— BRANDS —

August 13, 2020

Contemporary Ethnicwear Brand, Melange by Lifestyle, Announces Deepika Padukone as Brand Ambassador

• The brand also launched its new collection that captures the season’s vibrancy with the latest trends, designs, and styles.

Photo: Deepika Padukone for Melange by Lifestyle.

BANGALORE, India, Aug. 11, 2020 — In addition to launching its new collection, Melange by Lifestyle, India’s leading ethnic wear brand, announced actor and style icon - Deepika Padukone, its brand ambassador. This collaboration further strengthens the brand ethos of ‘Rethink Ethnic’ and epitomizes the versatile, eclectic style of modern Indian women.

Comprising key trends, quintessential season favorites, and contemporary styles & silhouettes, the curated collection is a delight. The ever-popular ‘florals’ has been re-imagined in new shapes and prints. The ‘Work from Home’ collection featuring the Linen range brings together fashion and utility. The group has recreated traditional paisley into a contemporary version with an exciting mix of styles. Accents of gold prints, embellishments, and jewel tones come together to make every special occasion more elegant. The collection showcases Lucknowi Chikankari in a modern style with chic minimal embroideries and contemporary silhouettes.

Speaking on the announcement and launch, Mr. Rishi Vasudev, Executive Director, Lifestyle International Pvt. Ltd., said, “Melange by Lifestyle has always celebrated the style sensibilities of modern Indian women who are strong and confident. Our brand ambassador Deepika Padukone captures this bold and individualistic style that Melange represents. Being one of India’s most recognized brands across marketplaces, Melange continues to push boundaries by ‘rethinking’ ethnic wear and all that it has to offer. I look forward to our customers being delighted by the new collection that brings forth some remarkable pieces, perfect for every occasion.”

Deepika Padukone, Brand Ambassador, Melange by Lifestyle, said, “Melange by Lifestyle has managed to capture the essence of the modern Indian woman beautifully. I am delighted to be announced as the brand ambassador for Melange by Lifestyle and look forward to the journey ahead!”

From the ‘Work from Home’ range to elegant occasionwear, customers can now step into the spotlight and give their wardrobe a stylish makeover with the new Melange by Lifestyle collection. The collection is available in over 400 stores and leading online portals & marketplaces in India, including exclusive Melange by Lifestyle stores and lifestylestores.com, where customers can shop from the convenience of their home.

Lifestyle is India’s leading fashion destination for the latest trends. Part of Dubai based retail and hospitality conglomerate - The Landmark Group, Lifestyle brings multiple categories including men, women, and kids’ apparel, footwear, handbags, fashion accessories and beauty under the convenience of a single roof. Lifestyle provides seamless and hassle-free shopping, offering leading national and international brands and the comfort of real omnichannel experience with its online store lifestylestores.com.

Source: Lifestyle Stores

|GlobalGiants.Com|

Edited & Posted by Surender Hastir | 2:31 AM | View the original post

August 12, 2020

OMEGA Goes Platinum-Gold For New James Bond Watch

Cutting-edge style and innovation have always been essential parts of the James Bond story. In keeping with that legacy, OMEGA has now delivered a brand new Seamaster Diver 300M James Bond Numbered Edition, offering plenty of high-tech details for 007 fans to enjoy.

OMEGA has been equipping James Bond with its Seamaster timepieces since GoldenEye in 1995. This exceptional new release is a celebration of that partnership and provides a new addition to the 007 collections.

For an extraordinary look, the 42 mm case is crafted in platinum-gold, with a platinum-gold plate on its side, engraved with each Numbered Edition number.

As part of the OMEGA James Bond collection launched last year, this watch also includes a hidden number 50 within the Super-LumiNova of the 10 o’clock index - a reference to the 50th anniversary of the James Bond film On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. Elsewhere on the dial, you can find a 007 logo at 7 o’clock on the white enamel minute track. There are 18K white gold features on the hands and indexes, and there are Bond family coat-of-arms at the 12 o’clock mark.

Source: OMEGA

|GlobalGiants.Com|

Edited & Posted by Surender Hastir | 7:29 AM | View the original post

August 11, 2020

Standard Chartered Bank partners with Microsoft to become a cloud-first bank.

SINGAPORE and REDMOND, WASHINGTON., Aug. 11, 2020 — Standard Chartered Bank and Microsoft Corp. on Tuesday announced a three-year strategic partnership to accelerate the bank’s digital transformation through a cloud-first strategy. This partnership marks a significant milestone for Standard Chartered in making its vision for virtual banking, next-generation payments, open banking, and banking-as-a-service a reality. Leveraging Azure as a preferred cloud platform, the companies will also co-innovate in free banking and real-time payments to help the bank unlock new banking experiences for clients.

Standard Chartered Bank is a leading international banking group.

As part of its digital transformation, Standard Chartered will adopt a multi-cloud approach. Significant applications, including its core banking and trading systems and new digital ventures such as virtual banking and banking-as-a-service, will be cloud-based by 2025, subject to regulatory approvals. The bank will also adopt a cloud-first principle for all new software developments and significant enhancements.

As technology reshapes the banking industry, Standard Chartered recognizes that a cloud-first strategy is critical to the bank’s ambition to make banking simpler, faster, and more convenient. By being digital-first, the bank will meet the demand for seamless banking virtually anytime, anywhere, and make banking more accessible to people across its network.

Michael Gorriz, Group Chief Information Officer of Standard Chartered, said, “Cloud is a cornerstone of Standard Chartered’s strategy to meet our clients’ present and future banking needs. Cloud providers have invested massively in the reliability and automation of infrastructure and platforms. Using cloud services improves our ability to be agile and innovative while increasing our operational efficiency and resilience. As the financial industry disruption continues, we can focus on client benefits by deploying our solutions quicker and allowing for faster integration of new business models and partners. To realize our digital ambitions, Standard Chartered has chosen Microsoft as a strategic partner, and this partnership marks a major milestone for the bank in adopting a cloud-first approach.”

Bhupendra Warathe, Chief Technology Officer, Cloud Transformation at Standard Chartered, added, “The pandemic has shone a spotlight on the need for businesses and banks to be resilient. With the increasing trend of an always-on digital economy, commercial and consumer clients are looking for applications and services that empower them to do online banking flexibly and efficiently. The speed and scale of Azure’s continuous innovation allow us to innovate with the latest AI services to meet evolving client needs. We can pilot new apps in one market and scale them rapidly across others. It is especially important for a bank with a footprint as broad and diverse as ours.”

Standard Chartered will adopt Microsoft Azure as a preferred cloud platform to meet the bank’s need for resilient data centers and cloud services and addressing customers’ security, privacy and compliance requirements across the bank’s global footprint.

The first set of capabilities to move to Microsoft Azure will be Standard Chartered’s trade finance systems, allowing seamless cross-border trade for the bank’s corporate and institutional clients.

The partnership will also advance the bank’s digital workplace transformation with Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Teams providing modern productivity and collaboration tools to Standard Chartered’s 84,000 employees across its 60 markets.

Bill Borden, Corporate Vice President of Worldwide Financial Services at Microsoft, said, “Cloud computing is an enabler for financial institutions to modernize their infrastructure and systems. They gain the agility they need to respond to competitive pressures, regulatory environments, and customer demand. We are committed to helping Standard Chartered Bank in its ongoing digital transformation journey as it strives to address evolving customer needs and build the next generation of banking experiences.”

Source: Microsoft Corporation

|GlobalGiants.Com|

Edited & Posted by Surender Hastir | 2:15 PM | View the original post

Michelin Announces 2021 Road Atlas with Featured Driving Tours for Summer and Fall Getaways

GREENVILLE, S.C., Aug. 10, 2020 — As a map publisher and leading mobility company, Michelin is debuting a new road atlas for travelers in North America. The 2021 Road Atlas: USA CANADA MEXICO features exclusive driving tours from the famous Green Guide collection.

