Aniruddh Kumar, Vice President of Development, India & South Asia at Accor, stated, “Indore is rapidly emerging as a dynamic hub for business, technology, and lifestyle, making it a perfect location for Accor’s continued growth in the country. The signing of Novotel and ibis Styles Indore Super Corridor aligns with our strategic vision to bring world-class hospitality to key urban hubs. With its well-connected metro and road infrastructure, the new hotels will redefine Indore’s hospitality landscape. These properties will seamlessly blend comfort, efficiency, and quality service to meet the evolving needs of modern travellers.”

Parth Shukla, Director, Pitraparvat Developers Private Limited, added, “This partnership marks a significant step in our commitment to shaping Indore’s hospitality landscape. With Accor’s global expertise and our deep-rooted presence in the region, we are confident that these hotels will set new standards in service and guest experience.”

Bengaluru – April 17, 2025 – Silicon Valley headquartered Operant AI,  has  launched AI Gatekeeper™, a real-time security application for live AI applications, agents and Agentic AI workflows—across Kubernetes, private, hybrid, and edge environments.

As organizations rapidly adopt autonomous AI agents and complex multi-agent workflows, especially in high-growth markets like India, security challenges have escalated. According to Deloitte’s State of GenAI report, over 80% of Indian organizations are exploring autonomous agents, with 50% focused on multi-agent setups that require minimal human oversight.

AI Gatekeeper™ goes beyond Operant’s existing 3D Defense capabilities, offering industry-first protections against rogue agents—such as trust scoring, agentic access controls, and threat blocking for Model Context Protocols (MCPs) and Non-Human Identities (NHIs).

Dependence on third-party vendors increases risks

Operant’s recent engagements with Indian enterprises and cybersecurity leaders highlight a strong interest in deploying AI agents but also significant reliance on third-party vendors for AI deployment, complicating data governance and security. Key concerns include data leakage, model poisoning, and rogue agent behavior. AI Gatekeeper directly addresses these issues, empowering enterprises to secure their agentic AI deployments at runtime across all platforms.

“The AI that we are now securing is a completely new beast compared to even two years ago,” said Vrajesh Bhavsar, Operant AI’s CEO and co-founder. He added that  today RAG applications to AI Agents to AI Inference systems operate at a completely new scale, because of which AI can’t be secured in isolation. AI Gatekeeper can bring Operant’s unique defensive capabilities to everywhere customers are deploying AI, alongside critical new capabilities for protecting sensitive data and the rest of the application environment from the new attack surface that is being fueled by rapid Agentic AI adoption.”

Gatekeeper creates space for faster AI innovation

“We are seeing three trends happening right now: First, incredibly fast deployment of AI models and AI Agents for novel use cases; second, adoption of new platforms beyond the traditional cloud providers; and lastly, the requirements and responsibilities for security, infrastructure, data infosec and AI converging,” said Raj Yavatkar, CTO of Juniper Networks. Operant has built a solution that helps teams protect their most business-critical transformations, while AI Gatekeeper makes it possible for AI-native teams to innovate securely at a completely new pace

AI Applications and agents are not only being built on cloud hyperscalers like Amazon EKS, Fargate, Bedrock, and similar services from Azure and Google Cloud, they are now expanding onto non-traditional platforms like Databricks, Snowflake, and Salesforce. The AI ecosystem – and the threats that come with it – are shifting closer to where the data that fuels AI actually lives.

As a result, security and threat exposure are expanding while enterprises continue to add Agentic AI workflows that need to be controlled and secured by default to prevent new catastrophic failure modes. The adoption of new frameworks like MCP exposes enterprises to additional risks of breaches, like the tool poisoning vulnerability just reported last week, that require a fundamentally different security approach from traditional methods.

“Securing AI Agents is a critical priority for AI-native companies because you can’t hand off that level of autonomy at scale to these systems without appropriate controls in place,” said Martin Choluj, CISO of Clickhouse.

Operant’s AI Gatekeeper launch comes on the heels of Operant being named as a representative vendor in Gartner’s Market Guide for AI Trust, Risk, and Security Management (AI TRiSM), and mentioned in Gartner’s recent research note, “How to Secure Custom-Built AI Agents.”

