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Fashion Value Chain
6 days ago
- Business
- Fashion Value Chain
DGCA's 360-Degree Audits are a Positive Step, but Seamless Execution will be Crucial, Says Jaideep Mirchandani
Following the concern over safety gaps in air travel, especially in the wake of the recent fatal air crash at Ahmedabad that claimed 241 lives, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has introduced a special audit framework for a 360-degree evaluation of the countrys aviation ecosystem. The new system will replace the existing Silo Safety system of inspection, which involves parallel, disconnected, step-by-step inspections, such as one for pilots, a separate one for airports, and another for aircraft. Jaideep Mirchandani, Group Chairman of Sky One The new integrated audit, meanwhile, will be led by a multi-disciplinary team from various departments of the DGCA. As per the plan, specialists in flight standards, airworthiness, navigation, licensing, operations, and air safety will collaborate on joint audits alongside DGCA officials. The special audits will apply to all scheduled, non-scheduled, and private air operators, as well as Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) organisations, approved training organisations, aerodrome operators, and ground handling agencies. 'It is indeed a good move to launch a comprehensive 360-degree audit system that will help in detecting risks that may be hidden between regulatory faultlines. The new rule will also help in bringing in external industry experts, if required, and provide clearer operational insights. There will also be surprise audits overseen by the Joint Director General, as per the circular, which will help in clearly assessing the safety management systems and internal frameworks designed by airlines. It will also help in identifying operational risks before they escalate into disasters,' says Jaideep Mirchandani, Group Chairman of Sky One. He also notes that the new decision is timely, given the unprecedented growth India is experiencing in aviation. 'We know that Indian carriers have already placed massive orders for new aircraft, and hence the staffing, as well as other related aspects, requires more procedural depth. With the kind of expansion they are planning, the previous system of isolated inspections will not work. It requires a larger-scale mechanism like the 360-degree inspection, which will also help bring Indias inspection regimen on par with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards and recommendations,' adds Mr Mirchandani. However, Mr Mirchandani says it is essential for the regulatory body to ensure that the new framework is implemented strictly. 'Execution is the key here. There should be constant follow-ups from policymakers to ensure that all inspections are conducted regularly. As we know, the Indian skies are becoming increasingly crowded, with more flights expected to be introduced on domestic and international routes. So, it is an opportunity to build operational excellence, with DGCA-led clarity and accountability pushing all stakeholders toward best-in-class standards,' he concludes.
Metro
22-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Amazon Prime quietly drops all episodes of 'brutal' drama with Game of Thrones s
Amazon Prime viewers can now watch a 'riotously fun' British dark comedy about survivalists. Released in 2020 on Sky One, Two Weeks to Live stars Maisie Williams, best known for playing Arya Stark in Game of Thrones from 2011 until 2019. In the six-part series she played 'strange young misfit' Kim, who was just a small child when her father died in mysterious circumstances. Soon after her mum Kim – played by Fleabag's Sian Clifford – whisked her away to a remote rural life of seclusion and bizarre survival techniques. After years cut off from the world, Kim decides to set back out and carry out a secret mission to honour her father's memory. But after meeting the socially awkward Nicky (Mawaan Rizwan) in a pub, the pair then face 'a chaotic series of events that puts their lives in danger' as they go on the run from murderous gangsters and the police with a massive bag of stolen cash. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video This week the series dropped on Amazon Prime, giving more people a chance to tune in. When the show was released, critics praised it as 'one of the best shows of the year' despite it largely going under the radar. 'One of 2020's best new shows, Two Weeks to Live leans into the witty humour of classic British comedies like Hot Fuzz and Brassic,' NME wrote in its review. 'With each episode gleefully upping the stakes, it's as if that doomsday clock actually is tock-ticking down to midnight. You'll be hooked into Two Weeks to Live like tinned tuna crammed into a nuclear bunker's storeroom,' SBS wrote. 'Two Weeks to Live is riotous fun, with a ton of heart and soul to boot, and after the year we've all had, it couldn't have arrived at a better time,' Digital Spy added. Fans said it was 'gripping', 'action packed with splashes of comedy', and an 'absolute gem of a show'. Speaking to Sky ahead of the show's initial release, Maisie explained the evolution of her character throughout the story. More Trending 'She's always felt really independent and very capable but emotionally, she's realising that being alone is going to be a big step for her and although she can probably handle herself physically, mentally she's facing huge battles every day,' she said. 'I knew it was always going to be very funny and the characters were very interesting, but we were very keen to make them real. I think you can write very funny people but not necessarily relate to that character in your own life so between myself, Taheen, Mawaan, and Sian we were very keen to route it back to something that is relatable,' she added. Two Weeks to Live also stars Taheen Modak, Jason Flemyng, Michael Begley, Thalissa Teixeira, Kerry Howard and Sean Knopp. View More » Two Weeks to Live is streaming on Amazon Prime Video. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: All Neighbours spoilers for next week as legend resigns MORE: Where to stream Jaws in the UK for the iconic film's 50th anniversary MORE: 'One of the best horror films' is finally coming to Amazon Prime next week
