All posts by Neel Achary

World Chess, a leading chess organization, seeks to captivate chess enthusiasts with its upcoming Europe and Africa week of the Armageddon Championship Series. Kickstarting on June 12th, the high-stakes event will follow the same dramatic format and immense time pressure constraints as the previous Armageddon events.

This enthralling tournament will witness the participation of eight exceptional players from the Europe and Africa region, including Michael Adams (England), MaximeVachier-Lagrave (France), Richard Rapport (Romania), Jan-Krzysztof Duda (Poland), Jorden van Foreest (Netherlands), Vincent Keymer (Germany), as well as Matthias Bluebaum and Alexander Donchenko, both of whom qualified successfully through online qualifiers on the FIDE Online Arena. This star-studded lineup will battle it out in a double-elimination format, with daily matches consisting of two blitz games with the potential for an additional Armageddon game if a victory does not emerge.

The winner and runner-up will join an exciting roster of finalists in the Grand Finale to be held at World Chess’ newly opened Chess Club in Berlin, where they will compete against Wesley So, Sam Shankland, Gukesh D, NodirbekAbdusattorov, BibisaraAssaubayeva, and Humpy Koneru for the total prize of €200,000.

The tournament will follow a dramatic format with daily matches consisting of two blitz games (three minutes plus a two-second move increment) and, if necessary, an Armageddon game (five minutes for White, four for Black). Novelties such as live displays of the players’ heart rates and calories burned data points make the Series a riveting spectacle for viewers.

The Armageddon series is being broadcast on 17 television channels worldwide, as well as World Chess’ official YouTube channel, with expert commentary and analysis provided by Grandmaster Simon Williams and International Master JovankaHouska every day at 19:00 CEST.

For the first few days, the players were divided into pairs as follows:

Day 1, June 12
Michael Adams (England) — Jan-Krzysztof Duda (Poland)
Vincent Keymer (Germany) — Alexander Donchenko

Day 2, June 13
Richard Rapport (Romania) — Jorden van Foreest (Netherlands)
Matthias Bluebaum (Germany) — MaximeVachier-Lagrave (France)
Ilya Merenzon, Chief Executive Officer of World Chess: “It has been fantastic to watch the global accumulation of chess players come together to compete in the Armageddon series. As we now head towards the Grand Finale it has been a real joy to watch the fast-paced matches between chess players of different experiences, playing styles and nationalities.

“The series has created an atmosphere of suspense and excitement and highlighted the benefits of embracing innovative formats such as Armageddon, enabling top-level chess to entice a broader audience and ignite greater passion amongst fans.
“We offer our best wishes to all the players and are excited to get Europe and Africa Week of the Armageddon Championship underway.”

Andrey Insarov, Chief Executive Officer at Intis Telecom (it.com Domains): “We are thrilled to witness the convergence of intelligence and skill in the Armageddon Series. At it.com we are excited to support this great sport within our meaningful partnership with World Chess. We eagerly await the exciting and intense battles and extend our best wishes to all the players participating in Europe & Africa Week. Good luck!”

Leading partners supporting the Armageddon Championship Series:

The it.com Domains as the Official Partner;
FIDE Online Arena as the Official Gaming Platform;
Kaspersky as the Official Cybersecurity Partner.

For further questions, please contact media@worldchess.com.
Official website: https://chessarena.com/armageddon

Licensed professional counselor Justine Froelker to speak at St. Louis nonprofit’s event.

(St. Louis, Mo., June 9, 2023) – Conflux Co-Learning, the nation’s first co-learning space that exclusively serves manufacturers and distributors, will hold its fall workshop on Wed., Sept. 6 from 8 to 10 a.m. at Conflux’s headquarters located at 8221 Minnesota Ave. Keynote speaker Justine Froelker will focus on teaching the tools and techniques needed to lead with courage while highlighting the impact it creates on one’s personal and professional life. The workshop is free and open to the public.

Justine Froelker is a licensed professional counselor with more than 20 years of experience in traditional mental health and personal and professional development. She provides training nationally on topics including leadership, mental health, preventing and coping with burnout, resilience, and courageous communication. Froelker, a St. Louisan who is the best-selling author of 11 books, has been certified in the work of Dr. Brené Brown for the past nine years.

