US Johnson & Johnson Cleared in Baby Powder-Cancer Litigation Case

With reference to the US litigation case (Forrest) in St. Louis, Missouri, resulted in a verdict for Johnson & Johnson, finding Johnson’s Baby Powder was not the cause of the plaintiff’s disease.

“This is the fourth consecutive verdict in favor of Johnson & Johnson in these cases and the eighth defense verdict this year. The jury carefully considered the decades of independent clinical evidence, which show Johnson’s Baby Powder is safe, does not contain asbestos, and does not cause cancer. We know that anyone suffering from cancer is searching for answers, which is why the science and facts on this topic are so important ”, a Johnson & Johnson company spokesperson said in a statement.

QuEST Global to Demonstrate Enhanced Driver and Vehicle Safety Using Deep Learning at CES 2020

QuEST Global, a global product engineering and lifecycle services company, will demonstrate Deep Learning driven Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) at CES (Consumer Electronic Show) 2020. The deep learning models developed by QuEST Global aim to enhance ADAS by improving the accuracy in detection of traffic signs, pedestrians and traffic. This enhanced ADAS will be demonstrated at Booth # 1909, Westgate Pavilion.

The ADAS demo has been developed by training deep learning models using synthetic data representing various environmental conditions and terrains. Such deep learning driven ADAS are 25% more accurate than the ones developed using classic image processing techniques. By leveraging its strong capabilities in high-performance vision processing and deep learning, the company has further optimized the performance of the applications to improve interpretation of both simulated and real time data.

Commenting on this new innovation, Berthold Puchta, Global Industry Leader – Transportation, QuEST Global said, “The automotive industry is rapidly adopting autonomous, connected, electric and shared technologies. However, lack of variety of data is one of the major hurdles faced by the industry.  QuEST Global is committed to solving such industry challenges for our global automotive customers by enabling future of mobility. This deep learning model developed by our engineers has shown higher accuracy rates and it can continuously evolve while training of the deep learning models continue.”

As a trusted thinking partner, QuEST Global has been working with the world’s most recognized companies in automotive industry for the last two decades. The company is committed to enable its customers to Create The Frontier by advancing the ways people drive, travel and interact with each other. Being at the forefront of the convergence of Mechanical, Electronics, Software and Digital Engineering Innovations, the company is helping OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers to address the growing demand of providing connected engineering experience to the end customers. By developing comprehensive engineering services and solutions, QuEST Global has been partnering with its automotive customers for overcoming the new-age engineering challenges and make products safer and more reliable in today’s digital age.

Tata Sky Kannada Cinema to Woo Sandalwood Lovers Across India

Tata Sky, India’s leading content distribution platform, has yet again expanded its portfolio of regional language services and is all set to strengthen its reach amongst its core regional audience in the south market. Partnering with COLORS Kannada, one of the leading movie content providers, Tata Sky Kannada Cinema has been launched with a ready line-up of 150+ films showcasing the biggest blockbusters and leading actors of Sandalwood.

The new service will bring an uninterrupted entertainment experience for viewers with access to ad-free, high quality blockbuster movies including the latest and classic films. The service also offers a world television premiere every month. Some of the upcoming movie premieres include Kirik Party, K.G.F., Bell Bottom, Hottegagi genu battegagi, Ayogya and many more. This makes the 24x7 Tata Sky Kannada Cinema service the best Kannada ad-free cinema experience on a DTH platform with 12 movie premiers a year before television.

Commenting on the launch, Anurag Kumar, Chief Communications Officer, Tata Sky said, “Kannada film industry has seen a continued growth in viewership owing to high quality movie releases in recent years. With the launch of Tata Sky Kannada Cinema in partnership with COLORS Kannada, we aim to deliver the best curated content to Sandalwood lovers across the country, enabling a great regional cinema experience.”

Added Parameshwar Gundkal, Business Head- Kannada Entertainment Cluster, Viacom18 said, “With a contribution of 13% of the total Kannada television viewership, Movies is an important genre in entertainment in Karnataka. We are witnessing a sharp growth in regional film consumption across screens. With this partnership, we aim at giving viewers more of what they want via a well curated line-up of uninterrupted blockbuster movies across genres, that will keep the Kannada movie buffs glued to their television screens.”

