Sachin Tendulkar Appearing Alongside His Wax figure At Madame Tussauds

In response to a special request from Merlin Entertainments' Madame Tussauds New York, Sachin Tendulkar, a name synonymous with cricketing glory, happily agreed to help create an incredible moment for his fans.  Marking the arrival of his wax figure in NYC, the cricket icon greeted his globally popular touring wax figure just ahead of the highly anticipated ICC Men’s T20 World Cup India vs. Pakistan match on June 9 at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York. Fans were delighted as Tendulkar stood side-by-side and was reunited with his impeccably crafted wax figure, which originally debuted in 2014.

Symbolizing his enduring impact on the sport and its fans worldwide, Tendulkar's illustrious career has been recognized by the world’s greatest wax museum more than once, dating back to his first figure at Madame Tussauds London in 2009. Since then, five more figures have been created in his honor.

Tendulkar, affectionately dubbed the "Master Blaster," has won over cricket aficionados globally with his unparalleled prowess and sportsmanship and he is widely regarded as one of the greatest batsmen in the history of cricket. With an international career spanning over two decades, Tendulkar holds numerous records, including the most runs scored in both Test and One Day International (ODI) cricket. He is also the only player to have scored one hundred international centuries, making him a true icon of the sport. Throughout his illustrious career, Tendulkar has garnered immense respect and admiration from fans and fellow cricketers alike, cementing his legacy as a true cricketing legend. 

From Monday, June 10, through the World Cup Finals on Saturday, June 29, Tendulkar’s wax figure will be free for fan interaction and photos in the lobby of Madame Tussauds New York before taking its permanent place in the museum alongside the wax figures of other sports icons.

For more details and to purchase tickets to Madame Tussauds New York, visit

https://www.madametussauds.com/new-york/.

About Merlin Entertainments

Merlin Entertainments is a world leader in branded entertainment destinations, offering a diverse portfolio of resort theme parks, city-center gateway attractions and LEGOLAND® Resorts which span across the UK, US, Western Europe, China and Asia Pacific. Dedicated to creating experiences that inspire joy and connection, Merlin welcomes more than 62 million guests annually to its growing estate, with more than 140 sites across 23 countries. An expert in bringing world-famous entertainment brands to life, Merlin works with partners including the LEGO® Group, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Peppa Pig, DreamWorks and Ferrari to create destinations where guests can immerse themselves in a wide array of brand-driven worlds, rides and uplifting learning experiences.

See www.merlinentertainments.biz for more information.

Experion Technologies Embarks On “Strategic Alliance With ESG Playbook” To Redefine The ESG Reporting Landscape

Experion Technologies, a global leader in product engineering services and digital transformation with over 17 years of industry experience, proudly announces a partnership with ESG Playbook, a leading player in ESG reporting with the most comprehensive platform in the industry. Recognizing the escalating significance of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting, this collaboration aims to provide comprehensive and cutting-edge solutions to address the evolving landscape of sustainability, risk management, and regulatory compliance.

ESG reporting on a global scale is crucial, with over 95% of the world's largest companies now publishing sustainability reports. This trend reflects a growing recognition of the financial impact of environmental, social, and governance factors, influencing investment decisions and corporate compliance toward more sustainable practices. According to a report by Morgan Stanley, in the first half of 2023 alone, sustainable funds attracted cumulative inflows of $57 billion, with almost all flows in Europe. That brought assets under management to more than $3.1 trillion—or almost 8% of total global AUM—by the end of June 2023.

In this strategic partnership, Experion Technologies will leverage its product engineering expertise, consulting services, integration, testing, and UI/UX capabilities to assist enterprises in navigating the complexities of ESG reporting. As a trusted partner to over 500 global customers across 37 countries, Experion remains committed to driving meaningful value, innovation, and shared success through digitally driven programs. This partnership between Experion Technologies and ESG Playbook not only streamlines ESG reporting but also ensures businesses stay ahead in embracing sustainability. By marrying their product engineering strengths with a comprehensive platform, Experion is simplifying the path for companies to demonstrate their commitment to responsible and ethical practices, fostering a positive impact on both the environment and their bottom line.

