29, Jul 2026
India’s Youth Take Centre Stage in Drive to Build a Drug-Free Future
New Delhi, July 29: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to launch the ‘Nasha Mukta Yuva for Viksit Bharat Sankalp Abhiyaan’ on August 2, a nationwide initiative aimed at encouraging young people to stay away from substance abuse and promoting a healthier, stronger future for the country.
The campaign seeks to create awareness about the harmful effects of drug addiction while bringing together youth, families, educational institutions, and communities to support prevention and rehabilitation efforts.
Through this initiative, the government aims to inspire young citizens to become active participants in the fight against substance abuse by promoting awareness, responsible choices, and positive lifestyles.
Officials said the campaign will focus on reaching communities at the grassroots level and encouraging greater public participation to address the challenges linked to drug addiction. Special emphasis will be placed on empowering young people with knowledge, support systems, and opportunities for personal growth.
The initiative reflects the importance of protecting India’s youth population and creating an environment where young citizens can focus on education, careers, and nation-building without the impact of substance abuse.
With the launch of the campaign, the government hopes to strengthen collective efforts towards building a healthier, more aware, and drug-free India.
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- By Neel Achary
29, Jul 2026
Novotel Mumbai Juhu Beach Strengthens Leadership Team with Four Strategic Leadership Appointments
Mumbai, July 29: As India’s hospitality sector continues to evolve with growing demand across leisure travel, MICE, weddings, and destination dining, hotels are increasingly investing in experienced leadership to drive business performance and enhance guest experiences. Reflecting this strategic direction, Novotel Mumbai Juhu Beach has announced four key leadership appointments across its commercial, operational, and guest experience functions, further strengthening its management team.
The hotel has elevated Amartya Chakraborty as Director of Operations, while welcoming Abhijit Masurkar as Director of Sales & Marketing, Chander Joshi as Assistant Director of Revenue Management, and Harshwardhan Dhavale as Food & Beverage Manager, bringing together more than five decades of collective hospitality experience across some of the industry’s most respected brands.
Having served as Director of Sales & Marketing at Novotel Mumbai Juhu Beach since 2022, Amartya Chakraborty has been promoted to Director of Operations, marking a significant leadership transition for the hotel. With nearly two decades of hospitality experience and over a decade with Accor. His journey within Accor includes the successful completion of the Leadership Master Program and a strategic task force assignment at Mercure Kathmandu. He will oversee the hotel’s overall operations with a focus on enhancing service excellence, operational efficiencies, employee engagement, and seamless guest experiences across accommodation, food & beverage, weddings, banquets, and events.
Leading the commercial function, Abhijit Masurkar joins the hotel as Director of Sales & Marketing with over 20 years of experience in hospitality sales and business development. Having held leadership roles with IHCL, The Leela Palace, and Hilton, he brings deep expertise in market strategy, stakeholder engagement, and revenue generation. In his new role, he will focus on strengthening the hotel’s market positioning, driving commercial performance, and expanding opportunities across corporate, leisure, weddings, and MICE segments.
Further strengthening the hotel’s commercial capabilities, Chander Joshi has been appointed Assistant Director of Revenue Management. With over 14 years of experience, he has worked with leading hospitality brands including Holiday Inn, DoubleTree by Hilton, Le Méridien, The Lalit, and The Leela. His expertise in revenue optimisation, demand forecasting, pricing strategy, and distribution management will support the hotel’s continued focus on maximising performance across diverse business segments in an increasingly dynamic hospitality landscape.
Enhancing the hotel’s culinary and guest experience offerings, Harshwardhan Dhavale joins as Food & Beverage Manager. Bringing 16 years of experience, he has worked with renowned brands including Courtyard by Marriott, Hilton Mumbai, DoubleTree by Hilton, ibis, Grand Mercure Bengaluru, Della Adventure, and Taj Residency. His extensive operational experience and guest-centric approach will play a key role in further elevating the hotel’s restaurants, banqueting operations, and destination dining experiences.
