Category Archives: Business

Indian Markets Edge Up in Early Session on Improved Sentiment

Mumbai, Apr 17 (BNP): Indian benchmark indices began Friday’s session on a positive note, buoyed by improving global sentiment and renewed foreign investment.

 The BSE Sensex rose by 177.52 points to reach 78,166.20 in early trading, while the NSE Nifty gained 37.4 points, climbing to 24,234.15.

Market sentiment was lifted by signs of easing geopolitical tensions. A temporary ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon has sparked hopes of broader stability in the region. Analysts believe this development could also revive the possibility of fresh negotiations between the United States and Iran.

In addition, steady inflows from foreign investors added further support to the upward momentum in equities.

Croma Unveils Akshay Tritiya ‘Golden Offers’ with Up to 50 Percent Off on Electronics

Chandigarh, April 17: This Akshay Tritiya, Croma, India’s trusted omni-channel electronics retailer from the Tata Group, is turning festive shopping into a golden opportunity with discounts of up to 50% across air conditioners, large-screen televisions, soundbars and more. Available on April 19, the limited-period offers combine deep price cuts, cashback, exchange benefits and easy EMIs, making it the perfect time to upgrade your home. Additionally, Tata Neu HDFC Bank Credit Card holders can enjoy up to 10% savings as NeuCoins on select Apple & Google products.

Beat the Heat with Unmissable Cooling Deals:

As summer peaks, Croma is helping customers stay cool with compelling offers on inverter air conditioners, including a minimum of two EMIs free on select models and an exchange benefit of up to ₹8,500.

·Bluestar 1.5T Inverter AC now at 43% off, available for an effective price of ₹34,490

·Croma 1T inverter AC is available at an effective price of ₹26,590

·Samsung 1.5T Inverter AC now at 51% off, available at an attractive price of ₹38,990

·Godrej 1.5T Inverter AC can be availed for just ₹28,383

Big Screens, Bigger Savings on Home Entertainment:

Customers looking to elevate their entertainment experience can enjoy a minimum of 25% off on a wide range of 55-inch and larger TVs from leading brands such as LG, Samsung, Sony and Croma.

·Samsung 55-inch QLED 4K TV is now available at 41% off for ₹50,990

·Sony ‘Pay as Per Screen Size’ EMI Offer – for instance own a 55-inch Sony TV at just ₹5,500 per month for a 30-month tenure

·AI-powered QLED/QNED TVs is available from ₹2,999 per month, bringing next-gen viewing within easy reach

·Enjoy 1 EMI free on 75-inch and above TVs, making big-screen upgrades even more rewarding

Adding to the festive cheer, Croma is offering a flat 10% discount with savings of up to ₹3,200 on productsabove ₹25,000. The offer applies to a select range of air conditioners, refrigerators, washing machines, televisions and Android smartphones from top brands. An exchange bonus of up to ₹15,000 is also available on select categories and brands. Also, for students and teachers, all MacBook are available with a special 10% discount.

“Akshay Tritiya is a time when customers look to invest in purchases that bring long-term value and prosperity. With our Golden Offers, we are bringing together the best deals on essential summer appliances and cutting-edge home entertainment, making it easier for customers to celebrate the festival with meaningful upgrades,” said a spokesperson from Infiniti Retail Ltd.

These festive offers are available pan-India across all Croma stores for a limited period, giving customers across budgets access to premium technology at compelling prices.

Final prices are inclusive of applicable bank cashback, exchange value of old devices, and additional exchange bonuses, where applicable.

VIRGIO Is Leading India’s Shift to Clean Fashion

Bengaluru, India, Apr 17 – VIRGIO, the fashion-tech brand at the intersection of sustainability and trend-forward design, is defining a new way of dressing, one where fashion is not just desirable, but also responsible.

Built on the belief that fashion can be both desirable and responsible, VIRGIO stands for a shift in how consumers engage with clothing today. As the market moves toward more conscious consumption, the brand is shaping Clean Fashion as the future of mainstream fashion, moving it beyond a niche idea into an everyday standard.

