Hyundai Motor India Hands Over Globally Proven - COVID-19 Advanced Diagnostic Testing Kits to ICMR

Hyundai Motor India (HMI), country’s first Smart Mobility Solutions Provider and largest exporter since inception, today handed over COVID-19 Advanced Diagnostic Testing Kits to Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). The globally proven Diagnostic Kits worth Rs 4 Crore have been imported from South Korea and offer high levels of accuracy, catering to the testing requirements of over 25000 individuals. These Diagnostic Kits are also being exported to USA, Europe and other countries.

Commenting on the Hand over, Mr. SS Kim, MD & CEO, Hyundai Motor India Ltd. said, “As a socially responsible and caring brand, Hyundai is committed to the fight against COVID-19. To provide further assistance to the Government’s efforts, we have handed over Globally Proven – COVID-19 Advanced Diagnostic Testing Kits imported from South Korea. These highly accurate diagnostic kits can help the Government scale up the testing efforts in affected regions and arrest the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in India."

As part of Hyundai’s road map of giving back to the society, series of initiatives have been developed to assist the Government in the battle against COVID-19. The range of initiatives include:

Donation of Rs 5 Crore to Tamil Nadu Chief Minster Relief Fund
Augment the supply of ventilators and other respiratory aids such as the in-house developed Ambu Bag Actuator
Distribution of PPEs, masks and other safety kits
Distribution of dry rations to adversely impacted sections of society

Hyundai has also announced initiatives to support customers in these challenging times. Customers who were unable to avail vehicle’s Warranty/Extended Warranty/Free Service due to Health Emergency or Dealership shutdown in affected cities, HMI will offer extended support of 2 months. Customers (Doctors/Police/Bankers etc) who are in essential services are already being given Road Side Assistance by Allianz Partner/Dealers, in case of any emergency.

TKM Introduces Unique & Comprehensive ‘Restart Manual’ to Resume Business Operations Post Lockdown

Taking into account the complete shut-down of operations due to the COVID 19 pandemic and the possibility of restart of manufacturing post 20th April in light of Government directives, during the intervening period Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) has used its years of rich knowledge, expertise and access to global best practices to devise a comprehensive ‘Restart Manual’ as a guide for industries to follow post the lockdown withdrawal. As a proactive measure, with an intent to support the manufacturing sector, TKM management had put together a team of cross functional experts to go into minutest details of various operations and create a Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) that would ensure the safest possible restart to manufacturing by securing the workers from any health hazards. This manual is in consonance with the broad Government guidelines that have been issued and will be used by TKM, its suppliers and has also been shared as a reference document with all Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA) members. TKM also intends to share it with wider segment of Industry through industry association platforms like CII.

TKM’s Restart Manual is an all-inclusive guide for reorganizing and safely resuming business operations to near normalcy after the lockdown is lifted. This initiative will aid the Government, stakeholders and the community at large by creating detailed reference document for the industries to safeguard and ensure the health, well-being and safety of all their employees thereby also enriching the lives of the communities. TKM has already shared the Restart Manual with not just Toyota suppliers but also with ACMA, other suppliers in the industry and is planning to share this manual with other industry players as well.

Sharing his thoughts on this one-of-a-kind initiative, Mr. Masakazu Yoshimura, Managing Director, Toyota Kirloskar Motor said, “Today, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the health and safety of people across the globe. We are witnessing demand, supply, market and liquidity shocks, decline in real GDP growth rates, and so many setbacks. It’s our prime responsibility to ensure health and safety of employees, families and all our stakeholders. We need to safeguard business continuity and economic recovery as well by ensuring ‘Safety & health First’ approach. In this perspective, this ‘Restart Manual’ is prepared not only for our use but also for the benefit of government, industries and stakeholders. I would like to congratulate our TPS (Toyota Production System) experts who have worked hard to create this manual.

Post Covid-19, we will witness a new normal and change will be inevitable. We must adapt and remember that change is always for the better and can herald tremendous progress. We need to stop jobs that do not fit the needs, change procedures or the way we work and continue to navigate in these turbulent times. Let us work together as “One Team, One Goal” with greater speed and intensity.”

