3, May 2025
Sunwing Vacations and Inclusive Collection Offer New Perks for Canadian Travellers
TORONTO, May 3, 2025 /CNW/ – Sunwing Vacations’ Partner of the Month for May, Hyatt’s Inclusive Collection, is offering travellers the chance to see paradise through luxury’s lens. With more ways to save, Canadians can discover the best of destinations like Mexico, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic from lavish accommodations when booking a vacation package with Hyatt and Sunwing Vacations before May 31, 2025.
Hyatt’s Inclusive Collection offers Canadians Endless Privileges®, Unlimited-Luxury® and Unlimited-Fun® at their properties across the tropics. With ideal beachfront settings, world-class spas, gourmet gastronomy, 24-hour room service and more, lavish vacations are no longer just a dream. Designed with every traveller in mind, their expansive range of brands offers amenities and accommodations to complete the ultimate vacation, work travel or destination wedding, where even the smallest of moments become lifelong memories.
For vacation packages secured between May 1 and May 31 for travel by October 31, 2025, travellers can benefit from rate reductions* and kids stay free*, plus be entered for their chance to win a seven-night all inclusive vacation package for two at Hyatt Ziva Riviera Cancun in Mexico. Non-purchasing customers are also eligible to win but are limited to one entry during the contest period and must submit the form available on Sunwing.ca.
For a dream last-minute or summer vacation that offers luxury for less, Sunwing Vacations customers can book a Hyatt’s Inclusive Collection resort with their local travel advisor or at Sunwing.ca.
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3, May 2025
RBI-MPC Rate Cuts Prompt Union Bank to Expand MSME, CASA Customer Initiatives
May 3, 2025, Mumbai: Union Bank of India, today announced the launch of its MSME & CASA Outreach program, a nationwide initiative aimed at strengthening relationships with existing customers, expanding outreach to new MSME clients, and driving sustainable growth in CASA deposits.
The countrywide outreach camps follow the RBI Monetary Policy Committee’s back to back rate cuts which saw interest rates on bank credit fall 50 basis points. Union Bank’s MSME loan now start at an affordable interest rate of 8.75%.
The programs will be conducted across 62 locations from April 28 to 30, 2025, bringing together existing and potential customers, industry associations, trade bodies, and government agencies. These events will serve as collaborative platforms to address financial needs, promote digital banking awareness, and introduce tailored financial solutions.
The MSME & CASA Outreach program will focus on understanding customers’ financial needs, showcasing bank products, generating leads, and gathering feedback for continuous improvement in service quality and customer satisfaction. The program will cater to existing & prospective MSME customers, start-ups, young professionals, emerging entrepreneurs, women entrepreneurs, vendors and suppliers associated with large industries, and representatives from industry associations, trade bodies, and chambers of commerce. The CASA Outreach program is designed for prospective premium CASA customers, government department heads, doctors, and other professionals
The event will be presided over by senior officials from Union Bank and will provide a platform for customers to engage with the bank and share their experiences.
During the outreach, customers will have the opportunity to upgrade their CASA accounts and activate salary accounts on the spot. The program will also feature on-spot locker sanction, Vyom digital banking registration, and dedicated help desks for internet banking and mobile banking activation.
3, May 2025
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.”
3, May 2025
Harnessing AI to Transform Vision Research
3 May 2025 ,Salt Lake City, Utah — Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping the way we comprehend, detect and treat eye conditions, bringing new hope to millions worldwide. During the upcoming week (May 4 – 8) at the 2025 Annual Meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) in Salt Lake City, Utah, researchers will share breakthroughs on how AI is influencing the future of eye and vision health research and patient care, from enhancing clinical decision-making to simplifying workflows to equip patients with educational tools to create personalized care plans.
Scientists at the Annual Meeting will discuss multiple uses of AI, as well as share promising future applications, such as how advanced tools can more precisely detect early signs of diseases like diabetic retinopathy (DR) and glaucoma, sometimes even before symptoms appear. Automated screening tools can support underserved areas where access to specialists may be limited.
Researchers will show also how AI-powered algorithms — sets of rules that help computers learn from data — examine risk factors, track disease progression and identify disease trends that can inform public health strategies. AI can assess patient data to aid them and their doctors in recommending appropriate, personalized treatment plans. Some AI tools can enhance eye imaging techniques, assisting ophthalmologists in identifying and classifying abnormalities faster and with greater accuracy. Beyond the clinic and labs, there will be studies presented at the Meeting on how AI has improved assistive technology for individuals with vision loss (e.g., apps and devices that can support navigation and accessibility in everyday life).
