Category Archives: News

Celebrate the Festive Season Amidst the Tranquil Beauty of the Himalayas at Araiya Palampur

This festive season, discover the magic of Christmas and New Year’s Eve at Araiya Palampur – A Norwood Heights Resort, nestled amidst the serene Dhauladhar range. Immerse yourself in the joyous holiday spirit with a luxurious two-night stay, thoughtfully designed to create cherished memories for a lifetime.

Celebrate Christmas with an enchanting Christmas Eve Party featuring a festive feast, live entertainment, and the cozy charm of mountain vibes. Begin your days with rejuvenating yoga sessions overlooking the majestic Himalayas, followed by leisurely nature walks and guided treks through pristine landscapes. Evenings come alive with warm bonfires, live music, and storytelling, while family-friendly workshops such as Christmas tree decorating and cookie baking add a delightful touch of holiday cheer. For the adventurous, thrilling activities like paragliding and cycling promise an adrenaline-filled experience.

As 2024 draws to a close, ring in 2025 with a grand New Year’s Eve celebration at Araiya Palampur. The celebration blends revelry and relaxation, featuring a gala dinner, live performances, and a spectacular countdown under the starlit Himalayan sky.

“At Araiya Palampur, we strive to offer our guests a unique blend of luxury and nature, especially during the festive season. Whether you’re seeking adventure, relaxation, or a chance to reconnect with loved ones, our resort provides the perfect backdrop to celebrate the holidays in style,” said Amruda Nair, Director, Araiya Hotels and Resorts

Whether you’re planning a romantic escape or a joyful family getaway, Araiya Palampur promises the ultimate holiday retreat. Indulge in soothing spa therapies, sip on hot cocoa by the fire, and revel in the tranquility of the mountains. Celebrate the holidays where luxury meets serenity and create memories to last a lifetime.

Beauty Garage Professional’s Shea launch in Kolkata blends glamour, sustainability, and Shea-tastic experiences

Mumbai, December 20, 2024 – Beauty Garage Professional, India’s leading Made-in-India hair care brand, successfully hosted an exclusive experiential launch event for its Shea product line at Pinky Singh Salon, Kolkata. The event, held in a vibrant and engaging setup, attracted 25-30 attendees, including celebrities, influencers, and salon clients, making it a significant milestone in the brand’s journey.

The Shea experiential launch was an all-day affair that left a lasting impression on attendees. Pinky Singh Salon was fully booked for the day with clients eager to try Beauty Garage’s innovative Shea treatment. The salon also received future bookings, reflecting the strong interest in the product.

A highlight of the event was the interactive DIY Shea butter station, where guests could create their own Shea butter masks by mixing essential oils of their choice. This unique activity showcased the versatility of Beauty Garage’s Shea products and gave clients and influencers a hands-on, memorable experience.

As a token of gratitude, Beauty Garage Professional gave away planters crafted from repurposed Shea butter bottles, blending sustainability with creativity. These charming keepsakes delighted attendees and underscored the brand’s thoughtful approach to customer engagement.

Adding to the charm of the event, the salon staff and attendees adhered to a specially curated dress code in shades of brown and white, reflecting the colors of the Shea product line. The cohesive theme, paired with the vibrant ambiance, further reinforced the brand’s commitment to delivering premium and engaging experiences.

Mahesh Ravaria, Co-founder and CEO of Beauty Garage Professional said, “The overwhelming response at our Shea experiential launch event in Kolkata underscores the trust and enthusiasm our customers have for the brand. The Shea line exemplifies our commitment to innovation and quality in hair care, offering salon professionals and clients products that deliver exceptional results. We are thrilled to have partnered with Pinky Singh Salon for this event, which allowed us to connect with our audience in a creative and personal way.”

Beauty Garage Professional’s Shea line is part of its broader mission to redefine hair care with innovative solutions designed for modern needs. The event not only highlighted the brand’s high-quality products but also strengthened its position as a leader in the salon and hair care industry.

ZEE Entertainment concludes second leg of Agency Premier League T20 in Delhi ahead of DP World ILT20 Season 3

Delhi, 20th December 2024: Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL), the official broadcaster of the DP World International League T20, successfully hosted the second leg of its inaugural Agency Premier League T20 in Delhi, continuing the strong momentum of the unique trade marketing initiative. The event was graced by popular Indian actor and comedian Aparshakti Khurana. The versatile entertainer, known for his diverse roles as a radio jockey, playback singer, composer, and television host, brought an electrifying energy to the event. Adding to the thrill and excitement, OMD emerged victorious in the Delhi leg, which witnessed spirited participation from leading agencies, including Havas, IPG, Group M, Publicis, and Dentsu. The league will be culminating in Mumbai on 20th December.

