Archives February 2024

New Delhi: In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the significance of emotional and mental well-being has never been more pronounced. As we navigate through these challenging times, it becomes increasingly apparent that addressing the holistic health of individuals requires an integration of both scientific understanding and spiritual nourishment. It is in this fusion that we find the true essence of healing.

In our country, the resurgence of faith in Sanatan Dharma serves as a testament to the innate human inclination towards spirituality, especially in times of adversity. The inauguration of the Ram Mandir stands as a monumental symbol of this spiritual reawakening, emphasizing the deep-rooted connection between faith and resilience.

Dr. Manmit Kumarr, a revered Spiritual Master and the visionary Founder of Soul Miracles, embodies this synthesis of science and spirituality. Recognizing the crucial role of emotional and mental health in overall well-being, Dr. Kumarr has pioneered initiatives that bridge the gap between ancient wisdom and modern understanding.

Among these initiatives is the annual “Kali Darbar,” a sacred gathering dedicated to honoring the divine feminine energy of Maa Kali. Now in its seventh year, Kali Darbar serves as a sanctified space for healing within the serene surroundings of Central Park Resorts in Gurgaon. Here, individuals from diverse backgrounds converge to experience the transformative power of spiritual communion.

The divine feminine, embodied by Maa Kali, exudes healing energies that transcend physical ailments and reach the depths of mental and emotional anguish. Through rituals, meditation, and collective prayer, participants immerse themselves in a realm of profound healing, finding solace and renewal amidst life’s trials.

It is imperative that we recognize the inseparable bond between faith and healing. In embracing spirituality, we tap into a wellspring of hope and resilience that sustains us through the darkest of times. Science may provide us with the tools to understand the mechanics of the universe, but it is spirituality that nourishes the soul and imbues life with meaning and purpose.

As we journey forward, let us heed the wisdom of both science and spirituality, for in their unity lies the path to true healing and wholeness. Let us cultivate a deeper understanding of faith as the backbone of hope, embracing its transformative power to uplift and unite us all.

Mumbai, 14 February 2024- Tata AIA Life Insurance (Tata AIA), one of India’s leading Life Insurance Companies, unveiled a campaign featuring Atul Khatri and Kenny Sebastian, two of India’s foremost stand-up comedians. With their trademark brand of intelligent and subtle humour, the duo educates consumers about the importance and key benefits to avail when it comes to life insurance solutions. They also convey effectively on how Tata AIA Term insurance plans can protect consumers to enable them to lead a fikar-free life.

Many consumers are aware of term insurance as a means to financial security, however many fail to take full advantage of such solutions, being unaware of the benefits, e.g. 40+ critical illness coverage or whole life cover (up to 100 years). Some consumers believe that term insurance goes waste if the policy holder survives the policy period. What they don’t know is that some term insurance plans, including Tata AIA, return more than 100% of premium paid, when a policyholder survives the term insurance coverage period. Further, consumers are often poorly advised on how much coverage they need, to protect themselves and their loved ones ending up with inadequate coverage (<10X of their annual income).

Tata AIA’s new campaign focuses on these less-known facts, highlighting them in a humorous way. It thus breaks away from the traditional insurance communication that is serious and dry. Instead, the brand communicates the message in an educational and entertaining way.

Commenting on the campaign, Girish Kalra, Chief Marketing Officer, Tata AIA Life Insurance, said, “At Tata AIA, we are committed to empower consumers and equip them with the right financial advice and insurance solutions. To communicate these important aspects, we thought of going unconventional and partnered with Atul Khatri and Kenny Sebestian, two outstanding names in the stand-up comedy world. We are sure that our campaign and consumer-centric life insurance solutions will enable our consumers to be ‘har waqt ke liye taiyaar’ and lead a ‘fikar-free’ life.”

The task of creating the campaign was entrusted to the digital marketing and advertising agency, Admatazz. Sharing his experience Yash Chandiramani, Founder and Chief Strategist, said, “We had an absolute blast conceptualizing and executing this campaign. The brief was very clear and based on strong insights. We had to unlearn a lot of advertising for this campaign as the films had to be as native as possible. It’s exciting to see a life insurance brand take a not-so-serious route in India and we are even more excited to be playing a part in it.”

Protection focused products such as Term insurance go a long way in financially securing one’s loved ones in the absence of the chief bread earner. In the Retail protection segment, Tata AIA has continued to strengthen its leadership position. The Company registered a market share of 28% in retail sum assured amongst private insurers for the third quarter ending December 2023, making it the #1 in this category.

