12, Oct 2026
PACE IIT & Medical Opens Its Regional Centre in Bengaluru
Bengaluru, 12 October 2026: PACE IIT & Medical, a leading coaching institute preparing students for JEE, NEET and Foundation-level competitive examinations, today inaugurated its new regional centre in Bengaluru at MG Square, 2nd Floor, Virgonagar Industrial Estate, Aavalahalli, Kurudusonnenahalli, near Belathur Main Road, Bengaluru – 560049.
The inauguration was marked by an open science and maths carnival held from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, welcoming students and parents to experience a day of discovery, experimentation and interactive learning.
The centre was inaugurated by Chief Guest Dr. Pawan Josh, Chairman, BRICS International and BRICS Pay India, and Guest of Honour Mr. Rafi Ahmed, Honorary Trade Commissioner. They were joined by Mr. Kuldeep Tyagi, Director, PACE IIT & Medical; Mr. Ankit Agarwal, Senior Faculty (Chemistry); and Mrs. Veena Rajai, Master Franchisee, PACE IIT & Medical, Bengaluru. Mr. Praveen Tyagi, Founder & Managing Director, PACE IIT & Medical, joined the ceremony virtually.
Organised in collaboration with PARSEC, Whitefield, the carnival featured hands-on science experiments, mathematical challenges, brain teasers and interactive activities designed to encourage curiosity, critical thinking and a practical understanding of scientific concepts. Students also toured the new centre, with prizes awarded to the winners of various activities.
A Shared Vision for Experiential Learning: PACE–PARSEC Collaboration
A key highlight of the launch was the announcement by Dr. Pawan Josh of a collaboration between PARSEC’s science laboratories and PACE IIT & Medical, Bengaluru. The initiative aims to provide students with opportunities for real-time, hands-on scientific learning, complementing classroom teaching with practical exploration and experimentation.
The collaboration reflects a shared commitment to making education more engaging, application-oriented and relevant to the needs of young learners.
Dr. Josh expressed his confidence in the initiative, recognising the vision of Mrs. Veena Rajai and the legacy of PACE IIT & Medical, Mumbai, as important factors in choosing to collaborate with the Bengaluru centre.
The partnership is expected to create opportunities for students to connect theoretical concepts with real-world applications, helping them develop scientific temper, analytical thinking and a deeper understanding of science.
Veena Rajai’s Vision: Building an Integrated Education Ecosystem
As Master Franchisee of PACE IIT & Medical, Bengaluru, Mrs. Veena Rajai envisions building a comprehensive education ecosystem that combines academic excellence, conceptual clarity, practical learning and individual student development.
Her vision extends beyond establishing a coaching centre. She aims to create an environment where students receive quality education, develop confidence in their abilities and gain access to meaningful learning experiences that prepare them for future academic and professional challenges.
Speaking about her vision, Mrs. Veena Rajai said:
“My vision is to build an education ecosystem where quality education goes beyond textbooks and examinations. I want students to experience learning, question concepts, experiment, explore and develop the confidence to pursue their aspirations. With the legacy and proven teaching approach of PACE IIT & Medical, Mumbai, our goal in Bengaluru is to take this brand to the next level, establish new benchmarks in academic excellence and create a learning environment that nurtures every student’s potential.”
She further emphasised the importance of collaboration with institutions such as PARSEC in bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application.
The Bengaluru initiative seeks to build on PACE’s established legacy while introducing collaborative learning opportunities and student-centric approaches suited to the evolving educational landscape.
Programmes at the Bengaluru Centre
The new regional centre will offer PACE IIT & Medical’s classroom programmes across Foundation and competitive examination preparation.
– Foundation Programme – Classes VII to X: Strengthening fundamentals in science and mathematics and developing analytical and problem-solving skills from an early stage.
– JEE and KCET Preparation: Supporting students aspiring to secure admission to IITs, NITs and leading engineering institutions, including colleges in Karnataka.
– NEET Preparation: Providing structured academic guidance for students aspiring to enter medical colleges.
The centre aims to combine concept-driven teaching, regular assessments, doubt-solving support and individual academic guidance to help students prepare with clarity and confidence.
Admissions for the new batches are now open. Students and parents can visit the centre or call +91 91877 02739 for counselling and admission information.
