New Delhi,14 June 2023 Nasscom Foundation’s Women Empowerment and Entrepreneurship Program supported by Google.org has reached more than 1,00,000 rural women to support them in pursuing their entrepreneurial aspirations. The program has covered 18 districts, spread across six states including Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Bihar, and Rajasthan.

The initiative has equipped more than 1500 women entrepreneurs to become master trainers who collectively have trained over 20,000 other marginalized women through a cascade model with digital, financial, and entrepreneurial skills, enabling them to leverage digital literacy and generate income opportunities. Additionally, the program’s DigiVaani call center initiative has reached out to more than 90,000 women in rural communities in Northern India. Through mobile-based outreach, these women have been offered guidance and support to leverage digital skills for their businesses and create new avenues to improve their livelihoods.

One of the key benefits of the program has been an increased awareness and access to various government schemes, as 92 percent of the master trainers now have knowledge of these schemes and 61 percent have gone on to avail their benefits. There has also been a significant impact on the adoption of digital payments, with 52 percent of them adopting various digital payment platforms for making business transactions. About 58 percent are currently pursuing entrepreneurship as an outcome of the program, of which 73 percent are now leveraging social media platforms to gain exposure, enhance their skills, and promote their products to reach a wider audience. Moreover, at least 82 percent of the entrepreneurs among the master trainers are now aware of various e-commerce platforms and their uses.

Nidhi Bhasin, CEO, nasscom foundation, said, “Women entrepreneurs in India play a significant role in advancing the country’s economic growth. Empowering women entrepreneurs is not just about providing them with the resources and tools to succeed, it’s about unlocking their potential to drive innovation, create jobs, and transform communities. With the support of Google.org, we have cultivated a powerful ecosystem for women entrepreneurs, equipping them with the skills, networks, and opportunities they need to thrive.”

Marija Ralic, Lead, Google.org APAC, said “We are proud to have supported, through Google.org, the work that nasscom foundation is doing with women entrepreneurs in rural communities, and it’s been heartening to hear so many inspiring stories of these beneficiaries being equipped with the necessary skills, resources and support to unleash their full potential and drive innovation in the digital economy. Thank you to nasscom foundation for helping to foster a more inclusive and diverse entrepreneurial ecosystem, and we look forward to seeing the positive impact these women will have on society and the economy.”

Women entrepreneurs are much less represented in the digital economy than men. This gap translates into missed economic opportunities and may also aggravate existing gender inequalities. Launched in 2021, the program was designed to address similar challenges faced by women entrepreneurs by providing them with digital, financial, and entrepreneurship skills that have resulted in increased income and economic independence.

India, 14 June 2023: Recognizing the importance of personal expression and individuality in the sewing process, Usha International has introduced new colour variants of its iconic vintage black Tailor DLX Sewing Machine. From the original classic black to the new colour options, the Tailor DLX enables users to add their touch of personal style and chutzpah to their workspace. The new offering combines exceptional functionality with an aesthetic appeal, catering to the diverse tastes and preferences of sewing enthusiasts.

Versatile, dependable, and sturdy, the Usha Tailor DLX Sewing Machine has been carefully engineered to provide stability and utmost precision while stitching. The machine is accredited by ISI and is now also available in a wide variety of vibrant colours that include Cherry Red, Golden Silver, Cherry Brown, and Pacific Blue.

Usha’s DLX Sewing Machine is ideal for hobbyists, tailors, and retail establishments. The machine’s quiet operation and seamless functions make it the perfect choice for consumers.

The machine redefines easy sewing with its 800 stitches per minute (SPM) sewing speed. Its auto-tripping bobbin winder adds to the convenience and ease of use by automatically stopping after 70% thread fill-up. It also has features like a spring-loaded bobbin winder for uniform bobbin winding and perfect stitch formation and has a lever-type stitch regulator for easy forward and reverses stitch control. Additionally, the machine’s simple presser allows for foot pressure adjustments for specific fabric needs, making it comfortable to operate for the users, while the screw-type pressure adjustment makes it easier for controlling the needle bar pressure.

