Apollo Hospitals Strengthens Karnataka’s Transplant Ecosystem With Dedicated Heart & Lung Unit

Apollo Hospitals today announced the launch of its dedicated Heart & Lung Transplantation and Mechanical Circulatory Support (MCS) Unit at Seshadripuram, in the presence of Dr Ravishankar J IAS, Managing Director, Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. This marks a significant expansion of Apollo’s quaternary cardiac and respiratory care services in Karnataka.

While the group has long been a leader in transplant medicine, this is Apollo’s first fully integrated heart and lung transplant programme in the state—positioning the centre as a major hub for Karnataka and neighbouring regions, which remain among India’s most active contributors to the organ donation pool. The launch follows the widely acknowledged success of the recent heart transplant where Namma Metro played a critical role in rapid organ transport, significantly reducing transit time and supporting a favourable patient recovery.

Speaking at the event, Dr J Ravishankar IAS, Managing Director, BMRCL, said: “We are proud that Namma Metro played a vital role in the timely transport of a donor heart in this landmark initiative, demonstrating how public infrastructure can directly support life-saving healthcare. In a rapidly growing city like Bengaluru, urban mobility is becoming essential to time-sensitive emergency care. Apollo’s new programme strengthens the city’s capacity to save lives, and BMRCL is committed to supporting such advancements where every second counts.”

The new programme at Seshadripuram features specialised operating theatres, transplant-ready ICUs, advanced monitoring systems, and dedicated rehabilitation services. Patients will receive end-to-end, protocol-driven care from evaluation to long-term follow-up. The centre will offer the full spectrum of advanced therapies including:

* Heart, lung, and combined heart–lung transplantation
* Select multi-organ transplants such as heart–liver and heart–kidney
* Temporary and durable MCS and ECMO
* A specialist retrieval team capable of managing critically ill patients across the region

Dr Kumud Kumar Dhital, Programme and Surgical Director – Heart & Lung Transplantation and MCS, Apollo Hospitals, said: “Over the past two years, our teams in Chennai and Bengaluru have built a robust, clinically strong transplant service for the region. With this formal launch, we can now deliver seamlessly integrated care for patients with end-stage heart and lung disease, supported by the infrastructure and multidisciplinary expertise needed for consistently safe and successful outcomes.”

Dr Srinivas Rajagopala, Lead, Lung Failure and Transplant Pulmonologist, Apollo Hospitals, added: “Successful lung transplantation depends not only on surgical excellence but on meticulous, sustained pre- and post-transplant care. This programme enhances our ability to deliver comprehensive support backed by standardised protocols and advanced monitoring systems.”

Dr Ravi Kumar, Clinical Lead – Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiologist, said: “Complex cardiopulmonary conditions require tightly coordinated multi-specialty care. This programme brings greater systemisation and alignment to evaluation, stabilisation and long-term planning—critical factors in achieving predictable, consistent outcomes.”

Mr Uday Davda, Vice President, Apollo Hospitals Seshadripuram, said: “This programme strengthens Karnataka’s specialised care pathways, ensuring advanced transplant and mechanical support services are available closer to home. As one of India’s leading contributors to the organ donation pool, Karnataka stands to benefit greatly from enhanced transplant capabilities that honour every precious donation.”

Mr Akshay Oleti, CEO – Apollo Hospitals, Karnataka Region, said: “With this dedicated Heart & Lung Transplantation Unit, we are taking a major leap in advancing cardiac and respiratory care in Karnataka. Our expert clinical team, coupled with state-of-the-art infrastructure and innovative partnerships like the one with Namma Metro, will enable world-class, life-saving treatments for the region.”

Patients who have benefitted from Apollo’s transplant programmes shared their stories, expressing profound gratitude to donor families and medical teams. The recent heart-transplant recipient, whose donor heart was transported via Namma Metro, said the experience demonstrated how seamless infrastructure and skilled clinical care can converge at a critical moment, enabling a life-saving transplant that would otherwise not have been possible.

Photo Caption: Apollo Hospitals today launched a dedicated Heart & Lung Transplantation and MCS Unit at Seshadripuram, in the presence of Dr. Ravishankar J., IAS, Managing Director, BMRCL

Culturelytics Named To Forbes India & D Globalist’s “Select 200 Companies With Global Business Potential” For 2025

Women-founded, women-led AI CultureTech company joins an elite global cohort of innovators influencing the future of organisational intelligence, leadership, M&A, and ESG strategy from India to the world.

