Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) players visited London-based consumer technology unicorn, Nothing’s flagship store in Bengaluru as part of the team’s Title Sponsorship partnership with the brand for the 2026 T20 season. Romario Shepherd, Bhuvneshvar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, Jacob Bethell spent time at the store interacting with customers and fans, before leaving their mark with a graffiti-style “RCB was here” on the store window.
According to Counterpoint Research’s Q1 2026 India Smartphone Shipment Tracker, Nothing emerged as the fastest-growing smartphone brand in the country, recording 47% year-on-year growth and has been the fastest growing brand in eight of the last nine quarters. This strong Q1 performance was driven by accelerated offline expansion, including the launch of the brand’s first exclusive retail store in India, further strengthening accessibility and visibility.
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Thursday, April 23, 2026
WhatsApp Brings Prepaid Mobile Recharges to Users In India, Powered By PayU
*· People can now recharge their phone directly within WhatsApp
* Introduces a ₹ icon on the home screen, making payments and recharges quicker to access
WhatsApp today announced that people in India can now complete prepaid mobile recharges directly within the app. Powered by PayU, the feature is rolling out in phases across Android and iOS and will be available to all users over the coming weeks.
The feature allows people to seamlessly recharge their own number or that of friends and family members in just a few simple steps. People across India with prepaid connections on Jio, Airtel, and Vi can choose from a range of available plans and complete their mobile recharges directly within WhatsApp, making the process easy, and convenient.
Ravi Garg, Director, Business Messaging, Meta India, said, "In India, WhatsApp is where people connect with friends and family — and increasingly, where they complete everyday essential tasks. By bringing recharges directly into WhatsApp, we are making it easier for people to stay connected without having to juggle between multiple apps. This is part of our continued effort to build a more unified experience on WhatsApp, where people can get more done in one place, in a way that is simple, reliable, and seamless.”
WhatsApp has also introduced a rupee (₹) icon on the home screen to make it simpler for people to discover and access the payments section within WhatsApp. Apart from giving easy access to the recharges, the ₹ icon provides a clear and familiar entry point for people to use UPI on WhatsApp and provide access to all metro services offering WhatsApp based ticketing by clicking on the feature. People can also click the rupee icon within the 1:1 chat threads while messaging friends, family and others to easily send payments using UPI.
“At PayU, we believe the best payment experience is one that is naturally embedded in the platforms where users already spend their time. WhatsApp is part of daily life for people across the country, and mobile recharges are a routine digital transaction. Bringing recharges to WhatsApp allows users to complete a task they perform regularly within an app they already have open—that’s what embedded payments should feel like. Our partnership with Meta reflects our commitment to making high-frequency transactions simpler, more accessible, and effortless,” said Hemang Dattani, Chief Business Officer, PayU Payments.
Steps to access and use the recharge feature
Tap on the ₹ icon
Select Mobile Prepaid Recharge
Select the number (self/ family or friends)
Confirm the operator
Select your plan based on your mobile operator
Select your payment mode (UPI, Debit Card, Credit Cards)
Confirm payment
This launch builds on how WhatsApp is already playing a role in people's everyday lives in India, from conversations and business interactions to payments and essential services. Today, people are using WhatsApp to book metro tickets across cities, pay bills, and access a range of citizen services through government chatbots, all within a familiar chat interface. With mobile recharges now integrated into the app, WhatsApp is extending this utility further, bringing another essential, high-frequency task into a single, seamless experience.
About Meta
Meta is building the future of human connection, powered by artificial intelligence and immersive technologies. When Facebook launched in 2004, it changed the way people connect. Apps like Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp further empowered billions around the world. Now, Meta is moving beyond 2D screens toward experiences that foster deeper connections and unlock new possibilities.
About PayU
PayU, India's leading diversified fintech platform with Prosus as an investor, operates businesses that are regulated by the Reserve Bank of India and offers advanced solutions to meet the digital financial services needs of customers (merchants, banks, and consumers).
PayU provides payment gateway solutions to online businesses through its cutting-edge and award-winning technology and has empowered 4.5 lakhs+ businesses, including India’s leading enterprises, e-commerce giants and SMBs. It enables businesses to collect digital payments across 100+ online payment methods such as Credit Cards, Debit Cards, Net Banking, EMIs, pay-later, QR, UPI, Wallets, and more. It’s a preferred partner in the affordability ecosystem, offering the maximum coverage of issuers and easy-to-implement integrations across card-based EMIs, pay-later options and new-age cardless EMIs. PayU offers e-commerce brands best-in-industry success rates while ensuring a seamless checkout experience.
* Introduces a ₹ icon on the home screen, making payments and recharges quicker to access
WhatsApp today announced that people in India can now complete prepaid mobile recharges directly within the app. Powered by PayU, the feature is rolling out in phases across Android and iOS and will be available to all users over the coming weeks.
The feature allows people to seamlessly recharge their own number or that of friends and family members in just a few simple steps. People across India with prepaid connections on Jio, Airtel, and Vi can choose from a range of available plans and complete their mobile recharges directly within WhatsApp, making the process easy, and convenient.
Ravi Garg, Director, Business Messaging, Meta India, said, "In India, WhatsApp is where people connect with friends and family — and increasingly, where they complete everyday essential tasks. By bringing recharges directly into WhatsApp, we are making it easier for people to stay connected without having to juggle between multiple apps. This is part of our continued effort to build a more unified experience on WhatsApp, where people can get more done in one place, in a way that is simple, reliable, and seamless.”
WhatsApp has also introduced a rupee (₹) icon on the home screen to make it simpler for people to discover and access the payments section within WhatsApp. Apart from giving easy access to the recharges, the ₹ icon provides a clear and familiar entry point for people to use UPI on WhatsApp and provide access to all metro services offering WhatsApp based ticketing by clicking on the feature. People can also click the rupee icon within the 1:1 chat threads while messaging friends, family and others to easily send payments using UPI.
“At PayU, we believe the best payment experience is one that is naturally embedded in the platforms where users already spend their time. WhatsApp is part of daily life for people across the country, and mobile recharges are a routine digital transaction. Bringing recharges to WhatsApp allows users to complete a task they perform regularly within an app they already have open—that’s what embedded payments should feel like. Our partnership with Meta reflects our commitment to making high-frequency transactions simpler, more accessible, and effortless,” said Hemang Dattani, Chief Business Officer, PayU Payments.
