Hyderabad, 4th February 2025: Odisha Tourism’s campaign to boost inbound and domestic tourism began today with a roadshow in Hyderabad. The event, organised in association with FICCI, witnessed 40+ travel operators and other tourism stakeholders from Hyderabad engaged in a series of B2B interactions.

Odisha is actively promoting its tourism sector within domestic markets by showcasing its diverse attractions, including cultural heritage monuments, waterfalls, wildlife, local cuisine, hills, and Buddhist circuits. This effort is further enhanced by the popular Eco Retreat Odisha, a three-month glamping festival that has gained widespread recognition. The roadshow, held at Taj Krishna, Hyderabad, was marked by a series of informative sessions and interactive engagements with travel operators and tourism stakeholders from Hyderabad.

Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister Smt. Pravati Parida graced the roadshow and said, “Our unwavering commitment fosters a pro-investment environment, providing robust support for businesses. Backed by unmatched destinations and serene landscapes, opportunities across diverse tourism sub sectors, Odisha presents a golden opportunity for investors to build, grow, and thrive in one of India’s most promising tourism markets.”

She emphasized Odisha’s growing importance on the tourism map of India. Her address underscored the state government’s commitment to enhancing the tourism sector and creating an inviting environment for tourists and investors alike.

Commissioner-cum-Secretary Tourism Shri Balwant Singh highlighted the State’s extensive tourism potential and efforts to make Odisha a key destination for domestic travellers. Deliberating on the excellent road network Odisha has that connects with neighbouring States, he highlighted Odisha’s diverse tourist destinations emphasizing on the state’s potential as a premier destination for both domestic and international travellers. His presentation focused on opportunities for investors and tourism stakeholders, outlining the state’s commitment to creating a seamless environment for collaboration and growth in the sector, with a special focus on strategic investments and infrastructure development.

Shri Lokesh Kumar, Head, PMU Odisha Tourism, delivered the welcome address, inviting everyone to explore Odisha first-hand. He emphasised that the government is aiming to make the experience as smooth as possible, so that all involved parties like DTOs, DMCs and investors can maximize their potential and contribute to the growth of the sector.

The event also included a series of Interactive Q&A sessions with the stakeholders, where travel operators, tour agencies, and other tourism-related businesses from Hyderabad engaged in meaningful discussions with the Odisha Tourism delegation. These sessions facilitated valuable Business-to-Business (B2B) interactions, which are expected to strengthen ties between Odisha and Hyderabad’s travel industry. One of the major highlights of the session was the proposal for Odisha’s inclusion in prominent Tourism Plazas, which would enhance the visibility and accessibility of the state’s rich tourism offerings. Another important discussion centred around the promotion of wellness tourism in Odisha. With the increasing global interest in wellness and holistic travel experiences, the stakeholders suggested several ideas for leveraging Odisha’s natural beauty, serene landscapes, and traditional wellness practices to establish the state as a top wellness destination.

Later in the day, the Odisha Tourism delegation held a meeting with 12+ potential investors (B2G meetings) from the travel and tourism fraternity to discuss opportunities for investment in the state’s burgeoning tourism infrastructure.

Odisha Tourism delegation, led by Smt. Pravati Parida, Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister Odisha also met Mr. Rohit Matta, Director Sensation Infracom Pvt. Ltd, Chairman & MD (Formula 4) Mr Akhilesh Reddy N. During the discussion, talks were initiated to explore the development of hotels, resorts, concert-led infrastructure in Odisha in collaboration with the Department of Tourism. The proposed partnerships shall aim to enhance the state’s hospitality infrastructure, offering a broader range of accommodation options for both domestic and international tourists.

Mumbai, February 4, 2025: The 19th edition of Bal Parishad, Salaam Bombay Foundation’s pioneering children’s health convention, took place at Shri Gauridutt Mittal Vidyalaya & Junior College, Sion, bringing together young health advocates from government schools to voice their concerns and solutions for a healthier future. This year’s event marked a historic first with the launch of the Young Changemakers Award, honouring exceptional student leaders who have actively contributed to creating tobacco-free schools and healthier communities.

Unlike conventional student councils or mock parliaments, often seen in private schools, Bal Parishad is one of the few platforms in the country where students from under-resourced government schools take the lead in addressing pressing public health challenges. Through a series of interactive discussions and presentations, these young changemakers showcased their year-long efforts in tobacco control, mental health advocacy, nutrition awareness, and sustainability initiatives.

