Mrunal Thakur makes her RED CARPET DEBUT AT CANNES WITH GREY GOOSE

Mrunal Thakur makes her RED CARPET

Delhi, 22nd May 2023: Mrunal Thakur known for her remarkable performances in both Bollywood and the digital space has made her dazzling debut at the Cannes Red Carpet with GREY GOOSE.. With their shared commitment to excellence, GREY GOOSE and Mrunal created an unforgettable experience at the festival.

To mark this momentous occasion amidst their remarkable journey, GREY GOOSE partnered with FALGUNI SHANE PEACOCK at the Cannes Film Festival to create Mrunal’s custom looks. Together, they presented a fashion-forward narrative that emphasized the importance of focusing on the journey rather than the destination.

Mrunal’s red carpet debut symbolized a pivotal movement in her career, reflecting her journey from India to the International Stage. Her undeniable talent, combined with GREY GOOSE’S timeless allure and Falguni Shane’s design sensibilities brought a touch of glamor and sophistication, setting a new standard for red carpet appearances.

Mrunal wore an ivory evening gown by Falguni Shane Peacock. The fitted gown has strategically placed cutouts that add a touch of modernity. Adding a whimsical touch to the gown, delicate frills cascade gracefully in the front. The gown is replete with a waist cape that falls elegantly over the waistline, creating drama and a visual impact. Exquisite and intricate silk threadwork embroidery, sequins, acrylic applique, and opaque stones adorn the bodice of the gown. An elegant trail with feathers completes the ensemble.

Speaking on the occasion Mrunal Thakur adds “ Representing GREY GOOSE at the Cannes festival and being a part of this iconic celebration of creativity has been an honor. Collaborating with Falguni Shane added an extra layer of excitement to my red carpet-appearance.

Speaking on the occasion Falguni Shane adds “For Mrunal (Thakur), we’ve created an ivory-hued evening gown that exudes sheer elegance and fashion-forward allure. The gown’s fitted silhouette and the strategically placed cutout’s accentuate Mrunal’s curves and adds a touch of sensuousness and modernity to the look. These artfully crafted cutouts reveal just the right amount of skin, creating a tantalising balance between sensuality and refined charm. The gown celebrates Mrunal’s grace and sophistication. It pays homage to the country’s heritage, showcasing the unparalleled craftsmanship and attention to detail that have been perfected over generations,”

Taj City Centre, Gurugram Commits to Sustainability with Launch of EV Charging Station and On-Site Bottling Plant

New Delhi,22nd May 2023 Taj City Centre, Gurugram, a part of the Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL), has announced the introduction of an Electric Vehicle (EV) charging station and an on-site bottling plant. This initiative stems from the shared commitment of IHCL and HB Estate Developers Ltd. to promote sustainability and reduce the hotel’s environmental impact.

The demand for EVs has witnessed a substantial rise due to the Indian government’s decision to prohibit diesel cars in major cities nationwide by 2027, coupled with the domestic EV market’s remarkable growth at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 49% between 2022 and 2023. In response to this trend, Taj City Centre, Gurugram has installed two EV charging points equipped with 7.4 KW DC chargers.

Furthermore, the hotel has taken an additional step towards environmental stewardship by installing a high-capacity bottling plant capable of producing 500 bottles per hour. This measure has effectively eliminated the usage of single-use plastic bottles, thereby reducing the carbon footprint generated by guests during their stays.

Vijay Sehgal, the Director of Engineering at Taj City Centre Gurugram, remarked, “As custodians of Indian hospitality, the team at Taj City Centre Gurugram remains committed to investing in a more accessible and sustainable future.” He further added, “We are delighted to launch these initiatives, aligning with our dedication to embracing greener practices and meeting the growing expectations of environmentally conscious guests.”

The launch of the EV charging station and on-site bottling plant is in line with the hotel’s mission to establish and expand its own sustainable ecosystem, driven by the legacy of IHCL and the inherent values of Paathya.

