Author: Neel Achary

MyRadar awarded Phase I STTR contract by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) to develop Advanced Weather and Environmental Data Visualization

Orlando, FL—July 27, 2023– MyRadar, a leading provider of weather and environmental data visualization solutions, is excited to announce that its Phase I Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) proposal has been accepted by the United States Navy’s Office of Naval Research.

MyRadar’s team of scientists and experts in the field, partnering with the Space Sciences and Engineering Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, will develop an algorithmic tool that will provide more accurate forecasts for cloud representations through a 24-hour forecast lead-time. The result of the project will not only provide longer and better forecasts of cloud cover but also potentially improve prediction of other atmospheric characteristics.

Dr. David Ryglicki, MyRadar’s principal investigator and award-winning meteorologist and data scientist with a background at the National Hurricane Center and the US Naval Research Laboratory, leads the project to bridge the gap between cloud analysis by satellite and forecasts from numerical modeling. The project will employ data fusion and artificial intelligence techniques to develop a novel nowcasting capability for the Navy. “I’m very excited to have an opportunity to apply the expertise in applying AI/ML and data fusion MyRadar has successfully delivered through our app to my decade-plus knowledge of the interests relevant to the US Navy.” says Dr. Ryglicki.

The research provides an opportunity to explore and build new models that could deliver improved prediction of cloud cover and atmospheric characteristics not only for the Navy, but also for commercial industries such as aviation and maritime transport. “With our proven expertise in delivering AI-based forecasting technology through the MyRadar app,” says Andy Green, MyRadar CEO, “the team and I are excited about the potential to extend this research into developing new capabilities that could benefit our current and future users.” As part of MyRadar’s robust AI-based forecasting technology, we anticipate that this research will find wide application in industries such as agriculture, renewable energy, and disaster management, helping them to make data-driven decisions and reduce weather-related risks. As another example, better near-term cloud cover forecasts would offer significant value to the aviation industry, especially in growing applications like air taxis and autonomous aviation

About MyRadar: MyRadar is a popular weather and environmental information app, and is available for iOS, Android, Windows, Android TV, and soon Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Android Automotive. In the app store since 2008, the app has been downloaded over 45 million times, and has been keeping the world informed of severe weather, tropical storms, earthquakes, wildfires and more for over 10 years. ACME AtronOmatic, LLC, the makers of MyRadar, has development offices in Portland, Oregon, and Orlando, Florida. For more information visit: http://myradar.com

The Green Cement Conference Sparks Transformative Discussions for a Data-Driven Net Zero Transition

[Athens, Greece, Jul 2023] – Last week, the Green Cement Conference commenced, heralding a ground-breaking event that brought together esteemed visionaries, thought leaders, and industry experts from Europe, Middle East, Africa and North America, to propel the Green Cement revolution. With an exceptional line-up of sessions, the conference aimed to unlock a “data driven” limitless opportunities for a future of Green Circular Cement.

The conference’s panel discussions delved into critical topics crucial to transforming the cement industry and driving a factual Net Zero transition. Attendees actively engaged in enlightening conversations on climate challenges, technological innovations, market trends, opportunities, collaboration, and partnerships. These dynamic exchanges of ideas will fuel progress towards a greener cement sector.

The inaugural panel discussion addressed the urgent issue of climate challenges, and the pivotal role cement sector should play in the global effort to combat the climate change and achieve sustainability goals to 2030. Esteemed experts highlighted the significant carbon emissions linked to the industry and put forth actionable steps to reduce its environmental footprint.

Taking centre stage in the second panel discussion were ground-breaking technological advancements and the latest research and development efforts towards a circular cement future where distinguished experts presented the most promising innovations aimed at reducing carbon emissions in cement manufacturing.

