19, Dec 2023
Italian Consulate in Kolkata Some Of The Main Achievements Over The Past Three Years
Kolkata, 19 December 2023: There were several areas of cooperation between the Italian Consulate in Kolkata and various groups in the city in terms of seminars, discussions, workshops, and other socio-cultural and trade events that took place over the past 3 years.
There were the Italo-Kolkatan Heritage Conversations with scholars from Italy who came to Kolkata to discuss the artistic links between the city and Italy. For instance, Isabella Nardi spoke about Italian artists active in the city and Chiara Rostagno spoke about twelve marble busts in the gardens of Victoria Memorial. All these events were held at heritage sites such as the Victoria Memorial and in Tagore’s palace.

To highlight the Italian connection with Rabindranath Tagore, a permanent exhibition was inaugurated at the Rabindra Bharati Museum to celebrate the connection between Tagore and Italy. The journeys and events surrounding Tagore’s three visits to Italy and a comprehensive glimpse into the places and times (through visuals and quotes), the link between Italian scholars and artists with the Tagore Family/RBU/Vishwa Bharati University.
Another initiative was to engage and address the youth in Kolkata and show them Italy in a different manner. The Italian Consulate had a series of comic strips designed by Upal Sengupta (the famous singer and cartoonist) on The Adventures of Puchki and Cookie in Italy, where a young Bengali teenager, Puchki, visits Italy with her dog Cookie and embarks on a journey to cities like Florence and Naples, seeing them from a teenage perspective.
To highlight and celebrate the Christmas season, the Consulate organized four Christmas Concerts where choir groups composed of children from different backgrounds, including those of the schools for the blind were taught to sing songs in several different languages such as in English, Hindi, Bengali, Italian and even Latin.

Highlighting the cultural affinity between Italy and Kolkata, the Consulate helped organize several photo exhibitions entitled ‘From Kolkata to Italy.’ The exhibitions were held at the National Library, in the Lalit Bakery and Trams. The idea behind this was to place two photographical archives in dialogue with each other. As this was during Covid times, (and no one was allowed to go outside to take photographs), so the Consulate used the novel idea to send a series of Black and White photographs of Kolkata by Rachit Deb, to Italy, and to identify matching photographs of various Italian cities.
For students going to Italy for their education, the Consul General organized several High Teas ensuring interaction with former students so that any queries about the situation in a different country, their expectations, etc. could be addressed by former students who had returned back home.
The concept of sharing an evening of Italian Aperitivo (meaning small bites and special drinks) with individuals from the creative arts, food bloggers, or important guests visiting from Italy was introduced in India for the first time by the Consul General.
There were 100 such events undertaken during the tenure of Consul General Rubagotti which have benefited the city of Kolkata.
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- By Rabindra
19, Dec 2023
HDFC Life enters into a Corporate Agency tie-up with Karur Vysya Bank (KVB) to offer life insurance solutions to its customers
Mumbai, December 19, 2023: HDFC Life, one of India’s leading life insurers, and Karur Vysya Bank have entered into a Corporate Agency (CA) arrangement, today.
This CA arrangement will enable customers of Karur Vysya Bank to avail HDFC Life’s wide range of life insurance products which include solutions for protection, savings and investment, retirement and critical illness.

India is largely under-insured. The protection gap in India is higher than that of most developed markets. For every individual with responsibilities, it is necessary to secure themselves and their families financially. Life insurance is a product that not only provides financial security but also enables individuals to save over the long term in a disciplined manner thus fulfilling their long-term financial goals.
HDFC Life constantly endeavors to reach out to individuals across geographies thus ensuring that they are protected with a financial safety net. This partnership with Karur VysyaBank will further strengthen HDFC Life’s efforts towards Insuring India.
Karur Vysya Bank has a 107-year-old banking legacy and has been at the forefront of providing professional banking services and quality customer service. The Bank has a wide presence with a network of 827 branches spread across 20 states and 3 Union Territories.
This partnership will enable both HDFC Life and Karur Vysya Bank to offer superior life insurance products and services to their customers at scale.
