Samsung Announces Fit India Walk-A-Thon ‘26 On Samsung Health App

Step-count challenge opens exclusively for users in India

Registrations begin on January 22; challenge launches on Republic Day

Three lucky winners get gift cards worth INR 10000 each; 1000 winners receive gift cards worth INR 500 each

Samsung, India’s largest consumer electronics brand, today announced Fit India Walk-a-thon ’26, a step-count challenge on the Samsung Health app that encourages personal well-being. The challenge is open to users in India who pledge towards better health this Republic Day.

Registrations open on the Samsung Health app starting January 22, 2026, with the challenge running from January 26 to February 24, 2026. Participants must complete 200000 steps within the 30-day period to qualify for rewards.

Users can track their steps throughout the challenge, while a leaderboard allows participants to monitor their progress and view their standing against competition.

Competitors who complete the 200000-step goal will enter into a lucky draw. Upon successful completion, they will receive a scratch card in the Samsung Members app under the Benefits section. Three lucky winners will receive INR 10000 Amazon gift card, and 1000 lucky winners will receive INR 500 Amazon gift card.

Fit India Walk-a-thon ’26 is part of Samsung’s ongoing efforts to support healthier routines through everyday physical activity.

About Samsung Health App

Samsung Health app is a global wellness and lifestyle platform that allows users to track a wide range of health metrics including steps, exercise, heart rate, calorie intake, blood pressure, ECG, and sleep patterns. Samsung Health app is designed to promote healthy living and helps users to stay fit, track movements and habits to ensure users have accurate, up to date health information whenever they need it. On the app, users can set goals as per their level, and keep track of their daily condition including activity amount, workout intensity, heart rate, stress and oxygen level in the blood. Samsung Health app hosts videos of expert coaches covering fitness programs including stretching, weight loss, and more. Users can also set medication reminders and manage medical data such as lab test reports, doctor prescriptions and immunizations. These records are conveniently stored in the Samsung Health app, so that user can refer to them whenever needed.

Air India Group Announces Season 2 Of The Air India Super League Along With Inaugural Edition For Cargo Partners

Air India, India’s leading global airline, announced Season 2 of the Air India Super League, its flagship pan-India cricket tournament for valued business partners. Building on the strong momentum and participation from its debut season, the league returns this year with an expanded format, including the inaugural Air India Super League for Cargo partners.

The Air India Super League stemmed with the goal to celebrate partnerships beyond the boardroom, bringing together our channel partners and cargo partners on a shared platform of sport.

For travel partners, regional matches kicked off in Kolkata, followed by fixtures coming up in Chennai, Bengaluru, Mumbai and New Delhi. The semi-finals and finals are scheduled to be held in New Delhi on February 15, 2026. In parallel, the Cargo edition of the Air India Super League kicked off on 17 January and will see teams compete across Bengaluru and New Delhi, culminating in the national semi-finals and finals alongside the trade teams.

All matches from the Air India Super League will be live-streamed on YouTube, enabling participants’ families, colleagues and industry peers across the country to follow the action.

With the second season of the Air India Super League, Air India group continues to achieve its goal to strengthen its relationship with its partner ecosystem, focusing on long-term relationships through experiences that reflect the airline’s culture of teamwork, inclusivity and collaboration.

About Air India group

The Air India group – comprising full-service global airline, Air India, and value carrier, Air India Express – is spearheading a new era of Indian aviation. The Air India story began in 1932 when JRD Tata piloted the airline’s inaugural flight and opened the skies for aviation in India. Today, Air India group employs more than 30,000 people, operates over 300 aircraft and carries customers to 57 domestic and 49 international destinations across five continents.

Returning to the Tata Sons in 2022 following 70 years under Government ownership, Air India group is in the midst of a five-year transformation program, Vihaan.AI. As part of the transformation, Air India has placed an order for 570 new aircraft. In 2024, sister airlines Air Asia India and Vistara were successfully merged into Air India Express and Air India, respectively, and the Airline opened South Asia’s largest aviation training academy. A new flying school is scheduled to open in 2025, and construction of a greenfield maintenance base, to be operational in 2026, is underway. In addition to receiving new aircraft, all existing aircraft are progressively undergoing a full interior refit.

