River Brahmaputra at Goalpara in Goalpara District of Assam has receded from High Flood Situation to Moderate Flood Situation at 0800hrs today.
At 0800 hrs, it was flowing at a level of 36.92 m with Falling trend which is 0.65 m above its Danger Level of 36.27 m and 0.51m below its previous HFL of 37.43 m recorded on July 31, 1954.
Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) issued a draft regulation related to Telecom Consumers Protection (10th Amendment), Regulation, 2016 on 05.07.2016 for comments/responses of stakeholders. Last date for submission of comments/responses, if any, on the draft regulation was 26.07.2016.
On the request of some stakeholders, TRAI, extended the last date for receipt of written comments/responses from the stakeholders on the draft regulation up to 02.08.2016. No request for further extension of time for submission of comments/responses shall be entertained.
The Ministry of Finance has learnt through a newspaper item which appeared that some officers of Indian Revenue Service (Income-tax) Mumbai Branch have passed a resolution against the Department of Revenue.
The Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley has taken a serious view of such a Resolution by officers of Organised Group ‘A’ service to advise the Government on what role it should play. This is an act of insubordination. Officers indulging in acts of indiscipline would be subject to Conduct Rules.
No Department of the Government has absolute autonomy. It has to serve the larger goal of the Government. The supervisory powers of next higher authority ensures that there is no misuse of power by anyone in the Government.
The jointly-owned company Hanwha Thales was created in 2000 by Samsung and Thales (Euronext Paris: HO) to develop the defence electronics in Korea. In June 2015, Samsung sold its defence related businesses to Hanwha. In this context, Hanwha and Thales negotiated a put/call option on Thales’ shares in their jointly owned company.
Considering Hanwha and Thales respective ambitions in the Korean market today, Thales has decided to exercise its put option, for all of its shares, amounting to 50% of Hanwha Thales equity, at the price of KW288 billion (approximately €230 million). Once governmental approvals are obtained and the sale is completed, Thales shall record a cash inflow of approximately €200 million. In 2015, Hanwha Thales contributed €10 million
to the EBIT of Thales.
Thales and Hanwha are keen to pursue their cooperation in multiple areas. Thales is a partner of trust of Korea and the Korean industry, in both civil and military domains.
Defence capital acquisitions are carried out as per Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP) wherein emphasis has been given to boost domestic defence industry by according higher preference to ‘Buy (Indian-IDDM)’, ‘Buy (Indian)’ and ‘Buy & Make (Indian)’ categories of capital acquisition over ‘Buy (Global)’ category. Any Indian company, as defined in the DPP, can participate in the procurement cases categorised as ‘Buy (Indian-IDDM)’, ‘Buy (Indian)’ and ‘Buy and Make (Indian)’.
In the financial year 2015-16, the Government has accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for proposals worth Rs.45900 Crore approximately, in ‘Buy (Indian)’ and ‘Buy and Make (Indian)’ categories of capital acquisition. Some of the major projects categorized under these categories are Successor 1099 Air Defence Gun, Multi-Purpose Vessels, High Mobility Vehicles (HMV GS 6×6), Short Span Bridges, Multi Spectral Camouflage Net (MSCN) etc.
Some of the major policy initiatives taken by the Government to assist the domestic private sector towards acquisition of indigenous technology or from other countries are as follows:
• Indian companies are allowed for tie-ups with a foreign Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) for Transfer of Technology (ToT) under ‘Buy & Make (Indian)’ category.
• Under ‘Buy & Make’ Category of Capital Acquisition, the foreign vendor is required to transfer the Technology to Indian Production agency for indigenous production of the items. Provisions have also been made to allow Foreign OEM to select Indian Production agency of its choice for transfer of technology.
• Defence Offset Guidelines provides for Transfer of Technology to Indian Companies as one of the eligible avenues for discharge of offsets.
• Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has issued Guidelines for Transfer of Technology which provides for an institutional mechanism for transfer of technology developed by DRDO to public and private sector industry.
The governor today appointed Shri Shambhu Singh Yadav as the new Deputy Lokayukta (UP-Lokayukta) of the state,” ,on joint recommendation of Chief Minister Shri Akhilesh Yadav and Lokayukta Justice Sanjay Misra.
The government had recommended Shri Yadav, a 1997-batch IAS officer, presently posted at the Chief Ministers secretariat on extension. Shri Yadav, considered close to ruling Samajwadi Party, had retired three years ago and served as special secretary to former Chief Minister Shri Mulayam Singh Yadav in the previous SP government in 2003.
The Deputy Lokayukta is appointed in consultation with Lokayukta and the CM. The post of Deputy Lokayukta was vacant since Shri Swatantra Singh’s term ended last year.
