Indian American whose work has impacted billions around the world awarded 2024 Millennium Technology Prize: Professor B. Jayant Baliga

Technology

– ADVERTISEMENT – “The man with the world’s largest negative carbon footprint”Professor B. Jayant Baliga. PHOTO: NCSU.eduIn yet another example of what immigrants have contributed to the United States, North Carolina State University Professor B. Jayant Baliga was awarded the 2024 Millennium Technology Prize earlier this month. Professor Baliga’s work on the invention, development and commercialization of insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs), has played a critical role in energy efficiency for technologies worldwide.Forbes called Baliga, “the man with the world’s largest negative carbon footprint” and that reputation may get further enhanced as the Indian American professor continues to work on new inventions related to solar power and delivery, as well as Artificial Intelligence.The Millennium Technology Prize, which comes with a 1 million euros award, is the most prestigious international award focused on recognizing technological innovation, a September 4, 2024, news report on the NCSU website says. Baliga is the Progress Energy Distinguished University Emeritus Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at NC State. The formal award ceremony will take place October 30 in Finland.The IGBT invented by Prof. Baliga, is an energy-saving semiconductor switch that controls the flow of power from an electrical energy source to any application that needs energy. It improves energy efficiency by more than 40 percent in a wide range of products from cars and light bulbs to cardiac defibrillators.According to estimates, the IGBT has reduced global carbon dioxide emissions by over 82 gigatons (180 trillion pounds) over the past 30 years. “This is equivalent to offsetting carbon dioxide emissions from all human activity for three years, based on average emissions of the past 30 years,” the news report said.The IGBT Device: Physics, Design, and Applications of the Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (Book 2015). PHOTO-NCSU.EDU“The IGBT has already had and continues to have a major impact on supporting sustainability with improved living standards worldwide, while mitigating environmental impact,” Minna Palmroth, chair of the Board of Technology Academy Finland, which gives the prize, is quoted saying.. “The main solution to tackle global warming is electrification and moving to renewable energy. The IGBT is the key enabling technology in addressing these issues.”Baliga said, “It is very exciting to have been selected for this great honor,” noting how ubiquitous IGBT is in the everyday life of billions of people worldwide. The graduate of Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, has at least 123 patents and has receives scores of awards and recognitions during his career.His split-gate power MOSFET is widely manufactured for use in laptops, PCs and servers. And his silicon carbide inventions – including the JBS rectifier and shielded channel power MOSFET – are used in a variety of state-of-the-art electrical power management technologies, the news report said.After graduating from IIT Madras in Electrical Engineering, Prof. Baliga received his Masters and Ph.D. from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, NY. According to his bio on the NCState website, he is a Member of the National Academy of Engineering and a Fellow of the IEEE. He spent 15 years at the General Electric Research and Development Center, Schenectady, NY, leading their power device effort and was bestowed the highest scientific rank of Coolidge Fellow. He joined NC State in 1988 as a Full Professor and was promoted to the rank of ‘Distinguished University Professor’ in 1997. Among his many NC State honors, he was the recipient of the 1998 O. Max Gardner Award given by the North Carolina University Board of Governors to the one person within the 16 constituent universities who has made ‘the greatest contribution to the welfare of the human race’; and the 2011 Alexander Quarles Holladay Medal of Excellence, the highest honor at NC State from the Board of Trustees.Prof. Baliga has authored/edited 18 books and over 500 scientific articles.   He received the National Medal of Technology and Innovation, the highest form of recognition given to an engineer by the United States Government, from President Obama in October 2011, at the White House. Previous Post Next Post Coming Soon…

‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3’: Anees Bazmee reveals the film will be bigger and better than the prequel

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

Bollywood cinephiles are in for a treat! A grand showdown will ensure between two of 2024’s most anticipated releases. On Diwali of 2024, Anees Bazmee’s ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3’ will fight head-on with Rohit Shetty’s ‘Singham Again.’ While reports surfaced that Kartik Aaryan, the leading man of the upcoming horror-comedy reached out to Rohit Shetty to seek the actioner’s postponement, it didn’t materialise. ‘Singham Again’ expressed its confidence by deciding not to budge. With the highly intriguing battle set, Anees Bazmee has piqued curiosities with ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3.’
Also Read: ‘Singham Again’ to NOT get postponed! Confirmed clash with ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3’

The film is the third instalment of the cult classic horror-comedy franchise and the second collaboration between Aaryan and Bazmee. The duo delivered the blockbuster ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2′ which also starred Tabu and Kiara Advani. While fans were sceptical about whether Kartik Aaryan would be able to match Akshay Kumar’s ‘Bhool Bhuliyaa,’ Aaryan managed to win hearts with his rendition of Rooh Baba. The third instalment already has fans on the edge of their seats with its cast. Moreover, filmmaker Anees Bazmee ensures that the anticipation meter keeps hitting new highs. With Aaryan reprising his role, the film will also bring back the original Manjulika, Vidya Balan. Additionally, they are joined by Madhuri Dixit and Triptii Dimri.