Mr. B Ramesh Babu, Managing Director & CEO of the Bank said, “Karur Vysya Bank has always endeavored to offer the best of financial services under one roof. Our Corporate tie-up with HDFC Life will provide one more option to our customers while charting their insurance plans. Since HDFC Life offers claim intimation process online, our customers can avail the services without stepping out of their homes. Together we look forward to creating a seamless experience that aligns with our shared value of trust, reliability and customer-centricity.”
Speaking on the arrangement, Mr. Suresh Badami, Deputy Managing Director of HDFC Life said, “We are delighted to partner with Karur Vysya Bank, a well-respected bank with a rich legacy of over 100 years. This tie-up will enable us to offer our strong product proposition to their customers. We will work closely together to achieve India’s vision of ‘Insurance for All’ by 2047.”
Speaking on the development, Mr.Dolphy Jose, Chief General Manager & Head- Consumer Banking, Karur Vysya Bank said “We are thrilled to announce our strategic partnership with HDFC Life. This collaboration is a testament to our commitment to providing comprehensive financial solutions. This alliance will enable us to offer a diverse range of life insurance products tailored to meet varying needs and our focus remains on simplifying the path to financial wellbeing for our customers.”
19, Dec 2023
Platform 65 Hosts a Magical Christmas Celebration!
Hyderabad, 19 December 2023: Platform 65 Restaurant, the largest toy train-themed restaurant in India, is delighted to announce an extended Christmas celebration, creating a magical experience for the community to revel in the holiday spirit. Starting on December 10, the restaurant has transformed its venue into a continuous winter wonderland, offering guests an ongoing experience filled with joy, festive decor, and delightful activities. All 11 branches of Platform 65 will be partaking in this grand celebration, ensuring the festive cheer of Christmas is embraced in each location.

As part of the ongoing celebration, Platform 65 invites guests to immerse themselves in the holiday ambience with a festive selfie frame and a beautifully decorated Christmas tree, adorned with charming ornaments such as Christmas stars, which serve as the centrepiece of the venue.
Throughout the ongoing celebration, the dedicated team at Platform 65 will be dressed in Christmas-themed attire with Christmas caps, embodying the spirit of the season. It also includes a Christmas drawing contest for kids, and a series of entertaining activities, with the popular Secret Santa taking centre stage. Guests can look forward to the continuous distribution of carefully selected gifts, fostering an atmosphere of joy and excitement. Under the expert guidance of Mr. Srikanth Bandaru, the Corporate General Manager at Platform 65, these initiatives at all the branches continue to spread the spirit of joy and excitement throughout the season.
Sadgun Patha, Managing Director and Founder of Platform 65 “Platform 65 stands as a culinary station where the magic of Christmas is served on every plate. Our ongoing celebration is an invitation for families, friends, and food enthusiasts to gather, dine, and make lasting memories together.”
Mr. Venkatesh, Vice President of Platform 65 said, “Platform 65 is not just a dining experience; it’s a festive destination where every meal is a celebration, and every guest is part of our joyous culinary journey. Join us this Christmas for an unforgettable ride filled with laughter, flavours, and the spirit of the season.”

Platform 65 is committed to offering an extended period of festive joy, where families and friends can come together to create lasting memories. The combination of ongoing festive decorations, a dedicated and joyful staff, and engaging activities promises to make this Christmas celebration an enduring and special experience for all.
19, Dec 2023
Skip the waiting queue: Pre-Booking Opens for Most-Premium Compact SUV Sonet from tonight
New Delhi, 19th December 2023: Kia, India’s leading mass premium carmaker, today, announced the commencement of bookings for the New Sonet from December 20, 2023, starting tonight. The most premium value Compact SUV, Sonet, premiered globally from India on December 14th, 2023.
Kia India also reintroduced the ‘K-Code’ priority booking initiative to skip the waiting queue. Customers can avail of the K-Code from any existing Kia customer, which can be used for booking through the Kia India website (www.kia.com/in) and the ‘MyKia’ app and is valid only for December 20th, 2023, starting from 12 AM to 11:59 PM. The new Sonet deliveries will commence in January 2024, except for the Diesel MT variants, which is scheduled for February 2024.