The Usha Tailor DLX Sewing Machine is built with cast iron and coated with high-quality gloss paint to make it rust-resistant and extend its lifespan further. It is also ISI certified for accuracy and safety, giving users peace of mind when operating the device.

Usha Tailor DLX Sewing Machine comes with a 2-year warranty. The ability to swap out individual pieces makes the machine’s service and maintenance simpler for the customers.

These beautiful vintage pieces are available with other foot variants like X stand and sheet metal stand, and an option to operate with motors. These are priced at INR 5,795 (inclusive of all taxes). Click on the links below to know more:

Bangalore, India, 14th June 2023 – The five-year Mathematics and Science Curriculum Enhancement Project, a collaboration between the Singapore International Foundation (SIF) and Parikrma Humanity Foundation, had a significant impact on education in Bangalore.

Led by Singapore International Volunteers (SIVs) from the education sector, the project aimed to enhance the Mathematics and Science curriculum in Bangalore. The SIVs trained about 160 Indian educators through workshops, equipping them with new skills to create more engaging lessons for their students.

A core group of 46 Indian educators were selected as Master Trainers, who subsequently trained other teachers in their communities. Collectively, about 58,700 educators and students in Karnataka benefitted from this collaboration, ensuring improved access to quality education for children in the community.

Earlier in June, the SIF conducted a project evaluation to measure and analyse the impact of the project. Key findings included:

• · Effective implementation of tools and everyday objects, as teaching aids The educators, are now well-versed in using educational tools and everyday objects to better aid their students’ understanding of abstract concepts. Examples included using a tangram set to form triangles in mathematics lessons and using real flowers to introduce plant parts in science lessons.
• · Greater focus on process skills  The focus of teaching in schools has shifted to hone how students arrive at their answers instead of the memorization of facts. This is supported by lessons planned based on the 5E Model (Engage, Explore, Explain, Extend, Evaluate), and complemented by science experiments and outdoor activities. These approaches engaged students more effectively and encouraged greater inquisitiveness in them.
• · Improved development of critical thinking skills Beyond finding the right answers, students are guided to explore and analyze different solutions to each problem to develop critical thinking skills.
• · Enhanced activity-based learning in groups Where passive learning in silos was the norm previously, students are now engaged through learning in groups. Through group discussions, students practice communication, collaboration and reasoning skills, and collective decision-making, which are core 21st-century competencies.

At the project’s closing ceremony on 5 June, Mr Edgar Pang, Consul-General of the Republic of Singapore in Chennai, said: “This project between the SIF and Parikrma Humanity Foundation is a great example of how lives can be improved when people come together and join hands. I look forward to more of such collaborations between the peoples of Singapore and India across the various sectors.”

Ms Shukla Bose, Founder-CEO, Parikrma Humanity Foundation said: “We are pleased to have worked with the SIF on this initiative. The training-of-trainers approach has ensured that the benefits to our teachers and students will extend well beyond the project. The approach has certainly moved the needle in raising teaching standards here.”

Dr Prem Mario, Principal at Parikrma Junior College said: “We learnt to use objects found in everyday life as interactive props to facilitate mathematics lessons, alongside other teaching techniques like mind-mapping and storytelling. After incorporating them in our classes, our students have been able to understand new concepts better and are more engaged during lessons now.”

He added: “The Singapore volunteers have been very warm and approachable every time we met. Despite travel restrictions during the recent pandemic, we kept in touch virtually and picked up like old friends when we reconnected in person.”

SIV team leader Ms Peggy Foo, former lecturer at Singapore’s National Institute of Early Childhood Development, said: “It was a humbling experience and a privilege to share our insights with the teachers in Bangalore. Their eagerness to learn has been very inspiring. This project has also challenged me to think about how we can better bring the joy of learning to our students and encourage them to be more inquisitive.”

The Mathematics and Science Curriculum Enhancement Project aligns with the Karnataka state government’s commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goal of ensuring inclusive and quality education for all, including increasing the supply of qualified teachers by 2030 through international cooperation for teacher training.