Tata Hitachi announces its First Edition of Annual Financiers’ Summit and Awards Show – Synergie 2023

Tata Hitachi announces its First Edition

Mumbai 22nd May 2023  Tata Hitachi, a leading provider of Construction and Mining Equipment, announced its First Edition of the Annual Financiers’ Summit and Awards Show – Synergie 2023 at ITC Maratha, Mumbai.

Synergie 2023 – a Summit and Award Show for Financiers – gives Tata Hitachi a forum to thank Finance Partners and recognize their efforts by rewarding top performers. It also provides a unique platform to engage and co-create better financial solutions for our esteemed customers.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Sandeep Singh, Managing Director Tata Hitachi said, “It gives me great pleasure to host Synergie 2023 – the First of an Annual Summit to felicitate our Finance Partners. Financiers are an important stakeholders in our Construction Equipment ecosystem.

We believe that this summit will help further strengthen our relationship with our Finance Partners and help us to continue to grow and innovate.”

5 Players in the Booming Chatbot Market Expected to Hit USD 15.5 Billion by 2028

The chatbot market is experiencing rapid growth, fueled by the advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and the rising demand for personalized customer interactions. Projections indicate that the market is set to reach an impressive USD 15.5 billion by 2028. In this ever-evolving landscape, it’s crucial to keep an eye on the top AI conversational brands that are reshaping the chatbot industry and revolutionizing customer engagement. These innovative players are leveraging AI technologies to deliver seamless and interactive experiences, transforming the way businesses interact with their customers.

Google Dialogflow:

Google Dialogflow is a powerful AI conversational platform that enables developers to build and deploy chatbots across multiple channels. With advanced natural language understanding (NLU) capabilities and integrations with Google Cloud services, Dialogflow empowers businesses to create intelligent and context-aware chatbots.

Haptik:

Haptik is a leading AI conversational platform that specializes in chatbot development and virtual assistant solutions. Their platform leverages natural language processing and machine learning to enable businesses to build intelligent and context-aware chatbots that can provide personalized customer experiences across various industries.

IBM Watson Assistant:

IBM Watson Assistant is an AI-powered conversational platform that leverages natural language processing and machine learning to enable businesses to build and deploy chatbots and virtual assistants. With its extensive capabilities, Watson Assistant enables organizations to provide personalized and interactive customer experiences.

Amazon Lex:

Amazon Lex is a chatbot-building service offered by Amazon Web Services (AWS). It uses deep learning algorithms to understand and interpret natural language, allowing developers to create conversational interfaces for applications and devices. Amazon Lex integrates seamlessly with other AWS services, enabling businesses to leverage the power of the cloud.

Microsoft Bot Framework:

Microsoft Bot Framework provides a comprehensive set of tools and services for building and deploying intelligent chatbots. With its wide range of development options, including SDKs and frameworks, Microsoft Bot Framework empowers developers to create conversational agents that can interact with users across multiple platforms.

Hoopr Adds 1 Lakh Users Since Launch, Redefines Copyright Safe Music Sourcing

Hoopr Adds

20th May 2023 Mumbai: Hoopr.ai, a leading music tech company, announced that it has reached a major milestone with the addition of 1 Lakh users since its official launch in July 2022. These users include content creators, filmmakers, enterprises, agencies, broadcasters, and brands from all over the 28 states and 8 union territories of India. The platform, which was designed to address the challenges faced by India’s 80mn+ content creators in sourcing copyright-safe music for their videos, has quickly become a go-to resource for creators across the country.

“We are thrilled to have hit this milestone so quickly,” said Gaurav Dagaonkar, Co-founder & CEO of Hoopr.ai. “It’s a testament to the demand for our platform and the effectiveness of our approach to providing copyright safe music for content creators. We’re proud to be helping creators to focus on what they do best – creating amazing content – without having to worry about copyright issues.”

Hoopr’s co-founder and CMO, Meghna Mittal added, “When we started building Hoopr, we envisioned it as a platform that will become a big part of any creator’s journey. We are excited and proud of the fact that more than a lakh creators including celebrities such as Ranveer Brar and Ashish Vidyarthi have chosen to use our product. Going forward, we see millions of creators using Hoopr as they syndicate and monetise their videos across platforms. At the same time, the music on Hoopr is of tremendous value to broadcasters, OTT platforms and UGC content platforms.”

