Archives July 2024

Mumbai, 29 th July, 2024: Discerning investors often advise diversifying investment portfolios by adding precious metals such as gold and silver to the mix. These metals are ideal for long-term investment growth along with providing generational value. Gold and often silver, act as a safeguard during reduced economic opportunities. Thus, investing or purchasing the highest carat, purest gold and silver is of the utmost importance.

In this endeavour, MMTC-PAMP, India’s only London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) – accredited Good Delivery Gold and Silver refiner, has been recognised as Asia’s only brand providing the purest gold and silver minted coins and bars with 999.9+ (99.99%+) purity level and positive weight tolerance, which means consumers and investors get a product weighing more than the stated weight on the packaging.

Many players in Asia offer 24K gold, which can be represented as 999 fineness. This 999-fineness gold is 999 parts pure gold out of 1,000 parts, with small traces of balance metals, usually copper. MMTC-PAMP consistently provide minted gold and silver coins and bars with the highest purity level at 999.9+ (99.99%+), meaning, customers will receive over 999.9 grams of gold or silver out of 1,000 grams of the respective precious metal. It is also the only gold refiner to use pure silver as the balance metal, thus providing customers with a more valuable minted gold product.

Speaking on the honour and recognition of this award, Mr Vikas Singh, Managing Director and CEO, MMTC-PAMP, said, “We are truly thrilled to receive this honour from the Asia Book of Records, which builds upon our previous recognition from the India Book of Records. This continental ac ievement reflects our commitment to providing our valuable customers with products that exemplify the pinnacle of purity and craftsmanship, with 999.9+ (99.99%+) purest gold and silver minted products.

At MMTC-PAMP, our products not only serve as invaluable investments for our customers but also highlight India’s growing prominence in the global precious metals market.” By aiming to surpass the conventional 999.9 purity, MMTC-PAMP seeks to establish a new gold standard for the industry. This record attempt is not just about breaking records; it’s about redefining what customers can expect from the gold they invest in.

Every product created by MMTC-PAMP goes through a rigorous purification process to ensure 999.9+ purity of the metal. To validate the authenticity, every MMTC-PAMP product carries a unique number and comes packaged in Assayer Certified Minted Cards. Each gold and silver product bought from MMTC-PAMP offers positive weight tolerance, which guarantees that every coin or bar one buys weighs more than the listed weight, ensuring customers receive the highest value for their investment.

29-July-2024: Air India Express announces the expansion of its network to Tripura, introducing daily direct flights connecting Agartala to Guwahati/Delhi and Kolkata. The operations on these routes will commence on 1st September 2024 and the flights are now open for booking on the airline’s award-winning mobile app and website, airindiaexpress.com, and other major booking channels.

Commenting on the launch, Aloke Singh, Managing Director, Air India Express, said, “We are delighted to announce Agartala, Tripura, as our 46th destination, further expanding our footprint in the North-East after Guwahati, Bagdogra, and Imphal, enhancing our national network. This strategic addition underscores our commitment to connecting tier 2 and 3 cities of India and promoting economic growth, trade, and tourism across the country. Aligned with our core value proposition of ‘Fly As You Are,’ we remain steadfast in our commitment to delivering an unparalleled guest experience distinguished by our signature Indian hospitality.”

With this expansion, Air India Express now connects Agartala to two direct destinations and eight one-stop destinations, including Bhubaneswar, Bengaluru, Kochi, Delhi, Hyderabad, Imphal, Jaipur and Chennai, via 14 weekly departures.

Air India Express operates 77 weekly flights from Guwahati, connecting it to eight direct destinations: Agartala, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Imphal, Jaipur, and Kolkata. Additionally, the airline offers one-stop itineraries from Guwahati to 20 domestic destinations, including Ayodhya, Goa, Gwalior, Kozhikode, and Pune, among others, and to four international destinations: Bahrain, Dammam, Singapore, and Sharjah.

From Kolkata, Air India Express has 124 weekly departures, connecting 12 direct destinations like Bhubaneswar, Bengaluru, Kochi, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Imphal, Bagdogra, Jaipur, Chennai, Surat, and Varanasi. The airlines also connect the City of Joy to 22 one-stop destinations, including Abu Dhabi, Kozhikode, Kannur, Doha, Dubai, Lucknow, Kuwait, Thiruvananthapuram, Gwalior, among others.

