Category Archives: News

Navratri Day 2: Odisha Shakti Peeths Witness Special Rituals as Goddess Brahmacharini Is Worshipped

Bhubaneswar, Oct. 12 (UDN): Navratri celebrations have gathered momentum across Odisha, with prominent Shakti Peeths and temples witnessing special prayers and religious rituals on the second day of the nine-day festival. Devotees are worshipping Goddess Durga in her second form, Maa Brahmacharini, seeking blessings for peace, strength, prosperity and spiritual growth.

 Representational Image 

Temples across the state have been decorated for the auspicious occasion, creating a devotional atmosphere as devotees arrive to offer prayers and participate in traditional ceremonies.

Maa Brahmacharini: Symbol of Devotion and Spiritual Strength

The second day of Navratri is dedicated to Maa Brahmacharini, a form of Goddess Durga associated with devotion, perseverance, penance and spiritual discipline. Worshipping the goddess is believed to inspire determination, patience and inner strength among devotees.

Special pujas, mantra chanting and other religious observances mark the occasion, while many devotees observe fasts and devote time to prayer as part of their Navratri practices.

The first day of the festival was dedicated to Maa Shailaputri, with devotees offering prayers at temples across Odisha to mark the beginning of the nine-day celebration.

Nine Days Dedicated to Nine Forms of Goddess Durga

Navratri celebrates the nine manifestations of Goddess Durga, collectively known as the Navadurga. Each form represents distinct divine qualities and holds special significance in Hindu religious tradition.

The nine forms worshipped during the festival are Maa Shailaputri on the first day, Maa Brahmacharini on the second, Maa Chandraghanta on the third, Maa Kushmanda on the fourth and Maa Skandamata on the fifth.

Maa Katyayani is worshipped on the sixth day, followed by Maa Kalaratri on the seventh, Maa Mahagauri on the eighth and Maa Siddhidatri on the ninth day.

The festival is observed with prayers, fasting, devotional singing and special temple rituals. Devotees believe that sincere worship during these nine days brings divine blessings, positivity and spiritual well-being.

Devotional Atmosphere at Odisha’s Shakti Peeths

Major Shakti Peeths and other prominent temples across Odisha are witnessing religious fervour as devotees gather to seek the blessings of the Mother Goddess. Special rituals, traditional worship practices and the ceremonial adornment of the deities remain important features of the celebrations.

For devotees, Navratri is an occasion to strengthen their spiritual connection, practise self-discipline and seek the goddess’s blessings for their families and communities.

As the festivities continue, the second day serves as a reminder of the values associated with Maa Brahmacharini—faith, dedication, patience and unwavering determination.

The nine-day festival will continue with the worship of the remaining forms of Goddess Durga, culminating in the final day dedicated to Maa Siddhidatri.

JK Tech Names Mahesh Ramakrishnan as New Chief Technology Officer

BENGALURU, India and NOIDA, India, Oct. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — JK Tech, a specialist AI and data solutions provider, has announced the appointment of Mahesh Ramakrishnan as Chief Technology Officer (CTO). The appointment reinforces JK Tech’s commitment to building a future-ready technology organization and accelerating innovation as enterprises move from digital and AI experimentation toward scaled, business-led transformation.

Mahesh brings 26 years of experience across software, product engineering, technology strategy, and emerging technologies. He founded Tataatsu Idealabs and led it for 13+ years, building the natural language processing products CollabLayer and Seer, years before large language models went mainstream. Earlier, he was Global Head of Sell-Side Research Products at Thomson Reuters. At Capco, as Principal Consultant, he headed the Compose product business through its sale to Thomson Reuters. At JK Tech, he is leading JIVA’s move from retrieval to reasoning: agents that work across an enterprise’s structured and unstructured knowledge to solve multi-step business problems.

