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Alula Recognised Twice in Time’s 2024 ‘World’s Greatest Places’ Awards

TIME, the global media organisation based in the USA, officially announced today the winners of its 2024 ‘World’s Greatest Places’ awards, highlighting two of AlUla’s destination offerings as remarkable places to be explored! Vetted by TIME’s editors and correspondents around the world, this exclusive list features 100 extraordinary destinations to explore, stay and visit.

AlUla’s awarded places include:

Dar Tantora The House Hotel – Just opened in May 2024, Dar Tantora The House Hotel is the first property to be established in the historic AlUla Old Town – the ancient mud-brick houses city dating back to more than 800 years old, which was recognised as one of the Best Tourism Villages in 2022 by UNWTO. Nestled within AlUla’s desert oasis, Dar Tantora stands as an emblem of sustainable luxury. With 30 guest rooms thoughtfully restored from historical mud-brick buildings, this eco-lodge offers guests an immersive blend of traditional Bedouin living and upscale comfort.

Sharaan Nature Reserve – Covering almost 600 square miles (1500 Square Kilometers), the beautiful Sharaan Nature Reserve is a treasure trove of natural wonders. Central to it is the restoration of AlUla’s sensitive ecosystem, which in turn allows the reintroduction, preservation and protection of endangered animals such as Arabian wolves, gazelles and large-eared red foxes, along with indigenous flora and fauna. Created with the goal for restoring the natural land and wildlife, Sharaan will serve as a safe rewilding hub for critically endangered Arabian Leopards, currently located at an offsite breeding facility.

To compile the ‘World’s Greatest Places’ list, TIME solicited nominations of places –including hotels, cruises, restaurants, attractions, museums, parks, and more– from its international network of correspondents and contributors, with an eye toward those offering new and exciting experiences. The TIME brand is recognised and respected around the world, and this prestigious accolade remains the ultimate symbol and acknowledgment of excellence within the travel sector. The full list of winners can be found here.

“We are elated by the recognitions awarded to our destination’s offerings by TIME in their renowned World’s Greatest Places,” says Rami AlMoallim, Vice President of Destination Management and Marketing at the Royal Commission for AlUla, “the exceptional sentiments reflect the excellence and dedication of AlUla’s efforts to preserve and promote its unique cultural heritage through comprehensive and sustainable development initiatives rooted in the community.”

Located in the northwest of Saudi Arabia, AlUla is an oasis city renowned for its diverse natural landscape including mountains, desert and unique geological rock formations, along with significant heritage sites. A beacon for sustainable tourism, AlUla’s commitment to purpose-driven revitalisation, is showcased in their newly launched global brand campaign, “Forever Revitalising,” has transformed the destination into a vibrant hub not only for ancient heritage, culture, art and adventure, but also for responsible tourism.

Policy push to drive 80 percent growth in new e-buses sales this fiscal

Asset-light model for STUs, healthy returns on projects for bus operators to aid adoption

The supply of electric buses (e-buses) in India will surge 75-80% on-year, albeit on a small base, to 6,000-6,500 this fiscal (see chart in annexure), spurred by increasing deployment via tenders awarded under various schemes for procurement by state transport undertakings (STUs) through the gross cost contract (GCC) model.

These schemes include Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid and) Electric Vehicles (FAME) (1 and 2), National Electric Bus Programme (NEBP) under Convergence Energy Service Ltd (CESL) (1 and 2), and PM-eBus Sewa Scheme. Tenders awarded under these schemes had propelled orders for e-buses to 24,0001 at the beginning of this fiscal.

Efforts by the central government to reduce carbon emissions in public transport are driving e-bus adoption. This, along with favourable contracting terms under the GCC model, which has emerged as the preferred route for e-bus purchase by STUs, has supported deployment.