Loyalty members booking on the airline’s website and mobile app get additional rewards and benefits, including exclusive discounts and special deals, up to 8% NeuCoins, and complimentary Xpress Ahead priority check-in, boarding and baggage services. In addition to loyalty members, students, senior citizens, SMEs, and dependents and members of the Indian armed forces can also get special fares and benefits on airindiaexpress.com. Guests can also book special cabin baggage only fares, Xpress Lite, available on the airline’s website.

TOKYO – July 29th, 2024 – NTT DATA a global digital business and IT services leader,  announced it has been named a Leader and a Star Performer by industry analyst firm Everest Group in its Sustainability Enablement Technology Services PEAK Matrix® Assessment 2024 report. Strengths highlighted in the report included NTT DATA’s comprehensive sustainability services, including ESG data management, net zero consulting, sustainable IT and supply chain sustainability. Known for its commitment to operational excellence and exceptional customer support, the report noted clients’ appreciation of NTT DATA’s technical expertise and overall project management capabilities, highlighting the team’s proactiveness and productivity during engagements. The report also cited NTT DATA’s ability to leverage its own sustainability initiatives and Japanese heritage as a strength.

Further strengths included NTT DATA’s efficiency in leveraging cutting-edge technologies to support its clients, integrating emerging technologies such as Generative AI, IoT and blockchain to build unique IPs for “momenttum.ai” and “IoTrace” as it continues to invest heavily in industry and geography specific R&D.

The report also chronicles several customer success stories including one project in which NTT DATA supported an automotive customer as it decarbonized its supply chain. By deploying a custom analytics solution for identifying the company’s Scope 3 emissions for outbound transport, NTT DATA was able to help the customer understand its overall CO2 footprint and more effectively address inefficiencies to reduce emissions.

“This report reflects our unwavering commitment to sustainable practices and our dedication to achieving net-zero emissions across our operations by 2030, and solutions and value chain by 2040 through green innovation,” said David Costa, Chief Sustainability business Officer, NTT DATA, Inc. “As a trusted global innovator, we are focused on helping our clients and partners reduce their carbon footprint, adopt greener practices, navigate complex compliance landscapes and meet their sustainability ambitions. Being included as a Leader and a Star Performer in Everest Group’s PEAK Matrix® report is truly a testament to the outstanding innovations being created by NTT DATA.”

Everest Group chose Leaders based on the overall vision, capabilities, and market impact of 24 sustainability enablement technology service providers and the report identified several of NTT DATA’s distinguishing features. Notably, the organization has exhibited increased sustainability-first engagements with mature end-to-end solutioning needs and has established a dedicated Green Innovation Office as it significantly increases its market presence and drives globally integrated decarbonization efforts, both internally and for its clients.

“Sustainability enablement technology services are crucial for enterprises aiming to reduce their environmental impact. By partnering with experts, enterprises can achieve strategic sustainability goals, driving innovation and maintaining a competitive advantage,” says Rita N. Soni, Principal Analyst, Everest Group. “NTT DATA has emerged as a frontrunner in the sustainability enablement technology services landscape, with a comprehensive suite of solutions including net zero consulting and sustainable IT. By integrating advanced technologies like IoT and blockchain and leveraging its Japanese heritage, NTT DATA offers enterprises robust capabilities that drive efficiency and innovation. It enhanced strategic branding efforts to further solidify its position in the market. As a result, it has been featured as a Leader and Star Performer in Everest Group’s Sustainability Enablement Technology Services PEAK Matrix® Assessment 2024.”

Mumbai- Headache, one of the most commonly encountered but often-ignored health problems, could be pointing towards a more serious condition such as a cyst in the brain. 47 years old female from Malad was facing health issue like headache and slurring of speech and she took local treatments more than 2 months like painkillers and pain relief cream but problems not solved so her husband visited to Dr. Samir Parekh Neurosurgeon from Apex Superspeciality Hospitals, Borivali. After medical investigation large epidermoid tumor was found in right side if brain which involving major blood vessels

Adding more information on this Dr. Samir Parekh Neurosurgeon from Apex Superspeciality Hospitals, Borivali says,” Headache is the most common symptom of brain cysts. Therefore, it is extremely important that if a chronic headache is accompanied by any other symptom, one should consult a specialist immediately. We diagnosis through physical examination and imaging like CT scans and MRI and we found an epidermoid cyst, (size 7.1 x 4.4 x 6.3) also known as an epidermoid tumor, is a benign, slow-growing abnormality in the brain that occurs when skin cells become trapped during development. These cysts are congenital, but patients usually don’t experience symptoms until they are 20 to 40 years old. They are often found in areas where the brain meets the brain stem, on the pituitary gland, along the inside of the skull, or growing through the skull bone. In such conditions and depending on the location of tumor symptoms can include vision difficulties, seizures, fever, headaches, neck stiffness, facial pain, numbness or weakness and hearing loss. Craniotomy and microscopic excision of tumor was done successfully in this case and It was removed completely. Further investigation referred to this tumour as non-cancerous.”