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Dusit international and Saigontourist Group sign MOU to boost tourism development in Thailand and Vietnam

Travel

Dusit International, one of Thailand’s leading hotel and property development companies, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Saigontourist Group, one of Vietnam’s largest multi-service travel corporations, to drive tourism development in Thailand and Vietnam through strategic promotions, enhanced services, and the creation of innovative tourism products.
Under the terms of the MOU, Dusit International and Saigontourist Group will share technical expertise, experience, and best practices to help elevate the quality and effectiveness of tourism services in both countries. The two companies will also explore opportunities for joint hotel development and promote each other’s tourism offerings at major events, festivals, and travel fairs.
Thailand remains a significant source market for Vietnam’s tourism industry, and Saigontourist Group’s expansive portfolio of hotels, resorts, entertainment venues, and conference facilities across Vietnam welcomes thousands of Thai visitors each year. Likewise, Thailand is a popular destination for Vietnamese travellers. In 2023 and the first half of 2024, Saigontourist Travel Service Company arranged trips for approximately 15,400 Vietnamese tourists to experience Thailand’s top destinations, including Bangkok, Pattaya, Chiang Mai, and Phuket, where Dusit Hotels and Resorts has a strong presence.
Alongside its fast-growing portfolio of global hotels and resorts, Dusit is also a key player in hospitality education, with Dusit Thani College, The Food School, and Le Cordon Bleu Dusit Culinary School developing top talent for Dusit Hotels and Resorts and the industry at large. Leveraging this, Dusit International and Saigontourist Group will seek to coordinate efforts in education and training for tourism operations to ensure their respective workforces remain at the forefront of industry standards.
“We are delighted to partner with Saigontourist Group to strengthen tourism ties between Thailand and Vietnam,” said Mr Gilles Cretallaz, Chief Operating Officer, Dusit International. “More than just a business agreement, this strategic alliance is a commitment to fostering mutual growth, cultural exchange, and sustainable development in the tourism sector. Our collaboration will undoubtedly lead to new opportunities and innovations, benefiting both our organisations and the tourism industries of Vietnam and Thailand.”
Mr Truong Duc Hung, General Director, Saigontourist Group, said, “I believe that through close collaboration and leveraging the growth potential of both groups, we will achieve outstanding success in tourism development, thereby contributing to the socio-economic advancement of both Vietnam and Thailand.”
Dusit’s portfolio now includes 301 properties operating across 18 countries, including 57 properties under Dusit Hotels and Resorts and 244 luxury villas under Elite Havens, the leading provider of luxury villa rentals in Asia, which Dusit acquired in 2018. In Vietnam, Dusit operates Dusit Princess Moonrise Beach Resort Phu Quoc and is set to open Dusit Le Palais Tu Hoa in Hanoi next year.

Dusit international and Saigontourist Group sign MOU to boost tourism development in Thailand and Vietnam