Further Tata AIA has been able to gain continuous consumer trust, measured through Persistency ratio i.e. % consumers who choose to renew their policy every year. This is measured at yearly intervals i.e. 13th, 25th, 37th, 49th etc. months, wherein Tata AIA ranks No. 1 across these cohorts.

To disburse the claim amount quickly and without hassle, Tata AIA provides multiple channels for claim intimation. It also keeps the claimant informed at every stage of the claim process. Consumers can register claims through various platforms and touchpoints: Claims section of tataaia.com Website, WhatsApp, Branch Visits, Email, and Toll-Free Customer Care telephone.

Monthly Performance: February 2024
Production: The total production of Passenger Vehicles1 , Three Wheelers, Two Wheelers, and Quadricycle in January 2024 was 23,28,329 units

 Domestic Sales:
• Passenger Vehicles2 sales were 3,93,074 units in January 2024.
• Three-wheeler sales were 53,537 units in January 2024
• Two-wheeler sales were 14,95,183 units in January 2024.
1 BMW, Mercedes, JLR, Tata Motors & Volvo Auto data are not available.
2 BMW, Mercedes, JLR & Volvo Auto data are not available. Tata Motors Domestic Sales data included only in this document.
Commenting on sales data of January 2024, Mr Vinod Aggarwal, President, SIAM said, “Passenger Vehicle sales have remained resilient led by positive consumer sentiments, while Two-Wheeler Segment witnessed good growth in January as well, as the rural market continues to recover. Three-Wheeler segment has also performed better. Though the Commercial Vehicle Sector did not grow in January 2024, it is likely to see good offtake in next 2 months of this financial year. Government’s strategic focus on mobility in Budget 2024, including strengthening the electric vehicle ecosystem, especially the charging infra and public transport, should help in continuing with the overall growth momentum for the Auto Sector.”

 Commenting on January 2024 performance, Mr Rajesh Menon, Director General, SIAM said, “Passenger Vehicles again saw highest ever sales in the month of January posting a growth of 14%, as compared to the previous year. Three-Wheeler sales grew by 9% during January 2024 while Two-Wheelers posted a good growth of 26% in January 2024, compared to January 2023. Passenger Vehicles and Three-Wheelers continue to post their highest ever sales till date, in FY 24, for the period April to January.”

Mumbai, (14/02/23): C Com Digital, which recently completed 25 years in business, is a full-service Techno Digital Marketing Agency with a global footprint. C Com Digital has won the mandate of VIDHYOU, which has unveiled its ground-breaking range of skincare products tailored for individuals with sensitive, compromised, and distressed skin, including Cancer Patients and Survivors impacted by Cancer Treatment. This pioneering collection marks a significant breakthrough in India, addressing the unique skincare needs of those undergoing cancer treatment and navigating life after survivorship. Developed in collaboration with oncologists, dermatologists, onco-nurses, and patients, these innovative products are designed to alleviate specific skin concerns associated with cancer treatment and its aftermath.

 Speaking on this ground-breaking initiative, Chetan Bangera, founder and partner of VIDHYOU, emphasized the brand’s holistic approach to supporting cancer patients and survivors. “VIDHYOU isn’t just about products; it’s about the promise of a New Normal for cancer patients and survivors,” said Bangera. “We were looking for an agency that could work as our partner and create an impactful digital presence that resonates with our target audience. We are glad to partner with C Com Digital.”

 C Com Digital’s MD and Founder, Chandan Bagwe, welcomes VIDHYOU Skincare, a brand serving cancer patients, to their portfolio. He emphasizes their “partnership” approach, managing VIDHYOU’s online presence and reaching their target audience through diverse digital channels like social media, e-commerce platforms, and even WhatsApp marketing. This multi-channel strategy aims to build brand awareness and sales digitally.

 With a presence in India, Dubai, and USA, C Com Digital offers holistic services to its clients by helping them develop AI-powered digital marketing strategies to achieve desired personalization and impact. C Com Digital specializes in building brand narratives. It provides superior business-driven marketing communication support to its clientele across industries such as pharma, healthcare, food and beverage, edu-tech, retail, and e- commerce.

