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Facing financial crisis, BOCI and Karnataka State Bus Owners Federation seek help from Government

Posted on July 25, 2020 by City Today News (City today.media)

Bengaluru, 24^th July 2020: Bus & Car Operators Confederation of India – (BOCI) & Karnataka State Bus Owners Federation Bangalore representing district association of bus owners operating buses from various district of Karnataka and neighboring states urged the Karnataka government to provide immediate relief to the public transport sector which is on a stand still due to COVID 19 lockdown. The public transport sector has requested waiver of taxes, deferment of tax payments, extension of vehicle insurance validity, increase in price/fare on tickets, extending the loan moratorium and subsidies on diesel and tax reduction on spare parts for a stipulated period which would help reduce the vehicle running cost to save the sector from collapsing.

The Current fleet of vehicles under the Private Passenger Services is approximately 4lakh in Karnataka. The extended lockdown has hit the sector hard with many operators in dire straits and on brink of closure. When compared to other countries, in India public transport sector does not receive financial support, instead it has severe burden of taxation including GST on tickets and purchase of vehicle tires and spares, GST and CESS on fuel and lubricants and toll tax.

Considering social distancing norms and only half the seats being used, paying tax for all seats per quarter in advance has affected the transport operators badly. Due to non-operation of vehicles for more than four months, it has impacted the public transport sector severely. The layoff has also caused tremendous inconvenience to commuters, the salaried middle-class and unprecedented hardship for migrant daily wage laborers in India who depend entirely on public transport for their commute. The sector has made several representations to the authorities in the transport department, Ministries of state and to the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Karnataka to draw their attention to multitudes of issues faced by the sector and have urged urgent action to alleviate their pain.

The key asks of the sector to various authorities in the Government of Karnataka are:

Waiver on Motor Vehicle Tax for six months
Extension of Vehicle Insurance
Increase in price in tickets
Waiver on Toll tax for public transport vehicles
Reduction in State tax & CESS on Diesel for public transport sector vehicles for next six months
Portal access to interact with RTO for payment of fees, documentation etc. avoid person to person contact and reduce virus spread
Insurance coverage to drivers and transport workers plying during pandemic to ferry passengers, essential goods
Allow utilization of ESI / EPF funds to pay staff salaries
Viability Gap Funding for Public Transport
Deferment of EMI payments for next 6 to 12months

Addressing this concern, Mr. Rajavarma Ballal, All India Sectorial Vice President of Stage Carriage Service Sector, Bus & Car Operators Confederation of India (BOCI) said, “Transport sector is one of the major sectors contributing to the economy of the state and the nation. Government must provide necessary support to revive the sector in these critical times by providing tax exemption and extension of loan repayment tenure amongst other provisions. Though Banks have extended the moratorium for few months, but they should extend the mortarium by waiving interest to existing loans because more than 80% of the vehicles are usually financed and many are availing the moratorium. The Central Government has also provided COVID loan facilities for MSMEs. But as per the provision the loan facilities can be availed only by the owners of the travel companies. This loan facility must be extended to the individual owners who are using their personal vehicles for transport. Also, the economic relief announced by the government to the public sector transportation must be extended.”

Mr. Prasanna Patwardhan, President, Bus & Car Operators Confederation of India (BOCI) said, India moves on public transport, as more than 90% of our people use it for their daily mobility needs. We have over 17 lakh operational buses on Indian roads, out of which, about 1.50 lakh buses are operated by various STU’s. The remaining 15.5lakh buses, accounting for almost 30 Crore passenger trips, are run by private operators which are the member of various Associations & Federations affiliated to Bus & Car Operators Confederation of India (BOCI). Being a labor-intensive sector, we request the government to support and save the sector from a total collapse. The fiscal relief sought will help the sector see through these tumultuous times.”

BOCI has also addressed these issues in a letter to the Honorable Prime Minister requesting for a job security of 1 crore people who have not been paid during the lockdown and requested government to take responsibility to pay salaries for 3 months. Rescheduling of all EMIs and Banks should be instructed to reschedule loans by giving at least six months moratorium period to all customers and to waived off the interest for the moratorium period. Banks and NBFCs should be advised to provide top-up working capital at low interest rates to resume business.

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Vietjet is recognized as the most impactful Vietnamese brand worldwide

Posted on July 25, 2020 by City Today News (City today.media)

July 24, 2020) – The New Age carrier Vietjet has been conferred with “Vietnam Brand, Global Impact” Award at PR Newswire Awards 2020. The honour recognizes the brand as the most impactful Vietnam brand worldwide. The award was voted by a judging panel of international experts and leaders in the communications and public relations under the PR Newswire Awards 2020.

Vietjet has been recognized for its achievement as a trailblazer in expanding its flight network and brand name proven by innovative, meaningful and inspiring activities across the globe.

