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In an exclusive interview, Malayalam superstar Mohanlal talks about his highly anticipated directorial debut Barroz 3D, a fantasy adventure film that promises to redefine cinema with its visual effects and storytelling. The film is set for release on December 25, 2024, and will be released in Telugu by Mythri Movie Distributors. Tell us about Barroz 3D. What makes it special? Barroz 3D is a unique fantasy film. It's not just a 3D film; it’s an experience that merges cutting-edge technology with an immersive story. The film has a lot of visual wonder and will captivate both children and adults. The world we've created is fresh and exciting, which makes it different from anything we've seen before in Malayalam cinema. What inspired the story of Barroz 3D? The story is based on the novel Guardian of De Gama's Treasure. It’s an adventure about Burroughs, who guards a secret treasure linked to Vasco da Gama. His journey to deliver the treasure to its rightful heir is the heart of the film. It’s a fresh, imaginative story, and I wanted the audience to experience a world that’s both thrilling and new. As a first-time director, what were the challenges of making a 3D film? Directing in 3D was a huge challenge. The cameras have to be perfectly synced, and every visual element must be crafted with precision. We worked with the best technicians—Hollywood experts, including Santosh Sivan for cinematography, Mark Killian for the BGM, and Lydian Nadaswaram for the music. Their expertise helped us achieve an amazing result. What can the audience expect from the film? The audience will step into a completely new world. It’s a visual treat, and I’m confident they will enjoy every moment. Barroz 3D is a unique cinematic experience, and I can’t wait for everyone to see it.Ustby, Donarski lead No. 16 North Carolina women over Villanova 53-36 in Battle 4 Atlantis semifinal
The Odisha State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) held a public hearing for environmental clearance on Nilachal Ispat Nigam's Limited (NINL) proposed expansion project in Jajpur district. The proposed expansion will increase NINL's production capacity from 0.981 million tonne per annum (MTPA) to 9.5 MTPA without additional land requirements. Over 225 people including some opposing NINL's proposed expansion project, gave their opinion at the public hearing for the environmental clearance held by SPCB on Friday. "Around 225 people have given their opinion on the NINIL's expansion project. We will send the people's views to the Ministry of Forest, Environment and Climate Change," said the Regional Officer, SPCB, Kalinga Nagar, Madan Mohan Sahu Asked about the disturbance during the public hearing, Additional District Magistrate (ADM), Kalinga Nagar, Sapan Kumar Nanda, who presided over the public hearing, said: "The people have given their opinion in the public hearing." The public hearing was also attended by NINL executive Sanjeev Kumar Ghosh, who gave a detailed presentation on the plant's proposed expansion plan, while MD and CEO, Sudhir Kumar Mehta, addressed public concerns. Tata Steel Long Products Limited acquired NINL in July 2022 and achieved operational milestones swiftly. Within 100 days, the plant resumed operations, and its rated capacity was achieved within nine months. NINL officials informed the participants that comprehensive upgrades included advanced pollution control systems such as Electrostatic Precipitators (ESPs), cyclone separators, dry fog systems, bag filters, and water sprinkling mechanisms. To further minimise environmental impact, a scrubber-based gas cleaning plant was introduced to treat BOF (basic oxygen furnace) gas. Continuous Environmental Monitoring Systems (CEMS) were installed to monitor air quality and emissions, alongside an Effluent Quality Monitoring System (EQMS) to ensure real-time evaluation of water discharge and Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) performance, they said. The two-phased expansion plan will include state-of-the-art facilities such as raw material handling systems, a coke plant, sinter plant, blast furnace, steel melting shop, and rebar and wire rod mill. Baseline environmental data collected from March to May 2024, covering air quality, water quality, noise, and soil conditions within a 10-km radius, has already been submitted to the SPCB for review, the company informed the people. The expansion project's design incorporates cutting-edge technology to meet stringent environmental standards, with treated wastewater being fully reused within the plant, the company said. (Except for the headline, this story, from a syndicated feed, has not been edited by Odishatv.in staff)Planetarium Labs Elevates Web3 Gaming with Season 2 of Immortal Rising 2: Path of Ascension Campaign
WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday voiced his support for the dockworkers union before their contract expires next month at Eastern and Gulf Coast ports, saying that any further “automation” of the ports would harm workers. The incoming president posted on social media that he met Harold Daggett, the president of the International Longshoreman's Association, and Dennis Daggett, the union's executive vice president. “I’ve studied automation, and know just about everything there is to know about it,” Trump posted. “The amount of money saved is nowhere near the distress, hurt, and harm it causes for American Workers, in this case, our Longshoremen. Foreign companies have made a fortune in the U.S. by giving them access to our markets. They shouldn’t be looking for every last penny knowing how many families are hurt.” The International Longshoremen’s Association has until Jan. 15 to negotiate a new contract with the U.S. Maritime Alliance, which represents ports and shipping companies. At the heart of the dispute is whether ports can install automated gates, cranes and container-moving trucks that could make it faster to unload and load ships. The union argues that automation would lead to fewer jobs, even though higher levels of productivity could do more to boost the salaries of remaining workers. The Maritime Alliance said in a statement that the contract goes beyond ports to “supporting American consumers and giving American businesses access to the global marketplace – from farmers, to manufacturers, to small businesses, and innovative start-ups looking for new markets to sell their products.” “To achieve this, we need modern technology that is proven to improve worker safety, boost port efficiency, increase port capacity, and strengthen our supply chains,” said the alliance, adding that it looks forward to working with Trump. In October, the union representing 45,000 dockworkers went on strike for three days, raising the risk that a prolonged shutdown could push up inflation by making it difficult to unload container ships and export American products overseas. The issue pits an incoming president who won November's election on the promise of bringing down prices against commitments to support blue-collar workers along with the kinds of advanced technology that drew him support from Silicon Valley elite such as billionaire Elon Musk. Trump sought to portray the dispute as being between U.S. workers and foreign companies, but advanced ports are also key for staying globally competitive. China is opening a $1.3 billion port in Peru that could accommodate ships too large for the Panama Canal. There is a risk that shippers could move to other ports, which could also lead to job losses. Mexico is constructing a port that is highly automated, while Dubai, Singapore and Rotterdam already have more advanced ports. Instead, Trump said that ports and shipping companies should eschew “machinery, which is expensive, and which will constantly have to be replaced.” “For the great privilege of accessing our markets, these foreign companies should hire our incredible American Workers, instead of laying them off, and sending those profits back to foreign countries,” Trump posted. “It is time to put AMERICA FIRST!” ___ Josh Boak, The Associated PressCarnegie Learning Named to the 2025 GSV 150 for Third Time
Abdullah scores 21 off the bench, Boston University defeats Howard 69-62The Middle East’s shifting balance of power favors Turkey and Israel
Five free initiatives for jobseekers from careers in coffee to creative skills and energy conservation
WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday voiced his support for the dockworkers union before their contract expires next month at Eastern and Gulf Coast ports, saying that any further “automation” of the ports would harm workers. The incoming president posted on social media that he met Harold Daggett, the president of the International Longshoreman's Association, and Dennis Daggett, the union's executive vice president. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Get updates and player profiles ahead of Friday's high school games, plus a recap Saturday with stories, photos, video Frequency: Seasonal Twice a weekUstby, Donarski lead No. 16 North Carolina women over Villanova 53-36 in Battle 4 Atlantis semifinalPresident-elect Donald Trump broke his silence by sending a cryptic message to Elon Musk, his biggest ally and tech billionaire on social media after the latter faced the MAGA wrath over his comments on foreign work visas. Tesla and Space X CEO, Musk has been instrumental in Trump's win for a second term at the White House, an issue that has been brought up by Democrats and critics to criticize his influence in American politics. Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, both selected to head the ambitious Department of Government Efficiency, faced online backlash from MAGA netizens after they advocated for more H-1B worker visas for skilled foreign-born workers. Trump's unexpected reaction to Sean Hannity and Ainsley Earhardt's engagement Russia warns of Washington's 'extremely hostile' nuclear stance pre-Trump term However, Trump made a cryptic post on Truth Social at 8:47 a.m. on Friday, appearing to ask Musk about his plans to come to Mar-a-Lago, Trump's estate in Florida . "Where are you? When are you coming to the “Center of the Universe,” Mar-a-Lago," Trump asked in the post. He went on to tell Musk that his billionaire rival Bill Gates has requested to drop by for a visit Friday night. Trump then told Musk that he misses him and his son. "We miss you and x! New Year’s Eve is going to be AMAZING!!!" he said, before adding his signature initials of "DJT." Musk has been a fixture in Mar-a-Lago since before the elections according to sources, often appearing in Trump's family photos with his children and grandchildren. He was, however, missing from the Trump family's Christmas celebrations. He posted a photo of