Steps to access and use the recharge feature
Tap on the ₹ icon
Select Mobile Prepaid Recharge
Select the number (self/ family or friends)
Confirm the operator
Select your plan based on your mobile operator
Select your payment mode (UPI, Debit Card, Credit Cards)
Confirm payment
This launch builds on how WhatsApp is already playing a role in people's everyday lives in India, from conversations and business interactions to payments and essential services. Today, people are using WhatsApp to book metro tickets across cities, pay bills, and access a range of citizen services through government chatbots, all within a familiar chat interface. With mobile recharges now integrated into the app, WhatsApp is extending this utility further, bringing another essential, high-frequency task into a single, seamless experience.
About Meta
Meta is building the future of human connection, powered by artificial intelligence and immersive technologies. When Facebook launched in 2004, it changed the way people connect. Apps like Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp further empowered billions around the world. Now, Meta is moving beyond 2D screens toward experiences that foster deeper connections and unlock new possibilities.
About PayU
PayU, India's leading diversified fintech platform with Prosus as an investor, operates businesses that are regulated by the Reserve Bank of India and offers advanced solutions to meet the digital financial services needs of customers (merchants, banks, and consumers).
PayU provides payment gateway solutions to online businesses through its cutting-edge and award-winning technology and has empowered 4.5 lakhs+ businesses, including India’s leading enterprises, e-commerce giants and SMBs. It enables businesses to collect digital payments across 100+ online payment methods such as Credit Cards, Debit Cards, Net Banking, EMIs, pay-later, QR, UPI, Wallets, and more. It’s a preferred partner in the affordability ecosystem, offering the maximum coverage of issuers and easy-to-implement integrations across card-based EMIs, pay-later options and new-age cardless EMIs. PayU offers e-commerce brands best-in-industry success rates while ensuring a seamless checkout experience.
Avvatar Reinforces Category Leadership With Limited-Edition Matcha Protein Wafer Bar
Avvatar, India’s leading homegrown sports nutrition brand, continues to shape the evolution of the country’s protein snacking category with the launch of its limited-edition Matcha Protein Wafer Bar. This strategic introduction reflects Avvatar’s role in anticipating consumer trends and setting new benchmarks in flavour innovation within functional nutrition.
Blending authentic Japanese matcha with a light, crunchy wafer format, the 40 g bar priced at INR 100 delivers 10 g priced at INR 100 is of high-quality whey protein isolate, offering a differentiated snacking experience that brings together performance, taste, and global inspiration.
As India’s protein consumption narrative shifts from necessity to lifestyle, Avvatar has consistently stayed ahead by not only addressing protein deficiency but also redefining how protein is consumed; making it more accessible, enjoyable, and culturally relevant. The introduction of matcha, a globally celebrated superfood, underscores the brand’s ability to translate international wellness trends into locally relevant offerings.
Speaking on the launch, Akshali Shah, Executive Director, Parag Milk Foods, said:
“At Avvatar, we see ourselves not just as participants in the category, but as its architects. Our focus has always been to lead the shift in how India consumes protein; moving from functional supplementation to experiential nutrition. The Matcha Protein Wafer Bar is a reflection of that vision, where global trends meet Indian consumer aspirations. Having built strong momentum across flavours like Chocolate, Coffee, Tiramisu, and Cheese, this limited-edition launch allows us to stay culturally current while continuing to expand the category.”
Over the past few years, Avvatar has emerged as a key growth engine within Parag Milk Foods’ new-age business, witnessing strong consumer adoption and rapid scale. Its protein wafer bar portfolio has already created a distinct niche by combining indulgence with nutrition; bridging a critical gap in the Indian snacking ecosystem.
Crafted with whey protein isolate and designed for both fitness enthusiasts and flavour-forward consumers, the Matcha variant caters to a new generation of urban consumers who seek clean-label, globally inspired, and convenient nutrition. The limited-edition launch also reflects Avvatar’s agile innovation strategy - leveraging seasonal and trend-led formats to engage its growing community and continuously refresh the category.
The Matcha Protein Wafer Bar will be available across Avvatar’s official website and select retail outlets for a limited period.
With this launch, Avvatar further strengthens its position as a thought leader in India’s evolving sports nutrition landscape driving not just product innovation, but a larger shift in consumer behaviour and expectations.
About Parag Milk Foods Ltd:
Parag Milk Foods Limited, founded in 1992, is the largest private dairy FMCG company in India. Our manufacturing plants are ideally positioned in Manchar, Maharashtra, Palamaner, Andhra Pradesh, and Sonipat, Haryana. We sell healthful and nutritious 100% cow’s milk products. Our integrated business approach and strong R&D capabilities have helped us establish ourselves as the innovation leader. Our Bhagyalaxmi Dairy Farm is distinguished by its pedigree, perfect cows, state-of-the-art milking, feeding, breeding, and packaging technology.
We pioneered the way with innovation and a robust distribution strategy and we now have over 5 lakh retail touch points, 29 depots, and 500+ super stockists. We work with over 5 lakh farmers and are growing progressively to strengthen our distribution and procurement networks.
We have renowned brands, such as Gowardhan, Go, Pride of Cows, and Avvatar. Our flagship brand, Gowardhan Ghee has more than 22% market share in the cow ghee category and our young and fun-loving brand- Go cheese, has more than 35% market share. We are a leading player in the institutional and HORECA cheese business and are moving very fast into the consumer cheese segment.
Blending authentic Japanese matcha with a light, crunchy wafer format, the 40 g bar priced at INR 100 delivers 10 g priced at INR 100 is of high-quality whey protein isolate, offering a differentiated snacking experience that brings together performance, taste, and global inspiration.
As India’s protein consumption narrative shifts from necessity to lifestyle, Avvatar has consistently stayed ahead by not only addressing protein deficiency but also redefining how protein is consumed; making it more accessible, enjoyable, and culturally relevant. The introduction of matcha, a globally celebrated superfood, underscores the brand’s ability to translate international wellness trends into locally relevant offerings.