Says Gautam Shahi, Director, CRISIL Ratings “E-bus adoption is truly in a sweet spot because the interests of STUs and bus operators are being taken care of under the GCC model, with optimal distribution of risk among stakeholders. For example, GCC is an asset-light model for STUs with no upfront cost of acquisition as e-buses are financed by bus operators. Bus operators, in turn, don’t carry any passenger traffic risk and get a steady income stream because of assured rentals per km with tariff revisions linked to inflation. Consequently, they generate a healthy internal rate of return of 10-11%2 over the tenure of the concession.”

That said, counterparty risk remains a key variable for operators when bidding for e-bus tenders as STUs with weak credit profiles have resulted in stretched debtor cycles in the past.

To manage this risk, the government has announced a payment security mechanism (PSM) under the PM-eBus Sewa Scheme in August 2023. The government is working on the modalities of setting up a dedicated payment security fund (PSF)3 to secure the receivables of bus operators in case there is a delay in, or failure to make, payment by STUs within the prescribed time as per the concession agreement.

Additionally, for the recently awarded tenders under the PM-eBus Seva Scheme, there is a provision that allows bidders to execute the concession agreement only after the PSM has been notified.

While the surge in e-bus orders will generate economies of scale in production, declining battery costs will lower the purchase price of an e-bus. The benefits of the potential decline in e-bus prices may be passed on to STUs by bus operators, in terms of rentals per km, thus further aiding adoption.

Says Pallavi Singh, Associate Director, CRISIL Ratings, “Existing strong e-bus orderbook, along with the remaining orders of 7800 buses to be awarded under the PM e-Bus Sewa Scheme4 will give a fillip to the sector. Moreover, the government is expected to further augment this scheme, which, will continue to support growth of e-bus sales over this and next fiscal.”

Data Patterns reports a 33 percent growth in EBITDA and 27 percent in PAT for Q1 FY 2024-25

Chennai, July 30, 2024: The Board of Directors at atData Patterns (India) Limited (NSE: DATAPATTNS | BSE: 543428), a strategic Defense and Aerospace Electronics Systems provider, today approved the limited review financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2024.

 Performance Highlights

INR in Cr.

Q1 (2024 – 2025) Highlights

• Total Revenue for Q1 increased by 15% from Rs. 101 Cr in quarter ended June 30, 2023 to Rs. 116 Cr in quarter ended June 30, 2024.
• Revenue from operations increased by 16% from Rs. 90 Cr in Q1 FY 2024 to Rs. 104 Cr in Q1 FY 2025
• The Company’s Earnings before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortization (Operational EBITDA) increased by 33% from INR 28 Cr for the quarter ended June 30, 2023 to INR 37Cr in the corresponding quarter ended June 30, 2024
• Profit Before Tax (PBT) improved by 25%, from INR 35 Cr for the first quarter of FY23to INR 44Cr in the first quarter of FY25
• Profit After Tax (PAT) increased by 27% from Rs. 26 Cr in Q1 FY 2024 to Rs. 33Cr in Q1 FY 2025.
• Orders book position
  • Orders on hand as on June 30, 2024  – INR 1017.08 Cr
  • Including orders negotiated, pending receipt of formal orders – INR 1,147 Cr
• Order book as on March 31, 2024 was Rs. 1083 Cr and as on June 30, 2023 was Rs. 967 Cr.

Mr. Srinivasagopalan Rangarajan, Chairman &Managing Director, Data Patterns (India) Limited commenting on the company’s performance said,“This has been an encouraging start to the financial year 2025 with revenue growth of 16%, gross margins at 72% and EBITDA margins improved by 465bps at 36%reflecting operational excellence. Our current order book crosses 1100crs with an optimal production and development mix. We anticipate strong and steady order inflow for the full year given the government’s emphasis on ‘Made in India’ defence solutions. We are excited about the opportunities ahead and remain dedicated to driving continued growth and value for our stakeholders.

World Day Against Trafficking in Persons (July 30): ADRA Reaffirms Global Prevention Efforts

SILVER SPRING, MD (July 30, 2024) – The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) joins global communities on July 30 to commemorate World Day Against Trafficking in Persons and reinforce eradicating child trafficking. This year’s theme, “Leave No Child Behind in the Fight Against Human Trafficking,” highlights the significant proportion of female trafficking victims globally.