Kunal Shanker, General Manager, Novotel Mumbai Juhu Beach, said,
“The hospitality industry is evolving rapidly, with guest expectations extending far beyond traditional hotel stays. Success today depends on creating seamless experiences across accommodation, dining, celebrations, events, and every guest touchpoint. These leadership appointments reflect our commitment to building a future-ready team that combines commercial expertise, operational excellence, and a guest-first mindset. Amartya’s elevation, alongside the addition of Abhijit, Chander, and Harshwardhan, brings diverse strengths that will further enhance our business performance, service standards, and innovation. Together, they will play a pivotal role in shaping the next phase of growth for Novotel Mumbai Juhu Beach while delivering exceptional value to our guests, partners, and associates.
29, Jul 2026
What Kids Watch on YouTube Isn’t Always What They Learn: ISB Study
India, July 29: Children have unprecedented access to digital video content, but identifying content that supports academic learning remains a challenge. A study by the Indian School of Business finds that the popularity of children’s videos does not necessarily translate into learning outcomes, highlighting a critical gap between what children watch and what they actually learn.
Introducing a novel AI-driven approach to assess the academic quality of children’s video content at scale, the research titled “Quantifying the Academic Quality of Children’s Videos Using Machine Comprehension,” authored by Professor Sumeet Kumar, Assistant Professor of Information Systems at the Indian School of Business, along with Mallikarjuna Tupakula and Ashiqur R. KhudaBukhsh of the Rochester Institute of Technology was published in the INFORMS Journal on Computing , and conducted in collaboration with the Rochester Institute of Technology.
The study analysed nearly 49,000 videos from 134 popular children’s YouTube channels drawn from a global pool of content, supported by a dataset of over 6,300 curriculum-based question–answer pairs and benchmarked against approximately 21,000 textbook questions spanning grades 1 to 12. The findings show that videos with higher viewership are not always those that deliver stronger educational value, pointing to a broader challenge in how digital platforms surface and prioritise content.
To address this, the researchers developed a machine comprehension-based model that evaluates videos using school curricula. By assessing whether a video can correctly answer textbook-aligned questions—using both its spoken content and visual elements—the model provides an objective way to measure its academic relevance. The approach achieved an accuracy of up to 77.5%, demonstrating its potential as a scalable evaluation tool.
“Parents today face a digital deluge of content, making it difficult to distinguish between what is educational and what is simply engaging,” said Sumeet Kumar, Assistant Professor of Information Systems at ISB. “Our research provides a systematic and scalable way to evaluate children’s videos using academic benchmarks. By aligning content with school curricula, we aim to help parents, educators, and platforms prioritise videos that genuinely support learning.”
The study also identifies gaps in content availability. While foundational topics such as basic measurement and language skills are relatively well represented, more complex areas—including scientific reasoning and advanced concepts—remain underrepresented. This points to the need for stronger alignment between digital content and curriculum requirements, particularly for higher-grade learners.
By providing a data-driven method to assess academic quality, the research offers practical implications for multiple stakeholders. For parents and educators, it enables more informed content choices. For digital platforms, it presents an opportunity to improve recommendation systems by incorporating learning value alongside engagement metrics.
As video continues to play a growing role in children’s learning environments, the study underscores the importance of moving beyond popularity as a measure of value. Strengthening the focus on educational quality will be critical to ensuring that digital content meaningfully contributes to learning outcomes at scale.
29, Jul 2026
Heavy Rain Disrupts Odisha Life as Seven Districts Close Schools and Colleges
Bhubaneswar, July 29 (UDN): Several parts of Odisha are facing disruption due to heavy rainfall and rising flood concerns, prompting authorities to temporarily close schools, colleges, and Anganwadi centres across seven districts as a safety measure.
Educational institutions in Bhadrak, Keonjhar, Jajpur, Bargarh, Sambalpur, Sundargarh, and Deogarh will remain closed as continuous rainfall has caused river water levels to rise and increased the risk of flooding in vulnerable areas.
The precautionary decision aims to ensure the safety of students, teachers, and staff while local administrations continue to monitor the weather situation and prepare for possible emergencies.
Officials are keeping a close watch on affected regions, where rising water levels have impacted daily life in some areas. Residents in low-lying locations have been advised to remain cautious and follow safety instructions issued by authorities.
Emergency response teams and district administrations are working to manage the situation, provide assistance where needed, and minimize the impact of the ongoing monsoon conditions.
The temporary closures highlight the administration’s efforts to protect communities as Odisha continues to experience heavy rainfall and flood-related challenges.
