Gp Capt Shubhanshu Shukla Named Prime Astronaut For Indo-US Mission To ISS

August 3, 2024

Gp Capt Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair to serve as his backup

Experienced Indian Air Force (IAF) test pilot Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is set to become the second Indian gaganyatri (astronaut), after then Squadron Leader Rakesh Sharma in 1984, to venture into space. He will be part of the India-United States Axiom-4 mission to the International Space Station (ISS).

Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has announced that Gp Capt Shukla has been selected as the prime gaganyatri for the mission, with Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair serving as his backup.

Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair

This mission is a collaborative effort between ISRO, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) of the US, and Axiom Space, a US-based space-infrastructure developer.

Gp Capt Shukla follows then Squadron Leader (later Wing Commander) Rakesh Sharma, who made history in 1984 by becoming the first Indian to travel to space as a part of the crew of the erstwhile Soviet Union’s Soyuz T-11 spacecraft.

“After touching the sky with glory, it’s time for the #IAF to touch space with glory. Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla and Group Captain Prasanth Balakrishnan Nair are chosen for the upcoming Indo-US Axiom-4 mission to the ISS. The prime astronaut, Group Captain Shukla, is an experienced Test Pilot with 2000 hrs of flying,” IAF posted on its X handle.

In his accumulated 2,000 hours of flying, Gp Capt Shukla as flown various aircraft, including Sukhoi-30MKI, MiG-21, MiG-29, Jaguar, Hawk, Dornier-228, An-32, among others.

Gp Capt Shukla and Gp Capt Nair are among the four IAF pilots, whose names were announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier in 2024 for India’s first human spaceflight mission Gaganyaan set to launch next year. Apart from Shukla and Balakrishnan, PM Modi announced the name of Group Kaptan Ajit Krishnan and Group Captain Angad Pratap.

Through the Gaganyaan mission, ISRO aims to demonstrate India’s human-spaceflight capability by launching a crew of three members to an orbit of 400 kilometres for a three-day space trip.

The Axiom 4 mission, scheduled for launch in October 2024, will be a 14-day private spaceflight to the ISS, operated by Axiom Space and supported by SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft. The mission will launch from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida aboard a Space X’s Falcon 9 rocket. The Axiom-4 mission will be the fourth private astronaut mission to the ISS.

The Real Van Gogh Immersive Experience At Elante: A Digital Spectacle Never Seen Before

Sanjeev Kochhar

August 1, 2024

REAL VAN GOGH PHOTO — Digital projection of one of Vincent van Gogh's masterpieces

Soak in the Dutch master’s art pieces vividly come alive in India’s first 22,000 lumens projection and largest screens ever

Book your one hour-slots for the monthlong exhibit, which opens on August 2

You wouldn’t have seen anything like this before. ‘The Real Van Gogh Immersive Experience’, set up in the courtyard of the Nexus Elante Mall in Chandigarh, promises to wow not only art lovers, but people of all shades from across the region, with an unparalleled visual spectacle which brings out the colours and emotions of the late nineteenth century Dutch master’s paintings.

The digital exhibit boasts India’s first 22,000 lumen projection and largest screens in the country, and a specially created music score by Mitch de Klein that breathes new life into Vincent van Gogh’s timeless masterpieces and allows you to enter them as it were and vividly catch every detail.

In a media preview of Thursday, a day after the monthlong paid show begins (on August 2), LifeInChandigarh.com was given a feel of the immersive experience that has turned the walls and floors of a temporary exhibition space, erected in the courtyard of the most happening mall of the region, into a kind of technicolour van Gogh dream world.

Expressing his excitement on bringing the experience to Chandigarh, the Executive Producer, and brand ambassador for the exhibit, Nikhil Chinapa, famous DJ, host and creative festival curator, says, “Immersive experiences like ‘The Real Van Gogh Immersive Experience’ have been a game-changer and trendsetter for the Indian art scene, igniting a renewed passion for art appreciation and consumption, and I’m so pleased we could bring this to Chandigarh, a city that has design interwoven into its identity.”

In bringing this immersive experience to a smaller town like Chandigarh, after sellout shows in Chennai and Hyderabad, Nikhil has collaborated with The Silly Fellows. “This isn’t just about art; it’s a bold move to redefine cultural experiences in our own backyard, giving every doorstep a front-row seat to the avant-garde of today’s creative narrative,” shares The Silly Fellow’s co-founder Sharan John.

