Nike’s After Dark Tour Returns to Mumbai: A Global Race Series Built for Women, Powered by Nike

What to know

· The Mumbai leg of the Nike After Dark Tour is back for 2026 with an invitation to an unforgettable experience to the city as part of a seven-city series across the globe.

· Designed for women, the 2026 Nike After Dark Tour combines the joy of running with an electrifying nighttime experience that seamlessly blends sport, culture and community, resulting in a one-of-one event at every stop.

· With races of varying distances –– from 10Ks to half marathons –– the tour offers women around the world, including Mumbai’s growing community of women runners, the opportunity to push new limits and celebrate their collective power and potential.

· To learn more and get notified about race dates and registration, visit https://afterdarktour.nike.com/mumbai

Seven global cities. One electrifying tour. Built for women, powered by Nike.

The After Dark Tour is returning for 2026, continuing Nike’s commitment to inviting more women into sport through races designed to celebrate community, self-expression and the power of running — all after the sun goes down.

Spanning seven major cities across the world, the Nike After Dark Tour empowers women to step onto the starting line together for an evening that blends sport, culture and community into a oneofone experience at every stop.

With a 10K race in Mumbai, the tour invites women of all backgrounds and abilities to push new limits and celebrate their collective power and potential.

Races in the 2026 Nike After Dark Tour include:

· London: 10K

· Los Angeles: half marathon

· Manila: 10K

· Mexico City: half marathon

· Mumbai: 10K

· Shanghai: 10K

· Sydney: half marathon

Now in its second year, the After Dark Tour builds on Nike’s longstanding history of supporting women runners around the world. Between 2005 and 2015, Nike hosted a series of women’s races in major cities globally. In 2025, the brand carried that legacy forward with the launch of the After Dark Tour, inspiring a new generation of runners and creating a space where women feel seen, supported and motivated.

That approach resonated strongly during the inaugural After Dark Tour, which drew more than 50,000 women to seven races across five continents, including nearly 3,500 women in India. One in three participants were first time racers, and nearly half said they signed up because they were drawn to a women oriented race experience.

Each stop extends far beyond a traditional race format, offering runners a fully immersive experience featuring curated prerace moments, oncourse energy and postrace celebrations of movement, confidence and community.

The After Dark Tour also showcases Nike’s latest running, training and sportswear innovations — all designed to help women look good, feel good and perform their best. The same performance technologies developed for Nike’s elite athletes are available to everyday runners, reinforcing the brand’s belief that innovation should serve all athletes, at every level.

To learn more about the 2026 Nike After Dark Tour, get notified about race dates and register for a race, visit:

Mumbai: https://afterdarktour.nike.com/mumbai

Global Series: https://afterdarktour.nike.com/

NOTE: As a brand that champions and celebrates all athletes*, Nike created the After Dark Tour to invite more women into sport, fostering a sense of community and self-expression. Nike welcomed thousands of women to After Dark Tour starting lines in 2025, and the brand looks forward to encouraging even more women to run in 2026. Nike appreciates runners’ partnership in honoring the intent of the race series; participation and eligibility rules vary according to local laws and regulations. As registration opens, runners can check the race participation and eligibility requirements for each city.

Air India Bolsters Winter Network With New Routes To Khajuraho And Jaisalmer

New flights to Khajuraho linking Delhi and Varanasi ⁠

New flights to Jaisalmer from Mumbai

⁠Increased frequency to Gaya

Air India today announced enhancements to its domestic route network, effective Northern Winter Schedule 2026, strengthening connectivity to some of India’s iconic heritage and spiritual destinations.

Starting 25 October 2026, Air India will operate daily flights to Khajuraho, linking the city to Delhi and Varanasi. The airline will also operate non-stop daily flights between Mumbai and Jaisalmer, complementing its existing Delhi-Jaisalmer winter services, as well as increased frequency to Gaya from Delhi.

Khajuraho flights for tri-city tours

Air India’s new services are designed to boost connectivity and convenience for tourists to explore Khajuraho, renowned for its UNESCO World Heritage-listed temples, and Varanasi, the spiritual heart of India, on a single seamless trip. The new flights will operate daily on a triangular circuit with an alternating routing patten, as follows, providing flexible options for travellers to prioritise their preferred order of visits to both destinations, while ensuring seamless connections via Delhi to destinations across Europe, Southeast Asia and the Far East.

