Category Archives: News

Disney Star Delivers The Biggest Icc Men’s World Cup Ever

Over 30 Crore fans tuned in to the live broadcast on TV of the final between India and Australia, making it the highest viewed match ever Peak concurrency on TV for the final match at 13 crore Peak concurrency on Disney+ Hotstar at 5.9 Crore for the finals, creating a global record for any live sport 52 Crore viewers tuned in to TV for the marquee tournament, consumption reaches 422 billion minutes making it the biggest World Cup ever

Bangalore, November 24, 2023: In a historic triumph for sports broadcasting, Disney Star, the official broadcaster of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, has set new benchmarks for viewership, redefining the cricketing landscape. The highly anticipated final clash between cricket powerhouses India and Australia has not only etched itself into the chronicles of sporting history but has also become the most-watched event ever on both linear TV and digital streaming. With an astounding reach of 30 Crore for the live broadcast on TV, Star Sports Network ensured that cricket enthusiasts across India were glued to their television screens, making it the most-watched television event ever. The magnitude of the final was further highlighted by a peak concurrency of 13 Crore viewers on TV and 5.9 Crore peak concurrency on Disney+ Hotstar (Digital).

 As per BARC, the tournament crossed a viewership of half a billion viewers for the first time as 518 million (51.8 Crore) TV viewers tuned in for the live broadcast of the marquee tournament being played in India after 12 years. The live TV broadcast for the tournament garnered 422 billion minutes of TV watch time making it the most watched ICC Men’s World Cup in the history of the event. The final between India Vs Australia delivered a peak concurrency of 13 crore which surpassed the previous highest peak concurrency in the tournament with India Vs Pakistan at 7.5 crore and India Vs New Zealand at 8 crore. Disney Star left no stone unturned in bringing the grandeur of the World Cup to fans in India and across the globe, showcasing its unwavering dedication to delivering unparalleled sporting content.

 The streaming arm of Disney Star broke its own record five times through the tournament to witness a peak concurrency of 5.9 crores for the final, solidifying its position as the go-to destination for cricket enthusiasts seeking a seamless and immersive viewing experience. The platform surpassed global streaming records across all formats of cricket at the beginning of the tournament with the peak concurrency of 3.5 crore viewers during the India Vs Pakistan match. This was followed by a streak of record-breaking numbers – 4.3 crore peak concurrent viewers during the India Vs New Zealand match, 4.4 crore peak concurrent viewers during the India Vs South Africa match, and most recently, 5.3 crore peak concurrent viewers during the thrilling semifinals between India and New Zealand match.

Speaking about the recent success of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, K Madhavan, Country Manager & President, Disney Star, “We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), for their invaluable support, making this tournament an overwhelming success. We would also like to thank the fans, who showered their support throughout the tournament and with their unwavering passion making this historic achievement possible. Disney Star is dedicated to paving the road for sports broadcast in India and it has been extremely encouraging to see growth across both, the linear and digital mediums, thereby increasing the fan base of cricket. This is a testament to the uniqueness of the Indian market where linear and digital continue to grow alongside each other. This successful tournament has set the stage for a promising future in our association with the ICC.”

 Disney Star, in its pioneering approach to sports broadcasting, redefined and reimagined how fans consume cricket. In a groundbreaking collaboration with the International Cricket Council (ICC), Disney+ Hotstar introduced MaxView—a technological innovation that allowed cricket enthusiasts to experience the game in vertical mode (9X14 portrait view) for the first time in the history of streaming cricket.

Disney Star also provided an extensive 11 feeds for ICC Men’s CWC 2023, including coverage in 9 different languages (English, Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, & Malayalam), ensuring that cricket enthusiasts across diverse linguistic landscapes could savor the thrilling moments of this historic World Cup.

 As the curtain falls on this historic event, Disney Star takes pride in having orchestrated a cricketing spectacle that captivated the hearts and minds of millions, reaffirming its commitment to pushing the boundaries of sports entertainment.