Appreciating the Restart Manual, Mr. Deepak Jain, President, Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA) said, “At the outset of this initiative, we would like to thank the TKM management for bringing out a very valuable and pertinent ‘Restart Manual'. Needless to say that this manual is reflective of the very humane and caring culture at Toyota. The safety measures to be adopted at each function are indeed very well described and explained through appropriate graphics. We are confident that this manual would be of immense value to all ACMA members in ensuring that we have a safe, secure and sustainable restart post the lockdown. Further, we are also very grateful to Toyota for allowing us to use this manual as a reference guide for all ACMA members.”

As a committed corporate, TKM has been studying and observing the evolving situation in the country and is determined to devise simple and practical solutions to arising problems in hopes to help the country and the industry recover from the inflictions of the COVID 19 pandemic.

Australian e-Learning Platform Matific Forays Across Indian Market

Highlights

* Aligned with school curriculums of ICSE, CBSE boards with the most updated content
* Award-winning e-learning platform offering annual plans for just INR 210 per month, with a 7 day free trial for students
* Matific solutions are proven to help improve student’s math test scores by 34%
* Matific Galaxy has hundreds of adaptive and intuitive maths activities that focus on core maths skills

Matific, an online Maths resource for kids from primary to Grade 6, has ventured into the burgeoning ed-tech market in India, especially in light of the ongoing COVID-19 health crisis. To address the gap in teaching Maths, Matific has launched its award-winning solution Matific Galaxy, for the India home market at an affordable price.  The solution has been designed by mathematics professors and curriculum experts for parents looking for the most updated and engaging solutions that are aligned to their child’s school curriculums. 

Matific Galaxy features hundreds of engaging maths activities aligned with school curriculums of ICSE, CBSE boards. Matific’s home product aims to provide a solution to conventional home-schooling and ensure that kids are well prepared for the future and up to pace until the lockdown period ends. This top-rated app features hundreds of fun maths games covering maths skills from kindergarten through sixth grade. Matific’s evidence-based content has been proven to help improve students' math results by 34%. The program provides parents with access to a dashboard where they can keep track of their child’s mathematics achievements and progress.

“Given the current environment, schools institutions are going online around the world as they send students home with no timeline for return. Matific’s solutions enable students to continue their learning process. Matific Galaxy is an award-winning unique platform offering online gamified Maths resources and engaging activities that promote conceptual understanding and problem-solving skills for kids from Nursery to Grade 6.”

“Matific Galaxy is backed by extensive research and designed by senior mathematics professors and curriculum experts, making it the most comprehensive online mathematics resource.

We want to ensure that all students in all areas of India have the opportunity to continue learning during this time. This means ensuring that the price is not an issue.” said Vibha Mahajan, VP, Matific India.

Matific Galaxy is offering an annual plan for just INR 210 per month, which is a practical choice considering its high-quality content and costly solutions in the education space. Matific also offers a 7-day free trial for students. Apart from offering the most advanced and relevant content at the most affordable price, Matific Galaxy works in offline mode as well, taking out the significant overheads of data consumption. 

Matific has several games and stimulating maths activities, each of which is equally gripping so that kids end up playing for hours, and learning maths in a process of self-guided discovery. Playful interactions, colourful characters, and gamification help ease math anxiety and boost math confidence amongst students.

Matific is present in over 45 countries with adaptability in 26 languages across the world and has proven to help improve student’s math test scores by 34%. Used by thousands of teachers worldwide, Matific provides relief to parents and enjoyable experience to children during a time of uncertainty. Every day over thousands of teachers and students log in for online teaching and learning.

Available both on Google Play and App Store, Matific Galaxy program can be accessed on desktop, tablets and mobile devices.

