Author: Neel Achary

CPDL Conferred Excellence in Power Distribution Award

Chandigarh, July 19 Chandigarh Power Distribution Limited (CPDL), the electricity distribution and retail supply company for the Union Territory of Chandigarh, has been conferred the ‘Excellence in Power Distribution’ award, recognising its continued commitment to reliable, technology-enabled and consumer-centric electricity distribution services.

The award was received on behalf of CPDL by Shri Brajesh Kumar, Chief Executive Officer, from the Public Relations Council of India (PRCI) and the Media Federation of India (MFI) at a special felicitation programme recognising organisations and eminent personalities from public service, business, education, innovation, entrepreneurship, arts and media for their outstanding contributions in their respective fields.

The recognition comes at a time when CPDL has been driving sustained improvements in Chandigarh’s power distribution ecosystem through infrastructure augmentation, technology-driven operations and consumer-centric initiatives. Over the past year, the utility has strengthened network reliability through SCADA-based remote operations and the commissioning of four new 20 MVA transformers in the city, reinforcing the resilience of the city’s electricity distribution network. It has also enhanced consumer convenience by launching its own digital bill payment platform, making bill payments faster, simpler and more accessible for consumers.

Receiving the award on behalf of CPDL, Shri Brajesh Kumar, Chief Executive Officer, said, “This recognition is a matter of great pride for the entire CPDL team. It reflects the dedication and collective efforts of our employees, who work tirelessly to ensure reliable power supply and responsive consumer service across Chandigarh. We remain committed to further strengthening our infrastructure, leveraging technology and continuously enhancing the quality of services delivered to consumers.”

Alongside strengthening its distribution infrastructure, CPDL has continued to enhance consumer service delivery and organisational capability through initiatives such as the establishment of a dedicated Skill Development Centre to strengthen employees’ technical and customer service capabilities, as well as consumer connect camps organised across different parts of the city to promote awareness and engagement.

CPDL has also demonstrated its operational preparedness during emergencies, successfully leading two of Chandigarh’s largest power restoration operations following unprecedented windstorms. Through coordinated field efforts and round-the-clock response, the utility restored electricity supply across affected areas in the shortest possible time, minimising disruption for consumers.

The recognition reinforces CPDL’s ongoing commitment to delivering reliable, efficient and sustainable electricity services while continuously raising service standards for consumers across Chandigarh through sustained investments in infrastructure, technology and consumer engagement.

BNI Hyderabad Creates Global History with Twin Chapter Launch, Sets First-Ever BNI World Record

Hyderabad, July 19: BNI Hyderabad scripted global history by becoming the first BNI region in the world to simultaneously launch two new chapters, BNI Alpha and BNI Affinity, at a spectacular Twin Chapter Launch held at Trident, Hyderabad, today. This unprecedented feat establishes a new global benchmark in BNI‘s four-decade journey across 76 countries, making it a first-of-its-kind achievement in the organization’s history.

The historic launch witnessed an impressive participation of 102 founding members and 80 visitors, making it one of the largest and most successful chapter launches in the history of BNI Hyderabad. The overwhelming response reflects the growing confidence of entrepreneurs and business leaders in BNI‘s structured networking model and its proven ability to generate business through trusted relationships.

Adding to the significance of the milestone, members of the two chapters had already generated and exchanged over 500 business referrals even before the official launch. This remarkable achievement exemplifies BNI‘s philosophy of ‘Givers Gain’ and demonstrates how structured networking can accelerate collaboration, trust, and business growth from day one.

The prestigious event was graced by Sanjana Shah, Executive Director, BNI Hyderabad; Satish Kumar, Area Director, BNI Hyderabad; Kawaljit Sabharwal, Senior Launch Director, BNI Hyderabad; Sanngittha Segu, Launch Director, BNI Hyderabad; Archana Kalvala, Launch Ambassador, BNI Hyderabad; along with senior leadership and distinguished members from across the BNI Hyderabad Region.

Speaking on the occasion, Sanjana Shah, said, I am immensely proud that Hyderabad and India, have achieved this historic global first in a network spanning 76 countries, including some of the world‘s leading business hubs such as Los Angeles, New York, London, Mumbai and Singapore. This milestone is a testament to the strength, resilience and collaborative spirit of Hyderabad‘s entrepreneurial community. We are confident that BNI Alpha and BNI Affinity will play a significant role in strengthening the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and creating lasting business success for their members.

