EkoStay Co Founder and CEO Varun Arora explains why the industry needs more honest conversations
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Creativity and patriotism shape Republic Day celebrations for families at Pokiddo Junior
The child friendly space plans workshops, themed activities, and a special Republic Day experience on 26 January 2026 in Mumbai
Mumbai, January 2026: Pokiddo Junior is set to mark Republic Day with a child friendly celebration that brings together creativity, patriotism, and interactive experiences for families. The space will host a special Republic Day programme on Monday, 26 January 2026, supported by a curated calendar of creative workshops running through late January and early February.
As part of the Republic Day celebrations, children who dress up as iconic Indian personalities or national heroes will be eligible for a special one plus one offer. The initiative is designed to help young participants engage with the significance of the day in an enjoyable and age appropriate manner. Complementing the activities, the venue will also introduce a limited period tri coloured food and beverage selection inspired by the Indian tricolour.The activity calendar features a series of hands on workshops that allow children to create personalised take home items. A DIY Calendar Workshop is scheduled on 31 December 2025 and 11 January 2026 at a fee of ₹199. From 12 January to 23 January 2026, children can participate in Kite Wall Hanging workshops priced at ₹99 and Tote Bag Stamp Art sessions priced at ₹199.
The Republic Day weekend from 24 January to 26 January 2026 will include Frames DIY workshops at ₹199 and Flag Art sessions at ₹99. Following the Republic Day celebrations, Customised Bracelet Making workshops will be conducted from 28 January to 6 February 2026 at a fee of ₹199.Pokiddo Junior operates from Tuesday to Friday between 3.00 pm and 8.00 pm, and on weekends from 12.00 pm to 8.00 pm, with a break scheduled from 2.30 pm to 3.30 pm. The studio remains closed on Mondays. However, despite Monday being a regular closure day, the studio will remain open on 26 January 2026 in view of the public holiday, and will be closed on 27 January 2026.
Located at Raghuvanshi Mills in Lower Parel West, Mumbai, Pokiddo Junior continues to offer curated creative experiences designed to encourage imagination, learning, and family engagement in a safe and welcoming environment.
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Building an industry ready workforce emerges as a priority at VGRC hosted by Marwadi University, says PM Shri Narendra Modi
Hon’ble Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi addresses the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference at Marwadi University as Hon’ble Chief Minister of Gujarat Shri Bhupendrabhai Patel, Mr Mukesh Ambani, Mr Ketan Marwadi, and Mr Jitu Bhai Chandarana highlight investment commitments, skill development, and regional growth
Mumbai, 12 January 2026: Organized by the Government of Gujarat, the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference commenced its first day at Marwadi University, bringing together policymakers, industry leaders, and institutional representatives to discuss regional growth and investment opportunities.
Hon’ble Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated 13 new smart industrial estates and a medical devices park at the conference. Addressing the gathering, Shri Narendra Modi underlined the importance of building an industry ready workforce and assured investors of Gujarat’s robust education and skill development ecosystem, positioning the state as a strong destination for long term investment.Hon’ble Chief Minister of Gujarat Shri Bhupendrabhai Patel highlighted regional empowerment as a key pillar of India’s broader development agenda. He emphasized the role of regional growth in strengthening national economic progress and creating sustainable opportunities across sectors.
Major investment announcements during the day reinforced Gujarat’s growth outlook. The Adani Group committed an investment of ₹1.5 lakh crore in Kutch over the next five years. Reliance Industries announced plans to invest ₹7 lakh crore during the same period, with a focus on large scale employment generation and livelihood creation. Mr Mukesh Ambani also outlined plans for the development of an integrated clean energy ecosystem at Jamnagar, described as the world’s largest. He further shared the vision of establishing Jamnagar as India’s largest AI ready centre, aimed at enabling affordable access to artificial intelligence for citizens across the country.Speaking at the event, Mr Ketan Marwadi, President, Marwadi University, said it was a proud moment for the institution to host the conference. He noted that academic institutions play a critical role in strengthening regional ecosystems by nurturing skilled talent, fostering innovation, and aligning education with industry and investment needs to support India’s long term economic growth. He added that the conference reflects a collective commitment toward innovation, sustainability, and quality investments.
