Next Gen Consulting

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  • Chennai Bulls secure the last semi-final berth at HSBC Rugby Premier League powered by Avid Season 2

    Hyderabad, June 26: The 10th day of the HSBC Rugby Premier League powered by Avid Season 2 witnessed Chennai Bulls secure Semi Final qualification with a 14-14 draw against the Bengaluru Bravehearts while Delhi Redz and hosts Hyderabad Heroes secured victories at the Ganti Mohana Chandra Balayogi Athletic Stadium, Gachibowli, Hyderabad on Thursday.

    Delhi Redz knock out Kolkata Banga Tigers 40-28

    Delhi Redz made a commanding start, patiently building their attacks before Nygel Amaitsa broke through to open the scoring. Samuel Asati and Josep Serres quickly added further tries, while Hitesh Dagar extended the advantage as the Redz dominated possession and territory.

    With their semi–final hopes hanging in the balance, Kolkata Banga Tigers finally found a response through Vuiviwa Naduvalo before half-time. Serres struck again after the break, but Naduvalo almost single-handedly dragged the Tigers back into the contest with two brilliant individual tries late in the third quarter. Jon Okeyo restored Delhi’s breathing space in the final period, while Naduvalo produced another moment of magic, though the Redz maintained their composure and controlled the closing stages to secure an important win.

    Hyderabad Heroes overpower Mumbai Dreamers 33-0

    The Heroes dictated proceedings through swift ball movement and aggressive defensive pressure, stretching the Dreamers across the width of the field. Manuel Moreno opened the scoring after a well-worked move before Taitaifono Tavita exploited space out wide to add another try.

     The Heroes continued to dominate territory in the second quarter, with Tavita crossing over again from the left wing and Francisco Cosculluela capitalising on sustained pressure as Mumbai struggled to retain possession and build phases. Although the Dreamers tightened their defence in the third quarter and limited scoring opportunities, Hyderabad maintained control through possession and field position. Ravuama Seruvakula eventually broke through in the final quarter, while the Heroes’ organised defence and superior pace prevented Mumbai from finding a way onto the scoresheet.

    Chennai Bulls play out 14-14 draw with Bengaluru Bravehearts

    The Bulls made the brighter start, using their physicality and quick recycling of possession to pin the Bravehearts inside their own half.

    Santiago Alvarez finished off the early pressure with a well-taken try, but Bengaluru responded efficiently whenever they had the ball, with Jonas Mikalcius completing a patient attacking move to level the scores at the end of the opening quarter.

     Defences dominated the second period as both sides closed down space and disrupted attacking phases. Magomederassul Magomedov drove the Bravehearts forward after the restart, allowing Akuila Rokolisoa to finish a promising move and hand Bengaluru the advantage.

     However, Mohit Khatri responded almost immediately with a powerful run through the middle to restore parity.

     Chennai applied sustained pressure in the closing stages, but Bengaluru’s resilient defence ensured the points were shared.

  • Odisha Speaker Appoints Pramila Mallik to Head Public Accounts Committee for 2026–27

    Bhubaneswar, June 26: Senior Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader and Chief Whip of the BJD Legislature Party, Pramila Mallik, has been appointed as the Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Odisha Legislative Assembly for the financial year 2026–27.

    The appointment was made by Speaker Surama Padhy through a notification issued by the Odisha Legislative Assembly Secretariat. Mallik was nominated to head the committee under Rule 197(1) of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business of the Odisha Legislative Assembly.

    The 12-member Public Accounts Committee has been constituted under Rule 135(1) of the Assembly’s Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business.

    The committee comprises Chairperson Pramila Mallik along with members Rama Chandra Kadam, Dr. Aruna Kumar Sahu, Ganeswar Behera, Sanatan Bijuli, Akash Dasnayak, Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo, Ashok Mohanty, Babu Singh, Santosh Khatua, Amar Kumar Nayak and Arabinda Mohapatra.

