Tuesday, September 28, 2021

Singer Songwriter Shahin Badar launches an exciting new single in collaboration with Nadeem Ahmed

International Award-Winning Artist Shahin Badar is collaborating with one of the most talented Singer/Songwriters -  Model/Presenter/Author & Now Music Producer Nadeem Ahmed. Their new track is called ‘Storm’ and is an amazing blend of chill vibes and Shahin’s hypnotic vocals. She is best known for her vocals on The Prodigy’s single “Smack My Bitch Up”. This single earned her a double platinum award


. Her legendary vocals have featured on Hit tracks with 'The Prodigy', ASAP FERG, Bobina , A.R Rahman ,Indian Ropeman, Kaya Project, Dee Montero, 4Sumotion, Tim Deluxe, Reg Project, Said Mrad. Her artistic career has been long and eventful, with vocal contribution features in over 50 international film and TV soundtracks. Her vocals have also featured on shows such as the UK Music Hall of Fame, Bollywood films Yuva and Zubeidaa, the theatrical trailer for Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life, Charlie's Angels, Scary Movie 2, and Dhai Akshar Prem Ke, Closer, US sitcoms North Shore and Kevin Hill, and Sky News broadcasts. Her international presence and innovative vocals have earned much respect in the music industry. She is an eclectic artist, and her vocals are a beautiful blend of Indo-Arabic styles.

This collaboration with Nadeem comes at the heels of her collaboration with Celt Islam on the song ‘ignition’, which was a haunting livication to prodigy’s late great frontman Keith Flint, and earned her a lot of admiration and love from her fans. The song had a fresh take on music and beats, with bass-driven music. ‘Storm’ is sure to invite the same appreciation as the song carries Nadeem’s signature Chill out, Lounge, Ambient & feel-good vibes along with Shahin’s mesmerizing vocals which compliment each other perfectly.  Many of her collaborations have charted in the UK Charts top ten singles. She has previously worked with famed musicians and producers such as A. R. Rahman, Liam Howlett, Tim Deluxe, Fraser T Smith, Indian Ropeman, Jah Wobble, Twista, Juliette Lewis, Bobina. Her international presence and innovative vocals have earned her many awards and global recognition. She is a celebrated artist, and an international award-winning best female vocalist. She has also been nominated for several awards during the course of her musical journey. She received a quadruple platinum disc for her contributions on "Smack My Bitch Up". Her new launch is sure to add another hit to her successful career. ‘Storm’ has been written by 'Shahin Badar' & additional lyrics 'Ranjana Gupta & Khalid Abdul Hameed’' have a deep and powerful meaning.

15 day old baby with congenital heart disease treated successfully

 The baby originally from Mauritius was diagnosed with Valvular pulmonary atresia

Navi Mumbai, 28th September 2021: A 15 day old, Baby Dianna from Mauritius successfully underwent a complex heart procedure at Apollo Hospitals Navi Mumbai. Baby Dianna was born on 28th July 2021 in Mauritius and was diagnosed with a severe congenital heart disease.The baby was born with a cyanosis (Bluish or greyish colour of the skin, nails, lips or around the eyes) and was diagnosed with valvular pulmonary atresia, a defect of the heart found at birth where the valve that controls blood flow from the heart to the lungs doesn't open at all.  She was surviving on the patent ductus arteriosus & was managed in a NICU (Neonatal intensive care unit)

With the help of the government she was brought to Mumbai on 12th August 2021, with the support of a local Doctor. Immediately, Baby Dianna, was stabilized and in less than 24 hours she was taken to Cath lab for a cardiac procedure.  Before starting the procedure, Baby Dianna developed a severe Cardiac arrest, which needed immediate shock treatment (4 to 6 shocks were delivered) with multiple emergency cardiac medicines. In the last 16 months, Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai has treated over 60 children from Mauritius.

The lead doctor of this case, Dr Bhushan Chavan, Consultant, Interventional Paediatric Cardiology, Apollo Hospitals Navi Mumbai, explains, “As her condition deteriorated, she was referred for further clinical management by a flight to Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai, by the Mauritius government. The condition of the Baby Dianna was grim, with no response to these treatments, so temporary pacemaker was inserted as a last resort and kept  the heart beating , at the rate of 150/min. CPR was still continued and the procedure was abandoned.”

Post the shock treatment, in the next couple of minutes, Baby regained its own rhythm and as a result, the pacemaker was removed. Baby Dianna was shifted to NICU for stabilization. In the next 10 days, the Baby had overcome all the neonatal problems (Acute kidney failure) and successfully extubated. She was also coming back to normal neurological functioning, assessed by a paediatric neurologist which was another miracle, despite having a long duration of CPR and cardiac arrest.

Once Baby Dianna was stabilised, Dr Bhushan Chavan went ahead with the interventional procedure, perforation and balloon pulmonary valvotomy (widening of a narrowed pulmonary valve by using a balloon catheter inside the valve) was performed to open up the defective pulmonary valve that had caused the cardiac arrest in the first place.  

Mr. Santosh Marathe, COO & Unit Head, Apollo Hospitals, Navi Mumbai, said, “Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) is the most common congenital disorder in new-borns and affects around 8 in every 1000 babies. The successful treatment of baby Dianna is a proud moment for our institution. Our team of world class experts have made sure Apollo Hospitals Navi Mumbai is recognised as one of the most advanced centres in Western India for paediatric cardiac care.  The rising number of heart diseases in India has become a major concern now and with the growing pandemic there is even bigger threat to people who are at risk of cardio vascular diseases.”