The Green Cement Conference featured two eye-opening panel discussions. The first, titled “CCUS: Looking to the Future – Shaping the Path Forward,” focused on advancing CCUS technologies in the Cement Sector, highlighting scaling, collaboration, technology, policy, and international cooperation. The second panel, “Digital Maturity: What it Means for Cement Plant Decarbonization?” explored the link between digital technologies and sustainable cement production, emphasizing efficiency, process optimization, and the transformative potential of digitalization, automation, and AI.

The conference also provided a platform to discuss the impact of changing consumer preferences and market demands on the adoption of green cement. Furthermore, it delved into the significant implications of Carbon Tax on Cement and highlighted the power of collaboration and partnerships in accelerating the transition to green cement.

“We are thrilled to host The Green Cement Conference, providing an exceptional platform for industry leaders to come together and drive the transition towards a greener cement sector,” said Terry Pavlopoulos, CEO of CEMBR Group. “Through dynamic discussions, innovative ideas, and collaborative efforts, we aim to unlock the full potential of green cement in advancing the circular economy agenda.”

Amr Nader, CEO of A³&Co.®, the knowledge partner, expressed his belief that The Green Cement Conference promises to be a catalyst for change, igniting a collective effort to achieve a sustainable and green future for the cement industry. Nader also highlighted the panel on “Waste to Energy – Co-Processing Shaping Cement Future Circularity,” which aims to explore the pivotal role of waste-to-energy co-processing in shaping the future circularity of the cement industry.

The conference featured a distinguished lineup of speakers from:World Cement Association, McKinsey & Company, IFC, A³&Co.®, HERACLES Group, Titan Cement Company, Ciments de l’Afrique – CIMAT, Heidelberg Materials, Cemex Ventures, CemBR, Stifel, EBRD, KHD, Carbon Upcycling Technologies, C2CA Technology, Geocycle Hellas, DLA Piper, Carbon Re

Psychological Associates Promotes Max Nutter

Nearly 65-year-old consulting company announces new role for team member.

(St. Louis, Mo., July 27, 2023) Psychological Associates (PA), a consulting company that improves business performance through its leadership and talent development services, recently promoted Max Nutter to Project Manager. His responsibilities include daily project management and the supervision of client solutions for the nearly 65-year-old company. Nutter will focus on determining job parameters, communicating operational processes, and overseeing the timely execution of both internal and external projects.

Nutter has worked at Psychological Associates for nearly five years. He previously served as a Project and Operations Assistant. Prior to joining PA, Nutter worked as a Client Success Manager at a Midwest-based consulting and marketing agency. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Webster University in St. Louis, Mo.

“Max has worked in numerous capacities during his tenure with our organization, making him the perfect candidate to further grow our company. He consistently lives out our organizational values and works to help us achieve our mission,” said Psychological Associates’ CEO Clay Hildebrand “He possesses the extensive skillset necessary to step into this new role, and we are confident that Max will continue to contribute to our company’s success.”

Psychological Associates helps clients select, develop, and retain their best leaders, enabling them to build exceptional organizations. Its exclusive Q4 Dimensional® Model of Behavior™ – an industry-renowned structure that categorizes observable actions into understandable groupings – inspires high performance while attaining comprehensive results. Consulting capabilities include talent assessment, leadership development, succession planning, people analytics, and executive coaching. Founded in 1958, Psychological Associates is headquartered at 8000 Maryland Ave. in Clayton, Mo. For more information, call (314) 725-7771 or visit www.q4solutions.com.

Bandhuli Boutique unveils the ‘SUCHONA’ Saree, a tribute to the enthralling age-old tradition of Khunti Puja

Khunti Puja is an age-old tradition that precedes the Durga Puja festival and the putting up of pandals, holds great importance as a significant ceremony within our culture. The trend of incorporating specific themes and concepts into puja celebrations has gained remarkable popularity in the recent past, giving rise to the phenomenon of theme pujas. Among these traditions is the time-honoured practice of “Kathamo Puja,” which involves worshiping the wooden structure supporting the clay idol of the idol. This ritual carries immense significance in the puja celebrations of aristocratic households, commonly known as “Bonnedi Barir Puja”.