According to the AAA 2020 Summer Travel Forecast, Americans will take over 700 million trips from July through September. Road trips will account for 97% of all summer travel, making it the most preferred form of transportation this summer.

Travelers will enjoy nearly 30 scenic drives across the U.S., from Alaska’s glaciers to Arizona’s deserts to Maine’s coast. Michelin’s driving tours guide travelers around North America with stops in national and state parks along the way. Six drives across Canada take travelers from the otherworldly Alberta Badlands to the Canadian Rockies, with a stop at stunning Banff National Park.

“Michelin has guided travelers to the best trails, hotels, and culinary destinations for more than 120 years. It is excited to offer a new version of its road atlas,” said Eileen Osteen, director of travel guides and map sales for Michelin North America. “As travelers pivot to road trips during the pandemic recovery, Michelin’s new 2021 Road Atlas is the ultimate companion for inspiring local and regional drives.”

The 2021 Road Atlas also includes 1,000 travel center locations for accessible pit stops. A unique format with flip-of-the-page navigation enables travelers to select a destination from the main map easily. Travelers will find 245 inset city maps and GPS coordinates to more than 2,500 parks in this new spiral-bound edition.

Michelin is a French multinational tire manufacturer based in Clermont-Ferrand in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes région of France. Headquartered in Greenville, S.C., Michelin North America operates 19 major manufacturing plants.

Source: Michelin North America

|GlobalGiants.Com|

Edited & Posted by Surender Hastir | 1:47 AM | View the original post

August 9, 2020

HP Unveils its Best Family Printer — Smart, intuitive interface, designed for the home.

PALO ALTO, Calif., August 7, 2020 — HP Inc. has unveiled its new HP ENVY 6000 printer series, a naturally intuitive device designed for today’s families who lead vibrant, busy lives where work, school, and life intersect.

“Families continue to not only work from home but also look for fun ways to keep their kids learning at home over the summer. We wanted to make their printing experience effortless,” said Xavier Garcia, Global Head and General Manager, Print Hardware Solutions, HP Inc. “Our new printers introduced today were designed for those adapting to remote working and learning, offering easy setup solutions with a smart control panel that intuitively lights up when needed.”

Key features of the new ENVY printers include:

• Innovative design and smart device user experience

• Beautiful, industrial design for contemporary homes - made with more than 20% recycled plastic by weight.
• The intelligent and intuitive user interface makes device interactions seamless with guided edge lighting that indicates printer status; buttons appear when needed.
• Self-healing dual-band Wi-Fi keeps families connected and prevents interruptions.

• Effortless to use with the HP Smart app

• Simple printer set up for all the devices in the home.
• Easily print, scan, copy, and even fax all from your mobile device.
• Access to hundreds of free learning printables.

• Never run out of ink with Instant Ink delivery service.

• Replacement cartridges are automatically delivered when you need them.

“HP Inc. creates technology that makes life better for everyone everywhere. Through our product and service portfolio of personal systems, printers, and 3D printing solutions, we engineer experiences that amaze,” the company stated.

Source: HP, Inc.

|GlobalGiants.Com|

Edited & Posted by Surender Hastir | 7:17 AM | View the original post

August 8, 2020

Coca-Cola India unveils Two New Minute Maid Brands to mark its Entry into Immunity-boosting Beverages.

Photos: Coca-Cola India Brings Delightful Fruit Nutrition with two new products: Minute Maid Nutriforce and Minute Maid Vita Punch, made with Indian farmers’ fruits. Images provided by & copyright © Coca-Cola India.

New Delhi, August 7, 2020 — Coca-Cola India has reiterated its commitment as a ‘Total Beverage Company with strong local roots.’ It said it continues to invest in India’s essence by advancing beverage localization, celebrating farmers, and catering to the evolving needs of Indian consumers. Today, the company, under its master brand Minute Maid, introduced two new products delivering some of the daily essential nutrition requirements, made with fruits grown by Indian farmers. Minute Maid Nutriforce and Minute Maid Vita Punch offer much-needed benefits of mental agility and immunity, demonstrating a commitment to expand the company’s portfolio of delightful nutrition for everyday occasions.

Expansion of brand Minute Maid with the introduction of the new beverages also underlines Coca-Cola India’s focus on the ‘Fruit Circular Economy’ initiative, enabling farmers to increase their yield by sourcing fruits to launch fruit-based drinks.

T. Krishnakumar - President, Coca-Cola India, and Southwest Asia, said, “Coca-Cola remains grounded in its purpose to craft meaningful brands and offer its consumers a choice of drinks that refresh the body and spirit. Our long-term strategy entails offering more and more fruit-based beverages in line with consumer preferences. The expansion of our portfolio of nutritious juices under Minute Maid is in line with our aim to nourish every Indian and become India’s first choice in Fruit Nutrition. It also marks another step towards our commitment to the nation and its farmers.”

Minute Maid Vita Punch is a range of delicious fruit cocktails crafted from Indian fruit recipes that provide 100% of one’s daily requirement of Vitamin C to support immunity. It also marks Coca-Cola India’s entry into the nascent category of immunity-boosting beverages. Minute Maid Nutriforce is designed especially for Indian mothers who are seeking nutritious choices for their growing children. Minute Maid Nutriforce blends the great taste of Kashmiri apple juice with Iron, Zinc, and other essential vitamins that support cognition and mental sharpness.

Vijay Parasuraman - Vice President - Marketing, Coca-Cola India and Southwest Asia, added, “With the changing times, consumers are now opting for beverage options with health benefits - as their approach towards health and wellness is also transforming drastically. We developed the new beverages keeping in mind consumers’ requirements as they adapt to the ‘new normal.’ Made with fruits grown on Indian soil by Indian farmers, the latest additions to our delightful nutrition portfolio under Minute Maid Masterbrand are focused on solving our consumers’ real problems these times.”

Coca-Cola in India is one of the country’s leading beverage companies, offering a range of healthy, safe, high quality, refreshing beverage options to consumers. Since its re-entry in 1993, the company has been refreshing consumers with its various beverage products.

Source: Coca-Cola India

|GlobalGiants.Com|

Minute Maid Pulpy Orange - EAT IT, DRINK IT!

Edited & Posted by Surender Hastir | 1:06 AM | View the original post

August 7, 2020

Made in India for the World − Kia Motors unveils the Sonet.

• Sonet offers first-in-class diesel six-speed automatic, alongside a wide choice of powertrains.

• It has a revolutionary intelligent manual transmission for fatigue-free driving.

• Developed ground-up to set new benchmarks in design, technology, dynamics, and safety.

• Sonet is Kia’s latest made-in-India product for the world.

• Offers 30+ segment-best features and 57 UVO Connect features, including voice assistance.

• The bold and distinctive design reflects Kia’s dominant design DNA, for spirited and young-at-heart consumers.

Photos: KIA Sonet. Images provided by & copyright © Kia Motors Corporation.

Kia Motors Corporation, one of the world’s largest automakers, revealed the Kia Sonet to the world today in a digital presentation. Manufactured at Kia’s state-of-the-art production facility at Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, the Sonet is Kia’s all-new smart urban compact SUV, and the brand’s latest made-in-India global product after the Seltos. The new Sonet marks Kia Motors’ entry into the burgeoning small SUV segment and sets new benchmarks with its first-in-class features.

The world premiere of the production-ready model follows the global unveiling of the Sonet concept at the Delhi Auto Expo in February 2020. Sales of the new car will begin in India followed by sales in many of Kia’s global markets.

“Kia Motors continues to be recognized globally through products which offer exquisite design and world-class quality, along with ‘The Power to Surprise.’ Everything about the all-new Sonet is uniquely Kia and is sure to delight both drivers and passengers,” said Ho Sung Song, president and CEO at Kia Motors Corporation. “With its aggressive and modern design language, fun-to-drive dynamics, and Kia’s latest high-tech features, the Sonet puts an exclamation point on our ambition to make Kia the brand of choice. The Sonet fills a need in the growing SUV market, in India and further afield, and will attract a wider number of consumers to the Kia brand.”

