Chennai, 25 February 2025 – In a significant move to bolster the welfare of the very large worldwide seafaring community, Synergy Marine Group, recognized as one of the largest employers of Indian seafarers, today announced an expanded collaboration with Mercy Ships. Building on its initial support through lending free office space at its European hub in Ørestad, Copenhagen, Synergy Marine Group will now progressively extend its assistance to include maritime technical expertise, medical teleconsultations, targeted awareness campaigns, and dedicated fundraising efforts.

Operating from Synergy Denmark’s office, Mercy Ships Denmark can work more efficiently, enhancing coordination in recruiting volunteers and supporting life-saving medical missions aboard its hospital ships Africa Mercy and Global Mercy. This strengthened partnership further underscores the joint commitment of both organizations to improve the lives of vulnerable communities and ensure sustainable access to critical healthcare services.

A Shared Commitment to Humanitarian Aid

Mercy Ships has been a lifeline for underserved communities for over four decades, providing free surgeries and medical training across Africa. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization demonstrated remarkable resilience by swiftly pivoting to focus on medical training, capacity building, and vaccine support—ensuring that frontline healthcare professionals had the necessary resources to continue delivering critical care.

Reflecting on the significance of increasing support from Synergy Marine Group, founder and Chairman Captain Rajesh Unni said:

“Our help will extend beyond just office space — we will actively drive awareness and fundraising initiatives to support the life-saving work of Mercy Ships. Additionally, the panel of doctors that supports Synergy seafarers will provide follow-up teleconsultations for Mercy Ships’ medical missions, ensuring continued care for patients in need. The Mercy Ships’ commitment to medical resilience during COVID-19 was remarkable, and we are honored to stand alongside them in extending critical healthcare to those in need.

The pandemic also exposed stark humanitarian injustices—while the world relied on shipping for essential goods, seafarers were denied medical access, the right to return home, and, in some very disturbing cases, even a dignified burial. As a seafarer myself, I am unable to accept this, even four years later. We must not let it happen again. By upscaling our support for Mercy Ships, we reaffirm our commitment to ensuring that healthcare and humanitarian aid reach those who need it most, including the very people who keep global trade moving.”

Charlotte Nørholm Dyhr, Secretary General, said: “We are deeply grateful for our increasing collaboration with Synergy Marine Group, which makes daily operations and work easier and more enjoyable for both volunteers and employees. This is a tremendous benefit for us, and we feel its impact every day. It supports our mission of recruiting volunteers and providing free surgeries to thousands of people each year aboard our two hospital ships, Africa Mercy and Global Mercy.”

Building a Lasting Impact

At its core, this expanding teamwork is about delivering critical support to those who need it most — whether at sea or on land. Synergy Marine Group remains deeply committed to seafarer welfare, advocating policies that prevent humanitarian crises like the crew change challenges witnessed during the pandemic. By upscaling its support for Mercy Ships, the Group reaffirms its commitment to ensuring that healthcare and humanitarian aid reach every individual, including the very people who keep global trade moving.

Since its founding in 1978, Mercy Ships has:

•  Performed over 117,000 life-saving procedures, including tumor removals, reconstructive surgeries, and cleft lip repairs;
•  Trained more than 54,300 local medical professionals in surgery, nursing, and biomedical sciences;
•  Provided basic healthcare education to nearly 272,000 people, empowering communities with essential health knowledge.

With hospital ships staffed by 1,000 volunteer seafarers and medical professionals from 60 countries, Mercy Ships continues to make a profound difference in global healthcare.