Tecno Joins Force with Channel Partners & Zomato To Help India's Low-Income Sections Amid COVID-19

Key Points

* Through its alliance with Zomato Feeding India & 100+ channel partners, TECNO is committed to reach out to 60,000+ people across 140 cities with ration kits till 3rd May

TECNO, the global premium smartphone brand takes necessary and relevant steps to support India’s fight against COVID-19. The brand has initiated multiple partnerships to provide meals to people of the low-income communities affected by the outbreak of coronavirus. Through its alliance with Zomato Feeding India and 100+ channel partners, TECNO will distribute ration kits to support more than 60,000 people across India.

Commenting on this noble initiative and unique on-ground collaborations with channel partners, Mr. Arijeet Talapatra, CEO, TRANSSION India said, “These are unprecedented and difficult times. Our Honourable Prime Minister, his leadership team, our doctors and health members work continuously to ensure our safety and well-being. The social distancing has been hard on everyone, and especially those who lack access to basic and essential provisions like food. We, at TECNO, are doing everything we can to support as many of them as possible; to ensure they have food on their plates and enough ration to sustain themselves and their loved ones.”

Through Zomato Feeding India’s ‘Feed the Daily Wager’ project, TECNO will distribute ration  kits to support 20,000 people from local communities in Delhi, Noida and Gurugram. Talking about the collaborative effort, Chandan Mendiratta, Head, Zomato Feeding India said, “These are trying times, and it's absolutely necessary for us to lend a helping hand to take care of the worst hit strata of our population. Zomato Feeding India's 'Feed the Daily Wager' initiative has been able to help 2.5 lakh households so far, and with support from Techno we are looking to enable another 20,000 in the National Capital Region. If you have not donated as yet or want to top up, go ahead and visit https://www.feedingindia.org/donate to make a difference."

Parallelly, TECNO in a unique on-ground combined initiative with its 100+channel partners’ will see both parties contributing equally to supply ration and food to about 40000 needy people affected across 140 cities during the lockdown period.

To begin with, TECNO alongwith its channel partners will inject Rs 60 lakhs in these efforts. The idea is to have all parties contribute to create a sizable pool of funds that can be used to put together an adequate stock of necessary food items required for supply.

Earlier, the company has also collaborated with key government institutions in the National Capital Region like Yatharth Hospital &  Noida police to supply masks and thermometers to healthcare and administrative workers who are at the frontline, helping India combat the pandemic.

Author Chaitanya Upadhyay Launches Maiden Novel ‘The Devil Don’

Author Chaitanya Upadhyay recently launched his maiden novel titled ‘The Devil Don’. Published by Blue Rose Publishers,one of India’s leading publishing houses, the book is a fast paced thriller and is priced at Rs.111/-

‘The Devil Don’ is a suspense filled thrilling love story that documents the struggles of the protagonist and the role destiny plays in his life. The book is filled with twists and turns, making it a very interesting and upbeat plot.

Speaking on the launch of the book, Chaitanya Upadhyay, author of ‘The Devil Don’ said “I’ve always been a fan of this genre. It could be books, movies, TV series etc. If it has anything to do with mystery, thrill, suspense, you already have me hooked on. For me, personally, this book was a lot of fun to write. I absolutely love getting lost with these ideas and just writing myself into a corner. It’s a book I’ve put a lot of thought into, and if you’re into this genre, it's a book you wouldn’t wanna miss out on.”

‘The Devil Don’ is a story of a street fighter, scarred with a burned face for life, and how he undergoes tough situations that come his way. The book is an easy-read, taking your mind on a roller-coaster of emotions, plots and scenarios, keeping the reader hooked till the end.

Grab your copy of 'The Devil Don' at : https://tinyurl.com/ChaitanyaUpadhyaya

Syed Asad Hassan, Managing Director of Blue Rose Publishers, said “It was a pleasure working with Chaitanya on this book. As there are many hardcore thriller and suspense fans, we were confident that the book would be well received by readers interested in the genre. ‘The Devil Don’ is a must read and we are sure that it will enthrall all those who read it."

Chaitanya is currently a part-time teacher who has always had the burning desire to be an author. He says “I’ve always loved to write, ever since I was a little boy. I still remember the first line I’d ever written "Mere ye pal ki Zindagi" in class 5 in the back of my social science notebook. Ever since, it’s always been a dream of mine, to author my own book” ‘The Devil Don’ is Chaitanya’s first venture as an author.