The case highlights how complex a critical congenital heart problem can be, if not treated on time. The excellence and the dedication of the team of doctors at Apollo Hospitals is a perfect example to this, which gave a new lease of life for the baby and the entire family.

Peter England launches Super Biker collection


Mumbai;27th September 2021: Peter England, a leading international menswear brand from Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Limited, launches an innovative and unique campaign called “Super Biker campaign” inspired by the love of bikes. The brand has introduced the Super Biker collection to bring out the explorer in an individual and to appeal to the younger Consumers who aspire towards a biker’s lifestyle.  

 

Under this Collection, Peter England will be launching a casual lifestyle range which will include Denims, T-Shirts, and Rugged Shirts. Designed for the biker’s comfort, this collection is styled around freedom and arouses in riders the need to set out and to experience the world. It also frees the consumer from his mundane routine and hustle-bustle of everyday life.

 

With a legacy of creating innovative products, Peter England decided to create a brand-new collection for the bikers. The Biker Collection has close to 60 styles in a wide array of colours and sizes for the consumers to choose from.

 

Speaking on the launch, Mr. Manish Singhai, COO, Peter England said “Peter England has always brought numerous innovative products and we are thrilled to introduce our latest offering for the riders – the Biker Collection. The collection will not only bring comfort to the bikers while riding but also make them look stylish and fashionable. This is a casual driven market. Therefore, we aim to provide not only style but package it with comfort for all our customers. Denims are ergonomically designed for absolute comfort during long rides.”

 

This unique campaign is designed to tap the new age consumer with a lot of instant & assured giveaways enabled through scratch card mechanism. Peter England has entered into a consumer promotion led association with Bajaj Avenger to bring in real excitement to Biker enthusiasts. During the campaign period, any consumer purchasing apparel worth Rs 2999 and above at Store will enter a contest for a chance to win a Bajaj Avenger bike along with many instant and assured giveaways such as Headphones, Smart watches, Helmets, Speakers, Airdopes and other exciting offers. This introductory offer is valid till 30th October and there are about 10 Bajaj Avengers to be won

 

The Biker Collection is priced from INR 699 onwards and are available across 1000+ exclusive Peter England brand outlets and multi-brand retail stores. Consumers can also order online through the brand’s website – www.peterengland.com

 

YouTube Link- https://youtu.be/V7AYGhtlxIE

 

About Peter England:

Peter England is one of the most loved and largest menswear brands in India. It sells more than 14 million garments every year across 1000+ exclusive stores, 3500+ Multi-brand outlets and across 800+ towns. The brand also holds a strong e-commerce presence. Peter England has been voted as India's Most Trusted Apparel Brand for 7 consecutive years by the Economic Times Brand Equity Survey. The brand is committed to offering varied styles across categories starting at an attractive price point of Rs.999. Peter England was first launched in India by Madura Fashion and Lifestyle (previously known as Madura Garments) in the mid-price segment in 1997; the company acquired the world rights for the brand in 2000. What began as a brand of honest shirts in 1997, in India, is today a complete lifestyle brand with merchandise available for every day and for all special occasions. The brand’s formal wear range of crisp formal shirts, well-tailored suits, jackets & trousers combines high fashion, impeccable fits along with a wide selection of highly curated looks for modern professionals. The casual wear range is a highly eclectic line of washed cotton shirts, denims, cargo bottoms, graphic tees, Polos & winter-wear. The ‘Select’ line brings together premium formal wear with emphasis on fine detailing with a hint of color, comfort and panache. While the assorted collection of ties, pocket squares, belts, wallets and footwear assert a distinctive style statement, the finely crafted vests, boxer shorts and briefs from the newly launched innerwear line ensures highest comfort and great fit. While the brand continues to expand across India, they introduced a brand-new retail identity called the Peter England Men’s Obsession, which is a large format store housing over 2000+ unique designs at an unmatched value, all the while delivering a young, vibrant shopping experience for all.

 

About Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Limited

ABFRL is part of a leading Indian conglomerate, The Aditya Birla Group. With revenue of Rs. 5,249 cr. spanning retail space of 8.4 million sq. ft. (as on March 31, 2021), it is India’s first billion-dollar pure-play fashion powerhouse with an elegant bouquet of leading fashion brands and retail formats.

The Company has a network of 3,212 stores across approximately 31,000 multi-brand outlets with 6,800+ point of sales in department stores across India (as on 31st March, 2021).

It has a repertoire of leading brands such as Louis Philippe, Van Heusen, Allen Solly and Peter England established for over 25 years. Pantaloons is one of India’s largest fast fashion store brand.

The Company holds exclusive online and offline rights to the India network of California-based fast fashion brand Forever 21. The International Brands portfolio includes - The Collective, India's largest multi-brand retailer of international brands, Simon Carter and select mono-brands such as American Eagle, Ralph Lauren, Hackett London, Ted Baker and Fred Perry.

Van Heusen Innerwear, Athleisure and Active wear is establishing itself as India's most innovative and fashionable brand. The Company’s foray into branded ethnic wear business includes Jaypore and strategic partnerships with Designers ‘Shantanu & Nikhil’, ‘Tarun Tahiliani’ 

Macho Sporto is back with a Toing!



Crafted a new campaign that playfully legitimises the female gaze


  What exactly is popular south actress Rashmika Mandanna doing in a campaign for a leading men’s underwear brand endorsed by Vicky Kaushal? 


