Shraddha Kapoor, Disha Patani Explore Abu Dhabi Alongside Brad Pitt, Laurinda Ho, Adriana Lima, Brooklyn Beckham And Nicola Beckham

Abu Dhabi, a rapidly emerging tourism destination, hosted yet another thrilling motorsport event: the grand finale of the 2025 Formula 1 World Championship. The 24th and final race of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) 2025 season concluded on December 8th at the Yas Marina Circuit.

Bollywood superstars Shraddha Kapoor and Disha Patani graced the occasion, sharing the spotlight with international celebrities like Brad Pitt, Laurinda Ho, Adriana Lima, Brooklyn Beckham, and Nicola Peltz Beckham.

Ahead of the Formula 1 finale on Sunday, Shraddha Kapoor visited the iconic Louvre Abu Dhabi, an architectural and artistic museum in Abu Dhabi. Awestruck by the museum's collection of art and architectural works from around the globe, Shraddha posed fashionably stunning for photographers at the event.

Disha Patani joined the party with other celebrities to witness the biggest high-octane motor race event of 2024 and was seen thrilled to pose for photographers from the celebrity gallery of Yas Marina Circuit in Abu-Dhabi.

The Grand Finale took place from December 5th to 8th, featuring three practice sessions on December 6th and 7th, followed by qualifying on December 7th. The final race concluded on December 8th.

For several consecutive years, the Yas Marina Circuit has witnessed high-octane competition among teams like Mercedes, Ferrari, Aston Martin, and seven others, racing along the 5.281 km circuit for 58 laps.

The highly anticipated conclusion of the F1 season was accompanied by a star-studded, electrifying entertainment lineup, featuring after-race performances by music icons Maroon 5, Muse, and Eminem. Following the F1 finale on Sunday, visitors enjoyed the first-ever Yasalam Official Afterparty.

LIWA International Festival: A New Adventure

As the excitement of the 2025 Formula 1 season concluded, Abu Dhabi continued to offer thrilling experiences with the LIWA International Festival, taking place from December 13th to January 2025. This festival has become a must-visit destination for tourists.

Presented by the Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT) of Abu Dhabi, the LIWA International Festival attracts visitors from the F1 event, offering fresh entertainment and adventure. The festival features motorsport competitions, a vibrant Liwa Village showcasing traditional food and crafts, and unique attractions like the Hollywood Circus and the Shams Liwa Ferris Wheel.

The festival introduces a new trend to the city with Saturday night live performances and concerts, enhancing the one-of-a-kind winter experience. Located in the Al Dhafra region, approximately 200 km from Abu Dhabi, the festival is a perfect road trip destination for tourists.

Plan the perfect New Year’s Eve celebration in Abu Dhabi, a city brimming with experiences for everyone. Find out more on Visit Abu Dhabi and Abu Dhabi Calendar today.

About the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi:

The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) drives the sustainable growth of Abu Dhabi’s culture and tourism sectors and its creative industries, fuelling economic progress and helping to achieve Abu Dhabi’s wider global ambitions.

By working in partnership with the organisations that define the emirate’s position as a leading international destination, DCT Abu Dhabi strives to unite the ecosystem around a shared vision of the emirate’s potential, coordinate effort and investment, deliver innovative solutions, and use the best tools, policies and systems to support the culture and tourism industries.

DCT Abu Dhabi’s vision is defined by the emirate’s people, heritage and landscape. We work to enhance Abu Dhabi’s status as a place of authenticity, innovation, and unparalleled experiences, represented by its living traditions of hospitality, pioneering initiatives and creative thought.

For more information about the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi and the destination, please visit: dct.gov.ae and visitabudhabi.ae

Photo Caption: Bollywood Superstar Indian Actress Disha Patani at Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on December 8, 2024, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Dave Benett/Getty Images for Experience Abu Dhabi).

Padma Shri Kamini Rao Inaugurates Dr Kamini Rao Hospitals To Provide Facility In Reproductive Medicine & Women’s Healthcare

Padma Shri Prof Dr Kamini Rao, well- known name in Bengaluru in the field of reproductive medicine and women’s healthcare inaugurated Dr. Kamini Rao Hospitals, a unit of Medline Aademics today at Kumara Park in Bengaluru. This hospital represents not just a new milestone but a heartfelt continuation of Dr. Kamini Rao’s unwavering dedication to women’s healthcare, spanning from menarche to menopause and beyond. For over 40 years, Dr. Kamini Rao has been a beacon of hope, touching countless lives and shaping the future of healthcare in India and beyond.

Honoring a Remarkable Journey

Women’s healthcare in India has undergone a transformative evolution, with the IVF industry alone now valued at $95 billion. Dr. Kamini Rao’s contributions have been instrumental in shaping this growth, alongside her broader efforts in addressing the holistic needs of women’s health. After completing her training in the UK, she returned to South India to pioneer reproductive medicine and holistic care, establishing milestones that continue to inspire.

Dr. Kamini Rao’s journey is defined by key milestones:

Founding BACC Healthcare, which later evolved into Milann through a partnership with HCG. With the responsibility of supporting over 300 employees and her young family, she chose to merge with HCG to provide stability and growth for all involved.

Recently selling her stake in Milann to HCG and launching Dr. Kamini Rao Hospitals, supported by her family’s vision to expand healthcare offerings beyond reproductive medicine.

Mentoring and training over 300 doctors annually through Medline Academics, nurturing the next generation of experts in reproductive and women’s health.

Authoring more than 150 books, contributing critical insights and knowledge to the global medical community.

Receiving numerous accolades, including the prestigious Padma Shri in 2014, recognizing her exceptional contributions.

Championing education and welfare through the Kamini Kares Foundation, positively impacting over 500 lives by supporting children and rural teachers.

A Family-Driven Vision

Dr. Kamini Rao Hospitals is more than a healthcare institution; it is a family’s commitment to a legacy. The next generation is carrying the torch forward:

Mrs. Pooja Sidharth Rao, Co-Founder and Managing Director, ensures seamless non-clinical operations while upholding the hospital’s vision of affordable, accessible care for all.

Dr. Vyshnavi Rao, Medical Director, brings clinical expertise and a fresh perspective to advance innovative treatments and compassionate care.

Together, they envision:

Reaching underserved patients through the Kamini Kares Foundation, delivering world-class care to those in need.

Providing cutting-edge, yet affordable treatment options for all patients.

Expanding the scope of care to include all stages of women’s health, addressing needs from adolescence to post-menopause and beyond.

Ensuring Dr. Kamini Rao’s pioneering legacy endures for generations, blending expertise with a deep sense of responsibility.

A Message from Prof Dr. Kamini Rao

“This hospital is the embodiment of a dream—to ensure that high-quality women’s healthcare is not a privilege but a right. It is about creating a future where every challenge, whether in adolescence, fertility, or later years, is met with empathy, innovation, and expertise. My deepest gratitude goes to my family, colleagues, and countless individuals who have supported this journey,” shared Dr. Kamini Rao.

About Medline Academics

Medline Academics has been at the forefront of medical education, training over 1,000 professionals and cementing its place as a leader in women’s health and clinical excellence. Through Dr. Kamini Rao Hospitals, this legacy of blending education with healthcare delivery continues, ensuring transformative experiences for both patients and practitioners.

A New Chapter Begins

With a focus on healthcare from menarche to menopause and beyond, Dr. Kamini Rao Hospitals, launched by Prof. Dr. Kamini A. Rao, stands as a testament to her enduring commitment to excellence and compassion. This is not just a hospital; it is a promise to advance the field of women’s health while staying true to its core mission of serving humanity.

Apexon Partners With EvoluteIQ To Accelerate Enterprise Hyper Automation

* Strategic partnership will leverage EvoluteIQ’s automation platform to optimise business efficiency and maximise growth for enterprise customers

Apexon, a digital-first technology services company, today announced a strategic technology partnership with EvoluteIQ, a leader in AI-driven hyper-automation, to co-develop comprehensive solutions that integrate AI to enhance productivity, minimize operational complexity, and accelerate digital transformation. The collaboration will enable enterprise customers to optimize costs, improve efficiency, and unlock growth through intelligent, end-to-end automation of complex business processes using advanced AI technologies, including LLMs, LAMs, and Agentic AI.

The partnership brings together Apexon’s deep digital engineering expertise in industries such as financial services, healthcare, high tech and retail, with EvoluteIQ’s (EIQ) AI enabled Intelligent Business Automation Platform, an integrated low-code/no-code automation platform with GenAI abilities that delivers end-to-end digital transformation at scale.

The EIQ platform accelerates automation and application deployment, democratizes AI, and drives digital transformation with strong governance and actionable insights. It enables rapid workflow automation and seamless user journeys, orchestrates across diverse systems, and incorporates a “human-in-the-loop” for exception handling, with cognitive and decision modelling for process intelligence.

The EIQ platform will complement Apexon’s existing intelligent automation capabilities to enable businesses to identify high-ROI automation opportunities, accelerate delivery, unlock data trapped in physical formats, automate decision-making, and monitor compliance with process and task mining.

