Category: News

One of the greatest privileges I have as CEO of Microsoft is seeing firsthand the incredible impact our technologies have on people and organizations around the world. Our ecosystem touches the lives of billions of people every single day

One of the greatest privileges I have as CEO of Microsoft is seeing firsthand the incredible impact our technologies have on people and organizations around the world.

Our ecosystem touches the lives of billions of people every single day, creating a new opportunity for our customers and partners and positively impacting local communities.

In Kenya, our partner M-KOPA Solar has connected hundreds of thousands of homes across sub-Saharan Africa to solar power for the first time using the Microsoft Cloud, innovating with a pay-as-you-go model that helps households living on less than $2 a day establish a credit history.

In Arizona, we are applying Dynamics 365 to improve outcomes among one of the state’s most vulnerable populations — the more than 15,000 children in foster care. In Poland, MedApp is using HoloLens to help cardiologists visualize a patient’s heart as it beats — in real-time — reducing the amount of time they then need to perform open-heart surgery.

In Kona, Hawaii, Jack’s Diving Locker is using Microsoft 365 to connect its 50 employees across land and sea so that they can focus on what they do best — protect pristine coral reefs and take people diving.

In Washington state, Karrick Johnson, an 8-year-old with dyslexia, avoided reading in class until he started using our Learning Tools. And in Cambodia, underserved children in rural communities are learning to code with Minecraft, opening doors to futures that would have previously been unimaginable.

Across the globe, enterprise customers in every industry — from iconic brands like Coca-Cola Company and Chevron Corporation to ZF Group, a car parts manufacturer in Germany — are using our technology to build their digital capability so they can thrive in a world where every company is a software company.

Walmart —the world’s largest company by revenue, and its biggest private employer — chose Azure and Microsoft 365 to fuel its digital transformation, transforming the shopping experience for customers and empowering their more than 2 million associates to do their best work.

In sum, our platforms create broad surplus everywhere, from the farmer who can apply precision agriculture to conserve resources and increase yields, to the hospital that can lower the cost of healthcare and improve patient outcomes, to the largest companies of the world reaching new customers in new markets.

The breadth and depth of our mission and the trust customers are placing in us to power their digital transformation enables us to have this broad impact — and it is fueling our results.

In fiscal 2018, we delivered $110.4 billion in revenue and $35.1 billion in operating income and returned $21.5 billion to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases.

Our commercial cloud business delivered more than $23 billion in revenue, exceeding the ambitious goal we had set to achieve $20 billion in annualized commercial cloud revenue by the end of fiscal 2018, nine months ahead of schedule. Also, we expanded our commercial cloud gross margin to 57 per cent, up 7 points year-over-year.

These are strong results — and yet the opportunity ahead in a world powered by an intelligent cloud and edge is unprecedented.

Imagine a future where all of your apps and experiences revolve around you and transcend any single device; where data in any form is analyzed in real-time so that computers can anticipate and even act on your behalf and augment what you would otherwise be able to accomplish on your own.

And where computing is more distributed and embedded in the world, from intelligent digital assistants at work, on the go and in your home that you can communicate within a myriad of ways — voice, eyes or gestures — to oil rigs that adjust production in real-time as demand fluctuates in global markets.

Across each of our customer solution areas, we are broadening our offerings and accelerating our innovation to capture the opportunities this new era will create for our customers and better meet their unarticulated needs.

Companies spent Rs 13,464.3 crore in 2016-17 crore towards Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), down from Rs 14,366.29 crore in the previous financial year. Section 135 of Companies Act, 2013 along with Schedule VII and CSR Policy Rules, 2014 came into force

Companies spent Rs 13,464.3 crore in 2016-17 crore towards Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), down from Rs 14,366.29 crore in the previous financial year.

Section 135 of Companies Act, 2013 along with Schedule VII and CSR Policy Rules, 2014 came into force with effect from April 01, 2014.

Notices sent to thousands of Cos’ for failure to spend CSR funds
Meanwhile, notices have been sent to thousands of companies that have failed to spend funds under Corporate Social Responsibility.

Replying to a question regarding CSR compliance, Minister of State for Corporate Affairs P P Chaudhary said based on scrutiny, call for information letters to 5,382 companies have been issued for the financial year 2015-16.