Tata Sky Kannada Cinema offers 150+ movies across action, drama, romance, comedy and thriller including both new blockbuster movies and classics such as – KGF, Kirik Party, Ayoga, Karva, Zoom, Chandu, Vaali, Yeradu Nakshatragalu, Habba, Yudda Kanda etc featuring the biggest stars of the Kannada film industry including Sudeep Kichcha, Yash, Rakshit Shetty, Ganesh, Ninasam Sathish, Rishab Shetty, Rishi, Ravichandran, Vishnuvardhan, Ambarish, Rajkumar among others.

Commenting on the launch, Kannada Cinema’s leading celebrity and Face of the Service, Puneeth Rajkumar, said, “We’re witnessing the renaissance of Kannada Cinema through original storylines celebrating the rich Kannada culture. It makes me proud to see this phase in the industry that’s encouraging young talent and creativity. To have a platform like Tata Sky Kannada Cinema at this time that curates all new and old films and takes it to Kannada speaking audience across the country is an added boost for the film industry.”

Tata Sky Kannada Cinema strengthens the bouquet of regional cinema services for Tata Sky by offering unlimited and high-quality entertainment, catering to the growing popularity and demand for regional movie content. As a part of this endeavour, the regional bouquet already includes 7 services - Tata Sky Gujarati Cinema, Tata Sky Telugu Cinema, Tata Sky Tamil Cinema, Tata Sky Bhojpuri Sanima, Tata Sky Bangla Cinema, Tata Sky Punjab De Rang and Tata Sky Marathi Cinema.

Tata Sky Kannada Cinema is now available to all subscribers on #1602 (SD) at a minimal cost of Rs.45/month. The service is also available on the Tata Sky Mobile App.

Compliance is the Key – How Corporate Service Fleet Providers not Compromising on Consumer Safety

With the recently introduced Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019, aggregators are now being a part of regulatory control. As India struggles to keep regulatory checks on the ride-sharing economy, every month there are reports of various compliance issues emerging in the app-based ride-sharing services. Increasing reports of non-compliant cabs are posing a great threat to everyday public safety and something must be done about it now.

It was believed that tech-enabled, app-based ride aggregators, will be able to solve everyday commute by ensuring 100% compliance and provide utmost safety to the passengers. But as per a recent survey by Localcircles, thousands of consumers have raised concerns about surge pricing, drivers cancelling rides, as well as increased the number of compliance and safety concerns. The situation demands a sustainable solution that is able to meet the rising demand, at the same time adhering to compliance and other safety parameters.

However corporate fleet service providers like Routematic has solved this problem by automating the statutory compliance check on PUC, road tax, permits, etc. Routematic’s automated platform generates reminders about the expiry of important compliance documents. Any vehicle with an expired compliance document is automatically deactivated and is not assigned any trip thereby ensuring 100% compliance and safety of passengers. Routematic believes in developing technology that prioritizes public safety along with achieving the business goals of its customers.

 Should you be interested in exploring this further, we can connect you to Surajit Das, Co-Founder & CEO Routematic who can throw more light on the topic.

STL Bags Rs 1800 Crore T-Fiber Project to Deliver Digital Infrastructure to 6 Million Rural Citizens of Telangana

STL, a global data networks innovator, was recently awarded the mandate to create a high speed rural broadband network from Telangana Fiber Grid Corporation Ltd. (T-Fiber). Supporting the vision to establish a ‘Digital Telangana’, T-Fiber and STL will work together for enabling affordable and high-speed broadband connectivity to 6 million rural citizens in the state of Telangana.

Government of Telangana is taking big leaps to build and leverage the broadband infrastructure under BharatNet, which aims to provide broadband connectivity to all 250,000 gram panchayats in the country. As a state-led program, Telangana Government has initiated T-Fiber to provide broadband connectivity up to the household level across the state by rolling-out optical fiber and network infrastructure.

STL was awarded a work order for about Rs.1100 crore for Phase- 1 of the project. The total project value is worth about Rs.1800 crore for which STL has received the letter of intent.

This turnkey project entails designing and building an end-to-end rural broadband network across 11 districts, 3000 gram panchayats of Telangana and managing the network for an additional seven years. The project has a significant O&M revenue stream, close to 30% of the overall Project value.

The scope includes rolling out end-to-end network connectivity by deploying 64,000 kms of OFC (Optical Fibre Cable) Network, as well as deploying IP MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching), a routing technique and GPON (Gigabit Passive Optical Network), a point to multipoint access to create seamless network connectivity. STL will leverage its latest network solutions such as LEAD360, iCORE and FTTx Mantra to deliver this project.

