COVID-19 UAE Travel Protocol Update ** 280222

 

Please be informed of revised travel protocol for inbound and transiting passengers when traveling to or via Dubai with immediate effect.

For Passengers Arriving/Entering Dubai:

Must present a valid vaccination certificate with a QR code confirming passenger is fully 

vaccinated reflecting completion of doses of vaccine approved by the World Health 

Organization (WHO) or the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

OR

Must present a valid negative COVID‑19 PCR Test Certificate from an approved

health service Provider meeting the following requirements:

• PCR test must be based on a molecular diagnostic test intended for the qualitative detection of nucleic acid for SARS-COV-2 viral RNA; Rapid Antigen, antibody or any form of rapid lateral flow tests, home test kits etc. are not acceptable.
• Must be issued from the time of collecting the sample no more than 48 hours prior to scheduled flight departure to Dubai.
• Must contain a QR code.

OR

Must present a valid medical certificate with QR code issued by the relevant

authorities that the passenger has recovered from Coronavirus SARS COVID-19

within a period of one (01) month (the date of recovery and the date of arrival

in Dubai).

AND

Undergo a PCR test upon arrival in Dubai, if requested, and self-quarantine until

a negative test result is issued. In the event the passenger is tested positive,

then such passenger shall follow the guidelines issued by Dubai Health Authority

(DHA).

Note:

Passengers must bring an official printed or digital COVID 19 PCR Test or Vaccination certificates in English or Arabic to check in – SMS certificates are not accepted. COVID 19 PCR Test or Vaccination certificates in other languages are acceptable if they can be validated at the originating station.

For Passengers Transiting via Dubai:

Transiting passengers are not required to present a COVID 19‑PCR test

certificate unless it is mandated by their final destination.

Passengers booked with Dubai Connect/Stopover packages must follow the

same PCR test requirements as applicable for passengers arriving/entering

Dubai.

PCR Test Exemptions:

Following categories of passengers are exempted from 48-hours PCR Test requirements prior to departure flight to Dubai:

UAE nationals are exempt from taking a COVID‑19 PCR test before departing for

Dubai. They must be tested on arrival in Dubai, irrespective if they are holding a

valid negative COVID‑19 RT‑PCR certificate from the point of origin. This is also

applicable for passengers accompanying a 1st degree UAE nationals’ relative or

domestic worker escorting a UAE national sponsor during travel.

Children under the age of 12 and passengers who have a moderate or severe

disability are exempt from taking a COVID‑19 RT‑PCR test.

Kindly disseminate this information to all concerned.   

Kind Regards

Emirates - India

28 February 2022

SBI General donates three Mobile Ophthalmic Vans to provide quality eye healthcare in rural communities

Pune, February 28, 2022: SBI General, one of India’s leading General Insurance companies in association with Mission for Vision, a leading non-profit organisation committed towards eradicating avoidable blindness and visual impairment, aims to enable access to primary eye care in rural communities of Maharashtra, West Bengal, Bihar and Sikkim. To enable this initiative, SBI General extends the support to donate three Mobile Ophthalmic Vans. Today the first Mobile Ophthalmic Van in Pune was flagged off, thereby initiating the process of providing eye-care for the communities in Maharashtra.

The flag-off of the first Mobile Ophthalmic Van was done in presence of Mr. Anand Pejawar, Dy. Managing Director, SBI General, Mr. Shreeraj Deshpande, Head Health Business, Ms. Shefali Khalsa, Head – Brand, Corporate Communications and CSR, SBI General, Ms. Elizabeth Kurian, CEO, Mission for Vision and Mr. Parvez Bilimoria, Executive Director, PBMA’s H.V. Desai Eye Hospital.

Recognising that access to high-quality, comprehensive eye care, especially for rural communities is critical, SBI General has associated with Mission for Vision. The Mobile Ophthalmic Vans will be used for comprehensive eye services in remote communities in Maharashtra, West Bengal, Sikkim and Bihar. The vans are equipped for eye testing to diagnose cataract, uncorrected refractive errors, and retina issues.

