Category: Business & Economy

KARNATAKA: ARTS & CULTURE / METAVERSE: Kannada film ‘Made in Bengaluru’ released in Metaverse

Made in Bengaluru is written and directed by Pradeep Sastry. The cast includes Madhusudan Govind in the lead role, and Anant Nag, Saikumar and Prakash Belawadi in pivotal roles.

Interality, an engine for mixed reality (AR & VR) worlds, has announced the release of ‘Made in Bengaluru’, a Kannada film on metaverse.

Made in Bengaluru is written and directed by Pradeep Sastry. The cast includes Madhusudan Govind in the lead role, and Anant Nag, Saikumar and Prakash Belawadi in pivotal roles. The story follows the journey of three dreamy-eyed middle class boys who venture into setting up their start-up.

Movie enthusiasts can meet the cast on the metaverse take selfies with a drone camera. They can also participate in a movie quiz, win tickets to the exclusive film premiere on December 29 in Bengaluru.

“We’re thrilled to power the launch of the film Made in Bengaluru in Metaverse.

Metaverse has massive opportunities for the cinema and entertainment industry as the future of content distribution,” said Farheen Ahmad, CEO, interality. 

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA: NATURAL PRODUCTS EXPORTS: Modi mentions Karnataka Palm Leather startup ‘Bhoomi Agri Ventures’ in ‘Mann Ki Baat’

The PM said the couple is sending many unique products made from betelnut fiber to the international market.

A Shivamogga-based couple’s out-of-the-box idea on the use of betelnut fibre has earned the praise of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Suresh and his wife Maithili, who are residents of Vinoba Nagar, are exporting their palm leather products internationally.

Modi praised the couple in his Mann Ki Baat episode on Sunday and said the countrymen should use such indigenous products and gift them to others as well. Suresh and Maithili, through their startup Bhoomi Agri Ventures, are making and exporting areca palm products. Their palm leather project was instigated as a cheap plant-based replacement for animal leather, plastic and rubber.

The PM said the couple is sending many unique products made from betelnut fibre to the international market. “These people are making decorative things ranging from trays, plates and handbags from betelnut fibre. Chappals made of this fibre are also being liked a lot today. Today, their products are being sold in London and other markets in Europe.

This is the very quality of our natural resources and traditional skills, which is being liked by everyone. With the traditional knowledge of India, the world is looking at ways of a sustainable future. We ourselves also need to be more and more aware of this. We should use such indigenous and local products and gift them to others as well. This will also strengthen our identity, the local economy, and, in large numbers, brighten the future of the people,” he said.

Expressing happiness over Modi mentioning them in this radio programme, Suresh told TNIE that their project was possible thanks to the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana- Remunerative Approaches for Agriculture and Allied sector Rejuvenation (RKVY-RAFTAAR).

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA: Parameshwar Hegde, DySP Mangaluru Central sub division Awarded Prestigious President’s Medal

Parameshwar Hegde, DySP Mangaluru Central sub division, received the prestigious President’s Medal Parameshwar Hegde for his meritorious service, in a ceremony held at the Raj Bhavan in Bengaluru recently.

Governor Tawarchand Gehlot conferred on him the President’s Medal in the presence of state home minister Araga Jnanendra.

Parameshwar Hegde had joined the police force as PSI in 1994 and took effective actions to maintain law and order. He served in Mangaluru north police station from 2004 to 2006, took charge of the rowdy squad and cracked several cases. He arrested Balakrishna Shetty alias Vikki belonging to Chota Rajan gang and confiscated a car worth Rs 3.05 lacs, pistol and bullets.

He had arrested notorious rowdy sheeter Asgar Ali, Bodda Lathif and Nazeer and seized foreign made revolver, bullets, Maruti car and two mobile phones from them.

When he was deployed in CCB in 2015, he joined the team to nab Jane Snatcher, collecting information about the Bavariya gang by visiting Uttar Pradesh and Delhi.

He also joined the team to nab Irani thieves and recovered gold chains weighing 2.4 kg. He was promoted as DySP in 2015 and was assigned at CID, Bengaluru, where he investigated 14 cases registered against misuse of chief minister’s funds and submitted the charge sheet in 8 cases.

When he was assigned the duty ACP of Vijayanagar sub division he cracked 389 theft cases, robbery and looting cases, recovered 9,700 grams gold ornaments, 192 two wheelers, four four wheelers and 157 mobile phones and handed them over to the owners.