This is just a small sample of the groundbreaking new research that will be featured at the ARVO Annual Meeting, signaling a transformative era for eye and vision science. As AI continues to evolve, it will bring even more innovative solutions that can enhance vision health and positively impact lives around the world.
3, May 2025
Eurofragance Strengthens Market Position with EUR180M in Sales for 2024
Spanish fragrance house Eurofragance releases its financial results for 2024, showing unprecedented growth. With a 27% sales increase reaching €180 million like-for-like, the company continues to build on its strong upward trajectory year after year.
This performance underscores Eurofragance’s strategic focus and commitment to excellence across all regions and product categories. Juan Ramón López Gil, the company’s CFO, says: “Achieving €180 million in sales is a testament to our initiatives and the dedication of our teams. Each region’s contribution has been instrumental in achieving these results and our financial discipline and focused strategies will continue to drive our success.”
Widespread Expansion Across Categories and Regions
Eurofragance’s results were driven by strong performances in key regions and product categories. All regions experienced a significant increase, with growth ranging from 19% in the EAT region to 30% in IMEA. Joan Pere Jimenez, Chief Market Officer, adds: “We are capitalizing on the rapid development of dynamic markets such as UAE and Saudi Arabia, the latter of which continues to open up with substantial investments in beauty retail. We are also benefiting from positive market trends in India, Indonesia and Turkey where rising disposable income is fueling demand.”
The multinational’s diverse product portfolio also helped shore up significant gains. The Fine Fragrance category experienced a 28% upswing, while the Home and Personal Care segments saw a 20% increase. This cross-category progress highlights Eurofragance’s ability to meet the demand of its customers in their expansion when it comes to offering them the right fragrances to grow their brands.
Expansion Fueled by Strategic Investments and Innovations
In 2024, Eurofragance continued to invest in strategic initiatives to support its growth. The company opened a new creative center in Mumbai, reinforcing its position in India’s fast-growing market. The fragrance house’s expansion and optimism regarding the future are also evident in its commitment to talent. With new hires across all affiliates and substantial investment in its professional development academies and its talent management program, Eurofragance’s workforce grew by 15% in 2024.
The Spanish fragrance house also launched Euphorion™, its first synthetic addition to its ICON Captives collection, a perfumery ingredient that offers a new take on freshness in the perfumer’s palette. Laurent Mercier, who has been at the helm of Eurofragance as CEO for the past seven years has played a key role in the accelerated development of the company and its foray into the design of proprietary fragrance ingredients. Mercier explains: “Our disciplined approach to growth and strategic investments in key areas have allowed us to maintain our reputation as a leading player in the fragrance industry. The strategies we have in place will ensure our sustained expansion, and our commitment to innovation will continue to drive our success in the years to come.”
Relentless Commitment to People and Planet
Eurofragance remained steadfast in its commitment to sustainability, earning the highest possible rating from EcoVadis with a Platinum medal. The company’s dedication to community engagement was and continues to be evident through its participation in programs such as “Empowering Women’s Talent” and “Diversity Leading Company” both organized by the top-tier Human Resources media outlet in Spain Equipos&Talento. Additionally, Eurofragance collaborated with Hospital Sant Joan de Déu Barcelona and MartiDerm dermocosmetics company on a solution for fish odor syndrome, which received a silver medal award at the VPC Green Beauty Awards.
Eurofragance’s performance in 2024 reflects its strategic vision, innovative spirit and commitment to its people, sustainability and community. As the company looks to the future, it remains dedicated to driving growth and delivering value to its customers and stakeholders.
3, May 2025
SDHI and Wheel and Time Sign MoU for India’s First FAST Logistics in Heavy Fabrication
Vivek Merchant, Director, Swan Defence & Heavy Industries Limited (SDHI) described the alliance as an important step forward for India’s engineering and logistics sectors. He stated, “Newbuilds, ship repairs, and heavy fabrication are central to SDHI’s growth plans. With strong capabilities in shipbuilding and repairs, this partnership with Wheel & Time Shipping Transport Logistics enhances our heavy engineering operations. Together, we can offer customers a more integrated, end-to-end solution. The F.A.S.T. logistics ecosystem allows EPC contractors and heavy industry players to concentrate on innovation and last-mile delivery, while we manage the complexities from fabrication to transportation.”Gautamraj Sharma, Managing Director, Wheel & Time Shipping Transport Logistics said, “We are elated to partner with SDHI. We believe our collaboration with them brings together the best of deep fabrication infrastructure and robust logistics know-how. The F.A.S.T. logistics ecosystem will enable clients to de-risk projects and improve certainty across timelines, execution, and delivery.”
3, May 2025
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.”