With transformation underway across all facets of the business and India’s rich legacy of hospitality, Air India is committed to being a world class global airline with an Indian heart.

For more stories on Air India, visit http://www.airindia.com/newsroom

Samsung India Teases AI-Powered Cooling Evolution With Bespoke AI WindFree Air Conditioners

Samsung, India’s largest consumer electronics brand, today unveiled an early preview of its upcoming cooling innovations, marking a meaningful evolution in how comfort, intelligence and energy efficiency will define modern homes

With the message “The future of AI AC is coming,” the brand is setting expectations for an AC advancement that moves beyond conventional home cooling.

The teaser spotlights the Bespoke AI WindFree™ Air Conditioner lineup, combining advanced AI technology, premium design and smart connectivity to deliver a more refined home cooling experience for Indian conditions

The range will feature WindFree™ Cooling, along with AI Fast & WindFree™ Cooling+, AI Energy Mode, Preventive maintenance and SmartThings integration for optimized performance, better energy management and seamless control.

Kochi-Muziris Biennale Adds Color To The SeasonKerala Tourism In Bengaluru

* This campaign hold roadshows in major cities ahead of summer holiday season !

The Kochi–Muziris Biennale has emerged as one of India’s most significant cultural events and a global platform for contemporary art, transforming Kochi into a vibrant cultural destination every two years. Set against the historic backdrop of Fort Kochi and surrounding heritage precincts, the Biennale seamlessly blends art, history, and tourism, offering visitors an immersive cultural experience unlike any other in the country.

India’s largest and South Asia’s most significant contemporary art event, KMB will continue till March 31, showcasing cutting-edge artistic expressions from around the world in heritage venues spread across the city of Kochi. The Kochi–Muziris Biennale stands as a powerful example of how culture-led tourism can revitalize heritage spaces, foster creative economies, and elevate a destination’s global image. By placing art at the heart of travel, the Biennale reinforces Kochi’s identity as a city where history, creativity, and contemporary thought converge—inviting travellers to experience Kerala beyond the conventional, through the lens of art and culture.

“As an experiential tourism destination, Kerala has witnessed a big surge in arrivals in the post-Covid years. Apart from its core assets, new products have also received a good response from both domestic and foreign tourists. The ensuing in-bound season is expected to keep up this trend,” Tourism Minister Shri P A Mohamed Riyas said.

Seeking to whip up new resonance with tourists for the fast-approaching summer holiday season, Kerala Tourism will organize a string of roadshows in prominent cities of the country and also participate in leading trade fairs during January-March.

Starting with a Partnership Meet in Chennai on January 20 and in Bengaluru on January 22, Kerala Tourism will hold B2B meets in Hyderabad, Kolkata, Lucknow and Indore as well during the next two months to introduce its new products and experiential travel to a wider audience and increase domestic tourist footfalls.

Upcoming roadshows also coincide with the all-India Lenscape Kerala photo exhibition, to be opened by Kerala Tourism in New Delhi on January 20. The exhibition, designed as a moving platform to showcase diverse charms of Kerala, features 100 curated frames by India’s10 leading travel photographers.

Another annual cultural event of Kerala that attracts travellers during the season is the ‘Nishagandhi Dance Festival’, which will be held in February in the capital city, as a stellar cultural event featuring classical dances like Odissi, Kathakali and Bharatnatyam.

Kerala will highlight new destinations, especially those of North Kerala like Kozhikode, Wayanad, and Bekal, improved infrastructure for lesser-known spots, and activities beyond typical backwaters/beaches, targeting urban families with themes of adventure (surfing, cycling, paragliding, mountain biking), wellness (Ayurveda), luxury, and culture (destination weddings, MICE) to attract domestic travellers for the season.

Ramping up heritage tourism, the state earlier this month rolled out 33 heritage trails stretching across the state from up north Kasaragod to Kollam in the south as part of its Muziris Heritage Project.

