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  • Policybazaar.ae, Watania Takaful Roll Out Premium Garage-Backed Motor Plan with Pitstop Automotive Services LLC

    Policybazaar.ae, Watania Takaful Introduce UAE’s First Premium Garage-Backed Motor Insurance Plan in Partnership with Pitstop Automotive Services LLC

    UAE,  Feb 23: In a move set to redefine the post-purchase motor insurance experience in the UAE, Policybazaar.ae, the region’s leading digital insurance marketplace, has announced the launch of an exclusive comprehensive car insurance solution — Watania Takaful – PB Auto Care Advantage (Pitstop P360) — in partnership with Watania Takaful and premium automotive service provider Pitstop Automotive Services LLC (“Pitstop360”).

    The new plan combines comprehensive motor protection with guaranteed access to premium garage repairs and value-added automotive services — a first-of-its-kind proposition exclusively available to Policybazaar.ae customers.

    Through this collaboration, customers benefit from priority claims servicing and repairs at Pitstop’s state-of-the-art facilities across Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, and Al Ain, ensuring faster turnaround times and superior workmanship backed by one of the UAE’s most trusted automotive service groups.

    Designed to go beyond traditional insurance coverage, the plan introduces a service-led ownership experience that blends protection, convenience, and ongoing car care benefits.

    Redefining the Motor Insurance Experience

    Neeraj Gupta, Chief Executive Officer, Policybazaar.ae, said:

    “At Policybazaar.ae, our goal has always been to go beyond selling insurance and truly improve the customer ownership journey. Watania Takaful – PB Auto Care Advantage (Pitstop P360) reflects that philosophy of combining comprehensive coverage with tangible, everyday benefits and premium repairs customers can trust.

    In the UAE, agency repair is easily available in the first two years of a vehicle’s life. By year three, options tighten, and by year four they are nearly non-existent, even though most new cars carry a five-year manufacturer warranty. Customers are often forced to choose between affordability and protecting their warranty. Through this partnership, we eliminate that trade-off. With Pitstop operating under the AGMC umbrella, vehicles can be repaired while keeping their manufacturer warranty intact. This is not just a product enhancement; it is a structural upgrade to the motor insurance ecosystem.”

    Hamad Sharaf, General Manager, Watania Takaful, added:

    “This partnership enables us to integrate our takaful-based protection model with a strengthened service ecosystem that prioritizes customer experience. Today’s customers expect more than coverage; they expect efficiency, transparency, and reliability at the moment of a claim. Through Watania Takaful – PB Auto Care Advantage (Pitstop P360), we are ensuring a seamless claims journey and high-quality repair standards, further reinforcing our commitment to customer-first insurance solutions.”

    Ezat Antaki, CEO, Pitstop Automotive Services LLC, commented:

    “Pitstop was established to deliver dealership-grade expertise with a seamless customer experience. Through this collaboration, Policybazaar.ae customers gain direct access to our premium workshops, certified technicians, and advanced repair capabilities, ensuring quality without compromise. This innovation would not have been possible without the strategic guidance and vision of Dr. Hamid Haqparwar, Managing Director, AGMC, and Mr. Atiqur Rahman, Director, AGMC, whose leadership continues to strengthen the integration between automotive excellence and customer-centric service solutions.”

    Exclusive Benefits for Policybazaar.ae Customers

    Customers purchasing Watania Takaful – PB Auto Care Advantage (Pitstop P360) exclusively through Policybazaar.ae receive:

    • Priority claim access and faster approvals

    • Premium garage repairs at Pitstop facilities

    • 12 complimentary car washes (one per month)

    • 30% discount on extended warranty

    • 25% off Paint Protection Film (PPF) and ceramic coating

    • 25% off window tinting and detailing

    • 20% off labour and 10% off parts on repairs

    • Complimentary pick-up and drop-off for collision repairs

    A Structural Shift in Motor Insurance

    The launch signals a broader shift in the evolution of motor insurance — from a transactional purchase to an integrated ownership solution. By embedding premium repairs, lifestyle benefits, and priority servicing directly into the policy, Policybazaar.ae is creating a differentiated proposition that places customer experience at the center.

