Jet Airways has successfully completed all its "proving flights" and is now looking forward to the grant of the air operator certificate (AOC) by the Directorate General Civil Aviation (DGCA), the owner Jalan-Kalrock Consortium said on May 17. Jet Airways on May 17 concluded its second set of two so-called proving flights with around 31 people, which also included DGCA officials. The airline had on May 15 conducted its first set of three proving flights with 18 people. The two proving flights on May 17 were on Delhi-Hyderabad and Hyderabad-Delhi routes using the airline’s Boeing 737. The same plane was used for the three proving flights—Delhi-Mumbai, Mumbai-Ahmedabad, Ahmedabad-Delhi—on May 15, they said. A proving flight is part of DGCA’s process for the induction of a new aircraft type in an airline’s fleet. The flight allows the operator to demonstrate to the DGCA the airline’s ability to conduct the flight safely and in accordance with all rules and regulations. … [Read more...] about Jet Airways says proving flights done, awaiting AOC from DGCA
Nepal u 19 vs india u 19 b
Asia’s two richest men reap windfall from surging oil, coal
- A + A (May 18): Gautam Adani and Mukesh Ambani are profiting from a surge in global commodity prices triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, burnishing their fossil-fuel credentials even as Asia’s richest men publicly push their pivots toward greener energy. With coal prices skyrocketing to a record, Adani’s conglomerate is expanding a controversial mine in Australia to meet demand. Ambani’s Reliance Industries Ltd is snapping up distressed crude-oil cargoes at discounts to feed its refining complex, the biggest in the world. Reliance even deferred a scheduled maintenance of the facility to help churn out more diesel and gasoline, whose margins have shot up to touch a three-year high. The two Indian tycoons are stepping in at a time when many developed countries are scrambling for alternative sources of fuels as they try to back away from Russian supplies. This month, the Group of Seven most-industrialized nations pledged to ban imports of Russian oil. The … [Read more...] about Asia’s two richest men reap windfall from surging oil, coal
Sri Lanka turmoil to SC’s sedition verdict: News this week in 5 cartoons
Protests intensified in Sri Lanka this week over the country’s crippling economic crisis. Prime Minister Mahindra Rajapaksa resigned amid the mounting turmoil and was replaced by Ranil Wickramasinghe. In India, the Supreme Court put the sedition law on hold till the Centre re-examines it. The United States’ abortion debate raged on. A leaked Supreme Court document pointing to the possible overturning of the landmark Roe v. Wade verdict has triggered protests in the country. See how editorial cartoonists illustrated these developments. RC Pradeep Close The cartoonist illustrated violent protests in Sri Lanka. His sketch showed President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the wheel of a vandalised car. #themorninglk 12.05.2022 #editorial #cartoon #SriLankaCrisis #SriLanka pic.twitter.com/NBHqPL33w2 — RCPradeep (@RcSullan) May 12, 2022 Sandeep Adhwaryu The Times of India cartoonist illustrated how the sedition verdict brought some respite … [Read more...] about Sri Lanka turmoil to SC’s sedition verdict: News this week in 5 cartoons
Asia’s SPAC Hopefuls Have Nowhere to Turn As IPO Market Shuts
- A + A (May 18): Asian sponsors of blank-check firms are facing a tough market for initial public offerings wherever they turn, as a combination of increasing regulatory scrutiny and fading investor demand shutters the window for new listings from the US to Asia. In the past three months, at least six Asia-related special purpose acquisition companies seeking a combined $1.3 billion from US IPOs have been scrapped, according to data provider SPAC Research. Of 12 blank-check firms that have filed to go public in Hong Kong, only one has actually started trading. It’s a similar pattern in Singapore, where SPACs have stalled after three inaugural IPOs in January. “The global IPO market has obviously been very quiet so far this year,” Paul Uren, JPMorgan Chase and Co.’s Asia Pacific head of investment banking, said in an interview with Bloomberg TV. “What we need to see for that to change is lower volatility and investors with more of a risk-on mentality.” Asia was … [Read more...] about Asia’s SPAC Hopefuls Have Nowhere to Turn As IPO Market Shuts
Asia’s SPAC hopefuls have nowhere to turn as IPO market shuts
- A + A (May 18): Asian sponsors of blank-check firms are facing a tough market for initial public offerings wherever they turn, as a combination of increasing regulatory scrutiny and fading investor demand shutters the window for new listings from the US to Asia. In the past three months, at least six Asia-related special purpose acquisition companies seeking a combined US$1.3 billion from US IPOs have been scrapped, according to data provider SPAC Research. Of 12 blank-check firms that have filed to go public in Hong Kong, only one has actually started trading. It’s a similar pattern in Singapore, where SPACs have stalled after three inaugural IPOs in January. “The global IPO market has obviously been very quiet so far this year,” Paul Uren, JPMorgan Chase and Co’s Asia Pacific head of investment banking, said in an interview with Bloomberg TV. “What we need to see for that to change is lower volatility and investors with more of a risk-on mentality.” Asia was … [Read more...] about Asia’s SPAC hopefuls have nowhere to turn as IPO market shuts
Skye Air Mobility, Aster DM Healthcare conduct trials for delivery of medicines with drones in Bengaluru