Technology meets Art

“Immersive experiences like this, where technology meets art, have taken the world by storm and ignited a love for art in the young generation in a way that speaks to them and we are very keen to take ‘The Real Van Gogh Immersive Experience’ to every corner of the country,” adds co-curator Jay Punjabi.

Considered to be one of the most influential figures in the history of Western art, Dutch Post-Impressionist master Vincent van Gogh is also a popular choice for modern, immersive exhibitions.

Van Gogh experienced life and the world intensely and his bold, dramatic brushstrokes conveyed joy, anxiety and anguish his mind held. In the immersive experience, a specially curated line-up featuring visually captivating pieces from van Gogh’s extraordinary collection, such as Starry Night, The Plain of Auvers, Wheatfield with Crows, Portrait of Theo, and The Potato Eaters, illuminates every brushstroke and colour with never-before-seen clarity, and gives the spectator a unique opportunity to immerse in the beauty of his masterpieces.

60-minute journey

According to the organisers, the content for this captivating showcase was meticulously crafted over a span of nine months, ensuring a rich and engaging experience for visitors. The 60-minute journey through the exhibition unfolds across four carefully curated spaces, each designed to offer a distinct facet of the artist’s work.

So, the first space, the Education Room, serves as an informative and insightful introduction, providing context and background to van Gogh’s life and artistic journey.

The Infinity Room, as the name suggests, is an expansive space with hundreds of starry LED lamp strips hanging overhead, wall to wall mirrors, and dynamic patterns embellishing the floor to give the visitors an immersive and awe-inspiring environment.

The Immersive Room transports attendees deeper into the world of Vincent van Gogh. Dynamic projections and sensory elements enhance the connection between the audience and the artist’s creations.

After the immersive journey, visitors can explore The Merchandise Store, where they can take home souvenirs and mementos related to the exhibition.

Tickets

Tickets can be bought on https://insider.in/online starting from Rs 899 plus GST. Premium tickets, like for evening and weekend shows, however, cost more. A Box Office booth is also available at the entrance to the exhibit for buying tickets on-the-spot. Entrance per show will be restricted so as not to make a crowd, and keep the spectators’ experience enjoyable.

FIESTA 2024 At Vivek High School: 400 Students From 20 Prestigious Schools Vying For Honours

Sanjeev Kochhar

July 31, 2024

VIVEK HIGH FIESTA PHOTO — One of the performances in the FIESTA 2024 inter-school festival organised by Vivek High School, Chandigarh, on Wednesday

Three-day festival celebrating talent, creativity, innovation & collaboration

Vivek High School, Chandigarh, which prides itself in “Empowering Students to Shape Tomorrow’s World” has been celebrating talent, creativity, innovation and collaboration in inter-school competitions organized by it in bits and pieces from time to time. But this year it has organized a consolidated festival encompassing multi-disciplinary competitions, bringing together 400 odd class IV to XII students from 20 prestigious schools from different parts of the country.

In the three-day festival, branded FIESTA 2024, which was kickstarted by school principal Ms Renu Puri on Wednesday, students will participate in competitions, wherein they will present and explain concepts in various subjects like English, History, Science, Business, etc in simple to understand dramatic and innovative ways in exhibitions and on stage.

On the opening day, teams from various schools participated in a dynamic Science Fest, wherein various complex concepts, like for example structure of the cell, quantum physics, etc., were presented in drama form on stage to explain them in the simplest possible way. Other activities in the fest included a science quiz, science café and science photography.

Students also indulged in a History Fest, which featured a brainstorming History Quiz and Postal Stamp designing competition.

On the remaining two days, among other activities, there will be speaking skill opportunities for students with English debate, Persuasive Speaking and Dramatic Interpretation competitions, along with the heated display of wits at the proceedings of a MOOT Court competition.

The commerce department is all set to host, Business Conclave comprising tagline and logo designing, and stormy sessions of Business Venture offering to present the students’ entrepreneurship acumen.

Principal Ms. Renu Puri says, “The event will be an extraordinary display of creativity, knowledge and enthusiasm, including various competitions designed to engage and inspire students.”

Among the schools outside of the Chandigarh tricity participating in the FIESTA 2024 are Scindia School, Gwalior; Vasant Valley, Delhi; Pinegrove School, Solan; and Springdale, Amritsar.

Individual winners in each event will be feted and an overall Grand Trophy will be presented to the top-performing school at the award-winning ceremony on the concluding day on Friday.