Speaking at the award ceremony, Vietjet Group’s Vice President Nguyen Thi Thuy Binh said: “With the mission of constantly expanding our flight network across Asia and boosting trade activities globally, Vietjet has been an inspiring ambassador in connecting Vietnam to South Asian countries as well as contributing to the global tourism and economic development. Vietjet’s achievements are credited to our expanding network with over 200 routes, more than 100 million passengers transported to date, many large-scale business deals signed with international partners as well as tens of thousands of jobs created in Asia, Europe and America. We are proud that Vietjet, a Vietnamese brand in the aviation industry, has been favored by millions of customers and partners to truly become the inspiration for the young generation around the world.”

Vietjet is also one of a few enterprises and the only carrier in Vietnam that brings its brand beyond the nation in order to add more values and inspire others in the international market. In Thailand, Vietjet has established Thai Vietjet, leveraging the Vietnamese brand name of Vietjet. The carrier has extended both domestic and international flight network with the base in Suvarnabhumi Airport, the largest and busiest airport of Thailand. The airline has transported more than eight millions of passengers in Thailand and other countries to famous destinations across the Land of Smiles. It has been welcomed and trusted by the country and people of Thailand.

The awards 2020 is hosted by PR Newswire, a Cision Ltd. company, a leading global provider of news distribution and earned media software and services with the world’s largest media distribution network, covering over 300,000 media outlets in more than 170 countries and over 40 languages.

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Kia injects new dynamism into compact SUV segment

Posted on July 25, 2020 by City Today News (City today.media)

with first image of new Kia Sonet

· Official rendering showcases Sonet’s bold, powerful and distinctive design DNA

· Targeted at youthful, spirited buyers thanks to its sophisticated modern design, fascinating features and unmatched sense of dynamism

· Sonet establishes a new design benchmark in the compact SUV class

· Kia’s second ‘made in India’ car after the Seltos

Bangalore , July 23, 2020 – Kia Motors India, a wholly owned subsidiary of Kia Motors Corporation, today revealed the first official rendering of the new production-ready Kia Sonet compact SUV. The Sonet concept was unveiled for the first time at the 2020 Delhi Auto Expo to widespread acclaim, thanks to its fresh exterior design. With new image released today, the Sonet aims to set new design benchmarks and inject a new dynamism in the compact SUV segment when it is revealed later this summer.

Kia’s rendering of the Sonet emphasize the brand’s dynamic DNA, merging emotive design with a premium and youthful appeal to create a strong on-road presence. The bold design of the compact SUV combines Kia’s signature design traits, such as the prominent ‘tiger nose’ grille, with a three-dimensional ‘stepwell’ geometric grille mesh for a strong visual impression. Its aggressive stance indicates its rugged appeal, while showcasing the car’s India-inspired influences in Kia’s signature grille.

“With the new Kia Sonet, we had the ambition to give this compact SUV a strong and muscular character found only in much larger vehicles. With this in mind, we have designed what we believe is a great SUV with a uniquely sporty attitude, a confident stance and a dynamic silhouette. We also gave the new Kia Sonet an uncompromising attention to detail and a selection of colors and materials that could have only be inspired by the great cultural heritage that our designers found all over India,” said Karim Habib, Senior Vice President and Head of Kia Design Center at Kia Motors Corporation. “As a whole we believe the new Kia Sonet will be a fantastic SUV with a very compelling and attaching character to our young and young at heart, always connected customers in India and beyond…”

The Sonet will be the second ‘made in India’ car from Kia, following the introduction of the Kia Seltos. The new model will appeal to consumers worldwide and will make its global premiere shortly, followed by its market debut in India during the upcoming festive season. The new Kia Sonet is targeted at a younger generation who are tech-savvy, aspirational and socially connected.

With its brand slogan of ‘The Power to Surprise’, Kia Motors India strives to identify and fulfil unmet needs and desires of customers in order to offer an unparalleled ownership experience, as seen with the recent launch of Seltos and Carnival in the market. Upon launch, the Sonet will stand out not only due to its eye-catching design, but also with its excellent build quality, class-leading features, connectivity innovations, choice of powertrains, and comprehensive safety equipment.

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JGU Announces Academic Scholarships and Research Fellowships for 2020 Graduates

Posted on July 24, 2020 by City Today News (City today.media)

Unique Support Programme to Aid 200 Students amidst Covid 19 Disruption on Jobs and Careers

Wednesday, 22July, 2020: O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU) announces 200 Research Scholarships for Undergraduates and Fellowships for Master’s and Ph.D. Graduates of 2020. This is an unprecedented and extraordinary initiative taken by the University to secure the future and alleviate the anxiety of its students where careers have been adversely affected by Covid 19. In all 200 JGU students graduating in 2020 will benefit from the programme.

