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Funskool India appoints old-timer K.A. Shabir as new CEO
MUMBAI: Being in the toys business is no child’s play. But KA Shabir is willing to take on the challenge. From 1 January 2025, he has taken on the mantle of leading the leading Indian toymaker Funksool India Ltd , part of the MRF group, as its CEO.. He replaces the very affable R. Jeswant who was appointed in CEO in 2020 and retired year-end 2024.
Shabir has been with Funskool for over 33 years and is an accomplished techno commercial expert who has led many departments in Funskool such as international business, manufacturing, factory operations and new product development while also driving organisational growth.
“Funskool pioneered the concept of quality and safety in toys and has been instrumental in raising the standards of toys in India. To lead this 39-year-old organisation which has many firsts to its credit at a time when it is expanding rapidly, is an honour. As a team, we will bring out interesting and innovative creations to make playtime a delight for children,” said Shabir.
Amongst the firsts to its credit is the BIS certification for the electric toys it manufactures in its Goa plant as well for its non-electric toys it makes in its Ranipet manufacturing facility. It received both the certifications in October 2020, much before the government set deadline of 1 January 2021.
For over a decade, Shabir has been the face of Funskool in the international fora within the toy industry. He is hailed as one of the expert voices in the Indian toy industry. Shabir’s acumen for identifying market opportunities and devising tailor made strategies for new customers has expanded Funskool’s global footprints and its exports revenue.
Having excelled in his earlier role as vice president – international division and manufacturing, Shabir’s transition to the new role of CEO marks a new chapter in Funskool’s growth journey. Under his leadership, Funskool is poised to drive innovation in product development, explore new markets, win more marquee customers from across the globe, use the best of technologies to improve toy manufacturing, further the sustainability initiatives and redefine toy industry standards, says a company press release..
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Motorola launches edge 70 fusion with 50MP Sony camera
New mid-premium smartphone brings 144Hz display, 7000mAh battery and motoAI from 12 March 2026.
MUMBAI: Motorola just fused flagship flair with mid-range magic because when your phone packs a 7000mAh battery and a world-first Sony sensor, even the competition starts feeling a little flat. Motorola has launched the edge 70 fusion in India, introducing the world’s first 50MP Sony LYT-710 camera with motoAI to the mid-premium segment. The device also features India’s only 144Hz 1.5K True Colour quad-curved Pantone-validated display, a massive 7000mAh silicon-carbon battery with 68W TurboPower charging, and the Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 platform.
The camera system includes OIS, an f/1.8 aperture, Pantone Validated Colours and SkinTone Validation, plus 4K video recording with HDR across all lenses. Advanced motoAI features such as AI Photo Enhancement, Adaptive Stabilization and Auto Night Vision deliver pro-grade results. A 13MP ultra-wide + macro lens and 32MP front camera complete the setup.
Design highlights include an all-new slim 7.99mm profile weighing just 193g, with luxurious fabric-inspired finishes in three Pantone-curated colours, Blue Surf, Country Air and Silhouette. The 6.78-inch Super HD+ Extreme AMOLED panel offers 5200 nits peak brightness, 100 per cent DCI-P3 gamut and dual stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos.
Powered by moto ai 2.0, the phone includes Next Move suggestions, AI Image Studio, Catch Me Up 2.0, Pay Attention live transcription and Perplexity integration. It runs Android 16 with three OS upgrades and five years of security updates, plus IP68 + IP69 and MIL-STD-810H durability.
Motorola India managing director T.M. Narasimhan said, “With the motorola edge 70 fusion, we have focused on delivering exceptional camera performance, design excellence, intelligent experiences, and dependable power in an ultra-refined form factor.”
The edge 70 fusion comes in three variants, 8GB + 128GB (Rs 26,999), 8GB + 256GB (Rs 29,999) and 12GB + 256GB (Rs 32,999). An early bird sale for limited stock runs on Flipkart on 6 March from 12pm–4pm, with full availability from 12 March on Flipkart, Motorola.in and retail stores.
Effective pricing after offers, Rs 24,999 (8/128GB), Rs 27,999 (8/256GB) and Rs 30,999 (12/256GB), including Rs 2,000 instant discount on HDFC/Axis cards, Rs 2,000 exchange bonus and no-cost EMI options. Buyers also get 18 months of free Google Gemini Pro (worth Rs 35,100).
In a segment where phones often promise the moon but deliver average nights, the edge 70 fusion stands out by actually delivering both clear shots after dark and power that lasts long after the party ends.
