India Facing a Setback of $700 million due to Digital Gambling

Digital Gambling has ruined the economy of India as online betting websites have pumped several crores of rupees down the drains. Readers may be shocked to know that just a single website LCEXCH.COM yearly makes India poorer of over Rs 5,000 crores !! This is a big blow to PM Modi as he has been waging a war against black money and money laundering.

AB group of companies under Lal Chand a Pakistani now a European citizen, Gul and other teams under the AB exchange, Wintika online casino from Curacao, Montenegro and Malta are the pioneers of this dubious business. Chander nickname Shankar Jalander, Hamanth Sood is another group and so many doing illegal exchanges in different names. Insider’s claim Rohit and Sid are engaged in hawala money laundering from India, Dubai, and Pakistan and have contacts with underworld don Dawood Ibrahim’s people Noman, Dileep, Javaid Chotani, and Jabar Moti who was arrested from the UK.

Rakesh Rajkot and Manish too are engaged in the dirty business under multi-exchange and Diamond. Sukmeder Singh Sodi and Mukesh Delhi under the name of Gamex. Similar Harry, Jitu, Shivam, Madhu are doing business under the name of Sky exchange. In addition so many other bookmakers Tomy, Jacky Ahmedabad etc. are running different online sites to rob Indian of their money.

Hello Mumbai demands Indian authorities to take notice at the earliest and save Indian money being drained due to digital gambling addiction

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Global Education Options for Indian Teenagers

Partnership between TimesPro and Monash College invites applications from students who wish to study business in Australia  

The number of Indian students studying abroad is increasing rapidly, and a nearly 50% surge in the past decade is proof of the pudding. As per UNESCO data, by August 2017, over 3, 00,000 Indian students were studying abroad. The reasons for an Indian teen to pursue higher studies abroad are myriad. International universities offer a vast variety of courses and better quality of education. That apart, the independent thought process that a student imbibes by way of global education is one that also enables youth to explore more opportunities. The prestige a family feels while their ward is studying and staying abroad, is of course, additional motivation.

What is students' choice? 

As per government of India data, while the study-abroad options for Indian students may be as many as 86 countries, the USA, the UK, Australia and Canada are the most popular choices. Of the total number of students abroad in 2017, a whopping 69.5% chose the aforementioned countries as their destination for higher studies. Even though traditionally the USA leads the charts with just over 1 lakh Indian students, Australia has been emerging as the recent favourite. As of August 2018, Australiahouses over 68,000 Indian students, up 16.8% from 2017, says data released by the Australian High Commission in India. Both countries believe education to be a flagship sector as part of their bilateral relationship, and are doing everything they can to encourage exchange.

Why Australia? 

Australian universities have an impressive international reputation. The environment is safe, and immigration policies favourable. Australia offers world class standards of living with considerably lower expenditure than the USA and the UK. Up for grabs are attractive work opportunities to students, which can offset living costs to a bare minimum. Equal opportunities are ensured for students who have graduated out of a specific course, from any university in the country. The biggest advantage however, is the work rights - Australia allows students a work visa for two years post study. A student can completely recover the expenses incurred during the study period in these two years.

Study options in Australia 

Australian universities are actively working on increasing awareness among Indian students. Education institutes in India such as TimesPro, in conjunction with varsities such as Monash and Queenslandamong others, are offering pathway programs to make global education not only more accessible, but also less expensive. A pathway is a learning experience that provides international students lateral entry to various undergraduate or graduate programs at universities, by offering them an academic foundation and essential language skills. Pathway programs enable Indian students to join international courses on Indian shores and then continue their degree abroad at a later stage. This is especially beneficial for students who, after graduating school, may have missed admission into the international universities of their choice but do not want to have gaps in their education.

One such program is the Monash College International Pathway Program (MCIP) by TimesPro, conducted over eight months in India, specifically designed for students who wish to study business or commerce undergraduate degrees at Monash University. With MCIP, one won't just learn theories and trends, but also develop a more creative and confident mind-set with hands-on training and practical exposure. After successful completion of the program and meeting entry requirements, one will have guaranteed* entry into second year at Monash University.

*terms and conditions apply

A global education inculcates a sense of global citizenship. The 'Land of Oz' a not just a brilliant option for education for young boys and girls, but is also a beautiful country with a unique culture, waiting to be embraced. 

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India Licensing Expo 2018

License India to Showcase India Licensing Expo’s Second Edition

~500+ Global Licensing Brands Participating~

~Aims to invite an investment of INR 2000 Crore through about 200 Cr Deals~

License India, an exclusive brand licensing vertical of Franchise India Group invites licensing and retail fraternity to India Licensing Expo (ILE), India's first and most influential brand licensing show on August 23-24 2018 at Bombay Convention & Exhibition Centre (BCEC) Mumbai,Participation from 500+ global and domestic companies is expected. The expo is supported by LIMA.