“This partnership marks a pivotal step in delivering next-generation digital transformation for our clients,” said Sriniketh Chakravarthi, Chief Executive Officer of Apexon. “With EvoluteIQ’s robust low-code/no-code hyper-automation platform, we are ideally positioned to drive efficiency, boost productivity, and create tangible impacts across critical, highly regulated sectors such as financial services, healthcare, life sciences, and retail—industries where agility must align with stringent compliance and data security needs.”

“Our strategic collaboration with Apexon is a significant step toward empowering enterprises with intelligent business automation solutions that are both intelligent and transformative. EvoluteIQ’s Gen-AI capabilities, combined with Apexon’s deep industry knowledge, will help businesses tackle complex challenges with agility and precision,” said Deepak Kinger, Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of EvoluteIQ.

About Apexon:

Apexon is a digital-first technology services firm specializing in accelerating business transformation and delivering human-centric digital experiences. For over two decades, the company has been meeting clients wherever they are in the digital lifecycle and helping them outperform their competition through speed and innovation. Its reputation is built on a comprehensive suite of engineering services, a dedication to solving clients’ toughest technology problems, and a commitment to continuous improvement. The company focuses on three broad solution areas of digital services: Digital Experience, Data Services, and Digital Engineering and has deep expertise in BFSI, healthcare, and life sciences. Apexon is backed by Goldman Sachs Asset Management and Everstone Capital.

Learn how Apexon helps clients with their digital transformation journeys at www.apexon.com

About EvoluteIQ:

EvoluteIQ is a leader in AI-powered end-to-end automation, offering a low-code/no-code platform that combines artificial intelligence, machine learning, and robotic process automation to simplify and accelerate enterprise digital transformation. EvoluteIQ helps organizations optimize workflows, reduce operational costs, and drive scalability across industries. With a mission ‘enabling citizen users to build integrated automation applications in a simplified way at lower cost’, EvoluteIQ emerged from a collective dream to revolutionize how companies use data and artificial intelligence to automate business processes. Founded by visionary technologists and business leaders, the journey began with a commitment to deliver cutting-edge automation solutions while empowering businesses for the digital age.

AiDASH Names Vishal Jain Head Of AI To Advance First Integrated Platform For Grid Inspection And Monitoring

* Jain brings expertise in satellite, LiDAR, and aerial imagery to advance innovation through leading-edge data fusion techniques.

AiDASH, an enterprise SaaS company providing satellite-first AI applications for remote inspection and monitoring of critical infrastructure, today announced the appointment of Dr. Vishal Jain as Head of AI. Dr. Jain brings over 15 years of expertise in perception and mapping, leveraging aerial, satellite, and terrestrial data, including LiDAR, infrared, and optical imagery. In his new role, he will lead AI innovation on AiDASH’s integrated Platform for Grid Inspection and Monitoring.  He will be based in AiDASH’s global headquarters in Palo Alto. 

Jain’s previous roles in AI, computer vision, robotics, autonomous vehicles, precision mapping, and data fusion align closely with AiDASH’s unified, satellite-first approach to grid inspection and monitoring, aimed at making critical infrastructure more climate-resilient and sustainable.

At Velodyne LiDAR, Jain led the software engineering division responsible for building real-time LiDAR perception systems widely used in autonomous vehicles and robots. The product capabilities were utilized across different sectors, including autonomous driving, industrial mobility, and perimeter security. 

Jain co-founded Vision Systems, where he led the development of cutting-edge aerial and satellite imaging systems for large-scale reconnaissance and change detection, delivering critical solutions to the Department of Defense (DoD) and its associated agencies, including the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA), Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), and Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA).

Jain played a key role in advancing HD mapping at HERE Technologies. He spearheaded the integration of crowd-sourced data to create highly accurate, real-time precision maps for autonomous vehicles. His work helped autonomous systems navigate complex environments, supporting safer and more efficient transportation solutions.

At 2-Sigma School, Jain led AI initiatives, developing multi-modal LLM applications to advance adaptive learning.

As a Research Fellow at Robotics Research, he helped architect next-generation perception systems for autonomous vehicles, specializing in perceiving off-road terrains for object segmentation and tracking in challenging environments.

“Vishal’s addition underscores AiDASH’s commitment to advancing climate resilience for the industries that need it most using the most advanced AI,” said Abhishek Singh, CEO and Co-Founder of AiDASH. “His technical expertise and vision will help us deliver critical insights to adapt to the increasing challenges posed by climate change on vital infrastructure.”

Jain earned a PhD in Computer Vision from Brown University and a B.Tech in Electrical Engineering from IIT Delhi. With expertise in technical leadership, practical implementation, and groundbreaking research, he complements AiDASH’s goal of providing satellite-first AI applications for remote inspection and monitoring to make critical infrastructure climate-resilient.

Accelerating Innovation to Meet Global Demand

Jain joins AiDASH amid rapid growth, with over 150 global customers and a track record of doubling annual revenue since 2019. His expertise will support AiDASH’s goal of empowering critical infrastructure industries to make data-informed decisions that protect assets and surrounding environments against climate-related risks.

About AiDASH

AiDASH is making critical infrastructure industries climate-resilient and sustainable. Using our satellite-first platform for grid inspection and monitoring, our AI applications enable electric and gas utilities and landowners to transform how they manage and maintain assets. Our customers deliver ROI in their first year of deployment with reduced costs, improved reliability, and advancements in sustainability goals. AiDASH exists to safeguard critical infrastructure and secure the future of humanAIty™.  Learn more at www.aidash.com.

Zoho Finance And Operations Suite Grows 50% In India, Becomes The First To Integrate With IMS On GST Portal

Zoho, a leading global technology company headquartered in Chennai, today announced that its finance and operations suite saw a revenue growth of 50% in India in 2023. The company also unveiled key enhancements to its GST-compliant accounting software Zoho Books, inventory management software Zoho Inventory, and practice management app for accountants Zoho Practice. This announcement includes Zoho Books' industry-first integration with the Invoice Management System (IMS) on the GST portal, offering businesses a seamless way to verify and claim Input Tax Credit (ITC) from within the Zoho Books' application.

“We see a high adoption rate of Zoho’s finance and operations applications in India, driven by the increasing demand for tools that ease compliance, streamline financial workflows, and optimise day-to-day operations," said Prashant Ganti, Head of Product Management, Finance and Operations Business Unit, Zoho Corp. “We are strongly committed to providing solutions that reduce complexity in managing financial and operational processes. With the latest updates, our solutions help businesses improve productivity, eliminate manual errors, and provide accurate financial visibility, allowing them to focus on their growth.”

The Zoho Finance and Operations suite's strong growth momentum in India is fuelled by demand from businesses across different industries for a unified solution that offers comprehensive financial management capabilities, solves compliance challenges, and interoperates well with other business solutions. The top three products driving this growth are Zoho Books, Zoho Payroll, and Zoho Expense. The platform supports businesses across 160 countries, and the applications can be used in 17 languages, including Indian languages like Hindi, Tamil, Marathi, and Telugu.

Zoho Books integrates with IMS

The Goods and Services Tax Network launched the Invoice Management System (IMS) on the GST portal, effective from October 14, 2024. The IMS dashboard enhances the invoice validation and reconciliation process, with an aim to reduce disputes and enable faster credit claims.

Zoho Books, a GST and e-invoicing compliant accounting software solution, now provides an industry-first integration with the IMS dashboard, enabling businesses to fetch supplier invoices, compare them with their existing records in the application, make necessary adjustments, accept or reject them, and push the status to the IMS Dashboard–without having to switch between the GST portal and Zoho Books.

Critical financial management capabilities

Zoho Books now includes fixed asset management, which enables the recording of asset details, automatic depreciation calculation based on the chosen percentage, method, and period, as well as the generation of forecast reports, simplifying the bookkeeping process. Progress-based invoicing allows businesses to invoice customers based on completion of project milestones, improving the cash flow.

Enhanced warehouse management functionalities

Zoho Inventory has introduced advanced warehouse management capabilities such as enhanced location tracking and labelling, stock counting, stock out alerts, and role-based access to manage the warehouse operations. This offers better inventory control, ensures accurate stock levels, and provides faster order processing. Additionally, the solution now supports the moving average inventory valuation method, helping businesses calculate the total asset value that has fluctuating prices. Furthermore, the product’s mobile apps empower warehouse employees to perform their tasks faster, improving productivity.

Enriched Zoho Practice to help accountants improve client relations and streamline internal workflows

Zoho Practice, a practice management app built for accounting firms, has introduced Workpapers to simplify audit and compliance workflows. It allows firms to fetch financial statements of the clients who use Zoho Books, enabling easy comparison, adjustments, document management, and collaboration for reviews and approvals.

The new self-service portal enables accountants to collaborate with clients that use third-party accounting software, facilitating document requests, digital signatures, and communication.

The latest version of Zoho Practice also enables accountants to easily create and manage ledgers for clients who don't have a full accounting system, maintaining a single source of truth. Furthermore, advanced capabilities like workflow automation, custom functions, and scheduling options help customise operational workflows. 

Pricing and Availability

All the features announced today for Zoho Books, Zoho Inventory, and Zoho Practice are available for immediate use. For more details on pricing, please visit the following pages for each product: Zoho Books, Zoho Inventory, Zoho Practice.