“ESG Playbook is the most comprehensive reporting platform currently in the market as an end-to-end platform, where teams can collaborate by streamlining the data collection and reporting of global regulations. The platform collects data through APIs or other traditional forms of interfaces to report on all three areas as prescribed by regulators. In addition to having engineered the product for ESG Playbook, Experion offers the ability to bring Big Data onto the platform and incorporate AI to facilitate ESG compliance and reporting seamlessly,” said Binu Jacob, MD & CEO, Experion Technologies.

“We are delighted to embark on this strategic partnership with Experion Technologies - their in-depth product engineering knowledge, coupled with a profound understanding of our product’s functionalities, provides us with a distinctive edge in implementing solutions for our customers, bolstering our confidence in this collaboration. Furthermore, Experion's recent investments in skilled professionals within this domain solidify them as the ideal partner for us and a premier service provider for our valued customers," said Sonia Zugel, CEO and Founder of ESG Playbook.

Stringent regulatory frameworks like the EU Taxonomy Regulation and the Non-Financial Reporting Directive in Europe accentuate the criticality of ESG reporting. A recent study by McKinsey revealed that about 85 percent of the chief investment officers they surveyed stated that ESG was an important factor in their investment decisions, showcasing the integral role of ESG factors in the decision-making process. Additionally, a study by MSCI underscores the positive correlation between high ESG ratings and lower credit risk, emphasizing the pivotal role of ESG in financial performance.

Financial services, consistently ranking in the top 2 spots for reporting on carbon footprint, face increasing pressure to improve reporting year-on-year, particularly for wealth and investment managers. Banks, reliant on good ESG ratings, find these crucial for attracting investments in an environment where over 80% of the world's largest companies report on their ESG performance. ESG Playbook serves as a cornerstone solution, especially in the Banking and Financial Services sector, enabling clients to navigate the intricate web of global regulatory frameworks with unparalleled ease. By leveraging this platform, clients effortlessly uphold stringent compliance mandates, ensuring adherence to regulatory standards across diverse jurisdictions.

ESG Playbook stands as the most complete reporting solution across the Environmental, Social, and Governance pillars. The platform addresses the three pillars of reporting, including emissions from core business activities, indirect emissions, and those arising from energy and resource usage. A pain point of ESG reporting is understanding where the data is located, who is responsible for the data, and connecting systems to automate real-time reporting. Covering a spectrum of parameters within each pillar, ESG Playbook facilitates a holistic approach to ESG reporting, aligning institutions with global standards.

ESG Playbook revolutionizes sustainability reporting by seamlessly automating Data Collection, ensuring Data Consistency, and precise Calculation according to a spectrum of stringent regulatory standards such as TCFD, PCAF, GHG & CO2, NGFS, PRI, GRI, SASB, EU Taxonomy, CSRD, Net Zero Goals, and Bond Mapping. This sophisticated platform harmonizes data from diverse sources into bespoke reports tailored to specific needs, whether on a monthly, yearly, or granular basis, encompassing location, entity, or asset class parameters. Moreover, it offers a robust Audit Trail, instilling confidence in data integrity.

Central to its appeal is ESG Playbook's unparalleled flexibility, empowering users to effortlessly maintain regulatory compliance across a myriad of standards, thereby facilitating seamless alignment with their respective national net zero agendas. By streamlining reporting processes, organizations can readily bolster their sustainability initiatives, making substantial contributions towards global sustainability objectives.

