Students from Galgotias University secured five Gold Medals at the 1st World Yogasana Championship 2026 held at the EKA Arena, Ahmedabad, from 4 to 8 June 2026.

The inaugural championship brought together 522 athletes from 79 countries across multiple Yogasana disciplines and age categories. Organised by Yogasana Bharat in association with World Yogasana and the Indian Olympic Association, the event marked the largest international competitive platform for Yogasana so far.

Galgotias University students made India proud at the World Yogasana Championship 2026 with five Gold Medals across Traditional, Supine, Artistic Pair, and Group events

India finished at the top of the medal tally with 114 medals, including 102 Gold Medals.

Representing India, first-year students from Galgotias University won medals across artistic, traditional, and individual categories.

Ritu Mondal, a first-year BA Economics student, secured Gold Medals in Traditional Individual and Traditional Group categories. Riya, a first-year BA English student, won Gold in the Supine Individual event in the Senior Category. Deepa Lodhi, a first-year BA English student competing in the Junior Category, secured Gold Medals in Artistic Pair and Artistic Group.

The championship featured competitions in traditional yogasana, artistic single, artistic pair, artistic group, rhythmic pair, and specialised flexibility and balance events.

Dr Dhruv Galgotia, CEO, Galgotias University, said, “Competing at a championship that brought together athletes from 79 countries demands a very different level of preparation, consistency, and discipline. Securing five Gold Medals against international competition is a significant achievement for our students and for Indian Yogasana.”

Deepa Lodhi said, “The scale of the championship was very different from anything I had experienced earlier. Competing against international participants helped me understand the level of preparation required at the global stage.”

Riya said, “The competition environment was extremely demanding because every category had strong international participation. Winning here has given me confidence to prepare for bigger championships ahead.”

Ritu Mondal said, “The event showed how rapidly Yogasana is growing internationally. For us as athletes, it was an opportunity to represent India in a discipline that originated here.”

The achievement adds to Galgotias University’s growing presence on international stages across sports, innovation, entrepreneurship, technology, and global academic competitions, where students are increasingly competing alongside participants from leading institutions and countries worldwide.

About Galgotias University
Galgotias University is one of India’s leading multidisciplinary universities recognised for academic excellence, research, innovation, global collaborations, and industry aligned education. With a vibrant student community of over 50,000 learners and a global alumni network of more than 100,000 graduates, the University has built a rapidly growing ecosystem focused on technology, entrepreneurship, interdisciplinary learning, and real-world impact.

In the QS World University Rankings 2026 by Quacquarelli Symonds, Galgotias University was placed in the 1201-1400 global band and ranked 15th among private universities and 43rd among all universities in India. In the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026, the University was placed in the 1201-1500 global band and ranked 27th among private universities and 65th among all universities in India. The University is also accredited with NAAC A+, one of India’s highest institutional quality ratings.

Galgotias University offers programmes across engineering, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, business, law, media, design, health sciences, hospitality, liberal education, and emerging interdisciplinary domains. In 2026, students secured more than 5,100 job offers from over 1,250 recruiters. The University has built strong industry and innovation partnerships with organisations including Apple, Infosys, Intel, Cisco, Tata Technologies, L&T EduTech, Capgemini, and Salesforce, while continuing to strengthen its global academic engagement and startup ecosystem.

The Kerala Police has launched a synchronized anti-narcotics enforcement campaign titled Operation Toofan, positioning frontline police units at the vanguard of the mission. Operating with direct tactical, administrative, and data assistance from regional intelligence cells and state administrative departments, the Kerala Police force has established a unified command structure to target interstate supply corridors. This extensive mobilization resulted in the registration of more than 1,500 cases, the execution of more than 1,000 arrests, and the recovery of substantial quantities of synthetic contraband within the first 72 hours of field deployment.

The man behind Operation Toofan, Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala

The operation’s success relied on a carefully timed blueprint.

Two weeks before the academic year started, Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala finalized a strategy designed to catch school-zone traffickers off guard. Police units then began quietly mapping out the networks. The moment students went back to class, the trap snapped shut, shifting from silent surveillance to aggressive field arrests across state lines.

The word “Toofan” knows no geographic or linguistic borders. Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala explained why the administration chose a name with pan-India resonance.

“Kerala, today is a rapidly evolving global hub, welcoming a massive workforce of guest workers from various states, IT professionals, and international tourists. We chose a name that instantly communicates our absolute zero-tolerance policy to everyone who steps into the state,” Chennithala said.

The official launch of the campaign took place at Cotton Hill Girls Higher Secondary School in Thiruvananthapuram. Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan inaugurated the function, which was presided over by Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala. The event saw massive participation from students, parents, police officials, and the general public, capturing immense public attention right from the school venue.

From that very moment, social media platforms began flooding with viral campaigns backing the crackdown, creating a digital wall of solidarity against the drug networks. On the ground and across the internet, the operation triggered an unprecedented wave of public support, with citizens courageously stepping up to flood police tip lines and use secure digital nodes to share real-time, actionable information about local peddlers.