    The Public Accounts Committee is one of the most significant financial oversight bodies of the Odisha Legislative Assembly. It examines the reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India and scrutinises government expenditure to ensure that public funds are utilised in accordance with legislative approvals and established financial norms. The committee plays a crucial role in promoting transparency, accountability and fiscal discipline in public administration.

    The constitution of the committee for 2026–27 is expected to further strengthen legislative oversight over the state’s financial management and expenditure.

  • As AI Concerns Grow, 66% of Enterprise Event Professionals Now Say AI Translation Outperforms Human Interpreters

     

    New study finds AI translation exceeds human interpretation on quality, access, and cost as multilingual demand surges

    LOS ALTOS, CA – June 26 – For years, human interpreters have been considered the gold standard for multilingual communication. New research suggests the standard is changing.

    The “2026 State of AI Translation and Captions” survey, conducted independently by Dimensional Research and commissioned by Wordly, finds that two-thirds (66%) of enterprise event planners now say AI translation and captions deliver better quality than human interpreters. That shift strengthens with AI usage. Among regular users, 79% say AI performs better, while just 12% prefer human interpreters.

    “Much of the public conversation around AI still focuses on risk, uncertainty, and what the technology cannot do,” said Lakshman Rathnam, Wordly Founder & CEO. “But research shows that organizations that use AI translation are making decisions based on outcomes, not assumptions. They’re seeing measurable gains in quality, accessibility, and scale and that is reshaping what they expect from language technology.”

    Key Findings from the 2026 State of AI Translation and Captions Survey:

    ●A New Quality Standard: 66% of enterprise event planners report that AI translation and captioning delivers higher quality than human interpreters (compared to 25% who still prefer traditional interpretation services).

    ●High Satisfaction Across the Board: 79% of regular users say AI translation performs better than traditional options (with just 12% preferring human interpreters), while 61% of occasional users report a superior experience.

    ●Rapid Technology Advances: 93% of respondents state that AI translation quality has noticeably improved over the past year.

    ●Economics Driving Adoption: 95% of enterprise organizations find AI translation more affordable and easier to deploy than human interpretation, allowing them to expand language access within budget constraints.

    ●Surging Multilingual Demand: 88% of respondents report an increase in non-English-speaking participants, up from 77% the previous year.

    ●A Universal Corporate Priority: 96% of surveyed organizations state that providing comprehensive language access is now an official priority.

    What’s Next: The Future Strategy for Enterprise Language Access

    Despite near-universal adoption of AI interpretation (88%) and captioning (91%), 97% of respondents want capabilities beyond live translation, including:

    ●58% are interested in adding full multilingual transcripts

    ●53% would like to add subtitle and voice dubbing files

    ●51% are interested in creating meeting notes with action items

    ●50% would like to add marketing-ready summaries

    A complete copy of the 2026 State of AI Translation and Captions can be found online at https://www.wordly.ai/research/state-of-ai-translation-2026. An infographic highlighting the biggest trends of the survey is also available.

    Survey Methodology: The 2026 State of AI Translation and Captioning survey was commissioned by Wordly and conducted by Dimensional Research. The study surveyed 205 qualified meeting and event stakeholders from the United States and United Kingdom between May 11 and May 21, 2026. Participants were responsible for external events and/or internal meetings involving multilingual audiences at organizations with more than 1,000 employees.

     

     

  • Dabur India Limited inducts the importance of Wonder Herb Pudina

    Dabur India Limited inducts the importance of Wonder Herb Pudina

    Bhubaneswar, June 26: Moving forward in its mission to propagate the benefits of Ayurvedic herbs, India’s largest Science-based Ayurveda company, Dabur India Ltd, launched a campaign to promote Pudina as a wonder herb. Pudina is packed with antioxidants and phytonutrients that can work wonders for the human stomach especially during the scorching summers. 

