ChannelVision Magazine has announced National Retail Solutions (NRS) as a recipient of its 2025 Visionary Spotlight Award (VSA) in the category of Best Emerging Technology Breakthrough – Overall Excellence. This prestigious annual awards program recognizes outstanding products, services, and deployments that contribute to the growth and advancement of the communications and channel ecosystem.

Each year, ChannelVision’s editorial team, along with a panel of independent judges, evaluates submissions based on a comprehensive set of criteria, including overall innovation, potential future impact on the industry, creativity, unique features, user-friendliness, and system interoperability. NRS stood out for its bold strides in innovation specifically geared toward small and mid-sized convenience stores and bodegas. Through its integrated point-of-sale (POS) and payment solutions platform, NRS empowers thousands of merchants to effectively compete against large national chains.

“Independent retailers need access to advanced, yet easy-to-use and cost-effective technology,” stated Elie Y. Katz, President and CEO of NRS. “Receiving this award affirms our commitment to delivering innovative solutions that enhance sales, simplify operations, and sustain the vitality of local neighborhood stores.”

“This year’s competition was exceptionally strong,” noted ChannelVision President and CEO Berge Kaprelian. “Despite economic headwinds, innovation and distinct market value remain critical to success. We congratulate all our 2025 VSA awardees on their impressive achievements.”

A full list of 2025 Visionary Spotlight Award winners is featured in the May/June 2025 edition of ChannelVision Magazine, which is available in both print and digital formats at channelvisionmag.com.

About National Retail Solutions (NRS)
National Retail Solutions (NRS), a subsidiary of IDT Corporation (NYSE: IDT), operates the nation’s leading point-of-sale (POS) system and NRS Pay payment processing network, catering to thousands of independent retailers across the United States and Canada. NRS equips small and medium-sized business owners with comprehensive, revenue-boosting store management solutions, including support for EBT/eWIC, online sales, payroll processing, merchant cash advances, and additional value-added services. NRS also offers tailored systems for different retail sectors, such as NRS Petro for gas stations and convenience stores, and provides business opportunities through its reseller program. Learn more at www.nrsplus.com.

Tanishq, widely regarded as India’s most trusted fine jewelry brand, has significantly expanded its presence in the United States with the grand opening of its flagship store in Santa Clara, California. Situated at 3406 El Camino Real, the expansive 5,100 square-foot showroom—the brand’s largest retail location in the U.S.—officially opened its doors on March 18. The Bay Area launch was celebrated with a vibrant grand opening ceremony on May 8.

The festive inauguration was highlighted by a traditional lamp-lighting ritual, a ceremonial ribbon cutting, and a soulful musical performance, offering attendees a sensory journey into the rich cultural heritage and refined elegance that define the Tanishq brand. Among the dignitaries present was Santa Clara Mayor Lisa M. Gillmor, who was joined by prominent community leaders and jewelry enthusiasts from throughout the region—underscoring the brand’s deepening resonance with both South Asian and broader global audiences.

Santa Clara, known for its spirit of innovation, cultural diversity, and a thriving South Asian diaspora, proved to be a fitting location for Tanishq’s newest U.S. endeavor. The Bay Area’s growing demand for jewelry that combines quality craftsmanship with design sophistication has created an ideal environment for Tanishq’s unique blend of tradition and contemporary aesthetics.

The new showroom offers a dazzling array of meticulously crafted gold and diamond jewelry, showcasing thousands of intricate designs. Signature collections such as Rhythms of Rain, Tales of Mystique, and Enchanted Trails are among the highlights, each piece reflecting artistry rooted in Indian heritage while appealing to modern sensibilities. The store serves as a luxurious destination for all occasions—from weddings and festivals to daily wear—celebrating personal milestones through timeless elegance.

“Opening our flagship store in Santa Clara marks an exciting chapter in our U.S. journey,” said Amrit Pal Singh, Business Head – North America, Titan Company Limited. “The Bay Area houses a dynamic South Asian community that values culture, innovation, and design—core to everything we do. We’re proud to bring our heritage of craftsmanship to California and look forward to becoming part of the local story—offering jewelry that bridges tradition with modern elegance.”

