PUNE:  Shoppers Stop, India’s leading fashion, lifestyle, and gifting destination, turned one customer’s wedding shopping journey into the experience of a lifetime. As part of its highly successful India Weds campaign, Shoppers Stop announced Mr. Arjun Chavhan from Pune as the lucky winner of a dream holiday to Europe.

The felicitation ceremony at Shoppers Stop, Westend Mall, Aundh was a thoughtfully curated affair that celebrated Arjun’s milestone with Shoppers Stop in style. Welcomed with floral décor and a red carpet, Arjun’s celebration featured a photo zone, cake-cutting, and the symbolic cheque reveal, making the moment unforgettable and reflecting Shoppers Stop’s thoughtful approach to marking customer milestones. It was a perfect embodiment of the India Weds campaign – a landmark initiative that positions Shoppers Stop as the one-stop premium destination for India’s wedding tribe. From Haldi to Reception, the campaign highlights how the brand walks alongside customers through every step of their wedding journey, offering curated fashion, beauty, and gifting all under one roof.

“At Shoppers Stop, we cherish every celebration with our customers. Through our ‘India Weds with Shoppers Stop’ initiative, we are excited to express our heartfelt gratitude by creating truly unforgettable experiences. This season, the love and trust of our customers have inspired us to redefine wedding shopping and offer rewards that exceed expectations – including a dream trip to Europe as our way of saying thank you,”

said Jiten Mahendra, Customer Care Associate and Chief Marketing Officer, Shoppers Stop.

With over 500 premium brands, Personal Shopper services, and loyalty benefits via its First Citizen Club, Shoppers Stop continues to lead the premiumisation journey in Indian retail, one elevated customer experience at a time.

This celebration in Pune is part of a Pan-India winner felicitation series, with similar moments planned across Hyderabad and Bengaluru, for winners of the India Weds with Shoppers Stop campaign.

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BENGALURU: In a landmark moment for India’s electric vehicle industry, Ultraviolette Automotive today flagged off the first batch of its Made-in-India F77 MACH 2 high-performance electric motorcycles to the European Union (EU) markets, marking a significant milestone in its global expansion plans. 

The ceremony was led by Hon’ble Shri. H.D. Kumaraswamy, Union Minister of Heavy Industries, Government of India, and Hon’ble Shri M.B. Patil, Minister of Industries and Commerce, Government of Karnataka, and took place at Ultraviolette’s advanced manufacturing facility in Bengaluru.

Expressing his admiration for Ultraviolette’s achievements, Union Minister Shri H.D. Kumaraswamy stated, “The expansion of Ultraviolette into the European market represents a defining moment for India’s automotive industry, demonstrating our nation’s ability to compete on the global stage. This is a prime example of how Indian startups are driving innovation in critical sectors like electric mobility. This export initiative aligns perfectly with our government’s vision of making India a global EV manufacturing hub.”

Shri M.B. Patil highlighted Karnataka’s role in fostering growth, saying “Bengaluru is at the forefront of India’s electric vehicle revolution, and Ultraviolette is the Tesla of India. Their success is a testament to our vibrant ecosystem for innovation and this export marks a new chapter in our state’s journey toward sustainable development and technological leadership.”

Ultraviolette is setting its sights on becoming a prominent player in the global electric vehicle industry, creating a strong foundation for future success in international markets.

Narayan Subramaniam, Co-founder and CEO of Ultraviolette shared his excitement about the company’s global expansion. “Today, we are witnessing Indian innovation taking the global stage. We are proud to take this revolutionary product to Europe. The F77 MACH 2 is not just a motorcycle; it’s a statement of India’s relentless pursuit of engineering excellence and sustainable mobility solutions.”

Emphasizing the strategic importance of this move, Niraj Rajmohan, Co-founder and CTO of Ultraviolette, said: “Our entry into Europe signals our commitment to delivering world-class electric vehicles designed in India for global markets. Europe is a key market for electric mobility, and we believe the F77 MACH 2 will redefine the perception of Indian electric vehicles in this region. This is just the beginning of a larger journey as we continue to push the boundaries of EV innovation.”

Leveraging its advanced technology and manufacturing capabilities, Ultraviolette aims to revolutionize the electric vehicle landscape in Europe and beyond, delivering high-quality products that meet global standards.

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GURUGRAM: Air India, India’s leading global airline, has further scaled up its European operations with additional flights to Amsterdam, Copenhagen, and Milan to meet sustained demand.