“Justine brings a wide range of practical ways to inspire courage and leadership into your daily life,” said Conflux Co-Learning’s Chairman of the Board Brandon Dempsey. “We look forward to having Justine educate both our clients and the general public so they can create lasting changes at home and at work.”

Conflux Co-Learning is a membership-based nonprofit organization that creates content, connections, and space so manufacturing and distribution leaders can navigate and grow in a rapidly changing industry. For more information, call (314) 754-8712 or visit www.confluxcolearning.com.

Reservations for the workshop are required for the free workshop. To register, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/conflux-workshop-with-justine-froelker-tickets-651015283237.

Demica, one of the world’s largest providers of supply chain finance SaaS solutions, has partnered with Lenovo’s channel solution and service team to co-develop and enhance the distributor finance platform, allowing Lenovo to provide extended services to its distributors.

Lenovo’s channel solution and service team has a longstanding and successful track record of extending credit to its strategic channel partners with flexibility to extend terms as required to fund working capital and drive sales. Moving forward, the Demica platform will allow Lenovo to retire its existing technology platform and extend its range of services to its distributors.

Demica and Lenovo’s channel solution and service team have worked together since 2019 after Lenovo brought the activity in-house and launched a trade receivables securitisation, one of the largest launches that has ever signed. Lenovo appointed Demica to report on the transaction covering 31 markets globally and in 14 currencies.

Maurice Benisty, Demica’s COO comments: “We are delighted to extend our relationship with Lenovo’s channel solution and service team and add this important supply chain finance product to the Demica platform. The product has tremendous application across the banking and captive finance market and we are excited to drive its commercialisation with the Lenovo channel solution and service team.”

Christoph Heitjans, Executive Director and GM of Lenovo’s Channel Solution and Service Team comments: “The decision to appoint Demica as a platform provider to Lenovo’s channel solution and service team reaffirms the importance of distributor finance as a tool to drive growth and optimise terms for Lenovo and its channel partners. The Demica platform represents the future of supply chain finance for banks and fintech as the market transitions from legacy technology to flexible, modern cloud-based solutions.”

Trish Von Ruden brings more than 20 years of insurance industry expertise to the growing alliance.

Trish Von Ruden

(St. Louis, Mo., June 9, 2023) Valley Insurance Agency Alliance (VIAA), a cohesive family of more than 160 independent insurance agencies in Missouri and Illinois, recently hired Trish Von Ruden as Personal Foundation Coach. Her responsibilities include assisting new alliance members with setup and implementation of VIAA’s core technology. Von Ruden will also coach new and existing team members on best practices for all property and casualty insurance issues including coverages, claims, carriers, and processes.

Von Ruden has more than 20 years of insurance industry experience. Prior to joining VIAA, she worked at various insurance agencies across the nation where she was an account manager, producer, and agency owner. She has her Missouri, Illinois, and Texas licenses for Property & Casualty, Life, and Accident & Health.

“Trish brings a strong results-oriented background to our organization in terms of productivity and operations management,” said VIAA’s President JD Powers. “She has a proven track record for success, and we look forward to her joining our growing team.”

Founded in 2006, Valley Insurance Agency Alliance generates more than $600 million in written premium and is the regional founding member for the Strategic Insurance Agency Alliance (SIAA), a $11 billion national alliance. Founded in 1991, sister company Powers Insurance & Risk Management provides personal and business insurance, surety, risk management, and employee benefits. The companies are headquartered at 6825 Clayton Ave. For more information, call (314) 725-1414 or visit www.viaa4u.com.

Mumbai Metropolitan Region – Naigaon, June 8, 2023: There isn’t anything more enjoyable than time spent in a park, the feel of the lush green grass below your feet, neatly trimmed hedges, colourful flower beds, butterflies and the cheerful chirping of birds. Bringing joy to the residents of Naigaon East this World Environment Day, Sunteck Foundation offered development of a park at Tivri in Naigaon with the help of the local authorities to provide a clean and green community and a recreational space for children and adults.

Sunteck Foundation by Sunteck Realty have always been in the forefront to improve community conditions and uplifting the environment towards a sustainable lifestyle.