At its core, VIRGIO brings together trend-forward design with a more thoughtful approach to materials, production, and value. This creates a fashion experience that feels good in every sense, aesthetically, ethically, and emotionally—resonating with a growing consumer mindset that seeks both style and substance.

Unlike traditional approaches that isolate sustainability into limited collections, VIRGIO embeds Clean Fashion across its entire value chain. From mindful material choices and longevity-driven design to greater transparency in pricing and storytelling, the brand is building a more aware and intentional fashion ecosystem.

More than a brand narrative, VIRGIO is helping shape what Clean Fashion truly means today. Through cultural storytelling, creator-led conversations, and consumer-first communication, it is reframing conscious fashion as something that is not just responsible but also relevant, aspirational, and scalable.

VIRGIO’s approach challenges long-standing industry norms of opacity, inflated markups, and disconnected storytelling. Instead, it champions clarity, better choices, and a more informed relationship between consumers and what they wear—without compromising on style or individuality.

At a time when consumers are seeking greater awareness and intention in their choices, VIRGIO positions Clean Fashion as a natural evolution of fashion itself—where looking good and doing better are no longer separate ideas.

Amar Nagaram, Founder, VIRGIO, said, “VIRGIO was built on the belief that fashion can be both desirable and responsible. Clean Fashion, for us, is about bringing that balance to life, where great design is matched by transparency, better choices, and a deeper awareness of how clothes are made. We don’t see Clean Fashion as a niche or a trend. We see it as the future of how people will dress. Our focus is on shaping what that future looks like, making it relevant, accessible, and meaningful for today’s consumer.”

By positioning Clean Fashion as the future of mainstream fashion, VIRGIO is not just responding to change; it is helping define it, encouraging a move toward more thoughtful, informed, and meaningful choices in how India dresses.

LUMISTAR Launches TERO Series and Opens Preorders for its Always‑On Tennis Training Partner

TERO Pro leads the new series with 0.1-second adaptive returns and post-session reports that convert rallies into measurable improvement.

Los Angeles, CA, USA, April 17, 2026 – LUMISTAR, a sports technology company focused on making high-quality training more accessible, today announced its flagship TERO series Tennis Training Partner will be available for preorder by April 30, with sales beginning May 30, 2026. The series includes TERO and TERO Pro, with the Pro model offering the most responsive experience and the deepest training feedback through the Vision Module, including post-session training reports that offer clear feedback and next steps.

Tennis improvement often hits a ceiling that has little to do with talent or effort. Consistency is the difference maker, and it’s hard to build without a partner who can keep up and always be available when you are. When that’s missing, practice gets fragmented. Players end up doing workarounds that don’t feel like real points, or they simply don’t get the reps they need to keep progressing. A reliable, always-available partner changes that equation and that’s what LUMISTAR envisions TERO to be. TERO Pro Sets a New Standard for Match-Real Tennis Training on a Personal Level

For players who want the most comprehensive training loop, the TERO Pro takes competitive tennis even further. After each session, TERO Pro generates personal training reports with an objective breakdown of performance, then saves those reports in your history so you can track progress over time and plan the next step with purpose. TERO Pro is also designed around a more advanced hardware and interaction stack, including:

• The All-in-One Court Kit that keeps racket, balls, a detachable bag and machine
  integrated into one seamless system
• Real-time visual perception and AI insight that unlocks new ways to play through
  modes such as “All Star Game”, where you can face off against tennis legends like
  Roger Federer and Serena Williams
• 4K AI dual-focal lens (60fps) with an automotive-grade SoC and pre-trained AI model
  that makes each rally smarter and more adaptive as you grow (with Vision Module)
• Extendable system intelligence with swappable modules that allow TERO Pro to
  evolve and upgrade as new features are released

TERO Delivers Reliability to Tennis Training for Consistent Reps and Real Progress TERO is designed to make practice feel less like feeding and more like playing. With 238 built-in drills, it gives players a deep library to train consistency, patterns and point-ready scenarios without needing to plan every session from scratch. The session itself stays dynamic and reactive, so you can train against changing tempo and placement instead of settling into predictable routines.

