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The Durex Birds and Bees Talk Programme launches its first Return on Investment report

India, 28th March 2023: Reckitt, the global leader in consumer healthcare, today announced the expansion of The Durex Birds and Bees Talk programme (TBBT), which is directed towards adolescents between the age group – 10 to 19 Years, in the states of Gujarat and New Delhi. In partnership with ASSOCHAM Foundation For Corporate Social Responsibility (AFCSR), the programme aims to reach 15 million adolescents this year across the two states. To mark the expansion, the programme has also launched its theme song – ‘Protected’ which focuses on five key pillars built within the curriculum – Consent, Equity, Inclusion, Awareness and Protection.

The Durex Birds and Bees Talk programme released its first Social Return on Investment (SROI) Evaluation Study Report, highlighting that every ₹1 invested into the programme, delivers ₹24.40 in social value. Led by Plan India and Reckitt, the programme has been implemented in 6 North East States (NES) of Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and Sikkim. Through offline and digital platforms, TBBT has reached 4 million youth till date across these states. Launched with the support of respective state governments, TBBT has a 2-level interactive, animated curriculum that covers growing up and life skills, to promote the core principles of inclusion, awareness, consent, awareness and protection.

Gaurav Jain, Executive Vice President, Reckitt, South Asia, said, “At Reckitt, we are committed to helping adolescents as they encounter a range of life-changing experiences that necessitate coping and adaptation. Over the last three years, the Durex Birds and Bees Talk programme, implemented in partnership with Plan India across North-Eastern states, has been focused on imparting growing-up life skills to adolescents and youth. The programme yields a social value of ₹24.40 for every rupee invested, which is an indicator of the trust that the programme has generated among its stakeholders and promises the possibilities of greater heights to be achieved with a solid foundation. We are positive that our partnership with AFCSR will help us replicate the success of the programme in the states of Gujarat and New Delhi and educate students, as we target to achieve UN Sustainable Development Goals 3 (Good Health & Well-being), 4 (Quality Education), and 5 (Gender Equality).”

Deepak Sood, Secretary General, ASSOCHAM & Trustee, ASSOCHAM Foundation For Corporate Social Responsibility (AFCSR), said, “We are delighted to partner with Reckitt for one of their most successful programmes – The Durex Birds and Bees Talk and take it forward in various districts across Gujarat and New Delhi. As part of the programme, we aim to empower over 15Mn adolescents with the right knowledge of power, protection, and pleasure to ensure their health, well-being, and development. The programme will generate awareness amongst students about healthy behaviour, make informed decisions, knowledge about consent, and develop equity and inclusivity with the help of pop-cultural references, engaging with youth influencers and using technology for communication.”

Mohammed Asif, Executive Director, of Plan India, said, “Plan India has been working for more than two decades to improve sexual and reproductive health services and rights for all children, adolescent girls and young women and men in different parts of India. Our long-standing partnership with Reckitt has helped us create a significant impact through the TBBT programme in the states of Northeast. The programme has been successful in helping students in enhancing practices relating to safe hygiene and health and gaining a deeper understanding of body anatomy and physical changes experienced during puberty. We are happy to see the programme growing and hope to continue driving ground-level change with various partnerships.”

Key highlights from the report:

• For every ₹1 invested in The Durex Birds and The Bees Talk Programme delivers ₹24.40 of social value
• Through offline and digital platforms, TBBT has reached 4 million youth, 4000 teachers and more than 2000 schools till date.
• Through digital activation, the programme has been able to reach out to 320 million people across the nation
• 83.85% increased ability among students to recognise and address gender roles and stereotypes
• 44.41% increased awareness about harmful effects and consequences of substance abuse among students
• 84.38% increased technical knowledge regarding growing up life skills curriculum in teachers
• 57.03% acceptance of students of other sexual orientations and gender identities
• New Delhi & Guwahati became the top sources of conversations about the programme
• TBBT programme has established a strong online and offline presence. Its efforts have resulted in the programme making an 87% increase in its reach over the year and positive sentiments ahead by 50%

Rahul Rajkhowa, one of the most written about artists from Northeast India for his music addressing social and environmental issues, has created the theme song for TBBT programme to help set a strong foundation for this initiative in the states of Gujarat and New Delhi. Music has been the best source of communication since the beginning of TBBT and the newly launched song shares the crucial message of acquiring the right knowledge of power, protection and pleasure to ensure healthy development and wellbeing. Rahul has successfully brought the right mix of youth lingo along with the programme messaging, paired with a catchy beat. The song has been launched on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, and will be shared with key influencers to help reach the masses.

