Manipal Hospitals Whitefield Celebrates Parenthood Day in Bangalore

In a bid to recognize, the importance of love and affection towards children, Manipal Hospitals Whitefield, part of Manipal Hospitals, which one of India’s leading healthcare provider in India, celebrated Parenthood Day today by organizing various activities for the faculty and attendees. Notable Model & Actress, Ms. Shweta Srivastava, also took part in the celebration as the Chief Guest for the event.

Our first education comes from our parents be it morality, love, safety, citizenship, teaching parenthood, respect, support, or reciprocity, and the most important aspect is that it applies not only to our biological offspring, but we can also be parents to step children, adopted children etc.

Doctors at Manipal Hospitals participated in the activities with zeal and enthusiasm. Kids enjoyed various fun events like the magic show, artwork, tattoos, fun games and some great music, which left the kids spellbound.  The celebration turned out to be an excellent platform for the doctors to exhibit their talent and skills. The melodious musical performances left the audience enthralled.

Sharing his thoughts on the joyous occasion, Mr. Arnab Mondal, Hospital Director, Manipal Hospitals Whitefield said,  “ Parenthood is crucial to human development in various ways. Therefore, it is important for parents to strive to be the very best parents that they can be. For instance, parents teach their children about morality and provide them with love and support. This loving and supportive relationship cannot come to an end when a child reaches adulthood, either. Parents continue to support their kids well into their 30s and beyond -and this relationship should be reciprocal, with children loving and supporting their parents when they grow old. That is why we have come together to support and shower importance onto this relationship .We are delighted to receive an overwhelming response”

Commenting on the occasion, Ms. Shweta Srivastava said, “I am extremely happy to be a part of the parenthood celebration here at the Manipal Hospitals Whitefield. Parenthood is an important part to human development and it is good to see that Manipal Hospitals feels responsible enough to celebrate it.”

Intuit QuickBooks Signs Strategic Agreement with Visa to Collaborate in the SME Space in India

Intuit Inc. has announced a new agreement with Visa to strengthen their business propositions for Small & Medium Enterprise (SME) customers in India. Intuit’s QuickBooks Online is the world’s leading financial management solution for small businesses and accountants, used by over 4.5 million customers.

The strategic relationship with Visa is going to be the first of its kind for Intuit QuickBooks in India. It is an outcome of Intuit’s global strategy to form strategic relationships with leading financial institutions worldwide and Visa’s strategy to build an ecosystem that enables even more convenience, control and cost-savings for SMEs in India. Intuit QuickBooks will collaborate with Visa to develop joint value propositions and thought leadership in the SME space.

As an immediate result of this collaboration in India, Visa cardholders will be able to subscribe to Intuit QuickBooks and use its features like anytime, anywhere access to data, GST compliance, expense management, automated bank reconciliation, document management and many more. Intuit QuickBooks also enables small businesses to collaborate with their Chartered Accountants in real-time.  This will result in a superior user experience while also being more durable and secure.

The new agreement  builds upon an existing relationship between Intuit QuickBooks and Visa in the United States, announced in October 2019. Under the existing agreement , Intuit QuickBooks announced a new feature called Instant Deposit, which enables real-time[1] disbursements for small business owners using QuickBooks Payments into their bank accounts through an eligible card using Visa Direct, Visa’s real-time push payments solution.

Announcing the extended relationship with Visa, Aditi Puri Batra, Country Manager, Intuit QuickBooks India, said, “This is an important strategic relationship for us in India. We are delighted to be collaborating with Visa which apart from being the world’s leading card network, is known for its technology innovations and innovative value propositions for SMBs. As cloud-based accounting is gaining tremendous traction in India, we hope to catalyse this trend further through this relationship.”

TR Ramachandran, Group Country Manager, India and South Asia, Visa said, “SMEs in India seek not just innovative solutions for their businesses but distribution access, network strengths and ways to automate payments. We are glad to extend our existing collaboration with Intuit QuickBooks in the United States to India and bring Visa’s world-class commercial solutions to small businesses and drive growth for the segment.”