Breaking away from formal press releases, Police Chief Ravada Azad Chandrasekhar and the officer in charge, IG Putta Vimaladitya, took to official social media pages, using the native language to personally ask the public for help.

Two days into the campaign, the Home Minister stepped in to launch special mobile and WhatsApp hotlines, guaranteeing complete anonymity to anyone passing on information about local dealers. Rather than just booking local buyers, the state police focused on finding the drug network at its source.

The crackdown included highly unusual incidents, such as a suspect who hid a packet of ganja inside a boiling pressure cooker, only for the cooker’s whistle to emit a strong odor that alerted searching officers. In another case, a tech worker caught growing cannabis claimed the plants were meant for making kitchen chutney.

To dismantle the wider syndicate, investigators used pictures found in seized phone galleries to trace the supply lines backward. This root-level approach led teams straight to the top, resulting in the interstate arrest of two major foreign kingpins, Samuel in Delhi and Elsina in Bengaluru.

Operation Toofan: The Narco Hunt uses a four-pillar system to fight drugs. Under Toofan Strike, specialized police teams and supporting departments launch smart, targeted raids at border check posts to stop chemical drug shipments. For health and recovery, Toofan Care links the police with medical departments to provide rehabilitation and clinical counseling for those dealing with dependency. To protect students, Toofan Warriors uses the Student Police Cadet network and local youth under the Education Department to closely monitor school and college campuses.

As part of this initiative, Kerala Police organizes specialized awareness classes for students to educate them against drug abuse under Operation Toofan. To turn this into a massive state movement, the Home Minister and high-ranking officials plan to personally visit as many schools as possible to deliver the anti-drug message.

Furthermore, all campuses have been asked to hoist the Toofan campaign flag to declare themselves as drug-free zones. Additionally, every student across campuses has been asked to wear the “Toofan Warrior” badge, declaring their commitment to actively protecting their campuses.

The operational framework of this unique drug hunt, Operation Toofan, relies heavily on strategies previously established by Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala.

A senior national figure within the Indian National Congress and a permanent invitee to the Congress Working Committee, Chennithala has adapted successful mechanisms from his earlier landmark campaigns, most notably Operation Kubera. Launched during his previous tenure, that courageous enforcement drive successfully eradicated the state’s predatory illegal money-lending network.

Bisleri International, India’s leading packaged drinking water company, represented India at the South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme (SACEP) Training Programme on Demonstration of EPR and Plastic Credit Systems in India held in Kathmandu, Nepal from 8–10 June 2026.

Mr. K. Ganesh, Director – Sustainability & Corporate Affairs, Bisleri International, represented India at the South Asian Cooperative Environment Program at Kathmandu

Mr. K. Ganesh, Director – Sustainability & Corporate Affairs, Bisleri International participated as a key resource person and industry representative, sharing India’s practical experience in implementing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for plastic packaging. The programme brought together government officials, ministers, regulators, producers, brand owners, recyclers, waste operators and sustainability experts from India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka to exchange knowledge and strengthen circular economy frameworks across South Asia.

As part of the programme, Mr. Ganesh led a practitioner session titled “Experience Sharing: How Indian PIBOs Operate under EPR“, that provided first-hand insights into how Producers, Importers and Brand Owners (PIBOs) navigate India’s evolving EPR ecosystem. The discussion covered registration and compliance management through the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) portal, engagement with recyclers, aggregators and Producer Responsibility Organisations (PROs), documentation and verification processes, as well as practical challenges relating to data quality, recycler capacity, cost and regulatory compliance. The session formed part of the conference agenda focused on demonstrating India’s EPR framework and operational learnings for South Asian Nations exploring on strengthening similar systems.

 Representatives from South Asian countries discussed circular economy frameworks at SACEP

Mr. Ganesh also contributed to a high-level discussion on the alignment between EPR regulations and emerging plastic credit mechanisms, highlighting opportunities for collaboration between governments, industry and waste management stakeholders to accelerate circularity and improve plastic waste management outcomes across the region.

Commenting on his participation, Mr. K. Ganesh, Director – Sustainability & Corporate Affairs, Bisleri International, said, “Extended Producer Responsibility has emerged as one of the most important policy instruments for creating accountability, improving traceability and driving investment into waste management infrastructure. India’s EPR journey has generated valuable learnings on collaboration between producers, recyclers, regulators and the informal sector. Platforms such as SACEP provide an important opportunity for South Asian countries to share experiences, strengthen regional cooperation and accelerate the transition towards a circular economy. As sustainability challenges increasingly transcend borders, collective action and robust EPR frameworks will play a critical role in building resource-efficient and environmentally responsible societies.”

Bisleri has consistently championed sustainable waste management practices through its initiatives in plastic circularity, recycling partnerships and responsible packaging. Through participation in regional and international forums, the company continues to contribute to policy dialogue, knowledge sharing and collaborative solutions that support a more sustainable future for the region.

About Bisleri International Pvt. Ltd
With a legacy of over 50 years, Bisleri International Pvt. Ltd has grown to become one of the largest premium beverage businesses in India. Being the makers of the country’s largest-selling packaged drinking water, Bisleri follows a stringent process of 114 quality tests and a 10-stage purification. It remains true to its core value of providing consumers with pure, safe, and healthy water.