In a similar way, the tradition of “Khunti Puja” has gained prominence, with special reverence bestowed upon the foundation of the Durga Puja pandal. Khunti Puja takes place on the occasion of Rath Yatra, which ideally marks the commencement of the countdown to Durga Puja. To honour and commemorate this distinctive tradition, Bandhuli Boutique has introduced the inaugural “SUCHONA” saree. The “SUCHONA” saree showcases an enchanting depiction of the ‘RATH’ on its ‘ANCHAL’ (the decorative end of the saree). This design choice symbolically represents the foundation of the Durga Puja Pandal encapsulating the essence of Khunti Puja.

Furthermore, the saree incorporates various elements and motifs associated with Durga Puja, thereby exhibiting the rich cultural heritage of our city. Careful consideration has been given to the colour of the saree, which is thoughtfully selected to reflect the characteristic cloudy and blue skies often observed during Durga Puja. The design of the saree also includes impressions of ‘Shiuli’ flower which blooms during the Durga puja and signifies the essence of the occasion. This distinct hue adds a unique touch and further enhances the saree’s ability to capture the festive spirit. The “SUCHONA” saree by Bandluli Boutique not only serves as a fashion statement but also stands as a celebration of Khunti Puja and a tribute to our opulent cultural traditions. Bandhuli Boutique takes immense pride in the design and creation of this saree.

Kitman Labs Inks Deal with Iowa State University for Combined Medical Data and Performance Analytics Platform to Support Student Athletes

Menlo Park, California (July 25, 2023) – Kitman Labs, the global enterprise SaaS platform providing the only single, centralized operating system for performance intelligence in Sports, today announced that Iowa State University will be deploying Kitman Labs’ iP: Intelligence Platform across all men’s and women’s varsity sports. They become the third current Big 12 Conference school to partner with Kitman labs, joining Baylor University and Texas Tech University.

Iowa State University will use the platform to centralize and combine student-athlete medical and performance data, providing appropriate Departmental Staff with a secure, comprehensive and real-time view of all athletes from a physical and mental health and wellness perspective. The platform will also enable collaboration between staff in the design and execution of individual rehab and training programs to unlock student-athlete progress and performance.

Beyond compliance, the Performance Medicine solution being deployed at Iowa State will help inform decision-making around medical assessments, diagnosis, treatment and return to play strategies. Iowa State University joins approximately 80 other NCAA universities who are currently using the technology from Kitman Labs.

“Like many other NCAA universities – Iowa State understands the urgency and critical nature of monitoring the physical and mental well being of its student-athletes and to ensure it’s utilizing every tool and resource necessary to support the holistic development of those students during their college tenure, while also developing them for life after school – either inside or outside of Sport,” said Kitman Labs Founder & CEO, Stephen Smith.

“At Iowa State, we realize that ultimate success includes the ability to communicate and share relevant information across all departments that impact student-athlete health, performance, and well-being as well as incorporating the various aspects of sports science which can allow for more informed decision making,” said Mark Coberley, Iowa State’s Associate Athletics Director for Sports Medicine.

“We performed a lengthy analysis of our options to incorporate a system that allows us to meet this vision,” he added. “We needed an all-encompassing system that was sensitive to our particular needs, desired outcomes and nuances across departments. We believe Kitman Labs was the leader in this area and will provide solutions for our vision. We are extremely pleased to partner with them.”

Kitman Labs has an established track record of working with top teams and athletes across a variety of sports, including soccer, basketball, rugby, and American football. The company’s technology is being used by some of the world’s most elite collegiate sports organizations, such as Michigan State University, Clemson University, University of Colorado among many others.