himself dressed up like Santa Claus, calling himself "Ozempic Santa," revealing the use of Mounjaro, an Ozempic-like weight loss drug. DON'T MISS: Tiffany Trump confirms pregnancy with two words and sweet baby bump photo [NEW] Video resurfaces of Donald Trump asking child if she 'still believes in Santa' [STRANGE] Denmark increased defense budget after Trump's Greenland plan — 'No coincidence' [EXCLUSIVE] Musk and Trump were last seen together at the Army-Navy football game on Dec. 14 in Maryland. Musk has been accused of leveraging his social media presence to almost cause a government shutdown recently. Trump's fiercest critics have pointed out that Musk seems to be running the show. However, at a recent conservative talk show hosted by Turning Points USA, Trump allayed such fears, saying that Musk would not be president due to his nationality. "No, he's not going to be president, that I can tell you," he said, adding, "And I'm safe. You know why he can't be? He wasn't born in this country." Musk, who is originally from South Africa, recently engaged in a deluge of social media debates about why it is essential to hire tech workers with H-1B visas to further the growth of the tech industry. "The number of people who are super talented engineers AND super motivated in the USA is far too low," he wrote, saying that there could be a "dire shortage of extremely talented and motivated engineers in America." He was backed by DOGE co-lead, Ramaswamy, an Indian American tech entrepreneur, who also faced the MAGA wrath and was termed a "conman." In 2016, Trump had a different stance on H-1B but his new views during a second term remain unknown. "I know the H1-B very well, it's something I use and I shouldn't be allowed to, we shouldn't have it. Very very bad for workers... it's very bad for our workers and very unfair for our workers and we should end it," he had said in 2016.
NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) — Alyssa Ustby and Lexi Donarski scored 14 points apiece, and Ustby added 14 rebounds to lead No. 16 North Carolina to a 53-36 victory over Villanova in a semifinal game at the Women's Battle 4 Atlantis on Sunday. The Tar Heels (5-1) play Indiana in the championship game on Monday. The Hoosiers upset No. 18 Baylor 73-65 in Sunday's first semifinal. Ustby made 6 of 8 shots from the floor with a 3-pointer for North Carolina on the way to her first double-double of the season. Donarski hit 6 of 10 shots with a pair of 3-pointers. Maddie Webber led the Wildcats (4-2) with 12 points on 4-for-7 shooting from beyond the arc. Lara Edmanson pitched in with 11 points and seven rebounds. The Tar Heels held Villonova's leading scorer Jasmine Bascoe to two points after she came in averaging 16.6 per game. Bascoe missed all seven of her shots — three from distance — and made 2 of 4 at the free-throw line. Ustby had seven points and Donarski scored five to guide the Tar Heels to a 17-7 lead after one quarter. Donarski scored five more in the third quarter to help North Carolina turn a 30-18 lead at halftime into a 44-23 advantage heading to the final period. North Carolina shot 40% from the floor, made 5 of 17 from beyond the arc (29.4%) and 4 of 6 at the foul line. Villanova shot 23.5% overall but made 5 of 18 from distance (27.8%) and 7 of 10 free throws. The Tar Heels scored 15 points off of 21 Villanova turnovers. They turned it over 14 times but it led to only three points for the Wildcats. North Carolina outscored Villanova 30-14 in the paint and never trailed. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball
Lea Miller-Tooley hopped off a call to welcome the Baylor women’s basketball team to the Atlantis resort in the Bahamas, where 80-degree temperatures made it easy for the Bears to settle in on Paradise Island a week before Thanksgiving. About 5,000 miles west of the Caribbean nation, similar climes awaited Maui Invitational men's teams in Hawaii. They’ve often been greeted with leis, the traditional Hawaiian welcome of friendship. College basketball teams and fans look forward to this time of the year. The holiday week tournaments feature buzzworthy matchups and all-day TV coverage, sure, but there is a familiarity about them as they help ward off the November chill. For four decades, these sandy-beach getaways filled with basketball have become a beloved mainstay of the sport itself. “When you see (ESPN’s) ‘Feast Week’ of college basketball on TV, when you see the Battle 4 Atlantis on TV, you know college basketball is back,” said Miller-Tooley, the founder and organizer of the Battle 4 Atlantis men's and women's tournaments. “Because it’s a saturated time of the year with the NFL, college football and the NBA. But when you see these gorgeous events in these beautiful places, you realize, ‘Wow, hoops are back, let’s get excited.’” MTE Madness The Great Alaska Shootout was the trend-setting multiple-team event (MTE) nearly five decades ago. The brainchild of late Alaska-Anchorage coach Bob Rachal sought to raise his program’s profile by bringing in national-power programs, which could take advantage of NCAA rules allowing them to exceed the maximum allotment of regular-season games if they played the three-game tournament outside the contiguous 48 states. The first edition, named the Sea Wolf Classic, saw N.C. State beat Louisville 72-66 for the title on Nov. 26, 1978. The Maui Invitational followed in November 