New Delhi, February 14th, 2024 – ASUS India, Republic of Gamers (ROG), the world’s No.1 Gaming Laptop brand, proudly announced the groundbreaking launch of three stellar additions to its gaming arsenal in India today. Leading the charge with the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16, the first-ever ROG laptop by the brand in the Indian market to feature an OLED panel with VRR support. Moreover, ASUS ROG also introduced the refreshed Strix Scar 16/ Scar 18 and the power-packed ROG G22 gaming desktop, all designed to elevate the competitive edge of gamers with state-of-the-art technology to deliver top-of-the-line gaming and content creation experiences. Packed with power, performance, and style, the Zephyrus G16 features the cutting-edge AI-Ready Intel Core Ultra 9 processor paired with NVIDIA RTX 4000 Series, whereas the refreshed Strix Scar 16/Scar 18 boasts the latest 14^th gen Intel Core processor. After a successful global unveiling at the CES 2024, the laptops are now all set to take the Indian gaming industry by storm.

The ROG Zephyrus G16 and ROG Strix Scar 16/ Scar 18 will be available at the starting price of INR 189,990 and INR 289,990 respectively, both via online and offline channels. Moreover, the first 50 customers purchase the ROG Strix Scar 16/ Scar 18 and Zephyrus G16 from ASUS e-shop or ASUS Stores starting 14^th February to 20^th February, will stand a chance to get their hands on a complimentary TUF Gaming H3 Gaming Headset at an additional charge of just INR 1 by registering the device on the MyASUS App. To redeem this offer, customers can visit asuspromo.in  within three days of purchase.

Commenting on the launch, Arnold Su, Vice President, Consumer and Gaming PC, System Business Group, ASUS India, said, “ASUS ROG has been at the forefront of the gaming laptop revolution in India and our latest innovation offers excellent gaming performance, a new ultra durable design, and an immersive visual experience bringing a new level of performance to gamers and the gaming community. The lineup also comes infused with the latest technological marvels. The newly launched Zephyrus G16 and Strix Scar 16/Scar 18 will empower pro gamers with a decisive edge and offer casual players an entirely new realm of gameplay experiences. We are confident that our newly launched devices will continue to enhance the gaming journey for consumers across India”.

ROG Zephyrus G16

The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 stands as a testament to ASUS ROG’s commitment to innovation and pushing the boundaries of gaming technology. Equipped with up to a stunning OLED panel with an ultra-fast 0.2ms response time, this powerhouse of a laptop delivers unparalleled visual fidelity, and razor-sharp details that bring games to life like never before. It is AI-Ready with up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 Processor which is paired with up to an NVIDIA RTX 4090 Laptop GPU with a MUX Switch and Advanced Optimus support. The panel features a remarkable 2.5K resolution, providing exceptional pixel density on its 16-inch screen, and a 240Hz refresh rate, ensuring a smooth appearance. The laptop features some of ROG’s best cooling technologies, including 2nd Generation Arc Flow Fans and a redesigned high-efficiency air outlet. This incredible machine catering to content creators and gamers is truly thin-and-light, weighing in starting at just 1.85kg. Paired with a 90Wh battery that supports fast charging from 0-50% in just 30 minutes. The Zephyrus G16 is the ultimate content creation, gaming and productivity powerhouse, also breaking the mold, debuting the Slash Lighting array with a bold streak across the lid, an evolution of the elegance and individuality that makes the Zephyrus lineup so unique.

ROG Strix Scar 16/ Scar 18

When it comes to apex gaming and productivity, the 2024 Strix Scar 16/ Scar 18 is the horsepower you need to take it up a notch. With the distinct ROG style sharp chassis designs, unique RGB accents, and a distinct gaming vibe, a Strix laptop will always stand out from the crowd. The Strix Scar 16/ Scar 18 comes in two options, with RTX 4090 and RTX 4080 models and equipped with the latest Intel® Core i9 Processor 14900HX and up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX™ 4090 Laptop GPU with a max TGP of 175W. The latest powerhouse can tackle the most demanding games with better gaming performance and improved efficacy in multi-threaded applications. It also comes with a dedicated MUX Switch with support for NVIDIA Advanced Optimus, enabling true power of the GPU. With support for up to 64GB of DDR5 RAM and up to 4TB of PCIe Gen4x4 storage, the Scar 16/ Scar 18 can easily game, stream, and create content all at the same time without breaking a sweat. It also offers an incredible 16-inch Nebula HDR Display with 240Hz refresh rate, 100% DCI-P3 coverage, and a staggering 1100 nits of peak brightness for a stellar HDR gaming and viewing experience. As a result of the ROG TriFan technology, the CPU, GPU, VRMs and VRAM stay cool during lengthy gaming sessions, while the Scar 16/Scar 18 equipped with its 90Wh battery is ready to go the distance.