Monday, 27th September 2021, Mumbai – Macho turned gender stereotypes on its head, way back in 2007 when they launched the daring “yeh toh bada toing hai” TVC forl Macho underwear by focusing on female desire. With the jingle achieving cult status, the brand is back over a decade later with the launch of Macho Sporto; with a commitment to legitimise the female gaze. The TVC series features leading south actress Rashmika Mandanna and A-List Bollywood star Vicky Kaushal. The casting of a leading actress like Rashmika in an ad for a menswear product is another departure from the norm.          

Conceptualised by creative agency Leo Burnett and promoted by media agency Madison Media Omega; the Macho Sporto campaign films consist of 3 films, which work as a series, taking up a very bold and progressive topic like the female gaze.

Navinn Seksaria, MD of JG Hosiery, parent company of Macho Sporto says, “We are reviving our iconic campaign, ‘Yeh Toh Bada Toing Hai’, with a modern and trendier avatar of our brand, Macho Sporto. Although we are advertising men’s underwear, the campaign is centred around a young and confident woman who is empowered enough to gaze at a man she feels attracted to. Breaking patriarchal stereotypes, the campaign intends to highlight how today’s women don’t hesitate in making the first move. What better than a male underwear brand to convey this message and begin a fresh conversation.”
 
Watch the latest Macho Sporto ‘Yeh Toh Bada Toing Hai’ digital films here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_ngijP3vRQ | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGZK7U9sMyA
 

Monday, September 27, 2021

FIRST PROCEDURE IN ASIA-PACIFIC PERFORMED WITH MEDTRONIC HUGO™ ROBOTIC-ASSISTED SURGERY SYSTEM

 The Robotic Prostatectomy Took Place at Apollo Hospitals, Greams Road, Chennai, India

 

Mumbai, 27 September 2021  Medtronic plc (NYSE:MDT) and Apollo Hospitals Group today announced the first clinical procedure in Asia-Pacific with the Hugo™ robotic-assisted surgery (RAS) system. The robotic prostatectomy was performed on September 17 by Dr. N Ragavan, consultant urologist, uro-oncologist and robotic surgeon, at Apollo Hospitals, Greams Road, Chennai, India.


“Here in India, nearly 70% of surgeries are performed as open procedures— we feel confident that the Hugo RAS system will enable us to change that statistic and bring the benefits of minimally invasive surgery to more patients than ever before," said Dr. Ragavan. “I am incredibly proud to launch this new era of possibility for our hospital and the patients we serve with the very first clinical procedure in the region with the system.”


As a form of minimally invasive surgery, robotic-assisted surgery offers the potential for fewer complications, shorter hospital stays, faster return to normal activities, and smaller scars.2–4,† 


“Today we’re taking another exciting step forward to bring the benefits of minimally invasive surgery to more people in more places,” said Megan Rosengarten, president of the Surgical Robotics business, which is part of the Medical Surgical Portfolio at Medtronic. “That’s possible thanks to a shared vision with Apollo Hospitals, the many surgeons and hospital leaders who have partnered with us on this journey, and our dedicated Surgical Robotics team in India and around the globe.”


The Hugo RAS system — Medtronic's solution to historic cost and utilization barriers that have kept surgical robotics out of reach for many hospitals — is a modular, multi-quadrant platform designed for a broad range of soft-tissue procedures. It combines wristed instruments, 3D visualization, and Touch Surgery™ Enterprise, a cloud-based surgical video capture and management solution, with dedicated support teams specializing in robotics program optimization, service, and training. Earlier this year, Medtronic announced that the first urologic and gynecologic procedures with the Hugo RAS system took place in Latin America. Those procedures marked the beginning of the Hugo RAS system patient registry, which is collecting clinical data from those systems as well as the system placed in India to support regulatory submissions around the world.


“With the availability of the Hugo RAS system in India, we know the future of surgery is here,” said Madan Krishnan, vice president and managing director, India Medtronic Pvt Ltd. “Medtronic is creating robotic-assisted surgery solutions that are optimized for what clinicians need today and that can be upgraded as the technology evolves and usage expands in the years to come. We’re grateful for the opportunity to partner with Apollo Hospitals on this exciting milestone and are looking forward to collaborating in advancing access to the latest therapies for patients.”


"As the region's leading healthcare provider, we are dedicated to bringing the very latest in medical technology to our patients," said Dr. Prathap C. Reddy, founder and chairman, Apollo Hospitals Group. "The addition of the Hugo RAS system to our robotic surgery program — and our place in history as the first hospital in Asia-Pacific to use this new technology — reinforces that dedication and the pride we at Apollo Hospitals have as a premier destination for minimally invasive surgery. This technology will complement the excellent clinical expertise garnered by our physicians over the years and is designed to help us enhance patient care.”


“We’re committed to providing the most advanced and innovative care possible for our patients and are proud to partner with a company that shares our values and vision,” said Ms. Preetha Reddy, executive vice chairperson, Apollo Hospitals Group. “There is an urgent need to improve treatment options for surgeries by leveraging technology. Today, robotic technology has come a long way, helping perform some of the most complicated surgeries with precision, and Apollo has always been on the forefront in bringing the most advanced technology to India.”


The Medtronic Hugo RAS system is commercially available in certain geographies. Regulatory requirements of individual countries and regions will determine approval, clearance, or market availability. The Hugo RAS system is pending CE mark for the EU. In the US, the Hugo RAS system is an investigational device not for sale. Touch Surgery Enterprise is not intended to direct surgery, or aid in diagnosis or treatment of a disease or condition.