29, Jul 2026
India Hockey Team Ready for Asian Games Challenge Under Harmanpreet’s Leadership
New Delhi, July 29: Hockey India has announced a 20-member squad for the upcoming Asian Games, with captain Harmanpreet Singh set to lead the team as India aims for another strong showing on the continental stage.
The squad features a balanced mix of experienced players and emerging talent, reflecting India’s focus on maintaining consistency and building a competitive unit for one of the biggest sporting events in Asia.
Harmanpreet Singh, known for his leadership and world-class drag-flicking ability, will guide the team as India looks to continue its impressive international run. The side enters the tournament with confidence after delivering encouraging performances in recent global competitions, showcasing strong teamwork, defensive discipline, and attacking strength.
Hockey India said the squad selection was based on players’ current form, fitness levels, and performances in recent matches. The team management expressed confidence in the group’s preparation and ability to handle the pressure of a high-stakes tournament.
The Asian Games hold special importance for Indian hockey, offering the team an opportunity to compete against Asia’s top sides and strengthen its position in international hockey.
With a combination of experience, young energy, and strong determination, the Harmanpreet-led squad will look to make a mark at the Asian Games and continue India’s proud hockey legacy.
29, Jul 2026
Avocor and NowSignage Announce New Strategic UK Partnership
Portland, OR July 29, 2026 – Avocor, an AUO company and global leader in collaboration and communication solutions, is pleased to announce a new strategic partnership with NowSignage, a leading cloud-based digital signage CMS provider. The initial focus for the partnership will be on the UK market, targeting sectors in which both brands operate, including education, enterprise and retail. A phased global rollout is set to follow in 2027.
NowSignage software is compatible with the newly launched Avocor B-Series which was introduced to the market at ISE 2026 and represents Avocor’s entry into the business and commercial digital signage display market. The collaboration also brings together two brands with strong roots in the UK, the region that served as the founding market for Avocor a decade ago.
“Launching the B Series at ISE was a significant product milestone for Avocor,” comments Dana Corey, Global General Manager, Avocor. “As a result, partnering with NowSignage ensures our customers have access to a leading, certified CMS platform for digital signage applications. One of the key benefits of this joint solution is that it removes the need for an external media player, a feature which reduces TCO by simplifying the installation process and reducing energy consumption by removing a device from the network.”
“We are delighted to approve the use of the Avocor B-Series in combination with our platform,” says Charlie Zammit, Head of Product at NowSignage. “Our cooperation is set to go beyond just tech compatibility; we are aligning our channel support teams to help our partners deliver digital signage installations that feature less hardware complexity and faster installation times.”
Alongside retail, as well as business signage and wayfinding in the enterprise sector, a key application for the partnership will be the growing need for campus-wide communication, lecture hall signage, and student information displays across UK higher education.
Avocor and NowSignage are also jointly committing to a commercial strategy that will combine resources and support sales channels, distributors, and integrators. Furthermore, the NowSignage software application can be loaded directly onto the Avocor B-Series with immediate effect.
29, Jul 2026
Fintech Fusion India 2026 Concludes with 550+ Industry Leaders Shaping India’s Financial Future
Bengaluru, July 29: Fintech Fusion India (FFI) concluded its second Bengaluru edition of its flagship leadership forum with 550+ delegates from 174 organisations representing fintechs, banks, NBFCs, regulators, policy makers, investors, global capability centres, and academia. The invite-only forum held at the Lalit Ashok, Bengaluru, under the theme of “Building India’s Financial Architecture for 2047”, was focused on building actionable industry collaborations rather than conventional conference discussions.
The one-day forum featured 50+ speakers, including senior leaders from SEBI, former RBI leadership, PB Fintech, NeSL, RBIH, UIDAI, leading banks, fintechs and venture capital firms. The agenda comprised four keynote addresses, six leadership panels, three closed-door leadership labs and an exclusive CXO networking reception, enabling high-impact discussions on AI, digital public infrastructure, MSME financing, tokenisation, financial inclusion and India’s growing role in global financial innovation.
PB Fintech’s President, Rajiv Gupta, opened the event and explained how the industry is moving from digitising financial services to reimagining finance around programmable trust, intelligent infrastructure, invisible finance and outcome-driven inclusion. He said, “The next few decades will redefine global finance and India is well-positioned not to be just a technology adopter but an exporter of financial architecture.”