 The first leg of the tournament in Bengaluru also saw robust participation and engagement by the participating teams setting the perfect stage for the Delhi edition. Group M, Mavericks clinched victory in the Bengaluru leg, which saw strong participation from leading agencies, including Group M, Blasters, Dentsu, Havas Media, Initiative, and Madison. The Mumbai event will host an equally competitive line up with Wavemaker, Starcom, Madison World, DBB Mudra Max, Essence Mediacom and Mindshare Fulcrum.

 Reflecting on the league, Mr. Ashish Sehgal, Chief Growth Officer – Digital & Broadcast Revenue, Zee Entertainment Enterprise Limited, said, “We, at ZEE are delighted with the success of both Bengaluru and Delhi legs of the league. The league exemplifies Zee Entertainment’s dedication to build meaningful relationships with our trade partners, including the media fraternity. Cricket is a unifying force in India, and through this initiative, our aim is to bring the excitement of DP World ILT20 closer to our partners while fostering a sense of camaraderie and shared enthusiasm for the game.”

 The month-long third edition of DP World ILT20 will begin on 11 January 2025, with the finals slated to take place on Sunday, 9 February 2025. Cricket fans can watch this action-packed tournament on ZEE’s most widely distributed and viewed 15 linear TV channels: &Pictures SD, &Pictures HD, Zee Cinema HD, Zee Anmol Cinema 2, Zee Action, Zee Biskope, Zee Zest SD, Zee Cinemalu HD, Zee Telugu HD, Zee Thirai, Zee Tamil HD, Zee Kannada HD, Zee Zest HD, &Flix SD and &Flix HD. It’s also free to view on one of India’s leading OTT platform – ZEE5. The syndicate broadcast partners around the world will be announced in the coming days.

 Earlier this year, ZEE Entertainment Enterprises Limited (ZEEL) reported that the league’s second season reached 221 million viewers and with an aim to capture a viewership of 230-million for the upcoming season, ZEE will expand its reach by including South Indian channels, offering a month-long cricket carnival experience.

 The channel’s extensive distribution strategy ensured widespread accessibility in India and across the globe. With a notable 46% share of female viewership and 55% share of youth viewership, the league’s broad appeal in India underscores its status.

Karan Johar calls Prime Video’s Bandish Bandits Season two a Gharana of Love, Anguish, and Magic

Over the past week, Bandish Bandits Season two has been making waves across the film fraternity, earning accolades from some of the biggest names in the industry. From heartfelt appreciation by Kunal Kemmu, Aparshakti Khurana, Soha Ali Khan, Sunny Kaushal to Ananya Panday’s love for the show—each has celebrated this extraordinary musical drama. And now, joining the chorus of praise is none other than the versatile filmmaker Karan Johar, who shared his admiration for the series in his quintessentially eloquent style.

With widely popular songs till date in his own films, Karan highlighted the show’s unique take on the eternal clash between preserving India’s rich musical heritage and embracing contemporary influences like K-pop and hip-hop. Describing it as “a gharana of love, anguish, and tradition,” he shared how the series struck a deep chord with him, making him “ponder and admire in equal measure.” He praised the narrative’s exploration of unfulfilled love and the ideological tug-of-war between purity and modernity, calling the musical drama a “melange of mohabbat” that left his heart thumping with emotion.

Created by Amritpal Singh Bindra and Anand Tiwari, who has also directed the series, Bandish Bandits is a Leo Media Collective Private Limited production, written by Tiwari in collaboration with Atmika Didwania and Karan Singh Tyagi. The new season features a stellar ensemble cast, including Ritwik Bhowmik, Shreya Chaudhry, Sheeba Chaddha, Atul Kulkarni, Rajesh Tailang, and Kunaal Roy Kapur, alongside new additions such as Divya Dutta, Rohan Gurbaxani, Yashaswini Dayama, Aaliyah Qureshi, and Saurabh Nayyar in pivotal roles. Bandish Bandits Season two is now streaming exclusively on Prime Video in India and over 240 countries and territories worldwide.

