PARIS: NTT DATA, a global leader in digital business and technology services, today announced a strategic partnership with Paris FC for the 2025-2026 season. In 2025, shortly after the club was acquired by the Arnault family (owners of the LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE), Paris FC was promoted to Ligue 1, returning to the elite of French football.

This partnership adds to NTT DATA’s collaborations with prestigious clubs and sporting organizations such as Arsenal F.C. and INDYCAR, demonstrating its global expertise in sports and innovation.

Paris FC opens a new digital chapter

NTT DATA will support the development of an ambitious roadmap aimed at enriching supporter experience through new digital pathways, including deploying conversational agents and creating personalized content.

This will be an immersive, intelligent, and connected experience that transforms the relationship between fans and their club into a true engagement platform, opening new growth areas for Paris FC and its partners.

The partnership also aims to modernize and digitalize Paris FC’s technology infrastructure, focusing on connectivity, collaboration, innovation, and intelligent data exploitation.

“Paris FC’s promotion to Ligue 1, the arrival of a new shareholder, and our move to Jean Bouin mark a new era for the club. This partnership with NTT DATA is fully in line with this momentum: it enables us to accelerate our digital transformation to offer our supporters a modern, connected, and ambitious experience,” commented Pierre Ferracci, President of Paris FC.

A strategic partnership for a modern, connected, and engaged club

Beyond technology, Paris FC and NTT DATA have a shared vision using football as a means to achieve diversity and inclusion alongside digital transformation, bringing communities closer together and creating high-impact experiences for fans and partners. As well as promotion to Ligue 1, Paris FC has already qualified for the UEFA Women’s Champions League 2025/2026 and established Paris FC Handifoot, a dedicated program making football accessible to players with disabilities.

“This partnership with Paris FC embodies our mission at NTT DATA: to accelerate client success and positively impact society through responsible innovation,” added Olivier Posty, SVP France Luxembourg at NTT DATA.

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AN ODE TO THE FRENCH ART DE VIVRE

Inspired by the art de vivre à la française, these workshops immerse participants in the heart of Parisian gastronomic culture. With a hybrid format combining a hands-on cooking class and an outdoor excursion just a few steps away, One Day in Paris showcases the richness of local craftsmanship and the exceptional savoir-faire of the Chefs at École Ducasse Paris Studio. Over a single day, participants are guided by expert teams who share their passion for quality ingredients and teach the refined techniques inspired by Chef Alain Ducasse.

The program includes a full day of immersion at École Ducasse Paris Studio and across the charming 16th arrondissement neighborhood of Boulainvilliers, featuring:

• A warm welcome with a gourmet breakfast
• A guided visit to the Passy and Annonciation market with a Chef from École Ducasse Paris Studio, offering encounters with local artisans and producers (including a baker committed to crafting his sourdough bread)
• An exclusive cooking workshop at École Ducasse Paris Studio using fresh market ingredients
• A tasting lunch of the dishes prepared during the session
• A chocolate and coffee tasting featuring selections from Alain Ducasse’s own Manufactures

Offered in English (also available in French), this workshop is designed especially for visitors to Paris who wish to explore the culinary arts and experience the essence of the French art de vivre.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

• Individual rate: €369
• Limited spots available; dates can be viewed on the website www.paris-ecoleducasse-studio.com or upon request for private bookings.
• Registrations are open via email at accueil@ecoleducasse.com, through the website www.paris-ecoleducasse-studio.com, or by phone at +33 (0)1 44 90 91 00
• École Ducasse Paris Studio 64 rue du Ranelagh 75016 Paris

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The event was held in the presence of the Minister of State for Youth Affairs & Sports, Smt. Raksha Nikhil Khadse, Sh.Pankaj Jain, Secretary MoPNG, Sh. V Satish Kumar, Chairman and Director (Marketing), IndianOil, senior government officials, and PCI leadership.

Minister of State for Youth Affairs & Sports, Smt. Raksha Nikhil Khadse lauded the athletes and said, “India’s Para athletes have once again showcased their exceptional talent on the global stage. You are true ambassadors of India’s strength and spirit. Your struggles, your determination, and your victories are lessons that will inspire generations to come. IndianOil’s support for these athletes is commendable and reflects the power of corporate partnerships in promoting India’s sporting excellence.”