“We are extremely excited to introduce the Sonet — Made in India for the World. After the success of the Seltos and Carnival, we are confident that Kia will revolutionize yet another market segment in India with the Sonet addressing the unmet needs and aspirations of customers,” said Kookhyun Shim, MD, and CEO at Kia Motors India. “The Kia Sonet is designed and developed to deliver a best-in-class experience in quality, design, technology, features, and drivability to attract a wide spectrum of customers across segments. Kia’s state-of-the-art Anantapur plant will produce Sonet to Kia’s exacting global standards. We are sure the new customers and existing fans of the brand would receive it with enthusiasm.”

Kia explained that the all-new Sonet incorporates Kia’s DNA of emotive styling and a premium and youthful appeal to create a strong road presence. Displaying a dynamic stance in a confident, compact body, the Sonet showcases a range of styling attributes that stand apart on roads around the world. It includes a fresh interpretation of Kia’s signature ‘tiger-nose’ grille, flanked by ‘heartbeat’ LED DRLs (daytime running lights), shaped like the electric pulse of a heart, with a stylish front skid plate beneath.

Inside, the Sonet design around the driver is well laid-out with easy-to-use connected infotainment, cluster interface, and high-quality materials. Despite compact exterior dimensions, the interior of the Sonet offers ample, ergonomic space for all passengers.

The Sonet has multiple segment-first features offering complete comfort, convenience, safety, and optimum driving pleasure to customers. That includes:

• Largest and best-in-class 10.25-inch (26.03 cm) HD touchscreen with navigation and live traffic.
• Smart Pure Air Purifier with virus protection
• BOSE Premium seven-speaker audio with sub-woofer
• Ventilated driver and front-passenger seats
• LED Sound Mood Lighting
• The remote engine starts for automatic and manual transmission via UVO Connect and Smart Key.
• Over-the-air (OTA) map updates
• Multi-drive & traction modes and grip control for automatic models.
• Wireless smartphone charger with cooling function

The all-new Kia Sonet is a testament to Kia’s focus on consumer insight-driven product innovation and orientation. Kia has targeted Sonet towards the young generation who are tech-savvy, aspirational, and highly connected socially. The Sonet will be launched in India this festive season, in line with Kia Motors India’s promise of offering an all-new product every six to nine months, the company stated.

Source: Kia Motors Corporation

|GlobalGiants.Com|

2020 Kia Sonet - Kia’s next big thing.

Edited & Posted by Surender Hastir | 7:50 AM | View the original post

August 6, 2020

Nespresso Invests CHF 160 Million in the Expansion of its Romont Production Center in Switzerland to meet Growing Consumer Demand Worldwide.

• 300 new jobs created over the next ten years in a world-class ‘sustainable by design’ production center.

Photo: Nespresso farmer in Columbia. Image Credit: Nespresso.

Photo: Nespresso Vertuo coffee capsules. Image Credit: Nespresso.

Photo: Nespresso Romont production center in Switzerland. Image Credit: Nespresso.

LAUSANNE, Switzerland, August 4, 2020 — Nespresso has announced a CHF 160 million investment to expand its Romont production center in Switzerland to meet increasing consumer demand for its high-quality premium coffees and support international development in the coming years.

“Despite the challenging times we have all been living in, this strategic long term investment reconfirms Nespresso’s continuous business success and leadership in the portioned coffee segment, which we pioneered back in 1986,” said Guillaume Le Cunff, CEO of Nespresso. “It also demonstrates our continued commitment to our Swiss roots and the long-term economic development of the region and the country, with which we share values of quality, innovation, and expertise.”

“These are the kind of announcements that feel good in times of crisis. Nespresso confirms that large international groups can produce competitively in our region. It’s also an investment that strengthens our region in the bio-economy field with which I’m very pleased,” said Olivier Curty, State Councillor and Director of Economic Affairs and Employment at the Canton of Fribourg.

The Romont factory, inaugurated in 2015, is the center of excellence for the production of Nespresso’s Vertuo coffees now available in 21 countries across North America, Europe, and Asia. Vertuo is a versatile system that makes freshly brewed coffee in 5 different cup sizes using the innovative Centrifusion technology that recognizes the bar code on the capsule and adjusts the amount of water, speed of extraction, and temperature to deliver a perfect cup of coffee.

Switzerland produces all Nespresso coffees distributed worldwide. Over the past ten years, in addition to ongoing investment in its business, Nespresso has invested CHF 700 million in its three Swiss-based production centers in the cantons of Vaud and Fribourg. The know-how and passion of more than 1,000 skilled factory employees transform sustainably grown coffee beans into the highest quality coffees.

“Thanks to Nespresso, Romont has become a reference for coffee. This new investment is a gift for an entire region and the pursuit of an extraordinary adventure. It is up to us, political leaders, to ensure that everyone finds their place in healthy and sustainable development. With our small and medium-sized businesses and companies like Nespresso, if the “Little Prince” were Glânois, he would undoubtedly say, “I have always loved this region. We sit on the hill, close our eyes, drink our coffee, guess the flavors, and something shines in silence,” said Willy Schorderet, Préfet de la Glâne.

“Good news for our municipality as we see that the objectives Nespresso gave us at the beginning of the project have been achieved. Romont will be able to position itself as a city of international influence and excellence. Romont, the expert city for Glass and Coffee, here is a slogan we could use to promote our city,” said Jean-Denis Cornu, Vice-syndic for the town of Romont.

Over the past ten years, Nestlé has invested, on average, CHF 300 million every year in its infrastructures and operations in Switzerland. Firmly rooted in its home country, Nestlé has 11 production centers and 4 Research & Development sites located in Switzerland.

While investing in supporting its operations, Nespresso is also committed to its sustainability ambition, that every cup of Nespresso coffee has a positive impact on the world. All three Nespresso production centers are ‘zero waste to landfill.’ Production processes are optimized to ensure that heat and water are recovered and reused whenever possible. In the existing facility in Romont, the heat from the coffee roasters is recovered and used to pre-heat the green coffee and the factory itself.

Romont was the first production center in Switzerland, and thus the first factory for Nestlé in Switzerland as well, to achieve the LEED® Gold certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) in 2015.

This certification covers the energy and water-efficiency of an industrial building. It also weighs aspects such as employees’ health and well-being at the workplace and infrastructure for environmentally-friendly mobility. Some examples of the various initiatives carried out by Nespresso to meet the LEED® requirements include the use of 20% recycled construction materials and an 18% decrease in the site’s energy consumption, thanks to heat recovery from the roasters, triple glazing, and the use of LED lighting. The LEED® certification extends Nespresso’s sustainability commitments and forms part of its global sustainability strategy, The Positive Cup.

Nestlé Nespresso SA is the pioneer and reference for the highest-quality portioned coffee. The company works with more than 110,000 farmers in 14 countries through its AAA Sustainable Quality™ Program to embed sustainability practices on farms and the surrounding landscapes. Launched in 2003 in collaboration with the NGO The Rainforest Alliance, the program improves the yield and quality of harvests while protecting the environment and improving the livelihoods of farmers and their communities.

Headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, Nespresso operates in 84 countries and has 14,250 employees. In 2019, it ran a global retail network of 810 boutiques. The brand currently has more than 100’000 points to globally collect its used capsules, enabling 91% of its consumers to recycle.

Source: Nespresso

|GlobalGiants.Com|

Nespresso

Lattissima One | One Touch Cappuccino - how to

Simply fill the milk jug with the amount of milk you want for your drink. The Lattissima One will froth it directly into your cup and brew your coffee for a perfect coffee & milk drink.

Edited & Posted by Surender Hastir | 11:07 AM | View the original post

August 4, 2020

Renault DP World F1 Team makes a dramatic finish in 2020 Formula 1 Pirelli British Grand Prix, Sunday.