GE Vernova Champions LGBTQAI+ Inclusion With Pride Walks Across India Campuses

* Over 1,100 GE Vernova employees, allies, and community members unite in Pride Walks across 12 campuses in India

GE Vernova demonstrated its unwavering commitment to LGBTQAI+ inclusion by hosting Pride Walks across seven of its campuses in India. Over 1,100 GE Vernova employees, allies, and members of the community participated in the walks held across Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Noida, Chennai, Durgapur, and Vadodara.

Celebrating the Pride Walks, Shilpa Gupta, CTO, India, GE Vernova, said, “We strongly believe that an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued unlocks the full potential of our talent and fosters innovation. The Pride Walks are a powerful symbol of our commitment to creating a space that celebrates the unique contributions of all individuals. The initiative is an extension of many programs that are being led by our Pride Alliance to propagate positive change. As we celebrate Pride month, it is truly an honour to witness the collective spirit of our employees as they express solidarity to the LGBTQAI+ community.”

At GE Vernova India, Pride Month is marked by a series of thoughtfully curated activities aimed at promoting inclusion within the company. The walks will serve as forums for open dialogue, sharing case examples, and spreading awareness about LGBTQAI+ diversity, reinforcing GE Vernova’s commitment to inclusivity. In-person and hybrid sensitization sessions will be organized for employees across various sites, aimed at deepening awareness around the LGBTQAI+ and sparking conversations. Additionally, the company will host members of the LGBTQAI+ community and NGOs, facilitating the sharing of lived experiences and fostering connections within teams.

The Pride Alliance is one of the Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) at GE Vernova that have been working actively to nurture diversity and inclusion. The group raises awareness around LGBTQAI+ issues and provides support and advocacy for creating inclusive work environments. The alliance now has over 250 allies in India who are working to enhance workplace inclusiveness through sensitization and by raising adequate awareness.

Currently, GE Vernova has the following initiatives to support the LGBTQAI+ community:

GE Vernova is spearheading a range of efforts to promote gender positivity and foster an inclusive work environment. Presently, the company has implemented several initiatives to provide support for the LGBTQAI+ community

Sensitization, awareness building, and ally onboarding sessions are regularly conducted in an in-person and virtual format. These sessions cover all employees with a special focus on training senior leadership, people leaders and human resources team. These sessions have also been extended to vendor partners

Medical insurance covers for same-sex partners as dependents

The Transgender Employee Protection Policy at GE Vernova ensures suitable facilities and amenities

Gender neutral washroom is available across GE Vernova facilities

GE Vernova encourages its employees to network via employee resource groups and offers specialised employee assistance program support

GE Vernova is dedicated to being an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are made impartially, without considering factors such as race, colour, religion, national or ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, protected veteran status, or other characteristics protected by law.

IIIT-Bangalore’s MOSIP Project Recognized As WSIS Champion In E-Government Category At WSIS Prizes 2024

The International Institute of Information Technology Bangalore (IIIT-Bangalore) announces that MOSIP (Modular Open-Source Identification Platform) has been recognized as a WSIS Champion in the e-government category at the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Prizes 2024.

The award is recognized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) for its outstanding contribution towards strengthening the implementation of the World Summit on Information Society (WSIS) Outcomes.

Mr. Nagarajan Santhanam, Chief Dissemination Officer, MOSIP recently received the award from Mr. Doreen Bogdan-Martin, ITU Secretary-General in Geneva.

The selection process for this prestigious award was rigorous, with 1,049 commendable projects assessed. During the online voting phase, 2 million votes were gathered across 18 categories, followed by a concluding jury selection to finalize the awardees. The MOSIP project garnered significant public support, leading to its recognition as one of the five WSIS Champions for 2024 in the e-governance category.