Bangalore, April 17, 2025: Bodycraft Clinic, one of India’s premier destinations for clinically driven beauty and wellness treatments, officially unveiled YouthXNext on April 12, 2025, at its flagship clinic in Bengaluru, in association with Leader Medical Systems Pvt Ltd, the official partners for ExoCoBio Inc. Korea, in India. This revolutionary aesthetic offering is based on the ASCEplus range of exosome products developed by ExoCoBio Inc. in Korea using proprietary ExoSCRT®️ technology and derived from Damask Rose stem cells. This patented technology enables the extraction of high-purity exosomes that work at a cellular level to trigger deep repair, reduce inflammation, and enhance natural regeneration.

The YouthXNext is based on two breakthrough products: ASCEplus SRLV, a high-efficacy skin rejuvenation treatment that improves hydration, elasticity, and overall tone; and ASCEplus HRLV,  an exosome-based scalp therapy formulated to calm inflammation, strengthen follicles, and promote fuller, healthier hair. Together, they represent a new frontier in personalized, regenerative aesthetics for Indian consumers.

With this launch, Bodycraft becomes amongst the first few Indian chain clinics to offer exosome-based skin and scalp rejuvenation, which is available at all their clinics PAN India. YouthXNext combines the power of ASCEplus products with Bodycraft’s clinical expertise to deliver minimally invasive, science-backed solutions for skin and scalp rejuvenation.

Dr.Mikki Singh, Dermatologist, Cosmetologist, and Founder of Bodycraft Clinic, stated, “YouthXNext is more than a treatment—it’s a leap forward in how we approach beauty and wellness in India. For me, it’s deeply personal because it reflects everything I believe modern aesthetics should embody: clinically grounded, globally inspired, and truly transformative. This protocol isn’t just about looking better; it’s about healing from within, restoring balance, and empowering people to feel confident in their own skin.”

Our partnership with ExoCoBio has allowed us to bring the regenerative power of exosome treatment science to India that’s never been seen before. Their advanced exosome technology, backed by rigorous clinical research, delivers real results that go beyond surface-level change. At Bodycraft, we’ve always been committed to bridging innovation with care, and YouthXNext is the next chapter in that journey. It represents our vision for the future, where beauty meets biotechnology and where every client receives a solution tailored not just to how they look but also to how they live. Today, Bodycraft operates in 25 clinics across India, with a presence in Bangalore, Chennai, Gurgaon, Dehradun, and Mumbai.

Mumbai, 17 April 2025 – After the successful launch of the Škoda Kylaq range, Škoda Auto India is now announcing a new car at the other end of the spectrum – with the launch of the all-new generation of its luxury 4×4 SUV, the Kodiaq. Into its second generation in India and internationally, the brand-new Kodiaq arrives in India with its signature blend of luxury, refinement, off-road ability, on-road dynamics and seven-seat versatility.

 Petr Janeba, Brand Director, Škoda Auto India shares, “In March, we recorded our biggest ever monthly sales in India, driven by the Kylaq launch, and supported by the Kushaq and Slavia. This is one of many new records we aim to set this year. In line with our product offensive strategy, the launch of the all-new Kodiaq showcases the other end of our product spectrum with Škoda’s luxury and technology prowess. The Kodiaq has now grown to be an important legacy name for us like the Octavia and Superb. The Kodiaq offers the ultimate luxury and handling for city roads and also packs in versatile all-terrain capabilities.”

 Škoda Auto’s premier 4×4 is powered by a 2.0 TSI engine making 150kW and 320Nm of torque. This power and torque is distributed to both axles through a seven-speed dual clutch DSG automatic. It is based on the MQB37 Evo platform and is available in the Sportline and Selection L&K variants with both offering seven seats. Assembled in India at the brand’s facility in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, the Kodiaq has been rated to provide fuel efficiency of 14.86 km/l by ARAI.

The all-new generation of the Kodiaq is 59mm longer than its previous generation. It has a length of 4,758mm and height of 1,679mm. It is 1,864mm wide and has a wheelbase of 2,791mm. Fully laden, the all-new Kodiaq stands 155mm off the ground. The three-row luxury 4×4, like before, offers a lot of luggage capacity in its versatile interior. With all three seats up, the Kodiaq offers 281 litres of luggage space. With the third-row seats folded to the floor, this luxury SUV can carry 786 litres of luggage, and with both the rear rows down, the Kodiaq affords a cavernous carrying capacity of 1,976 litres.

