Malaysia Airlines Launches Bonus Side Trip Campaign For Indians

* Now convert your layover into a short stopover!

To encourage consumers to #FlyConfidently with Malaysia Airlines and make the most of their long-haul flights, Malaysia Airlines has announced a campaign that no passenger can refuse! The airline has launched a Bonus Side Trip* campaign that allows travellers to add an extra leg to their journey from India to enjoy Malaysia's cultural gems at a minimal cost. The offer is valid through December 31, 2022, for travel until March 31, 2023.

Commenting on the campaign, Mr. Amit Mehta, Country Manager- South Asia, Malaysia Airlines India, said, “For long-haul passengers, stopovers provide an opportunity to break up a potentially gruelling flight schedule and sample another destination along the way. From sandy beaches to highland rainforests – Malaysia offers it all. Our Bonus Side Trip campaign encourages passengers to stop over to experience Malaysia’s local culture, explore hidden gems, and Fly Malaysia to one of the seven destinations on offer: at almost no extra cost. We are confident that our impeccable hospitality, coupled with the breathtaking sites in Malaysia, will make this short stopover a memorable experience.”

To be entitled for the Bonus Side Trip, passengers must book a long-haul flight with Malaysia Airlines departing from India to one of the following destinations: Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Bangkok, Thailand, Singapore, Philippines, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea and the United Kingdom.

Passengers will get a chance to explore one of the seven domestic getaway destinations in Malaysia as part of the Bonus Side Trip programme:

Penang: Known as Malaysia’s food capital, Penang is famous for its mouth-watering dishes including Char Koay Teow and Laksa. Any trip to Penang should incorporate a visit to one of the bustling hawker street markets where you can experience local Malaysian delicacies at bargain prices.

Langkawi: One of Malaysia’s best-known popular holiday destinations, Langkawi, is an archipelago of 99 islands in the Andaman Sea. Langkawi features a range of breathtaking resorts, making it a popular choice for couples seeking a romantic escape.

Johor Bahru: Located at the tip of the Malay Peninsula, Johor Bahru offers a mix of culture and city exploration. Take a tour of Istana Besar, visit the Old Chinese Temple, walk along Jalan Tan Hiok Nee or if you need to entertain the kids, opt for Legoland Malaysia and the Angry Birds Theme Park.

Kuala Terengganu: Boasting a beautiful gateway to tropical islands, Kuala Terengganu offers unforgettable scenery. From witnessing the Crystal Mosque, relaxing at Lang Tengah beach and visiting the coral-fringed Perhentian Islands, it’s a must-visit stop for those looking to unwind.

Kota Bharu: As the capital state and royal seat of Kelantan, Kota Bharu is known for its traditional Malay heritage and traditions. While you’re there, go on one of its many historical and craft tours, and make a stop at Pasar Besar Siti Khadijah; one of the most famous indoor markets in Malaysia featuring the best of Kelantanese produce and crafts.

Alor Setar: Home to the longest royal family line, Alor Setar, the capital of Kedah, is an idyllic town against an emerald backdrop of paddy plantations and plenty more to offer.

Kuantan: One of the few seaside towns in Malaysia, Kuantan is a tourist hub with hidden gems from the modern Sultan Ahmad Shah State Mosque to Sungai Pandan Waterfalls.

*Bonus Side Trip differs from point of departure. Airport landing taxes in domestic Malaysia are still to be paid.

# One free domestic return ticket (airfare only) is provided with taxes and surcharges to be paid by the passenger. Other terms and conditions apply. See Malaysia Airlines website for further details.

Fly Confidently and safely:

Malaysia Airlines is a member of the Travel Safe Alliance Malaysia (TSAM) and is committed to providing a safe and seamless end-to-end travel experience so passengers can continue to Fly Confidently. This includes aircraft operations by fully vaccinated pilots and cabin crew, mandatory usage of face masks, frequent aircraft disinfections following guidelines prescribed by the Ministry of Health Malaysia and World Health Organization, and utilisation of aircraft HEPA filters that are proven to filter out 99.97 per cent of viruses on board.

Book your getaway via the official Malaysia Airlines website at www.malaysiaairlines.com or contact your preferred travel agent. Sign up to become an Enrich member at www.enrich.malaysiaairlines.com to start earning Enrich Points and download the Malaysia Airlines' App to get the latest promotions conveniently at your fingertips anytime and anywhere!

