Latest news with #Bhutta
Cision Canada
09-05-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
Engineers Examine Performance of Recycled Crushed Aggregate in Ontario Infrastructure
TORONTO, May 9, 2025 /CNW/ - As part of the Ontario Society of Professional Engineers (OSPE) professional development series, engineers gathered to discuss how the increased use of Recycled Crushed Aggregates (RCA) can lower construction project costs and carbon emissions. The session, held on May 8, 2025, emphasized the need to expand and maintain Ontario's transportation infrastructure to keep up with continued population growth and an increasing state of good repair backlog -- and how using RCA can deliver more from municipal capital budgets while also helping them reach their net-zero targets. A recording is now available to the public. Dr. Salman Bhutta, Principal Engineer at Engtec Consulting, delivered a keynote presentation to share findings from Engtec's 2024 research report demonstrating RCA gradation equivalency to primary aggregates. He told attendees the testing demonstrated comparable performance in terms of load-bearing support in pavement structures and no compromise to the structural integrity of the pavement when using crushed concrete. The research concluded there is no need to increase layer thickness when using crushed concrete in pavement structures. "Over the last 20-25 years, there has been significant improvement in these materials, including both their quality and quality control processes," said Dr. Bhutta. "RCA is a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to primary aggregates. It supports sustainability goals, without compromising structural integrity or long-term performance." RCA is reclaimed asphalt pavement and/or concrete, readily available from the millions of tonnes removed from construction sites across Ontario as roads are repaired, bridges are maintained, and other critical infrastructure is replaced and expanded. Raly Chakarova, Executive Director of the Toronto and Area Road Builders Association (TARBA) shared with attendees that the industry has long supported the use of RCA as a way to lower carbon emissions associated with long-haul trucking, reduce pollution and traffic congestion, extend the life of non-renewable resources, and promote a circular economy. "Concrete and asphalt have already met performance specifications when originally used. When reclaimed, they undergo an additional rigorous process of crushing, screening, testing, and quality control to be repurposed for their application as construction material in new projects," said Ms. Chakarova. "Use in Ontario and internationally has shown that RCA is a high-performance material, with numerous construction projects and studies concluding that its geotechnical properties are equal and sometimes superior to primary aggregates." 180 million tonnes of aggregatesare used annually in Ontario, with more than 50 percent used in roadways, bridges, and tunnel construction. However, less than seven percent currently come from recycled sources, with much attributed to the Ontario Ministry of Transportation in the construction and maintenance of its 400-series highways. TARBA is leading a coalition of industry associations to increase awareness and adoption of RCA across Ontario. Through its campaign, the coalition is calling for: Including RCA use as part of the tenders for roads, bridges, sewer and watermains, subdivisions, and transit projects; Aligning municipal standards with Ontario specification OPSS1010 to reduce administrative burden, ensure quality and compliance, and encourage wider adoption; and Collaborating with industry to build capacity and confidence on quality control measures and a wide variety of applications for RCA. The Ontario Society of Professional Engineers (OSPE) is a coalition member. "Advances in material science and recycling technologies have demonstrated that RCA performs comparably to traditional alternatives in many applications. Most significantly, the use of RCA reduces the demand for valuable finite natural resources, such as sand, gravel, and crushed stone," said Sandro Perruzza, CEO, OSPE. "The use of RCA in engineering designs will dramatically reduce the amount of waste going to landfill while decreasing road congestion and the associated carbon emissions, both favourable outcomes for sustainable development. The OSPE is a proud coalition member and is happy to endorse using RCA in construction to build Ontario's future." For more information about RCA, visit
India Today
25-04-2025
- Health
- India Today
Why malaria cases spike in summer, and what you can do to stay safe
Summer brings more than just heat waves, it also fuels a spike in malaria cases. This seasonal surge, experts say, is largely driven by climate factors and behavioural patterns of mosquitoes, the primary carriers of malaria."Global warming and climate change are increasingly creating favourable environments for mosquitoes," said Dr. Shalini Bhutta, Consultant Physician at Neotia expert added that rising temperatures and altered rainfall patterns accelerate the mosquito life cycle. "This helps them to become infectious faster and reproduce more rapidly," Dr Bhutta said. advertisement These factors collectively contribute to the alarming rise in mosquito-borne diseases like malaria during warmer SUMMER FUELS MALARIAHot weather is a game-changer for Anopheles mosquitoes, the primary vector for malaria. Their life cycle, from egg to adult, quickens in warmer temperatures, allowing them to multiply at an accelerated this, standing water from summer rains or poor water management becomes an ideal breeding ground. Coupled with increased human outdoor activity during evenings, this creates a perfect storm for malaria TO PREVENT INFECTION?Preventing malaria requires a multi-faceted approach, particularly in areas where the disease is prevalent. "Malaria prevention isn't just about protecting yourself; it's about reducing mosquito populations and cutting the transmission chain," said Dr expert-recommended strategies to protect yourself:Use Insecticide-Treated Bed Nets (ITNs)advertisementITNs are highly effective in preventing mosquito bites, especially during dusk-to-dawn hours when mosquitoes are most active. Ensure nets are properly tucked to maximise Residual Spraying (IRS)Applying insecticides on walls kills mosquitoes upon contact and significantly reduces indoor mosquito Protective Clothing and Use RepellentsWearing long-sleeved shirts and pants and applying EPA-approved insect repellents can help repel mosquitoes during outdoor Breeding SitesDrain stagnant water, cover water storage containers, and clear vegetation near your home to disrupt mosquito breeding MedicationsTravellers to malaria-prone regions should consult a healthcare provider for antimalarial drugs to reduce the risk of infection. Medication choices depend on travel destinations and individual health conditions."Prompt diagnosis and treatment of malaria cases are critical to prevent the disease from spreading further," stressed Dr. malaria requires collective action. While individuals can adopt preventive measures, government initiatives like awareness campaigns and large-scale insecticide spraying play a crucial role in managing these strategies, the fight against malaria can gain a foothold even in the heat of summer. Stay safe, stay prepared, and remember that prevention is always better than cure.