Through this new location, Tanishq reaffirms its commitment to bringing the richness of Indian fine jewelry to wider audiences in the United States. The Santa Clara showroom invites customers into a world of artistic brilliance and cultural depth, offering a shopping experience that is both luxurious and deeply rooted in tradition.

Mira Aerospace, in partnership with Bayanat and UAVOS, alongside VEDA Aeronautics, a premier Indian firm specializing in Unmanned Systems for Aerospace & Defence, have unveiled plans to spearhead the development of the world’s most sophisticated High Altitude Pseudo Satellite (HAPS) solutions tailored for India. This initiative aims to leverage Mira Aerospace’s innovative ApusNeo HAPS technology in conjunction with VEDA Aeronautics’ expertise in local development, offering advanced solutions to both military and civilian sectors in India. The collaboration targets the deployment of a HAPS platform, customized for the Indian market, by the first half of 2024. Notably, the partnership has already achieved a milestone with the successful test flight of a HAPS technology demonstrator in the Indian stratosphere, marking a unique achievement in India.

VEDA Aeronautics has also engaged in the Make-1 project, an ambitious endeavor by the Indian Airforce to foster the development of a HAPS capable of carrying payloads over 35KG and operating at altitudes of 18,000m for 30 to 45 days. This project aligns with strategic goals to utilize HAPS for continuous monitoring of India’s borders.

Hasan Al Hosani, Bayanat’s Managing Director, highlighted the strategic importance of the Indian market in Mira Aerospace’s global expansion plans. He emphasized the potential for deploying AI-enhanced geospatial solutions across India’s varied terrain, viewing the partnership with VEDA Aeronautics as a step towards meeting the demand for sophisticated geospatial intelligence solutions in the region.

Dipesh Gupta, Managing Director at VEDA Aeronautics, expressed enthusiasm over the strategic alliance with Mira Aerospace, viewing it as a pivotal development in India’s adoption of HAPS technology. He emphasized the partnership’s commitment to innovation and its role in propelling India into a new era of technological and strategic excellence in the aerospace sector.

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has forged a major alliance with Ramboll, a prominent Danish firm specializing in architecture, engineering, and consultancy. This multimillion-dollar venture will see TCS spearheading an IT overhaul for Ramboll over a span of seven years. Although the exact value of the deal hasn’t been disclosed, it is widely regarded by analysts as significant, often surpassing the US$ 100 million mark. TCS’s strategy involves integrating over 300 Ramboll IT staff from 12 different countries to rejuvenate Ramboll’s IT framework, thereby promoting growth and achieving cost efficiency. Mr. Thomas Angelius, Ramboll’s senior group director and chief information officer, underscored the importance of having a reliable partner to develop an IT infrastructure that supports innovation and agility.

In its capacity as Ramboll’s IT custodian, TCS will manage various elements of its IT ecosystem, including cloud services and data center operations, application development, cybersecurity measures, and enhancements to the digital workplace. This joint initiative aims to lay a digital groundwork to support Ramboll’s future expansion plans, minimize its environmental impact, and improve scalability. Facing IT challenges associated with recent expansions in its operations across 35 countries and generating revenues over DKK 17 billion, Ramboll looks to TCS’s expertise to streamline its IT processes, cut down expenses, and enhance flexibility. Mr. V Rajanna, TCS’s President of Technology, Software, and Services, highlighted the collaboration’s importance in promoting a smart business evolution through the strategic use of data and analytics. With a history of over 30 years in Denmark, TCS, under the leadership of Mr. Vikram Sharma, the Country Head for TCS Denmark, is set to boost Ramboll’s business trajectory significantly.

India’s largest jewelry retailer Tanishq opened two new retail outlets in Houston and Frisco, Texas to expand into the US market. These openings follow the brand’s January flagship shop opening in Iselin, New Jersey.

Texas has the second-largest Indian American population in the country, and Tanishq is meeting them in these new places. Texas has about 450,000 Indian Americans, most of whom live in Houston and Dallas-Fort-Worth (30 miles from the new Frisco location). Tanishq has been available on e-commerce in the US for nearly two years, but these new locations will allow customers to better access their fine jewelry products, including Dharohar and Tales of Mystique.