Shri Pankaj Jain, Secretary, MoP&NG, expressed admiration for the athletes and announced that IndianOil will be further enhancing its support by introducing monthly scholarships, medical insurance, and sports kits for para-athletes. He also added, “We can see the beaming faces of our athletes, ready to add more to our current tally. Kudos not only to the medalists but to every athlete who competed in the games. The journey ahead is strong, and so is your will.”

V Satish Kumar, Chairman and Director (Marketing), IndianOil, expressed his pride in the athletes’ achievements, stating, “This historic performance is a testament to the resilience and determination of our para-athletes. IndianOil is proud to have supported them on this incredible journey, and we remain committed to standing by their side as they continue to break barriers and achieve excellence.”

Devendra Jhajharia, President of PCI, added, “My players trust me, and we are already preparing for our next outing. IndianOil’s support has been crucial in enabling our athletes to perform at their best. This partnership embodies resilience, strength, and determination.”

IndianOil remains steadfast in its commitment to supporting India’s dream of a sporting nation by empowering athletes and fostering talent across disciplines, underscoring its key role in promoting sports in the country.

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Speaking about his training, Swapnil said, “I have been training with Maharashtra’s Sports Academy since 2008. When in Pune, I practice shooting at Shri Chhatrapati Shivaji Sports Complex at Balewadi“

Adding further he said, “To achieve success in any sport, one must stay away from social media and negativity of any kind.  Mental health is crucial and now I aim to win the gold medal at the next Olympics.”

Recalling his first visit to Pune after winning the medal, Swapnil mentioned that his neighbors had beautifully decorated his home to welcome him. He said he now looked forward to returning to Kolhapur, where he planned on taking a two-month break from shooting before starting preparations for the next Olympics.

Thousands of citizens gathered to congratulate and celebrate Swapnil. Swapnil’s performance at the Olympics has inspired many young people across the country.

Raghuvendra Deshpande expressed pride in having Swapnil as a resident and noted that the children in the society were now dreaming of winning medals in cycling and swimming, inspired by Swapnil’s achievements.

Vilas Javdekar congratulated Swapnil and expressed the hope that he would bring home a gold medal in the future while advising him not to feel burdened by this expectation.

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PARIS, FRANCE: The JSW Group marked Olympic Day with the inauguration of an exhibition that celebrates the life and legacy of Pierre de Coubertin, the Founder of the Olympic Movement, along with commemorating 100 years of India’s presence at the Games, in the host city of Paris, on Sunday.

Chairperson of the JSW Foundation, Mrs. Sangita Jindal, and Inspire Institute of Sport Founder, Parth Jindal were joined by President of the IOC, Mr. Thomas Bach, Minister of Culture, Madame Rachida Dati, Ambassador of India to the Republic of France, His Excellency Jawed Ashraf and the President of the Pierre de Coubertin Family Association, Mrs. Alexandra de Navacelle to open the exhibition that will be hosted at the Town Hall of the 7th Arrondissement, Paris, and will go on till the end of the Paris 2024 Summer Paralympic Games in September.

Speaking on the occasion, Sangita Jindal, Chairperson of the JSW Foundation said, “JSW Group is pleased to support the curation of ‘100 Years of India at Olympics’ at the Genius of Sport exhibition in Paris. Through this unique Exhibition, we celebrate the life and legacy of Pierre De Coubertin and 100 years of India’s remarkable Olympic journey and success. We share Pierre De Coubertin’s vision and belief that Sports can change the world differently by transcending borders and bringing people together in the spirit of peace and friendship. The 2024 Olympics is an important milestone for JSW Group. We are proud to support this exhibition as well as Team India in Paris.  Through these efforts, we reiterate our commitment to foster and nurture the sporting culture and talent in India.”

The exhibition, in association with the Pierre de Coubertin Family Association, comprises a detailed walkthrough of India’s Olympic journey over the last century, the success the country has enjoyed in the past, and its recent resurgence with an eye on the future.