Culturelytics, the pioneering AI-driven CultureTech company transforming how organisations measure and manage culture, has been selected by Forbes India & D Globalist as one of the Select 200 Companies with Global Business Potential for 2025.

This highly regarded cohort represents over 1,000 founders, including nearly 20% of India’s unicorn leaders, and innovation-driven companies that have collectively raised more than USD 19 billion and expanded into 30+ countries. The selection places Culturelytics among a distinguished group of ventures positioned to scale globally and influence the next decade of organisational strategy.

Culture as the New Business Technology

As CEOs navigate unprecedented complexity, from hybrid work and cultural fragmentation to cross-border M&A and ESG accountability, Culturelytics is redefining culture as a quantifiable, predictive business asset.

Powered by behavioural science and responsible AI, its proprietary Culture Coherence Quotient (CCQ(R)) and multi-language analytics engine give leaders unprecedented visibility into organisational alignment, leadership coherence, risk patterns, and transformation readiness.

Culturelytics’ clients include organisations preparing for M&A integration, private equity value creation, leadership restructuring, global expansion, and ESG reporting, where culture has become both a strategic differentiator and a risk variable.

Yeshasvini Ramaswamy, Founder & CEO, Culturelytics, said, “Being part of the Select 200 reinforces a belief we held long before the world was ready: culture is a business technology. Culturelytics was built to decode culture with behavioural science and responsible AI, enabling leaders to treat culture with the same strategic rigour as financial and operational metrics. As workplaces grow more complex and globally interconnected, culture intelligence is becoming essential for CEOs — not optional. This recognition strengthens our resolve to take CultureTech from India to the world.”

Smita Tharoor, Co-Founder, Culturelytics, said, “Culture will define the next era of leadership. Around the world, organisations are struggling with belonging, trust, inclusion, and cross-cultural cohesion. Culturelytics brings clarity and science to challenges that were once addressed only through intuition. Being recognised among global-first innovators signals how urgently leaders need this intelligence — and how relevant an India-born solution can be for the world.”

Karnataka Bank Innovates With IBM To Build Future-Ready API Platform For Faster Service Delivery To Customers

Karnataka Bank Limited (KBL), one of India’s leading 'A' Class Scheduled Commercial Banks, collaborated with IBM to modernize its digital banking infrastructure using IBM Cloud Pak for Integration on Red Hat OpenShift. Implemented by IBM ecosystem partner, Fyrii, along with IBM Customer Success Team, the transformation enabled Karnataka Bank to establish a secure, scalable, and agile Application Programming Interface (API) platform while reducing total cost of ownership and reinforcing its digital foundation.

Through this collaborative innovation, Karnataka Bank developed a modern, secure, and scalable API platform that reinforces the bank’s digital infrastructure while reducing operational costs. This platform enables quicker rollout of services such as digital payments, loan processing, and third-party integrations, while maintaining secure connections with multiple systems both internally and externally.

“This marks a major milestone in our digital journey,” said Venkat Krishnan, Chief Information Officer, Karnataka Bank Limited. “With IBM Cloud Pak for Integration on Red Hat OpenShift, we now have an agile and secure platform that allows us to scale operations across India, simplify system management, and reduce costs—all while improving the overall customer experience,” he added.

The upgraded API infrastructure strengthens security while boosting scalability by 50% and cutting operational costs by 30%. These gains come from migrating to an optimized container‑based platform purpose‑built for efficient microservices. The framework enables the bank to implement digital gateways to manage all API traffic. It also allows external partners to access the bank’s AI foundation models as APIs via AI Gateway. This facilitates seamless communication between internal, external and cloud systems while ensuring smooth integration with UIDAI, CERSAI, GST, Reg-Tech and CBDT services. The streamlined implementation process supports rapid adaptation to evolving market conditions and regulatory requirements.

“Today’s banking sector is more complex than ever, comprising many systems and data sources in constant use. To stay ahead, banks require intelligent automation that not only streamlines operations but also anticipates issues before they arise. Karnataka Bank’s modernization showcases how intelligent automation and integrated systems can reduce complexity, boost efficiency and accelerate the delivery of secure, reliable digital services at scale,” said Viswanath Ramaswamy, Vice President, Technology, IBM India & South Asia.