Speaking on the launch, Akshali Shah, Executive Director, Parag Milk Foods, said:
“At Avvatar, we see ourselves not just as participants in the category, but as its architects. Our focus has always been to lead the shift in how India consumes protein; moving from functional supplementation to experiential nutrition. The Matcha Protein Wafer Bar is a reflection of that vision, where global trends meet Indian consumer aspirations. Having built strong momentum across flavours like Chocolate, Coffee, Tiramisu, and Cheese, this limited-edition launch allows us to stay culturally current while continuing to expand the category.”
Over the past few years, Avvatar has emerged as a key growth engine within Parag Milk Foods’ new-age business, witnessing strong consumer adoption and rapid scale. Its protein wafer bar portfolio has already created a distinct niche by combining indulgence with nutrition; bridging a critical gap in the Indian snacking ecosystem.
Crafted with whey protein isolate and designed for both fitness enthusiasts and flavour-forward consumers, the Matcha variant caters to a new generation of urban consumers who seek clean-label, globally inspired, and convenient nutrition. The limited-edition launch also reflects Avvatar’s agile innovation strategy - leveraging seasonal and trend-led formats to engage its growing community and continuously refresh the category.
The Matcha Protein Wafer Bar will be available across Avvatar’s official website and select retail outlets for a limited period.
With this launch, Avvatar further strengthens its position as a thought leader in India’s evolving sports nutrition landscape driving not just product innovation, but a larger shift in consumer behaviour and expectations.
About Parag Milk Foods Ltd:
Parag Milk Foods Limited, founded in 1992, is the largest private dairy FMCG company in India. Our manufacturing plants are ideally positioned in Manchar, Maharashtra, Palamaner, Andhra Pradesh, and Sonipat, Haryana. We sell healthful and nutritious 100% cow’s milk products. Our integrated business approach and strong R&D capabilities have helped us establish ourselves as the innovation leader. Our Bhagyalaxmi Dairy Farm is distinguished by its pedigree, perfect cows, state-of-the-art milking, feeding, breeding, and packaging technology.
We pioneered the way with innovation and a robust distribution strategy and we now have over 5 lakh retail touch points, 29 depots, and 500+ super stockists. We work with over 5 lakh farmers and are growing progressively to strengthen our distribution and procurement networks.
We have renowned brands, such as Gowardhan, Go, Pride of Cows, and Avvatar. Our flagship brand, Gowardhan Ghee has more than 22% market share in the cow ghee category and our young and fun-loving brand- Go cheese, has more than 35% market share. We are a leading player in the institutional and HORECA cheese business and are moving very fast into the consumer cheese segment.
Johnson Controls’ 2026 Sustainability Report Highlights Energy Efficiency Returns In Mission-Critical Industries
Key results include helping customers save more than $9.5 billion in energy and operating costs and avoid emissions equivalent to nearly 6 million U.S. homes, freeing up capital to invest in strategic growth.
Company achieved 46% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions since 2017, 33% reduction in Scope 3 emissions from use of sold products, and 91% of its global electricity needs met or matched with carbon-free energy.
Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI), a global technology leader in energy efficiency, decarbonization, thermal management and mission-critical performance, today released its
2026 Sustainability Report detailing the company’s significant progress toward its sustainability goals and the measurable outcomes it is delivering for customers across mission‐critical industries, including healthcare, advanced manufacturing and higher education.
Across thousands of projects worldwide, Johnson Controls technologies helped organizations cut more than $9.5 billion in energy and operating costs – resources that can then be redirected back into strategic priorities such as capacity expansion and workforce development. These savings were achieved alongside environmental benefits equivalent to avoiding nearly 6 million U.S. homes‐worth of emissions, demonstrating that efficiency-led smart decarbonization can accelerate cost discipline at scale.
“Our purpose is grounded in the belief that what we do matters for human society. In the mission‐critical environments we serve, performance, reliability and sustainability are foundational for the future,” said Joakim Weidemanis, Johnson Controls CEO. “Our 2026 Sustainability Report shows that in the industries where failure is not an option, we put energy efficiency to work to unlock growth opportunities and enable peak performance, which frees up capital for long-term growth in the places that really matter.”
Advancing Energy Efficiency and Decarbonization Where It Really Matters
Johnson Controls solutions deliver measurable results across mission-critical industries. At Children’s of Alabama, upgraded chillers and heat pumps reduced heating fuel needs by 69% and saved the hospital $700,000 in annual energy costs. Adding the AI‐enabled OpenBlue platform increased savings to nearly $900,000. And in Stuttgart Münster, Germany, large‐scale heat pumps now provide climate‐neutral heat to 10,000 households, cutting annual emissions by more than 15,000 metric tons of CO2e, equivalent to taking 3,100 cars off the road for a year.
The report also details a 33% reduction in Scope 3 emissions from use of the company’s sold products, more than double its 2030 target of 16%, while introducing new low‐embodied‐carbon chiller options with 44% lower embodied carbon than conventional systems.
“With energy prices on the rise, the most forward‐looking companies are treating energy efficiency as a business strategy to drive every dollar into innovation, technology adoption and competitive advantage,” said Katie McGinty, vice president and chief sustainability and external relations officer at Johnson Controls. “Energy efficiency is one of the fastest ways to lower operating expenses, reduce emissions and improve performance at the same time. At Johnson Controls, we’re proud to help customers turn decarbonization into a source of financial strength and competitive advantage.”
Sustainability begins at home, which is why Johnson Controls is reducing emissions across its operations, resulting in:
46% reduction in Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions from operations since 2017, reaching 84% of the way towards the company’s 2030 goal.
91% of global electricity will be met or matched with carbon-free energy, reducing exposure to price volatility and long-term energy risk.
Innovation Driving Measurable Outcomes
In 2025, Johnson Controls dedicated 77% of new product research and development to sustainability and climate‐related innovation, enabling material improvement in energy cost management, refrigerant transition and digital integration. The 2026 report highlights major improvements in product and system energy performance, including:
Heat pumps that deliver up to 55% emissions reduction versus conventional heating systems while cutting operating costs 35%.
Rapid expansion of beneficial electrification and advanced heat pump adoption, delivering electricity savings for life saving operations of up to 80%.
YORK high‐efficiency chillers and heat pumps that exceed regulatory requirements and delivering significant gains in mission‐critical cooling environments, including
YORK YMAE air‐to‐water inverter scroll modular heat pump, designed to support electrification and boiler replacement across healthcare, commercial and district energy applications while exceeding ASHRAE efficiency standards.
