Recently, the Centre approved the National Mission on Edible Oil (Oilseeds) with an estimated cost of ₹10,103 crore. The main objective of the mission is to increase domestic edible oil production to 25.45 million tonnes by 2030-31, to meet 72 per cent of the country’s projected domestic requirement. The edible oil sector, and agri-business in general, has been facing several challenges, calling for a policy response. Availability of raw material: A few agri-business companies depend heavily on imports for their raw material, which are riddled with supply-chain disruptions, exchange rate risk, and geo-political tensions. For instance, edible oil companies in India imported 5.66 million tonnes of crude palm oil from Indonesia and Malaysia in FY2023 — 75 per cent of their annual requirement. Hence, crop diversity may be promoted not only to attain self-sufficiency in edible oil sector but also to preserve foreign exchange. Post-harvest processing infrastructure: Though India is a leading producer of agri-commodities, the agri-business industry has inadequate infrastructure facilities, runs on obsolete technology, and lacks sufficient breadth/depth in commodity derivatives market. As a result, India exports raw agri-commodities without value addition, which is evident from its low market share in the world’s agri-business industry. Finance: Barring large corporates, most of the Micro Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in agri-business industry don’t have free access to institutional finance from banks/financial institutions. Per a study by the National Institute of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj in 2022, approximately 89 per cent of the SMEs depend on informal finance, with average interest rate being 18 per cent p.a. Therefore, free access to finance, affordable interest rate, and collateral-free loans through Trade Receivables Discounting System (TReDS) may be great enablers for the agri-business industry. Quality manpower: Since few Indian universities/institutes offer market-driven agri-business courses, the industry suffers from availability of skilled manpower and qualified professionals. The Centre can give autonomy to certain higher educational institutes to churn out more agri-business professionals. Marketing of inputs: As Indian agri-business industry is fragmented, spurious seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides are being sold to gullible farmers. Therefore, continuous training and capacity building of farmers need to be undertaken through awareness campaigns, field exposure visits, and extension services. Research: Agri-business industry in India has few large players and hardly any Indian MNCs. Besides, small landholdings and low purchasing power of Indian farmers deter the industry from supplying efficient inputs, all of which are not available at affordable prices. Hence, promotion of collectives like cooperatives and farmer producer organizations (FPOs) will be the right steps in this direction. Public-private partnerships in commercialization of R&D should be facilitated. Climate change: Increased dependence on renewable energy, focus on climate resilient crops/technologies, and adoption of good ecological farming practices by following advanced agri-based economies like Denmark, Finland, and New Zealand should be the way forward. The agri-business industry was estimated at ₹90.22 lakh crore in 2023 and set to touch ₹227.06 lakh crore by 2032 with a Compounded Annual Growth Rate of 10.8 per cent. Therefore, a proper ecosystem is a must. The writer is Director, Centre for Agri-Business Management, MANAGE, Hyderabad. Views are personal CommentsGALLATIN, Tenn. (WTVF) — If you still feel the sticker shock at the grocery store, Tennessee lawmakers from both political parties have now proposed legislation to save you a few dollars. "This tax hits the poorest amongst us, the hardest. Everybody has to buy groceries," said Rep. William Lamberth, R- Portland, serving as House Majority Leader. Lamberth — along with East Tennessee Rep. Elaine Davis — are proposing the outright end to the state's four percent portion of the grocery tax on food and food ingredients. "The least we can do is try to take off the state portion of the grocery tax to try to make it a little easier on my friends and neighbors," said Lamberth. Democrats filed a similar bill in 2024 and for the upcoming 2025 session. But Rep. Aftyn Behn's version has one key difference. She replaces the state's grocery tax with a new tax on Tennessee corporations. "It’s an accountability mechanism for corporations in the state of Tennessee that are not paying their franchise tax. They’re not paying their excise tax," said Rep. Behn, D-Nashville, back in March. Lamberth blasted the Democratic proposal. "To me that’s ridiculous. I mean, that’s robbing Peter to pay Paul," said Lamberth. There's no official estimate for how much the grocery tax