From 22 June 2024, Air India will operate daily non-stop flights from Delhi to Amsterdam Schiphol and Delhi to Milan Malpensa, increasing frequency on the two key routes from 4x weekly and 5x weekly, respectively.

Additionally, Air India will add another flight on the Delhi-Copenhagen route, taking the frequency on the route to 5x weekly.

The launch of the additional flights complements Air India’s daily, non-stop flights to Zurich starting 16 June 2024, as well as the daily services to Frankfurt and Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG), further boosting inbound and outbound passenger traffic and cargo flows between India and Europe.

Campbell Wilson, CEO & MD, Air India, said: “The expansion of our global route network continues to be a key priority for us in Air India’s ongoing transformation journey. The increased frequency to Europe demonstrates this as well as the growing demand for travel between India and Europe, and we are committed to providing our customers with greater choice and convenience.”

“These new flights will not only strengthen trade and tourism ties but also offer seamless connectivity to travelers from Europe to other countries in the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia (and vice versa) via our Delhi hub.”

With the increased frequency to the three European cities, Air India will serve mainland Europe with 80 flights a week to and from seven points, namely Amsterdam Schiphol, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Milan Malpensa, Paris CDG, Vienna, and Zurich.

Air India uses its two-class configured Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft on all flights to mainland Europe, featuring 18 flat beds in Business Class and 236 spacious seats in Economy.

Seats on the additional flights to Amsterdam, Copenhagen, and Milan are available for booking on all channels, including Air India’s website, mobile app, and via travel agents.

All times are displayed by local time zones. (+1) denotes next-day arrival.

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INDIA: DigiCert, a leading global provider of digital trust, today announced a strategic collaboration with Deutsche Telekom to enhance its digital certificates and identity management offerings. Leveraging the expertise of DigiCert, Deutsche Telekom is poised to deliver comprehensive solutions tailored to the diverse needs of European customers.

The partnership with DigiCert equips Deutsche Telekom to address a wide spectrum of requirements, ranging from public key infrastructure and identity and access management to digital certificates and hardware security solutions for various devices, including smartphones and computers. With a single-source approach, Deutsche Telekom aims to cater to the demands of both its customers and its subsidiaries, ensuring seamless integration.

“This strategic move aligns with our commitment to maintaining certified trust service provision in geo-redundant data centers, ensuring compliance with European legal standards,” said Andreas Branching, Head of Trust Center & Identity Security, Deutsche Telekom Security GmbH. “By joining forces, we fortify our position as a leader in the digital security landscape, ensuring that our offerings continue to meet the evolving needs of our customers while upholding the highest standards of data integrity and sovereignty.”

With an eye toward future advancements, Deutsche Telekom aims to enhance flexibility and scalability in its service offerings through collaboration with DigiCert. In an era characterized by rapid IoT proliferation and expanding attack surfaces, the partnership enables Deutsche Telekom to deliver agile, scalable platforms capable of meeting evolving security needs. Additionally, seamless identity management across diverse applications and device instances will enrich Deutsche Telekom’s security portfolio, empowering customers with greater control and agility in their digital ecosystems.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with Deutsche Telekom, a renowned leader in digital innovation and trust services,” said Stuart Schielack, Vice President of Global Channels and Alliances at DigiCert.  “This partnership underscores our shared commitment to delivering cutting-edge security solutions that empower businesses and individuals to navigate today’s complex digital landscape with confidence. Together, we will leverage our combined expertise to drive innovation and set new standards for digital trust and security in Europe and beyond.”

Deutsche Telekom maintains its longstanding reputation for digital sovereignty, a cornerstone of its service offerings in the German market. Since pioneering DE’s first certified trust center in 1994, the company has played a pivotal role as a trusted authority for electronic data exchange across various industries and government agencies. Millions of digital certificates issued by Deutsche Telekom continue to underpin secure, IT-enabled business processes, safeguarding data integrity, evidentiary value, and confidentiality.

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MUMBAI: Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) (BSE: 532540, NSE: TCS) has been ranked the number one IT service provider for customer satisfaction across Europe in Whitelane Research’s independent survey of the top IT spending organizations. TCS received the highest ranking in this survey for the 11^th consecutive time. TCS also ranks #1 in customer satisfaction in Financial Services  (84% vs industry average of 75%) and Manufacturing & Chemicals, Consumer Goods & Pharmaceuticals (81% vs industry average of 76%), according to Whitelane Research.