Bisleri International has a strong presence with 128 operational plants and a robust distribution network of over 6,000 Distributors and 7,500 Distribution Trucks across India and UAE market. It offers a range of beverages that are produced for all occasions. Whether it is the promise of goodness, trust, and purity with Bisleri packaged drinking water, or a daily dose of health offered through Vedica Himalayan Spring Water. Besides, Bisleri International has ventured into fun-filled refreshments with a diverse range of carbonated drinks available in multiple flavours, such as Bisleri Limonata, Bisleri Rev, Bisleri Spyci Jeera, Bisleri Pop and Bisleri Soda. These Bisleri products are also available on the e-commerce platform – Bisleri@Doorstep. This D2C platform reassures customers that they will receive a safe and uninterrupted supply of their most trusted brand at their doorstep.

The core values of Bisleri International lie in yielding growth and embedding sustainability by being responsible in all aspects of the business. The organization has unveiled Sustainability 2.0 with Bisleri Greener Promise that focuses on creating a greener future for all through implementing initiatives under the program of recycling, water conservation, and sustainability.

For more information on Bisleri International, our people, brands, and OSR initiatives, visit www.bisleri.com.

91Wheels.com, in collaboration with Mahindra Electric Automobile Limited (MEAL), has successfully completed a landmark cross-border electric vehicle expedition from New Delhi, India, to Thimphu, Bhutan.

10 Mahindra Electric Origin SUVs travelled from New Delhi to Thimphu

The expedition saw a convoy of 10 Mahindra Electric Origin SUVs undertake the 1,850-kilometre journey to Bhutan’s capital, demonstrating the growing capability of electric mobility for long-distance and international travel. The achievement has been recognised by the India Book of Records as the “Largest EV Convoy on a Cross-Border International Road Trip.”

Adding to the significance of the expedition was the participation of real-world customers. Families, friends, siblings, and solo drivers joined the journey in a fleet comprising Mahindra XEV 9e, XEV 9S, and BE 6 electric SUVs, bringing together authentic ownership experiences across borders.

The drive showcased the long-distance touring capabilities of Mahindra’s INGLO EV platform, with participants covering diverse terrain and weather conditions while relying entirely on public and planned charging infrastructure. By successfully completing this demanding journey, the drive also helped build greater confidence for EV adoption in India, demonstrating that electric SUVs can support long-distance, intercity and cross-border travel with the right planning and charging access.

The convoy also visited Bhutan’s first Mahindra Electric Automobile showroom in Thimphu, marking a symbolic milestone for the brand’s international EV footprint.

Commenting on the achievement, Bunny Punia, Group Editor, 91Wheels.com, said, “At 91Wheels, we constantly push vehicles beyond conventional test conditions to understand their true capabilities. This New Delhi-to-Thimphu expedition showcased that modern electric vehicles are no longer limited by the myths that surround them. Crossing international borders, mountains and long highway stretches, the Mahindra Origin Electric SUVs and its customers proved that sustainable mobility is ready for real-world adventures.”

Reeti Nageshri, Head of Business Operations – Mahindra Electric Automobile Limited, said, “People still ask if an EV can handle a real road trip. Our customers just answered that question by driving nearly 4,000 kilometres each across two countries, through extreme heat, mountain roads and changing terrain. The story here isn’t just the vehicles. It’s the confidence customers now have to go further than they ever thought possible.”

“At 91Wheels, our goal has always been to simplify personal mobility by helping consumers make informed decisions with confidence. In a category where trust plays a critical role, we continue to invest in expert-led content, technology-driven experiences, and unbiased guidance that empower millions of vehicle buyers across India. As mobility evolves, our focus remains on building a trusted ecosystem that puts the consumer first,” said Sunish Kumar, Founder, 91Wheels.

Route Overview

• Day 1: New Delhi – Agra – Lucknow – Gorakhpur (882 km)

• Day 2: Gorakhpur – Muzaffarpur – Siliguri (647 km)

• Day 3: Siliguri – Jaigaon – Phuentsholing (151 km)

• Day 4: Phuentsholing – Thimphu (170 km)

• Day 5: Thimphu – Paro – Thimphu (additional)

Collectively, the convoy covered nearly 40,000 kilometres by the time all participating customers returned to New Delhi, creating one of the most demanding real-world endurance demonstrations undertaken by customer-owned EVs in the region. Throughout the expedition, the electric SUVs were subjected to consecutive DC fast-charging sessions, temperatures reaching 47°C across the northern plains, and elevations approaching 9,000 feet, further highlighting their ability to handle demanding real-world conditions. The most meaningful border crossed on this journey, however, wasn’t India to Bhutan, but the one between belief and confidence.

AI has not just changed how people search. It has changed who answers. And for the first time, that answer is not a list of links – it is a single response, generated by a model, citing sources it has chosen to trust. For enterprise brands, that shift is not coming. It has arrived.

