Author: Neel Achary

Sumsub Powers Investor Verification for Caliber’s PURE Pickleball & Padel Tokenized Real Estate Offering

Sumsub brings reusable, on-chain identity to Caliber’s PURE Pickleball & Padel offering, supporting compliant investor participation in tokenized real estate

Scottsdale, Arizona – Aug 25–Sumsub, the first AI-powered trust infrastructure for compliance at scale, today announced that its identity verification and compliance technology is powering investor onboarding for PURE Pickleball & Padel, the first real estate investment on Caliber’s (Nasdaq: CWD) platform to be tokenized. Sumsub joins Chainlink as one of the technology partners powering the initiative.

As of today, investors in PURE Pickleball & Padel can choose to receive a tokenized digital ownership certificate (the “Token”) or continue using a printed certificate. Before a Token is issued, Sumsub conducts know-your-customer (KYC), sanctions screening, and anti-money-laundering checks. It then publishes a programmable, on-chain accredited investor credential (CCID) within Chainlink’s Automated Compliance Engine (ACE), enabling transfer controls built around each investor’s verified profile. The same credential is reusable across future tokenized offerings, so an investor verifies once rather than repeating the process for every deal.

The integration marks another step in Sumsub’s broader push to extend reusable, on-chain identity beyond crypto-native assets and into regulated real-world asset (RWA) markets. It builds on Sumsub ID, part of Sumsub’s Reusable Digital Identity suite, which lets a user verify once and reuse that verified profile across multiple use cases.

“We are pleased to bring Sumsub’s identity verification services as part of together with other top-tier partners for this tokenization effort, including Chainlink with its Automated Compliance Engine (ACE),” said Chris Loeffler, Chief Executive Officer of Caliber.”Tokenizing PURE Pickleball & Padel gives us a practical first use case where we can connect the technology to a real asset, a real investor experience and a real operating business. We are not changing what investors own. We are applying better technology to make private real estate ownership more transparent, more efficient and ultimately more functional.”

Sumsub has already turned the verified Sumsub ID profile into a portable, on-chain credential through integrations with the Solana Attestation Service and Linea’s Verax Attestation Service. The PURE Pickleball & Padel offering extends the same model into tokenized private real estate, providing one of the first practical examples of reusable identity connecting a regulated real-world asset with infrastructure originally built for DeFi.

“Tokenization of regulated assets works only if the people holding the tokens are who they say they are, and that verification needs to travel with them,” said Ilya Brovin, Chief Growth Officer at Sumsub. “We’ve already seen reusable, on-chain identity change how people move across crypto and Web3 platforms. That’s what makes this more than a digital certificate. We are powering an investor identity that can travel with someone across other tokenized RWA opportunities, not just this one.”

The offering comes as U.S. lawmakers continue to work toward the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act (the CLARITY Act), which would establish clearer federal direction for digital asset markets. Sumsub’s platform is built to operate across evolving regulatory frameworks in more than 220 countries and territories, supporting the kind of institutional, compliance-first tokenization Caliber and its partners are building toward.

MIT INDIA’s IRS 2026 Advances Startups, Student Innovators and Industry-Academia Collaboration Towards National Opportunities

Pune, Aug 25: MIT INDIA’s Industry Institute Reconnect Summit (IRS 2026) concluded in Pune with a focus on turning industry–academia engagement into tangible opportunities for startups, student innovators and future talent. The two-day summit brought together industry leaders, investors, academic institutions, entrepreneurs and students, with Capital Nexus and the MIT India National Hackathon emerging as key platforms for taking promising ventures and ideas to the next stage.

Through Capital Nexus, 25–30 startups advanced to the Grand Finale of the Industry Institute Engagement Summit (IES) 2026 in New Delhi, following participation by 100+ startups across sectors including SaaS, FinTech, HealthTech, EdTech, D2C, AgriTech, DeepTech, AI/ML, CleanTech, Manufacturing and EV & Mobility. The platform created structured opportunities for investor matchmaking, pitch refinement, business validation and long-term mentorship, with the top three startups eligible for funding opportunities ranging from ₹5 lakh to ₹50 lakh through Edugild.