Gurugram, February 25, 2024: JSW MG Motor India today announced the “Power Pack” scheme for prospective Hector owners. The Power Pack is a value-packed offering that combines five compelling benefits: an attractive 4.99% interest rate on financing (ROI), extended warranty for added protection, complementary accessories to personalize the vehicle, roadside assistance for uninterrupted journeys, and a 50% reduction in Road Tax (RTO). *

These combined benefits can translate to savings of up to INR 2.40 lakhs, making the Hector an even more accessible and attractive choice for SUV enthusiasts. This limited-time offer, valid until March 31, 2025, further cement Hector’s position as the ultimate value proposition in the SUV segment. It also empowers customers to upgrade from a sedan or smaller SUV to a popular mid-size SUV MG Hector – India’s First Internet Car.

This initiative underscores Hector’s leadership in value and resale within the SUV segment. Independent studies, including a recent analysis by Droom, have validated the SUV’s exceptional resale value, outperforming competitors like the Tata Harrier and Mahindra XUV700. The study demonstrated that the Hector retains 70-75% of its value, a testament to its robust engineering, durability, and consistent market demand. This strong resale performance is complemented by Hector’s remarkably low cost of ownership, averaging approximately INR 500 per month for maintenance.

The Hector, India’s first Internet SUV, was introduced in 2019 and has since set a new bar for SUVs. It delivers unparalleled value, top-notch performance, and advanced technology. As confirmed by Droom, its impressive fuel efficiency of up to 21 km on highways further enhances its appeal. Coupled with a best-in-class 14-inch HD infotainment display, over 75 connected car functionalities, a dual-pane panoramic sunroof, advanced safety offerings including ADAS Level 2, and other equally attractive features, the Hector has been designed to provide exceptional and distinctive experiences to SUV enthusiasts. This feature-rich SUV caters to tech-savvy buyers seeking a bold design, a smooth, comfortable ride, and a technologically advanced driving experience.

Mumbai, February 2025 : Escape the ordinary and turn your weekend into an unforgettable experience with the Moxy Slaycation Package—the ultimate city getaway designed for those who want to break free from the daily grind. Whether you’re looking for a solo retreat or a quick getaway with your crew, Moxy Mumbai Andheri West is your playground for fun, relaxation, and a high-energy weekend.

Strategically located in the heart of Andheri West, Moxy Mumbai is a dynamic lifestyle brand – a part of Marriott Bonvoy’s global portfolio. Moxy Mumbai combines vibrant aesthetics with a spirited atmosphere, making it the ideal destination for both travelers and locals in search of an invigorating escape. Infused with the flamboyant spirit of Bollywood, the hotel bursts with vibrant hues—magenta, electric blue, and sunny yellow—creating an immersive and energetic ambiance.

The hotel’s dynamic F&B spaces cater to every mood—Moxy Kitchen serves global and local delights in a setting reminiscent of a recording studio, while Moxy Bar transitions from a relaxed café by day to a buzzing social hub by night. Perched on the rooftop, Moxy Sky invites guests to unwind by the infinity pool with artisanal cocktails and panoramic views of Mumbai’s dazzling skyline. At Moxy Mumbai, every moment is an invitation to play, indulge, and immerse in the city’s unstoppable energy.

The Moxy Slaycation Package offers an array of curated inclusions to enhance your weekend getaway. Guests can enjoy breakfast for up to two, followed by one major meal—whether in-room or at the vibrant buffet—featuring bold flavors and global influences. A garment pressing service (three pieces per day) ensures convenience and ultimate relaxation through your stay. Additionally, guests have exclusive access to Moxy Mumbai’s distinctive social spaces, including Moxy Sky – Mumbai’s highest-energy rooftop bar with panoramic views, Moxy Kitchen – a lively dining venue offering neighborhood-inspired flavors with global influences, and Moxy Bar – an electrifying space with handcrafted cocktails and elevated energy.

With an atmosphere that seamlessly fuses playfulness, style, and energy, the Moxy Slaycation Package ensures a rejuvenating break from the city’s hustle while still keeping you connected to its vibrant pulse.