Industry leaders and marketing executives at INDEX’26 New York, Pepper’s summit focused on the future of AI-driven search and brand discovery

That was the ground truth at INDEX’26 New York, hosted by Pepper on May 27. More than 200 CMOs, VPs of Marketing, growth leaders, investors, and technology builders convened for the New York edition of what Pepper bills as the world’s first The GEO Growth Summit – a forum built not to debate whether generative AI is disrupting search, but to determine what winning looks like on the other side of that disruption.

The results were unambiguous. Across every conversation – from the boardroom to the brand team – the same inflection point kept surfacing: organic discovery has been structurally rewired, and the strategies that drove growth for the past decade are losing their footing fast. CAC is climbing. Traditional SEO signals are weakening. Buyer journeys now fracture across seven or more touchpoints before a decision is made. And through all of it, AI models are forming opinions about brands – from reviews, citations, third-party content, and web authority – long before a human ever enters a search bar.

“INDEX was created to bring together operators who are actively rethinking how growth works in a world where AI has become the primary interface for discovery. Search is no longer about ranking pages – it is about being retrieved, cited, and trusted by AI systems. INDEX’26 is where leaders come together to understand this shift and build practical strategies to win in the new era,” said Anirudh Singla, Co-Founder & CEO, Pepper.

The urgency extended well beyond the marketing function. Investors and board members, as surfaced in one of the day’s most candid conversations, are already asking their portfolio companies about AI search visibility – often without the CMO in the room. For enterprise leadership teams, the message was pointed: Generative Engine Optimization is no longer a content team initiative. It has become a business continuity question.

That reality landed differently for regulated industries. In financial services, the stakes of AI getting it wrong go beyond brand damage. A misattributed claim, a hallucinated product detail, an AI-generated answer that contradicts compliance policy – these are not PR problems. They are regulatory ones. Leaders from DTCC and Arbor Realty Trust gave texture to what it means to navigate brand authority in an environment where no single team controls what an AI says about you.

“I think of myself as much more of an operations and architect of the department than a traditional marketer. We’ve gone from Chief Marketing Officer to Chief Architect,” said Lauren Wagner Boyman, CMO, KPMG US.

The CMO role itself was on trial. Lauren Wagner Boyman of KPMG US and Drew Neisser of CMO Huddles – drawing on data from more than 600 CMO conversations – made the case that the function has been permanently restructured. Speed, agility, and content efficiency have displaced traditional brand stewardship as the core mandate. Consumer brand leaders from Uber, Unilever, Major League Soccer, and Samsung Ads confirmed the same pattern from a different angle: when AI compresses buyer choice to a single recommendation, the brand that wins is the one the model has learned to trust, not the one with the biggest media budget.

“The physical shelf had 100 options. E-commerce became endless but we shop above the fold – so 100 became 5. AI-led search is about to compress 5 into 1. You want to be that one – every time, in every platform,” said Deepak Subramanian, Global VP Marketing, Unilever.

Pepper used the summit to unveil Atlas, its agentic OS for organic growth – positioned not as a GEO tool but as an outcome engine built to own traffic, citations, velocity, and pipeline in the AI era. Guy Yalif of Webflow separately debuted the AEO Maturity Model, grounded in data from millions of B2B websites, giving attendees a diagnostic framework to benchmark where their organizations actually stand. Practitioners from RocketReach, Optimizely, Stacker, and G2 closed the day with a ground-level view of what is working inside the GEO stack right now.

INDEX’26 New York follows the sold-out San Francisco edition in April, which drew more than 200 senior leaders from Salesforce, NVIDIA, Intel, Snowflake, Gong, and Demandbase. Future editions of the summit are planned for additional markets.

Rustomjee Group, one of Mumbai’s most trusted real estate developers, has partnered with the Rotary Club of Bombay Airport to support the Kawale Check Dam project in Vikramgad Taluka, Palghar District, Maharashtra. The project, which will be inaugurated on June 7, 2026, is expected to improve water security, boost agricultural productivity, and create sustainable livelihood opportunities for nearly 1,800 farming families across 18 villages. Developed as a long-term water resilience solution, the check dam is designed to capture and conserve rainwater, addressing the region’s persistent challenge of water scarcity despite seasonal rainfall abundance.

Rustomjee Partners with Rotary Club of Bombay Airport to Advance Water Security and Sustainable Livelihoods in Palghar

As part of its ongoing commitment to sustainable community development, Rustomjee is supporting this transformative initiative in a tribal belt of Maharashtra where limited year-round water availability has constrained livelihoods and agricultural growth. The dam is expected to store water for nearly two kilometres upstream, enabling groundwater recharge and improving access to water throughout the year. Implemented with active community participation, the project promotes local ownership while helping ensure its long-term sustainability and impact.

With a total project investment of approximately Rs. 70.58 lakh, the initiative represents a collaborative effort between development stakeholders, local communities, and institutional partners to create lasting impact through sustainable water infrastructure. The project has been designed not only to address immediate water needs but also to generate long-term social, economic, and environmental benefits for the region.

