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: HONOURS AWARD / SERVICE TO SOCIETY: Akkamahadevi Women’s University- Vijayapura to Present Honorary Doctorate to Three Eminent Women Contributors – S G Susheelamma, Indumati Katadare & Reshma Kaur.

Vijayapura-based Karnataka State Akkamahadevi Women’s University will present honorary doctorate to three eminent women who have contributed to society in the fields of education and women’s welfare.

S.G. Susheelamma of Sumangali Sevashrama of Bengaluru, Indumati Katadare of Gujarat Punaruthan Vidyapeetha and Reshma Kaur, director of Guru Nanak Group of Education Institutions in Bidar will be given honorary doctorate, Vice-Chancellor of the university B.K. Tulasimala told journalists in Vijayapura on Sunday.

Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot will present honouris causa degrees at the university’s 13th and 14th convocation being jointly held in Vijayapura on Monday. The event will be held in the sports complex of the Jnyanashakti campus in Vijayapura.

Vice-Chancellor of Jawaharlal Nehru University Santishree Dhoolipudi Pandit will deliver the convocation address. Higher Education Minister C.N. Ashwath Narayan and Dr. Tulasimala will be present.

A total of 202 gold medals will be awarded to 167 students. A total of 23,911 students will be awarded degrees. The university offers several courses including BA, BSW, B.Ed, BP.Ed, B.Com, BBA, B.Sc, B.Fed, BCA and BFT.

And, 2,169 students will get post-graduate degrees. The Master’s courses include MA, M.Com, MBA, M.Sc, M.Ed, MPEd, MLISc, MSW, MCA, among others. As many as 55 will get doctorate degrees.

The event can be viewed live on the university’s social media accounts and YouTube channel, Dr. Tulasimala said.

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: SPORTS / GOLF: Mysuru’s Ace City Golfer Aryan Roopa Anand Wins the ‘IGU Northern India Amateur Golf Championship 2022’, Jaipur

Reigning all-India champion Aryan Roopa Anand shot a closing two-under 68 to win the IGU Northern India Amateur Golf Championship at the Rambagh Golf Club in Jaipur on Friday. He beat a strong field of 74 players from all over the country.

The Mysuru-based golfer finished with an impressive four-day aggregate of 10- under 270 to end his stroke play jinx on the amateur circuit. 20-year-old Aryan’s last victory came in 2019 in Ahmedabad.

Aryan played 4 under on Day 1, again 4 under on Day 2, level par on Day 3 and 2 under par on the 4th and final round to finish at a 10 under par score. Yuvraj Singh of Punjab was the runner-up and Harimohan Singh of Uttar Pradesh was the 2nd runner. Tournament Director Paramjit Singh, also from Mysuru, was present at the event.

Speaking to reporters, Aryan said, “It feels good to win a stroke play title again after a long time.” He is a member of Jayachamaraja Wadiyar Golf Club, Mysuru and is now being trained at the Tarun Sardesai Golf Academy in Kolar.

Aryan came into the event on the back of a brilliant charge on the final day during the previous week in the Western India event in Mumbai where he shot a sizzling nine-under 61 to lose by a stroke.

He carried the same form into the Jaipur event as well. Aryan, who turns 21 in two weeks’ time, is in Mumbai now to win the season-ending all-India event, beginning next week, for the third straight time.

Last December, Aryan retained his IGU All-India Amateur Golf Championship title defeating Yuvraj Singh, at the Poona Golf Course in Pune.

Aryan is the son of Anand Kumar and Roopa. The family lives at Dattagalli in Mysuru city.

source/content: starofmysore.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)