Latest news with #Barman
Time of India
02-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Assam college develops ASF rapid detection kit
Guwahati: The College of Veterinary Science (CVSc) under Assam Agricultural University (AAU) in Khanapara has achieved a significant breakthrough in veterinary diagnostics by developing a rapid detection kit for African Swine Fever (ASF), a devastating disease that has plagued the region's pig farming industry since 2020. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Head of veterinary microbiology at CVSc, Narendra Nath Barman, said, "The innovative ASF virus antigen detection kit represents a major advancement in field-level veterinary diagnostics, capable of detecting the virus in pig samples within minutes." This development comes as a crucial tool for farmers and veterinarians who have struggled with the disease that kill pigs within 48 hours after being infected. It was first detected in Arunachal Pradesh in 2020 during the covid-19 lockdown. The initial study on the virus was funded by govt of India's department of biotechnology. "This rapid detection kit is a game-changer for our pig farming community as traditional laboratory testing often takes days. This tool provides immediate results, enabling farmers to take swift action to prevent the spread of the disease," Barman added. Barman said ASF virus antigen detection kits are very easy to use, a single drop of a pig's blood is needed to be dropped on the testing kit and if two lines appear on the kit then it is considered to be ASF positive. The ASF is not a zoonotic disease, it can only spread across animals, so humans have no threat from it. "Building on this success, AAU is now developing an even more comprehensive solution — a Lab-in-a-Suitcase — that will have an inbuilt battery for power supply. This will help detect multiple important pig diseases on-site," said Barman. The development has been made possible through collaboration with GeNext Genomics Pvt. Ltd, bringing together academic expertise and commercial innovation. This partnership has accelerated the translation of research into practical, market-ready solutions.
Time of India
28-05-2025
- Time of India
Another dies in Behala accident
1 2 Kolkata: A 67-year-old man identified as Ashok Barman from Uttarpara died after being hit by a private bus at Behala Chowrasta on Wednesday. The incident occurred barely 50 m from the spot where a schoolboy lost his life in Aug 2023. "The bus on route SD-5 (Sonarpur-Khariberia) was going towards Silpara after crossing Chowrasta bus stop. It shifted to the left lane to offload a passenger. Barman was walking in the same direction but he was using the road instead of the pavement. The bus hit Barman sideways, causing him to collapse," said an officer. Thakurpukur Traffic Guard officers took Barman to Vidyasagar Hospital, where doctors referred him to SSKM. "We transported the victim to SSKM through a green corridor. Even at SSKM, he was conscious. But he died in the evening," said an officer. The bus driver was arrested under BNS sections pertaining to causing death by negligence and rash driving. The vehicle was seized for further investigation. "We will implement stricter measures to ensure pedestrian safety," said an officer. The victim's family has been notified, and the body will be handed over after a post-mortem examination.
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Won't ever till my land across Bangla border, says freed farmer
Jalpaiguri: Released from Bangladesh's Lalmonirhat prison after 29 days, Ukil Barman, a resident of Cooch Behar's Sitalkuchi, on Thursday vowed never to cultivate his four-bigha land off the Indo-Bangla barbed wire fence. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Barman, in his mid-50s, was kidnapped by Bangladeshi miscreants on April 16 while tilling his own land. He was intercepted by Border Guard Bangladesh. After days of negotiations and multiple flag meetings between BSF and BGB, Barman was allowed to return to India on Wednesday night. "I will no longer farm across the border. I will sell all my land. I won't allow my son to farm near the border either. The thought of being imprisoned in Bangladesh is scary. I want to thank BSF and our chief minister," he said. Barman was taken to a local court to testify to his return, a legal formality to formally close the missing diary lodged by his wife. His son Paritosh said: "We will no longer work on our land across the border. We have four bighas of land there, which is our livelihood. We request the Indian govt to acquire our land and compensate us. We don't want to work on Indian land across the border, where we constantly live in fear." Trinamool's Cooch Behar MP Jagadish Chandra Barma Basunia lauded the efforts by Centre and Bengal govt to bring back Barman from Bangladeshi custody. He said BSF and Bengal govt worked in tandem to ensure his return. Junior Union minister and Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar thanked PM Narendra Modi and the Union home and external affairs ministries for bringing back Barman, a Rajbanshi farmer.
Time of India
14-05-2025
- Time of India
TV actor killed over love triangle, accused sent to 4-day cop custody
Guwahati: A Kamrup (Metro) chief judicial magistrate court on Tuesday remanded a man in four-day police custody for allegedly killing a youth by stabbing and hitting him on his head in the city's Garchuk area in police custody. The incident reportedly stemmed from a love triangle. A team from Garchuk police station arrested Jan Muhammed Ali, alias Raju Ali, on Monday for attacking Mriganka Barman , an actor from Nalbari known for his roles in Assamese television serials. Garchuk officer-in-charge Bikram Basumatary said a case has been registered under Section 103 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which pertains to punishment for murder. Speaking to the media, Guwahati (West) deputy commissioner of police Padmanabh Baruah said, "Preliminary investigations revealed that Ali, Barman, and a woman had been entangled in a love triangle for the past five months. Barman had checked into a hotel with the woman when Ali, after being informed of their presence, arrived at the location." "The attack appeared to be premeditated, as Ali called Barman and the woman to the parking area, where he struck Barman with a bamboo stick, resulting in his death. The accused fled the scene but was apprehended within three hours by Garchuk police. The weapons used in the crime were also recovered," the officer added. When asked about the woman's identity, the DCP declined to disclose her details, stating that she is a witness in the case. The incident was reported at 2pm on Monday, and the accused was arrested by 5 pm. "We had sufficient evidence, including CCTV footage and other technical support, which helped us solve the case efficiently. However, further investigations are underway to clarify certain details," the police officer said.