Mr. Anand Pejawar, Deputy Managing Director, SBI General Insurance said, “At SBI General, we are committed towards our corporate social responsibility aiming to reach maximum beneficiaries through various possible projects. Having healthcare as one of the important focus areas, we are delighted to contribute to this cause through ophthalmic units and make a difference to people in need across interiors of Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal and Sikkim. We will continue to support such causes that strengthen our commitment towards bringing a change and transforming lives, where it matters the most.”

Ms. Elizabeth Kurian, CEO, Mission for Vision shared her thoughts, “Improving eye health is a critical aspect towards achieving Sustainable Development Goals. The launch of the Mobile Ophthalmic Vans in association with SBI General cements our commitment towards providing accessible eye care for communities in need and creating an inclusive environment where no-one experiences unwanted or preventable sight loss".

Koo App users celebrated Marathi Language Day with enthusiasm, a reflection for Mayamarathi's love seen .

Mumbai,February 28 2022: Marathi language lovers around the world are celebrating Marathi Language Day with enthusiasm. This is also being reflected on social media. Even on 'Koo' App  Marathi, users like politicians, writers, artists and the general public are expressing their gratitude for Marathi.

The birthday of the great poet Kusumagraj is celebrated every year as Marathi Rajbhasha Day The hashtag # UtsavMarathi language was also launched on the micro-blogging app 'Koo'. Marathi speaking Koo users  today are telling the story of love and pride towards Marathi by experimenting with various thoughts, opinions, poems, small poems written in Marathi called as charoli and pictures.

Koo is a popular app in ten Indian languages, including Marathi. The purpose of this forum is to enable people to express themselves effectively in regional languages, including Marathi. Well known Marathi speaking people from various fields like politics, sociology, literature, industry, sports, journalism are openly expressing their views on 'Koo.

Actress Suzanne Burnett has given unique wishes for Marathi Day. She is celebrating Rajbhasha Day on 'Koo' with a beautiful photo of her youth in nine yard saree with words of goodwill.

Clifford Miranda praises team attitude despite loss

Mumbai, 27 February 2022: FC Goa suffered yet another loss on Saturday when Mumbai City beat them 2-0. The Gaurs’ ineffectiveness in the final third, along with the mistakes in defence cost them the three points, as they remain rooted to ninth place.

The Men in Orange fielded a lineup with big changes, as Head Coach Derrick Pereira alongside big names such as Brandon Fernandes, Anwar Ali, Edu Bedia and Glan Martins among others were rendered unavailable for the clash. Assistant coach Clifford Miranda, however, maintains that the team's performance did not warrant a lamenting of their absence.

“We have a squad and that's why we have a squad. When someone is not there, there is someone who steps up. And I think whoever came in today, it was a fantastic performance by the team, both individually as well as collectively,” he explained.

“We created more chances, we defended well, we were good in positional play in attack, we were first to second balls, but this is just the story of our season.

“We got punished for mistakes that we make.”

The story of the game could have been entirely different, had Airam Cabrera netted his penalty in the 18th minute. Miranda said that he, however, will not blame the Spaniard for missing the target.

“It's always nice to take the lead whether it's a penalty or from open play. I never blame the players. We tried and the goalkeeper made a save. If we take an early lead, it helps the team but then the penalty can go either way. I felt we created enough chances apart from the penalty to take the lead and win this game,” the tactician reasoned.

FC Goa worked hard till the final minute

Prior to the clash, the former Indian international had said that the Gaurs are in a tough situation at the moment as they had nothing to play for. After the final whistle, he added that he was happy with the team’s performance considering the circumstances.

“For the outside world, we had nothing to play for but if you see the players the way they played, the way we performed from the first minute to the last, we worked hard for each other and the team.

“And you can see the feeling when we lost, we were disappointed because after a wonderful and spirited performance with and without the ball, we went away with nothing,” Clifford Miranda signed off.

FC Goa will play their final match of this ISL season on March 6, against playoff hopefuls Kerala Blasters.

About FC Goa

FC Goa is a professional football club based out of Goa that competes in the Indian Super League (ISL) and is the current holder of the Super Cup.  Nicknamed the Gaurs, FC Goa has been one of the most consistently successful teams in the ISL - reaching 4 semi-finals and 2 finals in 7 seasons.

