2, Jul 2026
WhatsApp Username Rollout Put Under Government Review
New Delhi, July 2: The Central Government has raised concerns over WhatsApp’s proposed username feature and has sought clarification from its parent company Meta.
The Ministry of Electronics and IT has asked Meta to explain the feature and its safety measures before any rollout. The government has also directed that the feature should not be implemented until further review is completed.
Officials have expressed concern that the feature could be misused for cyber fraud by hiding user identities. At present, WhatsApp accounts are linked to mobile numbers, while the new system would allow users to interact using usernames.
The matter is under examination, and further discussions are expected between the government and Meta.
- 0
- By Neel Achary
2, Jul 2026
Annapurna Girls’ Hostel enhances Student Dining Experience with Fresh, Seasonal, and Balanced Meal Plans
Noida, July 02: Annapurna Girls’ Hostel enhances student dining experience by offering fresh and healthy meals as the need for nutritious food increases. These nutritious meals assist in improving the health of the students. This motive shows the hostel’s aim to create a home-like environment where students grow academically as well as physically.
As the demand for accommodation that goes beyond basic amenities grows among students, Annapurna Girls’ Hostel has made it its goal to enhance its food services to keep pace with students’ changing requirements. The meal plans are carefully compiled and consist of various vegetables and fruits, fresh food items, and healthy, well-nourished ingredients, prepared using hygienic cooking methods. As the monsoon season approaches, Annapurna Girls’ Hostel prepares its menu list by ensuring students get the home-made food feel in the mess. Dishes that are easy to digest are prepared. Apart from healthy food ingredients, the hostel caters to an interactive dining area where residents socialise with each other and form good friendships. It proves the fact that when humans receive genuine and true care, they develop a positive sense of feeling about the living conditions. This goal perfectly aligns with Annapurna Girls’ Hostel’s motive, which ensures students living there get nutritious food, a clean environment, and activity areas to help them relax.
On this approach, the Founder of Annapurna Girls’ Hostel, Kunwar Gaurav Giri, stated that numerous students every year leave their homes for a new place for studies and jobs. This change is believed to be one of the challenging phases of their lives, where food portrays a great emotional setback for them. The Annapurna Girls’ Hostel serves each meal with the approach to provide both healthy and comfort food so that students feel like they are at home. As soon as monsoon time comes near, catering to residents’ needs regarding food becomes essential. The hostel strives to maintain a healthy living environment for every individual, considering improving their well-being, which includes food as one of the major components.
As the fitness of the students remains a significant component of living, Annapurna Girls’ Hostel has improved its facilities by focusing mainly on healthy meals, socialisation, and peace. The goal is to provide a positive living experience for students by combining a home-like dining experience with the safety and comfort of a warm and inviting environment, along with resident-focused services By offering an enriching living experience, the hostel aims to support students throughout their academic journey, while helping students to feel “at home” at any time during the year.
2, Jul 2026
Indian REITs Association Appoints Shirish Godbole as Chairperson
Mumbai,July 2: The Indian REITs Association today announced the appointment of Mr. Shirish Godbole, Chief Executive Officer of Knowledge Realty Trust, as its chairperson, with immediate effect. He succeeds Mr. Alok Aggarwal, who stepped down as Chairperson following his retirement as Managing Director & CEO of Brookfield India Real Estate Trust.
The Indian REITs Association expresses its sincere gratitude to Mr. Aggarwal for his leadership and valuable contributions in guiding the Association during the formative phase of India’s REIT sector. Under his stewardship, the Association played a key role in strengthening investor education, fostering industry engagement, and supporting the growth of the country’s listed REIT ecosystem.
Founded in 2023 under the guidance of SEBI and the Ministry of Finance, the Indian REITs Association is a non-profit industry body dedicated to promoting the growth and development of India’s Real Estate Investment Trust sector. Its members include Brookfield India Real Estate Trust, Embassy Office Parks REIT, Mindspace Business Parks REIT, Nexus Select Trust, Knowledge Realty Trust, and Bagmane Prime Office REIT.