The president of India has presented him with a medal during the Independence Day celebrations in 2020 as well considering his professional dedication and service.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL: ARTS & CULTURE / MAGIC: Magician Kudroli Ganesh was Presented with the US-based ‘Int’l Society of Magic’s -‘ Merlin Award’ at the Int’l Magic Extravaganza 2022, Bangkok, Thailand

Mangaluru magician Kudroli Ganesh received the Merlin award during the International Magic Extravaganza 2022 held at Bangkok in Thailand recently.

The award, which was instituted by the International Society of Magic from the U.S., was presented to him by U.S.-based magician Tony Hassini. He was considered for the award for his magic show ‘Tulunadu Tudar Chendu’. He presented the traditional cups and balls trick of the world in a creative form, using the Tulu Paadana (sung narratives of Tulu).

The Thailand International Academy of Magic, the organisers of the event, praised the presentation and adjudged it as the “most original act” and presented the award, Mr. Ganesh said in a communique.

The event was held for five days.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

KARNATAKA: GREEN ENERGY: The International Institute of Information Technology-Bangalore (IIIT-B) Installs Rooftop Solar Power System Covering 40% of its Power Requirements.

The solar power system offers 498.43 KWP capacity which is nearly 40 per cent of the power requirement of the institute.

The International Institute of Information Technology-Bangalore installed a 500 kVA rooftop solar power system in its campus recently. It was inaugurated by S Gopalakrishnan, Chairman, IIIT-B governing body.

The solar power system offers 498.43 KWP capacity which is nearly 40 per cent of the power requirement of the institute.

IIIT-B has installed 393 solar panels on rooftops and has upgraded its infrastructure to tap green energy.

Jagadish P Patil, Chief Administration Officer, said, “Our power requirement has shot up to 22% as there is an increase in student strength and upgradation of infrastructure. With this solar power system, we can reduce 40 per cent on the overall power bill.”

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

GLOBAL: AIRPORTS / TRAVEL/ METAVERSE: Kempegowda Intl Airport’s Terminal-2 (KIA T-2) is One of the First in the World that can be Experienced on the Metaverse. First phase of ‘BLR Metaport’ Launched

The Kempegowda International Airport’s Terminal-2 has become one of the first terminals in the world that can be experienced on the metaverse, after Bangalore International Airport Limited, operator of the KIA, on Tuesday announced the first phase launch of the BLR Metaport.

The Kempegowda International Airport’s (KIA) Terminal-2 has become one of the first terminals in the world that can be experienced on the metaverse, after Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), operator of the KIA, on Tuesday announced the first phase launch of the BLR Metaport.

Built in collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Polygon, the BLR Metaport offers an immersive, three-dimensional (3D) virtual experience of the newly launched terminal.

Interested travellers and members of the public can log on to www.blrmetaport.com and virtually tour and navigate the new terminal using their smart devices.

The BLR Metaport is an outcome of the Joint Innovation Centre (JIC), announced in April 2022 by BIAL, AWS, and Intel. The JIC focuses on driving the development and adoption of digital solutions in aviation.

“For BIAL, the mission of the JIC is to leverage emerging technologies to build new business models and passenger experiences and be at the forefront of technology innovation in India’s commercial aviation,” BIAL added.

Developed in line with this mission, the BLR Metaport is one of the first airport metaverse experiences, designed to deliver an enhanced digital experience.

A 3D interface will offer customers new ways to interact with the airport, such as checking into flights, navigating terminals, shopping, and social aspects like connecting with other travellers.

BLR Metaport brings the virtual and physical worlds together to provide consistent engagement, and aims to excite travellers with new, unique, and immersive experiences.

BIAL’s Chief Strategy and Development Officer, Satyaki Raghunath said, “We are very excited that BIAL is entering into the new world of metaverse through the BLR Metaport.

This is our first foray into the world of Web3 and non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and we aim to delight travellers with a unique, immersive, and virtual experience. We believe that it is important to connect with a new generation of our global audience through the metaverse.

We also have several initiatives planned around the BLR Metaport, which promise to increase ways in which we can engage with our global audience and enhance business impact over the next few years.”

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: ENGINEERING / SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY: The ‘TAPAS 201 Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) UAV’ completes flight test of 18 hours. Totally Indigenous Designed and Developed by Aeronautical Development Est (ADE).

TAPAS 201 has been designed and developed by the Bengaluru-based Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE).

The TAPAS 201 Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) UAV has achieved a significant milestone after undertaking a flight test lasting 18 hours at the Aeronautical Test Range in Chitradurga, Karnataka.

TAPAS 201 has been designed and developed by the Bengaluru-based Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE). HAL and BEL will be the production partners for the MALE UAV.

