Friday, June 13, 2025

Zuno General Insurance Launches India’s First Crash Detection-Enabled Motor Cover


* With real-time crash detection now part of Smart Drive, Zuno turns motor insurance into a safety solution—offering instant emergency response alongside weekly rewards and regular updates for safe driving

Zuno General Insurance, a new-age digital insurer committed to making insurance easy, friendly and innovative, has introduced India’s first real-time crash detection feature to its flagship Zuno Smart Drive car insurance. This enhancement provides instant roadside support and accelerates claims processing, reinforcing Zuno’s position as a leader in innovative, customer-centric insurance provider.

With this new addition, Zuno Smart Drive moves beyond just rewarding safe driving.  The advanced mobile telematics system embedded in the Zuno app detects crashes automatically and alerts the Zuno support team triggering real-time roadside assistance, initiating a claims process and aid without requiring customer initiation. This saves critical time during emergencies—ensuring help arrives when it is needed most.

Zuno GI, a pioneer in usage-based insurance, has already introduced Zuno Smart Drive with India’s first built-in Pay How You Drive feature at no additional cost, rewards customers based on real-time driving behaviour. By tracking metrics such as speed, braking, and consistency, the platform encourages responsible driving habits. Customers receive rewards for maintaining high driving scores, which also translate into policy renewal discounts, making safer driving financially rewarding. Zuno Smart Drive requires no special setup or device. It works directly through the Zuno app, providing users with personalised driving insights, real-time risk assessment, and a transparent view of how their behaviour impacts both safety and savings. This approach not only empowers customers with greater control over their premiums but also encourages a culture of responsibility on the road.  

With its newest upgrade, Zuno Smart Drive supports, rewards, and protects in real-time. Zuno continues to raise the bar for what motor insurance can offer in today’s connected world—smart, supportive, and centred around the customer.

Speaking about this customer-first innovation, Shanai Ghosh, MD & CEO, Zuno General Insurance, said, “At Zuno, our goal is to turn insurance into a proactive safety partner. Zuno Smart Drive is an insurance that watches out for you, supports you in critical moments, and puts your safety first. With real-time crash detection, we’re taking a decisive leap forward— moving from reactive support to proactive safety. It’s a powerful example of how technology and empathy can come together to transform customer experience.”

According to the Annual Report on Road Accidents in India by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) available till 2022, India witnessed 461,312 road accidents, with over 168,000 fatalities—an 11.9% increase from 2021. The report highlights the need for advanced emergency response systems, which Zuno’s crash detection now aims to support.

For more information, visit https://www.hizuno.com

Thursday, June 12, 2025

Cool Dads Have A Strong Digital Game, These Visa Tips Will Make It Stronger


Dads never really got why we said “YOLO” back in the day, but it is crucial they speak the language of safe digital payments. This Father’s Day, Visa shares easy-to-remember acronyms to help all fathers make smarter and safer payment decisions.

TAP (Trust, Avoid, Protect): Trust only verified and secure terminals, Avoid unsecure public Wi-Fi networks and Protect your funds with two-factor authentication (2FA).

LOCK (Learn, Observe, Check, Keep): Stay ahead of fraud by learning about emerging scams. Observe payment pages with misspelled URLs or suspicious requests to steer clear of scams. Check your transaction alerts religiously. Keep payments in control via app passwords, card control features and travel-mode settings.

CARE (Check, Authenticate, Review, Ensure privacy): Before online purchases, check for the padlock icon and "https://" in the URL to verify the merchant is legitimate. Authenticate payments with a fingerprint or face scan. Review bank statements each month and ensure privacy — never save card information on unreliable sites.

ACT Fast (Alert, Contact, Terminate Fast): When fraud strikes, alert your bank immediately and contact relevant local authorities like Cybercrime Helpline (dial 1930). Terminate access to your funds by freezing your card and preventing further loss.

This Father’s Day, give your super dad the power of smart, secure digital payments. Bonus points for the coolest dads who tap to pay!

About Visa

Visa (NYSE: V) is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. We believe that economies that include everyone everywhere, uplift everyone everywhere and see access as foundational to the future of money movement. Learn more at Visa.com.

Beauty From Around The World, Now Under One Roof: BeautyXperience 2025 At Phoenix Mall of Asia, Bengaluru


* Three days of luxury, learning, and live entertainment featuring world-renowned brands and celebrity beauty experts

Phoenix Mall of Asia proudly presents BeautyXperience 2025, a premier three-day celebration of global beauty, style, and artistry, taking place from June 13 to 15 (Friday to Sunday) at Fan Park, Phoenix Mall of Asia, Bengaluru. With celebrity-led masterclasses, luxury brand showcases, immersive experiences, and evening musical performances, the stage is set for Bengaluru’s biggest celebration of beauty.