The implementation was led by Fyrii, with IBM’s Expert Labs supporting the critical phases of the rollout. The project is a key pillar of Karnataka Bank’s broader digital transformation strategy, Startup@100, which emphasizes agility and innovation as the bank celebrates 100 years of service.

Commenting on the collaboration Padma Subramanian, Co-founder and CEO, Fyrii said, “As IBM’s implementation partner, we at Fyrii are proud to support Karnataka Bank’s modernization journey by leveraging our Unified Fintech Platform alongside IBM Cloud Pak for Integration. This collaboration with IBM and Karnataka Bank demonstrates how we at Fyrii use our platform to accelerate digital transformation with greater agility and secure API enablement, helping form a foundation for the bank to innovate and serve customers seamlessly.”

About Karnataka Bank Limited

Established in 1924 and headquartered in Mangaluru, Karnataka Bank Limited is a premier private sector bank in India. As of 2025, the bank operates a network of 957 branches, 1,188 ATMs and cash recyclers, and 588 e-lobbies/mini e-lobbies across 22 states and 2 union territories, serving over 11 million customers nationwide.

Karnataka Bank offers a comprehensive suite of digital banking solutions, including KBL Mobile Plus, KBL mPassbook, BHIM KBL UPI App, KBL POS Manager, and KBL MoneyClick Internet Banking. In its centenary year, the bank continues to embrace technology-led innovation through its 'Startup@100' vision, aiming to enhance customer experiences and drive financial inclusion across the country.

About IBM
IBM is a leading provider of global hybrid cloud and AI, and consulting expertise. We help clients in more than 175 countries capitalize on insights from their data, streamline business processes, reduce costs, and gain a competitive edge in their industries. Thousands of governments and corporate entities in critical infrastructure areas such as financial services, telecommunications and healthcare rely on IBM's hybrid cloud platform and Red Hat OpenShift to affect their digital transformations quickly, efficiently, and securely. IBM's breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions and consulting deliver open and flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM's long-standing commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity, and service. Visit www.ibm.com for more information.

Only 1 in 3 Enterprises Fully Automates Software Security, CleanStart Data Reveals

New Study Highlights Persistent Gaps in Software Supply Chain Security as 40% of Detected Vulnerabilities Remain High or Critical Severity

CleanStart, a platform that helps build secure and safe software, has recently conducted a study that highlights significant gaps in enterprise software supply chain security. The study reveals that most organizations have yet to adopt the level of automation required to secure modern CI/CD pipelines. Based on aggregated telemetry across thousands of pipeline executions, the findings show that while development velocity has increased dramatically in recent years, security practices have not kept pace.

According to the study, only about one-third of the CI/CD environments observed have implemented fully automated, policy-based validation for container images. Despite clear performance advantages such as nearly 60 percent fewer manual review cycles and patch-to-deploy timelines that are more than twice as fast in automated pipelines, the majority of organizations continue to rely on partial automation or manual approvals. This limited adoption creates a widening gap between the speed at which software is built and the rigor with which it is validated.

The report also finds that the average time from vulnerability detection to achieving policy compliance is approximately 26 days, suggesting that many organizations remain exposed to known risks for nearly a month before remediations are fully enforced. At the same time, foundational practices such as visibility and provenance remain inconsistent. Fewer than half of all analysed pipelines generate or attach a Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) during the build process, and roughly one in four validated container images lacked signature verification or complete provenance metadata at the point of analysis.

Perhaps the most striking finding is the density of known vulnerabilities within container images. Across the registries studied, the average container image contained around 450 known CVEs, with roughly 40 percent classified as high or critical severity. This indicates that even widely deployed and production-bound images often carry significant, unresolved security risks, further emphasizing the need for more standardized and automated validation practices across industries.

CleanStart’s study concludes that while enterprises have made considerable progress in accelerating software delivery, the underlying security processes embedded in their pipelines remain fragmented and inconsistent. The report underscores the urgent need for greater adoption of automated validation mechanisms and stronger enforcement of policy-driven controls to reduce systemic exposure across the software supply chain.

MILKMAID Commemorates India’s Love For Kheer With World Kheer Day

Nestlé MILKMAID, a name synonymous with delicious desserts announces World Kheer Day on 30 November, a day dedicated to the dessert that every Indian home has grown up with.