Renowne brands such as Viacom18, Femina Flaunt, Miss Diva, Miss India, Film Fare, Green Gold Animation, Adlabs Entertainment, JCB, We love Characters, Celebrities Entertainment, Angry Birds, ChuChu TV, Dream Theatre, Bandai Namco, Cartoon Network, WWE, Toki Doki, Purple Turtle, Kuber, Toon Mart, Ack Media, DQ Entertainment, Bradford License India, Animantz, Axis, Adarsh Publications, Rovio, Reliance Animations, WWE, Celebrities Entertainment GmbH, JCB, Spykar, Madame, Welspun, Adlabs, Spaces  among others are likely to be a part of the expo.

The event will include a conference program lead by global thought leaders, including MauraRegan,President, LIMA, Dan Frugtniet, VP, Licensing Business Development, Nickelodeon Viacom Consumer Products, SimoHämäläinen, SVP – Brand Licensing, Rovio, Ulf Vespermann, Managing Director, Celebrities Entertainment, SandeepDahiya, Director and Business Head – Brand Extension, Bennett, Coleman& Co Ltd., SanjeetMehta, Executive Director & Head - Consumer Products, Disney India, Jiggy George, Head of LIMA India, Founder - Dream Theatre Group, Founder & Managing Director – Mojostar, Dhimant Bakshi, Jt. CEO, Adlabs Imagica, Smita Maroo, Senior Vice President – Licensing &Merchandising, Shemaroo Entertainment, , SwetaAgnihotri, CEO - Content Syndication, Reliance Big Entertainment andmany more will share their insights on licensing industry.

Gaurav Marya, Chairman, License India said, “We have been successful in establishing India Licensing Expo as a dedicated hub for licensing professionals. Pegged at $1476 million, the licensing industry in India is definitely on an upward trajectory and through ILE 2018, we intend to bring global understanding to the Indian landscape and further propagate this business model. After the successful first edition of Licensing Expo last year, we are ecstatic to inaugurate our second edition of the event. The licensing industry is growing by 40% YoY and with second edition; we hope to close deals worth INR 2000 Cr. India Licensing Expo is a dedicated hub for industry business across diverse verticals like cinema, music, apparel, character, and sports licensing all under one roof.”

The expo will culminate with an awards night across categories. Supported by License India, the forum gathers the perspective of the emerging Indian Licensing Industry for networking to explore prospects to grow greater and quicker in the given peripheries. About 500+ global brands have confirmed their entry in the consumer space either through licensing or franchise model.

He further added, “This platform will also bring together voluminous brand opportunities, elaborate knowledge forums, exclusive licensing appreciations, fun character parade and many more. In the scenario, where India is a brand-hungry market, we see a natural inclination towards licensing as an effective retail strategy. Brand licensing has been well accepted as a retail strategy in India, and through ILE 2018, we bring the universal perception to Indian landscape. The owners of intellectual properties (IPs) comprising the major character, entertainment, celebrity and corporate brands are keen to enter the Indian market. Everyone wants to tap the 1.3 billion customer-base that the country has, especially when the consciousness of brands among consumers in 900+ cities are very high.”

Maura Regan, President, LIMA said, “LIMA is committed to the continued growth and expansion of licensing around the world, and we are proud to support this show dedicated to licensing in India.”

“It is important for the advancement of our business to come together in India, make connections and learn about this active market that is poised to achieve great things in the coming years. India is an incredibly dynamic market. Between the rapidly growing middle class, leapfrogging technologies, and an appetite for both local and international brands and content, licensing is the smart way to grow your business and engage with your audience,” she added.

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ESPN India Commends the Performance of LiveU's LU600 HEVC at the FIFA World Cup™ in Russia

LiveU has always earned its reputation by delivering cutting-edge technology solutions and flawless performance in even the most testing of circumstances.

At this year's FIFA World Cup Championship, LiveU managed to break all its previous records. LiveU released its live broadcasting figures for the FIFA World Cup™ in Russia with 485 units onsite used by customers from over 40 countries. The numbers have doubled, and even tripled, since the 2014 FIFA World Cup™ – including over 15,000 hours of live broadcasting, over 30,000 live sessions and 36TB of live transmission – with LiveU's LU600 4K HEVC solution enabling customers to broadcast more hours with less data.

With numerous interviews of players, fans and spectators and exciting behind-the-scene captures, LiveU has successfully grasped the essence and atmosphere of this truly global event with daily live feeds.

One of the biggest sports broadcasters – ESPN India – was present in Moscow to catch all the live action of FIFA WC 2018 with the LU600 HEVC.