Commenting on his appointment, Mr. Shirish Godbole said
“I am honored to assume the role of Chairperson of the Indian REITs Association at a defining moment for the sector. In just a few years, REITs have established themselves as a credible and transparent investment avenue, and the opportunity ahead is even more exciting. As India’s commercial real estate market continues to mature, REITs have the potential to become a mainstream investment product for both domestic and global investors. I look forward to working closely with our members, regulators and other stakeholders to strengthen the REIT ecosystem, enhance investor awareness, uphold the highest standards of governance and transparency, and support the next phase of growth for the industry.”
Mr. Godbole currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of Knowledge Realty Trust, India’s largest listed REIT by market capitalization, and brings over 25 years of experience in global real estate investing and finance. He has held senior leadership positions with globally renowned institutions, including AEW Capital Management in Boston; Morgan Stanley in New York, where he served as Managing Director in the Real Estate Assets Division; and Morgan Stanley India Financial Services Private Limited, where he headed Morgan Stanley’s Real Estate Investing business in India. He has also served as Managing Director in the Merchant Banking Division at Goldman SachsSecurities Private Limited.
Mr. Godbole holds a master’s degree in business administration from Northeastern University, Boston.
2, Jul 2026
Malnutrition Still a Challenge in Odisha: Ojan Utsav Intensifies Fight Against Child Undernutrition
Bhubaneswar, July 2: Despite steady improvements in child nutrition indicators over the past few years, malnutrition continues to pose a significant public health challenge in Odisha, particularly in remote tribal and hard-to-reach regions. To strengthen early detection and ensure timely nutritional intervention, the Odisha Government has launched the first phase of Ojan Utsav 2026 under Mission Poshan 2.0, which will be conducted from July 1 to July 25 across the state.
Representational image
Ojan Utsav is a biannual growth monitoring and measurement campaign aimed at assessing the height and weight of children below five years of age. The initiative seeks to identify children affected by Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) and Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM) at an early stage and connect them with appropriate nutrition and healthcare services.
This year’s campaign places special emphasis on covering children living in remote, tribal and cut-off villages, ensuring that even the most inaccessible communities receive essential growth monitoring. Anganwadi Workers, ICDS Supervisors and frontline health functionaries are conducting the exercise across more than 72,000 Anganwadi Centres in Odisha.
Unlike routine growth monitoring, Ojan Utsav is conducted under the direct supervision of ICDS officials to ensure accurate anthropometric measurements. The height and weight data collected during the campaign are uploaded in real time to the Poshan Abhiyaan digital platform, enabling authorities to monitor children’s nutritional status and initiate timely interventions wherever required.
According to available data, nearly 29.1 per cent of children under five in Odisha are stunted, reflecting chronic undernutrition. Around 12.8 per cent are underweight, while 2.9 per cent suffer from wasting. The burden of Severe Acute Malnutrition remains concentrated in districts such as Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Malkangiri and Nabarangpur, where geographical isolation and socio-economic challenges continue to affect child health outcomes.
Tribal communities continue to face disproportionate nutritional challenges. Among Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), undernutrition remains significantly higher than the state average, highlighting the need for focused interventions in remote habitations.
Experts attribute child malnutrition to a combination of poverty, food insecurity, poor maternal nutrition, inadequate sanitation and drinking water facilities, and difficulties in delivering healthcare services to inaccessible villages. These factors often delay early identification and treatment of vulnerable children.
To address these challenges, the state has strengthened its nutrition strategy through Mission Poshan 2.0, the Mukhyamantri Poshan Yojana, AMLAN (Anaemia Mukta Lakshya Abhiyaan) and the expansion of Anganwadi services in underserved areas. Ojan Utsav complements these initiatives by generating accurate growth data that supports evidence-based planning and targeted nutritional interventions.
Officials of the Department of Women and Child Development said the campaign is not merely a data collection exercise but a statewide effort to ensure that every child receives an equal opportunity to grow healthy. They appealed to parents and caregivers to participate actively in the campaign by bringing their children to the nearest Anganwadi Centre for growth assessment.
With the first phase continuing until July 25, the Government aims to strengthen child nutrition surveillance and reaffirm its commitment to building a healthier, malnutrition-free Odisha by ensuring that no child is left behind, irrespective of where they live.