Check Point Research Unraveling the Rug Pull: A Million-Dollar Scam with a Fake Token Factory

● Blockchain Vigilance Unveils Million-Dollar Heist: Our Threat Intel Blockchain system uncovered an ongoing Rug Pull event, and traced the actor behind this scheme
● The Scammer’s Tactics: Exploiting Hype for Ill-Gotten Gains, The perpetrator lured unsuspecting victims into investing.
● Unraveling the Scam: A Step-by-Step Deception The scam operated in several stages, including the creation of fake tokens, the manipulation of liquidity pools, simulated trading activities, and the extraction of funds.
● Check Point Researchers call out to investors to understand the details of this step-by-step process, crucial to protect themselves from falling victim to similar schemes.

 Background

 In the dynamic realm of cryptocurrency, recent events have highlighted the ever-present threat of Rug Pulls—deceptive maneuvers that leave investors empty-handed. Our Threat Intel Blockchain system, developed by Check Point, recently sounded the alarm on a sophisticated scheme that managed to pilfer nearly $1 million. Let’s delve into the details of this elaborate crypto con and understand how it unfolded.

Check Point’s Threat Intel blockchain system identified and alerted the following address

This is the balance of the scammer’s wallet (15/11/23), This address operated 40 distinct rug pulls and has been stolen almost 1 million dollars!

    The Anatomy of the Scam:

How did this elaborate scam work, and how did it manage to siphon off a substantial sum? Here’s a breakdown:

Creating Fake Tokens: The scam commenced with the creation of deceptive tokens, exemplified by the token GROK 2.0. The choice of names often mirrored trending topics to attract unsuspecting buyers.

 Adding Money to the Liquidity Pool: To create a façade of legitimacy, the scammer injected funds into the token pool, creating the illusion of a vibrant and active token.

 Orchestrated Trading Activities: Leveraging a specialized function (0x521da65d) in the contract, the scammer executed simulated trades, making it appear as if genuine buying and selling were occurring. However, it was merely a ruse orchestrated by the scammer.

 Pumping Up the Volume: Another function (0xf029e7cf) came into play, facilitating large-scale trades between the WETH cryptocurrency and the GROK token. This artificial inflation created a sense of high demand and value, enticing investors to join in.

 Attracting Buyers: Capitalizing on the perceived attractiveness of the token, users began buying in, unaware of the impending deception.

 Taking the Money: Once the token had sufficiently lured in investors, the scammer executed the final move—withdrawal of liquidity from the token pool, leaving token purchasers with empty hands and depleted funds.

Technical part
The scammer used 2 different smart contracts to trade and pump the token volume. The first contract address he used is 0x2ef3216e95e2b7c8e378ae64534100e69598f955 which contained the simulated trading function (0x521da65d).

function 0x521da65d

The function 0x521da65d is responsible for selling and buying the token for the scammer, this function has been executed 226 times for just this token. The function’s behavior is contingent on the Boolean varg7, which dictates its course, leading to two separate execution routes.

The first route (0x306b) is swapping from WETH cryptocurrency to GROK 2.0 (buying) ,As you can see in this image:

And the 2nd route (0x2bac) represents swapping from GROK 2.0 to WETH (selling)

For the second smart contract, the scammer operated using the address 0x4b2a0290e41623fbfeb5f6a0ea52dc261b65e29b, where he executed the function 0xf029e7cf to artificially boost the token’s volume.

function 0xf029e7cf

This function receives five parameters:

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Description automatically generated

decoding the following data sent to this function unveil the following arguments:

0xf029e7cf0000000000000000000000007a250d5630b4cf539739df2c5dacb4c659f2488d000000000000000000000000c02aaa39b223fe8d0a0e5c4f27ead9083c756cc2000000000000000000000000d4b726c5b5e6f63d16a2050ee3ac4a0f0f81f1d4000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000009c2007651b25000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000009

Varg0 is the Uniswap router address that the scammer will use to swap the tokens.

Varg1 is the WETH cryptocurrency address, which will be used to swap against the GROK token.