Parth Jindal, Founder of the Inspire Institute of Sport said, “We are honored to partner with the Pierre de Coubertin family for what we believe is a special showcase of the Olympic movement and the part India has played in it. We are on the cusp of the greatest sporting event in the world, and it was our desire at JSW to do something more in the city of Paris. As a country, we want to take forward the ideals of Pierre de Coubertin. We want the world to be a peaceful place, and the role that sport could play in that regard is enormous.

It is our mission at JSW Sports to further the Olympic movement, not just in India, but in the world. The Inspire Institute of Sport will be represented by close to 30 athletes as part of Team India at the Games next month, and our effort is to keep increasing that number with every passing Olympic cycle. India’s rise as an economic power is evident. But it is through sport that a country’s soft power is truly showcased, and we will play our part in making this happen.“

Thomas Bach, President of the IOC said, “Thanks to this magnificent exhibition, the public will be able to discover and rediscover an astonishing and multi-faceted man and measure the extent of his work. France and the French people should be proud to have a compatriot like Pierre de Coubertin. A visionary whose message of a world united in peaceful competition through sport resonates even more strongly today.”

His Excellency Jawed Ashraf, Ambassador of India to the Republic of France, thanked the JSW Group for putting together the exhibition that will be on until September 10 and will be open to the public.

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PARIS: Novotel, Accor’s founding brand, today announced the launch of an international partnership with WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature) that will see Novotel champion the protection and restoration of the ocean through science-based action and conservation projects. WWF is a global leader in building a sustainable future for people and the planet.

Under the three-year agreement, from 2024 to 2027, WWF France will provide technical expertise to Novotel, helping its 580 hotels worldwide to have a positive impact on the ocean, challenging and guiding the brand and its properties throughout many aspects of its operations. The partnership will also see Novotel sponsoring several critical WWF ocean-related conservation projects across the world.

Balance has long been at the core of the Novotel brand, both in its business fundamentals and in its commitments to the work-life experience of its guests. The brand’s focus on the ocean, the world’s biggest carbon sink and greatest source of planetary balance, which regulates the climate and protects habitats and wildlife, is a continuation of this purposeful commitment to balance.

Novotel will build a three-year science-based action plan, rooted in three of the United Nations’ priority ocean-related actions, namely: reducing marine pollution and ocean acidification, particularly from land-based activities; fighting overfishing and promoting sustainable fishing models; and increasing scientific knowledge and research for ocean health.

Mapped against these priorities, the Novotel action plan will aim to rebalance its impact on the planet, determining short and long-term initiatives across four pillars that form Novotel’s Positive Impact Plan:

1. Reduce plastic, water & carbon footprint impact – empowering Novotel hotels to deliver positive impact action plans to reduce pressure on natural resources, with a strong focus on plastic, water & energy usage;
2. Make sustainable food choices – reducing meat, fish, and waste within Novotel’s food and beverage operations, and further development of sustainable seafood policies;
3. Enhance education & ocean awareness – educating guests, hotel teams, and local communities on the necessity of ocean conservation and how to positively contribute;
4. Contribute to research & innovation – partnering with NGOs and investing in sustainable innovation.

The partnership with WWF will help Novotel drive operational change and action for the greater good of the ocean and deliver upon its Positive Impact Plan. With a specific focus on the ocean, the WWF partnership has four main objectives:

• Work on sustainable seafood policies and supply chains for Novotel hotels and restaurants
• Raise guests’ and employees’ awareness of the importance of the world’s oceans
• Advocate for ocean preservation to inspire industry and policymakers
• Preserve and restore marine biodiversity through support of five WWF flagship projects around the world

To inform Novotel’s work, WWF is conducting extensive site visits to Novotel hotels to understand property-level operations and practices, assess procurement data, and make recommendations. WWF will provide a dedicated steering committee to assess Novotel’s progress on its commitments throughout the partnership.

