16 April 2025: Audible, an Amazon company and the leading creator and provider of premium audio storytelling, is pleased to announce the launch of 11 Audible Original podcasts produced in association with Hubhopper, a platform for podcast hosting, management and distribution.

These podcasts offer a fresh, diverse range of voices and perspectives across multiple genres –from physical and mental wellbeing to self-help, life lessons and astrology, these titles promise enriching and entertaining content for all listeners.

The following are Audible Original podcasts produced in association with Hubhopper:

1. Ayurveda for Everyday Life – In this podcast, Purnesh, formerly known as Swami Purnachaitanya, guides listeners on how to utilize principles of Ayurveda, the ancient science of health and wellbeing, to improve their quality of life.
2. Life without Locha – Hosted by Shivankit Parihar, this podcast explores diverse human experiences through candid conversations, tackling topics like social media challenges, fat-shaming, and the complexities of relationships.
3. Expert-e-Mohabbat – Host and love expert, Peeyush Singh, guides listeners through the often-turbulent waters of love, exploring the many facets of love.
4. Sultry Samwaad – Coach Pallavi Barnwal explores the intricacies of love, desire, and relationships with each episode, delving into a variety of intimate topics.
5. Jyotish Ek Darpan – Renowned astrology and Vastu expert Shri Pawan Kumar Mishra answers all questions related to astrology and Vastu in this podcast, offering a clear understanding of the science of astrology.
6. Daily Mantras A Weekly Guide – Discover powerful mantras for each day of the week with Purnesh, popularly known as the Dutch Monk, and learn how to apply this ancient science to navigate life’s challenges with greater clarity and ease.
7. Secrets in our Stars Everyday Astrology – Learn more about what Astrology is and how this ancient Vedic science explains how time has an impact on the quality of your life.
8. Wisdom Sutras for Everyday Life – Inspired by the teachings of Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji, delve into practical insights that will allow you to skillfully deal with everything life throws at you and live a more joyful and fulfilled life.
9. The Sleeping Pill – Designed for those who find it hard to catch a wink of sleep, this calming podcast by Kanishka Thakur helps you drift off with ease and wake up energised.
10. What the Myth – Join host Dr. Siddharth Warrier as he dives into some of the most fascinating myths from around the world, alongside expert guests who unravel fact from fiction using the latest scientific research—covering everything from health misconceptions to historical myths.
11. Lean Green Machine – Living the green life is all about balance. In this podcast, host Dr. Manan Vohra explores how to achieve that balance through conversations with expert guests, offering insights into living a healthy lifestyle that nurtures the planet, the body, and the mind.

Shailesh Sawlani, Country Manager, India – Audible, said, “At Audible, we enjoy working with creators like Hubhopper who share our passion for impactful and high-quality storytelling. This association marks an exciting step forward in our commitment to bringing listeners content with subject domain experts like Dr Manan Vohra, Pallavi Barnwal, Dr Siddharth Warrier, and popular voices like actor Shivankit Parihar and RJ Peeyush Singh that enriches, educates, and engages. These new Audible Originals, produced in an easy-to-listen format, are insightful and thought-provoking, and are sure to bring value to listeners across the country.

Mr. Nikhil Kapoor, Head of Business & Operations, Hubhopper, said, “This association with Audible marks a significant milestone for Hubhopper. We’ve always strived to push the boundaries of audio infotainment, and these 11 original podcasts are a testament to that vision. Working with Audible has allowed us to elevate our production standards and reach a wider audience. We’re confident this launch will set a new benchmark for podcasting in India and beyond.”

The launch of these 11 titles builds on Audible’s commitment to provide an immersive listening experience to its listeners, while focusing on high-quality storytelling and content that resonates with listeners today. This association also marks another step toward making audio storytelling a part of everyday life for more people than ever.

These titles are available for all Audible.in members now. You can download the Audible app from Google Play Store or Apple App Store and start listening.

Mumbai, April 16, 2025: To celebrate World Art Day, Bloomingdales Pre-Primary, Mumbai, organized a day to honor the work of legendary Dutch artist Vincent Van Gogh. As part of the celebrations, the school turned its pre-primary classrooms into vibrant studios of imagination and expression with a series of art activities.

One of the few schools to implement NEP-20 initially, the school is well-known for its emphasis on holistic learning, and for the same, taking one step forward towards in the direction the art activities included Sunflower art with tissue roll, bubble wrap dabbing (one on one) and painting with colourful colours using hands for playschool, Swirl Art using yellow, green and blue paint and wet chalk on black chart paper stuck on the wall for Jr. K.G., Finger painting (sunflower Art) and wet chalk on black chart paper stuck on the wall for Sr. K.G. and around 200 students were part of this occasion.

