Tag: fir

  • Enjoy the wood-fired warmth of ‘Spring IMUA experience’ at Butcher’s Block, Raffles Hotel Singapore

    Enjoy the wood-fired warmth of ‘Spring IMUA experience’ at Butcher’s Block, Raffles Hotel Singapore

    The ‘Spring IMUA experience’ at Butcher’s Block Singapore
    The ‘Spring IMUA experience’ is a tribute to nature’s awakening. Photo courtesy: Butcher’s Block

    One of the fining-dining restaurants housed within Raffles Hotel Singapore, the wood-fire-driven Butcher’s Block presents an avant garde interpretation of traditional cooking methods close to nature. From March to May this year, Butcher’s Block brings the ‘Spring IMUA experience’ to Singapore foodies, as a tribute to nature’s awakening.

    Butcher’s Block is helmed by Chef de Cuisine Jordan Keao, born and raised in Hawaii, where cooking, fishing, hunting, and farming are a part of everyday life. The restaurant exhibits the highest quality of produce, meats, and seafood sourced from around the world and translated through fire.

    Complement the dining experience at Butcher’s Block with over 288 premium wines, including a meticulous selection of natural wines, from The Library.

    The 44-seat dining room of Butcher’s Block Singapore
    The 44-seat dining room. Photo courtesy: Butcher’s Block

    Spring is a very special season for Hawai’i — the warmer and longer days invite communities to gather and celebrate the season’s plentiful harvest and fresh garden delights.

    The Spring IMUA experience at Butcher’s Block captures the optimism and togetherness that define the essence of spring and Hawai’i’s eternal connection to nature.

    Jordan Keao, Chef de Cuisine, Butcher’s Block Singapore
    Jordan Keao, Chef de Cuisine. Photo courtesy: Butcher’s Block

    Drawing inspiration from Hawai’i’s natural splendour and guided by the spirit of IMUA — ‘move forward with strength and spirit’ — this menu experience mirrors the season’s blooming transformations. Chef Jordan has a commitment to sustainable, whole-animal butchery and zero-waste principles.

    A quartet of Chef’s snacks promises an expressive medley of island-inspired flavours.

    Begin with the popular duo of Big Eye Ahi Tuna Poké, a refined take on the well-loved Hawai’ian poké classic, and Wagyu Beef Pipikaula, which spotlights a deeply umami Blackmore rump and chuck roll cured in aged garlic shoyu and dry-aged for 25 days.

    Chef’s snacks, Butcher’s Block Singapore
    Chef’s snacks: Photo courtesy: Butcher’s Block

    Newly introduced, the Grilled Asparagus Rosti showcases the definitive Spring produce lacto-fermented for over 36 hours before being grilled and assembled with parsnip puree and Agria potato rosti.

    Another new snack takes the form of Taramasalata, which is inspired by Chef Jordan’s childhood days spent with his uncle, who was a fisherman. The collar of the Ahi tuna is first smoked before being made into a pate with the same consistency as taramasalata, and piped into a pain souffle pillow made with laksa leaf powder.

    The essence of Hawai’i’s spring flavours comes to life with Lomi Lomi, a term derived from the Hawai’ian term to massage. This celebrates a three-century-old side dish where fish was salted and preserved. Chef Jordan’s inventive rendition highlights smoked Japanese hamachi cured in paprika, paired with tomato sorbet and agua chile for a zesty tang. Finally, crispy Jerusalem artichoke tops the dish for a textural crunch.

    Western Plains Kalua Pork Dumpling, Butcher’s Block Singapore
    Western Plains Kalua Pork Dumpling. Photo courtesy: Butcher’s Block

    For dinner, guests may also delight in Western Plains Kalua Pork Ravioli, an innovative interpretation of the traditional Hawai’ian dish of Kalua Pork presented as a ravioli containing Western Plains pork shoulder that had been wrapped in banana leaf and slow roasted overnight. Cooked over the wood-fire, the dumplings are enlivened with taro leaf, sweet potato puree and fermented red cabbage, seamlessly marrying the flavours to perfection.

    Epicurean journey through the island’s heart

    Continue the bountiful feast of springtime with an array of main courses, including the signature Huli-Huli Dry-Aged Duck, a dish that embodies the island’s vibrant and unique identity.

    Malaysian farmed duck is first dry-aged whole for a week, then butchered into different parts: the breast undergoes further dry-ageing, then meticulously ‘huli’ (turned) over ambient heat above the fire and glazed with a luscious caramelised shoyu reduction. The duck leg is slow-cooked into a confit, and presented with a jus made from roasted duck bones. This reimagined classic pays homage to the smoky, flamekissed flavours of traditional Hawai’ian barbecue infused with the bounty of the season.