The partnership will see Novotel supporting essential WWF France conservation projects around the world, including:

• The protection of Posidonia, an endemic flowering plant of the Mediterranean which plays a

key role as a carbon sink – removing carbon from the atmosphere – and providing benefits to 25 different marine ecosystems.

• The identification and removal of “ghost gear” – lost, abandoned, and otherwise discarded fishing gear – is the deadliest form of marine plastic waste that impacts marine turtles and mammals, elasmobranchs such as sharks, rays and skates, and marine birds.
• Supporting the WWF France’s Blue Panda boat, which sails across the Mediterranean carrying out work including scientific dives, protecting cetaceans from collisions with marine vehicles, and protecting endangered species of rays and sharks; as well as introducing the public to the Mediterranean, its conservation challenges, and the work being done to protect it.
• Tracking and tracing marine turtles in Asia-Pacific, gathering knowledge on their movements from nesting beaches to migratory corridors and foraging grounds, and mapping critical populations and conservation areas. Six of seven species of marine turtles remained threatened by harvesting, illegal trade, being caught by commercial fisheries, and the loss of nesting beaches.
• Protecting the sea turtles of the Western Atlantic, strengthening regional cooperation on sustainable fishing techniques, and combating illegal fishing. Fighting illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing will help protect leatherback turtles breeding in coastal areas of the Guianas, and green and olive ridley turtles from Brazil to Venezuela.

Commenting on the Novotel WWF partnership, Karelle Lamouche, Chief Commercial Officer, Premium, Midscale & Economy Division, Accor, said: “We are delighted to announce that Novotel is embarking on an exciting new chapter. Novotel, Accor’s founding brand, is a powerful brand, leading the Midscale segment in most of the world. Today, we are starting a bold new ambition, championing a sustainability cause globally.

Novotel has a long-standing commitment to innovation and balance, and we now take that commitment further, by choosing to help the greatest source of balance on our planet – the ocean.

To make this ambition a reality, we are proud to unveil a groundbreaking partnership with the WWF – the World Wide Fund for Nature. Together with our partners, teams, and guests, Novotel will lead the charge toward a sustainable future for our oceans, pioneering a new era of environmental stewardship in our hotels and driving industry change.

There is a deep imbalance in the way the ocean is treated. Globally, over-exploitation and pollution are depleting the ocean’s resources, while only a tiny fraction of climate finance is allocated to its preservation. The ocean’s health affects us all and our collective actions have a profound impact. We will rebalance how we engage with it, consume its resources, and invest in its protection and restoration. As a primarily land-based brand, Novotel has a unique opportunity to increase awareness of the impact everyone, everywhere has on the ocean and inspire positive change for the ocean’s future.”

Yann Laurans, Conservation Director, WWF France, said “WWF aims to restore ocean health for the benefit of people and nature. The oceans are an essential resource of biodiversity that must be protected. WWF is committed to strategic and innovative partnerships with the largest international and national companies in the world to help them concretely reduce their ecological footprint and make a positive contribution to the environment. We are confident our world-renowned technical and scientific expertise will help Novotel drive operational change for the greater good of their business and the ocean”.

Accor, Novotel’s parent Group, has an established track record of developing sustainable solutions and innovations in the maritime sector. To name just a few, Accor has supported Energy Observer since 2017 and recently partnered with the Fondation de la Mer in 2022 to adopt the Ocean Framework, to assess the impact of its business activities on ocean wildlife. The Group banned endangered fish species, promoted responsible fishing, and was the first hospitality group to commit to progressively eliminating single-use plastic items from their guest experiences to fight against ocean pollution. Accor’s commitments are aligned and consistent with the Group’s commitment to contribute to global carbon neutrality by 2050 and to remove all single-use plastics from the guest experience.

Brune Poirson, Chief Sustainability Officer, Accor, commented: “Novotel’s commitment and investment in ocean preservation, alongside the WWF, represent a major turning point in its history. It demonstrates the determination of the brand and the Accor Group to act resolutely in favor of biodiversity and fight climate change while inspiring the entire sector. Tourism has a major impact on marine resources. Yet, it is also very dependent on them. Our responsibility is not only to mitigate this impact but also to come up with impactful solutions that will help the industry adapt to climate change and its consequences. Our ambition is thus to support our owners in turning social and environmental challenges into sources of opportunities, for their assets and for the societies in which they operate.”