In Season 2019/20, the club won the Hero ISL League Winners Shield, by finishing top of the table in the league stages and became the first-ever club from India to play in the group stages of the AFC Champions League in April 2021. 

Co-owned by Mr Jaydev Mody, Mr Akshay Tandon and Mr Virat Kohli, FC Goa is one of the few Indian Clubs to have a complete youth development ecosystem. Its U14, U16, U18 and Developmental Teams compete at the highest levels in Goa and India. The system has produced recognizable talents like Liston Colaco, Saviour Gama, Princeton Rebello and many more. 

OTM Mumbai, the first major International Travel Tradeshow to promote tourism post-pandemic

OTM Mumbai is being held at the Bombay Exhibition Centre from March 14th to 16th, 2022. Organised after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the show will witness 600+ exhibitors from over 20 countries, 29 Indian States, and 7 Union Territories. It will be the first international travel trade show since the pandemic.

“Tourism and Hospitality businesses form about a tenth of national incomes and workforces globally. It was hugely affected in the last two years, crushing down a huge number of units due to lockdowns and restrictions. The worst seems to be over and we see a good sign of recovery.  We are delighted to host OTM Mumbai, the first international travel trade show post-pandemic”, says Sanjiv Agarwal, Chairman & CEO, Fairfest Media Ltd. (Organiser of OTM)

The 3-day event will bring together all destinations that are open including International Tourism Boards, National, and State Tourism Boards, Hotels & Resorts, Airlines, Destination Management Companies, MICE, Wedding Planners and Film Producers under one roof. The dignitaries at the inaugural session will include Tourism Ministers, High Commissioners, Consul Generals, Secretaries, and Heads of various Tourism Boards.

Maldives Tourism is coming back to Mumbai after just a few months, reconfirming their commitment to the Indian market, and will be the Partner Country of the show. Azerbaijan Tourism Board and Nepal Tourism Board too are participating as Partner Countries of OTM 2022. Qatar Tourism, Korea Tourism Organization, Singapore Tourism Board and the Department of Tourism of Philippines are the Feature Countries of the event, bringing together their travel suppliers, airlines and hospitality partners to network with the Indian travel trade.

Visit Brussels, Visit Utah and Seychelles will also be showcased at the event. International DMCs, Hotels, Tour Operators will represent Greece, Dubai, France, Madagascar, Russia, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Thailand, United Kingdom, among others.

OTM 2022 will host State Tourism Boards in a big way for the revival of travel within India, including official participation from Goa, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala, Ladakh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Other destinations like Andaman & Nicobar, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Jharkhand, Manipur, Punjab, Sikkim, West Bengal, Delhi, Haryana, Puducherry and Telangana will be represented through their private stakeholders.

The event is supported by ‘Incredible India’ and the Ministry of Tourism, who have a pavilion, along with private stakeholders, showcasing multiple initiatives like Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat, Dekho Apna Desh etc.

OTM Forum, a knowledge-sharing platform, will bring together India and Asia’s most influential travel leaders on one stage. Panel discussions, master classes, and workshops are conducted by top-level Executives from industry leaders and C-suite executives from over 100 top brands including Amadeus, Booking.com, Paypal, Twitter, Hilton, BCD and many more.

The broad theme of the OTM is ‘Restart, Rebuild and Rejuvenate Travel & Tourism Economy’. There will be panel discussions on interesting topics such as Adapting and innovating to meet post-pandemic customer travel preferences; the Importance of India-Outbound in post-pandemic market recovery; Post-covid Luxury: top trends that will define hospitality; The Future of the MICE industry; The rise of Women-focused tours: safety, employment and opportunities; Travel Blogging under the new normal… and many more.

“With a potential of 29 million outbound trips by 2025, the Indian market is specially lucrative in the post-pandemic phase when many traditional markets like China may still be out of bounds due to restrictions owing to the ‘Zero-Covid’ strategy. With the end of the pandemic already visible in India, there is a significant revival in the domestic market while international travel is likely to rebound in the later part of 2022”, according to the organisers of OTM.