Just as importantly, TERO is built to keep you in rhythm. You can start a session with one click, then make changes through voice and gesture control for speed and spin adjustments, or placement without stopping to dig through menus. With wristband positioning and swing-speed detection, TERO also understands your location, timing and pace during the rally, which makes the next ball feel earned and responsive rather than pre-programmed.

Core performance specs (TERO series):

• Max ball speed: 140 km/h
• Max range: 26 m
• Max height: ≥ 4.2 m
• 238 built-in drills
• Upgradeable with the Vision Module to add “sight” and expanded capabilities (Vision + AI features enabled with the module)
• The world’s first dual-axis, dual-end gimbal design, uniquely engineered for a
  rock-solid, stable feed

“Reps matter, but reps alone don’t necessarily make you a better player. You improve when practice gives you instantaneous feedback, real variety and moments that force better decision making,” said Rachel Yang, CMO at LUMISTAR. “That’s what we had in mind when designing TERO. We want it to truly feel like the training partner you wish you had on call, ready when you are, reacting instantly and pushing you in all the right ways. Then it shows you what actually improved and what still needs to be worked on.”

Further details for the TERO and TERO Pro, including ordering information and pricing will be announced towards the end of April.For product details and preorder updates, visit: https://lumistar.ai

RealSense Demonstrates Industry’s Most Comprehensive GMSL Depth Camera Portfolio at Hannover Messe 2026

SAN FRANCISCO- RealSense today announced expanded support for Gigabit Multimedia Serial Link (GMSL) across its depth camera portfolio, delivering a scalable, production-ready perception platform for robotics and industrial automation. The company will showcase its new GMSL-enabled lineup at Hannover Messe 2026, Hall 26, Stand D29.

Robots and industrial automation require high-precision, robust and reliable perception systems to ensure they navigate safely and operate predictably across a variety of conditions. GMSL is rapidly emerging as the preferred standard for robotic industrial vision systems, overcoming the limitations of USB with improved synchronization, longer cable reach and greater dependability in demanding environments.

By enabling rugged, scalable multi-camera perception through a single cable infrastructure, GMSL supports the next generation of autonomous machines operating in factories, warehouses and logistics environments.

Expanding the GMSL Portfolio

RealSense is introducing GMSL support across three of its most widely used depth cameras:

• D401: Sub-millimeter precision in a compact form factor, ideal for robotic arms and humanoids, with a tiny GMSL package that enables near-invisible integration into manipulators
• D430: High-accuracy, mid-range 3D depth sensing, deployed extensively across robotics systems worldwide
• D415: Precision mid-range scanning and spatial intelligence in factories and warehouses

These join the existing D457, creating the industry’s most comprehensive lineup of industrial-ready GMSL depth cameras.

The cameras are powered by the RealSense SDK 2.0, featuring native ROS 2 support for seamless integration into modern robotics stacks. The RealSense D457 also includes native models in Isaac Sim, accelerating development and significantly reducing sim-to-real deployment time. Crucially, all RealSense cameras perform depth processing directly on-device via the company’s AI Vision ASIC, eliminating the need for external compute while delivering low-latency, reliable performance at the edge.

Built for Industrial Scale

USB-based systems often require complex synchronization and can suffer from instability in harsh environments. GMSL enables:

• Consistent, predictable performance with reduced calibration needs
• Native multi-camera synchronization with up to 8 cameras per system
• Long-reach, secure industrial cabling via FAKRA connectors
• Reduced system complexity and cost with up to four cameras per deserializer

These capabilities allow OEMs and system integrators to deploy scalable, multi-camera perception systems with greater reliability and lower total cost of ownership.

From Cameras to a “Visual Cortex”

The launch marks a shift from standalone sensors to an integrated perception platform, designed for industrial-scale deployment and multi-camera autonomy. This innovation reinforces RealSense as the visual cortex of Physical AI, delivering the perception layer that enables machines to see, understand and act in the physical world.