New York Times
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Ben Greenhalgh won a TV show, joined Mourinho's Inter and lost his Champions League medal on a golf course
'And next he's gonna meet the big boss, Jose Mourinho. I think it will finally sink in that he's an Inter Milan player when he's given that shirt,' Jamie Redknapp, the former England midfielder and Sky presenter, says. Ben Greenhalgh laughs as he remembers what happens next. 'I nearly leave Mourinho hanging in a minute!' Advertisement We are watching a rerun of Football's Next Star, the television show that was broadcast on Sky One in 2010 with the prize of a six-month contract at Inter for the winner. More than 7,000 boys entered before being whittled down to the final 10, who stayed together in a villa overlooking Lake Como. 'Every week, it was a case of, 'We want to be here next week, and that's all we were fighting for',' Greenhalgh says. 'I don't think we were ever fighting for who was going to win.' Essentially, it was football's version of the X Factor with Marco Monti, the technical director at Inter's academy, playing the role of Simon Cowell. Greenhalgh not only ended up winning the show and signing for Inter but, remarkably, also finished the season with a Champions League medal around his neck (he later lost it on a golf course, but that's another story). It was a surreal experience for a 17-year-old A-level student who had never been around professional football before. 'Look, that could have been terrible!' Greenhalgh says, cringing as we watch the moment when Mourinho, who was Inter's manager at the time, congratulates him and waits for the handshake that almost never comes. Greenhalgh was too busy trying to take in the enormity of it all. A TV show that he had entered in the early stages 'as a laugh' was now turning his life upside down, propelling him from the fringe of the first-team at non-League Welling United, who were playing in the sixth tier of English football at the time, to training alongside some of the greatest players in the world at Inter. Those close to Greenhalgh were every bit as excited as him. 'I'm still with Grace!' Greenhalgh says, his face lighting up as the camera pans to his girlfriend. 'I've got three kids with her now!' Greenhalgh's relationship with Inter didn't last anything like as long, which was probably to be expected. By the start of 2011, the left winger was back in England, on trial at Brighton, following a successful loan spell with Como in Serie C, Italy's third tier. He rejoined Welling later the same year. Advertisement The experience at Inter, however, was unforgettable. Greenhalgh brings along to the interview a signed shirt that Patrick Vieira gave him, tells stories about Mario Balotelli and his Lamborghini, marvels at the way the Inter players worked so hard for Mourinho and, more than anything, feels privileged to have had a front-row seat for the most successful season in the club's history. 'My six-month contract began in January (2010), so it went to the end of the season,' Greenhalgh explains. 'Everything was high-flying because they were on for the treble at this time – they've got through the group stage in the Champions League, they're in the quarter-finals of the Coppa Italia and they're top of the league as well. It was some experience.' Inter created history by winning all three competitions, and although Greenhalgh played for the reserves and the under-18s rather than the first team, he was in the right place at the right time when it came to the Champions League final against Bayern Munich at the Bernabeu. 'Before the final, we played a game at Real Madrid City (the Spanish club's training ground) against Bayern Munich,' he says. 'It was called the 'UEFA Under-18 Challenge', and that's now become the UEFA Youth League. We also won 2-0 (the same scoreline as the first team). 'Some of us then travelled with the match-day squad, staying in the team hotel, and then sitting just behind them at the game. Just being able to experience those types of matches was ridiculous, really.' And what about the medal? 'We managed to get one because… they were just handing them out in the changing room afterwards!' Greenhalgh says, smiling. All of which explains why the supporters at non-League side Margate, who play in the Isthmian League South East Division (the eighth tier of English football), sing what they do on a match day. 'Champions League, he's won that too. Now he's at Margate, playing in blue.' Advertisement Greenhalgh, who is the player-manager at Margate, breaks into laughter. 'That's a good song. I've had some bad songs,' he says. 'At Tonbridge Angels – and I loved it when I was there – I'm about to take a free kick on the edge of the area, and they go, 'We got Super Ben Greenhalgh, he runs around the park…' 'I'm listening to it thinking, 'Oh wow, I've got a song.' 