Overall, the Whitelane Research 2023/2024 IT Sourcing Study surveyed over 2,000 participants from the continent’s top IT spending organizations who evaluated over 5,000 unique IT sourcing relationships. Looking at wider trends, the report found 31% of respondents said that their organization plans to outsource more over the next two years. The top reason for this was access to resources and talent (55%), followed by scalability to business needs (54%). In the assessment of IT providers, the report found TCS’ customer satisfaction score to be 82%, 7 percent higher than the industry average.

Sapthagiri Chapalapalli, Head of Europe at TCS said: “We are proud to be recognized as number one in customer satisfaction across Europe for yet another year. In times when AI is expected to revolutionize practically all industries, strong client relations and access to the right talent are of particular importance. We are focused on our customers in everything that we do, and it is wonderful to see our commitment to high standards is recognized by our customers. We are grateful to our customers for their trust in TCS and to our team for their commitment to Customer Centricity and Execution Excellence”.

The study also revealed that TCS demonstrated an ‘exceptional’ level of performance across five key IT domains:

• Digital Transformation (85% vs industry average of 77%)
• Workplace Services (84% vs industry average of 75%)
• Security Services (83% vs industry average of 76%)
• Application services (82% vs industry average of 76%)
• Cloud Services (80% vs industry average of 74%)
• Taking a deeper look into organizations’ upcoming plans for IT outsourcing, the report found:
• Increasing security, resilience, and/or cyber defense was scored as the top client investment area over the next two years (60%).
• Automating business processes (57%) and migrating core businesses to the cloud (45%) were also considered areas of priority for investment.

Jef Loos, Head of Sourcing Europe at Whitelane Research, said: “Technology partnerships are critical to success in the business world, and TCS consistently ranking first in customer satisfaction for over a decade is a testament to their trustworthiness as a provider. Our independent research has found that European companies will be outsourcing more over the coming two years, to ensure they have access to the right talent and are able to scale rapidly. To navigate today’s economic and sustainability challenges, it is of crucial importance that organizations can rely on a trusted partner. Congratulations to TCS for being number 1 for the eleventh consecutive year.”

Etienne Dock, Senior Vice President Digital, and Information, Hager Group, said: “We would like to congratulate TCS on once again scoring exceptionally in the customer satisfaction survey. TCS has been one of our most trusted partners for more than three years. Its highly qualified teams continue to perform exceptionally on several levels: understanding of our business needs and values, commitment to problem-solving, top planning and execution. We look forward to further cooperation.”

The results of the Whitelane 2023/ 2024 IT Sourcing Study follow several industry recognitions for TCS, including being listed as a Top Employer in Europe and, according to Brand Finance, being the company with the highest brand value growth across the global IT Services Industry, surging to $19.2 billion from $17.2 billion in 2023.

Since 2013, Whitelane has conducted its annual IT sourcing study to evaluate the leading IT and cloud service providers in Europe and it is considered one of the most representative reports on the outsourcing market. Click here for further information on this year’s Whitelane Research IT sourcing report.

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• Finalization of a shared investment plan for the construction of the first end-of-life tire recycling plant in Uddevalla, Sweden.
• The project will be based on Enviro’s unique pyrolysis technology with the ability to extract raw materials from multi-component products. 
• The joint venture has secured a series of multi-year contracts for the supply of used tires and the upcycling of recovered carbon black and pyrolysis oil. This first plant will have the capacity to recycle approx. 35,000 tons of used tires annually and to create up to 40 green jobs in the local community.

SWEDEN: This joint venture announces the final investment decision for the construction of its first used tire recycling plant. Antin and Enviro entered into the joint venture in March of 2023 to build a series of plants in chosen European geographies.

Antin is a majority shareholder of the JV, Michelin is a minority shareholder and Enviro has an option to become a significant minority shareholder.

The first factory, based in Uddevalla, Sweden, has obtained all the necessary environmental and building permits and authorizations. Construction has already begun, and the plant is expected to be operational during 2025.

With an initial aim to process approx. 35,000 tons of used tires annually, the plant should create up to 40 green jobs in the local community during its first phase.

Multi-year supply contracts    

In addition to obtaining financing for the construction of the industrial plant, the joint venture signed a series of multi-year contracts regarding the supply of end-of-life-cycle tires as well as recovered carbon black and pyrolysis oil.

