New Delhi, April 9: The Amity Institute of Horticulture Studies and Research (AIHSR), in collaboration with the Amity Institute of Organic Agriculture (AIOA) under the aegis of the Amity Food & Agriculture Foundation (AFAF), organized the 3rd International Conference on Recent Advances in Horticulture Research (ICRAHOR-2026). The conference was held under the theme “Next-Generation Horticulture: Technology, Sustainability and Innovation Driven Future of Farming.”

 Addressing the inaugural session, Dr. Prabhat Kumar, Horticulture Commissioner, Government of India, emphasized the critical role of science and technology in advancing the horticulture sector. He stated,

“New value chains must be created, and academic institutions must develop zero-waste technologies, post-harvest innovations, and food processing solutions to address both immediate and long-term challenges in the sector.”

Dr. Ashok K. Chauhan, Founder President, Amity Education Group, highlighted the importance of research and youth engagement in agriculture, saying,

“Innovation in this sector will accelerate India’s path to becoming a global superpower by 2047. Amity is committed to nurturing future leaders who will drive this transformation.”

Dr. Meenakshi Singh, Chief Scientist, CSIR HQ, New Delhi, underscored the need for research-led solutions, stating,

“Innovation, entrepreneurship, and novel ideas are crucial to reduce food wastage, improve shelf-life, and enhance productivity in horticulture.”

Dr. W. Selvamurthy, President, Amity Science Technology and Innovation Foundation (ASTIF), noted,

“Through collaborative research aligned with the National Agricultural Mission, this conference will drive the transformation of horticulture towards higher productivity, resilience, and profitability.”

Welcoming participants, Dr. Nutan Kaushik, Director General, AFAF, added,

“ICRAHOR-2026 provides students and researchers a platform to explore innovative solutions, adopt technological trends, and contribute to the sustainable growth of the horticulture sector.”

The two-day conference featured technical sessions on diverse topics including:

• Breeding and Biotechnological Innovation in Horticulture
• Digital Horticulture and Smart Farming
• Post-Harvest Management, Value-Addition, and Zero-Waste Horticulture
• Climate-Resilient Horticulture, Urban & Backyard Farming

Additionally, participants engaged in the Young Horti Entrepreneur Pitch Competition and Poster Presentations, encouraging innovation, entrepreneurship, and knowledge exchange in the horticulture ecosystem.

New user experience and workflows further advance leading technology for ophthalmologists

Durham, NC — April 9, 2026 — Sightview, the only electronic health record and practice management partner focused solely on eyecare, will offer early demo access to its new flagship EHR platform, named Sightview, at the 2026 ASCRS Annual Meeting. Attendees will get an interactive first look at the enhanced solution, which includes a modern, intuitive design that makes daily operations easier for ophthalmology professionals.

“Sightview is one of the most established technology partners for eyecare, and it’s critical we continue updating our offerings to keep up with the new needs and demands placed on eyecare professionals,” said Tycene Fritcher, CEO of Sightview. “Our new Sightview platform maintains the purpose-built functionality that ophthalmologists rely on, with modernized interfaces and workflows to further reduce frictions in their day-to-day tasks.”

The new solution introduces a cleaner look and feel for Sightview’s end-to-end, ophthalmology-specific EHR and PM offering. Simplified clinical and front-end processes enhance the solution’s existing single-screen exam view and make it easier to access and manage every aspect of the practice. Reimagined on a more agile platform, the new solution natively includes integrations such as automated payments and text-to-pay, clearinghouse support and claims management via TriZetto, and ONC-certified ePrescribe via DrFirst, among others.

“This more unified, streamlined platform has been in the works since my first day at Sightview,” said Fritcher. “We can’t wait for clients to experience our hard work firsthand and play around with a tool that I think will change the game for many eyecare practices across the country.”

Sightview will offer interactive demos of the new Sightview platform, which is expected to be available to existing and new Sightview practices in Q2 2026, in booth #527 at ASCRS Annual Meeting (April 10-13).