Time of India
14-05-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Is the answer to expensive cars a pickup truck without power windows?
When Slate Auto, a startup, unveiled a roughly $25,000 electric pickup truck last month, social media lit up with comments. Many people saw the no-frills vehicle, with an easy-to-repair body and nostalgic hand crank windows, as a refreshing antidote to today's overstuffed and increasingly unaffordable cars. How unaffordable? Average monthly payments on new cars have soared to $739 in March from $537 in January 2019, according to Cox Automotive. The average new car costs $47,400, with electric models around $59,200. High interest rates, now around 9.4per centfor a 72-month loan, have made cars even more of a financial stretch. "Prices and interest rates are both high and stuck," said Mark Schirmer, director of industry insights for Cox Automotive. "If you haven't been in the market since 2018, it's got to be shocking what a car costs." President Donald Trump 's tariffs of 25per centon imported cars and parts have consumers scrambling to buy before prices rise even more. Cars that cost less than $30,000 are especially vulnerable -- nearly 80per centof those are subject to tariffs. They include consumer staples such as the American-made Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla, which rely on imported parts. Supplies of budget models are expected to shrink, and automakers may stop importing certain models entirely. Enter Slate , a company based in the Detroit suburbs backed by venture capital firms and Jeff Bezos, the Amazon founder. Chris Barman, a former Fiat Chrysler engineer and Slate's CEO, said the Slate truck was expressly designed to ease sticker shock, although it won't be available until late 2026. The company plans to produce the pint-size truck at a retrofitted printing plant in Indiana, with a capacity for 150,000 a year. True to its name, the truck is designed to be a blank slate to which buyers can add more than 100 accessories, like power windows and heated seats, as their budgets allow or needs change. There is no built-in stereo or touch-screen display, but there are docks for phones or tablets, saving money and avoiding the digital obsolescence that often plagues auto entertainment and navigation systems. "We think hardworking Americans are looking for good value for the money," Barman said in a recent interview. That message appealed to Liv Leigh, 41, who hopped inside a Slate truck during its public debut at the Long Beach Airport in California in April. Leigh, a biomedical designer and electric car enthusiast, paid $50 to reserve a Slate. She watched the company's employees transform the two-seat pickup into a five-passenger sport utility vehicle in about one hour, with a clever conversion kit aimed at do-it-yourself owners. Leigh appreciated the truck's tidy size, shorter than a Civic, and its modest 150-mile range. "I love the idea of an absolute base, beater truck, where I can stick a dog or muddy bikes or plywood in back," Leigh said. "I don't need a giant vehicle to haul stuff." Barman said efficient design and production were key to the company's promised low prices. The truck's gray plastic-composite body panels eliminate any need for a steel body-stamping plant or paint shop, which can cost automakers many millions of dollars. Where a Ford Model T, an egalitarian car of another age, famously came only in black, Slate will offer vinyl body wraps in an array of colors and styles. Buyers can also opt for a larger, factory-installed battery with a 240-mile range. "That all keeps costs down, but also feeds into giving customers freedom of choice," Barman said. "They can outfit the vehicle the way they want it, not the way a manufacturer has designed it." Slate hopes that a U.S.-based supply chain, including batteries made by SK On, a South Korean company, will make the pickup eligible for a $7,500 federal tax credit. Republican lawmakers on Monday released a budget bill that would eliminate that incentive and dismantle other Biden-era climate and energy policies. That all depends on Slate's successfully navigating a treacherous path for electric vehicle startups. Several young automakers, including Fisker, Nikola and Canoo, have sought bankruptcy protection and shut down. With or without subsidies, Slate has a viable business plan, Barman said. The company hopes to price its truck in the mid-$20,000s before government incentives, which would undercut the Nissan Leaf, which is the most affordable electric car at $29,300 but no longer eligible for tax credits. Chevrolet plans to offer a redesigned Bolt SUV by year end for roughly $30,000. The General Motors brand intends the Bolt to qualify for the tax credit, dropping its effective price to roughly $22,500. Erin Keating, the executive analyst of Cox Automotive, praised the Slate truck's ingenuity. But she said a pickup with two seats, short range and a bare-bones interior might not appeal to American car buyers who have grown accustomed to having many tech and creature comforts. "There's nothing wrong with trying to crack the affordability crisis, but I don't see this as a massive volume seller," Keating said. "Ultimately, this is an extremely small EV with almost nothing in it, in a market with a growing number of affordable choices with much longer range." As much as any vehicle category, the United States' pickup trucks epitomize how cars have changed over the past several decades, mostly by becoming bigger, more powerful and a lot more expensive. Some lavish pickups can cost as much as large European luxury sedans. Electric trucks from Tesla, Rivian and Ford range from $70,000 to more than $100,000. Barman sees a market opening for entry-level truck fans, families shopping for a second car, empty nesters, and businesses such as landscapers, contractors and delivery workers. The company expects to sell many trucks to people who otherwise would buy a used car, the average price of which is $26,000. One big challenge for Slate, or other companies hoping to sell more affordable cars, is that despite what they say they want, many Americans don't seem to buy such cars. Keating noted that roughly two dozen models on the market start at less than $25,000. All are small cars or SUVs, including the market's lowest-price car, the $18,300 Nissan Versa. Nearly every midsize family sedan starts at less than $30,000, including the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry and Hyundai Sonata. But many Americans have rejected those cars in favor of bigger vehicles. SUVs, pickups and minivans now account for more than 80per centof the market.