YORK YMC2 Magnetic Bearing Centrifugal chiller that can exceed ASHRAE 90.1 efficiency requirements by as much as 40%.
YORK absorption chillers that utilize waste heat from onsite power generation to cut data center chiller electricity needs by 90%.
Transforming Data Centers for the AI-Powered Economy
To meet global computing demand surging, Johnson Controls provides data centers, or AI “factories of intelligence,” with the infrastructure needed to enhance reliability and uptime, while reducing energy intensity. Johnson Controls solutions can reduce non-IT energy use in most major North American data center hubs by more than 50% through high-efficiency cooling, thermal management, controls, security and fire protection systems including the YORK YDAM magnetic bearing chiller, the YORK YK-HT two-stage economized centrifugal chiller, the Silent-Aire Coolant Distribution Unit platform, and the Metasys building automation system, which continuously monitors and optimizes temperature, humidity, airflow, pressure and energy performance to improve precise environmental control, efficiency, resiliency and uptime at scale. For a gigawatt-scale AI factory, those energy savings are enough to power over 200,000 households annually.
Johnson Controls is also helping data centers reuse energy that would otherwise be wasted. Absorption chillers, powered by recaptured waste heat, can cut the electricity needed to cool the chips by 90%, while heat pumps can upgrade data center waste heat for use by nearby buildings and district heating systems, turning data centers into a power source for nearby communities.
Company achieved 46% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions since 2017, 33% reduction in Scope 3 emissions from use of sold products, and 91% of its global electricity needs met or matched with carbon-free energy.
Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI), a global technology leader in energy efficiency, decarbonization, thermal management and mission-critical performance, today released its
2026 Sustainability Report detailing the company’s significant progress toward its sustainability goals and the measurable outcomes it is delivering for customers across mission‐critical industries, including healthcare, advanced manufacturing and higher education.
Across thousands of projects worldwide, Johnson Controls technologies helped organizations cut more than $9.5 billion in energy and operating costs – resources that can then be redirected back into strategic priorities such as capacity expansion and workforce development. These savings were achieved alongside environmental benefits equivalent to avoiding nearly 6 million U.S. homes‐worth of emissions, demonstrating that efficiency-led smart decarbonization can accelerate cost discipline at scale.
“Our purpose is grounded in the belief that what we do matters for human society. In the mission‐critical environments we serve, performance, reliability and sustainability are foundational for the future,” said Joakim Weidemanis, Johnson Controls CEO. “Our 2026 Sustainability Report shows that in the industries where failure is not an option, we put energy efficiency to work to unlock growth opportunities and enable peak performance, which frees up capital for long-term growth in the places that really matter.”
Advancing Energy Efficiency and Decarbonization Where It Really Matters
Johnson Controls solutions deliver measurable results across mission-critical industries. At Children’s of Alabama, upgraded chillers and heat pumps reduced heating fuel needs by 69% and saved the hospital $700,000 in annual energy costs. Adding the AI‐enabled OpenBlue platform increased savings to nearly $900,000. And in Stuttgart Münster, Germany, large‐scale heat pumps now provide climate‐neutral heat to 10,000 households, cutting annual emissions by more than 15,000 metric tons of CO2e, equivalent to taking 3,100 cars off the road for a year.
The report also details a 33% reduction in Scope 3 emissions from use of the company’s sold products, more than double its 2030 target of 16%, while introducing new low‐embodied‐carbon chiller options with 44% lower embodied carbon than conventional systems.
“With energy prices on the rise, the most forward‐looking companies are treating energy efficiency as a business strategy to drive every dollar into innovation, technology adoption and competitive advantage,” said Katie McGinty, vice president and chief sustainability and external relations officer at Johnson Controls. “Energy efficiency is one of the fastest ways to lower operating expenses, reduce emissions and improve performance at the same time. At Johnson Controls, we’re proud to help customers turn decarbonization into a source of financial strength and competitive advantage.”
Sustainability begins at home, which is why Johnson Controls is reducing emissions across its operations, resulting in:
46% reduction in Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions from operations since 2017, reaching 84% of the way towards the company’s 2030 goal.
91% of global electricity will be met or matched with carbon-free energy, reducing exposure to price volatility and long-term energy risk.
Innovation Driving Measurable Outcomes
In 2025, Johnson Controls dedicated 77% of new product research and development to sustainability and climate‐related innovation, enabling material improvement in energy cost management, refrigerant transition and digital integration. The 2026 report highlights major improvements in product and system energy performance, including:
Heat pumps that deliver up to 55% emissions reduction versus conventional heating systems while cutting operating costs 35%.
Rapid expansion of beneficial electrification and advanced heat pump adoption, delivering electricity savings for life saving operations of up to 80%.
YORK high‐efficiency chillers and heat pumps that exceed regulatory requirements and delivering significant gains in mission‐critical cooling environments, including
YORK YMAE air‐to‐water inverter scroll modular heat pump, designed to support electrification and boiler replacement across healthcare, commercial and district energy applications while exceeding ASHRAE efficiency standards.
YORK YMC2 Magnetic Bearing Centrifugal chiller that can exceed ASHRAE 90.1 efficiency requirements by as much as 40%.
YORK absorption chillers that utilize waste heat from onsite power generation to cut data center chiller electricity needs by 90%.
Transforming Data Centers for the AI-Powered Economy
To meet global computing demand surging, Johnson Controls provides data centers, or AI “factories of intelligence,” with the infrastructure needed to enhance reliability and uptime, while reducing energy intensity. Johnson Controls solutions can reduce non-IT energy use in most major North American data center hubs by more than 50% through high-efficiency cooling, thermal management, controls, security and fire protection systems including the YORK YDAM magnetic bearing chiller, the YORK YK-HT two-stage economized centrifugal chiller, the Silent-Aire Coolant Distribution Unit platform, and the Metasys building automation system, which continuously monitors and optimizes temperature, humidity, airflow, pressure and energy performance to improve precise environmental control, efficiency, resiliency and uptime at scale. For a gigawatt-scale AI factory, those energy savings are enough to power over 200,000 households annually.
