Latest news with #Mitra
Yahoo
16 minutes ago
- Science
- Yahoo
India and US launch 'first-of-its-kind' satellite
Indian and US space agencies have launched a new satellite which will keep a hawk's eye on Earth, detecting and reporting even the smallest changes in land, sea, and ice sheets. Data from the joint mission by Indian Space agency Isro and Nasa will help not just the two countries but the world in preparing and dealing with disasters. The 2,392kg Nasa-Isro Synthetic Aperture Radar (Nisar) was launched at 17:40 India time (12:10 GMT) on Wednesday from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in south India. The satellite comes close on the heels of the Axiom-4 mission which saw an Indian astronaut going to the International Space Station for the first time. Nasa, which already has more than two dozen observation satellites in space, says Nisar is the "most sophisticated radar we've ever built" and that it will be able to spot the "minutest of changes anywhere in the world". The "first-of-its-kind satellite" will be the first in space to watch Earth using two different radar frequencies - Nasa's L-band and Isro's S-band. The satellite will be shot into the "sun-synchronous polar orbit", which means it will pass over the same areas of Earth at a regular interval, observing and mapping changes to our planet's surface, former Nasa scientist Mila Mitra told the BBC. Nasa and Isro say Nisar will revisit the same spot every 12 days. It will detect changes and land, ice, or coastal shifts as small as centimetres, says Ms Mitra. Repeated scans will generate rich data, helping Nasa and Isro ground stations support disaster preparedness and track climate change impacts, she added. Scientists say Earth's surface is constantly changing due to natural and human activities, and even small shifts can impact the planet. "Some of these changes happen slowly, some abruptly, some are small while some are subtle," Nasa's director of Earth Sciences Karen St Germain, who is in India for the launch, told a pre-launch press conference. "With Nisar, we'll see the precursors to natural hazards such as earthquakes, landslides and volcanoes; we'll see land subsidence and swelling, movements and deformations, melting of glaciers and ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica; and we'll see forest fires. "We'll also be able to spot human-induced land changes caused by farming and infrastructure projects such as buildings and bridges," she said. The satellite will take 90 days to fully deploy and will start collecting data once tests on all its systems are complete. The $1.5bn joint mission, over a decade in the making, features India's payload, rocket, and launch-pad facilities. Nasa's St Germain said the satellite was special as it was built by scientists "who were at the opposite ends of the globe during the Covid-19 pandemic". Isro chairman V Narayanan told NDTV news channel that the "life-saving satellite" is a symbol of India's rising leadership in space. Talking about Wednesday's launch, he said: "This is going to be yet another great day for India." Indian Science Minister Jitendra Singh has called the mission a defining moment in India-US space cooperation and a boost to Isro's international collaborations. India makes historic landing near Moon's south pole Aditya-L1: India's Sun mission reaches final destination "Nisar is not just a satellite; it is India's scientific handshake with the world," the minister said. The joint mission comes just weeks after astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla travelled to the International Space Station on the AX-4 mission, led by former Nasa veteran Peggy Whitson. India has been making big strides in its space programme recently. In August 2023, the country made history as its Moon mission became the first to land in the lunar south pole region. And last year, it commissioned its first solar observation mission. Isro has announced plans to launch Gaganyaan - the country's first-ever human space flight - in 2027 and has ambitious plans to set up a space station by 2035 and send an astronaut to the Moon by 2040. Follow BBC News India on Instagram, YouTube, Twitter and Facebook Solve the daily Crossword
Free Malaysia Today
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
16 high-impact Mitra initiatives for Indians approved, says PMO
On Monday, Klang MP V Ganabatirau said the absence of Indians from an anti-government rally last Saturday should not be mistaken for their satisfaction with Putrajaya. PETALING JAYA : A total of 16 high-impact programmes under the Malaysian Indian Transformation Unit (Mitra) have been approved for the Indian community as of this July, said the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) today. In a statement, the PMO said these programmes focus on three key areas of community development; education and training; spirituality and culture; and social well-being. 'The initiatives reflect the government's ongoing commitment to elevate the role of the Indian community as a partner in national development through an inclusive, progressive, and impact-driven approach,' it said. 'The government remains steadfast in its principle that every segment of the population, including the Indian community, deserves to enjoy the opportunities and progress of the nation in line with the spirit of Malaysia Madani.' However, the PMO noted that coordination is necessary to avoid duplication of roles and resource use as certain programmes related to technical and vocational education and training (TVET) could not be approved since they fell within the purview of the National TVET Council. Several other programmes could not be approved due to overlaps with existing initiatives under various ministries, including the youth and sports, health, as well as entrepreneur development and cooperatives ministries. The PMO said the government will continue to refine the implementation of additional strategic initiatives in the near future to ensure that the Indian community continues to benefit from 'fair, equitable, and sustainable development'. The statement comes as Klang MP V Ganabatirau said on Monday that Indians' absence from an anti-government rally in Kuala Lumpur last Saturday should not be mistaken for their satisfaction with Putrajaya. In a Facebook post, Ganabatirau said many Indians today are 'politically fatigued' after being worn down by years of promises, marginalisation, and systemic neglect. He also said there had been a 'lack of a favourable response' by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to attempts by Malaysian Indian MPs to raise issues affecting the Indian community.