Moxy Slaycation Package at Moxy Mumbai Andheri West

• Breakfast for up to 2 guests

• One Major Meal (In-Room or Buffet) for up to 2 guests

• 3 Pieces Of Garment Pressing Per Day (Non-Cumulative)

• Valid stay dates : August 22, 2024 – August 21, 2025

 

Mumbai, 25th February 2025: Marico, one of India’s leading FMCG companies, is set to redefine the convenience in the Oats category with the launch of Saffola Cuppa Oats—a delicious, nutritious, and hassle-free snack tailored for today’s fast-moving consumers.

Saffola Cuppa Oats, ready in 4 minutes by just adding boiling hot water, will be available in two flavours – Magic Masala and Spicy Mexicana, along with a delightful blend of oats, millets & crunchy multigrain bites. Not only does the product guarantee a masaledaar flavour with crunchy bites but also is high in fiber and acts as a source of protein. True to Saffola’s ‘No Nasties’ promise, the product is crafted as NO Maida, No artificial flavours, No colours, No preservatives, and No palm oil, making it a better-for-you snack without compromising on taste.

Designed for minimal effort and maximum flavour, it ensures that new-age consumers that comprises of working professionals, young adults and students can enjoy a delicious snack without hampering their schedules. Whether it’s a rushed morning, a midday boost, or a late-night craving, Saffola Cuppa Oats delivers a seamless and satisfying experience, combining taste, nutrition, and ease of preparation in just four minutes, delivering on its promise of ‘Masaledaar taste, no time waste’.

Saffola Cuppa Oats will be currently available in leading retail stores and quick-commerce platforms, making it the perfect go-to snack for modern consumers.

Introducing Saffola Cuppa Oats, Nilanjan Roy Choudhury, Business Head – Foods Business at Marico Ltd shared insights on the launch, “At Marico, we are committed to continuous innovation that meets the evolving health needs of our consumers. We recognised that modern consumers crave for a snack that delivers flavour and nutrition without compromising on the chores of their busy life. To bridge this gap, we curated Saffola Cuppa Oats, a category-redefining easy-cook oats offering a quick, tasty, and nutritious mess-free snack that fuels their ambitions and effortlessly fits into their dynamic lifestyles. This unique product represents a fusion of modern convenience and wholegrain goodness, designed for today’s fast-moving world.”

Bengaluru, 25 February 2025: Cambridge University Press & Assessment has launched a advisory panel comprising leaders from top global corporations, aiming to bridge the employability gap and better align academic output with industry needs. The panel, stemming from Cambridge’s industry-academia conferences held last year, includes talent acquisition heads from Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Wipro, Infosys, Cognizant, Tech Mahindra, and Sutherland Global, to name a few.

At the inaugural session held Friday, industry experts discussed the challenges of preparing today’s youth for the evolving job market. A key highlight was the release of a white paper, at the Bridging Industry & Academia Expectations Conference 2025 on ‘Redefining Communication Skills for a Future-Ready Workforce’, which brought together leaders from industry and universities such as Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Technological University, VFSTR University, ITM Group, and Rungta Educational Foundation. It addressed the growing importance of communication skills, the need for stronger collaboration between industry and universities, and strategies to bridge the persistent skill gap.

Authored by Dr M. Muruganant, Founder, AcadNet, the paper outlines strategies to modernise curricula, enhance academia-industry collaboration, and examines 17 essential skills and 12 HR variables for success in today’s business landscape. It introduces a four-cluster model for skill development, emphasising not only technical skills but also cognitive, interpersonal, and adaptability traits for sustainable employment and leadership.

At the panel discussions, talent heads explained how they are struggling to find candidates with strong communication abilities, particularly among blue-collar workers in tier 2 and 3 cities. They pointed out that while technical skills are teachable, communication and life skills require a different approach. Early engagement between academia and industry is crucial to equip students with job-ready skills.