Zoho Privacy Pledge

Zoho respects user privacy and does not have an ad-revenue model in any part of its business, including its free products. The company owns and operates its data centers, ensuring complete oversight of customer data, privacy, and security. More than 100 million users around the world, across hundreds of thousands of companies, rely on Zoho everyday to run their businesses, including Zoho itself. For more information, please visit: https://www.zoho.com/privacy-commitment.html

About Zoho

With 55+ apps in nearly every major business category, Zoho Corporation is one of the world's most prolific technology companies. Headquartered in Chennai, India, Zoho is privately held and profitable with more than 15,000 employees. For more information, visit: www.zoho.com

Coca-Cola Announces Strategic Investment By Jubilant Bhartia Group In India

The Coca-Cola Company today announced that it has reached an agreement with the Jubilant Bhartia Group, a multi-billion conglomerate with global presence in diverse sectors, to acquire a 40% stake in Hindustan Coca-Cola Holdings Pvt. Ltd., the parent company of the largest Coca-Cola bottler in India, Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Pvt. Ltd.

Coca-Cola has a long-standing commitment to deliver quality products and experiences to consumers and is continuing to drive sustainable, long-term growth by investing in the opportunities available in India.

Coca-Cola’s locally owned franchise partners in India are positioned to drive successful outcomes. The investment by the Jubilant Bhartia Group will contribute to the company’s ongoing success and help strengthen its position in the Indian market.

Sanket Ray, President of Coca-Cola India, said, “We welcome the Jubilant Bhartia Group to the Coca-Cola System in India. With its diverse experience in various sectors, Jubilant brings decades of rich experience that will help accelerate the Coca?Cola system, enabling us to win in the market and provide greater value to local communities and consumers.”

Juan Pablo Rodriguez, CEO of Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages, said, “This strategic investment represents an important milestone in our journey. Jubilant Bhartia Group’s expertise, complements our strengths, ensuring that we continue delivering exceptional value to our stakeholders while driving innovation and sustainable progress.”

Shyam S. Bhartia, Founder and Chairman and Hari S. Bhartia, Founder and Co-Chairman of Jubilant Bhartia Group, said the investment is an ideal addition to their business. “The Coca-Cola Company is home to some of the most respected global brands and we are delighted to be associated with them,” Bhartia said. “Together, we will leverage opportunities to grow the business to greater heights and ensure more Indian consumers can enjoy The Coca-Cola Company’s refreshing portfolio of iconic local and international brands.”

These changes and investment represent a significant milestone for Coca-Cola as the company continues to pursue its purpose to refresh the world and make a difference.

Toyota Kirloskar Motor Launched Its New Camry hybrid In India At Ex-Showroom Price Of Rs 48 Lakh

While it is the most expensive Camry to be launched in India to date — Rs 1.2 lakh more than the previous model — the company claims a fuel efficiency of 25.49 kmpl, up from 19.1 kmpl claimed by the previous generation Camry hybrid.

The car will be available for booking now, with deliveries starting soon as the cars are in transit to the dealerships, the company said. As the company launched its 5th generation hybrid technology amid rising demand for electric vehicles (EV), Vikram Gulati, country head and senior VP, Toyota Kiskoskar Motor said: “Clearly the trend is towards sustainable mobility and cleaner technologies. Globally, last year hybrids sales grew by 33 per cent and EV sales grew by 31-32 per cent; so basically neck and neck. In the Indian context, there is a huge space out there that needs to be addressed. About 95 per cent of the market continues to be fossil fuel-based. Going forward, we feel that many technologies, either electric or biofuel, are going to be very relevant in our pursuit of green mobility and decarbonisation.”

Powered by Toyota’s 5th Generation Hybrid Technology with a high-capacity lithium-ion battery, the car has an upgraded 2.5L Dynamic Force Engine delivering 221 Nm of torque at 3200 rpm.

It is paired with an electronically controlled continuously variable transmission (e-CVT), which offers multiple driving modes — Sport, Eco, and Normal — to suit all driving styles and conditions.

Additionally, Toyota’s 5th Generation Hybrid Technology System, features a high-capacity Li-ion battery that can generate a maximum power of 169kW (230 PS).

Speaking at the launch, Masakazu Yoshimura, chairman, managing director and chief executive officer, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said: “India remains a crucial market, and our product strategy aligns with India’s national priorities to lower the carbon emissions and achieve energy security goals. Towards this, we have embraced the adoption of multiple-pathway approach to drive clean mobility and promote mass electrification with greater agility and speed. The introduction of the All-New Camry Hybrid Electric Vehicle being a green mobility offering, will continue to further strengthen our contributions toward building a futuristic carbon-free, happy society.”

New Product Highlights:

Powered by Toyota’s 5th Generation Hybrid Technology with a high-capacity lithium-ion battery, which provides best-in-class fuel efficiency of 25.49 km/l*, delivering both robust performance and sustainable mobility 

Features an upgraded 2.5L Dynamic Force Engine, providing an optimal blend of power and smoothness making it fun-to-drive 

The latest Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 (TSS 3.0), 9 SRS airbags [front driver & passenger, front side, rear side, curtain shield, driver knee], thereby combining advanced safety and convenience for a secure, worry-free journey for all occupants 

Designed under the concept of “Energetic Beauty”, showcases a Bold New Look with a redesigned Front Bumper and expressive tall and wide Lower Grille creating a commanding road presence 

Equipped with Cutting-Edge Telematics, including a Data Communication Module (DCM), Remote AC Package, and a 12.3-Inch Multimedia with Entertainment & Apps 

12.3-inch Multi-Information Display (MID), a full graphic meter providing vivid graphics and excellent display quality

·       The All-New Camry Hybrid Electric Vehicle is available at an ex-showroom price of Rs. 48,00,000/- across India (prices are the same across the country)

Overall Features of the All-New Camry Hybrid Electric Vehicle:

Performance features:

New 2.5l dynamic force engine for ultimate performance and joy of driving

Transmission – e-CVT (electronic - continuously variable transmission) available across sport, eco, normal driving modes

10-speed Sequential Shift mode for manual like drive feeling

5th generation Toyota hybrid system comes with advanced and lighter lithium-ion battery

An optimally tuned MacPherson strut suspension (Fr) and multi-link type (Rr) has been adopted, in pursuit of ride comfort and enhancing the handling performance

Exterior features - Dynamic Design & Style

Low nose along with the body side and rear design gives an aggressive sporty look

Signature Daytime Running Light (DRL) system equipped with LED

Stylish hood and fender with sophisticated bumper and grille

Outside Rear-View Mirror (ORVM) with automatic retractable, turn signal, auto-reverse tilt for a seamless driving experience

Newly designed alloy wheels enhance sportiness

High Solar Energy Absorbing (HSEA) UV-Cut glass

Interior features

Spacious Cabin adorned with Soft Upholstery, consistency of materials across seat, instrument panel and door

All New Yellow Brown soft Leather Upholstery

Ornament Instrument Panel

Piano black front console box

Power windows with auto up/down and jam protection (all windows)

·       Guitar-shaped audio garnish

·       3-Zone climate control system

A nanoeTM X Ion Generator for enhanced comfort and freshness

Interior Illumination Package/Entry System - Fade-out Smart Room Lamp + Door Inside Handles + 4 Footwell Lamps

Comfort & Convenience:

·       Toyota’s i-connect telematic Connected car features with Data Communication Module (DCM) for enhanced convenience and connectivity

10-way Power Adjust for Driver & Passenger Seat with Lumbar Support - Driver seat with Memory

Rear Armrest with Touch-control switches for Audio, Rear Seat Recline, Rear Sunshade and Climate Control

Rear Power Sunshade, Rear Door Manual Sunshades

·       New 12.3-inch Multi-Information Display (MID), a full graphic meter providing vivid graphics and excellent display quality

Moon Roof with Tilt and Slide function

Ventilated Front Seats

Two-way front headrest for utmost comfort

Easy Access Function on Passenger Seat

Smart Entry System with Start/Stop Button

Memory Settings for Outer Rear-View Mirror (ORVM), Driver Seat and Steering Position

Power Assisted Tilt/Telescopic Steering Column with Memory

Wireless Smartphone Charger - Qi Compatible Phones

Automatic Rain Sensing Wipers

·       Rear Seats with Power Recline and Trunk access

Electrochromic Inside Rear-View Mirror

Front & Rear Door Courtesy Lamps

·       Genuine leather Steering wheel with Audio, Infotainment, Telephone Control and Driving Assist such as TSS, DRCC (Dynamic Radar Cruise Control), LTA (Lane Tracking Assist)

·       Head-Up Display (HUD) with Essential operation information

·       Smart & Electric Back Door Release

·       Rear USB charging ports - 12 V x 2 units Type-C

·       Rear Window Defogger with Timer

Infotainment:

·       12.3-inch multimedia system with information and entertainment, thereby ensuring personalized comfort

·       9-Speaker premium JBL Audio System

Navigation, AM/FM, USB, Aux-in, Bluetooth, Wireless Apple Car Play & Android Auto, Car Information System, Apps

Onboard Navigation Service with Personalized assistance

Safety features:

TOYOTA SAFETY SENSE 3.0 TM (TSS 3.0) ** that includes safety features

PCS (Pre-Collision System) for proactive safety

DRCC (Dynamic Radar Cruise Control) with full-speed range with increased convenience

LDA (Lane Departure Alert) for Alert the driver and gentle corrective steering to keep in the lane

LTA (Lane Tracing Assist) for enhanced lane-keeping

AHB (Automatic High Beam) for Automated High/Low beam operations

9 SRS airbags [front driver & passenger, front side, rear side, curtain shield, driver knee]

360 Panoramic Rear-View Monitor improve parking and manoeuvring in narrow spaces for smoother navigation

Anti-lock Braking System with Electronic Brake-force Distribution and Brake Assist

Front 3-point ELR [Emergency Locking Retractor] Seat Belt with Pre-tensioner & Force-limiter

ISOFIX and Top Tether Anchor for Child Seats

Rear Seat Reminder Function ensures collection of luggage, etc.

