Author: Neel Achary

MedPlus Recognised as ‘Leading Pharmacy Chain Across India’ at ABP Ananda Swasthya Samman 2026

August 24, 2026: MedPlus Health Services, a leading retail pharma chain in India, has been honoured with the prestigious ‘ABP Ananda Swasthya Samman 2026’ in the category of ‘Leading Pharmacy Chain Across India.’ Mr. Yogesh Babu, National Head – Retail Operations, MedPlus Health Services received the award from Dr. Sharadwat Mukhopadhyay, Cabinet Minister – Dept. Of Health & Family Welfare, West Bengal, Dr. Shankar Ghosh, Cabinet Minister – Dept. of Parliamentary Affairs & the Dept. of Tourism, West Bengal, and Dr. Joydeb Roy, a prominent medical professional in West Bengal, at a glittering award ceremony held in Kolkata.

This recognition marks a significant milestone for MedPlus and reflects the trust it has built among millions of consumers by making medicines and healthcare products accessible, reliable and affordable.

Founded in 2006 by Gangadi Madhukar Reddy, MedPlus has revolutionised the organised retail pharmacy chain segment in India, with a focus on providing branded and quality medicines at affordable costs. The company played a pioneered bringing discounts on branded medicines to customers, introducing a 10% discount in 2006. Today, MedPlus offers discounts of 50-80% on its private-label products and 20% on other branded medicines, helping consumers access quality healthcare products at competitive prices.

MedPlus currently operates more than 5,500 stores across 10 states, including Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Odisha.

Commenting on the recognition, Mr. Yogesh Babu, National Head – Retail Operations – MedPlus Health Services, said, “We are firmly committed to serving our customers with the finest quality medicines at affordable prices. This recognition from ABP Ananda reinforces our commitment to making quality healthcare more accessible to consumers across the country.”

“Being recognised by a respected institution such as ABP Ananda is a matter of pride for the entire MedPlus family. The award is not just a recognition of the organisation, but also of the thousands of colleagues at MedPlus, who work every day across our stores and operations to serve customers with quality, value and trusted care,” he added.

ABP Ananda Swasthya Samman is a platform that recognises and celebrates organisations, healthcare professionals, and institutions making a meaningful contribution to the healthcare ecosystem. The awards acknowledge excellence, leadership and innovation across different segments of healthcare and bring together leading names contributing to a healthier India.

Altered Metabolism in Zombie-Like Cells Helps Promote Destructive Inflammation as We Age

When our immune system detects a pathogen or injury, it sets off biological alarm bells. This alert brings in a variety of immune and other cells to deal with the threat and heal any harm done.

This rapid response to danger—called inflammation—is critical for our health, but it should only last as long as needed to stop infections and heal our wounds. As we grow older, however, we accumulate a type of cell that promotes chronic inflammation—and which has been linked to many age-related diseases.

Scientists at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, Mayo Clinic and their international collaborators published findings July 29, 2026, in Nature revealing a new connection between energy-producing mitochondria and this sustained inflammation. They also found that blocking a related gene reduced inflammation and promoted healthier aging in mice.

Normally, some cells in our body are able to divide. This ability underpins our growth into adults and ability to recover after injury. As we age, more of our cells are prone to becoming zombie-like senescent cells that are no longer dividing to make new cells.

“Senescent cells are not completely inert,” said co-corresponding author Peter Adams, PhD, the Jeanne and Gary Herberger Leadership Chair in Cancer Research at Sanford Burnham Prebys. Adams also is director of and professor in the Cancer Genome and Epigenetics Program.

“They remain metabolically active and have an inflammatory program causing them to secrete inflammatory molecules.”

Cells “running” this inflammatory program are considered to exhibit the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) that is linked to age-related pervasive inflammation and many chronic diseases.

Led by the lab of senior and co-corresponding author João Passos, PhD, a professor of Physiology at Mayo Clinic, the research team searched for molecular drivers of SASP with the goal of finding a way to prevent it or reduce it.

“It turns out that there is a convergence of at least two biological pathways related to mitochondria,” said Adams. “One alters how DNA is stored to promote areas related to SASP, and the other boosts the expression of the exposed SASP genes.”

While senescent cells remain metabolically active, the mitochondria in charge of their energy production are unusual. The scientists discovered a new quirk in which senescent mitochondria conducting metabolism also produce more acetyl-CoA. This molecule interacts with spool-like histone proteins that hold DNA like a thread. Without changing the DNA, acetyl-CoA loosens its histone spool and opens up inflammatory genes for transcription into proteins.

On its own, this metabolic signal sent through acetyl-CoA is not enough to make senescent cells continuously spill out inflammatory molecules. The other requirement is an uptick in immune signals caused by DNA and RNA seeping out of damaged mitochondria and triggering the immune system. These signals activate inflammatory transcription factors that home in on the SASP genes exposed by overabundant acetyl-CoA.

“After seeing how these two independent pathways intersect, we wanted to see if interrupting one could prevent their partnership in promoting SASP,” said Adams.

The research team turned to a drug called CTPI-2. It blocks the activity of a transport protein that carries a component required to produce acetyl-CoA. When tested in mice, CTPI-2 suppressed inflammation across tissues as well as improved tissue function and healthspan during aging.

“Even though the immune signaling from leaky mitochondria was still present, disrupting the metabolic signal made SASP genes less accessible and produced functional benefits,” said Adams. “Using selective inhibitors such as CTPI-2 to reduce acetyl-CoA and, in turn, inflammation is a novel therapeutic strategy that should be explored.

Also, more broadly, this research shows that targeting metabolic signals that influence DNA accessibility may represent a new approach for mitigating age-associated inflammation and functional decline.”  

Hélène Martini, PharmD, PhD, a postdoctoral researcher in the Passos lab at Mayo Clinic, is first author of the publication.

