Category Archives: News

Pamper your mother this Mother’s day at ITC royal Bengal & ITC Sonar

This Mother’s Day, ITC Royal Bengal and ITC Sonar invite you to celebrate the love and warmth that make mothers truly special. Both hotels are offering one-of-a-kind culinary experiences to honour the remarkable women in our lives.

Delight in our dessert menu from Nutmeg by Gourmet Couch, crafted to evoke sweet moments and cherished memories. Indulge in the “Super Mom Chocolate Hazelnut Cake,” a rich blend of chocolate and hazelnut praline, or savour the refreshing “Celebrating You Mango & Mint Cheesecake,” showcasing seasonal mangoes with a minty twist. For a burst of flavour, try the “Super Mom Mango & Pistachio Trifle,” featuring a luxurious combination of in-season mangoes, white chocolate, mascarpone cream, and pistachios. Moreover, surprise her with a “Piñata of Goodies”—a fully edible chocolate heart filled with almond and saffron madeleines, white chocolate and pistachio rochers, pistachio dragees, and almond florentines.

All-day dining restaurants Eden Pavilion at ITC Sonar and Grand Market Pavilion at ITC Royal Bengal will present lavish buffet spreads. Eden Pavilion’s menu reflects a rich tapestry of flavours from traditional Bengali recipes to Anglo-Indian delights, celebrating Kolkata’s heritage at just INR 1800 + taxes per guest, while Grand Market Pavilion offers diverse delicacies from the Kitchens of India and unique cuisines from North East India at INR 1925 + taxes per guest.

Thapar Institute Leads Mental Health Awareness Month with Powerful School Outreach on Consent and Digital Safety

Patiala, 5th May – As part of Mental Health Awareness Month, the Thapar Institute Counselling Cell (TICC) of Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology, Patiala organised an impactful awareness session at Ryan International School, Patiala, on Friday, May 2, 2025. The session, titled “Unmute Yourself: Raising Awareness on Sexual Harassment, Boundaries, Consent & Digital Responsibility,” aimed to sensitise school students to critical issues surrounding psychosocial safety and responsible digital conduct.

The session was led by Dr. Sonam Dullat, Manager, Student Counsellor at TICC, under the guidance of MHSA members Mannan, Shivansh, Parshant, Gagan, Anirudh, Minal, and Vanshaj. It was delivered by TICC’s Mental Health Student Ambassadors (MHSA), who play an active role in spreading awareness among young audiences. Over 500 students from Classes 6 to 12 participated in the program, which was strategically divided into two age-appropriate segments.

Students from Classes 6 to 8 were guided through topics such as understanding sexual harassment, identifying personal boundaries, and learning how to report unsafe or uncomfortable situations. For senior students in Classes 9 to 12, discussions focused on cyber harassment, digital consent, and emotional wellbeing in the digital space.

The session employed an interactive approach, encouraging students to engage in real-life scenarios and voice their thoughts openly. A concluding Q&A segment further deepened their understanding and allowed for clarification of key concepts.

Ms. Pooja Sharma, Principal of Ryan International School, praised the initiative, highlighting its relevance in the current context. “It is essential to create safe spaces where children can learn about these crucial issues with clarity and confidence,” she remarked.

“Mental health is a foundation, not a luxury,” said Dr. Dullat, emphasising the importance of early intervention and open dialogue in shaping emotionally secure individuals.

TICC’s initiative underscores the growing need for sustained awareness around consent, boundaries, and digital responsibility. By empowering students to ‘unmute’ themselves, the session reiterated the significance of voice, choice, and respect in today’s educational and digital environments.

NEET 2025 Sparks Debate Over Difficulty Spike and Set Reduction

National, May 5th 2025: The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) UG 2025, conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on Sunday, May 4th, reported a record 22.7 lakh registrations, with aspirants turning up at 5,453 centres spread across 500+ cities.

Conducted in one shift from 2 PM to 5 PM, NEET 2025 was a break from the past. Rather than the usual 24 paper sets, the NTA released only four sets, all four of which had a uniformly more difficult format, setting the bar higher on analytical and application-oriented learning.