The MIT India National Hackathon advanced 30 teams to the Grand Finale in New Delhi, following participation by 100+ student teams from Engineering, Science, Management and Design institutions across India. With a ₹25 lakh prize pool, the Hackathon enabled students to work on industry-relevant challenges across Government, Social Impact, Defence, Healthcare, Technical and Industry sectors, applying their academic learning to real-world problems. Teams were evaluated by industry professionals across the qualifier and finale stages.

The Hackathon also created additional opportunities for participating finalists, with AWS certification vouchers worth ₹10,000 each and cloud credits worth ₹20,000 each for teams participating in the Grand Finale.

IRS 2026 also provided a platform for conversations around employability, future skills, innovation, entrepreneurship, industry–academia collaboration and the changing requirements of the workplace. Through panel discussions, networking engagements, sponsor and alumni interactions and leadership conversations, the summit brought together perspectives from across the education, business, investment and innovation ecosystems.

Mr. Digvijay S. Karad, Group Director, MIT India, said, “The whole point of bringing these communities together is that a good idea shouldn’t necessarily end when the competition does. If something genuinely interesting comes out of this room, we want to help create a path for it to go further. That, for me, would be far more exciting than simply handing out a trophy at the end of the two days. I hope you take a few risks, try new ideas that sound slightly ridiculous, question the problem statement, build something you’re not entirely sure you know how to build yet, and most importantly, talk to the people around you.”

Mr. Sudish Panicker, Managing Director, BNY India, said, “Academia for a long time has been viewed as the home of ideas, the home of research, the home of deep inquiry. Industry, on the other hand, is seen as the engine of execution, scale, and real-world application. But today, and for times in the future, that separation will not serve any of us well. This conversation really needs to be about how do you bring the two together, and how do you bring the two together in a way that can drive the future of our organisations, it can drive the future of our country, and it can drive the future of the world. The partnership between industry and academia is not just about transformation. It is about preparing the people for the future.”

Dr. Suresh Gosavi, Vice Chancellor, Savitribai Phule Pune University, said, “I think the education system in the entire country is changing. From that perspective, an institute like MIT is really leading. Other institutes in Pune are also leading, but I think MIT India has set up a certain benchmark in the education system. I congratulate the MIT India for initiating this activity, where young brains come here, they sit here, they look at the idea, they develop the idea, and they come up with the final product which is needed by society, which is needed by industry, which is needed for the development of the country.”

Prof. (Dr.) Sanjay Govind Dhande, Chancellor,  Avantika University, Ujjain, Indore, MIT University of Shillong, Meghalaya, said, “Platforms such as these Industry Institute Reconnect Summit are essential in bringing together education, industry, technology and entrepreneurship on a common stage. Universities must not remain confined to classrooms and laboratories alone. They must become places where knowledge meets real-world challenges and where ideas are tested against the demands of practice. My hope is simple. This brings together a dialogue which converts collaboration into innovation, and innovation into national impact. So I would say collaboration, innovation and national impact are the three steps that we should follow.”

The outcomes of IRS 2026 now extend towards the Grand Finale of the MIT India National Hackathon and Capital Nexus at the Industry Institute Engagement Summit (IES) 2026 in New Delhi in October 2026. The selected startups and student teams from the Pune edition will progress to the next stage, gaining a larger national platform to engage with investors, industry leaders, experts and potential partners.

The Pune edition reinforced MIT INDIA’s larger ‘Reconnect’ vision of creating stronger pathways between education, industry, entrepreneurship, investment and emerging talent. By combining industry dialogue with platforms for innovation, investor engagement and talent development, IRS 2026 seeks to move industry–academia collaboration from conversation towards sustained opportunities and measurable outcomes.

