Category Archives: News

Odisha Leads India’s Clean Energy Push with Forward Looking Green Hydrogen Policy

Odisha has taken a significant step toward a sustainable future by emerging as the first state in India to unveil a dedicated Green Hydrogen Policy. The move highlights the state’s strong commitment to clean energy adoption and reducing industrial carbon emissions.

During a high-level meeting chaired by Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo, along with representatives from the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and other key stakeholders, a clear roadmap for renewable energy expansion was discussed. The plan places special emphasis on green hydrogen production, floating solar projects, pumped storage systems, and advanced battery energy storage solutions.

This strategic initiative is expected to draw substantial investments into the state while boosting infrastructure designed to withstand natural disasters. It also aims to position Odisha as a leading destination for clean energy innovation in India.

With growing support from industry leaders, Odisha is steadily shaping its future as a hub for sustainable development and next-generation energy solutions.

GIVA Launches VEDA Bangalore’s Newest Premium Jewellery Destination

Bangalore, Apr 1:  GIVA, India’s leading fine jewellery brand, today marks a landmark moment with the launch of VEDA, a first-of-its-kind premium jewellery experience in Bangalore. More than a store, VEDA is a destination where heritage craftsmanship, ethical luxury, and deeply personal storytelling converge.

 Derived from the Sanskrit word for knowledge, VEDA embodies a commitment to conscious luxury. The brand stands at the confluence of ancient wisdom and modern values, bringing awareness, integrity, and intention to every piece it creates.

Step into a world where grand interiors are as thoughtfully curated as the collections they house. VEDA offers an immersive jewellery journey designed for those who seek more than adornment. They seek meaning. At the heart of VEDA is an exclusive private viewing room, where guests experience a personalised consultation away from the world, making every milestone feel truly ceremonial.

VEDA’s collections are built around life’s most significant moments, weddings, milestones, and timeless celebrations. The silver range spans Kundan, pearl, and temple collections, each rooted in craft traditions that have stood the test of time. In gold, VEDA offers pieces across the full spectrum of a woman’s life, from understated everyday wear to show-stopping occasion jewellery, alongside Polki and lab-grown diamond collections for those seeking something truly exceptional.

Every piece is ethically sourced, traceable from origin to creation, and backed by full certification of quality and authenticity. Lab-grown diamonds are chemically, physically, and optically identical to mined diamonds, but created with zero environmental impact.

VEDA offers 0% deduction on gold, ensuring customers receive the full value of their gold at the time of exchange, with complete transparency and no hidden costs.

Made to Order in 12–14 Days

VEDA’s signature Made-to-Order offering allows customers to commission bespoke jewellery crafted specifically for them, delivered in just 12 to 14 days. Each piece is handcrafted by master artisans who bring generations of skill to their work, honouring traditional techniques while embracing contemporary design.

Utkal Divas 2026: A Tribute to Odisha’s Heritage, Unity, and Progress

Utkal Divas, also known as Odisha Foundation Day, is observed every year on April 1. This special day marks the formation of Odisha as a separate state and celebrates the unique language, culture, and identity of the Odia people.

In 2026, Utkal Divas falls on Wednesday, April 1. The day holds deep historical importance, as Odisha became the first Indian state to be formed on a linguistic basis, even before India gained independence.

The journey toward statehood was not easy. It was achieved through years of persistent efforts, movements, and sacrifices by visionary leaders and the people of the region, who sought recognition for their distinct language and cultural heritage. Their determination ultimately led to the creation of Odisha as a separate province in 1936.

Today, Utkal Divas is celebrated with great pride and enthusiasm across the state. The occasion is marked by cultural programs, traditional music and dance, parades, and various public events that showcase Odisha’s rich heritage.

Beyond celebration, the day serves as a reminder of the state’s inspiring past and encourages people to work towards a brighter future. It is a time to reflect on progress and renew the commitment to building a stronger and more prosperous Odisha.