The WSIS is a unique, two-phase United Nations summit designed to address issues and concerns raised by Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). Its goal is to encourage a people-centric, inclusive and development-oriented Information Society where everyone can access, utilize and share information. The WSIS Prizes epitomize innovation and progress, showcasing projects aligned with WSIS Action Lines and contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Speaking about the achievement, Prof. Debabrata Das, Director, IIIT-Bangalore, said, "We are delighted to announce that MOSIP has been recognized as a WSIS Champion in the e-government category at the WSIS Prizes 2024. This accolade highlights the dedication and innovation of our team in creating inclusive and empowering ID systems. We are grateful for the global support and remain committed to encouraging collaboration and progress in digital identity. This recognition inspires us to continue empowering lives, one unique ID at a time. The technologists, policy experts, academics and advisors that make up the MOSIP team and its partners find common ground in their dedication to collaboration and innovation."

Prof. S. Rajagopalan, President – MOSIP, added, “We are honoured to receive this prestigious recognition in the e-governance category of the WSIS Prizes 2024. With 110+ million residents now registered on MOSIP-based systems across 20 countries, MOSIP has been dedicated to the targets of the WSIS Action Lines and SDG16.9 — ‘providing legal identity for all’ — since 2018. We thank the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) for their acknowledgment of MOSIP’s work and commitment to our shared goals, and look forward to a future where we continue to support the development of inclusive, innovative, and human-centric Digital Public Infrastructure.”

World Economic Forum Honors NxtWave As Tech Pioneer 2024 For Transforming Lives of Over 1,00,000+ Unemployed Indian Graduates

The World Economic Forum (WEF) has proudly recognized NxtWave as a Tech Pioneer 2024 for its exceptional contributions to reducing unemployment and transforming the lives of over 1,00,000 graduates across India, with a significant focus on Karnataka. This prestigious award highlights NxtWave’s innovative approach to bridging the skills gap and promoting economic growth through advanced technologies and education.

NxtWave joins an exclusive group of just 12 startups nationwide to receive this recognition, alongside household names like Google, Twitter, and Spotify from previous cohorts.

NxtWave, a trailblazer in tech education and employability solutions, has revolutionized the job landscape for unemployed graduates by offering industry-relevant training programs tailored to meet the demands of the modern job market. The company’s comprehensive curriculum, developed in collaboration with industry experts, emphasizes cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, data science, and software development.

“We are immensely honored to receive the Tech Pioneer award from the World Economic Forum,” said Rahul Attuluri, CEO of NxtWave. “This recognition underscores our commitment to empowering young graduates with the skills they need to thrive in today’s competitive job market. We are particularly proud of our impact in Karnataka, where our efforts have helped thousands of individuals secure meaningful employment and contribute to the local economy.”

In Karnataka, NxtWave has made significant strides in addressing unemployment through strategic partnerships with local educational institutions and businesses. By providing high-quality training and job placement opportunities, NxtWave has enabled numerous students to launch successful careers in the tech industry. The program’s success stories include graduates who have been hired by leading tech companies, started their own ventures, and played pivotal roles in the state’s burgeoning tech ecosystem.

NxtWave’s approach to education combines theoretical knowledge with practical, hands-on experience. The platform offers personalized learning paths, real-time mentorship, and a robust support network to ensure students not only acquire new skills but also gain the confidence to apply them effectively in real-world scenarios.

The World Economic Forum’s Tech Pioneer award acknowledges NxtWave’s profound impact and its potential to drive social and economic change. As a Tech Pioneer, NxtWave will join a global community of innovators who are leveraging technology to solve critical challenges and create a brighter future.

About the World Economic Forum:

The World Economic Forum is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. The Forum engages the foremost political, business, cultural and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. It was established in 1971 as a not-for-profit foundation headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. It is independent, impartial and not tied to any special interests.

About the Innovator Communities:

The Innovator Communities are a group of the world’s most promising start-ups and scale-ups at the forefront of technological and business model innovation. Comprising three sub-communities –the Technology Pioneers, Global Innovators and Unicorns –the Innovator Communities accompany start-ups along their growth journey. The World Economic Forum provides the sub-communities with a platform to engage with public- and private-sector leaders and to contribute new solutions to overcome current crises and build future resiliency. Companies invited to join the Innovator Communities will engage with one or more of the Forum’s centres, as relevant, to help define the global agenda on critical issues.

