June 23, 2025: Thums Up XForce, the latest sensation from the house of India’s iconic billion-dollar homegrown brand, Thums Up, has disrupted the zero-sugar drinks category, bringing the most thunderous experience of consuming a zero-sugar beverage to the young consumers. With over 100,000 pre-bookings before its official release, Thums Up XForce created massive anticipation ahead of launch.

Even after 50 years since its launch, Thums Up continues to bring disruption into the category with innovative launches and marketing strategies. Thums Up XForce is made for those who live by their own rules, the true trailblazers with a G.O.A.T mentality, always striving to outdo themselves. With its unmatched, bold taste and iconic fizz, Thums Up XForce embodies the brand’s signature spirit of “All Thunder,” offering consumers the same Thums Up experience without any sugar or calories.

But XForce isn’t only about what’s inside the can. Sleek, modern, and instantly recognizable, its edgy, youthful design is a bold statement. The packaging captures the essence of Thums Up’s adventurous personality, positioning Thums Up XForce as “Thunder in a Can,” a powerful symbol of the classic Thums Up confidence. It clearly conveys that this is a drink for those who live life at full volume, never settle for less and are always leveling up

Sumeli Chatterjee, Category Head – Sparkling Flavours, Coca-Cola India and Southwest Asia, said, “Our strategy with Thums Up XForce is all about responding to changing consumer behaviors, especially the rising demand from young adults for bold, authentic experiences without settling or compromise. By innovating within our homegrown brand, we’re extending Thums Up’s legacy and stepping confidently into the fast-growing zero-sugar category. This consumer-first mindset helps us lead the market with a product that truly connects, while meeting the evolving lifestyle preferences of today’s generation.”

Since debuting in March, it has quickly made its strong presence felt in India’s Diet and Light beverage category.

India, 23rd June 2025: As India’s retail market surges toward $1.3 trillion, brands face a critical challenge, hiring quality frontline talent at scale. To address this, Channelplay which manages recruitment for market leaders including Apple, Microsoft, and Nykaa, has introduced an AI-driven solution that is reshaping the retail talent landscape.

In an economy where 10 million entry-level retail and sales positions need to be filled annually, Channelplay’s AI-powered system is processing over 25,000 applications monthly with 80% accuracy in candidate-job matching—numbers that were previously unimaginable in India’s fragmented hiring landscape.

“We’re not experimenting with AI, we’re operationalizing it,” said Sundeep Holani, Co- Founder and Co- CEO of Channelplay. “Our goal is simple: to make hiring faster, more accurate, and more candidate-friendly, at scale.”

Channelplay’s GenAI recruitment engine addresses critical bottlenecks across a five-step hiring flow: — from sourcing to screening to final selection.

Smart Job Prioritization: An AI-driven ranking model helps recruiters focus only on roles where the candidate pipeline needs attention, optimizing human effort and reducing wasted bandwidth.

Hyper-Relevant Candidate Matching: The system pairs candidates with opportunities based on their skill rating, salary expectations, and location preferences, resulting in 2.5x higher job application-to-selection ratios compared to traditional sourcing methods.

AI-Powered Screening: Dynamically generated screening questions enable recruiters to assess candidates in under two minutes, with AI determining job fit based on responses and historical data.

Intelligent Reassignment: Candidates not selected for one role are automatically matched to the next best-fit position, ensuring maximum placement efficiency while reducing third-party job portal costs.

Channelplay Jobs App: The company’s dedicated mobile application serves as the central hub where AI-curated job opportunities are presented to candidates based on their profiles. The app eliminates the traditional job search frustration by showing only highly relevant positions that match the applicant’s skills, location, and salary expectations.

“We’re not using AI to replace humans, but to amplify decision-making across the funnel,” adds Gaurav Arora as Senior Product Manager. “This is about building a recruitment system where the right person always finds the right job — faster, fairer, and smarter.”

With its foundational AI systems already in place, Channelplay is now focusing on the next phase of its evolution by building tools that further redefine the hiring experience. These include WhatsApp‑based AI voice screening bots, predictive demand models that help clients open the right roles at the right time, and AI‑driven upskilling recommendations tailored to candidates who weren’t selected, ensuring every interaction adds long‑term value to both talent and employers.

Channelplay aims to have 80% of its hiring workflow augmented by AI by the end of 2025, delivering unmatched speed and precision while preserving the human touch where it matters most.

Embassy Developments Limited
Inks Joint Development Pact for ~17.9 Acres of Land in Whitefield, Bengaluru;
Boosts Existing Residential Pipeline with an Estimated GDV of ~₹1,600 Cr

Mumbai/Bengaluru – June 23, 2025: Embassy Developments Ltd. (‘EDL’), one of India’s leading real estate developers, today announced the signing of a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) for ~17.9‑acres land parcel in Whitefield, Bengaluru. The planned development will comprise a premium residential community with an estimated gross development value (GDV) of ~₹1,600 Cr.

Nestled off Whitefield Main Road, the project will enjoy access to Whitefield’s robust social and physical infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, banks, tech parks, and malls. Connectivity is set to improve further with the upcoming Peripheral Ring Road (PRR), Satellite Town Ring Road (STRR), and the recently launched Metro Purple Line.

The development will span ~1.6 msf of saleable area and feature ~1,000 thoughtfully designed apartments for young professionals, including 2, 2.5, and 3 BHK configurations. Launch is targeted for FY2027, aimed at catering to strong demand from IT and ITeS professionals in the region.