Oil India Limited Partners with CSIR-IMMT to Boost Critical Minerals Research

Bhubaneswar, March 30: In a significant move to strengthen India’s strategic mineral ecosystem, Oil India Limited (OIL) on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the CSIR–Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology (IMMT) to establish a Centre of Excellence for critical minerals.

The collaboration, formalized in Bhubaneswar, is aligned with the National Critical Mineral Mission under the Ministry of Mines and aims to enhance research, exploration, and processing of critical minerals, supporting the country’s self-reliance objectives.

Under this agreement, OIL will become the first “Industry Spoke” of CSIR-IMMT under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, creating a new model of partnership between India’s energy and mining sectors.

The MoU was signed by Saloma Yomdo, Director (Exploration & Development), Oil India Limited, and Ramanuj Narayan, Director of CSIR-IMMT, in the presence of OIL CMD Ranjit Rath. Senior officials from OIL and CSIR-IMMT scientists, including Kali Sanjay and Satyajit Rath, also attended the ceremony.

Speaking at the event, CMD Ranjit Rath emphasized that the partnership would expand OIL’s role beyond hydrocarbons, boosting its contribution to the National Critical Mineral Mission. He also highlighted the potential of artificial intelligence and machine learning in identifying mineral resources, noting that OIL has already pinpointed ten focus areas for technology-driven initiatives in consultation with the CSIR Director General.

Director Ramanuj Narayan underlined CSIR-IMMT’s expertise in research and technology solutions for the mining, minerals, and metals sectors, with a particular focus on critical minerals. He expressed optimism that the Centre of Excellence would drive innovation and support India’s long-term goals in mineral self-reliance.

This collaboration represents a strategic convergence of energy and mining expertise, aimed at strengthening India’s capabilities in critical mineral exploration and processing, while leveraging advanced technologies for sustainable resource development.

‘Odia Pakhya’ to Be Celebrated from April 1 to Showcase Odisha’s Culture and Heritage

The Government of Odisha will celebrate ‘Odia Pakhya’ from April 1 to April 14 with the aim of promoting the state’s rich cultural heritage, traditions, lifestyle, food, and attire on a wider platform.

Announcing the initiative at a press conference held at Sanskruti Bhawan, Culture Minister Suryabanshi Suraj said that a series of events will be organized across all districts of the state, including the capital city Bhubaneswar, with active participation from various government departments.

The celebration will begin on April 1 with Utkal Divas, observed by the Information and Public Relations Department. On April 2, the School and Mass Education Department will mark ‘Khadi Chuan Day’, welcoming young children enrolling in early education.

On April 3, the Handlooms, Textiles, and Handicrafts Department will promote traditional attire through ‘Ama Poshak Ama Parichaya’ (Our Dress, Our Identity) Day. This will be followed by a campaign on April 4 encouraging the use of Odia language in signboards.

To highlight heritage and fitness, a heritage run will be organized near historical sites on April 5, along with a cleanliness drive on April 6.

Further events include Children’s Storytelling Day on April 7, a blood donation drive on April 8, and a book-buying campaign on April 9 to encourage reading habits. April 10 will be dedicated to folk arts, celebrating Odisha’s traditional art forms.

The programme will continue with cultural events such as ‘Amrutapidhi Samaroha’ on April 11 and ‘Bandaniya Baraputra’ on April 12, honoring notable personalities.

On April 13, ‘Ama Ruchi Ama Khadya Day’ will focus on promoting traditional and local cuisine, highlighting Odisha’s diverse food culture.

The ‘Odia Pakhya’ initiative reflects the state government’s efforts to preserve and promote Odia identity, while engaging people across all sections of society in celebrating their cultural roots.

Racing Bulls Simulator in Special 2026 Japanese GP Livery Revealed by F1® Authentics

F1® Authentics , operated by Memento Exclusives under licence of Formula 1®, has revealed a brand-new limited edition Official 2026 Team Licensed Simulator for Visa Cash App Racing Bulls Formula One ® Team; exclusively presented in the special ‘Cherry Edition’ livery from the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix.