Hyderabad, 29th July 2024: GSK  announced the launch of its new multichannel campaign ‘Ab India Banega 7-Star.’ The campaign shows parents that the future of India is in their hands. It encourages them to secure their children’s future with 7 essential vaccinations against 14 diseases, which include chickenpox, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, meningitis, measles, mumps, rubella, pneumonia, influenza, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, HiB infection, and polio.

The Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) recommends 7 vaccinations for children aged 1 to 2 years: two doses of chickenpox and hepatitis A, second dose of meningitis# and MMR, booster doses of PCV and DTP Hib IPV and annual dose of flu. Although, immunization coverage in the first year is high in India, drop-out rates after 1st birthday increase. Hence, a significant number of children in the country remain partially vaccinated.

Dr. Shalini Menon, Medical Director, GSK, said, “After a child’s first birthday, it is critical to build robust immunity against serious vaccine-preventable diseases. The immunity granted by the vaccination can extend to the community thereby preventing the spread of disease and could help address threat of increasing antimicrobial resistance by reducing the need for antibiotics. The 7 essential vaccinations given at this age protect them from 14 dangerous diseases and help them grow into healthy adults. Through this campaign, we want to communicate to parents the critical need to give their children the recommended vaccinations between the ages of 1 and 2 years.”

The central creative focus of the campaign films is on the critical need for the 7 vaccinations. The two campaign films show professionals in different fields, such as a cricketer and a space-station mission director, pausing their important jobs to check if a child has received the 7 essential vaccinations. Current ‘stars’ of India giving a powerful message to parents of future ‘stars’ of India, is captured in the films. The films effectively convey the message that securing a child’s future is more important than any other job and that this future rests on the 7-star protection offered by the 7 vaccinations.

The campaign will run across multiple media platforms such as TV, digital, social media, radio, CTV (connected TV), and OTT. Parents should consult their paediatricians to know more about the vaccination schedule for their children and utilise verified sources of information such as MyVaccinationHub.in

Chennai, July 29th, 2024: The Board of Directors of CIFCL approved the unaudited financial results for the quarter ended 30th June 2024.

Performance Highlights:

• Aggregate disbursements in Q1 FY 25 were at ₹ 24,332 Cr as against ₹ 20,015 Cr in Q1 FY 24 with a growth of 22%.
• Vehicle Finance (VF) disbursements were at ₹ 12,766 Cr in Q1 FY 25 as against ₹ 11,301 Cr in Q1 FY24, registering a growth of 13%.
• Loan Against Property (LAP) business disbursed ₹ 3,874 Cr in Q1 FY 25, as against ₹ 2,679 Cr in Q1 FY24, with a growth rate of 45%.
• Home Loan business disbursed ₹ 1,778 Cr in Q1 FY 25, as against ₹ 1,454 Cr in Q1 FY24 registering a growth of 22%.
• Small and Medium Enterprises Loan (SME) business disbursed ₹ 2,160 Cr in Q1 FY 25, registering 6% growth over ₹ 2,045 Cr in Q1 FY24.
• Consumer and Small Enterprise Loans (CSEL) disbursed ₹ 3,486 Cr in Q1 FY 25, as against ₹ 2,355 Cr in Q1 FY24 registering a growth of 48%.
• Secured Business and Personal Loan (SBPL) disbursed ₹ 268 Cr in Q1 FY 25, as against ₹ 182 Cr in Q1 FY24 registering a growth of 48%.
• Assets under management as of 30th June 2024, stood at ₹ 1,68,832 Cr as compared to ₹ 1,22,755 Cr as of 30th June 2023, clocking a growth of 38% Y-O-Y.
• PBT for Q1 FY 25 was at ₹ 1,268 Cr, registering a growth of 31% over Q1 of FY 24.
• PBT-ROA for Q1 FY 25 was at 3.2%.
• ROE for Q1 FY 25 was at 18.9%.
• The Company continues to hold a strong liquidity position with ₹ 14,324 Cr as cash balance as of the end of Jun’2024 (including Rs 1,551 Cr in Gsec / Rs 1,606 Cr TBill & Rs 611 Cr in Strips shown under investments), with a total liquidity position of ₹ 14,767 Cr (including undrawn sanctioned lines). The ALM is comfortable with no negative cumulative mismatches across all time buckets as per Regulatory norms.
• Consolidated Profit Before Tax (PBT) for Q1 FY 25 was at ₹ 1,275 Cr as against ₹ 956 Cr in Q1 FY 24 registering a growth of 33%.

