Business

The International Olympic Committee (IOC), in partnership with the AbhinavBindra Foundation and Reliance Foundation, has launched the latest edition of its “You Can Do This! Let’s Move” campaign, expanding its reach across India as part of efforts to promote physical activity and youth development through sport. The initiative, which begins on Olympic Day on June 23, builds on the Olympic Values Education Programme (OVEP) and follows two years of campaigns that have already engaged more than 20 million young people nationwide. This year, the programme will be extended to five territories—Odisha, Assam, Chandigarh, Telangana and Meghalaya—with organisers aiming to engage approximately four million students through sports, yoga and classroom-based activities. The campaign comes amid g...

HCL Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of HCLTech, has announced the launch of Edition XII of the HCLTech Grant, earmarking ₹24 crore to support non-governmental organisations working on sustainable rural development initiatives across India. The grant programme will invite applications from NGOs undertaking transformative projects in the areas of water, biodiversity, health and education. Under the latest edition, four winning organisations selected by an independent jury will receive grants of ₹5 crore each, while eight additional NGOs will be awarded ₹50 lakh each. Applications are open until June 30, 2026. Announcing the initiative, Dr. Nidhi Pundhir, Director, HCL Foundation, said the organisation remains committed to empowering grassroots institutions that are...

Microsoft has announced an extension of free security updates for Windows 10, pushing the support deadline to October 2027, in a move aimed at giving users and organizations additional time to transition away from the aging platform. The decision effectively expands access to critical security patches beyond the previously expected cutoff, easing concerns for individuals and businesses that have been slow to migrate to newer systems. Microsoft said the extension is intended to maintain device security while customers continue planning upgrades, particularly in environments where hardware or software compatibility challenges delay adoption of newer operating systems. The update is especially significant for enterprise users, many of whom rely on large-scale infrastructure that cannot be up...

Fraudster diamond merchant Nirav Modi will have to pay ₹108 crore to Bank of India, a public sector banking institution of the country. The London High Court delivered this ruling in a case involving a personal loan guarantee and the applicable interest rate provided for the Dubai-based company 'Firestar Diamond'. The fraudster, who has been imprisoned in London for the past 7 years, has been fighting a legal battle opposing his extradition to India.Although Nirav Modi had given a personal guarantee for the loan taken by Firestar Diamond from the Bank of India, he later attempted to legally invalidate this guarantee. According to the London High Court's hearing, Nirav Modi's personal guarantee cannot be invalidated under Indian law for any reason. Consequently, Nirav Modi must pay ₹108 cr...

Amazon CEO Andy Jassy has announced an additional $13 billion investment in India, taking the company’s total planned investment in the country to $48 billion by 2030. The announcement came after Jassy met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi during his visit to India on Thursday. The investment will focus on expanding Amazon’s artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, e-commerce and logistics infrastructure. With this latest commitment, Amazon’s cumulative investment in India between 2010 and 2030 is expected to exceed $88 billion, positioning the company among the largest global investors in AI and cloud infrastructure in the country. Amazon Web Services (AWS) will expand its data centre capacity in Mumbai and Hyderabad, providing startups, enterprises and government org...

Britannia Industries has expanded its presence in the Marie biscuit category with the launch of Doodh Marie Gold, underscoring its focus on product innovation and evolving consumer preferences in India's packaged foods market. The new offering, made with atta and containing 0 per cent maida, combines a milkier taste with the light and crispy texture traditionally associated with Marie biscuits. The launch targets consumers seeking richer and more indulgent taste experiences within the everyday biscuit segment, a category that continues to witness demand for differentiated products. According to the company, Doodh Marie Gold brings together a distinctive flavour profile and the familiar characteristics of Marie biscuits, providing consumers with a new choice within the segment. The p...

Shree Cement has expanded its community development efforts in Meghalaya with a stronger focus on healthcare access, launching a vision screening programme and preparing to introduce ambulance services in remote areas of the state. The company recently organised a vision screening project in villages around its project area, where residents underwent comprehensive eye examinations. The initiative resulted in corrective spectacles being prescribed to a significant number of beneficiaries, while others requiring specialised care were referred for further medical treatment. The programme aims to address the shortage of routine eye care services in rural communities, where timely diagnosis and intervention can improve productivity, educational outcomes and overall well-being. Further st...

Surrounded by the scenic landscapes of Meghalaya, Shillong continues to emerge as a hub for conversations around health, wellness, and community awareness. Reinforcing the importance of informed healthcare choices and access to medical expertise, Manipal Hospital EM Bypass, a unit of Manipal Hospitals Group, organised ‘Anveshana – Medical Education for Media’ in Shillong today. The initiative brought together leading specialists including Dr. Sourav Datta, Director – Manipal Oncology Services & Senior Consultant – Head & Neck Oncology; Dr. Arindam Mondal, HOD & Senior Consultant – Surgical Oncology; Dr. Debdeep Samaddar, Associate Consultant – Medical Oncology; and Dr. Subhankar Chakrabarti, Consultant – Emergency at Manipal Hospital EM Bypass, who engaged with the media on ke...

ITC Ltd.’s Sunrise Pure is sharpening its focus on the Northeast market, leveraging culture-led consumer engagement as it seeks to strengthen brand visibility and expand its footprint across the region. The company marked World Music Day with 'KaRympei Ki Sur', a large-scale cultural event held at Police Bazaar, Shillong, where it also announced Ms. Stella Rica Khongsni as the Brand Ambassador for Sunrise Pure in the Northeast. The event, named after the Khasi word 'Rympei'—the traditional hearth at the centre of family life—brought together music, community and brand engagement. Attendees included Frederick Roy Kharkongor, Commissioner & Secretary, Arts & Culture; D.B.S. Mukhim, Assistant Commissioner, Food Safety; B. Rani, Director, Agriculture & Horticulture; and officia...

Shree Cement is expanding its social infrastructure investments in Meghalaya, with a focus on solar-powered education, rural electrification and clean energy solutions, underscoring the company's commitment to sustainable development and long-term community engagement in the state. The cement major, working alongside GHE Foundation and local stakeholders, has deployed solar-powered smart classrooms and digital learning facilities across the region. During FY26, seven schools received solar-powered computer laboratories, benefiting nearly 3,000 students and 117 teachers. The initiative is aimed at improving access to digital education in remote areas where grid connectivity remains unreliable. In the clean energy segment, the company has supported solar village electrification projec...