This expansion into NCAA institutions follows other recent business strategy moves Kitman Labs has undertaken. That includes the successful close of a $52M Series C funding round led by Guggenheim Investments, a global asset investment and advisory firm with more than $259 billion in assets under management and two strategic acquisitions of The Sports Office and Presagia Sports, both made in the last two years. The combined companies represent the industry’s largest network of elite and youth organizations (700+) and created the industry’s largest dataset of talent, performance, and medical data for all stages of the athlete lifecycle.

Saudi Arabia Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources Releases April 2023 Monthly Bulletin to Provide Insights into The Kingdom’s Industrial and Mining Sectors

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – The Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources of Saudi Arabia has released its latest April 2023 Monthly Bulletin of Industry and Mining, aimed at providing key insights into the Kingdom’s industrial and mining sectors. The bulletin is published monthly and covers the latest developments, trends, and investments in these sectors, proving a vital tool for investors.

The bulletin issued by the National Industrial and Mining Information Center indicated that during the period from January to April 2023, 385 new industrial licenses were issued with investments amounting to 14 billion riyals, while 314 factories started production with investments exceeding 8.105 billion riyals, enabling the sector to create more than 29,000 job opportunities, 15,000 of these jobs being for Saudis, Indicating a total workforce of 726,750 workers by the end of April.

In addition, the total number of factories in the Kingdom at the end of last April reached 10,873 factories, with investments amounting to 1.4 trillion riyals (373.251 billion USD).

As for the mining sector, the bulletin indicated that the total number of mining licenses in force in the sector until the end of April 2023 amounted to 2,336 licenses, including 1,454 building materials quarry licenses, 634 exploration licenses, 180 exploitation and small mine licenses, 36 reconnaissance licenses, and 32 surplus mineral ores licenses.

The Monthly Bulletin of Industry and Mining is part of Saudi Arabia’s broader industry and mineral resources strategy. The Kingdom has been actively diversifying its economy and reducing its dependence on oil for revenue. The development of the industrial and mining sectors is a key component of this strategy, and the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources has been leading the efforts to achieve this goal.

The Saudi Arabian government has been encouraging investment in the industrial and mining sectors by offering various incentives, including tax exemptions, land grants, and streamlined licensing processes. The data presented in the bulletin highlights the success of these efforts, and the growth of Saudi Arabia’s industrial and mining sectors is expected to benefit the country’s overall economy.

TSG Hotels & Resorts organized beach clean-up drive at Marina Park, Port Blair for environmental and marine conservation

TSG Hotels & Resorts organized a beach clean-up drive on 22nd July at the seashore area of Marina Park, Port Blair with an objective of spreading awareness among the people on depleting flora of the beaches and how such beach clean-up activities can help in protecting marine life.

Around 25 staff from TSG Grand and TSG Emerald View participated in this cleanliness drive. They spread all around the beach with disposable bags and collected dry waste in the form of plastic cups, wrappers, empty bottles, and other debris.

Mr. Chiranjeet Das, Corporate General Manager coordinated the entire programme under the guidance of Mr. Mohinder Bhatia, Promiller.

The Staffs were happy to be part of the campaign and it was their active and enthusiastic participation that made the beach clean-up drive an inspiring success.

The Drive ended with handing over the waste to the PBMC Staff for further disposal and leaving behind a clean beach.

Speaking to the media Mr. Chiranjeet said, “It was a wholesome experience to make a move for the betterment of society and it gave a feeling of fulfillment to take a step in eradicating the mistakes of mankind and saving nature from huge disasters”.

He also emphasised the importance of preserving the pristine environment of A&N Islands for future generations.

IBM Report: Average cost of a data breach in India touched INR 179 million in 2023

Bengaluru, July 25, 2023 — IBM (NYSE: IBM) Security today released its annual Cost of a Data Breach Report,[1] showing the average cost of a data breach in India reached INR 179 million in 2023 – an all-time high for the report and almost a 28% increase since 2020. Detection and escalation costs jumped 45% over this same time frame, representing the highest portion of breach costs, and indicating a shift towards more complex breach investigations.

