1 in 10 medical products in developing countries is substandard or falsified. WHO urges governments to take action

An estimated 1 in 10 medical products circulating in low- and middle-income countries is either substandard or falsified, according to new research from the World Health Organization (WHO). 

This means that people are taking medicines that fail to treat or prevent disease. Not only is this a waste of money for individuals and health systems that purchase these products, but substandard or falsified medical products can cause serious illness or even death.

“Substandard and falsified medicines particularly affect the most vulnerable communities,” says Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “Imagine a mother who gives up food or other basic needs to pay for her child’s treatment, unaware that the medicines are substandard or falsified, and then that treatment causes her child to die.  This is unacceptable.  Countries have agreed on measures at the global level – it is time to translate them into tangible action.”

Source: WHO

Hyundai Marks 5 Millionth Car Milestone With The ‘Next Gen VERNA’ for Domestic Market

Hyundai Motor India Ltd. (HMIL), the country’s second largest car manufacturer and the number one car exporter since inception, today marked 5 Millionth Car Milestone with the rollout of the Super Performer brand - ‘The Next Gen VERNA’ for Domestic Market.

Commenting on the milestone Mr. Y K Koo, MD, and CEO, Hyundai Motor India Limited said, “Hyundai has a remarkable journey in India by becoming the most loved and trusted brand by customers, partners, and experts. Today we are very happy to roll out the 5 Millionth car with the NextGen VERNA in the Indian market, the fastest in the Industry symbolizing Hyundai's long-term commitment to the Indian market. Hyundai’s Modern Premium Brand direction is a commitment to offer world-class and benchmark products meeting customers aspirations. We will continue this momentum with strong efforts towards customer delight through unique experiences to customers. We thank our valued customers and partners for their support and trust in Hyundai.”

Hyundai rolled out its 1st Millionth Car, Santro, in 2007 in just 8 years and 7 months post-commencement of commercial production in 1998 and continued the trend of setting benchmarks in the industry with its 3 Million Mark in less than 2 years and 8 months in July 2013 followed by next fastest 4 Million Mark in only 2 years and 4 months in Nov 2015. 

Hyundai has been expanding its product portfolio, foraying into new segments, strengthening the sales and service network with over 2,200 sales and service points including 422 rural outlets.

Models that significantly contributed to Hyundai’s successful journey in the past two decades include Hyundai Santro, new models Hyundai EON, Hyundai Verna, Hyundai CRETA, i10 GRAND, Hyundai Elite i20 & i20 ACTIVE, Hyundai XCENT, Hyundai Tucson and Hyundai ELANTRA.

Hyundai Motor India’s Domestic Million Milestones  

1 Million	April 2007	8 Years & 7 Months
2 Million	Nov 2010	3 Years & 7 Months
3 Million	July 2013	2 years & 8 Months
4 Million	Nov 2015	2 Years & 4 Months
5 Million	Nov 2017	2 Years

Source: Hyundai

Ericsson predicts 1 billion 5G subscriptions in 2023

Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) forecasts there will be 1 billion 5G subscriptions for enhanced mobile broadband by 2023. This prediction is among the key statistics presented in the November edition of the Ericsson Mobility Report released today.

Expected to be deployed first in dense urban areas, 5G will cover over 20 percent of the world’s population by the end of 2023. The first commercial networks based on 5G New Radio (NR) are expected to go live in 2019, with major deployments from 2020. Early 5G deployments are foreseen in several markets, including the US, South Korea, Japan, and China.

Global mobile data traffic to surpass 100 Exabytes per month in 2023

Mobile data traffic is expected to surge by eight times during the forecast period, reaching 110 Exabytes per month by 2023. This corresponds to 5.5 million years of HD video streaming.

All regions maintain mobile data traffic growth, with North America showing the highest average usage per smartphone, exceeding 7GB per month by the end of 2017.

Video consumption continues to fuel mobile broadband traffic growth. The driving force behind video’s uptrend is the young millennials – those in the 15 to 24 age bracket - who stream 2.5X more than those over 45 years of age.

