6, Dec 2023
MVN-88 Exercise and Sports Academy was inaugurated on Tuesday at Modern Vidya Niketan (MVN) School, Sector-88, Faridabad
Greater Faridabad: The academy which was a dream project of our young and energetic President,Mr.Varun Sharma was inaugurated by our chief guests Mr. Pullela Gopichand (Padma Bhushan) the renowned Indian badminton player and head coach of the Indian team, Arjuna Award winner HS Prannoy, track and field athlete and gold medallist Jyothi Yarraji, Founder and Managing Director of Badminton Gurukul Academy, Supriya Devgan.
Speaking on the occasion, Pullela Gopichand congratulated Mr. Varun Sharma for providing one of its kind world-class Indoor Exercise and Sports Academy and said, “ MVN’s commitment to balancing education and sports aligns perfectly with the promotion of physical literacy.”
He motivated the students and said,” Compete with yourself and be a better of yourself.” He also asked the faculty members to organize group events to promote team spirit.
MVN Exercise & Sports Academy provides a unique platform for students to hone their skills and develop a passion for badminton. The inauguration of the Exercise & Sports Academy is a testament to MVN School Sector-88’s vision of creating well-rounded leaders who embrace the values of discipline, perseverance, and teamwork.
Mr.Varun Sharma, President, of MVN Society, expressed happiness at the inauguration and described it as a confluence of talent and experience. He thanked Mr.Pullela Gopichand, Mr.HS Prannoy, Ms.Supriya Devgan, and Ms. Jyothi Yarraji for sparing time and being a part of this momentous occasion. Furthermore, he reiterated the fact that the exercise and sports academy will lay the foundation for the remarkable achievements and overall growth of our students as they embark on this exciting journey of academic and athletic excellence.
The opening of the MVN Exercise & Sports Academy marks the beginning of a transformational era.
This academy will prove to be a boon to every MVNite who will be trained for various sports under professionally acclaimed National and International mentors and coaches. The academy is laced with facilities like a snorkeling pool, gymnasium, basketball court, badminton court, table tennis court, multi-purpose studio, cross fit area, spin cycling area, kids play zone, etc.
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- By Rabindra
6, Dec 2023
Bosch Global Software Technologies’ Infra Tech support enables the first secure and sustainable Elephant Care Facility in Karnataka
Bosch Global Software Technologies, one of the world’s leading global suppliers of technology and services, recently collaborated with Karnataka Forest Department and WRRC (Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre) to open the first secure and sustainable Elephant Care Facility in Karnataka. Providing essential technological and surveillance support, BGSW has been an instrumental partner in securing the facility in a sustainable manner.
Sharing below the key takeaways and attaching the release for your kind reference.
- The Elephant Care Ecosystem, located in Kolar is surrounded by over 100 acres of reserve forest and provides a safe and healthy environment for rescued elephants.
- BGSW has been essential in securing the facility through setting up a CCTV surveillance network, fencing enclosure, an off-grid solar-powered system to ensure energy sufficiency. Additionally, two container cabins are converted into a research and welfare hub to enable wildlife observation and studies, with residential capability, and a training and sensitization hub to promote awareness and capacity building of relevant stakeholders.
- The Elephant Care Facility stands as a testament to our commitment to ethical wildlife conservation. The facility, managed by WRRC, ensures that rescued elephants receive optimal care, including access to nutritious food, water, medical attention, and a space for socialization.
6, Dec 2023
Air India moves entire IT infrastructure to cloud, closes historic data centres
Bangalore, 06 December 2023: Air India, India’s leading global airline, has successfully migrated to cloud-only IT infrastructure, having closed its historic data centers located in Mumbai and New Delhi. This makes Air India one of the first major global airlines to have moved all computational workloads exclusively to the cloud.