Besides emphasizing improved facilities in emerging areas, Kerala will be projected as a safe destination.

An upswing in international bookings are also expected in the upcoming holiday season.

Kerala’s credentials as a major tourist destination got a major boost recently with the state featuring in Rough Guides’ 26 travel destinations in the world in 2026.

The state also won the Travel + Leisure India’s Best Wellness Destination Award for 2025, in a testament to its reputation for Ayurvedic traditions and holistic healing, cementing its position as a premier wellness tourism spot globally.

Kerala is internationally acclaimed for providing a variety of experiences for travel enthusiasts like houseboats, caravan stays, plantation visits, jungle resorts, homestays, Ayurveda-based wellness solutions, adventure activities and countryside walks, including trekking to verdant hills.

Alongside the new projects, the state’s core assets like beaches, hill stations, houseboats and backwater segment will heighten the totality of the visitors’ experience.

L’Oréal Announces Its First Global Tech Hub In Hyderabad, India, At The World Economic Forum 2026

* This will fuel its AI-powered Beauty Tech Ambition
* L’Oréal’s Global Tech Hub In Hyderabad, India, is the first Beauty Tech hub of its kind.
* Nicolas Hieronimus, L’Oréal CEO, and Government of Telangana formalized the landmark partnership at Davos, marking a major milestone in the 2026 India-France Year of Innovation.
* New hub will be a global flagship for AI-Powered Beauty Tech innovation and services, creating 2,000 high-value Tech, AI, and data engineering roles by 2030.

L’Oréal, the world leader in beauty, today announced the launch of its first global Tech Hub located in Hyderabad, India. The announcement followed a high-level meeting at the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2026 between Shri D. Sridhar Babu, Hon’ble Minister for IT, Electronics & Industries, Shri Sanjay Kumar, Special Chief Secretary, Government of Telangana and Nicolas Hieronimus, CEO of L’Oréal.

This first-of-its-kind Beauty Tech hub will serve as a flagship for crafting the next generation of AI-powered beauty innovation and services. With an initial investment of over ₹3,500 Crores (€350 million) through 2030, the hub is set to become a global powerhouse, unleashing the potential of Data, AI, Generative AI, and Agentic AI, alongside emerging technologies. The hub will create 2,000 highly skilled advanced tech jobs including AI specialists, tech engineers, and data scientists, and will accelerate the delivery of state-of-the-art, AI-powered beauty solutions at scale.

The landmark partnership with the State of Telangana stands as a major milestone in the 2026 India-France Year of Innovation, strengthening the technological ties and collaborative spirit between the two nations. The strategic alliance is an investment in infrastructure and human potential—upskilling local talent to build “from India, for the world” beauty solutions in AI, Generative AI, and Agentic AI. By anchoring this Tech Hub in Hyderabad, L’Oréal will actively contribute to the state’s growth in digital and tech excellence and high-skilled tech talent.

The India Tech Hub will play a key role in L’Oréal’s integrated global AI and Tech network – alongside tech hubs in France, USA, China, Singapore, Spain, Poland, Canada, Brazil and Mexico – to foster a culture of mutual enrichment to co-create the future of beauty tech.

Welcoming the landmark partnership, Shri Revanth Reddy, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Telangana, said: "We are delighted that L’Oréal has chosen Hyderabad for its new global tech hub, a decision that reflects the deep confidence global leaders place in Telangana’s innovation ecosystem and highly skilled talent pool. This partnership directly supports our ‘Telangana Rising: 2047 Vision’ by creating 2,000 high-value jobs and positioning our state as a global epicentre for AI and digital excellence."

Nicolas Hieronimus, CEO, L’Oréal, said: “For over 31 years, L’Oréal has been deeply committed to India. Building on this legacy, we are harnessing India’s world-class tech and AI engineering expertise to power our new global Tech Hub. We believe that the future of beauty lies at the intersection of science, technology and creativity, so Hyderabad will now sit at the heart of our AI and digital ambition. This first-of-its-kind Beauty Tech Hub reinforces our commitment to India’s growth and our leading role in the 2026 India-France Year of Innovation.”