2, Jul 2026
Heat Stress Raises the Bar for How Gulf Luxury Homes Must Be Built
Keturah founder says new climate research demands rethink from region’s developers
Dubai, UAE, July 2: Developers across the Gulf region need to fundamentally rethink how luxury homes are designed and built, as rising heat stress exposes the limitations of construction materials and methods that were never engineered for this climate.
Talal M. Al Gaddah, CEO and Founder of the Keturah luxury brand, says developers must respond by selecting materials and systems specifically designed to manage the heat, humidity and air quality challenges that Gulf residents live with year-round.
His comments follow new climate research published by scientists at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, which found a sharp intensification of heat stress globally since the 1970s, with the Arabian Peninsula among the regions most affected.
The study showed that heat stress, the leading cause of weather-related deaths, involves the build-up of body heat due to high temperatures, often combined with other factors such as high humidity.
Heat can exacerbate underlying cardiovascular, respiratory and mental health conditions, especially for vulnerable people, outdoor workers and urban residents.
Across the Arabian Peninsula, the ten warmest days of the year now feel up to 4°C hotter than in the 1970s, and further increases are projected as emissions continue to rise.
Inside homes, the main risks are moisture build-up, mold from condensation, and volatile organic compounds from conventional paints and finishes that intensify in enclosed, air-conditioned spaces.
“Outdoor temperatures are only part of the problem,” said Al Gaddah. “How walls manage moisture, how air moves through a space, and the surfaces residents live with daily all determine whether a home genuinely protects the people inside it.”
As awareness of these risks grows, air quality, material certifications and indoor environmental performance influence how luxury homes are evaluated, and Keturah’s two major Dubai developments have been designed with this in mind.
At Keturah Reserve, the AED5.7 billion luxury bio-living community, AED200 million has been invested in health-led construction, incorporating antimicrobial tiling, breathable wall systems and zero-VOC finishes chosen for the specific demands of the region’s climate.
The Ritz-Carlton Residences at Keturah Resort, on the shores of Dubai Creek adjacent to the Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary, applies the same principles across a development that combines branded residences, hospitality and a dedicated wellness centre.
Al Gaddah says health-led construction is no longer an optional consideration for developers in this region, but a baseline standard that buyer expectations and the science now both demand.
Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the UAE’s Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan both place a clear emphasis on sustainable and healthy urban development, giving the shift towards health-conscious construction a firm policy foundation across the region’s two largest real estate markets.
“The next generation of luxury homes in this region will be defined not by how they look but by how well they perform for the people living in them,” said Al Gaddah. “Buyers are sophisticated enough now to ask the right questions, and developers need to have the right answers.”
2, Jul 2026
Sensex and Nifty Trade Higher on Strong Auto Sales and Softer Crude Prices
Mumbai, July 2: Indian equity markets traded higher on Wednesday, supported by strong auto sector performance and easing global crude oil prices, which boosted investor sentiment.
Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty opened on a positive note and maintained gains through the session as buying interest was seen across key sectors, particularly automobiles and select banking stocks.
Market sentiment improved following robust monthly auto sales data, which signalled steady domestic demand. Additionally, a decline in crude oil prices helped ease concerns over inflation and import costs.
Broader markets also reflected positive momentum, with mid-cap and small-cap stocks participating in the upward trend.
Analysts noted that investor focus remains on global economic cues, crude oil movements, and upcoming corporate earnings for further direction in the markets.
2, Jul 2026
Delhi CM Launches Green Drive Portal Under ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’
New Delhi, July 2: Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has launched the ‘Green Drive Portal’ under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign, aimed at encouraging large-scale tree plantation and environmental participation among citizens.
The initiative seeks to strengthen green cover in the national capital by enabling individuals, institutions, and organisations to actively participate in plantation drives and track their contributions through the digital platform.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said the campaign is designed to promote environmental awareness while honouring the emotional bond between individuals and their mothers through tree plantation.
The portal will serve as a central platform to register plantation activities, monitor progress, and encourage community participation in building a cleaner and greener Delhi.
The government has urged citizens to take part in the initiative and contribute towards increasing the city’s green cover.