According to the United Nations, more than 1.2 million children are trafficked each year, and minors are twice as likely as adults to endure violence during trafficking. In regions like Sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean, the incidence of child trafficking is disproportionately high, with minors constituting 60 percent of the detected victims.

“Human trafficking is a serious and widespread crime affecting millions of men, women, and children worldwide. ADRA is highly aware of the crucial nature of this crisis, particularly child trafficking, as minors account for a sizable proportion of global victims. ADRA is at the forefront of providing support services and programs to victims, many of whom have been subjected to violence, forced labor, sexual exploitation, and recruited as child soldiers in armed conflicts. ADRA will continue raising awareness, advocating, and promoting action globally to educate and engage communities to protect children and adults from falling victim to trafficking,” declares ADRA International’s Vice President for Humanitarian Affairs, Imad Madanat.

ADRA Child Protection Programs

ADRA spearheads programs in different regions of the world specifically to support children at risk for human trafficking by addressing the root causes like poverty and inequality to reduce children’s vulnerability.

ADRA Bangladesh

ADRA implements a project in Bangladesh to prevent forced child labor. According to UNICEF, three million children in the country are forced to work, and many of them become victims of human trafficking. The young people who live in Bangladesh’s urban slums are the most vulnerable. To address the problem, ADRA established a school in a low-income neighborhood, and the Chalantika Slum Children Development Project (CSCDP), which has been offering high-quality education and social services to prevent malnutrition, since 1972.

Keep Girls Safe in Thailand

ADRA’s Keep Girls Safe (KGS) project in Thailand, collaborates with government agencies, local organizations, and community groups to improve awareness and reduce women and girls’ vulnerability to sexual exploitation and human trafficking. Keep Girls Safe (KGS), which has a shelter for high-risk girls, and offers education scholarships to 100 young women, is marking its 20th year of success. The project also partners with the Chiang Rai Secondary Education Department to train students, high school teachers, and counselors on how to raise awareness and encourage reporting of online exploitation, abuse, and human trafficking.

ADRA and Refugee Children

ADRA works with refugee and displaced children in a variety of settings to ensure their safety and protection, as they are targets of human traffickers. According to UN reports, an increasing number of refugee and migrant children are taking exceedingly dangerous routes, frequently at the behest of smugglers and traffickers, and being sold into slavery or prostitution.

To safeguard children, ADRA runs educational initiatives in many refugee camps around the world. ADRA’s Learning Center in Baalbek, Lebanon, offers education to children who fled the Syrian conflict and connects them and their families to crucial services.

In Mexico, ADRA assists refugee families and children who flee from violence and conflict zones by providing food, shelter, health services, and counseling.

ADRA has also launched extensive response operations to protect refugee children and families who escape the fighting in Ukraine. Several ADRA country offices including Austria, Belgium, Romania, and Slovakia, offer numerous social services, such as food, cash assistance, access to education, shelter, psychosocial support, and protection at border crossings.

Help ADRA create a safer world by joining the battle against human trafficking. Visit https://adra.org/child-protection to discover more about ADRA’s global trafficking prevention efforts, as well as ways to help survivors and protect vulnerable people from this heinous crime.

Secure interviews and more information on this story by contacting Iris Argueta at iris.argueta@adra.org or calling 301-332-3880.

Caret Capital and Peyush Bansal Invest in TraqCheck, an AI-Based Startup for Employee Background Verification

30th July 2024 Gurgaon, Haryana, India Caret Capital, a sustainability fund that invests across Mobility, Distribution and Employment, has invested in Delhi-based startup TraqCheck.

​Founded in November 2020 by Armaan Mehta, Jaibir Nihal Singh and Rishabh Jain, TraqCheck is an AI-based platform for employee background verification. It enables enterprises to onboard employees significantly faster and more accurately at a lower cost than traditional methods.