Though the Biology section was aligned with the NCERT syllabus, the questions were conceptual, quietly worded, and meant to assess understanding rather than mere recall. The Physics and Chemistry sections were the actual test of mettle, labelled as AIIMS-level by most, filled with multi-step questions, cumbersome calculations, and situation-based reasoning. Many students reported that time management became a hurdle due to the complex nature of the Physics problems, especially in topics like Modern Physics, Electrodynamics, and Thermodynamics.

Nitin Vijay, CEO and Founder of Motion Education said, “NEET 2025 saw a definite change in philosophy, it’s no longer a question of memorizing textbook lines. The paper called for maturity, clarity of thought, and an ability to think like a doctor, right at the entrance gate. According to academic quarters, this peak in the exam is likely a conscious attempt on the part of the NTA to improve the levels of selection, in accordance with the global trend towards competency-based medical education. The aim appears to be to develop better trained, analysis-sufficient medical professionals, adequate for an increasingly changing healthcare scenario. The paper required a profound conceptual understanding and excellent problem-solving skills.”

Rising Star Sharvari Reflects on Her Journey and Joining Forces with Alia Bhatt in Femina’s April Cover Story

Sharvari graces the cover of Femina’s April 2025 issue, embodying the spirit of a true ‘Dadar chi mulgi’ – fierce, grounded, unapologetically authentic, and truly in the spotlight. After the runaway success of Munjya, crossing the ₹100 crore mark, her dance number ‘Taras’ becoming an internet sensation, and her standout performance in Maharaj, Sharvari is one of Bollywood’s most promising new voices. In a candid conversation with Femina, she opens up about her journey – from nearly pursuing civil engineering to hustling behind the scenes as an Assistant Director on films such as Pyaar Ka Punchnama 2, Bajirao Mastani, and Sonu Ke Titu Ki Sweety. She reflects on the quiet hustle of finding her place as an outsider, the joy of watching things finally fall into place, and her big leap with Alia Bhatt in Alpha, an action-packed thriller that’s rewriting the rules for female-led cinema.

Reflecting on the grit it takes to break into the industry, Sharvari shares, “The toughest part of the journey isn’t just bagging your first film – it’s finding your footing before that, proving to yourself that you belong here.”

Recalling her early stints behind the camera, she fondly adds, “Being an Assistant Director was my way of staying connected to the industry, of learning, of picking up everything I could that would eventually make me a better actor.”

About navigating the pressure of staying relevant, Sharvari avers, “Showcasing different facets of my craft isn’t just about growth – it’s a necessity. Every role, every film has to work for me to sustain myself in this industry.”

Opening up about the kind of characters she’s naturally drawn to and how they resonate with her, she reveals, “Looking back at all the roles I’ve played so far, I realise that each of them has been a woman with agency – strong, driven, and in pursuit of something meaningful. At the end of the day, I, too, am chasing a dream.”

Speaking about Alpha, Yash Raj Films’ groundbreaking female-led spy thriller in which she shares screen space with Alia Bhatt, Sharvari enthuses, “It is one of the first female-led action films, where you have two women taking charge and being absolute badasses. It feels like breaking a glass ceiling, and that’s incredibly exciting. What makes this film special is that it’s not just about the action – it carries a strong message of empowerment. I truly hope it resonates with young women and inspires them to embrace their own strength.”

2025 Stri Shakti Awards Shine a Spotlight on Women Leading Change

Hyderabad, May 2025: The Telangana Chamber of Events Industry (TCEI) hosted the prestigious Stri Shakti Awards 2025 at HICC, Madhapur, celebrating the remarkable achievements of 50 women shaping the world of events, culture, and creative industries. In its 7th edition, the Stri Shakti Awards have become a platform to recognize and honor women who have significantly contributed to various sectors, including hospitality, creative arts, and social change.

Chief Guest Smt. Danasari Anasuya Seethakka, Minister for Rural Development, Panchayat Raj, and Women and Child Welfare, Telangana, led the award ceremony and felicitated the inspiring women who are creating transformative change in their fields. During her speech, she highlighted the Telangana Government’s emphasis on empowering women, particularly through initiatives like the Indira Mahila Shakti Scheme, which aims to foster entrepreneurship and self-reliance among women.