Photos: 2020 Formula 1 British Grand Prix - RENAULT. Images provided by Renault © XPB / JAMES MOY PHOTOGRAPHY.

Renault DP World F1 Team made a dramatic finish in the Pirelli British Grand Prix with Daniel Ricciardo fourth and Esteban Ocon sixth after a thrilling final few laps at Silverstone.

With the race drawing to a close, the team made a good haul of points with Daniel occupying sixth and Esteban eighth. But debris left on the track in sector two meant Valtteri Bottas and Carlos Sainz picked up punctures allowing both drivers to gain places. Daniel further benefitted after overtaking Lando Norris just before the incidents, before finishing just 1.1seconds from a podium place.

The result matches Daniel’s best finish in Renault colors - fourth in the 2019 Italian Grand Prix - with Esteban claiming his best effort in Formula 1 since the 2018 Italian Grand Prix.

After a lightning start, Daniel gained two positions on the opening lap, progressing from eighth to sixth. Esteban was also out the blocks quickly - side by side with Daniel into the opening two corners - before maintaining ninth place by the end of the first lap.

After an early safety car, both drivers remained out on Soft tires. A second safety car on lap 12 allowed the team to double-stack both cars with Daniel first for Hards and Esteban immediately following suit for the same compound, with minimal time lost courtesy of a slick change from the pit crew. The midfield fight from fifth through to tenth was tight throughout with Daniel and Esteban showing solid race pace and looking set for a solid points haul.

Esteban managed to make his move on Lance Stroll for eighth before benefitting from Bottas and Sainz’s punctures with Daniel diving for a late move on Norris to snatch fourth.

Daniel Ricciardo — started P8, finished P4:
“It was a crazy race at the end, and it feels cool to take fourth place. We made a good start, jumped up to sixth, and we showed a decent pace. At the safety car restart, I was close to Carlos [Sainz] but didn’t have enough, and that allowed Lando [Norris] to have a run on me, and I missed out there. That was a bit frustrating, but it came back to us at the end. The race came alive, and that was good. We had some pace at the end, and I was able to get Lando, and then Carlos had a problem. I saw Charles [Leclerc] getting closer, and maybe with a couple more laps, we could have had a podium! We have another chance next week. Some chaos assisted us, but we were a top-six car today, and that’s pleasing.”

Esteban Ocon — started P9, finished P6:
“I’m delighted with today’s team result. It was enjoyable out there, lots of overtaking, lots of fun battles and a fantastic result to finish it off. I think today shows how fast our car is in the race. It felt awesome today, and it was a strong performance from the team. It’s a credit to everyone at Enstone and Viry for their hard work between Budapest and this race. We had a lot of discussions, and that paid off today. It proves that we need to qualify further up to make our life easier on Sunday. We have another opportunity next week for more.”

Source: Renault

|GlobalGiants.Com|

Sainz ⚔️ Ricciardo ⚔️ Norris = MEGA 👀#BritishGP 🇬🇧 #F1 pic.twitter.com/RCilKxxE6L

— Formula 1 (@F1) August 3, 2020

P4 for @danielricciardo matched his best finish for @RenaultF1Team

And it sounds like a podium bet made with the boss is still going 🎧 👀#BritishGP 🇬🇧 #F1 pic.twitter.com/gVZUqtemgI

— Formula 1 (@F1) August 3, 2020

Edited & Posted by Surender Hastir | 5:58 AM | View the original post

July 31, 2020

Mastercard collaborates with Microsoft to accelerate Innovation across Digital Commerce and Startup Ecosystems.

• The collaboration will build pathways to financial security and provide tools for sustainable growth.

Purchase, NY & Redmond, Wash. | July 30, 2020. — On Tuesday, Mastercard and Microsoft Corp. announced a collaboration to shape the future of digital commerce, drive startup innovation and enable financial inclusion. The partnership will accelerate Mastercard Labs’ cloud-native research and development activities, facilitated by Azure and AI, to advance Mastercard Labs’ mission to de-risk and commercialize emerging technologies and platforms for digital commerce. Through access to technical expertise and cutting-edge techniques, Mastercard’s partners will get further empowered to build and securely scale new solutions.

“We are thrilled to deepen our longstanding relationship with Microsoft by advancing the research, development, and scaling of new technologies and business models,” said Ken Moore, executive vice president and head of Mastercard Labs. “This strategic collaboration will strengthen and extend our cloud services and capabilities for clients and fintech partners, sparking innovation, and creativity for the ecosystem. It will enable us to explore opportunities focused on new client segments, technologies, and trends as we continue to drive financial inclusion and build the future of commerce.”

“Mastercard’s commitment to innovation and financial inclusion has accelerated digital commerce for individuals and businesses worldwide,” said Judson Althoff, executive vice president of Microsoft’s Worldwide Commercial Business. “We look forward to building on our strong relationship and accelerating co-innovation to help connect and power a digital economy for everyone, everywhere.”

• Empowering fintech innovation, advancing digital commerce

Capitalizing on Mastercard’s global network and leveraging Azure’s global reach, the collaboration will enable Mastercard’s ecosystem of partners to explore the use of emerging innovations and new commerce capabilities such as devices that facilitate digital payments in new ways. Through access to Azure technologies, augmented and virtual reality, and the Internet of Things, fintech partners will be empowered to create new user experiences to advance how consumers, businesses, and governments exchange value.

Mastercard’s Start Path program has assisted with the development of over 230 fintech companies worldwide, democratizing access to financial services. The collaboration will expand support for the fintech community by helping diversify and build new businesses, and create and scale new cloud-first digital products and services.

• Enabling financial inclusion

Mastercard and Microsoft share a commitment to ensuring people in underserved communities have access to digital products and services to realize their full potential. The collaboration will advance Mastercard’s vision to improve people’s lives by building pathways to financial security and access to critical services. The Azure cloud environment will serve as the native infrastructure for Mastercard Labs’ inclusion efforts and support Mastercard Community Pass. This platform pulls together complex ecosystems and provides underserved communities with access to essential services, such as education, agriculture marketplaces, and primary healthcare.

Microsoft Azure provides Mastercard — and the ecosystems they jointly serve — with a scalable and flexible platform imperative for establishing secure connections and protecting data, co-innovating with partners, and delivering access to financial services.

Mastercard is a global technology company in the payments industry. Its mission is to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere by making transactions safe, simple, smart, and accessible.

Microsoft enables digital transformation for the era of an intelligent cloud and a creative edge. Its mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.

Sources: Mastercard, Microsoft.

|GlobalGiants.Com|

Edited & Posted by Surender Hastir | 3:20 AM | View the original post

July 30, 2020

Kia Motors India releases official images of all−new Kia Sonet.

• Powerful new compact SUV boasts Kia’s iconic design DNA and a bold and powerful stance.

• The cabin combines sophistication and advanced ergonomics with sweeping shapes and striking technical details.

• First-in-segment features include digital cluster, 10.25-inch HD touchscreen, and Sound Mood Lighting.

• Aimed at young-at-heart, tech-savvy buyers looking for a sophisticated modern design with fascinating features and an unmatched sense of dynamism.

Photos: Kia Sonet. Images provided by & copyright © Kia Motors Corporation.

Kia Motors India, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kia Motors Corporation, has today released official images of its upcoming Sonet compact SUV. The production-ready Kia Sonet has a distinctive and dynamic design, as well as many first-in-segment features. First showcased at the Auto Expo 2020 as a concept, the all-new Kia Sonet would make its world premiere on August 7, making a bold statement in the compact SUV segment.

Manufactured in India, the Kia Sonet has a sophisticated and lively cabin featuring a smooth, sweeping dashboard and a stylish, minimalist center console that offers easy on-the-go access to its class-leading features. The general ambiance is both youthful and luxurious - ideal for young-at-heart, always-connected consumers.