ROG Gaming G22 Desktop

The all-new ROG G22 features up to an Intel® Core™ i7-14700F​ processor and paired with an NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 4070​ graphics card which can handle the latest and greatest games. Stream, communicate, and record the gameplay with ease thanks to up to 32GB DDR5 RAM. As a compact 10L desktop, the ROG G22 can happily sit on even the smallest desks. The chassis is designed to be compact enough for a boutique experience with multiple side panel options while offering full Aura Sync RGB compatibility. The design of the ROG G22 has received prestigious awards like the 2023 Red Dot Product Design and the 2023 Good Design Award. Along with it, the G22 uses indirect RGB lighting across the front panel. Paired with lighting control available via Aura Sync, you can customize exactly how your machine looks and feels. Dolby Atmos support ensures gamers get the most out of soundtracks and music, and Two-Way AI Noise Cancelation ensures clear communications in any scenario.

ASUS S501ME Desktop

Experience unmatched performance with the ASUS S501ME desktop, designed to handle any task with ease. Powered by a powerful 13th Gen Intel CPU, it effortlessly tackles everyday content creation, online learning and casual gaming with support for up to 64GB of upgradable RAM, ensuring lag-free multitasking.  Its sleek design, featuring 3D triangular patterns and intricate textures, adds a modern touch to any home or workspace.

Price and Availability

As Valentine’s Day is around the corner, the quest for the perfect gift takes center stage for those eager to convey their affection. Keeping this in mind, Philips has curated a perfect gift guide featuring the latest audio range, including headphones, soundbars, party speakers, and more, for your loved ones and all the music lovers out there.

This carefully curated guide addresses a diverse array of preferences and requirements. Whether your special someone is an audiophile with a discerning taste for pristine audio quality, an adventurous spirit in search of a robust and portable companion, or an individual who values the sophistication of elegant design, this Valentine’s Day Gifting Guide has something for everyone.

Philips TAH6506 Headphones

Reduce unwanted background noise on the go with these stylish wireless headphones equipped with internal mics in their ear cups. The internal mics effectively filter out the background noise one doesn’t want to hear. The wireless headphones feature the unique ‘Bluetooth multipoint’ capability, allowing them to connect to two Bluetooth devices simultaneously and providing the option to switch between them as needed. With an impressive 30 hours of playtime on a single charge and 25 hours with Active Noise Cancelling activated, these wireless headphones ensure a long-lasting audio experience. A full charge takes approximately 2 hours, and just a 15-minute charge gives an additional 2 hours of playback time. These wireless headphones stay with the user all day long, thanks to their mammoth battery offering. The headphones are priced at INR 11,999 and is available on Amazon at INR 4,699.

Philips TAB7007 Soundbar

The innovative Philips TAB7007 soundbar is equipped with advanced features to elevate users’ audio experiences. It boasts a 2.1CH wireless subwoofer, delivering a captivating multidimensional audio experience and an impressive dynamic sound output of up to 240W. The soundbar achieves a genuine surround sound atmosphere with its dual front-firing speakers, further enhanced by the incorporation of Dolby Digital Plus technology. Connectivity options are abundant, allowing users to seamlessly pair devices via Bluetooth, tap into USB connections, utilize Optical-in and Audio-in ports, and leverage the power of Advanced HDMI ARC technology. The soundbar also features a robust Metal Grille, ensuring clear and easily audible sound whether users are enjoying a thriller on their TV or hosting a house party. The soundbar is priced at INR 21,990 and is available on Amazon at INR 12,899.

Philips TAB8967 soundbar

The Philips TAB8967 soundbar boasts a unique geometric design and a slim build, making it a convenient option to place under or beside your television. This soundbar comes with 5.1.2 channels, wireless subwoofer, 2 rear speakers, while having 780W sound output. The user gets the option to stream hi-res playlists from their mobile device using Chromecast, Apple AirPlay 2, or Bluetooth. Additionally, 4K pass-through allows for seamless connection of 4K HDR video sources without any loss of resolution, making it ideal for movies and gaming. This soundbar is priced at INR 52,990 and is available on Amazon at INR 38,990.