Flight routing:

On Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays: Delhi - Khajuraho - Varanasi - Delhi

On Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays: Delhi - Varanasi - Khajuraho - Delhi

Delhi-Khajuraho-Varanasi has emerged as a sought-after tourist circuit for discerning travellers seeking deeper immersion in India’s spiritual and artistic legacy, combining Varanasi’s ancient ghats and storied bylanes with Khajuraho’s medieval temple structures.

Connecting Mumbai with Jaisalmer and boosting connectivity to Gaya

Air India’s new seasonal service between Mumbai and Jaisalmer starting 25 October 2026 expands access to the popular destination in Rajasthan. This new route complements Air India’s existing daily Delhi-Jaisalmer flights and provides guests from western India direct connectivity to the Jaisalmer during the peak winter tourism season.

Air India will add an additional daily frequency between Delhi and Gaya this winter, offering both morning and afternoon departures in each direction, thus improving access and adding flexibility for travellers.

Connecting East-West via India

The new flights are timed to enable seamless onward connections for guests travelling from destinations across Europe (including the UK), Southeast Asia, and the Far East into Khajuraho, Varanasi, or Gaya. This will help to position these timeless Indian destinations more strongly on international itineraries. The flights conveniently connect to/from destinations including but not limited to London (Heathrow), Birmingham, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Milan, Paris, Vienna, Zurich, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Bali (Denpasar), Seoul (Incheon), Hong Kong, and Tokyo (Haneda).

Bookings open

The new flights are available for bookings through all channels, including Air India's official website (www.airindia.com), mobile app and through travel agents.

M. P. Ahammad Of Malabar Group, Conferred Maharashtrian Of The Year Award 2026 By Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis

Mr. M.P. Ahammad, Chairman, Malabar Group, has been honoured with the prestigious Business Bhushan Award at the Lokmat Maharashtrian of the Year Awards 2026, in recognition of his visionary leadership and pivotal role in transforming the global jewellery retail landscape and society at large.

Held at the iconic Gateway of India, the awards ceremony brought together leading policymakers, industry leaders, and prominent personalities from business and entertainment. The event was attended by the Chief Minister, Sri. Devendra Fadvanis, and Deputy Chief Minister, Sri. Eknath Shinde of Maharashtra, Sri. Vijay Darda, Chairman of Lokmat alongside ministers, bureaucrats, and distinguished figures from across sectors.

Presented by Lokmat Media Group, the awards celebrate individuals whose vision, leadership, and achievements have significantly shaped industries while contributing meaningfully to society. Mr. Ahammad’s recognition highlights his remarkable entrepreneurial journey and the role he has played in building Malabar Gold & to become the 5th largest global jewellery retailer and the largest jewellery retailer of Indian origin.

Expressing his gratitude on receiving the honour, Mr. M.P. Ahammad, Chairman, Malabar Group, said, “I am deeply honoured to receive the Business Bhushan award at the Lokmat Maharashtrian of the Year Awards. This recognition reflects the collective dedication of the entire Malabar family and the trust our customers have placed in us over the years. Our journey is founded on the principle of collective growth of all our stakeholders guided by responsibility, integrity, and a commitment to creating lasting value for society while continuing to pursue excellence in everything we do.”

Founded in 1993, Malabar Gold & Diamonds has been a pioneer in fostering responsible and transparent jewellery retail, contributing significantly to employment generation, strengthening the organised retail ecosystem, and enhancing customer experience through access to world‑class designs and services.

Today, the brand stands as a true flag bearer of India, showcasing the nation’s craft and soul to the world through its 425 showrooms across 14 countries. The brand has reimagined the jewellery industry by integrating the entire value chain, from design and manufacturing to retail and beyond.

Maharashtra remains a key market for Malabar Gold & Diamonds, now with 34 showrooms across major cities. This growth has boosted employment, strengthened the organised jewellery ecosystem, and improved access to quality designs. His substantial contribution to the state earned him this honour, and the Group is committed to further expansion, targeting 64 stores in Maharashtra by 2029.

Beyond business growth, Mr. Ahammad advanced a purpose‑driven model by embedding CSR/ESG commitments into the company since inception, consistently contributing 5% of profits to education, healthcare, housing support and women’s empowerment programmes, benefiting the society across regions of operations.

His recognition with the Business Bhushan Award further reinforces his stature as one of India’s most respected business leaders whose entrepreneurial vision and values-driven leadership serve as an inspiration and a blueprint for collective progress for future global enterprises.

