Manipal Academy of Higher Education Celebrates International Day of Yoga 2024

Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) celebrated the International Day of Yoga on June 21, 2024, with the theme "Yoga for Self and Society." The event was coordinated by the Division of Yoga, Centre for Integrative Medicine & Research (CIMR), and witnessed the participation of 350 students, staff, faculty, and local community members.

The celebration began with a yoga practice session at the Indoor Futsal Court, Marena Sports Complex, Manipal, at 8:00 AM. The session was led by Dr. Annapoorna K., Head of the Division of Yoga, CIMR. Participants engaged in a range of yogic practices following the UGC protocol, including various asanas, pranayama, and relaxation techniques.

Following the yoga practice, a stage programme commenced at 9:00 AM at the same venue. The event was hosted by Dr. Lavya Shetty, Assistant Professor, and Dr. Divya Poojary, PG Student. Distinguished guests included Dr. HS Ballal, Pro Chancellor, MAHE; Dr. Sharath Kumar Rao, Pro Vice Chancellor, Faculty of Health Sciences; Shri T. Satish U. Pai, Executive Chairman, Manipal Media Network Ltd and Vice President, Academy of General Education; Dr. P. Giridhar Kini, Registrar, MAHE; Mrs. Indira Ballal, Philanthropist; and Dr. Satish Rao, Director Research, MAHE & Director, Manipal School of Life Sciences.

The programme began with an invocation by Dr. Athmika Shetty, followed by a welcome address from Dr. B.S. Satish Rao. Dr. Annapoorna K. provided an overview of the activities and competitions held over the past three months, emphasizing the importance of yoga for holistic health and well-being. Dr. Sharath Kumar Rao highlighted the significance of the International Day of Yoga, urging daily yoga practice. Certificates and prizes for various yoga competitions were distributed by Dr. P. Giridhar Kini. The event included the felicitation of notable individuals by Mrs. Indira Ballal.

Dr. HS Ballal delivered the presidential address, underscoring the benefits of asanas and pranayama. The event concluded with a yoga demonstration by M.Sc. Yoga Therapy students. The celebration was organized under the leadership of Dr. B.S. Satish Rao and Dr. Annapoorna K., with contributions from the teaching and non-teaching staff of the Division of Yoga, CIMR, and M.Sc. Yoga Therapy students. The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr. Neetinakumar J Patil, Associate Professor, Division of Yoga, CIMR, MAHE.

Weber Shandwick Launches ‘Elections Matter: India Report’

* Stark gender and generational differences in news consumption and election sentiments

Weber Shandwick India, today launched the “Elections Matter: India Report”. The survey led by the Corporate Advisory and Public Affairs practice, examined election sentiments around news consumption habits, trust in different information sources and voting behaviours and motivations among Gen Z (18-24 years) and Millennial (25-44) consumers in India.

Key findings

Media consumption behaviour w.r.t. current events, news & politics

Generational differences in news consumption: Stark contrast exists in news engagement between Millennials and Gen Zs. Over 55% of Millennials followed news daily, compared to about 36% of Gen Z with males significantly more inclined to current events, news & politics. While TV is among the top 3 news sources, there was a significantly lower preference among Gen Zs (44%) compared to Millennials (60%).

Reaffirmation of digital consumption surge: YouTube is the leading platform for consumption of current events, news and politics, in keeping with the digital media uptake. It was the dominant information source across all demographics, particularly driven by Delhi, while TV channels were on top in Chennai and Bangalore. It was followed closely by Instagram, TV, and WhatsApp.

Most watched is necessarily not the most trusted: Google search, print media, and digital news media had a higher trust quotient compared to most social media platforms.

Traditional media resonating stronger for Millennials: Print media continued to have higher acceptance among Millennials. 45% Millennials consumed print media for news and politics compared to only 31% Gen Zs. This preference pattern was evident even in the consumption pattern for television. South India especially Chennai and Bangalore had a stronger leaning to television than the rest of India. Also, 42% males favoured print versus 33% of women. Print media was also high on trust compared to most social media platforms.

Concerns about misinformation: After fake news websites, social media influencers topped the list for spreading misinformation. Males in particular were especially distrustful of them.

Sentiments towards elections & voting

Motivated Millennials and less enthusiastic Gen Zs: Millennials were significantly motivated by elections and voting due to a strong sense of civic duty and the desire for educational reform. Chennai and Hyderabad had a higher sentiment comparatively towards elections.

