Latest news with #IIA
Al Etihad
a day ago
- Business
- Al Etihad
FANR wins Global Internal Audit Excellence Award
24 July 2025 17:31 ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)The Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR) has received the prestigious Global Institute of Internal Auditors Excellence Award from the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) under the Public Sector Leadership award was presented during the IIA's Global Internal Audit Conference held in Toronto, Canada, which brought together over 2,600 internal audit professionals from more than 120 countries. This recognition places FANR among the few organisations from the UAE to be internationally acknowledged for leadership and innovation in internal auditing within the public global recognition was awarded to the International Internal Audit Collaboration Working Group (IIACWG)—a joint initiative launched in 2020 by the FANR and the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) to advance knowledge sharing and best practices in nuclear regulatory auditing.A major output of this collaboration was the 'Auditing Inspection Process—Nuclear Regulator' white paper, officially launched during the IAEA General Conference in September 2024. The white paper introduced a risk-based methodology and a structured framework of eight core elements to audit inspection processes at nuclear facilities, establishing a new global contributions to the working group were instrumental, including the integration of its Anti-Fraud Framework and Audit and Risk Methodology, which enriched the development of the white paper and enhanced the international exchange of internal audit practices.'We are honoured to receive the IIA Excellence Award for Public Sector Leadership—a reflection of our team's dedication and the strength of our collaboration with CNSC. This award underscores FANR's commitment to excellence, transparency, and continuous improvement, not only within our organisation but also in promoting high standards across the UAE's public sector and globally,' said Amna Faridoon, Chief Audit Executive at Public Sector Leadership category celebrates government audit teams or individuals who demonstrate outstanding commitment to public trust, innovation, accountability, and operational effectiveness. FANR's recognition is a testament to its pioneering efforts to enhance governance and raise the global standard of internal auditing. This year's IIA Excellence Awards selected winners from hundreds of nominations across 45 countries. Source: Aletihad - Abu Dhabi
News18
3 days ago
- Science
- News18
Eyeing The Stars: How India Is Turning Ladakh's Harsh Terrain Into A Science Launch-Pad
From analog space mission to biggest solar telescope, and glimpses of northern lights, Ladakh is turning into a year-round field lab for India's astronomers, and space scientists. Last May, Indian astronomers captured a stunning, rare display of northern lights dancing across Ladakh's night skies. This was triggered by the most intense solar storm in the last 20 years. A year later, using observations from the Indian Astronomical Observatory (IAO) in Hanle – alongside data from NASA and ESA – they have successfully traced the paths of these powerful solar eruptions, and determined their temperatures and magnetic properties. This is just one of the many science breakthroughs emerging from Ladakh. With its high altitude and one of the darkest skies in India, the region has long provided vital data for Indian astronomers. The 22-km area around Hanle hosts India's first Dark Sky Reserve. Now this cold, barren and Mars-like frontier has become India's most crucial site for astronomical research. From the country's first analog space mission to its largest solar telescope, Ladakh is fast emerging as the launch-pad for India's big scientific dreams. Scientists from the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA), Bengaluru, have long aimed to build the National Large Solar Telescope in Ladakh – a 2-metre ground-based telescope, set at 4,200 metres above the sea level, designed to observe the Sun in optical and near-infrared light like never before. The project has been years in the making, and is proposed to be set up near Pangong Lake in Merak, Ladakh. 'Ladakh offers one of the best sky conditions for astrophysicists in India. The weather is mostly clear, the altitude is high, rainfall is scarce, and it is practically a cold desert," said Dr Jayant Joshi, project scientist at IIA, Bengaluru. 'These conditions make Ladakh an ideal site for ground-based telescopes. The proposed solar telescope will probably be the largest in Asia, offering scientists a powerful tool to study the Sun and its complex behaviour." Globally, the best astronomical observatories are built in high-altitude mountain ranges with minimal light pollution, like in Hawaii or Chile. That is because ground-based telescopes have to deal with atmospheric turbulence, where heat in the air creates wavy patterns that can blur what we see. But, positioning the telescope at such altitude near Pangong Lake helps reduce that distortion, as water has high specific heat – it does not heat up or cool down quickly, which keeps the surrounding air more stable – perfect for sharp astronomical observation. 'The project is now in an advanced stage, and currently awaiting financial approval. Once operational, it will capture highly detailed images, crucial for understanding solar flares, and the impact of space weather on satellites. Together with Aditya L-1, it will provide deeper insights into solar activity," added Dr Joshi. LADAKH'S BARREN LAND – A TEST BED FOR SPACE-SCIENCE Scientists are eager to harness Ladakh's potential – not just for breakthroughs in research, but also as a training ground for astronomers, stargazers and space-science enthusiasts. At over 3,000 metres above sea level, Ladakh has just 40 per cent of sea-level oxygen, allowing realistic testing of life-support systems in low-pressure, low-oxygen conditions similar to Mars. Last year, private space firm AAKA Space Studio in collaboration with the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) set up the country's first analog space mission in Leh, Ladakh – to support India's ambitious Human Spaceflight programme. Analog space facilities are essentially field tests on Earth that mimic extreme space environment, allowing scientists to test designs, materials, train crews, and conduct scientific experiments in realistic conditions. top videos View all 'Any space-faring nation aiming for the Moon or Mars must train its astronauts in extreme, Earth-based environments. With India targeting a Bhartiya Antriksh Station by 2035 and a Moon landing by 2040, setting up multiple analog research bases is essential," said Professor Aloke Kumar of IISc Bengaluru. 