Hero Motosports Team Rally To Participate in Rally Andalucia, Spain from October 6–10, 2020

 

Hero MotoSports Team Rally, the rally racing team of Hero MotoCorp - world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters - is all set to commence a new season of competitive racing.

The full-strength, three rider Team of Joaquim Rodrigues, C S Santosh and Sebastian Buhler is geared up to participate in the first campaign of the season, the upcoming Rally Andalucia, slated to be held from October 6-10, 2020, near the town of Villamartin in Spain.

This is the first occasion when the entire Team has regrouped since the tragic demise of legendary rider Paulo Goncalves at Dakar 2020, followed by a protracted period of inactivity due to the Covid-19 induced restrictions.

The entire Team regrouped in Portugal recently and has been doing intense training to make a strong comeback into competitive rally racing. Rally Andalucia - the only confirmed Rally so far prior to the Dakar 2021 - will serve as the perfect platform to get the riders and crew back to collaboration mode and into the mindset of racing.

Sebastian Buhler, an upcoming rookie, has been groomed by the Team since last season. With remarkable temperament and fast developing skills, he made an impression at the Pan Africa Rally 2019 and the Dakar 2020. Buhler is now all set to make his debut as the official team rider for Hero MotoSports at the Rally Andalucia. 

The Rally Andalucia - covering approximately 1000 kilometers over the course of four days - will offer the participants a chance to test their vehicles, the new technologies, practice navigation and get used to the new Covid-19 regulations with Dakar 2021 in sight.

Wolfgang Fischer, Team Manager, Hero MotoSports Team Rally: “We are all very happy to be together again after this long break and doing what we love the most, racing. Getting back to racing brings to us the memories of our departed Hero and dear friend Paulo, but we are trying our best to come back stronger with his spirit always guiding us to never give up. We have been keeping ourselves busy in this period with development work on the bikes. We are also very happy to officially welcome Sebastian into the team and are very excited with the promise and freshness that he brings.”

Joaquim Rodrigues, Rider, Hero MotoSports Team Rally: “It has been a really difficult time for me and my family. My focus has been to fight through this and get back to racing, while keeping alive the never-give-up spirit of Paulo. It is going be hard to get back on the bike again and that is going to be my biggest battle this year. The Hero MotoSports team is like a second family to me, supporting me and giving me strength through these tough times. Over the past few weeks, we have been training, testing and developing our bikes. Looking forward to the Andalucia Rally and then the Dakar.”

C S Santosh, Rider, Hero MotoSports Team Rally: “It feels really good to be back on the saddle again after such a long break. We have been training hard over the past month in Portugal and also testing and supporting development work on our bikes. Being back together with all the guys and working as a team again is definitely the best thing to have happened for me in a long time. While most of the races have been cancelled this season, we still have the biggest one of them – the Dakar on the cards. So, the Rally Andalucia will be an important race for me and everyone as we try to get race-ready for the Dakar 2021.”

Sebastian Buhler, Rider, Hero MotoSports Team Rally: “I have been waiting for a long time to get back to racing, so I am very happy to be here and back together with the team. We have been training hard over the past few weeks. I am really looking forward to Rally Andalucia as it will be my first rally as the official team rider. I am very excited to be a part of the Hero MotoSports Team and look forward to contributing to the Team’s success.”

Established in 2016, Hero MotoSports Team Rally has rapidly emerged as one of the top teams in international rally-racing, delivering impressive performances across the world. With back-to-back Top-10 Dakar finishes and a 100% arrival rate for the machines, Hero MotoSports Team Rally has made its mark at the Dakar Rally. In 2019 the Team stepped-up its game with a Rally win (Pan Africa Rally), two Podium finishes (Merzouga and Desert Storm), four stage wins (1 in Silkway Rally, 2 in Pan Africa and 1 in Rally Du Maroc) and six stage podiums (Silkway Rally).