Representative image. New Delhi-based drone startup Skye Air Mobility along with Aster DM Healthcare is currently undertaking a seven-day trial for carrying out deliveries of medicines and diagnostic samples from Aster RV Hospital to Aster Clinics in Bengaluru. The beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operation began on May 14, and is expected to continue till May 20, a release by Skye Air said. According to an agreement signed by the drone startup and the healthcare provider, Skye Air, with its ‘Skye Ship One’ drone, is aiming to undertake 80 flights, each carrying blood samples and medicines for Aster clinics. BVLOS drone flights are those that go beyond 500–700 metres from the eye’s vision or beyond the visual line of sight. A Skye Air release said that firstly, a Skye Air cold chain professional will load the medicine and diagnostic sample in a temperature-controlled payload box. Then, the payload box will be loaded on the drone, which would be then manoeuvered by drone … [Read more...] about Skye Air Mobility, Aster DM Healthcare conduct trials for delivery of medicines with drones in Bengaluru
Thailand News Today | Crashed China eastern flight possible “intentional nosedive”
Black box data on crashed China Eastern 737 suggests possible “intentional nosedive” Investigators are now examining further if the crash of China Eastern Airlines 737-800 on March 21 was indeed due to “intentional action on the flight deck”. The early reports say that there is, so far, no evidence of a technical malfunction. The Wall Street Journal reported this week that flight data from one of the two “black boxes” on the Boeing jet indicated that “someone in the cockpit intentionally crashed the plane”. The comments were made by people the WSJ cited as “familiar with the preliminary assessment by US officials”. US National Transportation Safety Board officials have been working with engineers from Boeing and investigators from the Civil Aviation Administration of China since the crash. Boeing, the US manufacturer of the jet, has so far declined to comment on the early leaks and, instead, referred all questions to the Chinese regulators. At this stage, the CAAC, … [Read more...] about Thailand News Today | Crashed China eastern flight possible “intentional nosedive”
Goldman cuts China 2022 growth forecast to 4%
- A + A HONG KONG (May 18): Analysts at Goldman Sachs said on Wednesday they were lowering their China 2022 gross domestic product growth forecast to 4% from 4.5% as a result of Covid-19-related damage to the economy in the second quarter of this year. It was more likely China's economy would undershoot than overshoot their target, they added. "Even this lower growth projection embeds the assumption that Covid is mostly under control going forward, the property market improves from here, and the government provides substantial policy offset through infrastructure spending in coming months," they wrote. China's retail and factory activity fell sharply in April as widespread Covid-19 lockdowns confined workers and consumers to their homes and severely disrupted supply chains. China's uncompromising strategy to fight Covid-19 has placed hundreds of millions of people in dozens of cities under restrictions of some kind, and has disrupted a global rebound in … [Read more...] about Goldman cuts China 2022 growth forecast to 4%
Kanger terminates MoUs after failing to get nod to distribute Sinopharm vaccines
- A + A KUALA LUMPUR (May 18): Kanger International Bhd, which is involved in the manufacturing and trading of bamboo flooring and furniture, hardwood and laminated flooring and property development, said its Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with Zuellig Pharma Sdn Bhd and K-Star Sport Ltd have been terminated after it failed to get the Drug Control Authority (DCA) of Malaysia's approval to be the registered holder for China's Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccines in Malaysia. On Oct 23, 2020, it entered into an MoU with Zuellig Pharma to collaborate on the distribution of Covid-19 vaccines in Malaysia. Another MoU was signed between Kanger and K-Star on Oct 26, 2020 for the purpose of appointing K-Star as the sale agent of the vaccines for private clinics here. In separate bourse filings on Wednesday (May 18), the ACE Market-listed Kanger said the MoUs have been terminated following the approval by the DCA for another company to be the registered holder for the Sinopharm … [Read more...] about Kanger terminates MoUs after failing to get nod to distribute Sinopharm vaccines
Petroleum Sarawak chairman emerges as second-largest shareholder in Zecon
- A + A KUALA LUMPUR (May 18): Petroleum Sarawak Bhd non-executive chairman Tan Sri Dr Hamid Bugo has emerged as the second-largest shareholder of Zecon Bhd, following his purchase of 19.051 million shares in the Sarawak-based construction and property firm. Hamid’s total stake rose to 13.4% or 19.751 million shares after the acquisition, according to a bourse filing on Wednesday (May 18). A separate bourse filing showed that Digital Networks Sdn Bhd had ceased to be a shareholder of Zecon on May 17, following the disposal of 13.392 million shares. The acquisition and disposal were made via a business transaction. According to Zecon’s 2021 annual report, Digital Network was Zecon’s second-largest shareholder with 13.392 million shares or 9.09% of the company as at March 23, 2022. Zecon’s shares last traded at 41.5 sen on May 13, which translates to a market capitalisation of RM61.2 million. … [Read more...] about Petroleum Sarawak chairman emerges as second-largest shareholder in Zecon