In contrast, Gen Z showed less enthusiasm, hinting at a potential apathy in political engagement.

Priority issues for elections and new government expectations: Civic and social factors such as infrastructure development, outweighed economic concerns and party manifesto promises as primary voting motivations across gender and generational cohorts. The state of the economy and education were the most pressing issues both for the current elections and future government focus, reflecting widespread concerns about socio-economic and educational development. This shift suggested a future-oriented approach to polling, with voters seeking macro-level changes for a better future.

Regional differences in voting motivations: Voters in Delhi focused on infrastructure development, while those in southern regions, such as Chennai and Bangalore, prioritized voting for candidates who promised to bring about change and impactful leadership.

Gender-specific concerns towards elections: While economy, education and public safety were perceived to be among the top priorities for the recent elections, women were particularly interested in women empowerment issues, highlighting the importance of gender-specific policy agendas. Also, over 55% would like the new government to focus on economy, education and healthcare agendas.

Commenting on the consumer survey findings, Rohan Kanchan, MD – Consulting and Head of Public Affairs, Weber Shandwick India, said, “This report underscores the dynamic nature of news consumption and electoral engagement in today’s digital age. Even as broader generational trends are known, nuances within the cohorts reveal a break from the pattern. For instance, the connection of Influencers in consumer motivations vis-a-vis trust in perception, might have implications in analyzing corporate reputation and development of future strategies. Our national commonalities peppered with our regional disparities, continue to provide an interesting lens to any consumer study such as Elections Matter.”

The survey was conducted by YouGov among 1,000 respondents from the top 10 cities in India, including Mumbai, Delhi-NCR, Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, Lucknow, Jaipur, and Ahmedabad. The demographics of the survey were balanced, with a near-equal split between males (51%) and females (49%), and evenly distributed between Gen Zs and Millennials.

About Weber Shandwick:

Weber Shandwick is the earned-first global communications agency. Led by world-class strategic and creative thinkers and activators, Weber Shandwick has won some of the most prestigious awards in the industry, including being named #1 in the Public Relations and Brand Strategies category on Fast Company’s 2024 Most Innovative Companies list, PRWeek’s 2024 Global Agency of the Year, one of Fast Company’s Best Workplace for Innovators in 2023, PRovoke’s Global Agency of the Year in 2023 and being the most awarded PR agency at the 2023 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. Weber Shandwick has been honored on Ad Age’s?A-List in 2024 and 2020 and Best Places to Work in 2019, in addition to being awarded PR Agency of the Year by?Campaign US?in 2021, honored as?PRovoke’s?Global Agency of the Decade in 2020 and ranking #1 on PRovoke’s Global Creative Index in 2021 and 2022. Additionally, the firm was named PRWeek’s?Global Agency of the Year in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 and was awarded PRWeek’s Purpose Agency of the Year in 2020 and 2021. Weber Shandwick also received?Honorable Mention (and the only PR agency) on the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Global Marketing Agencies in 2021.?Part of the Interpublic Group (NYSE: IPG), Weber Shandwick is the anchor agency within The Weber Shandwick Collective (TWSC) –?the strategic communications and consulting network. Cumulatively, TWSC has earned more than?190?Cannes Lions. For more information, visit?https://www.webershandwick.com/.

AGS Transact Technologies Appoints Vinayak R Goyal As Managing Director Of Digital Payment Subsidiary India Transact Services Ltd

AGS Transact Technologies Limited (BSE: 543451 & NSE: AGSTRA), one of the largest integrated omni-channel payment solutions providers in India in terms of providing digital and cash-based solutions to banks and corporate clients, announces the appointment of Vinayak R Goyal as the Managing Director of its wholly owned subsidiary India Transact Services Limited (ITSL), which offers digital payment solutions. Vinayak previously served as Non-Executive and Non-Independent Director at ITSL, from June 9, 2021 up to June 16, 2024.

Vinayak R Goyal has been an Executive Director on the board of AGS Transact Technologies Limited since 2021. He has been instrumental in developing the growth roadmap for the company’s digital payment business, focusing on driving the Issuance business with initiatives such as Ongo open-loop prepaid cards. Under his guidance, the company is currently pilot testing the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into the Ongo app, enhancing its capabilities for seamless transactions. Additionally, Vinayak is overseeing the development of a contactless open-loop fuel payment solution within the Ongo app. Furthermore, under his leadership, the Company has made significant headway through strategic collaborations in its Prepaid business.