At nearly 22%, the most common attack type in India was phishing, followed by stolen or compromised credentials (16%). Social engineering was the costliest root cause of breaches at INR 191 million, followed by malicious insider threats, which amounted to approximately INR 188 million.

According to the 2023 IBM report, globally businesses are divided in how they plan to handle the increasing cost and frequency of data breaches. The report found that while 95% of organizations studied globally have experienced more than one breach, these breached organizations were more likely to pass incident costs onto consumers (57%) than to increase security investments (51%).

“With cyberattacks growing in pace and cost in India, businesses must invest in modern security strategies and solutions to stay resilient. The report shows that security AI and automation had the biggest impact on keeping breach costs down and cutting time off the investigation – and yet a majority of organizations in India still haven’t deployed these technologies. It’s clear that there is still considerable opportunity for businesses to boost detection and response speeds and help stop the ongoing trend of growing breach costs,” said Viswanath Ramaswamy, Vice President, Technology, IBM India & South Asia.

Breaching data across environments

In India, 28% of data breaches studied resulted in the loss of data spanning multiple types of environments (i.e., public cloud, private cloud, on-prem) – indicating that attackers were able to compromise multiple environments while avoiding detection. When breached data was stored across multiple environments, it also had the highest associated breach costs (INR 188 million) and took the longest to identify and contain (327 days).

Need for AI and automation to pick up speed in India

AI and automation had the biggest impact on the speed of breach identification and containment for studied organizations. In India, companies with extensive use of AI and automation experienced a data breach lifecycle that was 153 days shorter compared to studied organizations that have not deployed these technologies (225 days versus 378 days). In fact, studied organizations that deployed security AI and automation extensively saw nearly INR 95 million lower data breach costs than organizations that didn’t deploy these technologies – the biggest cost saver identified in the report. In this context, it is important to note that 80% of studied organizations in India have limited (37%) or no use (43%) of AI and automation.

Godawari Electric Motors launches exclusive financing options in collaboration with IDBI Bank

Raipur, 25th July 2023: To help customers achieve aspirations of e-mobility, Godawari Electric Motors, manufacturers of the Eblu range of products, today announced that it has collaborated with IDBI Bank to avail exclusive financing options for customers PAN-India.

To facilitate the transition to electric mobility, Godawari Electric Motors has launched innovative financing options for its entire product range, partnering with IDBI Bank. Godavari’s current product portfolio includes Eblu Rozee (electric three-wheeler), and its electric cycles, Eblu Spin, Eblu Thrill and the soon-to-be-launched Eblu Feo (e-scooter) and Eblu Reino (e-loader). The new partnership with IDBI Bank avails access to loans with a maximum tenure of 3 years, at an 11% rate of interest, and a low processing fee of 1%. The maximum LTV offered under this financing option is 80%.

Mr. Hyder Khan, CEO, Godawari Electric Motors, said, “We are delighted to announce the launch of a wide variety of financing options for customers of the Eblu range, in collaboration with IDBI Bank. Our journey to provide state-of-the-art e-mobility solutions continues, and we are certain that this innovative offering, which avails instant loans, will create new opportunities for customers to make the transition to green mobility quicker. We inch closer to building a future that is pollution-free and sustainable, and welcome all our customers across India. We will continue to keep customer convenience as the core focus area which aids in convenient and comfortable access to our products and services.”

The company currently has existing tie-ups with SIDBI, Bajaj FinServ, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Paytail, EZFINANZ, Chhattisgarh Gramin Bank, Revfin, Amu Leasing Pvt Ltd and Paisalo to cater to customer requirements and offer a wide range of EV financing solution options with a hassle-free loan application and approval process.

The company is preparing to launch its e-scooter Eblu Feo and e-loader Eblu Reino in August 2023. The company has invested significantly in network expansion and will aim to have 100 dealers by the end of this fiscal.