Category: News

Feb 20: Noida’s annual 38th Vasant Utsav – Noida Flower Show 2026 is back at Shivalik Park (next to Noida Haat) from February 19 to 22, open from 10 AM to 7 PM with free entry. But if you think it’s just about admiring flowers, think again.

Here’s what visitors can experience beyond the blooms:

1. Walk Through a Tunnel Made Entirely of Flowers

One of the most photographed attractions at the venue is the immersive flower tunnel. Covered in vibrant seasonal blooms, it’s designed for slow walks, selfies and uninterrupted appreciation of colour and fragrance.

2. Explore Theme Gardens That Spark Home Décor Ideas

From compact balcony garden concepts to elaborate landscape displays, themed garden sections demonstrate how texture, colour combinations and plant layering can transform even small urban spaces. It’s an inspiration you can directly replicate at home.

3. Shop Directly From Nurseries

Plant parents, this is your zone. Multiple nurseries have set up stalls offering flowering plants, succulents, indoor greens, herbs and seasonal saplings. Visitors can also pick up seeds to start their own mini garden projects.

4. Upgrade Your Garden With Ceramic and Designer Pots

Beyond plants, the marketplace features ceramic planters, hanging pots, balcony-friendly containers and decorative garden accessories. It’s a great opportunity to refresh your home’s green corner with aesthetic upgrades.

5. Discover Herbal and Medicinal Plants

A dedicated section showcases herbal and medicinal varieties along with basic information on their everyday uses. For those curious about natural remedies or traditional plant knowledge, this zone adds an educational layer to the visit.

6. Learn Composting and Sustainable Gardening

Live demonstrations and interactive sessions focus on practical, city-friendly sustainability techniques from composting kitchen waste to water-efficient gardening and bonsai care. The festival reinforces that green living is achievable even in apartments.

7. Participate in Community Competitions

RWAs, institutions and gardening enthusiasts are showcasing their creativity through competitions in flower arrangement and garden design. Visitors can walk through these displays and observe how different communities interpret the idea of urban greenery.

8. Get a Floral Makeover to Match the Festival Mood

Adding a lifestyle twist to the celebration, Milano7 is offering basic salon services along with floral-inspired hairstyling. Visitors can opt for quick touch-ups or have fresh flowers woven into their hair, making it easy to step into the festival spirit quite literally.

It’s fast becoming a popular stop for those wanting a complete spring-ready look before heading back to explore the installations or click photos.

Why It’s More Than Just a Flower Show

At its core, the Noida Flower Show blends floriculture with sustainability, community participation and experiential activities. Whether you’re there to shop, learn, photograph, experiment or simply unwind, the event offers multiple ways to engage, not just observe.

For four days, Shivalik Park transforms into a space where nature, creativity and urban lifestyle intersect and visitors get to be part of the experience, not just spectators.

New Delhi, Feb 20: WD (Nasdaq: WDC) today announced the re-launch of its G-DRIVE® brand as the unified identity for its content creator and creative professional external storage product portfolio. The brand consolidation brings together high-capacity, high-performance storage solutions under a single name brand – G-DRIVE® – known for its quality, performance, and reliability.

The G-DRIVE® brand, also represented by the iconic “G” logo, will replace SanDisk Professional branding across WD’s creator storage lineup, including desktop drives, portable drives and multi-bay RAID systems purpose-built for the creative community’s most demanding workflows: high-resolution photography, video production, graphic design, and audio engineering. Supporting individuals, businesses and production studios, G-DRIVE® solutions support the full creative lifecycle, from on-set capture and real-time editing to backup and postproduction. Products currently branded as SanDisk Professional will transition to the G-DRIVE® brand by the end of this month.

“G-DRIVE has become synonymous with reliable, high-capacity, high-performance storage for all creatives and all stages, from enthusiast to professional,” said Darrin Bulik, director of product management at WD. “By consolidating our content creator storage portfolio under this established and trusted brand, we’re honoring that legacy while leveraging WD’s industry-leading storage innovations to deliver the tools creators need to bring their vision to life. This commitment means more product choices now, and in the future, backed by the quality and reliability that creators depend on.”