“Industrial autonomy depends on perception that works in the real world, not just in the lab,” said Nadav Orbach, CEO of RealSense. “With our GMSL portfolio, we enable scalable multi-camera vision with the reliability, reach and integration simplicity required for production deployment. Together with partners like AVerMedia, we are making it easier to build and deploy complete perception systems, faster and at scale.”

Partner Ecosystem and Live Demonstrations

At Hannover Messe, RealSense and its partners will demonstrate real-world applications of scalable perception:

• AVerMedia Demo (Multi-Camera Scaling): Built on a compact indoor AMR, the AVerMedia SenseEdge Development Kit demonstrates real-time 3D perception for navigation through synchronized multimodal sensing and on-device inference. Powered by RealSense GMSL cameras and the RealSense Visual Cortex, the system supports up to 4 cameras per interface and scales to 8 cameras out of the box.
• Inbolt Demo (Real-Time Control): Inbolt will demonstrate real-time part tracking and robot control using AI-driven software and a RealSense D435 depth camera integrated into a robot-mounted system. The demo highlights continuous localization and closed-loop trajectory control, showing how perception translates directly into precise robotic action in production environments.

“RealSense’s new GMSL cameras significantly advance 3D perception capabilities, and our expanded SenseEdge Development Kit provides a validated, production-ready platform to deploy them at scale,” said Alex Liu, Vice President, Industrial Product Division at AVerMedia. “By enabling the full RealSense GMSL lineup across both AGX Orin and NVIDIA Jetson AGX Thor editions, we’re helping customers accelerate from development to real-world deployment in robotics and industrial environments.”

Thought Leadership and Sessions

RealSense executives will also lead key sessions at Hannover Messe, including:

• Panel Discussion: Led by Mike Nielsen, RealSense CMO, “The Visual Cortex for Industrial Robots: From Perception to Predictable Autonomy,” will be held April 21 at 10:25 CEST in Hall 26, Solution Lab (E43), Expert Stage 2
• Demo Talk: Chris Matthieu, RealSense VP Developer Ecosystem, will explore human-robot interaction and identity recognition in his presentation, “When Robots Recognize You,” on April 24 at 10:20 CEST in Hall 26, Solution Lab, Spotlight Stage

For more information, contact Penny Malsch, RealSense Global Senior Marketing Strategist, at penny.malsch@realsenseai.com

AD Ports Group Leverages Integrated Logistics Network to Ensure Trade Resilience and Strengthen Regional Supply Chains

Abu Dhabi, UAE – 16 April 2026: AD Ports Group (ADX: ADPORTS), a leading global enabler of trade, industry, and logistics solutions, has successfully drawn on its diversified logistics capabilities to strengthen local and regional supply chains in the Gulf region, ensuring continued resilience.

Since the onset of the recent regional developments at the end of February, the Group has continued to operate as normal, serving the needs of its global clients by establishing alternative routes and rerouting cargo across land, rail, sea, and air to mitigate supply chain disruptions affecting Arabian Gulf ports, in light of the traffic conditions through the Strait of Hormuz.

To date, AD Ports Group handled over 54,000 TEUs at Fujairah Terminals and Khor Fakkan Port, and successfully transported over 22,000 containers through its land logistics services, alongside 18,000 TEUs across its maritime network, supported by a dedicated fleet of 24 vessels operating 8 feeder services. In addition, the Group has transported more than 8,000 tonnes of cargo through its air logistics services, enabled by more than 100 chartered flights. 

Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Managing Director and Group CEO of AD Ports Group, said: “Our long-term investments in a diversified and comprehensive network of logistics and trade infrastructure have enabled one of the UAE’s largest-ever logistics redeployments to be executed with speed, agility and efficiency. Under the guidance of our wise leadership in the UAE, AD Ports Group will continue to guarantee the flow of goods across local and regional markets, particularly essential commodities such as food, medicines, strategic reserves, and other critical inputs. Our commitment towards serving our partners and customers remains firm, while safeguarding the safety of our workforce and strengthening the resilience of local and regional supply chains.”