The move brings remarkable technological agility and scalability to Air India, enabling it to accelerate its digital transformation effort and roll out new digital innovations and applications to enhance operational efficiencies, and customer and employee experiences. The closure of the data centers will further result in net savings of nearly a million dollars every year.
Dr Satya Ramaswamy, Chief Digital and Technology Officer, Air India, said: “At Air India, we have adopted ‘cloud-only’ as our computational infrastructure philosophy. For us, cloud is not just about cost savings and operational efficiencies but is a fundamental way to reimagine computing itself and a critical lever to accelerate innovation. We have adopted a strategic mix of Software-as-a-Service, Platform-as-a-Service, and Infrastructure-as-a-Service methodologies in Air India’s transformation journey, allowing us to innovate faster and provide a flexible and reliable computational and networking infrastructure for the company.”
Given the heavy interdependency on a variety of other systems in the data centers, the entire process of migration to cloud was skillfully and carefully strategized, mapped out, and managed by Air India’s top architects and engineers in Silicon Valley in the U.S., and Gurugram and Kochi in India. The exercise required the migration of all computational workloads from several mainframes, hundreds of servers, a large amount of data, and hundreds of equipment to the cloud.
“The contribution of our data centers to making Air India a global airline is impossible to leave uncounted. Our colleagues who have worked at these data centers for years and decades were made integral parts of this complex migration exercise, and they have been trained along the way on new skills to continue contributing to a modernized Air India”, said Dr Ramaswamy.
Air India was one of the earliest airlines globally to have adopted high-performance computing and storage in the initial years of the computing age. The now-closed data centers were once used to drive innovations and automation across multiple spheres of the airline’s commercial and financial functions.
Puneet Chandok, President, Microsoft India & South Asia, said, “We are proud to be a part of Air India’s cloud transformation journey. Air India’s successful migration to Microsoft Azure shows the power and adaptability of the Microsoft cloud, and how we can effectively support leaders in the global airline industry like Air India. We are delighted with our continued collaboration with Air India, enabling innovation and unleashing the potential of AI, at the same time building the platform for faster decision making and improved customer experiences.”
Air India will continue to accelerate its transformation journey, empowered by the new capabilities resulting from its complete movement to the cloud and the increased talent bandwidth available now to innovate rather than manage its own on-premise computational infrastructure. These would include the launch of several innovations in its customer-facing channels and in its employee experiences. These innovations will be powered by cloud capabilities in advanced data analytics and AI, such as Generative AI, that can now be embedded seamlessly all through the company’s applications.
6, Dec 2023
“Energy prices require to remain stable and predictable,” Hardeep Singh Puri at CNBC-TV18 India Business Leader Awards 2023
Mumbai | December 6, 2023: Energy prices are required to remain stable and predictable, said Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Hardeep Singh Puri amid the volatility in crude oil prices on account of supply cuts by oil-producing countries.
Speaking at CNBC-TV18 India Business Leader Awards (IBLA) 2023 on Saturday, Puri said the deepening of oil supply cuts by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies, or OPEC+, has led to plummeting of crude prices.
“With the current situation when half the world is in recession and the other half is flirting with recession, if oil prices go up then demand is going to drop,” the oil minister added.
On December 1, OPEC+ voluntarily agreed to cut oil production by nearly 1 million barrels a day by early 2024. After the announcement, crude oil prices fell as the move drew skepticism on the group’s ability to achieve the supply cuts target. The benchmark Brent crude fell to $82.83 a barrel, down 0.32 percent, on December 1, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) slipped 0.26 percent.
Minister Puri lauded the contribution of oil marketing companies (OMCs) for being “responsible corporate citizens” and bearing losses when crude prices had skyrocketed. He added that OMCs incurred losses of Rs 28,000 crore for LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) and the government provided subsidy of Rs 22,000 crore for their losses. The OMCs have again become profitable, he said.
The Indian refiners swung back to profit in the second quarter, posting a consolidated net profit of Rs 27,295 crore in the second quarter of FY24.