The initiative also marks a significant milestone for the SIF as it commemorates 28 years of their work in India. Over the years, the SIF has collaborated with various partners from the government, corporate and non-government sectors, in states like Maharashtra, New Delhi, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. Through their endeavours in education, healthcare, arts, environment, and livelihood, the SIF fosters connections among people and communities, facilitating collaborations that bring about positive change.

[Beijing, China,14 June 2023] The 5G-Advanced Core Industry Forum — hosted by China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT) and co-hosted by Huawei — was held at the China National Convention Center during the 31st PT Expo China. One of the most influential ICT industry events in Asia, PT Expo China gathers thought leaders and specialists from all walks of the telecom industry.

At the Forum, a 5G-Advanced Core promotion initiative was launched by Huawei, together with industry partners, including CAICT, 3GPP, China Mobile, China Telecom, China Unicom, Schneider, Neolix, TD Tech, and SmartSuperV. The group will pool their individual efforts to promote industry consensus and commercial deployment of a new core architecture in the 5G-Advanced era, as well as build an intelligent, convergent core network to connect everything and enable all services, helping implement the industry’s vision of an intelligent world.

launch ceremony

Launch ceremony for the 5G-Advanced Core promotion initiative

To fully unleash the value of 5G and better transition towards 6G, Huawei took the lead in the industry to put forward the concept of 5.5G. In 2021, 3GPP officially designated 5G-Advanced as the second phase of 5G evolution, starting to standardize its components in Release 18. This latest package of 3GPP mobile standards marked a new chapter in the development of 5G technologies and standards around the world. As the engine of telecom networks, the 5G-Advanced Core will drive all service scenarios with comprehensively enhanced network connectivity.

With the rise of 5G-Advanced, new service requirements are emerging. For example, people are expecting videos to shift from 2D to 3D, connections from general-purpose to enhanced and calling from voice and video to intelligent interactions. These needs, in turn, stimulate the growth of new scenarios, content, and applications. To address all of these, the 5G-Advanced Core’s network capabilities will be strengthened comprehensively, especially in terms of adaptive multi-mode connections and fully meshed networking. And with intelligent management of topologies, experiences, and services, the 5G-Advanced Core will enable new video, new connectivity, and new calling services, taking service experiences to new heights and fueling the digital transformation of numerous industries.

The initiative calls upon all communications standards organizations, operators, network equipment vendors, terminal and chip manufacturers, and other industry stakeholders over the world to think, innovate, and grow together. In this way, we can jointly push forward the evolution of the core network architecture and connectivity, promote the sustainable development of the 5G-Advanced Core industry, and create better value for both individuals and industries.

As Leo Ma, President of Huawei Cloud Core Network Marketing Dept., noted at the event, “The evolution of 5G-Advanced has reached a critical juncture, at which the construction and development of the core network are absolutely essential. The 5G-Advanced Core will unlock more and more services and experiences, as well as stimulating innovation with enhanced capabilities and connectivity. Huawei is committed to creating new value for the industry, helping all industry players seize business opportunities and fully embrace the new intelligent world.”

5G-Advanced will undoubtedly present tremendous possibilities; however, we cannot achieve it overnight. Huawei will continue to work with industry partners. Together, let’s promote the development of the 5G-Advanced Core at a well-planned pace, fully unleash the value of 5G, and chart a course on our voyage to the intelligent world.

New Delhi, 14 June 2023: Cutting-edge AI tools are poised to revolutionize the field of education. These ground-breaking tools, developed by Lalit Sachan, Co-founder of Edvancer Eduventures and an expert in artificial intelligence, harness the power of artificial intelligence to enhance learning experiences and provide students with innovative solutions to their academic needs.

One of the key advancements in AI technology by Lalit is the implementation of transformed-based models, enabling the creation of ultra-realistic voice clones. This breakthrough allows for the generation of audio for any text within seconds, utilizing a cloned voice. Moreover, this cloned audio can seamlessly superimpose on a random sample of videos with the assistance of another visual generative AI model, resulting in the creation of captivating educational videos.