Modular Matrix Solution Series Complete AV Signal Control In One Expandable System

ATEN Modular Matrix Solutions are powerful matrix switches that provide various video interfaces and transmission options – including digital and analog video formats such as Fiber Optic, HDBaseT™, HDMI, SDI, DVI, and VGA – and offer real-time control and advanced access to manage 16/32 video sources and 16/32 displays simultaneously. In addition to their modular flexibility, models feature an all-in-one control mechanism that integrates video wall processing and matrix switching. Empowered by ATEN Seamless Switch™ technology, models incorporate a speed-progressive video switching function and a unique scaler that integrates seamlessly with video wall systems, and enables the distribution of video with perfect timing in any dimension.

Complete AV Signal Control

Easy Maintenance and High Reliability

Future-proof Expandability

Bandwidth for True 4K, HDR

Scaling for Optimized Output

ATEN’s FrameSync Technology prevents screen tearing by synchronizing the scaler frame rates, guaranteeing smooth video for high-motion elements and ensuring stunning tear-free video walls.

The Jalan Kalrock Consortium Announced New Appointments For Jet Airways Leadership Team

The Jalan Kalrock Consortium (JKC) announced new appointments for the Jet Airways leadership team, as the airline prepares to make a historic comeback with fresh funding, changed ownership, and new management.

The following accomplished individuals have been appointed:

Prabh Sharan Singh, Chief Digital Officer

HR Jagannath, Vice President – Engineering

Mark Turner, Vice President – Inflight Product and Services

Vishesh Khanna, Vice President – Sales, Distribution, and Customer Engagement

Sanjiv Kapoor, Chief Executive Officer, said: “We are delighted to welcome these extremely talented and experienced leaders to the Jet Airways family. All of us in the senior management team of Jet Airways share many things in common, the most important of which is our joint sense of purpose and passion of rebuilding Jet as India’s most people-focused and loved airline, updated for the digital age. This stellar team is deeply committed to bringing the ‘joy of flying’ back to the skies, and I am looking forward to working with them to create history.”

NEW MEMBERS JOINING THE SENIOR LEADERSHIP TEAM

Prabh Sharan Singh (Chief Digital Officer) takes charge on 1 June 2022. Prabh will head the IT and Digital division and lead the creation of a modern technological and digital ecosystem for Jet Airways, focused on providing a simplified and consistent experience to internal and external users on all IT and digital platforms. Currently Senior Vice President at WNS Global Services, Prabh is a Digital Transformation executive with years of leadership experience in driving digital strategies and automation levers. His rich experience spanning nearly 20 years includes stints at Etihad Airways, where he worked as Strategy & Portfolio Lead within the carrier’s Digital Technology & Innovation division, and at Kingfisher Airlines, where he worked as General Manager – Commercial Alliances. At Etihad, Prabh led several transformational initiatives, redefining business by promoting digital transformation and creating innovative strategies that deliver powerful, revenue-generating solutions. He was instrumental in the design and implementation of IT strategies for application development, operational support, security, and architecture, with a focus on adoption and execution of new delivery models, and on practices to induce innovation and faster speed to market.

HR Jagannath (Vice President – Engineering) takes charge today, 23 May 2022. He will lead Jet’s engineering and maintenance team and brings with him over 40 years of aviation experience. Jagannath most recently served as Chief Executive Officer of Air India Engineering Services (Air India’s MRO subsidiary). During the four decades of his service at Air India in various roles and capacities, he was instrumental in the setting up of MRO facilities in India, including those at Thiruvananthapuram, Nagpur, and Hyderabad, and in establishing the company’s overseas branch offices with line maintenance set-ups. He also led the delivery of two specially configured Boeing 777 aircraft to the Indian Air Force for VVIP operations.

Mark Turner (Vice President – Inflight Product and Services) takes charge on 15 June 2022.

Mark will play a key role in defining and shaping the infight customer experience of Jet Airways. Mark led Jet Airways’ inflight services team between 2008 and 2011, a phase of rapid growth at Jet Airways. He has over 40 years of aviation experience and has been engaged in start-ups, re-brandings, re-launches, and business transformational projects across geographies, having held key senior management positions at Gulf Air, Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Fiji Airways. At Jet, Mark will be overseeing cabin crew operations, training, and service development, inflight product development, and catering.

Vishesh Khanna (Vice President – Sales, Distribution, and Customer Engagement) takes charge in July 2022. Vishesh joins the airline from VFS Global Ltd, where he currently serves as Business Head e-Visa. He has nearly 30 years of experience in the aviation and travel sectors across B2C and B2B sales, having held executive positions at various airlines in the past. Prior to joining VFS Global, Vishesh was Vice President – Sales for India and Overseas Markets at Vistara (a Tata-Singapore Airlines JV), where he built the sales function from the ground up and led a very able team that helped generate over 85% of the airline’s revenue. As VP Corporate Sales at Kingfisher Airlines from 2010 to 2013, Vishesh’s responsibilities included managing over 1500 corporations in India and abroad, as well as several large travel management companies. He has previously also worked with IndiGo, as VP – Corporate Sales India, having set up their corporate sales function during the carrier’s initial years, as well as with InterGlobe Technology Quotient (Galileo India) in a similar role. At Jet, Vishesh will be overseeing customer engagement as well, covering customer relations and the contact centre.

