Latest news with #FWD
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
DFO absolves leopardess attacker despite video evidence
Pilibhit: After a 40-day inquiry into the assault of an injured leopardess, the divisional forest officer (DFO) of the Pilibhit forest and wildlife division (FWD), Bharat Kumar, absolved the main accused, Pyare Lal, of any wrongdoing, on May 27. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The incident which took place on April 5, involved the villager striking the big cat multiple times with an axe, which has been captured in a widely circulated video. DFO Kumar, instead of submitting a report to the field director of Pilibhit Tiger Reserve (PTR) – the immediate authority governing DFOs of PTR and FWD – filed his report directly to district magistrate Gyanendra Singh, which concluded that Pyare Lal had acted in self-defence and that his axe attack caused no harm to the leopardess. The decision has drawn sharp criticism from within the forest department. An IFS officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, expressed disbelief at the DFO's decision. "If I were in Bharat Kumar's place, I would have booked the attacker under sections of the Wildlife Protection Act. This is undisputedly a wildlife-related crime," he said. The incident unfolded when a pickup mini truck struck the leopardess on the Pilibhit-Madhotanda road near Mala forest range of PTR. The vehicle reportedly dragged the big cat for about a kilometre before the driver abandoned the truck and fled. The injured animal then took shelter in a nearby vacant agricultural field. While forest officials waited for the rescue team to arrive, Pyare Lal, the owner of the field, approached the leopardess along with two forest watchers — Anokhe Lal and Rakesh Tiwari — defying the assigned protocol. Feeling threatened, the leopardess charged at the trio, prompting Pyare Lal to attack her with an axe. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The autopsy later revealed fractures in the animal's third and fourth vertebrae, and PTR veterinary officer Dr Daksh Gangwar did not rule out axe blows as the cause. However, a three-member inquiry panel formed to probe the matter established that Pyare Lal had thrown the axe in self-defence and concluded that it did not cause any injury. The IFS officer said, "Approaching and provoking a scheduled wild animal is a punishable offence under the Wildlife Protection Act. All three individuals should have been held accountable." Chief wildlife warden of UP, Anuradha Vemuri, said she will summon the concerned report for a detailed review, citing concerns raised by the video evidence. Meanwhile, the forest department has also failed to apprehend the truck driver involved in the initial collision. Sub-divisional forest officer of FWD, Anjani Kumar Shrivastav, said, "The vehicle owner, Amir Khan, secured anticipatory bail about two weeks ago. However, he has refused to disclose the driver's identity. The department has been unable to trace the driver so far."
Hans India
3 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Hans India
22nd edition of Myntra's much-awaited EORS is live now with over 4 million styles from 10,000+ brands
Myntra, one of India's leading fashion, beauty, and lifestyle destinations, is hosting the 22nd edition of its flagship End Of Reason Sale (EORS) live now until June 12. This much-awaited shopping event will dazzle fashion and beauty enthusiasts across the country. Shoppers from Tier 1, Tier 2, and emerging cities can explore a vast selection of over 4 million styles from more than 10,000 brands, including international, domestic, and homegrown brands. With something for every taste and trend, it's the ultimate destination for those looking to refresh their wardrobes and beauty shelves with the season's most stylish picks. The categories that are expected to garner traction from consumers during EORS include Men's Casual Wear, Men's and Women's Ethnic wear, Women's Western Wear, Beauty and Personal Care, Watches and Wearables, Accessories, Travel essentials, Sports footwear, Kids' Wear and wedding collections. Several popular brands that are expected to witness heightened traction include Levi's, Nike, adidas, H&M, MANGO, L'Oreal, Lakme, Libas, Decathlon, New Balance, Wrogn, US Polo Assn., Puma, and Rare Rabbit, among others. From breezy silhouettes to vibrant statement pieces, these collections offer something for every occasion, mood, and personal style. Adding to the thrill, FWD, Myntra's Gen-Z proposition, will feature over 200K+ trend-first styles from brands including SZN, Freakins, Bonkers Corner, Glitchez, Anouk Rustic, Lulu & Sky, KPOP, Outzider among many others. Customer shopping trends witnessed in Andhra Pradesh ● Customers in Andhra Pradesh have shown high demand, particularly across categories like Men's Casual Wear, Women's Ethnic Wear, Women's Western Wear, Beauty and Personal Care, and Men's Casual Footwear. ● Popular