Final Table Series 3.0 Crowns India’s Next Poker Master

 

~ Ankit Wadhawan emerged as the FTS 3.0 Main Event winner with a jaw-dropping pay out of INR 33 lakhs ~

 

Mumbai, September 27, 2021: With an intention to boost the larger appetite for online gaming in India, Final Table Series 3.0, India’s first-ever virtual poker event, concluded its third edition with by crowning India’s next poker master – Ankit Wadhawan.

 

Chandigarh based Ankit Wadhawan grabbed the top spot as FTS 3.0 Main Event winner. He played exceptionally well by knocking 5 other players at the final table and took home a jaw-dropping pay out of over INR 33 lakhs along with an 18K Gold Medallion with diamond studs, a certificate, and a hamper. In addition, other 11 winners of Marquee Tournaments & THE FEAST including Shagun Jain, Chandan Arora, Vivek Singh, Vaibhav Sharma, Aman Kumar Sharma among others bagged an 18K Gold Medallion, a certificate, and a hamper while other 21 winners for tournaments received a Silver Medallion, a certificate, and a hamper.

 

Congratulating the winners of FTS 3.0, Mr Amin Rozani, Group CEO of Quadrific Media Pvt Ltd said, “We are delighted with the players’ enthusiasm and interest that keeps pushing us to continue organising such virtual poker events twice a year, so they can have a bigger platform to master their skills and compete with other poker legends across the nation.”

 

Talking about his win and experience playing at the virtual table of FTS 3.0, Ankit Wadhawan, the Main Event winner said, “This edition has been a roller coaster ride for me, moving from the final table of Head-hunter event to winning the FTS 3.0 Main Event was a great feeling that I’m unable to put in words. Final Table Series is a great platform for Indian poker players, I am thankful to the entire team for arranging such a nail-biting poker series and giving us all an opportunity to showcase our skills.”

 

Keeping the live stream fun and engaging, internationally renowned poker personalities such as actor turned poker superstar Sam Razavi and two-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner Kevin Macphee along with the first-ever Spartan Poker's Millionaire United winner, Mahima Walia presented the 7 marquee tournaments on YouTube and cross-posted on approximately 10 other platforms.

 

--XX--

About Quadnet Poker Network:

Quadnet Poker Network (www.quadnet.co) is an initiative by Quadrific Media Private Limited (QMPL). QMPL is an India-centric one-stop gaming destination that offers a seamless, multi-gaming experience including poker, rummy, and other gaming formats. Founded in 2014 by Amin Rozani, Peter Abraham, and Sameer Rattonsey, Quadrific Media Private Limited started with poker as its forte. They created well-known IPs in both the live (India Poker Championship) and online poker space to empower players from across the country to play and compete with each other at the highest levels. The group aims to encourage mind sports as a profitable and consumer-friendly entertainment avenue where young aspirants can even look at taking gaming up as a rewarding career.

Flexible Searches, Hosted Travel And Unique Stays Define Travel in the Second Half of 2021

Unique and more flexible stays are increasingly sought after by travelers in India

  • Hosted travel sees a boost across demographics - the rise of millennial & senior Hosts in India
  • Sustainable and restorative travel remain key for Indian travelers

 

India, September 27, 2021: This World Tourism Day, inspired by rising tourism demand and with travelers in India embracing new forms of travel, Airbnb presents a round-up of key travel trends that have been emerging in India and reflects how consumers are viewing travel in the new normal.

 

Indian travelers are continuing to enjoy travel to domestic destinations. This means that more people have looked at exploring newer destinations adjacent to metros, in the hills, and in off the beaten path destinations that offer local experiences. Searches for international locales are also rising as more places start to lift restrictions.

 

The data also highlights how homestay Hosts have benefited from renting their spaces, with both millennials and senior Hosts looking forward to high earnings and growth.

 

Airbnb highlights some of the ​key trends observed in H1 2021 that paints a picture of travel in the new normal:

 

More Indians are exploring flexible stays and unique accommodations when they travel:

Know your destination before you travel? Not necessary. Planning trips around unique places to stay like treehouses to castles got a whole lot easier with the global release of Flexible Destinations. This feature joins a suite of new flexible product innovations designed to completely transform the browsing and booking experience on Airbnb.

 

Clicking on ‘I’m Flexible’ will reveal unique listing categories - from houseboats to domes to A-frames and even private islands - with the nearest to the guest’s location at the top of the list. Guests can also see the search results displayed on a map, and simply enter the dates they want to travel or search with flexible dates (i.e. a weekend, week or month) to easily book a trip to a one-of-a-kind property.

 

According to Airbnb India data, travelers are uncovering new stay experiences when they travel. The Flexible Destinations feature on the Airbnb platform is also helping travelers explore and spotlight interesting places near and far. In addition, our data shows a rising interest in unique accommodations*.

 

        Globally, Airbnb has over 170,000 of these kinds of properties to choose from, a 30 percent increase over May 2019. The number of searches for unique listings as on June 2021 was 94 percent higher compared to the same period in 2019.

        Unique listings Hosts from India have collectively earned more than INR 3.2 crore since the start of the pandemic (March 11, 2020 to April 30, 2021).

        Our search data also revealed that among Indian travelers, Farmstays are the most wishlisted unique accommodation type, followed by cottages, earth houses and treehouses.