Hoopr’s platform provides creators with access to a vast library of copyright safe music tracks that can be used in their videos without fear of infringing on copyright laws. The platform has built a library comprising of thousands of tracks made by established as well up and coming musicians from across India. The music includes songs in various vernacular Indian languages apart from English as well as sound effects actually recorded in places such as the banks of the Ganges, local markets in India, wildlife across India, etc.

“We have built an exclusive library powered by the largest network of independent artists and music producers across the country” added Dagaonkar. “For video creators, business and platforms, accessing high-quality, copyright safe Indian music is now easy and affordable without burning a hole in their pockets or worrying about lawsuits. We’re excited to continue growing our user base and contributing to India’s burgeoning video economy.”

Some well-known creators using Hoopr include Ranveer Brar, Ashish Vidyarthi, Taniya Khanijow, and others along with brands such as Bharat24, New Jagran Media, etc.

Toyota Kirloskar Motor Ramps-up Production with Third shift operations

Toyota

Bangalore,20th May 2023- In line with its customer-centric approach and commitment to meeting the evolving market needs, Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM), has announced the commencement of three-shift operations at its manufacturing facility in Bidadi from the month of May, 2023 backed by the rising demand for its existing portfolio of products and its new launches in 2022.

Three shift operations commencement is set to boost the plant’s production output by over 30% and strategically meet the strong booking numbers for its entire range of product portfolio in the country. The announcement also means that the company will be generating additional employment of close to 25% including that of increased intake from Toyota Technical Training Institute (TTTI), which is the company’s existing skill technical education facility in its Bidadi plant, with a focus to scale-up students’ skill levels on advanced technology by Toyota’s globally certified expert trainers. Last year, TKM also undertook a major expansion of TTTI with capacity going up from 200 to 1,200 students (academically, batch-wise). TKM currently has a 6000-member strong team, including production and non-production staff.

Commenting on the company’s recent development, Mr. Sudeep Dalvi, SVP & Chief Communication Officer, Toyota Kirloskar Motor said “We are extremely thrilled to see the market responding very positively to our entire product line-up. As we remain optimistic about the market, our “customer first” philosophy will continue to manifest across all our business decisions – one of which is the start of the third shift operation which is a testimony to the overwhelming response received by our offerings thus enabling us to meet the delivery commitments to our customers. Our Team Members are our biggest asset and we are happy that the third shift brings in new members in to the Toyota family, we have ensured that all our team members feel safe and comfortable in the added shift through a series of welfare measures for overall wellbeing. As we look forward, we remain steadfast in our mission to build ever better and greener cars, contributing to India’s vision of ‘Make in India’ and sustainable mobility. Together, we strive to deliver Mass Happiness to All”.

Over the years, TKM has had strategic focus on maximizing plant efficiency and embracing cutting-edge technologies, exemplified by the newly established e-Drive manufacturing line at TKAP thus underscoring its contribution to India’s pivotal objectives of “Make in India”, “Skill India,” and energy efficiency.

Furthermore, inspired by Toyota Environmental Challenge (TEC) 2050, sustainability continues to be fundamental to the company’s business. With this as the bedrock the TKM is deeply committed towards a greener future and a better world. Toyota adopted various environmental risk mitigating measures through TEC 2050, towards realizing the carbon neutrality targets. One of them is Plant Zero CO2 Emissions Challenge which aims to achieve zero CO2 emissions at our manufacturing facilities. Also, a significant step towards energy management has been the adoption of alternative renewable energy sources by utilizing green energy with significant progress over the years. The new shift operation will also be from 100% renewable energy.