IndianBureaucracy.com wishes Shri S S Yadav the very best.
In the august presence of Minister of Railways Shri Suresh Prabhu, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Ministry of Railways and Confederation of Indian Industry(CII) to evaluate the Green Initiatives and rate the performance of Industrial Units of Indian Railways which are pursuing environmentally sustainable practices, was signed and “Final Report on the Passenger Feedback Survey at major Railway Stations for Cleanliness Ranking” was E-Released on 26.07.2016. Minister of State for Railways & Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Communication Shri Manoj Sinha and Minister of State for Railways Shri Rajen Gohain was present to grace the occasion. On the event of Signing Ceremony, Chairman Railway Board Shri A. K. Mital, Member Mechanical Shri Hemant Kumar, and other Board Members and Senior Officials were present. On behalf of the Railway Ministry Smt. Kalyani Chadda,EDME(W) signed the MoU whereas on behalf of CII Shri S. Raghupathy, Dy. Director General, CII signed theMoU. The MoU was signed in the backdrop of Railway Minister’s Budget announcement.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Suresh Prabhu pointed out that notwithstanding the fact that Railways is an environment friendly transport, multi pronged green initiatives are being taken by Indian Railways. This includes the share of renewables in energy consumed, better Water Management including Water Audit, Solid Waste Management including Waste to Energy plants etc. The association with CII will enable Railways to weigh their green initiatives against the global standards. The partnership with CII has come in the right time when Railways are in the change mode for a sustainable growth. Indian Railways have been playing a key role in every aspect of Government’s initiatives. The provision of bio toilets in a large scale to avoid open discharge from the coaches is a major step towards this. Recently, the Manmadurai – Rameshwaram section of Southern Railway was declared as a first green railway section. Indian Railways have so far provided more than 40,000 bio toilets. During this year, another 30,000 bio toilets are proposed to be added. The unique effort of bio vacuum toilets by Indian Railways will be a big game changer in this regard if the trials prove successful.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Manoj Sinha said that Railways which has its production units in almost all parts of the country should ensure some environment friendly measures like solar energy, energy audit, water harvesting. He said that keeping in mind all these measures, today’s MoU has been signed so that environment friendly measures could be taken.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister of State for Railways Shri Rajen Gohain said that Railways being the biggest industry of the country is conscious towards the environment friendly measures and these measures could bring drastic change after implementation.
The MOU has been signed for GBC-CII to extend technical co-operation for various Green initiatives in 3 Railway’s Industrial establishments, with an objective to make Indian Railways, as a leading Government organisation in the field of Environment.Initially following two programmes will be taken up under this MOU:
(i) Green Rating for Railway Industrial units – In the first phase – Diesel Locomotive Works (DLW)/Varanasi Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennaiand Carriage & Wagon Workshop,Perambur /Chennai, Southern Railway, have been selected for thisimportant initiative.All the Green initiatives of these units will be rated on a common Platform applicable to all the industries. Based on the experience remaining Units will be taken up under this scheme.
(ii)Energy Efficiency studies at 6 Production Units and 4 major workshops over Indian Railways. This will include Capacity Building, Knowledge sharing and exchange of best practices on Energy efficiency between Railways and other industrial sectors.
The Speaker, Lok Sabha Smt. Sumitra Mahajan will present the “National Tourism Awards for 2014-15 to various segments of the Travel, Tourism and Hospitality Industry” at a function organised by Ministry of Tourism on 30th July, 2016 in Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. Dr. Mahesh Sharma, Minister of State for Tourism & Culture (Independent Charge) will preside over the function. The function will be attended by Chief Ministers and Tourism Ministers of States, Central and State Government Officials, Members from the Travel and Hospitality Industries, including leading Hoteliers, Travel Agents and Tour Operators, Travel Media and Mainstream Media.
National Tourism Awards have over the years emerged as a prestigious recognition of achievements in the travel, tourism and hospitality sectors. These are presented annually by M/o Tourism to various segments of the travel, tourism and hospitality industry. These segments include State Governments / Union Territories, classified hotels, heritage hotels, approved travel agents, tour operators and tourist transport operators, individuals and other private organizations in recognition of their performance in their respective fields and also to encourage healthy competition with an aim to promote tourism.
The achievements of organisations and individuals who have delivered quality service in the Tourism industry are important to keep the India’s Tourism Sector on an upward growth track. The Government is committed to working in partnership with the Tourism sector to build on the success achieved to date and to help deliver further economic growth for tourism related businesses across the country.