brands among customers in the state include Anouk, Rare Rabbit, WROGN, U.S. Polo Assn.,H&M, Titan, Fossil, Tommy Hilfiger, CASIO, Lakme, GUESS among others. ● Anantpur, Eluru, Guntur, Rajahmundry, Vijayawada, Vishakapatnam, and Vizianagaram have been some of the cities in the state showing increased customer demand. Exciting new launches for 22nd edition of EORS The 22nd edition of EORS will make shopping delightful with a slew of new launches. These include the US-based iconic brand GAP, and the famed designer Tarun Tahiliani's luxury pret line - OTT, both launching on Myntra for the first time. Other exciting new collection launches in the Beauty category include Emporio Armani, Elie Saab, K-18, and the new Alia Bhatt x L'Oréal Casting Crème Gloss line. Sneaker lovers are in for a treat with new arrivals including the adidas Originals Superstar 2, adidas Spaziel, Puma Palermo, and Lotto Leggenda. Home and living gets a refresh with stylish launches from Royal Oak, COIRFIT, and Drogo. Furthermore, as part of its continued support for emerging talent, customers will be able to shop from new D2C brand launches under Myntra's Rising Stars (MRS) Home Edit program including Phool, Modish Couture, and Sleep Spa this season. New launches in the watches and wearables category include Realme (Air 7 Pro, Air 7, and Wireless 5), Swiss Military, Noise Icon 2, Boult (K30 & W30), Daniel Klein, French Connection, and Belkin—making this season of EORS one of the most comprehensive and thrilling yet. Speaking about the 22nd edition of EORS, Bharath Kumar, Head of Revenue and Growth, Myntra said, 'Each edition of EORS is a testament to Myntra's vision of redefining the way India shops. It's more than just an event, it's a cultural moment that captures the spirit of a fashion-forward, evolving India. Every edition deepens our connection with customers, empowers emerging brands, and pushes the boundaries of tech-led, immersive shopping experiences. With this edition, we are expanding access to over 4 million styles across diverse categories, while inspiring customers to self-express through fashion.' With over 10k styles across fashion, beauty, accessories and home, M-Now has emerged as the go-to option for customers in Bengaluru, empowering fashion-forward shoppers to receive their orders starting ~30 minutes. This hyper-speed proposition offers a selection of globally loved brands, including Vero Moda, MANGO, Tommy Hilfiger, Levi's, Jack & Jones, ONLY, among others, along with premium beauty brands such as YSL, Prada, Carolina Herrera, Huda Beauty, MAC, Bobbi Brown, Etude, CORSX, Forest Essentials, Olaplex, CeraVe, Dyson, Bath & Body Works, and Estée Lauder. It also features Gen Z favorites like Crocs, Bewakoof, Roadster, Campus Sutra, and Dressberry. The event will feature assured cashback with every purchase, and dynamic shopping events such as Brand Mania Deals (8 PM – Midnight), Midnight Steal Runs (Midnight – 8 AM), Grab or Gone (8 AM – 8 PM), and VIP Special Deals (6 PM daily for an hour). With VIP ticket, customers will be able to get one-day early access, VIP exclusive deals and an additional 5% off on all prepaid transactions during the early access. Exciting partner bank offers on 22nd edition of EORS - ● Axis Bank & Flipkart Axis Bank: 10% instant discount on Credit Cards & EMIs ● ICICI Bank: 10% instant discount on Credit, Debit Cards & Net banking ● Kotak Mahindra Bank: 10% instant discount on Credit Cards & EMIs ● Paytm UPI: Assured cashback of ₹20 on each transaction Leveraging the power of Social commerce for 22nd edition of EORS
The Independent
14-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
E2E Female 100: It's time to lead by example
I am absolutely delighted to help to shine a light on these exceptional female founders and leaders. After all, to create, grow and maintain a successful business in the current climate, with continually escalating costs to do business and little in way of support or incentive, takes grit, determination and strength, all qualities which must be celebrated. At the heart of every strong, dynamic business lies a core of pure fire. A heady mix of entrepreneurial spirit teamed with a steely resolve and a truck-load of resilience. While some of us may be born with a passion for business and have the privilege and good fortune to be actively encouraged or able to pursue it, it's true to say that this isn't the case for all. Worryingly, in our industry, food and drink wholesale, a recent report by Food and Drink Wholesale UK (FWD) revealed that the number of female leaders is actually moving backwards. This is despite diversity, equity and inclusion identified as a key priority to drive the sector forward and encourage the next generation of talent to join. The report, Championing Change, revealed that just 16% of senior-level roles in the wholesale sector are held by women, compared to 48% of senior leadership roles in the UK's top 150 businesses. This is