Alzheimer’s Diagnosis: Study Conducted In Sweden Says A Blood Test Most Accurate & Inexpensive

Sanjeev Kochhar

July 29, 2024

ALZHEIMER'S PHOTO — Image credit: Alzheimer's Association of America

The National Institute of Aging describes Alzheimer’s disease, which afflicts over 32 million people worldwide. as a brain disorder that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills and, eventually, the ability to carry out the simplest routine tasks.

It’s a progressive disease, where dementia symptoms gradually worsen over several years. In its early stages, memory loss is mild, but with late-stage Alzheimer’s, individuals lose the ability to carry on a conversation and respond to their environment.

The most common early symptoms of Alzheimer’s is difficulty remembering newly learned information.

It is the most common cause of dementia, a general term for memory loss and other cognitive abilities, accounting for 60-80% of dementia cases.

In what could hasten the process of introducing an affordable and accessible way to diagnose patients with memory problems like Alzheimer’s and Dementia, a team of researchers have reported that a blood test is significantly more accurate than doctors’ interpretation by primary care doctors of cognitive tests and CT scans in signalling the condition.

The New York Times has reported that the study of these researchers conducted in Sweden, and published in the journal JAMA, found that 90% of the times the blood test correctly identified whether patients with memory problems had Alzheimer’s.

The results, reportedly presented in the international conference of Alzheimer’s Association held in Philadelphia recently, is being considered a latest milestone in the quest for affordable and accessible ways to diagnose Alzheimer’s.

According to the NYT report, experts emphasized that blood tests should be used only for people with memory loss and other symptoms of cognitive decline, and not for people who are cognitively healthy to predict if they will develop Alzheimer’s.

The report quoting medical experts also said that blood tests should be performed only after administering tests that assess memory and thinking abilities and CT scans that seek alternative causes like strokes or brain tumours. And blood test results should be confirmed by one of the gold-standard methods: PET scans or spinal taps to measure a protein, amyloid, that accumulates and forms plaques in the brains of patients with Alzheimer’s, even though these are pretty expensive.

According to the report, the study included about 1,200 patients with mild memory problems. About 500 of them visited primary care physicians; the rest sought specialist care at memory clinics. Dr Sebastian Palmqvist, an associate professor of neurology at Lund University who led the study with its senior author Dr Oskar Hansson, a professor of clinical memory research at the same university, said that first, about 300 patients in each group were given the blood test, and results were compared with the spinal taps or PET scans.

Then the researchers wanted to see how the blood test compared with the judgment of doctors after they administered cognitive tests and CT scans, the NYT report added.

Aakash’s National Talent Hunt Exam ANTHE 2024 Gets Bigger

Sanjeev Kochhar

July 27, 2024

Besides 10,000+ coaching scholarships of up to 100%, Rs 2.5 crore in cash awards for top 100 students in Class VII-IX and top 50 students in Class XI-XII

Five students (two from among toppers and remaining three randomly) to win a 5-day all-expenses paid trip to Kennedy Space Center, Florida, USA

Last year 11.8 lakh students pan India wrote the exam

10,000+ won scholarships, out of which 2367 were from North Zone comprising Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir & 293 from Chandigarh

Get national, state and city level ranking to know where you stand

ANTHE 2024 to be held in Online and Offline mode October 19-27

Registrations, which are open, can either be done online on the ANTHE website anthe.aakash.ac.in or by visiting the nearest Aakash centre

Every year for the past 15 years, 5-10 students who sat for the Aakash National Talent Hunt Exam (ANTHE), one of the biggest educational talent hunt programmes in the private sector in the country, have got through to prestigious AIIMS Delhi.

This is an example quoted by Aakash Educational Services Limited (AESL) while announcing the latest edition of its much sought after flagship scholarship exam for aspiring or STEM (science, technology, engineering, maths) students in Chandigarh on Friday.

ANTHE 2024 has got bigger with, apart from 10,000+ coaching scholarships of up to 100% and Rs 2.5 crore in cash awards for top 100 students in Class VII-IX and top 50 students in Class XI-XII, five students (two from among toppers and remaining three randomly chosen) stand to win a 5-day all-expenses paid trip to Kennedy Space Center, Florida, USA.

Deepak Mehrotra, appointed earlier this year as CEO and MD of AESL, in which Ranjan Pai, Chairman of Manipal Group, now owns the highest 40% share, informed the media that ANTHE scholarship recipients will benefit from Aakash’s extensive coaching programs, which prepare students for exams such as NEET, JEE, State CETs and scholarships like NTSE and Olympiads.

ANTHE 2024 will take place from October 19-27, 2024, in both online and offline modes across 26 states and union territories in India.