“Tanishq has a 30-year history and was named with two words. In Sanskrit, Tan means body, and Nishq means gold adornment, which together indicate an ornament that enhances women’s attractiveness and elegance, says CEO Kuruvilla Markose. The Indian diaspora in Houston and Frisco may now buy our handcrafted jewelry at two more Texas outlets. As a true Tata brand, we delight our clients and welcome innumerable visitors from around the world to experience the magic behind our designers and craftspeople’ designs.”

The Frisco store is about 5,000 square feet and the Houston store is 3,800 square feet. It offers over 2,000 designs in 18 and 22 KT gold and diamond jewelry, solitaires, and colorful stones. Houston and Frisco opened with unique selections on November 29 and 30, respectively.

“As we expand to serve the diverse Indian audience in the US, we bring a wide range of exquisite jewelry for any occasion,” says Business Head of Jewelry Amrit Pal Singh.

The following addresses now have open stores. Visit www.tanishq.co.in or follow TanishqUSA on Instagram and Facebook for details.

Frisco: 2809 Preston Road, Suite 1200, Frisco, TX, 75034
Houston: 2335 Post Oak Blvd, Houston, TX 77056

An offshoot of Foxconn, the prominent Taiwanese electronics manufacturer, is apparently preparing to allocate approximately $200 million for the establishment of an electronic components plant in Chennai.

As per a report from Reuters, CEO Brand Cheng and other representatives from Foxconn Industrial Internet (FII) held discussions with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin and other government officials about this potential investment in the southern state.

According to sources, FII has presented a proposal to the state authorities to make an initial investment ranging from $180 million to $200 million for the facility.

The company, headquartered in Taiwan, has set a target to finish construction of the plant by 2024, with plans for additional investments in the future. Foxconn Industrial Internet is known for manufacturing communication, mobile network, and cloud computing equipment. It’s important to note that Foxconn already operates a vast campus near Chennai, where they assemble Apple’s iPhones.

India’s Minister for Electronics and IT, Ashwini Vaishnaw, and Japan’s Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry, Yasutoshi Nishimura, recently signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at enhancing the semiconductor industry. The agreement focuses on semiconductor design, manufacturing, equipment research, talent development, and ensuring resilience in the semiconductor supply chain. This move makes Japan the second Quad partner, after the United States, to collaborate with India in jointly developing the semiconductor ecosystem and safeguarding the global supply chain.

The signing ceremony took place in the national capital, and both countries expressed their commitment to creating an “implementation organization” to facilitate government-to-government and industry-to-industry cooperation. India’s Minister Vaishnaw emphasized the importance of a resilient semiconductor supply chain and highlighted India and Japan’s partnership, which was influenced by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji’s successful state visit to the United States, where various agreements were signed.

Japan possesses about 100 semiconductor manufacturing plants, ranking among the top five countries with a robust semiconductor ecosystem. Minister Vaishnaw pointed out that the semiconductor industry is expected to grow from $650 billion to a $1 trillion industry, necessitating a considerable talent pool and substantial growth worldwide. Japan views India as a valuable partner, combining complementary strengths to achieve this growth.

The minister also noted Japan’s expertise in key areas like raw semiconductor materials, chip manufacturing equipment, and display technologies. The aim is to bring this expertise to India, representing a significant milestone. The Indian government has already initiated discussions with Japan’s state-backed semiconductor industry body, Rapidus, for potential collaboration in this domain.

Regarding concerns about China restricting the export of critical semiconductor elements like gallium and germanium, Minister Vaishnaw stated that the impact has been minimal as there are multiple alternative sources of these elements worldwide.

Amrapali Gan, also known as Ami Gan, will be stepping down from her position as CEO of OnlyFans after serving in this role for two and a half years. OnlyFans, renowned for being a creator-subscription platform primarily focused on adult content, will now have Keily Blair, the current chief strategy and operations officer, taking over as the new CEO.

Expressing her thoughts on Twitter, Gan shared that her time at OnlyFans, during which the platform gained widespread recognition, has been incredibly fulfilling. During her tenure, she achieved significant milestones for the business, including prioritizing platform safety, expanding its global presence, and fostering a diverse community of creators and fans.