The New Sonet is also one of the safest Compact SUVs in the segment with 25 safety features, including Robust 15 Hi-Safety Package and 10 ADAS features. It is also one of the most tech-enabled Compact SUV with 70+ connected car features like Find My Car with Surround View Monitor (SVM), Hinglish Commands, and Valet Mode, to name a few. Positioned as the most premium vehicle in the Compact SUV segment, the New Sonet is also the most value-driven choice for the customer.
According to a study by Frost & Sullivan, Sonet’s maintenance cost is 16% and 14% lower than the segment average in Petrol and Diesel variants, respectively. With this, Kia India also becomes the only OEM in the mass PV segment to offer 6 airbags standard across its portfolio. With segment-best features like LED sound-ambient lighting, connected 10.25” HD Touchscreen Navigation and 10.25” Cluster Panel, and Find My Car with surround view monitor, to name a few, Sonet wears the badge of being the most innovative product in its segment.

Mr. Tae-Jin Park, MD & CEO, Kia India, said, “We are thrilled to announce the commencement of pre-booking for our highly anticipated second bestseller, the Sonet. This innovative model has played a pivotal role in establishing our presence in India, following the remarkable success of the Seltos. A heartfelt thank you to our existing customers for their unwavering faith in the brand, contributing significantly to Kia’s growth journey. The new Sonet premium value proposition at the back of highest segment-leading connected features, a refreshed design, and the reintroduction of manual transmission in the diesel variants will definitely garner even more admiration from our valued customers.”
The Sonet is Kia’s second best-selling vehicle, with more than 3.6 lakh vehicles sold globally. In India, Kia has sold 2.84 lakh vehicles, contributing 33% to Kia India’s overall domestic sales. In the most competitive Compact SUV segment, the Sonet has continuously maintained close to 13% segment share on an average in the last 3 years.
19, Dec 2023
Global Recruitment Firm Redrob raises $4M seed round by Murex Partners and DS & Partners
Murex Partners and DS & Partners notable investments include South Korean tech unicorns such as Musinsa, Market Kurly, and Yanolja.
New Delhi, 19th December, 2023 – Redrob the global recruitment platform, announced the $4M seed round funding by Murex Partners and DS & Partners. Redrob is bringing AI to every stage of recruitment – from candidate search to messaging to interviews. The company also announced the release of Redrob Online Skill Tests. After the fundraising, Redrob is expanding its online testing platform with ‘Redrob Global People Search’, which uses AI to reorganize the world’s people data into a more universally understandable format to enable sales, networking, and recruitment.
Redrob Online Skill Tests helps companies design and deploy skill assessments to job applicants in as little as 30 seconds, allowing them to predict on-the-job performance without human bias.

“65% of the world’s population is online, yet so few businesses are truly global,” says Redrob’s co-founder and CEO Felix Kim. “The greatest obstacle to hiring and selling globally is a lack of contextual knowledge. For example, U.S. recruiters don’t know about the local Ivy League in India, while Indian salespeople don’t know much about local distributors in the U.S.”
“Redrob will break down country-specific silos of contextual knowledge, and in doing so we’ll revolutionize the way people meet online,” he added.
Commenting on this funding Mr. Jinyoung Park, Senior Associate at Murex Partners said – “With India’s economic rise, we believe Redrob will be able to connect Indian talent to companies around the world.”
“South Korean and U.S. companies are increasingly looking to hire Indian talent but do not know where to start. We hope Redrob will be able to solve this problem of information asymmetry.” said, Han Joon Lee, Senior Vice President at DS & Partners.
In parallel, as Redrob predicts more companies will become globally distributed, it will be expanding its Employer of Record (EOR) product line. Redrob Employer of Record helps companies avoid outsourcing firms and directly hire talent from countries such as India without the need to set up an office or handle payroll, so even small startups can emulate the 24/7 operations of the Fortune 500 and their global subsidiaries.