200K People Across 50 Countries Attend Online Sahaja Yoga Meditation During Lockdown

As many as 200,000 people across 50 countries have attended online meditation sessions during last 20 days of lockdown, according to information from H.H. Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi Sahaja Yoga Trust (National Trust).

The Youtube channel - Pratisthan, Pune of the Trust has seen around 2 million views with 7.31 lakh watch hours and over 13.2 million impressions in the lockdown period. Each viewer attended an average of 8.6 session and spent average of 23 minutes per visit, which is substantial as people look towards meditation to overcome anxiety during COVID19 lockdown.

On the Facebook Page - India SahajaYoga, 61,000 people watched over 16 thousand hours of meditation video. Additionally, everyday 1200 new people are joining new seekers sessions, run only for new seekers by Sahaja Yoga National Trust.

“Technology has enabled this unique way of collective meditation across countries. This will ensure sound physical and mental health of people. It will also help people in overcoming stress and anxiety, while attaining the wider objective of awakening the divine power within.” Dinesh Rai - Vice Chairman, HH Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi Sahaja Yoga Trust (National Trust) said.

Interestingly, the visitors who attended Sahaja Yoga meditation collective sessions on their Youtube channel spread over 50 countries converted the sessions in their local languages for ensuring the benefits reach all people across the globe.

The free of cost meditation initiative has been taken up by volunteers through Kundalini Awakening and Self Realisation and is being conducted daily twice through various social media platforms like YouTube Live, Facebook Live, Mixlr and National TV which overcome geographic boundaries.

“We will continue to meditate collectively twice a day for forthcoming weeks for the protection and spiritual ascent,” he said.

The world is highly connected at the physical level as the spread of COVID19 has demonstrated. However, we as a human race are also connected at metaphysical level through our collective consciousness and this has been felt virtually by the followers of Sahaja Yoga.

Daily meditation sessions are conducted live at 5.30 AM and 7.00 PM (Indian Time) for Sahaja Yoga practitioners and at 5.30 PM for new seekers through Youtube, Facebook and Mixlr. The new Seeker session is joined daily by around 1200 new people. The queries are answered by the India tollfree helpline 1800 30 700 800 by volunteers across the country. Sahaja Yoga volunteers from across India manned 24*7 phone lines to provide adequate meditation related guidance to the new seekers for stay at home and meditate which saw number of contacts growing to over 500 calls per day by new unique contacts.

Emirates Updates Covid-19 Travel Waiver Policies Globally

Emirates puts customers first with flexible COVID-19 waiver policies. Keep your tickets for 760 days, get travel vouchers valid for 2 years or get full refunds. We’re with you every step of the way.

As a part of this revamped travel system, the Dubai-based carrier is offering three options:

Keep the ticket: All Emirates tickets booked before May 31 for travel up to August 31 will be automatically extended for 760 days. Customers holding such tickets can rebook when they decide to travel again. Their ticket will be accepted for any flight to the same Emirates destination or to another city within the same Emirates region with no fees for changes.

Get a travel voucher: Travel vouchers are valid for one year from date of issue and can be extended for a second year. Customers can use for any Emirates product or service, thereby availing it to offset charges for flights to any destination in any cabin class, or other services.

Refund: Those who have decided to keep their ticket or the travel voucher can also apply for a refund, if they are unable to travel.

Get access to the above-given options by filling this form or visit emirates.com

Adnan Kazim, chief commercial officer, Emirates said, “We sincerely hope that our customers will choose to rebook and fly with us again at a later time, and that is why we’re offering up to two years validity on their current tickets, or travel vouchers which can be redeemed for any Emirates product or service.

“Any fees for making a change to the tickets will be waived for tickets issued until May 31, 2020, for travel up to August 31 2020. However, if they would still like to opt for a refund, we will process that. We would just like to seek our customers’ understanding that refunds will take time as we have a significant backlog to manage.”