As CTO, Mahesh will lead the development and execution of JK Tech’s technology vision for its next phase of growth, with a central focus on integrating and scaling JK Tech’s three flagship platforms- JIVA, Ontologos, and Orbiee, into a single, connected technology fabric. His mandate will span strengthening technology foundations, advancing the company’s platforms and solutions, fostering engineering excellence, and building differentiated capabilities that address evolving enterprise needs. Under his leadership, JIVA’s Gen AI orchestration, Ontologos’ semantic and ontology-driven intelligence, and engineering capabilities will converge with Orbiee to create a unified, hyper-personalized ecosystem, bringing intelligence, orchestration, and engineering together to deliver differentiated, outcome-driven experiences for clients.

Sameer Nagpal, President & CEO, JK Tech, said, “Technology is central to JK Tech’s ambition and to the value we create for our clients. Mahesh brings the experience, product mindset, and breadth of technology perspective needed to shape our next phase of innovation. His leadership will help us strengthen our technology foundations, accelerate our capabilities, and translate our vision into solutions that create meaningful business impact.”

Talking about his new role, Mahesh Ramakrishnan said, “I see an opportunity to build on JK Tech’s strong technology and domain capabilities and create a clear, cohesive technology vision, one that delivers lasting, measurable ROI for our clients. Most enterprises already hold the answers to their own questions. Those answers sit across databases, documents, mail and decades of code, and getting at one still means waiting for an analyst to build a report. We want to shorten that path, so that people in the business can ask a question and get an answer drawn from both structured and unstructured data. That depends on doing the groundwork on the data properly, and it is where much of our effort is going. JIVA is the platform for it. The knowledge graphs we extract give our agents the meaning behind the data, and with that they can reason through a problem across many sources. We will build it with domain-specific agentic workflows and small language models that run inside a client’s own environment, so their data stays with them and each answer costs less. The same capability lets us read legacy enterprise code and recover the business rules buried in it, often the slowest and riskiest part of any modernization.”

As part of this vision, JK Tech will embed AI into everyday operations across every department, becoming an AI-first organization.

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HireNudge Emerges as Fastest-Growing AI Job Platform for Jobs Abroad

BANGALORE, India, Oct. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — India’s aspiration to go abroad is increasing day by day, whether in the form of studying abroad or working abroad. In 2025, over 18.8 lakh Indian students were studying in 153 countries. India also has around 3.54 crore Indians living abroad. According to India’s Economic Survey 2025-26, Indians living abroad sent $135.4 billion back to India in the financial year 2024-25, making India the country that receives the most money from people living abroad.

Despite these global opportunities, finding the right job abroad can be challenging. Candidates often navigate multiple job portals, company career pages, and professional networks while managing resumes and applications.

HireNudge brings essential job-search tools together in one AI-powered platform. With more than 1,00,000 users having searched for job opportunities through the platform, it helps candidates discover international jobs, build ATS-friendly resumes, track applications, and connect with hiring teams.

Making International Job Search Simpler

Finding suitable overseas roles requires more than submitting applications. Candidates need to identify relevant opportunities, present their experience effectively, and connect with the right hiring teams. Managing these steps across different platforms can be time-consuming and make the job search hard to organise.

HireNudge brings these activities together to help candidates manage their international job search more efficiently.

AI-Powered Tools to Simplify the International Job Search

Searching for jobs abroad can be time-consuming, as candidates often struggle to find relevant openings, tailor resumes, manage applications, and reach the right recruiters across multiple platforms.

HireNudge addresses these challenges by bringing essential job-search tools together in one AI-powered platform. Its AI Job Matcher helps candidates discover opportunities aligned with their skills and career goals, while the Resume Builder helps them create ATS-friendly resumes tailored to relevant roles. Candidates can then use the AI Job Tracker to organise applications and monitor their progress, and Employer Outreach to connect with recruiters and hiring teams. By connecting these steps in one place, HireNudge aims to make the international job search more organised and help candidates focus on pursuing relevant career opportunities abroad.

What HireNudge Users Say

“I had been looking for a tool to simplify my international job search, and HireNudge has been helpful in discovering opportunities abroad. Through the platform, I have been able to get international interview opportunities and explore roles beyond my local job market.”

— Khyati Sharma, A HireNudge User from Jaipur

“I have been using HireNudge for the past six months, and it has helped me explore international career opportunities. During this time, I have received six interview opportunities, including opportunities with organisations such as Bosch.”