Kheer is one dessert that truly unites India – divided in recipes and ingredients, united by the warmth and nostalgia it evokes. From festivals, homecomings to everyday celebrations, it continues to be a symbol of togetherness across the country. MILKMAID has helped keep this tradition alive in a way that is easy, quick and just as comforting.

Manav Sahni, Head, Dairy Business, Nestlé India, said, "World Kheer Day is our way of celebrating a dessert that connects generations across the country. Kheer is prepared differently in every region, but it holds the same warmth and nostalgia everywhere. With MILKMAID, we hope that our consumers can enjoy rich and creamy Kheer which tastes amazing."

Kheer takes on a new name and a new form in every corner of India – yet it carries the same heartbeat everywhere. In the North, it’s the creamy elegance of rice kheer. On fasting days, sabudana kheer brings comfort and devotion. Eid arrives with the richness of sheer khurma, a celebration in every spoon. Maharashtra stirs up sheviyanchi kheer with festive pride. Bengal serves payesh – an apt embodiment for its love for life. Odisha offers kheeri, rich in tradition and blessings. And the South welcomes you with payasam – from semiya to palada – the warm hugs in a bowl. The ingredients may vary, the names may change, but the emotion remains constant – a universal sweetness, shared across a nation.

Nestlé MILKMAID, known for making desserts easy and delicious for over 100 years, aims to make this celebration simple for every home. This World Kheer Day, MILKMAID invites everyone to make their preferred kheer, use MILKMAID for convenience and enjoy a dessert that continues to bring people together. Kheer recipes and preparation ideas are available on the MILKMAID website to explore and try at home.  

ABD Maestro unveils YELLO Designer Whisky, A Bold New Fusion Of Scotch And Indian Malts

Powerhouse Ranveer Singh and ABD Maestro quickly follow the launch of Rangeela Vodka with a Whisky custom-made for modern India.

ABD Maestro Pvt. Ltd., the super-premium and luxury spirits brand company and a subsidiary of Allied Blenders & Distillers (ABD), today announced the launch of YELLO Designer Whisky, a unique fusion of Scotch Malts and Indian Malt whiskies.

Following the launch of Rangeela Vodka from Ranveer Singh, Co-Founder and Creative Partner of ABD Maestro, the company’s YELLO Designer Whisky, introduces a breakthrough packaging that mirrors the pulse of modern India — expressive, youthful, and born to stand out. It grabs the spotlight for its colour, sleek lines, and the ‘whisky window’.

For the flamboyant whisky, YELLO fuses the best of Speyside and Highland Scotches with the richness of Indian Malts, which is making news globally. The result is an exceptional spirit that partners the distinctive characteristics of both worlds. The Scotch malts, matured in ex-bourbon oak, infuse YELLO with notes of vanilla caramel and gentle oak, while the Indian malts add warmth, richness, and a bold, lingering finish.

Bikram Basu, Managing Director of ABD Maestro Pvt. Ltd., commented, “YELLO is designed for an innovative, daring and youthful brand construct for product, packaging and communication. It’s born to stand out, with outstanding whisky sitting in the bottle. At ABD Maestro, we build with quality, creativity and consumers at its heart.”

As India rapidly progresses to a major global economy, the super-premium and luxury spirits segment is seeing strong growth. New-age consumers increasingly value self-expression and strong identity with the brands that they choose. YELLO Designer Whisky, bold in packaging, positioning and taste, talks to this new generation of confident, culture-forward consumers.

YELLO Designer Whisky has debuted in Maharashtra at a MRP of Rs. 2,700/- for a 750ML. Goa, West Bengal and markets of North India will follow in quick succession.

About ABD Maestro Private Limited

ABD Maestro Private Limited is a new super-premium and luxury spirits brand company and a subsidiary of ABD. The brands which ABD Maestro is marketing currently include Arthaus Blended Malt Scotch Whisky, Zoya Special Batch Gin and its flavours, Rangeela Contemporary Indian Vodka, Woodburns Contemporary Indian Malt Whisky, Pumori Small Batch Gin and Pink Gin, Segredo Aldeia Café and White Rums. Through its partnership with Roust Corporation, the company has introduced Russian Standard Vodka to India in three distinct segments: Original, Gold, and Platinum.