Vehicle Approach Notice System

Electronic Parking Brake with Brake Hold Function

Vehicle Stability and Traction Control with Off Switch

Electric Power Steering with Speed Sensing Function

Parking Assist: Back Guide Monitor, Clearance and Back Sonar

Impact Sensing Fuel cut-off

Speed Sensing Door Auto-lock

Tire Pressure Monitoring System

Front & Rear Seatbelt Warning with Buzzer

Hill Start Assist Control

Uphill/Downhill assist for comfortably smooth and responsive driving

Smart Key Remind Warning

Immobilizer with Alarm

Quest Global Announces Strategic Partnership With Drees & Sommer To Establish High Value Center Of Performance And Innovation

Quest Global, a leading global product engineering services company, today announced a strategic partnership with Drees & Sommer, a leading European consulting, planning, and project management enterprise, marking the latter’s foray into the Engineering, Procurement, Construction Management (EPCM) industry. This partnership will build a High Value Center of Performance and Innovation (HVCPI) in Bangalore. This collaboration will build competitiveness, scale, and capability, ensuring a seamless blend of expertise and capacity enhancement in line with Drees & Sommer’s 2030 Strategy.

This partnership signifies a major milestone for Quest Global as it ventures into the EPCM industry segment. As part of this collaboration, Quest Global will leverage its engineering expertise to establish a local-global team within the HVCPI to support Drees & Sommer to swiftly build sustainable competence and capacity, further solidifying their position in the EPCM and EPC industries.

“We are excited to collaborate with Drees & Sommer to build a High Value Center of Performance and Innovation, delivering innovative and high-quality engineering solutions. This partnership combines Drees & Sommer’s unparalleled expertise with our deep-rooted engineering capabilities, delivering innovative and sustainable solutions to our clients. By leveraging our combined strengths, we aim to redefine industry standards, offering unparalleled value and efficiency to our clients across various sectors,” said Ajay Prabhu, President -Technology Services, Quest Global.

Commenting on the partnership, Veit Thurm, Partner and Managing Director, Drees & Sommer said, “We are thrilled to partner with Quest Global and establish our presence in India. This partnership is crucial for our growth strategy and will enable us to enhance our service offerings and market competitiveness and will provide the flexibility and resilience required for continued success.”

The HVCPI is strategically designed to serve as a hub for innovation and excellence, driving advancements in key areas such as Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, Civil, Structural, and Architecture services. The partnership will cater to specific sectors within the EPCM industry, including Hitech & Production Industries such as Semiconductor, Battery, Pharma & Lifesciences, Chemical, and Automotive.

About Quest Global

Founded in 1997, Quest Global is one of the world’s leading engineering research and development (ER&D) services companies. Quest Global believes engineering has the unique opportunity to solve the problems of today that stand in the way of tomorrow. For more than 25 years, we have strived to be the most trusted partner for the world’s hardest engineering problems. As a global organization headquartered in Singapore, the team at Quest Global live and work in 18 countries, with 78 global delivery centers and offices, driven by 20,000+ extraordinary people who make the impossible possible every day. Quest Global delivers world-class end-to-end engineering solutions by leveraging our deep industry knowledge and digital expertise. By bringing together technologies and industries, alongside the contributions of diverse individuals and their areas of expertise, we are able to solve problems better, faster. This multi-dimensional approach enables us to solve the most critical and large-scale challenges across the aerospace & defence, automotive, energy, hi-tech, med-tech & healthcare, rail, communications, and semiconductor industries.

Tata Motors Unveils Its Cutting-Edge Technology At Bauma Conexpo 2024

* Showcases wide range of new-age gensets, industrial engines and axles for diverse industries

Tata Motors, India's largest commercial vehicle manufacturer and mobility solutions provider, showcased a comprehensive range of advanced aggregates at Bauma Conexpo 2024. The exhibits include CPCB IV+ compliant Tata Motors Gensets available from 25kVA to 125kVA power range, CEV BS V emission-compliant industrial engines from 55-138hp power nodes, live axles, and trailer axles and components. The solutions are designed to address to meet the evolving needs of material handling, construction equipment, industrial applications and logistics segments, and are engineered for high efficiency and durability.

Inaugurating Tata Motors pavilion at Bauma Conexpo 2024, Mr. Vikram Agrawal, Head – Spares and Non-Vehicular Business, Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles, said, "Bauma Conexpo is the perfect platform to introduce Tata Motors aggregates for customers seeking robust and reliable technologies. These new aggregates are the direct voice of our customers, developed through extensive customer feedback. We are expanding our portfolio to address India’s evolving needs – delivering power solutions with gensets, enabling infrastructure with CEV BS V emission-compliant industrial engines and live axles, and strengthening logistics with trailer axles and components.”

Tata Motors aggregates at Bauma Conexpo 2024

ü Tata Motors Gensets: CPCB IV+ compliant with Remote Monitoring System; 25kVA to 125kVA power range

ü Industrial Engines: CEV BS V emission-compliant; available in 55-138hp power nodes.

ü Live Axles: Robustly designed for high-tonnage construction equipment

ü Trailer Axles and Components: New 16mm thick trailer axle beam for heavy-duty commercial vehicles 

Tata Motors aggregates are distinguished by their high durability, efficiency and performance. Developed through extensive research and manufactured in state-of-the-art facilities, these solutions are backed by over 2500 authorised service outlets across the country. The company remains committed to supporting India's infrastructure growth by providing innovative, high-performance aggregates that meet stringent industrial specifications.

About Tata Motors

Part of the USD 165 billion Tata group, Tata Motors Limited (BSE: 500570 and 570001; NSE: TATAMOTORS and TATAMTRDVR), a USD 44 billion organization, is a leading global automobile manufacturer of cars, utility vehicles, pick-ups,  trucks, and buses, offering an extensive range of integrated, smart, and e-mobility solutions. With ‘Connecting Aspirations’ at the core of its brand promise, Tata Motors is India’s market leader in commercial vehicles and ranks among the top three in the passenger vehicles market.

Tata Motors strives to bring new products that captivate the imagination of GenNext customers, fuelled by state-of-the-art design and R&D centres located in India, the UK, the US, Italy, and South Korea. By focusing on engineering and tech- enabled automotive solutions catering to the future of mobility, the company’s innovation efforts are focused on developing pioneering technologies that are both sustainable and suited to the evolving market and customer aspirations. The company is pioneering India's Electric Vehicle (EV) transition and driving the shift towards sustainable mobility solutions by developing a tailored product strategy, leveraging the synergy between Group companies and playing an active role in liaising with the Government of India in developing the policy framework.

With operations in India, UK, South Korea, Thailand and Indonesia, Tata Motors markets its vehicles in Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, Southeast Asia, and the SAARC countries. As of March 31, 2024, Tata Motors’ operations include 90 consolidated subsidiaries, two joint operations, five joint ventures, and numerous equity-accounted associates, including their subsidiaries, over which the company exercises significant influence.

NielsenIQ Reveals 2024 Breakthrough Innovation Winners And Top Trends Driving Growth In India

* The 2024 Breakthrough Innovation Awards by NielsenIQ recognized 23 winners and 17 Wavemakers honorees across FMCG and Tech & Durables industries for leading products that achieved remarkable success in India, standing out in a competitive marketplace.

NielsenIQ (NIQ), the world's leading consumer intelligence company, is proud to unveil its latest insights, showcasing how innovation remains the cornerstone of business growth. During an exclusive event in India, NIQ BASES celebrated the winners of the 2024 Breakthrough Innovation Awards, honoring brands that have disrupted the market and captivated consumers with exceptional new product launches.

These award-winning products launched between 2022 and 2023 and have successfully navigated an ever-evolving consumer landscape.

Driving Growth Through Innovation

According to NIQ BASES, top innovators in India achieve four times higher velocity and double the distribution in their launch year compared to category averages for new launches. This demonstrates how strategic innovation can propel brands ahead of the competition.

“In today's fast-evolving marketplace, where consumer expectations are constantly shifting and market conditions remain unpredictable, innovation continues to be the driving force behind sustainable growth,” said Vijay Udasi, Strategic Analytics & Insights Leader – India, NIQ. “Innovation is not just a moment; it is a long-term strategy. Launching successful innovations in the market is a highly effective way to keep your brand competitive and relevant by fostering consumer-driven growth and securing retailer support, even during challenging economic conditions.             

Emerging Innovation Trends

The 2024 Breakthrough Innovation analysis highlights significant opportunities for brands in Indian markets across FMCG and Tech & Durables to drive growth in the future, including:

Health & Wellness: Low-calorie, low-fat, and gut-health-focused products dominate, with 1 in 5 snacks linked to health. Millets and mindful snacking are on the rise, alongside health-oriented consumer tech.

