Category business

15th February 2024: CarePal Money, a leading healthcare lending marketplace, has forged a strategic partnership with Apollo Hospitals Group, India’s largest vertically integrated healthcare provider. This alliance is poised to transform healthcare financing, granting patients the opportunity to avail loans with 0% EMI for a duration of up to 18 months.

CarePal Money is a specialized medical lending marketplace that provides financial support to patients and their families. CarePal Money’s unique advantage is the ability to disburse medical loans for both critical and non-critical treatments with ticket sizes up to INR 15 lacs and tenure of up to 36 months. CarePal Money believes this advantage stems from its marketplace-based, multi-lender approach which ensures higher approval rates, benefiting more patients in need.

With this: An innovative financial offering, CarePal Money offers 0% interest EMI loans and shall be accessible at all Apollo Hospitals, through the assistance of CarePal employees stationed within the hospital.

Expressing his excitement about the partnership, Piyush Jain, Co-Founder and CEO, CarePal Group stated, “As CarePal Money embarks on this partnership with Apollo Hospitals Group, we are driven by the unwavering commitment to redefine healthcare financing. By combining our expertise in medical lending with the unparalleled healthcare services of Apollo Hospitals, we aim to usher in a new era of accessibility, where financial barriers no longer impede individuals from receiving the best medical care they deserve in both critical and elective areas. With CarePal Money, we aim to disburse over INR 1,000 crores in medical loans in the next decade through our lending partners.”

Krishnan Akhileswaran, group CFO, Apollo Hospitals Enterprise said, “We are pleased to partner with CarePal to further strengthen our mission to ensure accessible and affordable high-quality healthcare for all. Easing the financial burden on our patients and their families has always been a priority for us, especially in the context of India where health insurance penetration is still very low. We are committed to ensure that we are at the forefront of innovative solutions, through partnerships and collaborations, that improve the health eco-system and prioritizes patient well-being.”

India currently has a health insurance penetration rate of 37%, with about 500 million middle class people lacking any health insurance coverage leading to high out of pocket expenses. Patients with low or no insurance coverage are compelled to resort to loans at exorbitantly high interest rates to fund their medical expenses. CarePal Money aims to mitigate this challenge by providing low-cost healthcare loans, thereby alleviating the burden of high interest rates from patients.

This groundbreaking partnership between CarePal Money and Apollo Hospitals Group marks a significant milestone in the healthcare financing landscape, promising enhanced accessibility to healthcare services for patients.

The most common myths among Indian tourists about the Russian capital, Moscow were revealed in a recent survey. Intourist, a company with 95 years of background in the inbound tourism market in Russia, conducted a survey among tourists from India who visited Moscow, asking them about their primary expectations for Moscow and the difference from their actual experience. The poll results were used to form a list of popular myths about Moscow, most of which were successfully debunked in the process.

“When a tourist arrives in Moscow, the first thing that comes to a foreigner’s mind is probably the Red Square, all covered in snow (and maybe a layer of red caviar on a giant piece of bread, thanks to the latest Slavic girl trend). Although it is a pretty memorable image, there’s so much more that the Russian capital can give to its visitors”, commented Aleksandr Musikhin, the General Director of Intourist and inbound tourism committee head of the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR).

Myth #1: Moscow is cold

Reality: There are four seasons, and the summer is very warm

There are four distinct seasons to fit any taste beginning April. Moscow spring is probably the loveliest of them all with its fresh air, blossoming trees and cafeteria terraces opening all over the city. Summer in the city is usually hot, with a great choice of refreshing activities: you can visit an open pool like Chaika or Luzhniki, explore any of the renovated parks with a glass of lemonade, or even spend a day at the beach of Serebryany Bor. Sure, winters in Moscow are cold, but thanks to well-adjusted heating systems both in the buildings and public transport, freezing isn’t really an option.