    Watania Takaful – PB Auto Care Advantage (Pitstop P360) is exclusively available on Policybazaar.ae.

  • Aakash Institute Launches Specialized Academic Programs for WBCHSE Students

    Aakash Institute Launches Specialized Academic Programs for WBCHSE Students

    Kolkata, Feb 23:  Aakash Institute today announced the launch of its Specialized Academic Programs designed specifically for students of the West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education (WBCHSE). The initiative is aimed at helping students adapt to the evolving academic structure under the new semester-based system while simultaneously preparing for competitive examinations such as NEET and WBJEE.

    The program was conceptualized following extensive feedback from students and parents seeking structured academic support to navigate the newly introduced four-semester framework. Mr. Tilak Raj Khemka, Director, Aakash Institute, spearheaded the initiative to create a learning ecosystem tailored to the academic and competitive needs of WBCHSE students.

    With over 37 years of academic excellence, Aakash Institute’s program is structured to help students strengthen conceptual understanding and examination readiness across both board and entrance examinations.

    Addressing the Semester System Transition

    Under the revised WBCHSE framework, students progress through four semesters featuring varied assessment patterns:

    Odd Semesters (I & III): Objective-based assessments focusing on MCQs and analytical thinking

    Even Semesters (II & IV): Descriptive evaluations emphasizing conceptual depth and expression

    Curriculum Alignment with WBCHSE

    The program has been carefully mapped to the official WBCHSE syllabus, ensuring comprehensive coverage of all prescribed topics and concepts. This structured alignment enables students to focus on academic mastery while pursuing parallel preparation for competitive examinations such as NEET.

    Early Completion Strategy for Enhanced Readiness

    A key highlight of the initiative is its early syllabus completion model for Class 12 students. By completing the Semester IV curriculum ahead of the February examination schedule, the program provides students with extended revision time, structured mock testing and practice sessions, greater confidence and reduced exam stress, and dedicated preparation time for competitive exams such as NEET and WBJEE.

  • Meon Technologies Showcases Advanced KYC & Digital Onboarding Solutions at StockTech 2026

    Meon Technologies Showcases Advanced KYC & Digital Onboarding Solutions at StockTech 2026

    Mumbai,  Feb 23: Meon Technologies successfully participated in StockTech 2026 – The ANMI Technology Show, held at the NESCO Exhibition Centre, Mumbai.

    The event brought together leading stock brokers, trading platforms, fintech innovators, and capital market professionals to explore the latest advancements in financial technology and regulatory compliance.

    At the exhibition, Meon presented its secure and scalable suite of solutions tailored for the capital markets ecosystem. The showcased offerings included digital KYC, seamless onboarding workflows, eSign capabilities, and compliance-focused verification tools. These solutions are designed to help brokers and trading platforms enhance customer experience, strengthen fraud prevention mechanisms, and maintain regulatory readiness while efficiently scaling operations.

    Throughout the event, the Meon team engaged with industry leaders, partners, and technology stakeholders to discuss emerging compliance challenges, digital transformation strategies, and the increasing need for robust verification infrastructure within the securities and trading landscape.

    Shyam Arora, CEO, Meon Technologies, said:

    “StockTech 2026 provided an excellent platform to connect with market participants and demonstrate how technology-driven verification and onboarding solutions can support compliant and sustainable growth in capital markets. As regulatory expectations continue to evolve, organisations need agile and secure systems that simplify compliance while improving operational efficiency.”

    Meon Technologies extended its appreciation to the organisers and visitors who connected with the team during the event and expressed enthusiasm about building strategic partnerships that will help shape the future of secure and compliant digital onboarding in the financial services sector.

  • AAEON’s UP Squared Series Gains Full Mainline Linux Support for 40-pin GPIO Header

    Driver redesign led by Bootlin sees GPIO forwarder library and pinctrl driver merged into Linux 6.18 release. 

    (Eindhoven, The Netherlands – Feb 23) AAEON’s UP brand, a leading provider of professional developer boards, is excited to announce that full Linux kernel support for its UP Squared series’ 40-pin I/O header has been officially merged into the Linux 6.18 release.