— Jai Gupta, A HireNudge User from Bengaluru

Conclusion

For millions of Indians, working abroad represents a chance to explore new possibilities, grow professionally, and build a brighter future. Every global career journey begins with finding the right opportunity and having the confidence to pursue it.

HireNudge helps candidates discover international jobs, improve their resumes, and connect with hiring teams. While HireNudge cannot guarantee a job abroad, it can help serious job seekers navigate their search and pursue opportunities with greater confidence. With users sharing positive feedback, HireNudge has been highly rated by its users and aims to support more candidates as they take steps towards their career goals. By making the job search more organised and helping candidates explore opportunities beyond borders, HireNudge hopes to bring more global career dreams within reach. For every aspiring professional, the right opportunity could be the beginning of an exciting new chapter.

Website: https://hirenudge.ai/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hirenudge

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hirenudge

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hirenudge.ai

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@hirenudge 

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Jyotiraditya Scindia to Visit Mizoram for Development Projects, Student Interaction and Banking Conclave

AIZAWL, October 12, 2026: Union Minister for Communications and Development of North Eastern Region Jyotiraditya M. Scindia is scheduled to visit Mizoram on October 12 and 13 to participate in development programmes, interact with students and engage with banking sector representatives.

The two-day visit marks Scindia’s second trip to Mizoram since assuming charge as Minister for Development of the North Eastern Region. His engagements will focus on infrastructure development, youth interaction and strengthening the role of financial institutions in the economic development of the Northeast.

On October 12, Scindia will arrive in Aizawl and proceed to Tuivamit, where he is scheduled to inaugurate development projects and lay foundation stones for new initiatives. The programmes are aimed at supporting development activities in the state.

The Union Minister will subsequently visit Mizoram University to interact with students, including participants of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region’s (MDoNER) Ashtalakshmi Darshan programme. The interaction is expected to provide a platform for discussions on educational opportunities, youth aspirations and development prospects in the Northeastern region.

On October 13, Scindia will return to Mizoram University to inaugurate the North East Bankers’ Conclave 3.0 and deliver its keynote address.

The conclave will bring together stakeholders from the banking sector to deliberate on ways to improve access to credit, expand financial inclusion and strengthen institutional support for economic activities across the Northeast.

Banking institutions are expected to play an important role in facilitating credit for entrepreneurs, small businesses and other economic stakeholders, particularly in regions where access to formal financial services remains a key development priority.

The visit forms part of the Centre’s engagement with Northeastern states on development initiatives, infrastructure expansion and economic opportunities. The scheduled programmes in Mizoram will bring together government representatives, students and financial sector stakeholders to discuss priorities for the state and the wider region.

TDB Extends Rs.86 Crore RDI Support to Peptris for AI-Based Drug Development

Bengaluru, October 12: The Technology Development Board (TDB), under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, has entered into an agreement with Bengaluru-based Peptris Technologies Private Limited to provide ₹86 crore in financial assistance for advancing artificial intelligence (AI)-driven drug discovery and development.

The funding, extended under the Research Development and Innovation (RDI) Fund, will support Peptris’ ₹172 crore project, titled VIGOR: Advancing AI-Discovered Molecules from Bench to Clinic. The programme aims to move four drug candidates from Technology Readiness Level (TRL)-4 to TRL-6 through preclinical research, experimental validation and preparation for clinical trials. The assistance will be provided through an Optionally Convertible Debt (OCD) arrangement.

The initiative seeks to address a major challenge in AI-led pharmaceutical research: converting computationally identified molecules into potential therapeutic candidates that can progress through laboratory validation, preclinical testing and subsequent clinical development.

Peptris plans to use its proprietary AI-driven drug discovery platform alongside established drug-development processes to advance the selected candidates. The programme will focus on therapeutic areas with unmet medical needs and is expected to run over three years.

The four candidates included in the development programme are PEPR111, targeting neuromuscular disorders and oncology; PEPRX101, focused on alopecia; PEPR202, targeting neuropathy; and PEPR112, focused on Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).