 

Goa remains a key domestic destination:

Popular domestic destinations are still sought after for hosted travel. Goa continues to be the most searched-for destination for homestays followed by Delhi, Lonavala and Bengaluru**.

 

Hosted travel is key across generations and demographic groups:

Hosting is a great way to ensure that the economic benefits of travel are distributed within the communities in which our Hosts are present. Hosted travel has also seen a resurgence.

 

        Over 50% of new Airbnb Hosts in India in the first half of 2021 were millennials aged between 25-40 years.

        The top five states where these new Hosts were based are Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.

        These Airbnb Hosts collectively earned over INR 2.6 crore in H1 2021 (January 2021 - June 2021) from welcoming guests on the platform. ***

 

Consumer confidence in international travel continues to build:

With the opening of travel bubbles with different countries, sentiment towards international travel, as evidenced by searches for destinations such as Canada, UK, Europe and UAE is on the rise.

 

The future of travel is sustainable:

There has been a rising interest amongst Indian travelers in making sustainable choices when they travel. A majority of guests have actively sought eco-friendly features in their chosen accommodations.

 

The Rise of Digital Nomads and a need to stay connected at all times:

As the growing flexibility to live and work from anywhere continues, being able to determine a listing’s WiFi speed before booking is a must-have for digital nomads. The WiFi speed listing feature on Airbnb is helping travelers book their perfect accommodation.

 

Commenting on these trends, Amanpreet Bajaj, General Manager - Airbnb India, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and Taiwan, said, “Demand for travel is picking up, and the sector is showing positive signs of being able to meet the challenge of recovery. Indian travelers are ever-eager to identify unique accommodations they may not have experienced before. Travelers are also becoming increasingly aware of sustainable travel and of making environment friendly choices when travelling. With a firm focus on cultivating responsible tourism practices, Airbnb is committed to working with our Hosts to ensure that travel is restorative for the communities in which we are based. We have always supported travel that empowers local communities and benefits them economically. Our aim is also to cultivate micro entrepreneurship and we are glad to see Hosts across demographics benefit from the recent uptick in travel.”

 

*Based on Airbnb internal data of unique stay searches as of April 30, 2021.

**Based on Airbnb internal data measuring searches by guests from January to June 2021.

***Based on Airbnb internal data of new Indian Hosts over the period of January to June 2021.

About Airbnb:

Airbnb was born in 2007 when two Hosts welcomed three guests to their San Francisco home, and has since grown to 4 million Hosts who have welcomed more than 1 billion guest arrivals in almost every country across the globe. Every day, Hosts offer one-of-a-kind stays and unique Experiences that make it possible for guests to experience the world in a more authentic, connected way.

Microsoft launches Tech Resilience Curriculum to foster an inclusive future


  • Microsoft’s Tech Resilience Curriculum to now include nine new learn modules
  • All modules are available for free on Microsoft Learn to help anyone in tech, from student to employee, to hone important non-tech skills that foster an inclusive, diverse workplace

New Delhi, September 27, 2021:  Microsoft today added nine new learn modules to its’ Tech Resilience Curriculum. Available for free on Microsoft Learn, these modules help everyone, from student to employee, mentor or manager to hone important non-tech skills and foster a more inclusive and diverse workplace in the Information Technology ecosystem.

 

This curriculum was developed in partnership with Mount Holyoke’s Metaview Mentors to build a research-based toolkit involving core psychological, educational, and team-based concepts and skills as part of a different kind of “learning pathway” for the tech industry. Microsoft launched this curriculum in 2020 as a pilot and was able to connect with over 1,200 students across 190 universities, 97% of whom declared this had a profound impact teaching them skills they can apply in school and their lives.

 

The program was also piloted at Microsoft and evolved on learnings from employees in the IT industry, helping make it relevant at scale. Employees found the materials helpful in their own learning and development, especially in a group-learning contexts like a mentoring ring which helps to develop a common language and creates an environment to share strategies. Revisiting these concepts prepared employees to maximize their impact at many different levels.

 

The approach for the tech resilience curriculum outlines clear and simple skills to making belongingness, growth mindset and other core problem-solving and collaboration strategies top of mind and actionable. The toolkit of the curriculum consists of videos, activities and reflection questions. These skills can be used to challenge our conceptions of what’s taught in computer science, learn new and critical skills for the workplace, and build flourishing and healthy communities. The tech resilience curriculum modules are organized across three principles:

  1. Recognize discomfort: In tech, we are lifelong learnings and are always going to be pushed to learn something new. Programming requires learning; it’s not an innate skill. Struggle, challenge and discomfort can be part of learning computer science. Great programmers are made through practice and experience.
  2. Strategize solutions: Strategic problem-solving abilities to plan, iteratively test, evaluate and refine work are necessary for group or individual projects. How we approach something can be as important as the final solution, technical skills aren’t enough. Making space to recognize and strategize around the role emotions play is essential for succeeding in computer science and at work.
  3. Pivot & Persist: Learning how to react to and recover from unexpected disruptions or setbacks is an important ability to hone. Understanding and naming what is happening, disentangling what we do and do not have control over, and regrouping with new strategies helps improve persistence and the ability to bounce back or pivot, rather than panic, in the face of difficulty. We can learn to pivot a difficult situation into a productive one.