Visteon expands its footprint in India with new technical centre in Kolkata, accelerating innovation in automotive software

India, 20th December 2024 – Visteon Corporation, a global leader in automotive cockpit electronics and connected car solutions, today announced the inauguration of its new Global Capability Center (GCC) in Kolkata, India. The center is set to become operational by January 2025 and underscores Visteon’s commitment to leveraging India’s growing importance in global automotive technology development.

The inauguration featured key dignitaries from the Visteon’s India and global leadership, including President and CEO Sachin Lawande.

Strategically located, Kolkata’s strong talent ecosystem and proximity to top engineering colleges make it an ideal hub for advanced software and technology development. The center will initially seat 300 engineers by the end of 2026, with plans to scale up to 500+ engineers in the next two to three years. It will specialize in Android-based infotainment, autonomous vehicle solutions, cybersecurity, multimedia & remote projection, and cloud technologies, establishing itself as a Center of Excellence (COE) exclusively focusing on Android-based infotainment and cockpit software development.

“India has been central to our strategy for over 20 years, with over 2,000 of our people driving automotive innovation. The new Kolkata center strengthens our focus on Android-based automotive solutions and expands our fastest-growing product portfolio. At Visteon we meet the talent where it’s at, and we’re glad to strengthen our team with Kolkata’s engineering expertise and collaborate with the city’s top universities to support the evolving needs of automakers worldwide,” Sachin Lawande, President and CEO of Visteon shared.

The Kolkata center is designed as a USGBC LEED Platinum-certified facility, featuring solar panels and water recycling systems to promote energy efficiency and sustainability. It reflects Visteon’s commitment to not just innovation but also environmental stewardship.

India is a significant contributor to Visteon’s global operations, with advanced technical centres in Chennai, Goa, Bangalore, Pune, Trivandrum, and Coimbatore, and a robust network of technical and manufacturing teams driving innovations for global automakers. Over the past year, India teams have delivered cutting-edge solutions in connected car technology, solidifying the country’s position as a pivotal innovation hub. To sustain a steady pipeline of skilled talent, Visteon is strengthening its early career programs and establishing partnerships with leading universities across the region.

Anmol Industries presents Anmol Swiss Roll – a delight for all taste buds

New Delhi, 20th December 2024: Anmol Industries Limited, a prominent player in the Indian packaged food market, has introduced a tempting new offering – Anmol Swiss Roll. This delicious treat comes in two tempting varieties, Choco Vanilla and Strawberry, and is priced at just ₹10, making it an affordable choice for dessert lovers across India.

The launch of Anmol Swiss Roll highlights the brand’s commitment to innovation and providing enjoyable experiences for its consumers. With its soft, velvety texture and rich, creamy fillings, it offers a luxurious flavour experience in every bite. Whether it’s the luscious Choco Vanilla or the refreshing Strawberry variant, each roll is crafted to satisfy the cravings of all ages.

Commenting on the launch, Mr. Aman Choudhary, Executive Director – Marketing at Anmol Industries Limited said, “With Anmol Swiss Roll, we are introducing a new snacking experience that combines rich flavours with unmatched quality. Our aim is to offer a treat that appeals to taste connoisseurs, while ensuring it is accessible to everyone. This product embodies our commitment to delivering satisfaction in an affordable and delightful way.”

Anmol Swiss Roll caters to the growing demand for indulgent products that are both delicious and budget-friendly. Produced in-house at the company’s Hazipur plant, it ensures superior quality and freshness. With its strategic pricing, it serves a vast consumer base across urban and rural India, making it accessible to all.

Anmol Industries has also ensured that the Swiss Roll is widely available across various retail outlets, providing consumers easy access to this delectable addition to the brand’s expanding line-up. The roll-out across urban and rural markets reflects the company’s dedication to making premium offerings available to all.

Anmol Industries continues to strengthen its position as a leader in the FMCG sector, offering a diverse range of high-quality products. With products like Anmol Swiss Roll, the company remains committed to delivering exceptional experiences that bring joy to every moment.

United We Care Shatters Google and Meta’s Accuracy Records with United-MedASR in Conversational AI

New Delhi, 20 December 2024 – United We Care, a global leader in AI innovation for mental health, has launched United-MedASR, an advanced Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) system that sets new global benchmarks for clinical accuracy.