Earlier this year, JKC appointed Sanjiv Kapoor as CEO, Vipula Gunatilleka as CFO, Capt. PP Singh as Vice President- Flight Operations and Accountable Manager, Alphonso Dass as Vice President – Airports & Airport Training, Nakul Tuteja as Vice President – Human Resources & Administration, and Ronit Baugh as General Manager & Head of PR and Corporate Communications. The airline has also appointed Head of other key departments, details of which will be revealed in due course.

Last week, Jet Airways received its revalidated Air Operator Certificate (AOC) from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), enabling the airline to resume its scheduled commercial operations in India. The airline intends to recommence commercial operations in the next quarter of this year (July-September 2022).

About Jet Airways:

Launched in 1993, Jet Airways grew to become synonymous with premium air travel for discerning travellers in India.  Before it suspended operations in April 2019, Jet Airways flew to over 65 destinations in India and across the world with 124 narrow-body and wide-body aircraft.

Jet Airways is being revived under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code as per the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) approved resolution plan of Jalan Kalrock Consortium. In a first in Indian aviation history, an airline is being revived under its own name after being grounded for an extended period.

Well-capitalised and led by seasoned industry professionals, Jet Airways in its new avatar will be India’s most people-focused and customer-friendly airline, updated for the Digital Age. It will be a ‘smart’ full-service carrier with a two-class cabin configuration, including a business class cabin designed to global standards and an evolved new-generation economy class that offers today‘s customers what they most value.

Capri Global Capital Ltd Reported Consolidated Profit After Tax of Rs 418 Million

The Board of Directors of Capri Global Capital Ltd. (CGCL), a non-deposit taking and systemically important NBFC (NBFC-ND-SI) on Saturday, May 21st, 2022 announced the audited financial results for the quarter and year ended March 31, 2022.

Earnings

CGCL reported a Consolidated Profit after Tax of Rs418mn, up by a sharp 54% YoY but lower by 36% over a stronger Q3 FY22 PAT Rs649mn. One-off elevated credit cost driven by write-offs as well as proactive provisioning caused the sequential dent in quarterly profit. However, the core earnings performance was robust with an operating profit growth of 84% YoY and 7% QoQ. This cushioned the impact of higher credit costs and is also indicative of the earnings strength of CGCL.

Net interest margin for Q4FY22, excluding spreads on co-lending AUM, was 9.7%. Adjusted for one-off spreads in Q3 FY22, the NIMs declined 43bps QoQ. The Company believes NIM is bottoming out and going ahead, a reversal to upward trajectory shall happen. 

The FY22 Consolidated RoE was 11.3% while RoA closed at 3.3%. The company maintains its +15% RoE guidance for medium term.

Balance Sheet

Quarterly disbursals crossed Rs10bn for the first time to touch Rs10,406mn, up 12% YoY and 15% QoQ. The full year disbursal increased 2.8x to touch Rs42.9bn. The strong disbursal growth translated into a robust 37% YoY AUM growth. The growth was balanced driven by MSME, Affordable Housing, and Construction Finance segments. The company commenced co-lending arrangement with State Bank of India and Union Bank of India during Dec’21 and had a co-lending portfolio of Rs1.2bn as of Q4 FY22. The co-lending momentum is expected to further pick-up momentum in the next six months.

Liability Management

Outstanding borrowings increased 27% YoY to touch Rs48,084mn. Borrowings were long term and well-diversified across 18 lending institutions. The cost of funds was 8.26%, lower 10bps YoY and up 7bps QoQ. CGCL is well-funded and maintains a well-matched asset liability profile.   

Asset Quality

Gross Stage 3 ratio was 2.4%, lower by 92bps YoY and 59bps QoQ. The Consolidated Gross Stage 3 assets at Rs1,562mn were lower on YoY as well as QoQ basis. 

Strong Capital Adequacy

Both CGCL and its housing finance subsidiary CGHFL are well capitalized with overall capital adequacy ratio at 29.5% and 49.6% respectively as of Q4 FY22. CGHFL received an equity infusion of Rs1,500mn from parent CGCL on 31st March 2022.