The initial G-DRIVE® product lineup includes:

• G-DRIVE ArmorATD: Rugged portable drive, up to 6TB, with triple-layer shock resistance, dust/water protection (IP54), and durable aluminum enclosure designed for creative professionals and their mobile workflows.
• G-DRIVE: High-capacity desktop drive with an enterprise-class Ultrastar® HDD up to 26TB capacity delivering fast transfer speeds and sustained performance for video editing, photo libraries, backup and content archiving at the workstation.
• G-DRIVE PROJECT: Single-bay Thunderbolt® 3 desktop solution with high-capacity, high-performance, enterprise-class Ultrastar® HDD storage up to 26TB for demanding workloads.
• G-RAID PROJECT 2: Compact two-bay Thunderbolt® 3 RAID system shipping in RAID 0, with field-swappable enterprise-class Ultrastar® drives up to 52TB for accelerated post-production performance.
• G-RAID® SHUTTLE 4 and SHUTTLE 8: Transportable storage arrays (4-bay and 8-bay) with hot-swappable enterprise grade Ultrastar® drives up to 208TB, shipping in default RAID 5, and high-speed connectivity for on-set data management and multi-camera productions.

Existing SanDisk Professional HDD-based products will continue to receive full support and warranty coverage by WD. Products with new G-DRIVE® branding have already begun shipping.

The brand transition follows Western Digital’s separation into a standalone HDD company in late February 2025. WD will also continue offering HDD products in its color portfolio including WD Gold® for enterprise, WD Purple® for smart video, WD Red® for NAS, WD Blue® for PC productivity, and WDBLACK® for gaming.

Executive from Turo and Outdoorsy will oversee the company’s revenue engine and sales operations, supporting commercial growth across the car share and mobility insurance industry

 

(New York, NY, February 19, 2026) – INSHUR, the leader in insurance solutions for the on-demand economy, announced today the appointment of Christopher Aragon as Head of US Sales and Operations. In this role, Aragon will be responsible for overseeing the company’s revenue engine and commercial operations, with a focus on scaling profitable growth, strengthening execution across sales functions, and ensuring tight coordination between commercial strategy and execution as INSHUR continues to expand globally.

 

Aragon joins INSHUR with more than 20 years of experience in the insurance and mobility industry, having held senior leadership roles at Tint, Outdoorsy/Roamly, Turo, and Progressive. His background spans sales, underwriting, claims, risk management, and automation, with a focus on designing and scaling data-driven insurance programs for shared economy, fleet, and gig-driver ecosystems, aligning closely with INSHUR’s mission to build insurance infrastructure designed for how mobility actually works today.

 

“Christopher brings a strong blend of expertise and insights thanks to his successes in building data-driven insurance programs across the on-demand mobility economy,” said Dan Bratshpis, CEO and co-founder of INSHUR. “His experience at leading mobility and insurance companies gives us valuable perspective on where the market is headed and where we can push it forward. As we scale our first-to-market Off-rental (Period X™) and On-rental (Period Z) car share products, his expertise in this category will be invaluable. His deep understanding of the on-demand economy allows him to translate complex regulatory and operational constraints into innovative products and scalable commercial systems that customers actually need.”

 

“I was drawn to INSHUR by the environment they’ve created at the intersection of deep insurance knowledge and modern mobility needs,” said Aragon. “The company’s focus on building durable and cohesive systems is a flywheel where revenue growth, operational integrity, and customer outcomes are constantly reinforcing each other. It’s a rare combination, and I believe it’s the foundation for carrying on the future of mobility insurance in both a responsible and sustainable manner.”