Parks positively impact the environment as they help in improving air quality, promote biodiversity, and also naturally cool air and surfaces. Moreover, they offer people recreational opportunities and encourage an active lifestyle helping to relieve stress and increase sense of wellness. This initiative by Sunteck to develop the community park at Naigaon is towards building more sustainable spaces to encourage and engage the community in green initiatives for the betterment of the overall environment and society.

Speaking about sustainability being central to Sunteck Anupma Khetan, the customer experience evangelist at Sunteck Realty, expressed, “As an organisation we are committed to developing sustainable spaces and believe that development should not be limited to within the boundaries of our projects. In our endeavour towards the betterment of community, we have been dedicatedly working towards supporting environment and social causes that encourage sustainable living among public at large.” 

Sunteck has supported in the development of this 450 sqmt park at Tivri in Naigaon by providing soil & manure filling, along with lawn grass and a variety of plants and shrubs namely Calliandra Brevipes (Powder Puff), Tecoma Stans (Yellow Bells), Murraya Paniculata (Orange Jasmine), Nerium Oleander (Sweet Scented Indian Oleander), Hibiscus Variegated (Javakusum), among others.

For media queries, Contact BeanstalkAsia: 

Jyoti Prakash | +91 8010681238 | jyoti@beanstalkasia.com

Samakshi Sawal | + 91 9082980959 | samakshi@beanstalkasia.com

Histria Books is pleased to announce the release of To Find A Killer: The Homophobic Murders of Norma and Maria Hurtado and the LGBT Rights Movement by Doug Greco. The book is published by Gaudium Publishing, an imprint of Histria Books dedicated to outstanding works of non-fiction in a variety of fields.

Beginning with a gripping, firsthand account of the 2011 anti-gay murder of twenty-four-year-old Norma Hurtado, a student the author taught in an Austin high school ten years earlier, To Find A Killer is a series of interwoven essays that employs a mix of narrative nonfiction and political analysis to uncover the intersectional nature of the disparities impacting the LGBTQ community.

Despite monumental gains in legal equality over the past decade, including the landmark Obergefell ruling on same-sex marriage, the LGBTQ community still faces harsh disparities in physical and mental health, economic status, racial stratification, and hate crimes victimization. To Find A Killer discussed the next phase of the LGBT rights movement

Emmy-nominated filmmaker Tim Kirkman calls To Find A Killer, “A heartbreaking, infuriating, illuminating book. Greco traces a line connecting class, sexual orientation, gender and ethnicity that forces you to confront your own biases. This is essential reading for both the burgeoning and the seasoned activist, educator and political scientist.”

Purcell Carson, documentary filmmaker and lecturer at Princeton University says “This carefully wrought book harnesses Greco’s considerable experience as an organizer, storyteller, and scholar, weaving the specific lives of the victims and their murderer together, but setting them against a backdrop of national crisis in the LGBT community.”

To Find A Killer, by Doug Greco, 136 pp., ISBN 978-1-59211-298-2, is available at HistriaBooks.com and from all major book retailers. The book is also available in eBook. Titles published under the various imprints of Histria Books are distributed worldwide by the Independent Publishers Group (IPG). For information on publishing with Histria Books, please visit HistriaBooks.com or contact us at info@histriabooks.com

Histria Books
7181 N. Hualapai Way, Suite 130-86, Las Vegas, NV 89166 USA
HistriaBooks.com
(561) 299-0802

Three-day program focuses on effective leadership behaviors and successful business performance.

(St. Louis, Mo., June 7, 2023) Psychological Associates (PA), a consulting company that improves business performance through its leadership and talent development services, will hold its Q4 Leadership: The People Skills Advantage™ program. The three-day intensive workshop will take place Tues., Aug. 8 through Thurs., Aug. 10 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The program will be held at the Charles F. Knight Executive Education & Conference Center located at One Brookings Dr. on the campus of Washington University in St. Louis.

The program’s individualized experience focuses on helping a company’s top talent improve team success through the people skills they need to engage and influence others. Q4 Leadership comprehensively identifies and adapts effective leadership behaviors with more intricate job-related feedback. The program combines the latest in instructional design along with PA’s six decades of pragmatic leadership development.