Myth #2: Moscow is too Soviet

Reality: Moscow’s architecture is a beautiful eclectic mixture of nearly a thousand years of history

If you take some time to look around the city, a couple of beautiful landmarks from different times will appear just around the corner. Besides Soviet architecture, there are buildings dated with XII-XIX centuries along the ‘bas-reliefs’ from the art nouveau period and shining skyscrapers of the Moscow-City cluster — all for your aesthetic pleasure.

Myth #3: Moscow is one of the most expensive cities in the world.

Reality: There are options for a trip with any budget

According to the EIU rating of 2021, Moscow didn’t even make the top 100 of the annual rich cities list. There are lots of accommodation options, eateries and shopping establishments to fit your desires and financial possibilities: from Stoleshnikov Lane with its boutiques to vast malls such as Europolis or Atrium, where the clothing stores are open side by side with fast-food restaurants, beauty salons, cinemas, playgrounds etc.

Myth #4: There is no decent food in Moscow, except for borscht and pelmeni.

Reality: Moscow is full of the high-quality restaurants with Russian and world cuisines

Setting aside the fact that there’s more to the traditional Russian cuisine than you would first expect, Moscow can offer a hungry tourist a wide range of food options: there are halal and kosher, vegetarian and vegan, European and Asian restaurants all over the city. A homesick Indian tourist can also easily find an authentic eating place serving a ‘Thali’ or a ‘Dosa’ or other Indian vegetarian options.

Myth #5: People in Moscow are mean and unfriendly.

Reality: Moscovites a warm-hearted and helpful

There is a strong stereotype that pictures Russians as people who never smile. Thankfully, any public place in Moscow will prove it wrong in mere seconds. Big city people may not be keen on showing emotions to strangers, yet it usually takes a short dialogue for a change of heart, and most of the people passing by will gladly show you the directions or give a helpful tip if asked.

Myth #6: Moscow is unsafe.

Reality: Crime rate in Moscow is lower than in many European tourist cities.

Moscow is an extremely hi-tech city. Last year, Moscow became the leader among BRICS cities in terms of technological and spatial development. Moscow’s high technological progress also means a high level of development of security systems. Moscow has a “smart city” system – outdoor CCTV cameras and a face recognition system on the streets and in the subway. According to some estimates, the crime rate in Moscow is lower than in many European tourist cities. Being in Moscow you don’t have to worry about your safety.

Myth #7: Nobody speaks English in Moscow.

Reality: Young generation of Moscovites speaks English fluently

Travelling nowadays is a popular hobby among millennials and Gen Z, so the majority of young Moscow residents speak fluent English. Foreign languages are taught in schools and universities, with the addition of online courses and countless apps for personal studies that help to maintain speaking skills — so be sure that you will find help when needed. And if you are not much of a people person, all navigation in Moscow public transport is dubbed in English, so you won’t even have to ask for help since the tourist infrastructure is well-developed.

Mumbai, 15th February 2024: Amazon miniTV, Amazon’s free video streaming service, recently released the romantic comedy series ‘Dillogical’. It follows the journey of childhood sweethearts Saransh and Jinal, whose relationship takes an unexpected turn when Jinal proposes an open relationship with Saransh. Set against the backdrop of a Gujarati wedding, the series explores the dynamics of love, friendship, and self-discovery, as the couple navigates through their feelings and relationships. Along with being a delightful blend of romance, humor, and emotions, here are five reasons why Dillogical must be on your Valentine’s Day binge-watch list:

• Relatable Storyline:With a captivating storyline, Dillogical perfectly balances emotional depth with humor. From the highs of love and friendship to the lows of misunderstandings and conflicts, the narrative adds a layer of relatability along with drama, romance, and light-hearted moments. With relatable characters and circumstances, the series will not only resonate with viewers but also have them completely invested in Saransh and Jinal’s journey.

• ModernTake on Relationships: The series offers a fresh and modern perspective on love and relationships, shown through the lens of Saransh and Jinal. By exploring the dynamics between the characters, the show delves deeper into the intricacies of being in an open relationship. It also explores the complexities of human emotions with heartfelt moments, which will surely strike a chord with the viewers, touching them on a profound level.