Commenting on the initiative, Mrs. Namrata Nulwalla, Chief Sustainability Officer, Rustomjee Group said, “At Rustomjee, we believe meaningful sustainability is rooted in creating lasting impact for communities. Water security remains one of the most critical enablers of economic resilience and social progress, particularly in rural regions where livelihoods are closely linked to natural resources. The Kawale Check Dam project demonstrates the power of collaborative, impact-driven interventions in addressing systemic challenges while creating opportunities for growth and self-reliance.

Being a Rotarian with the Rotary Club of Bombay Airport, I have seen firsthand the impact that collaborative, purpose-driven initiatives can create. Through its support of the Kawale Check Dam project, Rustomjee aims to contribute to the development of resilient rural ecosystems that generate long-term social, economic, and environmental value. This initiative reflects our broader commitment to sustainable development through solutions that are community-led, scalable, and built to create lasting change. “

Commenting on the partnership, Ms. Pragna Mehta, President of Rotary Club of Bombay Airport, said, “The Kawale Check Dam project is a powerful example of what can be achieved when organisations come together with a shared purpose and a long-term vision for community development. At the Rotary Club of Bombay Airport, we strongly believe that sustainable change begins by addressing fundamental needs, and water security remains one of the most critical enablers of health, livelihoods, education and economic progress.

We are deeply grateful to Rustomjee Group for its generous and visionary support towards this transformative initiative. More than a water conservation structure, the Kawale Check Dam has the potential to become a lifeline for local tribal and farming communities, driving socio-economic development, strengthening livelihoods, supporting year-round agricultural activity, and contributing to environmental restoration through groundwater recharge and ecosystem preservation.

Our partnership with Rustomjee reflects a shared commitment to creating meaningful and enduring impact. What makes this initiative particularly significant is that it is not merely an infrastructure project, but a community-led effort designed to strengthen resilience, empower local communities and create opportunities for future generations.

By combining Rotary’s ethos of Service Above Self with Rustomjee’s commitment to responsible development, we hope to create a model of collaboration that delivers lasting social, economic and environmental value for the region. This project truly embodies the spirit of ‘Together We Rise’ and ‘Unite for Good’, demonstrating how purpose-driven partnerships can create lasting change for generations to come.”

Through initiatives such as this, Rustomjee continues to advance its commitment to creating value beyond real estate by strengthening communities, promoting environmental stewardship, and contributing meaningfully to India’s sustainable development goals.

About Rustomjee Group

Incorporated in 1995, Rustomjee Group (Keystone Realtors Limited) is one of the prominent MMR based real estate developers and a leader in the redevelopment space. The company has a substantial portfolio of projects spanning the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), with 39 Completed Projects, 17 Ongoing Projects and 21 Forthcoming Projects that cover all price points from Mass Market to Luxury. So far, the company has delivered over 29+ million square feet of construction area, with a pipeline of over 46 million square feet of construction area in the works. A strategic asset-light approach, an integrated real estate development model, and a strong eye for quality and detail gives the Company’s management team an edge over its peers. By successfully housing 19000+ families including re-housing 1900+ existing families through several redevelopment projects, the company has detailed understanding of (re)development process and is committed to generating value for all its stakeholders.

Hong Kong

To welcome the peak summer travel season, the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) will launch a brand-new promotion, “Hong Kong Summer Fun”, from June 19, 2026 connecting a series of citywide highlight events and enticing offers to energise the summer season. The HKTB will work with the business community to roll out a wide range of offers covering attractions, dining, transportation and shopping, enhancing Hong Kong’s appeal as a summer destination, attracting more overnight visitors and boosting overall spending.
 

From dragon boats to dining deals, Hong Kong invites the world to its most vibrant summer ever

Kicking off the summer season will be the 50th-anniversary edition of the “Sun Life Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races,” organised by the HKTB, co-organised by the Hong Kong China Dragon Boat Association (HKCDBA), and proudly title-sponsored by Sun Life. The event will be fully upgraded into the “Sun Life Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Festival” and will debut at the Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade this month.

HKTB Chairman Dr Peter Lam said, “The summer holidays are a golden period for travel, and with a wave of mega events this summer, the HKTB is proud to present the new summer promotion ‘Hong Kong Summer Fun’, leveraging different events to strengthen promotion and partnering with the business community to roll out hundreds of thousands of offers covering attraction, dining, transport and shopping. We aim to attract more overnight visitors to Hong Kong and boost consumption across more sectors. As the headline international flagship event of ‘Hong Kong Summer Fun’, the ‘Sun Life Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Festival’ not only runs over a longer period, but also features a stronger race line-up and more vibrant entertainment programme than in previous years, offering an experience found only in Hong Kong for locals and visitors, while showcasing Hong Kong’s position as the Events Capital of Asia.”

Kicking Off the Summer Season: Sun Life Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Festival Debuts in an Upgraded Format

Over 220 Dragon Boat Teams from Around the World Compete in Victoria Harbour

This year’s races will be held on 27 to 28 June, with the number of participating teams, countries and regions higher than last year. Teams from 16 countries and regions will take part, including the Chinese Mainland, Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, Qatar and Indonesia. Over 220 teams and more than 4,500 athletes will compete in 21 races.