    With the accelerating frequency of heatwaves & rising mercury levels, health issues have become recurrent during the summer season. Tackling these intensifying seasonal health concerns, Dabur is manifesting the use of Pudina for those who remain under the sun for the longest hours of the day and become prone to common summer diseases.

    “The best management to modern day diseases are deep embedded in the manuscripts of Ayurveda. The historical background of Pudina goes back to 3,000 years and it has been christened as the Wonder Herb which is beneficial for human digestive system. The menthol present in Pudina stimulates the enzymes necessary for digestion, relaxes the muscles of the stomach, reducing the chances of indigestion and spasms. It is also known for its calming effect on stomach cramps and ability to triumph over acidity and flatulence.” said Dr. Ambika Prasad Nayak. 

    Today a lot of antacids are available in market which contains harsh chemicals like aluminum/magnesium hydroxides which if taken on regular basis can have some harmful effect on health. Dabur Pudin Hara which is over 100 Yrs old brand from Dabur, is an ayurvedic solution with goodness of Pudina Satva to give fast and effective relief in all stomach problems like Gas, Indigestion, Stomach Pain and acidity.  Pudin Hara is available in multiple formats like tablets/Liquid, Powder format as Pudin Hara Fizz –which is natural remedy for acidity vs harsh chemicals. 

    Speaking at the event, Mr. Sriram Padmanabhan, Director Marketing, Dabur India Ltd said: “Observing the evolving trends in lifestyles and work patterns the consumers today are continuously multi-tasking and therefore they require effective and natural solutions. Dabur, as the most trusted healthcare company, strengthens its goal of instigating traditional Ayurveda to combat daily health issues and Pudin Hara is one sure shot solution for multiple gastric disorders. Considering the numerous diseases prevalent during the summer season, Pudin Hara helps in managing stomach problems like indigestion, Gas and Acidity”.

  • OS Studios Appoints Ishaan Arya as Country Manager for India Expansion

    OS Studios Appoints Ishaan Arya as Country Manager for India Expansion

     

    June 26; Bengaluru, India: OS Studios, the global fan experience agency born from gaming culture, today announced the appointment of gaming, esports and live events veteran Ishaan Arya as Country Manager for India. Arya will spearhead the agency’s expansion across newly established hubs in Bengaluru, New Delhi, and Mumbai.

    OS Studios, a Project Worldwide agency, recently entered the Indian market to deploy its signature ‘Fan Z’ playbook, bridging the experience gap for brands looking to integrate into South Asia’s rapidly evolving gaming, esports and live events ecosystem. The expansion leverages the established infrastructure and production capabilities of sister agency George P. Johnson (GPJ) India.

    “The future of gaming will be shaped by the communities that care about it most, and few markets embody that more than India,” said John Higgins, CEO of OS Studios. “To build something meaningful, you have to be part of the culture, not looking in from the outside. Ishaan understands that better than anyone. He’s exactly the kind of leader we want building the future of OS Studios in India.”

    OS Studios brings unparalleled global expertise, having delivered iconic experiential and broadcast campaigns like Call of Duty: Next, League of Legends Fanfest at Worlds, Major League Rugby, Ultimate Sevens, Red Bull Basement World Final, Red Bull Homeground 2025, TikTokLiveFest EU 2025, Riot Games’ Arcane Season 2 Launch Campaign, NBA 2K League, to name a few.

    In his new role, Arya will oversee all operations, drive strategic brand partnerships, and scale the agency’s local capabilities in the region.

    “Brands are investing heavily in Indian gaming, but true fan experience is too often an afterthought,” said Rasheed Sait, Chief Growth Officer for India and South Asia at Project Worldwide. “Alongside GPJ India’s experiential footprint, OS Studios will set a new standard for fan engagement in the region.”

    Arya brings over a decade of industry expertise to the role. He previously co-founded esports powerhouse The Esports Club and most recently served as Vice President of Partnerships at Nodwin Gaming, where he led Comic Con India.

