The Indian Micro Fertilizers Manufacturers Association (IMMA) concluded its 4th National Crop Nutrition Summit in Mumbai, unveiling a series of agri-tech innovations that echo Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of revolutionizing Indian agriculture with drone technology. This landmark event marked the debut of sophisticated AI-driven drones and digital soil scanning technologies by pioneers Aries Agro Limited, Multiplex Drone, and many others, heralding a new dawn for farming efficiency and sustainability in India.

Dr. Rahul Mirchandani, President of IMMA, shared, “The technologies showcased at the summit are monumental in advancing toward a future where every farm in India can harness the efficiency and precision of AI and digitization. These innovations exemplify the transformative potential of agri-tech in enhancing crop yield, minimizing resource waste, and promoting sustainable farming practices.”

The event spotlighted various agri-tech solutions for precision farming, real-time crop monitoring, aerial spraying, and comprehensive data analytics. Meanwhile, Aries Agro introduced a revolutionary soil testing kit, offering instant and accurate soil health assessments to enable informed crop nutrition management.

“The integration of these advanced technologies into everyday farming practices is a testament to India’s readiness for a digital agricultural revolution. Embracing agri-tech is pivotal for the sector’s growth, contributing significantly to national food security and environmental sustainability” stated Mr. Sameer Rajan Pathare, Vice President of IMMA.

The summit not only served as a platform for technological unveilings but also fostered critical discussions on ‘ease of doing business’ policies for enabling the innovative products to reach the market. A blockbuster panel of experts including industry, government, legal professionals, and innovators discussed policies that will serve as catalysts for agri-tech adoption, liberalised licensing, export promotion and rural digital infrastructure development. These conversations underscored the necessity of supportive policy frameworks and public-private partnerships in achieving the widespread implementation of agri-tech solutions.

As the 4th National Crop Nutrition Summit concludes, the path forward for Indian agriculture is clear – embracing AI, digitization, and sustainable technologies is crucial for transforming the sector. IMMA remains committed to spearheading this change, advocating for policies that facilitate the adoption of agri-tech innovations, and working towards a future where technology-driven farming is the norm across India.

Source: Press Release

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Karnataka Tourism Set to Enchant at OTM Mumbai 2024

Karnataka Tourism Roadshow Captivates Pune, Introduces Unforgettable Experiences

Karnataka Tourism’s booth at OTM will feature immersive displays, interactive sessions with the stakeholders of the state, and a wealth of information to provide attendees with a glimpse into the enchanting experiences awaiting visitors to the state. From the architectural marvels of Hampi to the pristine beaches of Gokarna, the verdant landscapes of Coorg to the bustling city life of Bengaluru, Karnataka offers a spectrum of experiences that cater to every traveler’s taste.

Visitors to the Karnataka booth can expect to explore enticing travel itineraries, discover hidden gems, and engage with knowledgeable representatives who can guide them in crafting unforgettable journeys through the heart of South India. 

In addition to promoting established tourist attractions, the Karnataka Tourism Department will use this platform to unveil new initiatives, partnerships, and sustainable tourism practices. The department remains committed to positioning Karnataka as a responsible and inclusive travel destination, embracing both tradition and modernity.

Karnataka Tourism cordially invites travel enthusiasts, industry professionals, and media representatives to visit its booth at OTM Mumbai 2024, stand W200, to discover the myriad wonders that make Karnataka an unparalleled destination.

Source: Press Release

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Karnataka Tourism Roadshow Captivates Pune, Introduces Unforgettable Experiences

Inability to operate Cold Storage in Bengal

Sada Ronger Prithibi by Raajhorshee De is a film based on widow trafficking in India, the film will celebrate Kashi, still a chosen abode for many widows in India, in a unique way through its thriller story. The Trailer launch was held today at Inox South City Mall, Kolkata. The Trailer launch was attended by: Dr. Shashi Panja, Hon’ble Minister in Charge Industries, Commerce & Enterprises and Department of Women and Child Development and Social Welfare; Sohini Sastri, Fortune Teller and Healer; Madhuja Banerjee, Senior Vice President of Fiction Colors Hindi & Viacom 18 Media Pvt Ltd; Amit Agarwal, Eminent Film Producer; Raajhorshee De, Director and the stellar star cast of Sada Ronger Prithibi. This is the first film in India on widow trafficking, which has not been done in any other language so far.

It explores the colourless world of widows in Varanasi whose lives are bleached like their white sarees. But the pristine exterior hides the devious machinations of criminal masterminds who are out to exploit these unfortunate women. Things get complicated when a young police officer come to investigate the shelter but little does she knows about the dangers that await her as she disguises herself as one of the inmates of the shelter in order to unearth the truth. Will she be able to overcome the political pressures and other threats in her attempt to fight the evil lurking unseen?