The Indian travel market is at its inflection point and is one of the fastest-growing in the world. By 2025, a report by Expedia expects 13.9 million leisure departures from India, leading to 19.4 million Indian visitor arrivals overseas, with a major contribution from Tier II and Tier III cities. Business travel accounts for 26% of the outbound trips, making India one of the largest business travel markets globally. As per reports, the Indian outbound tourism market is estimated to surpass 42 Billion USD by 2024 and will exceed US$ 45 Billion by 2025.

Visit: https://otm.co.in

Planet Marathi Dedicates it’s Anthem featuring Madhuri Dixit as a Tribute to Marathi Bhasha Divas!

Marathi Bhasha Divas has a rich legacy from celebrating rich literature and language of Marathi to commemorating the birth anniversary of great marathi poet Kusumagraj .

‘Planet Marathi’ has transpired to be the torch bearer for Marathi language and culture through its various endeavors in the field of entertainment and it’s OTT platform has launched the tribute anthem saluting the pride of Marathi language. 

The song stars the prominent Bollywood actress Madhuri Dixit Nene, who has achieved great feats in the Hindi film industry, followed by eminent personalities from Marathi film and television fraternity.

 The Planet Marathi anthem features popular faces who have participated with pride namely Vikram Gokhale, Sachin Pilgaonkar, Sharad Kelkar, Amruta Khanvilkar, Sonalee Kulkarni, Siddharth Jadhav, Tejaswini Pandit, Akshay Bardapurkar, Pushkar Shrotri, Subodh Bhave, Mrunmayee Deshpande, Priya Bapat, Mrinal Kulkarni, Prajakta Mali, Sanjay Jadhav, Abhijit Panse, Prasad Oak, Jitendra Joshi, Adinath Kothare, Urmilla Kothare, Sonali Khare, Bhargavi Chirmule, Parna Pethe, Smita Tambe, Gayatri Datar, Abhijeet Khandkekar, Siddharth Menon, Bhagyashree Milind, Neha Shitole, Deepti Devi, Sandeep Pathak, Nikhil Chavan, Tejas Barve, Surbhi Hande, Suvrat Joshi ,Shivani Baokar etc.

Planet Marathi launched the world’s first Marathi OTT in hands of Madhuri Dixit Nene and she officially became the first subscriber to the Planet Marathi app.

 She had mentioned in her praise for Akshay Bardapurkar (The visionary leader and CMD of Planet Marathi) and his team for their efforts to launch an application exclusively for Marathi entertainment. She also pointed out that there is great potential in Marathi  content that the world is yet to experience and Planet Marathi has made it easier for filmmakers to find and connect with their audience. 

 Akshay Bardapurkar for Marathi Bhasha Diwas expressed , “Planet Marathi has always been on an endeavour to push the boundaries of Marathi language, entertainment, art and talent. It shall always carry the pride of Marathi in form of content and take it globally. With the launch of our Planet Marathi OTT platform, we have redefined Marathi entertainment for the world.”

 He further detailed how Marathi content has revolutionized over the years stating, “The new wave in Marathi has already begun, we feel elated to this landmark moment with an anthem that invokes the same pride in every Maharashtrian heart. I am grateful that every prominent face of the Marathi entertainment industry has proactively joined this initiative of PM. This industry has time and again demonstrated that we are one big family that steers the industry towards a glorious future. This anthem invokes the sense of pride in every Marathi with the same camaraderie.”

 Foraying into the arena of nonstop entertainment with contemporary subjects, Planet Marathi aims to take Marathi language to excelled heights of prominence by way of Regional stories to travel globally. The high-octane entertainer Planet Marathi OTT powered by Vistas Media Capital, promises a new wave of digital entertainment for Marathi audience across the globe on app through android TV, Chromecast, Firestick, ios and playstore.

Link to the anthem: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lA5UPPEkV4o

KSB Limited achieves all-time high sales for the year 2021!

