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Vasant Vihar, February 12, 2024 –

Anandini Suri, a Grade 11 student at Modern School Vasant Vihar, has been awarded the Junior Astitva Samman 2024 for her groundbreaking project, “Artificial Intelligence vs Real World Hunger: A New Approach to Solving Mankind’s Oldest Problem.”

Anandini’s project has received widespread recognition for its unique approach to addressing one of humanity’s most pressing challenges – hunger. Her utilization of artificial intelligence to tackle real-world hunger issues can be benefecial in tackling the realtime issues related to it.

In addition to receiving the Junior Astitva Samman 2024, Anandini Suri has also been acknowledged by the UN World Food Programme (UNWFP) for her exceptional efforts in combatting hunger on a global scale. This recognition further underscores the significance of her work and its potential impact on alleviating food insecurity worldwide.

Anandini’s dedication, creativity, and passion for addressing societal issues serve as an inspiration to her peers and educators alike. Her achievement not only reflects positively on Modern School Vasant Vihar but also highlights the school’s commitment to nurturing innovative thinkers and changemakers.

In her project report, Anandini Suri highlighted following points:

• One of the main aims is to raise awareness about food waste and to inspire individuals to adopt more sustainable practices.
• Educating people and raising awareness is the first and most crucial step to prevent food wastage.

• Eradicating food waste from the agricultural level to the consumption level will be the only way to completely end world hunger.

February 2024, National – Thomas Crick, the quintessential footwear brand renowned for its timeless craftsmanship and elegance, invites you to step into romance this Valentine’s Day with the exquisite collection of shoes. Every collection brings a rich legacy of premium quality men’s leather footwear with a contemporary twist. Let this Valentine’s Day add style, comfort and timeless romance to your life by making your loved one feel special in innumerable ways.

With a strong focus on innovation, comfort, and style, Thomas Crick is set to become the go-to gift for your loved one seeking exceptional value and quality love. Whether you’re searching a gift for your partner, or pampering yourself to a special indulgence, adding the oomph to your style statement, Thomas Crick has you covered.

The Black Chelsea: Strike the perfect balance of style and comfort with this pair of black casual boots from THOMAS CRICK. The TPR sole offers an exceptional grip and balance, while the full grain leather upper completes the classy look of this pair of casual boots. Ideal for every fashion-conscious man, ideal for all casual occasions, it can be teamed with a pair of pants and a shirt to look fashionable.

Bordo Derby Biker Boots: Elevate your casual footwear collection with this stylish pair of bordo casual boots from THOMAS CRICK. The TPR sole is slip-resistant and offers complete traction on most surfaces. These casual boots come with full grain leather upper which is stylish and also ensures optimum comfort. It can be worn with a T-shirt and a pair of denim.

Teak Monk Shoe: Make a strong style statement with this trendy and comfortable pair of teak monk shoes from THOMAS CRICK. This pair comes with a nappa leather upper, and its sole is made of premium quality rubber to ensure longevity. It will keep your feet relaxed throughout the day. The pair is ideal for formal occasions and can be teamed with a pair of trousers and a shirt.

Hyderabad, India – February 12th, 2024: In response to a growing need to understand the state of Indian Boards, the Indian School of Business (ISB) Executive Education has released the ‘India Corporate Governance Scorecard – 2024’. Conducted by Sanjay Kallapur, Professor, ISB, Nirmalya Kumar, Professor, SMU, and Harish Raichandani (adjunct faculty), ISB, the empirical report, based on a survey of directors from Indian Companies, offers insights into the prevailing practices and challenges in corporate governance.

The study evaluated corporate governance in nine areas across three dimensions: Guidance and Oversight, Board Functioning, and Leadership. The responding directors provided perspectives on boards of different types of companies, viz., professionally managed companies, promoter/ family-owned, multinational corporations, Indian conglomerates, and the PSUs.

A few of the highlights from their findings include:

· The scorecard reveals the varying degrees of satisfaction (percentage of directors responding “satisfied” or “highly satisfied”) across three dimensions: Board Leadership – 82%, Board Functioning – 73%, and Guidance & Oversight – 71%

· Directors demonstrate strong board effectiveness, marked by leadership acumen, a vibrant culture of collaboration, effective Board-CEO engagement, and commitment to their roles

· Directors exhibit a dichotomy in risk oversight, with high confidence in regulatory compliance at 95%, yet mixed vigilance over obsolescence and technology risks at 68% and 72%, respectively

· Strategic oversight emerges as a critical area for improvement, with only 68% satisfaction, indicating a potential blind spot in Indian boardrooms’ competencies

Emphasising the goal of the Scorecard released, Sanjay Kallapur, Professor, Accounting at ISB, said, “Corporate governance is a driver of value creation and competitive advantage for companies. The India Corporate Governance Scorecard 2024 is a pioneering initiative that offers a valuable benchmark for Indian companies to compare their corporate governance performance with their peers and identify areas for improvement. The report aims to serve as a catalyst for constructive dialogue and action among various stakeholders, such as regulators, investors, board members, executives, and academics, to foster a culture of excellence and innovation in corporate governance in India.”