The conference also highlighted the need for stronger English proficiency, a critical skill for success in global industries. This need is supported by earlier research from the University of Cambridge and the British Council in schools, which underscores the importance of multilingual education in developing cognitive and interpersonal skills. Additionally, NITI Aayog’s recent report ‘Expanding Quality Higher Education’, calls attention to talent outflows due to inadequate employability skills, especially in English proficiency.

Arun Rajamani, Managing Director, Cambridge University Press & Assessment, South Asia, said: “At Cambridge, we recognise that there is a growing gap between the skills required by employers and the abilities of the workforce. As this divide widens, it is crucial that industry and academia work together to better align educational outcomes with the evolving demands of the workplace. Through this advisory panel, our aim is to bridge the employability gap and further ensure that the necessary skills and communication needs are enhanced to meet industry requirements.”

Additionally, the whitepaper provides actionable strategies for educational institutions, employers, and policymakers to bridge skill gaps. It recommends modernising curricula to align with industry needs, implementing targeted training programmes, fostering diversity and inclusion, and integrating technology to enhance learning and development. These insights aim to equip professionals with the skills needed to thrive in an evolving global economy.

Recognising the industry need, TCS recently included Linguaskill from Cambridge as one of the English proficiency assessments that the organisation accepts on its job portal, reinforcing the increasing demand for soft skills alongside technical expertise. As one of the largest recruiters in the country, the company highlighted the lack of strong communication skills among candidates and called for greater focus on this issue at both the school and university levels.

Arunachalam TK, Regional Director, English, South Asia, added, “With talent becoming more vibrant, there is an increasing need for holistic skills that put effective communication skills on a par with technical expertise. Industry data underscores that strong English skills correlate with broader job opportunities and global employability. We recognise English as a skill has a far-reaching impact on career prospects and overall workforce readiness. The Cambridge approach is forward-thinking, and our aim is to enhance global employability of the Indian youth.”

The conference concluded with the key takeaway that future talent development must be a collaborative effort between academia, industry, and policymakers. Experts shared insights on aligning education with industry needs to maintain global workforce competitiveness, emphasising the importance of skill-building to empower professionals in an AI-driven, rapidly evolving digital landscape.

India, February 25, 2025: Gaining acceptance to an MD program is a huge accomplishment. While it’s certainly a celebration-worthy event, medical school students need to quickly transition to prepare for the rigors of medical school. That not only means hitting the books in the classroom, but also preparing yourself for clinical rotations, licensing exams, and matching for residency.

Here’s the top 10 tips from some practicing physicians had to say about how to study in medical school. Although these are not the only ways, the list below provides some of the most efficient ways to study in medical school that helps you best retain material.

1. Review material regularly 

The need to study regularly is one piece of advice just about every doctor recommends. Dr. Inna Husain, laryngologist and assistant residency program director for simulation education at Rush University Medical Center. She recommends developing diligent study habits and a daily study practice as soon as possible.

2. Write it down

While reading all of your assigned text is essential, you probably shouldn’t expect to remember all of it. For Dr. Malini Reddy, an internist at Reddy Medical Group, writing things down was a must and helped with retention.

3. Test yourself

Regularly testing yourself is essential to preparing for licensing exams like United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE), sometimes referred to as “the boards.” You can quiz yourself from your own notes or as part of a group, but you should also contemplate question banks. Consider that there are multiple ways to test yourself with the same list of questions.

4. Create an effective learning environment

Identifying a good learning environment is a key component of figuring out how to study in medical school—perhaps just as important as the study methods themselves.

Dr. Reddy did a mix of reviewing material at home and in the library. While both worked, she liked how efficiently she could study in the latter location.

5. Improve memorization with mnemonics

Elementary students rely on the acronym mnemonic “Roy G. Biv” to remember the order of colors in a rainbow, and that same strategy can work just as well in medical school. In fact, some medical residency programs use a mnemonic approach to help trainees retain critical knowledge.

6. Use visuals

If you’re a visual learner, take advantage of opportunities to use imagery by creating sketches that make it easier to digest complex medical material. It also helps reinforce what you see and read during your courses.

