Gaming
High on hope News18 Kerala anti drug campaign heads to Kottayam
MUMBAI: Kerala’s battle cry against narcotics is getting louder and this time, it’s echoing through Kottayam. News18 Kerala’s anti-drug drive, AD 2025, is drawing packed crowds, celebrity cheer, and spirited debate as it rolls across the state, determined to keep Kerala high on hope, not on drugs. After firing up audiences in Cochin on 10 June and Kozhikode on 15 July, the campaign now heads to K.E. College, Mannanam, on 26 August, from 10:00 am. The roadshow culminates in a grand finale in Thiruvananthapuram next month, but not before it sparks yet another round of tough conversations and cultural performances.
Each stop so far has been more than a lecture, it’s been a movement. From unpacking the root causes of drug use to spotlighting law enforcement, from discussing how addiction tears through families to stressing early intervention and education, the campaign has stitched together the voices of government, media, NGOs and citizens into a single powerful chorus: collective responsibility.
The earlier editions saw top dignitaries, police officials, excise officers, celebrities, and cultural icons share the stage, stirring both thought and emotion. Audiences, especially the youth responded with enthusiasm, pledging to act against a menace that has seeped into communities.
The Kottayam edition promises no less. On the panel: the district collector, police commissioner, excise officer, a social influencer, a psychologist, a student representative and more, ensuring every perspective from law to lived experience is on the table.
With turnout and public engagement already exceeding expectations, AD 2025 is proving to be more than a campaign. It’s becoming Kerala’s collective pledge for a drug-free tomorrow.
Gaming
Formula 1 and Mumbai Falcons launch India’s first official F1 sim racing championship
Nationwide competition creates pathway from virtual racing to pro motorsport
MUMBAI: Formula 1 has teamed up with Mumbai Falcons Racing Limited to launch India’s first officially sanctioned F1 sim racing competition, marking a new step in the country’s growing motorsport ecosystem.
The championship, titled F1 Sim Racing India Open 2026, will offer a structured national platform for sim racers, with participants competing on the official F1 25 across multiple stages. The competition will begin with online qualifiers, followed by city-based simulator rounds, before culminating in a national final in Mumbai this November.
Open to players across PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox, registrations for the event will begin on 30 April via the Mumbai Falcons app. The format mirrors real-world racing, featuring official circuits, team liveries and competitive structures aligned with the global series.
Formula 1 driver Narain Karthikeyan said the initiative arrives at a time when interest in the sport is surging in India, adding that a structured sim racing platform could help identify and nurture the next generation of talent.
Mumbai Falcons Racing Limited managing director Ameet Gadhoke noted that the championship aligns with the team’s long-term goal of building a strong motorsport pipeline in the country and placing Indian talent on the global stage.
The launch also reflects broader momentum in esports, especially after its recognition under India’s Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025. By bridging gaming and real-world racing, the initiative aims to offer aspiring drivers a credible entry point into professional motorsport.
With interest in Formula 1 steadily rising and conversations around its return to India gaining pace, the new championship could become a proving ground for future racing stars.
