Hyderabad, April 17, 2025: H.E. Dr. Nawab Mir Nasir Ali Khan, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Hyderabad for Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, India, has been conferred the prestigious ‘AsiaOne Diplomatic Excellence Award for 2024-25. The award ceremony took place at the SIT20 Saudi Arabia India Thailand 20 Summit under the aegis of the 25th Edition of the Asian Business and Social Forum at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, today.

The award recognizes Dr. Nawab Mir Nasir Ali Khan’s exceptional efforts in boosting trade, tourism, and cultural links between India and Kazakhstan. Mr. Yermek Aitmagambetov, Second Secretary of the Embassy of Kazakhstan in India; received the award on behalf of Dr. Khan.

This recognition highlights Dr. Nawab Mir Nasir Ali Khan’s dedication to fostering bilateral relations and promoting mutual understanding between the two nations. As Honorary Consul, Dr. Khan has been instrumental in strengthening diplomatic ties and exploring new opportunities for cooperation between India and Kazakhstan.

MUMBAI, 17 April, 2025: Maya Academy of Advanced Creativity (MAAC), a premiere institute and pioneer in high-end 3D animation, Gaming & VFX training, organised a special webinar for its students, giving them an exclusive and in-depth understanding of the world of game design, virtual environments, storytelling and beyond. Over 5000 students from MAAC’s centres across India attended the webinar online. The event is part of MAAC’s ongoing initiative called Behind the Screens, which aims to provide real-world industry exposure to its students, setting a new benchmark by leveraging strong industry ties to prepare students for successful careers in the growing AVGC-XR (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, Comics & Extended Reality) industry.

The webinar was presented by Ms. Kristel Anbu, Lead Game Designer, Zynga Games, and live streamed across 120 MAAC centres in India. Ms. Kristel is a distinguished leader in the gaming industry with over 12 years of experience, specialising in casual simulation games. At Zynga, Ms. Kristel leads the design and development of FarmVille 2: Country Escape, alongside working on some renowned titles like Café World, Mafia Wars, and many more. Currently, she looks at the free-to-play and live ops verticals, new game mechanics and optimisations, and leading design efforts on revenue-focused pods. She has spent several years working on free-to-play games, where she finds joy in delivering immersive, rewarding experiences to Zynga players. Kristel wants to write stories and architect designs for the players, so going from narrative to game design seemed like a natural progression for her.

Speaking about the initiative, Mr. Sandip Weling, Chief Business Officer, Global Retail, Aptech Limited, and Brand Custodian, MAAC, said, “At MAAC, we rally behind community-led platforms such as Behind the Screens that play a crucial role in skilling our students to prepare them for their careers in the AVGC-XR industry. The session by Ms. Kristel Anbu of Zynga Games offers pivotal industry exposure for our students, helping to bridge the gap between their academic training and the demands of today’s industry. Our students found immense value in her session as they learnt to bridge the crucial gaps between narrative building and then executing that vision inside a virtual or the game’s environment, that Ms. Kristel specialises in. I extend our gratitude to Kristel to taking the time out and engaging with our students, and we look forward to hosting more such experiences with her in the future!”

Highlighting the impact of this workshop, Ms. Kristel Anbu, Lead Game Designer, Zynga Games, shared, ““It was a pleasure to share insights into the gaming industry with the students of MAAC. The conversation around the industry’s growth, emerging opportunities, and what the future might hold was genuinely exciting. I’m looking forward to seeing how these future professionals shape the space in the years to come.”

With the AVGC industry poised for significant growth, MAAC’s continued efforts to provide such platforms to students ensures they are well-prepared for future opportunities in the global media landscape. The webinar not only showcased MAAC’s commitment to skill-building but is also aligned with the government’s vision of fostering a self-reliant India (Viksit Bharat). The real-world exposure and professional insights shared during the event strengthened the trust in MAAC’s commitment to inspiring future industry leaders.

Mumbai, India, April 17, 2025 – In a fashion landscape often dominated by exclusivity, Label Apurva flips the script—unveiling its Spring/Summer ’25 collection with a powerful message: every body is couture-worthy. Founded by visionary designer Apurva Shah, the label is reshaping Indian luxury with a thoughtful blend of heritage craftsmanship, modern silhouettes, and inclusive sizing up to 6XL.

“Fashion has long celebrated a certain type of body, a certain kind of woman,” says Shah. “With Label Apurva, I wanted to change that narrative—to create a space where people feel seen, empowered, and beautiful in clothes that honor both their identity and their culture.”