The Durex Birds and The Bees Talk Programme under Reckitt and Plan India is an innovative and pioneering initiative that has focused on inculcating growing up life skills for adolescents in the northeastern region of India. Through its systematic intervention, the programme is encouraging conversations around sexual and reproductive health among adolescents, teachers, and their community members. Adolescent girls and boys in the country lack access to information on issues affecting their lives and have limited spaces to develop competencies crucial for their active participation. TBBT programme is addressing these challenges by imparting critical and age-appropriate information, promoting healthy and safe behaviour and practices, as well as equipping adolescents with life skills, values and attitudes to become responsible adults.

Mir collects valuable experience as Marquez apologises for his mistake

March 28, 2022: A dramatic first Grand Prix weekend of the year concluded with Joan Mir recovering to 11th place. An apologetic Marc Marquez was left to lament his mistake which took out home hero Miguel Oliveira.

Joan Mir approached Sunday’s 25-lap Portuguese Grand Prix with an open mind, aiming to gather as much data as possible after his efforts on Saturday were cut short. A solid start saw the #36 maintain his grid position as the field settled into their early rhythm in Portugal. After serving his long-lap penalty for his contact with Quartararo the day before, Mir rejoined in 15th and was able to progress through the field to finally cross the line in 11th. His first points as a Repsol Honda Team rider, Mir is satisfied with the information he and the team were able to gather as there are now clear areas to work on in the coming races.

From pole position, Marc Marquez did his best to stay with the front group. Unfortunately, at the start of the third lap, Marquez made a mistake and locked the front – releasing the brakes to avoid contact with Jorge Martin. This resulted in Marquez colliding with Miguel Oliveira, ending both of their races. Marquez immediately apologised to the RNF Team before heading to the medical centre to check the condition of Oliveira and his own injuries.

Marquez was diagnosed with a potential fracture in the first metacarpal of the right hand and will travel to Spain to assess the injury further. He also received a double long-lap penalty for the Argentina GP.

The MotoGP World Championship will now head directly for Termas de Rio Hondo for the second round of the 2023 season.

Marc Marquez (DNF)

“First of all I want to say that I am very sorry to Oliveira, his team and the Portuguese fans because it was his race. I did a really big mistake today, of course it was not my intention to have this happen, my intention was not even to overtake Martin at that point, but I had a massive lock with the front. Maybe the hard front was not fully up to temperature, I released the brakes and the bike went inside. I avoided Martin but made contact with Oliveira. I straight away went over to Miguel and then in the medical centre I went to check on him – fortunately it looks like he is OK and this is the most important thing. On my side I have some pain in my right hand and with my knee but this is not so important at the minute. I fully accept and respect the penalty of the double long-lap during the Argentina GP because I did a mistake.”

Joan Mir (11th)

“The crash from yesterday impacted today a lot, not just because of the long lap penalty. If I was able to finish the Sprint race I would have had a lot more understanding of the bike because today’s race was the first time I was able to do more than ten laps in a row on the Honda. This meant I spent a lot of today learning, so from this side today was a positive because I understood more. I still need more time to improve how I am riding and how the bike is behaving, especially to get the most out of the tyre over the race. With a bit more knowledge we could have made a very good race, but I am happy to have the experience now.”

