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Ras Al Khaimah, Feb 20: Circle Awards 2026 placed long-term partnership at the centre of recognition, honouring the individuals and organisations whose sustained contribution continues to shape the business community at Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (RAKEZ). As a flagship annual celebration, the Circle is rooted in the principles of consistency, credibility, and shared standards, standing as a symbol of enduring collaboration and meaningful growth across the economic zone.

The event recognises partners whose performance, integrity, and long-term commitment directly influence the economic zone’s growth trajectory, going beyond short-term targets to deliver lasting value to investors.

The 2026 edition of the awards reflected on key achievements recorded across the RAKEZ community in 2025, a year that delivered record-breaking results in both company formation and visa issuance, further reinforcing the economic zone’s position as one of the most sought-after business destinations in the UAE. The event also looked ahead to the year to come, signalling priorities and initiatives that will shape the next phase of growth across the RAKEZ ecosystem.

Close to 300 service providers and agents were recognised across a wide range of categories, including Compliance, Growth, Long-Lasting Contribution, Loyalty, Newcomer, Partner of the Year, Service & Renewal, Value Creation, and Volume Performance.

Today, RAKEZ is home to nearly 40,000 active companies and is supported by an international network of more than 1,200 active agents, reflecting the scale and global reach of its business community.

Commenting on the occasion, RAKEZ Group CEO Ramy Jallad said: “Circle Awards is designed to recognise partners whose contribution extends beyond short-term results. At RAKEZ, progress is built on consistency and credibility, and on partners who uphold the standards that investors expect. Through their professionalism, integrity, and market relationships, our partners play a vital role in strengthening confidence in the RAKEZ ecosystem. As we look ahead, it is these enduring relationships that will continue to shape our growth and direction.”

Stressing on the significance of the event, RAKEZ Chief Commercial Officer Anas Hijjawi, said, “Circle Awards represent more than recognition; they reflect the strength of the relationships we build and nurture throughout the year. Our partners are instrumental in translating RAKEZ’s value proposition into tangible results in the market. By working closely with our agent network and service providers, we ensure that investors experience consistency, responsiveness, and clarity at every touchpoint. This success is a shared achievement.”

The event also underscored RAKEZ’s focus on enabling sustainable commercial outcomes, with shared insights on strengthening investor engagement, improving cash flow performance, accelerating sales cycles, and introducing enhanced rewards aimed at supporting long-term business growth. Looking ahead to 2026, the economic zone’s objective is to further empower its partners by helping them maximise revenue opportunities, increase transaction volumes, and deliver higher levels of customer satisfaction across every stage of the investor journey.

Circle Awards reflect RAKEZ’s commitment to recognising partners who contribute to the ecosystem’s long-term resilience, credibility, and continued growth.

Feb 20: Tourism Western Australia unveiled the second iteration of ‘Walking On A Dream’, its immersive global tourism brand that celebrates the state’s spellbinding landscapes, vibrant culture and creative talent.

 The campaign captures WA as a place where vast deserts glow beneath endless skies, coral reefs shimmer in turquoise seas, and ancient landscapes tell stories that stretch back millennia.

 Filmed across iconic locations, including Ningaloo Reef, Margaret River, Rottnest Island, Perth, and the ancient beauty of Mirima National Park in the Kimberley, the cinematic series brings WA’s dreamlike spirit to life through five 30-second destination vignettes and a 60-second film.

 \At its heart is the reimagining of Empire of The Sun’s hit song Walking On A Dream, overseen by WA–raised frontman Luke Steele, and performed by the West Australian Symphony Orchestra (WASO) Aboriginal artist and Karajarri man Billy-Jo Shoveller.

 “Walking On A Dream has always been about a sense of wonder and escape,” said Steele. Working with Billy-Jo and WASO to create this new version was magical—it feels like WA itself, magical and otherworldly.”

Billy-Jo Shoveller said the collaboration was deeply personal and reflects his passion for sharing the Kimberley’s spirit with the world.

“I’m proud to be part of this campaign as a Karajarri man, working with Luke Steele on ‘Walking On A Dream’ gave me a chance to bring some of my culture and connection to Country into the project— WA is a special place, and it feels good to help show that to people everywhere.”

 Starring Nyikina man Nelson Baker and emerging actor Angelica Blazeska, both of whom are Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts alumni, the films blurs the line between reality and reverie, celebrating Western Australia as a place where culture, creativity and nature are deeply connected.