Created to be synonymous with the vehicles seen on track in Suzuka, the 2026 Japanese Grand Prix livery Motion Simulator has been made by Memento Exclusives’ expert team, featuring engineers and mechanics with decades of experience in motorsport. It utilises Official Team livery data to perfectly replicate the cars of Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad, who finished P9 and P14 respectively in Japan, securing more points and maintaining the positive start made to the new season.

First revealed at Red Bull Tokyo Drift in Shibuya before touring the streets of the city and arriving at the Suzuka Circuit, this unique livery celebrated Sakura, the colourful cherry and almond blossoms seen across Japan in Spring. Designed by Japanese calligrapher Bisen Aoyagi, it features white, red and silver colours and calligraphy, encapsulating a moment in time and the beauty of Japanese culture.

As well as claiming two valuable points in Suzuka, this unique livery has already gained significant popularity amongst the online racing community.  CEO Peter Bayer said the original livery design was part of embracing the cultural context of each race in a meaningful way and the team continues to “look for ways to connect with young fans and the cultures that shape our sport”.

Boasting haptic actuators, a front pivot configuration and haptic rumble feedback, this latest edition Motion Simulator moves authentically to replicate the feeling of every turn from every iconic circuit. These high-tech systems will provide drivers with the most immersive F1® experience possible, beyond winning a seat on the team.

The limited edition Official 2026 Visa Cash App Racing Bulls Formula One ® Team Japanese Grand Prix Motion Simulator is now live on F1Authentics.com.  

Collectors are encouraged to act quickly to become the proud owner of this landmark moment, with this special livery in limited quantities and in high demand.

BioRestorative Reports Positive Phase 2 Data for BRTX-100 in Chronic Lumbar Disc Disease

BioRestorative Therapies Reports Positive  Phase 2 Blinded Data for BRTX-100 Demonstrating Meaningful Improvements in Pain and Function in Chronic Lumbar Disc Disease

MELVILLE, N.Y., March 30, 2026 — BioRestorative Therapies, Inc. (“BioRestorative,” “BRTX,” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq:BRTX), a late-stage clinical regenerative medicine company focused on stem cell-based therapies and products, today announced blinded data from its Phase 2 clinical trial evaluating hypoxic-cultured mesenchymal stem cells for the treatment of chronic lumbar disc disease, with 50% or more of treated patients reporting improvements >50% across key pain and functional outcome measures and no adverse events related to dose-limiting toxicities.  Importantly, the Phase 2 study efficacy endpoint is a greater than a 30% improvement in both the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) at 52 weeks, which is the minimum improvement needed to meet clinical efficacy success. Chronic lumbar disc disease is a leading cause of chronic lower back pain and disability, affecting millions of patients globally and representing a significant unmet need for non-surgical regenerative therapies.

These data were presented at the 2026 Orthopaedic Research Society Annual Meeting on March 28, 2026 at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Company delivered these data in a presentation titled, “Late-Stage Phase 2 Clinical Safety and Efficacy Data on Intradiscal Injections of Hypoxic Cultured Mesenchymal Stem Cells: Study Update.”

“These blinded data further support the therapeutic potential of our hypoxic-cultured mesenchymal stem cell technology, with  patients demonstrating meaningful improvements across key pain and functional outcome measures,” said Lance Alstodt, BioRestorative Therapies President, Chief Executive Officer, and Chairman.  “Even with blinded data, this signal provides us with confidence in the ultimate outcome of the study, and optimism moving forward with regard to the ultimate potential for meeting a medical need that has, to date, been inadequately addressed.

“Importantly, the results also continue to reinforce the favorable safety and tolerability profile observed to date. In addition, following our recent Type B meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, we achieved alignment on key elements of a potential Phase 3 clinical trial for BRTX-100, including primary endpoints, statistical powering assumptions, dosing strategy, and the overall development framework. The agency did not raise safety concerns and confirmed that our CMC framework is appropriate for late-stage development.