 

With over 40 million people in the US involved in gig economy work, rideshare and delivery drivers are the backbone of the on-demand economy, powering one of the biggest economic shifts in decades. INSHUR supports this workforce by simplifying commercial insurance for rideshare, carshare, and last mile delivery, aligning coverage with real driving activity to build trust between drivers, platforms, and insurers. Through embedded, flexible commercial auto insurance, INSHUR enables coverage that fits how people actually work today.

Researchers have developed a unified theory of microcavity OLEDs, guiding the design of more efficient and sustainable devices. The work reveals a surprising trade-off: squeezing light too tightly inside OLEDs can actually reduce performance, and maximum efficiency is achieved through a delicate balance of material and cavity parameters.  Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) offer several attractive advantages over traditional LED technology: they are lightweight, flexible, and more environmentally friendly to manufacture and recycle. However, heavy-metal-free OLEDs can be rather inefficient, with up to 75% of the injected electrical current converting into heat.

OLED efficiency can be enhanced by placing the device inside an optical microcavity. Squeezing the electromagnetic field forces light to escape more rapidly instead of wasting energy as heat.

“It is basically like squeezing toothpaste out of a tube,” explains Associate Professor Konstantinos Daskalakis from the University of Turku in Finland.

After a certain squeezing threshold, the original energy levels of the emitting material and the electromagnetic field hybridize. These mixed light–matter states are known as polaritons.

While the static energy levels of polariton OLEDs are well understood, much less is known about how the squeezing affects transitions between these states. As a result, the development of polariton OLEDs has largely relied on trial and error.

Now, a research group at the University of Turku has developed the first theoretical model that explains how these transition mechanisms change as the squeezing increases. Surprisingly, the model predicts that efficiencies decrease once polaritons are formed. This reduction arises from two distinct effects.

“Although polaritons emit light very quickly, they are shared states of typically hundreds of thousands of molecules, which dilutes the processes populating them,” explains Postdoctoral Researcher Olli Siltanen. “These population mechanisms can be further weakened if the polariton energies lie too far from the original molecular energy levels.”

According to the model, maximum efficiency in microcavity OLEDs is achieved through a delicate balance of material and cavity parameters. While the model finds polaritons with many molecules disadvantageous, all hope is not lost.

“Alternative device architectures allow us to reduce the number of molecules involved from hundreds of thousands to just a few,” says Daskalakis. “Such OLEDs have the potential to achieve record-breaking efficiencies.”

The results have been published in the journal Materials Horizons.

Read the research article: https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2026/mh/d5mh01958c#!divAbstract

New Delhi , Feb 19 : AntarHriday Connect, in collaboration with India International Centre and Sawasdee Group, will present AntarSwar – A Journey through Indian Classical Music on February 20, 2026, at the C.D. Deshmukh Auditorium, India International Centre, New Delhi.

A highlight of the evening will be the conferment of the AntarHriday Excellence Award upon Sumitra Guha, Padma Shri awardee and recipient of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, in recognition of her distinguished contribution to Hindustani classical music and her enduring service to society through art.

The programme will be graced by Chief Patron Harsh Vardhan Shringla, Hon’ble Member of Parliament. The gathering is expected to include Members of Parliament, Ambassadors, and senior leaders from government and corporate sectors.

The evening’s performances will feature eminent artists:

• Abhay Sopori – Santoor
• Ojesh Pratap Singh – Vocal

Accompanists:

• Rishi Shankar Upadhyay – Pakhawaj
• Ujith Udaya Kumar – Tabla
• Dr. Ashique Kumar – Harmonium

Conceived as a celebration of India’s timeless classical music tradition, AntarSwar seeks to preserve, promote, and present the spiritual and artistic depth of India’s cultural heritage through meaningful artistic collaborations.

Bangalore, Feb 19:  Internationally recognised visual artist Dr Akhter Husain presents Vedic Inspirations, a solo exhibition featuring 25 original mixed media works that reflect India’s spiritual and civilisational heritage through a contemporary visual language. Opening from 28th February to 8th March 2026 at Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath, Bengaluru, the exhibition invites viewers to experience a quiet and immersive visual journey shaped by years of study, contemplation, and artistic exploration. 

