Category: Business

Mumbai, Mar 05: Lukson Jewels, India’s emerging lab grown diamond jewellery brand founded by third generation diamantaire Anand Lukhi, is witnessing accelerated growth as demand for conscious luxury and everyday fine jewellery rises among Millennial and Gen Z consumers. Backed by the 34-year legacy of the JK Star Group, the brand continues to strengthen its position within the evolving fine jewellery landscape through vertical integration, omnichannel expansion, and design led innovation.

 Since launch, Lukson has recorded a sustained 25 percent month on month growth rate, signalling strong product market alignment and repeat customer adoption. Within the first six months of operations, the brand has served over 20,000 customers, achieving more than 99 percent customer satisfaction, reinforcing consumer trust across quality, pricing transparency, and overall buying experience.

The brand’s traction reflects a broader shift in jewellery consumption patterns, particularly among working professionals and younger buyers who increasingly prioritise sustainability, transparency, and versatility over traditional occasion driven purchases.

Today, Lukson offers over 1,500 unique jewellery designs across online and offline channels, spanning earrings, rings, necklaces, and bracelets crafted with SGL certified lab grown diamonds. New collections are introduced every 15 days, enabling the brand to remain trend responsive while sustaining engagement across categories.

The onboarding of actor Vaani Kapoor as Brand Ambassador has further strengthened Lukson’s positioning at the intersection of modern elegance, ethical sourcing, and aspirational affordability. The association reflects the brand’s intent to build cultural relevance alongside commercial scale.

Currently operating five offline retail stores across five cities, Lukson plans to scale to over 30 stores across key Indian markets, reinforcing its omnichannel strategy and enabling deeper consumer access through experiential retail formats.

Speaking on the brand’s growth trajectory, Anand Lukhi, Founder and CEO, Lukson, said,

“Lukson was created around a simple insight that modern consumers want jewellery that reflects both personal style and personal values. Lab grown diamonds allow us to offer the same brilliance and craftsmanship associated with fine jewellery while addressing concerns around sustainability and transparency. Our growth validates that conscious luxury is no longer niche. It is becoming the new mainstream.”

Rooted in JK Star Group’s vertically integrated diamond ecosystem, Lukson combines decades of expertise in grading, craftsmanship, and manufacturing with contemporary D2C retail strategies. This integration allows the brand to maintain tighter quality control while offering premium designs at accessible price points.

Vedant Lukhi, Co-Founder of Lukson, added,

“Our focus has been to build systems that support scale without compromising trust. Vertical integration gives us supply security and cost efficiency, while design innovation and fast collection cycles allow us to stay culturally relevant. The goal is not just growth, but sustainable and disciplined expansion.”

Expansion Strategy and Manufacturing Investments

As part of its next phase of growth, Lukson is investing in strengthening its supply chain infrastructure. The company plans to expand its lab grown diamond cultivation capacity to over 400 growing units, ensuring long term supply reliability, enhanced quality control, and improved cost optimisation.

On the retail front, Lukson aims to scale across India through a hybrid retail model comprising exclusive brand stores and shop in shop formats across malls and high street locations in Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities. This expansion supports the brand’s vision of building deeper national penetration while maintaining a consistent omnichannel experience.

Lab grown diamonds, which possess the same physical, chemical, and optical properties as mined diamonds, continue to gain acceptance globally due to reduced environmental impact and ethical sourcing advantages. Lukson’s model aligns this technological advancement with evolving consumer expectations around transparency, accessibility, and responsible luxury.

With strong early growth momentum, expanding retail infrastructure, and continued investment across manufacturing and brand development, Lukson is positioning itself as a rising name in India’s conscious luxury jewellery segment.