Lee Taylor, the chief financial officer and director of OnlyFans, expressed gratitude for Ami Gan’s remarkable efforts and leadership during a period of substantial growth for the digital media platform.

Throughout her time as CEO, Ami Gan led OnlyFans to experience remarkable growth, attracting a vast audience of over 220 million fans worldwide and hosting a community of over 3 million creators. An impressive achievement during her tenure was reaching a milestone of paying out over $10 billion to creators. Despite her successful stint as CEO, Gan has made the decision to step down from her role to pursue new ventures and explore other opportunities.

Twitter – All India Radio News

In the recent third G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBGs) meeting held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, under India’s presidency, concerns were raised about the global economic growth being below its long-run average and uneven. The G-20 countries discussed the global economic outlook and risks in-depth, acknowledging the high uncertainty surrounding it. The ministers jointly recognized the risks of tightening global financial conditions leading to increased debt vulnerabilities, persistent inflation, and geoeconomic tensions, with a balance of risks leaning towards the downside. To address this situation, the G20 members emphasized the importance of implementing well-calibrated monetary, fiscal, financial, and structural policies to promote growth, reduce inequalities, and maintain macroeconomic and financial stability.

While most G-20 FMCBGs, excluding Russia and China, adopted the 25-point outcomes of the meeting, there were divergent views on certain topics. China asserted that the G20 FMCBGs meeting was not the appropriate forum for discussing geopolitical issues, particularly the impact of the Ukraine war on the global economy. On the other hand, Russia dissociated itself from the joint common outcome document due to its references to the Ukraine war, international law’s role in upholding peace and stability, and volatility in global food and energy markets.

In addition to the core discussions, a round table discussion titled “Policy Dialogues on Crypto Assets” was conducted on the sidelines of the G20 meeting to enrich ongoing policy work related to crypto assets. Key questions surrounding crypto assets were discussed by FMCBGs, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Financial Stability Board (FSB), and Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

During the meeting, India’s Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, engaged in bilateral discussions with her counterparts, fostering dialogue and cooperation. The delegates also participated in cultural programs and experienced Gujarat’s heritage and trade history through excursion events organized by the Government of Gujarat.

The outcomes and discussions from the third G20 FMCBGs meeting will be conveyed to the Leaders for consideration at the G20 Summit scheduled for September 2023 in India. The next G20 FMCBGs meeting is set to take place in October 2023 in Marrakesh, Morocco, on the sidelines of the IMF/WBG annual meetings.

During the Adani Enterprise’s annual general meeting (AGM) on July 18, Gautam Adani, the chief of the company, highlighted the crucial role of their renewable energy businesses in India’s journey towards achieving net-zero emissions. Adani Green Energy (AGEL), the renewable energy arm of the group, has already commissioned the world’s largest hybrid solar-wind project in Rajasthan, with a capacity of 2.14 GW. Adani announced plans for the construction of an even larger hybrid renewable park in Khavda, spanning over 72,000 acres and capable of generating 20 GW of green energy.

Adani emphasized that the company’s new businesses now contribute 50% of its Ebitda. The renewable energy portfolio of the company has grown by 49%, reaching 8 GW, making it the largest of its kind in India. The focus is now on producing cost-effective green energy on a large scale. Adani reaffirmed their target of achieving 45 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030.

Furthermore, Adani mentioned an upcoming hybrid renewable project in the desert that is expected to produce 20 GW of energy. The company aims to complete this project faster than any previous endeavor. Adani Green Energy is planning to raise Rs 12,300 crore ($1.5 billion) through a qualified institutional placement (QIP) to support the expansion of its green energy operations.

The fundraising efforts will alleviate concerns regarding debt servicing and boost investor confidence. Adani Group aims to establish itself as a leader in India’s renewable energy segment, with AGEL already operating a renewable portfolio of 8,024 MW. Adani Transmission, another subsidiary, is also expanding its transmission business and outpacing market growth.

Following a negative report by shortseller Hindenburg in January 2023, Adani Group has been working to regain investor trust. While the stock prices have partially recovered since then, the company remains focused on rebuilding confidence in the market.