Philips TAB4218 Soundbar

Packed with festive features, this soundbar comes with 2.1 channels, a powerful subwoofer and 3 EQ modes, allowing your loved ones to tailor their audio experience to their unique preferences. With exceptional sound output at 120W, these speakers are expertly designed to elevate the enjoyment of favorite music, cinematic adventures, and all forms of entertainment during the festive season. As a versatile gift, the soundbar offers multiple connectivity options, including the optical and coaxial options, Aux in, Bluetooth for wireless pairing and direct playback from USB drives. The Optical and Coaxial In options further ensure compatibility with various digital audio sources, making this sound bar a comprehensive audio solution for the holiday season. The soundbar is priced at INR 13,490 and is available on Amazon at INR 9,490.

Philips Tower Speaker SPA9085

Make this Valentine’s Day an unforgettable one with the gift of immersive audio entertainment – the Philips Tower Speakers SPA9085. This speaker redefines the sound experience, delivering an exceptional output of 100W that captivates with unparalleled clarity and depth. Equipped with a 2.0 channel stereo this tower speaker can be controlled with a help of a remote making it perfect for music, movies, and all forms of entertainment, this speaker elevates the joy of the season. A standout feature is the inclusion of a robust wireless microphone, specially designed for Karaoke enthusiasts, adding a dynamic and interactive dimension to home entertainment. The tower speaker also offers a plethora of connectivity options, from Bluetooth for wireless streaming to USB playback, FM radio, optical connectivity and multiple input ports for microphones, laptops. Moreover, this tower speaker features a wooden frame, enhancing the overall acoustic experience by providing a more resonant and immersive sound quality. The speaker is priced at INR 19,990 and is available on Amazon at INR.16,139.

Philips SPA8000B Multimedia Speaker

Crafted with durability and an elegant matte finish, the Philips SPA8000B Multimedia Speaker combines aesthetic appeal and longevity. Offering versatile connectivity options, from wireless Bluetooth streaming to USB, audio-in, and SD card inputs, users can effortlessly connect their devices. With a robust 120W output and 5.1 channels, these speakers provide a cinematic audio experience at home. Operating at 230V, they cover a wide frequency range (20Hz-20KHz) for clarity across all audio levels. This speaker seamlessly integrates with various devices, including Computers, Gaming Consoles, Televisions, Smartphones, Tablets, DVD Players, and more, making them ideal for parties, movie nights or music sessions. Priced at INR 14,490, this speaker is available on Amazon at INR 9,849.

Philips SPA8170B Multimedia Speaker

Indulge in an immersive audio experience with the Philips SPA8170B/94 sound system, featuring 4.1 channels, a wireless subwoofer for powerful sound with 100W sound output. Whether it’s explosive rumbles or melodic tunes, this speaker enriches the movie viewing experience with depth and clarity. The built-in Aux connection expands your audio world, while versatile connectivity options, including Bluetooth and USB, ensure effortless enjoyment of your favorite tunes. This speaker is priced at INR 9,459 on Amazon.

Philips MMS8085B/94 2.1 Convertible Soundbar

Sleek yet sturdy, this speaker is built to add a touch of class to any setting. With a Bluetooth range of 10 meters or 30 feet in line of sight, it ensures seamless wireless connectivity. What sets this speaker apart is its convertible soundbar feature. It can be placed horizontally or stand on the floor, transforming into the perfect multimedia tower speaker system. This adaptability makes it an ideal choice for various setups. This multimedia speaker is compatible with any media, including wireless streaming via Bluetooth, USB, audio-in and SD card input. The system even boasts a built-in FM radio for added convenience. This speaker is priced at INR 10,990 and is available on Amazon at INR 8,079

Philips TAX5206 Party Speaker

Philips TAX5206 Party Speaker is claimed to deliver a maximum sound output of 160W through its two 8-inch woofers and an equal number of 2.5-inch tweeters. It features karaoke support and various functionalities such as echo control, vocal fader, voice changer, among others. Additionally, it includes a guitar input and a port to connect to an amplifier for a multi-speaker setup. It offers multiple connectivity options such as Bluetooth v5.0, USB slot and Audio In slot for an immersive listening experience. Other features include an LED display screen, party light effect, strobe lights, and a trolley design for portability. The party speaker is priced at INR 23,990 and is available on Amazon at INR 16,490.