The Sonet’s interior is modern, vibrant, and offers a high sense of dynamism to drivers. The company has designed it to maximize driver and passenger comfort. Its dashboard provides owners with the car’s full range of user-friendly features, including a two-layer tray to store mobile devices and other items. The center stage is its high-tech digital display and instrument cluster, which features a first-in-segment 10.25-inch HD touchscreen and navigation system with UVO Connected technologies. The Sonet will also offer drivers steering wheel-mounted controls and select a different drive and traction modes. Air vents in the dashboard feature a metallic, diamond-knurled pattern, a chic and stylish design highlight.

The Sonet’s emotive and bold design combines the brand’s signature design traits, including the iconic ‘tiger-nose’ grille, with a three-dimensional ‘stepwell’ geometric grille mesh, making a strong visual impression inspired by Indian architecture. The distinctive LED headlamps reiterate the ‘Wild by Design’ theme, which has inspired the Sonet, giving it a great appearance that genuinely stands out on the road. It projects an aggressive stance with a rugged appeal.

“We are extremely excited to introduce the new Kia Sonet to the world, a compact SUV with a muscular and robust character found only in much larger vehicles. With this in mind, we have designed this SUV with a uniquely sporty attitude, a confident stance, and a dynamic silhouette. The great cultural heritage that our designers found all over India inspired its uncompromising attention to detail and selection of colors and materials,” said Karim Habib, Senior Vice President and Head of Kia Global Design at Kia Motors Corporation. “We believe the Kia Sonet’s compelling character will hold significant appeal for young, aspirational, and always-connected customers in India and beyond.”

Safety is a crucial consideration for all Kia Motors vehicles, and the Sonet will feature an extensive list of active and passive safety equipment. It will come equipped with up to six airbags - offering a class-leading combination of front, side, and curtain protection for occupants.

The Sonet is Kia’s latest ‘Made-in-India’ product. It will be available in many of the brand’s global markets.

Source: Kia Motors Corporation

|GlobalGiants.Com|

Kia Sonet | Coming Soon | #TheNextLevelOfWild

Edited & Posted by Surender Hastir | 6:05 AM | View the original post

July 27, 2020

Maruti Suzuki Swift celebrates 15 years in India.

• Segment creator with over 2.2 million cumulative sales.

• Segment leader for 14 years since its inception.

Photo: Maruti Suzuki Swift. Image provided by & copyright © Maruti Suzuki.

New Delhi: India’s premium hatchback, Maruti Suzuki Swift, celebrates the completion of 15 brilliant years. Launched in 2005, Swift heralded the start of the premium hatchback segment in India. It has created a bright legacy with superior driving experience, excellent customer fan following, acceptance, and delight.

The sporty Maruti Suzuki Swift, with its global styling, and an engine tuned specially to deliver outstanding performance, is the most awarded premium hatchback in the country, the company said.

According to Maruti Suzuki, with more than 2.2 million happy customers, Swift has been the number one Premium Hatchback for 14 years. The third-generation Maruti Suzuki Swift with a bold and distinctive look, sweptback led headlamps, aggressive front grille, and cockpit-style interiors exudes sportiness. Coupled with i-create, which enables consumers to make their own unique Swift, it has become a favorite amongst the younger car buyers. These have helped the Swift garner close to 30% market share and capture the pole position in the premium hatchback segment in FY 2019-20, the company explained.

Speaking on Swift’s success, Mr. Shashank Srivastava, Executive Director (Marketing & Sales), Maruti Suzuki India Limited, said, “Brand Swift was the first model that challenged many notions around hatchbacks. More than a car, it was a refreshing new thought process. We designed it to be bold and aggressive, and at the same time, be reliable and economical. It had features offered in a large car, contemporary, yet functional appealing to a younger audience. With a European touch and feel, the hatchback also embodies the sturdiness to handle Indian road conditions. It questioned the inevitability of compromise. In many ways, it was the “coming of age” of the Indian customers.”

According to Maruti Suzuki, “Swift is not just the most loved and awarded car in India but has also been recognized internationally for its dynamic design. Swift received global recognition by winning the Good Design Award in 2017, operated by the Japan Institute of Design Promotion, and was amongst the three finalists at the ‘World Urban Car Of The Year 2018’. The third-generation Swift, launched in 2018, retains its symbolic character, taking its global design language to the next level.”

Source: Maruti Suzuki India Limited

|GlobalGiants.Com|

Edited & Posted by Surender Hastir | 10:22 AM | View the original post

July 26, 2020

Bugatti Baby Reborn: Performance and final specifications announced as production commences.

• The Bugatti limited edition of 500 units now goes into series production.

Photo: The iconic boat tail body design.

Photo: The Bugatti Baby II in French Racing Blue.

Photo: A Bugatti Baby II awaiting its next test drive.

Photo: Fully electric with a limited-slip differential and regenerative braking.

Molsheim, France. July 24, 2020 — At the 2019 Geneva International Motor Show, Bugatti announced its 110th birthday present to itself, the reimagining of the original Bugatti Baby. The brand is delighted to announce the completion of the design and testing phase. The car has gone into series production, and clients will soon be taking delivery of the very first cars. Bugatti has developed Baby II in partnership with The Little Car Company.

The original Bugatti Baby was born in 1926 when Ettore and his son Jean decided to build a scaled-down Type 35 for Ettore’s youngest son, Roland, on the occasion of his fourth birthday. Ettore and Jean had intended the present as a one-off car. However, positive feedback from customers visiting Molsheim made the Baby went into production and sale between 1927 and 1936. Cherished by Bugatti enthusiasts worldwide, today no collection is complete without a Baby. However, with only around 500 ever made, they have been the preserve of the lucky few.

While the original Bugatti Baby was a 50% scale version of the car that brought Automobiles Ettore Bugatti to fame in the 1920s, the Bugatti Baby II offers more in terms of size and considerably more in terms of performance. Eight-year-olds would struggle to fit in the original half-scale Baby, whereas at 75% scale and designed for ages fourteen and above, the Baby II has become more of a young adult.

“Ettore Bugatti himself was already interested in catering to Bugatti enthusiasts’ children and designed the Type 52 miniature car as a genuine Bugatti. That was a sensation at the time,” says Stephan Winkelmann, President of Bugatti. “We are continuing this tradition with the new edition of the Bugatti Baby II, and I am delighted that we have found The Little Car Company, a partner that shares the same values as us. With the Bugatti Baby II, we invite a young generation of enthusiasts to fall in love with Bugatti’s wonderful world.”

“When you first sit in the car and look at each tiny detail, it reminds me in some ways of the first few months with the Chiron. You get the same feeling walking around the car, as everywhere you look, there are beautifully engineered solutions and design details that are quite amazing,” says Andy Wallace, Bugatti test driver, and Le Mans winner. “It would be easy to create something like this with a quarter of the quality, but that’s what’s so brilliant about this car: it’s top-of-the-line, a work of art on wheels.”

“In its most powerful mode, when you have the ‘Speed Key’ inserted, the Baby II is a high-speed car. It’s quite impressive and brilliantly fun. You get a lovely feel of balance. It handles just like the original Type 35, and the regenerative braking is a very cool touch. It’s truly an authentic Bugatti. There are no questions about that.”

Source: Bugatti

|GlobalGiants.Com|

New Bugatti Baby II - for the kid in you.

Edited & Posted by Surender Hastir | 10:20 AM | View the original post

July 25, 2020

Porsche Ranks Highest Overall in J.D. Power APEAL Study

Photo: Porsche 911 Carrera 4S. Porsche ranks highest overall in the J.D. Power APEAL Study.

ATLANTA, July 22, 2020 — U.S. customers have rated Porsche highest among all automotive brands in the J.D. Power 2020 U.S. Automotive Performance, Execution, and Layout (APEAL) Study. It was the second year in a row that Porsche took the top position in the annual study of customer experience with owning and driving a new vehicle.