What the Leadership Said
Speaking virtually at the inauguration, Mr. Praveen Tyagi, Founder & Managing Director, PACE IIT & Medical, said:
“Bengaluru is home to some of the brightest young minds in the country. With this centre, we want to bring PACE’s teaching approach and results-focused guidance closer to students here, starting from the Foundation years right up to JEE and NEET.”
Mr. Kuldeep Tyagi, Director, PACE IIT & Medical, added:
“Today’s carnival demonstrates how we want students to learn: by asking questions, experimenting and enjoying the process. Our aim is to build strong concepts early so that students approach competitive examinations with confidence.”
Mr. Ankit Agarwal, Senior Faculty (Chemistry), said:
“Every student who walks into this centre will receive academic guidance, regular doubt-solving support and a structured plan for preparation. We want students to understand concepts deeply rather than simply learn them by rote.”
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- By Neel Achary
12, Oct 2026
Nigeria and WorldFish Sign Landmark Agreement to Expand Collaboration on Aquatic Food Systems
Caption: WorldFish Director General Dr. Essam Yassin Mohammed (left) and Nigeria’s Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, at the signing ceremony for the host country agreement in Abuja, Nigeria, on October 2, 2026. Photo: WorldFish.
The Government of Nigeria and WorldFish have signed a hosting agreement to establish a WorldFish country office in Nigeria, strengthening their partnership and paving the way for expanded collaboration to transform the country’s aquatic food systems to improve nutrition, create jobs, strengthen livelihoods and support sustainable economic growth.
Signed on October 2, 2026, in Abuja between WorldFish and the Federal Government of Nigeria, the agreement provides a framework for collaboration on the development, conservation and sustainable management of Nigeria’s aquatic resources to meet the country’s nutritional and economic needs. It enables WorldFish to establish a science and innovation platform that will support the development of an inclusive and sustainable blue economy in the country.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, welcomed the formalization of the host country agreement and outlined the Government of Nigeria’s objectives for working with WorldFish to advanceg aquaculture development across the country.
“Strengthening local aquaculture systems, improving productivity, and supporting enterprise development will be essential to meeting the country’s growing demand for fish while creating sustainable employment and income opportunities along the aquatic food value chain,” said Senator Bagudu, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Nigeria.
WorldFish has been active in Nigeria since 2019, enhancing national aquaculture productivity through its higher-performing fish breeds, particularly GIFT tilapia and private partnerships that have contributed to diversifying Nigeria’s aquaculture.
“In the short time WorldFish has operated in Nigeria, it has forged ties of trust with the government and become a valuable partner by working with local entities. Nigeria has a huge and untapped potential to grow its aquatic food systems and we look forward to further harnessing WorldFish’s innovations, evidence and knowledge to advance Nigeria’s goals,” said Dr. Essam Yassin Mohammed, WorldFish Director General.
Bagudu emphasized the importance of translating the new agreement into tangible benefits for Nigerians, particularly through initiatives that support aquaculture growth, improve livelihoods, and create economic opportunities. He encouraged WorldFish to leverage its global expertise, partnerships, and research capacity to help generate jobs for young people and women, who remain critical to the future of Nigeria’s blue economy.
Nigeria spends an estimated USD 1 billion annually on fish imports to meet domestic demand. With the country’s rapidly growing population, sustainable expansion of domestic aquaculture and fisheries will be critical to strengthening food security and reducing import dependence.
“The strengthened partnership through the newly signed agreement between WorldFish and Nigeria provides a foundation to work more closely with the communities and local partners in the country, needed to grow the country’s blue economy,” said Dr. Charles Iyangbe, WorldFish Country Representative for Nigeria.
12, Oct 2026
Think41 Earns Claude Select Partner Status With Company-Wide Learning and Proven Customer Delivery
A few Thinkers started learning to build with Claude. Then the whole company followed.
BENGALURU, India, Oct. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Think41 today announced that it has achieved Select Partner status in the Claude Partner Network Services Track, the program Anthropic runs for firms that build and deliver with Claude. Think41 identifies itself as the world’s first full-stack GenAI company to achieve this status with 100% of its workforce completing the Anthropic-recommended Claude Partner Network (CPN) learning path. The recognition brings together the team’s technical expertise, deployed customer solutions and a published customer success story.