To ensure continuity of regular shipping services to Khalifa Port, and across three key trade corridors linking the UAE’s eastern ports with ports in the Arabian Sea and the Red Sea, the Group has launched new regional feeder shipping services to maintain supply chain integrity, which redeployed and scaled up its dedicated vessel fleet to 24 container and bulk cargo vessels, with plans to increase fleet capacity.

Feeder shipping services operated by the Group’s SAFEEN Feeders and Global Feeder Shipping (GFS) have been rerouted via Fujairah Terminals and Khor Fakkan Port, both located on the Gulf of Oman, providing alternative gateways to the UAE and the wider GCC region.

New container feeder shipping services have been established connecting ports in India, Pakistan and Oman, as well as Red Sea ports, and ports along the Upper Arabian Gulf region.

By leveraging its logistics assets and extensive strategic and commercial networks, the Group has established an air bridge comprising three chartered aircraft, to transport vital goods, with plans to further increase capacity.

The Group has also established a land bridge to transport cargo from Fujairah and Khor Fakkan through bonded customs corridors in the UAE to Khalifa Port, Jebel Ali Port, and Sharjah, using 800 trucks and four new daily rail service trips by Etihad Rail. These efforts are supported by the Group’s expanded warehousing and storage capacity for essential goods, currently exceeding 76,000 sqm, with plans to more than double to 188,000 sqm.

Leveraging its award-winning digital trade infrastructure, the Group has launched new freight management platforms that deliver visibility and resilience, enabling the efficient management of trade flows. By unifying and processing data across the Group’s global operations, these platforms have enabled the Group to leverage real-time trade lane intelligence to strengthen supply chain integrity, while repurposing empty import containers for export along alternative high-volume corridors– enhancing resilience and reducing time and cost for customers. 

Working closely with UAE authorities and industry partners, AD Ports Group continues to safeguard its workforce, partners and stakeholders, while ensuring uninterrupted services to customers.

Govt Launches Smart Dashboard to Monitor Infrastructure Performance

Capgemini Marks World Earth Day 2026 with Progress on Net-Zero Transformation

Mumbai, Apr 16:  On the occasion of World Earth Day, themed ‘Our Power, Our Planet’, Capgemini reaffirms its commitment to embedding sustainability into the very fabric of its business, demonstrating that real action is driven by everyday decisions, innovation, and collective responsibility. 

As part of its bold ambition to become a net–zero business by 2040, Capgemini has made significant progress over the past five years by integrating sustainability into its operations, services, and organizational culture, reinforcing that it is shaped by people’s actions every day.   

Key Progress Highlights: 

·         Achieved 100% renewable electricity, up from 28% in 2019  

·         Reduced travel emissions by 70% compared to 2019 levels  

·         Delivered a 94% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions versus the 2019 baseline  

This transformation has been driven by a structured approach across five key pillars: 

·         Decarbonizing operations and supply chain  

·         Driving employee engagement and sustainable behaviors  

·         Advocating for broader ecosystem change  

·         Embedding circularity, water conservation, and biodiversity protection  

·         Enabling clients to become more resilient and sustainable  

India-Focused Sustainability Initiatives: 

·         Capgemini’s Energy Command Centre (ECC), a centralized and scalable model, is optimizing energy efficiency across its India operations 

·         Since its launch in April 2022, the ECC has enabled a 29% annual reduction in energy usage, equivalent to ~25 GWh 

·         Solar parks contribute 26% of total energy consumption across 8 campuses in India 

·         Capgemini has transitioned its cafeteria kitchens across offices in India from Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) to nature-based Bio-CNG (biogas), as part of an initiative implemented in 2024 to advance sustainable operations 

Global Sustainability Impact: 

·         76% of Capgemini’s fleet comprises electric and hybrid vehicles 

·         18 million trees planted globally as part of investments in nature and climate solutions 

·         Delivered 5,000 sustainability-focused client projects in 2025 

·         Achieved 96% employee participation in sustainability training programs 

Capgemini’s five-year net–zero review underlines progress as well as the complexities of driving enterprise-wide transformation, offering insights into lessons learned, collaboration models, and the path ahead. 