Chennai, Mar 5 : Axis Bank, one of the largest private sector banks in India, announced that it has become a preferred financer for Tesla, offering tailored financing solutions and a differentiated customer experience for Tesla customers. This collaboration underscores Axis Bank’s commitment to accelerating electric mobility in India by delivering innovative, customer-centric financing solutions that support the transition towards sustainable transportation. The collaboration will be rolled out pan India, empowering customers across major metros and emerging EV hubs to access convenient, digitally enabled-financing options aligned with Tesla’s global ownership experience. The offering aims to simplify the Tesla purchase journey by reducing entry barriers and ensuring a smooth, convenient onboarding experience for customers. Axis Bank will extend curated auto‑loan offerings designed specifically for premium EV customers. These include:

• Customized repayment schemes to suit individual customer cash flows
• Long tenure of up to 10 years
• Fully digital onboarding journey with faster sanction turnaround

Commenting on the collaboration, Munish Sharda, Executive Director, Axis Bank, said,

“As electric mobility gains momentum in India, Axis Bank is proud to collaborate with Tesla to help accelerate this transition. Through this collaboration, we are bringing together world-class electric vehicles with innovative, tailored financing solutions and seamless customer engagement. This makes it easier for customers to adopt sustainable mobility without compromising on convenience or flexibility. This initiative reflects our continued focus on responsible banking and future-ready solutions.”

Mumbai, Mar 05: Bajaj Electricals Limited announces the appointment of Rahul Pundir as Chief Supply Chain Officer, effective March 2nd, 2026. In this role, Rahul will lead the company’s Unified Supply Chain Management (SCM) function, strengthening capabilities across logistics, manufacturing, sourcing, planning, and quality.

 Rahul brings with him over 24 years of rich global experience at Procter & Gamble, where he has led complex supply chain operations across Asia, the Middle East & Africa (MEA), India, and Japan. Over the course of his journey, he has built a strong reputation for steering large-scale digital transformations that enhanced manufacturing excellence, sharpened forecasting precision, and strengthened inventory agility across diverse markets.

Shekhar Bajaj, Chairman, Bajaj Electricals, said,

 “We are delighted to welcome Rahul Pundir to the Bajaj Electricals team. Supply chain excellence lies at the heart of how we serve our customers and partners every day. Rahul’s rich global experience and deep operational expertise will further strengthen our capabilities and help us build a more agile, resilient, and future-ready organisation.”

Sanjay Sachdeva, Managing Director and CEO, Bajaj Electricals Limited, added,

“We are thrilled to welcome Rahul Pundir to Bajaj Electricals at an exciting phase of our growth. As we continue to strengthen our capabilities and sharpen our customer focus, a strong and integrated supply chain will be a key enabler. Rahul’s leadership will help us unlock greater efficiencies, elevate service levels, and build a more agile organisation that supports our long-term growth ambitions.”

hubergroup Print Solutions is expanding the availability of its well-established metal decoration ink system TINKREDIBLE MGA to global markets. Already successfully used by leading manufacturers in Europe and India, the mineral oil-free, BPA-free, and PFAS-free ink series is now being rolled out worldwide. Designed for monobloc and three-piece metal cans, TINKREDIBLE MGA combines outstanding print quality, high process stability, and compliance with the strictest international food safety standards. Printers and converters can learn more about the ink system and its track record at METPACK 2026 in Essen, Germany (May 5-8, 2026, Hall 1, Stand 1B11).

Food safety and durability without compromise

As global demand for sustainable and safe food packaging rises, hubergroup strengthens its position in metal decoration with TINKREDIBLE MGA. The low-migration ink series is recognised for its brilliant colours, high durability, and reliable performance in demanding production environments – making it the ideal solution for offset printing on metal cans used in food, pet food, and beverage packaging.

Developed to meet the thermal, mechanical, and regulatory demands of modern food packaging, TINKREDIBLE MGA offers high flexibility, low yellowing, and excellent resistance to heat and sterilisation on both coated and uncoated substrates. Its advanced chemical composition ensures excellent resistance to scratches, moisture, and external influences, ensuring consumer safety while maintaining premium visual quality.

Proven performance – now available worldwide

TINKREDIBLE MGA has earned the trust of leading European manufacturers through years of consistent performance, outstanding process reliability, and stable colour results. The ink series has proven particularly effective for applications such as tuna cans, where shelf life, compliance, and uniform print quality are critical. Building on this track record, hubergroup is now making this established technology accessible to customers around the globe.

“TINKREDIBLE MGA is not a new development, but a proven ink system with a long-standing reputation for quality and reliability,” says Jan Museler, Product Manager Metal Decoration at hubergroup. “With its global rollout, we are enabling printers and brand owners worldwide to achieve the highest standards of safety, performance, and design excellence.”