Renault Launches “Kwid Neotech Edition” in the Indian Market

* Attractive: Renault KWID’s contemporary SUV-inspired design language is taken a step further with a stylish, fresh and fresh first-in-segment dual-tone exterior 

* Innovative: After having introduced the 20.32 cm Touchscreen MediaNAV Evolution, rear camera and a host of other segment-first features, KWID continues its innovation journey with the KWID NEOTECH edition 

* Affordable: Renault KWID stands out for its great fuel efficiency, accessibility to segment-first features providing an unmatched value proposition and economical cost of ownership, which is enabled by its high localisation levels of 98%   

* These superior offerings have been one the key drivers of its success with KWID recently celebrating its 3,50,000 sales milestone in India  

Renault India announced the launch of the 2020 NEOTECH edition of its flagship offering KWID in 0.8L MT, 1.0L MT and 1.0L AMT variants. The limited-edition features first-in-segment stylish and fresh dual-tone exterior. Customers can choose between two colour combinations - Zanskar Blue body with Silver roof and Silver body with Zanskar Blue roof. With an incremental increase of only INR 30,000, KWID NEOTECH offers a greater value package and maximises the customer advantage, with a host of great features.  

2020 KWID NEOTECH 

In addition to the youthful exteriors, the KWID NEOTECH edition offers 8” touch screen ULC with Apple car play, Android Auto, USB socket for front passengers, Aux sockets, Flex wheels, 3D decals on the C-pillar, NEOTECH door claddings, seat fabric modification with blue inserts & blue stitches, chrome AMT dial, chrome add-on grille and B-pillar black tapping, all of which add to the fun and spirited look of the KWID.  

Staying true to its focus on innovation, Renault has kept the KWID range fresh and contemporary with several enhancements made at regular intervals to cater to the evolving needs of customers. Renault has always ensured the right mix of modern design and convenient features in the KWID. In 2019, Renault India introduced an all-new bolder, more stylish KWID, loaded with many first-in-class features. The latest RXL 1.0L variant made the KWID range even more accessible for customers, with the launch of the new RXL variant in a 1.0L powertrain, in both MT and AMT versions.  

The Attractive, Innovative and Affordable SUV inspired Renault KWID has emerged as a true game-changer and volume driver for Renault in India. KWID redefines the entry segment’s value index led by its contemporary SUV-inspired design language, best-in-class features and an economical cost of ownership, which is enabled by its 98% localisation levels, which also makes it a strong ‘Make in India’ testament.  

KWID also offers a host of equipment and features, which redefined the segment. These include the 20.32 cm Touchscreen MediaNAV Evolution, first-in-class LED digital instrument cluster, a floor console-mounted AMT dial, one-touch lane change indicator, speed-dependent volume control and a boot capacity of 279 litres. 

As part of its low cost of ownership promise, Renault offers optional extended warranty up to 5 years & 100,000 Km from the date of vehicle delivery. There are other service offerings like Renault Easy care, the prepaid maintenance program which offers assured cost savings. These offerings have enabled customers to enjoy an unparalleled brand ownership experience and peace of mind. 

A New Perspective On Tourism Post The Covid 19 Era Pandemic

 

A collective of Sydney tourism operators including Sea Life Aquarium, Dreamtime Southern X and Sydney Harbour Boat Tours star in a new interactive destination guide, co-funded by the City of Sydney.

Sydney360 is an online city guide using 360 degree photography from the air, land and sea to create a stunning virtual tour of Sydney with local experts showing off their favourite hideaways.

The concept is the brainchild of Mark Dalgleish, owner of Sydney Harbour Boat Tours whose family-run business was devastated by Covid-19, along with the rest of Sydney’s tourism industry. “We were all in the same boat. Hundreds of small businesses and guides who relied almost entirely on international visitors were facing closures and unemployment. So rather than sit back and wait for handouts we got a small group of operators to think outside the box and fight back” said Dalgleish.

Although Sydney360 includes some of Sydney’s major attractions such as Merlin Entertainment’s Wild Life Zoo, most of the businesses are small independent operators such as Margret Campbell from indigenous tour company Dreamtime Southern X, who’s haunting Welcome to Country sets the scene. “This was an opportunity to do something truly innovative and be able to connect with travellers ‘virtually’ and show them why Sydney is so important to our culture.” she said.