SAN ANTONIO, TX | Apr 09 — Rackspace Technology® (NASDAQ: RXT), a leading end-to-end hybrid cloud and AI solutions company, announced the appointments of Paul Soligon as Senior Vice President of Operations and Marco Tesini as Senior Vice President of International for the company’s Private Cloud business unit.

Soligon will be responsible for unifying key operational functions to drive growth and strengthen customer retention. In this role, he will lead Business and Sales Operations as well as Customer Success with a focus on advancing analytics and insights as well as elevating customer experience.

Soligon brings extensive leadership experience from over 25 years in high-growth technology environments. Most recently, he served as Senior Vice President at USAN, where he built and scaled significant new go-to-market partnerships and revenue expansion. Prior to that, he spent nearly a decade at Amazon Web Services (AWS) as Vice President and General Manager of Sales, leading a 700-person organization responsible for more than $2.2 billion in revenue and securing over $4 billion in strategic enterprise agreements.

Tesini will lead all markets outside of the US with a focus on expanding the company’s global presence, deepening customer relationships, and scaling innovative solutions. He brings more than 25 years of experience driving business transformation and profitable growth for leading IT organizations, such as Unisys and Hitachi Vantara. Most recently, Tesini served in senior leadership roles at Hitachi Vantara, where he led large-scale regional turnarounds and consistently delivered double-digit growth.

“Paul and Marco join Rackspace at a moment when demand for a governed, enterprise AI backbone is accelerating faster than most organizations can deliver against it,” said Gajen Kandiah, CEO of Rackspace Technology. He added, “Paul’s experience scaling a multi-billion-dollar business at AWS gives us the operational rigor to match that demand. Marco is a proven growth and turnaround leader who has built and rebuilt international businesses at scale, most recently at Hitachi Vantara. They strengthen our ability to do what the market increasingly needs: put AI into production on governed private cloud with the operational discipline that enterprise customers require.”

New Delhi/Hyderabad, April 2026:
Swaranjali Delhi has announced the upcoming edition of “Colours of India 2026 Hyderabad”, a vibrant celebration of Indian classical music and dance. The event, presented in association with Tatvaa Arts and RMS Audio, will take place on April 25, 2026, at the iconic B M Birla Auditorium.

Part of an ongoing series dedicated to promoting India’s rich artistic heritage, the event will feature an eclectic mix of performances by emerging talents and acclaimed artistes, offering audiences a comprehensive cultural experience.

The programme is divided into two sessions. Session 1 will highlight promising young performers, including a dance presentation by Rhythm Dance Academy, followed by vocal and sitar performances by students of Akshay Vat Sangeet Mahavidyalaya. The session will also feature taal vadya by disciples of Pt. Gajender Shewalker and vocal renditions by disciples of Swarasya Gurukulam.

Session 2 will showcase renowned artists from both Carnatic and Hindustani traditions. The line-up includes Carnatic violin recital by Vid. B. Pavan Singh, Hindustani vocal performance by Smt. Hemangi Bhagat, and a sitar recital by Pt. Rampaparnna Bhattacharjee. Accompanying artists for the evening include Shri Susamoy Mishra, Shri Vivek Kayal, Shri Rahul Deshpande, and Shri Rama Krishna, adding depth and richness to the performances.

The event will be anchored by Smt. Sikha Mahanta Nath, ensuring a seamless and engaging experience for attendees.

With support from Shreyas Webmedia Solutions Pvt. Ltd and RMS Audio Hyderabad, the event underscores a collaborative effort to promote classical arts and provide a platform for both established and emerging talent.

Open to all, Colours of India 2026 Hyderabad invites art enthusiasts, connoisseurs, and the general public to witness an immersive celebration of India’s timeless musical and dance traditions.

For further details and RSVP, interested attendees can visit the official website of Swaranjali or contact the organisers directly.

LONDON/HOUSTON/SINGAPORE, April 8, 2026 – Prolonged disruption to Middle East energy supplies could accelerate a structural shift in global energy systems, halving oil and gas import dependence by 2050 and reducing oil demand by 20% and gas demand by 10% relative to the base case. As countries prioritise energy security, demand is increasingly met through electrification, renewables, coal and nuclear, while reliance on globally traded fuels declines, according to Wood Mackenzie.