According to the project plan, the candidates are currently at TRL-4, with the objective of reaching TRL-6. Planned activities include advanced preclinical studies, investigational new drug (IND)-enabling research, formulation development and preparation for clinical trials. Progression will depend on scientific outcomes and applicable regulatory requirements.

The programme will also draw on global contract research organisation (CRO) networks to support development and validation. By pursuing four candidates under a common framework, Peptris aims to combine AI-enabled molecular discovery with experimental evidence and established pharmaceutical development practices.

Commenting on the agreement, TDB Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Pathak said AI could significantly change the process of identifying and developing new drug candidates. He noted that translating promising discoveries into validated therapeutic candidates requires sustained financial investment, rigorous scientific assessment and a structured development pathway.

Pathak said the RDI Fund was supporting technology-intensive initiatives to bridge the gap between innovation and clinical development while building India’s capabilities in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and AI-enabled healthcare.

A representative of Peptris Technologies Private Limited said the financial support would help the company advance its VIGOR programme through important preclinical development milestones. The representative highlighted the integration of AI-based discovery, experimental validation and established drug-development methods as central to the company’s efforts to address unmet medical needs.

The agreement comes amid growing interest in the application of AI across pharmaceutical research, including molecular identification and the development of potential new therapies. However, drug candidates must still demonstrate safety, efficacy and compliance with regulatory requirements before they can be approved for clinical use.

Through the VIGOR programme, TDB and Peptris aim to accelerate the development of selected AI-discovered molecules and strengthen the translation of research into potential therapeutic products. The project’s eventual clinical and medical outcomes will depend on successful development, validation and regulatory clearances.

Think41 Earns Claude Select Partner Status With Company-Wide Learning and Proven Customer Delivery

A few Thinkers started learning to build with Claude. Then the whole company followed.

BENGALURU, India, Oct. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Think41 today announced that it has achieved Select Partner status in the Claude Partner Network Services Track, the program Anthropic runs for firms that build and deliver with Claude. Think41 identifies itself as the world’s first full-stack GenAI company to achieve this status with 100% of its workforce completing the Anthropic-recommended Claude Partner Network (CPN) learning path. The recognition brings together the team’s technical expertise, deployed customer solutions and a published customer success story.

A few people at Think41 began learning to build with Claude. They shared what they learned and helped colleagues get started. The effort spread across engineering and delivery, then into Design, HR, Finance and Recruitment. Eventually, it reached the whole organisation. Think41 calls its employees ‘Thinkers’. This time, every Thinker took part.

Fast facts

• Think41 is a Select Partner in Anthropic’s Claude Partner Network Services Track
• 100% of Think41’s workforce completed the Anthropic-recommended CPN learning path, including HR, Finance and Recruitment, according to Think41
• Think41 now has 15+ Claude Certified professionals across Associate and Professional credentials
• Think41 built a Claude-powered intelligence layer that runs nine AI-powered workflows in production for Fireside Ventures, according to Think41’s published case study

Why Did Think41 Train Its Whole Company on Claude?

For Think41, being AI-native means everyone can ask how AI could improve their work, from hiring and onboarding to financial analysis, design and IT support. Anthropic’s initial guidance asked Think41 to nominate ten people to complete the CPN learning path, focusing on those who would anchor its Claude practice. Think41 extended that learning across the organisation, including HR, Finance and Recruitment. The CPN learning path gave teams a shared foundation for exploring those possibilities and taking responsibility for how they put AI to use.

Some Thinkers went further, pursuing Claude Certified Architect – Foundations (CCAF) certification. Their roles and starting points differed, but the opportunity to deepen their understanding extended beyond engineering.

“Coming from a product background, I wanted to understand how Claude could shape what we build and how people use it. Earning CCAF certification helped me deepen that understanding. Seeing colleagues from HR, Finance, Recruitment, Design and IT learn alongside engineers made it clear that this was something the whole company could contribute to.” – Anusha Aravapalli, Manager, Growth & Partnerships, Think41

Ownership Is the Culture

Ownership showed up in what people did with their learning. Think41’s first few CCAF certifications became an opportunity to help colleagues build confidence and understand the practical value of the programme. Sharing that knowledge brought the learning back into the team, giving others a clearer starting point for their own study.