Commenting on the appointment, Mr. Ravi B. Goyal, Chairman & MD, AGS Transact Technologies Limited said, “Vinayak’s appointment reinforces our commitment to strengthening our leadership team and driving sustained growth in the rapidly evolving digital payment landscape. As a representative of the new generation, Vinayak brings a unique viewpoint and innovative approach to our digital payment strategy. I am confident that his leadership will be pivotal as we continue to expand our digital payment solutions and enhance our offerings to better serve our customers.”

Mr. Vinayak R Goyal, MD, India Transact Services Limited, said, “Stepping into this role, I'm humbled to lead our digital payments business forward into a new era of innovation and growth. Together with our exceptional team, we're dedicated to shaping the future of digital transactions, focused on delivering seamless experiences for customers across the sectors."

Vinayak R Goyal brings a total work experience of over 9 years across areas such as Business Strategy, Investment Banking, and Fund Raising. He has previously worked with Avendus Capital Private Limited as an Analyst. He holds a degree from Purdue University, USA.

About AGS Transact Technologies Limited (AGSTTL)

Established in 2002, AGS Transact Technologies Limited (BSE: 543451| NSE: AGSTRA) is one of the largest integrated omni-channel payment solutions providers in India in terms of providing digital and cash-based solutions to banks and corporate clients. AGS Transact provides customised products and services comprising ATM and CRM outsourcing, cash management and digital payment solutions including merchant solutions, transaction processing services and mobile wallets. The company operates in three broad business segments, namely, Payment Solutions; Banking Automation Solutions; and Other Automation Solutions.

Ongo is a fast-growing omnichannel digital payment platform by AGS Transact Technologies, which offers convenient payment solutions. Launched in 2015, Ongo offers merchant Acquiring and Prepaid Issuance services. Ongo is a non-bank prepaid payment instrument and offers dedicated open-loop Prepaid solutions for consumers in segments.

AGS Transact Technologies serves diverse industries such as banking, retail, petroleum, toll and transit, cash management and fintech in India and other select countries in Asia. As of March 31, 2024, the company has deployed 248,585 payment terminals and was one of the largest deployers of PoS terminals at petroleum retail outlets in India, having rolled out 41,756 terminals at various petroleum retail outlets.

For more information, visit www.agsindia.com

Introducing Dobra Tapioca Crisps: A Tail Of Modern Recipes With A Traditional Twist

Oxbow Brands is ecstatic to present a premium range of kettle cooked range of Dobra Tapioca Crisps, a gourmet collection with a twist of Indian and Global Flavours for indulgent snacking. Drawing inspiration from the celebrated dishes of Kerala, where tapioca chips are a staple in every house hold, this new offering is the epitome of the brands commitment to high quality, and authentic taste.

Tapioca crisps are naturally gluten-free, high on protein and nutritious substitute for regular potato chips.

Dobra Tapioca crisps offer the Tapioca crisps in exciting Plain Salted, Extra Cheesy, Spicy Kari, Garlic Pickle, Smoky Barbeque, Tangy Tomato, Desi Wasabi flavors to entice all kinds of taste pallets

The exquisite range of Dobra Tapioca Crisps is a celebration of nostalgia and unique flavors, curated to elevate your snacking experience of indulgence, ensuring great taste and nutrition on-the-go.

"We are thrilled to introduce Dobra Tapioca Crisps, a fun twist to traditional recipes offering a nutritiously fulfilling experience" said Rahul Johar Founder & CEO of Oxbow Brands. "With Dobra Tapioca crisps, we aim to elevate the snacking game and offer the real flavours of kettle cooked chips.

Not only a satisfying snack made with freshly sourced tapioca, Dobra Tapioca crisps also serve as an excellent appetizers or side options with your main meal adding a unique twist to your home cooked food.

Pocket FM Teams Up With ElevenLabs; Launches AI Audio Series To Build World’s First Voice AI Capability To Empower Writers

* AI Audio Series has improved its production efficiency multi-fold, and empowered writers to turn their stories into audio series on Pocket FM with one simple click.

Pocket FM and ElevenLabs have joined forces to revolutionize content creation with the launch of AI Audio Series, a cutting-edge Voice AI capability now accessible worldwide. This groundbreaking partnership marks a new chapter in storytelling, empowering writers to effortlessly convert their narratives into compelling audio series with remarkable ease.