    Grilled Murray Cod takes centre stage, featuring the fillet of this sustainable, fatty fish paired with a turmeric-accented mousseline made with the trimming and collar from the same fish. Accompanied with beautifully charred kale alongside a luxurious bottarga cream and rich Koshihikari rice risotto, the dish delivers a symphony of umami complexities.

    Blackmore Farms Trio is a true reflection of Chef Jordan’s culinary prowess in wood-fired techniques and whole-animal butchery.

    Marvel at the artful presentation of prized Blackmore Farm wagyu showcased in three distinctly new ways — a grilled chef’s select cut, a luxurious beef bone marrow custard, and a beef fat financier — all created from the same half cow that the restaurant regularly brings in. English pea purée, shaved fennel and pea tendrils complete the dish with added freshness and texture.

    Blackmore Farm Wagyu with Bone Marrow Custard, Butcher’s Block Singapore
    Blackmore Farm Wagyu with Bone Marrow Custard. Photo courtesy: Butcher’s Block

    Finish off the evocative journey through Hawai’i’s stunning landscapes and lush greenery with Haupia, a classic Hawai’ian coconut pudding that includes Chef Jordan’s delightful twist of a scoop of gula melaka ice cream alongside fermented Ichigo strawberries and a sprinkling of toasted macadamia nut crumble atop, finished with a subtle lemon balm garnish.

    Alternatively, opt for the Baked Alaska from the Spring a la carte menu for a delightful sweet treat comprising layers of meringue, ice cream and cake, flambéed tableside with a Butcher’s Block exclusive cask of Eagle Rare 10 Year Bourbon

    Baked Alaska, Butcher’s Block Singapore
    Baked Alaska. Photo courtesy: Butcher’s Block

    Price: The Spring IMUA dining experience is available for lunch (SGD 178++) and dinner (SGD 228++) from now to 31 May 2025. Complement the flavours of Hawai’i’s scenic landscapes with a tailored wine pairing at SGD 158++ or the Dom Pérignon premium wine pairing at SGD 408++ per guest.
    Timings: Dinner: Tuesday to Saturday, 6pm to 9.45pm (last seating at 9.30pm); Lunch: Wednesday to Saturday, 12 noon to 2.30pm (last seating at 2pm) Closed on Sundays and Mondays.
    Address: 328 North Bridge Rd #02-02, Raffles Arcade S188719 (Accessible via the North Bridge Road entrance)
     Website: www.butchersblock.com.sg; www.rafflessingapore.com
    Dress code: Casual Chic

    An Easter feast like no other

    On 20 April 2025, celebrate Easter in true IMUA style with a spectacular brunch at Butcher’s Block. Be enthralled by a sumptuous spread spotlighting the Blackmore Farm Easter Roast that is specially created for Easter and showcases a succulent dry-aged wagyu cooked to perfection over wood-fire and complemented with potato purée, English pea purée and chimichurri.

    Butcher’s Block at home

    Savour scintillating avant garde wood-fired creations and fresh produce from the comfort of your own home with Butcher’s Block’s newly-launched takeaway menu, made available for purchase in the restaurant.

    Choose from a delightful assortment of items curated by Chef Jordan, including house-made milk bread, kombu butter, Western Plains Spam, dry-aged smoked duck breast, dry-aged Blackmore Farm burger patty, choice steaks and wines.

  • Indian Railways: Can you transfer a confirmed rail ticket to a relative? Know what are the rules of the railways


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    You had made a reservation in a train but due to some reason now if a relative of yours has to travel and not you, then the confirmed ticket in your name can be transferred to your relative.

    That means he can travel on your ticket. There are provisions for this in Indian Railways, but there are some special rules and conditions for this. If you follow these, then of course your relative can travel on your seat.

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    know the rules

    Railway rules say that if you have a confirmed train ticket but are unable to travel, you can transfer it to your children or your spouse. Here one thing to understand is that a confirmed reservation ticket can be transferred only to another member of your family, i.e. father, mother, brother, sister, son, daughter, husband and wife, instead of you. You just have to meet the railway officials in advance to make this process hassle-free.

    To transfer a ticket, you have to submit a transfer request at least 24 hours before the train departure time. If there are less than 24 hours left for the departure time and you are submitting a transfer request, it will not be accepted.