Nick Jonas And Priyanka Chopra Jonas Launch Beyond Type 1’s First Campaign In India - #TheBeyondType

A pathbreaking campaign redefining diabetes with real stories of people with

type 1 diabetes lived experience

YouTube link of campaign film - #TheBeyondType

Co-founder Nick Jonas, board member Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Beyond Type 1 today launch #TheBeyondType in India. Nick Jonas, who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when he was 13 years old, co-founded the diabetes non-profit Beyond Type 1 10 years ago. #TheBeyondType is their first campaign in India. The campaign lifts up real lived experiences to challenge stigma and show that diabetes does not define those living with type 1 diabetes. It aims to raise awareness, reduce stigma and support grassroots organisations doing critical work on the ground.

India has more young people living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) than anywhere in the world, and the second highest number of people living with diabetes overall[1]. Yet awareness remains low and stigma persist.

The Beyond Type highlights incredible everyday people who are thriving with type 1 diabetes and following their dreams. They are the unstoppable type, the determined type, the relentless type, the inspiring type - they show that type 1 diabetes does not define you.

“India has extraordinary people living with Type 1 diabetes, yet their stories are rarely heard,” shared Priyanka Chopra Jonas. “I came to understand this community more deeply through my husband Nick, and I’ve witnessed firsthand the strength and determination that so many people living with T1D carry every single day. The Beyond Type brings a few of these stories forward, and shows that with proper care and access, diabetes does not define them or limit what they can achieve.”

“I know for myself how diabetes doesn’t have to limit you, but only when you have access to the right care, tools, and support,” says Nick Jonas. “That’s why we’re here in India, where awareness is low and stigma remains high, to help make that possible for everyone. Through my own family, I’ve come to love India deeply, and I’m proud of the progress already underway”.

#TheBeyondType launched on Instagram in a joint post from Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Nick Jonas and Beyond Type 1 who collectively have a combined reach of 135 million. The campaign captures individuals whose stories show that diabetes does not stop them from doing what they want to do: a triathlete Lt Col Kumar Gaurav; 13-year-old karate champion Mehrin Rana; pastry chef Nishant Amin; toy designer and entrepreneur Shreya Jain; dancer and actor Indu Thampy; and vegetable vendor and marathon runner Harichandran Ponnusamy. As Mehrin shares, “Diabetes is just a part of my life, not a limit. A person with type 1 can do everything in their life without any limits.”

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition, not something caused by lifestyle or age. Yet stigma keeps many families from recognising the early signs — excessive thirst, frequent urination, unusual fatigue and unexpected weight loss. When these signals are missed, diagnosis is delayed. By sharing real-life inspiring stories through #TheBeyondType, the campaign begins to break stigma and open the door to earlier awareness and understanding.

A recent study published in PLOS Global Public Health, Invisible Inequities in Type 1 Diabetes Care in India[2], reinforces the urgency of this work. Conducted in Karnataka with a small group, it found that many young people with T1D hide their diagnosis, some avoid or delay insulin injections in public to escape judgement, and families, especially girls, are pressured to stay silent due to marriage concerns. Healthcare providers reported that young people with T1D are frequently viewed as weak or treated differently in school and at work, showing how stigma shapes daily life and access to care.

The same commitment to lived experience that anchors #TheBeyondType also drives Beyond Type 1’s support for grassroots organisations working across high-need regions in India:

HRIDAY (Delhi–NCR): A youth-driven public health organisation strengthening school and community awareness about early signs and prevention.

Nityaasha Foundation (Pune, Maharashtra): Supporting children from underserved backgrounds living with T1D through education, guidance and medical assistance.

Gram Jyoti (Deoghar, Jharkhand): Bringing early health awareness into classrooms to help families better understand chronic conditions.

SAMATVAM Trust (Bangalore, Karnataka): Empowering girls with T1D through medical care, financial support and life skills training, helping them stay in school and build independent futures.

“At Beyond Type 1 we believe real change begins with the people closest to the work on the ground,” said Seema Srivastava, Beyond Type 1’s Director of Social Impact and Global Advocacy. “By partnering with grassroots organisations, we are helping families recognise early signs, reduce shame and misinformation, and access education, supplies and peer support.”

Learn more at BeyondType1.org/India

About Beyond Type 1

Beyond Type 1 is a global nonprofit changing what it means to live with diabetes, serving the world's largest digital diabetes community. Co-founded by Nick Jonas and Juliet de Baubigny in 2015, we provide tools, education, and support to help people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes survive, thrive, and drive innovation toward prevention and cures.

Visit BeyondType1.org to learn more.