1984, borne from the buzz of NAIA program Chaminade’s shocking upset of top-ranked Virginia and 7-foot-4 star Ralph Sampson in Hawaii two years earlier. Events kept coming, with warm-weather locales getting in on the action. The Paradise Jam in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Cancun Challenge in Mexico. The Cayman Islands Classic. The Jamaica Classic. The Myrtle Beach Invitational joining the Charleston Classic in South Carolina. Numerous tournaments in Florida. Some events have faded away like the Puerto Rico Tipoff and the Great Alaska Shootout, the latter in 2017 amid event competition and schools opting for warm-weather locales. Notre Dame takes on Chaminade during the first half of a 2017 game in Lahaina, Hawaii. Atlantis rising Miller-Tooley’s push to build an MTE for Atlantis began as a December 2010 doubleheader with Georgia Tech beating Richmond and Virginia Tech beating Mississippi State in a prove-it moment for a tournament’s viability. It also required changing NCAA legislation to permit MTEs in the Bahamas. Approval came in March 2011; the first eight-team Atlantis men’s tournament followed in November. That tournament quickly earned marquee status with big-name fields, with Atlantis champions Villanova (2017) and Virginia (2018) later winning that season’s NCAA title. Games run in a ballroom-turned-arena at the resort, where players also check out massive swimming pools, water slides and inner-tube rapids surrounded by palm trees and the Atlantic Ocean. “It’s just the value of getting your passport stamped, that will never get old,” Miller-Tooley said. “Watching some of these kids, this may be their first and last time – and staff and families – that they ever travel outside the United States. ... You can see through these kids’ eyes that it’s really an unbelievable experience.” ACC Network analyst Luke Hancock knows that firsthand. His Louisville team finished second at Atlantis in 2012 and won that year’s later-vacated NCAA title, with Hancock as the Final Four's most outstanding player. “I remember (then-coach Rick Pitino) saying something to the effect of: ‘Some of you guys might never get this opportunity again. We’re staying in this unbelievable place, you’re doing it with people you love,’” Hancock said. “It was a business trip for us there at Thanksgiving, but he definitely had a tone of ‘We’ve got to enjoy this as well.’” Popular demand Maui offers similar vibes, though 2024 could be a little different as Lahaina recovers from deadly 2023 wildfires that forced the event's relocation last year. North Carolina assistant coach Sean May played for the Tar Heels’ Maui winner in 2004 and was part of UNC’s staff for the 2016 champion, with both teams later winning the NCAA title. May said “you just feel the peacefulness” of the area — even while focusing on games — and savors memories of the team taking a boat out on the Pacific Ocean after title runs under now-retired Hall of Famer Roy Williams. “Teams like us, Dukes, UConns – you want to go to places that are very well-run,” May said. “Maui, Lea Miller with her group at the Battle 4 Atlantis, that’s what drives teams to come back because you know you’re going to get standard A-quality of not only the preparation but the tournament with the way it’s run. Everything is top-notch. And I think that brings guys back year after year.” That’s why Colorado coach Tad Boyle is so excited for the Buffaloes’ first Maui appearance since 2009. “We’ve been trying to get in the tournament since I got here,” said Boyle, now in his 15th season. And of course, that warm-weather setting sure doesn’t hurt. “If you talk about the Marquettes of the world, St. John’s, Providence – they don’t want that cold weather,” said NBA and college TV analyst Terrence Oglesby, who played for Clemson in the 2007 San Juan Invitational in Puerto Rico. “They’re going to have to deal with that all January and February. You might as well get a taste of what the sun feels like.” Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo argues a call during the first half of a Nov. 16 game against Bowling Green in East Lansing, Michigan. Mi zzo is making his fourth trip to Maui. Packed schedule The men’s Baha Mar Championship in Nassau, Bahamas, got things rolling last week with No. 11 Tennessee routing No. 13 Baylor for the title. The week ahead could boast matchups befitting the Final Four, with teams having two weeks of action since any opening-night hiccups. “It’s a special kickoff to the college basketball season,” Oglesby said. “It’s just without the rust.” On the women’s side, Atlantis began its fourth eight-team women’s tournament Saturday with No. 16 North Carolina and No. 18 Baylor, while the nearby Baha Mar resort follows with two four-team women’s brackets that include No. 2 UConn, No. 7 LSU, No. 17 Mississippi and No. 20 N.C. State. Then come the men’s headliners. The Maui Invitational turns 40 as it opens Monday back in Lahaina. It features second-ranked and two-time reigning national champion UConn, No. 4 Auburn, No. 5 Iowa State and No. 10 North Carolina. The Battle 4 Atlantis opens its 13th men’s tournament Wednesday, topped by No. 3 Gonzaga, No. 16 Indiana and No. 17 Arizona. Michigan State Hall of Famer Tom Izzo is making his fourth trip to Maui, where he debuted as Jud Heathcote’s successor at the 1995 tournament. Izzo's Spartans have twice competed at Atlantis, last in 2021. “They’re