Developed alongside Traditional Owners and WA’s Aboriginal tourism sector, the campaign celebrates culture, Country and connection. The campaign rolls out from February 2026 across key global markets.

 First launched by Tourism WA in 2022, Walking on A Dream has played a key role in driving Western Australia’s tourism recovery, with WA welcoming just over one million international visitors in the year ending October 2025, surpassing the previous record of 996,000 international visitors set in 2019.

The board of the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI) is delighted to announce that three Honorary Fellowships have been awarded to:

• Paul Stockton
• Debbie Clarke CF Chartered FCSI
• Danny Corrigan MCSI

Honorary Fellowships are awarded annually by the CISI’s Board of Trustees to individuals who have made an outstanding positive contribution, both to the financial services profession and to the CISI. Honorary Fellowship carries the designatory letters FCSI(Hon).

 CISI Chair, Michael Cole-Fontayn MCSI, said: “The CISI Board and I are delighted to announce our highest accolade this year is awarded to three accomplished and outstanding financial services professionals. They are consummate role models for our next generation of sector talent with their commitment to lifelong learning and the CISI community. We look forward to their inspiration and leadership over the years ahead.”

Paul Stockton (left) began his career as a chartered accountant in 1988 with Price Waterhouse (PW) in Windsor specialising in financial services. After four years Paul accepted a position with PW in New York where he worked closely with insurance and asset management companies before returning to London in 1996. In 1999 he joined Old Mutual Plc as group financial controller, becoming finance director of wealth manager Gerrard Limited in 2001. In 2005, two years after the sale of Gerrard to Barclays, he left to work initially for Euroclear and then subsequently, as a divisional finance director of the Phoenix Group. Paul joined Rathbones Group Plc as Group Finance Director in 2008, serving until becoming Managing Director of Rathbones Investment Management in May 2018. In May 2019 Paul was appointed as Group Chief Executive at Rathbones, a role he enjoyed until his retirement in September 2025, two years after completing Rathbones’ merger with Investec Wealth UK. 

Alongside his executive career Paul has served as a non-executive director of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, as a board member of the Personal Investment Management and Financial Advice Association (PIMFA), and as a member of the FCA Practitioner Panel. Paul is a Freeman of the City of London.

Prior to taking on a NED portfolio career Debbie Clarke CF Chartered FCSI (right) was working within financial services, corporate finance and M&A since 1996 and held a number of leadership roles within the accountancy practices where she was an equity partner. During this time she directed M&A and refinancing projects for a wide range of clients. As an adviser she worked with a wide range of investors and organisations both public and private, within the UK and internationally and has a strong regulated background. She regularly presented at industry conferences and training sessions and assisted student training and mentoring as part of her portfolio.

 Her experience has been across a variety of industries from education, sports, technology, real estate, manufacturing and support services where she has provided a range of strategic advice to her clients. Across her NED portfolio she has been chairing and vice chairing various board and committees and continues to advise private companies and their boards on their strategic plans.

 Debbie became a member of the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (‘CISI’) in 1999 and started volunteering with CISI in 2007 when she was asked by a fellow Corporate Financier, Frank Moxon to help set up what has become the Corporate Finance & Capital Markets Forum. Working together with Frank and others for many years in relaunching the Diploma in Corporate Finance and championing professionalism in wholesale markets has been a passion during her career. She became a non-executive Director of the CISI in 2017 a post she held for six years before stepping down to focus on her Trustee role on the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment Future Foundation (‘Future Foundation ‘) which the CISI set up in 2022. In 2022 Debbie was awarded the Freedom of the City of London. Debbie has been and continues to be a mentor and supporter of many people throughout their careers in financial services.

Danny Corrigan MCSI (left) is a senior manager with 40 years’ experience of the wholesale financial markets as a London based Director, Managing Director, and CEO leading teams across a range of asset classes including fixed income and derivatives. He also has extensive international experience having worked locally in the markets of Moscow, Sydney, Tokyo, and others.

 He has worked as a banker, trader, and broker, for a dozen firms, has written five books on the markets and has an extensive network in the city. He has sat on various central bank committees and was seconded to London Clearing House, a crucial part of the global market infrastructure, as part of an industry wide response to the default of Lehman Brothers to lead the closure of its trading books.