    This is the process of transfer

    First of all, for change of name on confirmed reservation ticket, you should go to the reservation counter of your nearest railway station with a printout of the electronic reservation slip and the photo identity proof mentioned in the electronic reservation slip. At this time, you should also have a valid ID proof of the relative who is travelling in your place. Provide proof of relationship with that relative at the counter. Submit a written application for ticket transfer, railway staff will help you in this.

    There is provision for such passengers as well

    Apart from relatives, ticket transfer can be done in some other categories as well. In this, if the passenger is a government employee and is on duty and there is appropriate authority, then the ticket can be transferred. If the passenger is a student of a recognized educational institution and the head of the institution requests in writing 48 hours before the scheduled departure of the train that the reservation made in the name of any student can be transferred to another student of the same institution.

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  • Tesla cars set on fire, showrooms hit by Molotov cocktails and bullets; Elon Musk slams “evil attacks”

    Tesla cars set on fire in Las Vegas
    Tesla cars set on fire in Las Vegas, as a mark of protest against Elon Musk and his work for the Trump Administration. Photo courtesy: X/@JamesFLoveIV

    Tesla Cybertrucks set ablaze. Bullets and Molotov cocktails aimed at Tesla showrooms. Attacks on property carrying the logo of Elon Musk’s electric car company are cropping up across the United States and overseas. While no injuries have been reported, Tesla showrooms, vehicle lots, charging stations, and privately owned cars have been targeted. Musk has sharply criticised these “evil attacks” in a social media post.

    In Canada, Tesla was removed from an international automobile show over safety concerns, said an Associated Press report via Press Trust of India.

    There has been a clear uptick in attacks on Tesla since Donald Trump took office as President of the United States and empowered Elon Musk to oversee a new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) that is slashing government spending.

    “This level of violence is insane and deeply wrong,” Musk wrote on Tuesday on X, sharing a video of burning Teslas in Las Vegas. “Tesla just makes electric cars and has done nothing to deserve these evil attacks.”

    Experts on domestic extremism say that it is impossible to know yet if the spate of incidents will balloon into a long-term pattern.

    In Trump’s first term, his properties in New York City, Washington, and elsewhere became a natural place for protest. In the early days of his second term, Tesla is filling that role.

    “Tesla is an easy target,” said Randy Blazak, a sociologist who studies political violence. “They’re rolling down our streets. They have dealerships in our neighbourhoods.”

    Musk critics have organised dozens of peaceful demonstrations at Tesla dealerships and factories across North America and Europe. Some Tesla owners, including a US senator who feuded with Musk, have vowed to sell their vehicles.

    But the attacks are keeping law enforcement busy.

    Prosecutors in Colorado charged a woman last month in connection with a string of attacks on Tesla dealerships, including Molotov cocktails thrown at vehicles and the words “Nazi cars” spray-painted on a building.

    Federal agents in South Carolina last week arrested a man they say set fire to Tesla charging stations near Charleston. An agent from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives wrote in an affidavit that authorities found writings critical of the government and DOGE in the man’s bedroom and wallet. “The statement made mention of sending a message based on these beliefs,” the agent wrote.

    A number of the most prominent incidents have been reported in left-leaning cities in the Pacific Northwest, like Portland, Oregon, and Seattle, where anti-Trump and anti-Musk sentiment runs high.

    An Oregon man is facing charges after allegedly throwing several Molotov cocktails at a Tesla store in Salem, then returning another day and shooting out windows.

    In the Portland suburb of Tigard, more than a dozen bullets were fired at a Tesla showroom last week, damaging vehicles and windows, the second time in a week that the store was targeted.

    Four Cybertrucks were set on fire in a Tesla lot in Seattle earlier this month. On Friday, witnesses reported a man poured gasoline on an unoccupied Tesla Model S and started a fire on a Seattle street.

    The Tesla Model S
    The Tesla Model S has been the target of recent domestic extremism in the United States of America. Screenshot courtesy: Instagram/globalcarluxrbs

    In Las Vegas, several Tesla vehicles were set ablaze early on Tuesday outside a Tesla service centre, where the word “resist” was also painted in red across the building’s front doors.

    Authorities said that at least one person threw Molotov cocktails — crude bombs filled with gasoline or another flammable liquid — and fired several rounds from a weapon into the vehicles.

    “Was this terrorism? Was it something else? It certainly has some of the hallmarks that we might think — the writing on the wall, potential political agenda, an act of violence,” said Spencer Evans, the special agent in charge of the Las Vegas FBI office, at a news conference. “None of those factors are lost on us.”