    “A massive gap remains between brand intent and authentic community engagement in India,” said Arya. “I’m thrilled to leverage Project Worldwide and GPJ India’s operational strength to build culture-defining experiences for brands and fans alike.”

    His appointment signals OS Studios’ commitment to embedding hyper-local expertise into its global framework.

    Under Arya’s leadership, OS Studios India will offer full-service capabilities, including:

    Brand Strategy & Activation: Authentic integration blueprints for non-endemic brands.

    Live Event Operations: Large-scale experiential gaming and community activations.

    End-to-End Broadcast Production: World-class live streaming and event production.

    Creator Management: Cultivating and scaling local gaming influencer campaigns.

    Community Building: Developing and nurturing engaged fan communities around brands and IPs.

     

     

  • Odisha Govt Suspends ‘VB-G Ram G’ Work for 60 Days During Kharif Season

    Bhubaneswar, June 26 (UDN): The Odisha Government has announced the temporary suspension of the ‘VB-G Ram G’ work for a period of 60 days during the ongoing agricultural season to facilitate farming activities across the state.

    Odisha Govt Suspends 'VB-G Ram G' Work for 60 Days During Kharif Season

    According to an official notification issued by the government, the decision has been taken keeping in view the peak agricultural operations during the Kharif season. The suspension aims to ensure that farmers and rural workers can actively participate in farming activities without any disruption.

    The government stated that the temporary halt in the implementation of the scheme will help address the increased demand for labour in agricultural fields during the sowing season. The move is expected to support timely cultivation and enhance agricultural productivity.

    Officials said that the scheme’s activities will resume after the completion of the 60-day suspension period. Necessary instructions have already been issued to the concerned departments and implementing agencies for effective compliance with the government’s directive.

    The state government reiterated its commitment to safeguarding farmers’ interests while ensuring the smooth implementation of rural development programmes.

  • Puri Conducts Mock Drill for Smooth and Safe Snana Yatra, Rath Yatra

    Puri, June 26 (UDN): In preparation for the upcoming Snana Yatra and Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath, a comprehensive mock drill was conducted in Puri on Friday to ensure smooth, safe, and disciplined management of the festivals.

    Puri Conducts Mock Drill for Smooth and Safe Snana Yatra, Rath Yatra

    The exercise was organized with the active participation of various government departments and agencies, including the district administration, police, health services, fire services, municipal authorities, and other stakeholders. The mock drill aimed at strengthening inter-departmental coordination and assessing preparedness for crowd management, emergency response, traffic regulation, and other essential services during the grand annual festivals.

    Officials reviewed the standard operating procedures and simulated different scenarios to ensure prompt and effective responses in case of any emergency. Special emphasis was laid on maintaining law and order, ensuring seamless movement of devotees, and providing necessary public amenities.

    The district administration reiterated its commitment to conducting the Snana Yatra and Rath Yatra in a safe, orderly, and hassle-free manner for lakhs of devotees expected to visit Puri during the festivities.

    Senior officials from various departments were present during the exercise and expressed satisfaction over the preparedness measures undertaken.

  • From City Heat to Island Bliss: CROSSROADS Maldives Invites GCC Travellers to Return to Paradise

    Maldives, 26 June 2026: Kicking off the summer holiday season, SAii Lagoon Maldives, Curio Collection by Hilton and Hard Rock Hotel Maldives invite GCC residents to swap the desert heat for the turquoise calm of the Indian Ocean with the newly extended offers designed around the region’s love of effortless luxury, privacy, family-friendly flexibility and seamless weekend travel. Created exclusively for the GCC and Türkiye markets, the offers elevate short stays with a suite of benefits designed around regional travel preferences.

    At SAii Lagoon Maldives, the ‘Lahthat Al-Nour’ (Moment of Light) package captures the bright, sun-drenched spirit of the Maldives and the ease of slipping into island time within minutes of landing. As a special benefit, all single-bedroom categories will welcome families with up to two children under 12. Other accommodation options range from interconnected rooms and spacious suites to multi-generational overwater villas where privacy, comfort and connectivity are perfectly balanced.  