Live feeds captured on the ground needed to be sent back to India to be broadcast live on Sony Pictures Networks India. Flexibility, mobility and signal reliability were the three main requirements and LiveU was able to pass with flying colours. 

"We used LiveU units throughout the tournament to capture live feeds that were sent back to India to be broadcast live on Sony Pictures Networks India. Our experience was really good – even at crowded locations where there were issues of network congestion. Sending live feeds back to India was seamless with no technological glitches," said Suketu Mehta, a Multimedia Producer with ESPN, India.

The other two features of the LU600 HEVC that were highlighted were its form-factor and cost effectiveness.

"There was a time when the live TV experience involved the use of heavy and bulky equipment and a huge crew. Now it has been replaced by this small, portable, easy-to-carry solution that fits in a backpack. The compact chassis is what makes it one of the most portable solutions. You can literally carry it anywhere," Mehta said. "Thank you LiveU for your rock-solid support!"

LiveU was able to provide customers with bandwidth guarantees for superior connectivity in the 11 host cities. The offering provided a special add-on priority SIMs package for streaming high-quality live video, enabling customers to reach 20Mbps uplink and deliver HD live feeds even from the most crowded locations. LiveU had a dedicated technical team on site, managing the logistics and providing 24/7 support, with two designated distribution centers in Moscow and St Petersburg.

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500 Years of Timeless Fashion

Ever imagined a fabric so fine that wrapping it around you feels warm and luxurious all at the same time?

Appropriately called the "soft gold of Asia", Pashmina is the art of Handcrafting distincitve pieces of luxury with fine Himalayan Cashmere. It has withstood the test of time & have been around for more than five centuries. From being draped by the European nobility to now being the ultimate fashion accessory, this ancient art has gone through a whirlwind of a ride in the last few decades.

There's a flood of fast fashion today and most brands have jumped on to this bandwagon. Even when it comes to Cashmere, most brands are selling "affordable products" in the name of machine-made and blended varieties. Since Cashmere is regal and a symbol of opulence, consumers (because of the lack of awareness) go in for such tall claims and later pay a heavy price for their choices.

This is where we have stepped in to revive the lost glory of Pashmina. This royal art has its roots in the picturesque valleys of Kashmir and for us, maintaining its pristine beauty is paramount. At Pashmina.com, we believe in the adage 'less is more' and propagate sustainable luxury through all our offerings. Each of our products is painstakingly hand-crafted: hand-woven & hand-embroidered by the gifted artisans of the land of Kashmir.

For a piece so timeless and which is a repertoire of rich history, we strongly work towards quality & craft authenticity, each of our pieces – shawls, hijabs, stoles & scarves, wraps, blankets – go through stringent testing by the Crafts Development Institute, which is under the aegis of the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India.

Though the art of Pashmina has a rich history, it is the artisans who are the real stars. They painstakingly create masterpieces that reflect the highest level of craftsmanship. To cater to varied tastes of our consumers, we offer two distincitve lines, one of the timeless pieces with Bold, Weaves & Hand Embroidery to the contemporary line of pashminas with Ombre, Swarovski Crystals, Prints & Chantilly Laces.

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A tête-à-tête with World Traveler Alex Chacon on His 5th Visit to India

If there is one video on the internet that is hard to miss is ‘Around the World in 360 degrees- 3 years epic selfie’ video which was released in 2014 and has already crossed over 200 million views across online platforms. The video was shot by Alex Chacon, a Texas-based Medical student who sold all his belongings in 2012 to fulfill his dream of traveling. Since then, Alex has traveled lakhs of kilometers on a motorcycle and has explored over 50 countries and 5 continents. He is a guy whose bucket list is not any specific destination but the experiences and he strongly believes that riding a motorcycle is like meditation for him. On his visit to Mumbai, we met with Alex to understand the story behind his adventures and how he inspires lakhs of people around the world to travel.

THE STORY OF THE EPIC SELFIE VIDEOS

After graduating from college, Alex decided to sell everything he had and start traveling. His first big trip was from Alaska to Argentina on a motorcycle. He had no idea back then what was going to work in his favor and what would not. So he started experimenting with his GoPro camera and tried to shoot his adventure in various ways and angles. The one that worked for him was obviously the selfie shots he took at different locations. The fun fact about the epic selfie video is that selfie sticks did not even exist in 2012. Alex’s creative brains were at work and he dismantled the legs of his tripod to actually make a 5kg selfie stick by tying up his camera on one end. 

Click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTlXttQL_Yk&t=84s   to watch the video. After he uploaded this video on the internet, it immediately caught people’s attention and went viral making him a famous traveler across the world.