The event was graced by an esteemed panel, including Dr. Krishna Methekar, Joint Director, FSSAI, Govt. of India, Dr. Duryodhan Chavan, Deputy Director, Health Department, Govt. of Maharashtra, and Mrs. Manisha Pawar, Deputy Director, Regional Academic Authority, Education Department, Mumbai. The panellists engaged in Q&A sessions with students, offering valuable insights, encouragement, and support for their initiatives.

The Young Changemakers Award 2025, introduced this year, recognised outstanding student-led initiatives in four key areas—tobacco control, mental well-being, nutrition, and community health awareness. The winners were lauded for their grassroots efforts in sensitising peers, engaging local shopkeepers to stop tobacco sales to minors, setting up kitchen gardens for better nutrition, and organising health camps to spread awareness of non-communicable diseases.

Tshering Bhutia, Senior Vice President, Preventive Health, Salaam Bombay Foundation, emphasised the long-term vision of Bal Parishad, stating, “This initiative is more than an event—it is a platform for students who inspire change. By empowering students with knowledge to create a dialogue for change, we are fostering a generation of young leaders who are shaping healthier communities from within.”

In a new breakthrough, researchers at Seoul National University of Science and Technology (SEOULTECH) have developed a novel bioink made from Kombucha SCOBY-derived nanocellulose, which provides a scaffold that supports cell growth for tissue repair. The bioink can be directly applied to the damaged areas through a handheld biopen, making it ideal for direct in vivo tissue engineering of wounds and complex defects, particularly in emergency and first-aid settings.

Tissue engineering utilizes 3D printing and bioink to grow human cells on scaffolds, creating replacements for damaged tissues like skin, cartilage, and even organs. A team of researchers led by Professor Insup Noh from Seoul National University of Science and Technology, Republic of Korea, has developed a bioink using nanocellulose derived from Kombucha SCOBY (Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast) as the scaffold material. The biomaterial offers a sustainable alternative to conventional options, and it can be loaded onto a hand-held ‘Biowork’ biopen, also developed by the same team. The digital biopen allows the precise application of bioink to damaged defected areas, such as irregular cartilage and large skin wounds, paving the way for more personalized and effective in vivo tissue repair, eliminating the need for in vitro tissue engineering processes.

This paper was made available online on 28 October 2024 and subsequently published in Volume 282, Part 3, of the International Journal of Biological Macromolecules on 1 December 2024.

“Our prefabricated nanocellulose hydrogel network from symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast has the potential to be used as a platform bioink for in vivo tissue engineering by loading all types of biomolecules and drugs and direct bioprinting,” says Prof. Noh.

Kombucha SCOBY is a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast used to ferment green tea. The microorganisms produce cellulose, which is biodegradable and compatible with cells. However, the nanocellulose derived from Kombucha SCOBY has an entangled structure, which requires modification for 3D bioprinting. This involves adjusting its rheological properties (how it flows) and mechanical properties to improve extrusion and maintain structural integrity after printing.

The researchers accomplished this by partially hydrolyzing nanocellulose with acetic acid, breaking glucose bonds and disentangling the network for its bioprintablity. However, this treatment lacked control of its properties, leading to a reduction of its structural strength. The team reinforced the nanocellulose with chitosan (positively charged) and kaolin (negatively charged) nanoparticles. These chitosan and kaolin particles interact with cellulose through electrostatic forces, forming a stable hydrogel suitable for 3D bioprinting.

The bioink was prepared by mixing the ingredients, including live cells, within a biopen. Digitally controlled, two counter-rotating screws within the biopen uniformly mixed the ingredients, creating a homogeneous bioink that could be directly applied through a needle onto damaged tissue. When attached to a 3D bioprinter, the biopen enabled the creation of multilayer, self-standing structures with high resolution, such as bifurcated tubes and pyramids exceeding 1 cm in height. The biopen was also used for direct in situ layer-by-layer printing of irregularly shaped defects. Using it, the researchers accurately filled 3D-printed cranium and femoral head molds with designed defects.

The bioink and digital biopen combination offers a cost-effective solution for treating large areas and irregularly shaped wounds without any in vitro tissue regeneration process, particularly in emergency and first-aid situations. “This technology allows for a quick and easy one-step process where the drug and hydrogel are mixed and immediately applied on-site to injured areas of different shapes,” says Prof. Noh.

Bangaluru, 05/February/2025: Hotelogix, a globally leading cloud-based hospitality technology provider, announced the integration of its comprehensive Hotel Property Management System (Hotel PMS) with Profitroom’s Booking Engine platform. As a significant development in the hospitality industry, this partnership aims to improve direct booking capabilities for hospitality businesses across the globe, leading to enhanced revenue.