The different categories under which awards would be given this year (2016), for excellence in performance during the financial year 2014-15 are:
(i) Best State/Union Territory : Comprehensive Development of Tourism
(ii) Most Film Promotion Friendly State/UT
(iii) Best Civic Management of a Tourist Destination in India
(i) Best Inbound Tour Operators / Travel Agents
(ii) Best Domestic Tour Operators
(iii) Best Tourist Transport Operators
(iv) Most Innovative Tour Operator
(v) Best Adventure Tour Operator
(vi) Best MICE Operator (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions)
(vii) Tour Operator Promoting Niche Segments other than Adventure & MICE
(i) Best Hotels in the different Star Categories (1 star to 5 star deluxe)
(ii) Best Heritage Hotels
(iii) Best Eco Friendly Hotel
(iv) Hotel providing Best facilities for the Differently Abled Guests
(v) Incredible India Bed & Breakfast Establishments
(i) Excellence in Publishing
(ii) Best Tourism Film
(iii) Best Tourism Promotion Publicity Material (produced by States / Union Territories and
Private Stakeholders)
(iv) Most Innovative use of Information Technology – Social Media / Mobile App
(i) Best Foreign Journalist for India
(ii) Best Foreign Photographer for India
(i) Best Rural Tourism Project
(ii) Responsible Tourism Project / Initiative
(iii) Innovative/Unique Tourism Project
(iv) Best Wellness Centre
(v) Best Medical Tourism Facility
(vi) Best Tourist Friendly Railway Station
(vii) Best Airport
(viii) Best Tourism Friendly Golf Course
(ix) Best Maintained and Disabled Friendly Monument
(x) Best Chefs of India
(xi) Best Standalone Convention Centre
(xii) Best Hotel Based Meeting Venue
(xiii) Best Heritage City
(xiv) Best Heritage Walk
Summary:An international research team has calculated the costs and benefits of calcification for phytoplankton and the impact of climate change on their important role in the world’s oceans, a new report explains.
An international research team has calculated the costs and benefits of calcification for phytoplankton and the impact of climate change on their important role in the world’s oceans.
Single-celled phytoplankton play an important role in marine biochemical cycling, in marine food webs and in the global climate system. Coccolithophores are a particular group that cover themselves with calcium carbonate shields, known as coccoliths. Some wrap themselves in an impenetrable coat of coccoliths, some make coccoliths in the form of sharp spikes, some use them as parasols against the sun and some form funnel-shaped light collectors..
But this requires a lot of energy — and the price for the artful armour could rise further due to global change. With the help of a new model, the researchers analysed the energetic costs and benefits of calcification. The results, published in the current issue of the journal Science Advances, suggest that the ecological niche for calcifying algae will become narrower in the future.
The study’s lead author, Dr Fanny Monteiro, lecturer and NERC research fellow from the school of Geographical Sciences at the University of Bristol, said: “Calcification in coccolithophores has high energy demand but brings multiple benefits enabling the currently observed diversity of their ecology and form.”
Professor Toby Tyrrell, Professor in Earth System Science at the University of Southampton and co-author of the study, added: “In the future ocean, the trade-off between changing ecological and physiological costs of calcification and their benefits will ultimately decide how this important group is affected by ocean acidification and global warming. There are signs that their distribution in the oceans is changing over time. If we understand better the costs and benefits of their distinguishing feature (coccoliths) then this should help us understand why their bio geography is shifting.”
To better understand the purpose of the elaborate armour and assess to what extent they will suffer the consequences of global change, researchers from Germany, Great Britain, France and the United States combined results from evolutionary history and cell biology studies, laboratory, field and modelling experiments.
“Presumably, the algae built their calcareous shells as a protection against predators. However, since the different structures had other benefits as well, a variety of forms was developed to make further use of these advantages,” explains Professor Ulf Riebesell, marine biologist at GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel and co-author of the study.
So far, the high energetic costs have paid off: “Coccolithophorids have survived over 200 million years. But now it is questionable whether they are also able to withstand climate change,” says Professor Riebesell.
The 200 coccolithophore species produce up to ten percent of the biomass in the oceans and keep the marine carbon cycle running. Stuck to their calcium carbonate platelets, organic matter sinks to the ocean floor — allowing surface layers to take up a new carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and process it.
Whether these unicellular multi-talented organisms will be able to fulfil their functions in the future, depends on how much extra energy they have to spend on calcification — and how their competitors in the food web react to ocean change. The amount of carbon dioxide dissolved in seawater is increasing due to fossil fuel emissions. This slightly stimulates photosynthesis.