However, this shift comes with trade-offs. Energy systems become more domestic and diversified, but also more costly, while near-term emissions rise due to increased coal use before converging with the base case over the longer term. These findings are based on a new conflict scenario from Wood Mackenzie, part of its Lens Energy Transition Scenarios, which explores how sustained geopolitical instability could reshape global energy demand, supply and investment through 2050.

Crisis-driven disruption, long-term transformation

The scenario assumes a major geopolitical escalation beginning in early 2026, disrupting 15–20% of global oil and LNG supply. In the near term, oil demand falls by around 9% due to supply outages before recovering to pre-crisis levels by 2030, Wood Mackenzie noted.

Beyond 2030, structural shifts take hold as countries accelerate efforts to reduce reliance on imported fuels. Oil and gas demand declines more rapidly than in the base case, as governments prioritise domestic and diversified energy systems.

“Geopolitical crises can act as powerful catalysts for long-term system change,” said Prakash Sharma, Vice President, Scenarios & Technologies at Wood Mackenzie. “In this scenario, the world moves decisively towards energy independence, with lasting implications for global fuel demand and trade.”

Source: Wood Mackenzie Lens ETS

Electrification and efficiency at the core

Electrification and efficiency emerge as the primary pathways to energy independence. Overall power demand remains broadly in line with the base case, as lower demand from electrolytic hydrogen production is offset by wider electrification across transport, buildings and industry.

This shift reduces reliance on imported fuels while maintaining overall energy service demand.

A rebalanced energy mix

By 2050, the global energy mix shifts significantly under the conflict scenario:

• Oil demand falls 20% and gas 10%, while coal rises 20% as countries diversify supply and prioritise domestic resources
• Nuclear generation increases 40% above the base case, with both conventional and next-generation technologies scaling from the 2030s
• Renewables continue rapid expansion, forming the backbone of domestic power systems
• Hydrogen and carbon capture adoption declines, as policymakers favour more efficient and secure energy pathways

“Energy systems become more local, more diversified and less reliant on complex international trade,” said Jom Madan, Principal Analyst, Scenarios & Technologies. “Electrification and nuclear take priority, while hydrogen and carbon capture are deprioritised due to cost, efficiency and security considerations.”

Near-term coal, long-term nuclear

Coal plays a larger role in the near term as countries respond to supply shocks by maximising domestic energy sources and delaying plant retirements. Over the longer term, nuclear expands significantly, providing stable, fuel-secure baseload power as new capacity comes online from the 2030s.

Gas-fired power and hydrogen-based abatement pathways are scaled back as energy systems favour more secure and proven alternatives.

Security comes at a cost

The shift towards energy independence comes with higher system costs, as countries move away from globally optimised supply chains towards domestic production and diversified sourcing.

“Energy independence reduces exposure to external shocks, but it comes at a structural cost premium,” said Lindsey Entwistle, Principal Analyst, Scenarios & Technologies. “This creates new competitiveness challenges for energy-intensive industries, while advantaging more self-sufficient regions.”

Climate outcomes converge

Despite diverging pathways, cumulative emissions under the conflict scenario remain broadly aligned with Wood Mackenzie’s base case, tracking a 2.6°C warming trajectory. While emissions rise in the near term due to increased coal use, these are offset over time by stronger electrification and nuclear deployment.

“The scenario reaches a similar emissions outcome through a different route,” Sharma concluded. “It reflects a trade-off between near-term energy security and long-term decarbonisation, with countries ultimately relying on proven, domestically controlled technologies.”

London — 8 April 2026 — Global Citizen Solutions (“GCS”), a leading residency and citizenship planning advisory firm, through its Global Intelligence Unit, has released the Global Atlas of Risk and Readiness 2026 (GARR), a new benchmarking framework assessing how effectively countries combine structural stability with long-term growth capacity across 85 jurisdictions.

