MAM
Lipton’s Bangalore International Marathon Run on May 15
MUMBAI: Sports event managers Crossover and I-Congo (Indian Confederation of NGOs) have roped in Hindustan Lever’s Lipton, Dell, Titan, Ten Sports, Radio City Bangalore, the Karnataka Government, Karnataka Athletics Association (KAA) and Hotel Royal Orchid for the first ever International Marathon to be held in India’s Silicon and Garden City-Bangalore on 15 May.
The entire marathon would be held to promote philanthropy for social justice and social giving for one’s favorite cause through I-CONGO. I-Congo is a first of it kind national collective of over 155 credible, transparent and accountable NGOs working on social causes nationally like child rights and education, community welfare, environment, wildlife and animal rights including stray dogs, cancer patients, disability and various causes.
Encapsulating the highest standards of sportsmanship, grit and resilience, the event is geared up to see participation from Bangaloreans and several national and international marathon runners.
The entire Marathon covering 42.195 kms, the 21.1 kms semi-Marathon and the seven km Celebration Run would be the options available for the expected 30,000 plus participants to the event.
A registration fee is expected to garner around Rs 4.5 million at Rs 150 per person, while around 1000 NGOs are expected to bring in at least Rs 15000 each from sponsors to total Rs 15 million.
The complete event would cost around Rs 30 million. The prize money would be Rs 1 million this year, however Crossover head sale and marketing Darshan M is confident the success of the event would definitely call for a higher amount during the next edition of the race, which is likely to be an annual event.
Lipton is the presenting sponsor, Dell the associate sponsor, supported by the Government of Karnataka and the event will be held under the aegis of the KAA. Hotel Royal Orchid are the official hosts, Titan the official timers, and Ten Sports and Radio City Bangalore the official Media Partners.
Live reports will be broadcast on Radio City Bangalore and the event is likely to be telecast a week later on Ten Sports.
Lipton general manager P Krishnamurthy who has been a participant as a runner in the Marathons held elsewhere in India, said, “Lipton stands for natural vitality. A marathon also symbolises vitality, as demonstrated in the spirit, grit and resilience of a runner; it is therefore befitting that Lipton associate with the event. Today’s hectic lifestyle leaves little space for people to take time out for good things-to be with themselves/the outdoors/nature, to connect with the world around them. The marathon is a good opportunity to do this, and running in particular helps people feel good, look good and get more out of life, which in essence reflects the Unilever mission. Lipton is proud to bring the event to the city.”
To make the event truly international, and to hold it as per global standards, Bob Braid, an international class rated measurer who also measures for events such as the Olympics would be inspecting and ratifying the race route as per international standards. Athletes from Kenya, Ethiopia, Bangladesh and Pakistan are likely to participate in the marathon, as are a number of celebrities from all walks of life.
Brands
Trump announces $300bn Texas oil refinery with Reliance, calls it the biggest in US history
First new US refinery in 50 years planned at Brownsville port with Reliance
WASHINGTON: The United States may soon see the first brand-new oil refinery built on its soil in half a century.
Donald Trump announced a proposed $300 billion refinery project in Texas, calling it a landmark moment for American energy production and jobs.
Posting on Truth Social on 10 March, Trump said the facility would be built at the Port of Brownsville and developed by a company called America First Refining, with major investment from India’s Reliance Industries.
The announcement frames the project as a centrepiece of the administration’s push for “energy dominance”, with Trump claiming it would deliver thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in economic activity to South Texas.
If realised, the plant would mark the first all-new major refinery constructed in the United States since the 1970s. In recent decades, oil companies have largely chosen to expand existing facilities rather than build new ones, citing high costs, regulatory hurdles and environmental scrutiny.
Trump described the proposed investment as the “biggest in US history”, positioning it as proof that policy changes such as streamlined permits and lower taxes are drawing large-scale energy investments back into the country.
The refinery is planned for the Port of Brownsville, a strategic Gulf Coast location that provides easy access to shipping routes and export markets.
A key partner in the project is Reliance Industries, controlled by billionaire industrialist Mukesh Ambani. The company already runs the world’s largest refining complex in Jamnagar, India, making it one of the most experienced operators in large-scale petroleum processing.
The Texas venture would mark a significant step for the group into America’s domestic refining sector, potentially strengthening industrial ties between the US and India.
The proposed refinery is being promoted as a next-generation facility capable of processing American shale oil while maintaining high environmental standards. Trump said it would be “the cleanest refinery in the world”, although the specific technologies behind that claim have not yet been detailed.
Industry observers also note that the $300 billion figure is unusually large for a refinery project, and analysts are waiting for more clarity on whether the number reflects total construction costs, long-term infrastructure investment, or broader economic impact estimates.
As of 11 March, Reliance Industries had not publicly confirmed the investment size or the structure of its involvement.
For now, the announcement has sparked equal parts excitement and curiosity in energy markets. If the plan moves from promise to pouring concrete, the refinery could reshape the Gulf Coast energy landscape, and reopen a chapter in American refining that has been quiet for nearly fifty years.