Mr. Jayesh Ranjan, IAS, Special Chief Secretary to the Government of Telangana, spoke on the significance of the Cultural and Creative Industries (CCI), which are not only engines of entrepreneurship and innovation but also platforms for women to lead as creators, curators, and changemakers. He emphasized that the Stri Shakti Awards play a vital role in inspiring more women to step into leadership and entrepreneurial roles in these dynamic sectors.

Smt. Divya Devarajan, IAS, CEO of SERP (Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty), expressed her pride in partnering with TCEI to recognize grassroots women entrepreneurs and announced that SERP had engaged TCEI to train women as event managers, providing them with essential skills to succeed in the event industry.

Balaram Babu, President of TCEI, and Vishala Reddy, Convenor of the Stri Shakti Awards and Founder of Millet Bank, shared their excitement as the platform continues to grow. They announced plans to introduce an exclusive conference on the Creative Economy in future editions of the awards, further amplifying the role of women in the creative industries.

Occasion graced by Guest of Honors & Special Guests: Prakash Reddy (IPS), Telangana Tourism, Sri Z. Hanumant Kondiba, IAS, Director, Department of Tourism , Surat Singh Malhotra, Honorary Consul, Kingdom of Lesotho, Prashanth Nadendla, President, HYSEA Prathibha Kunda, Chairperson, FICCI , Dr. Kiranmai (Pemmasani) Pendyala, Chairperson & Board Member, United Way, Hyderabad, Ms. Harshita Atluri, Associate Vice President, Design at Phoenix Group, Smt. Sangeeta Varma, Director, Reana Social Initiatives Foundation

Panel discussion on Opportunities for Women in the Creative Economy

The event featured a panel discussion on Opportunities for Women in the Creative Economy, moderated by Rahul Reddy, CEO of Octopus Group. The distinguished panel included: Malini Divakala, Professor & Director, National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) , Sandhya Raju, Indian Kuchipudi dancer and actress , Deepti Alapati, Founder, Pulp Cosmetics , Coreena Enet Suares, Editor, NewsMeter Farha Kudari, Entrepreneur and Founder, Pink Pagdi . These industry leaders discussed the growing opportunities for women in creative sectors and the potential of the Creative Economy to drive innovation and social change.

50 exceptional women being honored in four categories:

Over 250 women from across India applied for the Stri Shakti Awards 2025, with 50 exceptional women being honored in four categories: Stri Ratna, Stri Murti, Stri Shakti, and a special SHG Women segment. The highest honor, the Stri Ratna Award, was presented to prominent women leaders from across India, including: Smt. Rajani Nair Deb , Malini Divakala , Pushpa Bhaskar , Vani Thammayagari , Malini L. Narasimhan . These awardees have over 15 years of experience in their respective fields and have made groundbreaking contributions in hospitality, creative arts, culture, and social sectors.

The awardees were selected by a distinguished jury of over 20 experts from across the globe. This panel included accomplished academicians, visionary corporate leaders, and trailblazers from various fields, with jury members joining from the United States, Bali, and across India.

Showcased 20+ exclusive stalls women-led businesses, supported by Phoenix Foundation.

In addition to the awards, the event featured 20+ exclusive stalls showcasing women-led businesses, supported by Phoenix Foundation. This exhibition served as a platform for these businesses to gain exposure, build networks, and grow their presence in the market. The event was further supported by SERP, which is committed to encouraging grassroots women entrepreneurs across Telangana.

TCEI Executive Committee, including, Balaram Babu, President, Ravi Bura, General Secretary, Ram Muppana, Joint Secretary , Toufiq Mohemmed, Treasurer , Along with the vertical association presidents, Stri Shakti Co-Convenors: Prabha Chowdary , Vandana Raja , Deepthi Jai , And the working committee members: Jigna Shah , Sanju, Preeti, among others were also present.

Paytm Hosts Safety Session with DCP Preeti Yadav

As India’s most trusted, safest and fastest UPI-based mobile payment platform, Paytm reinforced its commitment to user safety by organizing a cybercrime awareness session at its Head Office in Sky Mark Building, Greater Noida, on May 3, 2025. The session was led by DCP Cyber Crime, Preeti Yadav, and focused on real-world fraud prevention strategies and safety practices related to digital payments.