With this integration, Hotelogix’s hotel partners looking for a reliable solution to improve their direct sales can now easily access Profitroom’s guest-centric 360° Booking Engine solution. Similarly, it will also enable hotels using the Profitroom solution to gain access to Hotelogix’s widely-used and highly-trusted cloud-based Hotel Property Management System (Hotel PMS), further elevating their operational efficiency and guest experience.

“We’re thrilled about this integration with Profitroom, a widely used solution that would empower Hotelogix users to drive direct bookings via their websites. This partnership reflects our dedication to providing outstanding value, improving guest experiences, and boosting revenue in a highly competitive market,” stated Aditya Sanghi, CEO of Hotelogix.

Based in Poland, Profitroom stands out as a premier provider of booking solutions, enhancing direct booking performances for more than 3,500 hotels and resorts globally—some have seen direct bookings soar by as much as 96%. Their platform effortlessly unifies direct reservations on hotel websites with various distribution channels while automating marketing efforts, optimizing SEO and SEM strategies, and offering opportunities for cross-selling and upselling, among other features.

“Our partnership with a leading global hotel property management system like Hotelogix is poised to revolutionize the hospitality industry. This collaboration offers a cutting-edge technology stack that will enable hotels to improve operational efficiency and increase direct booking capabilities,” said Marcin Dragan, CEO of Profitroom.

Bengaluru, February 04, 2025 – NURA AI Health Screening, a collaboration between Fujifilm Healthcare and Dr. Kutty’s Healthcare, proudly celebrates the 4th anniversary of its Bengaluru facility. Since its inception, the centre has screened over 20,000 individuals, identifying critical health risks and saving more than 1,500 lives through the early detection of cancer and other lifestyle-driven diseases.

NURA’s Bengaluru centre has been at the forefront of fostering a culture of preventive healthcare by providing quick, comprehensive health screenings powered by advanced AI technology. With its mission to make early detection accessible and effective, NURA continues to transform lives and promote a healthier future for the community.

“At NURA, we are proud to serve the people of Bengaluru and contribute to their health and well-being. Early detection is the cornerstone of our mission to reduce the burden of lifestyle-driven diseases and cancer. By leveraging advanced AI technology, we can help individuals take proactive steps toward better health,” said Dr. Bilal Thangal T M, Medical Lead, NURA.

NURA’s Bengaluru centre utilizes REILI AI technology and Pixel Shine imaging with ultra-low-dose radiation to screen multiple organs, including the lungs, liver, kidneys, heart, pancreas, and bones, ensuring a comprehensive health assessment. Starting with 5 cancer parameters, the centre has now expanded its screening capabilities to include 10 cancer parameters, with plans for further advancements in the near future.

Looking ahead, NURA aims to increase its capacity by 50%, enabling it to serve even more people every day. To further encourage the adoption of health screenings, NURA continues to run educational campaigns, social media initiatives, and on-ground activities, spreading awareness about the critical role of early diagnosis in saving lives.

India, February 4, 2025 – Cloudflare, Inc., the leading connectivity cloud company, today announced a new, one-click solution for content creators and publishers to seamlessly preserve the digital history of an image–from how an image was created, and by whom, to edits and resizes–across the Cloudflare network. By attaching this digital ‘nutrition label,’ or Content Credentials, directly to an image, creators can be credited for their work and consumers can easily verify the origin and alterations of digital content. Content Credentials is based on standards from the Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA), an open technical standard providing publishers, creators, and consumers the ability to trace the origin of different types of media. In addition, Cloudflare has also joined the Content Authenticity Initiative (CAI), an Adobe-led community of over 4,000 members globally committed to driving mainstream support and adoption for Content Credentials as the global standard for content provenance and authenticity.

 The ability to instantly share photos globally on the Internet comes with a potential drawback: once uploaded, it becomes difficult to verify an image’s authenticity. The rise of generative artificial intelligence (AI) has accelerated this challenge by lowering the barriers to image manipulation. It is easier than ever to create highly convincing fake photos, which can make it difficult for consumers to understand what is trustworthy. If a photo of a celebrity endorsing a product or a video of UFOs goes viral, the ability to confirm if it was taken with a smartphone or camera, or wholly created using an AI tool, can provide critical context to help consumers make informed decisions.

 “The future of the Internet depends on trust and authenticity,” said Matthew Prince, co-founder and CEO, Cloudflare. “By integrating Content Credentials across our global network, we can help media and news organizations to verify authenticity and maintain ownership of their work, wherever it moves online. This isn’t just about securing individual images—it’s about giving publishers the tools they need to preserve trust and remain relevant in the age of AI.”