cut would cost the state, but when lawmakers considered the move last year, the estimate was around $750 million each year. In a tight budget year, that could mean the state would have to make major cuts to the budget to be able to afford the cut. Lamberth thinks that isn't such a bad thing. "In Tennessee anyways, we continue to truncate the size of government, we continue to reduce the size of government, and we live within our means," he said. Lamberth thinks the sacrifices could be worth it. "That’s more money in your pocket. That’s more groceries you can buy for your kids," said Lamberth. Neither version of the grocery tax cut would impact the local portion of the grocery tax, although counties have the authority to reduce or eliminate those as well thanks to a law passed earlier this year. We asked Senate Republicans if they'd be open to backing Rep. Davis's proposal. They indicated they're willing to consider any tax cut. Do you have more information about this story? You can email me at Chris.Davis@newschannel5.com. Rebecca: https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/a2/d9/fb69982545c59e9836fbe80fe431/rebecca-recommends.png Bree: https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/74/78/507118fa415f9ad794a927fe43ca/screenshot-2024-12-09-at-5-09-02-am.png Carrie: https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/2e/72/be0f23854c54a228c9d6138c9847/carrie-recommends-header.png Ben: https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/df/c4/19fa7c504480938f39a431e3b276/ben-recommends-header.png Amy: https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/b9/b6/1408516a4a91b97639b178fc1ba9/amy-recommends-header.png Rhori: https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/5b/25/a224d13d47739165c92b94e643db/rhori-recommends-header.png Lelan: https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/af/54/833bf879454097a398bd44f723de/lelan-recommends.png Fostering Hope provides Christmas for kids in foster care. I'm delighted to see Fostering Hope expand this year to expand their reach to now include kids in Foster care in metro AND foster kids in East TN hard hit by Helene. -Bree Smithcoloni fc188 。

Romeo Doubs injury update: Packers WR ruled out with concussion vs. 49ersThe large package of aid includes a significant amount of munitions, including for the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems and the Hawk air defence system. It also will provide Stinger missiles and 155mm and 105mm artillery rounds, officials said. The officials, who said they expect the announcement to be made on Monday, spoke on condition of anonymity to provide details not yet made public. The new aid comes as Russia launched a barrage of attacks against Ukraine’s power facilities in recent days, although Ukraine has said it intercepted a significant number of the missiles and drones. Russian and Ukrainian forces are also still in a bitter battle around the Russian border region of Kursk, where Moscow has sent thousands of North Korean troops to help reclaim territory taken by Ukraine. Earlier this month, senior defence officials acknowledged that the US Defence Department may not be able to send all of the remaining 5.6 billion dollars (£4.5 billion) in Pentagon weapons and equipment stocks passed by Congress for Ukraine before President-elect Donald Trump is sworn in. Mr Trump has talked about getting some type of negotiated settlement between Ukraine and Russia, and spoken about his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Many US and European leaders are concerned that it might result in a poor deal for Ukraine and they worry that he will not provide Ukraine with all the weapons funding approved by Congress. The aid in the new package is in presidential drawdown authority, which allows the Pentagon to take weapons off the shelves and send them quickly to Ukraine. This latest assistance would reduce the remaining amount to about 4.35 billion dollars (£3.46 billion). Officials have said they hope that an influx of aid will help strengthen Ukraine’s hand, should Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky decide it is time to negotiate. One senior defence official said that while the US will continue to provide weapons to Ukraine until January 20, there may well be funds remaining that will be available for the incoming Trump administration to spend. According to the Pentagon, there is also about 1.2 billion dollars (£0.9 billion) remaining in longer-term funding through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which is used to pay for weapons contracts that would not be delivered for a year or more. Officials have said the administration anticipates releasing all of that money before the end of the calendar year. If the new package is included, the US will have provided more than 64 billion dollars (£50.8 billion) in security assistance to Ukraine since Russia invaded in February 2022.