A DAY IN ALEX CHACON’S LIFE

No matter how glamorous and adventurous Alex’s life looks on the internet, but the effort required to put all this together is way higher than a 9-5 corporate job. He has not taken a day off for the past 7 years and is working 24 hours around the planning and execution of his travel. Even after returning back home his day is tied-up with changing his camera gears, buying the stuff he requires for the next trip and selling the ones not required, organizing and planning the next trip and the challenge. But the good part about his job is that it brings new surprises and experiences every day. One such surprise he recollects is randomly meeting a traveler in the southern part of a country and seeing her again after eight months in the northern part of the country without any communications. Such experiences he says make you realize that the world is actually a small place.

ABOUT HIS TRIP TO INDIA AND ADVICE TO RIDERS

As people say, “Once you visit India, it keeps calling you back”. This was Chacon’s 5^th trip to India and he was busy meeting his fans in different cities and collaborating with fellow YouTubers and Influencers to inspire a lot more people. After a series on meet-ups in Mumbai, he headed to Ladakh- the mecca of motorcyclists across the world. His advice to riders going to Ladakh this year is very simple. He believes that more than the physical strength it’s the mental conditioning of the rider that matters in Ladakh and other high altitude places. If a rider is determined to reach his destination than he can any motorcycle with any gear to any place in the world. He says that if you are riding for the first time in Ladkah you need to go slow as it is not similar to the style of riding in the cities.

CHALLENGES OF RIDING ACROSS BORDERS AND DIFFERENT COUNTRIES

Alex has traveled to over 50 countries on a motorcycle, backpacking using local transport and has also enjoyed some luxurious trips after being invited by governments of different countries to promote tourism. He affirms that every country comes with a new set of challenge. But all the travel plans can be simplified, if we do a little bit of research and plan everything ahead. One of the best ways to do that is to thoroughly go through the government’s websites. “I never show up to a border unprepared.  I make sure that I have all my documents, visas and all other local formalities sorted before arriving”, says Alex.

RURAL VILLAGES MAKE A COUNTRY REAL

After years of traveling, one thing that Alex has realized is that the deeper you go in some country the better it gets. The further you go from the big cities you meet genuine people who look a lot happier and simpler than most of us. He has one great story when he was in a village an hour away from Chandigarh. There was a school having a class in the outdoors and all the kids were just so happy to see a western foreigner in their village. Within minutes he was surrounded by over 100-150 children all trying to get in one frame for a picture. They followed his motorcycle in enthusiasm for a few kilometers until he was out of the village. Luckily, Alex Chacon has found this one thing very common in all parts of the world.

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An appeal to my country by Trish Bose

I am a citizen of India, I was born here, raised here and I have received all my education in this country and specifically Mumbai. I have seen all the facets of this city may it be good or bad. I have suffered through the terrorist attacks, the bandhs and live through the hustle and bustle of this remarkable city daily.

I am sure you who have stayed in this city for a while have gone through the same in your own way. My observations have brought to me to a conclusion, the conclusion being that we are a city of world class malls and third class government facilities, of highly educated professionals and hardly educated politicians, we have a world class mentality and third class sense of social responsibility. The most amusing part about this whole situation is that we have excelled at giving blame to government and do nothing as citizens to rectify our situation.

But the fault may not be ours all together we ourselves don’t know how we can rectify this situation that we see ourselves in or maybe it is our fault and we have forgotten that our country is a democracy although it feels more like a demo-crazy at the moment. Our country has one of the most democratic systems wherein our constitution itself says that it a government of the people, by the people and it’s for the people of this country.  Us the people need to be reminded what we are capable of, what we can do, how we can do it. For the ones who want to study it by themselves we have to study only 3 books, i.e., the Constitution of India, the Indian penal code and the code of civil procedure. These three books govern our country for the most part, these books give you the power of equality because all Indians are equal there is no religion, caste, creed, social standing or gender that is superior to another we are all equal as per our rights as citizens of this Country. There is no difference between you and the Government because we are the Government. Thus the situation that we see ourselves in, in a religious ideology based conundrum that bothers us today is of our own doing, the corruption, lies and deceit we face is because we allow such corruption, lies and deceit to prevail. We must take the power back into our own hands and make this country the country that we deserve and want. Pool our intelligence and resources to make a difference to guide the next generation to a better tomorrow. Us as Indians have made a mark worldwide we are regarded as one of the most hardworking and successful immigrants in foreign countries which ever country that we may go to. Why can’t we be a successful nation?  It is because we fear that our efforts may not be recognised, that we may face adversity, that we may face violence from the people in power.

The People are in power because we have put them in power, they can bully maybe a 100 people, but we are not just 100 we are a billion. We must become more responsible for ourselves, we must ensure we are not handed substandard leadership, disgusting government facilities and a bang for our tax payer’s buck. For this we must educate ourselves in electoral politics and we must ensure that the best of our community strive to become our leaders, we must eradicate the taboo behind politics and perform our duty as citizens to lead one another, to help one another and ensure that we grow together.