“Taken together, these developments position the Company to transition from clinical evaluation toward registrational planning. As we move toward the planned unblinding of the Phase 2 study, we have begun preparing for the next stage of clinical development, including protocol planning and other Phase 3 readiness activities, while continuing to generate additional clinical data that may support the advancement and potential commercialization of BRTX-100,” concluded Mr. Alstodt.

Clinically meaningful improvements in both pain and functional outcomes were observed across multiple validated pain and function measures, including the Visual Analog Scale (“VAS”), Oswestry Disability Index (“ODI”), Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (“RMDQ”), and Functional Rating Index (“FRI”), with responses sustained for up to two years in patients with longer-term follow-up.

On the VAS for pain, 53.57% of patients reported greater than 50% improvement at 26 weeks (n=28), with the percentage of patients that reported greater than 50% improvement increasing to 75% at 52 weeks (n=12) and remaining 75% at 104 weeks (n=4).

Similar improvements were observed on the ODI, a widely used measure of functional impairment associated with spinal disorders.  Blinded results from the abstract showed 53.57% of patients achieved greater than 50% improvement at 26 weeks (n=28), increasing to 74.63% of patients at 52 weeks (n=12), with 50% of patients maintaining that level of improvement at 104 weeks (n=4).

Improvements were also observed on the RMDQ, with 57.14% of patients experiencing greater than 50% improvement at 26 weeks (n=28), 50% of patients at 52 weeks (n=12), and 75% of patients at 104 weeks (n=4).

FRI demonstrated continued improvement over time, with 35.71% of patients achieving greater than 50% improvement at 26 weeks (n=28), increasing to 66.67% of patients at 52 weeks (n=12) and 50% of patients at 104 weeks (n=4).

Finally, at 26 weeks (n=28) 41% of patients reported a 50% improvement in both ODI and VAS, 55% of patients achieved a 50% improvement in both ODI and VAS at 52 weeks (n=12), and at 104 weeks (n=4) 57% of patients met a 50% improvement in both ODI and VAS.

Cured Nutrition Expands Best-selling Dream Gummies Line With New Strawberry Flavor

The latest addition to CURED’s sleep and stress relief lineup arrives on the heels of a sellout launch.

BOULDER, CO (March 30, 2026) – CURED Nutrition, a health and wellness brand harnessing the power of microdosed cannabinoids and functional mushrooms, today announced the launch of a strawberry flavor of its best-selling Dream Gummies. The new flavor is available now at curednutrition.com alongside the original grape.

Dream Gummies rank among CURED’s top-selling products — and for good reason. When the line debuted in November 2025, it sold out within two weeks, signaling a growing consumer demand for credible, third-party tested sleep support. In a 1,000-person study, participants who used CURED products for seven days reported significantly reduced stress and increased feelings of calm and physical ease — making the transition to restful sleep measurably simpler.

“Sleep is the foundation of overall health, and our 235,000+ customers trust us to support their end-of-day unwind in a clean, sustainable way. Dream was built to honor that trust,” said Joseph Sheehey, CEO and Co-Founder of CURED Nutrition.

Dream Gummies combine a precision cannabinoid and botanical formula — CBD, CBN, and a microdose of THC, paired with valerian root, passionflower, and chamomile. The result is deep, restorative sleep without the intoxicating effects of high-dose THC or the next-day fog common to most sleep supplements.

“Dream gummies are the perfect combo of my go-to plants for helping me fall asleep,” said Heather K., a verified user of CURED’s Dream gummies and a CURED Nutrition influencer. “Perimenopause is no joke when it comes to a good night’s sleep, and these gummies are exactly the potency I was hoping for to help my body sleep deep!” 