Portuguese Grand Prix Results

Rider standings

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Ozen Reserve Bolifushi Launches a Family-Friendly Paradise in the Maldives

OZEN RESERVE BOLIFUSHI is glad to announce a family-friendly package at its resort, where every member of your family can celebrate in a sumptuous island retreat that will leave you with cherished memories for a lifetime. Just a short 45-minute boat ride from the Male International Airport, the resort offers an array of bespoke amenities to ensure that you experience the most of your time in this paradise on earth. Opt for the all-inclusive RESERVE plan, allowing you to revel in all of the resort’s indulgences with a single payment at the time of booking.

Children will adore the resort’s Kids Club facilities, which provide an array of entertaining activities. For a truly unforgettable experience, why not celebrate your child’s birthday on the island? With a plethora of options available, your child is bound to have a wonderful time.

For those seeking adventure, the resort’s on-site 5-star PADI Best Dives Centre provides an opportunity to explore rare coral reefs and acquire diving certifications. In addition, snorkeling, kayaking, pedal-boating, stand-up paddling, windsurfing, jet-skiing, sea bobbing, wakeboarding, fun tubing, and banana boat riding are all available. The semi-submarine excursion provides a child-friendly approach to the underwater world.

Families looking for the ultimate luxurious experience should choose the Ocean Pool RESERVE Sunset with a Slide 2 BR suite. Boasting a spacious area of 420 m2, this suite features a lavish master bedroom, a convertible second bedroom with an ensuite bathroom, a living area for family gatherings, and a 23-meter water slide that takes you directly into the Indian Ocean’s sparkling waters. You’ll also enjoy a 35 m2 private infinity pool, overwater hammocks, and a secluded beach deck. Parents can unwind at the private bar and full-size wine fridge.

For a tranquil experience, the ELE | NA spa and wellness center offers a range of treatments based on the natural elements of wind, water, fire, earth, and wood. Certified and internationally-trained therapists use Ila spa products to provide the most serene experience.

Guests who opt for the RESERVE abodes will enjoy the lavish RESERVE Experience, including a private catamaran transfer upon arrival, a grand arrival ceremony with special flower petals, and traditional Maldivian Boduberu drumming. Dine anytime, anywhere, and enjoy in-room services and floating

breakfasts for a more private experience. The resort also offers packing and unpacking services, surprise gifts for children, and daily turn-down services.

Indulge in a culinary adventure at the resort’s exclusive overwater restaurant, ORIGINE, where guests can relish a range of gourmet delicacies. SANGU Beach and Bar offer modern Levant and Moroccan cuisines, while Tradition Saffron serves saffron-inspired dishes. Vista del Mar is an all-day restaurant offering international cuisine with a Spanish twist.

Don’t miss this chance to create unforgettable memories with your family at OZEN RESERVE BOLIFUSHI. To make a reservation, please contact reservations@ozenreserve-bolifushi.com

Etihad Airways Returns to East India With Daily Flights to Kolkata

Hyderabad, March 28, 2023: – Etihad Airways, the national carrier of the UAE, last night touched down in Kolkata as the airline made its much-anticipated return to the city. With a total of seven weekly nonstop services, the airline will once again connect India’s financial capital, Kolkata, with the world through Abu Dhabi.

The first flight on the new service, EY256, departed Abu Dhabi with a full load of passengers at 1:50 pm local time on 26 March and touched down at Kolkata’s Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Airport last night at 8:10 pm local time.

Upon arrival in Kolkata, passengers were welcomed with a cake-cutting ceremony and a celebration attended by Etihad and Kolkata Airport Executives.

The return flight, EY257, departed Kolkata at 9:05 pm local time on 26 March, landing in Abu Dhabi shortly after midnight.

Arik De, Chief Revenue Officer, said, Etihad Airways, said: “Riding on the resurgence of outbound travel from India, we’re delighted to resume daily flights to Kolkata, a key cultural and commercial hub in the Indian subcontinent. Re-establishing this vital air link with East India will support the growing demand from travelers in and around the region, offering them easy access to Abu Dhabi and connectivity to our global network alongside a world-class flying experience. We have been very impressed with our initial demand, which reaffirms our strategy to return to this key market.”