overwhelmingly disappointing to read. At Lioncroft Wholesale, I work alongside many incredible women whose skills, experience, insight and knowledge is exceptional, including our COO Daali Wouhra, without whom the business would not be the success that it is. What comes across loud and clear from this powerful FWD report is that a lack of visibility of female leaders is proving to be a major stumbling block for those looking to progress their careers. After all, we often have to see something before we can truly visualise it for ourselves. We need to see those who go before us in order to be inspired to follow their footsteps. With that in mind, in business, I do believe that role models and mentors have never been more important. Countless studies have shown that women with strong mentors are more likely to pursue and achieve leadership roles. Whether a mentor offers career guidance, confidence building or introductions and wider connections, these relationships can prove to be invaluable for those looking to sharpen and develop their skills and identify routes for progression. And let's be honest, gender diversity in leadership is not only critical when it comes to inspiring others, but also for the overall success of a business. Research continually shows that companies with diverse leaderships teams benefit greatly from the richness of different perspectives, resulting in better, more informed decision making and problem solving. A mix of life experiences, cultures, backgrounds and ages can challenge boundaries and provide invaluable insight. In fact, research from McKinsey has demonstrated that companies in the top quartile for gender diversity on executive teams were 25% more likely to have above-average profitability*. These different viewpoints, opinions and challenges that drive ideas forward leading to the best results and making companies more robust along the way. This is why the E2E Female 100 track is so critical. Championing female success in a world that can still feel dominated by men has to be a priority for us all.
Motor Trend
09-05-2025
- Automotive
- Motor Trend
2025 Nissan Kicks SR FWD First Test Review: Skipping AWD Has Never Been Easier
Pros Pleasant on-road manners Much quicker than AWD model Well equipped at price point Cons Troubling panic stop behavior So-so fuel economy Coarse-sounding engine Anyone else getting tired of gimmicks? Cars have gotten so good that automakers have had to resort to frivolities like massive screens that can play video games, light shows as you approach, and meditation chambers just to make their cars stand out against the competition. But what if all it takes to stand out is to be great at being completely normal and affordable? Enter the humble 2025 Nissan Kicks SR FWD. FWD or AWD? The 2025 Kicks sees the model transition to its second generation and benefit from a larger-displacement engine with vastly improved output. Power and torque are rated at 141 hp and 140 lb-ft over the prior model's 122 hp and 114 lb-ft. Weight is up, too; this front-wheel-drive model tips our scales at 3,133 pounds, whereas the old Kicks was a featherweight at 2,768 pounds. Still, the 2025 Kicks SR only has to haul around 22.2 pounds per horsepower while the old Kicks pulled 22.7, a marginal improvement but an improvement nonetheless. All-wheel-drive models are heavier, our last weighing 3,312 pounds. This translates to improved performance when launching the Kicks from a standstill. The 0–60-mph sprint takes 8.7 seconds. While not a scorching time, it beats the old model's 10.1-second best. The addition of the optional all-wheel drive slows the 2025 Kicks down, however. In our testing, the AWD model requires 10.4 seconds to accelerate to 60 mph—dragging the model backwards in performance. While the FWD Kicks is quicker (and cheaper!) than the all-wheel-drive variant, it performs slightly worse in other metrics. Braking is a weak spot. Around-town pedal feel is accurate with decent bite at the top of travel, but things get hairy under panic stopping. Medium to heavy use of the brakes causes the Kicks' rear to wobble left and right, with the torsion-beam rear suspension working hard to keep the small SUV from pitching forward. This bad behavior is due in part to 63 percent of the vehicle's mass being located up front, with only 37 percent in the rear. Slam on the brakes at 60 mph, and you'll come to a stop in 130 feet, which is poor performance for such a small vehicle. All-wheel-drive versions of the Kicks use independent rear suspension and work with a more balanced 61 percent front/39 percent rear weight distribution. Stopping distances improve to 127 feet, despite the weight gain from the AWD system, but more significant, the AWD Kicks merely teakettles forward rather than wiggling under braking. Differences on our figure-eight test circuit are marginal. This 2025 Nissan Kicks SR FWD runs the one-third-mile route in 28.1 seconds while the AWD variant needs 28.0 