The offline exams will be conducted on October 20 and October 27 from 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM at all 315+ centers of Aakash Institute across the country while online exams can be taken from October 19 to 27, 2024 anytime during the exam window from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. by choosing a one-hour slot convenient to them.

There will be no negative marking.

Aakash Educational Services Limited MD & CEO Deeepak Mehrotra addressing a press meet in Chandigarh on Friday to announce ANTHE 2024.

What does ANTHE entail

One-hour test for 90 marks, comprising 40 multiple-choice questions based on the grade and stream aspirations of students

For Class VII-IX students, questions to cover Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics and Mental Ability

For Class X students aspiring for medical education, questions to cover Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Mental Ability; for engineering aspirants the questions will cover Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Mental Ability

For Class XI-XII students who aim for NEET, questions will cover Physics, Chemistry, Botany and Zoology, while for engineering aspirants they will cover Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics.

Late date for enrolment

The last date for submitting the enrolment form for ANTHE 2024 is three days before the commencement of the online exam and seven days before the offline exam. The exam fee is INR 200 for both offline and online mode. Those registering before August 15 will get flat 50% discount.

Result dates

Results for ANTHE 2024 will be declared on November 08, 2024, for Class X students, November 13, 2024, for Class VII to IX, and November 16, 2024, for Class XI and XII students. The results will be available on the ANTHE website anthe.aakash.ac.in

Grecian-Park Hospital Mohali Gears Up To Treat More Parkinson’s Patients With DBS

Sanjeev Kochhar

July 25, 2024

DR DEEPAK TYAGI GRECIAN HOSPITAL PARK HOSPITAL PRESS CONFERENCE PHOTO — Noted neurosurgeon of North India Dr Deepak Tyagi addressing a press meet along with his entire team at Grecian-Park Multispeciality Hospital Mohali

Outcomes of Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) have been excellent in 60-65 years age bracket patients, shares North India’s noted neurosurgeon Dr Deepak Tyagi

National Institute On Aging (NIA) describes Parkinson’s disease as a brain disorder that causes unintended or uncontrollable movements, such as shaking or trembling, stiffness, and difficulty with balance and coordination.

Although most people with Parkinson’s first develop the disease after age 60, about 5% to 10% experience onset before the age of 50. While virtually anyone could be at risk for developing Parkinson’s, some research studies suggest this disease affects more men than women.

Symptoms of the disease in its initial stages are extremely subtle and largely go undetected. Even after diagnosis, there is as of now no cure for Parkinson’s disease. Patients are initially put on medicines which do help relieve some symptoms in the early years.

However, with the progression of the disease when medicines become increasingly ineffective and the symptoms become more pronounced, at this stage neurosurgeons consider surgical interventions.

One such effective surgical intervention, which has been around for a couple of decades, but which is gaining ground with advancements and improved devices, is deep brain stimulation (DBS).

“Though still expensive and out of reach of most patients (the whole surgical process, including implants, costs around Rs 15-16 lakhs), DBS has proved very effective in controlling the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease in 95% of the 20-odd patients in the age group 60-65 years whom I have treated so far,” shares noted neurosurgeon of North India Dr Deepak Tyagi.

Currently providing his services at Grecian Multispeciality Hospital Mohali, which is now a part of a fast growing 15-hospitals strong Park Group of Hospitals in North India, Dr Tyagi, however, is quick to add that the outcomes, however, are dependent on a variety of factors, among them being age upwards of 65 years.

Addressing a press event in the presence of other members of his team and top functionaries of the hospital management, he admitted that though some success has been achieved in treating a couple of older patients (around 70 years of age) with DBS, he himself is not fully satisfied with the results and would rather take up patients in the 60-65 years age bracket.

He informed that as on today he has a big backlog of patients waiting for the DBS surgery, but with the top management of Park Group of Hospitals providing a host of facilities and team of professionals from various fields required for the surgery all under one roof, they now have the capacity to take up more surgeries in the coming months.

What does deep brain stimulation entail

Dr Tyagi explained that DBS is a surgical procedure in which they implant very thin electrodes through tiny incisions on a pre-determined path, avoiding important blood vessels and nerves, into a part of the brain and connect them with wires to a small electrical device (pacemaker of the brain) implanted in the chest.

The pacemaker of the brain and electrodes painlessly stimulate specific areas in the brain that control movement in a way that may help stop many of the movement-related symptoms of Parkinson’s, such as tremor, slowness of movement, and rigidity.