'Ladakh – with its dry, sub-zero temperatures, low precipitation, rocky terrain, permafrost, and high-altitude desert – is an ideal testbed that closely mimics Martian and lunar landscapes." Ladakh now also hosts – MACE – the largest imaging Cherenkov telescope in Asia and the highest of its kind in the world, located at around 4,300 metres. It was indigenously built by Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) to study very high-energy gamma rays from space, and inaugurated last October. With its unique geography and climate, the high-altitude Ladakh has now become an ideal, year-round field lab for geologists, geographers, astronomers, and space researchers from across India. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to crime and society. Stay informed with the latest India news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : ladakh northern lights Solar storm view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: July 22, 2025, 11:52 IST News india Eyeing The Stars: How India Is Turning Ladakh's Harsh Terrain Into A Science Launch-Pad Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Economic Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Economic Times
New high tech incubators to get millions in funding
Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The Israel Innovation Authority (IIA) launched a competitive proceeding to establish new high-tech incubators with up to a 40 million Shekel (USD 11.9 million) investment per part of the IAA's program, funding will be provided to cover management fees over a five-year period and the establishment of a central Incubators will focus on high-risk, innovation-intensive Deep-Tech fields such as: semiconductors , bio-convergence, agri-food tech , robotics, defence tech, or other domains characterised by high technological complexity, significant risk, and a lack of specialised investors in addition, the Authority will also offer non-dilutive investments from the Startup Fund at a total of approximately 100 million Shekels (USD 29 million) over the course of the franchise period, as well as providing support that will enable startups incubated within the program to receive grants of up to 21 million Shekels, from Pre-Seed stage through Round A financing.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
New high tech incubators to get millions in funding
Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The Israel Innovation Authority (IIA) launched a competitive proceeding to establish new high-tech incubators with up to a 40 million Shekel (USD 11.9 million) investment per part of the IAA's program, funding will be provided to cover management fees over a five-year period and the establishment of a central Incubators will focus on high-risk, innovation-intensive Deep-Tech fields such as: semiconductors , bio-convergence, agri-food tech , robotics, defence tech, or other domains characterised by high technological complexity, significant risk, and a lack of specialised investors in addition, the Authority will also offer non-dilutive investments from the Startup Fund at a total of approximately 100 million Shekels (USD 29 million) over the course of the franchise period, as well as providing support that will enable startups incubated within the program to receive grants of up to 21 million Shekels, from Pre-Seed stage through Round A financing.
Hans India
7 days ago
- Science
- Hans India
Cosmic Twist: City-based astronomers discover a new kind of stellar chemistry
Bengaluru: While India was focused on the International Space Station and a Gaganyaatri code-named Shux, researchers from Bengaluru-based Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) have quietly uncovered a cosmic twist. That, in the far away Ophiuchus Constellation, a peculiar star named A980, some 25,800 light years away, is rewriting what we know about stellar chemistry. Gajendra Pandey, Senior Professor at IIA, an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DST), said, it all began when his PhD student, Ajay Saini proposed to study 27 newly identified hydrogen-deficient carbon stars in high resolution spectrum for his thesis work. According to Pandey, a hydrogen-deficient carbon star is a peculiar breed of cool star that lacks hydrogen -- the most common element in the universe. 'Until 2022, only five stars were known to be hydrogen deficient. But in 2022, 27 stars, including A980, were identified. The problem is, it was done in a low-resolution spectrum. So, we decided to look at them in high resolution as well as study their chemical composition,' said Pandey to PTI. A closer look by Saini and Pandey, using the Hanle Echelle Spectrograph on the Himalayan Chandra Telescope in Ladakh, showed something strange. A980's spectrum -- essentially a stellar fingerprint -- did not match what they expected. Instead, this mysterious star that belongs to a rare class called Extreme Helium (EHe) stars, carries a surprisingly high amount of germanium -- a metallic element never before observed in this type of star. EHe stars, said Pandey, are almost entirely made of helium, and they are likely formed when two white dwarf stars --one carbon-oxygen rich and the other helium-rich --merged in a spectacular cosmic collision.' According to Pandey, they were surprised to see singly-ionized germanium (Ge II) lines in the A980's optical spectrum. 'These are the first-ever detections of germanium lines in an EHe's observed spectrum,' explained Pandey. More surprises awaited the duo. They found that germanium is eight times more abundant in A980 than in the Sun, which is evidence for the synthesis of germanium in EHe stars. 'Germanium has never been detected in these stars before, and here it was -- eight times more abundant than in the Sun,' said Saini. The discovery is important, as every new clue helps astronomers' piece together the cosmic story of how matter came to be, added the researcher duo. The detection of germanium, for instance, means that there are other plausible scenarios than the long-held theory that EHe stars originated from the merger of a carbon-oxygen white dwarf with a less massive helium white dwarf, said Pandey. Pandey and Saini suspect that A980's unusual chemistry could trace back to a phase in stellar evolution called the Asymptotic Giant Branch (AGB) -- a stage when stars puff up and start producing heavy elements like barium, strontium, and germanium. These stars eventually shed their outer layers, and their cores become white dwarfs. And then there are Thorne-Zytkow Objects (TZO) -- theoretical hybrid stars that have a neutron star at their core. 'They are also known to produce lots of germanium, using a different method called the rp-process (rapid proton capture). While A980 does not fully match the expected properties of a TZO, the similarities are intriguing,' added Pandey. The discovery, said Pandey, pushes the boundaries of what we thought we knew about stellar chemistry. 'It also shows how powerful high-resolution spectroscopy can be used in uncovering the hidden stories written in starlight,' he added.