• The Sales value for 2021 is registered for INR 14,973 million which is about a 24% increase over the previous year
• The sales value of INR 4,446 million achieved for this quarter is about a 20% increase over the corresponding quarter of the year 2020
• Achieved ROS of 14% for the year and 13% for the quarter
• Orders on hand for about 7 to 8 months

Business Highlights

(All amounts in INR million)

Particulars	Q4 (Oct’21-Dec’21)	Q4 (Oct’20-Dec’20)	Jan’21-Dec’21	Jan’20- Dec’20
Sales	4,446	3,699	14,973	12,081
Expenses	3,882	2,946	12,879	10,403
Operating Profit	564	753	2,094	1,678
OPM %	13%	20%	14%	14%
Other Income	82	27	364	323
Interest	19	7	50	34
Depreciation	110	117	435	418
PBT	517	656	1,973	1,549
Net Profit	379	301	1,466	973

 

Mumbai, 28 February 2022: Acknowledging the yearly performance Mr. Farrokh Bhathena, Director Sales and Marketing, KSB Limited said, “This year we have achieved ground-breaking sales of INR 14,973 million despite the hindrance from the pandemic. We have registered a sales growth of 24% over last year and a growth of 20% over the corresponding quarter of the year.

I believe demand trends are gravitating back to pre-Covid times, it is evident from our all-time high figures. With the ease of restriction from Govt. our supply chain remained intact and I am sure we will continue to achieve exponential growth in sales in coming quarters too.”

Major Highlights

• KSB Limited, India has crossed the all-time high sales of INR 14,973 Mio.
• Steady inflow of orders for pumps required in Flue Gas Desulphurisation application
• Good number of orders received for Gamma pumps
• Good order intake at Central Warehouse, Chinchwad- Pune 
• Annual medical check-up for employees was held at certain plant locations
• Complete vaccination of almost all employees done

Mr. Milind Khadilkar, Chief Financial Officer said that the Company could deliver healthy growth due to our meticulous planning, resilience, focused efforts in these difficult times.  As a result, we are pleased to give a sumptuous return on healthy profit achieved by the Company for the year FY 2021, to our shareholders by declaring a dividend of INR 12.50 per share (125%).

 

The Company is further strategizing its Solar Business and resultantly observing an increased inflow of orders in this segment.

Adding updates on other developments, he informed that the additional Factory Shed at Sinner Plant is nearing its completion.

He informed that the Company inaugurated its independent “Innovation Lab” at its Sinnar, Nashik plant. This initiative will help us to bring value to our customers, and all our stakeholders. With the innovation team here in India, it will help us to have the competitive edge in the market.

On the ESG-sustainability front he communicated that, out of the targeted reduction in Green House Gases (GHG) emission by 50 % over the actual GHG emission of 2018 by 2023, we have already achieved 40% till 2021.

About KSB Limited

KSB Limited Founded in 1960 in India is a part of KSB SE & Co KGaA., - one of the world’s leading suppliers of pumps, valves and systems. Combining innovative technology and excellent service to provide intelligent solutions, the company has been offering innovative and sturdy solutions to cater to the myriad needs of the Indian Customer may it be in power, oil, building services, process engineering, water treatment, water transport, etc. The activities of KSB’s in-house research centre focus on the areas of hydraulics, sealing technology, materials, production technology and automation.

Today the KSB group has a presence on all the continents with its own sales and marketing companies, manufacturing facilities and service operations. More than 15,000 employees generate annual consolidated sales revenue of over Two billion Euros.

Chartered Speed launches luxurious caravan services, Vahn in Ahmedabad

Bespoke, self-contained caravans that offer a seamless travel and living experience.

Ahmedabad, 28^th February 2022: Chartered Speed, one of India’s leading surface mobility company has announced the launch of luxurious caravan services in Ahmedabad – ‘Vahn’.

Vahn (a portmanteau of Sanskrit ‘vahan’ and Latin ‘van’) was born in the middle of a pandemic by a family of travelers. The makers of Vahn sought to bring a liberating road-travel experience to people which was independent of unhygienic hotel stays and restaurant visits while travelling.

The demands of a modern-day traveler have been taken into consideration while designing these self- contained caravans. Now traveler enthusiasts across the country can indulge in a safe, luxurious, and top- of-the-class travel experience.