A few people at Think41 began learning to build with Claude. They shared what they learned and helped colleagues get started. The effort spread across engineering and delivery, then into Design, HR, Finance and Recruitment. Eventually, it reached the whole organisation. Think41 calls its employees ‘Thinkers’. This time, every Thinker took part.
Fast facts
- Think41 is a Select Partner in Anthropic’s Claude Partner Network Services Track
- 100% of Think41’s workforce completed the Anthropic-recommended CPN learning path, including HR, Finance and Recruitment, according to Think41
- Think41 now has 15+ Claude Certified professionals across Associate and Professional credentials
- Think41 built a Claude-powered intelligence layer that runs nine AI-powered workflows in production for Fireside Ventures, according to Think41’s published case study
Why Did Think41 Train Its Whole Company on Claude?
For Think41, being AI-native means everyone can ask how AI could improve their work, from hiring and onboarding to financial analysis, design and IT support. Anthropic’s initial guidance asked Think41 to nominate ten people to complete the CPN learning path, focusing on those who would anchor its Claude practice. Think41 extended that learning across the organisation, including HR, Finance and Recruitment. The CPN learning path gave teams a shared foundation for exploring those possibilities and taking responsibility for how they put AI to use.
Some Thinkers went further, pursuing Claude Certified Architect – Foundations (CCAF) certification. Their roles and starting points differed, but the opportunity to deepen their understanding extended beyond engineering.
“Coming from a product background, I wanted to understand how Claude could shape what we build and how people use it. Earning CCAF certification helped me deepen that understanding. Seeing colleagues from HR, Finance, Recruitment, Design and IT learn alongside engineers made it clear that this was something the whole company could contribute to.” – Anusha Aravapalli, Manager, Growth & Partnerships, Think41
Ownership Is the Culture
Ownership showed up in what people did with their learning. Think41’s first few CCAF certifications became an opportunity to help colleagues build confidence and understand the practical value of the programme. Sharing that knowledge brought the learning back into the team, giving others a clearer starting point for their own study.
“The learning gave me a practical foundation for using AI effectively. After completing the certification, I held an Ask Me Anything session so colleagues could ask questions and understand what to expect. I wanted them to feel confident taking it on, and to see how the learning could help in the work they do.” – Rahul Raj, Senior Engineering Manager, Think41
Within engineering, that same commitment extends to deeper technical study: 20% of the engineering team now holds a Claude certification.
Across functions, the ambition is to carry that ownership into everyday work: questioning how a process could improve, where Claude could help and what greater autonomy would require. Learning gives people the foundation to explore those questions; ownership means following through on the work and taking responsibility for the outcome.
Ownership in Customer Delivery
That ownership also extends to customer delivery. Think41’s teams are deploying Claude-powered solutions within enterprise business processes.
At Fireside Ventures, that work took the form of a Claude-powered intelligence layer for investment and portfolio operations. Think41 connected information across documents, data and business tools through nine AI-powered workflows. The solution is deployed in production and actively used by Fireside’s investment and portfolio teams.
According to Think41’s published case study, cohort-level analysis that previously took up to two days now takes around 10 minutes. Portfolio information can be refreshed weekly instead of monthly, giving teams more frequent access to updated insights.
Read the Fireside Ventures case study: https://www.think41.com/blog/38
The Fireside engagement shows how learning translates into deployed work. Think41’s teams take responsibility from design and testing through deployment, with the business outcome guiding the solution.
Sharing the Learning With Enterprise Leaders
Think41 has also conducted Claude workshops with leadership teams at large enterprises. Clients have appreciated these sessions for making AI’s possibilities tangible, with many leaders finding the breadth and maturity of current capabilities eye-opening. The workshops extend the team’s learning into conversations about where AI can improve business processes and what it takes to put those ideas into practice.
“Being AI-native should shape how every Thinker approaches work. Our role is to give people the foundation and confidence to ask better questions, improve how work gets done and take responsibility for the result. That is the culture we want to keep building, inside Think41 and in our work with customers.” – Himanshu Varshney, Co-Founder, Think41
What Claude Select Partner Status Means for Clients
Enterprises are asking how to move from AI experiments to AI that works at scale. Think41’s answer starts with its own team: people who learned Claude together and now deliver with it.
Think41 plans to build on this effort through further certification and enterprise delivery. As more Thinkers deepen their expertise, sharing what they learn will remain part of the work.