Mr Jitu Bhai Chandarana, Vice Chairman and Co Founder, Marwadi University, said the conference serves as an important platform for driving investment led growth in the Kutch and Saurashtra regions. He stated that hosting the event reflects Gujarat’s strong governance, industry friendly environment, and long term vision for prosperity, while reaffirming the institution’s focus on education, innovation, and entrepreneurship to support sustainable employment.Aligned with the “Vocal for Local” ethos, the conference brought together policymakers, thought leaders, and investors from across India to explore the unique potential of the Kutch and Saurashtra region, known for its maritime heritage, industrial base, and strong MSME networks. The event also witnessed global participation, reinforcing Gujarat’s international investment outreach.
In line with the visions of Viksit Bharat 2047 and Viksit Gujarat 2047, the first day featured focused discussions on sustainability, ports and logistics, agro and food processing, textiles, fisheries, minerals, and energy, setting the tone for region led and inclusive economic development.At Prittle PrattleNews, featuring you virtuously, we celebrate the commitment and innovation. Led by Editor-in-Chief Smruti Bhalerao, our platform is dedicated to sharing impactful stories that inspire change and create awareness. Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube for more stories that matter.
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AML investigations see sharp efficiency gains with the introduction of AMLens by HGS
HGS Americas sales head Eric Purdum details productivity gains, explainable AI use, and reduced alert fatigue
HGS has introduced AMLens, a new AI powered solution aimed at improving the speed and accuracy of Anti Money Laundering investigations for financial institutions. The solution is designed to address long standing challenges such as manual case handling, alert fatigue, and fragmented data environments within AML operations.
HGS, which is listed on the BSE and NSE, operates across digital experience, business process management, and digital media services. With AMLens, the company is targeting banks and financial institutions seeking to improve regulatory compliance while enabling investigators to focus on high priority cases.AMLens integrates machine learning and natural language processing to support AML teams across detection, triage, contextualisation, and case summarisation. The platform consolidates data from structured transaction records and unstructured sources such as internal notes and external public records into a single interface, allowing analysts to review cases with greater clarity and context.
According to HGS, the solution is built as a modular and API first platform, allowing it to integrate with existing client systems. AMLens is positioned for use across retail and consumer banking, payments and fintech, credit card and lending operations, and wealth management.Speaking about the launch, Eric Purdum, Head of Sales Americas at HGS, said that financial crime teams are under increasing pressure to act quickly within complex regulatory environments. He said, “Legacy systems overwhelm analysts with false positives and fragmented information, slowing response times. AMLens applies explainable AI with human validation to automate routine monitoring tasks while maintaining transparency. This helps investigators focus on cases that require deeper judgment.”
Early client deployments of AMLens have demonstrated measurable improvements in operational efficiency. HGS stated that case analysis time has been reduced by 75 percent, with average review time dropping from nearly two hours to around 30 minutes. False positive rates have declined by more than 60 percent, improving investigator focus and contributing to a threefold increase in daily case throughput.The platform also supports AI assisted narrative generation alongside human oversight. In flagged scenarios such as rapid international wire transfers, AMLens enables analysts to categorise risk, request additional information within the workflow, and generate structured suspicious activity reports supported by AI while retaining final decision control.
Overall turnaround time for investigations has been reduced from approximately 48 hours to 12 hours, allowing financial institutions to respond faster to potential financial crime while remaining aligned with regulatory expectations.At Prittle PrattleNews, featuring you virtuously, we celebrate the commitment and innovation. Led by Editor-in-Chief Smruti Bhalerao, our platform is dedicated to sharing impactful stories that inspire change and create awareness. Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube for more stories that matter.
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Student talent and cultural expression take centre stage as Anvesh 2026 unfolds at Vivekanand Education Society Polytechnic VESP Principal
Vikrant Joshi and VES President Suresh Malkani highlight participation of over 400 students and the theme Virasat From Heritage to Horizon
Vivekanand Education Society Polytechnic successfully hosted Anvesh 2026, its annual cultural and talent festival, bringing together more than 400 students for two days of performances, competitions, and student led activities. The festival was organised around the theme Virasat From Heritage to Horizon, reflecting a focus on India’s cultural legacy alongside the aspirations of young learners.