3, May 2025
Dr. Shubham Vatsya Saves 77-Year-Old Man After Swallowing Keychain
New Delhi, May 03,2025 : One of the rarest of the rare cases of a foreign body ingestion came to Dr. Shubham Vatsya. A 77 year old man accidently ingested a key with a full keychain, probably due to dementia. The observation was difficulty in swallowing food and even water, and even finding hard to breathe. A swift X-ray by the attending general physician revealed a metallic foreign object lodged in the upper esophagus — shockingly, it was a key attached to a full keychain.
The patient was immediately referred to Dr. Shubham Vatsya, a renowned gastroenterologist, who acted without delay. An emergency endoscopy was performed, and the object was safely removed in under a minute.
“Such cases in elderly patients with cognitive decline are extremely rare, and the risks can escalate very quickly,” said Dr. Shubham. “Fortunately, the quick diagnosis and immediate referral made all the difference.” He further adds that solving such a case only becomes possible with expertise of the gastroenterologist to perform endoscopic foreign body removal. This case was solved in less than one minute by the specialised gastroenterologist with assistance of expert endoscopy technicians.
Within just 15 minutes of the procedure, the patient’s swallowing and breathing returned to normal. The case highlights the critical importance of early intervention and the role of multidisciplinary collaboration between general physicians and specialists.
This entire incident is a demonder that though uncommon observation, ingestion of a foreign body in the elderly can be fatal and rapid response is crucial.
3, May 2025
ICICI Bank inaugurates its branch in Muzaffarpur
Muzaffarpur: ICICI Bank has set up a new branch (Business Centre) at Laxmi Chowk, Brahampura in Muzaffarpur. This branch, the Bank’s eighth in city and 10th in the district, is equipped with an ATM.
The branch (Business Centre) was inaugurated by Dr. Mithilesh Kumar Jha, Principal, Muzaffarpur Institute of Technology, Muzaffarpur, Bihar.
The branch offers a comprehensive range of accounts and deposits including savings and current accounts, fixed and recurring deposits and loans like home loan, personal loan, auto loan, gold loan, business loan and education loan along with remittance and card services. It also provides locker facility at its premises. It operates from 9:30 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. on Monday to Friday and on the first, third and fifth Saturdays of the month.
The branch also offers Tab Banking facility that provides nearly 100 services at the customer’s place by an employee through a tablet device. The services include opening of accounts and Fixed Deposit (FD), raising cheque book request, generation of e-statements and change of address, among others.
ICICI Bank has 160 branches and over 330 ATMs and cash recycling machines (CRMs) in Bihar.
3, May 2025
Q4 FY25 Consolidated Financials Released
Chandigarh, May 03, 2025: Godrej Properties Limited (GPL), a leading national real estate developer, announced its financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended March 31, 2025.
CORPORATE HIGHLIGHTS:
Another record-breaking year – FY2025
- Godrej Properties delivers its highest ever quarterly and full year bookings
o Highest ever booking value and area sold by any Indian real estate developer in a financial year till date- FY25 booking value grew 31% YoY to INR 29,444 crore through sale of 15,302 homes with a total area of 25.73 million sq. ft., a YoY volume growth of 29%.
o GPL has achieved the highest cumulative booking value of INR 84,704 crores for any real estate developer since FY20 with INR 64,203 crores sold since FY23.
o GPL has achieved 109% of its annual guidance for booking value for FY25.
o GPL is the only leading real estate developer that has delivered 8 consecutive financial years of booking value growth.
o Most broadly distributed sales in the industry with only 36% booking value coming from largest market, 27% booking value coming from home market and 13% booking value coming from the largest single project.
o NCR, MMR & Bengaluru contributed INR 10,523 crore, INR 8,034 crore and INR 5,089 crore respectively to the booking value in FY25.
o 12 projects across 6 cities achieved booking value more than INR 1,000 crore in FY25.
o 34 new projects and phases were launched during the financial year across 7 cities.
o Booking value in Q4 FY25 grew 87% QoQ and 7% YoY to INR 10,163 crores through the sale of 3,703 homes with a total area of 7.52 million sq. ft. This is the highest ever quarterly booking value achieved by Godrej Properties.
o This is the first quarter in which GPL has crossed INR 10,000 crore in booking value and also the 7th consecutive quarter in which GPL has crossed more than INR 5,000 crore of booking value.
o Booking value in Q4 FY25 were driven by strong demand in some key new project launches including Godrej Riverine in Noida, which achieved a booking value of INR 2,206 crore, Godrej Astra in Gurugram, which achieved a booking value of INR 1,323 crore, and Godrej Madison Avenue, GPL’s first project in Hyderabad, which achieved a booking value of INR 1,081 crore.
o 12 new projects and phases were launched during the quarter across 5 cities.