The new Škoda Kodiaq continues its tradition of refined luxury with two distinct interior themes, an all-black sporty décor for the Sportline variant and premium Cognac leather upholstery in the Selection L&K trim. Elevating the cabin’s technology and convenience, it now features a 32.77-cm infotainment system, along with multi-function Smart Dials equipped with tactile rotary knobs and touchscreens allowing seamless control over HVAC, seat ventilation, audio settings and drive modes. Ergonomic enhancements include a newly positioned gear-selector behind the steering wheel for improved accessibility and a tablet holder for rear-seat passengers, adding to their convenience.

The luxury quotient is further amplified with Ergo front seats that offer advanced pneumatic massage function, ensuring superior comfort and spine support. The inclusion of acoustic package with acoustic side windows helps in reducing exterior noise, creating a serene and premium driving experience. Safety and comfort are paramount, with 9 airbags, a sliding panoramic sunroof, and a 725W Canton sound system with 13 speakers and a sub-woofer for an immersive audio experience. Additionally, rolling sunblinds in the rear windows further enhance privacy and passenger comfort.

The Škoda Kodiaq stands out with its all-new design and premium styling elements. The LED Beam Crystallinium headlamps now feature a Welcome Effect, adding a touch of sophistication upon unlocking this luxury 4×4. The Selection L&K trim exudes elegance with Dark Chrome accents, while the Sportline variant embraces a sportier persona with Glossy Black highlights. Enhancing its road presence, the Kodiaq sports a front grille with an integrated horizontal light strip, creating a striking visual identity, while a red strip connecting the tail lamps further accentuates the SUV’s width, ensuring a distinctive and commanding presence on the road.

The all-new Kodiaq is available in six colour options: Moon White, Magic Black, Graphite Grey, Velvet Red, Race Blue. The Selection L&K gets an exclusive Bronx Gold and the Sportline gets an exclusive Steel Grey.

Škoda Auto India will also be offering some delectable ownership and maintenance solutions for Kodiaq owners. This Škoda flagship will offer a standard warranty of 5-year/125,000 kms – whichever earlier. There is also a 10-year complimentary Road-Side Assistance on offer with this luxury 4×4. Bringing service costs down further is Škoda Supercare, a standard maintenance package, which is available at no cost to the customer for the first year.

Moscow, 17 April 2025 – Hemangi Shrivastava, an Indian student pursuing her Master’s degree in Electronics and Nanoelectronics at the Moscow Power Engineering Institute (MPEI), is among this year’s selected recipients of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellowship Programme (MSCFP) designed to support women in nuclear science. MPEI is one of the flagship institutions under Rosatom’s core and partner university network.

As part of the initiative to expose young women in nuclear studies, Hemangi was one of the sixteen students from around the world who participated in a technical tour of the Kalinin Nuclear Power Plant on March 28.

The visit introduced students to advanced technologies that ensure safe and efficient operation of nuclear power plant. The participants visited the industrial site, turbine halls, reactor control rooms, and unit control panels and held discussions with the plant’s management.

Speaking about her impressions of the Kalinin Nuclear Power Plant visit, Hemangi Shrivastava noted: “I’ve always dreamed of visiting a nuclear power facility. Visiting Kalinin NPP was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Seeing the scale, complexity and precision of a fully operational nuclear power facility was deeply inspiring. As a student of electronics and nanoelectronics, witnessing such advanced systems in action strengthened my resolve to contribute meaningfully to the nuclear industry. Hemangi also said she was grateful for the experience and felt fortunate to have had the opportunity to visit one of Russia’s leading nuclear power plants.

In addition to the technical tour, the participants attended a seminar organized by the Moscow branch of the Rosatom Technical Academy, focusing on the role of women in the nuclear industry.

Gulnara Bikkulova, Deputy Director General and Director of the International Initiatives and Partnerships Division of the Rosatom Corporate Academy, spoke about how Rosatom supports the development of leadership qualities among women specialists in the nuclear industry. “The proportion of women in Russia’s nuclear industry exceeds 32%, compared to the global average of 28%. Today, about 120,000 women work in the Rosatom State Corporation, with nearly a third holding top management positions,” Bikkulova noted.

Rosatom has built an educational ecosystem that identifies professional inclinations and preferences from an early age, explained Vera Upiryeva, Senior Manager of the Project Office for Education Development and International Cooperation. “Rosatom’s educational ecosystem offers partner countries a comprehensive approach to workforce training, including career guidance from school age, close collaboration with colleges and universities in Russia and abroad, and a wide range of lifelong learning programs,” Upiryeva noted.

Participants from various countries also shared their experiences as MSCFP scholas, emphasising how such programs help in breaking stereotypes about women’s capabilities in the nuclear industry while also promoting personal and professional growth.