• Breaking social norms:The series dives head-first into the life choices of Jinal, a talented and independent woman seeking to break through her planned life, tapping into the themes of identity and independence. As she embarks on a journey of self-discovery, focusing on her desires, aspirations, and boundaries, Saransh too deals with his complexities and preconceived notions about love and commitment, finding himself along the way.
• Stellar ensemble cast:Dillogical boasts a talented ensemble cast, including Anshuman Malhotra, Nupur Nagpal, Priyank Sharma, Chetan Dhawan, and Prasanna Bisht, who bring their characters to life with sheer authenticity. Capturing the complexities of each character perfectly, their on-screen presence promises to add depth to the compelling storyline.
• Streaming for Free onAmazon miniTV: Tune in to the heartwarming story of Saransh and Jinal, as they navigate modern love and relationship, for free on Amazon miniTV. There is no need to pay to watch this series on a subscription basis. It is available to stream for free on Amazon miniTV and Fire TV in the Amazon Shopping App and Play Store.

Get ready to indulge in romance, comedy, and drama, along with a dose of entertainment, with Dillogical for free only on Amazon miniTV, available on Amazon’s shopping app, on Fire TV, and on Play Store.

Chennai, February 15, 2024: Edelweiss Asset Management Limited (EAMC/EMF), one of India’s fastest-growing AMCs, announced the launch of Edelweiss Technology Fund, an open-ended equity scheme investing in technology and technology – related companies. The new fund offer (NFO) are open for subscription from 14^th February 2024 to 28^th February 2024.

The Edelweiss Technology Fund aims to offer investors with exposure to both Indian as well as global technology and tech-enabled companies. Investors can RIDE the technology wave across traditional as well as new-age technology companies in India, specifically in Renewables, IT services, Digital, and Electronics manufacturing services (RIDE). The exposure to India technology companies will be approximately 70-80%. The allocation to global technology companies is expected to be in the range of 20-30%, achieved through an internal rule based methodology in key US technology companies, encompassing AI, internet companies, semiconductors, etc. The fund‘s performance will be assessed against the S&P BSE TECk TRI benchmark.

Commenting on the launch, Ms. Radhika Gupta, MD & CEO, Edelweiss Mutual Fund, stated, “In an era where technology is integral to our lives, we’re thrilled to unveil our latest fund in the technology space. This offering provides investors an opportunity to tap into dynamic Indian and US-based tech stocks in a unique and tax efficient manner. Our proven success in running a US Technology Fund of Fund in collaboration with JP Morgan underscores our commitment to providing diverse investment avenues and navigating the ever-evolving tech landscape”.

Mr. Trideep Bhattacharya, President & CIO-Equities, Edelweiss Mutual Fund, added, “We anticipate a substantial increase in technology penetration across all industries globally over the next decade. Our approach to participate in this trend will be through our Edelweiss Technology Fund, where we aim to take meaningful exposure to global industry leaders spanning various sub-sectors of technology along with Indian IT services and new-age tech companies.”

The scheme would be managed by Mr. Trideep Bhattacharya, Mr. Sahil Shah (Co-Fund Manager), Mr. Amit Vora (Overseas securities).

15th February 2024: Sony BBC Earth is thrilled to announce the resounding success of the second ‘Feel Alive Hours – Quiz contest’. The recent finale round that streamed live on the Sony BBC Earth YouTube channel concluded on 10^th February for the junior and senior categories. Tejas Tushya Singh and Vaibhav Rai, hailing from Jaipur’s prestigious Cambridge Court High School, emerged as proud winners of the contest. 

Sony BBC Earth’s ‘Feel Alive Hours – Quiz contest’ garnered an exceptional response with over 6000+ registrations pouring in from across categories. After multiple rounds of intense competition, top five students were selected in both categories to compete for the coveted championship spot. Tejas Tushya Singh won amongst the juniors, whereas Vaibhav Rai bagged the title for the senior team. The winners will be awarded an iPad, while the runners-up,  Aryan Ranjan and Dhariya will receive a Kindle. 