Alan Toner runs EcoWalks Tours, which came to a grinding halt with Covid-19. “I loved the idea of 360, it really brings the national parks and Sydney bushland to life and gives us a new marketing channel for local and domestic business.”

The guide is free and accessible on any device. Online users get a birdseye view of Sydney and can navigate their own journey to places and activities of interest. Filming was done by one of Australia’s leading virtual reality specialists Ondrej Koucky of Rapturous Media, who says the guide represents the future in holiday planning and virtual travel, allowing people around the world to experience the wonders of a destination from the comfort of their living room.

But according to Dalgleish, despite using state-of-the-art technology the most compelling part of the guide is the inclusion of authentic Sydneysiders. “The best way to learn about a place or discover something unique is to hear it from a local, so we gathered some of the most knowledgeable Sydney tour guides and got them to show us their favourite haunts, then by shooting in 360 these passionate story- tellers and places come to life ... it’s the next best thing to being here!” says Dalgleish.

He plans to expand the concept to include other sectors doing it tough during the Covid-19 pandemic, including boutique accommodation and dining. “Our aim is to support local tourism operators by adding content to Sydney360, expanding to regional NSW and taking destination360 throughout Australia and to major global tourism hubs.”

PNB Donates Rs. 40 Lacs to PM Cares Fund Under "DIGITAL APNAYEN" Campaign

The nation’s leading public sector bank, Punjab National Bank (PNB), had launched an innovative digital campaign, named as "DIGITAL APNAYEN," on the 74th Independence Day, which is in line with the Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance, GOI guidelines encouraging digital banking under the coveted Digital India Initiative. This campaign is being organised from 15th August 2020 to 31st March 2021 and complements the government’s vision of on boarding about one crore customers on digital payment modes under the auspices of the 'Digital Apnayen' campaign. The government’s initiative is aimed at ensuring seamless & secure digital Banking services for all, auguring a new era of digitisation & revolutionary change in the banking norms.  

Punjab National Bank committed to contribute ₹5.00 towards the PM CARES Fund on behalf of each customer on boarding on Digital Platform. To honour its commitment, PNB donated Rs. Forty Lakhs Fourteen Thousand and Forty to PM CARES FUND on 1st October 2020 and handed over the cheque to Shri Debashish Panda, Secretary and Shri Pankaj Jain, Additional Secretary, Both Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance, Government of India. As of now more than 8lac customers have contributed under the 6 parameters of ‘Digital Apnayen’ campaign of PNB. The campaign envisages encouraging customers to use digital Channels and participate in the noble cause of donating to PM CARES FUNDS for COVID-19, by PNB. 

Upon receiving the donation, Debashish Panda, Secretary, Department Financial Services, Ministry of Finance, Government of India said “The Ministry of Finance is very appreciative of this initiative of PNB, educating and encouraging a wide range of demographics of the customers to use digital banking channels, which support the government’s Digital India initiative. We thank PNB for the wholehearted contribution that it has made to the PM Cares Fund during this difficult phase of pandemic in the country. This is a very important initiative of the government and the support of PNB in laying the foundations of a digitally empowered society is worth felicitation.”   

On the occasion, Shri S. S. Mallikarjuna Rao, MD & CEO of Punjab National Bank, said, “The ‘Digital Apnayen’ campaign aims to ensure that government services and benefits are made available to citizens electronically and make India digitally empowered. We have seen a rapid increase in our customer base across nation and have successfully added more than 8lac new customers. With the evolving force of customer expectations PNB has been continuously taking formative steps towards enhancing our digital channels and making it seamless and user friendly.  

He further added, PNB is fully committed and will continue to play an integral and indispensable part in the country’s journey towards digital economic progress. It is our honour to contribute to PM Cares Fund with the contribution of our valued customers and a step towards transforming India into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy.” 

Punjab National Bank committed to contribute ₹5.00 towards the PM CARES Fund on behalf of each customer on boarding on Digital Platform and conducting transaction, basis 6 parameters i.e.  