The Indian Business Leader Awards (IBLA), organized by CNBC-TV18, is dedicated to recognizing and applauding exceptional leaders and visionaries in India’s business domain. The platform serves as a prestigious forum for prominent business figures, policymakers,
and influencers, fostering recognition and appreciation for excellence throughout the Indian business community.
6, Dec 2023
K-tech center of excellence on Machine Intelligence & Robotics at IIIT-B Launches K-VLSI Skilling Program
Bangalore December 6, 2023: Shri Priyank Kharge, Honorable IT & BT Minister, Karnataka Government launched the K-VLSI program at the Bangalore tech summit.
Dr.Ekroop Caur, IAS, IT, BT & ST Secretary to Karnataka Government, Shri. Darshan H.V IAS, Managing Director, Smt. Champa E, General Manager, from the Department of Electronics Information Technology Biotechnology and Science & Technology, Government of Karnataka, Prof. Debabrata Das, Director, IIIT-Bangalore along with the team of faculty members were present at the occasion.
Electronics System Design and Manufacturing is a growth sector for Karnataka. The availability of skilled resources is a critical impediment to the growth of this sector. A specialized VLSI skilling program to develop a talent pool that can be First Day First Hour ready to be employed is much needed for the industry. After much deliberations with all the stakeholders from industry bodies like IESA, SFAL, industry veterans, and KDEM, IIIT-B has designed a program that is a combination of academic rigour and application focus.
Structure & Duration of the Program:
K-VLSI is an Advanced Certificate Program in VLSI design for 6 months with a focus on theoretical and practical knowledge with extensive exposure to industry-relevant projects and 3 3-month internships with the Industry. The theoretical input will be full-time classroom sessions by IIIT-B faculty and the practical knowledge with hands-on tools will be delivered by IIIT-B’s training partner Futurewiz. Some of the important elements of VLSI including System design, system verification, and embedded systems will be covered in the course. Engineering graduates in electrical, electronics, and computer science disciplines are eligible to apply.
Prof. Madhav Rao, IIIT-Bangalore who is spearheading the course says, “We felt the need to start this programme as there is a dearth of manpower in semiconductor companies. Through this course, we aim to make students semi-conductor designing industry ready.”
6, Dec 2023
The Sleep Company Secures INR 184 Crore In Series C Funding As It Unveils 60th Store In India
Mumbai, December 06, 2023: The Sleep Company, Asia’s first and only provider of SmartGRID technology for unparalleled sleep and sitting solutions, continues to dominate the comfort tech industry as the fastest-growing omnichannel brand. A laser-focused commitment to meeting customer needs has led to the company’s remarkable 2.6x revenue growth in the last 12 months. In a resounding show of support, existing investors Premji Invest and Fireside Ventures have confirmed a fresh infusion of capital totalling INR 184 crore in Series C, this comes merely 12 months after their previous investments. As this funding is put into action, The Sleep Company is also proud to launch its 60th store in India, solidifying its offline presence to a total of 20 cities across the country.
Mastering the omnichannel strategy, The Sleep Company has consistently achieved a series of milestones. In just 12 months of venturing into retail and omnichannel, it secured a balanced revenue distribution—50% from offline and 50% from online channels. In a landscape where many companies are scaling down, The Sleep Company continues to distinguish itself with a proud 3x increase in hiring compared to last year, signalling robust growth and an ambitious expansion trajectory.
The Series C funding round will further turbocharge this ongoing growth as the company aims to use this capital infusion to diversify product offerings, including an expansion of SmartGRID-based products in additional product categories. It will also energize marketing efforts to enhance brand visibility and ensure a seamless omnichannel experience for customers. Notably, The Sleep Company has ambitious plans to open a total of 100 stores in the next six months, reinforcing its Pan-India presence across Tier I and Tier II markets.