19, Dec 2023
Indira IVF Partners with SafeTree to Introduce India’s first Infertility Insurance Plan
National, December 19, 2023. Indira IVF, the largest network of infertility treatment hospitals in India, and SafeTree, a leading insurtech, have announced their collaboration to introduce India’s first insurance to support couples with infertility. The one-of-its-kind health insurance in the country aims to uplift healthcare delivery in the country by helping couples make significant savings in their standalone treatment cost.
The World Health Organisation defines infertility as a disease of the male or female reproductive system that results in the failure to achieve a pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sexual intercourse. In India, an estimated 33-34 million couples in the reproductive age suffer from lifetime infertility however, only 1% of this population approach a credible hospital for their treatment. This can be attributed to a glaring gap in awareness and thereafter, financial constraints faced by families.
Announcing the path-breaking initiative, Dr Kshitiz Murdia – CEO and Co-Founder of Indira IVF said, “As a leader in infertility treatment, we are committed to bridge the awareness gap that exists in the Indian diaspora regarding infertility and subsequently, support individuals on their journey to parenthood. Since our inception and as a part of our social responsibility, we have actively worked to uproot misinformation related to infertility across diverse socio-economic setups. Thus, it was a strategic step for us to address the next gap limiting access to infertility treatment – financial support. We are thrilled to partner with SafeTree who share our vision of equitable infertility treatment in the country and we look forward to creating a notable impact in the lives of countless couples.”
Highlighting the need gap of infertility insurance, Mr Vikas Anand – CEO of SafeTree Insurance said, “Infertility is an emotionally charged experience for any couple. During a consumer research we had conducted, we found that nearly 2 in 3 couples undergoing treatment found it extremely challenging, and over 90% couples lacked the financial support for the same. We noted an emerging sentiment of insurance coverage, especially among the Tier-2 population, where the spending capacity on healthcare delivery is extremely limited. This proposition is a unique and first-of-its-kind to be offered to couples.”
The insurance offering by Indira IVF and SafeTree would first take a proactive approach for 24 months with medical, dietary and psychological consultations to help couples under the age of 35 years conceive naturally. These consultants would support couples by increasing their knowledge and awareness regarding various medical and lifestyle habits, and subsequently enhance their fertility to have children by natural means. In cases that couples are unable to conceive naturally thereafter, the insurance programme would offer cashless treatment of two IUI (intrauterine insemination) and two IVF (in vitro fertilisation), respectively, that includes egg collection, laser assisted hatching, blastocyst culture, and embryo transfer and freezing.
SafeTree extends insurance to oocyte or egg donors and surrogates, as per the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021 and Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021, respectively. Moreover, the two organisations are developing various fertility assessment tools and insurance products backed by a panel of experts, including dieticians, counsellors and gynaecologists to create a holistic ecosystem pertaining to infertility treatment.
19, Dec 2023
Why Do AI Models Seem to Get Worse?
It’s not uncommon to hear about AI models not performing up to their initial standards. Perhaps you’ve noticed a change in the quality of responses from a generative AI service you frequently use, for example. These claims have frequently found their way to news sites and social media.
But is it possible for AI models to deteriorate in performance over time?
Indeed, AI models can experience a decline in effectiveness, and are prone to “hallucinations.”
In the language of AI experts, the phenomenon is often understood in terms of model decay or model drift, which are often used interchangeably.
This can happen for a variety of reasons.
WHY IT MATTERS
AI is increasingly used in all facets of everyday life, including in life-saving operations and large investments. A March 2023 article in IEEE Spectrum highlights a notable real-world risk: a faulty AI model in self-driving cars has led to serious car crashes.
Regular updates and retraining with current data are crucial to maintain the effectiveness of these models in a continuously changing environment.
WHAT IS AI DRIFT?
The accuracy of an AI model often shifts because of changing circumstances in the real world, IEEE Member Eleanor “Nell” Watson explains.
“For example,” Watson said, “consider a model trained to predict consumer buying patterns. It’s trained on a dataset representing consumer behavior up to a certain point in time. Post-deployment, consumer preferences, and market dynamics might evolve due to various factors like new trends, economic changes, or even global events. Since the model was trained on older data, it may not accurately capture these new patterns, leading to reduced accuracy or relevance of its predictions. This is a manifestation of model decay.”