Keynote delivered by Shri R. Gandhi, Former Deputy Governor, Reserve Bank of India, stressing the need for urgent transformation of MSME financing via a demand-led cluster development model and encouraging fintech companies to build solutions to strengthen India’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and support the nation’s vision of becoming a developed economy by 2047.
Addressing the audience, Shri Kamlesh Chandra Varshney, Whole Time Member, SEBI, shared how the regulator is leveraging technology to strengthen investor protection through AI-powered surveillance, faster removal of unauthorised investment advice, verified broker identification mechanisms and technology-enabled market monitoring. He reiterated that trust in financial markets can only be built through the combined strength of technology, regulation and investor awareness.
The event also witnessed several major industry announcements, including SimplyFI’s partnership with IBM to deploy enterprise-grade agentic AI for banks, Finternet’s tokenised securitisation infrastructure going live, Pine Labs showcasing autonomous agent-led payments through its P3 protocol, NatWest unveiling its Fintech Frontier initiative with IIT Delhi, and the launch of the India Cluster Acceleration Mission aimed at scaling MSME credit access.
Commenting on the success of the event, Suman Bhowmick, Founder & CEO, Idea Simplified and Founder, Fintech Fusion India, said: “India doesn’t need another fintech conference. What matters is creating a platform where meaningful collaborations begin. Bringing together over 550+ leaders from 174 organisations under one roof demonstrates the industry’s commitment to collectively shaping India’s financial architecture for 2047. The true success of Fintech Fusion India will be measured by the partnerships, pilots and working groups that emerge from the conversations initiated here.”
Beyond keynote sessions, discussions explored the future of AI-led financial services, India’s digital public infrastructure, tokenisation, GCC-led innovation, wealth creation, MSME credit transformation and fintech funding. The event reinforced Bengaluru’s position as one of India’s most influential fintech ecosystems while creating a collaborative platform that connects regulators, financial institutions, technology innovators and investors to accelerate the country’s next phase of financial innovation.
29, Jul 2026
India’s Africa Partnership Deepens as Investments Reach Dollar 75 Billion Milestone
New Delhi, July 29: India’s growing economic engagement with Africa has reached a significant milestone, with the country’s cumulative investments in the continent rising to nearly $75 billion, reflecting stronger business ties and long-term cooperation between the two regions.
According to a recent report, Indian companies have expanded their presence across key sectors in Africa, including energy, infrastructure, pharmaceuticals, telecommunications, agriculture, and manufacturing. These investments have supported local development while creating new opportunities for Indian businesses in emerging markets.
The partnership between India and African nations has evolved beyond traditional trade, with greater focus on technology sharing, sustainable development, healthcare, renewable energy, and capacity building. Both sides continue to explore new areas of collaboration aimed at driving economic growth and creating shared opportunities.
Industry experts believe that Africa’s growing markets, abundant resources, and rising demand for infrastructure and technology solutions offer significant potential for further Indian investment.
The expanding economic relationship highlights India’s commitment to building stronger global partnerships and supporting inclusive growth through investment, innovation, and cooperation.
With continued collaboration, India and Africa are expected to strengthen their role as key partners in shaping future trade and development opportunities.
29, Jul 2026
India’s Global Trade Push Gains Momentum with New Market Opportunities
New Delhi, July 29: India’s efforts to strengthen global trade ties through Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) are creating fresh opportunities for businesses and exporters, with Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal highlighting the potential to access international markets valued at nearly $60 trillion.
The government’s FTA strategy is focused on expanding India’s export reach, improving market access for domestic industries, and helping businesses compete more effectively in the global marketplace.
Goyal said these agreements are opening new pathways for Indian companies across sectors such as manufacturing, textiles, agriculture, technology, and services. By reducing trade barriers and encouraging stronger economic partnerships, the FTAs are expected to support export growth and attract greater investment.
The minister emphasized that India’s approach is aimed at creating long-term opportunities for businesses while strengthening the country’s role in global supply chains. The expansion of trade partnerships is also expected to benefit small and medium enterprises by providing access to new international customers.
As India continues to deepen its engagement with global markets, the government remains focused on building a competitive export ecosystem and supporting sustainable economic growth.
The growing network of trade agreements reflects India’s ambition to become a key force in global commerce and create more opportunities for businesses across the country.