Priyanka Salot, Co-Founder, The Sleep Company said, “Our journey is defined by remarkable growth and expansion. We have witnessed an impressive 6x growth in two years, reaching an ARR of over INR 350 crores as of September 2023, a significant leap from 60 crores in November 2021. It’s a testament to the power of innovation, dedication, and our exceptional team. We are grateful for the unwavering support of our loyal customers who love our products and the trust of our steadfast investors who share our vision of reshaping the comfort tech industry.”
Harshil Salot, Co-Founder, of The Sleep Company commented, “I am happy to say that The Sleep Company today is the fastest-growing omnichannel brand in India. Our vision of making India sleep and sit better translates into everything we do. Thus we have designed our retail stores in a way wherein we try to educate the customers not just about SmartGRID but also about the importance of maintaining body posture, pressure points, etc. We have designed a ‘Sleep Lab’ through which we help customers to understand and in turn, take the right decision while purchasing a mattress. So far, we have had over 2 lakh happy customers who have shown trust in our products and we are grateful for their continued support. Together, The Sleep Company and its customers are redefining the landscape of peaceful sleep and comfortable sitting, embracing innovation one step at a time.
Varun Khandelwal, Principal of Investments at Premji Invest, said, “The Sleep Company has positioned itself as the fastest-growing omnichannel player in the sleep solutions industry, showcasing distinctive grid-based products and delivering an exceptional consumer experience through a highly capable management team. The company’s remarkable journey since 2019, marked by aggressive omnichannel growth and strong unit economics, has solidified our confidence in their capabilities. In line with our investment thesis of omnichannel across consumer brands, we are reaffirming our support to The Sleep Company by doubling down on our initial investment.”
Dipanjan Basu, Co-Founder & Partner at Fireside Ventures also commented on this latest round of funding, “At Fireside Ventures, we recognised the immense potential of The Sleep Company and in a year’s time, we are thrilled to see their exceptional growth trajectory, their drive towards a powerful omnichannel strategy and their consistent profitability. This all-round performance reinforced our confidence in them. It has therefore been an easy decision for us to support them in this financial round. We have full confidence in Priyanka and Harshil’s vision for the company and wish them continued success as they persist in disrupting and innovating the sleep and related industry.”
Beyond business objectives, The Sleep Company is dedicated to fostering employee ownership through ESOPs and thus nurturing a committed team, ensuring comprehensive growth. This commitment extends to the creative expansion of its innovative SmartGRID technology, now including accessories like seat cushions, back cushions, neck massager pillows, and the newly launched luxe motorized recliner sofas.
6, Dec 2023
Abbott Launches FreeStyle LibreLink Mobile App for People Who Use FreeStyle Libre ® System in India
• App enables people with diabetes who use Abbott’s FreeStyle Libre system to monitor their glucose levels to view their data directly on their smartphone.
• People can use FreeStyle LibreLink to seamlessly share their information with healthcare professionals through LibreView and with caregivers through a separate LibreLinkUp app
• FreeStyle LibreLink app is available across India for compatible iPhone and Android smartphones
Bangalore, India, 6 December 2023 — Abbott, the global healthcare leader, announced the launch of its digital health tool, the FreeStyle LibreLink app in India. The mobile application will allow people who use the FreeStyle Libre system to measure their glucose to now get their readings on their mobile phones anytime, anywhere without the pain of pricking. 1 By launching an integrated FreeStyle Libre digital platform, Abbott aims to empower people to better manage their diabetes through easy monitoring, easy insights, and easy connection. The mobile app is available to work on compatible iPhone and Android smartphones.
The FreeStyle LibreLink app enables people with diabetes to see their glucose data in real-time on their smartphones, and easily share the information with their doctors and caregivers. The mobile app uses near-field communication (NFC) technology to transfer glucose data from the sensor to the mobile app, allowing people to help track eight-hour glucose history, and real-time trend patterns to manage food, insulin use, medication, and exercise on their smartphone. This eliminates the need to use a separate reader for glucose monitoring.