Fighting data drift is important. And to do so, AI researchers tend to classify AI drift into further categories. If you want to learn more, check out this paper on IEEEXplore.
“Addressing model decay involves regular monitoring, tuning, and updating of the model with new data, refining the model’s architecture, or even retraining from scratch in some cases,” Watson said. “The key is to maintain the model’s alignment with the current state and dynamics of the data it’s meant to analyze or predict. However, such maintenance requires specifying a budget in advance for ongoing periodic updates.”
SYNTHETIC DATA: AN EMERGING CHALLENGE
Training AI models requires lots of data, and sometimes, that data is scarce. To compensate, researchers have turned to synthetic data.
Essentially, synthetic data is artificial data generated based on a real data set. It is realistic, and statistically representative of the original.
Researchers are beginning to understand that though synthetic data has its uses, too much of it can degrade performance. That idea was explored in a pair of research papers highlighted by IEEE Spectrum.
An over reliance on synthetic data “can narrow perspectives and reinforce biases, as models may train on data generated by similar systems,” Watson said. “This issue is exacerbated by the rapid content production rate of generative AI, which often outpaces human- enerated content.”
Many of the most popular AI image generating tools were released in the middle of September 2022. Some commentators have noted that these services have produced as many as 150 billion images in 12 months. And many of these images aren’t tagged as synthetic, meaning that they could be used to train some AI models.
The challenge can be even steeper. The developers of AI models often hire humans to tag data. For example, if you want to develop an AI model that identifies the emotional content of images, you usually need a human to rate the images. Or sometimes, researchers need large quantities of survey data that they are willing to pay small sums of money for – often less than a dollar. These are known as human intelligence tasks.
“Some human-generated data might not be authentic,” Watson said. “Tasks outsourced to human intelligence task workers are increasingly automated using AI, leading to potential bias and inaccuracy. Companies may soon need to license natural, high-quality data, and additional authentication layers may be needed to ensure the veracity of human-generated content.”
19, Dec 2023
Manipal Academy of Higher Education Bengaluru set to Host Inter-School Quiz, Fostering Academic Excellence
Bangalore: 19, December 2023 — Manipal Academy of Higher Education Bengaluru is delighted to announce the first of its kind, MIQ (MAHE B’LRU INTERSCHOOL QUIZ), which will unite bright minds from different schools for an exciting day of intellectual competition and fellowship. The semifinals & grand finale will conclude on 5th January at MAHE Bangalore campus. Exciting rewards are up for grabs, with the top prize being INR 1,50,000, the second prize being INR 1,00,000, and the third place being INR 50,000.
The quiz is inviting students of class 11th and 12th from more than 3000 schools. A total of 6+ teams will qualify for the final round. Travel and stay of the finalists and their guardians will be sponsored by MAHE Bengaluru.

This Inter-School Quiz serves as a platform to celebrate knowledge, critical thinking, and teamwork among students from different schools in our community.
Each school can nominate a team of 2 members. Cities have been divided into 6 zones: East, Central, West, North, South, and Bengaluru zones. Zonal rounds begin from 22nd December and will go on till the 30th. This will be followed by the finale round on 5th of January which promises a dynamic showdown, featuring 48 finalists.
Excited about the forthcoming quiz, Prof. Madhu Veeraraghavan, Pro Vice Chancellor, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Bengaluru said, “As we eagerly anticipate the MAHE Bengaluru Interschool Quiz, I am thrilled at the prospect of witnessing a dynamic exchange of ideas, knowledge, and intellectual energy. MIQ is not merely an event; it is a celebration of the vibrant intellectual culture that we strive to cultivate at MAHE Bengaluru. It symbolizes our commitment to fostering a love for learning, collaboration, and innovation among the future leaders who will shape our society”.
Students will demonstrate their academic prowess in a variety of areas in a relaxed yet competitive setting. Additionally, it will promote cooperation and camaraderie among participants by encouraging teamwork. The questions have been carefully chosen to encourage a love of learning and to pique people’s intellectual curiosity. Prizes and recognition will be given to exceptional teams, encouraging inspiration and a sense of accomplishment.