Bengaluru, India — February 14, 2024 — Akamai Technologies (NASDAQ: AKAM), the cloud company that powers and protects life online, today unveiled plans to embed cloud computing capabilities into its massive edge network. Akamai’s Generalized Edge Compute (Gecko) advances Akamai’s strategy to be the cloud computing platform for companies that want to deliver better experiences by running workloads closer to users, devices, and sources of data.

Akamai’s move comes at an exciting juncture for the technology industry. In a worldwide study conducted in 2023, ClearPath Strategies found that two-thirds of IT decision-makers said their use of distributed cloud services is expected to increase over the next 12 months. More than one-third of respondents said the benefits of distributed cloud — including the ability to process and analyze AI and machine learning data quickly and efficiently — are mission critical to their IT strategy.

The new initiative is the latest move in Akamai’s multiyear strategy to become a key platform in enterprise multicloud environments. It is another step in the company’s vision for a new kind of cloud designed to meet the needs of modern applications that require higher performance, lower latency, and true global scalability that current cloud architectures were not built to provide.

Akamai has been conducting early trials of Gecko with several of its enterprise customers. The company anticipates that customers in AI inferencing, multiplayer gaming, and social and streaming media are best positioned to take advantage of the power of Gecko. Akamai sees future use cases in areas such as immersive retail, spatial computing, data analytics, and consumer and industrial IoT.

Current industry architectures treat cloud and edge networks separately. Gecko is designed to enable generalized compute to be deployed on top of Akamai’s existing worldwide edge network, taking advantage of existing tools, processes, and observability to provide a consistent experience across the entire continuum of compute from cloud to edge. Gecko will move heavier, traditional compute — usually confined to centralized data centers — to the edge of Akamai’s network. This will bring full-stack computing to hundreds of previously hard-to-reach locations, allowing customers to move workloads closer to their users.

By injecting cloud computing into places that traditional cloud providers have struggled to reach, developers will no longer have to think about building for the cloud or building for the edge. As developers demand more from their cloud and edge providers, Akamai’s plan is to unlock opportunities to innovate across the entire continuum of compute by driving the convergence necessary to put cloud computing power at the edge — convergence not possible before Gecko.

“Gecko is the most exciting thing to happen to the cloud in a decade,” said Dr. Tom Leighton, Akamai Co-Founder and CEO. “It’s the next phase of the roadmap toward a more connected cloud we laid out when we acquired Linode to add cost-effective, cloud-native computing capabilities to our portfolio. We began delivering on that roadmap with the launch of Akamai Connected Cloud and the rapid rollout of new core computing regions around the world. With Gecko, we’re furthering that vision by combining the computing power of our cloud platform with the proximity and efficiency of the edge, to put workloads closer to users than any other cloud provider. When we say we operate at planetary scale, this is what we mean.”

Akamai Connected Cloud: The World’s Most Distributed Cloud Platform

The scale of Akamai’s network, comprising 4,100 points of presence around the globe, makes Akamai Connected Cloud the world’s most distributed cloud platform. Akamai’s 25 years of experience managing massively distributed, fully automated, highly efficient, and exceptionally reliable networks puts it in a unique position among the world’s top cloud providers. Hyperscalers have dominated the market based on a decade-old centralized cloud model that emphasized scale-up compute power at the expense of reach. Smaller edge and CDN providers focused on scale-out reach in exchange for compute power. By adding Linode to its network and building out more core computing regions over the past year, Akamai has transformed Akamai Connected Cloud into the most distributed cloud computing platform on the planet. Akamai anticipates that the ability to harness the power of both the cloud and the edge will give it an advantage as the industry faces increasing demand to deliver better price performance, lower latency, and more robust security for applications and data, built and deployed across a wider continuum of compute. This advantage, combined with Akamai’s deep experience in distributed networking, is intended to give customers access to a more powerful, portable, easier-to-use, and lower-cost cloud.

“Akamai is delivering on the promise it made when it acquired Linode by quickly integrating compute into its security and delivery mix,” said Dave McCarthy, IDC, Research Vice President, Cloud and Edge Services. “What they’re now doing with Gecko is an example of the more distributed cloud world we’re heading toward, driven by demands to put compute and data closer to the edge.”