This initiative is part of Paytm’s ongoing efforts to strengthen digital trust and empower its workforce and customers with tools to identify and prevent cyber fraud.

16 Key Precautions to Prevent Cyber Frauds

DCP Preeti Yadav shared an in-depth advisory consisting of 16 actionable steps aimed at protecting individuals from scams associated with mobile payments and UPI transactions

1. Do not trust video or WhatsApp calls from unknown numbers where individuals appear in police uniform. Always verify identities through official channels.
2. Confirm such calls with nearby cyber cells or departments like CBI, Narcotics, or courier services before responding.
3. Avoid searching customer care numbers on search engines, which may display fake listings. Use only official platforms.
4. Ignore claims about suspicious parcels containing your Aadhaar or mobile number. These are often fraudulent.
5. If informed that a bank account is linked to your Aadhaar without consent, immediately visit the bank to investigate and block it.
6. Court-issued warrants are never delivered via WhatsApp. Verify any such claims through local law enforcement.
7. Government bodies never notify individuals about money laundering or hawala cases over messaging apps.
8. Do not comply with instructions to transfer funds to other accounts to “clear” suspicious deposits. It is likely a scam.
9. Genuine officials do not threaten or pressure individuals over mobile video or WhatsApp calls.
10. Police clearance certificates are not issued digitally through informal communication. These are fraud attempts.
11. Never click on unknown links shared during calls or install apps on verbal instructions from strangers.
12. If intimidated or threatened via digital platforms, report the matter to police immediately.
13. Be cautious of messages offering large returns on investments, loans, or insurance with suspicious links.
14. Do not share OTPs or personal information in return for offers of expensive items at heavily discounted prices.
15. If you suspect an attempt to cheat, report the incident immediately through proper legal channels.
16. For any cybercrime incident, contact the Cyber Crime Helpline at 1930 or report via cybercrime.gov.in.

Paytm’s Focus on Secure and Fast Mobile Payments

Paytm continues to lead the evolution of mobile payments in India by embedding strong fraud detection systems, user protection mechanisms, and robust encryption technologies. The company regularly engages with law enforcement and experts to promote awareness and reinforce the importance of cybersecurity across the ecosystem.

With fast transaction speeds, seamless UPI experiences, and a commitment to user safety, Paytm is widely recognized as the safest and fastest mobile payment app in India today.

Essar Energy Transition Marks Milestone with Hydrogen Furnace at EET Fuels Stanlow

Chandigarh, 3 May 2025 – EET Fuels (the trading name of Essar Oil (UK) Ltd), which plans to create the world’s leading low carbon process refinery, has successfully completed the installation and connection of its new hydrogen-ready furnace to the refinery system at its Stanlow site in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire.

Following delivery at the Stanlow site in August 2022, the hydrogen-ready furnace is now fully operational and will be capable of running on 100% refinery off gas (ROG), a blend of ROG and hydrogen fuel, or 100% hydrogen. The furnace will be conventionally fuelled until 2028 when it will transition to using 100% low-carbon hydrogen, produced by EET Hydrogen’s HPP1 plant. HPP1 is the UK’s first large scale low carbon hydrogen production plant, located at the heart of the HyNet decarbonisation cluster and will be connected to the Liverpool Bay CO2 transport and storage system which reached financial close last week.

Installation of the hydrogen-ready furnace significantly progresses EET Fuels’ ambition to eliminate 95% (around 2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide a year) of its carbon emissions by 2030. It will improve the Stanlow site’s air quality, significantly reducing NOX emissions, and its energy efficiency, reducing the refinery’s annual CO2 emissions by c.16,600 tonnes when using conventional ROG fuel, and c.200,000 tons when fuelled by low-carbon hydrogen.

The new furnace consumes around 10% of Stanlow refinery’s total energy usage and will replace three existing furnaces. Refinery furnaces are critical for heating crude oil and other feedstocks to separate and purify the crude to produce different products.