Cultural Influence: Korean-inspired personal care and food innovations gain traction, emphasizing unique flavors and textures.

Local & Sustainable: Demand grows for sustainably sourced FMCG, and energy-efficient consumer tech tailored to local needs.

Performance & Convenience: Urbanization drives demand for innovative, high-quality products that simplify life.

Celebrating Breakthrough Innovators

This year’s winners of the Breakthrough Innovation Awards exemplify excellence in execution, with products that not only broke through the marketplace clutter but also addressed evolving consumer needs. Winning products in India saw on average a remarkable 90% increase in sales during their second year compared to their first—a testament to the power of purposeful innovation.

Vidya Sen, Executive Director, Customer Success - BASES, NielsenIQ? said, “India's innovation landscape reveals a clear path to growth. In 2022, the launch period for this analysis, Foods dominated successful product launches, with Biscuits, Salty Snacks, and Confectionery leading the charge, while Skin Creams and Toilet Soaps stood out in non-Foods.

NIQ Consumer Survey reveals that 34% of urban consumers prioritize new product availability and 40%—especially Gen-Z and women—actively seek innovation claiming to shop for new products before the others did. The appetite for novelty is undeniable. For brands, this presents a strategic opportunity to capture consumer interest and drive sustained growth through meaningful and timely innovations.”

Since 2012, more than 900 FMCG brands globally have been recognized with this prestigious honor, including ~140 innovations in India across categories like Food & Beverages (48%) and Personal & Home Care (52%). This year, NIQ also recognized Tech & Durables brands in India for their groundbreaking achievements in product development and market success.

FMCG Breakthrough Innovation Award Winners in 2024 are:

?CIPLA: Prolyte ORS (Mixed Fruit + Nimbu Paani Flavors)

The Coca-Cola Company: Predator Energy Drink Gold Strike

The Coca-Cola Company: Charged by Thums up - Berry Bolt

Colgate-Palmolive: Colgate Visible White O2 Toothbrush

Dabur?: Odonil Gel Pocket (Citrus Bloom, Floral Valley & Wild Forest)

Himalaya Wellness: Himalaya Baby Massage Oil – Mustard

Hindustan Unilever Limited: Sunsilk Hairfall Shampoo with Onion & Jojoba Oil

Hindustan Unilever Limited: Knorr Cream of Broccoli Soup

ITC: Savlon Powder-to-Gel Handwash

L'Oréal: L'Oréal Paris Hyaluron 72 H Moisture Filling Range

Perfetti Van Melle: Center Fruit Pineapple Tennis Ball Shape Chewing Gum

Reckitt Benckiser: Dettol Original Pine Powder to Liquid Hand Wash

Reckitt Benckiser: Dettol Lather Shaving Cream – Fresh - Citrus Pine

RSH Global Pvt Ltd: Joy Fresh Mornings Shower Gel

RSPL Limited: Pro-ease Lovingle Luxury Diaper Pants

Tata Consumer Products Limited: Tata Coffee Grand (Classic & Premium)

Tata Consumer Products Limited: Tata Salt Immuno

Tata Consumer Products Limited: Tata Gluco Plus Jelly Energy Drink

Tech & Durables Breakthrough Innovation Award Winners in 2024 are:

POCO M6 Series 5G Smartphones

Samsung S24 Ultra Smartphone

Mediatek Dimensity Series

Haier Side-by-Side (3 Door+) Refrigerators

LG Washer Dryer

The Wavemakers category recognizes promising new product launches that have demonstrated strong market velocities and potential for future success.

FMCG Breakthrough Innovation Wavemakers in 2024 are:

PepsiCo India: Sting Blue Current

ITC Sunfeast YiPee Wow Masala

Nestle India: Maggi Korean Range

Mondelez India: CDM Silk Ganach

Ferrero India: Kinder Schoko Bons Crispy

Nestle India: Kit Kat - Rich Chocolate

Nestle India: Nestle A+ Tangy Tomato Masala + Veggie Masala Millets

PepsiCo India: Kur Kure Sizzling Hot

ITC: Bingo Hot & Spicy (Korean 2X) 

TTK Healthcare: Eva Splash Deo Roll On 

Hindustan Unilever Limited: Indulekha Svetakutaja Oil for Dandruff Treatment 

Tech & Durables Breakthrough Innovation Wavemakers in 2024 are:

Oppo F27 Pro+ 5G

acer? Aspire Vero

vivo X Fold3 Pro 

Dyson Airstrait 

LG: 617L, French Door, MoodUP 

HP: Envy Move All in One Portable Desktop 

Each winner showcases how a Good Idea, a Good Product, and Effective Activation—the three guiding principles of NIQ BASES—can deliver exceptional marketplace success.

 NIQ BASES empowers brands with cutting-edge insights to fuel product development, brand renovation, and go-to-market activation. With over 100 patents and a database of 500,000 evaluated innovations coupled with significant R&D investment in AI, Neuro, and Agile platforms, NIQ offers unparalleled expertise in market dynamics and actionable strategies for success.

MIT-WPU Team Secures Patent For Advanced “Vehicle Data Tracking System” For Real-Time Monitoring And Safety

* The system will enable fleet operators, automotive manufacturers, insurance companies, logistics firms, smart city planners, and others to benefit from its real-time tracking, geo-fencing, and emergency alert capabilities.

* The MIT-WPU team is now focusing on commercializing the system through partnerships with automotive manufacturers, fleet management companies, and logistics firms.

With the ever-growing demand for logistics, commercial operations, and traffic management, there is an increasing need for efficient vehicle monitoring systems to ensure smoother operations that are fast, safe, and reliable. In a significant achievement in this direction, a team of professors and students at MIT World Peace University (MIT-WPU), Pune, has developed an advanced vehicle data tracking system, backed by 5G and the latest technologies, for real-time vehicle monitoring, safety, and enhanced operational efficiency.

The team, comprising Ashutosh Solanke, Malhar Jojare, Hrushikesh Kalamkar, and mentor Prof. Shweta Kukade, has secured a patent for the novel integration of 5G technology, real-time tracking, and enhanced safety features into vehicle data monitoring systems. This system will now enable fleet operators, automotive manufacturers, insurance companies, logistics firms, smart city planners, and others to benefit from its real-time tracking, geo-fencing, and emergency alert capabilities.

The MIT-WPU team is now focusing on commercializing the system through partnerships with automotive manufacturers, fleet management companies, and logistics firms. The goal is to integrate the system into both commercial and public sector vehicle fleets, enhancing their operational efficiency and safety. Furthermore, the team plans to explore consumer applications by developing a version for individual vehicle owners, which would offer enhanced security and tracking capabilities.

Speaking about the unique features and importance of the system, Prof. Shweta Kukade, Assistant Professor at MIT World Peace University shared, “Traditional systems often lack the high-speed connectivity and precise location tracking necessary for modern applications. Our system leverages 5G technology and enhanced GPS/GLONASS accuracy, providing faster, more reliable tracking, making it invaluable for sectors like fleet management, logistics, insurance, and public transportation. We are also considering scaling the system for use in smart cities, potentially integrating it with IoT infrastructure for real-time urban mobility management, ensuring continuous product innovation and development.”

The system overcomes the limitations of existing vehicle tracking systems that operate on 2G or 3G networks, which have limited data transfer speeds and reduced accuracy in pinpointing a vehicle’s location. The integration of 5G addresses issues such as delayed tracking data, unreliable connectivity in rural areas, and weaker precision. This is a game-changer, enabling real-time data transfer and reliable tracking, particularly in rural, remote, or challenging environments, with accurate and fast location tracking through technologies like GPS and GLONASS.

Additionally, the system includes geo-fencing, allowing for virtual boundaries to be set and providing alerts if vehicles leave designated areas. The emergency button feature enables immediate alerts in critical situations. The automatic switch to open Wi-Fi networks ensures that the system maintains connectivity even when 5G isn’t available. These improvements offer greater speed, precision, and safety compared to legacy systems that rely on 2G/3G networks with only GPS tracking.

The system is designed to automatically connect to authorized, open Wi-Fi networks, typically in public spaces, without breaching any legal or network boundaries. It does not access private or password-protected networks without permission. This feature ensures continuous connectivity, especially when vehicles enter areas where 5G signals may be weak or unavailable, all while respecting the integrity of secured networks.

With its cutting-edge technology and versatile applications, the MIT-WPU team’s vehicle data tracking system has the potential to bring a significant change in fleet management, logistics, and urban mobility. As they move towards commercialization, the team is confident that this innovation will set new standards for safety, efficiency, and real-time monitoring in the transportation sector.

Amplus Solar Retains Leadership Position In India’s Rooftop Solar Sector

Amplus Solar has once again been recognized as the market leader in the OPEX (Operating Expense) category for the rooftop solar sector. This marks the third consecutive recognition by the esteemed Bridge to India report, further solidifying Amplus Solar's position at the forefront of India's renewable energy transition.

This achievement comes during a pivotal shift in the renewable energy landscape, where the industry is increasingly moving towards large open access solutions. Despite this evolving trend, Amplus Solar continues to demonstrate resilience and innovation, ensuring its leadership and focus in the OPEX category, a business model that enables clients to adopt solar energy without any upfront capital investment.