'And then they go, 'He looks like (British TV celebrity) Rylan Clark', and I think, 'Oh no!'' In his younger days, when he was still at school and before he grew a beard, Greenhalgh looked more like Cristiano Ronaldo, so much so that he was a body double for the former Manchester United and Real Madrid player in a television commercial. 'I started coaching for a guy called Mike Delaney, who also ran a company called Select Sports Artists,' he explains. 'Mike was one of the big ones at the time when it came to body-doubling adverts and he managed to get me Ronaldo, which was obviously massive. I was 16 and this was Ronaldo in his prime. And, fair play to Ronaldo, I've been to so many shoots where the players are there for 10 minutes maximum. But he was there for about three to four hours. He was even doing kick-ups with us.' That line of work provides another chapter to a colourful life story that includes a playing CV unlike any other. Greenhalgh's list of clubs, in order, reads: His time at Inter jumps off the page and, naturally, is a constant source of ribbing on the non-League circuit. 'I get banter all the time about it,' says Greenhalgh, who is also the academy director at Dartford Town, whose first team are one league above Margate. 'When it comes down to it, it's always going to be the thing that I'll be known for. It's been 15 years and it's still memorable.' Looking back, the fact that he joined Inter via a reality TV show was always going to pose challenges for him in Italy. There was even a wrangle at the outset between Welling and Inter, Greenhalgh recalls, over whether the non-League club were entitled to a transfer fee for him, delaying his registration. 'Welling started asking Inter for £100,000,' he says. Advertisement Greenhalgh also felt under added pressure to prove himself, not helped by the way the reserve team coach spoke about him in front of the other players. 'I remember him introducing me and it was like, 'He's won a TV show, he's with us now.'' Perhaps that kind of reaction was inevitable, even if it didn't need to be announced in that way. With or without his unusual backstory, Greenhalgh quickly realised that elite professional football is a dog-eat-dog world, especially for those who are still trying to prove themselves. 'When you're in the reserves or the under-21s of a top club, the chances of you breaking through are so slim. So these players are doing absolutely everything to get in, even injuring people,' Greenhalgh says. 'I used to play against a right-back who went on and played for Bayer Leverkusen. Not a very good footballer, in my opinion. But he would smash me every training session.' Not that Greenhalgh is in any way bitter or resentful about any part of his experience at Inter. He had the time of his life at the club, still speaks to several of his former team-mates and cherishes all the memories, including the episode on the television show when he was thrown in at the deep end with the first team. 'That was probably one of the biggest times ever in football where I did freeze a bit,' he says. 'I hadn't warmed up and you're suddenly playing with Lucio, (Ricardo) Quaresma and players like that, who you've seen on TV. I got the ball and I'd just pass because you didn't want anything to go wrong.' Some of the Inter first-team players went out of their way to be friendly towards Greenhalgh, including Vieira, who gave him a shirt that he had worn in the Milan derby. Greenhalgh also warmed to a teenage Mario Balotelli. 'At the time, I was 17 and he was 19 – he did not look 19. He was absolutely huge. He could have still played for the under-21s, that's what we found funny. Advertisement 'To be fair to him, he'd come and watch us. He rocked up in his Lamborghini for one game and he blocked the gateway for the coach to come in. The coach driver gets out and says, 'Can someone move this?' And he just said, 'No.' So they ended up having to park down the road and all their players had to walk.' As for Mourinho, Greenhalgh was fascinated by his approach. 'Interestingly, he wouldn't run training sessions too much. But you respected him because of his aura. Everything he said, you believed. 'I couldn't believe the manner that the players worked so hard for him, but then also how relaxed training was. There was no intensity to training. But then loads of tactical information, and then absolutely 100 miles an hour on a match day.' Realistically, Greenhalgh was never going to make it at first-team level at Inter, although he does sometimes wonder whether he should have stayed for longer at Como, where he spent half a season on loan and enjoyed his football. Instead, he came back to England in search of a professional club but was left with the feeling that he had been out of sight and out of mind in Italy. It was a different story for Connor Smith, the Irishman who finished second to Greenhalgh in Football's Next Star. 'I still speak to Connor, he's Barnet's assistant manager and they've had a brilliant year (winning promotion to the Football League),' Greenhalgh says. 'After we finished the show, me and Connor trained with Watford for four months because my contract (with Inter) didn't begin until January. I was still back and forth to Italy, but more for the camera stuff. Connor managed to get himself a deal at Watford and that probably propelled his career in England. And I think that's the one thing I always struggled with: my career never took off in England.' Greenhalgh ended up in Scotland at one stage, playing for the former England captain Terry Butcher at Inverness Caledonian Thistle, although it was another sport that grabbed his attention there. 