The MSCFP Programme, supported by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), was launched in 2020 to encourage more women to enter and thrive in the nuclear sector. The programme supports talented students pursuing nuclear-related studies at the Master’s level. To date, more than 560 students from 121 countries have been selected from over 2,200 applications.

Rosatom has been a key partner of the IAEA’s Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellowship Programme, supporting around 40 female students from 17 countries over the past four years. In the current academic year, 12 students from their flagship universities across 10 countries including Armenia, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, Rwanda, Tanzania, Turkey, Uzbekistan, and Zimbabwe received the scholarship, which covers tuition, internships, a monthly stipend, and additional financial support from Rosatom.

When it comes to an indulgent bathing routine, finding the right ingredients can make all the difference. Two superfoods that are transforming the industry are the Japanese Hokkaido milk and blueberries. Known for their hydrating and protective properties, these powerhouse ingredients are making their way into bathing routines worldwide. But what makes them so special, and why should they be a part of your daily regimen?

Hokkaido milk is sourced from Japan’s northernmost island, Hokkaido, an area renowned for its lush pastures and pristine environment. The cows here are raised in an optimal climate with high-quality feed, producing milk that is richer and creamier than regular milk. This exceptional quality has not only made Hokkaido milk a prized culinary ingredient but also a skincare superstar.

Blueberries are a skincare powerhouse, packed with antioxidants like anthocyanins that protect the skin from environmental stressors and pollution. Blueberries also have a brightening effect, helping to restore a natural glow for a refreshed and radiant glow. Additionally, their anti-inflammatory properties soothe irritated or inflamed skin, making them especially beneficial for sensitive skin types.

ITC Fiama brand ambassador, Sara Ali Khan, known for her glowing skin, says, “Great skin is not just about looking good, but feeling confident in your own skin. I always choose products that are gentle yet effective, and the Fiama Japanese Hokkaido Milk Bar with Blueberry has become a staple in my routine. It hydrates deeply with 1/3 skin moisturizers, providing deep hydration and ensuring my skin feels happy and well-moisturized. It also contains Vitamin F, which supports skin health, and a mood-uplifting fragrance, adding a refreshing sensory experience to my skincare routine.”

 Hokkaido milk and blueberries are more than just luxury ingredients—they are essential superfoods for your skin. Their ability to deeply hydrate, nourish, protect, and cleanse makes them must-haves in any beauty regimen.

Whether you are struggling with dryness, irritation, or environmental damage, incorporating these ingredients into your skincare routine can help you achieve your healthiest skin yet.

India, April 17, 2025 — Barracuda Networks, Inc., a leading cybersecurity company providing complete protection against complex threats for all sized businesses, today announced the appointment of Ketan Tailor as Chief Customer Officer. With more than 20 years of leadership experience, Tailor joins Barracuda at a pivotal time as it elevates customer experience initiatives amidst accelerating growth of its cybersecurity platform.

Ketan Tailor

“Ketan is a dynamic and visionary leader with a proven track record of building world-class, customer-centric organizations that fuel growth, foster innovation and cultivate long-term loyalty,” said Hatem Naguib, CEO at Barracuda Networks. “His deep expertise in customer success, support and scaling global operations will be pivotal as we enter our next phase of growth. Ketan’s leadership will ensure that we not only meet the evolving needs of our customers but also continue to exceed their expectations, delivering exceptional value as we expand our global reach.”

Prior to joining Barracuda, Tailor served as Vice President of Global Support at Ping Identity, where he successfully transformed the support function into a high-growth revenue engine and played a critical role in post-merger integration efforts. His leadership was instrumental in scaling global operations and enhancing customer satisfaction by creating tiered service offerings that provided customers with the right level of engagement and support.

Tailor also previously served as Vice President of Customer Success and Support at xMatters through its acquisition to Everbridge, where he implemented a comprehensive customer journey framework, developed predictive customer health scoring and spearheaded strategies to turn customers into brand advocates. Prior to that, he led support operations at Sophos across the Americas, where he drove operational efficiency and built scalable global support teams that elevated service delivery and reduced response times.

“This is an exciting time for Barracuda and its partners and customers, and I’m thrilled to be joining such an innovative and customer-focused organization,” said Tailor. “I’m eager to collaborate with this talented team to further enhance the customer experience, drive meaningful growth and deliver even greater value to our customers as we continue to shape the future of cybersecurity.”