Tata Motors Completes Delivery of Four Starbus LNG Units to LNG Petronet Limited

Highlights

* Two buses delivered in Dahej, Gujarat and two buses in Kochi, Kerala
* Tata Motors first showcased a LNG bus at Auto Expo 2020, which concluded earlier this month
* LNG bus reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 30% in comparison with conventional fuels

Committed to providing sustainable transport solutions, Tata Motors, India’s largest commercial vehicle manufacturer, completes delivery of the country’s first Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)-powered bus order. Two units of 36-seater Starbus LNG AC models were delivered to LNG Petronet Limited in Dahej, Gujarat and two units in Kochi, Kerala. Tata Motors indigenously developed and delivered the LNG buses in the stipulated timeframe. The conclusion of the order and country’s first LNG bus project was celebrated with an event held recently at the Kochi LNG terminal. The occasion was graced by Hon’ble Minister of Transport, Govt. of Kerala, Shri A K Saseendran along with eminent dignitaries from Tata Motors and Petronet LNG Limited. The Starbus LNG offers a value advantage by providing a clean, safe, affordable and comfortable mode of mass transport.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Rohit Srivastava, Vice President, Product Line – Buses, Tata Motors, said, “Tata Motors has taken a significant leap forward with a slew of alternate fuel technologies for sustainable mobility solutions and with the delivery of first Starbus LNG bus, we have ushered into a new era of transportation. We are proud to work with LNG Petronet Limited in an effort towards creating a lower-carbon future. Our in-depth understanding of sustainable public transport, while developing reliable and environment-friendly public transit options, has led us to excel in this competitive industry. With the LNG technology, Tata Motors is not only optimistic and future-ready but is also extending that capability towards the energy security of the nation.”

Engineered and built by Tata Motors, the Starbus LNG is the first passenger vehicle with an integrated LNG system developed for the Indian market. Apart from the model delivered to LNG Petronet Limited, Tata Motors also offers 36-seater Starbus LNG with 2x2 layout (available in AC and non AC options) in the ICV segment, and 40-seater with 2x2 layout and 56-seater with 3x2 layout (available in non AC option) LNG Starbus in the MCV segment.

The fuel carrying capacity of the LNG buses is up to 2.5 times more than the CNG ones, and can operate up to 600-700 kilometres in one tank fill. The bus provides significant advantage in terms of improving air quality as well as reducing greenhouse emissions by a great margin. LNG buses are lighter in weight thus offer enhanced levels of payload and significantly lower the overall cost of operation. Enhancing passenger comfort, the Starbus LNG offers superior NVH levels. The LNG system operates at lower pressure and evaporates quickly – reducing the chances of fire hazard – hence offering a safe mode of mass transport.

POCO Announces ‘Head for Red’ Sale for Phoenix Red POCO X2

POCO, now an independent smartphone brand, has announced a special sale to meet demands for the Phoenix Red variant of POCO X2. The ‘Head for Red’ sale will go live on 3rd March, 12:00pm onwards with a relatively larger stock for the customers. It will be the fourth sale of POCO X2 post its launch in February this year, with a specific focus on the Phoenix Red model. It will be available in three variants of 6GB+64GB, 6GB+128GB and 8GB+256GB via on Flipkart.

POCO X2 is the first smartphone in its category to be equipped with a display powered by the  RealityFlow 120Hz engine. It has a 20:9 tall-body design wrapped around a 3D curved glass body, which enables a large cinematic screen experience of 16.94 cm (6.67 inch). It is also the first smartphone in India to feature the Sony IMX686 camera sensor that can elevate the photography experience of users.

Manmohan Chandolu, General Manager, POCO India, commented on the special sale, “We have received a tremendously positive response for the POCO X2 since its launch last month. Our goal is to cater to the massive demand, this time specifically for the Phoenix Red model with the ‘Head of Red’ sale that will have a relatively larger inventory.”

The device is powered by Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 730G that can handle graphic-intensive usage such as advanced gaming without breaking a sweat. LiquidCool Technology combined with a powerful battery capacity of 4500mAh (and a 27W charger in box) ensure that the device can sustain longer during multitasking and heavy-duty usage.