It is us who is responsible for the growth and development of our own societies and communities. Spreading our influence in a 5 kilo-meter radius from where we live can contribute towards the development of our own areas. We must ensure that our Public service sector like the BMC should be properly manned with qualified professionals, who give us quality service. A proper corporate structure is required in the Public sector of our Governance that can be ensured by having our qualified and educated youth to choose Public sector job. Local governance of localities must be emphasised upon. The Local population of a locality must be responsible for the governance of their own locality, the local populace must strive to occupy the government positions responsible for the development of their own area. There must be an assured 5 year plan which is to be followed step by step for ensuring development specific to each locality. Local problems must be identified and solved as per the priority of the problems, meaning that local polls and research must be conducted to identify problems and the issued must be solved as per the urgency and requirement.

This is a mere example of the ideas we can employ to ensure that we develop our own city, state and country. We must study the ways of developed nations and institute a local system based on proper scientific process and competence. This may seem idealistic but this must be a goal so that we involve ourselves in our own development. We must strive to think globally and act locally. We must make a global culture based on mutual respect and admiration rather than lies and deceit. 

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Prorganiq Expands its Line of Best-selling Weight-loss and Health Supplements With More Herbal Products

Building on its initial success with Targeted Fat-burners, Prorganiq now offers several Fully-natural and Organic Health Supplements and Energy Boosters for Everyday Wellness

With obesity and its health-related risks on a steady rise across the globe, there has been a demand for new dietary supplements and weight loss measures to aid people in acquiring a fit profile.

     Prorganiq, a company that aces in developing natural and safe dietary supplements, is now offering a combination of their highest-rated and best-selling fat-burners along with several 100% naturally-derived potent health supplements in the Indian market. The company which brings about organic and effective weight loss measures is now making waves in India across all major cities and populace.

The three core weight-loss supplements are: 30-Day Mega Fat Burner, Green Coffee Bean Extract with CGA and Garcinia Cambogia (with 60% HCA).

The 30-Day Mega Fat Burner has been the principle dietary supplement that integrates an innovative 4-point formula involving key ingredients, combining the attributes of many weight loss capsules into a single pill. Its efficacy has been proven in reducing one's overall weight in 30 days' time by aiming the stubborn fat regions such as the belly and thighs. It also subdues hunger levels and provides for a satiated feel leading to reduced appetite. To sum it up, the 30-Day Mega Fat Burner is a supreme supplement bringing about multifold benefits to its users - powerful fat burner, appetite inhibitor, energy bolster and mood enhancer.

Green Coffee Bean Extract is the second dietary supplement that involves two principle ingredients: Chlorogenic acid and Caffeine. These ingredients work together in improving one's metabolism leading to excess burning of calories along with activating the body's fat burning hormone. This causes effectual fat reduction along with preventing further fat accumulation. The Caffeine ingredient raises antioxidant levels flushing chemical toxins from the body.

Garcinia Cambogia is another dietary supplement derived from the fruit, Malabar Tamarind, which is known to contain HCA or Hydroxycitric Acid, which is known to be instrumental in weight loss. The supplement has been tested and verified to be an active metabolism bolster and an intense fat burner working especially around stubborn fat areas. It vastly improves one's physical profile and offers for a slim look. It's also known to reduce inflammation and vastly control the blood sugar levels.

Apart from the core Fat Burners, Prorganiq has also availed customers to choose from a wide range of regular daily supplements containing Pure and Organic herbal ingredients ranging from Neem, Brahmi, Fenugreek, Ashwagandha, Noni, Tulsi, and Ginger, all having their own individual health benefits.

"The supplements we churned out are based on the principle of using the body's natural mechanism to target weight reduction from all possible angles bringing about weight loss in a viable and healthy manner," the Managing Director of Prorganiq was quoted as saying. 

All the supplements can be availed through the online platform, and come with a 60-day No-Question asked, money-back guarantee. If one isn't satisfied with the results after using the product, they can avail a complete refund. Effective for both males and females above the age of 18, the supplements can be involved in your weight loss regime along with a balanced diet and exercises.

"At Prorganiq, we don't take any chances. All ingredients are duly researched and processed carefully to be at their potent state. The nature of our supplements makes it safe for everyday use that can be taken along with one's daily meal. The capsules use a vegetarian base which renders these veggie capsules 100% suitable to the needs of vegans and vegetarians," added Mr. Surya Kumar, the MD.

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What’s your Skin-töhl?

A finely made leather accessory affirms luxury and your choice of a handbag speaks volumes of your style. A handbag serves as both; a necessity as well as a statement piece. Eyeing this space in the market The Sac and Satchel Company has launched its brand, töhl. Ranging from hand and shoulder bags, to totes, backpacks, clutches and wallets, the töhl product range is versatile, utilitarian and thoughtfully crafted for varied purposes.