About Think41
Think41 is a full-stack AI engineering and consulting firm founded by the team behind HashedIn, which was acquired by Deloitte in 2021. Based in Bengaluru, Think41 helps enterprises build AI agents, intelligent automation and applications for production use. Its teams combine engineering, product, design, quality assurance and cloud operations. Learn more at think41.com.
Media Contact
Shubham Sachdeva
+91-7087424488
shubham.sachdeva@think41.com
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12, Oct 2026
Festive Spread at Fillers Cafe and Corner Cafe
A Festive Feast of Favourites at Fillers Café
Kolkata: For those looking to add a delicious twist to their Puja outings, Fillers Café brings an enticing selection of vegetarian fast-food favourites to the festive table. Founded by Sandip Nowlakha , the brand has established a strong presence in Kolkata since 1992. With a free online home delivery.
The menu spans sandwiches , burgers and pizzas , including Mushroom Cheese Pizza , Baked Beans Pizza and Whole Wheat Pizza. The snack selection features Cheese Vada Pav, Cheese French Fries, Garlic Fries and Mexican Nachos, while the range of coolers and beverages includes Cold Coffee, Orange Blossom and American Ice Cream Soda and first to introduce different flavours of SLUSH.
Visit Fillers at: Jatin Bagchi Road, Golpark, Vivekananda Park, Keyatala and Salt Lake.
Corner Café Adds a Delicious Twist to Durga Puja
Kolkata: This Durga Puja , Corner Café invites revellers to take a delicious break from pandal-hopping with a tempting selection of burgers, pizzas and sandwiches, paired with refreshing beverages such as Cold Coffee with Ice Cream , Lassi and Cola Float . Perfect for a quick bite with friends or a relaxed catch-up with family, the café offers familiar favourites in a lively, contemporary setting.
Founded in 1985, Corner Café has built its presence in Kolkata with its youth-focused menu and quick-service format. Under the stewardship of founder Sandip Nowlakha , the brand continues to bring people together over satisfying food and refreshing beverages.
Visit Corner Café at: Lee Road, AJC Bose Crossing, Kolkata.
12, Oct 2026
Arirang TV, Teams Up with Shindong, Kwon Hyuk-soo and Yujeong to Showcase Gyeongbuk’s “Flavors and Charms” to the World!
– A single journey through the food, travel and culture of Mungyeong, Pohang, Gyeongju and Andong…showcasing Gyeongbuk’s appeal to global audiences
「K-FOOD: Gyeongbuk Edition」
Premieres on Arirang TV on October 14 at 9:00 a.m. (KST)
Airs every Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. (KST) for four weeks.
SEOUL, South Korea, Oct. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Arirang TV (CEO Kim Tae-jeong) will air “K-FOOD: Gyeongbuk Edition,” a global promotional program that showcases the diverse culinary and tourism offerings of Gyeongsangbuk-do to audiences around the world, every Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. (KST) for four weeks starting October 14.
Set in Mungyeong, Pohang, Gyeongju and Andong, the series is a “taste road variety” show that weaves regional signature dishes, tourist attractions, history and culture, and hands-on experiences into a single travel story. The cast members form a “Taste Crew,” sampling local food for themselves and enjoying a range of tours and activities, while turning photos and videos shot on their travels into social media content to share Gyeongbuk’s appeal with global viewers.
Kwon Hyuk-soo, Yujeong and Harin make up Team A, while Shindong, Lim Do-hwa and Seungwoo form Team B.
Episode 1: Mungyeong edition spotlights the Mungyeong Coal Museum, Jinnamgyoban, rail bike and Mungyeong Saejae, presenting the region’s industrial heritage and natural scenery alongside signature local foods such as spicy freshwater fish stew and Yakdol pork.
Episode 2: Pohang edition visits Yeongildae Beach, Jukdo Market, SpaceWalk and Homigot, introducing Pohang’s signature dishes — snow crab and mulhoe (chilled raw fish soup) — together with the scenery of the East Sea and hands-on tourism.
Episode 3: Gyeongju edition explores the Gyeongju National Museum, Gyochon Village, House of the Gyeongju Choi Clan, Luge World and Donggung Palace and Wolji Pond, shedding light on Silla’s history and traditional culture as well as a new side of Gyeongju that younger visitors can enjoy.