Speaking on the launch, Kalyan Sattaru, general manager of Abbott’s Diabetes Care Business in South Asia said, “People living with diabetes experience significant burden as they face a multitude of tasks to effectively manage their diabetes. FreeStyle LibreLink app seamlessly integrates with the FreeStyle Libre sensor, the world’s No.1 continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) used by more than 5 million people with diabetes globally. 2 At Abbott, we are committed to ensuring our FreeStyle Libre technology not only simplifies the daily routines for people living with diabetes but also empowers them to manage their diabetes more effectively.”
Adding, Dr. Manoj Chawla, Senior Diabetologist said, “The ability to automatically receive glucose information on real-time basis can facilitate easier diabetes management for people with diabetes and their caregivers. New diabetes technology will pave the way for precise and informed decision-making.”
People using FreeStyle LibreLink can share information with their healthcare professionals and caregivers through LibreView and LibreLinkUp, digital health tools that are also part of the FreeStyle Libre platform:
- LibreView is a secure, cloud-based diabetes management system that enables patient to share their glucose insights with their healthcare provider helping them take timely intervention.
- LibreLinkUp is a mobile app for parents and caregivers, allowing them to easily check glucose history and trends for a child, elderly parent or loved ones managing diabetes.
People using the FreeStyle LibreLink app have access to the latest updates and new features in comparison to the FreeStyle Libre reader. This includes a larger, high-resolution display, text-to-speech capabilities for glucose readings (when enabled), and data shared automatically through the app without the need to upload it manually. While the app can replace the reader, the two can also be used in combination with each other.
6, Dec 2023
GoTo and Intel Expand Collaboration with First-to-Market Native Integration of Intel vPro® with Intel® Endpoint Management Assistant for GoTo’s LogMeIn Rescue
India, December 6, 2023 – GoTo, the company making IT management, support, and business communications easy, today announced a new native integration for its LogMeIn Rescue product with Intel® Endpoint Management Assistant (EMA) for Intel vPro®-based devices. GoTo is the first to offer native integration with Intel, allowing customers to leverage the Intel® EMA capabilities directly within Rescue. Now, IT teams have centralized remote support, management, and reporting for Intel vPro®-based devices in Rescue, providing a uniquely fast, easy, and streamlined experience without needing to toggle between multiple applications.
The new integration further enhances Rescue’s support for Intel vPro®, which allows IT teams to access and support remote out-of-band devices that are not running on the company’s operating system. Managing out-of-band devices typically requires IT to navigate multiple solutions, workflows, and varying levels of end-user involvement. Now however, agents can take advanced actions like connecting to the BIOS, troubleshooting OS and device driver corruption, updating system settings or firmware, and more – even if devices are powered off – all natively from the Rescue Technician Console. Moreover, all support actions automatically funnel into Rescue’s reporting system, giving IT leaders a simple, centralized view of activities and results.
“Intel’s collaboration with GoTo continues to deliver industry-leading manageability technologies to our joint customers to support an ever-expanding remote workforce and an array of endpoint devices. Using the newest Intel vPro® Platform technology native integration with LogMeIn Rescue, IT teams will experience heightened productivity through a streamlined, single-pane-of-glass operation that includes robust out-of-band support capabilities, beyond the firewall, regardless of their physical location,” said Carla Rodriguez, Intel Vice President, and General Manager of Client Software Ecosystem, Client Computing Group.
“We worked closely with Intel to develop the new Intel vPro® API following our initial Rescue integration earlier this year, and today we’re taking the next step in our collaboration,” said Olga Lagunova, Chief Technology Officer at GoTo. “With Intel vPro® natively paired with the enterprise remote support toolset of Rescue, which includes powerful remote control, system diagnostics, scripting, and more, we’ve made it fast and seamless to solve any problem from a single solution. Customers around the world already know and trust Rescue and Intel – and this is just the beginning. We’re excited to continue expanding our collaboration in the months and years ahead.”