The details of the quiz contest, scoreboard and winning profiles have been updated on the Sony BBC Earth ‘Feel Alive Hours’ microsite. To know more on it, visit https://www.sonybbcearth.com/feelalivehours/. 

Comments 

Rohan Jain, Business Operations Head – Sony AATH and Head – Marketing & Insights, English Cluster, Sony Pictures Networks India 

“As the curtains fall on the Sony BBC Earth Quiz Contest, heartfelt congratulations to the winners, Tejas and Vaibhav. They have illuminated our shared journey of exploration and knowledge. The response from students has been overwhelming and we will continue to work towards creating this as the most lovable and sought-after quizzing contest for students across the country.” 

Students from Jaipur’s Cambridge Court High School, 

Tejas Tushya Singh winner of the Junior Category 

“Participating in Sony BBC Earth‘s Feel Alive Hours – Quiz contest was a great experience for me. I got a chance to learn so many new things and interact with young quizzers from across the nation. I am eagerly looking forward for more such initiatives.” 

Vaibhav Rai winner of the Senior Category 

“I thoroughly enjoyed being a part of Feel Alive Hours nationwide quiz contest as such activities help us in going beyond our curriculum. It deepens our understanding of the world around us.”

New Delhi, 15th February 2024: Vedanta Sesa Goa reaffirmed its commitment to fostering women achievers and honouring their exceptional contributions to society by launching an inspiring campaign titled #IronLadiesIndia’24. In line with the company’s unwavering dedication to women’s empowerment, this campaign aims to pay tribute to the ‘Iron Will’ of women within the organization & beyond.

Building upon the success of the previous Fulcrum Awards winning #IronLadiesindia campaign, the #IronLadiesIndia24 campaign was unveiled on ‘International Day of Women & Girls in Science’ and will conclude on ‘International Women’s Day’ in March. This initiative seeks to spotlight the monumental impact of women’s contribution in various spheres of life and who have become an inspiration for others by pushing the envelope further, thereby instilling confidence in women everywhere.

Spanning across all Sesa Goa locations in India & overseas, the #IronLadiesIndia’24 campaign will feature a series of digital and on-ground initiatives celebrating women’s unparalleled strength, courage, and achievements. These initiatives include the felicitation of women achievers within the organization and the broader community. Furthermore, to encourage women to take up leadership roles, an introductory #WomenInTheBoardRoom  initiative will also be rolled out through a robust screening process at every respective unit in addition to many other activities across the company and communities, aimed at saluting the ‘Iron Will’ of women & celebrating their outstanding achievements.

Expressing his sentiments on the occasion, Navin Jaju, CEO, Sesa Goa stated “At Vedanta Sesa Goa, our dedication to nurturing an environment, conducive to the growth and success of women runs deep. With the launch of our #IronLadiesIndia’24 campaign, we proudly honour the indomitable ‘Iron Will’ of women, both within our organization and beyond. Through a myriad of ongoing initiatives that are exclusively designed for women that have served as a source of livelihood for women & have enhanced literacy levels amongst them, Vedanta Sesa Goa has time & again upheld its commitment towards being the wind beneath their wings.”

Through remarkable initiatives exclusively designed for women such as launch of Project ‘Jivika’ involving establishment of tailoring centres for women, aiding women-run Self-Help Groups to earn their livelihoods, launch of ITI Computer courses to foster digital literacy amongst women, various sports initiatives such as the establishment of the Girls Football Centre in Bicholim & Amona, Vedanta Women’s League, Sesa Football Academy’s (SFA) debut senior Women’s Football Team, SFA Women players in National Games, supporting women farmers and women in mining & security amongst  many other initiatives, Vedanta Sesa Goa has consistently provided a robust platform for women to enhance their skills and empower themselves and contributed to their personal & economic growth and societal advancement at large.

Ms. Sandhya Malik, Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Vedanta Sesa Goa, stated, “We are delighted to launch the #IronLadiesIndia’24 campaign which salutes the ‘Iron Will’ of women & is a celebration of their remarkable resilience & strength. It is about recognizing the countless barriers that they have circumvented, the glass ceilings they have shattered, and the invaluable impact they have made in every sphere of life. Through this campaign, we aim to inspire a new generation of women leaders, innovators, and changemakers who are unafraid to challenge the status quo.”