Johnson Controls is also helping data centers reuse energy that would otherwise be wasted. Absorption chillers, powered by recaptured waste heat, can cut the electricity needed to cool the chips by 90%, while heat pumps can upgrade data center waste heat for use by nearby buildings and district heating systems, turning data centers into a power source for nearby communities.
Medtronic Launches Adaptive Deep Brain Stimulation System For Parkinson’s Patients In India
Medtronic, a global leader in healthcare technology, today announced the launch of its Adaptive Deep Brain Stimulation (aDBS) system, an innovation over conventional DBS, in India to further improve quality of life of patients living with Parkinson’s disease.
The prevalence of Parkinson's disease (PD) in India is roughly 10% of the global burden, which is a considerable public health concern[1]
Parkinson’s is a progressive neurological condition that can affect how a person moves and functions in everyday life. Over time, it may make routine activities such as walking, writing, or holding everyday objects more difficult. While movement-related challenges are often the most visible, the condition can also influence other aspects of daily living, including communication, sleep, and overall well‑being. Today, a range of treatment approaches help manage symptoms as the disease evolves. Care is typically tailored over time, with treatment pathways adjusted based on individual needs and clinical assessment by specialists.[2]
Treatment options like Deep Brain Stimulation exist which involve manual adjustment of stimulation levels throughout the day, usually managed by patients or caregivers. Medtronic’s aDBS technology is designed to adapt real time to changes in a patient’s condition or medication needs—helping deliver more consistent symptom management. The aDBS system uses BrainSense™ technology, which has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 3-4
Adaptive deep brain stimulation (aDBS) is designed to automatically adjust therapy based on changes in brain signals or patient activity. By responding in real time, it aims to provide more consistent symptom control, minimize side effects, and help extend the life of the implanted device’s battery.
With India expected to witness a significant rise in Parkinson’s disease cases—projected to become the second-highest globally within the next five years7—the introduction of the aDBS system comes at a critical time. Although there is currently no cure for conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, deep brain stimulation (DBS) has been transforming the lives of patients with Parkinson’s and other neurological disorders for more than three decades. 5-6
DBS uses a small, pacemaker-like device, placed under the skin of the chest, to send electronic signals to an area in the brain that controls movement. To give you relief, these signals block some of the brain messages that cause the movement symptoms of Parkinson’s.
On the occasion, Prateek Tiwari, Senior Director, Neuroscience & Specialty therapies, Medtronic India said, “We are extremely proud to introduce this advanced technology in India, where Parkinson’s disease is an increasingly significant healthcare concern. Our mission has always been to alleviate pain, restore health, and extend life, and the introduction of this system reflects our continued commitment to that mission. This milestone not only reaffirms our dedication to addressing the growing burden of Parkinson’s disease but also strengthens our leadership in bringing cutting-edge healthcare technologies to India to ultimately improve patients’ quality of life.’’
As the burden of a disease such as Parkinson’s will rise, continued investment in cutting-edge technologies will be essential to expanding access to better care, supporting clinicians with deeper insights, and ultimately improving the quality of life for patients across the country.
Patients considering deep brain stimulation (DBS) typically begin by consulting a Movement Disorder Specialist, usually a neurologist, who evaluates whether their condition may benefit from this therapy. DBS follows a coordinated, team-based approach, with patients often referred to a comprehensive DBS clinic or neurosurgery board for further assessment. If considered suitable, a Functional Neurosurgeon—specially trained to perform the procedure—works alongside the care team to implant and program the device.
All information contained herein is for general awareness purposes only, and nothing contained herein should be construed as medical advice or recommendation. Patients should consult their physician to discuss their conditions and seek relevant medical advice.
About Medtronic
Bold thinking. Bolder actions. We are Medtronic. Medtronic plc, headquartered in Galway, Ireland, is the leading global healthcare technology company that boldly attacks the most challenging health problems facing humanity by searching out and finding solutions. Our Mission — to alleviate pain, restore health, and extend life — unites a global team of 95,000+ passionate people across more than 150 countries. Our technologies and therapies treat 70 health conditions and include cardiac devices, surgical robotics, insulin pumps, surgical tools, patient monitoring systems, and more. Powered by our diverse knowledge, insatiable curiosity, and desire to help all those who need it, we deliver innovative technologies that transform the lives of two people every second, every hour, every day. Expect more from us as we empower insight-driven care, experiences that put people first, and better outcomes for our world. In everything we do, we are engineering the extraordinary. For more information on Medtronic, visit www.Medtronic.com and follow Medtronic on LinkedIn.
The prevalence of Parkinson's disease (PD) in India is roughly 10% of the global burden, which is a considerable public health concern[1]
Parkinson’s is a progressive neurological condition that can affect how a person moves and functions in everyday life. Over time, it may make routine activities such as walking, writing, or holding everyday objects more difficult. While movement-related challenges are often the most visible, the condition can also influence other aspects of daily living, including communication, sleep, and overall well‑being. Today, a range of treatment approaches help manage symptoms as the disease evolves. Care is typically tailored over time, with treatment pathways adjusted based on individual needs and clinical assessment by specialists.[2]
Treatment options like Deep Brain Stimulation exist which involve manual adjustment of stimulation levels throughout the day, usually managed by patients or caregivers. Medtronic’s aDBS technology is designed to adapt real time to changes in a patient’s condition or medication needs—helping deliver more consistent symptom management. The aDBS system uses BrainSense™ technology, which has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 3-4
Adaptive deep brain stimulation (aDBS) is designed to automatically adjust therapy based on changes in brain signals or patient activity. By responding in real time, it aims to provide more consistent symptom control, minimize side effects, and help extend the life of the implanted device’s battery.
With India expected to witness a significant rise in Parkinson’s disease cases—projected to become the second-highest globally within the next five years7—the introduction of the aDBS system comes at a critical time. Although there is currently no cure for conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, deep brain stimulation (DBS) has been transforming the lives of patients with Parkinson’s and other neurological disorders for more than three decades. 5-6
DBS uses a small, pacemaker-like device, placed under the skin of the chest, to send electronic signals to an area in the brain that controls movement. To give you relief, these signals block some of the brain messages that cause the movement symptoms of Parkinson’s.