Speaking on the milestone, Sharad Pungalia, MD & CEO at Amplus Solar, said: "We are honoured to be recognized as a market leader for the third consecutive year. This distinction serves as a testament to our unwavering commitment to customer centricity, which not only drives our own growth but also contributes to the evolution of the industry as a whole. As we look to the future, our focus remains steadfast on empowering businesses to become energy efficient, while collectively working towards a more sustainable future."

Amplus Solar’s OPEX model has been pivotal in empowering businesses across India, particularly in the commercial and industrial (C&I) sectors, to transition to renewable energy seamlessly. By taking on the capital and operational burden, Amplus has enabled its clients to focus on their core business operations while reducing their carbon footprints and operational costs.

 As the renewable energy sector in India continues to grow, Amplus Solar remains dedicated to driving innovation, sustainability, and long-term partnerships.

IIIT-Bangalore Hosts Prestigious Computer Vision Conference: ICVGIP 2024

International Institute of Information Technology Bangalore is hosting a prestigious conference, "Indian Conference on Computer Vision, Graphics and Image Processing 2024 (ICVGIP 2024)", from December 13 to 15 at IIIT-Bangalore. This is considered a prestigious conference in the area of Computer Vision, and its parent organization is IUPRAI (Indian Unit of Pattern Recognition and Artificial Intelligence).

The Indian Conference on Computer Vision, Graphics and Image Processing (ICVGIP) is India’s premier conference in Computer Vision, Graphics, Image Processing and related fields. Starting in 1998, it was a biennial international conference till 2021, providing a forum for the presentation of technological advances and research findings in these areas. ICVGIP 2024, the 15th conference in this series, is being organized by IIIT-Bangalore in association with the Indian Unit for Pattern Recognition and Artificial Intelligence (IUPRAI), an affiliate of the International Association for Pattern Recognition (IAPR). ICVGIP is being held annually from 2022 due to the huge growth in the community. ICVGIP is dedicated to fostering the community of computer vision, graphics and image processing researchers and enthusiasts in India and abroad. We strive to live up to this goal at every occurrence of this annual conference.

Over 300 participants from both Industry and Academia are expected to attend ICVGIP 2024 this year. The IUPRAI (Indian Unit of Pattern Recognition and Artificial Intelligence) Doctoral Dissertation Award will also be given at the conference. This award recognizes and encourages excellence in research and writing by doctoral candidates in the fields of Computer Vision, Computer Graphics, Image Processing, and Pattern Recognition. The award will consist of a citation and a cash prize.

In addition to paper presentations, the Doctoral Dissertation Award, a key highlight of this event, will be accompanied by plenary talks by distinguished speakers.

Plenary speakers and the title of their talk (https://icvgip.in/plenaryspeakers):

1.      Vasilis Ntziachristos, Professor and Chair of Biological Imaging (CBI) - Technical University Munich, Germany and Director, Institute of Biological and Medical Imaging (IBMI) – Helmholtz Munich, Germany

              Title: Looking and Listening to Light: Advances in Optical and Optoacoustic Imaging

2.      Prof. Alan C. Bovik, Professor, The University of Texas at Austin

Title: On Visual Quality: Pictures, Videos, and GenAI

3.      Prof. SP Arun, Professor, Centre for Neuroscience, IISc Bangalore

Title: Towards a real conversation between vision in brains and machines

4.      Prof. George Drettakis, Senior Researcher, INRIA

Title: The 3D Gaussian Splatting Adventure: Past, Present and Future

5.      Prof. Arsha Nagrani, Staff Research Scientist, Google Deepmind

Title: Long Video Understanding in the age of large MLMs

6.      Prof. Deva Ramanan, Professor, Robotics Institute, Carnegie Mellon University

Title: Multimodal Spatial Intelligence for Interacting in a Dynamic World

“The 15th edition of this prestigious conference ICVGIP 2024 is being organized by IIIT-Bangalore in association with the Indian Unit for Pattern Recognition and Artificial Intelligence (IUPRAI), an affiliate of the International Association for Pattern Recognition (IAPR). ICVGIP is dedicated to fostering the community of computer vision, graphics and image processing researchers and enthusiasts in India and abroad.” said Prof. Viswanath Gopalakrishnan, IIIT-Bangalore.

“We are very happy that ICVGIP 2024 is happening at IIIT-Bangalore. This conference is very prestigious, and IIIT-B is the ideal venue to host it. We are witnessing excellent plenary talks and participation from over 300 attendees from both industry and academia,” said Prof. Debabrata Das, IIIT-Bangalore.

About IIIT-Bangalore

IIIT-Bangalore is a premier institute dedicated to undergraduate and postgraduate programs specializing in Computer Science and Engineering (CSE), Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE), Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (DSAI), IT for Society, and broader fields of IT and research. Situated in the heart of Electronic City, Bengaluru, it holds a prominent position in the academic landscape. IIIT-Bangalore is graded A+ by National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC). IIIT-Bangalore secured the 74th position in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) rankings for the second consecutive year, 2024 reflecting its commitment to academic excellence. The institute was ranked number 9 among India's Best Technical Universities (Private) by India Today. IIIT-Bangalore contains state-of-the-art infrastructure, eminently qualified faculty, a vibrant alumni community, cutting-edge research facilities, and close industry collaborations.

The institute’s specially designed courses make the students’ cognizant of the current technologies. Experiential learning and practices followed in the institute equip them with the tools and knowledge to solve contemporary real problems. IIIT-Bangalore has consistently achieved excellent placement records every year since its establishment in 1998, thanks to the unwavering support of the industry and the expanding pool of highly skilled alumni.

 For more information about IIIT-Bangalore, visit www.iiitb.ac.in

Atlassian Study Reveals 76% Of Indian knowledge Workers Report Year-End Project Pile-Up

* The new research highlights the need for asynchronous work and practices that keep work moving

As the year winds down, a familiar sense of urgency sets in for knowledge workers across India. Deadlines loom, projects accumulate, and the pressure to finish strong before the holidays intensifies. New research from Atlassian, a global leader in team collaboration and productivity software, reveals the extent of this year-end rush: an overwhelming 76% of Indian knowledge workers report having unfinished projects as the year comes to a close.

The global survey, which included responses from 6,000 workers across India, Australia, the US, France, Germany, and the UK, sheds light on the challenges faced by knowledge workers as the end-of-year crunch fast approaches. Among the 1,000+ Indian respondents, the main reasons for unfinished projects were:

Unexpected Challenges: 36% cited unforeseen hurdles as the leading cause for projects going unfinished.

Overcommitment: 32% admitted their teams had taken on more work than they could realistically manage.

Shifting Priorities: 31% pointed to changing goals and priorities as a significant factor in project setbacks.

Molly Sands, Head of Teamwork Lab, Atlassian said, "While the end of the year often brings pressure to wrap up projects, it’s also a chance to reassess your priorities. Many of us try to do too much at once, which slows us down and compromises quality. Instead, use this moment to let go of low impact projects, focus on the outcomes that truly matter, and set yourself up for a fresh, focused return. That kind of clarity and intention is invaluable.”

Key India findings from the report

The research uncovers a concerning trend: the ‘out of sight, out of mind’ phenomenon. While 36% maintain a ‘new year, same priorities’ approach, 25% admit to good intentions but poor follow-through. Nearly three in ten (28%) selectively circle back, and a worrying 10% confess that some projects simply get forgotten.

Generational differences are evident: Gen Z (14%) and Millennials (11%) are more likely to let projects slip, while Gen X shows greater focus on wrapping things up, with 40% aiming to complete tasks by year-end, compared to 29% of Gen Z and 31% of Millennials.

Keeping projects moving, even when teams are apart

Asynchronous work keeps tasks moving forward without requiring all team members to be available at the same time. This is especially useful during the holiday season, when mismatched PTO schedules, competing priorities, and fluctuating energy levels can make it tough to coordinate, risking delays or stalled progress. Here are four tips for teams to pick up work, right where they left off in 2025:

Be realistic about your calendar: Assess your calendar to make sure you have enough focus time to get your most important work done.

If it doesn’t move the needle, scrap it now: Drop low-impact projects and focus on what truly matters to improve quality and outcomes.

Think async first: When pressure mounts, avoid defaulting to meetings - they're often unproductive. Instead, stay async and use tools like Loom for updates or FYIs.

Capture context now for clarity post-holidays: Async work needs clear documentation - progress, decisions, and next steps - in accessible formats to keep work moving across holiday schedules.

“Many companies lack the right tools and norms to support their employees during stressful periods. As a result, their teams automatically resort to meetings and synchronous ways of working,” says Sands. “In contrast, companies that rely on effective asynchronous working methods can act much faster. This approach not only reduces stress, but also improves workflow and gives employees the opportunity to start the new year with renewed focus and confidence.”

To read more about the new research,  visit the blog: https://www.atlassian.com/blog/productivity/circle-back-season

About Atlassian

Atlassian unleashes the potential of every team. Our agile & DevOps, IT service management and work management software helps teams organize, discuss, and complete shared work. The majority of the Fortune 500 and over 300,000 companies of all sizes worldwide - including NASA, Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys and Salesforce - rely on our solutions to help their teams work better together and deliver quality results on time. Learn more about our products, including Jira, Confluence and Loom at https://atlassian.com.