Aditya Virwani, Managing Director, Embassy Developments Limited., said, “Whitefield continues to be a strategic focus for us. As a predominantly end-user-driven micro-market, it has shown greater resilience supported by sustained demand from Bengaluru’s professional workforce and ongoing infrastructure growth. While we have a secured launch pipeline of 10 projects for FY2026 with an expected GDV of over ₹22,000 crore, this deal reinforces our commitment to building a robust future pipeline and we are actively exploring new opportunities across key markets.”

World Bathing Day is the perfect moment to pause, unwind, and embrace the transformative power of a good bath. Drawing inspiration from Japanese bathing culture, renowned for its harmony between nature and self-care this ritual is more than cleansing; it’s a moment of deep nourishment. To bring that same serenity home, here are three luxurious ingredients to add to your bathing routine that combine Japanese influence with modern skincare science.

1. Hokkaido Milk : Japan’s Moisture Miracle

From the snowy fields of northern Japan, Hokkaido milk is a beloved skincare treasure known for its rich, creamy texture and intense hydration. It hydrates deeply with 1/3 skin moisturizers, providing deep hydration and ensuring the skin feels happy and well-moisturized. The rich lather gently cleanses while the mood-uplifting fragrance transforms your bath into a refreshing, feel-good ritual, perfect for a calming and indulgent experience.

ITC Fiama brand ambassador Sara Ali Khan said, “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 moisturized. It also contains Vitamin F, which supports skin health, and a mood-uplifting fragrance, adding a refreshing sensory experience to my skincare routine.”

2. Berry Trio: Nature’s Antioxidant Super blend

Goji berry, acai berry, and blueberry three powerful berries packed with skin-loving antioxidants come together to create a rejuvenating bathing experience. Known for their ability to reduce dullness and restore skin vitality, this berry blend energizes tired skin and helps maintain a healthy glow.

• Goji Berry: Traditionally used in Asian wellness rituals, it helps firm and tone the skin.
• Acai Berry: Rich in omega fatty acids, it nourishes and improves skin texture.
• Blueberry: Bursting with vitamins A and C, it revives dull skin and promotes radiance.

3. Vitamin F: The Skin Barrier Guardian

Vitamin F is not classified as a conventional vitamin. Rather, it refers to a class of important fatty acids that your body is unable to create on its own, mainly linoleic acid (Omega-6) and alpha-linolenic acid (Omega-3). These fatty acids are essential for strong, healthy skin. In Japanese-inspired bathing rituals, maintaining balance and protecting the skin is key, and Vitamin F delivers just that.

Hyderabad, 23 June 2025: Stahl, India’s fastest growing cookware brand, proudly introduces the Blacksmith Signature range of cast iron tawas, a collection designed for perfecting everyday staples. Thoughtfully designed for timeless yet modern Indian kitchens, this precision-engineered range comprises of dosa and roti tawas with each tawa designed to handle a variety of cooking styles with consistent performance.

The Blacksmith Signature collection is an extension of Stahl’s pioneering Blacksmith cast iron range, which introduced India’s first lightweight cast iron cookware line. The Blacksmith Signature collection bridges the gap between traditional cooking methods and the evolving needs of modern kitchens, enabling home cooks to prepare meals more efficiently, quickly, and with greater ease.

Precision matters in everyday cooking, and the Blacksmith Signature tawas are built to deliver just that. Crafted for home cooks who value precision and authenticity, this range marries traditional craftsmanship without compromising on modern demands. Each tawa is pre-seasoned with 100% natural corn oil, free from synthetic coatings or chemicals. With exceptional heat retention that ensures even cooking, naturally heat-resistant and ergonomic beechwood handles for durability and comfort, the Blacksmith Signature range delivers a seamless cooking experience from stovetop to table, while being fully compatible across gas, induction, and other cooktops.

The range features two roti tawas (26 cm and 28 cm) and two dosa tawas (28 cm and 30 cm), thoughtfully sized to suit a variety of cooking styles and preferences. With a clean, minimal aesthetic and a robust, performance-focused build, these tawas are crafted to withstand daily use while elevating the cooking experience. Be it for the perfectly crisp dosas, or the gloriously puffed phulkas, the Blacksmith Signature cast iron tawas are the hallmark of craftsmanship that shows how tradition can be perfected for today.

Speaking about the range, Mr. Dhruv Agarwal, Director & CEO, Stahl said, “At Stahl, we’ve always strived to combine traditional values with modern innovation, and the Blacksmith Signature range of tawas is a true reflection of that. Cast iron has been a trusted material in Indian kitchens, and with this collection, we’ve perfected it for today’s cooks: safe, natural, easy to use, and built to last. From its clean aesthetic to its uncompromising performance, every detail of the range is designed to support everyday cooking with ease and authenticity. We remain committed to developing high-quality cookware that not only meets functional needs but also connects deeply with the rituals of traditional homes.”

The Blacksmith Signature cast iron tawas are starting from INR 2,880 and are available in retail stores, on Stahl’s D2C website, and on the leading e-commerce marketplace Amazon.

At its heart, this collection is about more than just cookware; it is about helping home cooks uphold a quiet promise: that the food served at the table will always reflect care, effort, and a touch of pride. Stahl understands this deeply and reaffirms its commitment to those who believe that getting the little things right makes the difference.