The flights will be operated with an Airbus A320 aircraft, offering Etihad’s award-winning service to guests in 8 seats in Business Class and 150 in Economy, convenient flight timings to the UAE’s capital city and seamless connections to destinations across the airline’s growing global network of 67 destinations.

From dune bashing in the desert to relaxing on its pristine beaches, soaking up rich UAE heritage and culture, or exploring attractions and theme parks such as Yas Waterworld, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi and family-favourite Warner Bros. World™ Abu Dhabi, the UAE capital offers leisure travellers a rich variety of memorable experiences.

Etihad passengers flying from Kolkata to the United States can benefit from the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) facility in Abu Dhabi International Airport, the only US immigration preclearance service in the region that allows passengers to clear US immigration while they are still in Abu Dhabi, meaning travellers can get home quicker and easier.

Flights to and from Kolkata can be booked on etihad.com, the mobile app, Etihad Airways Contact Centres or travel agents.

Flight schedule for Abu Dhabi – Kolkata service, effective 26 March 2023:

Naturals MalaiKhurma Ice Cream – A Delicious Eid Treat with Dates, Cashews, and Saffron

Naturals, the popular ice cream brand known for its commitment to using only the finest ingredients, is releasing its latest flavour – MalaiKhurma – just in time for Eid. Exclusively created for the festive occasion, it’s been made with loads of love and personalisation for you and your family to have a great time.

MalaiKhurma is a delicious combination of creamy Malai ice cream and the traditional Indian dessert, khurma. It’s a perfect blend of the freshest milk, sugar, dates, pulp, and dry fruits such as cashews, pista, kismis alongside cardamom powder and saffron. In fact, this delectable flavour truly captures the essence of the joyous occasion of Eid.

Curated to bring joy to the customers, it caters to the diverse taste of the great Indian palate. Moreover, it’s an ice cream flavour that is both indulgent and satisfying. All in all, it’s perfect for celebrating the festive occasion of Eid.

The MalaiKhurma ice cream flavour will be available in all Naturals stores across the country starting from March 17thand customers can also order it online through the brand’s website and other food-delivery platforms.

Valley Insurance Agency Alliance Promotes Kaylee Rucker

Rucker previously worked for the alliance’s sister company Powers Insurance & Risk Management.

(St. Louis, Mo., March 28, 2023) Valley Insurance Agency Alliance (VIAA), a cohesive family of more than 160 independent insurance agencies in Missouri and Illinois, recently promoted Kaylee Rucker to Communication Coordinator.

In this position, Rucker will handle internal and external communication for alliance members and company partners. This includes coordinating conferences, trade shows, and education opportunities for both the company’s team and its partners, as well as assisting with the organization’s marketing efforts and monthly newsletter.

Prior to her promotion, Rucker served as an administrative assistant for VIAA’s sister company Powers Insurance & Risk Management, one of the largest family owned and operated independent insurance agencies in the bi-state-region. She previously worked at various customer support-related businesses. Rucker earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology with a minor in Criminal Justice from Missouri State University.

“Kaylee’s promotion is based upon her excellent work performance and communication skills,” said VIAA’s co-founder Henry Powers. “She will play a huge role in the marketing efforts of our rapidly expanding alliance, and we look forward to all she will accomplish.”

Founded in 2006, sister company Valley Insurance Agency Alliance generates more than $600 million in written premium and is the regional founding member for the Strategic Insurance Agency Alliance (SIAA), a $11 billion national alliance. Founded in 1991, Powers Insurance & Risk Management provides personal and business insurance, surety, risk management, and employee benefits. The companies are headquartered at 6825 Clayton Ave. For more information, call (314) 725-1414 or visit www.viaa4u.com.

5 Revolutionary Indian Startups: Breaking Barriers, Shaping Futures

India is known for its vibrant startup culture and is home to a plethora of innovative businesses that are disrupting traditional industries and paving the way for new and exciting business models. From developing cutting-edge technologies to creating new business models, these startups are pushing the boundaries of conventional wisdom, blazing new trails, and charting their own paths to success. The startups featured in this article represent the best of the best, a collection of the most unique and industry-pioneering businesses in India, each with its own vision and mission to improve the nation for the better. These companies are not only bringing new ideas to the table but are also solving some of the most pressing problems in the country.