Curated for beauty enthusiasts, professionals, and trendsetters alike, the event offers a dynamic mix of pop-up beauty bars, skin consultations, mini makeovers, fragrance lounges and exclusive luxury sampling.

What’s in Store: 

Star Appearances & Masterclasses

Join actress Neha Sharma as she inaugurates BeautyXperience 2025, followed by expert-led sessions from celebrity makeup artist Sandhya Shekar and renowned beauty educator Bhumika Bahl through the weekend.

Live Music Every Evening

Enjoy soulful performances by StringFisher, Kanya, and the Fernandes Trio, adding rhythm and atmosphere to the glamour-filled evenings.

Beauty Meets Innovation

Explore the future of personal care with beauty-tech demos, hands-on tutorials, and backstage tips from the industry’s best.

Brand Showcases Under One Roof

Discover collections and exclusive drops from iconic brands like Dior, Armani, Yves Saint Laurent, Laura Mercier, Estée Lauder, Shiseido, L’Occitane, Clinique, Kiehl’s, Victoria’s Secret, Jo Malone London, Sephora, tira, Bobbi Brown, Parcos Luxe, MAC, Colorbar, Kama Ayurveda, mamaearth, Nykaa, Bath & Body Works, RUFFS, EYA Catchers, Tip & Toe, Typsy Beauty, health & glow, Toni&Guy, Naturali, RAS Luxury Oils, and more.

Event Schedule:

Day 1: Friday, 13 June 2025

Highlights: Inauguration by Neha Sharma, Masterclass by Gauri Kapoor

Time: Activities begin at 4:45 PM | Live Performance: StringFisher (7:30 PM – 9:00 PM)

Day 2: Saturday, 14 June 2025

Highlights: Masterclasses by NYKAA, Shiseido, Tira, and Sandhya Shekar

Time: Activities begin at 2:30 PM | Live Performance: Kanya (7:30 PM – 9:00 PM)

Day 3: Sunday, 15 June 2025

Highlights: Masterclasses by Laura Mercier, Typsy Beauty, Sephora, and Bhumika Bahl

Time: Activities begin at 2:30 PM | Live Performance: Fernandes Trio (7:30 PM – 9:00 PM)

Venue: Fan Park, 2nd Floor, Phoenix Mall of Asia, Bengaluru

Entry: Registration required. Sign up on the Phoenix Mall of Asia website to attend.

NUCFDC Launches “Sahakar PaathShaala”’ A National Training Programme For UCBs


National Urban Co-operative Finance & Development Corporation (NUCFDC) has launched “Sahakar PaathShaala” a national-level training and capacity-building program for Urban Cooperative Banks (UCBs). The inaugural session, held at the Cosmos Bank Head Office in Pune in presence of Shri Prabhat Chaturvedi, Chief Executive Officer, NUCFDC; Shri Padmabhushan Bahadure, Chief Technology Officer, NUCFDC; Shri Adv. Pralhad Kokare, Chairman, Cosmos Bank and Shri Sharad Gangal, Chairman, TJSB Sahakari Bank. The event saw the convergence of over 100 senior leaders, including CEOs and Directors from UCBs across Maharashtra, Gujarat, Telangana, and Karnataka.

Speaking about the initiative, Shri Prabhat Chaturvedi, CEO, NUCFDC said, “This is a defining step towards building a future-ready UCB sector. In alignment with the Government of India’s vision of 'Sahakar Se Samriddhi' to strengthen the cooperative sector, Sahakar PaathShaala aims to strengthen compliance frameworks for UCBs and empower them to become dynamic, digitally enabled, and future-ready institutions. This is not merely capacity building; it is a capacity transformation program. The program aims to boost sectoral excellence and chart sustainable growth for UCBs to thrive in in an evolving financial landscape”.

This structured, multi-dimensional learning platform offers practical insights into key areas such as KYC compliance, fraud risk mitigation, and treasury management. Designed specifically for UCBs, the program goes beyond knowledge-sharing to support institutions in meeting member goals and keeping pace with evolving regulatory demands. It emphasizes strengthening governance and compliance, cultivating agile leadership to manage risk and drive growth, building a digitally skilled workforce, and accelerating digital transformation through enhanced adoption of technology and IT tools.