The workshop – which uses real-world issues and situations – is designed for C-level leaders, vice presidents, and general managers who will improve their interpersonal skills to break down silos and contribute to synergistic teams.

Psychological Associates’ facilitator Marianne Whelchel will lead the sessions. She brings more than 16 years of global leadership development, training, and human resources experience to the workshop. Whelchel has managed the design and delivery of leadership curriculum for over 6,000 leaders globally.

Psychological Associates helps clients select, develop, and retain their best leaders, enabling them to build exceptional organizations. Its exclusive Q4 Dimensional® Model of Behavior™ – an industry-renowned structure that categorizes observable actions into understandable groupings – inspires high performance while attaining comprehensive results. Consulting capabilities include talent assessment, leadership development, succession planning, people analytics, and executive coaching. Founded in 1958, Psychological Associates is headquartered at 8000 Maryland Ave. in Clayton, Mo. Reservations are required since space is limited. For more information, call (314) 725-7771 or visit www.q4solutions.com.

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CIARA V4.0 boosts compliance with security regulations and best practices while providing effective mitigation guidance. “CISOs are doing more with less, making it challenging to understand their current standing across the OT Cybersecurity landscape,” said Ilan Barda, Radiflow CEO, and Co-founder.

Tel Aviv, Israel, June 6, 2023 – Radiflow, creators of the award-winning OT cybersecurity platform, CIARA, announced the general availability of CIARA 4.0. This release introduces a leading benchmark tool as well as delivers actionable insights for managing and minimizing risk in large multi-site industrial facilities.

Today, CISOs and security teams are responsible for the cybersecurity of OT facilities. However, they lack the ability to evaluate the ever-changing cybersecurity risks to their operations. Unlike other sectors, they can not easily assess risk exposure or the effectiveness of specific security activities. To address this, Radiflow released CIARA 4.0, a data-driven platform that continuously monitors changes in the site topology as well as vulnerabilities and threats, always re-evaluating the risk posture of facilities and their digital components. This continuous monitoring enables the CISO to review the strategic and tactical OT security plans and adapt them if needed.

In order to further assist the CISO with the evaluation of their risk posture, Radiflow is introducing a  new free-to-use cloud benchmark tool. Utilizing collected industry-specific benchmark information based on Radiflow’s vast experience and enriched with CS2AI surveys, the new benchmark tool provides the user with a quick risk posture assessment compared to the industry status and best practices.

“CISOs are under enormous pressure to do more with less, making it challenging to understand their current standing across the OT Cybersecurity landscape,” said Ilan Barda, Radiflow CEO, and Co-founder. “Data-driven CIARA 4.0 automates the delivery of the necessary insights concerning the changes in the risk posture that actually direct users toward optimal security actions.”

At the same time that threat actors are getting more sophisticated and vulnerabilities are becoming more diverse, national and industrial regulatory bodies are tightening cybersecurity regulations. But these are often highly complicated and challenging. For example, while the widely accepted IEC62443 international series of standards provides a detailed map of security controls, it is often too complex for companies to understand and implement. For these situations, CIARA 4.0 delivers a view of Best Practices of Security Controls which are simpler to understand and map better to the planning of security projects in an individual factory or across a sprawling, geographically diverse complex of interlinked facilities.

“A centralized, highly intelligent solution that enables OT cybersecurity teams to identify vulnerabilities, and stay up to date with industry standards and/or best practices, while prioritizing and evaluating mitigation efforts, slashes the investment in time and effort required to conduct secure operations,” explained Michael Langer, Radiflow’s Chief Product Officer. “With the accelerating pace of so many new devices being interconnected via expanding OT networks alongside decades of legacy versions, CIARA 4.0’s ability to automate accurate risk analyses and furnish actionable insights becomes vital for ensuring zero downtime.”

Hyderabad, June 06, 2023: The Greater Hyderabad Parisara Foundation (GHPF), a not-for-profit organisation, devoted to transforming the ecology of the city and its surroundings into a greener and healthier metropolis, was launched by Shri Jayesh Ranjan, Principal Secretary, Industry & Commerce, and IT, Government of Telangana, today.

The vision of the newly-launched GHPF is Greater Hyderabad, Greener Hyderabad.