 

About Microsoft 

Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT” @microsoft) enables digital transformation for the era of an intelligent cloud and an intelligent edge. Its mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. Microsoft set up its India operations in 1990. Today, Microsoft entities in India have over 16,000 employees, engaged in sales and marketing, research, development and customer services and support, across 11 Indian cities – Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, New Delhi, Gurugram, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Noida and Pune. Microsoft offers its global cloud services from local data centers to accelerate digital transformation across Indian startups, businesses, and government organizations.

For more information, please contact:  

Microsoft India  


GOA CITY QUALIFIER WINNERS, KALINA RANGERS, EMERGE NATIONAL CHAMPIONS OF RED BULL NEYMAR JR’S FIVE 2021

~ More than 2700 teams across 18 cities participated in the Global five-a-side tournament Red Bull Neymar Jr’s Five

~ National Finals of the largest 5 a side football tournament in India took place at Ella Ground, Carambolim in Goa on 24th September 2021~

~ Kalina Rangers earned the opportunity to represent the country at the World Finals in Qatar and meet Neymar Jr

 

27th September 2021, India: Red Bull Neymar Jr’s Five returned for its fifth year in India with more than 2700 teams participating in qualifiers across the country. The 2021 edition of the championship had qualifiers in 18 cities across India which took place through the months of August and September, with the winning team of each city qualifier competing at the National Final at Ella Ground, Carambolim in Goa on Friday 24th September. The 4 teams which grabbed their spot in the semi-finals were Kalina Rangers from Goa, Sunny Boys from Pune, Black & White FC from Kochi and Zack FC from Delhi. In the semis, Kalina Rangers beat Black & White FC and Sunny Boys beat Zack FC Delhi (both 1-0). Goa city qualifier winning team, Kalina Rangers beat Pune city qualifier winning team Sunny Boys 2-0 in the final match to be declared the Red Bull Neymar Jr’s Five India champions and earned the opportunity to compete in the world finals in Qatar, where they will get to meet superstar footballer Neymar Jr.

 

Red Bull Neymar Jr’s Five is the Brazilian star’s signature five-a-side tournament bringing players aged 16 to 35 from all corners of the world together to celebrate their shared passion: football. It is a fast, technical and fun competition which sees two teams of five players, sans a goalkeeper, have 10 minutes to strut their stuff and win a chance to impress Neymar Jr. The twist in this thrilling affair is that for each goal scored by a team, a member of the opposition will have to leave the field. The team with the maximum players takes the spoils.

 

Red Bull Neymar Jr’s Five 2019 India Champions, Kalina Rangers from Mumbai represented India at the World Finals in Brazil and gained valuable experience with a historic win against Hungary, who were eventually crowned winners of the tournament. Some members from this team are part of the 2021 national champion squad which will travel to Qatar to compete at the world finals of the 2021 edition.

Kalina Rangers (Winning Team) Members - Danish Khan, Melvin Barboza, Craig Dsouza, Johnson Dsilva, Scott Moraes, Dion Menezes and Clinton Dsouza

 

Match Report - Red Bull Neymar Jr’s Five 2021 National Finals:

Semi Final 1:

Kalina Rangers (Goa) 1-0 Black & White FC (Kochi)

Semi Final 2:

Sunny Boys (Pune) 1-0 Zak FC (Delhi)

Final Match Result:

Kalina Rangers (Goa) 2-0 Sunny Boys (Pune)

 

Kalina Rangers representing Goa were declared the winners of Red Bull Neymar Jr’s Five 2021 edition and will now represent India at the World Finals in Qatar later this year

Clinton Dsouza from Kalina Rangers, winning team member expressed his joy over winning the Red Bull Neymar Jr’s Five 2021 National Finals, he said, “We are delighted to win the Red Bull Neymar Jr’s Five 2021 National Finals. Even during challenging times, we have been practicing a lot before this tournament started as we know we have to play against some of the best 5-a-side teams in the finals. We would like to thank the energy drink giant Red Bull for tournaments like these that give wings to young and upcoming footballers in India. We are proud to represent India at the World Finals in Qatar and we hope to make our nation proud.”

 

Red Bull Neymar Jr's Five India Qualifier Schedule & Winning Teams:

Indore: 21st and 22nd August at Jogabonito by Futsal One won by Chirag United

Ahmedabad: 21st and 22nd August at JUGGERNAUT ARENA won by Aries FC

Jaipur: 21st and 22nd August at Sports Villa, Nirman Nagar won by Rajasthan Police

Bengaluru: 21st and 22nd August at Turf Park Koramangla won by Gunners FC

Lucknow: 27th August at Polo Ground, Le Martiniere College won Techtro A FC

Pune: 28th and 29th August at Hot Fut Koregaon Park won by Sunny Boys

Kolkata: 28th and 29th August at FD Block Park, Salt Lake won by Soccer 5

Chennai: 28th and 29th August at Tiki Taka, T Nagar won by Super 5s

Siliguri: 4th September at Level Up Turf, Jyoti Nagar won by Siliguri United FC

Mumbai: 4th and 5th September at Neville D'souza Turf (Bandra Reclamation) won by Mean Machine

Delhi: 4th and 5th September at Kicksal (Chattarpur) won by Zack FC

Hyderabad: 4th and 5th September at ASTRO PARK won by Team Hexa

Jalandhar: 4th and 5th September at Khalsa College, Mohyal Nagar won by Doaba Football Academy

Dimapur: 11th September at City Futsal, Orchid Grounds won by Spartan FC

Bhubaneswar: 11th and 12th September at KIIT UNIVERSITY won by Speed Force

Kochi: 11th and 12th September at ESPIRITO won by Black & White FC

Chandigarh: 11th and 12th September at Legacy Matters and Hi Score won by Stadium FC