Titled “Heavenly Hues,” the Spring/Summer ’25 pret collection is a vivid celebration of India’s artisanal legacy—most notably Kalamkari—reimagined through contemporary forms. The spotlight is on handcrafted co-ord sets, breezy shirt dresses, and festive-ready separates, all elevated with intricate hand embroidery, zardozi, appliqué work, and rich surface textures. Each piece is a story in itself—a tribute to Indian craftsmanship, brought to life with modern elegance.

Beyond aesthetics, Label Apurva champions inclusivity—not just in size but in spirit. Every garment is thoughtfully designed to offer customised fits and crafted using eco-conscious materials through ethical, small-batch production practices. From soft pastels to vibrant jewel tones, the collection is imbued with emotion, intention, and joy—perfect for the warm seasons ahead.

“Sustainability and inclusivity are not add-ons for us—they’re the pillars of our brand,” says Shah. “We’re proving that luxury can be welcoming, expressive, and deeply rooted in Indian values.”

Already beloved by celebrities like Raveena Tandon, Saina Nehwal, Falaq Naaz, and Divyanka Tripathi, Label Apurva is gaining momentum with the launch of its flagship store in Juhu, Mumbai and an expanding digital presence via www.labelapurva.co.in. Collaborations with leading multi-designer platforms such as Pernia’s Pop-Up Shop, Ensemble, Aza, and Nykaa Fashion are in the works, further cementing its presence in India’s fashion landscape.

From Gen Z trendsetters to millennial professionals, Label Apurva’s fresh yet rooted style is resonating with a new generation that demands more from fashion—style, substance, and sustainability.

“In five years, we hope to be a global Indian voice in fashion,” Shah adds, “not just for what we create, but for what we stand for.”

Label Apurva isn’t just a fashion label—it’s a movement. A celebration of self-expression, heritage, and meaningful luxury that finally includes everyone.

New Delhi, April 17, 2025: To mark World Heritage Day (celebrated annually on April 18), Monument Mitra Dalmia Bharat hosted a specially curated evening at Delhi’s iconic Red Fort, offering visitors an engaging journey through its rich past. The initiative aimed to build a stronger connection with India’s cultural legacy through immersive storytelling that brought the monument’s history and architecture to life.

The experience began with a guided heritage walk from Lahori gate, led by historian and storyteller Mr. Anas Khan of Unzip Delhi. The walk focused on highlighting lesser-known aspects of the Red Fort, including its architectural symbolism, design influences, forgotten narratives from the Mughal period. It drew attention to how the fort’s original layout was shaped by both Persian design principles and Hindu Shilpshastra, with the intent to represent Jannat, or paradise on earth. Visitors were introduced to elements like floral motifs and spatial layouts that reflect deeper cultural and philosophical ideas embedded in the monument’s construction. Next on the stop was the Red Fort Visitor Centre, an architecturally restored 19th-century British barrack that blends heritage with modern storytelling. It features a museum, a 360° immersive show on Red Fort’s history and an augmented reality photography zone for an interactive visitor experience. The evening concluded with the acclaimed ‘Jai Hind’ Sound & Light Show, a multisensory spectacle featuring projection mapping, life-sized puppets, live performances with narration by legendary actor Shri Amitabh Bachchan. The show charts India’s journey from the Mughal period to modern times, leaving visitors with a powerful sense of national pride and historical perspective.

Sharing his thoughts on the initiative, Mr. Puneet Dalmia, MD & CEO, Dalmia Bharat Limited shared, “As the Monument Mitra for Red Fort, our efforts are in line with the program’s vision of building stronger connect with our vibrant legacy and therefore re-imaging the storytelling for contemporary India. The core idea is to make it an engaging experience for the youth – stories of our past, that defined and shaped us, narrated with modern day sensibilities. In a globalised world, India and Indians has its own unique identity. This identity defines our values, our successes and keeps us connected and rooted. With multi-stakeholder efforts, we hope to see monuments thrive as spaces of heritage and cultural connect.”

As part of its ongoing efforts to position the Red Fort as a world-class heritage destination, Monument Mitra Dalmia Bharat has introduced engaging visitor experiences like the Red Fort Visitor Centre and the mesmerizing ‘Jai Hind’ Sound and Light Show. Dalmia Bharat’s efforts reflect a sustained commitment to heritage preservation, bridging the past and the present and reimagining how modern audiences connect with India’s historic landmarks.