On the occasion, Prateek Tiwari, Senior Director, Neuroscience & Specialty therapies, Medtronic India said, “We are extremely proud to introduce this advanced technology in India, where Parkinson’s disease is an increasingly significant healthcare concern. Our mission has always been to alleviate pain, restore health, and extend life, and the introduction of this system reflects our continued commitment to that mission. This milestone not only reaffirms our dedication to addressing the growing burden of Parkinson’s disease but also strengthens our leadership in bringing cutting-edge healthcare technologies to India to ultimately improve patients’ quality of life.’’
As the burden of a disease such as Parkinson’s will rise, continued investment in cutting-edge technologies will be essential to expanding access to better care, supporting clinicians with deeper insights, and ultimately improving the quality of life for patients across the country.
Patients considering deep brain stimulation (DBS) typically begin by consulting a Movement Disorder Specialist, usually a neurologist, who evaluates whether their condition may benefit from this therapy. DBS follows a coordinated, team-based approach, with patients often referred to a comprehensive DBS clinic or neurosurgery board for further assessment. If considered suitable, a Functional Neurosurgeon—specially trained to perform the procedure—works alongside the care team to implant and program the device.
All information contained herein is for general awareness purposes only, and nothing contained herein should be construed as medical advice or recommendation. Patients should consult their physician to discuss their conditions and seek relevant medical advice.
About Medtronic
Bold thinking. Bolder actions. We are Medtronic. Medtronic plc, headquartered in Galway, Ireland, is the leading global healthcare technology company that boldly attacks the most challenging health problems facing humanity by searching out and finding solutions. Our Mission — to alleviate pain, restore health, and extend life — unites a global team of 95,000+ passionate people across more than 150 countries. Our technologies and therapies treat 70 health conditions and include cardiac devices, surgical robotics, insulin pumps, surgical tools, patient monitoring systems, and more. Powered by our diverse knowledge, insatiable curiosity, and desire to help all those who need it, we deliver innovative technologies that transform the lives of two people every second, every hour, every day. Expect more from us as we empower insight-driven care, experiences that put people first, and better outcomes for our world. In everything we do, we are engineering the extraordinary. For more information on Medtronic, visit www.Medtronic.com and follow Medtronic on LinkedIn.
Amazon Releases First Trustworthy Shopping Experience Report
Key takeaways
Since 2020, Amazon's Counterfeit Crimes Unit has pursued more than 32,000 bad actors through litigation and criminal referrals to law enforcement, across 14 countries.
Amazon's AI early warning system successfully anticipated a bad actor attack on a viral, new branded product, blocking the infringing listings a full eight days before the brand owner even shared their IP with us.
In 2025, Amazon’s legal actions led to the shutdown of more than 100 websites attempting to facilitate fake reviews and scams targeting our store.
Amazon has released its first Trustworthy Shopping Experience Report, a comprehensive account of how it protects customers, selling partners, and brands across its global store. The report brings together, for the first time, Amazon’s work across anti-counterfeiting, product safety, scam prevention, trustworthy reviews, and organized retail crime—offering a broader view of the systems, technology, and partnerships it uses to help keep its store safe and trustworthy.
Rohan Oommen, Vice President of Worldwide Customer and Partner Trust, said, “Our goal is to protect the store for customers, brands, and sellers alike. But we understand policies designed to protect customers can sometimes create friction for sellers trying to grow their business. That’s why we’ve invested in tools such as Amazon's Account Health Dashboard, which gives sellers transparency and control into their adherence to policies, performance targets, and more. Ensuring that legitimate selling partners can thrive on Amazon is central to our mission, and this report reflects that commitment.”
Amazon’s approach is built on four interconnected pillars: 1) proactive controls that stop issues before they reach customers, 2) powerful tools that anticipate risks, 3) holding bad actors accountable, and 4) protecting and educating consumers. Below are a few highlights illustrating each pillar in action:
Stopping problems before they reach customers: Amazon makes it straightforward for legitimate businesses to set up a selling account, but bad actors attempting to misrepresent themselves encounter intentional friction at every step. All new sellers are required to complete Amazon’s verification process before they are allowed to sell in the store. Activity is continuously monitored throughout a seller’s journey, with automated technology and artificial intelligence (AI) scanning billions of attempted changes to product detail pages daily for signs of potential abuse. Multimodal systems also analyze billions of signals simultaneously—including text, images, seller behavior, and supply chain patterns—to help identify potential abuse before it reaches customers.
Amazon has also launched a direct product validation program to work directly with accredited safety laboratories to verify product compliance in its store. It has deployed Omniscan—an advanced machine learning system that verifies the readability and language of essential safety details at scale before products are listed—across its global fulfillment network in the U.S., Canada, UK, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Europe. The system generated image sets for more than 12 million products.
To protect the integrity of customer reviews, Amazon’s systems analyze thousands of data points across billions of reviews before they appear in the store, drawing on review data dating back to 1995 to detect fake or abusive content. In 2025, the company proactively blocked hundreds of millions of suspected fake reviews.
Anticipating risks before they emerge: Amazon has developed an early warning system that can detect emerging threats to new brands and products before they reach its catalog. By integrating real-time signals from social media and other retailers, it can anticipate potential infringement in some cases even before brands share their intellectual property (IP). In 2025, Amazon teams anticipated a bad actor attack on a viral new branded product trending on social media, blocking infringing listings eight days before the brand owner shared their IP.
This same anticipatory approach extends to scam prevention. Amazon also launched SENTRIX last year, an AI technology that enhances its ability to identify and remove malicious websites. Through SENTRIX's automated detection capabilities, potential phishing websites are detected, contributing to a more than 10% increase in successful phishing URL takedowns.
Holding bad actors accountable: Amazon pursues bad actors across multiple dimensions of illegal activity, including global scam prevention, organized retail crime, cybercrime, counterfeit enforcement, and return and refund fraud. Since its launch in 2020, Amazon’s Counterfeit Crimes Unit has pursued more than 32,000 bad actors through litigation and criminal referrals across 14 countries. In 2025, Amazon identified, seized, and appropriately disposed of more than 15 million counterfeit products worldwide, while its legal actions led to the shutdown of more than 100 websites attempting to facilitate fake reviews and scams. The company is also a member of 10 organized retail crime task forces led by attorneys general across the United States.
Amazon also works across borders. Its collaboration with Chinese law enforcement and brands led to more than 70 successful local raid actions against manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors of counterfeit products. These actions resulted in criminal convictions including fines and prison sentences.