The Hindu
10 hours ago
- The Hindu
In Kolkata, State Government-aided Behala College earns autonomous status for first time
Think of education in Kolkata and it is usually names such as Jadavpur and Presidency that spring up in the mind, but a hitherto not-so-famous college has emerged as a big name in the field by becoming autonomous — the only non-religious, non-minority and State-aided institution in the city today to enjoy that status. It was on July 28 that the Behala College formally received the conferment of autonomous status from the University Grants Commission (UGC), having submitted the application a year ago. The college appears to have remained quite updated, even running a course including Drone Pilot Training, which it calls the 'subject of the day.' 'Academic autonomy gives space to the college in all aspects: for conducting academic programmes outside the purview of the parent university, for framing new courses for promoting excellence. It empowers students to take the lead in their learning to increase engagement, motivation and deeper understanding. They develop critical thinking skills and are better prepared for a complex changing world. Placement becomes much more effective,' Sharmila Mitra, principal of the co-ed college said. Behala College was established in 1963 and today the student count is more than 2,000. Dr. Mitra herself has been associated with it for more than 38 years, serving as its head for 12. About drone pilot training, the principal said it was aligned with Defence Studies, a degree — and later as a certificate — course the college has been running for 25 years now. 'Our own faculty plus faculty from IIT takes the class. We arrange internship programmes under the NEP. We have an R&D section in collaboration with a concern in Assam,' she said. 'With the institution now free to design its own curriculum and to schedule its own evaluation process, there is ample scope for collaboration with industry and go ahead with subjects such as Applied Microbiology; Geoinformatics; Data & Analytics; Cyber Security & Digital Forensic; Mathematics & Computing,' Dr. Mitra added. She called the achievement a dream come true and quickly reminded that the college deserved it, having scored A++ with 3.58 CGPA in the NAAC rating. 'More importance will be given now to research and development and to placements of students by running portals that will groom them for entry in service. We are also eager to start a three-year law course as well,' Dr. Mitra said.