important because they give you something in November or December that is exciting,” Izzo said. Any drawbacks? “It’s a 10-hour flight,” he said of Hawaii. Mike Tyson, left, slaps Jake Paul during a weigh-in ahead of their heavyweight bout, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, in Irving, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) In this image taken with a slow shutter speed, Spain's tennis player Rafael Nadal serves during a training session at the Martin Carpena Sports Hall, in Malaga, southern Spain, on Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) A fan takes a picture of the moon prior to a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup 2026 between Uruguay and Colombia in Montevideo, Uruguay, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Santiago Mazzarovich) Rasmus Højgaard of Denmark reacts after missing a shot on the 18th hole in the final round of World Tour Golf Championship in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri) Taylor Fritz of the United States reacts during the final match of the ATP World Tour Finals against Italy's Jannik Sinner at the Inalpi Arena, in Turin, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni) Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Jalen Tolbert (1) fails to pull in a pass against Atlanta Falcons cornerback Dee Alford (20) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/ Brynn Anderson) Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love, top right, scores a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears in Chicago, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) India's Tilak Varma jumps in the air as he celebrates after scoring a century during the third T20 International cricket match between South Africa and India, at Centurion Park in Centurion, South Africa, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski warms up before facing the Seattle Kraken in an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) Kansas State players run onto the field before an NCAA college football game against Arizona State Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Manhattan, Kan. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) A fan rapped in an Uruguay flag arrives to the stands for a qualifying soccer match against Colombia for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Montevideo, Uruguay, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico) People practice folding a giant United States flag before an NFL football game between the Buffalo Bills and the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Orchard Park, N.Y. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) Brazil's Marquinhos attempts to stop the sprinklers that were turned on during a FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifying soccer match against Venezuela at Monumental stadium in Maturin, Venezuela, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos) Georgia's Georges Mikautadze celebrates after scoring his side's first goal during the UEFA Nations League, group B1 soccer match between Georgia and Ukraine at the AdjaraBet Arena in Batumi, Georgia, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Tamuna Kulumbegashvili) Dallas Stars center Mavrik Bourque, right, attempts to score while Minnesota Wild right wing Ryan Hartman (38) and Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson (32) keep the puck out of the net during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt) Mike Tyson, left, fights Jake Paul during their heavyweight boxing match, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) Italy goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario misses the third goal during the Nations League soccer match between Italy and France, at the San Siro stadium in Milan, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno) Cincinnati Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki (88) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Las Vegas Raiders during the second half of an NFL football game in Cincinnati, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) President-elect Donald Trump attends UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden, Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) Fans argue in stands during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between France and Israel at the Stade de France stadium in Saint-Denis, outside Paris, Thursday Nov. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) Slovakia's Rebecca Sramkova hits a return against Danielle Collins, of the United States, during a tennis match at the Billie Jean King Cup Finals at the Martin Carpena Sports Hall, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2024, in Malaga, southern Spain. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) St. John's guard RJ Luis Jr. (12) falls after driving to the basket during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game against New Mexico, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith) England's Anthony Gordon celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between England and the Republic of Ireland at Wembley stadium in London, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung) Katie Taylor, left, lands a right to Amanda Serrano during their undisputed super lightweight title bout, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez) Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver DJ Turner, right, tackles Miami Dolphins wide receiver Malik Washington, left, on a punt return during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) UConn's Paige Bueckers (5) battles North Carolina's Laila Hull, right, for a loose ball during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Greensboro, N.C., Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Ben McKeown) Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox!Tavia Acquisition Corp. Announces Full Exercise of Underwriters' Over-Allotment Option in Connection with its Initial Public OfferingEnvisaged to be launched by December 1, the Chandigarh Health Education Centre (CHEC) at Government Model High School, Sector 22, has been pushed back to February 2025 amid delays in acquisition of exhibits. A first-of-its-kind initiative at a government school in the country, the centre is being set up by the UT administration in partnership with the Chandigarh Rotary Club to impart health education to students of city’s government schools. The focus of the centre will be on general health, oral health, nutrition/physical activity, drug/alcohol/tobacco prevention, pregnancy/STI prevention, and social and emotional health. Officials attributed the hold-up in the centre’s launch to delay in acquisition of exhibits to be donated by Rotary Club. As per the proposal, Rotary Club will provide exhibits, including latest holographic models and technologies, estimated to cost around ₹ 1 crore. “There has been a slight delay and we are scheduled to commence the centre by February. It will be started before the next academic session commences,” said UT director school education Harsuhinderpal Singh Brar. In the works since 2017 The project was conceived in 2017, when Rotary International Chandigarh submitted a proposal for establishment of CHEC. After the UT administrator’s approval, Dr Atul Sachdev, then head of department of general medicine at GMCH, Sector 32, and Dr JS Thakur from Rotary Club had visited Education Health Centres in USA. Subsequently, they submitted a report, recommending a Health Education Centre in Chandigarh on the lines of McMillan Center in USA. As per the proposal, the facility should be able to impart health education to at least 1.5 lakh students of government schools every year initially. It should have at least six high-class dedicated teaching rooms with a capacity of 75 students each and an auditorium with a capacity of 150 students. All students will visit this centre at least once a year. The education department had pitched CHEC as an “innovative project” with the Centre in the project approval board meeting of Samagra Shiksha Scheme 2024, chaired by the Union education secretary. The central government had approved ₹ 50 lakh initially, with an understanding that an additional ₹ 1.2 crore will be considered for the next year based on recommendation by senior officers who visit the completed project. It was also conveyed that such a project has the potential of being replicated across the country, therefore the UT administration must ensure that the project is developed and made functional within this financial year.Trump offers support for dockworkers union by saying ports shouldn't install more automated systems
Saudi Gazette report VIENNA — Saudi Minister of Commerce and Chairman of the Board of Directors of National Competitiveness Center (NCC) Majed Al-Qasabi highlighted that the growing global adoption of digitization has transformed trade, making it more efficient, reliable, and transparent. He made the remarks while speaking at the opening session of a high-level workshop titled "Emerging Trends in Digital Trade Law," organized by NCC in cooperation with the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) in Vienna, Austria. Al-Qasabi emphasized that leveraging advanced and emerging technologies has reshaped local and international trade as well as consumer behavior. “Saudi Arabia is keeping pace with the trend through economic reforms,” he noted. Al-Qasabi headed a delegation of 32 officials representing 20 government entities who participated in the workshop sessions held on Thursday and Friday. The workshop was also attended by the Saudi Ambassador to Austria Dr. Abdullah Tawlah and UNCITRAL Secretary General Anna Joubin-Bret. In her speech, Joubin-Bret noted that digital trade plays a pivotal role in shaping the international trade landscape, explaining that UNCITRAL and its partners, most notably Saudi Arabia, are working to establish international trade laws that support digital trade, stressing the need for member states to collaborate on laws that bolster the digital economy. In the first working session, Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation Deputy Director José Raúl Perale discussed the latest developments in global digital trade law and comprehensive trade digitization. The participating entities in the workshop included the Saudi Ministries of Commerce, Justice, Finance, Economy and Planning, Industry and Mineral Resources, Energy, Foreign Affairs, and Education; the General Authority for Foreign Trade; the Zakat, Tax, and Customs Authority; the Capital Market Authority; the Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority; the Saudi Authority for Data and Artificial Intelligence; the Bureau of Experts at the Council of Ministers; the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA); the Board of Grievances; the National Competitiveness Center; and the Bankruptcy Commission. The workshop highlighted the future vision and the need to develop model international trade laws that help countries update their legislation to keep pace with global transformations, including digital trade, in addition to enhancing international cooperation to develop solutions to emerging challenges, which helps resolve disputes and enhance the transparency of international trade transactions. < Previous Page Next Page >