The findings further equip ISB Executive Education to create more relevant corporate governance programmes, such as the ‘Powering High-Performance Boards’. With only one in 4 directors certifying that their board takes steps to educate/ train them, the demand for ISB’s board education services will likely increase further. The survey reveals that the directors require more regular updates on risks and regulatory aspects and keep abreast of industry changes.

Nirmalya Kumar, Professor, Marketing, Singapore Management University and visiting faculty, ISB who specialises in Strategy and Marketing, expressed concern at the low scores on the initiative taken by Indian directors to obtain information from independent sources and strategic oversight. He says, “The growth of Indian economy and the companies that comprise it will lead to burgeoning demand for board members. However, for boards to effectively fulfil their role on behalf of shareholders they must balance the time spent on compliance currently with greater attention to the strategic direction of the company.” Board members also expressed concerns about their engagement between meetings, needing more independent information sources, and staying updated on industry trends. The lack of mechanisms for addressing issues with ‘problematic’ directors and the need for a ‘devil’s advocate’ in decision-making were also noted.

It was not a surprise to see PSUs lagging on most of the scores; this is an opportunity for the concerned government ministries to focus and set new corporate governance benchmarks. The survey provided directors with an opportunity to voice their observations and concerns. Although they voted high on the oversight of compliances, their concern is that competent professionals are shying away from taking up Independent Director roles due to excessive focus from regulators.

Harish Raichandani, adjunct faculty and researcher at ISB, echoed director sentiments concerning directors’ true independence and a need to improve independent director selection and succession planning processes. To improve corporate governance, 22% of directors see the need to improve Board Composition and 31% of directors see a need to improve the flow of information to their Boards. Many voiced the need to focus on Board agenda related processes and offered suggestions to improve the same. Only 45% of directors believe that they have a robust whistle-blower mechanism in place

Manchester United and Norwegian Footballing legend – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer – has arrived in India for a 3 city tour to interact with Manchester United fans in India.
Thousands of Manchester United fans across India thronged to the Mumbai airport to get a glimpse of one of their favourite football players and get a chance to interact with him.

Members of the Manchester United Supporters’ Club of Hyderabad (MUSCH) also made the journey early in the morning to meet with Ole Gunnar.
Taking the opportunity to interact with him, the MUSCH members presented the Legend with a miniature replica of Charminar – Hyderabad’s everlasting pride.
Upon receiving the token of appreciation and Hyderabadi love, Ole was touched and expressed his excitement at being welcomed with a prestigious gift.

MUSCH is one of the most active Fan club chapters that Manchester United has around the globe. With match screenings and global membership being offered by MUSCH to all Manchester United fans in and around Hyderabad, the Supporters’ club is in their own words “keeping the red flag flying high”

Sony Entertainment Television’s intriguing narrative, ‘Dabangii – Mulgi Aayi Re Aayi’, has kept the audience riveted with Arya’s quest to find her father; and entering into a world of hidden secrets and entangled relationships that turned her life upside down.

 In the ongoing track, Satya (Aamir Dalvi) uncovers the shocking truth that Arya is his long-lost daughter, leaving him flustered. However, he is put to the ultimate test when Kasturi’s (Himani Chawla) cunning schemes drive him to conspire against Arya. Amidst the turmoil, Arya’s uncle and foster father, Ankush (Manav Gohil) sacrifices himself to shield Arya, leaving her to grapple with the aftermath of the familial betrayal. And, as the story unfolds, viewers will witness a 14-year leap, catapulting the narrative into new territory, brimming with Arya’s vengeance. Stepping into the shoes of a grown-up Arya post-leap will be the talented actor, Rachana Mistry. Disguised as Aira and driven by an urge for justice, Arya, still embodying her Dabangii spirit but with newfound maturity, seeks retribution for the murders of her Aai, Chhaya, and Baba Ankush.

India, 12th February: Sagar Pictures Entertainment, rooted in the storytelling legacy of Ramanand Sagar, in association with the Manav Ekta Mission, proudly presented the Mumbai premiere of the award-winning documentary ‘Walking With M’ at the Royal Opera House in Mumbai.