Designed to revolutionize medical communication, United-MedASR tackles critical healthcare challenges with unmatched precision—achieved through a model built on capital efficiency rather than the massive foundational budgets of Meta and Google.

United-MedASR has outperformed major benchmarks, setting new records:

• LibriSpeech Test-Clean: 0.986% Word Error Rate (WER), a 26% improvement
• over Google’s 1.34%.
• Tedlium: 0.29% WER, a 93% improvement over NVIDIA’s 3.92%.
• FLEURS (English): 0.336% WER, a 98% reduction from Meta’s 21.9%.

“Our achievement is a milestone in ASR technology,” said Sourav Banerjee, Founder and CTO of United We Care. “We’ve proven that true innovation doesn’t require boundless resources—it requires focus, expertise, and a commitment to solving real-world problems.”

Precision That Saves Lives
In healthcare, the margin for error is razor thin. Traditional ASR tools, with error rates of 3–5%, posed risks to patient safety. United-MedASR achieves an industry-leading 0.5% error rate, ensuring accuracy in critical interactions. Its ability to understand the thickest regional accents and provide precise medical documentation redefines reliability in high-stakes environments.

“When a doctor says, ‘Administer epinephrine,’ the difference between 99% and 99.7% accuracy is life or death,” said Ritu Mehrotra, Founder and CEO of United We Care. “This isn’t just incremental progress—it’s a paradigm shift. Stella, our virtual wellness and mental health support AI, is globally the best in conversational AI. We’ve built a system that transforms how healthcare professionals interact with technology, enabling unprecedented levels of accuracy and reliability.”

United-MedASR is more than a technological breakthrough—it’s a tool designed to improve lives. With Stella, conversations feel authentic, blending AI precision with human-like interaction. From enabling accurate documentation to understanding diverse accents, United-MedASR is poised to make healthcare safer, more accessible, and more reliable.

United We Care’s dedication to purpose-driven innovation cements its place as a global leader, bridging cutting-edge technology with human-centric care.

Christmas just got merrier with Secret Santa at Third Wave Coffee

Mumbai, December 20th, 2024: This Christmas season, Third Wave Coffee, the coffee-first QSR brand, is sprinkling a little extra holiday magic by brewing up more than just coffee. With its delightful ‘Secret Santa’ campaign, the brand is surprising its customers with gifts, embracing the spirit of holidays with a dash of playful mystery and festive cheer. Known for its warm spaces and expertly crafted brews, Third Wave Coffee is turning its cafes into treasure troves of surprises. From 19th to 24th December, customers can experience the thrill of discovery while sipping their favourite coffee. Look around and you may stumble upon a little gift left by none other than the Third Wave Coffee Secret Santa. Catch a glimpse of what happiness at a Third Wave Coffee cafe looks like here: Third Wave Coffee’s official Instagram page. The wide smiles and sheer joy felt by the customers is only the most apt expression of the season! Adding to the festivities, Santa Claus would be making special appearances at select cafes, spreading joy by handing out Christmas cards and scratch cards with exciting offers for the season.

Ayush Bathwal, Co-founder at Third Wave Coffee, shares more about the spirit fuelling the campaign, “Holidays are all about warmth, joy, community and connections. And it is this very feeling that we want to recreate at our stores. This Christmas, we wanted to go beyond just great coffee and food, to bring a sense of festive adventure to our in-store experiences. Third Wave Coffee’s ‘Secret Santa’ campaign is our way of celebrating the season by delighting our customers, making their time at the cafe even more memorable. After all, it’s all about enjoying the little things – a perfect brew, festive vibes, and the joy of an unexpected gift!”

The campaign is designed to spread joy and make every visit to Third Wave Coffee a memorable holiday adventure. Keeping the element of surprise alive, customers are encouraged to explore their surroundings, peek behind the festive decor or check under their comfortable seating for the coveted gifts. The best part – finders are keepers! Making it more enjoyable will be the vibrant Christmas decor and live carol singing sessions at select cafes. The festivities don’t end here. Amidst holiday hues of red & green, indulge in seasonal delights as Mocha Toffee Nut Frappe, Mocha Toffee Nut Latte and S’mores Hot Chocolate, paired with S’Mores Cookie and Hummingbird Cake. To take the indulgence a notch higher, or to delight your loved ones, browse the exclusive holiday merchandise and curated Christamas hampers. So don’t keep Santa, and your surprise gifts waiting; swing by your nearest Third Wave Coffee store and make it a December to remember!