“The learning gave me a practical foundation for using AI effectively. After completing the certification, I held an Ask Me Anything session so colleagues could ask questions and understand what to expect. I wanted them to feel confident taking it on, and to see how the learning could help in the work they do.” – Rahul Raj, Senior Engineering Manager, Think41

Within engineering, that same commitment extends to deeper technical study: 20% of the engineering team now holds a Claude certification.

Across functions, the ambition is to carry that ownership into everyday work: questioning how a process could improve, where Claude could help and what greater autonomy would require. Learning gives people the foundation to explore those questions; ownership means following through on the work and taking responsibility for the outcome.

Ownership in Customer Delivery

That ownership also extends to customer delivery. Think41’s teams are deploying Claude-powered solutions within enterprise business processes.

At Fireside Ventures, that work took the form of a Claude-powered intelligence layer for investment and portfolio operations. Think41 connected information across documents, data and business tools through nine AI-powered workflows. The solution is deployed in production and actively used by Fireside’s investment and portfolio teams.

According to Think41’s published case study, cohort-level analysis that previously took up to two days now takes around 10 minutes. Portfolio information can be refreshed weekly instead of monthly, giving teams more frequent access to updated insights.

Read the Fireside Ventures case study: https://www.think41.com/blog/38

The Fireside engagement shows how learning translates into deployed work. Think41’s teams take responsibility from design and testing through deployment, with the business outcome guiding the solution.

Sharing the Learning With Enterprise Leaders

Think41 has also conducted Claude workshops with leadership teams at large enterprises. Clients have appreciated these sessions for making AI’s possibilities tangible, with many leaders finding the breadth and maturity of current capabilities eye-opening. The workshops extend the team’s learning into conversations about where AI can improve business processes and what it takes to put those ideas into practice.

“Being AI-native should shape how every Thinker approaches work. Our role is to give people the foundation and confidence to ask better questions, improve how work gets done and take responsibility for the result. That is the culture we want to keep building, inside Think41 and in our work with customers.” – Himanshu Varshney, Co-Founder, Think41

What Claude Select Partner Status Means for Clients

Enterprises are asking how to move from AI experiments to AI that works at scale. Think41’s answer starts with its own team: people who learned Claude together and now deliver with it.

Think41 plans to build on this effort through further certification and enterprise delivery. As more Thinkers deepen their expertise, sharing what they learn will remain part of the work.

About Think41 

Think41 is a full-stack AI engineering and consulting firm founded by the team behind HashedIn, which was acquired by Deloitte in 2021. Based in Bengaluru, Think41 helps enterprises build AI agents, intelligent automation and applications for production use. Its teams combine engineering, product, design, quality assurance and cloud operations. Learn more at think41.com.

Media Contact 

Shubham Sachdeva

+91-7087424488

shubham.sachdeva@think41.com 

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Arirang TV, Teams Up with Shindong, Kwon Hyuk-soo and Yujeong to Showcase Gyeongbuk’s “Flavors and Charms” to the World!

– A single journey through the food, travel and culture of Mungyeong, Pohang, Gyeongju and Andong…showcasing Gyeongbuk’s appeal to global audiences

「K-FOOD: Gyeongbuk Edition」

Premieres on Arirang TV on October 14 at 9:00 a.m. (KST)

Airs every Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. (KST) for four weeks.

SEOUL, South Korea, Oct. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Arirang TV (CEO Kim Tae-jeong) will air “K-FOOD: Gyeongbuk Edition,” a global promotional program that showcases the diverse culinary and tourism offerings of Gyeongsangbuk-do to audiences around the world, every Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. (KST) for four weeks starting October 14.