Om Patel and Deepshika Vinayagamurthy Lift UNIFI–ITF Junior Tennis Cup 2026 Titles

HCL Group’s 50th Anniversary Celebrations Continue in Vijayawada with Sid Sriram Concert

Vijayawada, August 24, 2026: HCL Group continued its celebrations marking 50 years of its journey with a special employee concert in Vijayawada, on 22 August, featuring acclaimed singer and composer Sid Sriram. Held at the HCLTech campus, the concert brought together more than 3,000 employees from HCL Group and the Shiv Nadar Foundation for an evening of music and celebration.

The concert was attended by Roshni Nadar Malhotra, Chairperson, HCL Group and HCLTech, Rahul Singh, Chief Operating Officer, Corporate Functions, HCLTech, Vijay Guntur, Head of CTO & Ecosystems, HCLTech and Shiva Prasad, Centre Head, HCLTech Vijayawada, who joined employees in Vijayawada as they celebrated the Group’s golden jubilee. Sid Sriram took to the stage with some of his most popular songs, with employees singing and dancing along through the evening.

The Vijayawada concert follows similar celebrations held earlier in Noida, Lucknow and Chennai as part of a special concert series marking HCL Group’s 50th year. While HCL marked its official 50th anniversary on August 11, the celebrations have continued across locations, bringing employees together to celebrate the people and shared journey that have shaped the organisation over five decades.

The Vijayawada concert is the fourth in HCL Group’s special 50th anniversary concert series, with celebrations continuing across locations as the Group marks five decades of its journey.

India and Mauritius Move to Deepen Energy Partnership

Port Louis, August 24, 2026: India and Mauritius have taken fresh steps to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the energy sector, with discussions focusing on energy security, petroleum supplies and the wider transition towards a more resilient and sustainable energy system.

Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri met Mauritius Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam during his recent visit to the island nation. The two leaders discussed opportunities to further expand cooperation in the energy sector, while India reiterated its commitment to supporting Mauritius in meeting its energy-security and energy-transition priorities.

The discussions come against the backdrop of growing global concerns over energy supply disruptions and price volatility. For Mauritius, a geographically isolated island economy that relies significantly on imported petroleum products, dependable fuel supplies are particularly important for maintaining economic activity, transportation and essential services.

As part of the expanded cooperation, India and Mauritius exchanged a Government-to-Government Memorandum of Understanding covering cooperation in the oil and gas sector. The agreement is expected to create a broader framework for collaboration and strengthen institutional engagement between the two countries in the energy domain.

A major component of the partnership is a long-term agreement between Indian Oil Corporation and the State Trading Corporation of Mauritius for the supply of petroleum products. Under the arrangement, Indian Oil Corporation will meet Mauritius’ import requirements for key products including motor spirit, high-speed diesel and aviation turbine fuel.

The long-term supply arrangement is significant for Mauritius because predictable access to petrol, diesel and aviation fuel can help improve supply stability and reduce exposure to sudden disruptions in international energy markets. It also strengthens India’s position as a reliable energy partner in the Indian Ocean region.

For India, the agreement represents more than a commercial fuel-supply arrangement. Energy cooperation is increasingly becoming an important element of India’s broader engagement with Indian Ocean countries, combining economic partnerships with regional connectivity, energy security and development cooperation.

The partnership also creates opportunities for cooperation beyond conventional petroleum supplies. The two sides have indicated a shared interest in supporting energy transition, opening potential avenues for discussions around cleaner technologies, renewable energy and more sustainable energy systems alongside traditional oil and gas cooperation.

The latest developments build on a broader India-Mauritius strategic relationship. During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with Prime Minister Ramgoolam in June 2026, the two countries reviewed bilateral cooperation and reaffirmed the importance of the Enhanced Strategic Partnership, including collaboration in sustainable development and the blue economy.

From a business perspective, stronger energy ties could provide greater certainty for Mauritian industries and consumers while creating opportunities for Indian energy companies to expand their regional presence. Stable fuel availability is particularly important for sectors such as transportation, tourism, aviation, manufacturing and logistics.

The India-Mauritius energy partnership therefore reflects a broader shift towards long-term and diversified energy relationships. With the latest oil and gas cooperation framework and fuel-supply agreement, both countries are positioning energy security as a key pillar of their economic partnership while keeping the door open for deeper cooperation in the transition to cleaner and more resilient energy systems.

Gold Surges Over 5 percent Weekly as Weaker US Dollar Fuels Bullion Rally

New Delhi: Gold prices registered a strong weekly advance of more than 5 per cent, supported by a weakening US dollar and growing investor interest in bullion as a hedge against economic and financial uncertainty. Spot gold climbed to around $4,624 per ounce on Friday, touching its highest level in more than three months and marking the precious metal’s third consecutive weekly gain.

The rally gathered pace after the US dollar came under pressure following the Treasury Department’s plans to expand purchases of longer-dated government bonds. The move raised questions among investors about the outlook for US debt and the currency, prompting greater demand for alternative stores of value such as gold. A weaker dollar also makes gold cheaper for buyers holding other currencies, further supporting international demand.

Gold’s latest surge has also been reinforced by technical momentum. The metal moved above its 200-day moving average, a level closely watched by traders, strengthening expectations of further gains. Analysts have identified the $4,700 region as an important potential target if the upward momentum continues, although prices remain sensitive to changes in US monetary policy, bond yields and currency movements.

The rally has extended beyond gold, with other precious metals also recording gains during the week. Silver, platinum and palladium all moved higher, reflecting broader demand for metals amid currency and macroeconomic uncertainty. While physical gold demand in India remained relatively subdued because of elevated prices, stable demand in China and continued financial-market buying have helped sustain the international bullion rally.