Travel

Dusit International, one of Thailand’s leading hotel and property development companies, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Saigontourist Group, one of Vietnam’s largest multi-service travel corporations, to drive tourism development in Thailand and Vietnam through strategic promotions, enhanced services, and the creation of innovative tourism products.
Under the terms of the MOU, Dusit International and Saigontourist Group will share technical expertise, experience, and best practices to help elevate the quality and effectiveness of tourism services in both countries. The two companies will also explore opportunities for joint hotel development and promote each other’s tourism offerings at major events, festivals, and travel fairs.
Thailand remains a significant source market for Vietnam’s tourism industry, and Saigontourist Group’s expansive portfolio of hotels, resorts, entertainment venues, and conference facilities across Vietnam welcomes thousands of Thai visitors each year. Likewise, Thailand is a popular destination for Vietnamese travellers. In 2023 and the first half of 2024, Saigontourist Travel Service Company arranged trips for approximately 15,400 Vietnamese tourists to experience Thailand’s top destinations, including Bangkok, Pattaya, Chiang Mai, and Phuket, where Dusit Hotels and Resorts has a strong presence.
Alongside its fast-growing portfolio of global hotels and resorts, Dusit is also a key player in hospitality education, with Dusit Thani College, The Food School, and Le Cordon Bleu Dusit Culinary School developing top talent for Dusit Hotels and Resorts and the industry at large. Leveraging this, Dusit International and Saigontourist Group will seek to coordinate efforts in education and training for tourism operations to ensure their respective workforces remain at the forefront of industry standards.
“We are delighted to partner with Saigontourist Group to strengthen tourism ties between Thailand and Vietnam,” said Mr Gilles Cretallaz, Chief Operating Officer, Dusit International. “More than just a business agreement, this strategic alliance is a commitment to fostering mutual growth, cultural exchange, and sustainable development in the tourism sector. Our collaboration will undoubtedly lead to new opportunities and innovations, benefiting both our organisations and the tourism industries of Vietnam and Thailand.”
Mr Truong Duc Hung, General Director, Saigontourist Group, said, “I believe that through close collaboration and leveraging the growth potential of both groups, we will achieve outstanding success in tourism development, thereby contributing to the socio-economic advancement of both Vietnam and Thailand.”
Dusit’s portfolio now includes 301 properties operating across 18 countries, including 57 properties under Dusit Hotels and Resorts and 244 luxury villas under Elite Havens, the leading provider of luxury villa rentals in Asia, which Dusit acquired in 2018. In Vietnam, Dusit operates Dusit Princess Moonrise Beach Resort Phu Quoc and is set to open Dusit Le Palais Tu Hoa in Hanoi next year.

From 2010 to Now: Batumi’s Tourism Revolution Review

Travel

Batumi’s real estate market has significantly transformed over the past decade, closely tied to the city’s burgeoning tourism sector. This connection has, in turn, created unique opportunities in the residential apartment segment.
Tourism Growth and Its Impact
Batumi has had a remarkable evolution as a tourist destination over the last decade and a half. It attracted fewer than 1 million visitors in 2010, yet by 2016 the numbers surged to 3 million and grew to an impressive 4.2 million by 2019. Despite global tourism sector challenges in 2020, Batumi demonstrated resilience, with foreign visitor numbers increasing by 28% in 2023 compared to the previous year.
The tourism boom has directly influenced the real estate market. The influx of visitors has created a robust short-term rental market, while also driving long-term property value appreciation, and the demand for apartments started growing exponentially year to year.
Strategic Importance of Apartment Investments
Investing in Batumi’s apartment market has become increasingly attractive for several reasons:
1. Strong rental demand from tourists
2. Potential for year-round income as winter tourism and business travel grow
3. Capital appreciation in prime locations
4. Portfolio diversification opportunities in an emerging market
5. Relatively affordable entry points compared to other European coastal resorts
Key Considerations for Investors
When considering apartment investments in Batumi, investors should focus on:
1. Location: Proximity to the sea, boulevard, or city center
2. Property type: From studios to larger units with sea views
3. Quality and amenities: Higher-quality finishes can command premium rents
4. Legal framework: Georgia’s favorable laws for foreign property ownership
5. Property management: Options for self-management or using local companies

Apartments in Batumi at OKTO ART HOUSE were conceived with these markers in mind and are designed to offer all the major benefits of the evolving real estate market. Located 500 meters from the sea in the New Boulevard area, this elite residential complex offers over 1600 apartments across two blocks. It represents the trend towards high-quality, amenity-rich projects catering to both short-term rentals and long-term residences.
Future Outlook
Batumi’s apartment market keeps showing strong potential for continued growth. On top of it, the infrastructure is developing rapidly to support increasing tourist numbers and resident population. As the market matures, early investors are positioned to benefit the most from capital appreciation.
On the other hand, future developments will grow more constrained and the growth will need to be balanced with sustainability to maintain Batumi’s appeal. Economic trends in Georgia specifically, and the region as a whole, are bound to influence tourism flows and, consequently, the real estate market. Despite these considerations, currently, Batumi is one of the most attractive European destinations for both tourists and real estate investors and is highly likely to remain so.
Batumi’s real estate market, driven by tourism growth, offers exciting opportunities for apartment investors. The city’s trajectory as a tourist destination, combined with affordable entry points and a favorable investment climate, makes it attractive for domestic and international investors alike. However. success in this market is not a slam dunk and will depend on careful property selection, understanding local dynamics, and maintaining a long-term perspective.
Yet, as Batumi evolves into a world-class destination, timely and strategic apartment investments have a high potential to offer attractive returns while contributing to the city’s ongoing transformation.