The Teaching & Research for Intellectual Pursuit (TRIP) Fellowship programme will support 100 high quality academic careers for (Master’s and Ph.D.) students amidst Covid 19 related impact on jobs and careers. Under the career support plan,100 JGU graduates (Master’s and Ph.D.) of its 2020 batch will receive generous Fellowships from the University.

JGU has also announced 100 GRIP Scholarships (Graduate Research Immersion Programme) for all the graduating students of JGU with a view to focussing on research and institutional mentorship for young and aspiring researchers. The six-month GRIP Scholarship will provide financial support along with accommodation and other benefits and privileges.

“Amidst the ongoing global crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, we are cognisant of the predicament that the graduates of universities in India and around the world are facing,” said, Professor (Dr.) C. Raj Kumar, Founding Vice Chancellor of O.P. Jindal Global University. “We believe that JGU must help and support our students, especially during these extraordinarily difficult times.

The decision of JGU to offer 200 Scholarships and Fellowships to the 2020 graduates of JGU is a landmark initiative in higher education that will invest in the future of young and aspiring academics and research scholars. The Fellowships (for Masters and PhD. Students) and the Scholarships (for Undergraduates) are part of an effort to help the graduating batch of 2020 find meaningful ways to be engaged in research with a view to empower the development of next general academics, researchers and teachers. This will help the students in their overall career progression by providing them pathways in the pursuit of academic careers,” Professor Kumarsaid.

The 100 Teaching & Research for Intellectual Pursuit Fellowships offers students with the opportunity to gain holistic academic experience in a two-year fellowship programme to develop their academic & research capabilities, intellectual competencies, teaching skills with a pedagogical understanding of the learning ecosystem. The TRIP Fellowships will financially support the 2020 graduates of JGU from the Master’s and Ph.D. programmes to develop pathways to a career in academics that will also help overcome the uncertainties in the career trajectories of students caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The TRIP Fellowships will support the academic and research inclined graduates of JGU to further sharpen their research skills and produce journal articles and publications of international standards working with the leading scholars and researchers of JGU. It would also further the agenda of producing high quality academics and researchers for Indian and global higher education institutions in law, management, social sciences and humanities.

The six-month GRIP Scholarships Initiative addresses the challenges faced by our graduating students, enabling them to navigate the ongoing crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. The ensuing lockdown and lack of opportunities or clarity to pursue learning or career streams has created uncertainty for many students. The objective of this programme is to support graduating students in their overall career progression and transition into their higher education or professional careers. The programme will provide unique and wide-ranging opportunities for GRIP Scholars to interact with industry experts, practitioners, lawyers, judges, leading national and international academics and researchers, journalists, government officials, and institutional leaders who are regularly hosted at JGU as part of the University’s broad institutional agenda of advancing intellectual debates, discussions and collaboration across disciplinary areas and boundaries.

The TRIP Fellowship is a two-year programme, which will commence in October 2020. The TRIP Fellows & Academic Tutors will be selected through a competitive process from the Master’s students graduating in 2020 and from the Ph.D. students who have successfully completed their thesis defence. After the successful completion of responsibilities under the TRIP Fellowship, the TRIP Fellows & Academic Tutors would be considered for the position of Assistant Lecturer in JGU and could be a part of the JGU faculty.

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Canadian Wood’s webinar on ‘Architecture with wood in India’

Posted on July 24, 2020 by City Today News (City today.media)

presents industry stalwarts and the country’s best woodwork projects

Mumbai, July 2020

FII-India, popularly known as Canadian Wood has been actively promoting building with wood in India using wood legally sourced from the sustainably managed forests of B.C., Canada. In case of structural applications of wood it works closely with architects, developers, contractors, and hospitality professionals and extends technical support by suggesting appropriate species and grades most suitable to the type of construction chosen or preferred, i.e. T&G (Tongue & Groove), WFC (Wood Frame Construction), posts-and-beams or even hybrid in tandem with local stone/bricks. It also conducts educational seminars and training workshops that help create awareness about its wood species, specific applications, and appropriate methods of use.

As a part of this continued effort during the COVID19 period, Canadian Wood introduced webinars on topics of interest to the wood working industry at large. Its third webinar titled ‘Architecture with wood in India’ conducted on July 24, 2020, was a part of the continuing series and a first-of-its-kind virtual panel discussion, presented by Indo-Canadian Business Chamber (ICBC) and sponsored by Artius Interior Products Pvt. Ltd.