Presented by Adarsh Telemedia and Amit Agarwal and Produced by Sushant Sengupta, Shrravonii Pal, Raajhorshee De, this film has 19 top actors from Bengal. The story will highlight the plights of the widows, the crime committed against them and the age-old customs that bind them to a restrictive lifestyle.

This film has a stellar star cast and crew: Srabanti Chatterjee, Sauraseni Maitra, Arindam Sil, Rwitobrata Mukherjee, Sneha Chatterjee, Mallika Banerjee, Devlina Kumar, Ananya Banerjee, Richa Sharma, Sohini Guharoy, Deboshree Ganguly, Oindrilla Bose, Arunava Dery, Ishaan Mazumdar, Monalisha Banerjee, Anuradha Choudhrury and guest Appearance by: Subhrajit Mitra. The Music is composed by Ashu Chakraborty. The film is all set to release at the theatres on 23rd February, 2024.

Source: Press Release

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CS (Dr.) Adv. Mamta Binani, President of MSME Development Forum WB said, “The recently declared Union Budget for 2024-25 carries significant implications for our Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). Building on the foundation laid in the previous fiscal year, this budget showcases a commitment to fostering growth and innovation within our sector. The emphasis on de-risking credit inflows to critical MSME sectors, such as automotive and electronics, through measures like credit guarantees and insurance schemes is commendable. These steps address the crucial need for risk mitigation in capital flows. Access to credit remains pivotal for our progress, and the introduced measures like tailored packages, interest subvention schemes, and reduced collateral requirements align with our collective aspiration of propelling India toward a $5 trillion economy. Simplified regulatory procedures, reduced compliance burdens, and potential changes in the capital gains tax structure signal a proactive approach to empowering the MSME community. The budget’s support for the Open Network for Digital Commerce initiative, extension of the concessional tax regime, and increased funding for the ‘Raising and Accelerating MSME Performance’ scheme are notable contributors to our sector’s growth. The allocation of funds for the MSME ministry, exceeding the previous fiscal year, sets a positive trajectory for our enterprises. In conclusion, these budgetary measures have the potential to reshape the destiny of our MSMEs, fostering an environment conducive to formalization, innovation, and unprecedented growth.”

Mamta Binani is a President of MSME Development Forum – West Bengal. Ms. Binani has served as a jury member of the ICSI National Award for Excellence in Corporate Governance and CSR, 2016, the Golden Peacock Award of The Institute of Directors for the year 2016, ASSOCHAM Award for Commendable CSR Activity for the year 2016. She is the Vice President of the Kolkata National Company Law Tribunal Bar Association, the Chairperson of the Merchant Chamber of Commerce-Legal Affairs Council, and also an executive committee member of INSOL India. She is a Board Member of International Women’s Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation (IWIRC) and is presently the Co-Chair of the India Network.

Ms. Binani is an Independent Director in some of the reputed Boards of the Country viz. Century Ply, Balrampur Chini Mills, Emami Limited, and others. Ms. Binani feels that the government is the engine and that as a member of that machinery, it is her responsibility to highlight the government’s efforts by bringing them to the masses and classes.

Source: Press Release

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Following the recent announcement by Marriott International, Inc. (Nasdaq: MAR) of its strong global net rooms growth and record year of organic signings in 2023, the company highlighted the remarkable surge in hotel and residences openings and signings in the Asia Pacific excluding China (APEC) region, particularly in key travel markets such as Japan, India, and Vietnam. At the close of 2023, Marriott set a milestone in APEC with over 60 properties added to its portfolio during the year, bringing the company’s presence in the APEC region to more than 560 operating hotels and residences, and exceeding 10 percent net rooms growth compared to 2022. The company also sealed a record of over 80 deals signed across 13 markets, representing approximately 18,000 rooms.

As tourism recovers in APEC and the travel landscape evolves, Marriott has continued to focus on strategically providing the best-in-class offerings to owners, franchisees, and guests. At the end of 2023, Marriott’s APEC development pipeline stood at over 320 hotels with over 69,000 rooms, showcasing the company’s dedication to providing world renowned brands and diverse experiences, aligning with the evolving preferences of travelers across the region.

Luxury continues to play a pivotal role in the growth of Marriott, and 25 percent of Marriott’s global luxury rooms pipeline is represented in APEC.  In 2023, 15 percent of the deals signed in APEC were in the luxury segment. A record nine luxury hotels were opened in the region in 2023 — including The Ritz-Carlton, Melbourne— Marriott’s 1,000^th hotel in the Asia Pacific region. The JW Marriott Goa debuted the brand in Goa and was the company’s 150^th hotel to open in South Asia, and added The Singapore EDITION, the first EDITION in Southeast Asia.

“With our record year of growth at Marriott International in APEC, we remain committed to meeting the demands of modern travelers underscored by our diverse portfolio of brands and strategic presence in new destinations,” said Rajeev Menon, President, Marriott International, APEC. “2023 has positioned us as a thriving and desirable region in the global landscape.  I am excited about our momentum as we focus on being where our customers want us to be and connecting people through the power of travel.”