From 2010 to Now: Batumi’s Tourism Revolution Review

Travel

Batumi’s real estate market has significantly transformed over the past decade, closely tied to the city’s burgeoning tourism sector. This connection has, in turn, created unique opportunities in the residential apartment segment.
Tourism Growth and Its Impact
Batumi has had a remarkable evolution as a tourist destination over the last decade and a half. It attracted fewer than 1 million visitors in 2010, yet by 2016 the numbers surged to 3 million and grew to an impressive 4.2 million by 2019. Despite global tourism sector challenges in 2020, Batumi demonstrated resilience, with foreign visitor numbers increasing by 28% in 2023 compared to the previous year.
The tourism boom has directly influenced the real estate market. The influx of visitors has created a robust short-term rental market, while also driving long-term property value appreciation, and the demand for apartments started growing exponentially year to year.
Strategic Importance of Apartment Investments
Investing in Batumi’s apartment market has become increasingly attractive for several reasons:
1. Strong rental demand from tourists
2. Potential for year-round income as winter tourism and business travel grow
3. Capital appreciation in prime locations
4. Portfolio diversification opportunities in an emerging market
5. Relatively affordable entry points compared to other European coastal resorts
Key Considerations for Investors
When considering apartment investments in Batumi, investors should focus on:
1. Location: Proximity to the sea, boulevard, or city center
2. Property type: From studios to larger units with sea views
3. Quality and amenities: Higher-quality finishes can command premium rents
4. Legal framework: Georgia’s favorable laws for foreign property ownership
5. Property management: Options for self-management or using local companies

Apartments in Batumi at OKTO ART HOUSE were conceived with these markers in mind and are designed to offer all the major benefits of the evolving real estate market. Located 500 meters from the sea in the New Boulevard area, this elite residential complex offers over 1600 apartments across two blocks. It represents the trend towards high-quality, amenity-rich projects catering to both short-term rentals and long-term residences.
Future Outlook
Batumi’s apartment market keeps showing strong potential for continued growth. On top of it, the infrastructure is developing rapidly to support increasing tourist numbers and resident population. As the market matures, early investors are positioned to benefit the most from capital appreciation.
On the other hand, future developments will grow more constrained and the growth will need to be balanced with sustainability to maintain Batumi’s appeal. Economic trends in Georgia specifically, and the region as a whole, are bound to influence tourism flows and, consequently, the real estate market. Despite these considerations, currently, Batumi is one of the most attractive European destinations for both tourists and real estate investors and is highly likely to remain so.
Batumi’s real estate market, driven by tourism growth, offers exciting opportunities for apartment investors. The city’s trajectory as a tourist destination, combined with affordable entry points and a favorable investment climate, makes it attractive for domestic and international investors alike. However. success in this market is not a slam dunk and will depend on careful property selection, understanding local dynamics, and maintaining a long-term perspective.
Yet, as Batumi evolves into a world-class destination, timely and strategic apartment investments have a high potential to offer attractive returns while contributing to the city’s ongoing transformation.

Tourist warning as Spanish city ‘closing off’ hotspot to charge holidaymakers for visit