GHPF, which is the Hyderabad chapter of a movement launched by a group of scientists, experts and other concerned citizens who have come together to ecologically transform Indian cities overwhelmed by extreme climate events, overflowing landfills with untreated solid wastes, depleting groundwater, encroached and polluted water bodies, toxic air quality and other environmental degradation. The group launched its Bengaluru chapter, Greater Bengaluru Parisara Foundation, in early 2022.

The launch event held on Monday on the eve of the World Environment Day at 360LIFE ‘Origin Towers at Madhapur’ in Hyderabad, India’s first and Asia’s only second such venture (Vertical Garden Twin Buildings) , was accompanied by the symbolic watering of the Vertical green forest of the apartment complex.

360 Life pioneers environmentally-conscious buildings to balance urban ecological health and the city’s development needs.

GHPF, the Hyderabad Chapter, aptly launched on Monday, the UN World Environment Day

Speaking on the occasion Mr Jayesh Ranjan said it is the perfect occasion to bring a new NGO to Hyderabad said to have done phenomenally well in Bangalore over a period of one year. Many cities are confronted with environmental challenges and Hyderabad is no exception. What you need to do is to collaborate with those institutions that are doing similar work. He said he would be ready to facilitate such collaborations and promised all the help.

I am happy to note that 360 Life has come forward to take responsibility for the restoration of the two-step well in the Osmania University campus. Over the last two years, 20 step-wells were restored in the city. He also appreciated 360 Life for coming out with the two tallest apartment buildings with vertical forests.

More and more people are moving to cities. Now villages have become old age homes. As a result, there is a tremendous amount of stress on urban infrastructure said Prakash Belwadi, Theatre, Film, Media personality, an activist and thought leader who is the founder of Greater Bangalore Parisara Foundation.

In the next 15 to 20 years about 250 to 300 million people will be migrating to urban areas. 18 million tonnes of garbage is produced across India every year. And this is going into landfills, which are polluting underground water. We need to use scientific data in urban planning. The newly launched NGO will provide scientifically reviewed data for urban planning. It will also help people to take informed decisions with the data. So that they will not buy properties in problematic areas. The NGO will work with Government and not against the government he said.

Speaking on the occasion Mr K Srikanth, Director of 360 Life said that they are a social enterprise with a commercial viability rather than a complete commercial enterprise. Builders have to be responsible for the well-being of the customers who reside in the residences they build. Today the scenario is under construction real estate projects produce more dust, air, noise pollution, and disturbance to the neighbours. Now you are here in this under-construction project without witnessing any of them he said.

We never celebrated New Year, but we have always celebrated World Environment Day. This is our 9th year of celebration. This day is an opportunity to showcase how dustfree is an under-construction site. We would like to see a better Hyderabad. Our goal for the newly formed Greater Hyderabad Parisara Foundation is to achieve Net Zero. Net Zero refers to the balance between the amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) that’s produced and the amount that’s removed from the atmosphere, he said.

Towards this direction, very soon we will be launching our project and initiatives for Net Zero, where Shri G Ranjith Reddy, MP, Lok Sabha; Shri Arekapudi Gandhi, MLA, and Whip, Telangana Assembly have agreed to take up the implementation in one colony each in their respective constituencies, Srikanth informed.

Smt Kalpana Ramesh, Founder, of The Rain Water Project, speaking on the occasion said nearly 5000 tonnes of garbage (equivalent to the garbage, the entire city produces a day) was removed from 20 step-wells which were restored in the city in the last two years. She shared that Rashtrapathi Nilayam in Bollaram has reached out to her to restore two step wells in Rashtrapathi Nilayam in Bollaram. The GHPF has come to Hyderabad at such a time the city is ready to welcome you, she said.

Shri Nagesh Sidhanti, Landscape Engineer, Arboriculturist, and Urban Forestry Expert; Prof D Ravinder, Vice-Chancellor, Osmania University; Shri ThilothamKolanu, Director, Andhra Pradesh Environmental Management Corporation, Shri Vinay Palaparthy, trade and industrial entrepreneur, and others also participated.

360LIFE, which takes pride in facilitating the launch of this new foundation, with an aim to further the environmentally-harmonious development of Greater Hyderabad, took the opportunity to showcase to the dignitaries the progress made with, its stunning vertical forest model apartments on World Environment Day. The towers are twin urban apartment buildings that are covered by vertical gardens, the first of its kind in the country to balance mother nature with development.