Asset Quality:

Stage 3 levels representing 90+ dues increased to 2.62% as of June 24 from 2.48% as of the end of March 24. GNPA % as per RBI norms increased to 3.62% as of June 24 as against 3.54% on March 24. NNPA as per RBI norms has also increased to 2.37% as of June 24 against 2.32% on March 24. NNPA is below the threshold of 6% prescribed by RBI as the threshold for PCA.

Capital Adequacy:

The Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) of the company as of 30th June 2024, was at 18.03% as against the regulatory requirement of 15%. Tier-I Capital was at 14.76% (Common Equity Tier-I Capital at 13.63% as against a regulatory minimum of 9%) and Tier-II Capital was at 3.27%.

Pune, 29th July 2024: Dev Gill Productions, led by the versatile actor Dev Gill, renowned for his standout performances in South Indian cinema, launched the title track for ‘AHO! VIKRAMAARKA’ . Following the grand teaser unveiling by acclaimed director SS Rajamouli at a spectacular event in Hyderabad last month, the focus now shifts to the highly anticipated title track which has been released in all 5 languages—Marathi, Telugu, Hindi, Tamil and Kannada. AHO! VIKRAMAARKA’ is set to be a cinematic milestone, blending action, romance and emotional depth. The film features a stellar cast including Dev Gill, Chitra Shukla, Pravin Tarde, Tejaswini Pandit, Sayaji Shinde, Posani Murali Krishna, Kalakeya Prabhakar, Vikram Sharma, Bithiri Satti and others . This groundbreaking project will be the first big-budget Marathi film to release in five languages.

Dev Gill expressed his excitement, stating, “Working on ‘AHO! VIKRAMAARKA’ has been a deeply meaningful journey. Rajamouli’s support underscores the film’s broad appeal. With the launch of the title track, we are eager for audiences to experience the vision and passion that drives this project. The music, composed by Ravi Basrur and Arko Pravo Mukherjee, is superbly crafted, and we believe everyone will love it.”

INDIA, 29th July 2024: Sony BBC Earth is thrilled to announce the premiere of ‘Planet Earth III’, the latest addition to the groundbreaking and award-winning Planet Earth series. The eight-part series follows some of the world’s most amazing species and narrates extraordinary stories depicting drama, thrill, humor, and emotions. Presented by Sir David Attenborough, the show will premiere on Sony BBC Earth on July 29, 2024, at 09:00 PM.

Produced by BBC Studios Natural History Unit, ‘Planet Earth III’ reflects the set of challenges that wildlife faces in the modern, crowded world. The show is making a comeback two decades after the original Planet Earth series first aired. It highlights some of the fantastic locations of India that include the teak forests where whistling wild dogs hunt prey three times their size and a village with venomous cobra co-existing with humans, leading to a change in their behaviour.

The final episode sheds light on the ‘heroes’ across the globe who put their lives on the line to protect the wildlife and the critically important ecosystems of our planet. For the show’s premiere, Sony BBC Earth has launched a campaign titled ‘WilderThanYourImagination’. It focuses on mesmerising viewers with Earth’s unseen wonders, taking them to a world of incredible stories, beyond their imagination. Ahead of the premiere, the channel conducted screenings at the Kolkata, Chennai, and Mumbai science centers that saw over 1400+ students enjoying the content and learning from it. Tune in to Sony BBC Earth on 29 th July 2024, at 09:00 PM to watch Planet Earth III.

Tushar Shah, ‘Chief Marketing Officer & Business Head – English Cluster & Sony AATH, Sony Pictures Networks India: 

“At Sony BBC Earth, we are dedicated to providing viewers with high-quality programming that ignites curiosity and fosters a deep connection with the natural world. Planet Earth III delivers on this commitment and perfectly embodies the brand promise. Narrated by the legendary Sir David Attenborough, this remarkable series is an immersive adventure into the heart of the wild. It showcases extraordinary tales of resilience, adaptation, and hope in the natural world.”