New Delhi, Dec 21, 2024 The SpaDeX mission, expected to launch this year aboard the PSLV-C60 rocket, will propel India to the elite club of nations with space docking capabilities, said Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Saturday. ISRO aims to launch PSLV-C60 on December 30. However, the launch window is open till January 13. The space agency informed that the mission has completed “all tests and clearances”. The integration of the SpaDeX spacecraft is complete, and the spacecraft has been moved to Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. It is currently “undergoing preparations for launch”. While only a few countries have aced the space docking technology, it is key for India for its impending space missions including the Moon mission, and setting up the Indian space station. “The launch vehicle has been integrated and now moved to the First Launch Pad, for further integration of satellites and launch preparations,” ISRO said in a post on X. “ISRO’s SpaDeX mission, launching with PSLV-C60, will demonstrate in-space docking using two small spacecraft. This groundbreaking technology is key to future lunar missions, building Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS), and more. India aims to join the elite club of nations with space docking capabilities,” it added. The PSLV will lift off two small spacecraft — SDX01, which is the Chaser, and SDX02, the Target — weighing about 220 kg each. The mission will showcase the docking of the two spacecraft in a low-Earth circular orbit. “In-space docking technology is essential when multiple rocket launches are required to achieve common mission objectives. Through this mission, India is marching towards becoming the fourth country in the world to have space docking technology,” ISRO said. It will also demonstrate “the transfer of electric power between the docked spacecraft, which is essential for future applications such as in-space robotics — composite spacecraft control, and payload operations after undocking”. ISRO has also developed indigenous technologies to enable this docking mission. This includes a docking mechanism, a suite of four rendezvous and docking sensors, power transfer technology, indigenous novel autonomous rendezvous and docking strategy, inter-satellite communication link (ISL) for autonomous communication between spacecraft, incorporated with inbuilt intelligence to know the states of the other spacecraft, among others. This mission will be a forerunner for autonomous docking needed for future lunar missions like Chandrayaan-4 without the support of GNSS from Earth, ISRO said.(Agency)New Delhi, Dec 21 (IANS): As compared to 2021, there is an increase of 1,445 sq km in the total forest and tree cover of the country with 25.17 per cent of the total geographical area being green, Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav said on Saturday. As per the present assessment, the total forest and tree cover in the country is 8,27,357 sq km, which is 25.17 per cent of the geographical area of the country. The forest cover has an area of about 7,15,343 sq km (21.76 per cent) whereas the tree cover has an area of 1,12,014 sq km (3.41 per cent), he said. Area wise top three states having the largest forest cover are Madhya Pradesh (77,073 sq km) followed by Arunachal Pradesh (65,882 sq km) and Chhattisgarh (55,812 sq km). The minister also highlighted the near real-time fire alerts and forest fire services provided by FSI using advanced technology while releasing the ‘India State of Forest Report 2023 (ISFR 2023)’ at the Forest Research Institute, Dehradun. The ISFR is brought out by the Forest Survey of India (FSI) on a biennial basis since 1987. The India State of Forest Report 2023 is the 18th such report in the series. The report said the top four states showing maximum increase in forest and tree cover are Chhattisgarh (684 sq km) followed by Uttar Pradesh (559 sq km), Odisha (559 sq km) and Rajasthan (394 sq km). The top three states showing a maximum increase in forest cover are Mizoram (242 sq km) followed by Gujarat (180 sq km) and Odisha (152 sq km). The total mangrove cover is 4,992 sq km in the country, said the report. The FSI carries out an in-depth assessment of the forest and tree resources of the country based on the interpretation of Remote Sensing satellite data and field-based National Forest Inventory (NFI), and the results are published in the ISFR. The report contains information on forest cover, tree cover, mangrove cover, growing stock, carbon stock in India’s forests, instances of forest fire and agroforestry. To present a detailed picture of forest health at the country level, special thematic information on forest cover and important characteristics of forests have been reported in the ISFR.US Senator: Mystery drones over New Jersey could be ‘shot down’