HONG KONG, 17-04-25: This week, the World Phygital Community (WPC) announced the 2025/2026 ranking tournament season for athletes and clubs aiming to qualify for the Games of the Future in Kazakhstan next year. Running from August 1st to December 15th, 2025, the tournaments hosted by WPC members worldwide, will provide the opportunity for clubs and athletes to show their prowess in phygital sports and qualify to compete at the largest global phygital sport’s event next year.

During the season, phygital competitors will participate in a round of regional tournaments within each participating country called Phygital Origins, followed by national tournaments, which are called Phygital Rivals.

Dan Merkley, Chairperson of the WPC, said, “This new season will be the biggest ever. With 96 World Phygital Community members across 92 countries, this is the chance for anyone who wants to be part of this fast-growing phenomenon to step up and prove themselves. Phygital sport is for everyone, and we are eager to see which phygital superstars emerge this season.”

Tournaments can feature the following core disciplines: Phygital Football, Phygital Basketball, Phygital Shooter and Phygital Dancing. The first three consist of two stages—a digital round, where athletes compete in a video game version of the discipline, followed by a physical round, where they face off in a real-world version of the discipline. Phygital Dancing tournaments use well-known dancing video games to deliver the phygital experience in a single stage.

Following conclusion of these tournaments in December, rankings are calculated and the top two clubs and athletes in each discipline will go straight through to the Games of the Future 2026, while clubs and athletes placed 3^rd – 26^th will go through to the Phygital Contenders tournament to fight for their place at the event.

Prior to the season starting, all WPC members can apply to host Phygital Origins and Phygital Rivals tournaments from May 1st till July 31st, 2025.

New Delhi, April 17, 2025 – TechChefz Digital, a leading digital transformation agency, has announced the launch of its newly incubated business unit, TechChefz Talent, a specialized staffing solutions provider designed to address the pressing workforce challenges faced by organizations worldwide. Talent acquisition remains a major hurdle for businesses, with 93% of companies struggling to attract and retain skilled professionals. TechChefz Talent is positioned as a strategic partner for organizations looking to scale efficiently, access niche skills, and overcome talent scarcity with ease.

TechChefz Talent offers a robust suite of services that empower businesses to manage workforce demands, ensuring they stay agile and competitive. Whether an organization is dealing with high attrition rates, struggling to hire niche talent, or aiming to set up new practices, TechChefz Talent provides tailored solutions to meet diverse business needs.

TechChefz Talent delivers a broad range of services to help businesses seamlessly build, scale, and optimize their teams. Its Talent Augmentation Services provide skilled professionals to augment existing teams, ensuring agility and efficiency in project execution. The Hiring Services streamline the recruitment process through talent sourcing, pre-screening, and background verification. Upskill helps bridge skill gaps by identifying training needs and providing targeted learning opportunities. Talent Consulting & Intelligence offers strategic workforce consulting, market analysis, and salary benchmarking.

“Talent is the cornerstone of any successful business, yet finding the right talent remains a significant challenge, with our deep expertise and flexible staffing models, TechChefz Talent is set to transform the way organizations build their teams, ensuring they have the right people in place to drive growth and innovation,” said Mayank Maggon, Founder, CEO & CTO, TechChefz Digital.

In addition, TechChefz Talent provides Build Operate & Transfer services to establish and manage operational teams before seamlessly transferring them back to businesses. Turnkey Services enable organizations to set up offshore development centers with end-to-end payroll and operational management. Global Talent Mobility facilitates seamless international hiring and manages immigration formalities for businesses expanding globally.

While TechChefz Digital continues to focus on digital transformation and technology-driven solutions, TechChefz Talent operates as an independent entity, dedicated exclusively to providing workforce solutions. By maintaining separate brand identities, both units can focus on their core expertise while delivering the highest value to their respective clients.

Gurugram, 17th April 2025; Artemis Hospitals and Government Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS), has announced a significant partnership aimed at accelerating medical research and enhancing patient care. This agreement will see the two institutions collaborate closely on a range of clinical trials and research initiatives.

This Master Service Agreement (MSA) marks a significant step forward in our dedication to enhancing patient care and advancing medical knowledge,” stated Dr. (Brig.) Anil Khetarpal, Spokesperson for Artemis Hospitals. “By collaborating with GIMS, we aim to accelerate the development of innovative treatments and make a tangible difference in the lives of our patients. We are enthusiastic about this partnership and its potential for significant progress.”