 Töhl combines the best of contemporary styling, technology and the legacy of time-honored handcrafted leather smithing traditions to manufacture the bags. ‘töhl’, meaning skin in Tamil, is a brand synonymous with luxury and craftsmanship. The leathers are handpicked and treated with artisanal respect using processes that meet international standards.

 Defined by its minimalist style, the product range has an old-world charm combined with understated modern elegance. The brand and its product range are perfectly suited to the urban lifestyle, combining functionality and aesthetics. töhl’s clientele is women who balance the many roles of contemporary life, whilst holding on to a sense and expression of personal style.

 With 25 years of industry experience exporting leather bags and accessories to Europe the finest product range is now accessible at your fingertips. All the products are made in India with a manufacturing facility in Chennai

.

Price Range: INR 990 – INR 8500 Availability: tohl.in

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Associates with Mr Apple, New Zealand’s leading global apple exporter, to bring a premium variety of apples in the country

Biting into crisp, juicy and delicious apples is an experience one wants to enjoy every day! Once again, in its bid to delight apple lovers, IG International, India’s largest fresh fruit importer has entered into an association with Mr Apple, New Zealand’s leading global apple exporter, to launch DIVA, a premium variety of apples into the Indian subcontinent.

Deliciously sweet and crunchy, the DIVA variant is naturally bright red in colour and high in flavour. Derived freshly from the idyllic apple-growing conditions of New Zealand, DIVA apples are only available for a limited season, from April to August. One of the best apples cultivated in New Zealand, the DIVA variant is handled with great care and picked from the orchards at the right moment, so that its pure taste, crispness and aroma are passed on to the customers.

Commenting on the launch, Mr Tarun Arora, Director – IG International Pvt. Ltd, said, “Apples are highly sought-after in India for their abundant health benefits and juicy and crunchy wonders. The introduction of premium and fresh DIVA apples will help us meet the growing demand of exotic fruits in India, and at the same time resonates well with the Indian consumers who have developed distinct tastes and preferences for fruits. We are happy to include one more variety of exotic apples on our list through our association with Mr Apple.”

Commenting on the Diva Brand, Mr. Ben McLeod, Retail Sales Manager at Mr Apple said, “The best thing about DIVA apples is that they are grown on orchards that have access to cool ocean breezes, high-quality soil and an abundance of summer sunshine hours; all of this complements the freshness of the dishes they are added into! We are extremely confident that this sweeter-tasting apple is sure to win the hearts of many in the Indian market. Along with IG’s vast distribution network and leadership position, we are looking forward to taking off this association to greater heights.”

Produced in the best soil and climatic conditions of New Zealand, DIVA apples are sweeter tasting than the other varieties of apple in the country. The launch of the aromatic and tasty DIVA apples in India is sure to leave people wanting more of the delicious fruit with every bite.

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Antuit Appoints Craig Silverman as Group Chief Executive Officer

 Antuit Group, a global analytics provider backed by Goldman Sachs and Zodius Capital, today announced that Craig Silverman has joined as Group Chief Executive Officer. The group’s solutions combine domain expertise and proprietary platforms with technologies like machine learning and AI to deliver advanced analytics solutions that drive revenue and margin growth, improve supply chain efficiency, enhance customer experience and manage cyber risks.

Silverman brings to Antuit an enviable track record of helping companies rapidly transform into digital data driven enterprises in retail, consumer goods, healthcare and manufacturing, along with extensive experience and expertise in advanced analytics, AI, cloud and innovation. Most recently as SVP Global Services for Qlik, Silverman led a team of 450 sales and delivery employees to accelerate customers' digital and data-driven journeys through data visualization, guided analytics and embedded analytics.

Prior to Qlik, Silverman led Accenture’s largest digital analytics practice, where he helped organizations leverage real-time, applied intelligence to enable personalized customer experiences and increased brand loyalty. Before Accenture, he delivered significant growth at IBM’s Retail Analytics and Retail eCommerce practices by helping customers drive digital transformation through omni-channel approaches across marketing, merchandising and supply chain management.

Silverman stated, "Antuit is uniquely poised to deliver insights that drive prescriptive actions and business transformation across an organization. Our data engineering, marketing and pricing analytics, forecasting and supply chain analytics, and cyber intelligence solutions capitalize on the power of Antuit’s talent and advanced technologies to empower businesses to predict, shape and fill demand while proactively managing security risks."

"Craig is the right CEO to lead Antuit through its next stage of growth and profitability. He has a strong track record of delivering outstanding results for business growth and expansion, and his vast analytics experience will deliver greater value for our customers. We are delighted to attract a leader with the vision and ability to build on our accomplishments and drive future success," commented Neeraj Bhargava, Chairman, Antuit.