    Trump gives Tesla a boost

    Tesla stock doubled in value in the weeks after Donald Trump’s election win, but it has since shed all those gains.

    Trump gave a boost to Tesla when he turned the White House driveway into an electric vehicle showroom. The president promoted the vehicles and said that he would purchase an USD 80,000 Model S, eschewing his fierce past criticism of electric vehicles.

    Tesla did not respond to a request for comment on the attacks. Elon Musk briefly addressed the vandalism on Monday, during an appearance on Senator Ted Cruz’s podcast, saying “at least some of it is organised and paid for” by “left-wing organisations in America, funded by left-wing billionaires, essentially”.

    The progressive group Indivisible, which published a guide for supporters to organise “Musk Or Us” protests around the country, said in a statement that all of its guidance was publicly available and “it explicitly encourages peaceful protest and condemns any acts of violence or vandalism”.

    Some Tesla owners have resorted to cheeky bumper stickers to distance themselves from their vehicle’s new stigma and perhaps deter would-be vandals. They say things like “I bought this before we knew Elon was crazy” or “I just wanted an electric car. Sorry guys.”

    The White House has thrown its weight behind Musk, the highest-profile member of the Trump Administration and a key donor to committees promoting Trump’s political interests.

    President Trump has said that Tesla vandalism amounts to “domestic terror”, and he has threatened retribution, warning that those who target the company are “going to go through hell”.

    Attorney General Pam Bondi said that she had opened an investigation “to see how is this being funded, who is behind this”. In a statement on Tuesday, she vowed to “continue investigations that impose severe consequences”, including for “those operating behind the scenes to coordinate and fund these crimes”.

  • ConfirmTkt Renews Partnership with RCB for T20 Season 2025 Train Ticketing

    MUMBAI: ConfirmTkt, India’s leading online train-utility and ticketing platform, has renewed its association with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) as their official Train Ticketing Partner for the T20 season of 2025. This year, ConfirmTkt’s brand logo will be prominently displayed on the sleeves of RCB’s official and training jerseys.

    ​​This partnership marks an exciting milestone for both brands, with ConfirmTkt strengthening its association with RCB through engaging fan-driven initiatives. As part of this collaboration, ConfirmTkt will roll out a 360-degree marketing campaign across television, outdoor, and digital platforms, featuring RCB stars Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, and Krunal Pandya. ConfirmTkt is also bringing back its popular and exciting in-app game with a new edition, Ticket to Cricket, for the second year in a row, along with social media contests, giving RCB fans a chance to win match tickets, signed merchandise, and travel vouchers.

    Expressing his enthusiasm, Dinesh Kumar Kotha, CEO, of ixigo Trains & ConfirmTkt, said, “We look forward to another exciting season with RCB as we continue to simplify travel for cricket fans. This collaboration goes beyond just the game – it’s about bringing the excitement of cricket into every journey. Whether fans are traveling to catch a live match or celebrating victories on the go, we want to be a part of their experience, ensuring they stay connected to the action both on and off the field.”

    Rajesh Menon, COO, of Royal Challengers Bengaluru, said, “We’re thrilled to renew our partnership with ConfirmTkt. This collaboration will bring the excitement of cricket to every journey, ensuring our fans stay connected to the action and their favorite team.”

    Entering its 18th season, the T20 league remains a global spectacle, with the last edition drawing a television viewership of over 54.6 crore. As ConfirmTkt renews this strategic partnership, it is set to keep the cricket fever alive, ensuring fans stay engaged long after the cheers fade.

  • Air India Unveils Its First Retrofitted Aircraft

    GURUGRAM: Air India has welcomed its first retrofitted narrowbody aircraft, VT-EXN (A320neo aircraft), back into operations – marking an important milestone in the airline’s transformation journey. VT-EXN is the first of the 27 narrowbody aircraft inherited at the time of takeover that was elected for a complete retrofit to the new Air India standard, with new seats, carpets, curtain, cabin ambiance, a three-class cabin configuration, along with a fresh coat of paint, new livery – all in the new Air India branding.

    VT-EXN was sent for retrofit last year. Its retrofit is part of the USD400 million retrofit program announced by the Tata group to upgrade the airline’s entire fleet of legacy narrowbody and widebody fleet.

    VT-EXN and the remaining 26 A320neos will be operating on the domestic and short haul international, alongside the 14 new A320neos that have been welcomed into the fleet recently, offer modern amenities in three class cabin configuration – ensuring a uniform upgraded experience of passengers.

