove a sebaceous cyst, a small benign lump on his back. Six hours after the surgery, he suddenly collapsed in his hospital room. His heart stopped, prompting the medical team to initiate immediate CPR and deliver multiple electric shocks to revive him.

Recognising the severity of the situation, the treating doctors reached out to Dr. Rashi Khare, Additional Director- Cardiology, Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh. Dr. Khare rushed to the hospital, assessed the patient’s critical condition, and advised shifting the patient to Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh for advanced cardiac care.

When the patient arrived at Fortis Shalimar Bagh, he was critically ill, on ventilator and battling severe complications. Imaging revealed that his lung had collapsed, a consequence of the intense CPR he had endured. Without wasting a moment, the medical team moved him to the Cath lab for emergency angiography, which showed restored blood flow in his coronary vessels. But despite those efforts, he suffered yet another cardiac arrest.

Facing a life-or-death moment, with mortality risk soaring extremely high -the team made a bold decision: they placed him on ECMO (Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation). This advanced life-support system temporarily takes over the function of the heart and lungs. The ECMO therapy was initiated within an hour, and continued uninterrupted for five days, until his heart and lungs regained strength and began to function on their own.

Under the leadership of Dr. N. N. Tripathi, Head of Cardiology, Fortis Shalimar Bagh and with the seamless collaboration of Dr. Rashi Khare, Dr. Sandeep Garg (Principal Consultant & Unit Head, Pulmonology, Fortis Shalimar Bagh, alongwith the cardiac anesthesia team led by Dr. Amit Prakash and Dr. Vishal Garg, the patient began a steady recovery. His heart gradually regained strength, infections were brought under control and over time, he was successfully weaned off ECMO and ventilatorsupport. After several weeks of intensive monitoring, he was discharged in a stable condition and is now recuperating well at home.

“After 45 minutes of CPR and multiple cardiac arrests, his chances of survival were extremely slim. When he arrived at Fortis on life support, scans showed a collapsed lung from the resuscitation, and his heart was barely functioning,” said Dr. Rashi Khare, Additional Director of Cardiology at Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh. “Putting him on ECMO was a decisive move — it gave his heart and lungs exactly the rest they needed. This case truly exemplifies how the right mix of timely intervention, teamwork, and advanced technology can save a life.”

Naveen Sharma, Facility Director, Fortis Hospital Shalimar Bagh said, 

“This case underscores Fortis Hospital Shalimar Bagh’s advanced cardiac care and the team’s ability to act decisively in critical, time-sensitive situations. Surviving multiple cardiac arrests with complete heart and brain recovery is extremely rare, and this outcome reflects the expertise, coordination, and commitment of our medical teams. It truly demonstrates that with the right skill, speed, and collaboration, every second can make the difference between life and loss.”

Habuild, India’s first habit-building platform, has completed the inaugural edition of its ‘Month of Unity’ – a 22-day movement that combined yoga, language learning and national integration between Rashtriya Ekta Diwas (31st October) and Constitution Day (26th November). The initiative asked a uniquely Indian question: What if fitness could help people experience the idea of India more closely?

22 Languages. 22 Days. One India.

Each day during the Month of Unity was dedicated to one of India’s 22 constitutionally recognised languages. Members joined their regular live morning yoga sessions, where they were introduced to simple, everyday phrases in the “language of the day” – greetings, appreciation, encouragement and gratitude. Across six live batches per day, the initiative recorded over 50.6 lakh session tune-ins, with an average of 2.5 lakh participants starting their mornings together. For Habuild’s 1.3 crore+ strong community, this turned a daily wellness habit into a living celebration of “unity in diversity” – a value enshrined in the Preamble of the Constitution of India.

By hearing and speaking phrases like “Namaste”, “Vanakkam”, “Nomoshkar”, “Sat Sri Akal” and “Adaab” in a shared virtual space, members were able to feel the spirit of Rashtriya Ekta Diwas and Constitution Day in a personal, practical way.

A Digital Tribute to the Idea of India

At the heart of the Month of Unity lies Habuild’s language-learning experience – a digital feature within the platform where native speakers teach essential phrases in all 22 scheduled languages.