    Following the brand’s 10-year anniversary last May, UP outlined its intention to complete the upstreaming of its DKMS drivers to the Linux mainline kernel. This objective was part of a broader set of initiatives aimed at providing users with a more streamlined route from concept to project deployment.

    Upstream support is a goal that AAEON had been working towards for a number of years. However, coordinating the FPGA and Intel® SoCs on UP hardware has made mainline Linux support for the 40-pin header a challenge.

    To resolve this issue and assist in pushing the project to completion, AAEON approached Bootlin, a leading embedded Linux and open-source development company. Bootlin’s embedded Linux development expertise was instrumental in resolving the pain points encountered during previous attempts to upstream support for its 40-pin header. By rewriting the pinctrl driver to remove Intel-specific code, adding a GPIO forwarder library, and extending the gpio-aggregator driver to create a reusable library, full upstream support was achieved. As a result, the UP Squared series’ 40-pin header now supports GPIO, I²C, UART, and SPI out-of-the-box on mainline Linux 6.18.

    “This achievement is the result of a multi-year effort and close collaboration with Bootlin, and one that will provide a huge benefit to the entire UP community,” said Victor Lai, Managing Director of UP and AAEON Europe. “With upstream integration for our UP Squared series now established, we are already working hard to expand this support across our product family and help even more users transform their ideas into real-world successes.”

  • Visionary Group CEO Dr. Sujit Paul Launches Powerful Leadership Memoir in Bengaluru

    Visionary Group CEO Dr. Sujit Paul Launches Powerful Leadership Memoir in Bengaluru

    Bengaluru,Feb 23: Acclaimed Author , Mentor,  Life Coach and Group CEO of Zota Healthcare Ltd., Dr. Sujit Paul,  unveiled  his latest book, A Life of Building People, Brands and Belief, at Sapna Book House, Koramangala, Bengaluru,20 February 2026,  drawing industry leaders, professionals, and media to a compelling evening of leadership insights.

    In this deeply personal and strategic narrative, Dr. Paul chronicles his journey from humble beginnings and early failures to leading large, complex organizations across healthcare and retail. The book goes beyond a traditional memoir, offering a blueprint for building institutions rooted in purpose, culture, and belief.

    “Real leadership is not about position or power—it is about purpose, empathy, and doing right by people, even when it is hard,” said Dr. Paul at the launch. “This book is my journey of building people first, brands next, and belief always.”

    With over 25 years of distinguished leadership, Dr. Paul has steered iconic brands including Reliance Pharma Retail, Asian Paints, Bata, Kodak, Apollo Pharmacy, Trust Pharmacy, and Columbia Asia Hospital. A globally recognized thought leader, he has been honored among Asia One’s 100 Top Global Leaders, CEO Insights’ Top 10 CEOs in Healthcare, and Times Now’s India’s Impactful CEO.

    A Life of Building People, Brands and Belief is positioned as an inspiring call to action for entrepreneurs, corporate leaders, and changemakers seeking to create lasting impact through value-driven leadership.

    The book is now available at leading bookstores and online platforms.

     

  • India’s Power Transition Creates Clear Utility Divide

    ARE report finds JSW Energy and Tata Power best positioned for firm-power era; NTPC’s execution critical as coal economics tighten 

    SINGAPORE / NEW DELHI, INDIA, Feb 23 - India’s power sector is entering a decisive new phase as electricity demand surges, peak loads hit record highs, and the country moves toward its 500GW non-fossil capacity target by 2030 post a record 52GW capacity added in FY26But the next chapter of the transition will not be defined by installed capacity alone. 

    A new report by Asia Research & Engagement (ARE), Powering Net Zero: Pathways to Clean Energy for India’s Utility Companies, finds that the market is shifting toward firm, dispatchable and availability-linked power — creating clear divergence among India’s largest listed utilities. 