Ankur Sahu, Co-Head of Private Equity at Goldman Sachs – Asia, said “Craig’s appointment as Group CEO marks a new chapter for Antuit. We are excited about Antuit’s progress to date, and are confident that under Craig’s leadership, the group will continue to innovate and execute to build an exceptional business.”

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Hyderabad’s Riyaz is ‘Fastest Rider’ at The Valley Run 2018

Hyderabad-based Mohammed Ryaz scorched the quarter-mile track of the Aamby Valley air strip to finish with the distinction of ‘Fastest Time’ in The Valley Run 2018 held at the picturesque outskirts of Lonavala this weekend.

Apart from the distinction of being fastest, Riyaz had three podium finishes; one top spot and two second-place to cap off a great day individually.

   

Riyaz’s moment of glory came in the M9 Class (881cc to 1050cc – 4-Stroke). Astride a Yamaha YZF-R1 he clocked 9.686 seconds to ensure that Hyderabad for the second consecutive year stamped their mark in the event as fastest two-wheeler. Last year Neeraj Sharma stole the show.

Overall Riyaz’s effort was one of three sub-10 second dashes recorded in the two- wheel section in the final runs of competition held over three days.  Riyaz also earned the ‘Fastest Foreign Bike’ title.

Mumbai’s Zahir Shah (BMW s1000RR) with 10.001s and Alimon of Bengaluru (Kawasaki Ninja) with 10.087s) made up the Top-3 of the class.

Emulating Riyaz with a top podium finish was his twin-city mate Sundeep Singh Sokhi who claimed the  

O2 (Open Class) Foreign (551cc & Above, Unrestricted) by clocking 9.917s. Interestingly, Riyaz was second with a 9.965s effort. Zubair Ali Jung (Bengaluru) completed an all-south India podium running his Suzuki Hayabusa with a 10.048s effort.

While this type of motorsport (drag racing) is all about a test of acceleration over a short distance, the key to being fastest revolves around syncing reaction time from a standing start to attaining top speed until the finish or vice versa.

A total of seven classes (M6 to M10, P, O2) made up the day in the two-wheeler section while six classes (M1 to M5 & O1) were run under the Promotors Classes only.

The event, promoted by Elite Octane Inc., received a whopping 475 entries from Delhi, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Kolkata, Gujarat, Surat, Indore, Mumbai and Pune and was supported by Sportscraft, the Race Management Partner with sanctions from the FMSCI, the governing body of motorsport in India.

The event overall had some of the country’s fastest motorcycles and top racers were present at this year’s Valley Run and the energy in the Valley was at full heat as under the scorching sun the riders gave their best to deliver some staggeringly fast drag race times.

This year the event had major presence of various sponsors which included Pirelli (Tyre partner), Motul (Lubricant Partner) and Mercedes-AMG (Official Pace Car) apart from Jeep, Suzuki, Kawasaki, MV Agusta, Norton and Nissan as co-sponsors.

Later the prizes were distributed by Rongom Tagore Mukerji, Director Elite Octane Pvt Ltd.

SPECIAL PRIZES

Fastest Foreign Bike of Event: O2 Class – Mohammed Riyaz (Hyd; Yamaha R1; 9.686s)

Fastest Time of Event: O2 Class – Mohammed Riyaz (Hyd; Yamaha R1; 9.686s)

Fastest Rider of Event – Female: M9 Class Sonia Patel (Guj; Aprilla RSV4; 11.854s)

Fastest Time of Event - Female: M9 Class Sonia Patel (Guj; Aprilla RSV4; 11.854s)

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White Spot in Eye – Be Aware! Early detection of childhood eye cancer is curable

       ·         World Retinoblastoma Week observed between May 13 and 19 to create awareness

       ·         Doctors recommend mandatory screening of eye for any abnormality in infants/toddlers

Bengaluru, May 10, 2018: With reported incidences of Retinoblastoma (life-threatening eye cancer affecting newborn and very young children up to 5 years of age) increasing over the years, doctors unanimously recommend that screening of eye for any abnormality in infants/toddlers should be made mandatory.  Further, doctors suggest that systemizing eye screenings for infants/ toddlers will go a long way in detecting lethal eye cancers and preventing childhood blindness.

Retinoblastoma (RB) is a life-threatening eye cancer affecting newborn and very young children up to 5 years of age. It can occur either in one eye or in both. Although it is life-threatening cancer, majority of the children could survive and retain vision if RB is detected in its early stage. Data from different sources reveal that every year globally over 8,000 new cases are reported of which easily 1,500 cases are from India.  However, the reality is many cases of RB goes unreported/ undetected and also awareness is abysmally low especially in India and more so in rural areas.