Deepak Maheshwari, Chief Executive Officer at EET Fuels, said:

“Decommissioning three old furnaces and connecting this new highly efficient hydrogen-ready furnace to our refinery is a significant milestone for EET Fuels. Not only will the new furnace deliver an immediate reduction in CO2 emissions, it will deliver an even bigger reduction once fully powered with low carbon hydrogen. It’s a major milestone in the delivery on our decarbonisation strategy.”

New Brain Mapping Technique Sheds Light on Alzheimer’s Development

Researchers at Tulane University have created a first-of-its-kind subcellular map of an area of the brain commonly affected by Alzheimer’s disease, a key step toward unraveling the mysteries of how the degenerative brain disease develops.

 The study, published in Nature Communications, illuminated the genetic mechanisms that cause the loss of brain cells that allow the disease to progress and identified a key protein as a potential target for treatment.

More than 55 million people worldwide suffer from dementia, with Alzheimer’s accounting for 60-70% of those cases. Despite the prevalence, little is known about its cause and existing medications can only temporarily ease symptoms, not prevent the disease from progressing.

“The human brain is the most complex organ in the human body and the mechanism of many diseases like Alzheimer’s is elusive,” said senior author Hui Shen, associate director of the Center for Biomedical Informatics & Genomics at Tulane University School of Medicine. “Using spatial transcriptomics, we were able to create a map of a part of the prefrontal cortex with single cell resolution to try to understand the underlying factors of Alzheimer’s.”

The researchers used stereo sequencing to examine a small section of the prefrontal cortex – the region responsible for decision-making and emotional control – in six brains at varying stages of Alzheimer’s.

This technology allowed them to “map” the brain tissue at nearly 250 times the resolution of older tools, essentially zooming in to reveal genetic interactions within a single cell and how those shift as the disease progresses.

The study found that genetic modules tasked with protecting neurons weaken or disappear in Alzheimer’s patients, allowing harmful proteins linked to the disease to build up and damage cells.

Researchers identified a protein, ZNF460, as crucial to these modules’ neuroprotective processes and as a potential target for treatment.

“The most important thing is that we’ve identified several interesting interactions at the molecular level that work to protect neurons under stress, and these interactions disappeared in Alzheimer’s patients,” said lead author Yun Gong, instructor at the Center for Biomedical Informatics & Genomics at Tulane University School of Medicine. “If we can find a way to target ZNF460 in a way that keeps these modules functioning, then we might be able to inhibit the progression of Alzheimer’s.”

In another surprising discovery, the study found that layered structure of the brain disappears as the disease advances, a phenomenon that Gong said “had not been observed before.”

Going forward, Shen and Gong said they hope to further research ZNF460 and ascertain whether its absence alone can be linked to the onset of Alzheimer’s.

“This is just one step toward understanding pathophysiology of Alzheimer disease,” Shen said. “Different areas of the brain may respond differently to the disease development so we have to keep working to examine other regions and create the most comprehensive image we can.”

Cyber Academe Takes Center Stage at Gen Forum 2025, Redefining Education for Tomorrow

The Gen Forum Ed Conclave 2025 marked a historic milestone in the field of education, with over 500 Project Carte Blanche schools participating in this landmark event held in Bengaluru, India. The conclave brought together educators, industry leaders, and policymakers to discuss pivotal topics, including Hybrid Learning, Skill Development, and Preventive Health Management, igniting a transformation in the realm of education.

A stellar lineup of speakers contributed immensely to the discussions across various sessions, including Jaya Mahadevan, Vishakha Arbat, Pallavi Lokesh Shetty, and Adarsh Thompson from Microsoft; Deepak K. from Rotary; Mohammed Nasiruddin from G7CR; Nitika S. from Noventiq India; Syed Sultan Ahmed from School Cinema; Mitesh Gandhi from Marconix Sales Solution Pvt. Ltd.; Balaji Venkataraman from Scholar Labs; Svetlana Rao and Alagaraja Ravindra Raja from Fischer Medical Ventures Ltd.; and Mr. Vincent KV, Ali Sait, Roshini Kumar, Prashant Jha, Shivangini Srivastava, and Shriya Srivastava from Tech Avant-Garde.