Flexible portfolio for individual production needs

The TINKREDIBLE MGA range comprises process colours, opaque whites, metallics, and special colours, complemented by customised solutions via the hubergroup mixing system. This comprehensive portfolio allows printers and brand owners to create distinctive, compliant metal packaging designs tailored to specific production requirements and regulatory frameworks.

With the global launch of TINKREDIBLE MGA, hubergroup continues to support the metal packaging industry with future-ready solutions for both monobloc and three-piece can applications, combining safety, performance, and design excellence. At METPACK 2026, printers and converters can learn more about TINKREDIBLE as well as NewV tin, hubergroup’s UV series first-hand at METPACK 2026 in Essen, Germany (May, 5-8, 2026, Hall 1, Stand 1B11).

Mar 4: With the launch of nonstop flights from Kuala Lumpur to Frankfurt, Lufthansa Airlines is strengthening its network in Southeast Asia and focusing on growth in a dynamic region. From October 25, 2026, the connection will be offered five times a week all year around – daily except for Tuesdays and Thursdays. Flights can be booked immediately.

Flight LH 704 departs at 9:30 PM in Frankfurt and arrives in Kuala Lumpur at 4:40 PM local time the following day. The return flight LH 705 takes off at 11:55 PM in Kuala Lumpur and lands at 6:00 AM the following day in the Rhine-Main metropolis. These flight times are optimally coordinated with Lufthansa’s worldwide network from Frankfurt and offer travelers ideal connection possibilities.

The flight will be operated by the new Boeing 787, the most modern and efficient aircraft in the Lufthansa fleet. Equipped with 287 seats in three classes and the new Allegris cabin.

Jens Ritter, CEO Lufthansa Airlines, said: “With the new nonstop connection to Kuala Lumpur and the deployment of our state-of-the-art Dreamliner, we are creating ideal conditions to participate in the growth in Southeast Asia. The innovative Allegris cabin offers our guests the highest comfort and highlights underscore our premium aspiration to offer both leisure travelers and business travelers a first-class travel experience.” 

Malaysia: Attractive destination for tourism and business

Malaysia is a very popular destination for both leisure travelers and business travelers. With 42.2 million visitors in 2025, Malaysia was the most visited country in Southeast Asia. The country’s cultural diversity, natural beauty, and historical significance make it a unique travel destination.

Malaysia is also economically strong and growing rapidly. Germany is Malaysia’s most important trading partner in the European Union, and over 700 German companies are based in Malaysia. Lufthansa sees significant growth potential in the region and is specifically focusing on the development of this destination.

From the Lufthansa Group home markets (Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, and Italy), Lufthansa Airlines will be the only airline with nonstop flights to Malaysia. This makes Kuala Lumpur the third Lufthansa Group destination in Southeast Asia, alongside Bangkok, Singapore and Phuket.

Abu Dhabi, UAE – Mar 4: AD Ports Group (ADX: ADPORTS), a leading global enabler of trade, industry and logistics solutions, confirms that all operations across its clusters continue as normal in light of current regional developments.

As a precautionary measure, the Group has activated its crisis management and business continuity protocols, in coordination with the concerned authorities in the UAE to safeguard its workforce, partners and stakeholders, while ensuring uninterrupted services to customers.

All UAE ports and terminals managed and operated by the Group’s Ports Cluster, in addition to related services remain fully operational.

As traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has declined, a corresponding reduction in vessel calls at Khalifa Port is anticipated. However, services at Khalifa Port will remain fully operational and uninterrupted. The Group expects increased volumes across its diversified global maritime network as a result of shifting trading routes due to the evolving regional developments. 

Across the Group’s Maritime & Shipping Cluster, the majority of its 122 shipping vessels including container, bulk, Ro-Ro, and multipurpose vessels are operating outside the Strait of Hormuz. Those currently within the Strait continue to operate intra-Gulf services. Overall, the impact on the Maritime & Shipping Cluster is expected to be limited. The Group’s Economic Cities & Free Zones and Logistics Clusters are likewise expected to experience limited impact. 

Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Managing Director and Group CEO of AD Ports Group, said: “Global trade has historically demonstrated resilience during periods of geopolitical tension. Through disciplined execution, operational excellence and proactive risk management, AD Ports Group remains well positioned to support supply chain stability and uphold its commitments to customers across its global network, in line with vision with our wise leadership.’’