1. First financial transaction to activate their RuPay Debit card on PoS 

2. First financial transaction on E-commerce platform 

3. Activation of AePS account through fund transfer 

4. Activation of AePS account through BHIM Aadhaar Merchants payment 

5. Activation of UPI service 

6. Download and Registration for UPI facility This campaign is in line with the initiative ‘Digital Adoption’ by the Mission Office, Dept. of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance, Govt. of India. According to the finance ministry the Public sector bank (PSBs) have on-boarded about one crore customers on digital payment modes in just one month of the launch of the campaign. 

The campaign, aimed at encouraging customers to use digital banking channels, was launched on August 15 under the aegis of the government's Digital India initiative. Under the campaign, banks were asked to on-board a minimum 100 new customers including merchants and financial inclusion account holders by each branch on digital payment mode. 

Out of 10917 branches of PNB, almost 5000 branches have been instrumental in enrolling more than 100 customers on digital platforms and these branches includes metro, urban, semi-urban and rural competence. 

SBI - HUL Join Hands to Transform Retailer Payments Digitally

* The partnership will enable digital solutions for retailers and customers of HUL

* SBI will provide a paperless instant OD facility to retailers to enable payments to distributors via a hassle-free online platform

* SBI will provide financing to HUL’s distributors at reasonable rates

* The partnership will act as a change catalyst in the adoption of digital payments among HUL retailers, small entrepreneurs in semi-urban and rural areas

On the 151st birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, two of the country’s iconic companies, State Bank of India (SBI) and Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) have come together to cater to the needs of small retailers by providing them digital payment and financing solutions.  This partnership will help digitally empower HUL retailers and distributors through SBI’s customized solutions. Under this collaboration, the bank will offer an instant paperless overdraft facility of up to Rs. 50,000 to retailers for their billings with distributors as well as financing facilities to HUL’s distributors.

To ensure customers get the option of digital payments in smaller towns as well, the bank will install SBI Point of Sale machines at multiple HUL touchpoints across the country. Additionally, SBI will provide UPI based solutions to HUL retailers for hassle-free, safe and instant cashless payments to their dealers from HUL’s retailer application “Shikhar”. The Bank will also offer HUL employees the option of a corporate salary package via an SBI microsite hosted on HUL’s intranet.

Mr. Rajnish Kumar, Chairman, SBI said, “It is an honor for SBI to be associated with one of the most trusted companies globally and offer comprehensive and customized offerings for its stakeholders. SBI has always been working towards serving the last mile customers and similar is the case with HUL which caters to its customers in the remotest part of the country. We are glad that SBI has got an opportunity to leverage its strong geographic presence and strategic digital solutions to simplify the financial needs of HUL’s customers, retailers, dealers, and employees. We are confident that our alliance with HUL will turn out to be an exemplary amalgamation of SBI’s banking prowess and HUL’s inspiring customer connect.”

Mr. Sanjiv Mehta, Chairman & Managing Director, HUL said, "Our partnership with SBI is a push to provide digital solutions to important constituents of our ecosystem. General trade is a very important channel for the country as it serves the needs of millions of consumers by making essential products available. This channel also plays a significant role in our economy by creating employment opportunities for a wide spectrum of people. It is our endeavor to digitize and modernize this channel; support the retailers with the right assortment and enable them to access timely and affordable funding. The timing of the partnership could not have been better as this addresses one of the key needs for retailers and distributors, given the economic fallout of the pandemic."

SBI’s 22000 branches and 58000 ATMs spread out across the country complements HUL’s deep rural reach. The partnership between the two companies will catalyze the adoption of digital (UPI) payments among small-scale entrepreneurs and retailers in the farthest corners of the country and pave way for a truly transformative leg of the digital India journey.