    From City Heat to Island Bliss: CROSSROADS Maldives Invites GCC Travellers to Return to Paradise

     At Hard Rock Hotel Maldives, the offer’s name Mawsim Al-Music (Music Festival) nods to the brand’s legacy as a global icon of music-infused hospitality, which is brought to life through such benefits as nightly live performances, beachfront acoustic sessions, and brand’s signature Sound of Your Stay® programme, which offers in-villa Fender guitars, curated vinyl with a Crosley turntable, and mood-setting playlists. 

    With Lahthat Al-Nour and Mawsim Al-Music offers, stays of three nights and more offer the benefit of meal plan upgrades from half board to full board and from full board to all-inclusive. Children stay and dine for free from the kids’ menu, while adults can choose from 13 dining venues serving halal-certified meat, with cuisines ranging from Thai and Maldivian to Mediterranean. Guests also enjoy airport transfers; a one-time shisha session; express or complimentary spa treatments; a 30-minute photo session with a 5×7” print for capturing family or honeymoon moments; a floating breakfast for pool villa categories; and guided house-reef snorkelling. Staying active is easy with an outdoor pool, a fitness centre and the newly added GZ19 padel courts that bring the GCC’s favourite sport to the lagoon’s edge.

    As part of CROSSROADS Maldives, the country’s first fully integrated lifestyle destination, guests at both SAii Lagoon Maldives and Hard Rock Hotel Maldives can roam freely between two islands. A short stroll across a footbridge leads to The Marina @ CROSSROADS, home to upscale shopping; the legendary Hard Rock Café; the Marine and Maldives Discovery Centres for cultural and natural exploration; and Koimala & Maalimi’s Junior Beach Club and Camp, where children aged 4-15 stay creatively engaged.

    Just 15 minutes by speedboat from Velana International Airport, CROSSROADS Maldives is one of the Maldives’ most accessible retreats for travellers flying from Dubai, Riyadh, Doha, Kuwait or Muscat. For GCC guests seeking a quick but complete change of scenery, the resort offers a smooth transition from city pace to barefoot bliss.

    The offer is available for stays until 31 October 2026, ideal for summer getaways or autumn breaks. 

    Bookings are open until 31 August using SLMME26 for SAii Lagoon Maldives (rates from USD 880++ per night) and HRHME26 for Hard Rock Hotel Maldives (from USD 923++). 

    For more information, visit saiilagoonmaldives.com and https://hotel.hardrock.com/maldives

  • Powerful Earthquakes Rock Venezuela Near Caracas, Causing Widespread Destruction

    Caracas, June 25: Venezuela was shaken by two powerful earthquakes on Wednesday, sending shockwaves across the nation and causing significant damage in and around the capital, Caracas. The strong tremors led to the collapse of several buildings, disrupted transport and communication networks, and triggered panic among residents.

    Authorities have confirmed multiple fatalities and hundreds of injuries, while rescue teams continue to search for people feared trapped under debris. Emergency services have been deployed to the worst-affected areas, and temporary shelters have been set up for displaced families.

    The Venezuelan government has declared a state of emergency and urged citizens to remain cautious as several aftershocks have been reported. Schools and public offices in affected regions have been closed, and hospitals are operating on emergency protocols to treat the injured.

    International aid agencies and neighboring countries have expressed solidarity with Venezuela and offered assistance for rescue and relief operations. Officials warn that the death toll may rise as search teams reach remote and heavily damaged areas.

    The twin earthquakes are among the strongest to strike Venezuela in recent decades, highlighting the country’s vulnerability to seismic activity and the urgent need for disaster preparedness and resilient infrastructure.