Goa: 11th and 12th September at Play Goa, Caculo Mall won by Kalina Rangers

Also, it is a proud moment for India as Kerala Teenager, Shahzad Rafi and Bengaluru youngster, Abhinash Shanmugham are among the seven talented ballers from across the world who have been selected to form a special team at the 2021 Red Bull Neymar Jr’s Five World Final in Qatar later this year. They were shortlisted from over a million entries and made the cut from final 33,000 videos from all over the world, clips of their tastiest tricks and skills over the last few months as they attempted to wow the judging panel. Entries came in from all corners of the globe as these gifted amateur players posted 60-second clips to their Instagram channel using the hashtag #outplaythemall. After hours spent viewing the footage, Neymar Jr and his fellow judges finally settled on their seven-strong squad.

 

For more information and video highlights of the national finals visit: https://www.redbull.com/in-en/events/red-bull-neymar-jrs-five-india-2021

 

Sunday, September 26, 2021

PNB sanctions loan worth Rs. 1791 crore at Mega Credit Camp organized across North-East India

Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma lauds the Bank at the signing of MoU between PNB and Assam Bio Refinery

 

Mumbai, September 25, 2021: Hon'ble Chief Minister of Assam Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma today heaped praise on Punjab National Bank (PNB) for providing active Banking support to the people of the State. In an event organized by PNB to commemorate the culmination of a Mega Credit Camp held across North-East (NE) India, Dr. Sarma expressed his satisfaction at the service quality offered by the Bank. While talking about the importance of inculcating a habit of loan repayment, the Chief Minister explained the basics of Banking for the audience in simple lucid terms.

 

Speaking on the occasion, Hon'ble Chief Executive Member (CEM) of the Bodoland Territorial Region (BTR) - Shri Pramod Boro, congratulated PNB and Assam Bio-Refinery on signing a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). He talked about opportunities in the BTR for economic and industrial activities while shedding light on the new initiatives undertaken by the council.

 

Continuing with the same spirit, Shri Ch S S Mallikarjuna Rao, MD and CEO of PNB, assured the Hon'ble Chief Minister of the Bank's commitment to serving the people of the State.

 

Shri S K Barua, MD of Numaligarh Refinery Limited, shared the incredible journey leading to the formation of the Assam Bio-Refinery, a dream of the State to produce biofuel, ensuring livelihood for thousands of bamboo growers from Assam while boosting the economy of the State.

 

Shri Shio Shankar Singh, the General Manager and Zonal Head of PNB (NE Region), mobilized a staggering Rs 1791 Crore worth of Bank Credit in the form of various loan sanctions on the occasion of the Mega Credit Camp. The total number of beneficiaries who received sanctions against their loan proposals stood at 11778 numbers.

Thursday, September 23, 2021

SUGAR Cosmetics launches its #BoldAndFree campaign featuring Taapsee Pannu

The campaign #BoldAndFree #SUGARxTapsee is in sync with the brand’s philosophy of empowering self-made women to be confident in their own skin without the need for external validation with SUGAR’s long-lasting makeup for the bold and free


Mumbai, 22nd September 2021: SUGAR Cosmetics - one of the fastest-growing premium beauty brands of the country launched their latest campaign coined as #BoldAndFree (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5RiQXOnqAM) featuring actress, Taapsee Pannu on Wednesday, 22nd September.

SUGAR Cosmetics’ #SUGARxTaapsee #BoldAndFree Campaign (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5RiQXOnqAM) is a celebration of the brand’s philosophy of empowering women to look beyond societal approvals and be comfortable, confident & bold in their own skin. The narrative of the TV Commercial plays on how we always subconsciously keep seeing ourselves in the mirror and are conscious of how we look. This need for approval – be it that of society or even the mirror we look into – always makes us second-guess how beautiful we “feel” – and this needs to change. With this campaign, SUGAR urges its patrons and viewers to break free from that urge of getting approvals to feel and look good because one does not need the validation of a mirror of society to feel beautiful and complete.

Speaking on this campaign collaboration, Taapsee Pannu said, “I love how SUGAR is a bold, aspirational yet an accessible brand that caters to vivacious, independent women, creating a varied range of face, eyes, lips and skin products to suit all skin colours and types. Working in Bollywood, it is very important to be versatile, to be able to take on any character with ease and SUGAR Cosmetics is that versatile hero in the beauty industry! Just as I take on various characters in my movies,

“It gives me immense pleasure to welcome Taapsee to the family! Today, SUGAR is the makeup choice for all bold, independent women who refuse to be stereotyped into roles. At SUGAR, we believe in chasing dreams and being unstoppable. We love making beauty fun and constantly aim at creating clutter-breaking personas. When we look at Taapsee, we see someone who is self-made - with the same bold, cheerful and fearless attitude that SUGAR resonates with. We’re super excited to have her on board for our #BoldAndFree Campaign, and can’t wait to create magic, one look at a time!” added Vineeta Singh, CEO & Co-founder, SUGAR Cosmetics

Wednesday, September 22, 2021

Union Bank of India signs MOU with North Delhi Municipal Corporation for pension disbursement of their employees

Mumbai, September 21, 2021: Union Bank of India entered into an agreement with North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC), according to which the latter has appointed and authorized Union Bank of India for the purpose of disbursement of pension of their employees at their Headquarters i.e. Civic Centre, New Delhi.