During the initiative:

• Approximately 12 lakh visits were recorded to the language-learning experience
• Over 3.5 lakh users learnt at least one language

The feature focuses on real vocabulary, authentic pronunciation and cultural nuance. For many participants, this was their first time hearing another Indian language in a fitness setting. Families reported grandparents being delighted to hear their mother tongue in an online class, while younger members used newly learnt phrases to connect with colleagues and friends from other states.

By bringing together breathwork, movement and language, the Month of Unity demonstrated how everyday habits can reinforce constitutional values of fraternity, dignity and unity. Speaking about the initiative, Saurabh Bothra, Co-Founder & Yoga Teacher, Habuild, said

: “At Habuild, we believe India’s true strength lies in its unity in diversity. The Month of Unity is our quiet tribute to that spirit – a celebration of connection that goes beyond state lines, scripts and backgrounds. Every morning, lakhs of people across Bharat breathe and move together with Habuild. This initiative reflects that togetherness as one community, one rhythm, one India. We hope to keep celebrating this idea of India every year through the Month of Unity.”

More Than an Initiative: A Yearly Ritual in the Making

With its unique integration of culture, yoga and language learning, the Month of Unity strengthens Habuild’s position as a pioneer in India’s community wellness landscape. The movement highlights how digital platforms can be used to bring citizens closer to the

spirit of Rashtriya Ekta Diwas and Constitution Day – not only through symbolic messages, but through consistent daily actions.

As Habuild continues its mission to help India build stronger habits around health, sleep and movement, the Month of Unity is set to become an annual celebration – uniting Indians in India and across the world through one simple practice: morning yoga.

Goa, Dec 09:  Step into the festive spirit at JW Marriott Goa, where the magic of December unfolds through curated dining experiences, vibrant celebrations, and warm holiday indulgences. This year, the hotel invites guests to embrace the joy of the season with thoughtfully crafted Christmas feasts, a spectacular New Year’s Eve Carnival, and a leisurely New Year’s Day brunch each designed to create cherished festive memories.

Begin the celebrations with a sumptuous Christmas Eve Feast at JW Kitchen, featuring a specially curated dinner that blends festive flavours with JW Marriott Goa’s signature culinary warmth. On Christmas Day, continue the cheer with a relaxed and indulgent brunch at JW Kitchen, paired with a selection of beverages in partnership with Chandon, making it the perfect gathering for families and friends.

Ring in 2026 with grandeur at the hotel’s Carnival-Themed New Year’s Eve, under the stars at Salão Terrace with a dedicated Kids Zone at NEON ensuring a night of celebration for every age group. Extend the festivities into the new year with The Lazy Brunch at JW Kitchen, a laid-back afternoon experience featuring abundant buffets and refreshing beverages to welcome the first day of 2026 in style.

Christie M 4K25 RGB pure laser projectors power “Flashback: Gyerim,”  South Korea’s first immersive historical storytelling media art exhibition

South Korea, Dec 09: Christie® is proud to announce that its M 4K25 RGB pure laser projectors are illuminating a new immersive media art exhibition titled “Flashback: Gyerim”. Operated by Flashbackground Co., Ltd., and jointly developed with Dexter Studios and the Cultural Heritage Technology Research Institute (TRIC), the exhibition marks a significant milestone in South Korea’s immersive media art landscape, seamlessly blending cultural heritage with advanced projection technology at an unprecedented scale. Dexter Studios, Asia’s leading VFX company known for its work on director Bong Joon-ho’s Academy Award-winning film “Parasite”, Netflix’s movie “Victory”, and the series “Parasite: The Grey”, led immersive content production and technology integration for this project.

Located within the iconic Bomun Tourist Complex in Gyeongju, “Flashback: Gyerim” spans approximately 5,600 square meters (60,278 square feet), making it the nation’s first immersive historical storytelling media art museum. Designed as an exhibition that transcends time and space, it unfolds as a walk-through narrative across 13 zones inspired by myths and folklore of Silla. Opened in conjunction with the APEC 2025 Summit in November, the exhibition reinterprets more than a thousand years of Silla history and transforms it into a sensory-rich experience through state-of-the-art VFX, projection mapping, sound design, and digital heritage technologies.

