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8th anti-submarine ship rolls out of Garden Reach

8th anti-submarine ship rolls out of Garden Reach

Defence PSU Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) Ltd has released the eighth and last ship in a series of anti-submarine warfare shallow water crafts (ASW SWCs) built for the Indian Navy. The ship, named Ajay, was inaugurated at an event in Kolkata on July 21. These ships are versatile platforms and can participate in a variety of operations. Designed with low draughts, the crafts are capable of coastal operations, Low Intensity Maritime Operations, and mine-laying. These 77.6-metre-long and 10.5-metre-wide warships are also capable of full-scale sub-surface surveillance in coastal waters and pack a lethal anti-submarine armory comprising lightweight torpedoes, ASW rockets and mines.
Old city ghat set for renovation, deal inked
In a significant step towards urban renewal and preservation of heritage spaces, the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata and TNS Logi-Park Pvt Ltd have entered an agreement to breathe new life into historic Doi-Ghat at the heart of the old metropolis. Located on the banks of the Hooghly River, at the confluence of Adi Ganga stream and the main channel, Doi-Ghat derives its name from the Bengali word for curd (doi), reflecting its historical link to the local dairy trade. Once a bustling commercial hub, the ghat served as a market where curd and other goods arrived in earthen pots, especially from Howrah, renowned for its dairy produce. At the intersection of key waterways, Doi-ghat had emerged as a centre for trade and daily dialogue between rural Bengal and the emeging metropolis of 'Calcutta'.
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AI help for state welfare schemes, property valuation by year end
AI help for state welfare schemes, property valuation by year end

Time of India

time8 hours ago

  • Time of India

AI help for state welfare schemes, property valuation by year end

Kolkata: The Bengal govt is going to hire firms with expertise in the fields of AI, machine learning (ML), big data analytics, and related technologies, to develop solutions for property valuation, digitisation of legacy records, social welfare delivery, and internal decision-making processes. The new mechanism is expected to be in place by the end of the year, an official of the finance department said. One of the most ambitious projects is leveraging AI to develop a unified social registry for efficient beneficiary identification, direct benefit transfer (DBT), and management of social welfare schemes. The govt has already started the Duare Sarkar camps. Amader Para Amader Samadhan will start on Saturday and continue until Nov 3. Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee said services of Duare Sarkar camps could be availed of simultaneously so all citizens can access all benefits of state schemes by submitting applications at the booth-level camps from Saturday. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata "Once these camps are over, the data collected will be used for a unified social registry for enhanced delivery of public welfare services. AI and ML tools will be used to dynamically identify and update eligible beneficiaries for welfare schemes in near real-time. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Brain tumor has left my son feeling miserable; please help! Donate For Health Donate Now Undo Through AI, beneficiary segmentation can also be done," an official said. For the doorstep service, the state govt is targeting to integrate GIS and AI models to identify underserved areas and deliver hyper-localised service interventions, especially in tribal belts or ecologically vulnerable areas, the official said. For database management, there will be virtual aggregation of sensitive data while maintaining departmental control and reducing DBT verification delays. A dynamic, data-driven AI model will be developed for the valuation of immovable properties, integrating diverse datasets and even digitising legacy handwritten Bengali registration records. Another project aims to develop an AI-based system to streamline the finance department's file examination and enhance decision-making. An official said a pre-bid meeting has been scheduled for Aug 11, 2025.

Mamata Banerjee's livelihood promise to Bengali migrant workers leaves state govt 'in a fix'
Mamata Banerjee's livelihood promise to Bengali migrant workers leaves state govt 'in a fix'

Hans India

time18 hours ago

  • Hans India

Mamata Banerjee's livelihood promise to Bengali migrant workers leaves state govt 'in a fix'

Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's livelihood promise to Bengali migrant workers returning from BJP-ruled states seems to have left the state administration in a fix. Sources in the state secretariat envision too many hurdles in implementing the Chief Minister's job and livelihood assurance if Bengali migrant workers start returning to the state in large numbers in response to her call. The first hurdle is the non-availability of any authentic database on the exact number of migrant workers from West Bengal, as well as any figure on their state-wise distribution. "Secondly, there is no authentic data on how many of them are floating workers and how many are permanent migrant workers. Separate data on the numbers of skilled and unskilled migrant workers from West Bengal are also not available. At the same time, there is no estimation, even approximate, on sector-wise distribution of engagement of these migrant workers from West Bengal," pointed out an official from the state Planning, Statistics and Programme Monitoring Department, who refused to be named. Floating workers are those who stay at their native places in West Bengal for a major part of the year and periodically move to other states for a set time to earn a living. "These floating migrant workers do not have any specific destination, and they go to earn some money for a limited period in a year to any state where the chances of these temporary earnings are higher. These floating migrant workers are mainly either agricultural workers, whose demands in other states rise during the sowing and harvesting seasons, or are unskilled workers without any specialisation," sources in the state government pointed out. The permanent migrant workers are those who are settled permanently in other states, many of them with their families, and for them, West Bengal is a vocational venue during the festive seasons. According to sources in the state government, the majority of these permanent migrant workers are skilled workers with specialisations in areas like real estate and infrastructure development, garment manufacturing, jewellery making, gem cutting, and metal idol craftsmanship, among others. "Now the problem is that even if the unskilled or floating migrant workers and to an extent skilled workers engaged in real estate and infrastructure development sector could be accommodated with alternative job and livelihood arrangements in case they return to West Bengal, there is virtually zero scope for resettlement for skilled workers with specialisation in other sectors," the state government sources said. Even in the case of unskilled and floating migrant workers, the rates of daily payment they receive in industrially developed or agriculturally superior states are much higher than the corresponding rates in West Bengal.