'I was always a reasonable golfer,' he says. 'I was something like a 12 handicapper. But Scotland completely changed me.' Advertisement In fact, he spent so much time on the golf course in Scotland that he turned professional in 2015. Two years later, Greenhalgh posted a picture on Twitter showing him finishing first at a pro-am tournament. 'I ended up winning a little bit of money, but I was still a footballer playing golf,' he says. Over the moon to win my first PGA professional golf competition & to break the course record! Still hasn't sunk in Thanks to @TheAddingtonGC — Ben Greenhalgh (@BenGreenhalgh) July 14, 2017 That much was clear to anyone who played golf against him – and not because of his swing. Greenhalgh – and he shakes his head when he tells this story – used his Champions League winners' medal as a golf marker for a while. 'I took it off the ribbon mainly because I think, when I was young… it was brilliant, but I felt like I hadn't played in it (the final). So we were doing it as a laugh with my friends, just as a story to try and get in other golfers' heads. Like, 'Oh, what's that?' Because everyone uses medallions anyway. 'But it went missing at Aldenham Golf Club and, luckily, I knew the pro, who'd had it handed in. When I look back now, I think I was an absolute idiot doing those sorts of things. From there, I got it back on the ribbon, put it in a glass box and it's at my mum and dad's house now.' Greenhalgh hopes that Inter get their hands on the famous trophy again on Saturday, when they face Paris Saint-Germain in Munich in the Champions League final. There are similarities, he says, between the current side and Mourinho's team. 'They're hardworking and they've got that tenacity where when things are going badly for other teams, they really jump on it. They're almost bullies – and that's what the Inter team were under Mourinho. 'I look back at it now and that was an unbelievable Inter team. But I do think they overachieved – they beat 2010 Barcelona in the semi-final! But that was when Mourinho was at his finest.' It was also when Greenhalgh was living the dream. (Credit: Ben Greenhalgh)
Fashion Value Chain
28-05-2025
- Business
- Fashion Value Chain
'Our MRO Sector's New Strategies and Cost-effective Practices will Augment Operational Efficiency,' says Jaideep Mirchandani Group Chairman Sky One
In 2024, India crossed 350 million annual air passengers, establishing itself as the third-largest aviation market in the world, according to the Ministry of Civil Aviation. Over the past decade, domestic air passenger traffic has grown steadily at 10-12% each year. To keep pace with this rising demand, major Indian carriers, including Air India, IndiGo, and Akasa Air, have collectively placed orders for more than 1,700 new aircraft. However, due to global supply chain disruptions, deliveries will take time, pushing airlines to extend the operational life of their current fleets. An analysis by McKinsey & Company suggests that aircraft retirement rates between 2024 and 2026 will be about 24% lower than in the pre-pandemic years of 2010 to 2019. This extension in aircraft use will likely require more maintenance work, especially on engines and airframes than would have been necessary in a balanced supply-demand environment. As airlines strive for efficiency by relying more on existing aircraft, the demand for the maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) sector will increase. Jaideep Mirchandani, Group Chairman Sky One 'Delayed retirements will pressure the system, pushing the MRO sector to adopt new strategies. Older aircraft will need more attention, which could drive the adoption of predictive maintenance and cost-effective practices to maintain operational efficiency,' says Jaideep Mirchandani, Group Chairman of global aviation company Sky One. Explaining predictive maintenance, he says, 'It relies on sensors, data analytics, and machine learning to anticipate maintenance needs before equipment fails. These systems collect data from aircraft systems, components, and structures and analyse them to detect early signs of wear or malfunction. Maintenance schedules can then be adjusted in real-time based on how the aircraft is used, reducing downtime and cost.' He says predictive maintenance prevents unexpected failures and improves safety, reliability, and fleet availability. He adds that augmented Reality (AR) further enhances this process by giving technicians real-time data, guided instructions, and remote expert support. This leads to faster, more accurate maintenance and improves safety checks and repair quality. AR also helps streamline complex procedures by connecting technicians with experts instantly. MRO providers are also turning to drones, robotics, and vision systems to speed up inspections and make them more precise. At the same time, Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is being used to handle repetitive backend tasks, reducing manual workload and improving efficiency. In addition, more providers are investing in intelligent enterprise software that helps manage contract planning, maintenance execution, reporting, and invoicing. These systems offer greater accuracy, consistency, and scalability. The industry expects that by 2028, aircraft retirements will return to normal, supply chains will stabilise, and new aircraft deliveries will accelerate. 'By then, the MRO sector is also likely to have transitioned to smarter, more efficient solutions,' concludes Mr Mirchandani.