About NxtWave:

Founded by alumni of premier Indian institutions, including IIT Bombay, IIT Kharagpur, and IIIT Hyderabad – Sashank Reddy Gujjula, Anupam Pedarla, and Rahul Attuluri, NxtWave is on a mission to create India’s largest employability platform for tech careers. NxtWave offers vernacular, asynchronous, and online cohort-based training programs in Industry 4.0 Tech career tracks for college students, graduates, and early professionals. Over the past couple of years, NxtWave has facilitated the hiring of thousands of its learners by more than 1700 companies, ranging from fast-growing startups to Fortune 500 giants. For more information on NxtWave, visit [NxtWave’s website] (https://www.ccbp.in/)

The Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA) Releases May’24 Vehicle Retail Data

Highlights

Overall Growth: The Indian Auto Retail sector achieved a 2.61% YoY growth in May 2024.

Segment Growth: Two-Wheelers (2W) up by 2.5% YoY, Three-Wheelers (3W) increased by 20% YoY, Passenger Vehicles (PV) declined by -1% YoY, Tractors (Trac) de-grew by -1% YoY and Commercial Vehicles (CV) experienced a growth of 4% YoY.

Market Factors:

Positive Sentiments: Positive rural demand due to expected good monsoon and improved finance availability kept the counters ticking.

Supply and Demand: Good movement in market loads, cement, iron ore, and coal sectors contributed positively despite supply constraints and lack of OEM marketing activities.

Weather Impact: Extreme heat and elections significantly impacted footfall, with showrooms seeing an 18% drop in walk-ins.

Challenges Identified:

Election Impact: Elections and related uncertainties affected customer sentiment, delaying purchasing decisions.

Financial Constraints: Market liquidity issues and high inventory levels strained dealership profitability.

Weather Extremes: Extreme heat and above normal rains forecast could further impact sales and walk-ins.

Near-Term Outlook: The industry remains cautiously optimistic. Post-election stability and a continuity in the government are expected to boost infrastructure projects and economic activities. Above-normal rains forecasted by the IMD should enhance rural demand and support economic activities. However, addressing extreme weather challenges, intense competition, and liquidity issues will be crucial for sustained market improvement.

The Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA) released Vehicle Retail Data for May'24.

May’24 Retails 

FADA President Mr. Manish Raj Singhania commented on May 2024's auto retail performance, stating, “In May 2024, the Indian Auto Retail sector achieved a modest 2.61% YoY growth. The two-wheeler (2W), three-wheeler (3W) and commercial vehicle (CV) segments grew by 2.5%, 20% and 4% while passenger vehicle (PV) and tractor (Trac) were in red by 1% each YoY.

The two-wheeler segment grew by 2.5% YoY but declined by 6.6% MoM. Dealers reported supply constraints, lack of OEM marketing activities and impacts from extremely hot weather and elections. Positive rural demand due to expected good monsoon and improved finance availability were also noted which kept the counters ticking.

The PV segment showed -1% YoY and a -9.5% MoM decline. Dealers cited the impact of elections, extreme heat and market liquidity issues as major factors. Despite better supply, some pending bookings and discount schemes, the lack of new models, intense competition and poor marketing efforts by OEMs affected sales. Additionally, increased customer postponements and low enquiries further contributed to the challenging market conditions. Due to the extreme heat, the number of walk-ins to showrooms dropped by around 18%.

The CV segment showed a 4% YoY growth but an -8% MoM decline. Dealers reported that elections and extreme climatic conditions heavily impacted sales. Despite growth due to a low base from last year and increased bus orders, the industry faced challenges from wholesale pressures, government policy effects, and negative market sentiment. Additionally, good movement in market loads, cement, iron ore, and coal sectors contributed positively.