RB at its early stage is just not easily identifiable but for some telltale symptoms including a white shiny spot, squinted eye, swelling of the eye and continuous watering. As RB progresses a white mass from within the eye becomes prominent. Even this is often missed. As Rb further progresses, the eye becomes painful, red and swollen. If not properly diagnosed and treated at this stage, cancer spreads outside the eye, over time there is every chance of it spreading to the brain and other parts of the body and it becomes a threat to life.

According to Dr. Gagan Dudeja, Consultant, Orbit Oculoplasty & Ocular Oncology, Narayana Nethralaya, “Awareness about Retinoblastoma is low and early detection is crucial to give the best chance of saving the child’s vision, eyes, and life. Early detection and proper treatment will ensure 95% of the children diagnosed with RB are saved from death, 90% have their eye intact and 85% have their vision protected.”

Further, he pointed out that, unfortunately in Indian scenario, a child is taken to an eye specialist only when there is any notable problem, which makes treatment of RB at a later stage much harder. Against this background, he suggested that systemized screening of eye for any abnormality in infants/toddlers should be made mandatory and sensitizing doctors & healthcare authorities at different levels assumes great importance and opines that RB screening with an ophthalmoscope by a trained doctor will be beneficial in detection.

Dr. Fairooz P Manjandavida, who specializes in Retinoblastoma and Eye Cancer, Director at HORUS Specialty Eye Care and Consultant at Prabha Eye Clinic & Research Center, pointed out that RB is completely curable if detected early with currently available advanced treatments. Awareness regarding the disease can save many lives, eye, and vision. If a white spot is seen in child’s eye on flash photography it is a matter of concern and need immediate attention. Thorough eye examination with an ophthalmologist is mandated and further referral to eye cancer specialist if required.

Dr. Fairooz says “Being a genetic disorder, RB can run in families. Early screening of babies born to parents with RB and genetic tests will enable families to know if their child has a risk of RB. Pediatricians being the first point of contact for parents, plays a major role in early detection. White reflex, squinting and redness of eye in a newborn or infant can be an indication of underlying eye cancer. We should all join hands to ‘fight the white’.”

According to Dr. K. Bhujang Shetty, Chairman, Narayana Nethralaya, facilities for genetic testing and counseling should be made available for all children with Retinoblastoma. He also is of opinion that the research in India can take the lead in creating novel therapies that can improve upon currently available treatment.

According to Mr. Thanmaya Bekkalale, Founder Trustee, Iksha Foundation (a Bengaluru-based NGO supporting children with Eye cancer), “We only know the reported cases of RB, there are numerous cases that go unreported. The need of the hour is to spread individual and societal awareness about RB and promote early detection as it is documented that every day 4 children are born with eye cancer in India and one of them facing death as a result of diagnosis at an advanced stage or not diagnosed at all”

To create awareness on RB, one week in the month of May (starting from second Sunday of the month – May 13 to 19, 2018) is observed as World Retinoblastoma Week. Given the low priority is given to RB as compared to other disorders, Iksha Foundation is keen to build visibility about RB among various stakeholders and ensure that the message of early detection is communicated amongst the masses. This becomes vital as it is a fact that parents and even healthcare personnel are not even aware of RB symptoms.

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Air Products Scales India Operations, Opens World-Class Engineering Center in Pune

 Air Products (NYSE: APD), a world-leading industrial gases company, today announced the inauguration of its world-class Engineering Center at Pune in Maharashtra, India to bridge the company's increasing capabilities for Engineering, Procurement, Construction (EPC) activity across the industry. The Pune Center will provide technology and equipment for air separation, hydrogen generation and associated technologies for industrial gases applications. It will act as an EPC innovation hub for the company's operations in India and throughout the world.

"This new center enhances and supports the development of solutions for the local market, where Air Products has had a presence for nearly two decades," said Dr. Samir Serhan, executive vice president, Air Products. "We are very proud to nurture local talent and offer opportunities for local people, and in doing so support the government's 'Skill India' campaign. At full capacity, we expect the center will employ 300 skilled engineers."

"India is one of the fastest growing economies in the world, and Air Products is keen to be part of unlocking and harnessing this market potential as part of its global growth strategy," said Richard Boocock, president, Industrial Gases – Middle East, India, Egypt and Turkey at Air Products. "We will continue to expand our presence in the country by maintaining strong relationships with existing business and joint venture partners; and by forging strong relationships with key stakeholders to achieve our goal of becoming the safest and best performing industrial gas company in the world providing excellent service to our customers."

"Air Products has strategic plans to expand its operations in India. The opening of the Pune Center is a significant step forward in meeting our business goal," said Sadhan Banerjee, managing director, Air Products India. "We are here to stay and grow in India. It is our commitment to this relationship."

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