On the other hand, the associated reduction in pH (ocean acidification) hampers calcification. “Compared to other planktonic organisms, coccolithophores will find themselves in a disadvantage. Their decline would also have an impact on the climate system,” says Dr Lennart Bach, second co-author of the study from GEOMAR. “Therefore, new model approaches such as ours are important in order to explore how increasing energy costs, as required for calcification, will pay off in the future.”
More: Science
Shri Boyapati Venkat Sudhakar (IPoS 1981) has been appointed as Secretary, Department of Posts vice Ms. Kavery Banerjee (IPoS:1978), who superannuated on 30.4.2016.
IndianBureaucracy.com wishes Shri Sudhakar the very best.
Summary:Ten risk factors that can be modified are responsible for nine of 10 strokes worldwide, but the ranking of those factors vary regionally, according to a study of 26,000 people worldwide. This should influence the development of strategies for stroke reduction, the researchers say.
Ten risk factors that can be modified are responsible for nine of 10 strokes worldwide, but the ranking of those factors vary regionally, says a study led by researchers of the Population Health Research Institute (PHRI) of McMaster University.
Prevention of stroke is a major public health priority, but the variation by region should influence the development of strategies for reducing stroke risk, say the authors of the study published in The Lancet.
Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability, particularly in low-income and middle-income countries. The two major types of stroke include ischaemic stroke caused by blood clots, which accounts for 85% of strokes, and haemorrhagic stroke or bleeding into the brain, which accounts for 15% of strokes.
The study led by Dr. Martin O’Donnell and Dr. Salim Yusuf of the Population Health Research Institute at McMaster and collaborators from 32 countries, builds on findings from the first phase of the INTERSTROKE study which identified ten modifiable risk factors for stroke in 6,000 participants from 22 countries. This full-scale INTERSTROKE study added 20,000 individuals from 32 countries in Europe, Asia, America, Africa and Australia, and sought to identify the main causes of stroke in diverse populations, young and old, men and women and within subtypes of stroke.
“This study has the size and scope to explore stroke risk factors in all major regions of the world and within key populations,” said O’Donnell, a principal investigator for the PHRI and professor of translational medicine at HRB-Clinical Research Facility, NUI Galway.
“We have confirmed the ten modifiable risk factors associated with 90% of stroke cases in all regions, young and older and in men and women. The study also confirms that hypertension is the most important modifiable risk factor in all regions, and the key target in reducing the burden of stroke globally.”
The investigators looked at the different risk factors, and determined the proportion of strokes which would be cut if the risk factor disappeared.
The number of strokes would be practically cut in half (48%) if hypertension was eliminated; trimmed by more than a third (36%) if people were physically active; and shaved by almost one fifth (19%) if they had better diets. In addition, this proportion was cut back by 12% if smoking was eliminated; 9% for cardiac (heart) causes, 4% for diabetes, 6% for alcohol intake, 6% for stress, and 27% for lipids (the study used apolipoproteins, which was found to be a better predictor of stroke than total cholesterol).
Many of these risk factors are known to also be associated with each other (such as obesity and diabetes), and when were combined together, the total for all 10 risk factors was 91%, which was similar in all regions, age groups and in men and women.
However, the importance of some risk factors appeared to vary by region. For example, the importance of hypertension ranged from practically 40% in Western Europe, North America, and Australia to 60% in Southeast Asia. The risk of alcohol was lowest in Western Europe, North America and Australia but highest in Africa and south Asia, while the potential impact of physical inactivity was highest in China.
An irregular heart rhythm, or atrial fibrillation, was significantly associated with ischaemic stroke in all regions, but was of greater importance in Western Europe, North America and Australia, than in China or South Asia.
However, when all 10 risk factors were included together, their collective importance was similar in all regions.
“Our findings will inform the development of global population-level interventions to reduce stroke, and how such programs may be tailored to individual regions,” said Yusuf, a professor of medicine of McMaster’s Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine and director of the PHRI. “This includes better health education, more affordable healthy food, avoidance of tobacco and more affordable medication for hypertension and dyslipidaemia.”
Along with the study, The Lancet published a related comment from New Zealand researchers Valery L. Feigin and Rita Krishnamurthi of the National Institute for Stroke and Applied Neurosciences, of Auckland’s University of Technology.
They said the key messages from the study were that stroke is a highly preventable disease globally, regardless of age and sex; that the relative importance of modifiable risk factors means there should be development of regional or ethnic-specific primary prevention programs, and that additional research on stroke risk factors is needed for countries and ethnic groups not included in INTERSTROKE.
“Now is the time for governments, health organizations, and individuals to proactively reduce the global burden of stroke. Governments of all countries should develop and implement an emergency action plan for the primary prevention of stroke,” they wrote.
More: Science
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