 

The Memorandum of Understanding was signed in the presence of Sh. Sanjay Goel, Commissioner - NDMC, Sh. Sandeep J Jacques, Add. Commissioner- NDMC, Sh. J.S.Tomar, DGM-GBRD, Sh. Sanjeev Kumar, DGM &RH, Delhi central along with other officials. The agreement will come into effect immediately.

 

Terming the agreement an important milestone in collaboration Sh. R. K. Jaglan, GM, Government Business said, “Union Bank of India is committed to ensure timely, accurate and reliable disbursement of monthly pension to the pensioners of North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC), along with serving the pensioners in better manner. Our collaboration is a step forward in our relationship with NDMC and going to benefit Union Bank of India, NDMC and people at large.” 

JP Infra Mumbai gets their employees fully vaccinated


·         Company collaborated with Surana Group of Hospitals to facilitate the second dose of vaccination

·         Employees along with their respective family members took the benefit of the vaccination drive

 

Mumbai, 21st September 2021: JP Infra Mumbai Private Limited, one of the leading real estate developers in Mumbai fully vaccinated their employees by facilitating the second dose of vaccination. The vaccination drive took place at their head office in Mumbai near Western Express Highway Metro Station at Andheri East. During this drive, the company managed to vaccinate over 500 employees along with their respective family members. The company had collaborated with Surana Group of Hospitals to facilitate the vaccination drive.

 

Commenting on this initiative Mr. Shubham Jain, Managing Director, JP Infra Mumbai Pvt. Ltd. said, “Our employees are our extended families and their well-being is our topmost priority. They are the true assets of our organization and we believe that it is our responsibility to contribute in every possible way. With a vaccinated workforce, we will not only be able to safeguard their lives but will also be able to instill confidence in them.”

 

Earlier in June, the company facilitated the first dose of vaccination to over 1500 individuals in two different phases comprising their employees, customers and channel partners along with their respective family members.

 

Vaccination is one way to combat COVID-19. Therefore, many of India’s reliable and responsible organizations like JP Infra are focusing on vaccinating their employees, largely through partnerships with private health care providers and, in some cases, government vaccination centers.


Hyundai Electronics launches 4K Ultra HD Smart LED TVs powered by webOS TV


 


New Delhi, 22nd September 2021: Hyundai Electronics, one of the fastest growing Indian consumer durables brands, today introduced its new range of 4K Ultra HD Smart LED TVs powered by webOS TV with ThinQ AI voice recognition and Magic Remote. Backed by ARM CA55 1.1 GHz Quad core processor, the 4K UHD Smart LED TVs are four times faster than conventional TVs.  Available in 3 models, 43 inches priced at INR 34,490, 50 inches priced at INR 45,990 and 55 inches priced at INR 52,990 at leading retail stores across India and on its official website www.hyundaice.in

 

Packed with amazing features like, 1.5GB RAM, 8GB internal storage, dual band WiFi, ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode), MEMC Motion Estimation and Motion Compensation), Miracast and 2 Way Bluetooth and many more advanced features, building the most intuitive and enjoyable user experience. The technological advancements ensure faster web browsing, seamless multi-tasking & accurate performance.  Further, webOS TV smart interface ensures endless entertainment, on the content store, with infotainment apps; including Netflix, Amazon Prime, YouTube, Disney+ Hotstar, SonyLiv, Zee5, amongst others.  A wide range of games in the content store allow the gamers to have an immersive experience. 

 

Giving breathtaking theatre like experience with visuals in 1.07 billion colors & ultra-high-definition picture quality, the 4K Ultra HD Smart LED TVs are augmented with impeccable audio experience with 20W surround sound box speakers coupled with Dolby Audio sound technology.

 

Speaking on the launch of 4K Ultra HD Smart LED TVs with webOS, Mr. Abhishek Malpani, COO, Hyundai Electronics, said, “With the aim to give our customers an immersive, smart and advanced TV viewing experience, Hyundai Electronics has chosen to break the barriers and offer webOS TV as the most advanced and proven smart TV operating system. Built with signature AI technology and integrated content services from LG, our 4K Ultra HD Smart LED TVs powered by webOS TV will prove to be a game changer for the Indian audience who will now get the new definition of TV viewing experience.”

Additional Details:

  • webOS is advanced and proven smart TV OS that offers consistent enjoyable viewing experience and gives quality UI bundled with, agile functionality for both streaming content and interacting with smart homes 
  • ThinQ AI provides suggestions and recommendations for music, movies and more accordingly. Its intelligent edit lists the apps and programs as per the past choices and frequency of the usage.

About Hyundai Electronics India

Established in India in 2018, Hyundai Electronics India offers wide range of consumer electronics and home appliances like smart LEDs, air conditioners, washing machines, and refrigerators. The company has been consistently investing in innovation and introducing technologically advanced products while working in areas like artificial intelligence, technological prowess, smart supply chain, logistics, and energy-efficiency. The company committed to expand and invest in the Indian market. It offers its products through its established distribution & retail network besides its website www.hyundaice.in

 

Hyundai Electronics India Products:

LED TVs - 24” to 65” | Refrigerators- 45 L to 563 L | Washing Machines- 6.2Kg to 10Kg (semi/fully automatic and top loaded) | Wall Mounted ACs –Split & Inverter (fixed speed and inverter series) 1 T, 1.5 T and 2 T | Bluetooth Trolley speaker- audio ra