seconds. From a subjective perspective, the Kicks is fun to drive and handles well. Steering is direct, and it's easy to place the wheels where you want them. The SUV's lightweight body is nimble, exhibiting slight but well-controlled roll in the corners. If you like getting up to a bit of mischief on a twisty road, stability control is easy to disable and lets you drive this subcompact like it's an old-school front-drive hatchback. In day-to-day driving, the Kicks SR FWD can keep up with traffic from stoplight to stoplight and is quicker than before, but it still isn't what anyone would describe as powerful. You need to keep your foot in the throttle to get up to speed when merging onto a highway. Even though the engine lacks grunt, it likes to rev and happily stays in the powerband with the help of the Kicks' standard CVT. It makes a tinny racket while working hard, but once you've reached cruising speed, the four-banger quiets down. Suspension tuning is compliant over city streets, even without rear independent suspension, though the little crossover tends to struggle damping out the imperfections of a coarse road surface or quietly absorbing larger impacts. Underscoring the experience of driving the 2025 Nissan Kicks SR is its general ease of use. Although it's larger than its predecessor, a tight turning radius and good visibility give you the confidence to maneuver the small SUV through traffic. It's easy to parallel park the Kicks or squeeze the Nissan into a tight spot. Its performance doesn't excite, but its cheerful and pleasant demeanor takes some of the edge out of the daily commute. Is the 2025 Nissan Kicks SR FWD Good for Everyday Life? Essentially a high-riding hatchback, the redesigned Kicks wears a decidedly contemporary styling free of cartoonish accents like the ubiquitous unibrow lightbar that has permeated so much of today's automotive designs. Inside the cabin, the no-nonsense interior of our SR test car has a couple sporty accents like an orange garnish around the shifter, orange contrast stitching, and black leatherette seats with orange-patterned cloth inlays. Atop the Kicks SR's dashboard, there are two right-sized 12.3-inch screens perched atop a shelf of a soft material decorated with a pattern resembling carbon fiber. The displays are easy to navigate with clearly defined menus. We love that Nissan's user interface has togglable audio feedback that sounds like the classic Windows mouse click, a small delight for nerds like us. You still get lots of useful tech with the top-level SR trim. Wireless Apple CarPlay works seamlessly, and a charging pocket under the infotainment touchscreen lets you go cord free. A 360-degree camera view, enabled in reverse or at the touch of a button located next to the volume knob, shows a sharp overhead image of the Kicks for low-speed maneuvering precision. Our Kicks SR builds on the Nissan Safety Shield 360 suite with adaptive cruise control and hands-on ProPilot Assist 1.0 lane following support. As the 1.0 version of Nissan's highway driving assistance, ProPilot Assist maintains distance well between the Kicks and the vehicle ahead, but we've had to correct the steering through tighter curves at highway speeds. The rest of the equipment works as advertised. Notably, the passive lane keeping assistant isn't overeager to step in when you're driving manually, a rarity in modern cars. We usually get so annoyed by lane keeping that we disable it altogether, but we left it on in the Kicks because it's helpful rather than intrusive. Instead of relying on frippery to make a jaw-dropping first impression, the Kicks is equipped with features that make life easier over the course of ownership. Buyers and lessees are sure to like the cleverly designed trunk, which has a two-stage cargo floor that can either make the storage space deeper or flush with the rear seat backs when they're folded flat. That very same cargo floor piece has a hinge in the center that folds up, allowing quick access to a secondary storage area that's large enough for the optional spare tire or several duffels. On the upper lip of the right and left side of the trunk space, there are hooks for hanging shopping bags so they don't flop around when you're driving home from the store. Side pockets can hold smaller items you don't want to be loose in the trunk. The trade-off is that the trunk isn't offered with a self-opening motor, so you must operate the hatch the old-fashioned way. We appreciate that Nissan places a small button that can lock and unlock the doors next to the trunk release. Our test car is equipped with the Premium package, which adds a bundle of upscale features like a panoramic moonroof, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, heated mirrors, rear floor heater ducts, remote engine start, and rain-sensing wipers. This suite is the only way to get the Kicks' flashiest option, a 10-speaker audio system from Bose with in-headrest speakers for the