The report evaluates countries through a dual lens — structural risk and forward-looking readiness — to provide investors, globally mobile individuals, and policymakers with a clearer picture of where capital is most likely to remain protected while compounding over the long term. In an environment shaped by geopolitical fragmentation, regulatory shifts, and technological disruption, the findings point to a decisive shift: resilience, not size, is what defines investment attractiveness in 2026.

Top 5: Institutional strength defines global leadership

• Switzerland
• Germany
• Singapore
• Ireland
• Finland

Europe leads — but not all European economies equally

Seven of the top ten countries in the GARR rankings are European, with Switzerland (1st), Germany (2nd), Ireland (4th), Finland (5th), Denmark (6th), the Netherlands (7th), and Austria (8th) all placing within the global elite. Europe’s dominance reflects the structural premium now placed on regulatory predictability, institutional depth, and regional integration — characteristics deeply embedded across the continent and reinforced through coordinated policy frameworks.

Switzerland leads the overall ranking with a score of 93.73, combining financial sophistication, innovation capacity, and near-universal strength across governance and human capital indicators. Germany ranks 2nd overall but leads the entire dataset on readiness at 91.87 — the highest readiness score of any country assessed — reflecting industrial depth, economic diversification, and a human capital base unmatched in the region.

The UK at 21st: strong foundations, a widening readiness gap

The United Kingdom ranks 21st globally with an overall score of 88.68, classified by the GARR as ‘Advanced and Stable’. The UK retains genuine structural strengths: deep and liquid capital markets and institutional foundations that continue to attract long-term investment. Its low risk score reflects a country where the fundamentals remain sound.

The GARR measures countries across two equally weighted pillars: structural risk and forward-looking readiness. The UK’s risk score of 63.61 places it among the lower-risk economies globally — a genuine strength. But its readiness score of 80.96 ranks it only 28th, well below its overall position of 21st. It is the strength of the UK’s risk profile that lifts its overall ranking; on readiness alone, the picture is more complex.

Ireland makes the point with force. Ranking 4th overall with a score of 92.45 — seventeen places and nearly four points above the UK — Ireland places 9th globally on readiness, demonstrating what deep regional integration, regulatory alignment, and governance consistency can deliver at scale. For a country of 5.4 million people to outperform the UK by this margin across both pillars is analytically significant. The GARR framework attributes Ireland’s strength to precisely the structural advantages the UK has moved further from since 2016: frictionless access to European capital, talent, and regulatory frameworks, and the institutional confidence that comes with full membership of a coordinated economic bloc.

“In today’s global economy, capital flows to resilience, and the data shows that institutional strength, not size, is the defining factor behind sustainable investment performance. Europe’s dominance in this year’s rankings is no accident — it reflects decades of investment in the institutional foundations that capital increasingly demands. And the performance of economies like Switzerland or Singapore, prove that in a fragmented world, agility and governance depth matter far more than scale,” said Patricia Casaburi, CEO of Global Citizen Solutions.

Singapore: further proof that biggest isn’t best

Singapore ranks 3rd overall with a score of 92.60 — above the United States, and the only Asian economy to break into the global top tier. It records the lowest risk score of any country in the dataset while ranking 11th globally on readiness, with exceptional digital infrastructure, AI capability, and human capital. The report classifies Singapore as a global node of capital, innovation, and connectivity, demonstrating how strategic positioning and institutional coherence can more than compensate for limited geographic or demographic scale.

A world pulling apart – Mind the gap

Across the 85 jurisdictions assessed, the GARR finds a global system that is fragmenting rather than converging. A compact group of highly resilient economies — concentrated in Europe and anchored by strategic hubs in Asia and the Gulf — is pulling further ahead. Below them, a broader set of countries, including several major economies, faces the challenge of converting existing strengths into the kind of structural readiness that long-term capital increasingly demands.

For investors, the implication is clear: the question is no longer where risks are lowest, but where they are most effectively managed.

The full GARR report is available at globalcitizensolutions.com.