- Highest ever quarterly and full year collections & operating cash flow (OCF)
o Highest quarterly and full year residential sale collections announced by any real estate developer in India to date. Q4 FY25 collections stood at INR 6,961 crore representing a YoY growth of 48% and QoQ growth of 127%. FY25 collections stood at INR 17,047 crore representing a YoY growth of 49%.
o GPL has achieved 114% of its annual guidance for collections for FY25.
o Highest ever quarterly and full year OCF announced by any real estate developer in India to date. Q4 FY25 OCF stood at INR 4,047 crore representing a QoQ growth of 559% and a YoY growth of 55%. FY25 OCF stood at INR 7,484 crore representing a YoY growth of 73%.
- Another strong year for business development
o GPL has added 14 new projects in FY25 with a total estimated saleable area of approximately 19 million sq. ft. and total estimated booking value potential of ~INR 26,450 crore.
o This includes 2 new projects with an expected booking value of INR 3,000 crore added in Q4.
o GPL has achieved 132% of its annual guidance for business development in FY25.
- Highest ever deliveries in FY25
o GPL has delivered 18.4 million sq. ft. of projects in FY25 across 5 cities representing a YoY growth of 47%.
o This includes 6.5 million sq. ft. of deliveries in Q4FY25 representing a YoY growth of 8% and a QoQ growth of 150%.
o GPL has achieved 123% of its annual guidance for deliveries in FY25.
- Other Highlights
o Raised INR 6,000 crore of equity for growth capital through largest ever QIP by a real estate company in India in December 2024.
o Godrej Properties has been included in the 2025 Sustainability Yearbook by S&P Global, recognized among the top 10% in the Real Estate Management and Development Sector globally and honored as an Industry Mover. GPL is also included in the Emerging Markets index of the Dow Jones Best in class indices for the second consecutive year
o Mr. Pirojsha Godrej, Executive Chairperson, Godrej Properties limited was awarded EY Entrepreneur of The Year™ Awards 2024 in the Energy, Real Estate, and Infrastructure category.
o GPL received 32 awards in Q4 FY25 and a total of 117 awards in FY25.
o Promoters increased stake in GPL through open market purchase of 5,63,942 shares at an average price of INR 2,050 per share investing a total of INR 116 crore between Dec-2024 and Mar-2025
Commenting on the performance of Q4 FY2025, Mr. Pirojsha Godrej, Executive Chairperson, Godrej Properties Limited, said:
“Godrej Properties delivered a record-breaking financial year 2025 with its highest ever bookings, collections, operating cashflows, earnings and deliveries as well as a strong year for business development. It is the 8th consecutive year of booking value growth for the company indicating the resilience of the company to grow through various macroeconomic cycles. Our sales bookings over the last 3 years have compounded at an annual growth rate of 55%. Through this, GPL has completely reset the scale of its operations and for the second consecutive year is the largest real estate developer in India by booking value.
The residential real estate sector in India has been strong over the past few years and we believe the sectoral tailwinds will continue over the next few years. Our business development additions with a future booking value of Rs 26,450 crore in FY25 will ensure that we continue to have a strong launch pipeline in the years ahead. Furthermore, the equity capital of INR 6,000 crore we raised through a QIP in December 2024 combined with the record operating cash flow of INR 7,484 crore we generated in FY25 will enable us to continue to invest for growth. In FY26, we plan to grow residential bookings to over INR 32,500 crore through the launch of a large number of exciting new projects combined with strong sustenance sales. This combined with strong construction progress will allow us to maintain rapid growth in operating cash flows as well. With a robust launch pipeline, strong balance sheet, and sectoral tailwinds, we are confident of continuing the momentum in FY26.”
Financial Overview (Consolidated)
Q4 FY25 performance overview compared with Q4 FY24
- Total Income grew by 36% to INR 2,646 crore as compared to INR 1,952 crore
- EBITDA declined by 2% to INR 634 crore as compared to INR 649 crore
- Net Profit declined by 19% to INR 382 crore as compared to INR 471 crore
- EPS# amounted to INR 12.68 as compared to INR 16.95
FY25 performance overview compared with FY24
- Total Income grew by 57% to INR 6,848 crore as compared to INR 4,362 crore
- EBITDA grew by 65% to INR 1,970 crore as compared to INR 1,197 crore
- Net Profit grew by 93% to INR 1,400 crore as compared to INR 725 crore
- EPS amounted to INR 49.02 as compared to INR 26.09