In addition to these remarkable advancements, Lalit is actively working on several other AI tools that are set to transform the educational landscape. Among the upcoming tools are intelligent chatbots designed to provide students with academic support grounded in reality, citing credible sources. These chatbots offer personalized assistance and effectively address students’ queries, ensuring a productive learning experience.

The AI expert is also developing conversational agents and context-driven content-generation tools. These innovations will facilitate interactive and engaging interactions with students, adapting content to their specific needs and learning contexts. By tailoring educational materials to individual requirements, Edvancer aims to enhance comprehension and knowledge retention.

“We are proud to introduce these ground-breaking AI tools that will change the face of education,” said Lalit Sachan, Co-founder of Edvancer. “Our focus is on providing students with cutting-edge technologies that enable them to learn more effectively and efficiently. With these AI tools, we are confident that we can offer students an unparalleled educational experience.”

Among the tools currently being developed, one notable example is a content creation tool that allows for the production of high-quality videos without the need for traditional recording and editing processes. This tool streamlines the content creation process, enabling educators to keep pace with the rapidly evolving education landscape. While the exact launch timeline has yet to be determined, Lalit aims to release this tool in the near future.

Another remarkable tool being prepared for launch is an AI-powered tutor bot. This tutor bot will offer students direct answers to their questions without the need to navigate through extensive materials. It will be available 24/7 for multiple courses, providing comprehensive support for enrolled students.

Additionally, Mr. Lalit Sachan and his team are testing an innovative tool that enables students to simulate mock interviews. The AI-driven bot will ask interview-related questions and assess students’ responses, providing valuable feedback on how to improve their answers and pointing out any mistakes made. This tool empowers students to enhance their interview skills and prepare for various job roles or profiles.

K.H. Muniyappa, Hon’ble Minister for Food & Civil Supplies urged people and food industries to work towards ensuring zero food wastage.

Speaking after three days much-anticipated three-day World of Hospitality Expo at the city’s Palace grounds on Tuesday, he stated that we can eliminate hunger in the country if we are able to bring down food waste wastage.

Assuring more pro-hospitality and tourism-friendly initiatives to boost the state economy he observed that the tourism and hospitality sectors have huge potential to create jobs locally besides valuable revenue to the state exchequer.

He pointed out that these two sectors are important to overcome the aftermath effects of Covid 19 induced challenges.

This three-day event serves as a perfect platform to connect hospitality professionals to new products and services in the industry. Apart from the renowned Incredible Chef Challenge (ICC), the three-day event will host numerous talks and sessions decoding some latest trends and unveiling new technologies that are transforming the hospitality sector.

“I am delighted to be part of South India’s biggest HoReCa business event World of Hospitality Expo in Namma Bengaluru. Now that we have put the pandemic behind us, it is time to look at consolidating growth and taking the industry to the next level,” he said.

“The Karnataka government wants the wheels of economy to pick up momentum and, World of Hospitality is doing a great job by offering this platform to bring together buyers and sellers,” he said.

“Tourism and hospitality sectors are, in the real sense, drive the growth of the socio-economic fabric of our society and augur development multidimensionally,” he said. He also stated that Bengaluru in particular and Karnataka in general has a huge potential in this sector.

He also stressed the sector leaders to focus on the food hygiene. “There have been several instances in the past that food adulteration has come to light from the hospitality industry, especially small hotel players, and even popular restaurants. Government mechanism is in place to regularly conduct surprise checks and monitoring; however, the onus must be with the owners. They need to take a far greater responsibility to ensure that the hygiene and quality of food offered to guests is uncompromisable. Quality will draw in profits,” he concluded.

He assured that the state government will support the tourism and hospitality sector to achieve new milestones in Karnataka.

Mumbai, 14th June 2023: iThink Logistics, an end-to-end multiple courier aggregator shipping platform for D2C Brands which services to 26,000+ pin codes in India announced the release of its new dashboard feature, ‘Dark Mode’ which offers users the option to switch between a white background and a dark background interface. The update has been rolled out by the company on the platform and it’s live for all the customers and other visitors on the platform.