NTPC Launches Three-Month Vigilance Awareness Campaign 2026

New Delhi, Aug 24: NTPC Limited launched its three-month Vigilance Awareness Campaign 2026 at Scope Complex, New Delhi. Rashmita Jha, IRS, Chief Vigilance Officer (CVO), formally inaugurated the campaign, which will be conducted from 17^th August to 16^th November 2026 as a prelude to the Vigilance Awareness Week 2026. On the occasion, the CVO also unveiled the revamped Corporate Vigilance Intranet page.

The campaign being conducted under the theme “Probity for Prosperity” will focus on five key areas identified by the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC): disposal of pending complaints, disposal of pending cases, capacity-building programmes, digital initiatives and contract management.

Addressing the gathering, the CVO urged vigilance officials to enhance the reach, quality and impact of preventive vigilance and outreach programmes during the campaign. She also announced the expansion of the “VAW Volunteer” initiative, with a special focus on engaging women from Self-Help Groups (SHGs) this year.

Emphasising the importance of participative and interactive engagement with stakeholders, the CVO highlighted that the campaign would provide an opportunity to take preventive vigilance beyond conventional awareness activities and create a sustained impact through innovative initiatives and their effective implementation.

The CVO expressed confidence that the campaign would further strengthen NTPC’s culture of integrity, transparency and probity.

G. Raja Shekhar, Head of Vigilance, in his address, urged Vigilance Executives to lead by example through integrity and ethical conduct and to become true flag-bearers of the campaign at their respective projects.

Jaipur Centre for Art and RMZ Foundation launch Studio Intensive, a month-long mentorship programme for young artists from Rajasthan

Mumbai, Aug 24: Jaipur Centre for Art (JCA), in collaboration with RMZ Foundation, announces Studio Intensive, a month-long mentorship programme for young visual artists from Rajasthan. Running from 17 August to 17 September 2026 at JCA’s premises in the City Palace, Jaipur, the programme gives each of the 19 selected participants a dedicated studio space and access to a sustained series of sessions with gallerists, collectors, curators and writers from across the Indian and international art world.

Rajasthan holds one of India’s deepest craft and image-making traditions, and Jaipur alone is home to ten visual art colleges producing a steady output of graduates each year. Studio Intensive has been conceived to strengthen the infrastructure that carries this training into sustained practice: dedicated studio space, rigorous critique, and direct engagement with the workings of galleries, collections, and the wider art market.

Mrs Anu Menda, Chair, RMZ Foundation: ” At RMZ Foundation, we believe that nurturing young artists is about creating the conditions in which artistic practices can truly evolve. This means providing time and space to experiment, access to mentorship and dialogue, and importantly, the freedom to question, explore and develop an individual voice. Studio Intensive, developed in collaboration with Jaipur Centre for Art, reflects this commitment by creating a space where emerging artists can develop their practices, experiment, and engage in meaningful dialogue with leading artists, curators and cultural practitioners. For us, this is an important step towards creating new pathways for young artists and strengthening the art ecosystem in Rajasthan. By encouraging artistic development at an early stage, we hope to give young practitioners the confidence, exposure and support to  deepen their practices and build enduring careers, while contributing meaningfully to the  evolving cultural landscape of the region.”

HH Maharaja Sawai Padmanabh Singh of Jaipur, Co-Founder, Jaipur Centre for Art, says, “What began as support for a single installation at The Sculpture Park has become one of JCA’s most valuable relationships. With Salt Lines and now Studio Intensive, RMZ Foundation has shown a willingness to invest in the parts of an institution’s work that take years to bear fruit. That is rare, and it is what has allowed us to build a programme like this at all. I am looking forward to seeing more such iterations in the future.”

Noelle Kadar, Co-founder, Jaipur Centre for Art, says, “This programme is our way of supporting young artists and helping them gain a deeper understanding of the art world. Each participant has a studio at JCA for a month, and around that we have gathered gallerists, collectors, curators and writers for talks, critiques and one-on-one conversations. Time and space to work, and generous people to think alongside; that combination is what shapes a practice early on, and we wanted to offer it here in Jaipur.”