Streaming video in higher resolutions and an emerging trend of increased streaming of immersive video formats, such as 360-degree video, will have an impact on data traffic consumption volumes. For example, a YouTube 360-degree video uses 4 to 5 times as much bandwidth as a normal YouTube video of the same perceived quality.

LTE deployments – momentum continues

By the end of this year, LTE will be the dominant mobile access technology. It is estimated to reach 5.5 billion subscriptions and cover more than 85 percent of the world’s population by the end of 2023.

Voice over LTE (VoLTE) has been launched in more than 125 networks in over 60 countries across all regions. VoLTE subscriptions are projected to reach 5.5 billion by the end of 2023, accounting for more than 80 percent of the combined LTE and 5G subscriptions.

Smartwatches are one of the latest devices to use VoLTE. Users are able to make voice calls directly on their smartwatch, without having a smartphone nearby (multi-SIM). Calls can also be transferred between a user’s smartphone and watch.

Niklas Heuveldop, Chief Strategy Officer and Head of Technology and Emerging Business, Ericsson, says: “The latest report highlights trends in mobile subscription and data traffic growth, as well as the industry’s effort to tackle the increasing demands on mobile networks globally. In addition, the report examines the emergence of new use cases as network capabilities evolve – smartwatches, IoT alarms, and augmented reality-assisted maintenance and repair, to name a few. As we prepare for 5G, these trends will continue to set the agenda for the mobile industry going forward.”

Source: Ericsson

Tata Nexon embarks on a Star Wars Adventure in India

Tata Motors today announced the Tata Nexon association with Disney India ahead of the theatrical release of its much awaited LucasFilm Star Wars: The Last Jedi. This exclusive tie-up promises to offer a unique adventure to fans of cars and Star Wars!

Through this first-of-its-kind campaign, Tata Motors has strategized to aggressively increase awareness of the Nexon in the country by joining forces with the Star Wars franchise.

Similar to the Star Wars franchise, Tata Motors has a long legacy of celebrating fan engagement and unparalleled brand experience over the decades. With its epic galactical adventures and space battles, Star Wars has been fueling the imagination of millions with path-breaking innovation in storytelling. The feature loaded Nexon with its LEVEL NEX Design, Performance, Technology and Comfort has fueled a similar level of excitement among auto enthusiasts.

According to Mr. Vivek Srivatsa – Head – Marketing, PVBU, Tata Motors "We are very excited to associate the Tata Nexon with the Star Wars brand which is a huge franchise globally. Nexon has been one of the most talked about recently, just like the ‘The Last Jedi’ has been for the movie buffs. Fueling the force within you, the Tata Nexon takes driving to LEVEL NEX which has resulted in a culmination of a radical shift in thinking about our products. Nexon promises to deliver an experience beyond the next level which will change the norms of what you can expect out of a car just like the Star Wars movies. We are sure that this association will definitely prove to be a real treat for fans of both the brands."

Customers will experience the best of both worlds at every level in this innovative campaign. Under this association, the two brands will collaborate across various platforms, from test drives to showrooms to the Nexon Skills Arena. It will offer an immersive and engaging experience that Star Wars fans would love and relate to the technologically-advanced Tata Nexon. Exciting Star Wars merchandise will also be available at the Nexon Skill Arenas.

The Nexon has empowered the customers with exciting new technology features to experience best-in-class driving on road. The Moroccan Blue and the Vermont Red colors of the Nexon – are symbolic of the light and dark side of the Force in the Star Wars galaxy. These unique colors depict a sense of empowerment and world’s best experience and driving the pleasure. With cool tech features like the Wristband Key, Floating Navigainment Touchscreen with Voice Control and the 8-Speaker Sound System, Nexon is sure to become a favorite amongst this target group. Also with the Superior 6-speed Transmission, drivers are in for a real-life demonstration of the force.

The Star Wars franchise witnesses huge fan following and the movie is expected to release on December 15th, 2017.