US' Steven Madden sees H1, Q2 revenue climb, net income turns negative
US' Steven Madden sees H1, Q2 revenue climb, net income turns negative

Fibre2Fashion

time18 hours ago

  • Fibre2Fashion

US' Steven Madden sees H1, Q2 revenue climb, net income turns negative

American designer of footwear, accessories and apparel Steven Madden, Ltd has posted total revenues of $1.11 billion in the six months period ended June 30, 2025, a 3.4 per cent increase year-over-year (YoY). The gross profit of the company rose to $452.3 million. Despite this, the net income fell sharply to $2.5 million, primarily due to a steep rise in operating expenses—from $328.4 million to $441.1 million, Steven Madden said in a press release. Steven Madden, Ltd has reported revenue of $1.11 billion in H1 FY25, up 3.4 per cent YoY, but net income dropped to $946,000 due to higher expenses. Q2 revenue rose 6.8 per cent to $559 million. Wholesale declined, while DTC surged. Tariffs impacted performance, prompting the company to withhold 2025 guidance despite confidence in long-term growth and the Kurt Geiger integration. The net income of the company stood at $946,000, with diluted earnings per share (EPS) declining from $1.09 to $0.01. It also recorded a $9.3 million gain on a derivative during the period, partially offsetting increased costs. Meanwhile, the company reported a 6.8 per cent YoY increase in revenue to $559 million in the second quarter (Q2) of 2025. The gross profit margin declined slightly to 40.4 per cent, while adjusted gross margin stood at 41.9 per cent. The company's operating expenses surged to 47.2 per cent of revenue from 31.3 per cent last year; on an adjusted basis, operating expenses represented 37.9 per cent of revenue. This sharp rise in costs contributed to a reported operating loss of $40.3 million, or 7.2 per cent of revenue, compared to an operating income of $46.9 million or 9 per cent a year earlier. The company posted a net loss of $39.5 million, or $0.56 per diluted share. Adjusted net income was $13.9 million, or $0.20 per diluted share. In Q2, revenue for the wholesale business was $360.6 million, a decrease of 6.4 per cent YoY. Excluding the newly acquired Kurt Geiger, wholesale revenue declined 12.8 per cent. Wholesale footwear revenue decreased 7.1 per cent, or 11.7 per cent. Wholesale accessories/apparel revenue decreased 5.3 per cent, or 14.6 per cent. The gross profit as a percentage of wholesale revenue was 30 per cent. Adjusted gross profit as a percentage of wholesale revenue was 30.9 per cent. Meanwhile, direct-to-consumer (DTC) revenue in this quarter was $195.5 million, a 43.3 per cent increase YoY. DTC revenue decreased 3 per cent, with declines in both brick-and-mortar and e-commerce channels. The gross profit as a percentage of DTC revenue was 58.7 per cent. The adjusted gross profit as a percentage of DTC revenue was 61.3 per cent. The company ended the quarter with 392 company-operated brick-and-mortar retail stores, including 98 outlets, as well as seven e-commerce websites and 130 company-operated concessions in international markets. This includes 73 company-operated brick-and-mortar retail stores, including 27 outlets, as well as two e-commerce websites and 72 concessions related to Kurt Geiger. 'As anticipated, the second quarter was challenging, driven largely by the impact of new tariffs on goods imported into the United States. Our team continues to act with agility to mitigate near-term impacts while remaining focused on positioning the company for long-term growth by executing our strategy to deepen consumer connections through the combination of compelling product and effective marketing,' said Edward Rosenfeld, chairman and CEO at Steve Madden. 'The integration of Kurt Geiger is proceeding smoothly, and we are more confident than ever in its potential to be a significant driver of growth for the company in the years ahead. While tariffs have created near-term pressure and added uncertainty, we believe our key strengths—powerful brands, a robust balance sheet and a proven business model—position us well to navigate the current environment and deliver sustainable growth over time,' added Rosenfeld. Due to continued macroeconomic uncertainty related to the impact of new tariffs on goods imported into the United States, the company said that it is not providing 2025 financial guidance at this time. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (SG)

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