Revolutionary Nano Solution From MAHE Researchers Paves The Way For Water Purification

In a groundbreaking achievement, scientists at the Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) have unveiled a game-changing technology that harnesses the power of nanoparticles to cleanse contaminated water, yielding pure, safe drinking water. With a patented method, this innovation has the potential to eliminate pollutants from water sources. The exciting twist lies in its reliance on natural resources, rendering it independent of external energy sources.

Dr. Suresh D. Kulkarni, the lead researcher, underlines the distinct advantage of this approach. "What sets our method apart from existing techniques is its self-sufficiency—our process doesn't demand external resources. The purification process is seamlessly driven by naturally occurring elements," he explains. This discovery holds immense promise not only for creating affordable and portable water treatment devices for the next generation but also for revolutionizing water purification on a larger scale. Dr. K. S. Choudhari, a co-inventor, elaborates, "Our breakthrough can be utilized repeatedly, thanks to the magnetic field-driven collection of the purifying agent."

Given that more than 2.2 billion people worldwide lack access to clean drinking water, Dr. Sajan Daniel George, Head of the Department of Atomic and Molecular Physics, underscores the urgency for scalable solutions that can be economically viable. He stresses the need for innovations that can be readily transformed into commercial products. The researchers are currently on the lookout for industry partners who share their vision of bringing this technology to market. The next phase of their journey involves collaborating with enterprises to facilitate large-scale production. Prof. Narayana Sabhahit, Pro-Vice Chancellor of Technology and Science at MAHE, applauds the initiative, emphasizing the institution's commitment to impactful research that addresses societal needs.

Notably, the simplicity of the synthesis process and the utilization of natural resources open the possibility of involving local communities in the production and distribution of this nanotechnology-based solution. This development presents an opportunity to empower regions grappling with water pollution by engaging them in the creation and delivery of a sustainable solution.

In a world where access to clean water is a pressing concern, MAHE's breakthrough offers a ray of hope—a revolutionary leap toward a future where safe drinking water is a reality for all.

Mahindra Manulife Mutual Fund Announces Launch Of Mahindra Manulife Business Cycle Fund

* An Open-ended equity scheme following business cycles based investing theme

* Scheme opens on 21st August 2023, closes on 4th September 2023 and reopens for continuous sale and repurchase from 13th September, 2023

Mahindra Manulife Mutual Fund, a joint venture between Mahindra & Mahindra Financial Services Limited ("Mahindra Finance") and Manulife Investment Management (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., unveils its latest investment opportunity - the 'Mahindra Manulife Business Cycle Fund.' This open-ended equity scheme shall follow business cycles-based investing theme, catering to investors with an appetite for long-term capital appreciation through equity and equity-related securities.

Mahindra Manulife Business Cycle Fund aims to generate capital appreciation by investing predominantly in equity and equity-related securities with a focus on investing in companies and sectors to participate in the business cycles through active portfolio allocation. The fund seeks to empower investors to make well-informed decisions that transcend business cycle divergences by astute monitoring and discerning the junctures using the economic and market cycle parameters.

Anthony Heredia, MD & CEO of Mahindra Manulife Mutual Fund, highlighted the significance of this offering, stating, " Through a judicious alignment of economic shifts and market dynamics, we provide investors with an opportunity to add a long-term tactical play to their core fund portfolios. This fund complements our existing product portfolio and is well suited to both one time as well as SIP investments."

Mahindra Manulife Business Cycle Fund will be managed by Krishna Sanghavi, Chief Investment Officer – Equity, who brings over 28 years of experience in the Indian equity markets, along with Mr. Renjith Sivaram Radhakrishnan. Krishna Sanghavi emphasized the fund's core objective: "The fund strategically aims to integrate the economic cycle and market cycle  with a view to construct portfolio based on sectoral preferences depending upon stages of business cycles, in order to generate long-term capital appreciation. At Mahindra Manulife, we believe our new offering Mahindra Manulife Business Cycle Fund is tailored to seize opportunities across market capitalization in equity markets using a blend of top-down Business Cycle/Sector identification and bottom-up stock selection approach.”

The investment approach of Mahindra Manulife Business Cycle Fund amalgamates top-down and bottom-up methodologies, providing a comprehensive strategy. This process shall commence with a thorough identification of the prevailing business cycle and sectoral trends, providing a robust framework for portfolio allocation. During favorable business cycles, the fund will emphasize investments in high-quality companies, ensuring diversification across market capitalizations and exposure to diverse investment prospects. Additionally, the fund shall strategically focus on sectors that correspond with distinct business cycle stages. By integrating these methodologies, the Mahindra Manulife Business Cycle Fund endeavors to optimize returns while effectively managing risk through well-informed sector and stock selection decisions.