    The analysis identifies: 

    • JSW Energy and Tata Power as best placed to monetise the transition, combining contracted renewable growth, storage depth and improving cashflow quality. 
    • Adani Green Energy remains the fastest capacity scaler with strong long-term visibility, though storage integration remains at an early stage. 
    • NTPC, India’s largest generator, retains unmatched scale and sovereign-backed financing, but its transition outcomes hinge on execution speed and managing coal’s declining role. 
    • Adani Power remains predominantly thermal, with limited exposure to the structural upside from renewables and storage. 

    The report also highlights tightening coal economics. While new ultra-supercritical coal plants clear bids at INR5. 5–6 per kWh, effective delivered costs rise materially once utilisation, fuel volatility and compliance costs are factored in. By comparison, round-the-clock and storage-backed renewable projects are clearing between INR2.7–5.1 per kWh with availability guarantees embedded in contracts. 

    “The debate is no longer coal versus renewables,” said Arun Kumar, Strategic Advisor for Power Markets & Technology Innovation at ARE and lead author of the report. “As procurement shifts toward round-the-clock supply, reliability and execution — not just megawatts — will determine competitive advantage.” 

     “While this ARE study highlights significant momentum across the sector, it also identifies areas where sharper strategic clarity, improved contracting frameworks, and stronger delivery capabilities will be essential to meeting India’s long-term decarbonisation goals.” 

  • Surya Brasil Accelerates India Expansion after 30% growth in the US; Launches New Hair Care Range

    New Delhi: Feb 23:Surya Brasil, the Brazilian clean beauty brand known globally for its natural henna-based hair colour solutions, has announced the expansion of its product portfolio in India. The company aims to further reinforce and amplify its flagship Henna Cream while introducing a wider range of hair care and treatment products tailored for the Indian market.

    With a presence in over 40 countries, Surya Brasil is strengthening its focus on key growth markets including India, supported by increased investments in marketing and trade engagement to deepen reach and visibility.

    The expansion builds on Surya Brasil’s strong growth momentum in the United States, where the brand recorded 30% growth last year and outpaced the hair colour category by 16 percentage points, according to NielsenIQ data. This performance reflects rising consumer preference for natural and clean beauty alternatives.

    The timing aligns with the rapid growth of the global natural cosmetics industry, which is projected to reach USD 74 billion by 2028. Increasing consumer awareness around ingredient transparency and sustainability is reshaping buying behaviour in India, particularly in the hair care segment. Surya Brasil’s expanded range aims to serve both professional salons and conscious consumers looking for effective, plant-based alternatives.

    “At Surya Brasil, we have always believed that what you apply to your hair and skin matters,” said Clelia Angelon, Founder and CEO of Surya Brasil. “India has been an inspiration to us through Ayurveda, and expanding our portfolio here feels both strategic and meaningful.”

    As part of its expansion, Surya Brasil is introducing a broader portfolio of complementary hair care and treatment products designed to create a complete clean beauty routine. The new additions include The Color Fixation line, The Hair Therapy range, The Balanced Cleansing Shampoo, The Nourishment & Protection conditioner, Brazilian Vegetable Keratin, The Force line and The Bio Finishers range. Henna Clean and Henna Force further extend the brand’s offering with treatment-focused solutions aimed at improving scalp health and strengthening hair from root to tip.

    The flagship product Henna Cream remains at the centre of Surya Brasil’s India strategy. Formulated with up to 98% natural ingredients, the product offers full grey coverage while nourishing and strengthening the hair. Free from harsh chemicals such as ammonia and its by-products, including ethanolamine and triethanolamine, as well as PPD, Surya Brasil is aiming for a considerable market penetration in the natural hair care category with this flagship product.

    With manufacturing headquartered in São Paulo and operations in Houston and Milan, Surya Brasil brings international quality standards and long-standing clean beauty credentials to the Indian market. The company says it remains committed to ethical formulations, responsible sourcing, and long-term investment in the region.

  • From Burnout to Alignment: Why Inner Healing Is Gaining Attention in Uncertain Times

    BLACK MOUNTAIN, N.C., Feb. 21 — Burnout, uncertainty, and a growing sense of disconnection have fueled a surge in spiritual curiosity — particularly practices that promise inner alignment rather than external fixes. In The Akashic Way: Living Through the Lens of the Akashic Records, three-time Emmy Award-winning director and advanced Akashic Records practitioner Mary Madeiras explores why so many people are searching inward for clarity, affirmation, and healing.