driver and passenger. The stereo is no gimmick; these speakers are high-quality and expose you to aspects of your favorite songs you may never have heard before. Consider the Premium package a worthwhile investment if you're considering the purchase of a Kicks. Sounds Good! How Much? This well-equipped Kicks has been accessorized with splash guards for $250, carpeted floormats and underfloor protection for $200, and two-tone Arctic Ice Blue Metallic and Super Black paint for $800, and the Premium package adds $1,950. In total, our test car stickers for $30,835, $1,500 less than it would with all-wheel drive. This price represents good value given the high level of equipment provided; buyers shouldn't feel like they're missing out on much when driving a 2025 Kicks. The top-level Kicks SR undercuts its rivals by a good margin. Starting at $27,570, the Kicks SR FWD also compares favorably to the nicest front-wheel-drive Honda HR-V, which begins at $30,895. Other rivals are even pricier. A top-level Kona Limited starts at $32,100, and the Volkswagen Taos SE Black, the most expensive trim available with FWD, starts at $32,025. These competitors have more second-row legroom and feel a smidge more upscale, but you save money and get near-equivalent features if you stick with Nissan's subcompact offering. Making a small, affordable car appealing to shoppers is a tough balancing act, but Nissan has done a great job doing just that with the 2025 Kicks SR FWD. As it turns out, a product designed to meet the needs of its buyers doesn't need gimmicks to shine.
Associated Press
02-05-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
FWD Group Reports Exceptionally Strong First Quarter New Business Update
HONG KONG - May 2, 2025 ( NEWMEDIAWIRE ) - FWD Group Holdings Limited ('FWD Group' or 'FWD') today announced exceptionally strong first quarter new business highlights for the three months ended 31 March 2025. - New business contractual service margin ('New business CSM') growth of 55 percent year-on-year, to US$465 million. This adds to the company's overall CSM balance, which is released over time to its income statement under IFRS 17. - New business sales ('APE') growth of 46 percent, compared to the same corresponding period last year, to US$679 million. - Extended FWD Group's partnership with JA Worldwide in April for a further three years to help primary school students in Asia develop financial literacy, through the award-winning programme, JA SparktheDream. Huynh Thanh Phong, Group Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of FWD Group, said, 'FWD Group had a very strong start to the year, with our customer-led strategy driving some incredible new business results. We continued to respond to rapidly evolving customer needs for protection, health, and savings, with 10 new products introduced in the quarter, including FWD Private's first high-net-worth indexed universal life proposition.' 'FWD Group had a terrific quarter and maintained a strong balance sheet, however, we're keeping a close watch on the volatility in global financial markets and the uncertain global macro-economic outlook. Risk management is always a top priority and FWD Group is taking a prudent approach in preparing for a range of possible scenarios and outcomes,' added Huynh Thanh Phong. The growth in new business indicators was driven by most of the 10 markets FWD operates in. In Hong Kong SAR & Macau SAR, the particularly strong trajectory of growth in new business sales and new business CSM continued, reflecting demand from both local and Mainland Chinese visitor customers. In the Thailand & Cambodia reporting segment, new business indicators were impacted by weaker economic conditions as well as lower interest rates. Double digit growth in new business sales in the company's Emerging Markets segment was broad-based, while Japan posted steady new business indicators. About FWD Group FWD Group is a pan-Asian life and health insurance business that serves approximately 30 million customers across 10 markets, including BRI Life in Indonesia. FWD's customer-led and digitally enabled approach aims to deliver innovative propositions, easy-to-understand products and a simpler insurance experience. Established in 2013, the company operates in some of the fastest-growing insurance markets in the world with a vision of changing the way people feel about insurance. For more information, please visit For media inquiries, please contact: [email protected] Source: FWD Group Holdings Limited ^The unaudited results are for the three months ended 31 March 2025 and are compared to the same period in 2024. Growth rates are represented on a constant exchange rate (CER) basis. New business sales are calculated on an annual premium equivalent (APE) basis, based on 100 percent annual premiums and 10 percent single premiums. New business CSM excludes the impact of one-off reinsurance contracts on in-force business. View the original release on