The webinar began with a warm welcome by Ms. Nadira Hamid, CEO, ICBC and opening remarks by Hon. Andrew Smith, Minister (Commercial), High Commission of Canada. This was followed by an introduction of the event curator & moderator Prof. Gurdev Singh by Mr. Pranesh Chhibber, Country Director, FII India. Prof. Gurdev Singh is an industry icon and the Ex-Dean of the School of Environmental Design and Architecture, Navrachana University. With over 40 years of invaluable experience in the field of architecture and several awards at national and international levels to his credit, his portfolio includes Teaching, Design (Architecture, Interior and Urban), Project Management and Construction Coordination, Quality Control and Site Management, as well as experience on projects as an Owner/Builder.

As the webinar progressed exciting sections began to slowly unfold itself in the form of extensive, informative presentations by eminent Indian architects namely Ar. N Mahesh from Iyer & Mahesh, Ar. Gurpreet Singh from Aakar Design Consultants and Ar. Kamal Malik from Malik Architecture. Each glorified through their unique pieces of work the various features, strengths, and possibilities in the world of architecture with wood.

Ar. N Mahesh is known for his decades of experience in reviving traditional timber architecture in India using ‘Green’ reforested timber. He presented beautiful pieces of work that drew inspiration from heritage architecture in Kerala and merged it with the technological prowess of changing times. His presentation showcased rich examples of wooden buildings and captivating visuals of projects spanning across premium hotels and resorts like the Ananta spa & resort – Rajasthan, the Lalit resort & spa, Bekal – Kerala and the Zuri Kumarakom resort & spa – Kerala to name a few. Besides these, he also showcased an eye-catching structure, his prized possession called the ‘Bell Museum’ located in Trivandrum. The building’s interiors featured successful use of Canadian manufactured Tongue and Groove panelling made with western hemlock, one of the five Canadian wood species available across India.

This was followed with a presentation by Ar. Gurpreet Singh who unveiled some truly exemplary work. His projects included well-recognized and awarded ventures like the Royal Academy of Bhutan and large scale in-making projects like the Dining hall for the World School of Environment in Coorg. He also showcased Aakar Villa; a luxury private villa displayed at 1970 sq. ft. in Himachal Pradesh. The villa exhibited how Canadian Wood specie Douglas-fir was optimally used to build posts-and-beams, multiple doors and windows that created a beautiful open space in oneness with nature.

The final presentation was made by Ar. Kamal Malik. His slides were iconic in their representation of his love for nature and the inspiration drawn from it. He defined architecture as a synthesis of ‘Ecology’ and ‘Spirit’. ‘Ecology’ implying a seamless, cohesive, and integrated approach to design and ‘Spirit’ implying balance, understanding and tranquility. His pieces of work included a luxury resort in Morgiri in Lonavala and in Alibaug where he elaborated upon how nature united with the applied contemporary architectural elements.

The three presentations were followed by a very engaging panel discussion, innovatively curated by Prof. Gurdev Singh. The event finally concluded with an insightful Q&A session of the panelists with the well-informed audience. The queries raised by the enthusiastic audience to the panelists clearly indicated the rising positive sentiment and trend towards use of wood in structural applications – we see an emerging trend of country homes, farm houses and resorts especially in hills and coastal areas being designed with wood (from sustainably managed forests) as the most ecofriendly building material.

Commenting on the response to the webinar, Mr. Pranesh Chhibber, Country Director, FII India said, “Canadian Wood is delighted to have the three stalwarts of architecture together as panelists on this platform along with Prof. Gurdev as the curator and moderator. It has been an enriching experience for us to listen and see them share their experience and expertise with the audience on the topic of “Architecture with Wood in India”.

It has been highly satisfying, encouraging and inspiring for us have had such an illustrious team of panelists on the Canadian Wood webinar – Ion behalf of Canadian Wood, thank Architects Mahesh, Gurpreet and Kamal from the bottom of my heart to having spared time for not just today but for having put in many hours preparing their presentations with their respective teams in their offices. Needless to mention that we are also thankful to Prof. Gurdev for being a great sport and taking on the mantle of being the curator and moderator for this webinar.

I must acknowledge the support and encouragement from Hon. Andrew Smith – Minister (Commercial), High Commission of Canada in India and thank him for taking time out for the webinar to further strengthen Indo-Canadian business ties. Needless to mention that without the support and collaboration of ICBC this webinar would not have been possible – so thank you Nadira for being such a sport. I also thank Ms. Bhawna Sharma – Director of Artius Interior products, Gurgaon for sponsoring the webinar and sharing with the audience the great work that Artius is doing with the Canadian Wood species.

Last but not the least, this webinar would not have been a success without the registration and participation of such an enlightened audience. There is a lot for us to take from this webinar and be encouraged to keep such conversations alive on the Canadian Wood forum. I assure our stakeholders that we intend continuing to organize more such sessions with eminent personalities connected with wood from India and abroad.

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