 Danny and his co-founders launched London Reporting House, a fin-tech start-up in April 2023, has funding, wonderful employees, and a perfect little office in the alleyways of Bow Lane. He was also a Trustee and Board member of the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment and chaired its International Committee. He spent years promoting the City of London with non-for-profit promotional bodies including the Lord Mayor / Mansion House and was formerly Chair of the Eurasia Group at TheCityUK.

 He graduated in Economics from the University of Liverpool in 1981 and has an MBA (Finance) from City University. He is married to Kerrie, and they are proud parents of three sons; an actor James, Ben a co-founder of London Reporting House and an earlier survivor of ‘Dragon’s Den’, Luke an accomplished professional and are grandparents to Wren.

 Danny is a retired Football Association coach having led Hampstead FC youth teams to glory in the 2000s and he was an occasional referee. He stood for the Brexit Party in the unwinnable seat of Hornsey & Wood Green in 2019 and came 5th.

Feb 20th: In calendar year (CY) 2025, India added 7.8 gigawatts (GW) of solar open access capacity, a marginal increase of 0.5% compared to the 7.7 GW installed in 2024, marking the highest annual capacity additions, according to the newly released report by Mercom India, Q4 & Annual 2025 India Solar Open Access Market Report.

The front-loaded installation pattern in the first half of 2025 strongly influenced annual deployments, helping reach a new high in total additions despite relatively flat year-over-year growth.

“Solar open access demand remains strong, particularly from large industrial users and data centers seeking long-term tariff certainty while meeting sustainability goals. We expect installations to grow at a higher rate in 2026, but the market is evolving. Developers are prioritizing projects with clear regulatory visibility, stable load profiles, and credible offtakers. Rising costs, tighter compliance requirements, and execution constraints will influence the pace of additions in the near term. However, the underlying drivers remain solid, and as infrastructure and regulatory clarity improve, open access is positioned for sustained growth,” said Raj Prabhu, CEO of Mercom Capital Group.

In 2025, Karnataka led Indian states, accounting for over 24% of new solar installations. Maharashtra and Rajasthan followed, contributing over 20% and 18%, respectively, to the annual capacity additions.

In Q4, India added solar open access capacity of 1.6 GW, a decrease of about 29% compared to 2.2 GW in Q3 2025 and over 32% decrease compared to 2.3 GW in Q4 2024.

Installations in the fourth quarter (Q4), however, declined because many projects originally scheduled for the second half of 2025 were completed earlier and commissioned before the ISTS charge waiver expired in June. This early execution reduced the number of projects available for commissioning later in the year.

Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Gujarat led Q4 2025 installations, contributing 27%, 22%, and 17% respectively to capacity additions.

Cumulative installed solar capacity in the open access segment surpassed 30 GW as of December 2025, reflecting steady growth in the segment over the past few years.

India had more than 45 GW of solar open access projects under development and in the pre-construction phase at the end of Q4 2025.

There was an 18% increase QoQ in the Green Day-Ahead Market (G-DAM). Adani Green Energy led energy sales in the Green Day-Ahead Market (G-DAM), accounting for 38% of electricity traded. Odisha procured the highest volume of electricity at G-DAM, accounting for 23% of the electricity traded.

The cleared volume of Renewable Energy Certificates traded on the Indian Energy Exchange (IEX) fell almost 58% quarter-over-quarter (QoQ).

According to the report, the volume traded in the Green Term Ahead Market (G-TAM) on IEX decreased by 32% QoQ.

The report covers a detailed analysis of the solar open access market, retail electricity tariffs, and open access charges and costs for fifteen states.

Key Highlights from Mercom India Research’s Q4 & Annual 2025 India Solar Open Access Market Report

• India added over 7.8 GW open access solar in CY 2025, a 0.5% increase from the 7.7 GW installed in 2024

• Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan added the highest solar open access capacity in 2025

• India added 1.6 GW of open access solar in Q4 2025, a decrease of 29% QoQ and 32% YoY

• India‘s cumulative installed solar open access capacity crossed 30 GW as of December 2025

• The country had more than 45 GW of solar open access projects in various stages of development at the end of 2025

The Q4 & Annual 2025 Mercom India Solar Open Access Market Report is 82 pages long and covers vital information and data on the market.

Bengaluru, Feb 20th:  Colgate-Palmolive India has launched its latest campaign for Colgate Visible White Purple, featuring Bollywood star Kriti Sanon and Indian cricketer Abhishek Sharma, bringing together two of India’s biggest cultural forces of cinema and cricket to redefine teeth whitening as an integral part of every beauty routine. The campaign elevates teeth whitening from just an oral care routine to a modern beauty essential.