360LIFE, a leading developer in the city, with plans to expand in Cochin, Jaipur, Pune, Chennai, Kigali (Rwanda), and Dubai, is committed to spearheading a strategic shift towards sustainability in development projects.

The vision of 360 LIFE is aligned with that of the foundation’s belief that the transformation into ‘Greater Hyderabad, Greener Hyderabad’ can be driven only by joining forces with government entities, academic institutions, NGOs, and citizen groups, the speakers said.

BOX ITEM

STEPWELLS AT OSMANIA TO BE REVIVED
360LIFE, in keeping with its identity as a green infra company and its avowed ethos of seamlessly blending nature into its projects, is proud to announce its decision to adopt one such restoration effort underway in the city: Two beautiful heritage step wells in Osmania University. The project is being taken up by The Rainwater Project, the social start-up that earlier restored the now-famous Bansilalpet Stepwell.

360LIFE is committed to supporting projects around the environment and water conservation. This project will not only preserve heritage and architecture but also revive the charging of groundwater in the extended area around the stepwell and help create a vibrant public space in OU. The Osmania University step-wells, when restored, will augment the local groundwater levels, reduce urban flooding and serve to showcase a sterling example of traditional water conservation structures in the midst of our urban habitat.

Media Contact: Solus Media, D. Ramchandram, Mobile: 9848042020

Introduction: Gurgaon, a city synonymous with rapid development and bustling business activity, is set to witness a new wave of transformation in the fashion industry. Renowned fashion designer Akhilesh Pahwa, known for his exquisite designs and innovative approach, is all set to unveil his new store in the heart of Gurgaon. This move raises an intriguing question: Is Gurgaon poised to become the next fashion and real estate hub, following in the
footsteps of Mumbai?

Fashion Industry: A Dynamic Landscape The fashion industry is an ever-evolving domain, constantly seeking new avenues for growth and innovation. Over the years, Mumbai has held the distinction of being India’s fashion capital, with its vibrant fashion weeks, designer stories, and renowned fashion houses. However, with the emergence of Gurgaon as a thriving economic center, the fashion industry landscape is undergoing a significant shift. Akhilesh Pahwa: A Trailblazer in Fashion Akhilesh Pahwa, a visionary fashion designer, has been instrumental in redefining fashion norms and seting new trends. With a deep understanding of evolving consumer preferences and a keen eye for aesthetics, Pahwa has carved a niche for himself in the industry. His decision to establish a flagship store in Gurgaon reflects his belief in the city’s immense potential.

Gurgaon: The Rising Star of Real Estate Gurgaon’s transformation from a sleepy suburb to a bustling metropolis has been nothing short of remarkable. Boasting an impressive skyline, state-of-the-art infrastructure, and a thriving corporate culture, Gurgaon has become a magnet for real estate development. The city’s strategic location, proximity to Delhi, and excellent connectivity have further fueled its growth as a major real estate hub.

The Synergy Between Fashion and Real Estate Fashion and real estate have always shared a symbiolic relationship. The presence of high-end fashion brands and designer stores oNen serves as a catalyst for real estate development. With Akhilesh Pahwa’s new store poised to become a destination for fashion enthusiasts, Gurgaon’s real estate market is expected to witness a surge in demand for commercial spaces and luxury residences.

The Road Ahead for Gurgaon As Gurgaon gains prominence in the fashion industry, it is not inconceivable that the city may eventually rival Mumbai’s status as the fashion capital of India. Gurgaon’s cosmopolitan vibe, growing disposable income, and discerning customer base make it an ideal breeding ground for fashion entrepreneurs and designers.

Conclusion: Akhilesh Pahwa’s decision to establish a new store in Gurgaon signifies the city’s emergence as a powerhouse in the fashion and real estate domains. With its rapid urbanization, strategic location, and a population eager for the latest fashion trends, Gurgaon is poised to become a formidable competitor to Mumbai’s fashion throne. As the city embraces this new chapter, all eyes are on Gurgaon to witness its remarkable journey
towards becoming the next fashion and real estate hub of India.