Last date to make the entries is 20th of December.
To register, kindly visit the website: MAHE B’Luru Interschool Quiz (m-iq.in)
19, Dec 2023
Ashwin Sheth Group plans to expand its residential and commercial portfolio in the MMR region
Key Highlights:
- Strengthened its senior leadership team at the CXO level
- In the last three quarters, increased the sales growth ranging between 25%-35%
- Implemented cutting-edge apps like HONO and SMART APP
- The brand will expand its luxury residential and commercial portfolio in 2024 and plans to foray into other cities
Bengaluru, 19 th December 2023: 37 years of legacy, known for its strategic locations and design, Ashwin Sheth Group, a leading real estate developer in India, announces a year of significant milestones, innovation, and continued growth in the Indian real estate sector. Despite the challenges posed by the global landscape, Ashwin Sheth Group remained resilient, adaptive, and committed to delivering unparalleled quality and innovation to its homebuyers, employees and stakeholders.
The company, in the last three quarters, increased the sales growth ranging between 25%- 35% compared to the previous years across its luxury residential portfolio for its ongoing projects such as Sheth Zuri, Sheth Avalon, Montana, Avante, Vasant Lawns and 72 West. The group marked its entry back with its 15 th landmark in Kandivali with the successful launch of EDMONT Aurelia, a 51-storey skyscraper and one of the tallest towers in the area. Highlighting the company’s dedication to excellence, skilled craftsmanship and consumer- centric designs, the company is looking forward to new launches in 2024 across the residential and commercial segments spanning approx. 5-10 million sq. Ft.
The year 2023 has played a pivotal role in stabilizing the real estate sector and as per analysts, India’s real estate market has emerged as the most preferred destination for global investors in the Asia-Pacific region, receiving over $23 billion since 2018 and is expected to expand to $5.8 trillion by 2047. Termed as the “turn-around year,” 2023 marked a sustained recovery for the Indian real estate sector, especially in the residential and commercial segments, following two years impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The residential sector, in particular, has witnessed a remarkable revival, poised to surpass decade-highs in apartment sales. This surge is fuelled by a significant interest from the HNIs, UHNIs and the NRIs.

Mr. Ashwin Sheth, Chairman and Managing Director, of Ashwin Sheth Group, stated, “In 2023, we witnessed the upsurge in sales and launches in the luxury residential sector and we will foresee the same momentum in the coming years. India’s real estate market has emerged as the most preferred destination for global investors in Asia–the Pacific region as per the experts and this will aid the Indian real estate market to boom in terms of foreign investments, help the economy and robust pipelines of real estate projects in India. Despite the competition, the MMR region has seen the highest sales in the luxury residential market”.
Mr Sheth further added, “Our strategic investments have been pivotal in propelling our vision forward, empowering us to create exceptional spaces and innovative experiences that redefine the very essence of modern living. With our strong revenue growth, Ashwin Sheth Group remains committed to redefining the real estate landscape in India by consistently delivering exceptional projects that resonate with our customers’ aspirations. We will be aggressively expanding our residential and commercial portfolio next year with a couple of launches in the MMR region and plans to foray into other cities in India”.
Mr. Bhavik Bhandari, CSMO, of Ashwin Sheth Group, said, “The surge in infrastructural development seen in both Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities is attracting significant real estate investments from the Indian Diaspora as well, propelling growth in both the residential and commercial sectors. This year we have further witnessed a boom in smart homes, mostly driven by tech, AI and automation systems. Our contextual campaigns on Ganesh Chaturthi, Navratri and Diwali brought forth a profound message that aligns seamlessly with our mission of fostering a sense of belonging and inclusion. These campaigns have been instrumental in not just showcasing our diverse portfolio of offerings but in forging meaningful connections with our audience. As we step into 2024, we are excited about the upcoming launches that will further elevate our portfolio and reinforce our position as industry trailblazers.”
Ashwin Sheth Group’s pipeline for 2024 reflects its dedication to innovation, customer satisfaction, and a vision to create spaces that not only meet but exceed the evolving needs of discerning homebuyers and businesses across India.