NUCFDC also unveiled the 'Sahakar PaathShaala Digital Learning Platform'. This gamified, multilingual portal allows UCB professionals to learn flexibly, anytime, anywhere. Inaugurated by Shri Sharad Gangal, Chairman, TJSB Bank, the platform supports continuous learning in English and major regional languages.

Concurrently, NUCFDC rolled out the 'Sahakar PaathShaala Interactive Webinar Series', scheduled for the second and fourth Fridays of each month. These webinars will serve as an ongoing dialogue and learning forum for Chairmen, CEOs, and senior management of UCBs.

Ciklum Acquires India-Based CodeAstu To Scale Experience Engineering And Strengthen AI Edge


Ciklum, a global Experience Engineering leader, has today confirmed its acquisition of CodeAstu, a specialist in building high performance software. This deal significantly enhances Ciklum’s global delivery capabilities with the integration of CodeAstu's highly skilled team based in Pune, India, while also helping to cement Ciklum’s ongoing growth within the US market.

Ciklum has a global workforce of more than 4,000 people, with deep skills across engineering, design, product and consultancy. Ciklum creates digital products and exceptional customer experiences for a client base of more than 250 global enterprises and new digital disruptors, and has built a strong track record in next-generation product engineering and cutting-edge artificial intelligence.

CodeAstu is headquartered in Pune, India, and specializes in web and mobile application development, high performance computing as well as comprehensive DevOps consulting. The highly skilled team in India plays a pivotal role in CodeAstu's delivery excellence.

This acquisition further strengthens Ciklum’s existing spectrum of Experience Engineering capabilities, leveraging high performance computing to engineer dynamic and ultra-responsive digital products that elevate all touchpoints of the customer journey.

“CodeAstu brings not just technical excellence in high performance software development and data engineering, but a culture of precision and creativity that aligns perfectly with our vision for experience-led, AI-powered digital engineering,” said Raj Radhakrishnan, CEO of Ciklum. “Together, we’re not just scaling—we’re reimagining how world-class digital products are designed and delivered.”

“Joining forces with Ciklum unlocks a new chapter for CodeAstu,” said Santosh Mantri, CEO of CodeAstu. “With our shared passion for innovation and excellence, we’re poised to deliver next-generation digital solutions at global scale—combining deep engineering roots with bold, human-centered design.”

French-Caribbean Star David Walters Brings Soul Tropical Rhythms To India This Summer


* A Musical Celebration of Identity, Joy, and Global Sounds on the Occasion of Fête de la Musique

This June and July, India sways to the infectious rhythms of Soul Tropical as French-Caribbean musician David Walters embarks on his much-awaited India tour — a radiant musical journey blending Afro-Caribbean roots, soul, funk, and global grooves. This celebration of music, culture, and connection arrives as part of the international Fête de la Musique festival, observed every June across the world.

Presented by the French Institute in India and the Alliance Française network in India, this tour promises electrifying performances in cities including New Delhi, Chandigarh, Bhopal, Pune, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Kolkata, and Jaipur.

Walters, known for his genre-defying sonic palette and powerful stage presence, brings a deep emotional resonance to his performances. His latest album, Soul Tropical, is both a personal homage to his Caribbean heritage and a universal ode to joy and resilience. It features acclaimed collaborations with artists like Mario Canonge, Ballaké Sissoko, Flavia Coelho, and Captain Planet, weaving together sounds from Martinique, Guadeloupe, Cuba, Brazil, and Africa — all filtered through the vibrant energy of Marseille, Paris, Sheffield, and Los Angeles.

“This isn’t just music to listen to — it’s music to feel, to move to, to heal with,” says Walters. “Soul Tropical is about dancing through grief, reconnecting with family, and finding joy in shared rhythms.”

Event Details:

New Delhi                  18 June, 9:00 pm                      The Pianioman, Eldeco Centre, Saket

Chandigarh                19 June, 7:30 pm                      Tagore Theatre

Bhopal                         21 June, 7:00 pm                      Madhya Pradesh Tribal Museum

Pune                             22 June, 7:00 pm                      FC Road Social

Hyderabad                  24 June, 8: 00 pm                     EXT, Film Nagar

Bengaluru                   27 June, 7:30 pm                      Alliance Française de Bangalore

Kolkata                        01 July, 6:30 pm                      Indian Museum

Jaipur                           05 July, 7:00 pm                      Diggi Palace

*       Live concerts infused with island soul, dance beats, and tropical warmth

*       Free and ticketed events, depending on the venue

Full tour details and registration links: https://www.ifindia.in/event/david-walters

Why India?