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
UK asylum claims hit highest level since 1979
The number of people claiming asylum in the UK in 2024 has exceeded the previous recorded peak in 2002, according to the Home Office. The newly released figures suggest asylum claims were at their highest level since records began in 1979. In the year to December 2024, 108,138 people claimed asylum - an increase of 18% compared with 2023 and almost twice what it was in 2021. The new high follows an uptick in recorded small boat arrivals in recent years. The number of small boat arrivals also increased in 2024 - 25% higher than in 2023 - but the figure was 20% lower than in 2022. The UK now receives the fifth largest number of asylum seekers in the "EU plus" area at a time when the government is under pressure to cut the asylum decision backlog. These figures, which cover the end of the Conservative government and the start of Labour, show the number of cases awaiting an initial decision fell by five per cent last year - with 90,686 cases, relating to 124,802 people, pending a decision as of the end of 2024. The number remains higher than before 2022. The UK is also sending more people into immigration detention. This figure increased by 12% last year. Meanwhile, 8,164 people were forcibly returned to another country, an increase of 28%, with Albanians the most common nationality among enforced returns. There has been a sharp increase in people granted citizenship, with numbers rising from 130,568 in 2020 to 269,621 in 2024. This figure is at its highest level since the government began recording in this way. The British Red Cross's policy, research and advocacy director Mubeen Bhutta called for the government to create "more safe routes" as part of ongoing work to prevent people taking dangerous journeys to get to the UK. "Behind today's numbers are real men, women and children who have been forced to flee their homes. Too many are making perilous journeys to find safety, because they have no other option," Bhutta said in a statement. "For the vast majority of people, there is no way to claim asylum in the UK without already being here." Migration: How many people come to the UK and how have rules changed? Would the new Tory plan bring down immigration? Five key impacts of Brexit five years on New guidance issued for visa and immigration staff earlier this month set out that anyone entering the UK illegally having made a dangerous journey to do so, including those already here, will normally be refused citizenship. The measure was criticised by the Refugee Council as well as some Labour MPs. Border Security and Asylum minister Angela Eagle criticised the previous government for a "broken asylum system", saying Labour inherited a "huge backlog of asylum claims". "We are beginning to get some order to the system but it will take time to make certain that we can get a grip and start making the system work again." Asked why asylum claims are so high, Eagle said "many people want to come here", further referring to those coming on work and student visas and then claiming asylum. She underlined "we have to be much tougher" dealing with visa overstayers. While irregular arrivals rose last year, the number of work and study visas - which account for a majority of arrivals, not including visitors and transit, examined by the Home Office - both dropped. The previous Conservative government introduced measures to reduce legal migration with changes made to visa processes in the last year – including an increase to the minimum salary for a UK skilled worker visa. While in office, the Conservatives also banned health and social care workers and most international students from bringing family to the UK. Thursday's figures indicate that the number of people coming to the UK on work visas last year fell by about 250,000, according to a BBC Verify analysis. This was almost evenly split between fewer people coming for work (down by more than 125,000) and fewer family members coming with them (down by nearly 120,000). The fall in family members accompanying workers was much bigger than in the last set of figures. Both falls were largely driven by trends in the health and care worker route. The previous government introduced a special visa to bring people into the sector. This led to huge rises in visas issued - especially since people coming to work in care tend to bring more family with them than people coming on other work visas. But Rishi Sunak's government tightened the rules late in 2023, leading to falls in people coming on this visa throughout 2024. In September 2024, the current Labour government announced further measures including stronger rules around visa sponsorship of migrant workers. A White Paper is also due to be published this year setting out a plan to reduce legal migration. Dr Ben Brindle, researcher at the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford, referred to a "boom and bust" in some visa categories over recent years, particularly for students' family members and health and care visas. "The large declines in visa grants have been possible primarily because the number of visas previously being issued in the post-Brexit immigration system was so high," he said. "Despite the declines, overall visa grants to non-EU citizens remain well above pre-Brexit levels."