Episode 4: Andong edition takes place in Hahoe Folk Village, Sinse-dong Mural Village and Andong Old Market, capturing local dishes such as heotjesatbap, gan-godeungeo (salted mackerel) and Andong jjimdak, together with traditional culture and contemporary travel content.
A distinguishing feature of the program is that it does not focus on the food alone: it also showcases the history, people, nature, tourism and experiences of the regions where that food was born. The series is further designed so that global viewers can experience Gyeongbuk in a more approachable way, by showing the cast creating their own social media content and taking on a dance challenge.
Through this program, Arirang TV plans to extend the world’s growing interest in K-FOOD to regional tourism in Gyeongbuk and — by promoting the food, history, nature and cultural appeal of Mungyeong, Pohang, Gyeongju and Andong overseas — to contribute to enhancing Gyeongsangbuk-do’s global tourism brand value and revitalizing regional tourism.
Broadcast Information
- Arirang TV: K-FOOD: Gyeongbuk Edition
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@BeMyKorea
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11, Oct 2026
Vodia Announces Vodia Wallboards
BOSTON: October 13, 2026 – Vodia Networks, Inc., a provider of unified cloud communications solutions to enterprises, contact centers, and managed service providers (MSPs), is pleased to announce Vodia Wallboards, a self-hosted platform for monitoring and displaying Vodia call queue activity.
When call queues build, teams need to see them immediately, not later on in a report. Vodia Wallboards gives supervisors, contact centers, service providers, and operations teams a live view of the queue activity that matters most; it connects one or more Vodia PBX servers, enables monitoring for the relevant tenants, and creates wallboards for a supervisor’s browser, an operations dashboard, or a dedicated TV display.
See Queue Activity as It Changes
Vodia Wallboards provides a live view of calls waiting, ringing, and active; agent availability and status; inbound and outbound call counts; service levels; abandoned calls; and average speed of answer. This is visibility built specifically around call queues. Teams can identify rising wait times, unavailable agents, or deteriorating service levels, all while there’s still time to respond.
Each widget can follow a wallboard’s queue filter or focus on a specific queue, allowing teams to move from a broad operational view to a more detailed queue view when necessary.
Ready-made layouts
Vodia Wallboards includes eight ready-made layouts for common operational needs, including NOC overviews, single-queue views, executive summaries, agent monitoring, multi-queue displays, and service-level trends. The drag-and-drop wallboard builder and library of 15 widget types make it easy to adapt a layout to the information each audience needs to see, including large KPI displays for a shared operations screen, detailed agent views for supervisors, or a focused wallboard for a particular queue. Widgets include queue-status cards, agent grids, active-call lists, service-level gauges, trend charts, alert feeds, and more.
Monitor queues across PBX systems
For service providers and larger deployments, one Vodia Wallboards instance can connect to multiple Vodia PBX servers. This makes it possible to display call queue activity from different customers, offices, or regions in one place, while keeping each tenant’s information appropriately scoped. Wallboards can also be branded per tenant with a logo and accent color, helping service providers present a consistent, customer-specific view.
Turn queue data into clear decisions
Vodia Wallboards helps teams move beyond raw metrics. AI Summary widgets can provide a plain-language assessment of current queue health using OpenAI, Claude, Gemini, or Ollama. Threshold alerts can notify teams by email when conditions such as waiting calls or abandonment rate exceed defined limits. For dedicated displays, TV Mode publishes a wallboard as a login-free URL. The display link provides read-only access to wallboard data without exposing settings or user management.
Secure, self-hosted deployment
Vodia Wallboards is self-hosted, giving organizations control over where the platform runs and how it is managed. Access can be scoped by PBX system, tenant, or individual queue. Administrator accounts use multi-factor authentication, and stored PBX credentials are encrypted at rest using AES-256-GCM. Vodia Wallboards requires Vodia PBX v69 or later with API access enabled.
Documentation is provided on the Vodia documentation website. Vodia reps can be reached via the Vodia website or via telephone at +1 (617) 861-3490.