David Walters' music is a testament to the universality of rhythm and melody. His previous collaborations with Indian artists, such as the fusion project with Rajasthan Roots and performances with Bangalore-based musicians, have showcased his ability to seamlessly blend Caribbean beats with Indian folk traditions.

Walters’ visit is more than a tour — it’s a cultural bridge. France’s deep-rooted connection to India through music, language, and artistic collaborations finds new expression in Soul Tropical, a perfect fit for the diverse, multilingual, and rhythm-loving Indian audience. The tour serves as a vibrant showcase of Fête de la Musique's original spirit — making music accessible, open, and alive in public spaces.

During his stops in Bengaluru, Kolkata, and Jaipur, the tour will take on a deeper, more collaborative turn. Walters will engage in intimate musical residencies with local folk musicians, co-creating new compositions that blend their distinct traditions with his tropical soundscapes.

About David Walters:

A multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, and globe-trotter, Walters has spent over two decades redefining the boundaries of world music. From his early hits like Awa to the critically acclaimed Nocturne, his work speaks to a global citizen's heart. Soul Tropical, released in 2023 under Heavenly Sweetness, is his most joyous and danceable project yet — a celebration of heritage and humanity.

This World Gin Day, Discover Hidden Jewels By BOMBAY SAPPHIRE – A Toast To The Striking Beauty In The World


This World Gin Day, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE invites audiences to step into a world of immersive beauty with Hidden Jewels – a collection of strikingly beautiful off-the-menu cocktails crafted by 50 of the most influential bartenders across the country.

From the cool stillness of Kashmir’s Dal Lake to the vibrant bustle of Jaipur’s markets, each Hidden Jewel is inspired by a place of wonder – and transformed into an immersive drink experience. Crafted by leading names like Zanngasung (Soho House, Mumbai), Prantik Haldar (The Bombay Canteen, Mumbai), Naval Bhatt (Lair, New Delhi), Shubham Meisnam (Sidecar, New Delhi), and many more, this limited-edition curation is an invitation to slow down and allow yourself to savour the world’s beauty.

A New Way of Savoring: Beauty in Every Sip

Earlier, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE brought together 50 of India’s top bartenders for an immersive experience in the wilds of Meghalaya. Through a series of workshops with indigenous artisans and chefs, the bartenders were inspired to observe, immerse, and draw from the striking beauty all around. The result is a new form of cocktail craftsmanship — one where every detail, from colour and aroma to garnishing and flavour, evokes a deeper sense of place and purpose – inviting you to stop in your tracks and be enamored by their striking beauty.

Adtnu Tiwari, Category Lead, Premium White Spirits, shared, “Across India, we are seeing a growing desire for experiences that invite us to pause, discover, and truly savour moments with friends and family. With Hidden Jewels, we are bringing elevated drinking experiences with cocktails that reframe how beauty shows up behind the bar – compelling us to observe, immerse, and feel moments that go on to become cherished memories,”

Top Hidden Jewels to discover this month

Launching this World Gin Month (June), these cocktails are waiting to be discovered at leading bars across Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Goa, Hyderabad, Jaipur, and Kolkata. From the golden glow of Rajasthan's Thar Desert captured in Desert Bloom (Bar Spirit Forward, Bengaluru); the natural beauty of Rhododendron Trail of Sikkim in The Daily Bloom (SOKA, Bengaluru) and Footsteps and Flavours (Ioya Bar, Bengaluru); the lush Darjeeling Tea Fields in West Bengal in Breakfast Champagne (ZLB23, Bengaluru); the stillness of Laxmanpur Beach in Andaman captured in Summer Bloom (Dali & Gala, Bengaluru); the scenic wonders of Monsoon in the Western Ghats in Tympew (Copitas, Bengaluru); the laid back Alleppy Backwaters, Kerala in Alleppy Elements (Monkey Bar, Bengaluru); to the serenity of Kashmir’s Dal Lake in The Lake View (Siren Cocktail Bar, Bengaluru), get ready to experience the surreal moments that draw you in, poured into a glass at top bars in your city.

About Bombay Sapphire

Bombay Sapphire is a world-leading premium gin, crafted in England since 1987. Renowned for its iconic blue bottle, the gin is distilled using a signature vapor infusion process and a unique blend of ten hand-selected botanicals, including juniper, almond, coriander, and grains of paradise, resulting in a clean, bright, and balanced flavour.

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