Shri D. Sridhar Babu, Hon’ble Minister for IT, Electronics & Industries, Government of Telangana, said: “L’Oréal’s decision to establish its new global tech hub in Hyderabad is a powerful endorsement of Telangana’s ability to attract world-leading innovation. This collaboration exemplifies the ‘Telangana Rising: 2047 Vision’ — a vision where global enterprises co-create next-generation technology with our extraordinary local talent. By aligning beauty with cutting-edge AI, data, and engineering, L’Oréal is not only shaping the future of its industry but also contributing to our state’s journey as a global hub for digital excellence and innovation-led growth.”

Shri Sanjay Kumar, Special Chief Secretary, Government of Telangana, said: “Telangana is executing a clear and deliberate strategy to accelerate AI adoption at scale—across government, industry, and society. The establishment of L’Oréal’s Global Tech Hub aligns seamlessly with our newly formed Telangana AI Hub, which is designed to serve as a catalyst for applied AI, advanced data engineering, and next-generation digital capabilities. Together, these initiatives reinforce Hyderabad’s position as a global center where cutting-edge AI innovation is built, deployed, and scaled for the world.”

With this announcement, L’Oréal reaffirms its commitment to India as a strategic partner in its global transformation, ensuring that the next frontier of beauty is shaped by Indian innovation.

About L’Oréal

For 115 years, L’Oréal, the world’s leading beauty player, has devoted itself to one thing only: fulfilling the beauty aspirations of consumers around the world. Our purpose, to create the beauty that moves the world, defines our approach to beauty as essential, inclusive, ethical, generous and committed to social and environmental sustainability. With our broad portfolio of 37 international brands and ambitious sustainability commitments in our L’Oréal for the Future program, we offer each and every person around the world the best in terms of quality, efficacy, safety, sincerity and responsibility, while celebrating beauty in its infinite plurality.

With more than 90,000 committed employees, a balanced geographical footprint and sales across all distribution networks (e-commerce, mass market, department stores, pharmacies, perfumeries, hair salons, branded and travel retail), in 2024 the Group generated sales amounting to 43.48 billion euros. With 21 research centers across 13 countries around the world and a dedicated Research and Innovation team of over 4,000 scientists and 8,000 Digital talents, L’Oréal is focused on inventing the future of beauty and becoming a Beauty Tech powerhouse.

In 2025, L’Oréal Groupe has been named the most innovative company in Europe by Fortune magazine, out of 300 companies, in a ranking spanning 21 countries and 16 industries in Europe.

Hexagon India Unveils ATS800 Metrology Solution To India Market At IMTEX Forming 2026

Hexagon, the global leader in measurement technologies, today announced the India market launch of its advanced metrology solution, the ATS800, at IMTEX Forming 2026, one of India’s premier manufacturing and machine tool exhibitions. While the solution has been introduced globally earlier, IMTEX Forming 2026 marks its official introduction to Indian manufacturing market. The launch and inauguration ceremony was attended by Mr. Pramod Kaushik, President, Hexagon India; Mr. Manoj Sharma, Director - Marketing and Sales Excellence, Hexagon India, along with other Hexagon leaders and eminent guests.

The event is underway until 25 January 2026 at the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (BIEC), Bengaluru, where Hexagon India is showcasing the solution at Hall 3A, Booth A126.

The ATS800 is a next-generation laser tracking metrology solution that combines high-accuracy direct scanning and reflector tracking into a single portable system. It enables manufacturers to measure complex surfaces, fine features, and large structures from distances of up to 40 metres, enhancing precision, productivity, and workflow efficiency.

Speaking to the media, Mr. Pramod Kaushik, President, Hexagon India, said, “The introduction of ATS800 in India reflects Hexagon’s continued commitment to supporting the country’s manufacturing transformation. As manufacturers move towards higher precision, larger assemblies, and digital quality workflows, the ATS800 offers a flexible and scalable metrology solution that helps improve accuracy, productivity, and operational confidence.”