11, Oct 2026
Strategic Collaboration between a Global School Operator GEMS Education and a Mumbai-Based School Operator Cresmonde Schools
MUMBAI, India, Oct. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — GEMS Education, one of the world’s largest operators of private schools, has entered into a strategic collaboration with a Mumbai-based school operator Cresmonde Schools for its existing schools in Vikhroli and Kalyan, and two new schools planned in Malwani and Kalyan. Cresmonde Schools have a tie-up with a Finnish curriculum partner and are developed with a vision to provide international exposure for their students. This collaboration between two school operators – one global and one local – has been shaped with the future of education in mind. GEMS Education believes India holds immense potential for such collaborations in school education.
As part of this collaboration, GEMS Education will leverage its global GEMS brand, academic and global operational expertise to enhance teaching and learning at these four Cresmonde Schools in line with its global standards, while aligning educational opportunities with the aspirations of parents and students. This unique relationship is GEMS Education’s first collaboration with a local school operator in the MMR. These two private school operators, have chosen to come together for the betterment of education. This is consolidation of the right intent, driven by a shared belief that together we can add more value and strength to what we deliver to our learners and their families. Education is no longer only national; it is international. A collaboration between a city-based operator and a global operator will set a trend, and in time it will be seen as a historic milestone for Indian education.
The organisation hopes to build on this foundation by collaborating with many more quality driven school operators to create future-ready learning opportunities for learners across the region. Presently, the GEMS network is one of the fastest-growing school operators across the nation, bringing together like-minded school operators for a shared mission.
At the heart of GEMS Education’s philosophy is a teacher-first, child-first approach. The organisation believes that the true strength of a school lies in the quality of its teaching and learning, rather than in its infrastructure alone. Teachers are empowered as leaders, and every decision prioritises meaningful learning experiences and the holistic development of every child.
“We see tremendous potential in collaborating with existing school operators in India. Such a global – local collaboration brings the best of both worlds, with education that is rooted locally and connected globally. Through our collaboration with Cresmonde Schools, we aim to offer diverse curriculum choices, strengthen teaching and learning practices, and create a future focused learning environment that meets the aspirations of families.” – Francis Joseph, India CEO, GEMS Education
“We are proud to partner with GEMS Education, a global school operator with a strong legacy of more than 65 years in delivering high-quality education. This collaboration will significantly enhance the academic and learning environment for our students in Vikhroli, Kalyan and Malwani. By combining our local commitment with GEMS’ global expertise and our tie-up for the Finnish curriculum, we aim to create future-ready schools that prepare learners for success in an increasingly interconnected world.” – Anita Dewoolkar, Founder Trustee, Cresmonde Schools
About GEMS Education
GEMS Education is one of the world’s leading, oldest and largest private K-12 education providers, with a legacy spanning more than 65 years. GEMS was founded in 1959 in Dubai by two passionate Indian teachers.
Today, GEMS educates more than 200,000 students from over 176 nationalities through its global network of owned and managed schools, supported by more than 20,000 employees, including over 10,000 educators and school leaders representing 112 nationalities. Having educated more than 500,000 students over the decades, GEMS offers a wide range of curricula – including IB, British, Indian (CBSE/ICSE/State), Cambridge and American programmes – preparing young people with the knowledge, character and confidence to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
Guided by its enduring mission to put a quality education within the reach of every learner, everywhere, GEMS combines academic rigour with character development, wellbeing, innovation and strong partnerships with families and communities. Over the past five years, GEMS students have been accepted into more than 2,000 universities across 71 countries, including all eight Ivy League universities in the US and all 24 Russell Group universities in the UK. In the last four years alone, more than 3,500 GEMS graduates have attended the world’s top 100 universities, over 2,200 have progressed to Russell Group universities, almost 2,000 have enrolled at the world’s top 50 universities, and more than 60 have gone on to Ivy League institutions.
Through its expanding network and philanthropic initiatives, GEMS continues to create opportunities for young people to become leaders, innovators and positive changemakers in their communities and beyond.
For more details, please visit www.gemseducation.com and www.gemseducationindia.com.
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11, Oct 2026
THE LEGO GROUP INVITES FANS TO MASH-UP STAR WARS™ AND MARVEL UNIVERSES FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER IN LEGO IDEAS® CHALLENGE
- New LEGO Ideas® challenge invites fans to create a first-of-its-kind cross-universe moment in LEGO bricks to celebrate iconic storytelling worlds of Star Wars™ and Marvel.
- The announcement was made at New York Comic Con during a panel featuring Kevin Smith; actor, director and Marvel Comics writer.