Set in Mungyeong, Pohang, Gyeongju and Andong, the series is a “taste road variety” show that weaves regional signature dishes, tourist attractions, history and culture, and hands-on experiences into a single travel story. The cast members form a “Taste Crew,” sampling local food for themselves and enjoying a range of tours and activities, while turning photos and videos shot on their travels into social media content to share Gyeongbuk’s appeal with global viewers.

Kwon Hyuk-soo, Yujeong and Harin make up Team A, while Shindong, Lim Do-hwa and Seungwoo form Team B.

Episode 1: Mungyeong edition spotlights the Mungyeong Coal Museum, Jinnamgyoban, rail bike and Mungyeong Saejae, presenting the region’s industrial heritage and natural scenery alongside signature local foods such as spicy freshwater fish stew and Yakdol pork.

Episode 2: Pohang edition visits Yeongildae Beach, Jukdo Market, SpaceWalk and Homigot, introducing Pohang’s signature dishes — snow crab and mulhoe (chilled raw fish soup) — together with the scenery of the East Sea and hands-on tourism.

Episode 3: Gyeongju edition explores the Gyeongju National Museum, Gyochon Village, House of the Gyeongju Choi Clan, Luge World and Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond, shedding light on Silla’s history and traditional culture as well as a new side of Gyeongju that younger visitors can enjoy.

Episode 4: Andong edition takes place in Hahoe Folk Village, Sinse-dong Mural Village and Andong Old Market, capturing local dishes such as heotjesatbap, gan-godeungeo (salted mackerel) and Andong jjimdak, together with traditional culture and contemporary travel content.

A distinguishing feature of the program is that it does not focus on the food alone: it also showcases the history, people, nature, tourism and experiences of the regions where that food was born. The series is further designed so that global viewers can experience Gyeongbuk in a more approachable way, by showing the cast creating their own social media content and taking on a dance challenge.

Through this program, Arirang TV plans to extend the world’s growing interest in K-FOOD to regional tourism in Gyeongbuk and — by promoting the food, history, nature and cultural appeal of Mungyeong, Pohang, Gyeongju and Andong overseas — to contribute to enhancing Gyeongsangbuk-do’s global tourism brand value and revitalizing regional tourism.

Broadcast Information

• Arirang TV: K-FOOD: Gyeongbuk Edition
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@BeMyKorea

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Strategic Collaboration between a Global School Operator GEMS Education and a Mumbai-Based School Operator Cresmonde Schools

MUMBAI, India, Oct. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — GEMS Education, one of the world’s largest operators of private schools, has entered into a strategic collaboration with a Mumbai-based school operator Cresmonde Schools for its existing schools in Vikhroli and Kalyan, and two new schools planned in Malwani and Kalyan. Cresmonde Schools have a tie-up with a Finnish curriculum partner and are developed with a vision to provide international exposure for their students. This collaboration between two school operators – one global and one local – has been shaped with the future of education in mind. GEMS Education believes India holds immense potential for such collaborations in school education.

As part of this collaboration, GEMS Education will leverage its global GEMS brand, academic and global operational expertise to enhance teaching and learning at these four Cresmonde Schools in line with its global standards, while aligning educational opportunities with the aspirations of parents and students. This unique relationship is GEMS Education’s first collaboration with a local school operator in the MMR. These two private school operators, have chosen to come together for the betterment of education. This is consolidation of the right intent, driven by a shared belief that together we can add more value and strength to what we deliver to our learners and their families. Education is no longer only national; it is international. A collaboration between a city-based operator and a global operator will set a trend, and in time it will be seen as a historic milestone for Indian education.

The organisation hopes to build on this foundation by collaborating with many more quality driven school operators to create future-ready learning opportunities for learners across the region. Presently, the GEMS network is one of the fastest-growing school operators across the nation, bringing together like-minded school operators for a shared mission.

At the heart of GEMS Education’s philosophy is a teacher-first, child-first approach. The organisation believes that the true strength of a school lies in the quality of its teaching and learning, rather than in its infrastructure alone. Teachers are empowered as leaders, and every decision prioritises meaningful learning experiences and the holistic development of every child.