About Malabar Gold & Diamonds

Malabar Gold & Diamonds was established in 1993 and is the flagship company of Malabar Group, a leading diversified Indian business conglomerate. With an annual turnover of $7.36 billion, the company currently ranks as the 5th largest jewellery retailer globally and operates a strong retail network of over 425 showrooms across 14 countries, supported by offices, design centres, wholesale units, and manufacturing facilities across India, the Middle East, the Far East, the USA, the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The group, owned by more than 3,500 shareholders, has over 30,000 professionals from more than 26 countries working towards its continued growth. Malabar Gold & Diamonds also operates an online store, enabling customers to purchase jewellery at any time.

ESG (Environmental, Social & Governance) has been a core commitment of Malabar Group since its inception. The key ESG focus areas of the Group include health, housing, hunger eradication, education, environment, and women empowerment. The group contributes five percent of its profits to social responsibility initiatives in the same country of operation.

Photo Caption: Starting from right to left;

Rajendra Darda - Editor in Chief - Lokmat Media Group

Dr Vijay Darda - Chairman - Lokmat Media Group

Mr. Asher O - MD-India, Malabar Gold & Diamonds

Devendra Fadnavis - CM Maharashtra State

Mr. M.P. Ahammad - Chairman, Malabar Group

Eknath Shinde - DCM Maharashtra State.

HMD Announces Strategic Collaboration With Flipkart; First Launch Of Its 2026 Smartphone Line-Up In India

Human Mobile Devices (HMD) and Flipkart today announced a strategic collaboration to bring HMD’s 2026 smartphone line-up to consumers in India. As part of this partnership, HMD’s first smartphone launch in India for 2026 will take place on Flipkart, which will serve as a key e-commerce partner alongside other leading online and retail channels.

HMD has been steadily strengthening its presence in India with a focus on human-centric design, durability, repairability, and the democratization of AI-led experiences across its portfolio. The launch of HMD’s first smartphone of 2026 under this partnership represents an important milestone in its India growth journey. By utilizing Flipkart’s deep understanding of Indian consumers, robust supply chain capabilities, and scale, HMD aims to make its upcoming devices more accessible and affordable across metro cities as well as Tier 2 and Tier 3 markets.

HMD will introduce smartphones across key price segments (10K to 20K), catering to India’s diverse and rapidly evolving usage needs, focusing on consumers seeking reliability, affordability, and meaningful AI-powered experiences. The first HMD smartphone of 2026 under this collaboration is expected to be unveiled in the coming months, followed by a phased rollout of multiple devices over the next 2–4 months, as both organizations come together to deliver a diverse range of smartphones catering to the evolving needs of Indian consumers. Further details on product specifications, pricing, availability, and consumer programs will be revealed closer to launch.

Ravi Kunwar, CEO and VP, HMD India and APAC, commented on the collaboration: ““We are excited to collaborate with Flipkart as one of our key e-commerce partners as we gear up to launch the first HMD smartphone of 2026 in India. Flipkart’s extensive reach and strong consumer connect will play an important role in bringing our latest innovation to customers across the country. As part of our broader distribution strategy, Flipkart serving as a key e-commerce partner alongside other retail channel., as we continue to deliver human-centered design and accessible technology to more consumers.”

Commenting on this, Ajay Veer Yadav, Senior Vice President, Flipkart said: “Flipkart remains focused on enabling India’s digital ambitions by ensuring customers have access to the latest mobile innovations. Our strategic collaboration with HMD brings their upcoming smartphone portfolio to millions of consumers across the country. With our expansive distribution network and flexible affordability offerings, we are well-positioned to make cutting-edge devices more accessible and inclusive. Together, we aim to accelerate HMD’s growth in India while delivering a superior experience to customers.”

The upcoming launches reflect the evolving needs of Indian smartphone users, where affordability and differentiated experiences increasingly shape buying decisions. Through this collaboration, HMD aims to build sustained momentum by combining thoughtful product positioning with broad market access.

About HMD

We are HMD, Human Mobile Devices. At HMD, we start by tuning into what people really want. Our consumers are passionate about the planet, often feel swamped by digital overload, and are keeping a close eye on their budget. That’s why we are thrilled to be Europe’s largest smartphone maker, championing repair-at-home phones, and a go-to for much needed digital time out.