29, Jul 2026
Boat Drivers across Telangana receive Life-Saving CPR Training at Hussain Sagar
Lodge Keys No, 297 in association with GVK Green Health Services trains 32 Boat Drivers in CPR; Creates 818 CPR Brand Ambassadors so far as part of its community outreach initiative called “1000 CPR Ambassadors
Hyderabad, July 29: As part of its mission to create 1,000 CPR Brand Ambassadors, Lodge Keys No. 297, a primary wing of Freemasonry, in association with GVK Green Health Services and with the support of the Tourism Department, Government of Telangana, organised a CPR and AED Training Programme for Boat Drivers at Hussain Sagar Lake on Tuesday evening.
The three-hour programme was conducted aboard Khair-Un-Nissa, a stationary boat anchored in Hussain Sagar Lake, providing a realistic learning environment for personnel engaged in water tourism and passenger safety.
The training was led by Dr. Raja Bharath, Senior Clinical Instructor, Dr. Seem Sunil, Emergency Physician, and Ms. Deepa, Clinical Instructor, all from GVK Green Health Services. Participants received extensive hands-on training using eight advanced CPR mannequins, enabling them to practice life-saving skills under expert supervision.
The workshop was facilitated by Mr. Arun Selgam, Worshipful Master; P. Veerabhadrudu, Secretary; G. Ashok Kumar, Treasurer; and D. Ramchandram, Project Lead of the 1,000 CPR Ambassadors initiative of Lodge Keys No. 297.
Lodge Keys expressed its gratitude to the Tourism Minister, Secretary and Ms. Manavi Jagan, Mr. Mahesh and Mr. Sampath of the Tourism Department for extending their wholehearted support in organising the programme.
A total of 32 boat drivers and support staff representing various water tourism destinations across Telangana participated in the training. They came from Hussain Sagar, Durgam Cheruvu, Saroornagar Lake, Somasila, Egalapenta, Nagarjuna Sagar, Laknavaram, Ramappa, Laknavaram, Koilsagar, Lower Manair Dam (Karimnagar), Kotilingala and Raigir, among other locations.
Giving details, D. Ramchandram, Project Lead of the 1,000 CPR Ambassadors initiative, said that the programme was conceived during the 30th anniversary celebrations of Lodge Keys No. 297 with the objective of training 1,000 members of the general public in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).
“With today’s batch of 32 boat drivers, we have now trained 818 CPR Brand Ambassadors. Every trained citizen is a potential lifesaver, and we are steadily moving towards our target of creating 1,000 CPR Brand Ambassadors,” he said.
We have also been addressing free seminars with the help of experts in schools, colleges and any offices or organisations and so far covered 1800 people and we would like to reach a target of 10,000 people through these awareness seminars, Arun Selgam, Worshipful Master of Lodge Keys No. 297 said
Ramchandram added that boat drivers are among the first responders during emergencies on lakes and reservoirs. Since they interact with thousands of tourists every year, equipping them with CPR and AED skills significantly enhances emergency preparedness and improves the chances of saving lives during cases of sudden cardiac arrest.
“I have been operating boats at Egalapenta for several years and have always focused on the safety of passengers. But today I realised that knowing how to save a life during a cardiac emergency is just as important as knowing how to operate a boat. The CPR training has given me the confidence to act immediately if someone collapses. I sincerely thank Lodge Keys No. 297, GVK Green Health Services and the Tourism Department for bringing this valuable training to us. I believe every boat driver in the country should undergo CPR training because every second counts in saving a life”, said — David, Boat Driver, Egalapenta
The programme covered: Understanding Sudden Cardiac Arrest and recognising emergencies, The Chain of Survival, Hands-only CPR for adults, CPR for children and infants, Rescue breathing techniques, Use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED), Managing choking in adults, children and infants, Recovery position and Practical hands-on training and skill assessment using advanced mannequins
The organisers appealed to educational institutions, resident welfare associations, corporate organisations, industries, transport operators, government departments and community organisations to take advantage of the free CPR training programmes being offered under the initiative.
“Every CPR-trained citizen is a potential lifesaver. Together, we can build a safer and more prepared society,” the organisers said.
The participants were given away certificates at the end of the training program.
Organisations interested in organising free CPR training for their employees, members, communities, in apartments or volunteers may contact Lodge Keys No. 297 on Mobile: 9848042020