Akamai’s Gecko Roadmap: Putting Compute in Hard-to-Reach Locations

Akamai is rolling out a fast-paced, but pragmatic, roadmap for Gecko. In its first phase, announced today, Akamai aims to embed compute with support for virtual machines into 100 cities by the end of the year. Already, in 2024, Akamai has deployed new Gecko-architected regions in Hong Kong SAR; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Querétaro, Mexico; and Johannesburg, South Africa, as well as in cities without a concentrated hyperscaler presence, including Bogotá, Colombia; Denver, Colorado; Houston, Texas; Hamburg, Germany; and Marseille, France. Deployment of a 10th Gecko region in Santiago, Chile, is planned by the end of the first quarter. Beyond these 10 new Gecko locations and its existing 25 core computing regions, Akamai intends to add hundreds of cities to its global cloud computing footprint over the next several years.

In the second phase of Gecko, which is expected to kick off later this year, the company plans to add containers to the mix. In Gecko’s third phase, Akamai plans to add automated workload orchestration to make it easier for developers to build applications across hundreds of distributed locations, with the end goal of creating a consistent user experience between each core computing region and the edge

The University of Birmingham and the Indian Institute of Heritage have forged ties to create new opportunities in the fields of Heritage, Museums and Museology.

Dr. B. R. Mani, Vice-Chancellor, Indian Institute of Heritage and Professor Adam Tickell, Vice-Chancellor & Principal of the University of Birmingham, today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore a strategic partnership that will create impactful collaborations in the field of education and research. It will ensure participation of students and experts from both the institutions in various research projects as well student and academic exchange programmes Birmingham and Delhi.

Following today’s signing ceremony, Professor Adam Tickell commented: “The University of Birmingham is a global ‘civic’ university, and we are committed to forging meaningful education and research partnerships in India. Indian students occupy an important place in our global student community and our commitment to the country as a strategic partner.

“This exciting partnership with the Indian Institute of Heritage allows both institutions to build on our undoubted strengths across heritage, museums, and museology – creating wonderful opportunities for students and staff in both India and the UK.”

The University of Birmingham is renowned for its proficiency in heritage research, and its International Centre for Heritage stands as a global pioneer in adopting sustainable and innovative methods for heritage management practices and future strategies. The postgraduate programs offered by the Centre equip students with the necessary skills for pursuing careers in heritage, with numerous alumni holding prominent positions in museums and conservation agencies.

The University has established meaningful collaborations in India, supported by its India Institute, which seeks to enhance Birmingham’s presence, influence, and coherence in its involvement in the country.

Dr. B. R. Mani commented, “Indian Institute of Heritage is stepping towards making its global presence felt in the field of culture and heritage. This collaboration will result in creating informed and efficient heritage professionals and academicians in the future. It will be benefiting our students and staff. The Indian Institute of Heritage is focused on creating a comprehensive pedagogical framework with incorporation of modern working methodologies and technologies, work ethics, and other fundamentals.”

The Indian Institute of Heritage is a prominent cultural institution in India. It conducts research on India’s diverse heritage and provides outstanding educational opportunities that make significant contributions to the cultural, scientific, and economic aspects of India.

The institute offers M.A. and Ph.D. programs in various disciplines, including Museology, History of Art, Conservation, Archaeology, Paleography, Epigraphy, and Numismatics. These programs are enriched through close collaboration with the National Museum in New Delhi, involving engagement with galleries, exhibitions, storage and reserve collections, and the conservation laboratory.

Covestro is moving forward with the implementation of a unique process for producing the important chemical aniline entirely based on plant biomass instead of petroleum for the first time. At its Leverkusen site, the plastics manufacturer has now put a special pilot plant into operation for this purpose. Initially, large quantities of bio-based aniline will be produced there, so that the new technology can be further developed for production and transferred to an industrial scale. In the plastics industry, aniline is used to produce MDI, among other things. This in turn is used for insulating foam, for example, which saves energy in buildings and reduces the CO2 footprint. Covestro believes it will contribute to the promotion of the Circular Economy, which the company is aiming to become fully aligned with.

In attendance at the opening ceremony were North-Rhine Westphalia’s Deputy Minister President Mona Neubaur as well as Professor Walter Leitner, Managing Director of the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion in Mülheim an der Ruhr. Together with Dr. Thorsten Dreier, Chief Technology Officer of Covestro, they discussed the significance of bio-based raw materials for a sustainable chemicals industry of the future.

“Among other things, aniline is a key raw material for foams used to insulate buildings and refrigerators,” Dreier explained the importance of the basic chemical. “Until now, aniline has been produced from fossil raw materials such as crude oil. With our new process, we are helping to build a circular economy with a lower carbon footprint, and I am very proud that we have now succeeded in making the leap to the next technological level.”