“Further, 313 prosecutions have been sanctioned for the financial year 2014-15 and 33 companies have filed an application for compounding for the same year,” the Minister said during February Parliament session.

The information was provided by Chaudhary in a written reply to the Lok Sabha on February 8, 2019.

Lawmaker Santosh Ahlawat had asked the Ministry of Corporate Affairs whether the Government has sent notices to thousands of companies which have failed to spend funds under CSR policy and asked for action being taken against the defaulters.

Source: Filings by companies up to June 30, 2018, in the MCA21 registry.

To promote sustainability and create awareness about air pollution Dell has partnered with the Chakr Innovation which converts diesel soot into ink (POINK) through their retro-fit emission control device for diesel generators

To promote sustainability and create awareness about air pollution Dell has partnered with the Chakr Innovation which converts diesel soot into ink (POINK) through their retro-fit emission control device for diesel generators.

The technology can capture over 90 per cent of the particulate matter emissions from the exhaust of diesel generators without causing any adverse impact on the diesel engine.

Speaking about the event, Rajeev Kapoor, India Vice President and CSR Champion, Dell said, “Environmental responsibility is much more than creating eco-friendly products. It’s about incorporating sustainability into every practice. Innovative thinking and eco-friendly designs are the first steps in minimizing the impact on the environment. We support inventions which solve larger problems and are glad to partner with Chakr innovation to address the issue of rising levels of air pollution in the city and initiate a positive dialogue around the issue.”

Adding to this, Kushagra Srivastava, CEO, Chakr Innovation said, “We aim to curb air pollution by recycling it. Our product, Chakr Shield helps reducing air pollution by converting diesel soot from generators into inks and paints which can be safely reused. We are proud to partner with Dell which not only promotes but also practices various sustainable methods across its functions. It’s encouraging to see that Dell has been using poink for packaging and printing products at its manufacturing facility in India. We hope to amplify the partnership to capture the air pollution at its source and create a beautiful and greener tomorrow for everyone around us.”

Two iconic brands, DIESEL and Coca-Cola have launched ‘The(Re)Collection’ — a beautifully crafted clothing collection partially made from recycled materials, including plastic bottles

Two iconic brands, DIESEL and Coca-Cola have launched ‘The(Re)Collection’ — a beautifully crafted clothing collection partially made from recycled materials, including plastic bottles.

In India, the (Re)Collection is exclusively available at 11 Diesel stores with a retail price starting from Rs 6,000 to Rs 25,000. Diesel India will also be showcasing the capsule collection as a pop-up in major cities.

The range includes recycled materials such as recycled PET derived from plastic bottles and recycled cotton, to create a fresh, modern interpretation of the Diesel casualwear aesthetic combined with Coca-Cola iconicity.

Creating beautiful fibres from plastic, this collaboration aims to raise awareness on the value of recycling with all pieces made with recycled PET fibres.

Commenting on the new partnership, Coca-Cola Company Vice President of Global Licensing & Retail Michelle Moorehead said: “Not only does The (Re)Collection generate awareness of the importance of recycling in a very approachable way – by showcasing beautiful fashions created from recycled materials – it’s also a collection that celebrates individuality.”

HCL’s Shiv Nadar has topped the list of givers for philanthropic acts, but the richest Indian Mukesh Ambani ranks third behind Azim Premji, who created headlines by announcing a USD 21 billion commitment to charity. The Edelgive

HCL’s Shiv Nadar has topped the list of givers for philanthropic acts, but the richest Indian Mukesh Ambani ranks third behind Azim Premji, who created headlines by announcing a USD 21 billion commitment to charity. The Edelgive Hurun India Philanthropy List 2019 has made this ranking.

Nadar and his family donated Rs 826 crore, while Premji gave Rs 453 crore and Ambani parted with Rs 402 crore, according to the list. Companies Act 2013 has made it mandatory for entities above a certain threshold to devote 2 per cent of their profit to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects.

Edelgive Foundation chief executive Vidya Shah said fear of being associated with causes like civil liberties, along with lack of measurability of the impact, are working as impediments for corporates from pledging more.

From 38 in 2018, the Indians who have donated more than Rs 5 crore for social causes, excluding religious donations, has touched 72 now. The overall philanthropic contributions also nearly doubled to Rs 4,391 crore, with nearly half of the contributions have come in individual donations, while the rest have come from companies.