Overall, while the auto retail sector saw mixed results, the industry is navigating through significant challenges with cautious optimism for the coming months.”

Near-Term Outlook

The near-term outlook for the Automobile Retail is ‘cautiously optimistic’, influenced by a mix of positive and challenging factors across various segments. Post-election results are expected to bring stability and improve market sentiment, while the formation of a continued government could boost infrastructure projects and economic activities. Dealers are hopeful about better supplies and positive movement in key sectors like cement, coal and iron ore. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast above-normal rains at 106% of the long-period average (LPA) this year, which is expected to enhance rural demand and support economic activities. However, extreme weather, such as heatwaves and heavy rains, along with the reopening of schools in July, might delay purchase decisions.

Despite these positive indicators, challenges persist, including intense competition, lack of new model launches and poor marketing efforts by OEMs. Liquidity issues and high inventory levels continue to strain profitability for Dealerships. Although discount schemes and good product availability are in place, low customer enquiries and postponements due to seasonal factors remain concerns.

Uneven monsoon rains have previously impacted farm sector growth and while this year’s above-normal forecast is promising, it raises the risk of possible floods in some regions, potentially disrupting the market. Overall, while there is potential for growth with the new government formation and favourable economic conditions, addressing these challenges will be crucial for sustained improvement in the automotive market.

Bank of Baroda Launches “Hackathon On Generative AI In Collaboration With Microsoft”

- Nationwide hackathon for developers, students, professionals, start-ups & fintechs to showcase innovative solutions and co-create solutions with the Bank

- Top three winners will be awarded cumulative prize money of Rs 10 lakh

Bank of Baroda (Bank), one of India’s leading public sector banks, has announced the launch of a nationwide online hackathon on Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI), in collaboration with Microsoft. The hackathon aims to inspire participants to develop innovative solutions using GenAI technology to address specific business areas defined by the Bank. The top three teams will receive cash prizes of Rs 5 lakh, Rs 3 lakh and Rs 2 lakh each, and the Bank will look to implement the best ideas that emerge from the hackathon.

Open to both individuals and teams—including developers, students, professionals, start-ups, and fintechs—the two-month-long event will focus on ideation and prototype development. Bank of Baroda is seeking groundbreaking solutions in six areas: customer service, financial advisory, audit & compliance, risk management, operational efficiency and personalised content generation.

Shri Sanjay Mudaliar, Executive Director, Bank of Baroda said, “Bank of Baroda is committed to staying at the forefront of innovation. With the banking industry evolving rapidly, the advent of Generative Artificial Intelligence marks a new frontier. Artificial Intelligence, particularly Generative AI, holds immense potential to transform the way we approach banking, offering new ways to enhance customer experiences, streamline operations, and drive efficiencies. We firmly believe that by working together with like-minded innovators, we can create transformative solutions that will redefine the banking landscape for the better. We are also pleased to collaborate with Microsoft in this initiative.” 

Commenting on the initiative, Mr. Puneet Chandok, President, Microsoft India and South Asia said, “We at Microsoft are thrilled to share a common vision of a tech powered India with Bank of Baroda. Our journey is fueled by Azure OpenAI’s digital innovation, and together, we are ushering in a transformative era in customer banking. Through the Gen AI Hackathon, an initiative by Bank of Baroda, we look forward to developers utilising Azure OpenAI’s capabilities to architect unique digital solutions for the Indian banking sector.”

Contestants can participate in the hackathon by visiting https://bobhackathon.com. Participants can form a team of a maximum of four people to participate. Individuals and teams can register for the hackathon and submit ideas from 10th June 2024 to  30th June 2024 (both dates inclusive). Shortlisted teams will be asked to develop a prototype which will form the basis for deciding the winners. Shortlisted teams will be provided Azure credits, technical resources and mentoring sessions by Microsoft and Bank of Baroda subject matter experts.