The Mahindra Manulife Business Cycle Fund invites investors to embark on a transformative investment journey that aligns with the fluid dynamics of economic and market cycles. The  'New Fund Offer' (NFO) is set to open on 21st August 2023, with the subscription window closing on 4th September 2023. The fund will subsequently reopen for continuous sale and repurchase from 13th September 2023.

NTPC Conferred With Asia’s Best Employer Brand Awards 2023

NTPC Ltd has been conferred with the “Asia’s Best Employer Brand Awards 2023” at the “Asia's Best Employer Brand Awards” held recently at Singapore.

The Asia’s Best Employer Brand Awards 2023 features the top organizations from Asia region having exemplary people practices. The key criteria’s on which organizations are assessed include translating and combining vision with action by aligning HR Strategy, building line to mesh HR Strategy with business and developing competencies for the future to enable a future-ready organization.

The recognition signifies NTPC’s unflinching commitment towards achieving excellence in development and management of Human Resources through continuous process improvement, employee engagement, focussed learning and development, providing career and growth opportunity and employee welfare.

It is an outcome of NTPC’s “People Before PLF” approach which is the guiding philosophy behind the entire gamut of HR policies thus building an enabling and engaging progressive work culture.

NTPC has been in the forefront of adopting and institutionalising progressive and best HR practices in a proactive manner, which have been recognised by various prestigious forums at national and international levels.

In the past, NTPC has won the Gold award in Brandon Hall 31st Annual HCM Excellence Awards®, in the area of Leadership Development and Learning & Development. It was only Indian PSU to have secured this award in area of Leadership Development. NTPC was also bestowed with the prestigious ATD BEST Award instituted by Association for Talent Development, USA, where NTPC ranked best amongst Indian PSUs, besides being the only Indian PSU to have secured this award for the 6th time. NTPC was awarded Winner for "Excellence in Developing Leaders of Tomorrow" and "Excellence in Community Impact" in the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) HR Excellence Awards 2022., NTPC was conferred with the prestigious ‘Role Model’ Award at the prestigious CII National HR Excellence Award In March 2021 and is one of the only three companies in the history of these Awards to have received the Role Model Award.

Such awards recognize NTPC's constantly evolving talent strategy and people practices that are in line with business and workforce requirements and work to create a meaningful environment that fosters business excellence.

Air India Partners AccesRail; Provides Seamless intermodal Travel To 100+ Cities In Europe

* Partnership enables Air India guests to access seamless, on-ground train and bus connections to over 100 cities and towns

* Guests will enjoy benefit of the same baggage allowance on these rail or bus operator services as offered by Air India on its own flights

Air India, India’s leading international carrier, has entered an intermodal interline agreement with AccesRail to boost connectivity options for Air India guests across Europe, including smaller cities without airports.

The agreement enables Air India guests to travel on a single intermodal ticket and take seamless, on-ground train and bus connections to more than 100 cities and towns in Austria, Belgium, Germany, The Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, and the United Kingdom via its European gateways of Amsterdam, Birmingham, London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Milan, and Vienna. It also allows Air India guests to enjoy the benefit of the same baggage allowance on these rail or bus operator services as offered by Air India on its own flights.

AccesRail is an IATA travel partner with its own designator code (9B), thus making intermodal journeys on a single ticket possible.

Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial & Transformation Officer, Air India, said, “The expansion of our global network is one of our key priorities in the ongoing, comprehensive transformation of Air India. This partnership with AccesRail not only helps us to provide our guests easy access to an extended network of destinations across Europe, but also to bridge the gaps in connectivity between India and Europe.”

“Augmenting our network with an intermodal approach also underlines our commitment to environmental sustainability”, Aggarwal said.

Andrew Popescu, Vice President Business Development, AccesRail, said, “We are excited to be launching our Air India-AccesRail cooperation and look forward to continuing with Air India on a global scale with so many of our intermodal rail and coach partners. Through this enhanced AccesRail partnership, Air India will be able, now and in the future, to offer its customers more destinations and more possibilities in a more seamless fashion.”

AccesRail’s extensive network of rail and bus operators for Air India include Avanti West Coast (UK), Great Western Railways (UK), London North Eastern Railways (UK), National Express (UK), Trenitalia (Italy), ÖBB Austrian Railways (Austria), SNCB Belgian Railways, and Thalys (Netherlands/Belgium).