Created in 1967 in France, Novotel is Accor’s founding brand. It now boasts over 580 hotels across 65 countries, with 42,000 Novotel “Heartists” looking after over 30 million guests a year.

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PARIS: Air India has firmed up its order for 250 Airbus aircraft and selected an Airbus maintenance and digital package to power the airline’s transformation and growth strategy.

The aircraft order includes 140 A320neo and 70 A321neo single-aisle aircraft as well as 34 A350-1000 and six A350-900 wide-body jets. The airline had signed a Letter of Intent to acquire these aircraft in February 2023.

Air India will also be counting on Airbus to help ensure the highest level of fleet availability with the Integrated Materials Solutions (IMS) from Satair, an Airbus company. The Airbus-powered maintenance solution will ensure that every time the airline needs a rotatable or a consumable part, it is readily available and stocks are automatically replenished. And in its transformation and digitalization journey, Air India will be the launch customer for Airbus’ Skywise Core X3, the latest and most advanced aviation analytics platform. This once again demonstrates the avant-garde cooperation between Airbus and Air India.

The purchase agreements for the aircraft, as well as the Letters of Intent for maintenance and digital services, were signed in the presence of N. Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Sons and Air India, Campbell Wilson, CEO & MD of Air India, Guillaume Faury, Airbus CEO, Christian Scherer, Airbus Chief Commercial Officer and Head of International, and Rémi Maillard, President and Managing Director, Airbus India and South Asia at the Paris Air Show 2023.

Campbell Wilson, CEO & MD, of Air India, said: “Our ambitious fleet renewal and expansion program will see Air India operate the most advanced and fuel-efficient aircraft across our route network within five years. We are proud to be working with all our partners, including Airbus, in this journey to rebuild a global airline which reflects India taking a more confident posture around the world.”

“We are excited to be a key partner in the renaissance of the Flying Maharaja. Under the leadership of the Tata Group and focused on new management, this is one of the most ambitious projects in the airline business today. We are proud that the efficiencies, comfort, and range capability offered by our latest generation aircraft will contribute to the process, as Air India reclaims its rightful position as a world-class premium carrier. The Airbus services package is a perfect future-oriented choice that will form a core element of Air India’s transformation,” said Christian Scherer, Chief Commercial Officer and Head of International at Airbus.

The historic Air India order marks the entry into service of the A350 in India, the world’s fastest-growing aviation market. The all-new, long-range aircraft will help unlock the pent-up potential of India’s long-haul market, its technology, reach and second-to-none comfort enabling new routes and passenger experience with better economics and enhanced sustainability. Alongside the A350s, the A320 Family fleets will be the efficient, versatile asset to continue democratizing and decarbonizing air travel in India – from domestic, regional, up to international levels. Deliveries are set to commence with the first A350-900 before the end of 2023.

The A350 is the world’s most modern and efficient wide-body aircraft in the 300-410 seater category. The A350’s clean sheet design includes state-of-the-art technologies and aerodynamics delivering unmatched standards of efficiency and comfort. Its new-generation engines and use of lightweight materials deliver a 25 percent advantage in fuel burn, operating costs, and carbon dioxide (CO2 ) emissions, compared to previous-generation competitor aircraft.

The aircraft offers a 3-class configuration cabin that is the quietest of any twin-aisle and offers passengers and crew the most modern in-flight products for the most comfortable long-range flying experience.

The A321neo is the longest-fuselage member of Airbus’ best-selling, single-aisle A320 Family, comfortably seating 180 to 220 passengers in a typical two-class layout, and as many as 244 in a higher-density arrangement. The A320neo has already set the standards as the world’s most comfortable short-to-medium-haul aircraft that typically accommodates from 140 to 170 passengers, with a maximum capacity of up to 180 travelers. Its environmental performance allows for at least 20 percent less fuel burn and CO2 emissions as well as 50 percent noise footprint reduction, compared to previous generation aircraft.

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