This new update not only keeps up with the latest trend but also aims to enhance users’ lives and well-being. One of the key benefits of this update is improved readability. By switching to dark mode, users can reduce the amount of light emitted, alleviate eye strain, and reduce screen glare, which can be distracting, allowing them to stay focused on their tasks. This will particularly benefit users who spend extended periods of time using the iThink dashboard. The dark mode further offers additional health benefits which include a reduction in the occurrence of headaches and minimize the impact of blue light on the skin. By reducing blue light emission, dark mode aligns with the natural cues our bodies rely on for sleep, ultimately improving the overall quality of sleep for users. Studies have consistently shown that sleeping in a dark environment promotes better sleep patterns.

The colors and visual elements pop out, which makes it easier for the users to distinguish between different elements on the screen. This enhances the contrast look and provides a better user experience. Research conducted by PhoneBuff among iPhone users showed that those who used dark mode were able to play a video for 20 hours, compared to just 15 hours on light mode. This highlights the potential benefits of dark mode in terms of extending device usage without discomfort.

Company is thrilled to provide its users with the option to choose dark mode, as it offers a more visually comfortable experience, reduces eye strain, potentially extends device usage, and even contributes to better sleep quality. iThink Logistics believes that this update will ‘greatly enhance our users’ experience and overall well-being.

New Delhi,14 June 2023: Zeon Lifesciences, the leading manufacturer of nutraceutical and herbal products across the globe is delighted to announce a significant breakthrough in the manufacturing process of probiotics, utilizing the latest Intelicaps technology.

Zeon has redefined the way probiotics are manufactured, ensuring improved viability and effectiveness. Probiotics have long been acknowledged for their health benefits and utilizing the latest Intelicaps technology, Zeon Lifesciences has overcome major hurdles in its manufacturing process by encapsulating live bacteria in a protective casing. This exceptional technique ensures the survival and delivery of probiotics to their intended destination within the body, boosting their efficacy.

Intelicaps have been integrated into Zeon’s manufacturing process, establishing a new industry standard in probiotic manufacturing. The technology also works as a shield against external factors such as heat, moisture, and acidity, which can compromise the integrity of live bacteria.

As a result, Zeon’s probiotic formulations retain their potency and remain viable until consumed, offering numerous benefits to consumers.

A distinctive milestone

This significant achievement sets Zeon Lifesciences apart as the one-of-a-kind player in the industry to harness the immense potential of Intelicaps, positioning it at the vanguard of probiotic manufacturing. By leveraging this ground-breaking technology, Zeon Lifesciences has also secured its position as the undisputed pioneer in technology advancement, surpassing all competitors and establishing an outstanding benchmark in the field.

‘’We are elated to unveil our revolutionary accomplishments in probiotic manufacturing, framing new standards for effectiveness. With the integration of Intelicaps technology, we have mitigated the obstacles that hindered the potential of probiotics, ensuring their optimal impact on health. Furthermore, it gives us immense pleasure to announce that Zeon Lifesciences is the solitary player in the industry that has embraced and effectively employed this one-of-a-kind technological marvel that will disrupt the probiotic industry,’’ said Mr. Suresh Garg, CMD and Founder, Zeon Lifesciences Ltd.

Recently, Zeon Lifesciences announced its expansion into India’s pet wellness industry with the unveiling of an industry-leading product line, dedicated to veterinary nutrition. The comprehensive product range focuses on various aspects of pet health, including general wellness, bone and joint health, as well as skin and coat health and is conveniently available in powder, spray, and liquid oral formats, offering flexibility for pet owners.

Brigade Foundation a not-for-profit initiative of Brigade Group is pleased to announce the setting up of 2 not-for-profit, 100-bed hospitals in association with the well-known St John’s Medical College Hospital. The hospitals will come up at Brigade Group’s integrated housing projects Brigade Meadows – a 60-acre development with 3000 completed and occupied apartments on Kanakapura Road next to The Art of Living; and at Brigade EL-Dorado, a 50-acre development with nearly 6000 apartments at AeroPark/ Hardware Park in North Bangalore. The hospitals are expected to be operational in calendar years 2024 and 2025, respectively.