The documentary, 7 years in the making, made with over 1800 hours of archival footage, is a cinematic marvel directed by the visionary Akash Sagar Chopra. The 1hr 37min feature, unveiled the monumental journey of Padmabhushan Awardee and Best-Selling Author Sri M, as he embarked on an epic 7,500-kilometer odyssey across India, traversing 11 states from Kanyakumari to Kashmir.

Amidst the cacophony of a divided world, the central plot of ‘Walking With’ is based on one of India’s ancient ideologies scripted in the Rig Veda – ‘Sang Gachattavam’ which translates to, may we walk together – that gave rise to The Walk of Hope 2015-2016, now hailed as the longest peace march in the history of India. Led by of Sri M, Mumtaz Ali (recipient of the Padma Bhushan award in 2020) an Indian spiritual author, educationist, and an advocate for peace, The Walk of Hope or the Asha Yatra marks an arduous journey of 80 travelers who tried to bridge the chasms of discord across India, with the singular aim of bringing the diversity of India together.

At the premiere, Sri M expressed, “We may have differences which cannot be overcome, yet at our core, we’re all human beings and thus one. This timeless wisdom, deeply rooted in our ancient Indian culture, was the message we aimed to share during the ‘Walk of Hope’ padyatra. At its core, “Walking With M” embodies the indomitable spirit of humanity and traces the story behind one man’s unfathomable attempt to ignite a flame of hope and peace in a world gripped by turmoil.”

The Walk of Hope captivated the hearts of millions in India and abroad who joined the movement over a period of 16 transformative months in the year 2015-16. The Yatra was greeted warmly by state chief ministers and the Honorable Prime Minister, who acknowledged and lauded the efforts of Sri M to explore the spirit of India.

“Covering over 7,500km from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, we traversed through diverse villages, towns and cities where we learnt a lot. More than what we could share, we ourselves discovered the true essence of Bharat— which we realised is truly united at its heart.” He further added.

The film maker and director Akash Sagar Chopra, “Walking With M’ stands as a testament to the enduring qualities of the human spirit in the face of adversity. In a world full of violence and discord, the story of Sri M’s walk of hope lends a unique perspective to understanding ‘the other’ who also walks beside you. My attempt with this documentary is to give everyone an opportunity to be part of this transformative 7500km journey and witness an unseen movement of global history— with an experience that leaves you feeling like you’ve walked alongside Sri M and his fellow travelers during the ‘Walk of Hope 2015-2016’ while exploring the diverse, beautiful, and ever-changing landscape of India.”

Resonating with the audience of over 600, a full house at the premiere, the film received a remarkable 7-minute standing ovation. Sagar Pictures Entertainment announced that all proceedings from this film and its collections going forward will be donated to the cause of Manav Ekta Mission.

‘Walking With M’ has garnered international acclaim, with a successful run across 8 European countries, screening at a diverse “community film festival” circuit to reach as many communities as possible. The film has also won several accolades such as Winner of Best Documentary at Film Fest International (Berlin FFI) 2023, Winner of the Global Peace Award at The International Film Festival The Hague, as well as nominations for Best Director of a Documentary, Historical Interest Award, and Best Editing of a Documentary.

The documentary has also been recognized at prestigious film festivals including the Athens International Monthly Art Film Festival, Scandinavian International Film Awards, Stockholm City Film Festival, Paradise Film Festival in Budapest, Film South Asia in Nepal, and the Swedish International Film Festival, where it was honored with the Outstanding Achievement Best Documentary Feature Length award.

‘Walking With M’ is now scheduled to have multiple screenings across many Indian cities and educational institutes, and Sagar Pictures is already in talks with distribution partners for a worldwide release.

Bangalore, 12th February 2024: In a celebration as sweet as love itself, Sapna, India’s largest book mall and Juggernaut Books announced the successful launch of Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni’s newest gem, “An Uncommon Love: The Early Life of Sudha and Narayana Murthy.” The magical evening unfolded on the 10th of February in Bangalore, commemorating the 46th wedding anniversary of the iconic couple.

“An Uncommon Love,” published by Juggernaut Books, delves into the love saga of Narayana and Sudha Murthy in a manner that not only touches the heart but also tickles the funny bone. Guided by the literary finesse of Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, the creative force behind bestsellers like “The Palace of Illusions,” this collaboration with the Murthys weaves a narrative that exudes charm and authenticity.

Chitra intricately handpicks significant incidents and conversations from the couple’s lives, expertly moulding the narrative to encapsulate their growth. Through carefully chosen events, “An Uncommon Love” skilfully transports readers to a distinct time and place, offering a compelling journey into the essence of the characters’ evolution and their loved ones as well.

Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, with her signature blend of humour and heart, expressed, “Writing ‘An Uncommon Love’ has been an enchanting journey. The Murthys not only shared their story but also their laughter, making this book a celebration of love, life, and a good sense of humour.”

On this special day, Sapna invited Murthy family, including Akshata and Rohan, as they gathered to celebrate four decades of love and companionship. The launch wasn’t just a book but a love-infused experience, adorned with heart-warming conversations with Narayana Murthy, Sudha Murty, and Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni.

12th February 2024, Mumbai: With anticipation reaching its peak for the global extravaganza, the Miss World Organization officially announced that the 71st Miss World Grand Finale will take place on 9th March at Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai.

Photo Caption:

Pre-launch event hosted by The Miss World Organization in Mumbai today at Aurika, Mumbai Skycity with Current Miss World Ms. Karolina Bielawska and three past Miss World Winners, Ms. Toni Ann Singh, Ms. Vanessa Ponce De Leon, and Ms. Stephanie Del Valle along with Chairman and CEO of the Miss World Organization, Ms. Julia Morley CBE, marking their collective appearance.

Indore, 12 February 2024: Celebrating meaningful relationships and everlasting love, De Beers Forevermark showcases the classic Forevermark Icon Collection, encapsulating the moment of forever with natural, beautiful diamonds this Valentine’s Day.

 Designed to represent the brilliance of the stars in the night sky, the Forevermark Icon collection is perfect for partners who seek to celebrate their unique journey or for those who want to capture a significant moment from their time together.

 Crafted to maximize the radiance of a beautiful, natural diamond at its heart, the Forevermark Icon collection comprises of stylish earrings, asymmetric bangles, distinctive rings, and contemporary pendants, crafted from 18K yellow, white, and rose gold. With designs featuring ornate openwork, colourful enamel, pavé set diamonds, and various diamond shapes, the Forevermark Icon collection is contemporary and effortless fine jewellery that can be worn on its own or layered with other favourite pieces to create a unique statement.

 The Forevermark Icon Collection is a curated selection of meticulously crafted pieces designed to capture the essence of romance and sophistication. Each item in this collection embodies the spirit of eternal love, making it the perfect choice for commemorating cherished moments and expressing heartfelt sentiments.

 “The Forevermark Icon Collection embodies the essence of everlasting love and cherished commitments. Crafted with the modern consumer in mind, these timeless designs blend classic simplicity with elegant sophistication. Perfect for everyday wear, they serve as a cherished reminder of those unforgettable moments. This Valentine’s Day, we invite couples to explore the iconic pieces within our collection, each meticulously crafted to symbolize the enduring nature of their relationships.” Stated Amit Pratihari, Vice President at De Beers Forevermark.

 De Beers Forevermark understands the significance of Valentine’s Day as a time to cherish and celebrate the special connections that enrich our lives. With the Forevermark Icon Collection, couples can express their love and appreciation with timeless elegance and sophistication.

Bengaluru February 12, 2024: Valentine’s Day marks as a special occasion dedicated to love, romance, and heartfelt gestures. Indulge in the beauty of finely crafted jewellery as you explore ORRA’s Valentines Day Special Box Set, a symbol of affection and admiration.

Valentine’s Day embodies the essence of expressing love through gestures that transcend time. It’s about cherishing those closest to our hearts with gifts that embody eternity and utmost significance. Among these timeless tokens, diamonds stand as luminous symbol of enduring love and everlasting commitment. Their brilliance mirrors the unbreakable bond shared between our loved ones, promising a relationship that lasts lifetime. Gifting a diamond on Valentine’s Day isn’t just about the sparkle; it’s about encapsulating the depth of emotions in a breath-taking indication.

ORRA Fine Jewellery, renowned for its commitment to superior quality, presents a meticulously curated all-in-one box set. This exquisite set promises diligently crafted design that will captivate the hearts of your beloved ones on this affectionate occasion. Comprising a breathtaking neckpiece, perfectly matched dainty earrings and an elegant bracelet, this set is the ideal gift for not just your loved ones, but also for yourself. A standout feature of this box set is its unbeatable price of just ₹149,999/-, making luxury accessible without compromise. Additionally, one can delve into the enchantment of 2.5 carat solitaire-look earrings, a timeless essential for this love season, and treat yourself and your loved ones to the blend of style and elegance.

Explore the diverse range of offerings, from dazzling diamond neckpieces adorned with coloured stones to intricated solitaire designs. ORRA offers exclusive discounts, special offers for the carefully curated collections now available in-store, promising a sophisticated style statement for every discerning customer.

· Up to 25% off on diamond jewellery (for a limited period) *

· 0% interest on EMI facilities*

· 100% exchange on old gold*

· Free Shagun gold coin on diamond jewellery purchase*