For further information, see  https://www.hmd.com/en_int/about

About the Flipkart Group

The Flipkart Group is one of India’s leading digital commerce entities with a strong technology-first foundation and includes group companies Flipkart, Myntra, Flipkart Wholesale, Cleartrip, and super.money. Established in 2007, Flipkart has enabled millions of sellers, merchants, and small businesses to participate in India's digital commerce revolution. With a registered user base of more than 500 million, Flipkart’s marketplace offers over 150 million products across 80+ categories. Today, there are over 1.4 million sellers on the platform, including Shopsy sellers. With a focus on empowering and delighting every Indian by delivering value through technology and innovation, Flipkart has pioneered services such as Cash on Delivery, No Cost EMI, Easy Returns, and UPI payments. Beyond shopping, Flipkart continues to create jobs, empower entrepreneurs, and strengthen India’s digital economy.

For more information, write to media@flipkart.com

Meta Launches New Anti-Scam Tools, Device Linking Warning On WhatsApp To Fight Scammers And Protect People

Meta announced new anti-scam features across WhatsApp, Facebook and Messenger built to alert people before engaging with something suspicious and protect them from fraudulent activity. The new anti-scam tools include device linking warnings on WhatsApp, alerts for suspicious friend requests on Facebook and an expanded rollout of advanced scam detection on Messenger.

1. WhatsApp device linking warning: WhatsApp will now alert users when behavioral signals suggest a linking request might be suspicious. Scammers often attempt to trick people into linking their WhatsApp account to another device or scanning QR codes. These alerts will show users where the request is coming from and display a clear warning that it may be a scam, giving people the chance to pause and reconsider before it happens.

2. Facebook alerts for suspicious friend requests: Meta is testing new warnings on Facebook that will appear when you send or receive a request from an account that shows certain signs of suspicious activity, including when you do not have many mutual friends with them or they indicate a different country location in their profile. The alert will help people make informed decisions before blocking or rejecting suspicious requests.

3. Expanding advanced scam detection on Messenger: When conversations show patterns associated with common scams, such as fraudulent job offers, people will receive a warning and have the option to submit messages for AI review. If flagged as a scam, people will be guided on steps to block or report the suspicious account.

In addition to the product updates, Meta continues to aggressively combat scam activity to protect people and businesses. Last year alone, Meta removed over 159 million scam ads, 92% of which were taken down before anyone reported them. In India in 2025, the company banned more than 12.1 million pieces of ad content for violating its policies against Fraud, Scam, and Deceptive Practices, out of which over 93% were removed proactively.

Fighting scams requires more than technology and enforcement. It requires education and raising awareness, especially for vulnerable populations. Earlier this year, Meta launched the third edition of its flagship anti-scam ‘Scam Se Bacho’ in partnership with the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) and the Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI). The year-long campaign featured acclaimed Indian actor Neena Gupta and leading digital creators to help people identify and avoid online scams.

John Deere Power & Technology Show And Unveiling Of 5M Series- 5130M (130HP) In India

Deere & Company is a global technology leader in agricultural, construction & forestry committed to the success of their customers, channel partners, suppliers and employees. John Deere continues to strengthen its role as a technology player and has been instrumental in transforming the above sectors in several geographies across the world.

John Deere for the past 27+ years in India has led technologically advanced solutions for the wellbeing of the farming communities aimed to improve farm productivity, thereby protecting soil health and water conservation and environment which are critical pillars of sustainable farming.

Rajesh Sinha, MD & Country Manager John Deere India, Strategic Advisor to President C&F Worldwide, said, “The core of John Deere’s strategy revolves around integration of precision agriculture, digital solutions for SMART connected machines that enable farmers to produce more with fewer resources. The recent technologies launched are designed to optimize field operations & input cost, precise crop care solutions ensuring soil and environmental sustainability”. John Deere’s India footprint continues to be significant and important for global operation from the R&D, Engineering, Global IT, Supply chain, Road Construction beside manufacturing and talent, Sinha added.

Ramakant Garg, Sales & Marketing India Director said, “The advanced farm technologies and evolving agronomy practices go hand in hand and thus John Deere is committed to align these for futuristic agricultural practices. The Power and Technology 7.0 is a step in that direction, some of them are as mentioned below:

Front Hitch & Front PTO Application on 5130M (130 HP) Tractor

5E AutoTrac™ (Straight-Row Vehicle Guidance System)

GreenSystem™ Link – Factory-Fitted Kit - Connectivity Solution

5405 & 5075E Radial Tires (100%)

In the past John Deere has been leading technologically superior products for Indian markets and we take pride in continuing in do so in today’s technology event, Ramakant further added.