    After decades spent shaping stories for millions of viewers, Madeiras now invites readers into a different kind of narrative — one rooted in the Akashic Records, a quantum divine field believed to contain the energetic imprint of every soul’s journey through time. Rather than offering another roadmap for self-improvement, The Akashic Way reframes healing as an act of remembering and reconnecting with the deeper truth of who we are and why we are here.

    “We can actually access our own journey — our own soul’s imprint — for every incarnation,” Madeiras explained.

    Drawing from her own Akashic experiences and client sessions, Madeiras shows how working within the Records consistently creates alignment — emotionally, spiritually, and energetically. “It’s like having a conversation with the higher, divine aspect of yourself,” she said. “And when we’re aligned, the world becomes more aligned.” The result, she believes, is clarity, affirmation, and self-empowerment — tools urgently needed in a fragmented, fast-moving world.

    The Akashic Way touches upon the many challenges that pull people away from connecting with their intuition and inner love — relationship struggles, traumas, unresolved patterns, and health issues. Madeiras shows how anyone can access this deeper guidance to create meaningful change and awaken that inner love. Her personal Akashic exchanges — woven with messages for humanity — offer readers the opportunity to reflect on their life’s purpose. The wisdom from the Akashic Realm is a profound tool for rediscovering purpose, trusting intuition, and learning to live through love and intention.

    As Madeiras writes, “I titled this book The Akashic Way because I believe that living life through the Akashic Records is a path back to ourselves — a way to remember who we are, why we chose to come here, and what we are here to do. When we view our life through our own Akashic lens, we experience self-empowerment in the most profound way.”

    The Akashic Way: Living Through the Lens of the Akashic Records

    Publisher: Precocity Press

    ISBN-13: 979-8993115092 (Paperback)

    ISBN-13: 979-8993115047 (Kindle)

  • Archon Group Builds Grand Temple in Kakarai as Tribute to Faith and Community

    Feb 21: Bulandshahr: In a gesture rooted in social responsibility and deep spiritual devotion, Kapil Sharma, founder of Archon Group, along with his father Momraj Sharma, has constructed a grand new temple at Shankar Farm on the Jadol Canal in Gram Panchayat Kakarai, Bulandshahr.

    The temple was officially inaugurated on February 20 through a traditional pran pratishtha (idol consecration) ceremony in accordance with the Vedic ritual. The event was attended by hundreds of followers of Kakarai and surrounding towns to observe the most impressive ceremony that consisted of mantras, havan and other religious rituals that gave the whole region a spiritual experience.

    The new temple has idols of the Shiva family, Radha- Krishna, Ram- Lakshman, Maa Sita, Maa Durga and Lord Hanuman. Before the consecration, there was a colorful Kalash Yatra and a big procession, which was implemented throughout the village, and the women attended it in large numbers, contributing to the devotion.

    A native of Bulandshahr (currently a renowned industrialist with his location being Ahmedabad) Kapil Sharma spoke of the temple as a simple form of paying a debt of gratitude to the town of his birth. The initiative also indicates how committed the family is towards spiritual values but also community development and social harmony.

    After the rituals, a community feast (bhandara) was arranged, during which the villagers and the devotees attended the feast in huge numbers. The people in Kakarai praised the work done by Kapil Sharma and Momraj Sharma labeling the temple as an eternal beacon of beliefs, community and cultural identity

    The locals assume that the temple shall be a spiritual and cultural center to the generations to come as a way of boosting the principles of devotion, unity and social accountability in the area.

  • Asia’s Protein Buyers Still Trail Global Best Practice — But Momentum is Building, New ARE Benchmark Finds

    SINGAPORE, Feb 20 - Asia’s largest food retailers, manufacturers, restaurant chains, and hospitality groups remain behind international better practice on sustainable and responsible protein sourcing, but progress is accelerating across the region, according to The Asian Protein Buyers 100: An Assessment of Responsible and Sustainable Sourcing released today by Asia Research & Engagement (ARE). 