Protecting and empowering consumers: In 2025, Amazon directly contacted millions of customers with product safety information regarding the products they purchased, and partnered with 34 consumer organizations to deliver safety information on 71 key topics across seven countries. Amazon’s “Your Recalls and Product Safety Alerts” page ensures that when a government announces a recall, every affected customer receives a personalized notification linking directly to details about the hazard and their options for refunds, returns, or repairs. These efforts extend beyond Amazon’s store through collaboration with government, safety organizations, and advocacy groups worldwide—ensuring every consumer has access to the knowledge and tools they need to shop confidently and safely.
The systems described in the report are evolving every day, building upon decades of learnings, billions of data points, and a consistent flow of feedback. Creating a trustworthy shopping experience is an ongoing journey, and the report offers Amazon’s most transparent account yet of the progress it has made, the challenges that remain, and the commitment that continues to drive this work forward.
The report also follows close on the heels of Amazon’s recent announcement of the expansion of its Counterfeit Crimes Unit to India, bringing dedicated local expertise closer to the ground in one of the world’s fastest-growing e-commerce destinations. The move will help Amazon work more closely with Indian brands, sellers, and law enforcement agencies to detect counterfeit activity faster, protect intellectual property, and support stronger enforcement action where required – reinforcing the company’s broader commitment to customers in India.
Read the full Trustworthy Shopping Experience Report here: https://trustworthyshopping.aboutamazon.com/2025-trustworthy-shopping-experience-report
Since 2020, Amazon's Counterfeit Crimes Unit has pursued more than 32,000 bad actors through litigation and criminal referrals to law enforcement, across 14 countries.
Amazon's AI early warning system successfully anticipated a bad actor attack on a viral, new branded product, blocking the infringing listings a full eight days before the brand owner even shared their IP with us.
In 2025, Amazon’s legal actions led to the shutdown of more than 100 websites attempting to facilitate fake reviews and scams targeting our store.
Amazon has released its first Trustworthy Shopping Experience Report, a comprehensive account of how it protects customers, selling partners, and brands across its global store. The report brings together, for the first time, Amazon’s work across anti-counterfeiting, product safety, scam prevention, trustworthy reviews, and organized retail crime—offering a broader view of the systems, technology, and partnerships it uses to help keep its store safe and trustworthy.
Rohan Oommen, Vice President of Worldwide Customer and Partner Trust, said, “Our goal is to protect the store for customers, brands, and sellers alike. But we understand policies designed to protect customers can sometimes create friction for sellers trying to grow their business. That’s why we’ve invested in tools such as Amazon's Account Health Dashboard, which gives sellers transparency and control into their adherence to policies, performance targets, and more. Ensuring that legitimate selling partners can thrive on Amazon is central to our mission, and this report reflects that commitment.”
Amazon’s approach is built on four interconnected pillars: 1) proactive controls that stop issues before they reach customers, 2) powerful tools that anticipate risks, 3) holding bad actors accountable, and 4) protecting and educating consumers. Below are a few highlights illustrating each pillar in action:
Stopping problems before they reach customers: Amazon makes it straightforward for legitimate businesses to set up a selling account, but bad actors attempting to misrepresent themselves encounter intentional friction at every step. All new sellers are required to complete Amazon’s verification process before they are allowed to sell in the store. Activity is continuously monitored throughout a seller’s journey, with automated technology and artificial intelligence (AI) scanning billions of attempted changes to product detail pages daily for signs of potential abuse. Multimodal systems also analyze billions of signals simultaneously—including text, images, seller behavior, and supply chain patterns—to help identify potential abuse before it reaches customers.
Amazon has also launched a direct product validation program to work directly with accredited safety laboratories to verify product compliance in its store. It has deployed Omniscan—an advanced machine learning system that verifies the readability and language of essential safety details at scale before products are listed—across its global fulfillment network in the U.S., Canada, UK, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Europe. The system generated image sets for more than 12 million products.
To protect the integrity of customer reviews, Amazon’s systems analyze thousands of data points across billions of reviews before they appear in the store, drawing on review data dating back to 1995 to detect fake or abusive content. In 2025, the company proactively blocked hundreds of millions of suspected fake reviews.
Anticipating risks before they emerge: Amazon has developed an early warning system that can detect emerging threats to new brands and products before they reach its catalog. By integrating real-time signals from social media and other retailers, it can anticipate potential infringement in some cases even before brands share their intellectual property (IP). In 2025, Amazon teams anticipated a bad actor attack on a viral new branded product trending on social media, blocking infringing listings eight days before the brand owner shared their IP.
This same anticipatory approach extends to scam prevention. Amazon also launched SENTRIX last year, an AI technology that enhances its ability to identify and remove malicious websites. Through SENTRIX's automated detection capabilities, potential phishing websites are detected, contributing to a more than 10% increase in successful phishing URL takedowns.
Holding bad actors accountable: Amazon pursues bad actors across multiple dimensions of illegal activity, including global scam prevention, organized retail crime, cybercrime, counterfeit enforcement, and return and refund fraud. Since its launch in 2020, Amazon’s Counterfeit Crimes Unit has pursued more than 32,000 bad actors through litigation and criminal referrals across 14 countries. In 2025, Amazon identified, seized, and appropriately disposed of more than 15 million counterfeit products worldwide, while its legal actions led to the shutdown of more than 100 websites attempting to facilitate fake reviews and scams. The company is also a member of 10 organized retail crime task forces led by attorneys general across the United States.
Amazon also works across borders. Its collaboration with Chinese law enforcement and brands led to more than 70 successful local raid actions against manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors of counterfeit products. These actions resulted in criminal convictions including fines and prison sentences.
Protecting and empowering consumers: In 2025, Amazon directly contacted millions of customers with product safety information regarding the products they purchased, and partnered with 34 consumer organizations to deliver safety information on 71 key topics across seven countries. Amazon’s “Your Recalls and Product Safety Alerts” page ensures that when a government announces a recall, every affected customer receives a personalized notification linking directly to details about the hazard and their options for refunds, returns, or repairs. These efforts extend beyond Amazon’s store through collaboration with government, safety organizations, and advocacy groups worldwide—ensuring every consumer has access to the knowledge and tools they need to shop confidently and safely.