With bold visions, groundbreaking products, and a passion for change, these companies are helping to shape India’s entrepreneurial landscape and inspiring a new generation of entrepreneurs to venture into the unknown:

Healthians – Pioneer of At-Home Health Diagnostics

Healthians is India’s leading health test at the home service provider, trusted by over 20 lakh households. Founded in 2015, the company is driven by the vision to add 10 healthy years to every Indian’s life. It promotes wellness among all, and its diagnostic and chronic management plans have proven to be instrumental in effective disease management. Their mission is to enable Indians in pursuing wellness from the comfort of their homes and seamlessly avail of reliable health test services.

The company has operations in 250+ cities across the country and has seen its revenue grow by 250% over the last fiscal year. Through its proprietary concepts such as Health Karma, Health Tracker, and AI-based reports, Healthians brings the benefits of tech intuitiveness to the fore and helps its customers live a better life. The company prides itself on being of the utmost standard unmatched by any other health test service provider in the country.

The company has also been recognized for its constant efforts and endeavors in the healthcare space.

Siply – Pioneer of micro-savings as a path to financial inclusion.

Siply is a Bangalore-based tech-enabled micro-savings platform. Siply helps the underserved masses such as contract workers, blue-collar workers, gig economy workers, and small business owners inculcate savings behavior through sachet financial services where the investment can be as low as INR 1.00 to build a more productive, inclusive, and financially secure Bharat. So far, Siply – India ka Savings app has enabled over 6.7 million users to achieve financial independence through flexible micro-savings and a wide range of reliable investment instruments.

Founded in July 2020 by Sousthav Chakrabarty and Anil Bhat, Siply aims to be the preferred financial services brand to the 40 crore Indians who are not yet a part of the formal banking system. The company is building a platform that is tailor-made to serve the specific needs of this segment, which has so far been largely overlooked by current financial institutions like banks and mutual fund houses.

Siply has also turned gold into a micro-savings instrument by allowing people to Invest really small amounts, without any fixed schedule, and receiving 24 Karat BIS Hallmarked Gold coins or Gold Jewellery that too is BIS Hallmarked.

Yellow – Disruptor in the legal tech space
In the midst of a global pandemic in 2021, “Drafting a Will” was among the most searched terms on Google as people sought to secure their loved ones from an unpredictable future. During the pandemic, Niranjan Vemulkar and Nikhil Varghese noticed that many Indian families had a gap in financial planning as they lacked Wills. They realized that apart from the HNI community, most Indian families do not create their Wills, largely due to a lack of information and resources. Furthermore, they found that nearly 1.5 lakh crores lie in unclaimed accounts in India due to incomplete financial planning, including lack of a Will, families being unaware of the deceased’s assets, and non-updation of nominees. To address these challenges, they founded Yellow, a first-of-its-kind digital Will-making app designed by lawyers and powered by technology. Yellow has since emerged as a disruptor in the legal tech space with this unique offering.

Yellow, an acronym for Your Every Little LOving Wish, is truly unique and sets out to do what its name suggests. Give every Indian a way to take care of the people that matter most to them.

QuoDeck – A comprehensive digital engagement solution

QuoDeck is a B2B SaaS digital engagement platform that provides organizations with an innovative way to engage employees, value chains, and gig workforces. Founded in 2017 by Kamalika Bhattacharya and Arijit Lahiri, QuoDeck addresses the growing need for companies to build stronger digital connections with their audiences. By using games and gamification mechanics, QuoDeck drives higher adoption and better retention among users.

The platform offers a complete digital engagement suite that promises engagement, speed, mobility, regionalization, data, and security. With the ability to handle large user bases and extended ecosystems, such as sellers, agents, vendors, distributors, and partners, QuoDeck is highly scalable. Additionally, by incorporating interactivity and games, QuoDeck helps organizations collect valuable data in real time and analyze it through big data tools.