“I am gratified at how excited our customers are with their new dream cars,” said Klaus Zellmer, president and CEO of Porsche Cars North America, Inc. “Porsche believes in continuous improvement, and winning the top spot again encourages us to find new ways to delight our drivers.”

The 2020 U.S. Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study measures owners’ emotional attachment and level of excitement with their new vehicle across 37 attributes, ranging from the sense of comfort and luxury on climbing into the driver’s seat to the power they feel when they start the engine. These attributes combine into an overall APEAL index score measured on a 1,000-point scale.

Porsche earned 881 points on the 1,000-point scale, compared to the premium brand average of 861. In its 25th year, the study gathered responses from February through May of this year from more than 87,000 purchasers and lessees of new 2020 model-year vehicles.

Established in 1984, Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (PCNA) is the exclusive U.S. importer of the Porsche 911, 718 Boxster, and 718 Cayman; Macan and Cayenne; Panamera; and Taycan. PCNA has its headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. It is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Porsche AG, Stuttgart, Germany.

Source: Porsche Cars, North America, Inc.

|GlobalGiants.Com|

Edited & Posted by Surender Hastir | 11:33 AM | View the original post

July 24, 2020

Nissan redesigns its Logo.

Photo: Nissan. New Logo.

Photo: Nissan. Current Logo.

Photo: Nissan Ariya. Image provided by & copyright ©, Nissan.

New York, July 24, 2020 — At its World Premiere Event, filmed in Yokohama, Japan, and streamed virtually around the world, Nissan last week unveiled a new brand logo and visual identity, symbolic of a new chapter in its history.

Nissan would feature the brand’s bold, modern redesign on Nissan’s website and communications materials around the world. The new emblem will first appear as an illuminated badge on Nissan’s all-new flagship electric vehicle, the Nissan Ariya, arriving in 2021.

For the past 20 years, Nissan’s outgoing Logo has been a beacon on its vehicles and so much more. It has served as an identity, a business card, a handshake, and the first greeting between customers and the driving excitement that Nissan vehicles provide. For decades more, Nissan’s Logo has stayed true to a belief held by its founder Yoshisuke Aikawa, “Shisei tenjitsu o tsuranuku,” which he interpreted to mean, “If you have a strong belief, it penetrates even the sun.”

Nissan’s new Logo comes alive as it pivots to the future while staying connected to its rich heritage and innovation tradition. The company name remains at the center of the Logo, communicating an instantly recognizable brand that evokes past milestones and memories while also conveying evolution, Nissan said.

In 2017, Alfonso Albaisa, Nissan’s senior vice president of global design, began to study potential changes to Nissan’s Logo and brand identity. He set up a design team led by Tsutomu Matsuo, deputy general manager of Nissan’s advanced design department, to study everything from a subtle evolution to a complete reinvention. Albaisa offered the keywords “thin, light and flexible,” and set Matsuo and his team on their journey.

“Inspiration was drawn from breakthroughs in science, technology, and connectivity. How these have brought fundamental changes to our customers,” said Albaisa. “As you can imagine, visions of digitalization started swirling in our heads.”

Over the next two years, the team sketched and plotted several iterations, always keeping Aikawa’s directive words in mind: “be passionate, be an innovator, be a challenger.”

The team needed to consider several variables, including an early decision for illuminating the Logo on upcoming all-electric models. It presented technical challenges, such as gauging the thickness of the Logo’s outline to ensure a crisp impression when lit, and of course, compliance with government regulations for illuminated elements on cars. The Logo also needed to make a strong impression when not lightened, when it appeared digitally or on paper, the company explained.

No matter what is the medium, this new Logo needed to stand for Nissan unequivocally, and do so with impact. After countless sketches and several mock-ups, the result was a logo with a two-dimensional impression. Looking more designed than manufactured, it has the flexibility to live in multiple worlds. The process started in 3-D and then developed in 2-D, Nissan elaborated.

Nissan said that the redesign’s overall effect is a transition from a hard-edged, industrial feel to a refined, familiar, and digital-friendly look. It signals the evolution of Nissan as a traditional vehicle manufacturer to a provider of mobility and services.

“The new Nissan logo communicates our guiding message, carried over from past iterations: If you have a strong, determined belief, it can even penetrate the sun,” said Matsuo. “At Nissan, this strong belief in the power of achievement has never wavered and can be seen in our pioneering efforts in electrification, driver assistance, and digital connectivity. Our Logo has to convey this in a glance and show our commitment to our customers, employees, and society.”

The carmaker informs that the new Logo will begin appearing in July, both in digital and physical forms. Nissan’s electric vehicles will feature an exclusive illuminated logo lit by 20 LEDs (corresponding to the number of years between logo redesigns). It is a prominent visual reminder that Nissan is driving towards an electrified future.

After that, the new Logo would appear across mediums, from letterhead and dealership signs to social media and digital advertising.

According to Nissan, the recently unveiled Nissan Ariya, the first crossover EV for the brand, would be the first car to illuminate the new Logo. Ariya is the new icon of Nissan Intelligent Mobility, designed to fully embody the three pillars of Intelligent Driving, Intelligent Power, and Intelligent Integration.

“The Nissan Ariya is our latest electrified vehicle, packed with advanced technology,” said Albaisa. “It’s the perfect platform for this new logo.”

Additional vehicles would sport the new Logo in the coming years as the latest chapter of Nissan evolves, the company stated.

Source: Nissan Motor Company

|GlobalGiants.Com|

A New Day for Nissan.

Edited & Posted by Surender Hastir | 12:41 PM | View the original post

July 22, 2020

The Ducati Team returns to action in Jerez de la Frontera for the opening Grand Prix of the 2020 MotoGP World Championship.

Photos: Ducati Desmosedici GP Sports Bike. Ducati Team rider Andrea Dovizioso. Images provided by & copyright © DUCATI.

Jerez de la Frontera, Spain, July 20, 2020 — After the long forced break of the Coronavirus emergency, the MotoGP World Championship finally kicked off this weekend at the Spanish circuit of Jerez de la Frontera with the first Grand Prix of the 2020 season. The event marked the end of the prolonged abstinence from track action for the two Ducati riders.

Andrea Dovizioso climbed on the third step of the rostrum at Jerez de la Frontera, where the Spanish Grand Prix took place this weekend. In what was a very challenging GP that put bikes and riders to the test due to the high temperatures, the Ducati Team rider managed his race strategy well.

As he got off the line from the third row of the grid, Andrea put himself in the fifth position already after a few laps, finding a steady pace immediately. Fourth towards the end of the race, the rider from Forlì was able to defend himself from Morbidelli’s and Pol Espargaro’s attacks. Dovizioso managed then to fill in the gap on Jack Miller and, with two laps to go, he went past the Australian rider of the Pramac Racing Team, claiming the third spot on the podium.

Dovizioso’s third place today represents his best result in the premier class at the Jerez Circuit, while for Ducati, it is the fifth third place conquered at the Spanish race venue.

Despite still not being 100% fit and suffering some neck and back pain after Wednesday’s crash, his teammate Danilo Petrucci was able to end a tough weekend with a top-ten result by finishing ninth in today’s race.

At the end of the first Grand Prix of the 2020 MotoGP season, Ducati occupies the second position in the Manufacturers’ Standings, while the Ducati Team is second in the Team Standings.

Andrea Dovizioso (#04 Ducati Team) - 3rd
“This podium is like a victory for me. It was a challenging race, and I didn’t think I could get this result, but luckily I didn’t give up until the end and managed not to make any mistakes. In this morning’s Warm-Up, the team did a great job, as they improved my feeling with the Desmosedici GP, giving me the chance to be constant today in the race. Unfortunately, I still didn’t feel completely comfortable on the bike, and, above all, I lacked speed. Surely, thanks to the feedback of this race, we will be more competitive in the next GP, which will be held again here in Jerez”.