    As part of the retrofit for all of the 27 A320neo that is scheduled to be completed by the third quarter of 2025, the airline will be installing over 3,500 brand-new Economy Class seats, more than 600 Premium Economy seats, and 200 Business Class seats.

    It has taken 450 meters of premium leather, 15,000 meters of high-quality fabric, and 4,000 meters of plush carpeting.

    All the refitted A320neo aircraft features eight luxurious Business seats, 24 extra legroom seats in Premium Economy, and 132 comfortable Economy seats. The retrofit includes soothing interior ambiance, spacious legroom, and wider seat pitch, along with modern features such as portable electronic device (PED) holders and USB ports. New carpets, curtains, upholstery, and cabin panels with fresh design motifs will reinforce the brand livery.

    The retrofit schedule will also see more legacy aircraft, including 40 widebody B787 and B777 aircraft undergo makeover with the first B787 flying out for retrofit next month.

  • Cloudflare advances industry’s first cloud-native quantum-safe Zero Trust solution – CRN

    Cloudflare advances industry’s first cloud-native quantum-safe Zero Trust solution – CRN

    Matthew Prince

    Cloudflare, Inc. announced that it is expanding end-to-end support for post-quantum cryptography to its Zero Trust Network Access solution. Available immediately, organisations can securely route communications from web browsers to corporate web applications to gain immediate, end-to-end quantum-safe connectivity. By mid-2025, Cloudflare will extend this support to include all IP protocols, significantly broadening compatibility across most corporate applications and devices. With this, organisations will be able to rely on Cloudflare to transition their Internet communications between users, devices and applications to post-quantum cryptography without the complexity of individually upgrading each corporate application or system.

    Today encryption is used to keep online data protected—everything from personal messages, to financial information, to customer data—and anything that people and organisations would want to keep safe from hackers. As quantum computers move closer to production, that data is at risk of being unlocked, breaking current encryption methods and potentially exposing data that was once secured. Conventional cryptographic algorithms used across the Internet securing everything from major financial organisations and healthcare providers to government agencies and consumer smart devices, are vulnerable to post-quantum attacks.

    The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) even made a landmark announcement to phase out conventional cryptographic algorithms and to adopt post-quantum cryptography by 2030, as experts now estimate significant risks could emerge in as little as five years. There is an urgent need to adopt post-quantum cryptography, and Cloudflare has led the industry by contributing to the creation of industry standards and making post-quantum security free, by default, for all of its customers.

    “Cloudflare has long committed to making post-quantum security the new baseline for Internet security, delivering it to all customers so we can bolster defences against future quantum threats. Now, we’re offering that protection built directly into our Zero Trust solutions,” said Matthew Prince, co-founder and CEO at Cloudflare. “We want every Cloudflare customer to have a clear path to quantum safety, and we are already working with some of the most innovative banks, ISPs, and governments around the world as they begin their journeys to quantum security. We will continue to make advanced cryptography accessible to everyone, at no cost, in all of our products.”

    Since 2017, Cloudflare has been at the forefront of researching, developing, and standardising post-quantum cryptography. Today, over 35 percent of the human-generated traffic connecting to Cloudflare’s global network benefits from post-quantum protection. Even in a future where quantum computing could compromise conventional cryptography, Cloudflare’s quantum-safe Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) solutions are designed to protect data as it travels over the public Internet. With this announcement, Cloudflare’s Zero Trust Platform will enable organisations to:

    • Protect against “harvest-now decrypt later” attacks: Cybercriminals can capture encrypted data today, and store it until they can decrypt it when better quantum computers are available. Starting today, customers can direct their web traffic through Cloudflare’s global network, to protect against these future attacks by using post-quantum cryptography.
    • Enable corporate web applications with end-to-end quantum security: Now organisations can grant employees access to corporate web applications—like HR systems, payroll and collaboration systems–without needing to upgrade the security of every single corporate web application individually. Cloudflare Access now can secure the Internet traffic from web browsers to corporate web applications from quantum threats.
    • Deliver quantum safety for Internet traffic traveling to any corporate office, cloud environment or datacentre: By mid-2025, organisations will be benefit from end-to-end quantum safety for any protocol connected through Cloudflare’s most popular network configurations by installing Cloudflare’s WARP device client on their end users devices.

    “The world has five years to replace vulnerable cryptography with post-quantum solutions,” said Tom Patterson, emerging technology security lead at Accenture. “To meet this urgent client need, Accenture and Cloudflare offer a hybrid approach, enabling an iterative, low-risk migration while maintaining compatibility and cryptographic agility.”