A centerpiece of the exhibition is Zone 8, Sky Pillar, where 12 Christie M 4K25 RGB pure laser projectors are strategically mounted overhead to display sweeping, vibrant visuals across the walls surrounding a monumental tree-like structure. As seasonal lights shift across the environment and rhythmic drumbeats resonate throughout the space, visitors are immersed in a living ritual that bridges nature, myth, and the cosmic rhythms of Silla.

Exhibition zones like The Guardians (left) and Geoseokhan, The First Khan (right) feature captivating visuals that immerse visitors in Silla’s legendary past (Images courtesy of Flashbackground Co., Ltd.)

An official from Flashbackground Co., Ltd. said,

“Our goal was to create an exhibition that doesn’t just tell history, but lets visitors walk through it. The Christie M 4K25 RGB projectors provided the brightness, color performance, and reliability we needed to bring the Sky Pillar to life. The result is a hyper-immersive experience where light, sound, and myth converge into a powerful narrative form.”

The official noted that the M 4K25 RGB was selected for its ruggedness, reliability, and ability to deliver breathtaking clarity in demanding immersive environments. Its compact form factor, quiet operation, and premium 3DLP RGB pure laser illumination allowed Dexter Studios and TRIC to realize the creative vision without compromise, ensuring vivid colors, deep contrast, and seamless motion across a large-scale canvas.

Han Kim, vice president of Sales, Asia-Pacific, Christie, added:

“‘Flashback: Gyerim’ demonstrates the extraordinary impact that projection technology can have when combined with visionary storytelling. We’re honored that our M 4K25 RGB projectors were chosen for this landmark project, and we applaud Dexter Studios and TRIC for redefining what immersive media art can be.”

The Christie M 4K25 RGB delivers 25,300 lumens in a remarkably compact, lightweight chassis. It features 4K UHD resolution with TruLife+™ electronics and electronic color convergence (ECC). With an efficiency of 14.1 lumens per watt, making it up to 31% more energy efficient than leading competitors, the projector combines quiet, robust performance with long-life RGB pure laser illumination to ensure spectacular visuals with minimal maintenance.

Dec 9: Touchstone LC, a global leader in learning and development solutions for regulated, multilingual industries, has appointed Team Pumpkin, a leading full-service digital agency, to drive its next-gen digital marketing and performance initiatives across India.

Team Pumpkin will strengthen Touchstone LC’s digital presence with targeted performance campaigns, cutting-edge analytics, and conversion-first strategies, aiming to scale brand engagement and qualified lead acquisition for Touchstone’s acclaimed multilingual eLearning and ABM offerings.

As part of the mandate, Team Pumpkin will oversee Touchstone LC’s paid media strategy, end-to-end campaign orchestration, hyper-targeted audience activation, and ROI optimization—leveraging high-impact digital channels to connect with L&D leaders, HR professionals, and business decision makers across enterprise, healthcare, BFSI, and manufacturing sectors.

The core objective will be to amplify Touchstone LC’s reach and support more organizations in their journey towards high-impact compliance, onboarding, and workforce capability using Touchstone’s tech-enabled, award-winning learning solutions.

Founded on the mission to make industry-ready talent a business differentiator, Touchstone LC empowers enterprises through localized, analytics-driven learning in 60+ languages, immersive AR/VR content, and proven microlearning models that lift retention and performance.

Commenting on the partnership, Vinod Chithambaran, EVP  Learning Products & Asia Pacific Sales, Touchstone LC, said;

“At Touchstone, our goal is to help organizations future-proof their workforce through innovation and measurable talent outcomes. Team Pumpkin’s balance of creativity, performance analytics, and sectoral understanding makes them the perfect partner for our growth journey. With their deep digital expertise and ROI-driven execution, we aim to accelerate our outreach, strengthen our brand presence, and scale our impact among global HR and business leaders.”