Danilo Petrucci (#9 Ducati Team) - 9th
“It was a tough race for me. I am confident to have the potential to stay with the other Ducati bikes and fight for the top five positions”.

The Ducati Team will be back again at Circuito de Jerez - Àngel Nieto for the Andalusian Grand Prix, from 24th- 26th July 2020.

Rider information

• Andrea Dovizioso
  Bike: Ducati Desmosedici GP
  World Titles: 1 (125cc, 2004)

• Danilo Petrucci
  Bike: Ducati Desmosedici GP
  First Win: Italy 2019 (MotoGP)

Circuit information

• Country: Spain
  Name: Circuito de Jerez - Ángel Nieto
  Fastest Lap: Márquez (Honda), 1:38.051 (162,3 km/h) - 2019
  Circuit Record: Quartararo (Yamaha), 1:36.880 (164,3 km/h) - 2019
  Top Speed: Iannone (Ducati), 295,9 km/h - 2015
  Track Lenght: 4,423 km
  Race distance: 25 laps (110,6 km)
  Corners: 13 (5 left, 8 right)

2019 Results

• Podium: 1st Márquez (Honda); 2nd Rins (Suzuki), 3rd Viñales (Yamaha)
  Pole Position: Quartararo (Yamaha) 1:36.880 (164,3 km/h)
  Fastest lap: Márquez (Honda) 1:38.051 (162,3 km/h)

Founded in 1926, Ducati has produced sports bikes equipped with Desmodromic engines. Ducati sports bikes are a combination of innovative design and cutting-edge technology. Ducati - which in 2016 marked its 90th anniversary - is based in Borgo Panigale, in Bologna, Italy. Ducati officially participates in the MotoGP World Championship and the Superbike World Championship.

Source: Ducati

|GlobalGiants.Com|

Despite the unfortunate end to his race, @marcmarquez93 produced yet another heroic performance on Sunday! 💪

Watch his extraordinary comeback! 💨#SpanishGP 🇪🇸 pic.twitter.com/ykmPzDGgqt

— MotoGP™🏁 (@MotoGP) July 21, 2020

Edited & Posted by Surender Hastir | 5:12 AM | View the original post

July 18, 2020

National Geographic Society Announces Spring 2020 Young Explorers.

Twenty-two young leaders worldwide receive funding to address climate change, single-use plastic pollution, the COVID-19 pandemic, and other global challenges.

Photo: The National Geographic Society announces its spring 2020 Young Explorers. Twenty-two young leaders from around the world receive funding to address climate change, single-use plastic pollution, the COVID-19 pandemic, and other global challenges.

WASHINGTON, July 17, 2020 — The National Geographic Society has announced the spring 2020 cohort of Young Explorer grantees. These 22 young people, between the ages of 16 and 26, represent six countries and are engaged in impact-driven efforts ranging from scientific innovation and conservation to education, civic engagement, storytelling, and more— all developing solutions to pressing problems within their communities.

“At the National Geographic Society, we believe young leaders are in a category all their own. They are a global community of young people with empathy, tenacity, unbridled passion. They have an insatiable drive to seek solutions to build a sustainable future and thriving planet,” said Vicki Phillips, Executive Vice President and Chief Education Officer at the National Geographic Society. “They see profound possibilities to make a difference in the world, and they choose to do something about it with confidence, courage, and conviction.”

Seven of the Young Explorers are leveraging their efforts to respond to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. For instance, Katie Stagliano, who founded Katie’s Krops, provides meals to South Carolina families struggling economically during the epidemic. In contrast, Chris Suggs, who founded Kinston Teens, organized a drive-through crisis relief giveaway that served 4,000 North Carolina families the food, cleaning supplies, and other essential items.

Young Explorers are nominated and later selected by the National Geographic Society through a competitive, multi-tiered application process. In addition to funding, Young Explorers receive skill-building, leadership development training, and networking opportunities to collaborate with their peers.

The spring 2020 Young Explorers are:

1. Aldrin Aujero, 19, of the Philippines, founded EarthSAVERs, which conducts service initiatives to underserved public schools in Metro Manila.
2. Neil Deshmukh, 18, of the United States (Pennsylvania) founded PlantumAI, which uses artificial intelligence technology to promote crop health.
3. Thanasi Dilos, 17, of the United States (New York), who co-founded Civics Unplugged, provides micro-grants and training for youth-led civic projects.
4. Lauren Gibson, 25, of the United States (Indiana), who founded Carmel Green Teen Micro-Grant Program to provide mentorship and funding for youth seeking to plan and carry out their environmental projects.
5. Liza Goldberg, 18, of the United States (Maryland), who works with NASA and Google Earth on research to curb climate change.
6. Zoë Jenkins, 16, of the United States (Kentucky), who launched the Get Schooled podcast focusing on problems and solutions in education.
7. Merrit Jones, 22, of the United States (South Carolina), who is the president of Student Voice, a coalition of youth-led organizations.
8. Peyton Klein, 18, of the United States (Pennsylvania) founded the Global Minds Initiative, which seeks to combat discrimination and promote inclusion in schools.
9. Pothunuri Laya, 19, of India, who has developed several environment-preserving inventions, and is studying the viability of converting locusts, which threaten food security in vulnerable parts of the world, as a food source.
10. Ashley Lin, 17, of the United States (Washington), founded Project Exchange to promote cross-cultural learning experiences for high school and college students.
11. Tiassa Samayin Mutunkei, 19, of Kenya, founded Teens4Wildlife to help African youth discover the value of Africa’s wildlife and protect it.
12. Joe Nail, 24, of the United States (North Carolina), who co-founded Lead For America, which provides recent college graduates with fellowships in local government.
13. Shelby O’Neil, 19, of the United States (California), who created Jr. Ocean Guardians to host beach clean-ups and reduce plastics use.
14. Kevin Patel, 19, of the United States (California), founded One Up Action, which empowers marginalized communities to fight climate change.
15. Shriya Rai, 22, of India, who founded Sashakt Bharat to provide a platform for India’s youth to start their environmental initiatives and positively shape their communities.
16. Baylee Ritter, 23, of the United States (Illinois), founded RISE UP, a youth-led webinar series that connects, inspires and empowers young people around the globe through peer-to-peer training, networking, and skill-building.
17. Kartik Sawhney, 26, of India, co-founded I-Stem, an organization that gives blind math and science students technical training, mentorship, and hands-on opportunities.
18. Katie Stagliano, 21, of the United States (South Carolina), who founded Katie’s Krops, which empowers youth to start and donate the harvest from community gardens to help feed people in need.
19. Chris Suggs, 20, of the United States (North Carolina), founded Kinston Teens to focus on youth engagement and rural development.
20. Richard Turere, 19, of Kenya, who invented Lion Lights to protect crops from local predators.
21. Diana Griselle Zendejo Valle, 24, of Mexico, takes photographs of how humans establish a relationship with nature and how they use nature photography as an education tool.
22. Celestine Wenardy, 17, of Indonesia, Editor-in-Chief of the Young Scientist Journal, has researched affordable methods for non-invasive blood glucose concentration monitoring for people with diabetes.

Over the past two years, the National Geographic Society has collectively awarded more than $280,000 in funding to Young Explorers. The Young Explorer grants build on the National Geographic Society’s 132-year history of investing in bold individuals with transformative ideas—innovative scientists, explorers, educators, and storytellers.

“We are immensely proud to support these young people on their journey, to help elevate their voices and accelerate and amplify their work,” said Phillips. “When our world is facing significant challenges, these Young Explorers show us that we have many reasons to be hopeful about the future.”

The National Geographic Society is a global nonprofit organization that uses the power of science, exploration, education, and storytelling to illuminate and protect the world’s wonder.

Source: National Geographic Society

|GlobalGiants.Com|

Edited & Posted by Surender Hastir | 3:05 AM | View the original post

July 17, 2020

MG (Morris Garages) Motor India launches HECTOR PLUS, India's First 6-Seater SUV with Panoramic Sunroof.