- Now open, fans can choose from three building themes – vehicles, characters, or scenes – to inspire the Star Wars and Marvel mash-up and submit via the LEGO Ideas platform.
NEW YORK, Oct. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Today at New York Comic Con (NYCC), the LEGO Group announced a first-of-its-kind LEGO® Ideas challenge. For the first time ever, fans are invited to mash-up Star Wars™ and Marvel by reimagining characters, vehicles and scenes from the two universes in LEGO form.
What’s more, the LEGO Ideas platform means that once the build has been submitted and fans have voted on the design, the favourite submissions will then become immortalised as an official LEGO product.
Fede Begher, Senior Vice President and Head of Product Group at the LEGO Group, said: “This challenge is a milestone for LEGO Ideas and our fan community. For the first time ever, fans can build with both Marvel and Star Wars in a single LEGO Ideas challenge, unlocking entirely new possibilities for creativity and storytelling. We know our fans never stop imagining new ways to bring their favourite worlds together, and we’re excited to see the originality, passion and innovation they bring to this unique crossover.”
As a tribute to the landmark 50th anniversary of the Star Wars franchise in 2027, the Star Wars/Marvel: Hope Assembles comic series was unveiled this past summer. Launching in January, it’s the first-ever crossover between the Star Wars and Marvel Comics universes. The LEGO Ideas challenge celebrates that crossover and honours the 50th anniversary.
Open from today, fans simply need to visit ideas.lego.com, choose from three challenge themes of mashing up Star Wars and Marvel vehicles, characters or scenes, review all challenge rules and guidelines, and then get building with LEGO elements. Voting for the submissions begins December 15, 2026, with the Grand Prize Selections being announced next year.
For more information, please visit ideas.lego.com/campaigns/hope-assembles.
About the LEGO Group
The LEGO Group’s mission is to inspire and develop the builders of tomorrow through the power of play. The LEGO System in Play, with its foundation in LEGO bricks, allows children and fans to build and rebuild anything they can imagine.
The LEGO Group was founded in Billund, Denmark in 1932 by Ole Kirk Kristiansen, its name derived from the two Danish words LEg GOdt, which mean “Play Well”.
Today, the LEGO Group remains a family-owned company headquartered in Billund. Its products are now sold in more than 120 countries worldwide.
For more information: www.LEGO.com
About the LEGO Ideas platform
LEGO Ideas offers fans the opportunity to submit their own brick creations with the chance to have their concept brought to life with the help of LEGO master designers and a share of the profits. Find out more at www.ideas.LEGO.com.
STAR WARS and related properties are trademarks and/or copyrights, in the United States and other countries, of Lucasfilm Ltd. and/or its affiliates. © & TM Lucasfilm Ltd.
© 2026 MARVEL
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11, Oct 2026
‘Hope of Light’ Illuminates Gachibowli Stadium Ahead of 9th Global Grace Cancer Run 2026
Hyderabad, Oct 11: In a moving expression of solidarity, remembrance and hope, ‘Hope of Light’, a unique initiative of Grace Cancer Foundation, was organised at Gachibowli Stadium on Saturday night, ahead of the 9th Edition of the Global Grace Cancer Run 2026.
The event brought together around 500 students and volunteers from different walks of life, who joined hands to illuminate the stadium with lanterns and candles, transforming the night into a powerful symbol of hope, compassion and collective resolve in the fight against cancer.
Mr. Avinash Mohanty, Mr. Avinash Mohanty, Commissioner of the Telangana Standards Authority for Food and Essential Drugs (TG SAFE) was the Chief Guest. He launched the initiative along with Dr. Chinnababu Sunkavalli, Founder and CEO of Grace Cancer Foundation; Dr. Prameela Rani Sunkavalli, Trustee of Grace Cancer Foundation; and Mr. Ramesh Kaza of the Society for Cyberabad Security Council (SCSC), by releasing a lantern into the night sky.
As the lantern rose into the darkness, it carried a message that transcended words—a tribute to those who lost their lives to cancer, a salute to those who fought the disease and emerged victorious, and a beacon of awareness for those who have yet to understand the importance of prevention and early detection.
The evening unfolded through two evocative activities. While one group of students and volunteers released illuminated lanterns into the sky, symbolising hope and the triumph of light over darkness, another group lit candles and walked around the stadium in a solemn procession.