“We see tremendous potential in collaborating with existing school operators in India. Such a global – local collaboration brings the best of both worlds, with education that is rooted locally and connected globally. Through our collaboration with Cresmonde Schools, we aim to offer diverse curriculum choices, strengthen teaching and learning practices, and create a future focused learning environment that meets the aspirations of families.” – Francis Joseph, India CEO, GEMS Education 

“We are proud to partner with GEMS Education, a global school operator with a strong legacy of more than 65 years in delivering high-quality education. This collaboration will significantly enhance the academic and learning environment for our students in Vikhroli, Kalyan and Malwani. By combining our local commitment with GEMS’ global expertise and our tie-up for the Finnish curriculum, we aim to create future-ready schools that prepare learners for success in an increasingly interconnected world.” – Anita Dewoolkar, Founder Trustee, Cresmonde Schools

About GEMS Education

GEMS Education is one of the world’s leading, oldest and largest private K-12 education providers, with a legacy spanning more than 65 years. GEMS was founded in 1959 in Dubai by two passionate Indian teachers.

Today, GEMS educates more than 200,000 students from over 176 nationalities through its global network of owned and managed schools, supported by more than 20,000 employees, including over 10,000 educators and school leaders representing 112 nationalities. Having educated more than 500,000 students over the decades, GEMS offers a wide range of curricula – including IB, British, Indian (CBSE/ICSE/State), Cambridge and American programmes – preparing young people with the knowledge, character and confidence to thrive in a rapidly changing world.

Guided by its enduring mission to put a quality education within the reach of every learner, everywhere, GEMS combines academic rigour with character development, wellbeing, innovation and strong partnerships with families and communities. Over the past five years, GEMS students have been accepted into more than 2,000 universities across 71 countries, including all eight Ivy League universities in the US and all 24 Russell Group universities in the UK. In the last four years alone, more than 3,500 GEMS graduates have attended the world’s top 100 universities, over 2,200 have progressed to Russell Group universities, almost 2,000 have enrolled at the world’s top 50 universities, and more than 60 have gone on to Ivy League institutions.

Through its expanding network and philanthropic initiatives, GEMS continues to create opportunities for young people to become leaders, innovators and positive changemakers in their communities and beyond.

For more details, please visit www.gemseducation.com and www.gemseducationindia.com.

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THE LEGO GROUP INVITES FANS TO MASH-UP STAR WARS™ AND MARVEL UNIVERSES FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER IN LEGO IDEAS® CHALLENGE

• New LEGO Ideas® challenge invites fans to create a first-of-its-kind cross-universe moment in LEGO bricks to celebrate iconic storytelling worlds of Star Wars™ and Marvel.
• The announcement was made at New York Comic Con during a panel featuring Kevin Smith; actor, director and Marvel Comics writer.
• Now open, fans can choose from three building themes – vehicles, characters, or scenes – to inspire the Star Wars and Marvel mash-up and submit via the LEGO Ideas platform.

NEW YORK, Oct. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Today at New York Comic Con (NYCC), the LEGO Group announced a first-of-its-kind LEGO® Ideas challenge. For the first time ever, fans are invited to mash-up Star Wars™ and Marvel by reimagining characters, vehicles and scenes from the two universes in LEGO form.

What’s more, the LEGO Ideas platform means that once the build has been submitted and fans have voted on the design, the favourite submissions will then become immortalised as an official LEGO product.

Fede Begher, Senior Vice President and Head of Product Group at the LEGO Group, said: “This challenge is a milestone for LEGO Ideas and our fan community. For the first time ever, fans can build with both Marvel and Star Wars in a single LEGO Ideas challenge, unlocking entirely new possibilities for creativity and storytelling. We know our fans never stop imagining new ways to bring their favourite worlds together, and we’re excited to see the originality, passion and innovation they bring to this unique crossover.”

As a tribute to the landmark 50^th anniversary of the Star Wars franchise in 2027, the Star Wars/Marvel: Hope Assembles comic series was unveiled this past summer. Launching in January, it’s the first-ever crossover between the Star Wars and Marvel Comics universes. The LEGO Ideas challenge celebrates that crossover and honours the 50^th anniversary.