  • Metals.io, Powered by Tezos, Launches Global First with Tokenized Cobalt and Nickel

    The platform unlocks assets once out of reach for assets individual and professional investors, giving direct beneficial ownership of physical metals held in secure facilities

    London, UK—25th June, 2026—Tezos based application, metals.io, today, in a global first, launched physically backed industrial metals tokens with the listing of two tokens: xCo (cobalt) and xNi (nickel) on the Tezos-based trading platform. In tokenizing cobalt and nickel, metals that  are notable for their specific strategic value in industrial and manufacturing applications and use in the energy sector, and for being inaccessible to retail investors, the team behind metals.io is once more responding to market demand and unlocking access to assets that have long been out of reach for individual investors. 

    Despite their use in a range of applications, such as the manufacturing of rechargeable batteries, high-performance superalloys, and corrosion-resistant materials, a number of factors have prohibited retail investors from accessing cobalt and nickel before now. For cobalt, minimum lot sizes through OTC channels typically start at one tonne and scale up from there. At early 2026 prices a one-tonne minimum implies a USD 56,000 minimum ticket, before any consideration of warehouse storage costs, insurance, and the financing of working capital. The market is not designed for investors looking for sub-tonne fractional ownership, and settlement timelines, payment terms, and warrant transfer mechanics are all geared toward industrial buyers. Nickel is equally inaccessible for retail traders. While nickel does have a deep, transparent, exchange-traded reference market (the LME), the standard LME nickel contract size is 6 tonnes, and financing costs, insurance, and the operational requirements of taking physical delivery from an approved warehouse make this a market designed for industrial users and large traders rather than investors looking for direct exposure.

    The tokenized assets, xCo (cobalt) and xNi (nickel), serve to broaden access to these commodities, giving investors direct beneficial ownership of the physical metals held in facilities. By combining a trust structure with Tezos-based smart contracts, metals.io makes it possible for investors to own, hold, and trade these assets without the financing, warehousing, and minimum lot-size frictions that have kept the cobalt and nickel markets largely closed to anyone smaller than an industrial buyer or a commodity trading house.

    “The rapid growth of AI, an explosion of manufacturing capacity in emerging markets, and a host of other technological demands and developments have created demand for the metals and minerals that power industries as diverse as the automotive sector to the aerospace industry. However, systemic barriers have long prohibited mainstream access to these assets and, when it comes to how metals and commodities are traded today not much has changed in the transfer of metals since the launch of the London Metals Exchange, almost 150 years ago. Now, though, with the launch of metals.io and the dawn of tokenization, we’re able to streamline access to these essential commodities, making them available to a new profile of buyer and introducing new routes to market for suppliers”, said Ben Elvidge, Lead for metals.io, and Head of Alternative Assets at Trilitech.

    Cobalt and nickel each have specific properties that make them especially valuable for energy, industrial and manufacturing applications. Cobalt is one of the defining critical minerals of the energy transition. It is essential to nickel manganese cobalt (NCM) and nickel cobalt aluminium (NCA) battery cathodes used in the majority of European and North American electric vehicles, as well as in consumer electronics, aerospace alloys, and a range of industrial catalysts. Nickel is one of the most strategically important industrial metals in the world. It is the backbone of stainless steel, which still accounts for around two-thirds of global nickel demand, and it has become a critical input into high-energy-density battery cathodes used in premium electric vehicles, aerospace, and grid-scale storage. 

    The launch of tokenized cobalt and nickel on metals.io further expands the platform’s offerings, opening access to new investors who would not previously have had the opportunity to own and trade them. In addition to the new assets launching today, visitors to the site can also access xU3O8 tokenized uranium; VNX Gold (VNXAU), digital proof of ownership of allocated gold which is physically held in a vault in Liechtenstein; and the RARE token from Noemon Tech, which provides transparent exposure to a diversified basket of five strategic metals selected for their critical industrial and technological value. For more information about all of these assets and tokenized commodities, visit: https://metals.io/