About State Bank of India:

State Bank of India (SBI) is the largest commercial bank in terms of assets, deposits, branches, customers, and employees. It is also the largest mortgage lender in the country. As on June 30, 2020, the bank has a deposit base of over Rs. 34 lakh crore with CASA ratio of more than 45% and advances of nearly Rs. 24 lakh crore. SBI commands nearly 34% market share in home loans and nearly 33% in the auto loans segment. The Bank has the largest network of over 22,100 branches in India with an ATM / CDM network of over 58,500 and total BC outlets of more than 62,200. The number of customers using internet banking facilities is about 76 million and mobile banking services stand a little more than 17 million. The integrated digital and lifestyle platform by SBI - YONO has crossed the landmark of 58 million downloads. YONO which has 26 million registered users, witnesses 5.5 million logins per day along with over 4000 daily disbursals of personal loans, 16,000 YONO Krishi Agri Gold Loans. The bank recently launched the YONO Global app in the UK and Mauritius and plans to cover 9 more countries by the end of 2020. On social media platforms, SBI has the highest number of followers on Facebook and Twitter amongst all banks worldwide.

About Hindustan Unilever Limited:

Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) is India's largest Fast Moving Consumer Goods Company with a heritage of over 85 years in India. On any given day, nine out of ten Indian households use our products to feel good, look good, and get more out of life, giving us a unique opportunity to build a brighter future. 

TechGig and American Express Join Hands to Recognise India’s Best Women Technologists

* India’s largest coding competition for women - TechGig Geek Goddess - opened for code submissions recently

* TechGig Geek Goddess 2020 will have 3 screening rounds and will conclude with a virtual grand finale

* Last year’s edition saw participation from 73,388 women technologists

One year ago, Hyderabad-based engineer Tanneeru Leela was best known for her quiet demeanour. Now, she is known as the mighty coder who defeated 73,388 women technologists at India’s biggest women-only code competition - TechGig Geek Goddess 2019 edition! From a quiet, work focussed technologist, to a leading #WomanInTechnology - this persona change happened for her overnight when the world saw her coding prowess at the Geek Goddess code competition. 

A similar transition happened with Snehlata Mishra, who recollected that after winning the Geek Goddess 2018 title, her social media platforms were flooded with ‘connection requests’ - akin to the celebrities. Snehlata Mishra’s story is a typical tale of a talented young woman from a small town who set her eyes on the IT domain and won the prestigious Geek Goddess 2018 title.  

Year after year, TechGig Geek Goddess helps transform the careers of thousands of women engineers who participate in this annual coding event. American Express is a perfect presenting partner for TechGig Geek Goddess, now for the third year in a row. The globally integrated payments company is an ardent champion of diversity and of recognising top women technologists.

The news of TechGig Geek Goddess 2020 edition’s launch was celebrated by Tanneeru Leela and many other past winners and participants. “I’m so happy that the 2020 edition has opened up because I want to reclaim my title,” she said. Last year, her company celebrated her win like their collective acclaim. “They had put up the announcement, followed by a celebration in office and suddenly everybody started to recognise me,” Leela said. 

This is the sixth edition of TechGig Geek Goddess, and owing to the COVID-19 situation this edition will conclude with a virtual grand finale and a career fair in December later this year. The present edition will have 3 screening rounds in two tracks, namely – Coding and Application Development. 

Sanjay Goyal, Business Head of TimesJobs and TechGig said, “Being a technologist, I always felt that coding is powered by passion; not by any gender. However, women coders needed a global platform to showcase their coding skills. The TechGig Geek Goddess has become that ‘global platform’ in the last six years. From 15,000 registrations in the first edition to 73,388 registrations in the fifth edition - the TechGig Geek Goddess community has become 489% stronger! I am proud to announce that American Express has joined us at the world's largest women-only coding contest - Geek Goddess - as the presenting partner for the third successive year.”

“Our partnership with TechGig Geek Goddess is a relationship of pride and purpose,” said Ruchika Panesar - Vice President, CTO Group and Head of Technology at American Express India and JAPA. “American Express proudly backs women in technology and we’re committed to building a diverse workforce and continually expanding our pipeline of top tech talent to include more women and individuals from diverse groups and backgrounds. Congratulations to the very capable and enthusiastic women taking part in this program, particularly during these extraordinary times, and best of luck!”

For now, Tanneeru Leela and her peers are busy flexing their coding muscle. “I will have to start practicing (coding) again because the competition is very tough…. I know,” she said. Here’s wishing all the best to these women!