    Cloudflare’s quantum-safe Secure Web Gateway and clientless Access network configurations are available today, and WARP-client-to-tunnel network configurations will be available by mid 2025.

  • Google acquires cloud security firm Wiz in $32 Billion deal

    Google

    IANS

    Google has taken a significant step forward in the cloud security space with its acquisition of Wiz, a top cloud security platform, for $32 billion. This strategic move will enhance Google Cloud’s capabilities in cloud security and multi-cloud operations, solidifying its position in the market.

    Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, emphasized the strategic importance of this acquisition. He stated, “From its earliest days, Google’s strong security focus has made us a leader in keeping people safe online. Today, businesses and governments that run in the cloud are looking for even stronger security solutions, and greater choice in cloud computing providers.” He further added that the combined strength of Google Cloud and Wiz will turbocharge improved cloud security and the ability to use multiple clouds.

    Thomas Kurian, CEO of Google Cloud, echoed Pichai’s sentiments, highlighting the shared vision between Google Cloud and Wiz to make cybersecurity more accessible and simpler for organizations of all sizes and industries. He emphasized the role of this acquisition in enabling more companies to prevent cyber-attacks, thereby minimizing the cost, disruption, and hassle caused by cybersecurity incidents.

    The acquisition comes at a time when both cybersecurity and cloud computing are witnessing rapid growth, with a vast range of solutions being offered in the market. The increased role of AI and the widespread adoption of cloud services have dramatically altered the security landscape for customers, making cybersecurity increasingly crucial in defending against emergent risks and protecting national security.

    Google

    IANS

    Assaf Rappaport, Co-Founder and CEO of Wiz, expressed his commitment to continue supporting and protecting customers across all major clouds. Wiz’s platform, which is easy to use and connects to all major clouds and code environments, helps prevent cybersecurity incidents. It is used by organizations of all sizes, from start-ups and large enterprises to governments and public sector organizations, to protect everything they build and run in the cloud.

    The deal also marks a significant milestone for Wiz. The company, which had crossed the $500 million ARR mark last year and is on track to double that this year to $1 billion, had previously turned down acquisition offers in favor of pursuing its independent goals. The decision to join forces with Google represents a bold bet that has paid off handsomely, with the deal bringing in an additional $9 billion over the initially mooted price of $23 billion.

    The acquisition of Wiz by Google is reminiscent of similar moves by tech giants in the past. For instance, in 2001, Google acquired Deja News, which later became Google Groups. This acquisition was one of Google’s first and most significant, marking the beginning of a growth strategy built on acquisitions. Since its founding in 1998, Google has acquired more than 250 companies in various fields, from search and advertising to video and content, smart devices, and artificial intelligence.

  • Prioritize your eyes: Good monitors for work that put your health first

    Most people spend a lot of time looking at screens. In fact, the average American spends slightly more than seven hours a day using screens — including computer monitors, mobile devices and televisions — according to DataReportal. That number may be even higher for people whose jobs necessitate looking at a computer monitor most of the day, often leading to issues like computer vision syndrome, with sometimes debilitating symptoms.

    An ergonomic desk chair, exercises and regular breaks can alleviate some physical strain, but the right monitor may be able to do even more. That’s why finding good monitors for work that support health — especially eyes — is critical. Here’s what you need to know.

    Monitoring your well-being first

    Monitor technology that is not designed with your well-being in mind can cause eye strain, migraines and even muscular problems in your back and neck. Naturally, these effects lead to reduced productivity, absenteeism and job dissatisfaction. But more strikingly, computer blue light is linked to blurred vision, dry eyes, macular degeneration and cataracts. It can even cause significant sleep issues.

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    It’s possible to mitigate these effects by switching to a monitor with built-in eye protection. Samsung has made eye care a priority in developing a number of unique display technologies, including a blue light filter for its monitors and Flicker Free technology,

    Getting rid of the blues

    Of all the colors in the visible spectrum, blue light is the most harmful — with effects ranging from blurred vision to permanent vision changes. Blue travels as a high-energy, short-length light wave, and almost all of it travels to your retinas, creating computer vision syndrome. It’s also becoming increasingly common, with one report in the Journal of Optometry showing that 7 out of 10 people studied suffer from the condition.

    That’s why the latest generation of Samsung monitors, including Samsung’s 49-inch S95UC, feature Eye Saver Mode, which actively reduces blue-light emissions. This helps minimize eye strain and prevent long-term problems like phototoxicity, a condition of particularly high light sensitivity in the eyes or skin.