Commenting on the initiative, M R Jaishankar, Executive Chairman, Brigade Enterprises Limited said, “Brigade is happy to announce these corporate philanthropic initiatives in the field of healthcare to benefit the neighbourhood apart from thousands of residents in our projects.”

Rev. Dr. Paul Parathazham, the Director of St. John’s Medical College and Hospital said, “St. John’s is very happy to partner with the Brigade Foundation in setting up 2 new 100-bed St. John’s Medical College Hospitals in the Brigade Housing Projects at Brigade Meadows and EL-Dorado. These 2 Not-for-Profit hospitals will help St. Johns expand its services to other parts of the City of Bangalore and take forward its mission to deliver affordable healthcare, especially to the underserved, with integrity, compassion and excellence.”

Hyderabad, 14 June 2023: Hyderabad will host the Second India Data Observability Conference on Friday, June 16, 2023, organizer and host Unravel Data announced today. The day-long event is poised to welcome over 14 high-profile speakers who will address 200 delegates, including senior data engineers, data leaders, architects, and data operations engineers from leading technology companies based in and around Hyderabad.

Data Observability and cloud data spend management are two of the biggest ongoing trends in modern data management around the world. Hyderabad has become only the second city in India after Bangalore to host a full-day conference dedicated to these two trends. Unravel Data hosted the first-ever India DataObservability Conference in December last year.

“Choosing Hyderabad as the host city for Second India Data Observability Conference underscores our commitment to serving the interests of locally based data scientists and engineers working for many of the largest companies around the world. We are also thrilled to bring this major conference to Hyderabad in less than a year of opening our office in the city,” said Shivnath Babu, Co-founder, and CTO of Unravel Data.

The Hyderabad conference aims to impart an understanding of how to bring FinOps to the modern data stack. It will also feature discussions and insights on why Observability has become mission-critical for the modern data stack, and how AI is transforming Data Observability and FinOps to enable companies to optimize the performance and reliability of data apps and new generative AI projects, while effectively managing spending and increasing ROI.

The conference will benefit all data professionals including Data Engineers and Data Leaders who want to make apps more reliable, reduce MTTR when troubleshooting bottlenecks, speed cloud migrations while reducing risk, and govern rising cloud costs. It will open up the opportunity to network with more than 100 Data Management and data operations peers and learn about the best practices for leveraging data observability to help deliver on SLAs, keep critical apps running, and manage cloud costs even as companies increase innovation with expanded AI models.

Unravel Data is the first data observability platform built to meet the needs of modern data teams. The agenda for the event includes panel discussions and talks on managing the modern data stack and applying DataOps observability to all data and analytics use cases.

Dr. Shivnath Babu – co-founder and CTO of Unravel Data will deliver the keynote address at the event on The Proven Formula for Data Observability: DataOps + FinOps = DataFinOps! Industry experts who will be speaking on DataOps are Anuj Gupta – Chief Founder and CEO of Gradient Advisors, Snehith Allamraju, Senior Manager Data & Analytics, Envista Holdings Corp, Kalyan Prasad, Data Scientist & Analytics Manager, Creative Crewz A Panel discussion will be hosted by Giriraj Bagdi, VP Engineering Operations – Data/AI Platform of Unravel Data.

“Many of Unravel’s clients and partners around the world have data teams based in Hyderabad and this conference offers them, along with other locally based professionals, a great day of learning about the critical trends shaping the future of data management,” Babu added.

Founded by Big Data and artificial intelligence pioneers Kunal Agarwal and Dr. Shivnath Babu, Unravel Data was born from the realization that the exponential growth of data in the cloud will require artificial intelligence to optimize the data pipelines powering modern enterprises.

Numerous Fortune 100 companies, including two of the top five global pharmaceutical companies and three of the top 10 financial institutions in the world, rely on Unravel Data to gain unprecedented visibility across their data stacks, proactively troubleshoot and optimize their data workloads, and define guardrails to govern costs and improve predictability. Headquartered in Palo Alto, California, Unravel Data employs more than 100 people in four offices across the US, India, and Europe.