Availability

POCO X2 is available in 6GB + 64GB, 6GB + 128GB and 8GB + 256GB storage variants for INR 15,999, INR 16,999 and INR 19,999 respectively via Flipkart, with an additional instant discount of INR 1,000 on ICICI credit card and EMI transactions.   

About POCO

POCO is an independent brand born out of Xiaomi in India. Its first product, POCO F1 was launched in August 2018, and since January 2020, POCO has become an independent entity. POCO F1 was India's No.1 smartphone in the ‘above INR 15,000 price segment’ in the online smartphone market as per third party statistics. Currently, POCO has an independent product and marketing team, and shares resources from Xiaomi in terms of supply chain, logistics, manufacturing and after sales.

POCO is a consumer technology brand, based on the philosophy of 'Everything you need and nothing you don't' with a key focus on its POCO fans’ requirements. It's built on relentless pursuit of technology which its fans truly need, thus democratizing decision making and continuous product updates to ensure relevance.       

CoFynd, the Global Aggregator of Coworking Spaces Flagged Off its Operations in Delhi, Gurugram and Noida

CoFynd, the emerging aggregation platform for the booking of coworking spaces, have commenced its operations in Delhi, Gurugram and Noida. With the launch of their platform, CoFynd aims to offer event spaces, training rooms, meeting rooms, conference rooms along with the co-working spaces.  They provide these spaces and work environment for start-ups, young/small-medium sized enterprises, and professionals.

Launching a company all on your own can be thrilling, but also quite tough. One may feel isolated in the home office, but hesitant to look for permanent traditional office space because of the high rates. For those sailing in these uncharted waters, CoFynd, a global aggregator for workspaces, will act as an anchor. Whether you are a solopreneur, freelancer or a young team of enthusiastic entrepreneurs, a CoFynd is a perfect place to start and grow.

Coworking is a global phenomenon and it has completely changed the way we work forever. Almost, 2 million people are reported to be working out of Co-working spaces in 2019.  This industry has been growing at 23% since 2010 and number of co-working spaces is expected to double till the year 2022.

However, there are still a lot of challenges in this sector. For instance, there is a lack of a user-friendly platform that can provide standardized information on all co-working spaces.

There is still inability to book spaces online with ease and there is an absence of neutral customer mechanism support. Also, there is absolutely no presence of reviews on spaces to aid correct decisions.

CoFynd recognised all those loopholes and has come up to address and solve those challenges. CoFynd created unbiased platform with standardises listings. It provides the facility to book spaces online with super-ease. The user has the complete support and also has the access to the detailed reviews on co-working spaces.

Putting his thoughts on the same, Atul Gupta, Founder & CEO, CoFynd, said, " CoFynd has been launched to give startups and enterprises a platform where they can find the spaces according to their needs. We provide customised solutions as per their needs. Coworking spaces have become the lifeline of millennials and startups today. The growing demand from freelancers, consultants, and corporates has led to a growth in the co-working sector like never before. The workspaces to be future-ready should be networked, flexible, integrated and innovative, and CoFynd helps you to find one.”

Recently, CoFynd has also raised 1.25 crores of seed funding from some reputed corporates. The funds raised round will be invested across territory expansion plans, technology and marketing strategies.

Speaking about the funding, Atul said, “We are extremely excited to raise the seed funding round. The funds raised by the company will further accelerate the growth of our network and will allow us to broaden our reach and expand our services”.

The strategically located spaces at CoFynd offer access to nearby business centres, provides competitive corporate culture and opportunities to its members for sustained growth. The space is designed to cater to businesses of any size and form to boast diverse working environments having both private offices, cubicles, spacious cabins, meeting rooms, training rooms, and event spaces enabling the clients to choose as per their needs.

This unbiased and unified platform of listing coworking spaces strives to offer ease of discovery and bookings to the user along with 100% offline support for visits, negotiations and closure. It endeavours to give access to like-minded, close-knit, and success-focused professionals who are all driving towards the same goal.

Currently, CoFynd has its presence in Gurugram, Delhi and Noida and are planning to expand in other metro cities like Hyderabad, Bangalore, Pune and Mumbai. 