“Wipro is thrilled with this collaboration between GoTo and Intel. We have a longstanding relationship with GoTo and have been using Rescue over the years to deliver differentiated value to our customers. Similarly, Intel vPro® and Intel® EMA capabilities have helped us address a number of cumbersome support situations and elevate the support experience,” said Satish Yadavalli, Vice President and global Practices Head – FullStride Cloud at Wipro. “This integration will further simplify employee support services as IT will no longer be needing to swap systems and reorient to new screens for different issues. Now we can solve all of our support problems within Rescue in a unified, hassle-free manner.”
6, Dec 2023
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham announces conclusion of Phase 2 Ph.D. Admissions for 2024 intake
Mumbai, 6th December 2023 – Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, a prestigious institution ranked among the top 10 universities in India by NIRF 2023 and among the world’s top 50 universities according to THE Impact 2023 Rankings, announces the closing of Phase 2 Ph.D. admissions on December 17th, 2023.
At Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Ph.D. students benefit from collaborating with globally top-ranked scientists as their advisors, gaining access to world-class infrastructure and resources to achieve their research objectives. The program provides unique opportunities, including addressing global challenges, collaborating with international experts in academia and industry, and receiving substantial support through stipends and research activities, totaling over 20 lakhs. The institution offers diverse research
opportunities spanning Engineering, Artificial Intelligence and computing, Arts, Humanities and commerce, Physical Sciences, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Management, and Life Sciences and medical Sciences.
The university with robust collaborations with prestigious international institutions such as the University of Buffalo, New York, University of New Mexico, Vrije University, Amsterdam, University of L’Aquila (Italy), and BarcelonaTech (UPC), Politecnico Di Milano, Italy, among others. These partnerships open avenues for academic growth and collaboration, offering dual-Ph.D. programs, cotutelle degrees, and integrated Ph.D. programs.
Prospective candidates have the option to join any of the Amrita campuses located in Amaravati, Amritapuri, Bengaluru, Coimbatore, Chennai, Kochi, Mysuru, and Faridabad. Eligible applicants, holding a minimum of 60% in their postgraduate degrees, can apply. The selection process involves a Written Test and an Interview evaluation.
The closing date for Phase 2 Ph.D. admissions at Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham University is set for December 17th, 2023. Interested individuals are invited to submit their applications through the official website at https://amrita.edu/PhD@2023.
6, Dec 2023
Air India Express Elevates Guest Experience With The Launch Of Vista Vip Fares On New Multi-Class Configuration Aircraft
Bangalore, 6th December 2023: Air India Express announces the introduction of Vista VIP fares, with spacious seats with extra legroom on routes operated by the airline’s latest addition to its fleet, the state-of-the-art Boeing 737-8 aircraft.
With a commitment to providing an elevated travel experience, Vista VIP offers an array of features that enhance guest comfort and convenience. Guests booking Vista VIP fares will enjoy spacious seats with extra legroom, an increased baggage allowance of 40 Kg on international flights and 25 Kg on domestic flights, delectable Gourmair hot meals, and the convenience of Xpress Ahead priority services.
Vista VIP fares are now available for booking on Air India Express’s award-winning app and website (airindiaexpress.com), as well as other major booking channels. Additionally, guests booked on other fares have the flexibility to upgrade to Vista VIP seats through the call centre, at the airport, or once on board with an upgrade fee.
Air India Express, with a fleet of 57 aircraft comprising 29 Boeing 737s and 28 Airbus A320s, operates over 300 daily flights, covering 30 domestic and 14 international destinations. The airline’s recent brand refresh centered around the theme ‘Fly as You Are,’ underscores its commitment to digitally empowered personalization, offering a range of amenities such as Gourmair hot meals, comfortable seating, AirFlix in-flight entertainment, and exclusive loyalty benefits.