Currently, intermodal tickets with Air India are available for booking through travel agents globally. The airline also plans to extend the facility to its own sales channels progressively.

About Air India:

Founded by the legendary JRD Tata, Air India pioneered India’s aviation sector. Since its first flight on October 15, 1932, Air India has built an extensive domestic network with non-stop flights to cities around the world, across the USA, Canada, UK, Europe, Far-East, South-East Asia, Australia, and the Gulf. After 69 years as a government-owned enterprise, Air India and Air India Express were welcomed back into the Tata group in January 2022.

Air India is navigating through a major five-year transformation roadmap under the aegis of Vihaan.AI, with an ambition to become a world class airline with an Indian heart. The first phase of this transformation, the taxi phase was recently concluded, and focused on fixing the basics. These included bringing back to service many long grounded aircraft, addition of talent across flying and ground functions, rapid upgradation of technology and strengthening of customer care initiatives amongst others. 

A member of Star Alliance, the largest global airline consortium of leading international airlines, Air India offers seamless connectivity and facilities to passengers all over the world 

DBS Bank India Is Banking On India’s Badminton Stars!

* Partners with India’s trailblazers – Lakshya Sen, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, Chirag Shetty, Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand

In a move that underscores DBS Bank India's commitment to the country, the bank has announced its partnership with five exceptional badminton stars – Lakshya Sen, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, Chirag Shetty, Treesa Jolly, and Gayatri Gopichand.

DBS Bank has been a part of India's journey since 1994, and it is the largest foreign bank in the country by branch presence. The partnership enables the bank to enhance its brand presence within the country and effectively connect with its diverse audience. The sport of badminton embodies attributes such as precision, dedication, teamwork, and the pursuit of excellence, closely aligned with DBS Bank’s core values of being purpose-driven, relationship-led, and innovative.

The partnership has kicked-off with an outdoor campaign, and it will be extended to the bank's social media platforms, official website, internal platforms, as well as throughout its branch network, targeting both customers and employees.

Commenting on the partnership, Shoma Narayanan, Managing Director - Group Strategic Marketing & Communications at DBS Bank India, said, “DBS Bank continues to break boundaries and reimagine banking; we like to think of ourselves as a different kind of bank, rather than fitting into the conventional notions of a 'traditional bank'. Badminton is gaining popularity across India, and this partnership provides a great opportunity for us to extend our support to five young athletes who truly have the potential to be the stars of tomorrow!

These players epitomise our core values both on and off the court, making them perfect partners to champion our brand. With this association, we aim to dial up customer engagement in India and bolster the narrative around our unique phy-gital proposition, suite of offerings, and strong Asian connectivity.”

Ramakrishnan R, Co-Founder and Director, Baseline Ventures added, “DBS Bank has always been a trusted partner, for small and large businesses as well as retail customers. We are excited to help the bank onboard some of India’s most prominent badminton stars as it increases engagement with its customers in India. We are confident that with DBS Bank India’s support, these players will elevate their careers and reach even greater heights, while serving as an inspiration for badminton enthusiasts.”

The five young and promising badminton stars have consistently climbed the global rankings, carving a niche for themselves on the international stage. Former world junior number one, Lakshya Sen, has clinched titles in various tournaments and earned a top-10 spot in senior rankings, with recent wins including the Canada Open and notable performances at the US Open, Japan Open, and the 2021 World Championships.

India's men's doubles duo, Chirag Shetty and Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, have reached World No. 2 in Badminton World Federation (BWF) rankings. They won three BWF World Tour titles this year, including the Indonesia Open 2023 (Super 1000), Korea Open 2023 (Super 500), and Swiss Open 2023 (Super 300). India's young women's doubles sensation, Gayatri Gopichand and Treesa Jolly, made their mark at the All-England Championship 2022 by reaching the semi-finals in their debut season and repeating the feat in 2023. They clinched medals at the Commonwealth Games and played a pivotal role in winning India's first-ever medal at the Badminton Asia Mixed Team Championships 2023.

DBS Bank continues to break boundaries, and its campaigns have been seen as category-defying in the banking industry. For example, the bank introduced an industry-first online mini-series called "DBS Sparks," which is inspired by true stories and follows a group of young bankers as they navigate their work and personal lives. It showcases how these bankers challenge the status quo, go above and beyond to solve their clients' challenges, and genuinely make an impact in DBS' quest to be the best bank for a better world.