The systems described in the report are evolving every day, building upon decades of learnings, billions of data points, and a consistent flow of feedback. Creating a trustworthy shopping experience is an ongoing journey, and the report offers Amazon’s most transparent account yet of the progress it has made, the challenges that remain, and the commitment that continues to drive this work forward.
The report also follows close on the heels of Amazon’s recent announcement of the expansion of its Counterfeit Crimes Unit to India, bringing dedicated local expertise closer to the ground in one of the world’s fastest-growing e-commerce destinations. The move will help Amazon work more closely with Indian brands, sellers, and law enforcement agencies to detect counterfeit activity faster, protect intellectual property, and support stronger enforcement action where required – reinforcing the company’s broader commitment to customers in India.
Read the full Trustworthy Shopping Experience Report here: https://trustworthyshopping.aboutamazon.com/2025-trustworthy-shopping-experience-report
Rethinking Urban Living: Pushkalam Developers Introduces A Community Designed Around Everyday Life
* Launches ‘Pushkalam Heritage’ - a Vaastu-led residential experience in East Bengaluru centred on light, space, and community living.
At a time when urban housing is increasingly shaped by density and standardisation, Bengaluru-based Pushkalam Developers is taking a more considered approach to residential design, focusing on how homes function in everyday life.
With its debut project, Pushkalam Heritage (RERA No.: PR280324/006744), the company is introducing a Vaastu-led residential development in East Bengaluru that places equal emphasis on usability, openness, and community. Spread across 2.64 acres, the project comprises 296 homes across two towers and is designed as a low-density environment that prioritises space, light, and long-term livability.
Located off Old Madras Road, the project sits within one of East Bengaluru’s emerging growth corridors, offering connectivity to Whitefield, ITPL, and key employment hubs, while remaining relatively removed from the congestion of core city zones. The development brings together traditional planning principles with contemporary urban needs, with a clear focus on reducing everyday friction - through efficient layouts, better ventilation, and spaces that are designed to be actively used rather than simply added on.
The project offers predominantly 3BHK homes ranging from 1,440 sq. ft. to 1,890 sq. ft., along with a limited number of 2BHK units. Each home is designed with large, usable balconies, efficient layouts, and minimal dead space - focusing on how spaces are used in everyday life rather than simply maximising saleable area.
A defining element of the project is the Grand East Pavilion, a 25,000 sq. ft. integrated space for sports, community activities, and shared experiences. Located along the eastern edge, it is designed to receive the morning sun, shaping daily routines around movement, interaction, and a sense of openness.
Nearly 70% of the development is dedicated to open spaces, complemented by amenities such as sports courts, a swimming pool, co-working areas, landscaped zones, and community spaces. These are positioned not as standalone features, but as extensions of daily life - encouraging interaction, recreation, and balance.
Commenting on the launch, Sri Harsha M, Director, Pushkalam Developers, said, “A home is not just where we live, it shapes how we live, every single day. Yet, much of urban housing today has become increasingly transactional, with a focus on adding features rather than understanding how spaces actually work. We see this as an opportunity to shift the conversation. Our approach is to simplify living - through better layouts, natural ventilation, and thoughtful planning that reduces everyday friction. For us, the true measure of a home lies in how it supports comfort, clarity, and balance over time. The goal is to create spaces that do not just look good on day one but continue to feel right for years to come.”
Pushkalam Developers, founded in 2024, has hands-on experience across the entire construction process—from materials to final execution. The company takes a practical, execution-focused approach, with Vaastu considered as part of the overall planning rather than an add-on feature. With its first residential project, Pushkalam Heritage, the company is focusing on quality, attention to detail, and long-term usability, instead of rapid expansion. The project is expected to be completed by March 2028.
At a time when urban housing is increasingly shaped by density and standardisation, Bengaluru-based Pushkalam Developers is taking a more considered approach to residential design, focusing on how homes function in everyday life.
With its debut project, Pushkalam Heritage (RERA No.: PR280324/006744), the company is introducing a Vaastu-led residential development in East Bengaluru that places equal emphasis on usability, openness, and community. Spread across 2.64 acres, the project comprises 296 homes across two towers and is designed as a low-density environment that prioritises space, light, and long-term livability.
Located off Old Madras Road, the project sits within one of East Bengaluru’s emerging growth corridors, offering connectivity to Whitefield, ITPL, and key employment hubs, while remaining relatively removed from the congestion of core city zones. The development brings together traditional planning principles with contemporary urban needs, with a clear focus on reducing everyday friction - through efficient layouts, better ventilation, and spaces that are designed to be actively used rather than simply added on.
The project offers predominantly 3BHK homes ranging from 1,440 sq. ft. to 1,890 sq. ft., along with a limited number of 2BHK units. Each home is designed with large, usable balconies, efficient layouts, and minimal dead space - focusing on how spaces are used in everyday life rather than simply maximising saleable area.
A defining element of the project is the Grand East Pavilion, a 25,000 sq. ft. integrated space for sports, community activities, and shared experiences. Located along the eastern edge, it is designed to receive the morning sun, shaping daily routines around movement, interaction, and a sense of openness.
Nearly 70% of the development is dedicated to open spaces, complemented by amenities such as sports courts, a swimming pool, co-working areas, landscaped zones, and community spaces. These are positioned not as standalone features, but as extensions of daily life - encouraging interaction, recreation, and balance.
Commenting on the launch, Sri Harsha M, Director, Pushkalam Developers, said, “A home is not just where we live, it shapes how we live, every single day. Yet, much of urban housing today has become increasingly transactional, with a focus on adding features rather than understanding how spaces actually work. We see this as an opportunity to shift the conversation. Our approach is to simplify living - through better layouts, natural ventilation, and thoughtful planning that reduces everyday friction. For us, the true measure of a home lies in how it supports comfort, clarity, and balance over time. The goal is to create spaces that do not just look good on day one but continue to feel right for years to come.”
Pushkalam Developers, founded in 2024, has hands-on experience across the entire construction process—from materials to final execution. The company takes a practical, execution-focused approach, with Vaastu considered as part of the overall planning rather than an add-on feature. With its first residential project, Pushkalam Heritage, the company is focusing on quality, attention to detail, and long-term usability, instead of rapid expansion. The project is expected to be completed by March 2028.
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