Overview of TKM

Equity participation

Toyota Motor Corporation (Japan) : 89%, Kirloskar Systems Limited (India) : 11%

Number of employees

Approx. 6,000

Land area

Approx. 432 acres (approx.1,700,000 m2)

Building area

74,000 m2

Total Installed Production capacity

Up to 3,10,000 units

 

Overview of TKM 1st Plant:

Established

October 1997 (start of production: December 1999)

Location

Bidadi

Products

Innova HyCross, Innova Crysta, Fortuner manufactured in India.

Installed Production capacity

Up to 1,00,000 units

Overview of TKM 2nd Plant:

Start of Production

December 2010

Location

On the site of Toyota Kirloskar Motor Private Limited, Bidadi

Products

Toyota Camry Hybrid, Urban Cruiser Hyryder, Hilux

Installed Production capacity

Up to 2,10,000 units

Barracuda launches SecureEdge, a new enterprise-grade SASE platform for businesses and MSPs

India, 20th May 2023 Barracuda Networks, Inc., a leading provider of cloud-first security solutions, today announced a new platform called Barracuda SecureEdge, a SASE solution that helps make hybrid and remote work easier to secure. Barracuda SecureEdge integrates Barracuda’s Secure SD-WAN, Firewall-as-a-Service, Zero Trust Network Access, and Secure Web Gateway capabilities. Using a single-vendor solution enables businesses and MSPs to strengthen their security posture and help to reduce costs. Delivered as a service, Barracuda SecureEdge secures users, sites, and IoT devices, is easy to manage and connects any device, application, and cloud/hybrid environment.

According to Gartner®, “By 2025, 80% of enterprises will have adopted a strategy to unify web, cloud services, and private application access using a SASE/SSE architecture, up from 20% in 2021.”1.

Using a single-vendor SASE solution like Barracuda SecureEdge can lead to cost reduction and stronger security. It reduces the number of systems to purchase and lowers internal and external support costs. Additionally, improved security can be achieved and there are fewer risks of misconfigurations and interoperability issues that can happen between separate security systems. Today, cloud migrations, remote work, and the need for anytime, anywhere access makes a SASE solution essential.

The new Barracuda SecureEdge platform makes hybrid and remote work easier to secure, strengthens security, improves performance, and reduces management complexity. Key use cases for customers include:

  •  Multi-layered network protection: Offers consistent policy enforcement for in-office and remote users, delivered from the cloud, on-premises, or in a hybrid environment.
  •  Protection against web-based threats: Protects against web-based threats, regardless of the location of the user.
  •  Secure remote access: Provides secure remote access for any user to any application and workload, with Zero Trust Access.
  •  Optimized cloud and application access: Facilitates optimized cloud and application access from any user or site by providing Secure SD-WAN capabilities.

SecureEdge facilitates direct access to applications for remote users with Zero Trust enforcement, URL filtering, and traffic optimization to make the most of shared internet lines. Key highlights of the new platform are:

  •  Control and visibility: Provides a high level of control and visibility into user-generated traffic at each endpoint. Selective security inspection enables businesses and MSPs to maintain control over critical application traffic.
  •  Intent-based networking: Simplifies operations by applying intent-based networking principles across the entire platform, including SD-WAN and secure application access.
  •  Multiple levels of security and connectivity: Includes multiple levels of security and connectivity with auto-secure SD-WAN over all available uplinks.
  •  Built-in optimization: Built-in last-mile optimization uses advanced Forward Error Correction algorithms to mitigate packet loss and optimize network traffic. These algorithms are applied when connecting office locations as well as endpoints.

“Barracuda’s new SecureEdge platform provides businesses and MSPs with a SaaS solution that makes remote and hybrid work easier to secure and helps to improve security and reduce costs,” said Tim Jefferson, SVP, Engineering for Data, Network, and Application Security at Barracuda. “With SecureEdge, Barracuda offers a cloud-native SASE platform that enables customers to control access to data from any device, anytime, anywhere, and allows security inspection and policy enforcement in the cloud, at the branch, or on the device.”