The surgical procedure is conducted live with the patient kept fully conscious during the process to be able to monitor real time the impact the stimulus at various electrical current levels is having on various movement-related symptoms of the patient.

The patient is discharged 2-3 days after surgery.

About Grecian Hospital, part of Park Group of Hospitals

According to Samrat Deb, Chief Administrator, Grecian-Park Super Specialty Hospital, Mohali, is the largest hospital in the region, offering world-class medical care, super specialty treatments, and care. With 500 beds, the hospital fulfils the healthcare needs of the region with state-of-the-art medical equipment and highly trained professionals. Park Group operates 15 hospitals across the country.

For more details:

https://www.parkhospital.in/hospital/grecian-superspeciality-hospital-in-mohali

For more about Parkinson’s disease

https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/parkinsons-disease/parkinsons-disease-causes-symptoms-and-treatments#:~:text=Parkinson’s%20disease%20is%20a%20brain,have%20difficulty%20walking%20and%20talking

UK Gourmet Pizza Brand PizzaExpress Opens Pizzeria-Café In Mohali’s CP-67

Sanjeev Kochhar

July 24, 2024

The Pizza Express team interacting with select media at CP-67 Mohali

Brings Britalian flair and innovation in authentic Italian hand-tossed gourmet pizzas, pastas, salads, beverages, desserts, and more, using fresh, largely locally sourced ingredients

Also showcases its brand-new menu featuring artfully crafted cocktails, mocktails, sangrias, and a wine portfolio complemented by all-new bar bite offerings

Freshly brewed Italian coffee makes the overall experience more rewarding

It’s perhaps the best thing to have happened exclusively to Mohali in entire upper North India. United Kingdom based iconic and innovative gourmet pizza brand PizzaExpress has opened its spacious and stylish casual dining Pizzeria-Café in the busy food court of CP-67 Mall recently.

This is the 30^th distinctly designed restaurant of the six-decades-old brand in India and the first north of the National Capital Region of Delhi, the others being in Mumbai, Pune, Delhi NCR, Bengaluru and Hyderabad.

Bringing the international franchise to India is Gourmet Investments Private Limited, the food and beverage vertical of Punjab’s own Bharti Family Office.

Gourmet Investments, steered by its Executive Chairman Ramit Bharti Mittal, has brought to India a diverse portfolio of some of the finest international restaurant brands focused on casual dining to best-in-class culinary experiences and innovative concept restaurants like PizzaExpress (gourmet pizza brand from the UK), Chili’s American Grill & Bar (Texmex Cuisine), Ministry of Crab (Asia’s top 50 for 8 years in a row) and P.F. Chang’s (American Pan-Asian Cuisine).

The journey of PizzaExpress, started in 1965 by Peter Boizot, began with the opening of the first legendary outlet on Wardour Street, SoHo in London. It’s now a global phenomenon operating 450+ pizzerias in the UK alone with presence in 13 other countries, including India.

Interiors

With a focus on elevating the dining experiences of guests, Pizzeria-Café CP-67 has laid emphasis on beautifully designed interiors, featuring vibrant pops of colour, captivating artwork, wooden flooring, and wall panelling to create a sense of warmth and comfort. To add a touch of entertainment, expert Pizzaiolos donning their iconic striped t-shirts skillfully toss and flair pizza dough in an open kitchen.

Bringing an authentic Britalian (British-Italian) flair and innovative offerings, the casual dining restaurant offers its signature all-day dining experience (11:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.) to cater to all age groups and for every occasion.

From authentic Italian hand-tossed gourmet pizzas, pastas, salads, beverages, desserts, and more, using fresh, largely locally sourced ingredients, PizzaExpress also showcases its brand-new menu featuring artfully crafted cocktails, mocktails, sangrias, and a wine portfolio complemented by all-new bar bite offerings. And, of course, there’s always a freshly brewed Italian coffee to make the overall PizzaExpress experience more rewarding.

Romana

American hottest pizza – Spicy Peppironi

American pizza – Peppironi

Calabrese Veg

Margherita pizza

Margherita Buffla

Its signature is the thin, hand-tossed, and delectable ‘Romana’, a thin crust base inspired by pizzas from Rome, along with the fiery yet irresistible Calabrese, a specialty rectangular pizza from the Calabria region in Italy packed with southern Italian punch and unique hot flavours.

Also featured on the unique menu are Calzones from Naples and a Leggera (sub 600 calories) section for the health conscious. A special curated selection has Dough Balls Doppio, Penne Arrabbiata, Baked Vanilla Cheesecake, Protein Bomb and Berry Frappe.