There has been an uptick in the percentage of wealth that has been parted with by the rich families, shows the list, which assumes 10 per cent of net worth is held in cash,1.9 per cent given away now as against 1.5 per cent in 2018. Education continues to be the most favourite among the causes, followed by healthcare, while Infosys co-founder Nandan Nilekani, who along with wife Rohini who have spent Rs 346 crore, have chosen “societal platforms” for charities.

There is a tendency among Indians to give more as they grow older, as per the list, adding the average age of the giver is 64 years. However, as more exits happen, new age entrepreneurs are also getting more active on the giving side, Shah said, adding the Bansals of e-commerce major Flipkart are planning to start donating via a recently set up family office. Hurun managing director Anas Rahman Junaid explained that the list limits itself to the amount spent due to which Premji comes second. The Tatas are excluded as the list focuses on individuals.

A year-long volunteer program has been launched to beat plastic pollution at Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Borivali and beaches of Mumbai by leading beverage firm Coca-Cola India. Coca Cola India and AIESEC have teamed up with Afroz

A year-long volunteer program has been launched to beat plastic pollution at Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Borivali and beaches of Mumbai by leading beverage firm Coca-Cola India.

Coca Cola India and AIESEC have teamed up with Afroz Shah-led ‘Date With Ocean Foundation’ for this program, an official statement said.

The yearlong volunteer program involves awareness creation, waste segregation, waste management program that will impact more than 15,000 people in 43 padas around Sanjay Gandhi National Park, and beaches in Mumbai.

Launching the project, Afroz Shah led 500 school children, AIESEC volunteers, Coca-Cola employees, citizen groups and key stakeholders in a beach clean drive at Versova beach.

Commenting on the volunteer program, Afroz Shah, said, “Waste management is a global environmental concern. To see a real change at the ground level, a collaborative and consistent effort is required to clear the waste out of our environment sustainably.

As part of this program, every week Afroz Shah along with volunteers will do their bit by:

• Cleaning Danapaani beach, Versova Beach, SGNP Forest and River Mithi.
• Train people living in the human-ocean conflict zone and on the banks of River Mithi to get Circular economy in their lives
• Train people living in the human-animal conflict zone at Sanjay Gandhi national park, Borivali to get Circular economy in their lives
• 4Rs: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse & Recycle – Monetize plastic and no litter
• Involve youth organization AIESEC, students and young leaders to contribute every week
• Involve plastic industries in implementing Extended Producer’s Responsibility (EPR)

Shah said that the endeavour is to create a sense of belonging in the hearts and minds of people by engaging citizens, students and corporate though a volunteer program to beat plastic pollution as well as suggest ways for a circular economy.

“Plastic waste management is a key priority for India. At Coca-Cola, we care about the country and we aspire to help collect and recycle the equivalent of every bottle and can that we sell by 2030,” said Ishteyaque Amjad, Vice-President, Public Affairs, Communications and Sustainability, Coca-Cola India and South-West Asia.

AIESEC India President Devik Sodha said, “We place our confidence in youth as the key to unlock a better future and believe that it is the responsibility of the youth to actively engage in protecting the environment as well as bringing behavioural change in society.”

AIESEC is committed to support the Afroz Shah-led initiative by providing volunteer leadership to the community efforts and empower the next-gen community leaders, he added.

Indian-American Abhijit Banerjee, Esther Duflo and Michael Kremer jointly won the 2019 Nobel Economics Prize on Monday “for their experimental approach to alleviating global poverty.” “The research conducted by this year’s Laureates

Indian-American Abhijit Banerjee, Esther Duflo and Michael Kremer jointly won the 2019 Nobel Economics Prize on Monday “for their experimental approach to alleviating global poverty.” “The research conducted by this year’s Laureates has considerably improved our ability to fight global poverty. In just two decades, their new experiment-based approach has transformed development economics, which is now a flourishing field of research,” said the Nobel committee in a statement.

Banerjee, 58, was educated at the University of Calcutta, Jawaharlal Nehru University and Harvard University, where he received his Ph.D in 1988. He is currently the Ford Foundation International Professor of Economics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, according to his profile on the MIT website. In 2003, Banerjee founded the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL), along with Duflo and Sendhil Mullainathan, and he remains one of the lab’s directors. He also served on the UN Secretary-General’s High-level Panel of Eminent Persons on the Post-2015 Development Agenda.