Dr. (Brig.) Rakesh Gupta, Spokesperson for GIMS, added, “Our collaboration will prioritize patient well-being through ethical practices and the highest quality standards in clinical trials, adhering to all necessary regulations. Furthermore, we are eager to support the emergence of new ideas and foster the growth of healthcare startups.

 At the heart of this collaboration is a dedication to providing the best possible care while driving medical progress. Our key objectives are;

• Advancing Medical Knowledge Responsibly: Encouraging new ideas and upholding the highest ethical standards in medical research, ensuring the safety and rights of all clinical trial participants.
• Developing Innovative Treatments with Patient Safety in Mind: Creating and implementing the latest medical treatments and technologies through carefully designed clinical trials that prioritize patient safety, minimize risks, and maximize potential benefits.
• Improving Patient Outcomes Through Informed and Ethical Practices: Focusing on enhancing the care and results for patients by using the most current medical evidence. Our clinical trials are conducted with transparency, providing patients with complete information and ensuring their voluntary participation and well-being are paramount.

Attendees from Artemis included Dr. (Brig) Anil Khetarpal, Dr. Uday Harley, Mr. Virendra Singh, and Dr. Garima Srivastava. Representing GIMS were Dr. (Brig) Rakesh Gupta, Dr. Saurabh Srivastava, Dr. Vivek Gupta, Dr. Ekta Arora, Dr. Ravi, and Mr. Mukesh. We both believe that Artemis Hospitals and GIMS will become leaders in finding new medical solutions and taking great care of patients. By working together, we hope to discover new things that will make medicine better. We also hope to help people live longer and have a better quality of life, and help everyone in healthcare work better together and strive for the highest quality.

New Delhi, April 17 2025 – In a strategic move to strengthen its leadership team and accelerate business growth, KAFF Appliances, one of India’s leading premium kitchen appliance brands, is pleased to announce the appointment of Nalin Kumar as its new Chief Operating Officer (COO).

Nalin-Kumar

With over two decades of leadership experience in the consumer durables and appliances sector, Nalin Kumar brings with him a proven track record in operations management, strategic planning, channel expansion, and business transformation. In his new role, he will be responsible for overseeing end-to-end operations, driving organizational efficiency, and enhancing customer and partner experiences across India.

“We are delighted to welcome Nalin Kumar to the KAFF leadership team. His deep industry knowledge and sharp operational acumen make him an ideal fit to lead our business into its next phase of growth,”

Prior to joining KAFF, Nalin held senior leadership roles at reputed brands in the home appliances and consumer electronics space, where he led large-scale operations and spearheaded go-to-market strategies with notable success. His appointment comes at a time when KAFF is actively expanding its product portfolio and deepening its footprint across both urban and emerging markets.

“I’m excited to be part of KAFF’s journey at such a pivotal time. The brand has a strong legacy in the Indian kitchen appliance market, and I look forward to working with the team to build on that momentum and deliver meaningful value to our customers and partners,” said Nalin Kumar, COO, KAFF Appliances.

KAFF continues to focus on design innovation, product quality, and customer-centricity—values that align closely with Nalin’s leadership philosophy. His onboarding is expected to bring sharper focus to operational excellence and cross-functional alignment across the organization.

MUMBAI, India– April 17 2025: The battle heats up on Realme Hip Hop India Season 2 and is about to turn up the intensity like never before on Amazon MX Player, Amazon’s free video streaming service. With judges Remo D’Souza and Malaika Arora setting tough benchmarks each week, the pressure on contestants has never been higher or fiercer. As dancers push their limits, the show is set to take a dramatic turn!

In the latest promo, ace choreographer Punit J Pathak drops a bombshell— three eliminations are coming this week, leaving everyone on the edge of their seats! As if that wasn’t enough, a fresh batch of challengers will enter the arena to compete directly with the current top 7 contestants. With every position under threat, it’s anyone’s game—and not everyone will survive this round.

Commenting on the game-changing twist, Malaika Arora shared, “Punit has really taken everyone by surprise and with introduction of challengers and eliminations looming on, it is going to be incredibly exciting to see who can handle the pressure and keep their spot. This is the challenge that will truly test the contestants and has made the competition even more exciting!”

With the battle intensifying and eliminations around the corner, Realme Hip Hop India Season 2 is now streaming exclusively only on Amazon MX Player, available Amazon shopping app, Prime Video, Fire TV, and Connected TVs.