In 2018, DBS Bank introduced its brand promise, "Live more, Bank less." This year, the bank launched a clutter-breaking campaign to further strengthen this promise, while showcasing how it brings simplicity and seamlessness to banking. The campaign encapsulates how DBS Bank empowers customers to dedicate more time to cherish their dreams, pursue their passions, and nurture their relationships.

About DBS

DBS is a leading financial services group in Asia with a presence in 19 markets. Headquartered and listed in Singapore, DBS is in the three key Asian axes of growth: Greater China, Southeast Asia, and South Asia. The bank's "AA-" and "Aa1" credit ratings are among the highest in the world.

Recognised for its global leadership, DBS has been named “World’s Best Bank” by Global Finance, “World’s Best Bank” by Euromoney and “Global Bank of the Year” by The Banker. The bank is at the forefront of leveraging digital technology to shape the future of banking, having been named “World’s Best Digital Bank” by Euromoney and the world’s “Most Innovative in Digital Banking” by The Banker. In addition, DBS has been accorded the “Safest Bank in Asia”  award by Global Finance for 14 consecutive years from 2009 to 2022. Additionally, DBS Bank was ranked among the top 3 on Forbes' list of the World's Best Banks in India for three consecutive years, from 2020 to 2022.

DBS Bank has been present in India for 29 years, opening its first office in Mumbai in 1994. DBS Bank India Limited is the first among the large foreign banks in India to start operating as a wholly-owned, locally incorporated subsidiary of a leading global bank. DBS provides a range of banking services for large, medium, and small enterprises and individual consumers in India. In November 2020, Lakshmi Vilas Bank was merged with DBS Bank India Limited. The bank now has a network of ~530 branches in 19 Indian states.

As a bank born and bred in Asia, DBS understands the intricacies of doing business in the region’s most dynamic markets. DBS is committed to building lasting relationships with customers, as it banks the Asian way. Through the DBS Foundation, the bank creates impact beyond banking by supporting social enterprises: businesses with a double bottom-line of profit and social and/or environmental impact. DBS Foundation also gives back to society in various ways, including equipping communities with future-ready skills and building food resilience. In 2020, DBS introduced the "Towards Zero Food Waste" initiative as part of a global sustainability practice to encourage a shift in behaviours and mindsets to reduce food waste.

With its extensive network of operations in Asia and emphasis on engaging and empowering its staff, DBS presents exciting career opportunities. For more information,  visit: ?www.dbs.com/India.

Nadir Godrej Honored With Jeevan Gaurav Puraskar Award

Mr. Nadir Godrej, Chairman and Managing Director of Godrej Industries Ltd and Chairman, Godrej Agrovet Ltd was recently awarded the esteemed 'Jeevan Gaurav Puraskar' by the Maharashtra State Mango Growers Association. This honor shines as a testament to his exceptional contributions to India's Agriculture and Horticulture sectors.

On receiving this recognition, Mr. Godrej said, “At Godrej, we consider ourselves fortunate to contribute to the progress of our nation's agriculture sector. Our longstanding efforts underscore the unwavering dedication to India and its farming community, and we are committed to continuously evolve to serve our country's best interests. I express gratitude to our vast community of farmers, our dedicated Godrej team, and the Maharashtra State Mango Growers Association for honoring me with this award.”

The event, organized by the Maharashtra State Mango Growers Association, was beyond being just a ceremony. It was a gathering of agricultural leaders and forward-thinking farmers. The purpose was to celebrate their abundant harvests and brainstorm ways to tackle the challenges of global warming and climate change. This occasion brought together respected figures and farmers from all parts of Maharashtra.

The event was graced by the presence of Ashish Kumar Chauhan, MD &CEO, NSE; Chandrakant Mokal, President Maharashtra State Mango Growers Association; Raju Kapoor, Director of Corporate Affairs, FMC India Ltd.; and other dignitaries.

About Godrej Agrovet

Godrej Agrovet Limited (GAVL) is a diversified, Research & Development focused food and agri-business conglomerate, dedicated to improving the productivity of Indian farmers by innovating products and services that sustainably increase crop and livestock yields. GAVL holds leading market positions in the different businesses it operates - Animal Feed, Crop Protection, Oil Palm, Dairy, Poultry and Processed Foods. GAVL has a pan India presence with sales of over a million tons annually of high-quality animal feed. Our teams have worked closely with Indian farmers to develop large Oil Palm Plantations, which is helping in bridging the demand and supply gap of edible oil in India. In the crop protection segment, the Company has strong presence in the B2B segment through its subsidiary Astec Lifesciences and through its extensive distribution, network pan-India delivers innovative agrochemical offerings catering to the entire crop life cycles. In Dairy, Poultry, and Processed Foods, the company operates through its subsidiaries Creamline Dairy Products Limited and Godrej Tyson Foods Limited. Apart from this, GAVL also has a joint venture with the ACI group of Bangladesh for animal feed business in Bangladesh.