This World Earth Day, Capgemini continues to focus on translating bold ambition into measurable impact.

Snabbit hires Abhinav Ankur as CBO to consolidate early lead in India’s USD 60B quick home services market

Bengaluru, Apr 16: Snabbit, India’s first quick-service app for on-demand home services, today announced the appointment of Abhinav Ankur as Chief Business Officer (CBO). A seasoned operator with a strong track record of scaling high-growth businesses, Abhinav will lead Snabbit’s business expansion as the company deepens its position as a category creator and early market leader in one of India’s largest yet under-penetrated consumer segments.

Abhinav brings extensive experience across consumer internet and logistics-led platforms, having held leadership roles at OYO and WheelsEye, where he drove business growth, operational scale, and category expansion. Known for translating strategy into execution at pace, he joins Snabbit at a pivotal moment as the company moves from rapid early adoption to structured market leadership.

Growing demand

Snabbit is redefining convenience for urban Indian households through its quick-service model for on-demand home services. In six months, the platform has scaled from 10,000 to over 40,000 daily jobs and crossed 1 million jobs in March, placing it among the fastest-scaling players in the space and signaling strong repeat demand in a high-frequency category.

India’s home services market is estimated at over $60 billion, with the majority still fragmented and offline. It is expanding rapidly at a projected CAGR of 18-22% through FY2030, as consumers increasingly seek convenience, reliability, and accountability that offline alternatives struggle to provide.

First to market & early lead consolidation

As the category begins to formalize, Snabbit is emerging as a market maker, building the first scaled quick-service layer for daily home services with a focus on speed, reliability, and consistency. The company’s approach is not just aggregating demand, but structuring supply and usage to enable category-wide shift towards organized, tech-enabled consumption.

Abhinav’s appointment comes as Snabbit sharpens its focus on building depth, strengthening its operating model, and consolidating its early leadership position while expanding across urban markets.

“Opportunities to shape a category at this scale are rare,” said Abhinav Ankur, Chief Business Officer, Snabbit. “Daily home services remain one of the largest offline segments in India. What stood out to me about Snabbit is the clarity of the model and the early signs of product-market fit. The pace of adoption, combined with strong execution, creates the opportunity not just to participate in this market, but to define it.”

Aayush Agarwal, Founder, Snabbit, added,

 “Scaling a category like ours requires both speed and structure, with the importance of the latter only increasing as we grow. Abhinav brings a deep understanding of how to build systems that can operate at this level of complexity, and we’re excited to have him lead this next phase with us.

Having scaled from 400 to 40,000 daily jobs in under a year, we are at a clear inflection point. The depth and discipline with which we operate from here will define our ability to build a high-quality, sustainable organization that serves millions of customers and experts.”

With this appointment, Snabbit is doubling down on its ambition to become the defining platform for on-demand home services in India by combining speed, reliability, and operational excellence at scale.

The company is actively hiring across roles as it continues to invest in talent, technology, and infrastructure to support its next phase of growth.

Stock Markets End Lower as Profit Booking Hits Financial Shares

Apr 16 (BNP): Indian equity markets ended lower on Thursday after a volatile trading session, as investors booked profits in banking and financial stocks following a recent rally.

The Sensex closed 122.56 points, or 0.16%, lower at 77,988.68. During the day, the index swung sharply, touching an intraday high of 78,730.32 before slipping to a low of 77,674.93, reflecting strong volatility.

Similarly, the Nifty 50 declined 34.55 points, or 0.14%, to close at 24,196.75, as selling pressure emerged at higher levels.

Market participants said the fall was mainly driven by profit-taking after recent gains, particularly in banking and financial stocks, while broader sentiment remained cautious amid global cues.