Coming on board for the campaign, Kriti Sanon said, “What drew me to this campaign was the idea of treating a smile as being crucial & central to beauty. As actors, we spend so much time on skincare and makeup, but a beautiful white smile is what truly sets you apart. Colgate Visible White Purple is that secret, literally the makeup you can start your day with. It’s backed by the science of color theory that I have seen work in other beauty categories which have been part of the regimen for a long time.”

Abhishek Sharma on his association with Colgate Visible White Purple shared, “For me, confidence comes from feeling & looking good whether on or off the field. With the added spotlight & cameras around now,  grooming has even come to the picture. That’s what made this association with Colgate Visible White Purple feel authentic. A confident, white smile can make a real difference in making you feel confident & ready for always being camera ready.

The star of the campaign is Colgate Visible White Purple, a toothpaste that has taken the internet by a storm with its distinctive color. The Purple toothpaste works by the color theory cancelling yellow in teeth for a whiter smile.  The technology is well established in beauty, from purple color correcting concealers in makeup to the color preserving purple shampoos in haircare. The distinctive color purple has been a breakthrough across categories in beauty both for its aesthetic appeal and effective functional benefit.

Through this campaign, the brand is entering the beauty and grooming category in association with two of the country’s most aspirational figures, Kriti Sanon and Abhishek Sharma. By linking teeth whitening to beauty rituals, the brand invites consumers to see their smile as a defining beauty asset.

Speaking about the campaign, Ayan Guha, Director, Marketing, Colgate-Palmolive India, said, “With Colgate Visible White Purple, we’re merging science and beauty to redefine oral care as a daily grooming essential. By pairing our color-correction technology with the influence of Kriti Sanon and Abhishek Sharma, we’re making a whiter smile an aspirational yet effortless first step in every beauty ritual..”

Designed as a high-impact, multi-platform rollout, the campaign will be amplified across television, digital, social media, and influencer-led content. It is part of Colgate’s broader strategy to drive premiumisation while strengthening its leadership in science-backed, beauty-forward oral care solutions.

With this launch, Colgate Visible White Purple continues to carve a distinctive space in the whitening category where innovation, beauty, and everyday routines come together to deliver a smile that looks as good as it feels.

Chandigarh, Feb 20: The two-day Regional Community Radio Sammelan (North) was inaugurated in Chandigarh. Organised by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Government of India, in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), New Delhi, the theme of the Sammelan is “Celebrating 20 Years of Community Radio in India.” More than 75 Community Radio Stations from the Northeastern region are participating in the event.

Addressing the gathering, Ms. Shilpa Rao, Director (CRS), Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, emphasized that while the Ministry is actively expanding the community radio network, stakeholders must come forward to share their experiences and success stories to further consolidate the sector. She also highlighted that several new innovations are being introduced to support the sustained growth of community radio.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri L. Madhu Nag, Registrar, Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), noted that although content continues to be the backbone of community radio, the sector faces challenges in terms of trained manpower. He stressed the importance of developing sustainable operational models and prioritizing the adoption of technology to address these challenges effectively.

During a technical session, Shri Manish Sheelwant, Deputy Director, Wireless Planning and Coordination Wing, simplified the Saral Sanchar Portal process for participants by clearly explaining procedures related to approvals, auto-renewals, and spectrum charges, thereby making regulatory requirements easier to understand and comply with.

Another key session was conducted by Shri Sri Sai Vempati, Deputy Director (AV), Central Bureau of Communication (CBC), MIB, who provided detailed insights into the empanelment process and highlighted the role of government advertising in enhancing the outreach and sustainability of community radio stations.

An experience-sharing session featured representatives from Radio Salam Namaste, Sanjha Radio, and Radio Hewalvani, who shared practical insights on content creation, sustaining community radio stations and engaging effectively with district and state administrations.

Concluding the series of sessions, Shri Ashwini Kumar from Akashvani delivered an informative presentation on content creation and the AIR Code of Ethics, emphasizing responsible broadcasting and adherence to ethical standards in community radio operations.

On the second day, the Sammelan will feature sessions on the NaVigate Bharat portal, a presentation by the Ministry on documentation, and discussions on participation, including the sharing of studies, reports on CRS and stakeholder experiences.

The Sammelan provides Community Radio practitioners a platform to share experiences, raise concerns, explore innovative approaches and collectively strengthen the future of grassroots broadcasting across the northeastern region.