Daily Mail
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Fat Families host Steve Miller reveals why he doesn't regret his brutal jibes at obese stars one bit - and the REAL reason the show was axed
'I'm about to meet two right massive fatty siblings,' Steve Miller said in an episode of Fat Families, a 2010 show he became renowned for. The TV icon, who has more recently signed up to be a member of right-wing political party Reform UK, made countless cheeky quips during the Sky One programme, despite it only airing for two seasons. 'Too much time sat on their fat bums, that's their problem plain and simple,' and 'I'm going to be meeting some right beach blubber bellies,' are just a couple of one-liners that still stun some viewers to this day. Fat Families saw straight-talking Steve guide overweight families who hoped to turn their lives around by improving their diet and lifestyle. Despite any backlash the programme has received over the years, Steve insists the confrontational nature of the show was key to helping people shed the pounds. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Fat Families saw straight-talking Steve guide overweight families who hoped to turn their lives around by improving their diet and lifestyle The star tells MailOnline: 'The one thing with the show is that every single person on that show lost weight, and quite a lot of them lost a lot of weight, and I think the reason for that was because of the tonality of it and the fun element.' He blames the growing obesity epidemic on society being 'too soft on fat'. Though Steve stresses, 'That's not about being horrible to people and being cruel'. Instead, he insists, 'It's just about being honest with people, and honesty delivered with fun, with a sense of humour, I find actually works better than making it all overly serious.' The former host appreciates losing weight can be a challenge for some, but says that with the help of comedy, it becomes a 'fun process' that 'works effectively'. Steve thinks since the show, 'the culture of the country changed' and argues, 'Political correctness has actually made us fatter, because it's actually what it's done is actually encouraged us to make excuses and to become victims.' He feels people are becoming more 'straight-talking' now, however. 'If you'd have kept me on the telly, I'm like the human fat jab. Put me on it and human fat jab driving the messages, you wouldn't need your Ozempics if they were showing me a lot,' he quips. Fat Families aired on Sky One from 6 January to 30 December 2010 but only lasted 11 months - running from January 6 to December 30, 2010 - and Steve delved into why it was cut short. 'Because two reasons. Number one, it was rating so high that Sky, Sky's business model is that they repeat and repeat and repeat. So it would have been a saturated series having said that,' he explains. Steve adds, 'The second reason is that I actually went over to the Netherlands to present TV over there and I didn't want to lose that.' The TV star dispelled any rumours that it was axed because of people taking issue with the show. 'People say, 'Oh, it was cancelled because of, you know, wokery and whatever,' but that's just not true,' he says. As for his humorous lines in the show, Steve doesn't want to take all of the credit for them. 'Do you know what the one thing of that doing that show?' he says. 'It was a team effort. It was completely a team effort.' 'We worked really well together. So a lot of it came from me, a lot of it came from the book, my book as well. 'So something like, 'melt that lard', 'time to get off your wobbly buns and melt that lard', that was kind of from that stuff from the book that I'd written.' Steve revealed outcome of the show that has surprised him - the age demographic of the fan base he has attracted. 'What surprised me is the amount of younger people that love it, the kind of 18 to 30s people I get loads and loads of, 'you're a legend', 'you're an icon', all of this, which is all very nice, as well as some of the haters,' he explains. Steve admits, 'But I get, I have to say, in all truth, I get much more loads of support from that age group than than I ever thought I would, because of the way society went.' Some 15 years on from the iconic show, the former host is now up to something very different. The broadcaster has become a member of the Reform UK party and previously took to social media to share the news. Steve uploaded a photograph of a Reform UK card on X, formerly Twitter, alongside the caption: 'PROUD - to receive membership to @reformparty_uk. If you want to save Britain, it's what you do.' And on another social media post, he penned: 'Dear ordinary decent people, Be proud to tell others you support Reform U.K. 'Do not worry about people claiming you are racist for doing so. You aren't. 'You simply care about your country. It's time to be proud of supporting Reform UK. Steve Miller.' Some remembered Steve from his former Fat Families days and posted 'Thought I recognised him,' alongside a video of him on the show. Another commented: 'Explains why he was always so rude.'