2, Jul 2026
Delhi EV Policy 2026 Sets the Roadmap for a Greener, Smarter Mobility Future
By Vinkesh Gulati, ASDC Chairperson on Delhi EV Policy 2026
Delhi EV Policy 2026 is a transformative step towards building a cleaner, smarter, and future-ready mobility ecosystem. By combining strong consumer incentives, phased timelines for electrification, scrappage benefits, and charging infrastructure expansion, the policy provides the clarity needed to accelerate EV adoption. Equally important is preparing a skilled workforce to support this transition. The rapid growth of electric mobility will create significant demand for EV technicians, battery specialists, charging infrastructure professionals, and advanced vehicle service engineers. At Automotive Skills Development Council (ASDC), we believe that policy and skill development must move together. Building industry-ready talent will be critical to ensuring the success of India’s EV ambitions while creating high-quality green jobs for youth. Delhi‘s policy can serve as a benchmark for other states, demonstrating how regulatory reforms, industry participation and skill development can together drive sustainable economic growth and strengthen India’s position as a global leader in electric mobility.
2, Jul 2026
Odisha Cabinet Clears ‘Gyanodaya’ Scheme, Completes Vision of Free Education from KG to PG
Bhubaneswar, July 2 (UDN): Fulfilling a key promise to make education affordable for every child, the Odisha Cabinet on Wednesday approved ‘Gyanodaya – Shiksharu Samruddhi’, a flagship scheme that extends free education from Kindergarten (KG) to Postgraduate (PG) level by waiving admission fees for eligible students from the 2026–27 academic session.
The decision was taken at the 42nd Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, marking a major expansion of the state’s education support framework.
While education from KG to Class VIII has already been free in Odisha, the new scheme extends financial assistance to students studying in Classes IX to XII in government and government-aided schools, as well as those pursuing undergraduate and postgraduate courses in regular mode at State Public Universities, government colleges and government-aided colleges. With this, the state completes its vision of providing free education across the entire academic journey—from KG to PG.
The Cabinet approved an outlay of ₹895.57 crore for the first year of implementation and ₹5,467.55 crore over the next five years. The programme is expected to benefit more than 32 lakh students annually, making it one of the largest education support initiatives undertaken by the state.
The scheme aims to remove financial barriers that often prevent students, particularly those from economically weaker and disadvantaged backgrounds, from continuing their education. By eliminating admission fees, the government expects to improve enrolment, enhance retention, reduce dropout rates and encourage more students to pursue higher education.
However, the benefits will be limited to students enrolled in regular courses at government and government-aided institutions. Self-financing courses, unaided institutions, public-private partnership (PPP) institutions and professional or technical programmes have been excluded from the scheme.
With the launch of ‘Gyanodaya – Shiksharu Samruddhi’, the Odisha government has made one of its most significant investments in the education sector, reinforcing its commitment to expanding access to quality education and ensuring that financial hardship does not stand in the way of academic aspirations.
2, Jul 2026
Senco celebrates the moments that make every day special with its new ‘Halke Phulke Moments’ campaign
Mumbai, July 02: Life can get heavy. Deadlines pile up, calendars stay full and routines rarely slow down. But in the middle of it all are the halke phulke moments that make every day brighter, a coffee break that turns into a long conversation, ticking off a long to-do list, receiving an unexpected compliment, a spontaneous dinner plan, dressing up simply because it feels good, or celebrating a birthday, promotion, anniversary or personal milestone. Big or small, planned or spontaneous; these are the moments that make life meaningful.
Speaking about the campaign, Ms. Joita Sen, Director and Head of Marketing & Design, Senco Gold & Diamonds, said, “Life doesn’t slow down, but it gives us countless reasons to smile every single day. ‘Halke Phulke Moments‘ is about embracing those little pockets of joy that make life feel lighter and celebrating the everyday. Through our lightweight jewellery collections across 9KT, 14KT and 18KT gold, we’ve created pieces that become a natural part of your daily life, from morning meetings and coffee catch-ups to celebrations with loved ones. Whether it’s your favourite pair of earrings, a pendant that holds a special memory, a bracelet you wear every day or a ring you never take off, these pieces are designed to move effortlessly with you. They are versatile, easy to wear and a reminder that while jewellery can feel beautifully light, the memories and emotions it becomes part of are truly priceless.”