 “Cloudflare’s implementation of Content Credentials is a major win for Content Credentials, particularly at the final stages of the content creation and management lifecycle” said Andy Parsons, Senior Director Content Authenticity at Adobe. “Ensuring these credentials are always available at the edge provides valuable ‘trust signals,’ ensuring those who interact with content online have confidence in what they engage with, especially with the rise of generative AI and deepfakes. Cloudflare helps strengthen the integrity of digital content, supporting content authenticity for news organizations and journalists, while also enabling creators to maintain proper attribution.”

New Delhi, 4th February 2025: Fanta, the flavourful beverage brand of Coca-Cola India, is back with an all-new campaign, ‘Fanta Mangta,’ featuring the ever-charming Brand Ambassador Kartik Aaryan. This campaign celebrates Gen Z’s pursuit of what they love—because when you crave something this delicious, nothing else will do.

For decades, Fanta has been more than just a beverage— Bright, fun, delicious and bursting with flavour, it has always been the go-to choice for those who embrace joy without hesitation. With this campaign, the brand dives deeper into the thrill of cravings, encouraging everyone to not let anything come in the way of their cravings, and the biggest craving of them all – is Fanta.

Bringing the idea of “Aur Kuch Nahi Mangta, Sirf Fanta Mangta” to life, the campaign film flips the script on indulgence – that one moment when the only answer is Fanta’s lip-smacking deliciousness. With his signature spontaneity and charm, Kartik Aaryan makes Fanta the ultimate companion—perfect for every mood, moment, and impulse.

Sumeli Chatterjee, Senior Category Director, Sparkling Flavours, Coca-Cola India and South-West Asia, shared, “A youngster’s life is very busy, but they always find time to attend to their daily cravings. The lip-smacking deliciousness of Fanta is a perfect solution to all cravings. The new campaign Fanta-Mangta is a fun and playful twist to urge teens to take some time out to indulge their cravings. With Kartik Aryan’s charisma and the reimagined 1980’s music, the campaign lives on the nostalgia trend, blending the nostalgia with a touch of modern interpretation.”

Mukund Olety – Creative Head of StudioX, INSWA and Chief Creative Officer of VML, India – “When you crave for something delicious, no amount of money, gold or fame can satiate you. You need a Fanta. To bring this thought to life, we have a quirky storyline and a very memorable track that ties it all together. I can’t stop humming!”

“Being part of the Fanta Mangta campaign has been a Fun experience! Fanta makes every moment lively, and exciting. It’s all about enjoying life and embracing what you crave, without a second thought,” said Kartik Aaryan, the face of the campaign.

Mumbai, February 4, 2025 – Vantage Knowledge Academy, a BSE listed recognized leader in global modern finance education is proud to announce its association with Marwadi University, one of the top universities in Gujarat, to offer university programs to students in Mumbai. Together, they will offer MBA Finance with CPA (Certified Public Accountant) and MBA Finance with CMT (Chartered Market technician) courses. This collaboration will witness the introduction of specialized finance and accounts aimed at nurturing the next generation of global finance leaders.

Aiming to disrupt the financial education space, this collaborative partnership with internationally recognized curriculum, will benefit students to meet the demands of an evolving global finance landscape. By integrating real-world applications, globally recognized and expert faculty, and advanced resources, this association will ensure students are well-equipped to take on leadership roles in finance sectors not just in India but worldwide.

Vantage Knowledge Academy has expanded its network by partnering with over 7 colleges in the last one year, offering a diverse range of 30 courses. The academy’s extensive reach has helped foster a rich online and offline student base of over 5000+ till date. With a team of over 20 proficient faculty members, the academy continues to grow as a trusted learning institute for accounting and finance education, shaping professionals who thrive in the competitive finance industry.

Delighted on this potential partnership, Rajesh Dedhia, Founder and CFO of Vantage Knowledge Academy said, “At Vantage Knowledge Academy, we have always focused on bridging the gap between academia and industry, ensuring our students are equipped with the necessary skills to excel in the global finance sector. Our collaboration with Marwadi University reflects our commitment to nurturing skilled professionals and elevating banking and finance curriculum to meet the demands of an ever-evolving world. We need to constantly adapt to the modern education system, and this partnership underscores the importance of staying updated with changing policies and trends”.

Dr. Rajeshkumar Patel, Director, Centre for Distance and Online Education, Marwadi University, stated, “Empowering the next generation of finance leaders is at the heart of Marwadi University’s mission. Our partnership with Vantage Knowledge Academy marks a major breakthrough in providing students with world-class knowledge, skills, and practical experience, in full compliance with UGC regulations. Together, we’re committed to shaping the future of finance education and preparing students for success in an ever-changing world.”