By Costas Pitas (Reuters) - In the end, the big break turned out to be a pair of images at a New York hostel. New York police scoured hundreds of hours of video searching for clues to the identity of the person who shot UnitedHealth executive Brian Thompson in a brazen killing outside a Manhattan hotel last week, but released only two images to the public that showed the suspect's face. In every other photograph captured from video - of the suspect pedaling away on a bike, standing at a coffee shop counter, riding in a taxi - the man's face was obscured by a mask and hood. But the two crucial images, released the day after the shooting, were captured when the suspect lowered his balaclava at the request of a hostel desk clerk in a flirtatious moment to see his face, according to media reports. They are taken from above, and while he is still wearing a hood, his face can be clearly seen in the pair of pictures. In one he is smiling, in the other he appears straight-faced. On Monday, the suspect, identified as Luigi Mangione, 26, was captured in Altoona, Pennsylvania, after he was spotted eating at McDonald's by an employee of the fast-food restaurant who thought he resembled the gunman from images. "This picture was obtained by the NYPD during one of their extensive video canvasses," New York Police Department Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said at a press conference. "Hundreds of tips began to pour into our hotline. Each tip was investigated thoroughly, and we began to release additional photographs as they came into our possession," he said. ADVANCED SURVEILLANCE New York has one of the most advanced surveillance systems of any major U.S. city, largely built after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, according to Felipe Rodriguez, a former NYPD detective sergeant and now an adjunct professor at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York. The number of cameras in New York is in the thousands, and all camera feeds can be monitored in real time, as well as reviewed for previous footage, aided by facial-recognition software. Mangione appears to have been well aware of the extensive camera network, and seemingly took steps to shield his identity before, during and after the attack. The first images released by police came from footage of the shooting last Wednesday, with the suspect shown wearing a dark-colored hoodie and a backpack. Other footage showed him running from the scene and then riding a bike into Central Park. Over the weekend, police released a picture on the suspect inside a taxi. In all of them, he was masked. Meanwhile, police searched for the backpack - eventually finding it in Central Park - tested evidence for DNA, pored through tips from the public and, eventually, said they no longer believed he was in New York City. "For just over five days, our NYPD investigators combed through thousands of hours of video, followed up on hundreds of tips and processed every bit of forensic evidence, DNA, fingerprints, IP addresses and so much more to tighten the net," New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said at Monday's press conference. But the case turned on a fast-food worker more than 200 miles outside the city recognizing the face of a customer. "In this case, (where) it really came down to technology was the use of drones in Central Park and it really comes down to the video canvass that we did," Kenny said. "We used every source of video that we could collect, hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of hours from hundreds of sources, and that helped bring this to where we are right now." (Reporting by Costas Pitas; editing by Paul Thomasch and Rod Nickel)Published 20:08 IST, December 25th 2024 Buyers who are looking for a sub-4m compact SUV and a feature loaded car can check out the Maruti Suzuki Fronx. Here is a list of its top three alternatives: Alternatives of Maruti Fronx: Buyers who are looking for a sub-4m compact SUV and require a feature loaded vehicle can check out the Maruti Suzuki Fronx. The Maruti Suzuki Fronx shares its platform with the Baleno. It has a bold design, spacious interiors, and has a comprehensive set of features on offer. For starters, it offers a wireless charger, paddle shifters in the automatic variant, a heads-up display, and more. For safety, the Fronx has six airbags, traction control, and more. Regarding engine options, buyers have an option to choose from a 1.2L inline four-cylinder petrol engine, producing 90BHP and 115Nm torque, mated to a five-speed manual and an AMT gearbox. Further, this engine options is also available with CNG. The other engine on offer is a 1.0L inline three-cylinder turbo petrol engine, producing 100BHP and 147Nm torque, mated to a six-speed automatic transmission or a five-speed manual gearbox. The price of the Maruti Suzuki Fronx starts at Rs 7.52 lakh (ex-showroom) for the base Sigma variant. Here is a list of the top three alternatives that buyers can check out if planning to buy Maruti Suzuki Fronx: Hyundai Venue: Buyers looking for a sporty SUV can check out the Hyundai Venue. It has a sporty exterior, decent space in the interiors and is offered in multiple engine options. It