On this Occasion, Mr. Manoj Sharma, Director - Marketing and Sales Excellence, Hexagon India, said, “India’s manufacturing ecosystem is evolving rapidly, and the ATS800 reinforces Hexagon’s commitment to equipping Indian manufacturers with practical, advanced metrology solutions that improve quality, productivity, and competitiveness."

The ATS800 supports a range of sectors including aerospace, automotive, energy, heavy engineering, and large-scale fabrication by delivering precise measurements, reduced inspection times, and improved traceability. Its design supports integration with automation systems and advanced workflows, enabling seamless connectivity with existing metrology software and robotic platforms.

Hexagon’s participation at IMTEX Forming 2026 reinforces its continued commitment to the Indian market, supporting manufacturers across industries with advanced metrology and digital solutions that enhance efficiency, quality, and global competitiveness.

About Hexagon: Hexagon is the global leader in measurement technologies. We provide the confidence that vital industries rely on to build, navigate, and innovate. From microns to Mars, our solutions ensure productivity, quality, safety, and sustainability in everything from manufacturing and construction to mining and autonomous systems. Hexagon (Nasdaq Stockholm: HEXA B) has approximately 24,800 employees in 50 countries and net sales of approximately 5.4bn EUR. Learn more at hexagon.com.

BITS Design School’s B.Des (Hons) Applications To Close On February 1, 2026

All aspiring students including those applying with NID DAT Prelim or UCEED scores are required to submit the application by the Feb 1 deadline

BITS Design School (BITSDES), a constituent of BITS Pilani, will close the application window for 2026 admissions for its third cohort of the four-year, fully residential Bachelor of Design (Honours) programme on 1st February 2026.

A total of 180 students will be admitted to the batch. Applicants can qualify through any of the following exams: NID Design Aptitude Test (DAT) Prelims, UCEED, or the BITS Design Aptitude Test (BITSDAT). Those wishing to apply with NID-DAT or UCEED scores are also required to complete and submit their applications by 1 February 2026 with their NID-DAT / UCEED registration number or application numbers. The BITSDAT, a one hour long online test will be conducted from 31 March to 5 April 2026.

Only students who have submitted their applications by 1 February 2026 will be able to upload their scores when the application portal is opened between 8 April and 12 April 2026.

Shortlisted candidates will be announced on 16 April 2026, followed by portfolio uploads from 16 April to 20 April 2026, and online interviews between 4 May and 13 May 2026. Final results will be declared on 18 May 2026.

The previous cohorts represent a wide spectrum of academic backgrounds, including students from Science, Arts, Commerce streams from CBSE, ISC, State Boards, IB, and IGCSE.

Students can specialize in Physical Product Design, Digital Product Design (UI/UX), Design Research & Insights, Experience Design and Visual Design. The programme offers transdisciplinary education blending design, policy, business strategy, and emerging technologies to prepare students for evolving industry and policy needs.

BITS Design School students will have the opportunity to participate in the BITS Pilani Practice School programme from the third year onwards. The Practice School is a structured learning programme by BITS Pilani that places students in real industry environments to work on live projects under joint academic and industry mentorship, including organisations such as Google, Microsoft, Amazon, NVIDIA and ISRO, among others. Third-year BITSDES students will undertake an eight week industry engagement, followed by a twenty two week immersion in their final year, making it a core part of the curriculum that connects classroom learning with hands-on professional experience before graduation.

In keeping with the institute’s vision to bring international perspectives, academic rigour, and real-world exposure to its students, BITS Design School has established collaborations with leading global institutions, including Stanford Design School, RMIT University, Arizona State University and the Cumulus Association of Design Universities. These partnerships encompass curriculum development, student and faculty exchange, joint research, and collaborative projects.

For detailed information on admissions, visit www.bitsdesign.edu.in

About BITS Design School (BITSDES)

BITS Design School is an initiative of the Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani (BITS Pilani), one of India’s leading higher education institutions recognized as an 'Institute of Eminence' by the Government of India. BITSDES is dedicated to fostering a collaborative environment where design students and educators from around the world come together to address global challenges through design thinking and innovation.