Covestro developed the process, which has already won several awards, together with partners in the scientific community. Compared to conventional technology, the process leads to a greatly improved CO2 footprint of aniline. Covestro has made a seven-digit investment in the pilot plant at the Chempark Leverkusen.

“Sustainable innovations from North Rhine-Westphalia are making a decisive contribution to the transformation of Germany as a chemical location. The world’s first pilot plant for bio-based aniline is an impressive example of this,” emphasized Neubaur, who is also the State Minister for Economic Affairs, Industry, Climate Protection and Energy. “In order for the industry to continue on its path towards a circular economy and climate neutrality, it needs planning and investment security above all. As the state government, we are therefore working hard to ensure that North Rhine-Westphalia remains an attractive business location and becomes the first climate-neutral industrial region in Europe.”

Professor Leitner also underlined the importance of partnerships. “The project illustrates the cooperation between research-based industry and application-oriented science. There are many intersecting partnerships like these, especially in NRW. Germany needs more of this in order to assert itself as a research and technology location.”

Use of biotechnology

The project also clearly showcases the potential contribution of the industrial (“white”) biotechnology to plastics production: in the new process, a customized microorganism helps convert an industrial sugar extracted from plants into an intermediate product through fermentation. This takes place under milder and thus more environmentally compatible conditions than in conventional processes. In a second step, chemical catalysis of the intermediate product then creates the aniline with one hundred percent plant-based carbon.

The research on bio-based aniline will also continue to be funded by the German government. The German Ministry for Food and Agriculture is funding a follow-up project (Bio4PURDemo) from Covestro and partners, which started in March 2022 and runs until 2025.

The RWTH Aachen with the CAT Catalytic Center and the University of Stuttgart, as well as the technology transfer initiative located there, are also participating in the project.

Around six million tons of aniline are currently produced worldwide, with the volume growing by approximately three to five percent per year on average. With a production capacity of more than one million tons per year, Covestro is one of the leading aniline producers.

Imagine a world where the hum of engines and the smell of exhaust are things of the past. That’s the future electric vehicles (EVs) promise us. As it stands, our roads contribute about 12% of global carbon emissions, but the rise of EVs is key to turning this around and making transportation cleaner and greener.

But, to accelerate EV adoption, the sector needs to leverage a new type of fuel altogether: data.

EVs are game changers for infrastructure around the globe. With their growing numbers, they’re reshaping everything from city layouts to how we manage our electricity supply. The shift to EVs brings new challenges for our power grids and the need for innovative infrastructure to keep them running.

Here’s how data can help meet those challenges:

THE GRID

The central challenge that data can solve boils down like this: Lots of people tend to charge their EVs at the same time, placing sizable strain on electricity grids. But there are also periods when few people are charging their cars, meaning there is excess capacity in the grid. Is there a way to shift EV owners’ behaviors so they charge during times of lower demand?

“Intelligent EV charging is becoming a big area,” said IEEE Senior Member Kyri Baker. “Charging EVs at high power rates can strain infrastructure like transformers, so smart scheduling of charging can help extend the lifespan of these components.”

By looking at how customers have used power in the past, it’s possible to make the distribution of electricity – especially for charging things – more efficient. By figuring out the busiest times and places for electricity use, the people running the power grid can spread out the power usage better. This way, they can avoid overloading the system, save on energy costs, and make the whole network run smoother.

WHERE CAN YOU CHARGE?
Knowing how much battery power an EV has left is super useful, not just to individual drivers, but to all their fellow drivers on the road. That information, sometimes referred to as the vehicle’s state of charge, can tell an individual motorist how far they can go before they need to refuel. By collecting and analyzing state-of-charge data for many vehicles, a driver can know the best charging station to use to avoid a wait. And builders would also be able to use the data to understand the best place to build new charging stations.

“By analyzing the historical data of electric vehicle charging station use, like time of day, day of the week, seasonal variations, etc., it is possible to understand where the demand is high,” said IEEE Senior Member Marcio Andrey Teixeira. “The behavior of the data is another important factor because it provides insights like preferred charging times and popular routes. This information helps in the optimization of the placement of charging stations along frequently traveled routes.”

Learn more: Electric vehicles are here to stay, according to an editorial from IEEE Power & Energy Magazine. This means that the distribution grid and its stakeholders need to ensure that EVs and the grid work together. The Nov.-Dec. 2023 issue devotes numerous articles to the challenges of integrating EVs.