Recently, Vedanta has introduced initiatives focused on enhancing the mental and physical well-being of women employees, including the provision of a 12-month long sabbatical leave for post-birth support while ensuring job security and a ‘No Questions Asked’ Work-From-Home facility for women once a month.

Through #IronLadiesIndia’24, Vedanta Sesa Goa extends an invitation to everyone to join hands in celebrating and saluting the ‘Iron Will of Women’ who continue to inspire and empower countless other women.

Bangalore February 15, 2024: Zendesk today announced it completed its acquisition of Klaus, the industry leading AI-powered quality management platform. The acquisition of Klaus is the latest addition to the company’s existing WEM solutions which includes Tymeshift, a modern workforce management tool built exclusively for Zendesk.

“Workforce engagement management is key to not only meeting, but exceeding customer expectations. A traditional satisfaction score won’t tell you everything you need to know. It won’t tell you where there are gaps in your service, or where there are opportunities for coaching and additional training for your support teams,” said Adrian McDermott, chief technology officer, Zendesk. “With Klaus as part of our WEM portfolio we have new features such as AI-powered AutoQA. We can give businesses everything they need to automatically and accurately assess the performance of their support teams to deliver consistent, high quality service across every channel and through both human and digital agents.”

“As AI drives up the speed and frequency of customer engagement, only AI-powered QA can help companies keep up with rising customer expectations,” said Kair Käsper, co-founder of Klaus. “While most QA software can only score up to 5 percent of CX interactions, Klaus automates QA across 100 percent of customer support interactions. It uses AI to identify patterns, predict issues and suggest solutions making it a vital tool that improves service quality, enriches the customer experience, and ultimately enhances the reputation and success of the organization.”

With digital agents resolving more service inquiries without human interaction, having a QA solution that analyzes both human and digital agent performance is crucial to maintaining quality control and providing best-in-class customer service. Klaus pinpoints conversations with positive or negative sentiment, identifies outliers, churn risk, escalations and follow-ups across all conversations – even those done by outsourced teams. It spots knowledge gaps and coaching opportunities that can be used to improve agent performance and productivity, all of which results in higher customer satisfaction.

“We’ve been working with Zendesk for over eight years and Klaus for almost two years, so this acquisition is an exciting step towards creating an evermore streamlined process for our internal quality assessment,” said Sophie Elgar, training and quality manager, Liberty London. “As a luxury brand, we aim to provide exceptional service and our partnership with Zendesk helps us achieve that.”

“Zendesk with Klaus demonstrates a unique ability to automatically provide quality assurance at all times,” said Daniel Newman, CEO, The Futurum Group. “Used this way, companies can identify not only the areas where CX teams should improve, but also areas where a business is lacking structured processes. This brings huge opportunities to customers of all sizes.”

Mumbai, February 15th, 2024: Sterlite Power, a leading power transmission developer and global products and services provider, announced the successful refinancing of the Lakadia-Vadodara Transmission project loan within 12 months of the project becoming fully operational in January 2023. The new financing from HDFC Bank, IIFCL and Bank of Baroda will enable prepayment of the existing project loan of approximately INR 1840 crores.

The new refinancing secures a reduced interest rate of ~8.25% p.a.p.m, a significant improvement over the previous terms. The overall tenure of the facility is ~18 years. As the first private sector inter-state power transmission asset to secure such favourable refinancing terms, this accomplishment reflects the keen interest of financial institutions in supporting power transmission projects that offer stable, long-term cash flows.

Commenting on the significant milestone, Pratik Agarwal, Managing Director, Sterlite Power said, “Refinancing our commissioned projects are in line with our efforts toward strategic reallocation of resources. Securing a better interest rate for the commissioned project further adds to our bottom line while delivering value to all stakeholders.”