Announcing the milestone, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) tweeted: India’s TAPAS UAV, #designed & #developed by Aeronautical Development Establishment (ADE), Bengaluru for tri-services has successfully achieved #milestone flight test of 18 hours at Aeronautical Test Range, Chitradurga.

TAPAS 201 is a multi-mission UAV being developed to carry out Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance roles for the three wings of the armed forces with endurance in the range of 24 to 30 hours.

Described as the Indian version of the US’s Predator drones, TAPAS 201 is capable of carrying different combinations of payloads, like Medium Range Electro Optic, Long Range Electro Optic, Synthetic Aperture Radar, Electronic Intelligence, Communication Intelligence and Situational Awareness Payloads, to perform missions during day and night.

The MALE UAV, which was earlier referred to as RUSTOM II, undertook its first flight in November 2016. Since then, it has undertaken many test flights.

In 2019, the TAPAS 201 programme suffered a setback when the UAV crashed during an experimental flight near the Aeronautical Test Range in Chitradurga.

Apart from the Indian army, air force and navy, internal security agencies like State Police Forces, BSF, CRPF, and the Coast Guard are also prospective users of the MALE UAV.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: BANKING & ECONOMY / I.T: Bengaluru Leads the Country in Digital Payment Transactions reaching 14.82 million Transactions in only 10 months Jan to Oct 2022

Between January and October this year, Bengaluru saw 14.82 million such transactions valued at ₹3,620 crore.

Netizens in the tech capital of India have made 14.82 million digital payment transactions in the January to October 2022 period, the highest in the country, amounting to ₹3,620 crore, according to a study put out by Worldline India, a payment technology player.

Hyderabad accounted for 10.36 million digital payment transactions amounting to over ₹3,050 crore and Chennai 9.76 million at ₹2,250 crore. The country’s financial capital, Mumbai saw 9.4 million people carrying out digital payment transactions amounting to ₹2,740 crore and Pune with 7.88 million transactions clocked ₹1,730 crore.

The 10-month period under consideration, saw frequently visited physical merchant categories like grocery stores, restaurants, clothing and apparel, pharmacy, hotels, jewellery retail, speciality retail, household appliances, and departmental stores while in the online-space category wise, e-commerce (shopping for goods and services), gaming, utility and financial services together accounted for over 86% in terms of volume, according to the survey.

Festive season sales, and a rise in consumption after the pandemic have helped the city to take the top spot in digital payments transactions, stated the study.

Ramesh Narasimhan, Chief Executive Officer – India, Worldline, said: “Today, both customers and sellers are more receptive towards digital payments. Digital payments are gradually becoming like a commodity, and forming a subtle yet an integral part of our lives. The swift adoption of digital payments can be witnessed with each passing quarter.’‘

Payment instruments like UPI, cards, PPIs were already clocking over 23 billion transactions in the country in a quarter, he added.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

NATIONAL: SERVICE TO NATION / PERSONALITY: Mishal Queenie D’Costa, Dy. Director, Internal Revenue Service (IRS) honoured with Bravery Award by Finance Minister for displaying Extraordinary Bravery while chasing & nabbing drug peddlers

DRI Mishal Queenie D’Costa, IRS, deputy director of indirect taxes at Mumbai Customs was honoured with a bravery award by finance minister Nirmala Sitaraman for displaying extraordinary bravery without even fearing for her life while chasing Nigerian drug peddlers in Mumbai.

During the last financial year, Nigerian drug peddlers were caught in a daring operation with 1.9kg of drug tablets, when they jumped from a building roof.

Mishal who hails from Neerude, Dakshina Kannada, chased the culprits and physically stopped the culprits from escaping until the full force arrived at the scene. The young officer received the bravery award on DRI Foundation Day for her extraordinary achievement.

Mishal, who secured the 387th rank in the UPSC civil service examination in 2015, is second among the three children of Lazarus and Nancy D’Costa of Neerude.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

INTERNATIONAL: HEALTH & MEDICAL SERVICES: SAARC Countries Honour Dr.G. Siddesh, Sigma Hospital, Mysuru

Dr. G. Siddesh, Director of  Sigma Hospital, Mysuru, was honoured with a Fellowship by Colombo Hospital of Sri Lanka recently at the National Convention of  SAARC  countries held at Colombo.

He was honoured by Dr. Sathish Gonasinghe,  President of Sri Lanka Surgeon Associations in recognition of his more than 35 years of service to Medical Education and Minimal  Surgery in Hospital.

source/content: starofmysore.com ( edited)