The event opened with a formal inauguration marked by a traditional Lazim welcome that set the cultural tone for the festival. The Chief Guest, Dr. Dipti Joshi, Managing Partner and Advisory at HEVIX FusionTech LLP, addressed the students and spoke about the importance of cultural grounding, social responsibility, and youth participation in nation building.The inaugural ceremony was attended by senior leadership from the Vivekanand Education Society including Shri Suresh Malkani, President, Vivekanand Education Society, Shri Vishu Lalla, Managing Trustee, Vivekanand Education Society, Shri Sunil Kishanchandani, Associate Trustee, Vivekanand Education Society, and Santosh Mulye, Incharge of Anvesh 2026.
Day one featured Dance Ka Mahasangram, an inter departmental competition that presented Indian folk and heritage forms such as Lavani, Koli, and historical narratives. The competition was judged by performers Aruna Panchal and Shradha Bhuwad. Academic toppers from various departments were felicitated during the day, alongside E Sports knockouts and Talent Hunt preliminary rounds that saw wide student participation.Day two included performances by the college band and a Powada by Yuva Shahir Swapnil Dumbre that highlighted the legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The Talent Hunt Finale was judged by Abhishek Shastri and Sanjay Kuril, while the Mr. and Miss VESP pageant was evaluated by Sonali Vardam and Parag Jain. The festival concluded with the E Sports finals, prize distribution across cultural, academic, and sports categories, followed by a closing ceremony led by the student core team.
Speaking on the occasion, Vikrant Joshi, Principal, Vivekanand Education Society Polytechnic, said, “Anvesh 2026 reflects our commitment to holistic education where technical learning coexists with cultural awareness, creativity, and leadership. The festival allows students to build confidence, teamwork, and a strong sense of identity.”Shri Suresh Malkani, President, Vivekanand Education Society, said that the institution continues to focus on balancing tradition with progress. He noted that Anvesh 2026 connected India’s cultural roots with the ambitions of students who will contribute to the nation’s future.
Anvesh 2026 received support from industry and community sponsors including McDonald’s, GaamUP Infra Pvt. Ltd., Orientbell Tiles, Hindustan Associates, HEVIX FusionTech LLP, Arihant Industries, The Knot Nest by Vedika, Baubles, Aradhya, Isha Celebrations, and Darkest Fantasy.At Prittle PrattleNews, featuring you virtuously, we celebrate the commitment and innovation. Led by Editor-in-Chief Smruti Bhalerao, our platform is dedicated to sharing impactful stories that inspire change and create awareness. Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube for more stories that matter.
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A dinosaur themed sneaker takes shape through the latest ASICS SportStyle and doublet partnership
The GEL QUANTUM 360 I AMP blends reptilian textures, bold graphics, and functional molding to turn everyday movement into an immersive visual experience
National, 12th January 2026: ASICS SportStyle has collaborated with Japanese fashion brand doublet on a new sneaker release titled the GEL QUANTUM 360 I AMP. The collaboration draws inspiration from the world of the Jurassic period, translating prehistoric imagery into a contemporary footwear design.
The sneaker features a bold graphic print of a dinosaur’s head that extends across the upper. A 3D printing process has been used to create a textured surface that resembles reptilian skin. In addition, three dimensionally placed polyurethane elements are integrated into the design, giving the impression that the outline of the dinosaur’s head is rising from the shoe itself.These design elements reflect ASICS’ focus on precise molding techniques and functional beauty, with established sports technology incorporated beneath the expressive exterior. The approach balances visual experimentation with the brand’s performance driven foundation.
The sole design follows a color scheme inspired by the image of a dinosaur’s teeth and gums. When the heels of both shoes are placed together and the toes are moved, the visual effect resembles a dinosaur opening and closing its jaws, adding an interactive element to the footwear.Designed to encourage a sense of play, the sneaker invites wearers to engage with the concept during everyday moments. The collaboration aims to transform ordinary movement into a more engaging experience through imaginative design rooted in technical craftsmanship.
ASICS is derived from the Latin phrase Anima Sana In Corpore Sano, meaning A Sound Mind in a Sound Body, which continues to serve as the brand’s foundational philosophy. Founded in 1949 by Kihachiro Onitsuka, ASICS is a global designer, developer, and manufacturer of running shoes, sports footwear, apparel, and accessories. The stripe design featured on the sides of ASICS shoes is a registered trademark of ASICS Corporation.
At Prittle PrattleNews, featuring you virtuously, we celebrate the commitment and innovation. Led by Editor-in-Chief Smruti Bhalerao, our platform is dedicated to sharing impactful stories that inspire change and create awareness. Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube for more stories that matter.