Experience The Joy Of Christmas Like Never Before At Phoenix Mall Of Asia

This festive season, Phoenix Mall of Asia welcomes everyone to embrace the festive spirit with a captivating array of activities and attractions this Christmas season. To bring the joy of Christmas to life the mall turned into a Christmas wonderland with stunning decorations, fascinating activities, and a festive heaven perfect for families and friends. From the dazzling 65-ft Christmas Tree to the magical European-themed market, this event promises unforgettable moments filled with cheer and celebration.

Here are the Christmas Chronicles, designed to enchant your evenings and celebrate the spirit of Christmas this festive season.

Spectacular 65 Ft Christmas Tree: Witness the spectacular Christmas tree in town, decked with shimmering lights and opulent ornaments.

Santa Meet & Greet: A delightful opportunity for children to meet Santa and share their Christmas wishes.

European Themed Christmas Market: Explore a bewitching winter wonderland offering crafts, gifts, Christmas decor, merchandise, and festive treats.

Snowfall Experience: Immerse yourself in the wonder of a snowfall spectacle, surrounded by twinkling lights and festive tunes.

Carol Singing & Musical Band Performance: Enjoy classic Christmas carols and a live performance by a top western band.

Festive Characters: Meet the jolly Snowman, playful Reindeers, and our delightful Elf duo, Sprinkles and Sparkles.

Event Details:

Dates: 13th, 14th, and 15th December 2024

Location: Grand Plaza, Phoenix Mall of Asia, Bangalore North

Time: 5:00 PM onwards

Entry: Open to all, free entry.

Bengaluru’s Dayananda Sagar University Joins OPPO India’s ‘Generation Green’ initiative To Drive e-Waste Awareness Among Youth

* Over 9 Lakh students have taken the ‘Green Pledge’ since July 2024 

OPPO India, in collaboration with the All-India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has expanded the nationwide electronic-waste awareness drive to Bengaluru, Karnataka under its ‘Generation Green’ programme (Managed by 1M1B). City’s Dayananda Sagar University has joined the initiative as an ‘Eco-Conscious Champion Institute’ to promote green skills among youth through activities like awareness sessions, e-surveys, and Green Day celebrations.

Under the programme, Dayananda Sagar University will educate students from more than 10 colleges and schools, and citizens from neighbouring villages, about the increasing challenge of electronic waste management and the need for effective disposal for a sustainable future. To mark the occasion, an e-waste awareness drive was organised at the University’s campus today where over 300 students engaged in awareness activities, such as Nukkad Nataks, Ideathon, and fashion show where e-waste was used as embellishments.

Over 5000 students were informed about effective e-waste disposal, including mobile phones, chargers, batteries, and wires. Present at the occasion were Mr Syed Khaja Mohiddin, Senior Environmental Zonal Officer, KSPCB, Ms. Anuka K Kumar, General Manager, Public Affairs, OPPO India, Dr. Amit R. Bhatt, Vice Chancellor, Dayanand Sagar University, and officials from the University and 1M1B.

Generation Green targets one million youth engagements by the end of 2024 to create a lasting impact on e-waste management and environmental preservation. Commenting on the same, Mr. Rakesh Bhardwaj, Head of Public Affairs at OPPO India said, “Generation Green embodies our commitment to Government of India's Net-Zero vision. In just a few months, we have engaged with over 1400 educational institutions across the country. Bengaluru, as a vital IT hub, plays a key role in this mission, and we deeply appreciate the enthusiasm and dedication of Dayananda Sagar University and its students in driving e-waste awareness in the region. With over 9 lakh Green Pledges already taken, we are well on track to engage a million students by year-end.”

“E-waste is one of the fastest-growing environmental challenges of our time, and the youth will play a pivotal role in addressing it,” said Mr. Buddha Chandrasekhar, CCO, AICTE. “By creating awareness through programs like Generation Green, we are fostering a culture of environmental responsibility that will shape a sustainable tomorrow."

Dr. Amit R. Bhatt, Vice Chancellor, Dayanand Sagar University, said, "Partnering with OPPO India for this e-waste awareness drive, under the aegis of AICTE, is a pivotal moment in our journey towards sustainability at University. Being named an Eco-Conscious Champion highlights University's vision and dedication to tackling the critical environmental challenges of our time. We are equipping the next generation with the knowledge and tools to take the lead in building a more responsible and sustainable future. We strongly believe that educational institutions like us can serve as torchbearers for strengthening environmental awareness and responsibility among students."

Launched in September 2024, the national e-waste awareness drive kicked-off at Ramjas College, University of Delhi. Prominent education institutions such as St. Xavier's College, Mumbai, Amity University Jharkhand, Silver Oak University, Ahmedabad, JECRC University, Jaipur, and SRM University-AP are already recognized as 'Eco-Conscious Champions’ under the programme.

The first phase of the campaign saw AICTE and OPPO India partner with 1M1B to promote sustainable practices among youth by offering green internships to students across India.  In the first phase, OPPO India onboarded sustainability champions from over 20 states and 3 Union Territories, who are now inspiring others to act for a cleaner sustainable future. Join the movement for a sustainable future, visit www.iamgenerationgreen.in and take the pledge.

About OPPO

OPPO is a leading global smart device brand. Since the launch of its first mobile phone - “Smiley Face” - in 2008, OPPO has been in relentless pursuit of the perfect synergy of aesthetic satisfaction and innovative technology. Today, OPPO provides a wide range of smart devices spearheaded by the Find and Reno series. Beyond devices, OPPO also provides its users with ColorOS operating system and internet services. OPPO has footprints in more than 70 countries and regions, with more than 40,000 employees dedicated to creating a better life for customers around the world.

International Conference On Plant Biotechnology Begins At MAHE

The International Conference on Plant Biotechnology for Sustainable Productivity and Environment (ICPBSPE) conducted by the Department of Plant Sciences, Manipal School of Life Sciences (MSLS), Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), was inaugurated today by Prof. Sharath Kumar Rao, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Health Sciences) of MAHE, alongside Prof. Yu-Chung Chiang, Distinguished Professor at National Sun Yat-sen University, Taiwan, as the Guest of Honor, in the presence of Dr. B.S. Satish Rao, Director, MSLS, and Dr. A. Muthusamy, the Convener of the conference. With over 130 participants from across India and international speakers from Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, the UK, and Sri Lanka, the event promises to be a landmark in advancing plant biotechnological innovations.

In his inaugural address, Prof. Rao highlighted the importance of scientific research and innovation for the sustainability of biodiversity and agricultural production, segueing with ‘One Health’ goals. The conference further highlights MAHE's commitment to innovation, with the year 2025 being designated as the Year of Excellence in Industry-Academia Collaboration, furthering partnerships between research and industrial sectors. This conference is a prelude to the groundbreaking advancements envisioned next year.

Organized around five themes, including plant biodiversity, conservation, genetics, stress interactions, and eco-friendly practices, the conference highlights the critical role of plant sciences in addressing food security and environmental challenges. Eminent speakers from academia and industry will discuss cutting-edge research and collaborative opportunities to bridge global agricultural gaps. This international gathering marks a significant step toward sustainable productivity and greener practices, reinforcing MAHE’s leadership in transformative education and research and is generously sponsored by the Department of Biotechnology-Government of India, HiMedia and SVR AgroImpex underscoring the growing synergy between academia and industry.

Ecofluence’24 - 16th International Conference On Economics & Public Policy And Economics Research Championship

* Indian Ambassador & IBA Governing Council Member Dr. DEEPAK VOHRA And Neeti Aayog Member Dr. ARVIND VIRMANI (Minister of State Rank) Participation

Ecoflence ’24, an International Conference on Economics and Public Policy and Economics Research Championship, jointly presented by IBA and IEA was held at Indus Business Academy (IBA). The three day conference addressed the theme “Pathways in Economic and Public Policy in Digital Epoch”.

The conference was inaugurated by Dr. Shubendu Dey, Director-Indus business Academy and the welcome address was by Dr. Subhash Sharma mentor-IBA. Dr.Arvind Virmani, Member, Niti aayog {Minister of State Rank} delivered the keynote address and Dr. Anil Thakur, Convenor-Indian Economics Association also addressed the gathering.

IBA Governing Council Member and the Ambassador Dr. Deepak Vohra in his interaction with the media stressed that during his meetings with global economists, Indus  Business Academy has a pride of place in the top echelons of Management Institutes across the globe.  He mentioned that the presence of top-class Academicians in IBA enables the young minds at IBA to think beyond the books and become very analytical.

Dr. Manish Jain the founder and MD of IBA pointed out to the influence of Ecoflence-the economics conference-the economics conference over on the mindset of the country and the common man.

On the occasion, Dr. V.R. Panchamukhi was given Late Shri BML Jain Memorial Lifetime Achievement Award. Dr. P.R. Panchamukhi and Dr. R.S. Deshpande was given IBA’s Distinguished Service and Excellence in Teaching and Research Awards.

Professor Prashant Kulkarni the conference Co-chair said that Ecofluence is a way to enlighten the public about economics and its importance in daily life.