In this context, Michelin continues its approach of proactively supporting the development of used tire recycling ecosystems and is committed to collaborating on the future developments of this joint venture. As an example, Michelin has signed a multi-year supply agreement regarding carbon black and pyrolysis oil. 

One million tons

As previously announced, the joint venture plans on building factories throughout Europe targeting a total annual recycling capacity of one million tons of used tires. Once the Uddevalla plant begins operating, the joint venture will undertake the construction of additional factories in other European countries to ensure a rapid rollout of this technology. Antin and Enviro have already agreed to a financing plan for the construction of these factories.

The volume of tires that reach the end of their life cycle and are then discarded has continued to rise, now annually amounting to 3.5 million tons within Europe alone. This joint venture was established to develop used tire recycling throughout Europe, producing sustainable raw materials. Foremost among these materials produced are recovered carbon black and oils that may then be used in the manufacturing tires and in the petrochemical industry. By replacing virgin carbon black with the joint venture’s recovered material, it is possible to reduce the emissions arising from the use of conventional carbon black by more than 90%.

“Michelin has strongly supported the creation of this joint venture between Enviro and Antin. The undertaking began in 2020 when Michelin became a shareholder in Enviro to support the maturation of this technology. Today, we are moving on to a new step with the finalization of the investment for the construction of this first factory in Sweden. The launch of this ambitious industrial program, which is expected to be developed on a European scale, perfectly echoes the strategic objectives of the Michelin Group to reach 100% renewable and recycled materials by 2050, reducing the overall environmental impact of its tires,” states Maude Portigliatti, High-tech Materials Business Director – Member of the Michelin Group Executive Committee.

“Antin is delighted to join Enviro and Michelin to announce approval for the construction of the first of several plants planned by the joint venture. We are excited to help create a fully circular platform that will restore end-of-life tires to their constituent raw materials that will be sustainably used over and over again. This is part of Antin NextGen’s strategy to focus on proven technologies that require substantial capital to scale.” adds Anand Jagannathan, Antin’s Senior Partner.

“The plant in Uddevalla will be the joint venture’s first full-scale tire recycling plant and the first important step in our joint effort to create the world’s first large-scale tire recycling group. Together we will play a crucial role in the industrial transformation needed for a more sustainable future”, says Alf Blomqvist, Chairman of Scandinavian Enviro Systems. 

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Mission Innovation, a coalition of 23 governments and the European Commission, has committed to pioneering clean energy solutions through domestic action and international cooperation. The partnership with the EIB Group will help innovative companies develop and grow, strengthening Mission Innovation’s significant contribution towards the Paris Agreement goals and climate neutrality.

The EIB Group has extensive experience in building public-private partnerships and works closely with the European Commission and the private sector to share risks that private investors alone are not willing to take. The partnership with Mission Innovation builds on the fruitful cooperation with the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Research and Innovation over the years.

The EIB Group’s Vice-President, Ambroise Fayolle, said that financing the technologies of tomorrow is key to reaching global climate goals, supporting economies’ competitiveness, and creating new jobs. The involvement of public multilateral development banks at the earliest stage is crucial, and the EIB Group is proud to join Mission Innovation to accelerate clean energy solutions for all.

The partnership between Mission Innovation and the EIB Group aligns perfectly with their shared commitment to driving clean energy innovation and achieving the objectives set out in the Paris Agreement. By combining their expertise and resources, they can increase their impact and accelerate the development and demonstration of innovative solutions.

In 2019, the EIB’s energy lending policy was adopted to end financing to any unabated fossil fuel energy projects, including natural gas, making it the first multilateral development bank to do so. In 2021, the EIB became the first multilateral development bank to align its financial activities with the Paris Agreement.

Through its Climate Bank Roadmap, the EIB Group aims to support EUR1 trillion of investment in climate action and environmental sustainability through the critical decade, 2021-2030. The EIB committed to increasing investment in climate action and environmental sustainability to more than 50% of the EIB’s annual lending by 2025, which was exceeded last year by 58%.

The partnership between the EIB Group and Mission Innovation is a critical part of the pathway for high-ambition missions to achieve their goals. The alliance between the two organizations is a testament to the importance of early-stage investment in clean energy technologies.