Special “50th Anniversary Fishermen Invitational Cup” Preserves the Traditional Spirit of Dragon Boat Racing

First held in 1976 by the then Hong Kong Tourist Association (the predecessor of the HKTB), the Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races began as competitions among fishermen’s dragon boats in the Shau Kei Wan Typhoon Shelter. They have since developed into a unique international mega event in Hong Kong, bringing together top teams from around the world in Victoria Harbour and integrating sport, culture and entertainment.
 

This year, the “50th Anniversary Fishermen Invitational Cup” has been introduced, inviting six local fishermen teams from areas such as Aberdeen and Chai Wan to compete using traditional wooden dragon boats. In addition, a new “50th Anniversary Championship” has been added, bringing together champions from nine major race categories to compete for the title of “Ultimate Dragon Boat Champion”.

Extended to 13 Days with Double the Dragon Boat Festival Excitement

For the first time, the Dragon Boat Festival held at the Tsim Sha Tsui promenade will be extended to 13 days (19 June to 1 July), spanning from 19 June (Dragon Boat Festival) to 1 July to encourage visitors to stay longer and enjoy a cultural experience that blends tradition and modernity.

The Avenue of Stars will feature a Dragon Boat Food Lane, complemented by four themed photo spots: Sun Life HK Dragon Boat Co-Creation Zone, a 22-metre traditional wooden dragon boat; a dragon boat-themed installation in collaboration with the new film Minions & Monsters; and a Giant Coca-Cola® Bottle and Dragon Boat-themed Photo Spot. Together, these elements offer a new festive experience for locals and visitors.

The festival will also debut a series of intangible cultural heritage workshops, where visitors can experience activities such as fishing net plaiting, blown sugar making and lye rice dumpling making. Visitors can experience dragon boat racing through virtual reality (VR), using innovative technology to explore this traditional festival. On weekends and public holidays, there will be a vibrant lineup of intangible cultural heritage performances, including Wing Chun, diabolo, ruan and guzheng. As evening falls, the atmosphere will come alive with a series of live music performances. In addition, a dedicated live broadcast viewing zone will allow both the public and visitors to watch the thrilling action of the Victoria Harbour races up close.
 

The Sun Life Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Festival has received support from 14 sponsors. The HKTB has also partnered with the Tsim Sha Tsui East Property Developers Association, collaborating with over 30 shops to roll out hotel, dining and shopping offers during the festival period to boost spending in the area.
 

“Hong Kong Summer Fun” Offers Hundreds of Thousands of Deals to Attract Overnight Visitors and Boost Spending
 

Exclusive Travel Packages Featuring Attraction Tickets and Transport Discounts

During the “Hong Kong Summer Fun” promotion period, the HKTB will collaborate with Trip.com Group, the Quality Tourism Services Association (QTSA), the Hong Kong Retail Management Association (HKRMA), Alipay, and various merchants to launch “Summer Deals,” offering hundreds of thousands of offers.

The offers start the moment visitors begin planning their trip to Hong Kong. The HKTB will partner with Trip.com Group to launch promotions worth over HK USD 20 million, covering 19 local attractions and three transport operators. From 15 June to 31 August, visitors who book hotels in Hong Kong via Trip.com or Ctrip for the period from 1 July to 14 September, with a single transaction of HK USD 1,500 or above, will enjoy double rewards: one attraction ticket offer and one public transport offer of choice, with discounts of up to 50 per cent. The promotions cover a wide range of popular travel products, including the Peak Tram, theme parks, the Hong Kong Observation Wheel, Noah’s Ark tickets, round-trip Airport Express tickets, and bus day passes. After booking, visitors can redeem the offers directly through the platform, with redemption valid for two weeks from the hotel reservation date. Each Trip.com and Ctrip account can redeem the offer once, on a first-come, first-served basis while stocks last.

Multiple In-Town Spending Rewards and Half-Price Deals

From 1 July to 31 August, the HKTB will collaborate with AlipayHK, Alipay, and Alipay+ to leverage Alipay’s vast international partner e-wallet user base. Visitors simply need to scan designated QR codes at nearly 100 participating shopping malls across Hong Kong—including Central Market, Hysan Place, ifc mall, Hong Kong International Airport, K11, Mira Place, New Town Plaza, Olympian City, Peak Galleria, SOGO, Stanley Plaza, Times Square, Windsor House, and more—to join the activity and receive a random spending reward of up to HK USD 500 or RMB 500, which can be used at any merchant displaying the AlipayHK, Alipay or Alipay+ payment acceptance mark.
 

At the same time, the HKTB will partner with the QTSA and the HKRMA to roll out a citywide series of offers. Arriving visitors can enjoy shopping and dining discounts of up to 50 per cent at various merchants. Details will be announced later.
 