For more information on the Company, log on to www.godrejagrovet.com

CEAT Cricket Rating Awards Celebrates 25th Edition Of Supporting Cricket And Recognizing Brilliance And Steadfast Consistency

CEAT Limited, India's leading tyre manufacturer, celebrated the success and glory of the crème-da-la-crème from the international and domestic arena, across formats, with the CEAT Cricket Rating (CCR) awards 2023 in Mumbai. CCR has become a global platform that unites the cricketing fraternity and honours some of the finest and most decorated accomplishments on the field, both men and women, based on their performances as rated by the CEAT Cricket Rating for the year June 2022-May 2023.

The CCR, a pioneering comprehensive rating, has firmly established itself as the gold standard for evaluating cricketing achievements on both the global and domestic fronts.

Mr. Harsh Goenka, Chairman, RPG Group, said, “CEAT Cricket Rating Award today celebrates its 25th edition of supporting Cricket and, we extend our heartfelt salute to cricketers across the globe. Their extraordinary talent and relentless dedication are truly commendable. Through CEAT's Cricket Rating, we wholeheartedly honour those who've captivated us across a spectrum of formats – from enduring Tests to exhilarating ODIs and captivating T20 matches. Cricket is a game that unites people from all walks of life, and it is our hope that the awards will continue to bring people together and promote the game around the world. We also extend our heartfelt wishes to Team India for success in the upcoming World Cup."

Echoing his sentiments, India cricket legend Mr. Sunil Gavaskar, Chief Adjudicator of the CEAT Cricket Ratings, said, “The CEAT Cricket Rating has been a torchbearer to recognize and promote impeccable talent in this great sport. The award winners this year are global role models of sport and it should hopefully inspire future generations of great talent to take up the mantle ahead.”

Expressing her delight on being felicitated for her contribution, Team India woman batter Shafali Verma said, “CEAT has provided a significant platform for women's cricket to shine. It's truly heartwarming to see our efforts being celebrated on such a grand stage. And I firmly believe that such initiatives will only provide motivation to young girls to take up the sport and empower themselves as individuals."

Legendary cricketer Matthew Hayden, highlighted the award's significance, "Having seen the association of CEAT with cricket, I've witnessed the true impact it has had on the cricketing community. CEAT Cricket Rating Awards don't just celebrate individual achievements; they bridge borders, cultures, and bring cricketers from around the world together. It's a unique and invaluable effort towards fostering global cricket camaraderie."

The event recognized the remarkable performances by women cricketers with Deepti Sharma, winning the 'CEAT Women’s International Cricketer of the Year' and Shafali Verma being felicitated for U-19 Women's World Cup Winning Captain. Paying tribute to domestic prowess, the CEAT Domestic Cricketer of the Year was handed to Jalaj Saxena. Suryakumar Yadav claimed the title of the CEAT Best T20 batsman, while Bhuvneshwar Kumar secured the Best T20 Bowler of the Year Award. The evening also acknowledges the distinguished performances of legends Madan Lal and Karsan Ghavri, who received the 'CCR International Lifetime Achievement Award'.

The 25th edition of the Ceat Cricket Rating Awards was a scintillating event, packed with entertaining performances and insightful panel discussions with cricketers. This longstanding award has become the benchmark of excellence that defines the game of cricket; attracting viewers, super fans, Bollywood stars and cricketers to discuss the love for the sport on this platform. Inspired by the Ceat Cricket Rating Awards, the team of the Bollywood movie Ghoomer joined the CEAT team on stage to present the award for the Best Coach to Brendon McCullum.

The ‘CEAT Men’s International Cricketer of the Year’ award was awarded to Shubman Gill, for his exceptional displays on the cricket pitch. On being bestowed with the award, he said, “I’m honored to be selected as the recipient of the coveted CEAT Men’s International Cricketer of the Year. As a cricketer, it's always about pushing boundaries, facing challenges head-on, and constantly improving to reach new heights. This recognition reinforces the parallel between our commitment to excellence and would encourage me to strive harder."

Photo captions: Shubman Gill awarded the CEAT International Batter of the Year, ODI Batter of the Year & Men’s International Cricketer of the Year at CEAT Cricket Rating Award 2023.