Travel

José Luis Sanz, the mayor of the popular tourist destination Seville in the Anadalusia autonomous community of Spain, stated on Wednesday that he has already “decided to enclose” the space of the monumental Plaza de Espana and charge “between three and four euros” (as much as £3.36) for visits by tourists. The money collected will go towards paying for “24-hour surveillance” in the enclosure and permanent conservation work. In an interview on Cadena Cope, Sanz has again defended his proposal to close the complex – the open-air space between the balustrade of access and the benches of the provinces – and charge an entrance fee to tourists. Those who can prove that they live in the city or were born in the province – and can prove it – won’t be asked to pay the new fee.  The City Council, the owner of the space, made a similar proposal several months ago. The revenues would be distributed, the local PP government said, with 75 percent of the total to be allocated to the municipal coffers and 25 percent to be destined to the state, guaranteeing free public access to the state offices of the complex. These offices house the headquarters of the Government Delegation in Andalusia, the Subdelegation, Migration Services, the Hydrographic Confederation of the Guadalquivir (CHG) and the Army’s Land Force Headquarters.Alongside the surveillance service, the plan is also to open a permanent restoration school or workshop for this emblematic monument of Seville, protected as an Asset of Cultural Interest, which is currently fully accessible to the public. The central government, formed by the PSEO and Sumar, however, flatly rejected the proposal, warning that it is a “privatisation” of public space. Mr Sanz claimed on Wednesday that the central government, beyond rejecting the idea, had not provided any economic “alternative” to pay for 24-hour surveillance of the monument and permanent restoration work. He stated that, as mayor, he had already “decided” to implement “a ticket” for access to the square space belonging to the Town Hall.Mr Sanz said: “I want to charge a fee to those who visit the square space. The building is another story”. He assured that the Town Hall can “enclose” the space in the square that belongs to it, something he hopes to do when he has a “defined project”, which he said is already being drawn up.He recalled that the accesses to the Plaza de Espana already have “two lateral closures” on the Avenida de Isabel la Catolica, to which the monument opens, so that “it would only be necessary to close it at the front”, with an installation that “already exists” but requires completion. Additionally, having recently stated that in 2025 – after the next edition of the Iconica music festival that is held every summer in the Plaza de Espana – he would open “the debate on the continuity or not” of the event, Mr Sanz showed on Wednesday that he is “in favour” of the local citizens enjoying “this unique space”.“I see it as a good thing that this type of activity is organised in the Plaza de Espana”, he said, stressing that the festival is “under the inspection of the Town Planning technicians”.He also defended that the Plaza de España is an “ideal” enclave for the “great museum space” which, in his opinion, the city needs, once again asking whether “it makes sense” for the monument to house state offices because, from his point of view, “it only makes sense” to keep the Captaincy General’s Office, the headquarters of the Army’s Land Force, in the monument, in terms of administrative offices.

Tourist warning as Spanish city ‘closing off’ hotspot to charge holidaymakers for visit

Travel

José Luis Sanz, the mayor of the popular tourist destination Seville in the Anadalusia autonomous community of Spain, stated on Wednesday that he has already “decided to enclose” the space of the monumental Plaza de Espana and charge “between three and four euros” (as much as £3.36) for visits by tourists. The money collected will go towards paying for “24-hour surveillance” in the enclosure and permanent conservation work. In an interview on Cadena Cope, Sanz has again defended his proposal to close the complex – the open-air space between the balustrade of access and the benches of the provinces – and charge an entrance fee to tourists. Those who can prove that they live in the city or were born in the province – and can prove it – won’t be asked to pay the new fee.  The City Council, the owner of the space, made a similar proposal several months ago. The revenues would be distributed, the local PP government said, with 75 percent of the total to be allocated to the municipal coffers and 25 percent to be destined to the state, guaranteeing free public access to the state offices of the complex. These offices house the headquarters of the Government Delegation in Andalusia, the Subdelegation, Migration Services, the Hydrographic Confederation of the Guadalquivir (CHG) and the Army’s Land Force Headquarters.Alongside the surveillance service, the plan is also to open a permanent restoration school or workshop for this emblematic monument of Seville, protected as an Asset of Cultural Interest, which is currently fully accessible to the public. The central government, formed by the PSEO and Sumar, however, flatly rejected the proposal, warning that it is a “privatisation” of public space. Mr Sanz claimed on Wednesday that the central government, beyond rejecting the idea, had not provided any economic “alternative” to pay for 24-hour surveillance of the monument and permanent restoration work. He stated that, as mayor, he had already “decided” to implement “a ticket” for access to the square space belonging to the Town Hall.Mr Sanz said: “I want to charge a fee to those who visit the square space. The building is another story”. He assured that the Town Hall can “enclose” the space in the square that belongs to it, something he hopes to do when he has a “defined project”, which he said is already being drawn up.He recalled that the accesses to the Plaza de Espana already have “two lateral closures” on the Avenida de Isabel la Catolica, to which the monument opens, so that “it would only be necessary to close it at the front”, with an installation that “already exists” but requires completion. Additionally, having recently stated that in 2025 – after the next edition of the Iconica music festival that is held every summer in the Plaza de Espana – he would open “the debate on the continuity or not” of the event, Mr Sanz showed on Wednesday that he is “in favour” of the local citizens enjoying “this unique space”.“I see it as a good thing that this type of activity is organised in the Plaza de Espana”, he said, stressing that the festival is “under the inspection of the Town Planning technicians”.He also defended that the Plaza de España is an “ideal” enclave for the “great museum space” which, in his opinion, the city needs, once again asking whether “it makes sense” for the monument to house state offices because, from his point of view, “it only makes sense” to keep the Captaincy General’s Office, the headquarters of the Army’s Land Force, in the monument, in terms of administrative offices.