As a diversified global trade enabler with an integrated international portfolio, AD Ports Groop continues to closely monitor geopolitical developments and assess any potential implications for maritime routes, supply chains, and global trade flows. The Group will provide further market updates as the situation evolves.

CAIRO, Egypt, Mar 4 — Network International (Network) (www.Network.ae), a leading fintech company across the Middle East and Africa, has announced the successful enablement of Apple Pay acceptance by powering card tokenisation for Apple smartphones for four renowned Egyptian banks, as part of the country’s digital transformation initiatives.

The successful launch comes within the third wave of the Central Bank of Egypt’s granting of tokenisation licenses to select banks and is an important milestone for Egypt’s digital payment ecosystem. The initiative reinforces Network’s scale, innovation leadership and proven execution capabilities in the market.

Supporting all four bank go-lives within the same wave underscores the strength, reliability, and agility of Network’s processing platform, alongside the depth of its local delivery and implementation expertise. The achievement reflects Network’s ability to execute complex, multi-bank digital payment initiatives at pace while maintaining the highest standards of security, operational resilience, and service quality.

Dr. Reda Helal, Group Managing Director – Processing, Africa & Co-Head Group Processing at Network International, said: “We are proud to have supported four renowned banks to successfully transform themselves as Egypt strengthens its digital economy. We have been present in the market for over 20 years and delivering multiple simultaneous implementations demonstrates our local teams’ expertise and the robustness of our processing platform. We are grateful to the Central Bank of Egypt and the participating banks for their trust and partnership as we continue to help accelerate secure and scalable digital payments across Egypt.”

This launch also supports Network’s broader focus on expanding its presence and strengthening its brand across the region, underpinned by its long-standing commitment to Egypt’s payments ecosystem. In 2023, Network International announced the investment valued at EGP 1 billion to expand its operations in Egypt, while serving 160+ banks across Africa and 65+ in the Middle East from its Egypt hub.

Child Care Aware of Missouri secures $5.6 million to boost educator pay and strengthen St. Louis County’s early childhood workforce.

(St. Louis, Mo., Mar 4, 2026) Child Care Aware of Missouri (CCAMO) recently announced the launch of the Child Care WAGE$ Missouri pilot project, a groundbreaking initiative designed to increase retention through compensation based on education for early childhood educators in St. Louis County. The program – funded by a $5.6 million award administered by the St. Louis County Children’s Services Fund on behalf of the County – will begin offering services in May 2026.

Developed by the TEACH Early Childhood National Center in North Carolina, the Child Care WAGE$ program is a strategic salary supplement initiative investing in early childhood educators to elevate care quality and workforce stability. With more than 30 years of proven success in five other states, this marks the first-ever implementation in Missouri, made possible through CCAMO’s long-standing affiliation with the national TEACH Early Childhood Scholarship program.

Beth Ann Lang, Deputy CEO of Child Care Aware of Missouri.

“This has been a four-year journey driven by one clear goal: valuing early childhood educators,” said Beth Ann Lang, Deputy CEO of Child Care Aware of Missouri. “Launching WAGE$ in St. Louis County is a powerful step toward fairer compensation and stronger workforce stability. We’re proud to bring this opportunity to educators who have long asked for recognition and financial support tied to their experience and dedication.”

Through the WAGE$ Missouri pilot, eligible educators in licensed or license-exempt child care programs in St. Louis County will receive salary supplements based on their education level and retention at their St. Louis County-based child care program. These ongoing financial incentives reinforce that professional growth translates into tangible pay increases and long-term workforce stability. The organization’s leadership envisions the St. Louis County pilot as a proof of concept, using data and measurable outcomes to advocate for expanding the WAGE$ model across additional Missouri counties in the coming years.

CCAMO’s leadership in strengthening the early childhood profession spans more than two decades. In 2000, CCAMO secured the sole state license for the TEACH Early Childhood Missouri Scholarship program and awarded the first TEACH Missouri Scholarships, setting the foundation for educational advancement and career development across the state’s early education workforce. To date TEACH Missouri has awarded more than 5,500 scholarships to early child professionals.

CCAMO will hire a Director to lead the new WAGE$ program and plans to bring on two counselors once fully staffed. A tax consultant position will be added in a contracted position beginning in April.