The young learners dabbled and explored Van Gogh’s iconic works like The Starry Night, Sunflowers, and Irises as their vibrant brush strokes painted swirling skies, sun-drenched fields and flowers, among others. They created their own interpretations of artists’ works, expressing their emotions and creativity while also appreciating the beauty of nature. With hands-on art-making and storytelling sessions, children were encouraged to interpret Van Gogh’s emotive style and use of bold colours in their own unique way.

Aligning with NEP-2020, teachers introduced students to how art can express feelings, nature, and imagination. It also paved a way to teach young minds about the life and legacy of Van Gogh in a fun and accessible manner. To make it more inclusive, age-appropriate materials like finger paints, crayons, sponges, and pastels were used, and the little artists recreated their versions of the masterpieces, filling the classrooms with creativity and joy. The activities also aimed to improve eye – hand coordination, enhance students’ creativity and support their fine motor development.

Marking the celebration, Principal Damayanti Bhattacharya said, “At Bloomingdales, we believe in nurturing creativity from an early age, and who can be better than Vincent Van Gogh to inspire our little learners. Days like World Art Day offer us the perfect opportunity to introduce children to the magic of self-expression through colours, and through this celebration, we aim to help children see that art is not about perfection, but about feeling, freedom, and fun.”

The corridors of Bloomingdales Pre-Primary came alive with dazzling artwork, reminding everyone that art is a universal language that can be felt even before it is understood. The celebration was aimed as an effort to improve motor skills, promote creative thinking, and build emotional intelligence among children in their formative years.

Mumbai, 15th April: India’s OTT boom has rewritten the rules of entertainment, opening up new frontiers in storytelling. But are those doors starting to close for fresh voices? In the latest episode of the “What India Needs!” podcast, media entrepreneur Shutapa Paul and producer Sidharth Jain explored where the streaming industry is headed and whether its promise of creative freedom still holds true.

From Grit to Light: Audiences Want to Feel Good

India’s OTT audience is massive—over 480 million strong. With the market valued at $4.5 billion this year and expected to grow to $27.2 billion by 2033, the appetite for digital content shows no signs of slowing. But viewers are changing, and so is their taste.

“The beauty of OTT is that there’s something for everyone,” said Jain. He pointed to a clear shift away from dark, heavy dramas. In their place, feel-good stories and lighter, emotionally engaging narratives are resonating more. This evolution is forcing creators to adapt—rethinking their approach to storytelling, tone, and what really connects with today’s viewers.

Oversaturation, Censorship, and the Fear Factor

With a flood of content available, quality has become a concern. Paul flagged the growing unease with declining standards and rising censorship. “Streaming platforms don’t want to commission or carry content which can be political or controversial,” she noted. Many platforms are steering clear of politically or socially sensitive topics altogether due to the potential backlash. “Why create something that could lead to legal battles and unnecessary trouble?” Jain asked, highlighting the practical barriers content creators face.

With India implementing self-regulation guidelines under the IT Rules of 2021, Paul asked about the possibility of stricter censorship laws. Jain responded, “What we’re expecting are clearer guidelines.” 

The IT Rules introduced a three-tier grievance redressal mechanism, requiring platforms to appoint grievance officers and comply with content classification standards. While these regulations aimed to streamline oversight, the lack of specific definitions regarding permissible content has led to ambiguity. Many content creators worry that this uncertainty will lead to excessive self-censorship to avoid potential legal complications. 

The Illusion of Democratisation

Streaming once promised a level playing field. But is that still true?

One of the most debated aspects of the OTT era is whether streaming platforms truly democratise content or continue to rely on established star power and traditional content providers. While the early years saw the rise of fresh talent, platforms today seem to be prioritising big names and studio-backed projects. As a result, independent creators are finding fewer opportunities.

The marketing model of OTT now mirrors that of the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry. As Jain explains, big stars are the main attraction. Ultimately, visibility is essential for content to be consumed. Just as FMCG products use strong branding and marketing to dictate consumer preference, streaming content requires aggressive promotional strategies to capture audience attention. Star-driven projects, with their built-in fan bases and media pull, are often easier to market.

Jain adds, “OTT was always about convenience—watching what you want, when you want. The real democratisation is happening on platforms like YouTube and social media, where anyone can create and share content.”

Tough Industry, Real Talk

“This is still a tough industry,” Paul remarked before asking Jain for his advice to those trying to break into the space. Jain was candid about the industry’s competitiveness. “I would never recommend someone to enter this industry for an easy career. It’s easier to become a pilot or climb a mountain peak than find a sustainable career here,” he said.

He urged newcomers to prove their talent through platforms like YouTube or by creating short films, emphasising authenticity, discipline, and perseverance. “If you want to be lucky, consistent hard work and discipline are non-negotiable,” Jain advised.