Source: Tata Motors

Tata Motors launches Hexa in Nepal

Tata Motors announces the foray of it's most awaited lifestyle SUV – Tata Hexa in the Nepal market. Commencing retail of the Hexa in Nepal, CEO & MD of Tata Motors, Guenter Butschek today handed over keys to the first batch of eleven customers on the momentous occasion of the launch. Available at a price of NPR 77.95 Lakhs, the Hexa will be available in the XT 4×4 variant across Nepal.

Commenting at the launch ceremony, Mr. Guenter Butschek, CEO & MD, Tata Motors, said – “At Tata Motors we have always been at the forefront of providing a rich and dynamic product experience to our customers through our product innovations and the new Tata Hexa reinforces this commitment. We understand that our customers in Nepal are aspiring for more stylish, lifestyle-oriented products and the Tata Hexa is an important step in catering to these emerging customer needs. We are confident that this complete package will be an instant hit in a highly popular but immensely competitive segment and will surely excite the new-age customers of Nepal."

The Hexa comes with a 2.2-litre VARICOR diesel engine with 156PS / 400Nm. Additionally, the XT 4×4 is available with a 6-speed manual transmission. The Hexa also features ‘Super Drive Modes’ that can be activated through a well-placed rotary knob, on the center console. The ‘Super Drive Modes’ allow the driver to seamlessly switch between the four different driving modes – Auto, Comfort, Dynamic and Rough Road, to provide the occupants with a choice of driving experience that is customisable to the terrain as well as to the mood of the driver.

Enhanced ride comfort & stability over different terrains is ensured by the new selectable driving modes, through a flawless combination of the vehicle’s Engine Management, new-generation Electronic Stability Program (ESP) and Torque on Demand (TOD). Additionally, the Instrument Cluster displays and the vehicle’s Ambient Lighting for the interior can be customized according to the user preference.

Packed with segment-leading features the Tata Hexa comes equipped with Projector Headlamps, 19-inch Alloy Wheels, LED Tail Lamps, 6 Airbags, Traction Control System, Hill Hold Control, Hill Descent Control, Automatic Headlamps and a 10-speaker JBL Audio System amongst others.

Source: Tata Motors

A drive against pollution in Delhi NCR !

In a Drive against pollution, the residents, RWAs, MTAs, NGOs, as well as the Activists, have been invited to join a Non-Political Forum, to generate awareness as well to talk to the agencies to take necessary steps. The problem of various RWAs as well the Activists is that they are not empowered to do anything. They can just raise their voice at various forums, though the official & concerned agencies, don't take them seriously. Now a bigger forum is being launched with the sole aim that our voice is heard and we can also put our pressure on various agencies, to take necessary steps to curb the pollution that is responsible for over 30,000 deaths in DELHI NCR alone, every year.

B S Vohra, Environment Activist

Founder President, East Delhi RWAs Joint Front - Federation

CEO, RWABhagidari Network

Roof Top Solar Panels - Green Energy - 30% Subsidy - Net Metering - WhatsApp now for Details

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Mahindra and Uber Join Hands to Deploy Electric Vehicles in India

Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd., part of the US$ 19 billion Mahindra Group, today announced that it will collaborate with Uber, the global transportation technology company, to explore the deployment of electric vehicles (EVs) on the Uber platform in several cities across India.

To begin with, the companies will deploy hundreds of electric vehicles in Delhi and Hyderabad. Mahindra's electric vehicles on the Uber platform will include the e2oPlus hatch and the eVerito sedan. As part of this collaboration, both the companies will also explore deployment of Mahindra electric vehicles to other cities. The joint deployment of electric vehicles will further reinforce the strong relationship between Mahindra and Uber. Over the years, there has been a strong deployment of Mahindra vehicles on Uber's platform and Mahindra is also a key financier for Uber's driver partner through Mahindra Finance.