Open from today, fans simply need to visit ideas.lego.com, choose from three challenge themes of mashing up Star Wars and Marvel vehicles, characters or scenes, review all challenge rules and guidelines, and then get building with LEGO elements. Voting for the submissions begins December 15, 2026, with the Grand Prize Selections being announced next year.

For more information, please visit ideas.lego.com/campaigns/hope-assembles.

About the LEGO Group

The LEGO Group’s mission is to inspire and develop the builders of tomorrow through the power of play. The LEGO System in Play, with its foundation in LEGO bricks, allows children and fans to build and rebuild anything they can imagine.

The LEGO Group was founded in Billund, Denmark in 1932 by Ole Kirk Kristiansen, its name derived from the two Danish words LEg GOdt, which mean “Play Well”.

Today, the LEGO Group remains a family-owned company headquartered in Billund. Its products are now sold in more than 120 countries worldwide.

For more information: www.LEGO.com

About the LEGO Ideas platform

LEGO Ideas offers fans the opportunity to submit their own brick creations with the chance to have their concept brought to life with the help of LEGO master designers and a share of the profits. Find out more at www.ideas.LEGO.com.

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Parents’ Forum Organises Protest to Highlight Children’s Constitutional Rights

GURUGRAM, October 11, 2026: 

The Parents Forum for Stem Cells in Autism and Cerebral Palsy held a peaceful demonstration at Subhash Chandra Bose Park in Gurugram on Sunday and released an open letter seeking protection of children’s rights under Article 21 of the Constitution. The Forum addressed the letter to the President of India, the Prime Minister, the Union Health Minister, the Chief Justice of India and all judges of the Supreme Court.

The demonstration focused on concerns raised by families following the Supreme Court judgment in Yash Charitable Trust & Ors. v. Union of India & Ors., W.P. (C) 369/2022, concerning stem cell therapy for autism. The Forum, which says it represents around 5,000 parents and families, urged the authorities to consider the concerns of families whose children have undergone the treatment.

Dr Seema Mehrotra, a doctor and parent of an autistic child, said her child had shown improvement after undergoing stem cell therapy. “I am speaking not only as a doctor but also as a mother. I have personally witnessed improvement in my child, and I believe the experiences of families like ours deserve to be heard and examined fairly,” she said.

Many parents and grandparents also participated in the protest, sharing their concerns about the impact of the judgment on children who are already receiving or have previously undergone treatment. Sonia, one of the participating family members, said the gathering reflected the collective concern of families seeking recognition of their experiences and a meaningful opportunity to present their views.

The parents questioned whether affected families received an adequate opportunity to present their views during the proceedings. They also called for consideration of scientific papers, patient testimonials and other evidence submitted in the case.

In its open letter, the Forum urged the authorities to protect children’s fundamental rights, provide parents with a proper hearing and evaluate the scientific literature and reported patient experiences placed on record. It also called for due consideration of the work of Indian doctors and hospitals.

The Forum expressed concern over the direction to transition children already undergoing stem cell therapy towards institutions conducting clinical trials. It argued that the availability of suitable trials and the practical challenges involved in transferring children’s care require consideration.

The parents also highlighted the distinction between stem cell-derived products manufactured by companies and autologous cell procedures, in which cells are taken from and returned to the same patient. They called for the relevant regulatory framework and the perspectives of patients, families and treating doctors to receive due consideration.

The Forum further raised concerns about the implications of the judgment for children already receiving treatment and urged the authorities to consider the circumstances of affected families before implementing measures that could alter their access to care.

The organisers chose Gurugram for the demonstration, citing reported restrictions on public gatherings in Delhi. They said the protest aimed to bring attention to the concerns of parents and seek a meaningful opportunity for affected families to be heard.

Through the open letter, the Forum called for a fair consideration of the scientific, medical and legal issues involved, emphasising that decisions concerning children with autism and cerebral palsy should take their welfare and individual circumstances into account.

The Forum reiterated its demand for the protection of children’s rights under Article 21 and urged the authorities to address the concerns raised by families affected by the judgment.