The episode provided deep insights into the evolving OTT space, the challenges of content creation, and the role of star power in streaming entertainment. Jain and Paul dissected the industry’s shift from experimental storytelling to commercially driven narratives, highlighting both opportunities and challenges for content creators. With streaming services evolving rapidly, the future of Indian OTT will likely be shaped by a mix of data-driven decisions, audience engagement strategies, and a push for diverse storytelling that resonates with viewers across demographics.

India, April 15th, 2025 – Onix, a data, cloud, and AI solutions provider and a 14-time Google Cloud Partner of the Year, announced today that it has received the 2025 Google Cloud Partner of the Year Awards in the Data & Analytics – North America and Industry Solutions – Telecommunications categories.

These prestigious awards recognize Onix’s continued success within the Google Cloud ecosystem and highlight Onix’s collaboration with Google Cloud, enabling customers to achieve rapid digital transformation, drive operational efficiency, and unlock business value at scale.

“Google Cloud’s Partner Awards recognize partners who have created outsized value for customers through the delivery of innovative solutions and a high level of expertise,” said Kevin Ichhpurani, President, Global Partner Ecosystem, Google Cloud. “We’re proud to announce Onix as a 2025 Google Cloud Partner Award winner and celebrate their impact enabling customer success over the past year.”

Onix’s dual award win underscores its capacity to deliver both broad and specialized data and analytics solutions. They excel in industry-specific data modernization and AI-powered analytics across diverse sectors while also providing tailored, mission-critical solutions for the unique challenges of the telecommunications industry. This dual expertise allows Onix to effectively translate advanced data and AI technologies into demonstrable KPI impact and business outcomes and lead the evolution of data-driven innovation and modernization.

“Winning these awards is more than recognition; it validates Onix’s strategic vision of driving data and AI-led transformation at scale,” said Sanjay Singh, CEO, Onix. “By combining deep data expertise with industry-specific models, we empower enterprises to turn complexity into opportunity. Whether modernizing data infrastructure, developing business LLMs, delivering AI and agentic AI solutions, or enabling AI-driven enterprise search and automation through Agentspace, Onix is shaping the future. Our pioneering work in AI agents enhances decision-making and operational efficiency, helping clients achieve real, measurable impact in an increasingly data-driven world.“

Onix’s IP-backed, AI-powered solutions facilitate transformative data modernization and visual analytics, propelling businesses into the future. Proven by its work with over 20% of the Fortune 500, Onix delivers measurable impact: from validating trillions of data rows for Cisco and boosting efficiency by 80%, to streamlining the migration of 4+ petabytes of data and 250K+ data objects for a multinational telecommunications provider. Notably, Onix partnered with TELUS to modernize their data landscape, successfully migrating 14 petabytes and consolidating over 100 data sources, resulting in a 50% reduction in query execution and unlocking powerful AI capabilities.

In 2025, Onix has continued to push the boundaries of cloud modernization, data modernization, and AI enablement, spearheading large-scale transformations across industries. Apart from expanding its expertise in multi-cloud analytics, AI orchestration, and agentic AI, and industry-specific solutions, Onix is also streamlining the data-to-cloud-to-AI journey with a cutting-edge autonomous intelligence platform. Through deep collaboration with Google Cloud, Onix remains at the forefront of helping enterprises maximize the value of their data investment.

New Delhi, April 15, 2025 – The Economic Times CIO (ETCIO) announces its landmark 7th Annual Conclave, themed “CIO 3.0: Transforming Innovation into Business Reality,” taking place May 29-June 1, 2025, at the Grand Hyatt, Goa. This invitation-only gathering will bring together over 200 of India’s most influential technology leaders to explore the evolving role of the CIO from technology enabler to business strategist and potential CEO.

In an era where AI, automation, and data analytics are fundamentally reshaping business landscapes, the 2025 Conclave addresses the critical evolution of the CIO role. No longer confined to technical implementation, today’s CIOs are increasingly becoming architects of growth, drivers of customer experience, and shapers of enterprise strategy.

Kochi, 15th April 2025: Prayatna, a leading multidisciplinary center providing specialized services for children and adults conducts a free mobile de-addiction camp for children aged 3 to 18. The camp will run from April 21st to May 21st, addressing the critical issue of excessive screen time, particularly prevalent during vacation periods and post-festival seasons.

The camp will be led by experienced child care specialists who will equip children with strategies to manage their screen time effectively and engage in healthier activities.

“We understand that vacations and post-festival periods often lead to increased screen time for children. Our goal is to provide them with engaging activities and techniques that they can incorporate into their daily lives, even after the camp concludes,” said Dr. Joseph Sunny Kunnassery, Founder of Prayatna, Kochi.