has features such as a digital instrument cluster, a wireless charger, a sunroof, and more. Regarding safety, it comes with six airbags, Level-1 ADAS, TPMS, and more. Buyers have multiple engine options to consider. The Hyundai Venue has a 1.2L inline four-cylinder naturally aspirated petrol engine, producing 82BHP and 113Nm torque, mated to a five-speed manual. It has a 1.0L inline three-cylinder turbo petrol engine, producing 120BHP and 170Nm torque, mated to a six-speed manual or a seven-speed DCT transmission. Buyers looking for a diesel engine can opt the Hyundai Venue as it is powered by a 1.5L inline four-cylinder engine, producing 115BHP and 253Nm torque, mated to a six-speed manual gearbox. The price of the Hyundai Venue starts at Rs 7.94 lakh (ex-showroom) for the base E variant. Also Read: Hyundai Creta N Line Review: Feature Loaded Comfortable SUV With Punchy Performance Tata Nexon: Buyers who are looking for a safe SUV from Indian automaker can check out the Tata Nexon. Nexon scored a five-star safety rating in the Bharat NCAP and Global NCAP. It has a sleek and muscular design, decent comfort in the interiors and has a feature loaded cabin. It has features such as a wireless charger, a 360-degree parking camera, automatic climate control, and more. Regarding engine options, buyers have an option to either opt for a petrol or a diesel engine. Nexon has a 1.2L turbocharged inline three-cylinder petrol engine, producing 120BHP and 170Nm torque, mated to a six-speed manual or an AMT gearbox or a seven-speed DCT gearbox. This engine is also paired with the dual-cylinder CNG technology. Buyers also have an option of a diesel engine to choose. It is a 1.5L inline four-cylinder engine, producing 115BHP and 260Nm torque, mated to a six-speed manual or an AMT gearbox. The price of the Tata Nexon starts at Rs 7.99 lakh (ex-showroom) for the base Smart variant. Also Read: Tata Nexon iCNG Review: Feature Loaded SUV with Great Fuel Efficiency Mahindra XUV 3XO: Buyers who are looking for a bold SUV, with great space in the interiors and decent features can check out the Mahindra XUV 3XO. It has a bold front design, great space in the second row seats and has features such as driving modes, dual-zone climate control, steering modes, and more. For safety, Mahindra offers Level-2 ADAS, six airbags, TPMS, and more. Buyers have a wide array of engine options to choose from. The Mahindra XUV 3XO has a 1.2L mPFI turbo petrol engine, producing 118BHP and 200Nm torque, mated to a six-speed manual or an automatic gearbox. The second engine is a 1.2L TGDi inline three-cylinder petrol engine, producing 130BHP and 230Nm torque. Buyers who are looking to opt for a diesel engine can check out the XUV 3XO. It has a 1.5L inline four-cylinder engine, producing 115BHP and 300Nm torque, mated to a six-speed automatic and a manual gearbox. The price of the Mahindra XUV 3XO starts at Rs 7.79 lakh (ex-showroom) for the base variant. Also Read: Mahindra XUV 3XO Review: Feature Loaded SUV with Better Boot Space Updated 20:08 IST, December 25th 2024None

AP News Summary at 5:05 p.m. EST

An airline pilot has revealed why passengers must put their phones on airplane mode when flying. "It's not a conspiracy" airline pilot Perchpoint said on TikTok, explaining just why you can't continue to scroll when on board a plane. "No, it's not the end of the world, no the plane won't fall out of the sky, and it won't even mess with the systems on board, however, it does have the potential to mess with the headsets," he said.  READ MORE: Best places to pick your own sunflowers around Australia "If you have an aircraft with 79, 80, 150 people on board, and even three or four people's phones start to try and make a connection to a radio tower for an incoming phone call, it sends out radio waves. "There's a potential that those radio waves can interfere with the radio waves of the headset that the pilots are using." He said on a flight the night before in San Francisco, when the plane was on its way to the runway, a problem arose. Because somebody broke the rules, his communications with air traffic control were affected. "There was this really annoying buzz," he said. READ MORE: Why you should 'expect the unexpected' when cruising the Arctic, says Catriona Rowntree "It kind of sounds like there's a mosquito in my ear. "It's not the end of the world but it's definitely pretty annoying when you're trying to copy instructions and it sounds like there's a wasp or something flying around you." Social media users were surprised by his revelation. "I didn't know it mattered," one person said. Another person suggested he should tell passengers on a flight why they should heed the warnings. READ MORE: The 22 travel destinations Australian travellers are being warned to avoid in 2025 "Why was I led to believe it would make the plane crash," another viewer asked. Another person asked if the sound was similar many people remember from the early days of mobiles, when a computer would buzz when a phone call or test was coming into a nearby phone. The pilot confirmed it was.No climate deal better than ‘bad’ one, say NGOsNew California Sen. Adam Schiff wants to be more than a Trump antagonist