The mentor lineup spans institution building, gallery practice, criticism, collecting and studio work, and includes Noelle Kadar, Rajiv Menon, Shilo Shiv Suleman, Wolf, Meera Menezes, Siddharth Somaiya and Kamna Anand and Isha Anand from RMZ Foundation team.

Alongside the mentor sessions, participants take a curatorial walkthrough of the City Palace Museum with JCA’s team, visit the Sculpture Park, and join a creative mixer with Jaipur‘s working artist community, as an introduction to the local network participants will be part of after the programme ends.

At the close of the programme, JCA and RMZ Foundation will jointly select three participants whose work will enter RMZ Foundation‘s collection in Bengaluru. The Foundation‘s holdings, which include sculptural works by leading Indian and international artists across more than six cities, are embedded within the built environment rather than held in storage, placing work by artists at the very start of their careers in front of a broad, everyday public.

Studio Intensive closes with an open studio viewing and public display of participants’ work at JCA on 17 September 2026, open to the public.

Everpure Named A Leader in the 2026 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Enterprise Storage Platforms

Data Primacy will be the future of IT architectures in the AI era, and we believe the Gartner recognition validates Everpure’s innovation to make enterprise data truly AI-ready. To scale AI, organizations need an IT architecture where trusted, governed, contextualized data powers every application and AI agent across the enterprise; this is precisely what we enable with the Everpure Platform and Everpure Data Intelligence.” – Charles Giancarlo, Chief Executive Officer, Everpure

• Everpure Data Intelligence™: Makes fragmented data usable for AI by discovering, classifying, contextualizing, and governing data at the source across Everpure, cloud, SaaS, and third-party environments.
• Enterprise Data Cloud Enhancements: Unifies data, policy, and semantics across hybrid estates to streamline operations and enforce consistent governance.
• AI Data Stream: Automates data discovery, preparation, and delivery pipelines, making real-time information immediately accessible to AI applications.
• Cyber Resilience Innovations: Strengthens protection and speeds recovery from cyber threats to ensure continuous business resilience.
  Customer Validation

• “Easy-to-use Interface Stands out, Support Rated Highly. The intuitive GUI, performance of the Array and support provided by PURE is 5” – Technical Lead Infrastructure, Finance
• “Truly been a game changer for my company. FlashArray has enabled my company to do more than we thought possible, help streamline our operations and minimize our infrastructure spend due to array efficiencies and feature functionality. We have had a 100% uptime on all of our arrays and no data availability issues.” – IT Reviewer, IT Services Industry 
• “If you need strong performance and support, Pure is the answer to your storage questions. Pure is not the cheapest, but the performance and the support (pre and post sales) has been world-class. – IT Manager, Manufacturing
• “Consistent high performance with seamless VMware integration and reliable replication.”  – Enterprise Storage Reviewer
• “A game-changer for our infrastructure’s performance. We noticed a significant improvement in the loading speed of databases and modern applications, allowing us to consolidate workloads effectively.” – IT Specialist, Enterprise Infrastructure

From Desert Landscapes to Island Romance: Destination Wedding Locations to Consider for 2026–27

Aug 24: Destination weddings are no longer only about finding a beautiful venue. The destination itself has become part of the celebration, shaping everything from the ceremony and setting to the experiences guests share over the wedding weekend.

For couples planning their celebrations for 2026–27, these destinations offer very different ways to say “I do”—from desert landscapes and mountain views to tropical beaches and Swahili coastlines.

Ras Al Khaimah

Ras Al Khaimah brings together beaches, desert landscapes and mountains within a single destination, making it an interesting choice for couples who want their wedding to feel like more than just a ceremony and reception. Along the Arabian Gulf, celebrations can unfold by the beach, while the Hajar Mountains and desert offer a very different backdrop for couples looking for something more dramatic.