“Today’s IT teams face a common challenge: how to connect and secure a growing number of remote and hybrid workers, devices, and IoT systems in an increasingly cloud-based landscape. Traditional network and security architectures weren’t designed for this. If security is a journey, SASE is the next stage in that journey,” said Parag Khurana, Country Manager, Barracuda Networks India. “Our new SASE platform, Barracuda SecureEdge secures users, sites and IoT devices, is easy to manage and connects any device, application, and cloud/hybrid environment. The result is increased integration, visibility, and security for the ever-expanding attack surface, with reduced complexity and cost.”

“The new SecureEdge platform from Barracuda, which offers a single solution that includes secure SD-WAN and remote access for users, will enable us to extend security features to the endpoint and make remote and hybrid work easier to protect,” said David Peppard, Chief Technology Officer with SuperCare Health. “By implementing device-level security and inspecting suspicious or endangered network traffic on the SD-WAN device or in the cloud, we are confident that we can achieve a dramatically increased level of security.”

Chai Chun to Celebrate International Tea Day with a Blend of Health and Knowledge

20th May 2023 India: As the highly anticipated International Tea Day approaches on May 21st, 2023, Chai Chun, a prominent player in India’s tea industry, is poised to join the jubilant festivities. With India’s significant role as one of the world’s largest tea producers, tea holds a cherished place in the country’s cultural tapestry, permeating social customs and hospitality across diverse regions.

In celebration of International Tea Day and to highlight the profound impact of tea on society, culture, and well-being, Chai Chun and Okayti Tea Company are uniting for a momentous collaboration. Renowned for their unwavering commitment to providing tea enthusiasts with exceptional brews, Okayti Tea Company will embark on a special plucking and manufacturing drive on this special day, showcasing their dedication to uncompromising excellence.

According to Rajeev Baid, CEO & MD of ChaiChun, “International Tea Day is an important occasion that enables the recognition of the rich heritage and cultural significance of tea. It serves as a platform to acknowledge the key players and contributors in the tea industry and facilitates their growth and development.”

Chai Chun, acclaimed as India’s premier tea boutique, is set to enchant tea lovers across the nation with a captivating celebration that blends the art of tea, the pursuit of well-being, and a commitment to fair trade. This momentous occasion will serve as a platform for Chai Chun to share their extensive wisdom and expertise in the captivating world of tea. Marking this joyous day, the distinguished tea emporium will open its doors to tea enthusiasts, hosting enticing free tea-tasting sessions at their stores spread throughout India.

Furthermore, Chai Chun recognizes the intrinsic value of fair trade in the tea industry. Their celebration serves as a resounding testament to their commitment to ethical sourcing and sustainability. By embracing fair trade practices, Chai Chun ensures that tea farmers and workers receive equitable remuneration and labor under conditions of dignity and respect. Through their endeavors, Chai Chun encourages a conscious appreciation of tea, where each sip represents a step towards a more equitable and compassionate world.
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Unisys Innovation Program Announces This Year’s Winners

Unisys Innovation Program

Bengaluru, India, BLUE BELL, Pa., 20th May 2023 Unisys (NYSE: UIS) announces the winners of the company’s annual technical project competition for engineering students in India – the Unisys Innovation Program (UIP). The program’s goal is to connect young engineers with today’s business leaders to collaborate on new-age tech and innovations.

Now in its 14th year, the program received more than 700 project submissions from nearly 190 higher education institutions across India – a 250% increase over the last year’s submissions and the highest number since the program’s inception in 2009. Registration for the program closed in February with more than 7000 registrants.

The winners of the 14th Annual Unisys Innovation Program are:

First place goes to M S Ramaiah Institute of Technology for their project, Sleep Apnea Detection using Personal IoT Devices with Novel Privacy Persevered Federated Learning. The project harnesses the power of IoT, Cloud Computing, Machine Learning, and Web3 to offer a privacy-focused framework that can be used to diagnose diseases like sleep apnea and atrial fibrillation. The student team included Hrishikesh K Haritas, Darshan Bankapure, Rahul K Vishal, and Vineet H Sadarangi and they were led by faculty guide, Dr.Meeradevi.