The Star
10 hours ago
- Business
- The Star
70 Indian entrepreneurs set to benefit from Mitap agricultural grants
SERDANG: A total of 70 participants from the Indian community are set to benefit from agricultural transformation grants of up to RM30,000 under the Malaysian Indian Transformative Agri Programme (Mitap) 2024/2025. Malaysian Indian Transformation Unit (Mitra) special task force committee chairman P. Prabakaran (pic) said the programme, organised by Mitra in collaboration with Mardi Corporation Sdn Bhd, focuses on developing the capacity of Indian entrepreneurs in the modern agriculture and food processing sectors. "Mitra received more than 250 applications for Mitap, and a total of 104 participants attended the Business Model Canvas (BMC) Seminar on Wednesday (July 30), which is a basic module in forming a sustainable business. "Through the BMC, we will assess each individual based on their proposal paper and the potential of the project to be developed," he told reporters after officiating the seminar at the MardiCorp Academy here on Wednesday. The two-day seminar aims to help participants enhance their competitiveness, strengthen entrepreneurial skills, and expand their business networks. Prabakaran said Mitra and Mardi Corp would continue to strengthen the government's commitment to empowering the Indian community by providing a comprehensive agricultural ecosystem, including up-to-date technical training. "Mitap is not only a symbol of support for the Indian community, but also a reflection of the government's determination to ensure the community is not left behind in the development of the modern agricultural sector," he said. Meanwhile, Mardi Governing Board chairman Dr Azman Ismail said he was optimistic that the strategic partnership between Mitra and Mardi Corp would lead to the emergence of more successful Indian entrepreneurs. "Mardi has a long history of working with many successful entrepreneurs, including Ramly Burger and Adabi. "I am confident that several more entrepreneurs will emerge from here (Mitap). This batch seems more promising because the programme is now better organised and more systematic. In the past, participants had to figure things out on their own with little guidance," he said.- Bernama
NDTV
a day ago
- Health
- NDTV
Neurocysticercosis: Experts Weigh In On This "Serious" Brain Infection That Increases During Monsoon
Monsoon season brings relief from the heat but also increases the risk of infections due to stagnant water and poor sanitation. The cases of typhoid, cholera, diarrhoea and mosquito-borne diseases are common, but a lesser-known brain-damaging tapeworm infection, known as neurocysticercosis, also spreads during this season. Neurocysticercosis is the infection of the brain or spinal cord that happens when humans consume vegetables and fruit contaminated by tapeworm eggs. "Neurocysticercosis, a serious and debilitating parasitic brain infection, is an important public health issue, particularly for several parts of the world where sanitation and hygiene systems do not adequately serve the population," Dr Rathijit Mitra, Neurosurgeon - CMRI Kolkata, told NDTV. It is caused by the larval form of Taenia solium (pork tapeworm), and often remains undiagnosed until the person starts to show neurological symptoms. Increased Risks During The Monsoon Season Dr Mitra said that the risk of exposure increases in the monsoon season when heavy rains can lead to flooding that can contaminate water sources and fields. Hence, it becomes incredibly important for the public and healthcare providers to know the cause, signs and symptoms, and also the preventive measures. "Ideally, we humans are not supposed to host this stage of the worm, but accidentally, by eating unclean and unhygienic food, the egg stage enters the body and makes its way into the brain through the bloodstream. Once the egg reaches the brain, it causes inflammation and swelling in the Brain," Dr Ritu Jha, Director & HOD - Neurology, Sarvodaya Hospital Sector-8, Faridabad, told NDTV. The most common contaminated item that a person consumes is improperly cooked pork; however, the true risk is frequent exposure where sanitation is poor enough to spread faecal material that is contaminated with the larvae. What Are The Symptoms Of Neurocysticercosis? Seizures: The most common clinical presentation. These may occur suddenly in a previously healthy person. Headaches: Chronic or severe headaches are commonly present; commonly due to increased intracranial pressure. Cognitive Decline: Confusion, loss of memory and difficulty concentrating can indicate that the infection has progressed. Neurological deficits: Weakness or numbness in certain extremities (legs/arms), visual changes, or loss of coordination are present. Vomiting or fainting: Patients may have a change in level of consciousness or faint due to increased pressure in the skull. According to Dr Mitra, the symptoms of neurocysticercosis will differ in severity, depending on the amount, size and location of the cysts in the brain. Diagnosis of neurocysticercosis is usually made through an imaging technique such as an MRI or CT scan, where the presence of the cysts in the brain will be visible. Neurocysticercosis is not as commonly known as other diseases of the brain or neurological diseases more broadly, but it is a significant public health issue, especially in developing parts of the world. With quick diagnosis, proper medical treatment, and, most importantly, improved hygiene and sanitation practices in order to help avert infection, neurocysticercosis is a disease that is controllable and preventable. Related Infections to Know About Cysticercosis (general): When the larvae of Taenia solium infect other tissues (i.e., muscles, eyes, or spinal column) Hydatid Disease: Caused by Echinococcus granuloses, forming cysts but typically in the liver and lungs. Toxoplasmosis: A protozoal infection with contaminated food (and cat feces) that can impact the brain and sometimes liver, particularly in immunocompromised patients.