For a guilt-free experience, IL Padrino pizza with a twist, from the Leggera section, is a must have. Featuring a salad-filled hole in the middle it means all taste but is lighter in calories. The non-veg version is topped with grilled chicken, baby mozzarella and veggie goodness.

Not to forget, the signature Tomato Passata sauce, invented in 1965 by the Greci Family of Italy, which is exported to all PizzaExpress restaurants globally. Each tin of the signature Passata is made with San Marzano tomatoes, crushed within 12 hours of harvest and hand-finished with basil leaves.

Bundle combos for a discount

For the first few weeks, PizzaExpress CP-67 will be offering bundle combos for 2-4 people at discounted rates to expose the guests to a wide variety of their offerings.

Garlic Bread Mozzarella

Garlic Bread

Dough Balls Doppio

Baked Vanilla Cheesecake

Responding to the general health awareness drives by the doctors’ community and schools wherein pizzas, etc are categorized as unhealthy junk food, Ramit Bharti Mittal and his team members, including culinary head Jerry Thomas, clarified that none of the ingredients they use in their entire menu is ultra processed, which makes a dish unhealthy.

“All the ingredients we use are high quality, natural and fresh, largely sourced locally,” they asserted, and in a lighter vein shared that “the only concern can be intake of high calories, which need to be burnt through physical activity, as in case of any other high-calorie traditional Indian culinary delights like samosas, kachouries, gulab jamuns, jalebis, etc.”

For local tastes

Jerry Thomas added: “We have curated signature recipes keeping in mind local tastes. For example, Spicy American Hottest, Padrino (grilled chicken), and Chicken and Paneer coriander pesto pizzas have been specially crafted to appeal to local flavours.”

While Krunal Chahwala, Brand CEO of PizzaExpress, promised the guests that “the brand’s commitment to redefine the local dining scene is unwavering,” Ajay Singhal, COO & Director at GIPL, shared, “At Gourmet Investments, we’re dedicated to our journey from 30 to 100 PizzaExpress outposts across the country while championing our promise to deliver the best-in-class experience to our patrons.”

PizzaExpress’ journey so far, and planned growth trajectory in India

The first PizzaExpress pizzeria was opened in Colaba, Mumbai near the Gateway of India in a heritage building called Dhanraj Mahal. The expansion was slow to begin with as the new brand went through a learning curve. Then Covid hit the entire hospitality industry hard. Having learnt its lessons and developed a winning formula, the brand opened 14 outlets in 2023, and now with the opening of the Mohali restaurant the total strength of the chain has risen to 30.

The chain looks to start dominating now, with 15 more outlets planned to be opened in the coming months – three to four more in Chandigarh tricity, as also in Ludhiana, Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ahmedabad, Surat, Chennai, Kolkatta, Jaipur, etc. The target is to cross 100 outlets in the next three years.

Fact Sheet:
Coordinates: Shop No. 20, Third Floor, CP 67 Mall, Sector 67, Mohali.
Operational Hours: Daily 11:30 am to 11:30 pm.
Website: https://www.pizzaexpress.in/

Protein Bomb

SKY To Lead India’s T20Is Squad On SL Tour; Rohit To Be Captain In ODIs

Sanjeev Kochhar

July 18, 2024

SURYAKUMAR YADAV PHOTO 1 — File picture of Suryakumar Yadav & Rohit Sharma

Shubhman Gill Vice-Captain in both formats; Virat to play ODIs

Jasprit Bumrah rested; Hardik only part of T20Is squad, as also Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson and Rinku Singh

KL Rahul & Shreyas Iyer return for ODIs; Ravindra Jadeja notable omission

The Gautam Gambhir effect has already started showing in the selection of the Indian T20 captain and squads for the forthcoming T20Is and ODIs tour of Sri Lanka, announced by BCCI on Thursday.

World’s top T20 batter Suryakumar Yadav, nicknamed SKY or Mr 360 degree, and not world’s current top T20 allrounder Hardik Pandya, will lead the country’s T20Is squad, while Rohit Sharma, who along with Virat Kohli and allrounder Ravindra Jadeja, had announced his retirement from the shortest format of the game after lifting the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, continues as captain of the ODIs squad. Opening batsman Shubhman Gill will be the vice-captain of both squads.

While Indian pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah has been rested for the tour, Virat Kohli, who, along with Rohit Sharma, had informed the BCCI about his availability for the tour, forms part of the ODI squad.