Founder & Managing Director Mr. Rajesh Sharma Commented:

“At CGCL, we are happy to have sustained in a very robust manner the post-Covid19 growth momentum, which restarted from Q4 FY21. As we continue on this growth journey, we shall continue to drive penetration of existing products even as we diversify our growth story. We are geared up to shortly launch the Gold Loan product. In FY23, we shall also look to bolster our growth capability aided by our revamped tech suite. We are confident of delivering amongst the best balance sheet growth rates in our peer group.

We are also cognizant of the rapidly changing macro environment and the tightening interest rate scenario. At CGCL, we have been through multiple interest rate cycles successfully and profitably. We shall navigate the interest rate scenario through a proactive balance sheet management.”

Dice Media Premiers The Trailer of Bravehearts At The Marché du Film – Festival de Cannes 2022

Dice Media, the long-form premium content studio by Pocket Aces, is gearing up for the launch of its next big show - India’s first army anthology series called Bravehearts - The Untold Stories Of Heroes. Riding high with their presence at the Cannes Film Festival this year as part of the India delegation, Pocket Aces unveiled the trailer of Bravehearts in front of a global audience on May 22, 2022 in the presence of Union Minister Mr. L. Murugan, Indian Ambassador to France Mr. Jawed Ashraf, Strategic Advisor and Head of Cannes Next Mr. Sten Saluveer, Additional Secretary I&B Ms. Neerja Sekhar, and NFDC Head of International Promotions & Special Projects Ms Sonal Mathur, among others.

Created in partnership with edtech giant Unacademy to mark the 75th year of India’s independence, Bravehearts is a show about the families behind the heroes in our armed forces. Each of the 5 stories in the anthology captures a unique aspect of the courageous journeys of army men and women and their families - whether it is getting into the armed forces after several failed attempts, or dealing with the loss of a loved one who gave up their life for the nation, or getting to know a parent after 15 years of them coming back from service.   The trailer was unveiled post a talk by Pocket Aces’ Co-founder and CEO, Aditi Shrivastava, who shared the ideation and creation process behind the anthology.  Pocket Aces is one of the 5 new age media companies selected by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to be a part of the India delegation at the 2022 Marché du Film – Festival de Cannes.

Ecstatic to be launching the trailer at Cannes, Aditi, who is also the showrunner of Bravehearts said, “We couldn’t have asked for a better platform to premiere the first look of Bravehearts. India is the country of honor at the Cannes Film Festival this year as our 75th year of independence also coincides with the 75th year of Cannes. Launching Dice Media’s first army show on this occasion and in front of a global audience is a dream come true. A large part of our creative team including the writers of the show come from army backgrounds, and hence the show has been created in an extremely authentic manner inspired from true stories. Our debut at Cannes has been nothing short of spectacular, and we look forward to coming back next year with more wonderful content.”

The Bravehearts premiere was lauded by the audience at the event that included international filmmakers and producers who are interested in collaborating with Indian creators as India grows into one of the biggest content hubs in the world. The trailer will be launched for the wider audience on Dice Media’s YouTube channel on May 28, 2022.

About Pocket Aces:

With a mission to solve boredom for the 500+ million young Indians online, Pocket Aces is India's leading digital entertainment company focused on mobile video. Pocket Aces’ unique positioning comes from owning distribution, IP and managing exclusive talent.

* Pocket Aces has 35 million subscribers and clocks 700 million video views monthly across social media platforms with its channels FilterCopy (short fiction), Gobble (lifestyle), Nutshell (infotainment), and Dice Media (premium long-form web series).

* Dice Media is also a creator of choice for premium OTT platforms and has content deals with Netflix, Hotstar, Voot, Amazon miniTV, Amazon Audible, Zee5, Aha, etc.

* Pocket Aces also runs Clout, which manages over 70 digital actors and influencers exclusively, making it one of the largest talent management companies in India.

Pocket Aces has a team of over 200 people across Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Delhi. Pocket Aces has won more than 50 awards for its work across various categories. Major investors in Pocket Aces include Sequoia Capital, 3one4 Capital, DSP Group, North Base Media, and the co-founders of India's largest IT services firm, Infosys.

Tunez Launches B60, BT Headphones With 34-Hour Music Time, Maxx Bass Speakers, And HD Clarity Sound At just INR 1599/-

~The B60 comes with a 400mAh battery for an interrupted music experience through the day~

~Features dual pairing for use with two different devices at the same time~

~Supports Siri and Google Assistant for voice commands and activation~

Tunez, a personalized lifestyle products brand, today launched  a one of its kind Bluetooth Headphones- B60, for music lovers across the country. The B60 offers a dual rich experience for its users- a Maxx-bass speaker with HD clarity sound for a high-quality sound experience, and a 400mAh battery, promising up to 20-hour music time for uninterrupted music throughout the day.