Swati Nathani, Co-founder, Team Pumpkin, remarked;

“Touchstone LC is setting new benchmarks in workforce transformation with their immersive and localized digital learning roadmap. We’re excited to support their ambitionsdelivering measurable results and expanding Touchstone’s influence among enterprise clients seeking high-impact compliance and L&D solutions.”

Established in 2012, Team Pumpkin is known for ROI-centric digital solutions and growth campaigns across industries. With strong performance marketing, content, and media expertise, the agency will service the Touchstone LC mandate from its Gurugram office.

JSW MG Motor India has unveiled the first official teaser of the upcoming new MG Hector, offering an exciting glimpse into the SUV’s evolved and more dynamic styling. The teaser highlights a noticeably more robust and athletic exterior design, showcasing sharper character lines, a more assertive stance, and a commanding road presence. At the heart of its refreshed identity is the new Grille that symbolizes strength, precision, and modern sophistication, further enhancing the SUV’s powerful visual appeal.

With its latest updates, JSW MG Motor India is set to raise the bar once again, offering a perfect blend of distinctive design and intelligent innovation. Rooted in MG’s evolving design philosophy, one that emphasizes bold aesthetics, modern proportions, and human-centric functionality. The New Hector reflects a fresh yet familiar identity that continues to resonate with today’s SUV buyers.

Dec 9: Foxtale, one of India’s fastest-growing beauty and personal care companies, today announced the launch of its new brand, Hula Hoop by Foxtale- a science-first bodycare line built on advanced formulations, clinically backed ingredients and high-performance sensorial experiences. With this launch, Foxtale takes a major strategic step forward, marking its transition into a House of Brands and expanding its footprint beyond its flagship skincare portfolio.

Recognising the rapid rise in demand for targeted, problem-solving bodycare, Hula Hoop by Foxtale focuses on delivering derm-grade solutions for concerns such as body acne, pigmentation, keratosis pilaris, dryness and overall skin health. The brand blends Foxtale’s science-led formulation ethos with a playful identity, aiming to bring “serious science with a fun twist” to a category that has long lacked innovation. Merging high science with high spirits, Hula Hoop by Foxtale channels R&D capabilities, category building and the deep science spine of the parent brand, and solves for a new generation of consumers and the often overlooked below-the-neck category.

Foxtale’s expansion into a House-of-Brands structure is supported by its strong business momentum. Over the past year, the company has recorded a burgeoning 250% year-on-year growth, backed by strong customer metrics and trust, with a repeat purchase of 50% on their D2C website. This growth has paved the way for Foxtale to diversify into adjacent categories and build a multi-brand portfolio focused on science-led innovation.

On the launch, Romita Mazumdar- Founder & CEO of Foxtale & Hula Hoop by Foxtale says, “With Hula Hoop by Foxtale, we’re entering a new chapter in our journey. This is not just about launching a new brand; it’s about building a portfolio that can meet the evolving needs of consumers across multiple categories. Our ambition is to create category-defining brands rooted in efficacy, scientific rigour and customer obsession.”

At launch, Hula Hoop will introduce 4 hero products ranging from INR 329 to INR 649, including Brightening Body Wash, Exfoliating Body Wash, Brightening Body Lotion and Exfoliating Body Scrub, each formulated to address the unique biology of body skin. The brand will be available on its D2C website and also across channels like Nykaa, Amazon and Quick Commerce platforms too, starting 9th December, with plans for wider retail expansion in the coming months.

“Our vision is to build brands that are scientifically advanced, culturally relevant and accessible at scale. Hula Hoop represents our commitment to innovation and our long-term goal of shaping the future of beauty and personal care in India,” adds Romita Mazumdar.

Foxtale’s strong performance over the past year reflects the momentum behind its science-first portfolio and growing consumer trust. The company is on track to close the year at an Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) of INR 700 crores+ in GMV, driven by sustained demand across digital and retail channels. With operational efficiencies improving and repeat rates strengthening, Foxtale projects achieving profitability by next year, marking a significant milestone in its scale-up journey. This robust financial trajectory provides a solid foundation for the company’s transition into a House of Brands and its continued expansion into high-potential categories.