Hardik is only part of the T20Is squad, and so are Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson and Rinku Singh. Middle order batter Riyan Parag finds a place in both squads and Delhi pacer Harshit Rana comes into the ODIs squad, which also sees the return of KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer. Ravindra Jadeja is a notable omission from the ODIs squad.

Mohammad Shami apparently still not fully recovered from injury will also miss the tour to Sri Lanka, during which India play three T20Is and an equal number of ODIs in the island nation from July 27 to August 7.

In Bumrah’s absence, the pace attack will be led by Mohd. Siraj and Arshdeep Singh. Among other pacers Khaleel Ahmed has found his name in both squads, while Harshit Rana is an addition in the 50 overs format.

The spin department finds allrounders Axar Patel and Washington Sundar in both squads. While Ravi Bishnoi is the third spinner in the T20Is squad, Kuldeep Yadav replaces him in the ODIs.

This will be Gautam Gambhir’s first tour as head coach of the Indian cricket team after recently replacing Rahul Dravid, and thus his performance will be closely watched.

T20I Squad: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Shubman Gill (VC), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant (WK), Sanju Samson (WK), Rinku Singh, Riyan Parag, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Arshdeep Singh, Mohd. Siraj, Khaleel Ahmed, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Washington Sundar.

ODI Squad: Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill (VC), Virat Kohli, KL Rahul (WK), Rishabh Pant (WK), Shreyas Iyer, Shivam Dube, Riyan Parag, Arshdeep Singh, Mohd. Siraj, Khaleel Ahmed, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar.

Ahead Of Amazon Prime Day, Local Shops On Amazon Programme Gets New Features

Sanjeev Kochhar

July 17, 2024

Sellers get easier 1-click join-in process on the Seller Mobile app; customers can easily discover and purchase products from their trusted local stores through a new storefront-led shopping experience on the Amazon Mobile app

In 2020, Amazon.in launched the ‘Local Shops on Amazon’ programme to help small and medium local physical stores get digitalised and reach customers in their neighbourhood through its app. In 2024, the programme is helping tens of thousands of such stores across the country to use the power of digital to get more customer orders from their neighbourhood, and the customers a convenient option of shopping from their trusted nearby local stores from the comfort of their homes.

Ahead of the 8^th ‘Amazon Prime Day’ sale on July 20-21, Amazon has announced that it has introduced new features in its ‘Local Shops on Amazon’ programme aimed at improving seller onboarding and customer experience.

Abhishek Jain, Head, Local Shops on Amazon at Amazon India, shared with reporters during a press event in Chandigarh on Tuesday: “We are excited to see the rapid scale up of the Local Shops on Amazon programme across the country.

“The programme has onboarded over 3500 local offline stores from Punjab, helping them grow and sustain their business, across categories like Home & Kitchen products, Apparel, Home furnishing, Furniture, Health & Personal care, Toys, Industrial equipment. We are preparing our sellers for Prime Day and excited to introduce our 1-click launch feature for Local Shops sellers in Punjab and across India.

“This feature eliminates multiple steps in the way, making it incredibly convenient for them to join Local Shops programme. We combined this with the enhanced Seller Storefront making it easier for customers to discover the right product from a particular shop and share the store with their friends & family to bring more traffic to the seller.

“These innovative features mark a significant step in our mission to digitise and empower small and medium-sized enterprises across India, providing them with the tools and opportunities to grow and scale their businesses through e-commerce and our online marketplace.”

The enhanced Seller Storefront is available to all sellers on Amazon.in and allows them to showcase their location (locality and city) and share their storefront, with the social shareability button, across platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram to drive more traffic. Customers can also share their favorite shops with friends and family, helping them discover unique local selections on Amazon.

The storefront dynamically curates selection for each customer, grouping products into categories like Recommended, Latest Arrivals, and Best Sellers based on each seller’s offerings. Sellers can also customize their shop name, locality/city, and add a business logo to reflect their offline identity on Amazon.in.

The storefront can also be accessed offline by displaying a QR code in the physical stores, which links directly to their online page when scanned. Offering an online channel ensures customers can continue purchasing from the seller even when the physical store is temporarily unavailable.

Sharing his personal experience with the Local Shops Programme, Ashish Sahni, owner of Dera Bassi-based LookRavish, says, “Joining the Local Shops programme three years ago was a game-changing decision for me and my brother Sumit. After 38 years of selling beauty, health, and personal care products offline, we took a bold step to move our family’s business online.