Registration at TechGig Geek Goddess is free @ https://www.techgig.com/geekgoddess

Zee5’s HiPi Premier League Promises An Entertaining Fiesta During The T20 Cricket Extravanza

India is the land of diverse cultures. Each city, each region brings its own dynamic mix of people and traditions. However unique they may be, what binds all of them together, undoubtedly, is ONE unifying factor – the love for CRICKET! Be it the Cricket World Cup, an ICC tournament or the Indian Premier League, the craze for cricket is nearly present amongst every Indian. With the onset of the 2020 season of the IPL, fans are eager to engage more with their beloved sport, their favourite team and the sportsperson they love to cheer for. Making the T20 cricket extravaganza even more exciting during the pandemic, ZEE5, India’s entertainment super-app, has curated its own entertaining HiPi Premier League (HPL) on the app’s UGC platform – HiPi, to enable fans to partake in one of the biggest sporting spectaculars of 2020. HPL went LIVE on 19th September 2020 and has taken content creators by storm by giving them a reason and a platform to celebrate cricket.

The HPL is divided in 8 exciting teams with captains who are well-known celebrities and renowned influencers. HPL Gurus (captains) like Sugandha Mishra, Sanket Bhosle, Gaurav Gera and Ssumier Pasricha have started the competition to become the ultimate champions of the league by creating some exciting short videos to entertain and engage with the audience. The 8 competing teams have been formed keeping the actual tournament team and the regions they represent. Hyderabad Hippers, Mumbai Mastis, Delhi Dhoomers, Rajasthan Rockstars, Punjab Putters, Chennai Swaggers, Bangalore Badshahs, and Kolkata Khiladis are the teams on HPL. The teams are creating exciting content and engaging through their captains/gurus while encouraging more people to join their teams to support their favourite players.

Mr. Manish Kalra, Senior Vice President and Business Head – AVOD, ZEE5, India, said, “ZEE5’s journey towards becoming the one-stop entertainment destination is fuelled by the platform’s innovations that cater to the larger consumer segment. The launch of HiPi also stemmed from this vision and has delivered the perfect place for India’s finest creators to craft content and attain the fandom status. Cricket being a strong sentiment in India, the launch of the HiPi Premier League (HPL) will provide these crazy fans one more opportunity to express through engaging and fun content. HPL will truly redefine the cricketing experience by enhancing the T20 tournament’s reach through contribution from the content creators and brands together.”

Echoing these sentiments, some of the gurus of HiPi’s Premier League also shared views on how excited they are, to be a part of HPL.

Sugandha Mishra shared, “The lockdown has resulted in cricket fans craving for every opportunity to engage since they are unable to attend live matches to witness their favourite teams in action. The HPL is set to fill that void that the fans have been waiting for. I am excited to be a part of this unique initiative and look forward to express my love for the biggest cricket tournament on HiPi.”

Gaurav Gera said, “The HPL is a distinctive initiative by ZEE5 which celebrates the nation’s favourite sport in a unique way! It will be entertaining, engaging and exciting for fans to not only consume, but also, create entertaining short format content, participate in challenges, learn more about the game and the players. Be it the fun quizzes, polls or challenges or trivia, the HPL is going to be every cricket lover’s dream platform to express their love for the game in creative and engaging ways.”

Ssumier Pasricha remarked, “All the teams boast of such fun creators that we can expect some fireworks each day with the HPL. This will also inspire more fans to come up with their unique videos and engage with other creators, viewers and brands throughout the league. Be it entertaining challenges, contests, or creativity the HiPi Premier League is sure to encourage the super fan in all of us!”

Pammi Aunty aka Ssumier added, “Apni team nu sport karo te onna nu jitao and make them win HorKi.”

Bringing one more reason to cheer for fans, ZEE5 has ensured that the lockdown doesn’t restrict the interaction of fans with the sport by encouraging them to participate in the HPL. Users whose videos get maximum likes in a day and in a week, in addition to the season’s leading content creator is entitled to win the exciting HiPiZen of the Day, HiPiZen of the Week and the Grand Prize awards.