Marriott Bonvoy – Marriott’s award-winning travel program— has helped fuel interest in the company’s regional portfolio. In APEC, the Marriott Bonvoy membership base has surged by 50 percent since 2019. This momentum is attributed to the unique and unforgettable experiences the program offers, including exclusive access to prestigious events like the Australian Open and Formula 1. Beyond hotel stays, Marriott Bonvoy continues to re-define the regional travel landscape with strategic partnerships with Singapore Airlines, Rakuten and co-branded credit cards in Japan, Korea, and India. The company’s commitment to delivering exceptional experiences, coupled with the strength of Marriott Bonvoy, positions Marriott as a leader in shaping the future of travel and hospitality across the APEC region.

For more information on Marriott’s latest developments and brand news, please visit the Marriott News Center at news.marriott.com.

Source: Press Release

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Galaxy S24 series, Samsung’s recently launched flagship, will go on sale in India starting today. The ‘Made in India’ Galaxy S24 Ultra, Galaxy S24+ and Galaxy S24 smartphones come with Live Translate, Interpreter, Chat Assist, Note Assist and Transcript Assist features. AI built into Samsung Keyboard can also translate messages in real-time in 13 languages, including Hindi. In the car, Android Auto will automatically summarize incoming messages and suggest relevant replies and actions.

Galaxy S24 series is being manufactured at Samsung’s Noida factory in India. Samsung has secured record pre-bookings for Galaxy S24 series, making it the most successful S series ever in India. Galaxy S24 series marks a milestone in the history of search as the first phone to debut intuitive, gesture-driven ‘Circle to Search’ with Google. Users can circle, highlight, scribble on, or tap anything on Galaxy S24’s screen to see helpful, high-quality search results. For certain searches, generative AI-powered overviews can provide helpful information and context pulled together from across the web.

Galaxy S24 series’ ProVisual Engine is a comprehensive suite of AI-powered tools that transform image capturing abilities and maximize creative freedom. The Quad Tele System on Galaxy S24 Ultra now comes with a new 5x optical zoom lens that works with the 50MP sensor to enable optical-quality performance at zoom levels from 2x, 3x, 5x to 10x, thanks to Adaptive Pixel Sensor. Images also show crystal clear results at 100x with enhanced digital zoom.

With upgraded Nightography capabilities, photos and videos shot on Galaxy S24 Space Zoom are brilliant in any conditions, even when zoomed in. Galaxy S24 Ultra’s larger pixel size, now 1.4 μm, is 60% bigger, helping capture more light in dim conditions. Wider optical image stabilizer (OIS) angles and enhanced hand-shake compensation help reduce blur. Both front and rear cameras are equipped with Dedicated ISP Block for noise reduction.

Galaxy AI editing tools on Galaxy S24 series enable simple edits like erase, re-compose, and remaster.  Edit Suggestion uses Galaxy AI to suggest perfectly suitable tweaks for each photo, while Generative Edit can fill in parts of an image background with generative AI. Anytime Galaxy S24 deploys generative AI to amplify an image, a watermark will appear on the image and in metadata.

The new Instant Slow-mo can generate additional frames based on movements to smoothly slow down action-packed moments for a more detailed look. Super HDR reveals lifelike previews before the shutter is ever pressed.

Galaxy S24 Ultra is equipped with Snapdragon® 8 Gen 3 Mobile Platform for Galaxy that delivers remarkable NPU improvement for incredibly efficient AI processing. In all three Galaxy S24 models, 1-120 Hz adaptive refresh rates improve performance efficiency.

Galaxy S24 Ultra comes with a 1.9 times larger vapor chamber, improving device surface temperature while also maximizing sustained performance power. Ray tracing enables life-like visuals with superior shadow and reflection effect. Galaxy S24 reaches 2600nit peak brightness, making it the brightest Galaxy smartphone ever. Corning® Gorilla® Armor on the Galaxy S24 Ultra is optically enhanced for superior durability.

Galaxy S24+ comes with a 6.7-inch and Galaxy S24 has a 6.2-inch display. Galaxy S24 Ultra has a 6.8-inch flatter display, optimized not just for viewing but also for productivity. Galaxy S24+ now supports the same level of QHD+ found on Galaxy S24 Ultra. Galaxy S24 Ultra is the first-ever Galaxy phone to feature a titanium frame, enhancing device durability and longevity.

Galaxy S24 series is secured by Samsung Knox for safeguarding critical information and protection against vulnerabilities with end-to-end secure hardware, real-time threat detection and collaborative protection. Galaxy S24 users have full controllability over how much they allow their data to enhance AI experiences, through Advanced Intelligence settings, which can disable online processing of data for AI features.

Galaxy S24 series continues Samsung’s commitment to extending the product lifecycle, offering seven generations of OS upgrades and seven years of security updates to help users reliably experience the optimized performance of their Galaxy devices for even longer.

Source: Press Release

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