    Adapt so you can thrive

    Good monitors for work address more than just blue light. Another culprit of eye strain and headaches is screen flicker — common on many desktop monitors but nearly imperceptible to the naked eye. This flicker results from the screen’s backlight rapidly turning on and off. You may not notice it happening, but you will notice its effects. A high monitor refresh rate — the amount of times the screen updates per second — can help reduce eye strain, but above 75Hz, the difference on the eyes is minimal. Samsung Flicker Free technology helps remedy this by producing a constant stream of light.

    Most new monitors by Samsung also feature Adaptive Picture technology. Through ambient light sensors, Adaptive Picture continuously assesses the lighting in your workspace and automatically adjusts your screen brightness for more comfortable viewing.

    Together, these Intelligent Eye Care features have earned Samsung high-resolution monitors an Intelligent Eye Care certification from the gold-standard TÜV Rheinland.

    Physically fit workspaces

    Besides the screen, your desktop’s physical aspects also contribute to its overall comfort. Samsung monitors’ ergonomic design offers height adjustment as well as tilt and swivel flexibility, so sitting in front of the computer is much less taxing on your eyes, neck and spine.

    In the right environment, a curved — or even double-wide curved screen, as on Samsung’s S95UC — can offer further eye health benefits. That’s because the screen imitates the curvature of the human eye and mimics its natural field of vision, so your eyes don’t have to work as hard to focus.

    Of course, not everyone’s workstation can accommodate a curved monitor, and not every job requires one. For smaller workstations, the Samsung 24-inch T45F monitor has the same protective eye health features. Its borderless design also makes the screen more immersive to help keep distractions to a minimum.

    With the extensive range of high-resolution monitors at Samsung, you can get the job done more comfortably with technology that puts your health — and eyes — first.

    Get your free guide to learn how to transform desktop monitors into production hubs. Also discover how Samsung ViewFinity anti-glare monitors improve programmer performance.

  • Mahashivratri: The Divine Night Livestream on JioHotstar Attracts Over 3.9 Crore Views, Reinforcing the Future of Digital-First Cultural Experiences

    Mahashivratri: The Divine Night Livestream on JioHotstar Attracts Over 3.9 Crore Views, Reinforcing the Future of Digital-First Cultural Experiences

    The 15-hour live stream of Mahashivratri: The Divine Night attracted 3.9 crore views and clocked 21.8 crore minutes of watch time.

    mahashivratri 2025, kumbh mela, jiohtstar,

    March 3rd 2025; National: JioHotstar has reimagined the way India experiences tradition with Mahashivratri: The Divine Night, a groundbreaking 15-hour live stream that seamlessly integrated faith, spirituality, culture and technology at an unprecedented scale. With over 3.9 crore views and an astounding 21.8 crore minutes of watch time from the livestream, the digital journey heralded a landmark moment in the evolution of cultural storytelling. At its core was the deepest shared human emotion, devotion – which united millions in a collective celebration of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, reinforcing JioHotstar’s role in elevating shared cultural moments through live experiences.

    Streaming the Sacred: A Multi-Dimensional Experience
    Bringing together the timeless and the cutting-edge, JioHotstar’s multi-stream format offered a seamless experience, immersing audiences in devotion like never before. Multiple LIVE feeds from the sacred Jyotirlingas transported audiences into the heart of 20+ divine aartis and grand processions while night-time meditations and stirring cultural tributes elevated the spectacle.

    Mahashivratri livestream

    More than just a stream, the live event on the platform constituted 10+ live, concurrent streams allowing users to effortlessly switch between different facets of devotion, spirituality, mythology, culture, rituals, and community engagement:

    • Sacred Rituals: 20+ Live aartis from revered Jyotirlingas allowed devotees to partake in sacred moments of worship from the comfort of their homes. 
    • Spirituality: Dedicated live feeds from the Isha Yoga Centre in Coimbatore and Art of Living International Centre were available as part of the Mahashivratri Livestream on JioHotstar.  Sadhguru delivered spiritual discourses in the presence of Mr Amit Shah, Honorable Minister for Home Affairs of India. Transformational meditations by Sri Sri Ravi Shankar lent a personal and intimate touch to the night-long festivities 
    • Musical Dedications: Soul-stirring performances by singer/composer Sona Mohapatra and rapper Narci resonated deeply with audiences, infusing the night with reverence and artistic expression. Cultural performances from events hosted by Isha Foundation and Art of Living Centre also added to the immersive nature of the night. 
    • Mythology: An exclusive three-hour curated stream of Devo Ke Dev…Mahadev brought to life the divine union of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, underscoring the storytelling legacy of the platform.
    • Personal Devotion: Heartfelt stories of faith from Shiv Bhakts fostered an emotional connection, reiterating the universality of devotion. 