Vedic Inspirations unfolds like a carefully composed raga, where each artwork carries its own tempo, texture, and emotional note. Drawing from temple architecture, ancient symbols, and cultural memory, the works reflect a search for harmony between material and meaning. The series represents a deeply introspective phase in Dr Husain’s artistic journey, shaped by his lifelong engagement with questions of unity, form, and metaphysical resonance. 

What sets this exhibition apart is Dr Husain’s distinctive mixed media technique, which he describes as “Akhterism.” His process brings together digital imaging, mineral dust, crushed semi-precious stones, dental composites, and plastinated wood, creating layered surfaces that feel sculptural and alive. These textured compositions invite viewers not only see but also feel the rhythm within each piece, where light, structure, and material come together in quiet harmony. 

Dr Husain’s artistic voice has evolved over decades alongside his distinguished career as an orthodontist, academician, and photographer. An Associate of the Royal Photographic Society, UK, and recipient of prestigious international awards, his works have been exhibited at prominent venues including India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath, Bengaluru, and internationally in Switzerland and Dubai. His art reflects a lifelong commitment to exploring the deeper connections between nature, culture, and human experience. 

Through Vedic Inspirations, Dr Husain offers viewers a meditative space, a visual composition that reflects the timeless rhythm of India’s spiritual heritage while embracing contemporary artistic expression. The exhibition invites audiences to pause, reflect, and connect with the quiet resonance that exists between tradition and modernity.

PHOENIX, Ariz, Feb. 19— What if humanity’s greatest knowledge crisis isn’t in the past — but unfolding right now? In an age of cloud storage, artificial intelligence and instant information, global innovator and engineer Jack R. Bialik warns of the hidden risks of a fully digital society — and what history reveals about how knowledge is lost.

 “A DVD or a CD … those only last 30 or 40 years,” Bialik said in a recent interview. “Thumb drives or USB drives or solid-state drives … how long do those last? How long does your computer last? Five or 10 years? We’re taking our information, putting it on denser things with no thought about how long it lasts.”

 In his new book, Lost in Time: Our Forgotten and Vanishing Knowledge, Bialik reveals a startling reality: only 1.6 percent of our collective history has been preserved, and today’s preferred method of preservation — digital records — may be placing humanity’s memory on its most unstable footing yet.

 Through bite-sized nuggets of wisdom, Lost in Time takes readers on a captivating exploration of humanity’s lost ingenuity and the forgotten knowledge that once shaped civilizations. Spanning centuries and continents, the book uncovers astonishing technologies, philosophies and cultural practices that have been buried under the sands of time — some of which are more advanced than what people use today. Bialik effortlessly confronts the assumption that only modern-day humans are capable of producing innovative feats of technology and brilliance.

 With meticulous research that spanned over 10 years and compelling storytelling, Bialik highlights how these past innovations could still hold the potential to address modern challenges, from knowledge sustainability to societal resilience. Lost in Time unravels the intricate tapestry of human civilization, weaving together narratives of inventions of yesterday, overlooked pioneers and epoch-defining discoveries that have shaped the modern world.

 Among the amazing facts readers will learn:

•             Cataract surgery was being performed in India more than 2000 years ago.

•             The first known fountain pen was created centuries before Europe “invented” it.

•             Ancient civilizations debated waste disposal and sanitation solutions that rival or even surpass some modern systems.

 Through thought-provoking analysis, Lost in Time examines the fragile nature of human knowledge and the forces — be they war, natural disasters or changing priorities — that contribute to its disappearance.

 However, Lost in Time is more than an archive of historical losses. Bialik inspires readers to reconnect with the lessons of the past as a means of fostering a more informed and innovative future. He challenges readers to consider whether humanity is building a legacy of accessible wisdom — or an archive of forgotten lessons.