You can see more of Heather’s reviews of CURED’s products on her Instagram profile, linked here: https://www.instagram.com/cleanerliving.heatherk/?hl=en

CURED’s microdose approach uses approximately one-tenth the THC found in a standard edible — enough to deliver subtle, functional benefits like reduced stress, elevated mood, and improved quality of life, without the high. Every batch is produced in the United States and third-party tested for purity and potency.

G. Kishan Reddy Inaugurates Nand Ghars, Boosting Nationwide Grassroots Development

Hyderabad,  Mar 30: Marking a significant milestone, G. Kishan Reddy, Hon’ble Union Minister of Coal and Mines, Government of India, inaugurated Nand Ghars in Hyderabad, Telangana formally ushering the initiative into the community with 36 centers in Hyderabad district. Nand Ghar, Vedanta’s flagship social impact initiative, is transforming India’s anganwadi ecosystem by creating modern, tech-enabled centers that deliver integrated services including nutrition, early childhood care and education, primary healthcare, and women empowerment.

 With this expansion, Nand Ghar significantly deepens its footprint in southern India, further consolidating its presence across Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and now Telangana, strengthening its commitment to driving holistic community development across the region. It is a major step forward for strengthening the anganwadi ecosystem in Telangana and underscores Vedanta’s commitment to scalable, high-impact social development.

Shri G. Kishan Reddy, Union Minister of Coal and Mines, shared in a post on X and wrote, “Inspected the Anganwadi Centre in Bhaghavanthapuram, Sanathnagar, and reviewed its overall functioning, including service delivery in early childhood care, nutrition, and maternal health. Distributed stationery kits and interacted with the children and staff. Highlighted the need to further strengthen grassroots support systems for holistic child development.”

Through these Nand Ghars, the initiative is set to positively impact nearly 3,000 children and women in the district, providing access to quality nutrition, education, healthcare, and livelihood opportunities. During his visit, the Hon’ble Minister engaged warmly with children, mothers, and sevikas, witnessing firsthand the impact of the initiative. He distributed school essentials such as bags and bottles, along with nutritious millet bars, reaffirming Nand Ghar’s commitment to ensuring Poshan through supplementary nutrition interventions and ensuring healthier futures for children.

Adding to this, Shashi Arora, CEO, Nand Ghar who was present at the inauguration, stated, “We are honoured to have the Hon’ble Minister inaugurate and witness the impact of Nand Ghars firsthand. Guided by our Chairman’s vision of transforming rural communities through scalable and sustainable models of development, our endeavour is to create an ecosystem where every child receives the right start in life and every woman is empowered with opportunities to thrive. With continued support and partnerships, we aim to scale this model further and deepen our impact across communities.”

As Nand Ghar continues to expand its footprint, now spanning over 12,700 Nand Ghars, this milestone reflects the power of collective action, where government support, community participation, and institutional commitment come together to drive meaningful change.

Looking ahead, the initiative remains firmly anchored in its vision to impact 14 lakh anganwadis across India and transform the lives of 8 crore children and 2 crore women. With a strong focus on scale, sustainability, and partnerships, Nand Ghar is poised to accelerate its journey, building resilient communities and shaping a future where every child has the opportunity to thrive and every woman is empowered to lead change.

Himachal Governor Briefs PM Modi on Key Development Initiatives

New Delhi: Himachal Pradesh Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi to discuss a range of important initiatives and developments in the state.

During the meeting, the Governor apprised the Prime Minister of ongoing welfare programmes, administrative priorities, and efforts aimed at strengthening infrastructure and public services in Himachal Pradesh. He also highlighted steps being taken to promote sustainable development and improve the overall quality of life for residents.

The discussion included key sectors such as rural development, healthcare, and tourism, which continue to play a vital role in the state’s growth. The Governor shared updates on recent progress and sought continued support from the Centre for upcoming projects.

Prime Minister Modi appreciated the efforts being made in the state and reiterated the Centre’s commitment to supporting Himachal Pradesh’s development journey. The meeting reflects ongoing coordination between the state and the Centre to ensure effective implementation of policies and programmes.