The partnership between Pocket FM and ElevenLabs signifies a significant leap forward in Voice AI technology. By harnessing ElevenLabs' expertise in this field, Pocket FM has achieved remarkable milestones in its experimental phase, slashing costs by up to 90%. With this integration, the company has multiplied its production efficiency as well. These advancements not only make audio series creation more accessible but also foster inclusivity within the writing community.

“This is a game-changing, industry-first innovation, disrupting the norm by enabling writers to seamlessly transform their stories into captivating audio series with a single click of a button" stated Prateek Dixit, CTO and Co-founder of Pocket FM. "By enabling this, we've not only empowered the writing community but also made audio series creation faster and simpler, making storytelling accessible  for everyone.”

Pocket FM has successfully produced over 30,000 hours of audio series during its experimental phase and anticipates tripling its content library this year. Currently boasting a collection of over 100,000 hours of audio series, the platform has garnered positive user feedback on its AI Audio Series, with engagement levels matching that of human voice quality.

The platform has empowered writers to bring their stories to life through audio series. By simply navigating to the "Write" tab in the Pocket FM app and selecting "Series," writers can initiate the storytelling process. After ensuring it meets the minimum word count, they can effortlessly convert their story into an audio series with a mere tap, with an option to choose their preferred voice and background music.

“We are excited to collaborate with Pocket FM in shaping the future of audio entertainment,” stated Mati Staniszewski, CEO, and Co-founder of ElevenLabs. “Combining our Voice AI expertise with Pocket FM’s innovative approach to audio series promises to take content production to new heights of efficiency and creativity. It’s an exciting journey ahead, one that we believe will set new standards in the entertainment industry.”

As Pocket FM continues to redefine entertainment with its innovative audio series, and with the company's expansion into various regions across Europe and LATAM, this collaboration will accelerate content strategy and enhance efficiency in content generation. Currently, Pocket FM boasts strong leadership positions in the U.S. and India, drawing audiences from more than 20 countries worldwide.

Beyond publishing, ElevenLabs delivers lifelike, realistic, and emotionally rich AI voices for various applications across 29 languages: from conversational AI and gaming to movie dubbing, as well as medical and accessibility uses. The company offers these capabilities through a number of proprietary audio AI models optimized for specific purposes, such as long-form and multilingual speech generation, AI dubbing, or latency-sensitive tasks.

About Pocket FM:  

Founded in 2018, Pocket FM was built with a vision to redefine the audio OTT space by pioneering the audio-series category. We pride ourselves in embedding the storytelling elements with a layer of content personalization in the longer format that resulted in the emergence of “binge listening” as a consumption habit. Being the only audio entertainment OTT, we have emerged as the preferred digital audio destination for a refined storytelling experience with the audio-series format, riding on our diverse and engaging content. 

The Pocket FM app is available on iOS and Android. To learn more, visit www.pocketfm.com. Write to us for more information - communications@pocketfm.com 

About ElevenLabs

ElevenLabs researches and builds audio AI tools for creators, media, and businesses. Their models use proprietary methods for context awareness and high compression to deliver lifelike, compelling, and nuanced speech, voices, and sound effects across 29 languages. The company’s AI tools are used to voice audiobooks and news articles, animate video game characters, help in film pre-production, localize media in entertainment, create dynamic audio content for social media and advertising, and train medical professionals. It has also given back voices to those who have lost them and helped individuals with accessibility needs in their daily lives.

MAHE-UNB Preceptorship Program Welcomes Second Cohort In Canada

Fredericton, Canada – As part of the academic collaboration between Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) and the University of New Brunswick (UNB), the second cohort of seven students commenced the MAHE-UNB Preceptorship program, a key component of UNB's Summer Institute. This initiative, aimed at earning a dual nursing degree, qualifies students to practice in both India and Canada.

The preceptorship program began with a warm welcome ceremony on June 17 at the Harriet Irving Library on UNB’s Fredericton campus. The students, accompanied by faculty members Dr. Linu Sara George, Professor, and Mr. Vinish V, Assistant Professor-Senior Scale, were greeted enthusiastically.

The dual degree program represents a significant opportunity for India and Canada to enhance their healthcare systems through preceptorship pathways. Each cohort at MAHE consists of 25 students, with the program's first cohort accepted in 2022. A third cohort, also comprising 25 students, is set to begin in August 2024.