 In Bialik’s own words: “We keep trying to save knowledge, and what we need to do is turn the knowledge into wisdom so that it can be saved from generation to generation.”

 Both a cautionary tale and a celebration of resilience, this book illuminates the enduring power of human curiosity and determination. Readers will contemplate how much of humanity’s ingenuity has been left behind, urging them to consider the steps needed to safeguard knowledge for generations to come.

 From history enthusiasts to curious thinkers to those passionate about reclaiming lost wisdom, this book offers a fascinating lens through which to view humanity’s enduring quest for progress. This book is appropriate for grade school children all the way to adults of all ages.

 

Contribution will strengthen infrastructure for the nonprofit’s new child care cost-sharing program.

 

(St. Louis, Mo., February 18, 2026) Child Care Aware of Missouri (CCAMO) recently received a $50,000 donation from Aetna to support Child Care Works, the newest initiative administered by CCAMO designed to increase family access to affordable, high-quality child care through locally coordinated cost-sharing exchanges.

 

The support from Aetna is important at a time when many Missouri families are struggling to balance the rising cost of child care with work and other basic needs. Aetna’s contribution will directly support Child Care Works in making child care more affordable, providing families with quality child care options, which can lead to greater employment opportunities, improved quality of life and overall health benefits. Child Care Works launched in late 2025 as Missouri’s first statewide child care cost-sharing initiative.

 

Modeled after the Tri-Share approach, Child Care Works divides the cost of child care among employers, families and either state government or a philanthropic partner, making it easier for working parents to find and afford reliable care while helping employers retain a stable workforce.

 

“Access to reliable, high-quality child care is directly tied to a family’s health and stability,” said Dr. Michelle Bucknor, Chief Medical Officer, Aetna Better Health. “When parents know their children are safe and supported, it is easier to stay employed, keep medical appointments and manage chronic conditions. Our support for Child Care Works reflects our commitment to addressing the real-life barriers that affect health, far beyond the walls of a clinic or hospital.”

 

“Child Care Works was created to make quality child care a realistic option for more Missouri families who don’t qualify for state child care subsidy,” said Robin Phillips, CEO of Child Care Aware of Missouri. “Aetna’s investment strengthens this new program by helping employers, families, and community partners share costs, stabilize the child care workforce, and keep parents connected to the jobs that power our state’s economy.”

 

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 resource and referral, workforce development, child care business supports, advocacy and policy work. For more information, call (314) 535-1458 or visit  www.mochildcareaware.org .

Feb 18: Infinix India has strengthened its NOTE series portfolio with the announcement of the NOTE Edge, set to launch tomorrow. Alongside the launch, the brand has rolled out its high-impact digital campaign, #WorldTakeNote, featuring young cricket sensation Yashasvi Jaiswal as the face of the NOTE series.

Conceptualised by Havas Creative India, the campaign reflects Infinix’s core philosophy—performance over noise—and reinforces its commitment to delivering meaningful innovation for India’s ambitious youth.

The 77-second brand film draws a compelling parallel between Jaiswal’s journey—from being doubted to becoming one of India’s most talked-about young cricketers—and Infinix’s challenger mindset as a tech brand that prioritises consistent, uncompromising performance. The narrative underscores the belief that true impact is driven by substance, not hype.

Speaking on the collaboration, Yashasvi Jaiswal said, “I am excited to partner with Infinix for the NOTE series. I have always believed that hard work, preparation, and self-belief matter more than the noise around you. Together, we are launching the NOTE Edge, which stands for performance, innovation and delivering real value to users. This collaboration reflects the same spirit that drives me on the field and inspires me off it.”

Anupama Ramaswamy, MD & Chief Creative Officer, Havas Creative India, added, “Gen Z doesn’t wait for the world to take note. They make sure it does. For them, technology isn’t just a device—it’s identity and expression. Yashasvi represents that unapologetic, ambitious spirit. This campaign is built on a simple idea: when ambition finds its edge, you don’t chase the spotlight—you become impossible to ignore.”