“This pilot is an investment not only in St. Louis County’s child care professionals,” Lang added “but also in the children and families who benefit from consistent, high-quality care.”

Founded in 1999, CCAMO is a statewide nonprofit that focuses on a comprehensive early childhood education experience through impactful programs and partnerships. The organization’s services include workforce development, child care business supports, advocacy and policy work, and its new Child Care Keeps Missouri Working, a regional campaign offering concierge solutions to businesses undergoing employee recruitment and retention challenges due to the overwhelming shortage of quality child care options. For more information, call (314) 535-1458 or visit www.mochildcareaware.org.

More than $400 Billion in value and over 11 Billion in Square Footage  registered as buildings become digital content affiliates driving revenue for property and IP owners.

LOS ANGELES, Mar 4 — Digital Rights Network today announced the launch of its groundbreaking platform designed to connect real estate owners with content creators, media companies, brands, and IP holders to monetize the digital layer of real-world properties. The platform enables property owners to register and manage their Digital Rights while allowing creators to deploy immersive 3D and augmented reality (AR) content on buildings transforming the physical world into a scalable, rights-protected content network.

As augmented reality, spatial computing, and AI-driven media rapidly move from screens into physical environments, buildings are increasingly being used as canvases for digital advertising, entertainment, and social content, often without the consent of property owners. Digital Rights Network provides the missing infrastructure, creating a transparent marketplace where property owners and content creators can collaborate, transact, and share value.

Founded by five-time Emmy® Award–winning producer and augmented reality pioneer Neil Mandt, Digital Rights Network operates as both a digital rights platform and a next-generation distribution network for the physical world. Through the platform, television networks, YouTubers, influencers, celebrities, and brands can form partnerships with property owners to display immersive AR content on buildings’ digital layers, reaching consumers directly. Each participating property functions as a digital content affiliate, generating new revenue with no cost, hardware, or operational burden to the owner.

“Every building has both a physical footprint and a digital presence,” said Neil Mandt, Founder and CEO of Digital Rights Network. “Until now, that digital layer has been unregulated and unclaimed. Digital Rights Network gives ownership, structure, and opportunity to that space, allowing property owners and creators to decide what appears, who profits, and how the real world evolves in an augmented future.”

The platform utilizes secure, blockchain-based verification to publicly record Digital Rights ownership and manage licensing, compliance, and monetization. Digital Rights Network unites industries including real estate, media, advertising, insurance, data, finance, and government, providing the legal, financial, and technical foundation for digital content in physical space.

How Digital Rights Network Works:

• Register Properties: Real estate owners establish Digital Rights for their assets

• Onboard Creators & IP Owners: Media companies, creators, and brands access verified properties for content partnerships

• Policy & Compliance: Governments and municipalities define guidelines for acceptable AR content

• Monetize: Licensed transactions are facilitated and recorded on blockchain through the platform

• Protect: Proprietary technology supports automated compliance and insurance frameworks

Early Adoption and Market Traction:
During its invite-only beta, Digital Rights Network has registered more than $400 Billion value, including participation from leading real estate organizations such as BXP, Colliers, and BOMA/Chicago.

Registered properties include:

• BXP assets such as Prudential Tower, Salesforce Tower, Times Square Tower and the GM Building

• 29 million square feet of Colliers-managed properties

• Iconic landmarks including the Flatiron Building (NYC), One Chicago, TD Garden (Boston), and major Las Vegas resorts such as Treasure Island

• Mixed-use and retail destinations managed by WS Development

“Buildings are the intellectual property of our industry and deserve the same level of protection and monetization as other forms of IP,” said Bryan Koop, Executive Vice President at BXP. “Digital Rights Network provides a framework that finally recognizes that value and generates a new stream of revenue for property owners.”

“This technology will fundamentally change how people interact with the built environment,” said Steve Weikal, Industry Chair of the Real Estate Transformation Lab at the MIT Center for Real Estate. “Few platforms have the global relevance and scalability of Digital Rights Network; it applies to every building, in every city.”

As the internet expands beyond screens and into streets, skylines, and shared spaces, Digital Rights Network is establishing the trusted infrastructure that defines ownership, enables creativity, and unlocks new economic opportunities in the augmented world.

For more information or to participate, visit www.digitalrightsnetwork.com