    The APB100 is a benchmark based on investor-backed priorities – assessing how 100 of Asia’s largest listed protein-buying companies — headquartered or operating across Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Mainland China, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam — manage environmental, social, and governance risks embedded in meat, dairy, poultry, and seafood supply chains. Collectively, the companies assessed represent more than USD500 billion in market capitalisation and sit at the choke point of Asia’s protein system, where procurement decisions shape production standards, risk management and food-system outcomes. 

    The companies assessed include some of Asia’s most recognisable food and retail groups. These include China Mengniu Dairy, Yili Group, Yonghui and Yum China (Mainland China); AEON, Seven & I Holdings, Meiji, Nissin and NH Foods (Japan); CJ CheilJedang, Lotte and E-Mart (South Korea); Charoen Pokphand Foods and Thai Union (Thailand); Jollibee, Century Pacific Food and San Miguel Food & Beverage (Philippines); Vinamilk (Vietnam); and Hindustan Lever, Nestle India, Jubilant, Devyani, DMart, Westlife Foodworld (McDonald’s India) (India), among others. 

    Scores are improving, but the baseline remains low 

    Now in its second edition, the benchmark shows clear momentum since 2023 — but also highlights that most companies remain at an early stage of credible implementation. 

    The average overall score increased from 9% in 2023 to 16% in 2025, with around 80% of companies improving year-on-year. More than half of comparable companies moved up at least one performance tier. 

    However, no company reached the top two performance tiers, underscoring a persistent gap between sustainability commitments and on-the-ground execution. 

    A growing group of leaders is emerging 

    The number of companies in the leading Tier 3 group more than doubled from 10 in 2023 to 26 in 2025, while the lowest-scoring group halved from 44 to 21 companies. 

    Progress, however, remains uneven and concentrated among a subset of early movers and sustainability themes, while a significant minority of companies continues to disclose little or nothing across several material risk areas. 

    Climate, labour, and waste are moving fastest 

    Companies performed strongest on Water & Waste, Labour , and Climate Change, reflecting wider uptake of international disclosure frameworks and growing expectations around supply-chain due diligence. 

    Climate and labour show the fastest improvement since 2023, driven by emerging regulatory pressure and investor scrutiny, particularly around Scope 3 emissions and labour standards in supply chains. 

    Governance and protein diversification remain critical gaps 

    Several material risk areas continue to show weak performance. Governance in relation to protein sustainability, remains the lowest-scoring theme, averaging just 4.5%, with most companies scoring zero. Few have board-approved protein sustainability strategies, capital allocation plans, or accountability mechanisms. 

    Protein diversification also remains underdeveloped at 7.4%, indicating that most companies have yet to articulate how they will shift product portfolios toward truly low carbon plant proteins at scale. 

    Disclosures on deforestation and biodiversity, animal welfare, and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) also remain thin and rarely quantified. The intersection of climate and deforestation is still not being duly harnessed. Similarly, policies and procurement practices that strengthen animal welfare and enable antibiotic reduction remain a low point, with average animal welfare performance at just 14.1% and only one company aligned with recognised higher-welfare standards or independently certified disclosure. 

    Why this matters: Asia is the decisive region for global protein systems 

    Compared with innovative international peers, many of Asia’s protein buyers remain behind on deforestation-free sourcing, antibiotic stewardship, higher-welfare policies and procurement, plant-protein targets and science-based climate transition planning. 

    However, Asia now represents the most important opportunity for global leadership in responsible protein systems. And with less than five years to implement meaningful change towards various 2030 United Nations and related targets, the vision of a more responsible and sustainable food system is at risk. 

    “Asia is the world’s fastest-growing protein market, which means what happens here will determine the future of global food systems,” said Kate Blaszak, ARE Director, Protein Transition. “ThisAPB100 shows that disclosure and awareness are improving and aims to trigger a shift from Policy to Practice. With a realm of better practice examples in the report to also assist companies, the next phase must focus on full supply-chain coverage, measurable targets, and annual progress with board-level accountability.”