Mike Gunton, Executive Producer, Planet Earth III

“Planet Earth III is about the resilience and adaptability of nature and the remarkable animals changing their lives to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing world dominated by us. This is the most ambitious Planet Earth series ever made, and we spent 1904 days filming it. We hold great responsibility as filmmakers to spark deep passion for our natural world, and we are excited for Indian audiences to have the chance to watch this fantastic series”.

Greater Noida, India, July 29, 2024: Coforge Limited, a global digital services and solutions provider, has been named a Leader in the 2024 NelsonHall Vendor Evaluation & Assessment Tool (NEAT) vendor evaluation for Asset and Wealth management services in the ‘Overall’ segment and the ‘AI & Analytics Services’ Market segment.

The evaluation was conducted by NelsonHall, a leading global analyst firm specializing in digital business transformation. This NelsonHall Vendor Evaluation & Assessment Tool (NEAT) analyzes the performance of vendors offering Asset and Wealth management services. The firm assessed 13 vendors across various criteria including cloud migration, process automation, AI & analytics services, and professional services.

Coforge’s Asset and Wealth management services business delivers consulting, design, deployment, implementation, and managed services for W&A clients in the U.S., the U.K., Benelux, and Australia. 92% of Coforge’s Wealth and Asset services business comes from repeat clients; the average Coforge-client relationship spans 12 years. Coforge offers a large portfolio of market research and data management services and has extensive compliance experience. Its managed service offerings address evolving European regulations. The company’s data discovery and movement testing solutions add to its strength. Coforge offers clients a variety of engagement models that commit to outcomes to enable clients to reduce upfront investment in change and focus their internal efforts on running their business. The company grew its Asset and Wealth management revenues by 15% in 2023. NelsonHall estimates that Coforge’s W&A services revenues will grow 12% annually over the next three years.

“Coforge enables clients to transform their Asset and Wealth management operations with RPA, security, RegTech, AI, and Cloud migration services,” said Andy Efstathiou, Program Director for Banking at NelsonHall. “Its proprietary technology deployment tools also enable clients to leverage functionality faster to support their customers’ needs.”

“Coforge is honored to be recognized as a Leader by NelsonHall in the ‘Overall’ and ‘AI & Analytics segment’. This reflects our ability to deliver immediate benefits to our Asset and Wealth Management clients but also meet future client requirements with our AI & Analytics Services capabilities” said Gautam Samanta, President and Global Head, BFS, Coforge. Samanta added, “A key contributor to this recognition has been our partnerships with solution vendors and our significant IP portfolio which has helped us enhance business and operational effectiveness for our clients.”

Coforge has 3.5k FTEs working in W&A services, delivered from a network of centers in 12 countries, including in India, North America, Rest of APAC, and EMEA.

Hyderabad, July 29, 2024: Dressed in a breathtaking ensemble that mirrored the city’s elegance, Sudha Reddy and her custom neck piece by Schiaparelli commanded attention. Her presence among global dignitaries and sporting icons was a testament to her stature and influence.

The Trocadéro Giraffe, a unique vantage point overlooking the Eiffel Tower, offered Reddy an unparalleled view of the opening ceremony. The exclusive access, granted to only a select few, provided a VIP experience that included a dedicated metro line and rigorous security protocols.

The impeccable Reddy enjoyed the rare opportunity of interacting with French President Emmanuel Macron and watching IOC President Thomas Bach and Paris 2024 Olympic President Tony Estanguet deliver their respective speeches right in front of the VIP section.

Sudha Reddy states, “Being part of this historic event was an absolute honour. The energy and enthusiasm in the stadium were infectious. The Olympics is a celebration of the human spirit, and it was inspiring to witness athletes from across the world come together to compete. One of the most memorable moments for me was when Zinedine Zidane passed the Olympic torch to Rafael Nadal, encapsulating the spirit of the Games. The speeches and interactions reinforced the message of unity and global harmony, marking the Paris Olympics as a celebration of peace and solidarity.”

The Hyderabad-based businesswoman and philanthropist’s attendance at the Olympics underscores her global influence and commitment to supporting international events. As a prominent figure in the philanthropic world, she has consistently championed causes that promote education, healthcare, and social welfare.

Beyond the personal experience, Sudha Reddy’s attendance holds significance for India. Her presence on the global stage highlights the nation’s growing influence and its appreciation for sportsmanship and cultural exchange.