“Hong Kong Summer Fun” covers cultural, entertainment, sports, and music programmes, including Hong Kong ICH Month, the Chinese Culture Festival, the Hong Kong Football Festival, the Football Summit, the Volleyball Nations League Hong Kong, the Fencing World Championships 2026 Hong Kong, the FIDE World Team Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships, and Hong Kong Reunification Raceday. To help visitors plan their itineraries, the HKTB has consolidated Hong Kong’s summer mega events and promotional offers on its Discover Hong Kong website under the “Hong Kong Summer Fun” information platform (www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/events/summer-fun.html), allowing locals and visitors to access event and offer details in one place and easily enjoy a vibrant summer experience in Hong Kong.

Prateek Group, one of NCR’s leading real estate developers, has recorded sales exceeding Rs. 300 crore during Q4 FY26, reflecting sustained demand across its residential portfolio and reaffirming the growing preference among homebuyers for trusted, quality-driven and delivery-focused real estate brands.
 

Prateek Group surpasses Rs. 300 crore in Q4 FY26 sales, driven by strong buyer demand
 

The strong quarterly performance comes amid continued momentum in the NCR residential market, driven by increasing demand for premium and luxury housing, expanding infrastructure, enhanced connectivity, and a growing preference for integrated township developments that offer a comprehensive lifestyle ecosystem.
 

Prateek Begonia, which is a premium residential development within the landmark Prateek Grand City Township at Siddharth Vihar, has emerged as one of the most sought-after residential offerings in the micro-market, benefiting from robust end-user demand and rapidly improving regional connectivity. Industry estimates indicate that Prateek Begonia carries a revenue potential of approximately Rs. 5,000-6,000 crore. While the company has currently launched Phase 1 for sales, construction of Phase 2 is already ongoing without opening for sales, showcasing the group’s financial strength. Further strengthening the Group’s portfolio is Prateek Canary in Sector 150, Noida, a low-density luxury development that is widely regarded as one of Noida’s most luxurious residential projects. Offering exclusive golf-view residences, the project represents the company’s vision for ultra-luxury living and continues to witness strong buyer interest and encouraging market response.
 

Over the years, Prateek Group has established a diversified portfolio spanning luxury, premium and ready-to-move residential developments across Noida, Greater Noida and Ghaziabad. Its landmark developments include Prateek Grand City, Prateek Begonia, Prateek Canary, Prateek Edifice, Prateek Stylome, Prateek Laurel, Prateek Fedora, Prateek Wisteria, Prateek Royal Cliff and Prateek Aurelia, among others.
 

With more than two decades of experience, the Group has delivered over 20 million square feet of real estate and today serves a growing community of more than 50,000 customers. The company’s consistent focus on quality construction, timely delivery and customer-centric development continues to strengthen buyer trust and create long-term value.
 

Prateek Group is widely recognised as the pioneer of luxury residential development in Noida, having introduced the city’s first luxury residential projects—Prateek Stylome and Prateek Edifice. Today, these developments remain among the most premium and highly valued resort living residential addresses in the region.
 

Commenting on the achievement, a spokesperson for Prateek Group said, “Crossing the Rs. 300 crore sales milestone in a single quarter is a reflection of the trust and confidence that homebuyers and investors continue to place in the Prateek brand. Today’s buyers are increasingly choosing developers with proven credentials in quality, transparency and timely delivery. This performance validates the strength of our portfolio and reinforces our commitment to creating thoughtfully designed communities that deliver both exceptional lifestyle experiences and long-term investment value. As NCR continues to evolve into one of India’s most dynamic real estate markets, we remain focused on developing benchmark projects that meet the aspirations of the next generation of homeowners.”
 

The Group believes that rapid infrastructure development, improved connectivity, rising aspirations for larger and better-designed homes, and increasing preference for reputed developers will continue to support housing demand across NCR. Backed by a robust development pipeline and strong market fundamentals, Prateek Group remains well-positioned to further strengthen its leadership in the region’s residential real estate sector.

Neurealm, an AI-first technology services company, today announced the launch of GovernOps, a portfolio of AI-powered cloud governance and operations offerings under its NeuGAIN AI platform, powered by CoreStack‘s intelligent cloud governance capabilities.

The announcement builds on the strategic partnership between Neurealm and CoreStack established in 2025, expanding the collaboration through enterprise-ready GovernOps offerings designed to help organizations optimize, govern, and scale cloud and AI environments with measurable business outcomes.

The GovernOps portfolio combines Neurealm’s AI-led managed services, platform engineering, cloud transformation, and operational expertise with CoreStack’s AI-powered governance and automation platform to deliver continuous optimization across CloudOps, FinOps+, SecOps, and AI governance.

GovernOps Portfolio: Purpose-Built Enterprise Offerings

The initial GovernOps portfolio includes three bundled enterprise offerings:

• Cloud Visibility & Cost Baseline – Designed to help organizations rapidly gain visibility into cloud environments, identify optimization opportunities, and establish governance baselines.

• FinOps Optimization Program – A managed optimization offering focused on continuous cloud cost reduction, policy enforcement, operational efficiency, and financial governance.

• Kubernetes Optimization & Resilience Operations – A platform engineering and operations offering designed to improve Kubernetes efficiency, resilience, scalability, and BC/DR readiness.

Together, the offerings help enterprises move from fragmented cloud management approaches toward intelligent, AI-driven operational models with continuous governance and optimization.