    Mahashivratri Digital Viewers

    Interactivity: From Passive Viewing to Active Participation
    Beyond the viewing experience, Mahashivratri: The Divine Night became a participatory cultural moment. Multi-feed switching allowed users to curate their own journey through devotion, choosing between live temple feeds, spiritual discourses, or musical performances. Real-time chants, virtual offerings, trivia, and live chats deepened engagement, while the Ask the Experts segment enabled users to have their Mahashivratri-related queries answered, making the experience more inclusive and interactive.

    Elaborating on the success, Sanjog Gupta, CEO-Sports at JioStar said “JioHotstar is redefining the paradigm of live-streaming by universalising access and scaling up shared moments of togetherness. The livestream of Mahashivratri: The Divine Night proved that technology can elevate our collective and deeply personal experience of faith by making it more immersive. We feel blessed that we could elevate this sacred occasion for millions and believe this is just the beginning. As we push the boundaries of live experiences across faith, culture, sports and entertainment, JioHotstar remains committed to ensuring audiences don’t just watch, but truly live moments of shared emotions.” 

    Infinite Possibilities for Brands in Live Experiences
    Brand partners like JK Super Cement, Country Delight, Nirma Advanced Detergent, and Hamilton Sciences (Brand: Denver) leveraged JioHotstar’s context-driven ad formats and immersive sponsorship integrations, demonstrating the potential of live-streamed cultural events as high-engagement, high-impact platforms for storytelling and brand connect.

    With Mahashivratri: The Divine Night, JioHotstar has unlocked a new dimension in live cultural entertainment, proving that when tradition meets technology, infinite possibilities emerge.

    ***

    About JioHotstar
    JioHotstar is one of India’s leading streaming platforms, formed through the coming together of JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar. With an unparalleled content catalog, innovative technology, and a commitment to accessibility, JioHotstar aims to redefine entertainment for everyone across India.

  • Firefly Fire Pumps, Vallfirest, and Jharkhand State Forest Training Institute Unite for Groundbreaking Training in India

    RANCHI:  Firefly Fire Pumps, Asia’s leading manufacturer and exporter of fire pumps, today announced a groundbreaking collaboration with Vallfirest, Spain’s premier wildland product manufacturing company, and the Jharkhand State Forest Training Institute Mahilong. Together, they have organized the first-ever forest fire training program of its kind in Indian history, focused on advanced tools and tactics for effective forest fire management.

    This unprecedented training initiative is designed to equip forest personnel with the knowledge and skills necessary to control, prevent, and suppress forest fires, thereby safeguarding India’s invaluable national heritage and biodiversity.

    “Firefly Fire Pumps is committed to protecting our environment and supporting those on the front lines of forest fire defense,” said [Rohit Mali, Director of Firefly Fire Pumps]. “By partnering with Vallfirest and the Jharkhand State Forest Training Institute, we are proud to bring cutting-edge wildland firefighting expertise to India, empowering our forest personnel with the best tools and strategies available.”

    The training program will cover a comprehensive range of topics, including:

    Advanced firefighting techniques: Utilizing state-of-the-art equipment and tactics for efficient fire suppression.

    Fire behavior analysis: Understanding the dynamics of forest fires to predict and control their spread.

    Risk assessment and prevention strategies: Implementing proactive measures to minimize the occurrence and impact of forest fires.

    Safe and effective use of wildland firefighting tools: Hands-on training with specialized equipment provided by Vallfirest.

    “Vallfirest is dedicated to providing innovative solutions and training for wildland fire management worldwide,” stated Juan Carlos, Chief Sales Officer – Vallfirest. “We are honored to collaborate with Firefly Fire Pumps and the Jharkhand State Forest Training Institute to share our expertise and contribute to the protection of India’s forests.“

    The Jharkhand State Forest Training Institute Mahilong will serve as the venue for this historic training program, providing a vital platform for knowledge sharing and capacity building.

    This collaborative effort marks a significant milestone in India’s efforts to combat forest fires and protect its natural resources. Firefly Fire Pumps, Vallfirest, and the Jharkhand State Forest Training Institute are committed to continuing this partnership and advancing forest fire management practices across the country.