Gurugram, July 16, 2020: MG (Morris Garages) Motor India has launched the much-anticipated MG HECTOR PLUS. HECTOR PLUS, India’s first 6-seater internet SUV with a panoramic sunroof, will be manufactured at the carmaker’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facility at Halol near Vadodara in Gujarat.

The latest addition to the MG HECTOR family, the 6-seater HECTOR PLUS, comes with luxurious and comfortable captain seats in the middle row. The 6-seater SUV features a very appealing look with its all-new dual-tone Smoked Sepia Brown interiors, stylish new headlamps, a new Chrome-Studded Front Grille, and a Chit-Chat feature on i-SMART Next Gen interface. It also comes with other attractive features, including the all-new Smart Swipe, Front and Rear Bumpers, New Rear Tail Light Design, and Revised Skid Plates.

The carmaker has launched its one-month inaugural price offer until August 13, 2020. One can book the all-new HECTOR PLUS at any MG Dealership, on its website, or via the My MG Mobile App. The price will increase by up to INR 50,000 after that, depending on the trim level, the company said.

Speaking on the launch, Rajeev Chaba, President, and Managing Director, MG Motor India, said, “We entered the Indian automobile market in 2019 with MG HECTOR. Our vision has been to touch the lives of car owners in India by offering them the world’s best technology, including connected mobility. The launch of MG HECTOR PLUS is a new milestone in our journey to serve customers with top-notch products and services. The 6-seater internet SUV is a blend of luxury and comfort aided by technology to provide the perfect family moments to all our customers.”

MG HECTOR PLUS offers both MG Shield and the MG Shield+ to provide an assuring experience to its customers. Under MG Shield, MG extends the Free-three’ 5s’, i.e., 5-year/Unlimited KMs warranty, 5-year Roadside Assistance, and Free Labour Charges for the first five services. All these elements under ‘MG Shield’ would enhance the MG ownership experience and provide complete peace of mind to MG customers. The 6-seater SUV’s Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) is among the lowest in the segment. It is 45 paise per kilometer for its petrol variants and 60 paise per kilometer for the diesel ones (calculated up to 100,000 KMs of usage). MG HECTOR PLUS further offers the best-prepaid maintenance plans starting at INR 8,000 for three years with its Classic package.

As part of its customers’ commitment, MG has also extended its contact-free technology suite called ‘Shield+.’ It builds on four cornerstones of ‘Customer Convenience,’ ‘Sanitization,’ ‘Contactless Services,’ and ‘Assurance.’

Founded in the UK in 1924, Morris Garages vehicles were world-famous for their sports cars, roadsters, and cabriolet series. MG vehicles were much sought after by many celebrities, including the British Prime Ministers and even the British Royal Family, for their styling, elegance, and spirited performance. The MG Car Club, set up in 1930 at Abingdon in the UK, has thousands of loyal fans, making it one of the world’s largest clubs for a car brand. MG has evolved into a modern, futuristic, and innovative brand over the last 96 years. MG Motor India has its car manufacturing plant at Halol in Gujarat.

Source: MG (Morris Garages) Motor India

|GlobalGiants.Com|

Edited & Posted by Surender Hastir | 1:59 AM | View the original post

July 16, 2020

TISSOT Seastar 1000 Professional has in-depth Excellence

According to Tissot, Seastar 1000 Professional limited edition fully satisfies the criteria of the ISO 6425 standard governing professional diving watches. This all-steel automatic chronograph validates all the conditions specified by the standard.

The Tissot Seastar 1000 Professional has a self-winding chronograph movement. It has a small second hand at 9 o’clock and a 30-minute and 12-hour chronograph totalizers at 12 o’clock and 6 o’clock. It also indicates the day and date and has a comfortable 60-hour power reserve, rare for a diving watch.

The Tissot Seastar 1000 Professional comes with a steel bracelet with three links, burnished in the center, and buffed to a satin finish on the sides. It is closed by a folding clasp specially designed for diving purposes.

Source: TISSOT

|GlobalGiants.Com|

Edited & Posted by Surender Hastir | 10:44 AM | View the original post

July 13, 2020

Groupe Renault and Google Cloud partner to accelerate Industry 4.0

• Groupe Renault teams up with Google Cloud to accelerate the digitization of its production facilities and supply chain.

• This collaboration brings Google Cloud’s strength in machine learning and artificial intelligence and Renault’s expertise in automotive manufacturing to create new industrial solutions.

• The two companies also intend to start a program to grow Groupe Renault employees’ digital skills and competencies.

Photo: 2020 - INDUSTRY 4.0 - Renault Valladolid (Spain) Plant. Image provided by & Copyright © Groupe Renault / Ignacio Nacho GALLEGO.

Photo: 2020 - INDUSTRY 4.0 - Renault Flins (France) Factory. Image provided by & Copyright © Groupe Renault / Jean-Brice LEMAL/Planimonteur.

PARIS and SUNNYVALE, Calif., July 11, 2020 — Groupe Renault and Google Cloud today announced a new industrial and technology partnership to accelerate the digitization of Groupe Renault’s industrial system and Industry 4.0 transformation.

• Digitize manufacturing plants and develop industry solutions

A recognized contributor to Industry 4.0, Groupe Renault has been developing its digital platform since 2016 to connect and aggregate technical data from 22 Group sites worldwide (representing 76% of vehicle production) and more than 2,500 machines. This new partnership with Google Cloud aims to optimize Groupe Renault’s wholly-owned and independently operated industrial data management platform.

Google Cloud’s solutions and experience in smart analytics, machine learning (ML), and artificial intelligence (AI) will enable Groupe Renault to improve its supply chain and manufacturing efficiency, production quality, and environmental impact through energy savings.

These improvements will ultimately foster the development of new vertical solutions for the automotive industry.

• Develop digital skills

Employee training is also an essential part of this new partnership. Groupe Renault and Google Cloud plan to build a unique and scalable program to enhance Renault process engineering, manufacturing, and IT teams’ skills via coworking, training, and enablement sessions with the Google team. This program’s objective is to enhance a data-driven culture that is an essential part of Renault employees’ daily professional lives, in operational as much as in decision-making processes.

“This collaboration is a perfect illustration of Groupe Renault’ digital strategy, applied here to the industrial field. This agreement and the commitment of our IT, manufacturing, and supply chain management teams will allow us to accelerate the deployment of our Industry 4.0 plan. We have designed the plan to transform and connect our production sites and logistics processes worldwide to improve our standards of excellence in performance. This partnership is also an asset for Groupe Renault employees who will benefit from high-level training in digital data management.” underlined José Vicente de Los Mozos, Director of Manufacturing and Logistics, Member of Groupe Renault’s Executive Committee.

“The automotive industry has innovation in its DNA, and there is immense potential for digital technology to have a significant impact on production. We are proud to be partnering with Groupe Renault to help revolutionize the future of automotive manufacturing and power the next generation of supply chain excellence,” added Thomas Kurian, CEO of Google Cloud.

Groupe Renault has manufactured cars since 1898. Today, it is an international multi-brand group that sold close to 3.8 million vehicles in 134 countries in 2019. Groupe Renault has 40 manufacturing sites, 12,700 points of sales, and more than 180,000 people. To address the significant technological challenges of the future, Groupe Renault is focusing on international expansion while continuing to pursue its profitable growth strategy. To this end, it is drawing on the synergies of its five brands (Renault, Dacia, Renault Samsung Motors, Alpine, and LADA), electric vehicles, and its unique alliance with Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors. With a 100% Renault owned team committed to the Formula 1 World Championship since 2016, the brand is involved in motorsports, a real vector for innovation and awareness.

Source: Groupe Renault.

|GlobalGiants.Com|

Edited & Posted by Surender Hastir | 2:56 AM | View the original post