Varg2 is the GROK 2.0 token address.

Varg3 is the amount of the token to swap.

Varg4 is the number of times to swap this token.

Looking deeper into the function we revealed the scammer used the function ‘swapExcatToekensSupportingFeeOnTransferTokens’ from Uniswap Router (varg0) to swap 9 times (varg4) from WETH(varg1) to GROK(varg2) and from GROK to WETH with a total amount of $ 420,000 which pumps the volume of the token and lures traders and bots to buy it.

The swaps loop can be seen in the following screenshot:

In the scam’s final phase, the scammer withdrew funds from the token’s liquidity pool after attracting a sufficient number of buyers and the token price increase. This is demonstrated by the fact that they removed liquidity from their deceptive tokens on 81 occasions.

Riddhi Kumar on her co-actor Vipul Gupta in Hack Crimes Online, says ‘He was always there to teach and support us’

Mumbai, 23 November 2023: Amazon miniTV – Amazon’s free video streaming service, recently released crime thriller series, ‘Hack Crimes Online’ is being lauded for its gripping narrative which unfolds the suspenseful chase between cunning cybercriminals and detectives. Based on a novel by India’s acclaimed cyber-crime investigator, Amit Dubey, the story takes place in the backdrop of the bustling city of Mumbai and draws light on the perilous world of cybercrime. Starring Vipul Gupta and Riddhi Kumar in lead roles, the series is streaming on Amazon miniTV for free.

 While getting candid about her bond with the team, Riddhi talked about her co-actor Vipul Gupta, and how he was a constant guide and support for her throughout this journey. She expressed, “I think Vipul just like his character is a very strong-willed, empathetic, and a soft person. In the series, he plays ACP Ashutosh, a mentor who is very calm and constantly works to improve himself and the people around him. Working with him was a wonderful experience because he is much more senior but he never made me feel like a subject of comparison. He was always there to teach and support us, we used to do our lines together before the scenes and have our lunch or dinner together whenever possible. He was available to discuss, share, and put his input into the scenes to create a better version.”

 Adding to this she further shared her experience of working with Amazon miniTV and Friday Storytellers. “My experience with Friday Storytellers was amazing and so was with Amazon miniTV. Specifically when it came to promotional activities, getting affiliated with Amazon miniTV was great, as I liked the way they have taken up their promotional campaign, especially in terms of getting hacked. When it comes to Friday storytellers, I was looking forward to working with them. As an actor, you always have a list of people you admire and want to collaborate with and they were definitely on my list. When I got to know that I had to audition for a show for them, I was very excited. They always come up with different types of content that are relatable, educational, and at the same time very inspiring. Our show talks about crime, ranging from teenage bullying, and drugs to terrorism and bank scams, along with our finale which is about national security,” she shared.

 Directed by Parmeet Sethi, Hack Crimes Online is currently streaming exclusively on Amazon miniTV available on Amazon’s shopping app, on Fire TV, and on Play Store.

Get ready for a colourful gala by Forum Colorama at Forum Kochi

Are you looking for a perfect way to exhibit your kid’s passion and also spend a blissful weekend with them? Think no more, Forum Kochi invites young minds and painting enthusiasts to parade their talent in all glory at Forum Colorama.

With the theme, Nation First, Always First, Forum Kochi promises a fun-filled day that will elevate your little one’s inner creativity and passion. So, get your kids ready with canvases and stand a chance to win exciting prizes while they dip, dab, and splash their pure artistic freedom.