For a classic celebration, Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah offers elegant ballroom, garden and beachfront settings. At the other end of the spectrum, The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Wadi Desert places couples in the heart of the desert, where outdoor celebrations can be followed by evenings beneath the stars.

The destination also lends itself to celebrations that are a little less conventional. Couples can explore the mountain scenery of Jebel Jais, discover the historic village of Al Jazeera Al Hamra or visit Dhayah Fort, while guests can kayak through mangroves, experience pearl-farming traditions at Suwaidi Pearls or simply spend time by the sea.

With its mix of nature, heritage and luxury, Ras Al Khaimah allows couples to turn the wedding weekend into a shared holiday, giving guests plenty to discover before and after the celebrations.

Kenya

Kenya may be synonymous with safari, but its coastline makes an equally compelling case for a destination wedding. Along the Indian Ocean, powder-soft beaches, Swahili influences and centuries-old coastal towns offer celebrations that feel romantic without following the usual tropical-wedding script.

Diani Beach is an obvious starting point, with its white sands and turquoise waters setting the scene for ceremonies by the sea. Couples can opt for beach, garden or poolside celebrations at Sarova Whitesands Beach Resort & Spa, while Diani Reef Beach Resort & Spa offers everything from beachfront vows to garden gatherings and larger ballroom receptions.

For something more intimate, there is Lamu. With its carved Swahili doorways, winding lanes, traditional dhows and laid-back island rhythm, it feels made for celebrations that favour character over grandeur. At The Majlis Resort, a beachside wedding can slip effortlessly into a sunset dhow cruise and an evening overlooking the Indian Ocean. Better still, the destination becomes part of the celebration itself; guests can linger afterwards to explore Lamu Old Town, sail through the archipelago or simply spend a few extra days barefoot by the sea.

Bali

Bali has long understood romance. Temple traditions, tropical landscapes, dramatic coastlines and golden-hour sunsets give couples plenty to work with, while Nusa Dua brings a more polished side of the island into the mix—ideal for those looking for a destination wedding with the Indian Ocean always somewhere in the frame.

At The Ritz-Carlton, Bali, couples can make the setting as much a part of the story as the ceremony itself. The glass-walled Majestic Chapel, overlooking Sawangan Beach, creates a dramatic setting for the vows, while beachfront ceremonies and celebrations on the Cliff Lawn make the most of Bali’s coastal landscape. Smaller gatherings can move to the Chapel Lawn, Senses Lawn or one of the resort’s private villas for something more intimate.

And there is no need for the wedding to end with the reception. The days that follow can unfold at a distinctly Balinese pace—with spa rituals, local cultural experiences and long afternoons by the sea turning the celebration into a holiday for everyone who made the journey.

Thailand

Imagine saying ‘I do’ with sand between your toes, laughter echoing under palm trees, and every day after the wedding feeling like a holiday in paradise—that’s Thailand. With stunning beaches, elegant resorts, and warm hospitality, this destination offers couples a setting that feels both magical and effortless. Picture exchanging vows with the sea stretching out behind you in Phuket, celebrating beneath the dramatic limestone cliffs of Krabi, or choosing Koh Samui for its palm-fringed beaches and relaxed island charm. Alongside these, Hua Hin adds a royal coastal elegance with heritage resorts and a relaxed atmosphere, while Khao Lak offers secluded stretches of sand and intimate resorts, perfect for couples seeking privacy and understated romance. Each location brings its own flavour of love, ensuring your wedding feels personal, picturesque, and unforgettable.

Beyond the ceremonies, Thailand unfolds as a journey for guests. Long dinners under the tropical sky, boat rides across turquoise waters, bustling Thai markets, spa afternoons, and culinary adventures make the celebration last well beyond the vows. For Indian couples and their guests, visa-exempt stays of up to 30 days make travelling to Thailand even more convenient. With Bangkok serving as a major hub for international connectivity and offering luxury urban venues for pre-wedding events, Thailand makes for a perfect wedding destination.