“Organizations are looking for operational models that can keep pace with accelerating AI and cloud adoption,” said Harmeet Chauhan, CEO of Neurealm. “Through NeuGAIN and our collaboration with CoreStack, we are bringing together intelligent governance, automation, and operational expertise to help enterprises scale securely, efficiently, and with greater operational visibility.”

“At CoreStack, we believe the future of enterprise operations will be driven by intelligent governance, automation, and continuous optimization,” said Ezhilarasan (Ez) Natarajan, CEO of CoreStack. “Our partnership with Neurealm enables enterprises to move beyond visibility into real operational outcomes through AI-powered governance and intelligent cloud operations at scale.”

GovernOps offerings will be delivered through Neurealm’s RunOps, Cloud Transformation, AI Engineering, and Cybersecurity Practices, with an initial focus on healthcare, financial services, and other regulated industries.

About Neurealm

Neurealm is an AI-first technology services company helping enterprises build the intelligent systems that power the future. We work across the full Physical AI to Agentic AI spectrum, from edge devices to autonomous agents, and help enterprises move from AI experimentation to production-grade deployment, powered by NeuGAIN, our unified AI platform. Our outcome-driven, engineering-led approach spans AI, Engineering, Data, RunOps and more, serving 250+ enterprises worldwide.

About CoreStack

CoreStack is the leading Agentic Governance OS for FinOps, security, and compliance in the AI-accelerated enterprise. It enables organizations to achieve Velocity with Control by continuously and intelligently governing cost, risk, compliance, and operations across cloud, SaaS, and AI-driven systems – operating at machine speed so enterprises can scale faster without increasing risk or cost. Trusted by over 1,000 global enterprises and partners across 40+ countries, CoreStack governs more than USD 3B in annual cloud consumption and is a Microsoft Azure (Legacy) Gold Partner, AWS Technology Partner with Cloud Operations Competency, Oracle Cloud Build Partner, and Google Cloud Build Partner.

Realty player SKA Group launches a new iconic tower, SKA Imperia, at Wave City, NH-24, Ghaziabad. Spread across 5,874.31 sq. mtr., the project is designed as a contemporary 30-floor residential offering 224 premium residential units. The project will offer 3 BHK units with spacious configurations of 139.73 sq. mtr. (1504 sq ft.), 155.63 sq. mtr. (1675 sq ft.), and 179.86 sq. mtr. (1936 sq ft.), catering primarily to homebuyers from Ghaziabad and nearby NCR regions who are looking to upgrade to a more elevated and well-connected lifestyle.

SKA Group Unveils Iconic Tower “SKA Imperia” in Wave City, Ghaziabad

SKA Imperia has been conceptualised as a modern high-rise development that blends elevated living with lifestyle-driven experiences. One of the defining highlights of the project is a standalone iconic tower featuring 6 lifts, with a grand double-height entrance lobby complemented by water-inspired design elements, creating a distinctive arrival experience for residents. Featuring two side open homes, the development aims to offer enhanced openness, natural ventilation, and panoramic skyline views.

The terrace-level lifestyle amenities will include an infinity-edge swimming pool, floating seating lounges, steam and sauna facilities, jacuzzi, yoga spaces, and a viewing deck allowing residents to experience leisure and wellness nearly 300 feet above the ground. The project will also integrate IGBC green building features, including solar systems, WTP, and STP infrastructure, reflecting the company’s focus on sustainable and future-ready urban living.

Commenting on the launch, Sanjay Sharma, Director, SKA Group, said, “With SKA Imperia, our idea was to create a development that feels aspirational yet practical for today’s urban families. A large section of new-age homebuyers and families today prefers high-rise living that offers openness, better views, and spaces where families can genuinely enjoy their everyday lifestyle, especially through thoughtfully designed terrace experiences and community amenities. Buyers today are increasingly drawn towards homes that go beyond conventional living by offering lifestyle-driven spaces where they can relax, stay active, socialize, and enjoy a more elevated urban experience within the development itself. NH-24 has emerged as one of the most promising residential corridors in NCR, and Wave City is steadily evolving into a preferred destination for end-users. Through this project, we wanted to introduce something distinctive with the iconic tower concept and elevated rooftop amenities that truly enhance everyday living.”

Positioned strategically on the widest road of Wave City, along the NH-24 Expressway, SKA Imperia offers strong connectivity to key regional destinations, including a 35-minute drive from Akshardham, 6 minutes from the Eastern Peripheral Expressway, and nearly 20 minutes from Ghaziabad Railway Station. The project is expected to benefit from the growing residential demand emerging along the NH-24 growth corridor, driven by infrastructure upgrades and improving urban connectivity. Planned as an exclusive residential development, SKA Imperia is scheduled for completion by 2031.

The launch of SKA Imperia further strengthens SKA Group’s presence in the Ghaziabad residential market, where the developer has consistently focused on quality-driven housing developments aligned with evolving consumer aspirations. The company continues to follow its T3 philosophy: Transparency, Timely Delivery, and Technology across its developments, while also maintaining a strong delivery track record with seven projects completed before their respective RERA timelines.