Graduates of this dual degree program are qualified to work in both India and Canada, and Indian students are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN), expediting their accreditation process in Canada. During the two-week preceptorship, students will gain practical training and observation experience by working alongside nurses at Horizon Health Network and Shannex Incorporated care facilities. This immersive experience allows them to understand the nuances of Canadian healthcare while sharing insights from the Indian healthcare system.

UNB President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Paul Mazerolle highlighted the program’s international recognition and the strong partnership it has fostered between MAHE and UNB. He also noted a joint publication in the Canadian Journal of Nursing Leadership on the dual degree model.

Dr. Sharath K. Rao, Pro-Vice-Chancellor Health Sciences at MAHE, addressed the gathering via video link, emphasizing the need for cross-border collaboration to tackle healthcare challenges and the joint research opportunities arising from the partnership.

Siddhartha Nath, Consul General of India in Toronto, reassured the students of the consulate’s support and acknowledged New Brunswick’s welcoming attitude towards its growing Indian community. Minister of Post-Secondary Education, Training & Labour Greg Turner underscored the government’s commitment to recruiting and retaining nurses, praising the initiative for its potential to reduce employment barriers for immigrant nurses and offer immediate job opportunities to graduates.

During the ceremony, Dr. Linu George, along with Turner, Nath, and Dr. Mazerolle, presented the seven students with red lab coats bearing the UNB logo.

The event saw attendance from prominent figures, including Dr. Lorna Butler, Dean of UNB; Margaret Melanson, President and CEO of Horizon Health Network; Michel Rod, UNB Vice Provost Strategic Enrolment; Catherine MacPherson, COO of Shannex Incorporated; Kate Sheppard, Interim CEO of the Nurses Association of New Brunswick; Dr. Judith Angelitta Noronha, Professor and Dean at Manipal College of Nursing (via video link); Dr. Petra Hauf, UNB Provost and Vice President Academic; Eric Megarity, Councillor Ward 6, Fredericton; and Cheyenne Joseph, UNB Piluwitahasuwin and Associate Vice-President, Indigenous Engagemen.

Tata Motors Launches Fleet Verse, A Digital Marketplace For Its Entire Range Of Commercial Vehicles

Tata Motors, India’s largest commercial vehicles manufacturer, today announced the launch of Tata Motors Fleet Verse - a comprehensive and innovative digital marketplace for Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles. The platform offers features like new vehicle discovery, configuration, acquisition, financing, and is future-proofed to include a range of additional services and features, making Fleet Verse a one-stop digital destination for all commercial vehicle needs.

Built on five key pillars, Fleet Verse is designed to consolidate all aspects of commercial vehicle ownership onto a single platform. The Smart Search Vehicle Discovery, enriched with advanced semantic search features allows users to explore Tata Motors’ full range of commercial vehicles of 900+ models and 3000+ variants. With Product Configurator, users can key in their business needs, application, and choices to get the most appropriate vehicle recommendation. The 3D Visualizer offers an immersive experience to view vehicle exteriors and interiors in realistic detail. With Vehicle Online Finance, Fleet Verse partners with major financiers to offer fast and smooth finance applications and approvals. Finally, the Vehicle Online Booking feature enables users to book their desired vehicles in a few easy clicks and get prioritized fulfillment, simplifying the acquisition process.

Launching the Fleet Verse platform, Mr. Bharat Bhushan, Head – Digital Business, Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles, said, With the launch of Fleet Verse, we are setting a new benchmark in the commercial vehicle industry by providing  customers with an all-encompassing digital platform. We aim to streamline the commercial vehicle ownership experience, ensuring it's fast, intelligent, safe, and reliable. This initiative underscores our commitment to innovation and enriched customer excellence, driving growth and convenience for both dealers and customers through digitalized value chains. We are excited to bring this transformative experience to our customers and look forward to continuously enhance the platform with new features and capabilities.”

All transactions on Fleet Verse are rendered through Tata Motors’ extensive pan-India dealership network, using a direct-to-dealer payment ecosystem. Serving as a digital bridge, the platform connects dealerships and financiers directly with customers, streamlining processes from enquiry to vehicle delivery. This enables a transparent, prompt and convenient procurement process for customers and Tata Authorised Dealerships —a true win-win scenario.

About Tata Motors

Part of the USD 150 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.