Their first van, ‘Roller’, is inspired and similarly visualized as the “Indian roller” bird. It is thoughtfully built with king and queen sized beds, a fully equipped kitchenette and a modern restroom with shower. For cooking fresh meals on the road, the caravan has appliances like an induction pot, kettle and fridge. The vans can sleep 4-5 and seat up to 8 people.

What’s more? Vahn also takes up custom van conversion projects for personal use.

Moksha Gandhi, founder & lead designer at Vahn, says “Vahn is for everyone. From solo travelers & artists seeking a fresh air of inspiration, to a seasoned family looking for a break from the monotony of life, to a big troop looking for their next big adventure.”

Speaking on the launch, Sanyam Gandhi, Director, Chartered Speed said, “We are extremely excited to launch the caravan services for travel lovers. The concept of travel is transforming immensely post the advent of the pandemic; and one kind of travel experience that’s gaining much momentum during these times is that of road-trips. Understanding this need, we have associated with Moksha Gandhi to create an infrastructure that will ensure a comfortable, safe and luxurious travel experience on the go. We want to encourage travel lovers to book these caravans and go all out with their families, friends and loved ones while experiencing home-on-the-go”

Caravan Features:

●        King and queen sized beds to seat up to 8 and sleep up to 5

●        Fully equipped Kitchenette with refrigerator, deep sink, induction pot, kettle, cookware, and cutlery

●        Restroom with Shower with water closet, shower, and clothes rail

●        Premium Entertainment with TV and bluetooth speaker system

●        Working Desk with 120V outlets and USB ports

●        Storage compartments and spacious boot

●        Portable cooking range and outdoor seating set

●        Safety appliances with first AID and fire extinguisher

About Chartered Speed: Chartered Speed Limited (CSL) is one of India’s leading passenger mobility companies [CRISIL, 2018] with a presence in 10 states, daily helping 300,000 people to get to their destinations in more than 70 cities. They are the largest fleet bus operators in India for intercity and intracity passenger in Central, Western and North-Eastern states of India.

About Vahn: Vahn, powered by Chartered Speed, is an up-and-coming caravan rental company originating out of the city of Ahmedabad. They design and offer a range of caravans to rent for short or long-term travels around the country.

Millennial Star Mithila Palkar Emerges as a Clear Advertiser's Favourite as she Signs Two New Brand Endorsements in Just One Month

Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

In a clear demonstration of her immense popularity with advertisers and audiences, the young and talented actor Mithila Palkar has signed two strong endorsement deals in a span of just one month with pizza brand, EatFit and cosmetics brand, Plum. This commendable feat comes on the back of the beautiful actor’s great success in her film with Kajol, Tribhanga and the much-loved fourth season of hot series Little Things.=

Mithila Palkar 

Says Alok Damani, Business Head at Exceed Entertainment, “We’re seeing a clear shift with advertisers preferring stars who demonstrate a strong and genuine connect with their fans and followers. With trends shifting towards D2C brands and digital marketing, celebrities that have a big appeal in these areas are in big demand. These endorsements are a clear testimony that Mithila’s equity is soaring among millennial audiences based on her unmatched and genuine appeal in this segment.”

Speaking on her massive connect with Gen Z, Gokul Kandhi, Business Head, EatFit, said, “Mithila is the perfect ambassador to resonate with our target groups. She portrays authenticity and is truly Indian at heart, much like the EatFit brand.”

This view was further endorsed by Shankar Prasad, CEO and founder at Plum, “Plum is a youthful brand that resonates with the confident woman of today. So, on boarding a millennial youth icon like Mithila Palkar seemed to be a natural fit. She reflects Plum’s values of being honest and real.”

Mithila currently enjoys being the face of 4 dynamic brands like Plum Goodness, Eat.fit, Mia by Tanishq and Carmesi. Having successfully made her mark on the Hindi and Marathi mediums, Mithila is widening her pan India appeal with setting foot in India’s growing South entertainment market. Her upcoming Telugu debut release opposite Vishwak Sen is touted as one of the most anticipated film of Mithila Palkar. We watch the journey of this star with great interest!