John Deere’s approach to innovate adaption to local conditions that are relevant to diverse Indian farming conditions, supporting government’s mission has been instrumental in our success in India and exports of products to 110 countries across the globe.

Mr. Mukul Varshney, Region 1 Government Affairs Director say, “The Government’s sustainability goal for 2047 can best be supported by John Deere that makes us even more responsible and accountable beyond products and services. We witness a very favorable ecosystem that helps us further our efforts to collaborate with stakeholders such as academia, research institutions and industry. We at John Deere strongly believe this shall help our farmers to be globally capable and competitive in times to come.”

About Deere & Company

It doesn’t matter if you’ve never driven a tractor, mowed a lawn, or operated a dozer. With John

Deere’s role in helping produce food, fiber, fuel, and infrastructure, we work for every single person on the planet. It all started nearly 200 years ago with a steel plow. Today, John Deere drives innovation in agriculture, construction, forestry, turf, power systems, and more.

For more information on Deere & Company, visit us at www.deere.com/en/news/.

Axis Bank Announces Winners Of SPLASH 2025, Its Flagship Pan-India Art, Craft And Literature Competition

· Winners and runners-up will receive ₹1 lakh and ₹50,000 respectively. The winning artworks will also be showcased at the Museum of Art and Photography (MAP), Bengaluru.

· The competition witnessed overwhelming participation, with over 7 lakh entries from across India.

Axis Bank, one of the largest private sector banks in India, has announced the winners of SPLASH 2025, the 13th edition of its flagship nationwide Art, Craft and Literature competition for children aged 7–14 years. Rooted in the brand philosophy of ‘dil se open’, SPLASH offers young minds across India a platform to express their creativity and imagination.

This year’s edition of SPLASH witnessed an overwhelming response, with close to 7 lakh entries from across India. The initiative reached over 1,900 schools and saw participation through 5,500+ Axis Bank branches nationwide, underscoring its strong grassroots presence and pan-India reach.

The six winners and six runners-up will receive ₹1 lakh and ₹50,000 respectively. The winning artworks will also be showcased at the Museum of Art and Photography (MAP), Bengaluru, while the top 400 qualifiers will receive exciting goodies and vouchers from partner brands, including Ixigo and American Tourister.

Winners in the age group of 7 – 10 years:

· Art: Debosmita Banik from Agartala, Tripura

· Craft: Shruti Siddhartha Gosh from Thane, Maharashtra

· Literature: Nirvi Vashishtha from Ahmedabad, Gujarat

Winners in the age group of 11 – 14 years:

· Art: Soumya Mohanty from Khorda, Odisha

· Craft: Sanika Chhajed from Pune, Maharashtra

· Literature: Vaibhav Krishna from Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu

Speaking on the occasion, Anoop Manohar, Chief Marketing Officer, Axis Bank, said, “SPLASH has always been more than a competition—it is a celebration of imagination, originality, and self-expression. The overwhelming response to SPLASH 2025 reflects the immense creative potential that exists among children across the country. By offering young creators a platform to learn and engage, we hope to further inspire them to dream big and pursue their creative passions with confidence.”

These entries were evaluated by an esteemed jury of over 100 domain experts, including Mr. Savio Mascarenhas, Group Art Director at Amar Chitra Katha; Dr. Snehal Pinto, Director of Ryan International Group of Institutions; and Mr. Deepak Patil, Hon. Vice President of The Art Society of India.

With every edition, SPLASH has grown in scale and reach, emerging as one of India’s largest creative engagement platforms for children. The initiative reflects Axis Bank’s commitment to holistic development and meaningful community engagement.

About Axis Bank:

Axis Bank is one of the largest private sector banks in India. Axis Bank offers the entire spectrum of services to customer segments covering Large and Mid-Corporates, SME, Agriculture, and Retail Businesses. It has 6,110 domestic branches (including extension counters) and 12,838 ATMs and cash recyclers spread across the country as on 31st December 2025. The Bank’s Axis Virtual Centre is present across eight centres with 1,582 Virtual Relationship Managers as on 31st December 2025. The Axis Group includes Axis Mutual Fund, Axis Securities Ltd., Axis Finance, Axis Trustee, Axis Capital, A.TReDS Ltd., Freecharge, Axis Pension Fund and Axis Bank Foundation.

For more information, visit the website: https://www.axis.bank.in/