The other notable dignitaries present included Dr. Ram Mishra, Director {Retd} IPE, Hyderabad and Dr. Bhanu Murthy, Director, Madras School of Economics, Dr. Ravindra Brahme, Gen Secretary IEA, Dr. R.S. Deshapande, Former Director ISEC, Dr. S.R.Keshava, Head PG Dept of Economics, BU, Dr. Pushkarni Panchamikhi Executive Dir-CREST, Dr.Basavaraj Nagoor, Professor of Economics, Karnataka University and Dr.Kala Seetharam Sridhar-Professor and Head, ISEC.

TiE Global Summit 2024 Kicks Off A Four-Day Celebration Of Innovation, Collaboration, And Global Entrepreneurship

Highlights:

* The KPMG-TiE report "Democratisation of Entrepreneurship" was launched, highlighting that 20% of MSME startups are women-led, 45% come from Tier II/III cities, and significant incubation is happening with the support of government schemes and initiatives.

* The TiE Women Deloitte report was also launched during the summit, highlighting key trends and challenges faced by women entrepreneurs.

At the TiE Global Summit, TiE Chapters and attendees embraced Bangalore’s tech spirit by digitally lighting the ceremonial lamp via QR code—blending tradition with innovation.

* The summit featured discussions on purpose-driven organizations, a partnership between UMass Amherst and TiE Boston to boost healthcare innovation and insights on balancing logic and emotion in leadership.

* The summit also showcased RIA, a humanoid robot created by a Bengaluru-based company, designed as a companion in conversation with the Hon’ble Minister for IT, Bt, RDPR, Shri Priyank Kharge

The TiE Global Summit 2024 (TGS24) commenced today at the Bangalore International Exhibition Centre (BIEC), bringing together distinguished global leaders, entrepreneurs, investors, and policymakers. Organized by TiE Bangalore, the summit brings together global entrepreneurs, investors, and thought leaders to explore key themes of innovation, collaboration, and the future of entrepreneurship. It is Supported by the Government of Karnataka (Department of E, IT, BT) as the State Partner and co-hosted by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, and Software Technology Parks of India (STPI), the summit aims to redefine the global entrepreneurship landscape under the theme "Putting Entrepreneurship First."

The summit began with the Antraprerna Summit on December 9, which laid the foundation for discussions on sustainability, innovation, and building entrepreneurial ecosystems. The sessions provided actionable insights into tackling global challenges and fostering sustainable growth.

The inauguration ceremony witnessed participation from an illustrious panel of dignitaries, including Shri Priyank Kharge, Hon’ble Minister of IT, BT, RDPR, Government of Karnataka; Lt. Governor Tahesha Way, New Jersey and Secretary of State; Shri Arvind Kumar, Director General, STPI; Dr. Ekroop Caur, IAS, Principal Secretary to Government, Department of E, IT, BT & S&T, Government of Karnataka;  Mr. Chris Hodges, U.S. Consul General, Chennai; Shri Prashanth Prakash, Chairman, Karnataka Vision Board and Founding Partner, Accel India; Shri BV Naidu, Chairman, Karnataka Digital Economy Mission; Dr. Sanjay Tyagi, Jurisdictional Director, STPI; Mr. Ashish Chauhan, MD & CEO, NSE; Shri Sanjeev Gupta, CEO, Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM); Mr. Amit Gupta, Global Chair, TiE Global; Mr. A.J. Patel, Chairman, TiE Global; Mr. Akhilesh Tuteja, Global Cyber Security Leader, KPMG; Mr. Madan Padaki, President of TiE Bangalore and Chair of TGS24; and Ms. Lakshmi Pratury, CEO, INK Talks.

On the inauguration day, the summit featured an engaging session titled "Entrepreneurship Through the Lens of Storytellers," where Mr. Madan Padaki, President of TiE Bangalore and Chair of TiE Global Summit 2024, conversed with renowned Indian film actor Vidya Balan and film producer Siddharth Roy Kapur. The session delved into their unconventional journeys, exploring the resilience required to overcome setbacks and the power of persistence. Vidya shared her belief in staying grounded and approaching every opportunity with a fresh perspective, while Siddharth highlighted the importance of intentionality and adapting to challenges. Both speakers drew fascinating parallels between storytelling and entrepreneurship, emphasizing the highs, lows, and the constant drive to innovate and learn.

In another captivating session at the TiE Global Summit 2024, legendary tennis champion and philanthropist Andre Agassi took the stage for the FutureSparks session, themed 'Marathon Mindset.' He shared his remarkable journey, from dropping out of 8th grade to pursue tennis full-time, to becoming a transformative figure in education by building 130 schools that have benefited over 80,000 children in the past decade. Agassi emphasized the value of hard work and work-life balance, explaining that while his father valued success through winning and money, he focused on listening to his children and holding them accountable. He spoke about the importance of curiosity in education and the willingness to take risks, which has allowed him to learn and grow throughout his life. He also highlighted the role of sports in shaping creativity, problem-solving skills, and the ability to thrive in high-pressure environments, stressing that losses are only valuable when you learn from them.

During the inauguration of the TiE Global Summit 2024, the KPMG-TiE report "Democratisation of Entrepreneurship" was unveiled, highlighting key insights such as 20% of MSME startups being women-led, 45% emerging from Tier II/III cities, and the important role of government-supported incubation programs in fostering entrepreneurship. Lt. Governor Tahesha Way, New Jersey and Secretary of State delivered a speech emphasizing the strong ties between New Jersey and India. She highlighted the state’s $11.3 billion in two-way trade and a 2,025% increase in Indian business interest since 2019. With its world-class universities, skilled workforce, and history of innovation, New Jersey offers ample opportunities for Indian entrepreneurs. Also, Mr. Ashish Chauhan, MD& CEO, National Stock Exchange, spoke about the transformative role of technology in India's financial markets, with the NSE empowering millions and driving wealth creation, underlining technology’s central role in India’s growth.

A major highlight of TGS24 is the TGS100 initiative, which showcases 100 early-stage startups selected from over 1,300 applications across 17 countries. These startups, spanning sectors like AI, Healthcare, Climate, and Social Impact, will pitch to a super-jury of investors and industry leaders for a chance to win a prize pool of INR 50 lakhs. Additionally, the TiE Women Global Pitch Competition, with 3,100+ women-led startups from 62 countries, will culminate with 43 finalists competing for top honors and a USD 50,000 prize pool.

Speaking at the inaugural session of the TiE Global Summit, Shri Priyank Kharge, Hon’ble Minister for IT, Bt, RDPR, Government of Karnataka said, “Karnataka views entrepreneurs as innovators and disruptors, whose transformative ideas are not only creating new markets and job opportunities but also shaping a more sustainable future. By equipping entrepreneurs with essential tools like mentorship and incubation, we aim to make entrepreneurship a natural choice, not just an aspiration. The Elevate program, run by the Government of Karnataka, supports startups with 50 lakh rupees in funding, with zero equity taken. To date, 983 startups have been funded through this initiative, with 32% hailing from Tier-1 and Tier-2 towns and 24% being women-led. I invite global entrepreneurs and think tanks to join hands with the Government of Karnataka in building a better, brighter, and bolder world.”

"Entrepreneurship is a transformative force—it's not just about starting businesses, but about shaping the future. Reflecting on the growth of India's financial markets, particularly with the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange, technology stands as the driving engine behind this transformation. The NSE revolutionized the market with screen-based trading in 1994, and today it empowers millions of Indians to participate in wealth creation. As our nation continues to evolve, technology will remain the cornerstone of our growth. Whether you're a small business owner or a large corporation, India’s capital markets offer a platform for all, driving innovation and opportunity. The future belongs to those who innovate, and in India, that future is bright for entrepreneurs and investors alike." — Ashish Chauhan, MD&CEO, National Stock Exchange.

Speaking on the occasion, Madan Padaki, President of TiE Bangalore and Chair of TGS24, said, “As we gather here today, let us celebrate the energy and aspirations that drive us forward. Over the past 32 years, TiE has been a beacon of purpose, fostering entrepreneurship and building a better world. This journey has been fueled by the incredible power of our ecosystem – a collective force of government leaders, academia, financial institutions, investors, and entrepreneurs. Together, we have proven that nothing is impossible when the right minds come together. The connections we create here, the ideas we ignite, and the passion we share make TiE a global phenomenon. Today, we don't just light a lamp; we light the path for future entrepreneurs. It is the spirit of TiE – uniting the world, empowering innovation, and elevating entrepreneurship to new heights.”

At the inauguration ceremony Amit Gupta, Global Chair of TiE Global said, "The TiE Global Summit 2024 marks a significant milestone in our ongoing mission to empower entrepreneurs across the globe. This summit is not just a platform for networking, but a catalyst for innovation, collaboration, and growth. Entrepreneurship is the heartbeat of innovation, transforming global challenges into opportunities, creating jobs, and driving sustainable economic growth. By harnessing technology and fostering collaboration, we are shaping a more inclusive and prosperous future for communities worldwide. Its transformative power lies in empowering millions, sparking groundbreaking ideas, and uplifting underrepresented voices. Together, we turn aspirations into impact, enabling communities to rise and thrive.”

TGS24 continues to embody the spirit of collaboration, innovation, and entrepreneurship, fostering meaningful dialogue and partnerships that will shape the future of business and society.