7. Incorporate auditory methods

Some individuals find they’re able to recall information better if they hear it. For example, Goljan Audio is a popular lecture series Dr. Reddy and many others recommend. It contains more than thirty lectures.

8. Consider forming a study group

While reviewing material with others doesn’t work for everyone, study groups are a great option for those who do learn well when collaborating with fellow students. Dr. Husain says study groups can be particularly helpful for reviewing clinical scenarios and answering practice quiz questions.

She has several recommendations for forming a group of your own:

• Keep study groups to a maximum of four students

• Find students who have similar goals

• Share the work equally

• Avoid studying with your regular social group to minimize distractions

You may even be able to use your school to form a group. Some institutions, like St. George’s University (SGU), build collaborative review sessions right into the program along with other support services.

9. Ask for help

Because there’s so much material to get through in medical school, it’s essential to be proactive about seeking help when you need it.

10. Take care of yourself

While good study habits are important, make sure to incorporate regularly timed breaks to allow yourself some time to recharge.

Now that you have a better idea of how to study in medical school, you can feel confident about gearing up for the medical licensing exam series later on in your education.

Mumbai, India, 25 February 2025: Average housing prices across the top eight markets in India witnessed a 10% YoY rise during the last quarter of 2024, led by healthy demand momentum and positive market sentiment. Interestingly, average housing prices have been on a rising spree for the 16th consecutive quarter, starting 2021. Price appreciation was evident in all the eight major cities, with Delhi NCR witnessing the highest rise at 31% YoY growth, followed by Bengaluru at 23% YoY rise during Q4 2024. While affordable housing segment will continue to form the bulk of housing sales, demand within luxury and ultra-luxury segments can amplify further in 2025. Traction in these segments is likely to drive average housing prices upwards across most major residential markets of the country in the next few quarters.

Overall unsold inventory continued to decline for the fourth consecutive quarter and dropped 5% annually during Q4 2024 backed by healthy demand. At the end of December 2024, unsold inventory at the India level stood below 10 lakh housing units for the first time in the last two years. MMR, with a share of ~40%, continued to account for a majority of the unsold inventory. Notably, Pune saw the highest annual drop in unsold inventory at 14%, closely followed by Hyderabad with 13% decline.

Mr. Boman Irani, President of CREDAI National stated, “The sustained growth in housing prices underscores the strong confidence among homebuyers, driven by a preference for spacious living and lifestyle upgrades. With evolving consumer aspirations, we are witnessing increased demand for larger homes, better amenities, and integrated living spaces. This positive sentiment has translated into steady sales momentum across segments. While evolving preferences and lifestyle upgrades remain key motivators, cost pressures in construction and land acquisition are also significantly contributing to pricing trends. As we look ahead, a potential reduction in interest rates could further boost affordability and drive even greater demand. This positive trend is expected to continue and thrive through the year, making it an opportune time for homebuyers to invest in real estate.”

“Overall housing prices across the top eight Indian cities surged 10% on an annual basis in 2024. Prominent markets such as Delhi NCR and Bengaluru saw the steepest rise in average housing prices amidst rise in demand for luxury and ultra-luxury segments. Furthermore, the recent repo rate reduction along with government initiatives to fund stressed residential projects will provide boost to affordable housing segment. Going ahead, with elbowroom for further reduction in benchmark lending rates, most cities are likely to witness traction in housing sales across categories. Resultantly, average residential prices can potentially increase at similar levels in 2025 on an annual basis. “ added, Badal Yagnik, Chief Executive Officer, Colliers, India.

“Sales witnessed a marginal decline, led by moderated new launches in the last quarter. We anticipate a growth in affordable and mid-segment supply and sales going forward, which will change the composition of supply, which has been skewed towards the luxury segment for the last four years”, said Pankaj Kapoor, Managing Director, Liases Foras.