The conclave’s highlight was the announcement of a groundbreaking initiative: transforming traditional schools into Digital Schools, termed Cyber Academe, under the aegis of Project Carte Blanche. This transformation will encompass six key pillars of digital transformation in education, 21st-century learning design concepts, Gen Extra Muros digital learning pedagogy, integration of devices such as Passim, Protean, M365, and Lycée integrated with AI and Metaverses, and the formation of the Connected Learning Community.

Ali Sait, CEO of Tech Avant-Garde, articulated the future of education, stating, “Cyber Academe is the Learning System for the New Millennium. Students, teachers, and parents must be trained for this new genre of learning. Only then can we nurture a workforce suited for the Knowledge Age.”

Eddna Samuel, Global Strategic Partner, Carte Blanche, said, “The future of education is digital, and Cyber Academe is leading the charge. By embracing this innovative approach, we can empower students to succeed in a rapidly evolving world.”

Semiconductor Production to Begin in Two Years: IT Minister

Bhubaneswar, May 3, 2025 : Odisha, which is known to formulate better policies for investors, will start production of semiconductors in the next couple of years, state Information Technology Minister Dr Mukesh Mahaling said. Addressing the summit titled ‘From Temple to Tech’, he said Odisha is in a very good position in the field of digital infrastructure, skill development and start-ups. Leading IT companies have set up their centers in the state. He also invited IT companies to invest in Odisha and assured all support from the government. He also informed that Odisha Industries Support Cell also to facilitate IT sectors investors.”

In a milestone initiative to drive Odisha’s emergence as a global hub for electronics manufacturing and IT services, the Department of Electronics & Information Technology (E&IT), Government of Odisha, in collaboration with the Electronics and Computer Software Export Promotion Council (ESC), successfully hosted the ‘From Temples to Tech’ summit at The Crown, Bhubaneswar. The event gathered top government officials, industry leaders, academic experts, and startups from across India and abroad, aiming to catalyze the state’s transition into a tech-driven economy.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri Vishal Kumar Dev, Principal Secretary, Department of Information Technology highlighted the growing contribution of the services sector towards the State Gross Domestic Product (GSDP) and the growth therein in the coming days. He spoke about the various benefits and incentives available to investors in the state’s IT policy and semiconductor policy. He said that the incentives given by the Government of Odisha to the industry are among the best in the country.

Speaking on the occasion, Joint Secretary to the Government of India, Manish Chadha presented a comparative picture of the country’s hardware production and said that a few years ago there were many challenges about it. But after the central government came up with attractive policies, India has made considerable progress in electronics manufacturing. 99% of mobile phones used in India are made within the country. He said india’s contribution to smartphone manufacturing has been increasing steadily. Executive Director of ESC Gurmeet Singh, Chairman (Global Outreach) Sandeep Narula, ESC Chairman Veer Sagar and ESC (Eastern) Chairman Dr Ashwini Kumar Rath and others were present on the occasion.

Among the key highlights was the launch of the Odisha Industry Support Cell by ESC, aimed at providing export guidance, global market access, mentoring, and standards compliance support for local electronics and IT enterprises. The event also saw the unveiling of a white paper titled “Electronics and Software Exports from India and Odisha,” offering a data-backed roadmap for expanding the state’s export capabilities. Additionally, Six Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were signed between ESC and leading academic institutions including IIT Bhubaneswar, IIIT Bhubaneswar, OUTR, BPUT, VSSUT, and the World Trade Center Bhubaneswar, to promote industry-academia collaboration and skill development.

The summit featured impactful discussions through an open house with startup founders and CXOs, along with two insightful panel sessions. One focused on enhancing global competitiveness through hardware innovation, and another on building Odisha into a tech and talent powerhouse. Representatives from Atlanta Systems, InfoPower Tech, Ernst & Young, MeitY, ESSCI, and global accelerator Plug and Play contributed valuable perspectives. Shri Manoj Kumar, Deputy CEO of the Government e-Marketplace (GeM), provided guidance to MSMEs and startups on leveraging GeM for government procurement.

A startup showcase highlighted ten high-potential electronics and IT startups from Odisha, presenting their innovative solutions to investors and mentors, further reinforcing the state’s growing deep-tech ecosystem.