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INDIA: IndiGo, India’s leading carrier, has announced the launch of new one-stop flights to 9 European countries via Istanbul, through its codeshare partnership with Turkish Airlines. These new 141 average weekly flights will operate to destinations like Malta, Hungary, Belgium, Israel, Ireland, Czech Republic, Netherlands, Greece, and Denmark from Istanbul. IndiGo had previously launched connecting flights to various destinations in Portugal, Switzerland, France, Italy, England, and Austria. In total, now IndiGo operates 335 average weekly codeshare flights to 15 countries in Europe.

The flights between India and these destinations have been launched in line with IndiGo’s vision to enhance international connectivity. IndiGo will operate two daily flights to Malta, Budapest, Dublin, Prague, Amsterdam, Athens, and Copenhagen and three daily flights to Brussels and Tel Aviv. These new flights have been added in view of the increase in demand for outbound travel to Europe as air travel sees a strong resurgence in 2023.

Vinay Malhotra, Head of Global Sales, IndiGo said, “We have witnessed a strong demand for international travel and especially to Europe last year. These connecting flights will not only add capacity but also provide convenient travel options for people looking to travel between India and Europe. We are confident that with the resurgence of international travel, these exciting options will offer people multiple choices for their travel this summer. We will continue to explore opportunities to provide affordable fares, on-time performance, and hassle-free connectivity for our customers.”

These destinations are known for their serene and historic attractions throughout the year. Malta is known for its warm climate and breathtaking landscapes that serve as locations for major film productions. The archipelago is home to some of the oldest temples in the world, such as the Megalithic Temples of Malta, and is home to attractions like St. John’s Co-Cathedral, Azure Window, Golden Bay, and Blue Lagoon Bay.

Budapest or the Spa capital of the world is outrightly known for its rich culture, underground caves, the Danube River, the drop-dead beautiful Parliament Building, and local delicacies. Some of the widely visited tourist attractions in Budapest include Buda Castle & Castle Hill, Hungarian Parliament Building & Crown Jewels, St. Stephen’s Basilica, and Fisherman’s Bastion.

As Ireland’s capital city and the home of the primary airport in the country, Dublin attracts millions of visitors every year. Dublin is the home of some of the finest surviving examples of Georgian architecture in the world, many of which are still in use today as seen in government offices. Some of the most important architectural buildings in the city are The Custom House, the Four Courts, and the Rotunda Hospital.

Prague is a 3D architecture textbook. Romanesque chapels and cellars, Gothic cathedrals, Baroque palaces and gardens, worldly Art Nouveau buildings, and unique Cubist architecture make it a place worth visiting. Attractions like Prague Old Town, Plezen, Prague Castle, Sedlec Ossuary, and Charles Bridge are a must-visit for tourists.

Amsterdam is acclaimed as the principal commercial and financial center of the Netherlands. It is known for its historical attractions, its collections of great art, and the distinctive color and flavor of its old sections, which have been so well preserved. Rijksmuseum, Anne Frank House, Van Gogh Museum, Begijnhof, Amsterdam’s West Church and Vondelpark.

Athens is known to be the birthplace of democracy and equality. Athens also houses many historic landmarks, such as temples and theatres, which were made by ancient architects during the Classical period. It is known worldwide for its tourist destinations such as the Acropolis, Acropolis Museum, Parthenon, National Archaeological Museum, and Temple of Hephaestus.

Copenhagen is known for its canals, excellent food, Tivoli Gardens, and Beer breweries. It is also famous for the Danish language, its community spirit, and the beer breweries. Tourist destinations like Christiansborg Palace, Nyhavn Waterfront, Slotsholmen, National Museum of Denmark, Rosenborg Castle, and Nørrebro are must-visits for every traveler.

Brussels is becoming a center for art, design, and style with the big names in international fashion opening up boutiques in the city. Brussels attracts a lot of tourists because of a number of museums, a thriving nightlife, and a plethora of shopping opportunities. Tourists can visit destinations like Grand Place, Manneken Pis, Saint-Michel Cathedral, Place Royale, and the Belgian Royal Museum of Fine Arts.

Tel Aviv is world-renowned for its high-quality restaurants and world-class cafe culture, as well as a superb nightlife scene. Destinations like Rabin Square, The Beach Promenade, Tel Aviv Port, Tel Aviv Museum, Bialik House, and Eretz Israel Museum are visited by tourists worldwide.

Customers who wish to plan their travel can book tickets via our official website www.goIndiGo.in. The introduction of these flights will further bolster the airline’s international connectivity.

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