KIIT World School receives Times Education Icons Award 2024

Gurugram: KIIT World School has achieved another major milestone in the field of education. The school has been honored under the North Zone category in the Times Education Icons Award 2024. Through this prestigious award, KIIT has been ranked among the top 10 schools in Gurugram.

This honor reflects KIIT’s strong commitment to academic excellence, holistic development, and innovation in education. This achievement is a proud moment for the entire KIIT family, and the school is inspired to strengthen further its commitment to shape the future of education in the region.

Speaking on this special occasion, Dr. Neelima Kamarah, Principal, of KIIT World School said, “This is a result of hard work, dedication and unwavering belief in quality education of our entire KIIT family. This award further motivates us to provide our students with the best academic environment and appropriate opportunities for their holistic development. Our priority has always been to prepare students for the challenges of the 21st century by adopting innovative education methods.”

KIIT World School has always been dedicated to the education, culture, and personality development of students. This achievement is a matter of pride not only for the school but also for all the parents and students who have been a part of its journey. The school thanks Times Education Icons for this honor and is committed to setting new dimensions of excellence in the future as well.

Pocket FM Playback 2024 Insights Highlight a New Era of Entertainment

India; December 19, 2024: Audio series platform Pocket FM today announces its 2024 app consumption insights through Pocket FM Playback 2024, offering an in-depth look at how the world embraced storytelling and immersive audio experiences over the year. This report celebrates a landmark year of record-breaking engagement and revenue, driven by an ever-expanding content library and a passionate global audience.

A Phenomenal Year of Entertainment

The numbers speak volumes about the monumental year Pocket FM experienced in 2024. Globally, listeners streamed over 100 billion minutes and completed more than 45 million transactions. With a listener demographic comprising 54% Gen Z, 37% Millennials, and 5% Gen X, Pocket FM continues to captivate young audiences. Interestingly, the platform’s gender distribution showcased a near balance, with 53% male and 47% female listeners.

Pocket FM’s AI-powered innovation fueled this growth. AI-generated audio series expanded the content library by an astounding 36X, while human-narrated series improved by 2X. This commitment to innovation translated into massive financial success, with over seven audio series surpassing $10 million in revenue – a 600% increase from 2023 – and 35 audio series achieving million-dollar status, three times more than the previous year.

The Genres That Ruled the Charts

Romance and Drama reigned supreme in both India and the US, followed closely by Fantasy and Sci-Fi and Horror and Thriller. These genres not only captured imaginations but also drove hours of engagement, proving that immersive storytelling knows no borders.

The Only 24/7 Entertainment Category

Over 200,000 listeners spent more than 3 hours every day on the platform throughout the year, and more than 10,000 listeners listened over 3,000 hours – roughly 8 hours daily – a third of the day.

Listening patterns revealed a shift in consumer behavior, with morning hours (5-8 AM) and commute hours (8-11 AM) accounting for nearly 30% of daily consumption. Notably, leisure hours (8-11 PM) saw almost 8% consumption as listeners likely to have opted for audio series over traditional TV series. Late-night hours (11 PM-5 AM) accounted for a striking 22.9% of total listening.

India: A Nation Spellbound by Stories

India stood out as a key market, with millions of listeners tuning in from its vibrant cities. The top 10 cities included Bangalore, Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Pune, Ahmedabad, Surat, Chennai, Jaipur, and Lucknow. Popular genres like Romance and Drama, Fantasy and Sci-Fi, and Horror and Thriller kept the audience captivated.

Top-performing audio series in India reflected the nation’s love for gripping narratives:

• Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh: Played over 100 million times.
• Secret Ameerzaada: Played over 85 million times
• Insta Millionaire: Played over 60 million times
• Insta Empire: Played over 50 million times
• Super Yoddha: Played over 42 million times

“In 2024, we didn’t just grow; we redefined the very nature of entertainment by establishing audio series as a mainstream entertainment. Audio series, as a category, is no longer a niche—they are the next evolution of global entertainment. This year’s achievements are a testament to the immense potential of this category and our commitment to leading its growth” said Rohan Nayak, CEO and Co-founder of Pocket FM “At Pocket FM, we have combined the power of human creativity with AI innovation to build a scalable, sustainable content ecosystem that transcends cultural boundaries and reimagines the way audiences consume stories.”