Tunez B60 comes with Bluetooth 5.0, giving a playtime of up to 20 hours at 60% volume. It gives up to 24 hours of talk time and supports Siri and Google Assistant for voice commands and activation. The headphone has a battery capacity of 400mAh with a 2-hour charge time using micro USB charger support. 

Commenting on the launch of the new product, Sheetal Prashanth, Co-Founder, Tunez said, “At Tunez, our strength lies in offering a wide range of quality products at competitive prices, backed with warranty and excellent after-sales support. The B60 headphone is our ode to music lovers and aficionados who would love a quality sound experience without the worry of charging their headphones through the day.” 

The B60 Headphones will be available across 200+ stores  across 5 states in the southern part of the country. Soon Tunez will be making inroads into other parts of INDIA It will also be available for sale on www.amazon.in and www.flipkart.com. The headphones will be priced at INR 1,599/- and come in black and blue colors. 

About Tunez:

Launched in 2021, Tunez is a unique consumer electronics and personalized lifestyle products brand with a mission to be one of India's leading Manufacturers, Importers, and providers of quality products. Whether yogic vibes from a Guru or a hip hop beat from a DJ, the brand Tunez was created keeping a tune's distinctiveness in mind. The brand is owned by a homegrown company named Impetus Electronics Private Limited which aims at catering to the needs of its consumers with a bouquet of audio accessories and smart gadgets compatible with most modern mobile devices today. Tunez is known for its range of quality products meticulously designed in India and manufactured in state-of-the-art production facilities with cutting-edge technologies. The products range from wired & Bluetooth headphones, TWS earbuds, and Bluetooth speakers, smartwatches, and more.

NSDC, IIT Mandi Partner To Expand Potential of India’s Youth In Emerging Digital Technologies

* Enabling the vision of Skill India Mission of making the country the ‘Skill Capital of the World’, the partnership aims to introduce digital courses in emerging technologies such as data science, big data analytics, among others, and help develop entrepreneurial spirit

* Premium learning opportunities from IIT Mandi will be delivered digitally, expanding the reach of quality learning and skilling to a wide range of aspirants across the country

National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), the nodal agency under the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Government of India, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Mandi to introduce initiatives that will enable effective digital course delivery to the youth, expanding the reach of quality learning and skilling, along with immersive hands-on learning opportunities.

The MoU was signed by Ved Mani Tiwari, Chief Operating Officer and Officiating CEO, NSDC and Prof. Laxmidhar Behera, Director, IIT Mandi in New Delhi.

The collaboration aims to introduce digital courses in emerging technologies such as data science, big data analytics, among other. NSDC along with IIT Mandi will design and conceptualize the program in line with the training requirements of students and the market, set up Centres of Excellence (CoE) to help develop entrepreneurial spirit and culture among Indian youth towards realizing the larger vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat as well as building capacity of teachers, trainers, and grassroots leaders. New models of training methodology will be jointly created to make cutting-edge learning opportunities more accessible, leading to enhanced employability. NSDC will oversee the on-ground implementation of overall training program and mobilize the candidates who are keen to avail the training courses being offered by IIT Mandi.

Commenting on the strategic partnership, Ved Mani Tiwari, Chief Operating Officer and Officiating CEO, NSDC said, “As we surge to a future of technology-powered growth, we have immense opportunity to build a high-quality skilled workforce for the rest of the world. The COVID-19 pandemic has also accelerated the need to develop new-age skills while strengthening mechanisms for traditional job roles. Therefore, it is imperative for educational institutes and the industry to come together to enable a holistic ecosystem where India’s youth have access to the resources and mentored routes to the right opportunities. Our partnership with IIT Mandi is an important step to take forward the commitment of keeping India’s young minds relevant in the current business environment. IIT Mandi has established itself as a leading institute in science and technology education and, the dynamic curriculum that will be designed and conceptualized under the program, will prepare India’s talent for the digital future.”

Prof. Laxmidhar Behera, Director, IIT Mandi said, “I am happy to share that IIT Mandi has embarked on a long-term journey, in collaboration with NSDC, to impart high-end skills to the underprivileged youth and working professionals, among others. A joint initiative to set up a unique facility for immersive hands-on experience is being planned in the IIT Mandi campus that will promote skills in emerging technologies along with entrepreneurship.”

As a premier institute, IIT Mandi will facilitate the design and delivery of digital learning modules for the targeted candidate profiles. The institute will be involved in quality implementation of live classes. through a robust framework. The institute will also contribute towards capacity building of grassroot leaders, including teachers in the field of education and skilling in the country.