“From the outset, our mission has been clear: to empower individuals and companies through their data. TraqCheck remains committed to this goal by facilitating the utilization of personal data for individual advancement and aiding companies in making informed hiring decisions. This commitment fosters an optimal workplace culture and community. We remain focused on advancing and implementing new AI technologies to drive innovation in the background verification industry by enhancing hiring speed, cost efficiency and accuracy. Dedicated to empowering individuals and companies with their own data, we are excited to welcome Pankaj Bansal, Prajakt Raut from Caret Capital, and Peyush Bansal’s family office, Culture Cap, as partners on the TraqCheck journey,” stated Armaan Mehta, Jaibir Nihal Singh, and Rishabh Jain, the Founders of TraqCheck.

According to Prajakt Raut and Pankaj Bansal, Co-founders and Managing Partners of Caret Capital, “There are significant tailwinds for TraqCheck’s value proposition. As the industry transitions to a gig workforce and on-demand human resources (e.g. in logistics, deliveries, etc.), there will be a significantly higher demand for instant background verification services. Traditional background verification companies cannot do instant / fast verification, which companies like TraqCheck using AI can do.”

The background verification industry is a USD one billion industry in India and USD 15 billion globally. However, background verification is conventionally a manual process. Current market players are working off older generations of technology stacks and are dependent on significant human intervention. As a result, their speed, accuracy and costs are inefficient. TraqCheck fills this gap and provides quick and efficient verification leveraging the power of AI.

Godfrey Phillips India Ltd. Celebrates Sixth Consecutive Recognition as Great Place To Work®

30th July 2024  New Delhi, Delhi, India The BSE-listed FMCG giant is making waves with its financial success. Continuous recognition as a Great Place To Work is another proud achievement for the Company.

Godfrey Phillips India Ltd. (GPIL), a leading FMCG company and a Fortune 500 and ET 500 India listed organization, proudly announces its sixth consecutive certification as a Great Place To Work® by the renowned Great Place To Work Institute.

Commenting on the achievement, Dr. Bina Modi, Chairperson and Managing Director of the Company said, “At Godfrey Phillips India, our People-First Philosophy is more than just a mantra; it’s the essence of our culture. We’re dedicated to cultivating an environment where every individual feels not just valued, but truly at home, empowered to thrive and contribute their best. Our employees’ deep sense of ownership, responsibility, respect, and love for GPIL is the true measure of our success. This certification is another testament to our unwavering commitment to our people, further solidifying our legacy of care and reinforcing our belief that together, we can achieve greatness.” She further added that she has never thought of the Company as ‘my company,’ but always as ‘our company’ – because at GPIL employees are equal partners.

Sharad Aggarwal, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, echoed Dr. Modi’s sentiments, stating, “We are thrilled with this recognition. GPIL takes immense pride in fostering a culture of collaboration, cross-learning, transparency and respect. I have always pushed our people to share their ideas, to try and try again. Our employees are not just colleagues; they are part of the OneGPI family. This recognition is a testament to their dedication and contributions, and how far we have come together. ‘Together’ continues to be a core value for GPIL which represents our joint contributions.”

Sakshi Anand, Chief Human Resources Officer, emphasized, “Equality is fundamental to GPIL’s ethos. We provide equal opportunities for all our employees to share their ideas, grow professionally, and diversify their skill sets. Our commitment to nurturing a supportive and inclusive workplace is unwavering. This recognition comes with a responsibility of maintaining and raising the standard of work ethics that we practice and promote at Godfrey Phillips India and I’m very proud to say that the entire OneGPI family sincerely supports this effort.”

Godfrey Phillips India’s consistent recognition as a Great Place To Work® underscores its steadfast commitment to fostering a positive workplace culture and prioritizing the well-being and growth of its employees. The Company is breaking its own growth records year on year. Along with financial success, GPIL continues to set industry benchmarks for excellence in workplace culture and employee satisfaction.