Global ambitions, local beginnings: South Asian students rethink the route to international careers

Aug 24: South Asian students remain ambitious about global careers, but the route they are taking to get there is changing.

Findings from the Cambridge University Press Assessment Destination Survey 2025–26 suggest a growing preference for a more strategic higher education journey: undergraduate study closer to home, followed by international postgraduate education and global career opportunities.

The shift has increasingly been seen in India and Bangladesh, with many schools reporting that a majority of learners are choosing local universities before pursuing international postgraduate education.

WHAT IS DRIVING THE CHANGE?

• Across South Asia, technology-led careers are rising in popularity, while business & management studies are popular subjects in India – indicating the flexible and non-conventional choices learners are making
• The international destination map is widening, with Singapore, the UAE, Germany, the Netherlands, Ireland, Japan and South Korea increasingly being considered alongside traditional destinations
• Value is becoming central to decision-making, with affordability, employability, return on investment and visa certainty influencing destination choices. 

Rod Smith, Group Managing Director, International Education, Cambridge University Press & Assessment, said: “Learners across South Asia remain ambitious about global careers. What is changing is how they achieve those ambitions. More learners are choosing to begin their journey locally, build strong foundations, and pursue international opportunities at the right stage of their education. The rapid growth in interest around AI, computer science and technology-focused careers reinforces the importance of educational pathways that develop critical thinking, problem-solving and adaptability alongside subject knowledge.”

Vinay Sharma, Regional Director – International Education, South Asia, Cambridge University Press & Assessment, said: “The survey findings are reflected in the choices we are seeing among Cambridge learners in India. Through both our March and June series results, we are seeing increasing numbers of students choosing to pursue their undergraduate education in India, while keeping international postgraduate opportunities firmly in view. This shift is being driven by a combination of factors, including greater alignment of Cambridge qualifications with competitive examinations such as JEE and NEET, and also structured to India’s university admissions cycle. Importantly, the survey shows that this is not unique to India. Globally, more students are choosing to begin their higher education journey in their home country before seeking international exposure at the postgraduate level, reflecting a more strategic and value-conscious approach to educational planning.”

India: A Market Transformation

The survey suggests growing demand for India’s higher education ecosystem that includes many global universities opening campuses in India. Several schools reported that between 70% and 90% of their learners are now choosing Indian universities for undergraduate education, supported by stronger domestic options, emerging private universities, international collaborations and expanding skilling opportunities.

There is a widespread belief that students from international curricula face lower acceptance rates at Indian institutions or are more likely to head overseas. The data tells a different story. A significant proportion of Cambridge graduates are successfully securing admissions to leading Indian universities, demonstrating increasing recognition and acceptance of international qualifications by the domestic higher education sector.

Bangladesh: Balancing Global Aspirations and Affordability

Bangladesh continues to demonstrate strong interest in international education, as learners and families are becoming increasingly selective in their choices. Survey respondents cited rising tuition and living costs, reduced scholarship opportunities, visa challenges and post-study work uncertainties as key factors influencing decisions. At the same time, progression towards domestic universities is an outcome of a desire to reduce overall education costs, leading more learners to consider completing undergraduate studies locally before pursuing postgraduate qualifications overseas 

Nepal: Growing Interest in Flexible Global Pathways

Learners in Nepal continue to demonstrate strong international aspirations, particularly towards destinations that offer quality education, scholarship opportunities and post-study career pathways. The survey suggests that affordability and return on investment are becoming increasingly important considerations, leading learners to explore a broader range of destination countries and progression routes. There is also growing interest in pathways that provide flexibility between local and international higher education opportunities. 

Sri Lanka: Seeking Value, Mobility and Future Skills

Across Sri Lanka, learners remain highly motivated by opportunities for global exposure, international qualifications and enhanced career prospects. However, economic considerations, evolving immigration policies and the availability of regional education options are influencing destination choices. Survey insights point to growing demand for qualifications and pathways that support mobility while equipping learners with future-ready skills in technology, innovation and problem-solving.