 The event was marked by vibrant celebrations, inspiring member success stories, and an atmosphere of optimism as entrepreneurs from diverse industries came together to celebrate the birth of two dynamic business communities. The occasion reaffirmed BNI Hyderabad‘s unwavering commitment to helping businesses grow through quality referrals, meaningful relationships, and a culture of collaboration.

With the successful launch of BNI Alpha and BNI Affinity, the 66^th and 67^th Chapters of BNI Hyderabad respectively, the Hyderabad region has further strengthened its position as one of the most dynamic and high-performing regions in the global BNI network, setting yet another benchmark for innovation, leadership, and excellence in business networking.

Dum Laga Ke Haisha to Daldal: 5 Best Performances of Birthday Girl Bhumi Satish Pednekkar

There are actors who act, and there are performers who make sure their intent is the hero. Bhumi Satish Pednekkar stepped into Bollywood with Dum Laga Ke Haisha, and from her first film itself she ensured to headline films and series that carry meaning, intent and the power to cast a strong impression. On her birthday today, here’s looking at the top 5 performances that highlighted her range as a performer with potential.

Dum Laga Ke Haisha (2015)

At times when it’s often considered safe to choose a commercial entertainer for a big-screen debut, Bhumi flipped the tables by headlining Dum Laga Ke Haisha. She stepped into the shoes of an overweight Sandhya, and addressed the concept of body positivity – all while keeping the element of entertainment intact.

Shubh Mangal Saavdhan (2017)

In Shubh Mangal Saavdhan, Bhumi Pednekkar shared the screen space with Ayushmann Khurrana and played the leading lady in a daring film that revolved around the sensitive concept of erectile dysfunction. At times when actresses tap heavily into the commercial facet of cinema to stay relevant, Bhumi chose to talk about something that matters.

Toilet: Ek Prem Katha

Bhumi headlined Toilet: Ek Prem Katha alongside Akshay Kumar and brought to the fore the issues surrounding hygiene and sanitation. The actress played Jaya Joshi, an educated, progressive, young woman from a village. Pednekkar’s character stood firm against rooted societal taboos and orthodox traditions, sparking a national dialogue.

Bheed (2023)

Bhumi made a thoughtful choice once again with Bheed, a drama film that talked about the migration that took place during the quarantine phase. In this powerful lockdown tale that is thought-provoking throughout, Pednekkar ditched the glamour once again to play Renu Sharma, a determined local medical practitioner.

Daldal (2026)

This year, Pednekkar returned to a creative space she is loved the most, thriller. She headlined Daldal, a psychological crime thriller series that offered her the ground to play DCP Rita Ferreira, who must battle a patriarchal mindset at work and her own imposter syndrome. The actress brought a terrifying stillness to her role as demanded by the character, making it work just how it should have been.

As a thinking actor, Bhumi Pednekkar has made sure to create a filmography that reflects her forward-thinking mind – and it’s working.

Bharat Tex 2026 Boosts India’s Textile Ambitions with INR 14,300 Crore Investment Pledges

New Delhi, July 18: Bharat Tex 2026 has emerged as a major global platform for India’s textile and apparel industry, attracting investment commitments worth ₹14,300 crore and strengthening the country’s position as a preferred destination for textile manufacturing and sourcing.

The international textile exhibition brought together leading industry stakeholders, global buyers, manufacturers, exporters, policymakers, and innovators, showcasing India’s capabilities across the entire textile value chain — from fibres and yarns to fabrics, garments, technical textiles, and traditional crafts.

The event witnessed strong global participation, with exhibitors and buyers from several countries engaging in business discussions, partnerships, and investment opportunities. The commitments announced during the event reflect growing confidence in India’s textile ecosystem and its potential for sustainable growth.

A key focus of Bharat Tex 2026 was promoting innovation, sustainability, circular textiles, advanced manufacturing, and technology-driven solutions. The exhibition highlighted India’s efforts to expand its global textile footprint while supporting MSMEs, artisans, startups, and large-scale manufacturers.

Industry leaders said the investment announcements mark a significant step towards strengthening domestic manufacturing capacity, creating employment opportunities, and enhancing India’s competitiveness in global textile markets.