Speaking on the collaboration, Dr. Pawan Goenka, Managing Director, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. said, "Electric vehicle adoption is clearly gaining momentum in India. As the pioneers of electric vehicles in the country, we would like to be at the forefront, leading this change toward smart and sustainable mobility. Our collaboration with Uber is an important next step to help accelerate the large-scale adoption of electric vehicles on shared mobility platforms, and meet the nation's vision for EVs".

According to Mr. Madhu Kannan, Chief Business Officer, Uber India & Emerging Markets, "We are extremely excited about our collaboration with the Mahindra Group to deploy this electric vehicles pilot in India. Aligned with the government’s vision, we aim to build a more sustainable future of mobility, moving more people needing on-demand services with fewer, fuller, and more efficient vehicle trips. We see a key role for high-efficiency vehicle technologies, and therefore believe that this collaboration with Mahindra, the pioneers in the electric vehicles space, will be truly beneficial not just for Uber but for our driver partners, riders and the cities we operate in."

Through this collaboration, driver partners on the Uber app can avail of a package which will include Mahindra electric vehicles at competitive prices, attractive financing and insurance premiums as well as comprehensive maintenance packages from Mahindra and its associates. Further, to make this model sustainable, Mahindra and Uber will work closely with public and private players who are in the process of setting-up a common use charging ecosystem across multiple locations in the cities.

Mahindra will also support with driver education and training related to various aspects of electric vehicles. Going forward, electric vehicles will play a major role in reducing urban pollution plaguing several Indian cities and resulting in health hazards. With the increased penetration of EVs and eventual 100% transition, the country and its citizens stand to benefit tremendously.

All these initiatives align perfectly with Mahindra’s Rise philosophy of empowering people with the right products and services to enhance the quality of their lives and earnings.

Source: Mahindra

Hyundai Releases #BeTheBetterGuy - Road Safety Awareness Film

Hyundai Motor India Ltd. (HMIL), the country’s second largest car manufacturer and the number one car exporter since inception, in association with Ministry of Road Transport and Highways today released Road Safety film aimed at creating a positive change in the society and inspire people to adhere to traffic rules. This film marks phase II of #BeTheBetterGuy road safety initiative by Hyundai since 2016 and draws attention to critical issues pertaining to road safety such as– Under Age Driving, Don’t Drink & Drive, Usage of Mobile Phone, Over Speeding & Violation of Traffic Signal.

Commenting on the initiative, Mr. YK Koo, Managing Director & CEO, Hyundai Motor India Ltd. said, “Hyundai is a responsible and caring brand globally. Through Safe Move – Road Safety Campaign; we want to spread the message of road safety and create strong awareness within communities for a positive Behavior Change. We want to make Safe Move – Road Safety Campaign a mass movement in India in association with Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and contribute by Big Impact activities towards making Hyundai a Life Time Partner of its customers.”

Supported by Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Safe Move - Road Safety awareness film is unique in nature as it highlights various situations in our day-to-day life highlighting actions which can prevent mishaps. The messages in this film revolve around creating innovative content, emphasizing on to ‘Be The Better Guy’ in an adverse situation. Safe Move is Hyundai Motor Group’s key CSR initiative across the globe. The film features Hyundai’s Corporate Brand Ambassador Mr. Shah Rukh Khan promoting road safety practices.

Phase II of ‘Safe Move – Road safety’ campaign will continue until the end of 2017. The initiative also has an offline road safety activity in association with Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MORTH) at 150 Schools in 15 cities and 14 Malls in 6 cities. The campaign will also be promoted in prominent Cinema halls in top 20 cities.

Phase I of Road Safety Campaign #BeTheBetterGuy in 2016 was a big success clocking over 3.84 Million Views and has won prestigious awards on Road Safety campaign by eminent Indian media. Along with digital films, Hyundai also conducted on-ground Road Safety activities like the School Contact Program and Resident Contact Program, which covered over 90,000 Students in 142 schools and 23,000 Residents in 146 Resident Welfare Associations in 10 cities across India.


Source: Hyundai

Start of the Skyline Legend

Source: Nissan