Commenting on the announcement, KS Rao, CEO, Network Software and Services, STL, said, “We are excited to have been awarded the T-Fiber project. At STL, we are constantly working to innovate and create a smart digital ecosystem with our projects ranging from tower, home and enterprise connectivity to rural broadband and smart cities. The uniqueness of T-Fiber project is that it will connect every household across the rural part of the state through optical fiber and provide them high speed internet connectivity. Internet connectivity will enable economic growth and social well-being of rural citizens, thereby make this project a shining example for rural development. STL is proud to be associated with T-Fiber.”

“We are happy to get STL on board and work together towards achieving Telangana state’s goals of enabling high quality digital reach to the remotest of households within the state and making them future ready, as part of the broader ‘BharatNet’ project, said Sujai Karampuri, MD, T-Fiber & Director, ITE&C Department, Government of Telangana. “This initiative will work as a digital revolution that would bridge the digital gap between urban and rural India. With T-Fiber project, we aim to provide an infrastructure for affordable and high-speed broadband connectivity and digital services across the state.”

Tata Motors Registered Negative Domestic Sales of 44,254 Units in December 2019

Tata Motors Limited has announced its sales in the domestic & international market, for the month of December 2019, which stood at 46,903 vehicles, compared to 54,439 units during December 2018.

Domestic - Commercial Vehicles:

Mr. Girish Wagh, President, Commercial Vehicles Business Unit, Tata Motors Ltd. said, “Retail was higher than offtake by ~13% in December, with further stock reduction, as we move closer to BSVI transition. Overall sales continued to grow for second month in a row, with Medium and Heavy Commercial vehicle sale being higher than November’19  by 15% after posting a ~23% growth last month. Enquiries continued to increase gradually, with fleet owners realizing the economic benefits of replacement of their older vehicles now.  Increasing enquiries and lower stocks augur well for future volumes and realisation, early indication of which can be seen in December.

Total MHCVs sales in December including MHCV Truck, Buses and International Business stood at 9,657 units compared to 14,374 units last year.

Domestic - Passenger Vehicles:

Mr. Mayank Pareek, President, Passenger Vehicles Business Unit, Tata Motors Ltd. said, “Our focus in December has been to drive retail and minimise the network stock in order to facilitate a smooth transition to BSVI. Our marketing campaigns and attractive consumer schemes resulted in the highest retail sales this fiscal. December retail was 83% higher than the off-take and the dealer network stock has been reduced to lowest ever level. Having almost completed our planned production and despatches of BS IV, we will start moving to BS VI production and despatches from January and step up our volumes in the coming months.

We unveiled our first premium hatchback ‘Altroz’ and Nexon EV and received an overwhelming response. We are gearing up for their market launch now. We are marching into the new year with an exciting product pipeline. We expect a gradual improvement in consumer sentiments and are well positioned to leverage the same.”

JLL Facilitates Piramal Capital & Housing Finance Exit Skylark Developers SPV

Highlights

* The transaction included sale of a prime commercial land parcel on Richmond Road in Bengaluru’s CBD to SNC Private Limited, a construction sector major in the city
* Bought at an undisclosed amount, SNC plans to develop premium commercial space on the property
* The transaction marks the exit of Piramal’s Indiareit Fund V from its investment in Rida Builders and Promoters – an SPV of Bengaluru based Skylark Developers

JLL India, the country’s largest real estate consultancy and professional services firm, has facilitated the exit of Piramal’s Indiareit Fund V’s investment in an SPV of Skylark Developers, which held the prime commercial land located in the central business district (CBD) on Richmond Road, Bengaluru. The new owner, SNC Private Limited plans to invest over INR 100 crores to develop a world class office space on the land, the release said.

Commenting on the development, Rahul Arora - Managing Director, Bengaluru at JLL said, “The CBD of Bengaluru continues to be highly vibrant in terms of commercial potential. Commercial space absorption in the CBD as well as the broader Bengaluru market has scaled new records in the recent past. There has been a rise in investor interest in acquiring prime commercial land parcels and this development is significant. In line with our core objectives of serving our valued clients, we are pleased to have advised on this asset sale.”

Located in the CBD, the sale of the land on Richmond Road will enable the development of an investment grade commercial project contributing to the restricted supply in the highly sought after office market. The vacancy levels in CBD have remained less than 6% due to which the rentals in CBD have moved up significantly in the last couple of years. Currently rent for grade-A space ranges between INR 150 - 175 per sq ft per month and the land values vary between INR 25,000 - 50,000 per sq ft.