04, February 2025,Chennai: The journey from being a deeply enthusiastic Math learner to an extraordinary Math genius is just a camp away. This summer, Epsilon India Camp returns with an intense, fun and immersive summer programme for students aged 9 to 13.

Organised by the Raising A Mathematician (RAM) Foundation, Epsilon India is a residential summer camp that empowers mathematically gifted students by combining advanced mathematics education with personal and social development. Epsilon India draws inspiration from the highly regarded Epsilon Camp, founded in the USA in 2011 by veteran research mathematician Dr George R Thomas, founder of Epsilon USA, MathPath and MathCamp.

This year the camp is hosted at the lush green 40-acre campus of Krea University, a leading Liberal Arts and Sciences college situated in Sri City, 70 km from Chennai. Away from the hustle and bustle of a metropolitan, this self-sustained campus boasts of neighbours such as Sriharikota, Kalahasti, Tada and Pulicat.

Cost of accommodation is sponsored by Krea University. For details on other costs, please write to epsiloncampindia@gmail.com. This year the camp is slated from 29 April to 12 May 2025, and the last date for submission of online application is February 10, 2025. To learn more about the application process, visit www.epsilonindia.org.

The camp offers a rigorous curriculum covering a wide array of topics, including Methods of Proofs, Combinatorics, Geometry, Group Theory, and Number Theory. Students are selected on the basis of their performance in the qualification test, a letter of recommendation and an interview. Around 40-50 students are selected from all over India and overseas, out of hundreds of applications. Children spend two screen-free weeks, attending undergraduate-level courses each day, immersing themselves in their passion for the subject. Many participants of the Epsilon India camp perform exceptionally well in Mathematics, Computer Science and Science Olympiads apart from other prestigious competitions at the international level. The camp also offers children and their parents the opportunity to connect with like-minded families, sharing opportunities and perspectives.

The students will be taught primarily by professional Mathematicians, Scientists, Computer Scientists and Statisticians from both academia and industry. Participants will also have Teaching Assistants to help with homework and other academic queries. Counsellors will take care of the students’ socio-emotional needs. Past and current faculty and speakers include Dr S Muralidharan, former Chief Examination Coordinator for India’s official Mathematical Olympiads; Professor Manjul Bhargava, Princeton University, Fields Medalist and Padma Bhushan awardee; Professor Rajeeva L Karandikar, Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Awardee and former director of Chennai Mathematical Institute, Professor Rajiv Gandhi, founder of the PACT, Professor at Rutgers University-Camden, Professor K V Subrahmanyam, Dean of Studies, Chennai Mathematical Institute and more.

As dusk fell upon a sea of eager listeners, actor, music composer, and singer Raghubir Yadav took the stage on Day 2 of Spoken Fest Mumbai, weaving together echoes of his past, with his performance. Widely known for his presence on stage and television, he was seen presenting as a musician at the Spoken Fest—his first live performance of this kind. His soulful performance unravelled childhood memories from his birthplace, Adartal, where music wasn’t just an art form but a way of life.

Raghubir Yadav shared stories and melodies from his childhood. He fondly reminisced how the rhythmic sounds of Adartal’s bylanes marked the start of his artistic journey. From the bhajans of Surdas that he first heard at the age of three to the melodic calls of street vendors—like the papad seller and the chana wala—his performance at Spoken Fest was an ode to a fading era when music flowed effortlessly through daily life. He recalled his childhood when travelling caravans of 10-15 carts would sing as they moved, how melodies emerged even from the most unexpected corners and how these sounds shaped his musical journey.

As he sang Bhojpuri folk songs like “Hamka joganiya bana gaye… “ the crowd swayed, mesmerised. When he broke into “Mehngai Dayain Khaye Jaat Hai” from Peepli Live, the energy shifted to lighthearted and deeply immersive. The festival grounds pulsed with an undeniable nostalgia, transporting audiences to a time when music wasn’t just composed but lived! At one point, Yadav picked up a simple straw (pipni) and played music on it, reliving his childhood. Accompanied by three other musicians Naynesh Pimpale, Siddharth Joshi & Hardik, he transformed Spoken Fest into a time capsule where melodies were born from the simplest joys of life.

His performance left an imprint—one of warmth, simplicity, and the undeniable magic of folk music. Raghubir Yadav didn’t just sing; he painted pictures with his voice, leaving the audiences at the Spoken Fest with hearts yearning for melodies from the past!