“Registration process was smooth, and the overall selling experience has been very fruitful. Amazon also provides training materials and tools to help sellers grow their businesses, especially during events like Prime Day. In fact, we sold over 500 products on Prime Day last year. Overall, our sales have grown by 300% annually, and this online business now constitutes a significant portion of our total revenue.”

About the ‘Local Shops on Amazon’ programme

The programme brings the benefits of ecommerce to offline retailers and neighbourhood stores. It helps supplement the existing footfalls at their offline stores with a digital presence on Amazon.in and expands their reach.

The programme helps customers discover products from neighbourhood stores in their city (many they already trust and love!) from the convenience of their homes, while helping local shops transform into digital stores.

With this programme, sellers can sell to customers beyond their immediate vicinity, using their existing delivery mechanisms or engaging with identified courier partners. They can also leverage other fulfilment programmes from Amazon like Easy Ship and Seller Flex to further expand their business within their cities and other locations across India.

For more information on seller onboarding visit: https://sell.amazon.in/sell-online/local-shops-on-amazon

For Local Shops on Amazon visit: https://www.amazon.in/Local-Shops/b?ie=UTF8&node=28253258031&discounts-widget=%2522%257B%255C%2522state%255C%2522%253A%257B%255C%2522refinementFilters%255C%2522%253A%257B%257D%257D%252C%255C%2522version%255C%2522%253A1%257D%2522

On Kapil’s Appeal, BCCI Announces Rs 1 Cr Financial Aid For Ailing Ashuman Gaekwad

Sanjeev Kochhar

July 14, 2024

ANSHUMAN GAEKWAD PHOTO 1 — File picture of Anshuman Gaekwad

The former gutsy Indian batter has been battling blood cancer for over a year and is currently under treatment in a London hospital

Following an appeal by former Indian World Cup winning cricketers Kapila Dev and Sandeep Patil, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to immediately release Rs 1 crore in financial aid for the treatment of former gutsy Indian opener, selector and coach Ashuman Gaekwad, who is battling blood cancer in a hospital in London.

“Mr Jay Shah (Secretary) has instructed the BCCI to release INR 1 crore with immediate effect to provide financial assistance to India’s veteran cricketer Mr Ashuman Gaekwad, who is battling cancer,” the BCCI apex council said in a statement.

“Shah has also spoken to Mr Gaekwad’s family to take stock of the situation and extend support,” the statement continued. “The board stands by Gaekwad’s family in this hour of crisis and do whatever is essential for Mr Gaekwad’s quick recovery.

“The BCCI will continue to monitor Mr Gaekwad’s progress and is confident that he will come out of this phase strongly.”

Gaekwad was a gutsy cricketer, also known for his extraordinary batting patience. According to reports his highest score of 201 against Pakistan in Jalandhar was a monumental effort that lasted 671 minutes. It was then the slowest double century in first-class cricket.

He featured in 40 Test matches and 15 ODIs for India between 1974 and scored more than 2200 runs. He also had a near-death experience during the pre-helmet era. While playing against the ferocious pace attack of West Indies in Jamaica in 1975/76, one of Michael Holding’s fiery short balls hit Gaekwad on the ear when he was on 81. He was hospitalised and remained in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for 48 hours. He also had to undergo two surgeries and continued to suffer from hearing issues later in life.

Anshuman’s father DK Gaekwad captained the Indian team on its tour to England in 1959.

Earlier, India’s World Cup winning captain Kapil Dev had asked the BCCI for financial assistance for his teammate Anshuman Gaekwad. He said that he and other Indian World Cup winning members of the team, including Mohinder Amarnath, Sunil Gavaskar, Sandeep Patil, Dilip Vengsarkar, Madan Lal, Ravi Shastri and Kirti Azad are looking to generate funds for their teammate.

The former India all-rounder was deeply saddened by the condition of Anshuman Gaekwad and believed that the board would step in to become his support.

“It is a sad and very depressing. I am in pain because I have played alongside Anshu and can’t bear to see him in this state. No one should suffer. I know the Board will take care of him. We are not compelling anyone. Any help for Anshu will have to come from your heart.

“He took blows on his face and chest when standing up to some of the ferocious fast bowlers. Now is the time for us to stand up for him. I am sure our cricket fans will not fail him. They should pray for his recovery,” Kapil Dev reportedly told Sportstar.

Sandip Patil broke the news of Gaekwad battling with blood cancer earlier this year. The former India player has been fighting cancer for over a year, remaining in and out of hospitals.

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