Hindware Italian Collection Launches E-Clenz, Intelligent Wall Mounted Water Closet

Deployed with the power of automation and spectacular innovative breakthrough technology, Hindware Italian collection launches the intelligent E-Clenz Electronic Wall Mounted Water Closet to bring comfort and redesigned sanitation. E-Clenz marries the art of simplicity with state-of-the-art functions to ensure convenience, freshness and ultimate hygiene at all times.

Equipped with automatic posterior and feminine wash, this sophisticated EWC can be controlled via a remote for variety of innovative features such as seat adjustment, specific water and dryer temperatures, water volume control and adjustable nozzle position.

The smart water closet is priced at INR 34,990 and is available across all Hindware Stores.

National STEM Awards 2020: Discovering STEM Talent Across India

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) is a modern day approach to shape India’s future which is fast moving towards being a highly illustrious entity in an increasingly globalised world. However, the country requires to evolve expertise in these fields to compete with the technological revolution. With this clear objective in mind, STEM Learning in association with Rotary JBN, Bengaluru organized India's biggest and first STEM competition for under- served students of Govt. and Govt- aided schools, the ‘National STEM Awards 2020’. Around 20 states, 200 schools, 400 teachers and 1800 students took part in the competition from all over India, out of which 10 states, 15 schools and 54 students made it to the Finale which was held in the city on 27 February, 2020. Students from 6th to 8th standards participated in the final round, where they had to showcase their skills in categories like Tech Quiz, Science & Mathematics Model Competition and Engineering Tinkering.

Atharva Sawant, Yashraj Dhwri & Kauntey Sawant from JNV Sindhudurg School were declared winners of the Tech Quiz Round; while Khushi, Anjali Sharma & Lovely from GGSS School, Faridabad won the Engineering Tinkering Competition and Muthu Suthis, Madhu Sri & Surya from Vivekananda School, Tirunelveli won the Science & Mathematics Model Competition. Considering that all the students displayed vast talent and zeal, Dr Suresh Mony, Emeritus Jury said the judges found it really difficult to select the winners. He said, “Every child presented something new, something unique. Their innovations were so creative and spell binding that we felt proud to be in the midst of such young talent. “

STEM Learning has been advocating for improving the quality of education since years now and this competition intended to do the same, by picking out the best STEM talent from across India. The students were judged on the basis of critical thinking, problem solving and innovative abilities. The students underwent stages like the Cluster Rounds and Zonal Rounds and the winners of the Zonals were then challenged to win the final round on 27th February in Bengaluru.

Ms Simi Anderson, STEM Ambassador (UK), who was one of the esteemed guests during the competition, seemed awed by the matchless and unprecedented talent shown by the children. She praised the mammoth efforts put in by STEM Learning in organizing this competition successfully. She said, “It takes 8 months in UK to conduct such competition at the national level. It's mind-blowing that STEM Learning did this in 3 weeks.” Echoing the same sentiment, Dr Sameer Hariani, the Chief Guest at the competition said, “This competition is an extremely novel measure by STEM Learning to make the students ready for the future by igniting the scientific temper in them. This is an exceptionally favourable circumstance for these students to make science a child’s play and keep pace with the advancement in the field.”

Speaking about this colossal task of bringing the best STEM minds from pan India under one roof, Ashutosh Pandit, the Founder of STEM Learning said, “The traditional approach of learning facts and figures doesn’t challenge minds and so, students do not get the required opportunities to understand and showcase STEM abilities. We at STEM believe that the students need to gain practical knowledge to learn, explore & enhance their skills. By providing them with this singular opportunity of an all- India competition, we have not just identified the best minds who beat their peers and turned out to be STEM Champs, but have also recognized other young minds who may not have reached the final round, but they did exemplify robust prowess to be titled as the great innovators of the future. We can now almost certainly say that the future of India is rightly in the hands of these extremely talented young children.”

The young minds who proved their mettle during the finale were awarded on 28th February during the ‘Rotary Karnataka CSR Conference 2020’ by the hands of Rotary District Governor Rtn Sameer Hariani. Teachers who have contributed extraordinarily to the field of STEM education were also felicitated during the glittering Award Ceremony.