QuoDeck offers a unique approach to building digital engagement, which is inherently scalable and tailored to meet the evolving needs of organizations. Whether it’s improving employee engagement, streamlining workflows, or driving greater customer loyalty, QuoDeck provides organizations with the tools they need to succeed in the digital age.

OpenOffers – A recruiter’s radar for hiring candidates
OpenOffers, an enterprise SaaS platform, tackles the issue of candidates backing out from job offers at the last minute. This phenomenon, known as “ghosting,” not only leads to direct losses for companies but also impacts their bottom line. When a candidate fails to show up on their joining date, the company is forced to start the recruitment process all over again.

OpenOffers track a candidate’s journey from the moment they accept a job offer until they either back out, join the company, or have been employed for at least three months. During this time, candidates may provide conflicting commitments to multiple companies. OpenOffers gathers all these signals anonymously on a single timeline, allowing recruiters to determine whether the candidate is likely to join or has already accepted an offer elsewhere.

OpenOffers calculates a candidate’s ghosting score and joining likelihood based on their commitments to different companies, similar to a CIBIL score for loans. The platform is building a network of enterprises so they can share these commitment signals anonymously with each other.

Paradise comes back with Delicious Haleem range this festive season

Hyderabad, 28 March 2023: The world’s favorite biryani house Paradise is back again with their Haleem delight this season. For the first time, Paradise also adds Chicken Haleem to its menu. Customers can avail of the Paradise Haleem foods as takeaways or enjoy it at any of the Paradise outlets.

The ingredients for the haleem menu are of high quality and make the choicest picks of the spices which are used in the correct proprietary ratios followed by trademark cooking methods making Paradise haleem unique. Ample care is taken to prepare the food until dished out in line with the safety protocols and hygiene standards in the current times. Guests can be assured of both the taste and quality that Paradise has been keeping up for seven decades.

The food chain has acquired its place in the Limca Book of Records for ‘Most Biryanis Served In A Year’. In 2017, Paradise catered over 70 lakh servings of biryani and in 2018 the numbers crossed over 90 lacks. Paradise also won the ‘Restaurant Serving The Best Biryani’ award at the Asia Food Congress and Golden Spoon Award at the India Food Forum in 2018. Through the years they have won several accolades and laurels from Telangana State Hotels Associations, GHMC, Times Food Award, Pride of Telangana, and Lifetime Achievement Award to name a few.

Synersoft Technologies conducts webinar on Unknown Facts About BLACKbox

28th March 2023: Synersoft Technologies, an indigenous IT company, conducted a webinar on “Unknown facts about BLACKbox” on March 23, 2023. In this webinar, Mr. Vishal Prakash Shah, CEO and Co-Founder of Synersoft, talked about the background and unknown features of BLACKbox.

The fascinating failure stories from BLACKbox’s early days, the customer persona that drives BLACKbox, and lesser-known facts about BLACKbox were the key subjects of the webinar. In the webinar, Mr. Shah explained how an Indian product succeeded after numerous failures in a market dominated by American and German tech titans. He elaborated on how the internet and concerns with piracy influenced BLACKbox. He also discussed the concept that inspired the development of BLACKBOX. Several previously unknown BLACKbox functions, including Email Shadowing, DNS Splitter, Dual Profiling, and Application Virtualization, were covered in this webinar. The advantages of this functionality include secure BYOD, bandwidth-efficient apps, playback in the back office, and affordable hardware and software. BLACKBOX assists MSMEs in reducing costs by 55% for hardware, 70% for software, 70% for email subscriptions, and 50% for bandwidth.

Speaking on the theme of the webinar, Mr. Vishal Prakash Shah, CEO and Co-Founder at Synersoft Technologies, said, “BLACKbox persevered in defending MSMEs and fostering their growth while facing several challenges. IT problems are consistently resolved by BLACKbox’s secret technologies with the same efficiency as magic.”