Event Details:

When – November 25, 2023

Location – Forum Kochi – NH-66, Vyttila, Aroor Bypass, near Kundanoor, Maradu, Kochi, Kerala 682304

Age Groups – 4-7 Years/ 8-11 Years/ 12-15 Years

Prize Money – Worth INR 1,05,000

Entry Fee – Free Entry

For Registration – https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1c1q7lF7RdWEtiEGrCpB8NgJilLdiOFZEUOJdLNHPXOw/viewform?edit_requested=true

“A very special moment for me was when Amitabh Sir made me wear his jacket” says ‘KBC Kid’s Juniors Week’ contestant Guransh

This week on Sony Entertainment Television, the much-loved ‘knowledge-based’ gameshow, ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati 15’, will host the ‘Kid’s Juniors Week’, where children between the ages of 8 and 15 will compete to win in the most coveted reality quiz show on Indian television! Adding a dash of humor and wit in an exciting gameplay, contestant Guransh Singh, from Delhi, will steal the spotlight as soon as he sits in the hot seat.

The standard 7 students will leave the host of the show, Mr. Amitabh Bachchan, in splits with his humorous banter. And one of the highlights of the episode will be when Guransh tells Big B that he is feeling cold. Coming to his rescue, Big B, to everyone’s surprise, makes Guransh wear his jacket and ensures he feels comfortable. Guransh also reveals that Arijit Singh is his favorite singer and he would love to rap like Badshah. Not only this, he will also showcase his musical side by strumming the song ‘Hai Junoon’ on his guitar.

Talking about his experience of being on the show, Guransh Singh says, “To be a part of a prestigious show like Kaun Banega Crorepati 15 feels like a dream come true! A very special moment for me was when Amitabh Sir made me wear his jacket. It was a great experience playing the game on the hotseat and I will forever remember this opportunity.”

Be sure to tune in to ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati 15’s’ ‘Kids Juniors’ specials every Monday to Friday at 9:00 PM only on Sony Entertainment Television

Konica Minolta India Plants 150 Trees, For 150 Years in 13 Cities

New Delhi, 23 November 2023 | Commemorating 150 years as a global leader in print solutions, Konica Minolta conducted a country-wide tree plantation drive, that laid the foundation for 150 trees in 13 cities in India to cover all branch offices of the organization. The initiative was a step ahead in Konica Minolta’s ongoing PRAYAAS Initiative, which amounted to the planting of 1950 trees altogether. This plantation drive was held from September to November 2023.

Dedicated to promoting health and high quality of life, the event drew voracious participation from clients, partners, and employees. This plantation drive marks the completion of Konica Minolta’s announced goal of planting 4000 trees within three years from 2021. Konica Minolta has streamlined corporate strategy to offset CO2 emissions generated through business operations, across clients, vendors, and suppliers.

Committing to reducing CO2 emissions throughout the product lifecycle to net zero by 2050, Konica Minolta also adheres to the tenet of “promoting restoration and preservation of biodiversity” as stated in the organization’s Eco Vision 2050. The plantation drive delivers an expression of responsible action in mitigating climate change while aligning with the organization’s long-term vision.

The plantation drive was scheduled in the cities of – Bengaluru, Vijayawada, Hyderabad, Kochi, Chennai, Ludhiana, Chandigarh, Jaipur, Gurgaon / Delhi NCR, Pune, Mumbai, Ahmedabad / Gandhinagar, Kolkata.

Commenting on the resounding success of the plantation drive, Mr. Katsuhisa Asari, Managing Director, Konica Minolta Business Solutions India, said, “Leaning into our long-term management vision, we conducted a country-wide plantation drive in efforts to contribute to Konica Minolta’s global vision of ‘Carbon Minus’ status by 2050. The plantation drive reflects intentional internal action that captures growth in a sustainable manner. Given the urgency of global environmental issues, global businesses like Konica Minolta have a great responsibility to help build a more sustainable society by reducing environmental impact, and with Eco Vision 2050, Konica Minolta exemplifies its determination to fulfill its long-term environmental responsibilities. We believe that this endeavor inspires our value partners to engage in carbon-reversing initiatives, that compound in value, that can be availed by future generations.”

The Sustainability Promotion Department at Konica Minolta Business Solutions India is spearheading Konica Minolta’s PRAYAAS Initiative. Taking charge of the organization’s long-term sustainability goals, the department facilitated the congregation of relevant stakeholders, making this initiative a resounding success.