Second place goes to Dayananda Sagar University for their project, Breast Cancer Detection Using Quantum Machine Learning and Deep Learning compared to the conventional methods. This project leverages quantum machine learning and deep learning algorithms to diagnose breast cancer and classify patients based on their tumor characteristics – it also dives into whether quantum algorithms have an edge over classical approaches. The student team included Snavya Sai M B, Sindhu S, and Varsha Premanand and they were led by faculty guide, Veena M.

Third place goes to M S Ramaiah Institute of Technology for their project, Privacy-Preserving Machine Learning Computation using zkSNARKs. This project explores how zero-knowledge proofs and homomorphic encryption can be leveraged to enable privacy-conscious training and inference of machine learning models The student team included Rohin Joshi, Rohan A J, Dhruv Dange, Sharath R Maiya, and they were led by faculty guide, Sanjay H. A.

“For a long time, India has been acknowledged as the world’s IT capital, and we’re excited to see this reflected in the response to our UIP-program with an all-time high number of registrants from across the country,” said Sumed Marwaha, Managing Director for Unisys in India. “Students and job seekers are determined to thrive in today’s competitive landscape. At Unisys, we believe in breakthroughs, which is why it’s important to have a platform for new talent that helps the youth improve their skills and expertise and prepares them for the specialized technology roles of the future.”

Overall, seven winning teams were invited to present their projects at the grand finale ceremony for the final round of evaluations. The winners were selected by a panel of judges based on feasibility, viability, originality, sustainability, and technical approach. Special guests Suresh M Khadakbhavi, CEO of Digi Yatra Foundation, and Ken Henry who leads the Solutions Development team that drives the development of Enterprise Computing Solutions at Unisys. He also delivered keynotes during the ceremony.

“We are impressed by the degree of imagination and effort demonstrated by this next generation of talent,” said Dwayne Allen, Senior Vice President, Chief Technology Officer of Unisys and head of Solution Innovation. “Curiosity and innovation are at the heart of all we do, and the Unisys Innovation Program is one of many platforms we host to stimulate collaborative thinking, experiential learning, and to cultivate a pipeline of promising talent.”

Avashya Foundation organizes 5th Annual Mango Festival to promote sustainable farming and environment conservation

Mumbai, 20th May 2023 The Avashya Foundation, CSR arm of Allcargo Group, is hosting its annual Mango Festival as part of its Maitree initiative, which works for farmers’ sustainable livelihood and environmental conservation. The festival is organized on the 18th and 19th of May 2023 at Allcargo headquarters in Mumbai. This marks Allcargo’s fifth year of celebration of exquisite flavor, enticing fragrance, and the delectable taste of the king of fruits. The annual Mango Festival has been instrumental in promoting sustainable growth and development in the tribal regions of Maharashtra.

Maitree, working to replenish the green cover of our planet, has so far facilitated the planting of over 850,000 fruit-bearing saplings, and aims to plant 1 million saplings by the end of this year. Maitree empowers local farmers by providing them with seedlings of mango, guava, cashew, lemon, and teak. The planting drive has led to significant improvement in productivity and the living standards of the farmers.

Dr Nilratan Shende, CSR Head at Allcargo Group, said, “Through Maitree, we have been able to touch the lives of over 90,000 people, providing them with not just sustainable livelihoods but also a sense of empowerment and self-reliance. Seeing our farmers prosper and the environment flourish — that’s the true success of Maitree. And the Mango Festival is a celebration of this spirit of growth and resilience.”

For many of the farmers, Maitree provided them a platform for empowerment and building resilience. Unable to sustain farming due to various factors including climate change, high cost of seed and fertiliser, lack of scientific knowledge, inflation, reduced income on their produce, they faced loss of livelihood and were forced to migrate urban areas to make ends meet. With Maitree, they are now aware of seasonal variations, climate change risks, soil and water conservation. As a part of the initiative, farmers are also being educated on setting up nurseries, and cultivating high-quality crops.

The Mango Festival is a testament to the initiative’s success, celebrating the bountiful produce of their sustainable farming. It provides a platform for over 18,000 farmers to showcase and sell their produce, encouraging a thriving farming community.