The LVTPL project connects the 765/400 kV substation at Lakadia to Vadodara through a 335 km long, 765 kV double-circuit transmission line. With 812 towers spanning seven districts in Gujarat, this power transmission corridor is also one of the largest transmission assets built in India to date.

February 15, 2024: In what is its first product action after achieving one lakh sales in two years, Škoda Auto India has introduced the Slavia Style Edition of its best-selling, five-star safe, crash-tested sedan.

Speaking on the product, Petr Janeba, Brand Director, Škoda Auto India, said: “The Slavia Style Edition is yet another instance of us listening to our discerning customers and offering an extremely exclusive, yet high value product for our customers. It comes in very limited numbers, for a very focussed set of our customers, but will be accessible across our 200-plus sales touchpoints across India.”

The equipment

The Style Edition is slotted above the top-of-the-line Style variant of the Slavia. It comes standard with features like a Dual Dash Camera. It hosts an ‘Edition’ badge on the blacked-out B-pillars, black mirror covers and a Black Roof Foil. Inside, customers are greeted by a ‘Slavia’ branded Scuff Plate with the steering carrying an ‘Edition’ badge. Stepping out of the car will reveal a Puddle Lamp with the Brand Logo Projection.

The exclusivity

Škoda Auto India will launch 500 units of the Style Edition of the Slavia. All 500 will come exclusively with the 1.5 TSI engine mated to the 7-speed DSG automatic gearbox. Each of these 500 cars will also be adorned only with the Candy White or Brilliant Silver or Tornado Red paint options, as these shades have been specifically selected to contrast with the exclusive black elements on the roof and ORVMs of this Slavia. This Edition x all of its exclusivity and additional features is priced at a reasonable premium of ₹30,000 over the equivalent Style variant of the Slavia sedan.

Safety

The Slavia Style Edition carries forward the safety legacy of the Slavia coming standard with six airbags and a full 5-star rating for adult and child safety under Global NCAP’s newer, stricter test protocols. It further lengthens the company’s fleet of fully crash-tested 5-star-rated cars for adult and child occupants.

Made-for-India. Ready for the world

The Slavia sedan, like the Kushaq SUV, is based on the MQB-A0-IN platform that was developed specifically for the Indian market. The platform was jointly developed by teams in India and Czech with a focus on low maintenance costs, high localisation and quick turnaround times for service and spares, while retaining the traditional qualities of Škoda DNA like driving dynamics and safety, among others. The car is localised by upto 95% and comes with a standard warranty of 4 years or 100,000 kms and an optional warranty of upto 8 years or 150,000 kms with a plethora of maintenance and service packages to enhance the ownership experience and lower maintenance costs for the customer.

 Škoda Auto

• is successfully steering through the new decade with the Next Level – Škoda Strategy 2030.
• aims to be one of the five best-selling brands in Europe by 2030 with an attractive line-up in the entry-level segments and additional e-models.
• effectively leverages existing potential in important growth markets such as India, North Africa, Vietnam and the ASEAN region.
• currently offers its customers eleven passenger-car series: the Fabia, Scala, Octavia and Superb as well as the Kamiq, Karoq, Kodiaq, Enyaq, EnyaqCoupé, Slavia and Kushaq.
• delivered over 866,000 vehicles to customers around the world in 2023.
• has been a member of the Volkswagen Group for 30 years. The Volkswagen Group is one of the most successful vehicle manufacturers in the world.
• independently manufactures and develops components such as MEB battery systems, engines and transmissions as part of the Volkswagen Group; these components are also used in vehicles of other Group brands.
• operates at three sites in the Czech Republic; has additional production capacity in China, Slovakia and India primarily through Group partnerships, as well as in Ukraine with a local partner.
• employs over 40,000 people globally and is active in around100 markets.

Škoda Auto India

• fascinating customers in India since 2001.
• offers 3 models in India – Slavia, Kushaq and Kodiaq.
• present in more than 150 cities across the country with over 260 customer touchpoints.
• recorded more than 100,000 sales over the last two years.

Škoda Auto India website – www.škoda-auto.co.in

Škoda Auto India Communications X Handle – @SkodaIndia_PR