‘Hope of Light’ represents the many emotions and experiences associated with cancer. It honours the lives lost, celebrates the courage of cancer survivors, acknowledges the struggles of patients and their families, and reminds society that no one facing cancer should feel alone. Each lantern symbolised a life, a memory, a prayer and a promise to work towards a future where cancer is detected early, treated effectively and prevented wherever possible.
Light has always symbolised life, knowledge and the possibility of a new beginning. Through this initiative, Grace Cancer Foundation sought to convey that even in moments of uncertainty and despair, hope can illuminate the way forward. The gathering also served as a reminder that awareness, timely screening, preventive healthcare and community participation are essential to reducing the burden of cancer.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Avinash Mohanty appreciated the efforts of Grace Cancer Foundation and described the Global Grace Cancer Run as a commendable initiative that combines public participation with a meaningful social purpose.
“I understand that Grace Cancer Foundation has been receiving requests from various State Governments to plan and implement cancer screening initiatives in their respective states. This reflects the importance of the Foundation’s work and the growing recognition of the need to take cancer awareness and screening to communities. Initiatives like the Global Grace Cancer Run help bring people together for a cause that touches countless lives,” he said.
Through ‘Hope of Light’, Grace Cancer Foundation reinforced a simple yet powerful message: Light is a symbol of life. Let us remember every life lost, stand beside every life fighting cancer, and bring the light of awareness to every life we can reach.
11, Oct 2026
Parents’ Forum Organises Protest to Highlight Children’s Constitutional Rights
GURUGRAM, October 11, 2026:
The Parents Forum for Stem Cells in Autism and Cerebral Palsy held a peaceful demonstration at Subhash Chandra Bose Park in Gurugram on Sunday and released an open letter seeking protection of children’s rights under Article 21 of the Constitution. The Forum addressed the letter to the President of India, the Prime Minister, the Union Health Minister, the Chief Justice of India and all judges of the Supreme Court.
The demonstration focused on concerns raised by families following the Supreme Court judgment in Yash Charitable Trust & Ors. v. Union of India & Ors., W.P. (C) 369/2022, concerning stem cell therapy for autism. The Forum, which says it represents around 5,000 parents and families, urged the authorities to consider the concerns of families whose children have undergone the treatment.
Dr Seema Mehrotra, a doctor and parent of an autistic child, said her child had shown improvement after undergoing stem cell therapy. “I am speaking not only as a doctor but also as a mother. I have personally witnessed improvement in my child, and I believe the experiences of families like ours deserve to be heard and examined fairly,” she said.
Many parents and grandparents also participated in the protest, sharing their concerns about the impact of the judgment on children who are already receiving or have previously undergone treatment. Sonia, one of the participating family members, said the gathering reflected the collective concern of families seeking recognition of their experiences and a meaningful opportunity to present their views.
The parents questioned whether affected families received an adequate opportunity to present their views during the proceedings. They also called for consideration of scientific papers, patient testimonials and other evidence submitted in the case.
In its open letter, the Forum urged the authorities to protect children’s fundamental rights, provide parents with a proper hearing and evaluate the scientific literature and reported patient experiences placed on record. It also called for due consideration of the work of Indian doctors and hospitals.
The Forum expressed concern over the direction to transition children already undergoing stem cell therapy towards institutions conducting clinical trials. It argued that the availability of suitable trials and the practical challenges involved in transferring children’s care require consideration.
The parents also highlighted the distinction between stem cell-derived products manufactured by companies and autologous cell procedures, in which cells are taken from and returned to the same patient. They called for the relevant regulatory framework and the perspectives of patients, families and treating doctors to receive due consideration.
The Forum further raised concerns about the implications of the judgment for children already receiving treatment and urged the authorities to consider the circumstances of affected families before implementing measures that could alter their access to care.
The organisers chose Gurugram for the demonstration, citing reported restrictions on public gatherings in Delhi. They said the protest aimed to bring attention to the concerns of parents and seek a meaningful opportunity for affected families to be heard.
Through the open letter, the Forum called for a fair consideration of the scientific, medical and legal issues involved, emphasising that decisions concerning children with autism and cerebral palsy should take their welfare and individual circumstances into account.
The Forum reiterated its demand for the protection of children’s rights under Article 21 and urged the authorities to address the concerns raised by families affected by the judgment.