With substantial investment interest and international engagement, Bharat Tex 2026 has reinforced India’s vision of becoming a global hub for textile production, innovation, and sustainable sourcing.

Immune Cells Use Previously Unknown Pathway to Eliminate AML

Houston, July 18: Researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have discovered a new way in which T cells attack acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells, which may help explain why AML is particularly sensitive to immune-based treatments and could guide the development of future cancer immunotherapies.

The study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), was led by Cassian Yee, M.D., professor of Melanoma Medical Oncology, and Kapil Saxena, M.D., former member of the Yee laboratory. The findings reveal that leukemia cells, which lack the molecular machinery normally required for T cell recognition, use a different pathway that depends on the CD64 protein and an intact T cell receptor (TCR).

“By chasing a simple, unexplained observation, we challenged a basic assumption about how T cells can recognize and kill tumor cells,” Yee said. “The freedom to explore things that aren’t conventional is what drives innovation, and this contrarian finding is an example of that, with broad implications for overcoming immune resistance in leukemia and possibly other cancers.”

What makes AML difficult to treat?

AML is an aggressive blood cancer that begins in the bone marrow and can progress rapidly. Although targeted therapies and stem cell transplantation have improved outcomes for some patients, many individuals experience relapses or develop treatment resistance.

One challenge is that cancer cells can evade immune attack by reducing or losing immune signaling molecules, a set of proteins known as the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) which normally helps T cells identify their targets.

What did the researchers discover about the way T cells eliminate AML cells?

T cells typically recognize cancer through their TCR, which binds to specific cancer-related peptides displayed on MHC molecules. The researchers expected that removing MHC from AML cells would prevent T cell attack.

Instead, activated T cells were somehow still able to efficiently eliminate the AML cells. This pattern was seen in multiple AML cell lines and in primary samples from patients with AML, including those with high-risk mutations and relapsed disease.

Why was this new pathway surprising?

The researchers suspected that this mechanism might be driven by pathways associated with natural killer (NK) cells, which are not dependent on MHC molecules. However, disrupting several known NK cell pathways did not eliminate the effect.

Since MHC molecules did not seem to be required, the researchers hypothesized that the TCRs also were unnecessary for this alternative killing pathway. Surprisingly, the T cells lost their ability to destroy the leukemia cells when the researchers removed TCRs.

This means that T cells can destroy AML cells through a different, unknown pathway that is MHC-independent but TCR-dependent. In other words, T cells still require an intact and activated TCR signaling system, but they are not using it in the conventional way scientists have understood for decades.

How did the researchers identify the key drivers in the new pathway?

After testing several known immune pathways, the researchers performed a genome-wide CRISPR screen, repeatedly exposing genetically modified AML cells to T cells to search for genes that allowed the leukemia cells to survive.

This approach highlighted CD64, a receptor commonly expressed on early myeloid cells, as well as genes involved in interferon-gamma signaling. Removing CD64 made AML cells resistant to T cells, while adding CD64 into normally resistant AML cells made them more susceptible.

What do these findings mean and what are the next steps?

Overall, these findings revealed a previously unknown mechanism of T cell-mediated killing that depends on CD64 and activated TCR, but not on traditional MHC recognition. The results suggest that T cells have an additional way to attack leukemia, which may help explain why AML may be especially sensitive to stem cell transplantation, which is one form of immune-based therapy.

The researchers continue to investigate exactly how CD64 and the TCR signaling machinery interact, with future studies exploring how these mechanisms might be leveraged to improve T cell therapies for AML and possibly other cancer types.

Gold, Silver Outlook Turns Cautious Amid Global Market Uncertainty

Mumbai, July 18: Gold prices on the Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX) may see further movement toward the ₹1.39 lakh support level as global uncertainty continues to influence precious metal markets, according to analysts.

Market experts said changing global economic conditions, currency trends, and investor sentiment are playing a key role in shaping gold and silver prices. While gold continues to remain a preferred investment option during uncertain times, short-term fluctuations are expected.

Silver prices have also come under pressure, with analysts maintaining a cautious outlook due to weak global cues and market volatility.

Investors are closely monitoring key price levels and international developments to assess the future direction of precious metals. Despite near-term challenges, gold and silver continue to remain important assets for investors seeking stability during uncertain market conditions.