NOTE Edge: Built for All-Round Power

The NOTE Edge introduces cutting-edge technology powered by Android 16-based XOS 16, offering enhanced personalisation, fluid animations, and smarter AI-driven features. It is equipped with India’s first MediaTek Dimensity 7100 SoC in its category, ultra-fast charging capabilities, and a sleek 7.2mm design featuring a One Tap AI Button.

Positioned as an all-round performer, the NOTE Edge integrates strength across design, display, power, camera, and durability—ensuring that performance is embedded throughout the entire device experience rather than isolated to a single feature.

With this launch, Infinix reinforces its commitment to delivering tangible, everyday performance for students, gamers, creators, and first-time achievers who demand speed, reliability, and power without compromise.

The NOTE Edge will be available on Flipkart, the official Infinix website, and retail stores across India.

Former U.S. Naval Officer Ray Deptula explores timeless topics like human nature, desperation and survival.

MERRITT ISLAND, Fla., Jan. 18 — After 24 years in the U.S. Navy as a Naval Aviator and Political-Military Officer serving in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Caribbean, Ray Deptula has witnessed firsthand how political dysfunction and certain aspects of human nature repeat themselves across eras. His debut historical novel, A Dog Before a Soldier, brings that insight to life through the story of a young man forced into the military and ensuing war out of desperation during the American Revolution.

“I wanted to call attention to the parallels between the American Revolution and the present day,” Deptula said. “Not just in political-military terms, but in the personal story of a young man who enters the military because he sees no other way to survive. That’s something I can personally relate to, and I think many Americans can, too.”

Set against the volatile backdrop of colonial America, A Dog Before a Soldier follows teenage Jack Halliday, who — fresh off three harrowing years on a slave ship — joins the British Army in 1774 out of sheer necessity. Sent to Boston as part of the growing security force to help suppress a growing rebellion, Jack understands little of the political turmoil as he fights in key battles including Lexington and Concord, Bunker Hill, Long Island and the capture of Philadelphia before deserting the British Army and seeking refuge in Annapolis, Maryland.

“There is political dysfunction in every era,” Deptula said. “It’s part and parcel of the human experience as well as our American experience. Circumstances change, but human nature doesn’t. We can’t seem to help from making the same mistakes, yet there are always good people who push through them.”

After deserting, Jack finds his way to Annapolis, where he is fortuitously taken in by a wealthy landowner who ultimately asks him to act as his surrogate in the Continental Army alongside an enslaved man named Custis. In return, Jack is welcomed into the family and promised the landowner’s daughter’s hand in marriage.

The second book, Can’t Find My Way Home, will reveal Jack’s shared experience with Custis in the Continental Army as together they endure a brutal winter at the American encampment at Morristown, New Jersey, and the violent civil war in South Carolina, each fighting for a different version of freedom and survival.

At its core, A Dog Before a Soldier is not only a meticulously researched account of the American Revolution, but a deeply human story about belonging, resilience and moral choice.

“The entire premise of my book is that those who fight their nation’s wars are typically those least able to avoid it,” Deptula said. “The ‘who it is that actually shows up to do the fighting’ seems to me timeless — it was true then, was true long before then and is still true today. Jack is an everyman — someone with a moral compass and leadership qualities that he does not even realize he has — trying to survive in an uncaring world that too often devours the weak, slow or dimwitted.”

Both entertaining and educational, A Dog Before a Soldier explores how competing interests, political tension and personal sacrifice shaped the founding of the United States, and how those same forces continue to shape this country and the rest of the world today.

A Dog Before a Soldier is the first book in Deptula’s Those Damn Yankees series. Book two, Can’t Find My Way Home, is scheduled for release in July 2026.

A Dog Before A Soldier

Publisher: Speaking Volumes

Release Date: February 2026

Available from: Amazon.com